Day 11

Delayed blog (again). Not due to gluttony, for once, but because of arrival at Shutters.





Since it has already been established that I'm the "hound" that must mean that the whale is...



Mini Moo, the (small) whale, and the child at Shutters:

Day 10

"I'm wined out, fooded out, and strippered out...I think I need to reassess my situation." (Anonymous)

Travel tip: If you remove your foot from the brake while the engine is on, and exit, the car will drive itself even if it's a hybrid. (thanks Anonymous, for testing this out)


No Clint Eastwood sightings at Mission Ranch, only sheep





Not the Cliffs of Mo-her but Big Sur:















What the pool at our Sonoma house would have looked like had it been owned by the Hearsts:

Day 9 (Saturday)

Delayed posting once again due to gluttony. Might be developing a pattern. I hope I pass my medical exams next month.

"I can't breathe...this lifestyle is not good. I'm a gluttonous whore. I'm not doing my body any favors." (Anonymous, after eating only 3 "courses" at SPQR)


Mini Moo prefers the Monaco over the Fairmont, which was crowded and felt low rent after gorging at FL.

Day 8 - Gluttony Redux (friday)

Insider's Tip: if you go to The French Laundry a second time in the same week, you don't have to order off that ghetto menu

tip #2: Birthday girls get special dessert and take away chocolate for the occasion (thanks for "turning 30", GGP).


12 courses vice 9 on the Section 8 menu. Photos to follow later. Difficult to upload and eat pain au lait/clothespin-embossed chocolate simultaneously.



"Chef's cooking menu": (maybe on our 3rd visit, he'll switch from lobster tail to claw. everyone knows it's much more tender.)





















Random comments at the Fairmont while still digesting from our 4.5 hour meal:

"Have a piece of bread" (Anonymous)
"I had one. You eat it."
"I've already had two." (Anonymous)

"Give me a hug even though i smell like poop" (Anonymous)

"Do guys slap your ass?" (Anonymous)
"Yeah I ask them to...ok where's my dress?" (GGP)

Day 7

(Posting delayed once again due to post-FL coma. Photos to follow after nap.)


Quick drive to Iron Horse, especially when GGP is telling stories.

Martinelli (fyi, Anonymous - this is NOT the oldest winery)
"Sarcastic and smells of cat hair" (Guest Blogger and premature exiter of trip) - unclear whether this remark may have led to the initiation of unsolicited political discussion by our wine pourer. although transitioning from gogo dancing to politics is usually a common segue.

"The wine is all big boobs" at Francis Ford Coppola Winery (according to Guest Blogger and premature exiter of trip)


GGP comments after eating football sized burritos:
"My sphincter is poking out."
"I'm peaking a turtle."
"Thanks for the tough love. I just dropped a piece of gum down my back. Don't worry, it's not the kind that melts. I just can't do a body cavity search right now."

Day 6

Posting 1 day late since placing the iPad on a distended belly post French Laundry gluttony is challenging.

Comments while at FL:
"That was good, what did I just eat?" (Anonymous)
"You just ate tongue! Booyah!" (Guest Blogger/future host of Bizarre Foods)


Nicholson Ranch
"You are my personal spittoon." (GGP)




































Gloria Ferrer
No photos taken - too busy watching the mad pick up skills of a septuagenarian and his coworker, who managed to finagle GGP's email address.

Day 5

Awaiting the arrival of go go pro...


The locals are very friendly and have a unique sense of humor. Case in point:

"That's a nice hound you have." (Guest Blogger aka my walking companion)
"Thanks, you too." (Local Unidentified Man, who, since there was no dog in sight, clearly was referring to me)


Mini Moo was a little needy today and required some grass (the sharpie marker came in handy. the owners of the house won't notice.)



















Fries in public mustard jars must be a California thing at the Girl and the Fig. At least they had moules (fooka you Bouchon) (photo pending)


Ignore the HLM, and the fact that each of our four stomachs were full, Guest Blogger's cookies are f'ing AWESOME!

Day 4

No need to leave the house when a mini moo is present. Lethargy is good for digesting a meal at Madrona Manor. Distended stomachs can fit even more food if one is eating homemade pasta sauce compliments of Guest Blogger.

Day 3

No blogging yesterday as I was recovering from blunt force trauma to the head. According to the defendant I "ran into" her elbow.


Topel wine "tastes like there's a steak in there." (Anonymous)

"Saying you despise me means you care." (Anonymous - Comment likely due to her delusion and nothing to do with hydrating for hours at Armida.)

Day 1 of trip

Driving for 8 hours straight flies by when you nom



Or more accurately...



Oysters and muddled orange GG at Bouchon (no moules though + false advertisement = comped dessert)

sucker for japanese marketing

and korean marketing as well...(at least no waiting in line for the ugly doll)