Trip Report – Wine Country

My odyssey this week is a good one – a trip out to California thinly guised as work and a family visit to friends, wrapped around a bunch of Winery tours – culminating in my own personal Mecca – a pilgrimage to Silver Oak. I'm getting Goosebumps just thinking about it.

Our quest began at our 8AM flight from Logan on United. Sure, I'm a mega super travelling status guy, so of course I pull rank and actually get two sets of two seats together for a change, so complete strangers don't have to entertain my 4 or 6 year olds for six hours. I actually have to explain this to someone. I got the window, Michael the middle. His game boy, DVD player, backpack full of food because they won't give you any – or even let you buy any usually as they tend to pack 15 "snack boxes" for 800 people on the six hour flight – nestled smartly among my book, computer, glasses, IPOD, neck thing, etc. Within four minutes we have crap everywhere, and at least three things are rolling down the aisle under our seats. It's not an issue though, as there are at least 8 inches of airspace between my face and the back of the woman with greasy hair in front of me – until she settles back for the long ride and effectively sits in my lap. Michael, ever patient boy of 6, loaded with extra ADHD, proceeds to squirm endlessly for all 6 hours. I have no idea what battles my wife is having with Lily, 4, and her six foot long legs.

Halfway through the modern equivalent of a post plague steerage journey aboard a transatlantic ship crossing in 1835, the announcement came: "If there is a doctor on board, please ring your flight attendant call button". 9000 flights and I've never heard that before. Do you know what happens when people ring that button? I do. While the person seeking medical attention is somewhere writhing in pain, the flight attendant asked the medical person for some ID. Better yet, she asks each of the 3 medical doctors and 1 EMT for ID's, before dispatching the first medical person to the scene of the emergency. I was somewhat surprised they didn't ask the patient to sign a waiver prior to treating him for the massive coronary he was having. It was ridiculous. My advice – don't require medical attention on a plane. You could have C. Everett Koop sitting next to you and you'd die of annoyance before you were treated.

I was able to reaffirm two important things on day two of the trip. First, I continue to be simply awful at golf. Second, and perhaps most importantly, I was able to establish that my previous In-and-out Burger experience was no fluke. It was just as spectacular this time as last.

We enjoyed a great double secret tour of the Wente Vineyard that night, due to my very large friend being the marketing mucky muck for the 49ers. I enjoyed the Nth degree cabernet a ton, and drank Darioush during a magnificent dinner. The vineyard is 8 minutes from my pals' house, which is also 4 minutes from In-and-Out Burger. I may move in.

Today, we are off to Napa, where over the next several days I shall proceed to pickle myself in the name of good taste at Silverado, Coppola, Sterling, Silver Oak and Opus I think. Then I'm going to work, I swear.

Comments

[Dan Iacono]

Steve, if you really like In and Out Burger try ordering this a "5x5 animal style." It's 5 beef patties with 5 slices of cheese and topped off with fried onions. One of my friends from california suggested I try it the first time I went there. They look at you a little weird, but they'll do it.