The Wright Life!

The past few weekends I've been able to finally get out and take some pics!  Here are a few...

Again, very past due.  After spending a great weekend in Chicago, Rollie and I took the amtrak over to Michigan.  The ride was waaaayyy too long but it was less expensive than renting a car or flying.  Unfortnaltey the 7ish hour ride through Illinois and Michigan in the early springtime didn't prompt any thoughts of moving back to the midwest anytime soon.  A bit too dark, dreery, and brown for us :(  California sure has spoiled me.  I wish I could move my whole family out here!  Anyways, my Dad picked us up from the train station (where it was hailing and freezing in April mind you) and we headed to his house to relax and enjoy some primos pizza (a local pizza joint that has been around well before I was born and the same guys are still working there...so amazingly good.  It is home).  Monday morning Rollie and I headed over to Somerset Mall, we met up with my mom, grabbed a bit to eat, walked and shopped.  The rest of the week we ...

Well the big 3-0 has come and gone and I think I didn't pretty darn well...not 100%  though.  Some tasks or goals were a bit hard to "cross-off" since they were things I want to continue.  There were only a few things that I just flat out didn't get to or do...like lose 20 lbs!  I haven't gained anythough :)  Dentist, photo gallery, scrapbook, skiing, soupash and starwars were among the others.  All in all it turned out pretty good seeing as though I've been much busier at work, trying to find a house and just plain old busy with life.  Next up...hopefully a home improvement list as we should here about our offer next week.  62. lose 20 lbs (yep just throw the hardest one out there first). trying really hard on this one since we got back from Chicago but giving it a few more days before stepping on the scale again. 63. Finish our stairway photo gallery this is on hold since we started looking for houses, still on hold since we are looking for ...

Thursday 3/31/2011 Well I'm EXTREMELY behind on posting.  I wasn't really sure where to start so I'll start with our last vacation...to Chicago!  We arrived around noon and took the train right down to Shannon's work to drop off our luggage and venture around before she got off.  We walked about a half mile to Sears Tower (well...now Willis Tower)  The wait was about an hour but it really didn't seem like it...and we got to enjoy a quick little movie about the history.  They have a new lookout area...which was SUPER creepy but we took some awesome pictures from it. Waiting to go up The view...Shannon's red building Great city view! scary skydeck After Shannon got off work we headed back to her place to get ready for dinner with Steph, Mike, Shannon, Perry, Nicki and Keith.  We all headed over to Tango Sur for an amazing dinner and lots of good vino.  After dinner we headed over to this great bar right by Stephanie and Mike's place t...

I have lots to blog about, Chicago, Michigan, our recent weekend in San Fran...but this comes first.  Last week I was doing my usual 'before bedtime Facebook scan', and I came across a post from a High School friend.  Maggie had posted an article about Natalie Taylors new memoir, 'Signs of Life'.  I knew it was going to be released  this Winter/Spring but it had slipped my mind.  I immediately went onto Amazon and ordered it.  I got the book Thursday and I'll be done tonight (I have 2 more chapters to go).  I'm not a fast reader.  Rollie can back me up on this one.  I got about 6 books for Christmas and I've only finished one so far, and I'm in the middle of two others.  Rollie would have had all of them finished and probably would have bought a few more by now. But back to the point.  A little background on Natalie...Natalie was married to Josh Taylor, one of my closest friends brother and someone that...

I can't believe its been over a month since my last post...we have been beyond busy with traveling, visitors, and just plain life...I have many things to post but I though I would start with an update on my '30 before 30' seeing is though the big day is right around the corner! 62. lose 20 lbs (yep just throw the hardest one out there first).  trying really hard on this one since we got back from Chicago but giving it a few more days before stepping on the scale again. 63. Finish our stairway photo gallery this is on hold since we started looking for houses, still on hold since we are looking for houses and decided not to purchase anything new for our exisiting rental. 64a. Make a dentist appointment this month (1/11) still need to do... 64b. Make a doctor appointment (yearly check up) also this month (1/11) Appointment was 1/13 65. Save $500 for our Chicago/Michigan vacation in April 66. Pay off best buy credit card next month (2/11) 67. Go to gym or hike/run outdo...

Friday I had an early morning meeting at work so Rollie (and Rufus) joined me on the drive to St. Helena so we could do something fun afterwards.  After the meeting we headed down to Mumm Napa (seeing as though it was only 10am) we thought we could spend start the day with some bubbly!  We were also limited on winery choices since we had Rufus with us, luckily quiet a few are pet friendly in Napa. After Mumm we headed over to Hunnicutt.  I met Jennifer from Hunnicutt the weekend prior while she was doing some tasting at Duckhorn.  They are currently a small operation but they have big plans ahead.  We were lucky enough to tour the construction site including their cave project, they hope to be up and running by August.  Can't wait to see the finished project. Third stop was Viader up on Howell Mountain... absolutely stunning views.  Loved thier cab franc. Next up was Paraduxx...it was a beautiful day to enjoy the outside area and Rol...

Well we didn't get the home we put an offer on last week...so we are back to searching.  We were disappointed but we just have to accept it and move one, it wasn't meant to be our first home.  We looked at a few places today and found another one we really like in probably one of the best neighborhoods in Santa Rosa.  Its a crazy learning process, especially with all of the foreclosures and short sales in todays market but we are staying positive :)  I don't have any fun recent pictures so I'm pulling one from the past...this was roughly 5 years ago at one of our best friends, Chris and Amy Downers rehearsal dinners in Folsom, Ca...how time flies! We are trying something new tomorrow...wine tasting...ha!  I have a mandatory meeting at work on my day off...so if I have to be in Napa we might as well make a day of it :)  Pics to come of course.

Several exciting things happened this weekend...but for starters we FINALLY bought a new computer.  After much deliberation we went with a Toshiba 15" laptop.  Rollie and I both wanted a mac but we just couldn't justify the price with many other future purchases in our near future.  We no longer need to constantly plug in our power cord! With that being said we started the weekend by putting an offer on a house Thursday morning!  We started the house hunt just a few weeks ago and have probably looked at about 20 places so far.  Its an unbelievable time to buy and there is quiet a bit of inventory out there.  We came across a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in a really good neighborhood last week and we just couldn't pass putting an offer in.  Its been a long weekend not knowing the outcome but we both have positive attitudes and whatever happens is meant to be!  Its a very exciting but stressful process but can't wait t...

Time to check in again with my "30 before 30"...here goes! 62. lose 20 lbs (yep just throw the hardest one out there first) not too much progress on this one :( 63. Finish our stairway photo gallery this is on hold since we started looking for houses 64a. Make a dentist appointment this month (1/11) 64b. Make a doctor appointment (yearly check up) also this month (1/11) Appointment was 1/13 65. Save $500 for our Chicago/Michigan vacation in April $325 doing well 66. Pay off best buy credit card next month (2/11) will be done on Friday! 67. Go to gym or hike/run outdoors M-F for 30 days (started 1/10/11) Did well in Jan. but not so great in Feb...March is a new month! 68.Visit 5 new restaurants in Sonoma or Napa county 1 . Mikes at the Crossroad in Cotati 2. Flavor in Santa Rosa 1/14 3. Rosso in Santa Rosa 1/20/11 4. Carlos Country Kitchen in Santa Rosa 2/10/11 69. Cook 2 new things every month 1.dumpling vegetable soup 70. Talk to long distance fri...

Last Wednesday night Rollie and I headed up to Anderson Valley for some R&R.  It actually snowed on the way over (nothing was sticking but it was a pretty crazy drive).  We arrived just before 8pm to the converted Apple Dryer on Goldeneye's property.  The guest house is super cozy and has the most amazing views of the vineyards.  We made some nachos in the the little toaster oven and enjoyed a couple beers before calling it a night... exhausted from our work week and the drive up. Thursday morning we woke up, made some breakfast and walked over to Goldeneye's tasting room (both of our first times there...although I had enjoyed the wines before) it was a cool, rainy day so we sat by the fireplace and enjoyed a tasting.  After Goldeneye we headed up the street to the bustling town of Philo (1 general store, a post office, hardware store and Libby's Mexican restaurant).  We grabbed lunch at Libby's...best carnitas both of us had e...