Reality, Running and Wine

After spending a week in Napa it was back to reality. Yes I had too cook a few times (if rotisserie chicken counts as cooking - reheating might be a better term). There was also time in my schedule for two happy hours at Claim Jumper's and Mas, so that was a good way to slowly adjust. I got back into the routine of going to the gym and running regularly, so that was nice. Then there was heading to my parent's house, where late Sunday afternoon we decided to tear down their old front fence and rebuild it. For 24 hours worth of work my dad and I got quite a bit done. I finished up with a Fresh & Easy wine tasting on Twitter. All three wines were good and since they paid for them all, it was even better. Back to The Meritage for a few hours tomorrow for a taste of resort living.

Meritage Resort and Spa - Expansion Celebration

It did involve putting in some many hours over the last 19 months and many more longs hours over the last week, but it was all worth it. The $40 million expansion of The Meritage Resort and Spa is now open.

I started the week off by heading to Napa for a final planning meeting for the grand opening event on Friday. During that meeting I got a phone call from KGO-TV saying they wanted to come film a story on Tuesday. So it was back to Roseville Monday night to pack for the week (I had originally planned on leaving for Napa again on Thursday) and I was back in Napa Tuesday morning.

The KGO taping was fantastic and the story that ran gave all of the information it needed to about the resort and about downtown Napa.

For the rest of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I continued to work on planning and media outreach for the event, while eating some great food from the brand new Crush Ultra Lounge and Blend cafe.

As preparations came to a close on Friday we brought in a group of reporters and bloggers for a resort tour, wine tasting and lunch at Siena, before meeting more than 450 guests and media at the expansion grand opening celebration that took over all of the new spaces.As the party wound down we headed up to the Bacchus Suite, the resorts only two story room, for some drinks and more mingling.

At the end of the night the sales team (who I work with on an almost daily basis), asked if I wanted to go wine tasting with them and a group of meeting planners on Saturday. Not wanting to pass up the opportunity I extended my reservation at the resort through Sunday and was glad I had packed a few extra sets of clothes.

Wine tasting was amazing. First we were treated like royalty at Artesa where we had lunch in the barrel room. Got an amazing tour at Regusci (and had a glass of $85 a bottle wine) and finished our day of tasting with a barrel tasting at Andretti. Once back at the resort the fun continued with an event and some bowling at Crush Ultra Lounge (I continued to be reminded that I'm not very good at bowling).

This morning it was a quick breakfast, then back to Roseville for church at Bayside and a reality check, grocery shopping at Sam's Club. Sadly, no personal chef at Fort Bradley.
The Meritage Resort and Spa is a client of AugustineIdeas.

Food and Cleaning

Starting with food ... Tuesday's Placer Business Tweetup at Mas Cocina Mexicana had excellent quesadillas, great people and I learned about a good cause.

While at the Bradley Lodge we grilled up some salmon with a salad (lettuce grown in my grandma's garden) for Mother's Day Eve and we enjoyed Eggs Benedict for breakfast on Mother's Day.

We also did some cleaning up. We raked pine needles, but because of air quality issues we couldn't burn them, so we have some very large piles in the forest.

Once back at Fort Bradley I used the power washer to clean my back patio. Of course that turned into cleaning my front porch and all patio furniture, washing my windows, weeding and putting the bark back where it belonged (the power washer moved some of it).

Food, Baby, Exercise and Entertainment

I have been going non-stop for the last few weeks as evidenced by all of the events I have posted lately. The last few days have been no different. Shockingly I went to Happy Hour at Claim Jumper on Thursday, where among other items I tried the Widow Maker Burger for the first time. It was huge and worth the $7 (most expensive thing on the Happy Hour menu).

Friday I celebrated Cinco de Mayo a day early with a friend at Yard House with Baja Fish and Carnitas Street Tacos, helped along by a pint of Pacifico.

Saturday I went out on a 5-mile run before driving to my grandma's house and eventually my brother's house to meet my new niece. She is beautiful and it was also good to see my nephews and the rest of the family. We played some soccer, went shopping for ice cream and saw the Super Moon.

Sunday it was time to drive home, but first I stopped at Sam's Club to purchase a new TV (the one in my room wasn't working when I left, when I got home it was working, but I'm keeping the new bigger one). I also went on another 4.9-mile run and congratulated myself with froyo from OMG Yogurt.

Today, I rounded out a busy week by heading to SureWest to get a remote that would work with my new TV (in less than 2 minutes I was in and out of their customer service center) and got to taste test a muffin that my roommate made, it passed.

Tomorrow is the Ocho de Mayo #PlacerBizTweetup at Mas in Roseville if you're interested come out and celebrate.

I Saw Dr. Oz

I was given the opportunity to work with HealthCorps at the inaugural "Journey to Oz" event at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium. It was a star-studded gala/fundraiser with Dr. Oz, Montel Williams, Kitty O'Neal and Kevin Johnson. Also in attendance was Captain Sullenberger, the pilot that landed a plane on the Hudson River.

With great decor, speakers, entertainment, wine, food and vendors (including Chipotle and Nugget Market) it was a fun evening. Plus, being able to help check-in media was another good opportunity for me to say hello to friends and make a few new ones. Side benefit ... the all-important swag bag.

In a semi-related health note ... sign up to be an organ donor or show that you already are through Facebook.