A pleasant evening

[jaunthie]

I had a very pleasant evening yesterday, full of planned fun activities and some unplanned bonuses.

My boss from several years back invited a group of folks to join her at a local winery for wine-tasting and catch-up. hiker_chick and I, as former underlings, both decided to go, and since guests were allowed, fisherbear came along too. We all decided beforehand that grabbing a bite of dinner before going to taste a bunch of wines was a good idea, as was carpooling. Fisherbear picked us up after work, and we kibbitzed about where to go. It occured to me that this winery was very close to where Uncle Andrew and She's Jake To Me live, so we gave them a call. She's Jake To Me was still at work, but Uncle Andrew was game for getting together for a bite. Our first choice turned out to be absolutely booked (thankfully Uncle Andrew thought to call ahead and find out they didn't have an open table for hours), but Uncle Andrew had a second suggestion ready to hand. We wound up at his favorite Mexican place. Of course, it was only after we walked in the door that we remembered what day it was...

...the 5th of May. Yes, Cinco de Mayo. For a wonder, the place wasn't packed to the gills, but the amusement of accidentally winding up at a Mexican restaurant on that day had us giggling. We had a fun meal in good company, after which Uncle Andrew kindly led us to the winery on his way back home. He also kindly invited us to stop by afterwards for coffee, should we need it before heading home.

The winery was definitely in the oddest location imaginable. Not only was it in a very old, very nondescript strip mall, but it was underground. To get inside, you had to go down this dark stairway surrounded by iron security bars. More giggling, particularly since the map said the neighborhood was officially "Sunnydale", and hiker_chick and I are both Buffy fans. After making our way past the garage, the very friendly guard-dog (or was it a guard puppy?), and the scene painter (seriously!), we found ourselves in an industrial basement with lots of wine-making equipment, tables and candles, flourescent lighting, colorful banners, and Celtic harp music playing on the boombox stereo. If this sounds bizarre, well yes it was, but it turned out to be a very nice time. The two folks who run the place were a hoot, the company was nice, and the wine was mostly pretty decent, with a few standouts and only one rather undrinkable vintage. It was good to catch up with folks and find out how they're doing. Six glasses and some hours later, we made our farewells, having avoided the temptation to buy a bottle or two to take home with us. But that's okay, because we know where to find them. And if there were any vampires lurking about, they didn't make any trouble. ;-)

By the time we left we definitely felt coffee was a good idea, so we took Uncle Andrew up on his offer. She's Jake To Me had made it home, and it was great to see her. Uncle Andrew produced a pot of extremely primo coffee (hey Roo, what's that Web site again?), and She's Jake To Me let me wear one of her two ball pythons while we sat around, sipped beverages, and talked. Yes, you read that right. She has two ball pythons, and they're a lot of fun to wear draped around your shoulders. I did that at one of her parties once ages ago, and I've been sentimental about it ever since. Not so sentimental that I would ever try to own one - they require a lot of care even when they remember how to eat on their own - but enough that I enjoy the chance to repeat the experience. Of course it's a little odd to have Uncle Andrew and She's Jake To Me repeatedly say "I want a mouse" in high squeaky voices throughout the evening, in response to Sal's obvious desire to be fed, but hey, it's all part of the fun.

Eventually, though, we needed to leave and let them get to bed - not to mention get ourselves home. After dropping hiker_chick off at her car, fisherbear and I finally made our way home and collapsed. A late evening, but a good one.

Comments

[fisherbear.livejournal.com]

Bah, she only calls it undrinkable because of her totally unreasonable insistence that table wines should have nothing in common with balsamic vinegar - and this from a woman trained to drink Laphroaig! I just don't understand it.

Roo sez: http://www.cafemam.com.

[monkeybard]

Speaking for myself, I'd rather just drink the vinegar than bad wine. At least you know what you're getting. ;)

Sounds like you had a great time! Now, you social butterflies, I'll see you tonight. Shall we walk?