I just want to paint a picture for you.

I am sitting, poolside, in 67 degree weather (with a breeze that is typical of this area, so I’m told), sipping a Starbucks (because they are on EVERY corner.. sometimes twice on one street), and drinking a fake martini. 

The one thing that sucks about being on a business trip and *not* being pregnant?  You have to come up with REALLY lame-ass excuses as to why you’re not drinking like a fish on the company’s dime.  For instance, today, we toured the wine country of Santa Maria.  It is GORGEOUS, by the by, and you drive another ten feet to get to another winery.

… WHICH I CAN’T ENJOY.

So, yes, I did the really lame-ass thing of tasting the wine, and then spitting it out.  We had some AMAZING merlots (and I am not a fan of reds) and a pinot noir that made me rethink my unwaivering devotion to pink wines.

There are such weird things about this place, as beautiful as it is.  For instance, did you know that they have BROWN dirt here?  Not bright red clay, but dark brown earth?  And holsteins!  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a “jersey cow” close up, but they have them here!  And mountains.  They have these amazing mountains.. they, like, touch the sky.

What’s the coolest thing to me (and pardon the pun) is the constant wind in this area.  Apparently, this area is catching the same Pacific current that comes off Japan, so the breeze is so clean and cool.  It’s biting in the morning and evening, but during the middle of the day.. it’s almost as exhilarating as the breeze in the depths of Rock City; that air that feels as old and as pure as the rock surrounding you.  It’s the kind of air you breathe in deeply and hope will heal you some way.

What really disappointed me was visiting Applebees for lunch.  REALLY?  I flew 1200 miles to eat at the Neighborhood Grill?  I’ve been promised a more California-ian dinner.

My favorite part is an unexpected perk: the manager that I’m here supporting reminds me of an old friend that I don’t see anymore.  He is a big, teddy bear of a guy, with killer eyes and a great smile, and he gets really animated when he tells stories.  He laughs deep belly laughs, and he nudges you with his elbow when he talks, like he’s letting you in on something.  It’s a surprising kinship that we both fell into easily, especially when we both started professing our undying love to our spouses.  He brags of his children, and I tell stories of Sarah & Bryan exploits. 

This week will not be so unbearable.