Sonoma for a quick weekend away

Every couple or months or so, my wife and I get away from the kids, work, dog, house -- everything. It is just us and we don’t have a care in the world. We recently went away to Sonoma, only about 1 ½ hours from our house. But it was a great couple of days full of rain, small towns and great food.

First we decided to stay at “The Lodge” in Sonoma. It is in the Marriott family so we figured we could not go wrong. It is listed as a Category 9 hotel, which is the marriott brand for the top of the line. So we thought it would be pretty nice and out in the vineyards of Sonoma. Boy were we mistaken! The hotel is right on a busy street in Sonoma and was more like a Residence Inn from the 1980s. At best I would say at Category 6 hotel. Not a Category 9. They are in the process of upgrading the property. But I don’t think that will help much. I am guessing you are paying for the Sonoma name more than anything. Very disappointing.

Ok. Now that I told you the bad now for the good. We found great food in Sonoma. We got on the internet and found this little Tuscan family owned restaurant in downtown Sonoma-- Della Santina’s. We were greeted at the door by the owner, who was from the Tuscany region of Italy. Since Paige and went to Italy a couple of years ago we talked about the area and found we had been in his home town. From that time on we got the best treatment you could imagine. He pointed out the best items on the menu and we enjoyed the food and conversation. The food was excellent and next time we are in Sonoma we will go to his restaurant. I just wish we had more small family owned restaurants in Folsom.

The next morning we headed to Petaluma. About 20 minute drive from Sonoma. We enjoyed the cute little downtown and walked in and out of shops just window shopping. We had a great time looking in the Christmas Shop (Every little town has a Christmas shop). We love going into the antique shops and getting ideas for Paige's business Daisy Blossom Creations. We also read about the history of the old victorian mansions in town. There are Some beautiful homes in the old downtown.

Because of the rain we spent most of our time in the car or running from shop to shop. We decided to find a movie to see. Since neither of us had seen "Arrival", we tried to find a theater that was still playing it. We found a theater on the way home that night to see Arrival. The only theater was in Walnut Creek, CA. About a 45 minute drive from Petaluma. And kind of in the direction of home. So we headed across the Bay to Walnut Creek.

We arrived in Walnut Creek just with enough time to grab a bite to eat and head to the movie. While we where trying to find a place to eat we found a little french bakery. What a great little place. And we loaded up on cookies, and pastries for the movie. That is why Paige always brings a big purse into the movies. :)

• Hint 1: for diner and movie in Walnut Creek. You need reservations at any restaurant that is close to the mall. It was a mad house. 
• Hint 2:  Pay of the Valet parking in the big garage. We spent 15 minutes driving around trying to find a place to park. We finally paid $15 to valet the car. Well worth it.

After we finally parked, We get up to the ticket counter to get our tickets to Arrival. The theater switched the film being shown from Arrival to Split, and weren't showing Arrival in that theater anymore. There were a several people in line that where upset. Just like us they had driven to that theater since it was the only one in the area showing "Arrival". We ourselves, had just drove 45 minutes to get there and spent $15 to park in a free parking lot. So we decided to just see "Split".

One of the things I love about my wife is we just love being together. We take changes in plans very easy and we always seem to find a way to have fun. When we go on these small getaways it brings back all of the great memories of our courtship. Stealing moments together and forgetting about the world around us.

DWP

Raising men building a tree fort

During the Christmas of break of 2012 my boys and I decided to build a tree fort in our back yard. That does not seem like an out of the ordinary feat, but our back yard is dominated by 3 large redwood trees all over 60 feet high, a pool, and a trampoline. That would be a pretty typical backyard in California Suburbia, but my lot is only 7200 sq ft. I guess I have brought my work at Intel home. I keep trying to fit more into the same space. 

One of my older sons, Dallin, designed a 5 story backyard fort that incorporated trees, a fence around the pool and our trampoline. He had a blast designing it. With big visions in his eyes of a huge tree fort, we went to our favorite home improvement store, Home Depot and bought all the lumber, Quick Crete and screws we needed to start our fort. We quickly found that our dreams were bigger than what we could finish in a 2 week break from school. So we broke it down into sizable chunks that we could handle in the short time we had during Christmas break.

Now each Christmas or school break for my boys that are in college, we add on to the tree fort. I could say that it is an Agile project. We plan, build and stain in about 3-4 days.  Each time we add something new we are learning how do do something new as well.

This last Christmas Dallin asked me what I was going to do when we move? I said when we move someday we will have to start another tree fort. He has already signed up for another 4 year project.

The project is now 4 years

Phase 1 – Trampoline Platform (2012) 

Madeline trying out things while we are building.

 We learned how to work with quick-crete and cinder block. We also learned to measure twice and cut once.

The three amigos on the Trampoline platform

Phase 2 – Tree house (2013) 

We learned that boards are not straight and that when laying a deck to only start one end, not on both sides, and meet in the middle.

Dallin is the stain master. He learned that using a
pesticide sprayer was the easiest way to apply stain.

Finished staining the wood

Phase 3 – Spa and Pool overlook (Movie platform) (2014)

How to build around a tree and incorporate it into the over all plan.

David making sure everything is strong and secure

My boys turning into men (Dallin, Jacob and Darren)
Spa and pool overlook. Movie platform as well.

Phase 4 – Observation run along the back of the pool (2016)

We decided to try something new and build stairs down to the observation deck instead of a ladder. That added some time to the project. :)

Dallin, Jacob and Darren on the Observation
 run along the back of the pool

We will update this blog when we build again. I can't wait to see what else my boys have in their minds. We will also start adding the two little boys to the construction project. Should be fun!!

DWP

Ottawa in January

January 8, 2017

7am (35 degree F ) Sacramento

Drove to SMF. (Sacramento International Airport). My car seems to know the way without me
paying attention. I have spent more time on the road than at home lately. I was traveling with my Demo POD which has its own Carnet(Passport). Which flying out of Sacramento is problematic. Even Though SMF is an international airport. It is not “International” on a Sunday morning (No Customs Agent to sign my carnet). I will have to get it signed in Chicago before I hop on my flight to Ottawa.

1pm  (-6 degrees F) Chicago

Glad I brought my heavy winter coat. When I got off the airplane the bitter cold came right into the jet-way. I knew it was going to be cold in Ottawa so I came prepared with heavy coat, gloves etc… Or at least the best that a Californian can get ready for the bitter cold of the great white north.  Short layover with a rush to the Customs office to get my carnet signed for the Demo POD. Made my connection with a couple of minutes to spare.

6pm (-30 degrees F) – Ottawa - You read that right, a 65 degree swing from California to Ottawa.

I forgot how cold anything below 0 degrees F really is. I sure felt it. The jet from Chicago to Ottawa was a small 50 passenger Commuter jet, very similar to the one that Intel has to shuttle people back and forth between major sites. Because the plane was so small, my DemoPOD would not fit in the overhead and I had to plane side check it. This meant I had to wait on the Jet-bridge for my bag. I have not been that cold in a long time. The Jet bridge did not cover the smaller aircraft all the way so it was just as cold in the jet-way as outside. Since it was so cold outside, we had to wait for the ground crew to come out and get the luggage. I guess they don’t make them stand outside and wait for aircraft when it is so cold. Needless to say, there were a number of us that froze on that jet bridge waiting  30 minutes for our luggage.

This is what -25 F looks like

I Retrieved my bag and headed to Customs and Immigration. Carnet and Passport in hand. I spent another hour and a half going through customs and immigration. Next, off to the hotel. It had already been a pretty long day, so I was looking forward to just relaxing before my meetings over the next couple of days.

I normally rent a car when I travel. It tends to save money since I am typically visiting several locations. This time my Ottawa based contact suggested I refrain from driving the wintry roads of Ottawa and get a taxi. That was a wise decision. I guess they figured a California boy did not know how to drive in the snow and ice. They were right. It has been over 20 years since I lived in the ice and snow of Toronto. It was nice to leave the driving to a pro.

This was my second time to Ottawa and my second time staying at the Marriott downtown. It is pretty centrally located and easy to get around Ottawa. Last time I was in Ottawa they gave me the presidential suite. One of the perks of travelling a lot in my career. No such luck this time. But I still got a nice upgraded room. My wife tried to surprise my by having a cheese plate and dessert in my room when I arrived for my birthday. But when I arrived they switched my room. She kept wondering why I didn’t mention something to her when I called. It is always nice to know that you are loved when something like that shows up.

January 9th – 9am – (-10 degrees  F)

A Narwhal in one of the buildings we walked thru

It actually was warmer this morning than the previous night. The weather here is constantly changing, and people know their way around the cold. Most of my meetings were downtown today. We spent our time walking through buildings to stay out of the cold. I remember when I lived in Toronto I could easy walk downtown without going outside. There are tunnels that connect all of the major buildings downtown. This is not the case in Ottawa. So you have periods of bitter cold between buildings. But everyone is doing it. I felt like I was a rat in a maze. I am glad I had someone with me or I would have been lost otherwise.

6pm – (32 degrees and snowing)

Snowy Ottawa

One thing I remember from living in Toronto was when it snowed it warmed up. It really does not snow when it is – 30 degrees. So the warm up was great and then the snow came in sheets. We got about 6 inches in just 3 hours. So walking home after dinner was very quiet. There were no cars or people in the streets at 9pm at night in a busy city. The snow also muffled the typical sounds of a big city. It was eerie and calm.

January 10th – 9 am (38 degrees and melting)

All of the snow from the night before was melting and causing a slippery wet and muddy mess. People were ready for the change in weather. The big heavy coats that I had seen from the days before were gone and just a sweater and light jacket were the fashion of the day.  I also saw some of the most colorful rain boots. People were ready to slosh through the messy streets of Ottawa. I of course, was not prepared for this, but I survived. I got to see an almost 70 degree swing in temperature in the 2 short days I was in Ottawa. Something I know I would not have experienced back in California.

3pm – (38 degrees) Headed home (Ya!!)

Off to the YOW (Ottawa International Airport). For a nation’s capital, Ottawa actually has a pretty small airport. But that makes it easy to get in and out of. They have one terminal and from what I could gather about 20 gates. So about half the size of Sacramento.  I still had a long day traveling home. My layover was in Chicago, which is always risky. I have been delayed out of Chicago too many times in my years of travel. I was concerned about my connection from Chicago to SFO and then on to SMF.

11pm – (42 degrees) SFO

I should have listened to my gut. My flight out of Chicago was delayed for 2 hours, which meant that I would not make my flight from SFO to SMF. I landed in SFO 15 minutes after my flight to SMF left. United gave me the option to stay the night at a local Marriott or drive home. It was already 11pm at night so I took the hotel stay and caught a flight the next morning.

So what did I learn from this trip.

Poutine Canadian Fries

• You have to dress in layers when traveling to Canada (The Great White North).
• There are flannel lined Jeans. Wish I had them on this trip.
• Don’t wear shoes, without treads on the bottom, to Canada in the winter.
• Don’t fly through Chicago (ORD). Even if another flight is longer. It will be shorter.
• Always remember the little things to show someone you love them.
• When in Canada you must try poutine canadian fries!

Safe travels!

DWP