Japanese Encephawhatnow?

Fear not friends, thou shalt not catch an exotic disease from me! Last week I was vaccinated to within an inch of my life against all sorts of tropical illnesses, leaving me several hundred dollars poorer and with arms that felt as though they'd been used as punching bags - six shots in about five minutes. The cost does NOT include the prescriptions for malaria and whatnot, and then MORE prescriptions for the side effects you might get from the other prescriptions...I lost track, but I'm Japanese Encephalitis free for now!

I was glad to cross another major thing off the travel to-do list, but, speaking of lists, I'm starting to find myself hung up on the little things ("Quel surprise!", I hear you say) like (sorry gentlemen readers) but, you know, feminine products. I mean, I read that in some African countries these things are reserved for royalty, so I'm thinking I might want a few creature comforts handy! (Unless anyone thinks I could pass as a Duchess of some kind? Countess of Connecticut?)

Getting in a tizzy about Tampax leads to a general panic about the size of backpack I need, upon which a panic about purchasing said backpack ensues, which sets me off about packing in general, and then about whether or not I should have a party dress, which ultimately leaves me fretting about how many eyeliner pencils will last me seven months. (Yes, I'm taking eyeliner - I am committed to maintaining an air of femininity throughout this journey and no-one can stop me!)

I was thrilled to escape all this, though, this weekend when the BF and I went up to Napa for Easter. Aaaaah. Well, Calistoga actually. He (the BF) has some family friends up there who own a vineyard called Canard (http://www.canardvineyard.com/). They (the Czapleski family) live in an old farmhouse right in the middle of the vines. It's just fabulous (see pics below)- hot tub, pool, huge deck and outdoor kitchen for grillin', beautiful views and lots (and lots and lots) of vino! We spent much time at the kitchen table gabbing, drinking reds, whites, bubbles and eating our weight in food, but we did actually get out and do some wine-tasting. We visited Beaulieu Vineyard, my all-time number one winery of which I'm a member, and got the royal treatment (I'm a Countess, right?) with tastes of all sorts of reserve (read: much dollar) wines. We also did a tour of Clos Pegase and the wine caves, as the Czapleski's son works there. Learned a lot, drank more. It'll be a while 'til I'm up there again, but Candi and Rich (and Thor!) have NOT seen the last of me.