Miner Family 2008 Gary's Vineyard Pinot Noir

Yesterday my parents and brother were meant to be arriving in San Francisco for a weekend of good food and wine, baseball (my first SF Giants game) and relaxing in my backyard with a vineyard view. That was to be followed by a week of more good food (did I mention wine?) and beautiful surroundings (Napa and Half Moon Bay). Instead, they flew to Denver, Colorado - on a stop over to Bozeman, Montana.

What is in Bozeman, Montana you may be asking yourself? Well, besides the other 3/4 of my immediate family at the moment (and apparently a lot of mountains), there also happens to be a local television station that has agreed to employ my younger brother as a sports reporter.

That's right, Landon, my baby brother, is officially an employed college graduate! And soon to be a resident of Bozeman, Montana. I now have yet another travel destination to add to my list.

While I am incredibly disappointed that my family had to cancel their trip, I couldn't be happier for Landon. And while I've been getting the updates via phone and text (latest status update: they are on the hunt for an apartment), I spent my weekend in San Francisco with Christina instead.

Yesterday, we were women on a mission. This evening, Christina leaves for Burning Man, a week-long festival of sorts in the desert of Nevada. That's putting it simply. And Burning Man is anything but simple. Dare I try to explain.

Each year, an entire town is created in the desert for a week and then disappears without a trace. The town becomes a vibrant artists' community, where people share everything without the exchange of any real money. And without the conveniences of the real world. Whatever you need for the week - water, food, toilet paper - you need to bring yourself.

Christina is going for the full week, a feat I wouldn't dare attempt myself. However, I have some sense of adventure in me. Now that my family won't be here through Labor Day, I will be spending the holiday weekend in the desert. And, after yesterday, have the supplies to do so.

I know, it's crazy. But, that's the point. It's crazy. It's wild, out of the box, something I would NEVER do - and probably never will do again. Which is why I'm doing it. Live in the moment. Once in a lifetime. Carpe diem. You only live once. Right? Plus, it will make for an interesting story. And hilarious photos, I'm sure.

Part of me feels as though I'm embarking on this journey from a journalistic point of view. To observe and tell the story rather than to experience it as an active participant (though I'm sure the two will overlap).

However, until I leave on Thursday after work and drive straight through the night (in my friend David's old VW bus - he will be my partner in crime for the weekend), I will continue to enjoy life in civilization (or la la land, really - do I ever live in real life?).

In San Francisco last night, Christina and I went to Press Club, a unique venue that serves as wine bar, tasting room and event space all rolled into one. Featuring six Napa and Sonoma wineries, Press Club has a bar for each winery individually, as well as a larger bar where you can order wines from all six, along with small plates.

Jaime (pronounced Hi-me), a friend of Christina's boyfriend, led us through a tasting of the Miner Family's wines, while telling us the story of the vineyard. He was so generous, shared so much information about their wines, that before we knew it we were half an hour late for our dinner reservation.

By the time we finished dinner at 11 pm the only thing on our minds was sleep - which fortunately was a whole lot closer than driving to Napa. Thanks mom and dad for the room at the W Hotel. It made for a leisurely stumble home - and a view like this to wake up to this morning. Happy Sunday.