Best of 2011

A friend and I have a theory that odd numbered years suck. 2011 was no exception, overall not the best year. However, nothing is all bad, and I would like to share the highlights of my 2011 before it is forever in the past.

1. My Trip to Turkey. One of the best decisions I have ever made and I will never forget it.
2. Two raises and a promotion at work. My social life may have gone downhill this past year, but at least my work life is headed in the right direction.
   
3. The 2011 National Book Festival. I got to see some of the best authors speak and share.
4. The writing group I am a part of now. I have gotten a lot of much needed feedback and motivation.
5. Winery hopping while the weather was nice. Definitely some of the best day trips that exist. (Below is Naked Mountain Winery, yes, it is called, Naked Mountain.)
   
6. All the new friends I've made over the past 12 months. I'm pretty much against people, so you should all feel very privileged.
7. The Hunger Games. Don't even pretend like you didn't read and love them. I can't wait for the movie but have low expectations of it being even close to as good as the books.

How was 2011 for the rest of you? Was it miserable all around or just for me? I can't be the only one this theory applies to. Fingers crossed the even year of 2012 brings many more highlights!

Day Trips: Winery

The past two weekends my friends and I decided to visit some semi-local wineries. Wine, along with books, is one of my favorite things. I own a wine glass that will hold an entire (standard) bottle of wine. No joke. It is my favorite.

And if you missed this tidbit, I am now a resident of Virginia, which happens to be somewhat of a wine country. So to celebrate my new home and my huge love, we decided wineries were the place to go.

Memorial Day weekend we visited the Barrel Oak winery. It was about 45 minutes away but there was a BBQ in addition to the usual tastings. After we arrived we realized the whole place was based on love of dogs. The tasting menus were labeled "BOW" (also an acronym for the winery itself) and "WOW." I personally thought that the "WOW" menu had something to do with the quality of the wine. It included a wine called the Chocolate Lab - a red wine with hints of cocoa. There were also pictures of dogs on many of the bottles you could order. There were also several dogs in attendance, lending to the canine theme all around. Between the wine, dogs and cornhole that was provided it was a very enjoyable day in wine country.

Last weekend we ventured a little farther to Naked Mountain Winery. Yes, you read that correctly, the winery is a tribute to nudity. Their motto, in fact, is "Drink Naked." Don't mind if I do! This winery had a much different feel than the last. It was smaller, with less people and more open space. Overall a much more chill place to be. The wine was just as good, though.I think it's something about drinking wine at the place it was created in the midst of the vineyards they came from that makes wine taste better.

Both weekends were very memorable, and I was able to add some more commemorative wine glasses to my collection. None will ever compare to my Whole Bottle Glass, but they are a good reminder of the good times we had at the wineries. I highly recommend going to one if you ever have the chance. They are beautiful and a fantastic day trip to take post grad. If you haven't gathered by now, this is the reason I have not been posting the past couple weekends. I needed to take a break at some point though, so this weekend has been void of a new winery so I could have time to let you all know where the best times are had.