let's dip back into the Sonoma trip

The Sonoma trip of, oh, a month ago, that is.  Sheesh, Peter!

Oh, I'll give myself some grace.  I am feeling better though far from 100%.  Nonetheless, let's press on....

First off, our hotel was really lovely.  Van picks out fantastic places for us all the time.  He and Conrad and stayed at the MacArthur Place Hotel and Spa previously, and he had wanted me to enjoy it as well.  A short walk into downtown Sonoma, a not-too sprawling collection of buildings,

some of them historic.  We had half of a one-story bungalow,

a sizeable room with seating area and,

hey!  An outdoor tub on our private patio. 

Why yes, the two of us did ease ourselves into that for a soak together.

We had our dinner the night we arrived at Layla, the hotel restaurant. 

My fish was outstanding,

the crab cake was fine enough,

the cocktails were tasty,

and the citrus dessert (which photographed badly) was outstanding. 

We never did make it there for breakfast in the mornings, alas - I had heard the hash browns were excellent - nor did we drop by for a drink.  There were a lot of other dining options in the city that we instead enjoyed.  Still, the hotel was very very comfortable, and I would happily go back.  And even if I wasn't staying there, I'd go to The Porch again if I could, the lobby coffee shop that made a damn good decaf latte and some terrific pastries.  Right, Van?

We did a lot on foot in Sonoma, which I appreciated.  Step count!  The mission

surprised me in two ways.  First, I didn't realize Sonoma had one of the old missions.  It turns out it was the last and farthest north of the old missions, and second, unlike, say Santa Barbara, it's but a shell of what it was.  We didn't venture in, only outside of it.  But we popped into a number of shops around the town square nearby and bought a few smaller things as well as making time to enjoy tastings

at Prohibition Spirits.  What lovely people there, and what a cool shop. 

I couldn't fit too much into the suitcase home, but I picked up a small bottle of a gin that I liked.

Lunch on our day in town was at LaSalette, which sounds like a French cafe but instead is very fine Portuguese dining.  A nice discovery, and shamefully less busy than it deserves.  We sat at a counter and watched the cooking in action.  A non-alcoholic cocktail to start,

then an asparagus soup for me

and grilled sardines. 

I was gobsmacked when I saw them on the menu, and I knew they were mine.  So good, I stopped in after tasting spirits later to buy the cookbook.  I have yet to give it the good browse it merits.  Dinner, meanwhile, was at The Girl and the Fig, a restaurant that I realized I had been to before with Conrad, Courtney, and Robert years back.  Lively place.  I ordered a vodka martini,

a small heresy, but I was intrigued by the use of fresh bay leaf.  The deviled eggs we shared

were a delight, and that bone-in pork schnitzel was quite the dinner. 

I loved it, I couldn't finish it.

It wasn't a lot of time in the town, though I made up for it with my morning walks, I think.  Sonoma proved to be a handsome town worth a return!

I will miss these people

Last week I finished my last trip to Chicago to fulfill obligations to ALA.  I still have a little under two months to go, concluding my work at the end of the annual conference in Philadelphia next month.  And I have to say, it's been a turbulent three years of work with ALA.  I still believe in the association and what it can and should do, but I will be happy to walk away from the work and eventually become nothing more than a regular paid member.  And I will never return to the divisions.  Seriously?  Fuck them.  Maybe one day I will edit that last bit.

But I will miss these people.  Oh, I know that I will see them at conferences and outside of ALA.  For sure I will.  But gone will be the morning walks.  The meals.  The evening drinks.  We've built up real bonds, friendships.

My cohort:  Sara,

Kathy,

Amy,

Karen,

as well as Emily.  Plus there's Sam. 

And Peter. 

And the others, like Steven

and Sophia and Stephanie and Corinthia and Nick and Cindy and am I forgetting anyone?  But my cohort are the most special to me, I admit, and I will miss them most.

Thanks to all of them for riding out these past years with me.  We all needed each other.

so while I sit around here at home, sick...

... let me post a little on here.

But ugh, sigh, I hate being sick.  Not just a cold, alas, but COVID. 

May I blame one of the unmasked coughers who were next to me on my flights last week?

It did start out as a good weekend.  We'd been to the Kylie Minogue concert the night before, and it was a late night that led to a sleep-in.  Conrad and I had a short walk, and then it was a welcome, usual breakfast at Amara.

It all went wobbly after that, and by 1 in the afternoon on Saturday, I was shivering in bed.  Fun times.

And now I'm suffering what feels more like a cold, still low energy and focus, and bored from being at home sick.

Sigh. 

Look who are together again!

Sixteen days apart.  It was a joy to see Conrad at last yesterday, to get a very good night of sleep together, and return to our morning walks.  Yay!!

And neither of us has travels plans the rest of May!

morning walks in Chicago

In the past few years, when I get together with my fellow Board members at conference or for our meetings in Chicago, I gather the willing (only a few of us) and go for early morning walks.  Debriefing from the previous day, general chat, seeing the city we're in, getting some steps.  It's a nice tradition that will soon come to something of an end.  A post for another time.

Still two more mornings to go here, but my Thursday flight is likely too early to allow for a walk.  Ah well.  We'll have had some solid outings, seeing something a little different each time.

Thursday, a little loop in Streeterville. 

Friday, up Michigan Avenue, back down along the lakefront, then to a Starbucks (where I stopped instead of pausing my watch). 

Saturday, down into Grant Park and then back up along the lake and then the river. 

Sunday, west along the river and then back through The Loop. 

Yesterday, out to and then south along the lake and back. 

This morning, out to and around Navy Pier. 

Not sure about tomorrow.  Maybe south on State Street, past the public library?  Appropriate, right?  We shall see.

My step count on this week here has been pretty good, I'm happy to say!

morning walk in Sonoma

It was a Tuesday morning in Sonoma.  Early, or earlyish.  Van was still asleep, as you might have assumed.  I headed out from the room into the courtyard of the hotel grounds,

then out to the street and east into the fog. 

I passed a cemetery,

I passed into the outskirts of Sonoma (not a very big town), I passed a small vineyard or two. 

I came upon a community garden/park

situated on a street with a green canopy. 

I had a lovely morning walk.

I walked every morning in Sonoma, alone and early.  Nice quiet time.  A sunny morning on the Wednesday when I went out.

Crossing through the town's center square and past the old Carnegie library building,

exploring another direction in the city from the previous mornings.

Another glimpse of spring break before I turn out my light here in Chicago.  Enjoy!

Hey!

I’m in Chicago for meetings.  Got here last Wednesday, home on Thursday.  Busy busy days.  But, look:  Chicago!

I’ll check in at length again soon.  I promise that a lot lately, I know.

fried chicken

So good, we went twice!

I'll blog other Sonoma meals soon enough, but this was lunch on the day we left Sonoma and headed to the coast.  Van and Conrad had been to Lou's Luncheonette

on a previous trip, and Van

was keen to take me there.  The fried chicken was pretty darn good, hot out of the fryer. 

The biscuits? 

God, yes!  Mmmmmm...

We went back for lunch two days later on our way to the airport.  A fried chicken sandwich for me that day.  I may have liked it even better.  Honestly?  I hope I get back there again some time.

spa day in Sonoma

Here, let's do some short Sonoma vignettes over the days ahead.  I'll mix in Chicago if and when I can!

A spa day on our first full day in Sonoma - that was part of the plan for the trip.  Massages for each of us at the hotel spa.  My massage therapist was not able to work that day, and so I had a facial instead. 

I was done before Van, and took the opportunity to relax in the spa hot tub. 

I also got into the hotel pool,

and I would have insisted Van join me, but nope, that water was not as warm as my delicate self wanted.

I confess, I very much like treating myself well.  You can tell that by the food and drink.  But spas are a great example of that as well!