http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php Copyright 2012, Donna Piranha Donna Piranha en-US SPHPBLOG 0.4.7.1 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061007-181246 in forever. (Forgive my childish girly grammar). Quite possibly since the Big Day in Vegas, which doesn’t really count as far as I’m concerned. Children were present then, if you know what I mean.

So last night we met at the girl and the fig and laughed, drank and stuffed ourselves sick out on the back patio. It was grey out and slightly rain-ish, but somehow we were warm and cheery. Maybe it was that figgy chilly schmilly something or other I had to drink. I think it was like prune/fig juice mixed with champagne or something, but it was decent. Lora’s raspberry one was better. We shared the 2 best sandwiches on the menu, the fried green tomato one and the coq or croq something something. Both were very satisfying but it’s the lavender crème brulee that I remember most fondly.

After saying goodbye to the two cute high school hostess girls that we’ve known since they were in kindergarten together, we of course went straight to Steiners. Along the way, I noticed there was some new stuff in the window at Sign of the Bear, and I think I’ll have to go back when they’re open to pick up a little surprise for my love and personal chef.
As usual, there were two empty barstools waiting for us at the bar, aka Sam’s Place, but alas, our favorite namesake Sam was missing. He recently passed away, but we’ll always have a whisky old fashion in his honor. In fact, I’m pretty sure it was Sam who got us stuck on whisky. One day at drunch, we decided to try all the bottles behind the bar, one day at a time. We started with rum, then moved to whisky, and well, we got stuck at whisky. Sam liked to make whisky drinks for us, that we’d never heard of. “I thought of a new one for you girls today”, was my favorite thing he always said. He gave us the Old Fashion, the Manhattan, and something I can’t remember, along with the nuances for ordering them in the future. Ah, good ole Sam. We really miss him.

Surprisingly good of us, we only had one drink each before we left and our feet dragged us over to the Homecoming game. Using our well practiced Vegas skills of getting in without paying, we saved 12 bucks and got to watch the homecoming parade. I know, we should support the team financially as well as spiritually, but our charity is someone who serves booze. Anyway, being there was surreal. It was like a flashback only we didn’t recognize anything. I don’t think there were this many people attending any of my homecoming games. Everyone had NP painted on their cheek, which after about 10 minutes I figured out meant Noma Pride. Even the mascot had a new costume. The cheerleaders looked too young and the homecoming queen candidates looked the age we feel we are.

20 minutes later we were at The Swiss, but I think we only used the bathroom. While co-peeing, DivaLora reminisced about the time she was there a while back and had to be pulled from the gutter, even though she was sober. ThisDiva thinks she just doesn’t remember correctly how many drinks she had that night.
After that we walked back to our cars. Well, my car anyway. DivaLora forgot where hers was, so I gave her a ride around the square until we found it.
And that was our Friday night in Sonoma. Too short but still sweet. Dude.

DDP]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry061007-181246 Donna Piranha Sun, 08 Oct 2006 01:12:46 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=10&entry=entry061007-181246 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060912-230937 -]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060912-230937 Donna Piranha Wed, 13 Sep 2006 06:09:37 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=09&entry=entry060912-230937 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060727-003447
It was around 2:30 am, just after the Town Square closed. I was kicked out of the bar with a bunch of other "Class of '86ers", the night of our 20 year reunion. We continued our Remember When's out into the street, barely aware that our surroundings had changed. The warm, silent air was destroyed by our laughter. Some of us were still locals, but most hadn't been back in town for years, some since graduation itself. Nobody wanted the night to end. As the sour dough scent seeped into our circle, a former townie (you know who you are) says, "Hey, do they still give out bread at the French Bakery?" , pointing to the now named Basque Boulangerie. "I don't really know," anwered a real Sonoman, also known as me, "Go find out." I couldn't believe it when he came back with a still warm, perfect loaf of bread. As I'm sure it is with most bakeries, this one bakes it's bread at night so it can be delivered fresh the next morning. You can't believe how amazing our little downtown smells at 3am! If you know what you're doing, you can Lady and the Tramp it by the backdoor and walk away with one of the the best reasons to visit our little paradise. Second best in my opinion. (Cheese will always be number one.) So there we all are, old friends breaking fresh warm bread in the middle of First Street East, at 3 o'clock in the morning. Just like the good old days, but better. Way better. Where else in the world could this have happened?

Someone better send me one of the pictures we took. Do it now!
Love you all,
DDP]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060727-003447 Donna Piranha Thu, 27 Jul 2006 07:34:47 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=07&entry=entry060727-003447 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060718-220857
1- DivaLora has just:

A: Committed herself to marriage
B: Gotten a fantastic job at "the fig pantry"
C: Started keeping an inn
D: Had a big party at her house
E: All of the above

2- DivaDonna is preparing to:

A: Attend her ?? year high school reunion
B: Buy a house
C: Sell a house
D: Go insane
E: All of the above

3- In the near future:

A: There could possibly be a new vintage of the Wine Country Divas website
B: There may be no Diva sightings for a while
C: There may be no new blogging for a spell
D: Whisky will be consumed in Sonoma at an alarmingly increased rate
E: All of the above

4- This quiz is:

A: Cool
B: Fun
C: Brilliant
D: An incredible stroke of genius
E: All of the above

Ok, times up, pencils down.

If you answered "E" to all 4 questions, you are a true Diva fan. You are obvioulsy paying attention to the Diva Wonders of the World. You fill the world with intelligence, amusement and toxic fumes. Your future is a... wait, I don't have time for this crap. You may however be our friend at myspace by clicking HERE

DDP ]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060718-220857 Donna Piranha Wed, 19 Jul 2006 05:08:57 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=07&entry=entry060718-220857 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060704-141918 in the parade.
The only thing better than the parade is the fireworks at night. We like to go down to the fields near Vallejo's Home, where the Sonoma Fire Department shoots them off. We load a wagon with chairs, blankets, pillows, red white and blue snacks and a few flashlights. I love laying there, munching blueberries and listening to the excited chatter of the people we share this cute little town with. And they're all there too. It's almost like a family reunion campout.
I'm looking forward to the sound of the echoing blasts off the surrounding hills. I love the sounds of the crowd, the traditional "Ooh"'s and "Ahh"'s, just like it was rehearsed. I just adore the grand finale. I can't wait to go! I think I'll start packing as soon as I finish this and my hotdogs...

See ya there!

DDP]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060704-141918 Donna Piranha Tue, 04 Jul 2006 21:19:18 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=07&entry=entry060704-141918 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060621-200406
DL
www.winecountrydivas.com]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060621-200406 Donna Piranha Thu, 22 Jun 2006 03:04:06 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=06&entry=entry060621-200406 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060620-163903 Lately I just can't seem to get to the gym without my O-so busy sidekick, and consequently, I'm now a good 15 pounds fatter. Imust do something. The bike path power walk is unbelievably superior to the boring gym routine. There's sun, fresh air, other Ben and Jerry'd locals, it's quite, beautiful scenery (parts of it) and a general sense of belonging to this town.
So now it's the end of a busy, indoor work day, and I'm heading out in the sunshine, to march down the path, one end to the other. Care to join me?
DDP
www.WineCountryDivas.com]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060620-163903 Donna Piranha Tue, 20 Jun 2006 23:39:03 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=06&entry=entry060620-163903 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060610-171810
I have found my home.

DLA
www.WineCountryDivas.com]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060610-171810 Donna Piranha Sun, 11 Jun 2006 00:18:10 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=06&entry=entry060610-171810 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060604-205803

Oh yes, I've been feeling like quite the slug lately. I would think all this yummy sunshine would give me some energy. But it's not energy I lack, it's money. I spent all mine in Vegas. Even my mortgage payment. In April. I'm still catching up. As a direct result, as my daddy used to say (repeatedly)(among other "You did what?" kinds of things), I've lost my privileges. I haven't seen my favorite places since April. I know! How could this be? How do I survive?
Actually, ahem, I've been doing, um, research for the Diva page. Yeah, I've been doing an experiment on the effects of ignoring Sonoma food and entertainment and what it will do to a person. Let me tell you, the results are not pretty. Look at me! I'm yellow! My eyes are bugging out!
Ok, enough is enough. I'm going to have my ultimate favorite lunch tomorrow, Saag Paneer, #11 on the Taste of the Himalayans menu. I won't be able to put gas in my car (a whole separate bitch blog) but I will be glorouisly satisfied. And I'll be supporting my local community again. How has this town survived without me?
Well, I just thought I'd update anyone who may be reading this (and I know you're out there because I look at my stats almost every day and I'm surprised how many of you there are!), and answer your question "Where O where have those Diva Babes been?"
That's my story. I'll leave the other Diva excuse to her. But can I mention that the reason for our Vegas trip was a, oh my god, a, a, a wedding!?
DDP
www.WineCountryDivas.com]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060604-205803 Donna Piranha Mon, 05 Jun 2006 03:58:03 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=06&entry=entry060604-205803 http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060523-124743 Villa Terraza. I'm looking at it right now from my office window. Lot's of lovely goodies for your home and especially your own private backyard-aho. The other place, my personal favorite, best priced and easiest to deal with, is www.outdora.com. Tell 'em DivaDonna sent you. Or maybe I'm still dreaming.
DDP
www.WineCountryDivas.com]]> http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry060523-124743 Donna Piranha Tue, 23 May 2006 19:47:43 GMT http://www.winecountrydivas.com/pblog/comments.php?y=06&m=05&entry=entry060523-124743