From UC Davis

Ladies and Gentleman, cue up the music please. Ah, yes, a nice soft violin will work as I tell you my sob story. I currently find myself on the campus of UC Davis, participating in an executive continuing education conference on wine. For a week, my schedule is nothing but drink wine, talk about wine, drink some more wine, eat a gourmet meal, take an afternoon break and talk about what wine we drank over some beer, and then back to more wine. I know what all of you are thinking right now.  Now that is a tough life! I mean, when are you getting time to train for your marathon? And back to hanging out on a college campus drinking all day? Who would ever want to revisit that part of their life? But cry not to much for me dear friends. I attend these conferences in order to be the best winemaker that I can be for you. I have even found a little time to keep training for the big race in June. Behind me hotel is the UC Davis Arboretum, a long, beautiful 100 acre park with a three mile running trail. What a great running path! The arboretum is long and stretches along one side of the campus and runs between campus and the interstate. With streams and larger ponds along the path, the course sits down low, with pedestrian and car bridges running above feeding people into the main part of the university. Its a really neat area, with the sights of nature all around, but the sounds of cars, and the occasional break into another area of the campus. Nothing beats a run were one minute you are in the woods, the next you are running past some stoners playing hacky sack in the quad. In order to perform my training, I actually skipped out on the first part of a wine and cheese tasting! I know, true sacrifice and dedication! Instead of getting to drink wine and taste cheese for three hours, I only went for two! I am such a beacon of light, shinning my bright light of self sacri...owww! Hey, I think that lamp just slipped out of your hand and hurled itself at my head!