Life in Yankeeland: Spring Break and Photos!!

A few weeks ago was Spring Break, and it couldn't have come at a better time for me. School has been intense because my "Law Office" and I (a group of 12 students) are trying to finish up a project that we have been working on since the first week of January for a real client. Our client is Community Catalyst, an organization that advocates for fair billing practices in hospitals. We are helping research and propose legislation in five states--all which are very different. The project states range from Massachusetts (socialized health care) to Arkansas and Texas, which are are the other end of the spectrum. I have really enjoyed the project so far, but working for a real client is definitely more demanding than working on hypothetical cases in class. The project should go well--we are presenting to the client in a few weeks, and somehow I got roped in to being team leader; so, I have got to pull it off.

Ben and I went to San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma Wine Country for a week to celebrate time off from school and to get an idea of whether we might want to move there next! Ben has a few good friends who work in the Bay area at biotech/pharmaceutical companies and have been encouraging him for a while to come work with them. I have no complaints about heading West; so, we may very well make that move in a few years.

Our trip was amazing--we spent a few nights in the city, then headed to wine country for a few days, and then spent to last night at my old roommate and friend Cara's house in Mill Valley! It was so much fun! I will post photos of the trip soon.

The highlight of the trip was definitely touring the Sonoma Coast, and visiting a winemaker who lives off the grid and runs his entire winery using solar energy. It was so inspirational! I was impressed by how much the wine industry advocates for using environmentally friendly production practices. We met some true stwards of the earth on our trip, and I will forever be a consumer of their products (vote with your dollar!) Since I'm on my soap box, if you come across Wild Hog wines, try the Pinor Noir or the Zinfandel--they were the best wines we tasted on the trip. Cakebread Cellars was a close runner-up. :-)

Another highlight of the trip was dinner at Bouchon in Yountville/Napa. It was the best meal I have ever had. The food was so creative, and the wine pairings were right on--I didn't want it to end. Bouchon is the little sister bistro to French Laundry, which is consistently ranked the best restaurant in the country. Both are owned by chef Thomas Keller, and they are located right next door to each other. French laundry is in an actual old French laundry building--it is so cool! The only downside is that you have to make reservations 6 months out and it is pricey. Ben's friend Jeremy used to cook there; so, we tried to see if we could make our way onto the list based on his good word, but the raurant was already entirely booked when we asked him 3 months in advance of our trip! Oh well--there will be a next time!

I have had a few requests for recent pictures; so, I was able to dig up a few (I have not been taking as many as I should!).