Year in Review

pregrapes2
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

November: We planted a very small vineyard at M's parents' house in the Sierra Foothills. 60 Syrah vines. This is the pre shot. I will post a "post" shot in the Spring. I also saw U2 twice and we spent a weekend visiting a friend in Idaho.

December: I went to Vancouver for a standards conference for work and we spent a few days in Vegas. Nice Christmas with our families and then the New Year. Not a bad year.

Year in Review

my_dog
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

October: Adopted a wonderful dog from a rescue organization! Also had a nice day of wine tasting in my home town, Lodi.

Year in Review

Famous Beer Cozy
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

August: went to an A's game and saw Liz Phair.

September: Had a wonderful time at the Austin City Limits Festival with Leslie. Saw so many bands in 108 degree weather: Death Cab, Bloc Party, Decemberists, Cold Play, the Walkman, Arcade Fire, etc. Really fun.

Year in Review

champs_tourdefrance
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

June: lots of gardening. My first tomatoes. Saw Keren Ann and Lucinda Williams at a great show in Stern Grove.

July: The Tour de France! We spent 10 days following the tour, ending in Paris. It was amazing.

Year in Review

pictagraphs
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

March: stayed home but planted tomatoes and gardened in my new house. My first Spring was wonderful.

April: we took a week long trip to Utah where we viewed ancient pictagraphs and motorcycled through the desert. My first experience riding my own motorbike! Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas were also highlights.

Year in Review

025_ScottsdaleMountain
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

March: My dad and I spent a few days in Scottsdale and Tucson watching Spring Training and the SF Giants. Nice time even though the Giants sucked last year.

Year in Review

am-me copy.jpg
Originally uploaded by Amanda McPherson.

Now that's 2005 is over, I'd like to look back at the highlights of the year that was.

January: a very cold trip to Boston for work. Incredibly cold!

February: Costa Rica for my birthday. Here we are on the Blue Dolphin sail boat. We also spent a great time visiting my friend Jim and his record store Jaime Peligro in Tamarindo.

Not really funny but . . .

I'm not really a bad person; I'm just worried about this whole bird flu thing, so you can imagine that I found a little humor in this headline.

Girl Catches Bird Flu From Kissing Chicken

I'm planning on stocking up on Advil, cough syrup, antihistamines and chicken soup just in case. I'm also planning on practicing chastity on chicken farms.

Morbid Dedication

Woman and Caregiver Die in Suicide Pact

A 106 year-old woman and her 30 year-old male caregiver apparently died in a murder/suicide pact in the city yesterday. The man had cared for her for the last nine years, since he was 21. For some reason this really strikes me. There all kinds of surprising human relationships.