Winter Break

This year, for the first time since 2005, I had a winter vacation. Not a couple of days off, but a solid 2 1/2 weeks aided by the positioning of Christmas/New Years on Thursdays. Good times.

From 12/20-1/4 I really just relaxed. My travels were as follows: NY, NJ, PA, NJ, CT, NY, CT, NY, CA, NY. The highlight of that was obviously CA.

California was great. We spent 4 nights at a Four Seasons in Westlake Village and then 2 in LA with Diana's friend Laura from high school. A few random stories and observations from my trip:

1. The fact that I didn't go to school at Pepperdine on the cliffs of Malibu is a travesty. Just thinking about the fact that I didn't even apply here is depressing.

2. Car rentals are an absolute ripoff and I'm convinced that they do everything within their power to make it as miserable of an experience as possible for you.

3. The kid sitting behind us on the return flight basically threatened our lives for reclining our seats, and even went so far as passing us a note saying that he was filing a complaint about us to Continental.

4. Nobu Malibu serves an amazing and life changing dessert called chocolate spring rolls that everyone must try once.

5. LA was similar to high school in that everyone competes with how nice their cars are. People even rev their engines and race from one stoplight to another. It was like being on Livingston Avenue, only with more lanes.

6. In and out burger is delcious and all other fast food places should be ashamed of themselves

7. We did a wine tasting tour with Wine Edventures and it was fantastic. $95 a person for a full day tour including transportation, lunch, and cover at 4 different wineries. I can't recommend this tour more. It was a really fun day and a great deal.

8. We got a deal at a four seasons through our friend Lauren who works for them. Their service is noticably the best of any I've experienced to the point where it is awkward. At a certain point I need to do things for myself. We got 4 or 5 hand written letters from them. Its like having a creepy secret admirer or something.

9. I got one souvenier from the trip (besides a case of wine from the wine tasting) and that was a burn on my right bicep from the cooking class we took at the "wellness kitchen" that was attached to our hotel. I'll tell you, there was nothing "wellness" about it. I left worse than I came in and will probably have a permanent scar now. Thanks wellness kitchen!

10. The weather is just great. Its December, and its 70 and sunny. I mean come on. The best part is that when it is below 60, everyone breaks out their winter clothes. People had hats and scarves on, and I was walking down the street in a polo and shades. They really are spoiled.

So that was my winter vacation. It was a great and relaxing two weeks. I've now been back at work for about 5 hours and it is as if my vacation happened last year. Oh yeah, it did. Happy 2009.