Catch up...

Okay, I'll probably have to do a couple of blog updates, since so much has gone on.
I guess I'll start with the oldest events. I don't know if my mind can get that far back, but I'll try. And everyone wonders why I take so many pictures, its because I cant remember what I did yesterday! UGH.. that's another post though. Okay. so where am I.... I guess I'll start with our trip to Charlotte over Thanksgiving. The weather up to Thanksgiving here in Cleveland had just been UGH! So, we leave for Charlotte early Thursday morning. We get into town and wow, the weather was perfect. It was 65 degrees and I realize I could live here and not miss the cold of Cleveland. Thanksgiving night, we decided since it was probably the only chance we would have, we headed down to Whisky River (Dale Jrs. Bar in downtown Charlotte). Great bar. I just felt bad for the ton of workers that came in on Thanksgiving night to work and they had all of about 15 customers. I actually finally got to taste the Sweet Tea Vodka that I had been hearing so much about. FireFly. The stuff is AWESOME... Mix it with some lemonade and your in trouble!!! I hope we make it back there some day! After that we were crazy... we headed off to Concord Mills for the opening at Midnight to shop (who leaves a great bar to go shopping at midnight, but ME!) The place was PACKED. We walked around stopped at a couple of stores and headed back to the room.. Just wasn't much out there I needed.
It felt great to sleep in on Black Friday though.... Friday morning, we woke up, stopped at a couple of stores to see what I could come up with on deals... Didn't do to bad. Stopped at the track for their annual blow out sale. Kind of funny, I didnt feel my normal frenzy of wanting to buy all the deals. We did pick up a couple of GREAT deals at the Michael Waltrip trailer. Didnt take the car on the track, like we used to do. We then headed out to my MOST favorite Winery in the world. Richard Childress Winery. We picked up my bi-annual case of wine... Another packed place. It was good to see them doing so good. We've gone in there before and its been dead. So its great to see it working out so well for Richard. No matter what wines I find in life, I will always have a special place for Childress Wine.
Saturday we woke up, knowing we were headed back to Cleveland, so there really was no rush. We got on the highway and were headed towards Statesville, when I start trying to find Benny Parsons winery on GPS and the Internet on my phone. I'm so glad we made the effort to find it. Okay, when they say its off the beaten path, they aren't lying, at all! We got lost twice even following their directions and ignoring GPS. I haven't meeet much a bunch of people that was so nice in a very long time. Terry is a great women and its obvious why Benny married her. For her to pick up where he left off with 'his' little project. WOW... They've put the winery tasting and museum in her walk out basement. The staff was the best bunch of employees/ friends I have come across in a very long time! I honestly, can't wait to go back, I don't care how far out of the way it is.
Oh, yeah, if you ever want to buy liquor in North Carolina, Don't... its expensive... we ended up making a run down to South Carolina before we left and picked up plenty of sweet tea vodka to last me till our next trip! And a few other fun things to try. like Absinthe... We will see how that goes, or if I just keep it for looks!
Well.. that's one weekend down.. tons of other stuff to talk about!