Yeah, that probably needs an explanation...
Back when I was in the investigative stages for my winery I was introduced to a small winery in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, called Girls Gone Wine. My friend, Brandy, and I decided to drive up there one Saturday and see what the fuss was all about. What we discovered when we got there was a cute little winery with delicious offerings and some of the nicest owners in the world. We dealt with Michelle...actually spent a couple of hours with Michelle. We picked her brain...asked questions...drank wine...shopped in their on-site wine boutique...toured their facility and just generally wallowed in the experience. Michelle was gracious, kind and friendly. She didn't begrudge us one minute of her time and even referred us to another winery in Oklahoma City where we were able to intern for a weekend. During the course of our visit a friendship developed which led to the discovery of a GGW Halloween party that, though maybe not intended, has become a tradition. In 2010 there were four of us that made the trip for the party. This year there were 7 of us scheduled to go, but only three of us made the trip. One canceled due to gallbladder surgery, one had a stomach virus, one had a funeral to attend and one just plain backed out. But the three who went had a blast. Now, to the beginning...
While cleaning out my house...closets, drawers, cabinets, etc....I came upon my wedding gown. When I got married in 1979 my gown was BEAUTIFUL! It still is today, thanks to my mom's foresight of having it cleaned and preserved in one of those sealed boxes. It is still as white as the day it was purchased. But I digress... It has been 32 years since I wore that gown and, sadly, there is no way in Hades that this body will ever fit in that dress again. And really, why should it? Sure, it would be nice to be a size 3 again, but I will never again have a REAL need for a wedding gown. Anyhoo, I found my gown and while it has held up beautifully...the box has not. Fell completely apart. Now, what to do with the gown, the slip, the ring bearer pillow, the veil and the garter??? I used the garter as a decoration around a glass candle jar. As for the rest...??? During this "cleanfest" October was approaching and plans were being made for the second annual Ghouls Gone Wine Halloween party. Thus, the idea was born for my Halloween costume. I was destined to be a Red Neck Bride. See...there's a logical explanation for everything. Well, almost everything.
So, there you have it. Plans were made...hotel reservations made...costumes assembled...luggage packed...and roadtrip scheduled to begin Saturday morning, October 29, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.
Sure enough, Saturday morning rolled around and around 10:00 a.m. my traveling companions, Kim and Nikki pulled in the driveway and threw their "stuff" in my trunk. Nikki is my sister-in-law's sister-in-law (other side of the family). Nikki is a few years younger than me, but she built her costume around being the red neck mother of the red neck bride. She was hilarious!
My other traveling companion was my sister-in-law's son's girlfriend. I know...how redneck is that description. But, nonetheless, Kim built her costume around being the "knocked up" redneck daughter of the bride. She, too, was hilarious.
Costumes in our luggage which was successfully secured in the trunk of my car, we headed out. Our first destination was Los Pinos Winery in beautiful Pittsburg, TX. This quaint little winery sits in the boonies of East Texas. You really have to know that it is there to find it. We know...we found. Both of my companions LOVED this winery...with it's delicious food options...it's vineyards all around...it's unique decor...
Nikki's Artichokes...
Carol's Cheese Toes
Kim's Ribs
Leaving Los Pinos, it is tradition for us to stop on the railroad tracks and take pictures. I'm sure the wine in our systems has nothing at all to do with that decision!
Then it was on to Broken Bow, Oklahoma where we checked in at our hotel and began party preparations.
On our way out the door to the party Kim made some statement about being hungry. Nikki and I joked aloud that she was eating for two. Just as we passed a random, nice looking young man in the hallway Kim said, "I am NOT pregnant" to which the aforementioned random, nice looking young man asked, "Do you want to be?" Then, embarrased, he hastily added, "Just kidding." We were rolling on the floor laughing. We giggled all the way to the car and headed up the road where we attended the Ghouls Gone Wine party and "people" watched (or is it "creature watching") while enjoying sandwiches, chips, cupcakes and, of course, wine. Here are just a few of the attendees...
After the party we returned to the hotel, cleaned off the eyeshadow, changed clothes and drove across the street, literally, to the Choctaw Casino at Broken Bow. Nikki and Kim gambled for about an hour and they were done. Nikki lost what she had brought to gamble with and Kim, while gaining $50+ didn't want to risk losing it. I, on the other hand, wasn't ready to leave so I gave them the keys to my car and said, "See you later. I'll walk across when I'm done." Three and a half hours later...and up $90, I considered the night a success and cashed out. I walked across to the hotel and let myself in about 12:30 a.m. The girls were still up so we talked a bit, drank some more wine and watched a bit of TV. There was some decorating show on with the designer being in Dallas. After that we drifted off to sleep about 2:00 a.m.
I was startled from sleep at 5:30 a.m. by something that I finally recognized as a ringing telephone. I awakened Kim to answer the phone since I would have had to either reach across her or get up and walk around her. Being in a stupor I figured it was better to have her answer it. It was the front desk. Apparently our other roommate had gotten up and gone out for a smoke and then come back into the lobby and passed out in the floor. Kim and I rushed down to the lobby to find Nikki barely able to talk and white as a ghost. We scramble to get her some orange juice when she literally fell out of the chair backwards onto the floor. The hotel manager called an ambulance in a panic and we managed to get some orange juice down Nikki. Apparently she was experiencing a low blood sugar incident. The ambulance company called back and their only ambulance was on its way to Oklahoma City and it would be quite some time before they could get an ambulance to us. By that time Nikki was returning to her old self so we canceled the ambulance and got her back to the room where she drifted off to sleep for a few hours and awoke later feeling better. Lesson to be learned...if you are going to take a pain pill...best not be drinking and make sure that you eat something.
To wrap this story up...we got up around 9:00 a.m....again...got dressed and headed home. Ready to do it all again next year? You bet!! Well, all except that passing out in the lobby part. I think we'll leave that out next year!!
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