I suppose because I am training in (neuro)psychiatry, I use the word "respite" often. So often, in fact, that I would say it without thinking, and I had forgotten the actual meaning of the word. So according to the forever factual internet, this is the official definition:
1re·spite
noun\ˈres-pət also ri-ˈspīt, British usuallyˈres-ˌpīt\
If there were ever a thing that I needed, that would be it. Between working daily with the most ill of the mentally ill, studying for (yes, yet another) board exam, an upcoming inservice psychiatry exam, wrestling my way through beastly clinics and 24 hour weekend call, and preparing a comprehensive case study to be presented in front of my peers and attendings... yup, a temporary delay or rest would be quite nice.
This weekend I had the incredible good fortune to spend time with some of my most favorite people in the world, in one of my most favorite places in the world. I think I get the whole "respite" thing now :)
Kim and Michelle came from their respective homes in New England to visit and pick some grapes. Kim also has a birthday coming up very soon, so we bedecked her in adorable kitchen gear in the preparation for the day where she gets a moment of respite from baby catching and gets to play Julia Child.
please only look at my adorable friend and ignore my disgusting kitchen.
Kim only drops cakes, never babies.
these girls are just fabulous, amazing creatures. love them.
We trek out to the Oldak family winery to help with the harvest! In a bittersweet realization, even the leaves on the grape vines are just starting to change color for the fall. Bear with me while I post an unnecessary amount of pictures of grapes and leaves (I tend to get carried away...)
As overqualified and yet novice grape pickers, we learn the lingo of "lugs", "stemmers", and "the bladder press". I think the DSM IV TR might have something else to say about those words.
Michelle even makes the grape harvest look like ready to wear couture
grape skins and squish littering the grounds
Olive joined us at the winery! She wondered why we would sit around putting sticky round things in yellow buckets rather than racing up and down the aisles of grapes, sniffing everything suspect, and rolling in piles of smelly stuff. Humans are so weird.
end of summer
We might have tried a grape. or two.
requisite "through the leaves" shot.
reunited!!!
a (future) bottle of red
just some grass and clover :)
petit ami- our favorite grape for name and flavor
After finishing up the harvest for the day, the sun comes out! It must be because the clouds finally "burned off". Yes, definitely. So we drive over to Newburyport, a place that has so many amazing happy memories for me, especially when I get to go there with my friends :)
First things first. Starbucks. I don't care if I am a slave to the corporate machine. I am just overjoyed there is not a dunkin donuts to be found. This is a perfect example of respite.
oh yes, its pumpkin spice latte time.
Oldies! a required stop in Newburyport. So much weird old stuff.
After some hard core shopping and wandering, we settle in for a rooftop dinner and drink. This was our view, with some uninvited dinner companions as well.
These steamers scared the crap out of everyone, but I ate them anyways :) I'd like to state for the record that all three women ate seafood that day. ALL THREE. Kim said its the right thing to do when you can see where your food came from (looking down into the atlantic).
The sun goes down, and we head back to the Woo to sadly part ways. We all decided that a mini vacations (ie respite) was had, and that it was awesome, and that it needs to happen more often.
As overqualified and yet novice grape pickers, we learn the lingo of "lugs", "stemmers", and "the bladder press". I think the DSM IV TR might have something else to say about those words.
Olive joined us at the winery! She wondered why we would sit around putting sticky round things in yellow buckets rather than racing up and down the aisles of grapes, sniffing everything suspect, and rolling in piles of smelly stuff. Humans are so weird.
After some hard core shopping and wandering, we settle in for a rooftop dinner and drink. This was our view, with some uninvited dinner companions as well.
These steamers scared the crap out of everyone, but I ate them anyways :) I'd like to state for the record that all three women ate seafood that day. ALL THREE. Kim said its the right thing to do when you can see where your food came from (looking down into the atlantic). 
The sun goes down, and we head back to the Woo to sadly part ways. We all decided that a mini vacations (ie respite) was had, and that it was awesome, and that it needs to happen more often. 
