Grape Thoughts

The Grand Transition

2012-01-10T23:33:00.000-08:00

it's been a daze for how many days I do not know. writing hasn't happened but the story has moved in so many ways that the end sounds as if it might be near; at least for this tale. surley more are to come but as the sunsets, this chapter moves into a new year. back to reality, 2012 begins.

Feed the Beast

2011-12-14T00:02:00.000-08:00

he's a hungry little bugger. promise a kid a couple skittles and it's amazing the tasks he'll perform, at least this kid. We are skiing, and as an instructor I've always hated handing out gummy bears during my lessons. when kids would ask me for some my reply would always be "sure, if we can find out which one of you is holding." That usually shuts the little beggar up right away. no kids wants to have their private stash revealed to the others.

meanwhile, this little one in front of me appears to be a different beast altogether. Younger and younger parents are pushing their kids into ski lessons. most kids under five lack much of the muscle development needed to ski, sure their are always exceptions but even those kids often lack the attention span to keep their little body warm on a cold day. That said, our mountain allows four year old into the program. I've heard of other places that will go as low as three. Of course, with a signed injury waiver and for a price, I got roped into teaching an Almost three year old. I will say, what he lacked in muscle he made up for in balance. But he was a hungry little bugger.

meltdown after meltdown lead to the realization that all this kids really needs is more fuel. the parent wants to see them ski and I can put up with sliding this kid all day as long the kid can hold it together. looking in my pockets for an answer, remnants of the last hawks game provided my solution. Thank you skittles. sugar goes a long way when attempting to sooth a savage beast, so I feed it.

For a brief moment I felt guilty about pumping this guys kid full of sugar just so he could make it through the two hour lesson. However, when the dad handed me the tip, guilty washed away as my intention turned to the wine I'd soon be purchasing. Feed this beast a little wine and it's amazing what he'll get into.

99 Percent Magic and a Bottle of Wine

2011-12-06T23:51:00.000-08:00

"wake up to this all and announce, where are the writers of this generation?"

this is my post on facebook tonight. I cast a spell to wake people in the morning. at least that is my hope. or perhaps we really are alone, a nation without voice. these are tough times so, I know there are stories out there. Tough stories, tragedies, lots of dramas. I know this because I'm feeling them, My friends are all living them. It's hard, I know. But there is hope in some in these stories, a little love too. Those are the tales that need to be told.

99 percent of the nation I'm told. all but one percent of us have something that needs to be heard, so tell it. Scream it if you have to, just don't cause a riot, and please clean-up any mess you make. Heck just be respectful, if not to yourself to the process. For centuries people have managed to share the stories of their time. stuff about what happened, how they got thru, the hopes and dreams that kept them going. So I cast my spell because I hope to hear them.

wake-up writers and show yourselves. 99 percent of us are in need of inspiration because we are getting screwed, or am I just drunk.

Create Your Own Joy

2011-12-01T09:20:00.000-08:00

I'm a bottle of wine deep, ready to open another. I'm by myself. I'm alone with my thoughts.  Pen in hand, my thoughts flow from hand to paper while my intention is filled with friends, family and people all sharing my joy. I am seeing the future I plan to experience, something I will write into existence...

a caravan of vehicle snakes up snow covered mountain road. it's a clear night, we drive until a gleaming crescent moon. inside the various cars are friends and acquaintances in varying states of consciousness. although we all are in different points in our lives, we share a common tread. we are chasing the joy of snow.

life is not perfect, their is lingering discomfort between some of us. Others of the group came to leave discomfort behind. I am here chasing my discomfort. I am here finding who I am, a writer. I'm starting to accept that fact. It is who I've always been but up til now I didn't want to believe my own story.

The cars slow as my anxiety grows. we've arrived at our next ski destination.  We have time enough for a few winks of sleep. however, before the sunrises we want to already be making our way to the lift line, first chair is a mindset embraced at any new location, even during questionable snow conditions. I look forward to the ride. after it will be time to share my book. I am a writer now, it is what I do. By understanding it, by embracing it, by becoming it, what I do allows me the freedom to experience what I love.

Back now from my vision, I sip the last of the juice in my glass. the rich tannins linger on the tongue while notes of cherry and darkberry shape turns down the back of my throat. I think about an epic powder run, the hopeful promise of any ski vacation. (that is up to mother nature to decide.)  Those that choose to join me on this journey will experience it as a ski vacation. I will know that is all it is. but to justify our ambitions, to give permission to ourselves to take on this joy filled journey, we'll call it a book tour.

back to work, I write it into existence.

The Gift of Giving and Giving Back

2011-11-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

cyber monday firmly behind, the official season of consumption is upon us. "what can I get you , what do you need?" these questions seem to be awaiting me on everyone's lips. I am humbled by those that care for me. I am grateful to all of those that wish to make these rough times better. Still, I believe they know, just as I do, no amount of stuff is going to fill the void I'm feeling in life. however, tis the season for giving gifts and having just had a birthday pass I understand the transformative power of a heart felt gift. Thus, after a thoughtful bottle of wine, I've prepared to answer what you can give me this year.

it was the day before my birthday when the most significant present of years arrived in my life. as a family we were in the process of moving my grandmother to a new home, so where she could receive better care. the process turned up lots of great old memories, emotions and of course family history. You never know what little trinket might make the difference and it all feels like junk when you realize it need to get organized and moved. Yet, when that something special arrives in your hands you realize it is a blessing that this talisman had been saved,... for you.

"I thought you might like this," my father said handing me my grandfathers old dog-tags. placing it in my head I suddenly moved to silence. All I could muster was a quiet thank you. My father returned to work while I found a still room in which I could cry.

I never met my grandfather. War, having taken a toll on the men of his generation, he died before I was born. Having been blessed with his name, I've felt his presence my entire life. And knowing what he did, the hard work he did to bring his family to the United States in hopes of creating a better life, fighting as a guerrilla soldier during WWII and not only escaping the Batan Death March but saving another man's life in the process, I've always known my grandfather (my Lolo) as a hero. A hero, who's strength runs through me if I'm wise enough to call on it.

Fitting then, when this birthday approached, I was feeling at my lowest, his dog-tag arrived in my hand. this coming March will be the 30th anniversary of the US defeat at Corregidor, the moment that my Lolo had his character tested. It was the moment he choose a path away from death in favor of a difficult journey back to his family. It surely was a journey of faith, hope and love. A scary moment in life but an important moment in life where a man realize there is a reason to go on, something bigger than self.

As I brought the chain over my head to hang the dog-tag around my neck I was again moved by the energy of the moment. It had become clear, I had to finish the March begun by my grandfather 30 years earlier. My entire life I'd wanted to visit the land of my forefathers, the Philippines. Timing however has never been right. This time though, we'll make it right, because it feels like the right thing to do. I hope you'll help me.

"what can you get me, what do I need?" Cash, help me get passage to the Philippines. I have a date to walk in another man's shoes.

Tea for Two, Two for Tea - Come, Get Lost w/ Me

2011-11-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

"what's your favorite spot for tea, ...on a mountain", she asked. she had my attention now as my mind wandered through a dream. where would one take a wood nymph like this for tea, how deep a moment am I willing to share. ah tea, another divine beverage. perhaps less on merriment than wine but surely more full of thought...

my desire for tea always transports the mind to a friends shop. a wonderful spot to procure exceptional small farm tea. from there I travel to other great tea-houses I know, scatter about the city, hidden on hillsides, deep in the jungles of my childhood imagination. the places I know and the places of fantasy all share a quiet spirit to them. intimate, they are a place of intention and thought. cozy, like a fort, I picture just the two of us occupying the space but it is shared with memories left by other guests ...their drawings, scribbled notes, pillow, feathers, nature, it is a temple... a place to worship, alone, together, each other, the serenity.

a tea-house, on a mountain, the thought or perhaps fear of a conversation that has no end; wonderful.

lost now in a cup of tea I'm disoriented, is that the setting sun or is it rising in my minds-eye. what vision is this before me. Where shall I travel with this woman, the answer is sure to unfold. in this moment what is clear, with her I must share some tea. delicious

Never, Never Gonna Give You Up

2011-11-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

it sucks when you realize you are a writer. ...a story teller, a bullshit artist, a dreamer longing to write but scared of having to share. the day that you have to open up your heart and be accountable for what you love is a tough day, that was the day I realized I was a writer, it sucked.

whatever your story is, when you become a writer, you realize it's just that, a story. The choice is to either tell it or get off it. the only one holding you back is you. yep, accountability is difficult to escape. sure you can try to shift the blame to someone else, "re-write" the story. I know because I try it all the time. But we both realize it doesn't solve anything in the end. the fact remains that I am a writer, I know it and I'm not happy when I try to fake it.

we tell ourselves we can't pursue our dreams because they don't make us money.
we tell ourselves we can't complete whats in our heart because I have to many other things to do first.
we tell ourselves it doesn't matter because nobody will care anyway.

Standing on the other side of this abbyss I'm here to tell you it is all true. keep on whinning, I hear ya. Every story you tell yourself is true as true can be. And in the end so is the fact you are what you are. me, I'm a writer.

I fought the fact that I need to write. I even allow people to convience me that I'm something else, that I'm not a writer. at times I'd pretend that writing is only a private thing that I do for me and need not share. Limit my world, hide from the truth that makes me happy, sounds fair but it is no wonder that life decided to kick me in the teeth. had she not, I may never have awoken to the truth. I am a writer, therefore I write.

Agree with me or not, I don't care. read me or not if you dare. I write not for you anyway, only for she and I. I have stories to tell, unsaid words needing out; in need to live again so I writer. I do it because I am a writer. ...even if it's just about a bottle of wine

I'm Finishing My Coffee

2011-11-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

This affects all of us man. so I pause, reflect and enjoying my coffee. stress in my life can't compare to those we honor today. sure this dude has had some ups and downs in life (strikes and gutters if you will) but never have I had to watch my buddies die face down in the muck of a war zone. Sadly, many of our nations veterans have. say what you will about the conflict in Iraq, the ongoing battles in Afghanistan, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, et all... the soldiers there were just doing what they were told so they could stay alive and eventually make it home. One of those men was my dad. (man am I thankful he made it home)

So today, years removed from his service, he and I had some fun seeking out what freebies people were willing to give the old-man. "thank you for your service" the common phrase of the day. I however can't help but wonder what the world would be like had more people served to protect our basic freedoms. Not with rifle in hand but with an open mind, an exstended hand and a smile.

Yes, bad people exist in the world, both abroad and at home. Conflict occurs in every corner of the globe and parcel of the playground but violence, a hard heart, a closed mind never solves anything. later, when I sitdown with my dad and other vets tonight to enjoy an applebees free dinner I'm sure we'll discuss, "what so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding"... meditating on that is the best way to honor our future veterans, it affects all of us, man

Say It Aint So Joe

2011-11-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Fall, for many reason is the season of abundant joy. Harvest, the many colors of the changing season, crisp air that hints towards winter and of course football, my favorite being college football (or at least it was). It's a good thing that new wine vintages are released this time of year because I need a distraction...

College football is in shambles. Money, power and the think that "winning is the only thing" has destroyed the once beautiful collegiate game. It should be about the game, the glory and the atmosphere of a Saturday afternoon shared by a stadium of people. tailgating with old friends, singing the fight song as the band plays on, the roar of a frenzied crowd, all things to celebrate. Then of course the boys on the field giving their all, not for big money contracts but for a dream. a dream to maybe make the next level sure, but for most it is the dream they share with the students, the alum and most times the state, the dream that we can be the best warriors in the land. In its true form college football is about a love of sport.

slowly however that love has tarnished. cheaters abound, so many school like Oregon, Ohio State, and much of the SEC are under investigation that nothing will likely be done. We just except it as the dirt face of the new game.

many point to the desire to crown a champ as another example of futility. the current BCS system is a mockery. but the other options are just as lame. truth is, a champ is not what people seek, it is a desire to create more revenue that matters to them. the new mega conferences demonstrates that.

But then things like Penn State and Joe Paterno happen. dirty little secrets, where rather than standing up for what is morally right, rather than being a voice for those without one, rather than protecting young vulnerable kids; a man of enormous power, reputation and prestige chose to only point out the evil but do nothing more to stop it. Even as he knew it continued, he remained silent in public. clearly Fear stopped him. a fear of how this tragedy might would effect his team, his reputation, his friendship who knows but Papa Joe couldn't face his fear. In his personal failure young boys were hurt, sad.

we celebrate college players because they stand in the face of fear, sacrifice their bodies so all of us can have something to believe in on Saturdays in the fall. I fear now that we have little left to believe in when it comes to college football. money, power, winning; what does it all mean when we are stuck living in fear.

I'll You Got is What You Believe you Got - I Gotta Beleive

2011-10-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Surrounded by words, what do you say when you can't talk, in search of my voice, I listen to music to find it... Alright Ms Nicks, I'm ready to be "washed clean." I'm stuck somewhere between "what I had and what I lost". Even though I understand the impermanence of life, this episode has been a hard pill to shallow. Yes "women, they will come and they will go" but as the song shifts consciousness, I wonders when she has "bette davis eyes" how can one let her go... the musical meditation plays on.

I take a sip from the bottle. the tannic taste of the washington merlot has a slight warming sensation to my throat. in the state I'm in it's good to know I can still feel. I'm lost. I'm vulnerable. I still can't believe she is gone, ...is she? The wine hits my stomach now and those eyes return to my mind, watching. Big, Blue, haunting, I feel like I'm stand at the foot of my Great Gatsby. it all weighs heavy, a large pull from the bottle does nothing to reduce the weight but I allow myself to enjoy the juice anyway.

new lyrics in my head work to remind me, "yesterday's gone... yesterday's gone... oooh don't you look back"

half a bottle gone or half a bottle to go, the task I've chosen to keep my mind busy is all about perspective. I put the bottle down to grab my pen. the notebook before me is filling quicker then I can drain the bottle next to me. If it is all about those eyes, then all I can do is write, this story needs a better ending. I will not except a tragedy, the world is full of to many right now. "i wanna get next to you." spins through my mind now, so I write, write and write till my hand is sore, the bottle dry and my aching heart goes numb,... for now

spent I close my eyes relaxing into the next tune... "aint no woman like the one I got"

tapping my foot all I have left is a belief in what I "got"... drifting into the moment, "I'll kiss the ground she walks on" is exactly how I feel.

Game On Officer, Game On

2011-10-17T23:21:00.000-07:00

Apparently if I am not going to ask out a woman, the universe is threatening to force an encounter on me.

From their perspective, I guess I can see what it looked like. After pull my car over suddenly, I jump out with a hatched and run toward the bushes. They must have been thinking, either I just caused trouble, I'm about to cause trouble or I need to take a piss. Pick the scenario, this is something these lady cops thought they should look into. I'm sure how I was dressed had something to do with it. My stylish form fitting running gear does show off my physique and the bright orange stocking cap I was wearing is sure to catch an eye, but it's my ten dollar shades that I must admit, make me look damn sexy. Seeing how I was dressed, you could say I was asking for harassment.

"What are you doing over there?" I heard an authoritative voice call over my shoulder.

With an election sign and hatchet in hand I turned to face the cutest little butch officer of the law that I've ever seen.

"is that yours" she barked.

"the sign no, but yeah I work for the guy" I replied as I leaned on the sign, pushing it in by hand. my eyes focused on checking this officer out. not my type but she had a good stance. well balanced, defensive and ready to act. I'm not sure if she'd go for the gun or choose to mace me. Obviously, she was confident whichever she picked she could have it unbuckled and drawn before I could close the distance between us. "I'm just trying to get'em back up after the storm." I said taking a couple steps toward her.

"Get that thing away from me!"

I can see I've made her nervous, "what thing?"

"The WEAPON sir." her tone was deadly serious, freezing me in my tracks.

"oh the hatchet." I turn and toss it into the bushes. Before she can ask the obvious question I answer it for her, "I'm using it as my hammer."

"A pick-axe? Do you see how that can be misconstrued?"

thinking to myself, it's a little hatchet with a rubber protector over the blade, this aint going to hurt you lady. My answer is humble, "I totally get it officer."

Turning my back, I walk over to retrieve my so called pick-axe. The officer says something else to me but unimportant my attention is elsewhere. I notice that all this time there was backup in the police-cruiser.

"Is that your car?" a sexier but equally authoritative voice inquires.

I look over at my car still running, the drive side door open and it is the only car in the entire lot. "Why, did you run the plates, ...are you trying to look me up?"

"you look like trouble" she smiles, "I might have too."

The things I would say if her girlfriend was not armed and looking over my shoulder. Instead I look directly into the eyes of the sexy cop inside the vehicle. As I retrieve my weapon I flash a coy smile. "Thanks officer." I say before breaking eye contact and return to my car. Secretly I hope they decide to take me in, I'm a bad man.

Damn It's a Bunch of Bull

2011-10-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

It didn't start with ego but ego soon took over. at first I just wanted to grow stuff. organic food to eat, a new relationship with the planet, but mostly family. I wanted to learn to put down roots and raise a healthy family. these were the goals of the farm. the more I read, the more I thought the more complex I allowed my vision to become. soon what I was really thinking about was a new type of economy. secretly I was challanging some of the foundations of america's version of capitalism. I wanted to take down the bull.
now in over my head I am lost in the labyrinth, alone. my ego drove me to obsession, an obsession to take down the bull. I pushed people away, especially loved one because I thought I was protecting them from the fears I was to face. Instead, they lost faith, I lost support and then we lost our way.
the bull is still out there, awaiting me in this labyrinth which has me trapped. my time here has been defeating, I was ready to give up. Lost however, is no way to go through life. scary as it has been, time in the isolation has changed me for the better. Today, under a full moon, I let go the past and walk the path to my future...
I pray my love has left a trail of thread to lead me home.

Time Is On My Side? Yes It Is, I'm Told

2011-09-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

From a vision on a distant horizon to the roots of manifestation I choose to live my life. some call it magic but I find it is my way of being. As a life long "creative", I've devoted much of my learning to the art of bringing my ideas to life. I see something that I desire or I dream of something I want, I can have it if I commit to it. I came to believe that if I pour my soul into the creative process, anything is possible. Along the journey however, there have always been pitfalls, distractions, or other temptations to seduce me from my course. So even though anything is possible, the possibilities being boundless, it takes a powerful kind of focus for a vision to take root. Like balancing a tight rope, I am aware of a path to my desire but should I lose touch, everything can come crashing down suddenly.

Alone, I've found success creating a world that fits my desires. Risk, reward, boom and bust all share space in my life and the scares from those encounters linger, but I get by. still I continue with the life I've chosen because as a creative I must create.  Or so I believed.

Now coming into a stage of life were creating alone, only for self is no longer satisfying.  Dreams for me now are much bigger, bolder and they hold the hopes of others. It is an inspiring type of creating now that pushes me to confront by my personal fears. If I create it, can I still control it, which of course the answers is no.

Fleeting, control is, food for the false ego. A million times I must have learned the lesson. I never control the creative process, I only can work to direct it. Guide the magic of the moment toward an outcome that I believe will be beautiful, beneficial, positive, this is the limits of control. Pushing any harder will cause the collapse, sucking the love out of the creation. Still, in the growth of a creation, as the roots push outward and the fruits of labor begin to blossom it feels like control; a godly blissful moment. the mantra of "anything is possible" humming in my ears. And in that same moment of joy the heart can be wrenched, torn from the chest, if part of the grand vision is not as it should be.   Suddenly a sense of failure can blind us to everything else.  it is in that sadness where I sit now and sulk. having lost the only part that really mattered to me in my most recent vision, I'm left with the rest which appears only as window dressing on house of shit. (false ego smiles with victory as I loose control)

visions however are never complete until we stop working them. anything is possible as long as I commit to creating it. I have no control but I have the power of my intention.  with that the magic of love opens the world to the creative... I seek my focus again

It's Just a Date.

2011-09-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Ten years following 9-11 and the country is still suffering the hangover. It's hard to forget that moment, but it seems we still haven't learned the lessons. The so called "war on terror" rages on, even after the man known as the mastermind of the plan has been killed. (their will always be another enemy) We have good troops, away from their family, fighting in wars that seem to have ever changing goals. (when people profit off war their will always be pressure to fight) Corperations are still taking advantages of our country, but then again that goes way back before enron. And so does corrupt poloticians. It just seems todays governement has too much money influnence going on. Plus, it gets worse as the days pass, ever since the supreme court ruled that money equals speach and corporations have the same speach rights as people. Sad really, money equals and vote and the people have no money. It makes one wonder, if no one can afford to buy gas, who has money to express there vote?

I too spent today thinking about the effects of 9-11. remembering the sacrifices people have made. In there name I hope our nation finally quakes up and learns the lesson. It's just a date if we don't live with respect

Sardines Over Orzo - If It Don't Sound Good, You Don't Know My Skill

2011-09-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

truth is wine doesn't drive me. yes, I write about it, I talk about it, and I drink a lot of it (but not too much). Still, it's not really about wine for wine sake. yes, I love the magic of wine but really it's food, any food that inspires me. food is one of the best ways we communicated with the planet. (hence, what pulled me to the farm in the first place, but that's a story for another glass.) how we express that communication is what excites me. tonight I'm choosing to begin the conversation with a bottle of Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir and stuff I found on the shelf.

However, tonight it isn't about the bottle. Tonight, wine is the special guest. I great little bottle I grabbed at my new favorite wine shop in seattle. so being that this tasty bottle is my guest (yes that is code for I'm drinking alone) I need to make a meal worthy of our guest. Now if one would have stopped by the farm prior to this dinner, you likely would have thought my cuboards were bare. But isn't that the beauty of cooking, creating something out of what you got and making that something a meal.

Yes, organic is the way to go. whenever I can I get the freshest possible and ideally the best of the freshest. having those types of ingredants makes cooking easy. when reality sets in, and you are forced to use what you have, that's when your skill as a chef comes out. luckily my chef skills come from a woman that survived a war. more importantly, like any good mother, she took pride what she feed her family

having lived in the japanese occupied philippines my grandma knows a few things about making do with what you have. today, I'm yet to find a person that can out cook my Lola on her best day. from watching create ever since I was a kid, I picked up a couple tricks of my own. so what appeared to be junk on the shelves and a mostly empty fridge, turned into a flavor plate of sardines over orzo. which if you ask me was worth of your guest, but only speaking for myself, I enjoyed them both.

The Moon May Set but the Sun Also Rises

2011-08-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

cycles, it all proceeds with cycles... birth to death to birth once more, as the sun rise and sets I can sleep confident that the sun will rise again. the seasons too, like the cycles of the moon ebb and flow bring new perspectives on what we think we know. life is experienced through these cycles of bliss and fear. at their apex all things seem divine, which in contrast often feels like lose when the cycle flows in the natural opposite direction. sadness, pain and more fear pour into that void....

but this too is part of the divine, the rich part if we are willing to embrace it. it is up to us to choose.

it is the voice of my father that speaks in my head when it is time to choose but it is the wisdom of the ages that he shares. "during good times life is easy and it is easy to be good. it is during the challenging times where it matters how we choose to respond."

quitting only works if you choose to be a quitter. I choose love because love is eternal, the source of bliss that is divine. as the cycles wane from high to low and seemingly cycle lower than I want to go, I choose to remain in love. in those times it can seem difficult to know love but actually simple when you've seen the majesty of the sunrise.

Give Me a Lion King

2011-08-12T11:59:00.000-07:00

having taken some heat for my stance on leadership, perhaps i've failed to explain my thought. worse, perhaps people are willing to ask less of their leaders these days. i however have no malaise for those that would be king. what i've learned on the farm, is once you take leadership of the land, a myriad of duties are now your responsibility. because of this, it is easy to become lost in the details. still, should a leader lose their way they need look no further than their responsibility to those they lead. it takes a lion.

it was while enjoying a fine bottle of wine in South Africa, safely enclosed in my rental car, that I watched a true leader at work. for hours we enjoyed taking in the wisdom of those majestic felines.

lions and the big male that leads the pride is often referred to as the king of the animal kingdom. when I began to understand the responsibilities of the big male I soon realized it was not his size that made him leader, it was his understanding of his duty to the pride.

often seen as lazy, our favorite image of the big male is of a cat relaxed beneath a tree, enjoying solitude and some cool shade. meanwhile, the rest of the pride tends to family needs, hunting and the like, while the alpha male seemingly does nothing but think. don't be fooled however, the big male uses all that thinking to prepare. when a challenge arise, the lion acts desively as the prides leader. when he fails to do so, or doesn't responded in a manner fitting the leader of that pride, or worse he fails to act for the betterment of the pride, no matter how big that male is, that cats time as leader is over.

it is the females of a lion pride that own the land. genetic traits show us that it is the alpha female who's bloodline can be traced back deep into the history of the land, not the males. male lions are only brought in by the pride to lead to be the leader for a time. those lions are quickly asked to move when they are no longer up for the task of leading. point being, the big bad do it myself lion must think of the pride first. also, a big lazy lion that leaves the pride to govern it self soon, discover a pride does; that pride finds a new big male lion.

the saying goes it is lonely at the top. it can be lonely too, alone thinking beneath a tree. the task of a leader is not popularity. a leader is not a rock star nor an idol. a leader has the task to lead, in good times and bad. when the economy is in flux, when the nation is at war, when unemployment is at unacceptable high levels their is no more time for deep thought in a shady spot. We are at a point when our leaders need to step into the heat and take action. and if we don't want to loose this land it is our responsibility to remind them of their responsibility.

Time For a Leader - I'll Take A Half Case

2011-07-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

As of late my muse has been more of nature, less of alcohol. wine will always be a muse, but it was an escape to nature that has kept me inspired during these ridiculous times. as much as i had hoped the old me was dead and gone, it appears I still have plenty of rant left in me. however, this latest mocker of our democracy has me back to the bottle. likely it will take a case, if not just a liter, to calm my nerves because the lack of leadership surround our nations debt crisis has me worried. if people don't pull their heads out of their ass, everyone is going be looking for refuge on my farm.

to explain the crisis more than just a farce is a waste of keystrokes for me and an insult to you the intelligent reader. for those few readers that lack the understanding to realize the president should simply act to avert this crisis, even if it becomes a constitutional argument. (which he can under the powers granted in the 14th amendment) then you have likely already wasted 20 minutes of your life sounding out my words to this point. the point is, a joke crisis has now escalated to a global matter in which the united states has become the joke. we elected barack obama to prove our democracy still works and this form of democracy is still the beacon of hope for the rest of the world. instead, president obama sits in office afraid to lead.

ever since mr. obama was dubbed our first black president the running joke has been, "I thought his dick would be bigger." but what really is in question is the size of his balls. to quote a friend of mine, "if I had the power, his [president obama] blackness would be revoked."

step up and lead on this one, mr. hope, mr. change I can believe in. take the power of the 14th amendment now, before the deadline. if it goes to court let's take it there. let the supreme court rule on it. let the haters have to relive the very reason the 14th amendment was put in the constitution. let us remember all the broken promises of this nation, the debt we've placed on society. if mr. black president, they want to take you to court, let us bring out the documents of 40 acres and a mule. let us explore all the debt this nation owes, and not just to people of color, but to the poor, the hunger, the homeless, the out of work. to the soldiers, the veterans, the retired and children. the truth is, this nation owes the debt to the people. in that we are owed this moment to be in front of the supreme court, if it must. at this point it is the only way to stop the madness. as a nation, we must have the opportunity to still believe in our democracy for if we loose that we loose the United States.

if you are not the man to lead now President Obama, then please step aside. I fear for the fate of this great nation, no more time to waste, time for a leader.

New Drink - Something to Help Wyclef Think

2011-07-19T18:40:00.000-07:00

where to begin? joblessness, debt, the fear of a black president. it sounds like a public enemy song. if you thought I was referring to the USA you wouldn't be wrong but this song, these lyrics are about another nation. It is a song, I think best sung by Wyclef Jean.

Google his work with the country of Haiti if you don't know what it is I'm referring to. while the rest of the world is willing to forget Haiti and it's rich history, some still believe that nation deserves its own voice. even if you think you know the history of Haiti am referring to, I urge you to wikipedia it anyway.

I try to visualize what it was like to be involved in a slave revolt. I imagine how bloody it must have been. the suffering, the gore, balanced in opposition to a liberating feeling. The Thought of throwing off the very chains that have enslaved you. to open your eyes one day and see the possibility of surviving on my own terms not the commands of another. after being born into repression awakening to a sense of freedom, alive in a tropical paradise. a free state, an island nation in waters surrounded by slave colonies. (a fate worse than any modern supermax prison.) the closes free neighbor, the newly born United States of America... it is a history that if I ever learned it, I must have forgotten cause it wasn't on the test. But it doesn't surprise me because tales like that of Haiti are tales that we are seldom taught.

Haiti has become the symbol of the plight of suffering that we choose to forget. perhaps it is because the history of both nations is so closely tied, maybe it is because their closeness of global location, or maybe it is because we still think of haiti as the little brother we can always take advantage of but look no further than Haiti to see how hypocritical when can be as a nation. a couch's lifetime of therapy might not solve the issues between the nations but should the UN promise to pay the bill for counseling, it would do wonders for both countries national debt.

currently Wyclef has visions of beginning that healing process. only knowing the man through his lyrics I have faith it is him. I would love the opportunity however, to sit with his inner circle, share a bottle and learn more. at that meetings, always prepared with a tale, I'd eventually have the opportunity to hand Wyclef a caipirinha. as the drinks silky sweet taste passes his lips, notes of both bitter and sweet will being to dancing to an un-song lyrics in this mouth. I will share the story of this tasty drink, allowing Wyclef time to think.

We're Sorry Murdoch

2011-07-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeP6CpUnfc0

they are sorry

Take a Hike Facebook, I'm Busy Soaking

2011-07-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

hidden in the cascade mountains, I like to relax during the regular work week. stuff can get done on the weekend or during dark hours while others sleep. however, the solitude and serenity of a natural hot-spring is best enjoyed while the masses are at the office. I don't know if anything is more liberating than a naked soak shared with a special friend or two. maybe a tasty bottle of wine would make things better. still, time spent in the natural world always makes the world better.

it didn't surprise me then, when an article surfaced that the founder of facebook likes to take people on a hike. experiencing the natural world is important, even for the famous among us. believe it or not, we are part of nature. yet, daily we are told otherwise. we seemingly struggle to avoid that reality, preferring to create a sterile environment full of digital numbers, virtual experiences and manufactured goods. for some reason, people find comfort in a disconnection life. at least they think they do.

take a person out of the office, help them experience the natural world on terms they can handle, I promise you they'll soon ask for more. attachment, rather then detachment is something we all seek. (if facebook has proven anything, it is the human desire to attach to something) most are so detached they don't have the tools to re-engage. and many that have tried to reconnect don't know how to leave the stress of the city behind, missing out on the full bliss of the natural mind. the curse of our communal detachment effects us on every level. from the food we choose to consume to the morals that guide our business; detachment, apathy and the like have sucked the humanity out of the human race.

rather then pondering my rant more deeply, or commenting in an effort to create debate, why not seek out a patch of grass, no matter how small... take off your shoes.... walk around and feel the earth between your toes. if you are still moved to share your thoughts please do, but first why not seek out a bit more nature and leave behind your watch,... your cell or even your shirt. write down what you feel like telling me. however, before you mail it off, or try to push the send button, go a little deeper with a little less holding you back. besides, I'd prefer face to face communication... when you are comfortable just come find me at the hot-springs. I'd really love to hear what you have to say.

A Farmers Jihad

2011-07-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I'm a bit of a terrorist sympathizer, a piece of me is anyway. Because one of my favorite games, can only be described as terrorism. I should explain...

Kerri (my soon to be wife) and I spend lots of time together. Even though I love that woman to death, sometimes when you are stuck in a confined space for long periods of time, death doesn't sound like a bad option. Luckily, Kerri and and I learned that creating entertaining games is a much better option to act on.

Driving has become our preferred method of travel, allowing us to sample quiet corners of the nation that are otherwise flown over and forgotten. Still, during these long drives, a car can take on that tight, confined space feeling. The radio gets old, conversation becomes stagnant, the endless road tiresome; something is needed to break up the monotony of the journey. That's how one of my favorite games evolved. It all started with fresh cherries.

Stopping at a roadside farm stand is both a good pit-stop and a nice way to enjoy some local treats, my favorite being cherries. However, any fresh produce will do. Once back on the road the game begins. I prefer cherries because spitting the pits out the window is liberating. Tossing an apple core, strawberry tops or even (dare I admit) a banana peal is equally fun. Releasing this non-native*, usually seed baring, material is an act of eco-terrorism . Sure, it's all organic and has little or no chance of actually taking root, but that is not the point. In my head, it is a game of hit and run. Eco-bombing the highway landscape is mischievous and littering is bad. Still, I do it anyway just for the thrill. I'm not proud of my terrorist tendencies but I'm learning to be honest about my flaws.

*if obtained from a local farm stand wouldn't it be native food? Not always, in fact rarely, since most plants have been brought to the region for growing. Further more, food is never a "native" part of a modern roadway.

USA USA USA - 232 more times

2011-07-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

happy birthday usa

Grab Another Bottle of Wine, It's time for RISK

2011-06-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

world domination is my new favorite thing. I can't get enough of it. it's fun, you learn things, you meet people, heck it helps you better understand the world. and in the end, at least when I win, it feels like the world is in a better place. the makers call it a world conquest game, where as I referred to it as world domination, but either way most people would know my new favorite passion as RISK.

among my friends RISK has taken on a kind of fight club aura. it is our way of dealing with all the crazy shit in the world. the running joke is that the farm, in its current state of decay, is my personal homage to the house on paper street. which therefore my decision to live there means, I must be chasing my inner brad pitt. which at first I take as an insult, but I have to admit that he was pretty badass in that movie. as long as I get to continue to play RISK, make the world a better place and hang out with helena bonham carter, I'll let people joke about me being a crazy eddy norton. (I've always kinda had a thing for helena)

so of course, the fight club-esque question is: what famous people, living or dead, would you play RISK with?

I like to take on Brits since those people love trying to take over the world. I'd keep it to three plus me because I believe a four player game is the most engaging. I'd take prince harry because of the two future kings he's the one that has some balls. winston churchill because he directed a real global war and sir richard branson because he's done a pretty good job carving out his own piece of the world. mostly though I think all three would be entertaining house guests, fun drinkers and it would be funny to see everyone treating the prince with the type of respect that he has earned. (easy money says he'd be the first to go)

famous people or not, that is exactly why I enjoy the game of RISK. it's a game that tends to bring interesting people together, sparks fun conversation and brings a little entertainment to otherwise somber global news. enough typing; time to grab a bottle of wine, my board, and start up the next game of RISK. are you ready to be dominated?

Where Did My Chicken Go - That's Where

2011-06-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

coyote came and stole my chicken. that's the story people like to tell me. i however, believe in another story. whenever coyote is involved it is hard to know what the true story is, because coyote is a known trickster.

i am often surprised how much people inquire about that first chicken on the farm. my thinking about that black jersey giant, prior to her disappearance, was a healthy detachment. like everything on the farm, impermanence would be a realistic part of my relationship with the chicken i would come to know as OG. (short for original gangster). i felt there would be a beginning and surely an end to our time together. perhaps i thought i could take comfort in that frame of mind. free from total emotional commitment, i'd be protected from hurt should my time with OG come to an abrupt end. especially if the circumstances of her departure had something to do with me. but like all stories that involve a trickster, perspectives change. thus coyote taught me much about my relationship to OG.

i was the last to accept that coyote had anything to do with OG's departure. when people would inquire how my chicken was, i'd confidently reply, "she's gone but i'm sure she'll be back." to which the common reply, after a sad look, would be, "sounds like a coyote got her." but that was a statement I was not willing to believe. it was too simple a fate for a creature of OG's majesty. or, perhaps i felt like that was a sort of judgement of my ability to manage a chicken, much less a farm. of course like most personal judgements about a simple statement, my highly critical interpretation was a story created in my own head. the truth was, once OG disappeared, i for the first time faced what i thought was failure on the farm. i began to worry that the entire farm project might encounter the same fate.

coyote had forced my hand. i could no longer pretend that black chicken was just a fleeting figure in my life. OG embodied a deeper meaning. I learned a lot from that chicken. she taught me about the farm, the land, perseverance, survival and life. impermanent as our time together was, i came to understand the impact OG had on me would last my life-time. and thus i still believe she will visit me again.

i no longer deny that it was coyote that took my jersey girl away. a better truth is that crafty trickster seduced her away. and why not, she is an amazing and beautiful creature, full of power and knowledge. not the type of animal that one can simply destroy. nor would a one with the wit of coyote want to. no, coyote is wise enough to recognize a special creature like OG. so surely, when the stars were right, under the soft light of the moon, coyote came along and lured OG away, and married my chicken. somewhere, beyond the brush that boarders the farm, both coyote and OG keep an eye on me now. constantly watching to make sure i keep my promise to the land.

as long as i remember the lessons that feisty black chicken taught me, i know everything will be alright. however, should i loose my faith or get off track, i know there is an old black chicken and a handsome coyote dancing naked just beyond the brambles. they are there to remind me that all is okay as long as we choose to continue to have fun.

Rainy Day Work - Pick Up a Pen

2011-05-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

thankfully the rain held off until after I returned from holiday. it'snot that I don't enjoy a little rain, rather sometimes I prefer to not think to much, giving in to the relaxed, easy feel of a sunny day. even if it's partly cloudy, their is less to worry about when one can ignore the rain. perhaps that is because, as the saying goes, "when it rains it pours."

with the holiday, now over, I welcome a fresh wash from a spring rain. back to work, my thoughts turn to the power of the pen and I begin to write. the cool, damp day outside helps keep me at my desk. rather than tending to the chores or engaging with the land, the rain inspires me to take a more cerebral approach to the day. I turn to a more introspective assessment of my world. as my thoughts begin to germinate it doesn't take long to rediscover that yes, when it rains it pours. especially when we ignore the fact that it is raining.

the farm is quickly teaching me to pay closer attention to the subtleness of the world around me. even a light drizzle brings change to the landscape. seemingly simple acts, starting off perhaps as a few drops can quickly become a overwhelming torrent if we choose to ignore them. which is why I rant today about the power of the pen. silly yes, the audacity of me to think that my little blog can alter the effects of the downpour I see around me. but to me, a sillier notion would be not pen my thoughts. each voice matters, and bold belief in that power has always guided our nation.

yesterday was a day to reflect on the many lives that have been sacrificed to defend in the bold beliefs of united states. we are part of a once proud nation, unwilling to compromise on our inalienable rights. long ago, a few bold believers penned these ideals, and since waves of supports have defended those beliefs with their lives. and while the rest of the nation was focused on the memorial day weekend, president oboma quietly rained on everyones parade. by following the lead of our previous president, a few drop of ink were spilled renewing the patriot act. rather than focusing on a piece of legislation that damages and limits many of our given rights, the news of oboma's actions focused on the "pen" he used to create this new deluge. new controversy on top of old controversy helps to distract us from the effects that this little storm will have on our nation. even a digital pen drop can lead to damage by an unwanted rainstorm.

outside my window, the rain for now ceases to fall. in the background however a drip persists. this rain it seems, has alerted me to troubles the need my attention. our home needs tending. so for now I place down my pen. words alone are not enough in the face of a storm, it is time for action.

time for a fresh bottle, it begins again

2011-05-08T20:05:00.000-07:00

I thought I was done writing this experience, I thought it was time to move on to the next chapter of my life. I can feel a great transition taking place so I've been ingorinng my muse in favor of actions, or at least that's the excuse I use to not share my writings. when I opened of bottle of old standby and settle in for a little SNL I should have known I was summing old habits into action. however it took tina fey to begin my fingers typing.

my first thought was why tina are you doing the sara palin, she is such a non-story. why bother to resurrect a dead character, you are pregnant for god sake. that's when I remember, tina is a great comedic writer, she knows that character is a zombie. it must be the network must be begging for it. in need of a buck (she'll soon have another mouth to feed), ms. fey once more rolled out the "alaskan milf" for our entertainment.

it was how she played it though that inspired my thinking. forced into action, it doesn't matter the circumstances or the timing, evey moment can lead to a teachable moment. In this case, wake-up people, sara palin will not go away on her own. just stop listening to her and eventually the voice will fade. others might continue, or so it may seem but trust me, you control your own fate and when you stop listening the voice eventually will fade. an old girlfriend taught me that lesson, and happily I don't hear that voice anymore.

and so, with another sip I'm back to posting. things might change around me but I'll still be left with teachable moments to share. if you tire of hearing it, let the my voice fade, just make sure in my stead you get out and do something positive with your life. I'm excited by the future once more

The Art of Seduction - Try Penfolds Grange

2011-03-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

what do I know about wine a friend once asked. not much was my immediate reply, but I do know it is all about seduction.

I mean, wine doesn't always make the meal but you don't invited a woman home for a six-pack. wine tasting alone is an art full of sentuous story telling. making wine is a study in patience. and from my experince, a man educated in wine is best prepared to lure hot chicks. that's why I went into the wine business any way, the seduction of it.

but to truley seduce someone it takes more than wine. seduction is all about knowing them. likes, dislikes, taste in music, true hair color, etc.; you know the things that are important to her. a fool turns to money for seduction, but it takes more than money. admittedly at times money can get a woman in bed but the question then becomes who was seduced; the prey or the person happily parting with their money.

beside, seduction is more than its latin roots would imply, "to lead astray". sedcution done well, and I'd argue done properly, is understanding one's wants, desires and needs. seduction therefore becomes the gateway by which a new expereince, a new realm of understanding can open up for a person. when I was first exposed to Penfolds Grange that's all it took. The inky deep color, overwhelming aroma and flavors of ripe, dense, sweet fruit, mouth-flooding tannins, I meet a wine of rare dimension. seduction complete, my life was changed... for the better. that's all I know about wine.

Am I First or Was I Last - Times are Chang'n

2011-03-11T21:22:00.000-08:00

The New York city skyline rolls in the opposite direction through my cab window. From my prospective, the city and I travel in different directions. Rooted firmly in hard earth, most people believe this city, like most cities, is going nowhere. On the other hand, I am speeding as fast possible through this snarling traffic in an uncertain direction. If you ask me I don't know where I'm heading. Other than an address, all I know is I'm meeting an old friend for a drink. The bottle of wine I brought along isn't going to make it. I decided to sample a drink while I waited for my cab but now it's remnants are being sacrificed to calm my nerves in this rat race of a town. If you ask most people they'd likely agree, I have no clue where I'm going.

As the world rushes forward, chasing technology, I appear rooted in the past. Cities seem more and more foreign to me, choosing the mountains as my home and a farm as my passion. Ask me and the future I see is clear, at least for me. The direction of the city concerns me. As I move forward to change with the times, the city stands still, unwavering in its opposition to change. I see the people on the other side of the cab window, continuing to go about with a business as usual mentality, but they like me already know these are unusual times. A ballad of truth sings out from my ipod, "the times the are a changing".

Another tragedy in the news, more civil unrest and stories upon stories of baffling disturbances in world we once referred to as natural. "for the times they are a chang'n."

Shortly, I'll be deposited curbside. Leaving the solitary environment of the cab, I will once again be in the city. I will begin walking in my direction as the city stays committed beneath me. Around us others will glide past in their chosen paths, but little of that concerns me now, I have an old friend to meet. I'd better grab a new bottle of wine so I can greet them properly.

Unrefined and Still Divine - Wolftrap Wine

2011-02-26T00:33:00.000-08:00

The bottle before me has a stylized wolf on the label and it's getting me drunk. Not the usual, I'm gonna puck drunk, but drunk never-the-less. I'm drunk on ideas. The wine itself, Boekenhoutskloof "Wolftrap" Shiraz-Mourvedre-Viognier 2008, is an tasty unrefined bottle of South African juice. A nose of red fruit, spice and violet is followed by fresh but lush aromas of cherries, blackberries and a touch of smoke and dark chocolate. The wine goes down smooth and integrated. In fact it drinks so well that Wine Enthusiast proclaims it a "Best Buy".

Still, this bottle of Wolftrap is nothing fancy. It is simple, affordable and in my mind best described as primal. Both the taste and the label inspire the inner caveman in me. Which is what has me drunk on ideas as I type. A couple glass in and a couple left to drink I find myself seeking more tasty ways to live well, while still enjoying my inner savage. And that is how I stumble on the cavemanbistro.com

As I pollish off the last half of the bottle I have plenty of reading to enjoy. Looks like the next time I enjoy the unrifined pleasure of Boekenhoutskloof Wolftrap 2008, I'll have some divine eats to pair with my wine.

Is My Glass Really Empty

2011-02-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

When a glass is empty their is no half full. From that point, the brighter side only happens when you open another bottle, at least that's what you hope, that's what they tell you and usually that's what you want to believe. But when you enjoy a special bottle of wine, and when that bottle is enjoy in the right environment and further more when that wine is given the opportunity to fully express itself, you know, no matter what a similar label claims, their is no other bottle.

It was the bluest of blue eyes that taught me that. She shared a bottle with me once that would've pleased the gods, and likely did. I however was to drunk from the night before to even taste it. I sucked that wine down like it was two buck chuck. Asking for another glass before my first glass was gone. Without stopping to enjoy the bouquet, without appreciating the deep crimson color, without even trying to taste the juice, I rushed in. I gulped down another drink. Who needs to feel, just keep me drunk.

And drunk it kept me, so much so that I never realized we (as in I) drank the entire bottle. Nor did I realize that she was gone. I thought she had just left to find another bottle. I heard later that she had brought one and only one bottle for me to enjoy with her; a special bottle that she'd been saving to share at the right time with the right man. Looking back I wished she had found him. Had he been me, I would be sharing a fabulous tale of a fantastic wine with a beautiful woman. Instead, I'm left feeling like shit, head pounding and wondering what did I drink.

Sober now, glass fully empty, blue eyes haunt me now, where did she go.

And So It Goes And Continues to Go

2011-01-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

Barely into the new year and already the newness of the year ahead has begun to tarnish. For me, 2011 started with much promise and excitement. Life it seemed was finally feeling effortless, a fantastic flow that carried me seamlessly to each joyful moment. However, a new storm has blown in, testing me and apparently my reslove.

It all began with a rain drenched weekend. A minor treat to activities outdoors, the prospect of being soaked to the bone was easily overcome by a coupious amounts of homebrew wine. Though slightly watered down by the ever increasing rainfall, both the wine and the accompaning party rocked on, through the blustery night. It wasn't until the next morning that my entire world was rocked, a death has away of doing that to people. This time it wasn't just one death but two.

Death, though has another effect; just as every rain cloud has a silver linning. Death has a way of reminding us about life. I choose to celebrate that. Still, I would be lying if I said everything is flowing smoothly now, far from it infact. My brief glimpse of a carefree life as regained the weight of seriousness (at least for now).

I'm not sure what the lasting effects of this rainy weekend will have on the rest of my life but I take solice in what a wrote not long ago. They were words a muse shared with me, "It's just energy, you get to decide how the feeling goes through you."

Let it Flow, Let Your Self Go

2011-01-12T13:51:00.000-08:00

"It's just energy," she tells me. "You get to decide how the feeling goes through you."

Like a tuning fork those words humm in my head. Hanging there just amount before reasonating throughout my entire body. As I drift off into thought, the room melts away. I decide how the energy flows threw me...
Powerful little creature are we, specks in the grand scheme of the planet but undeniably able to re-shape the world around us. Together we can move mountains, change environments or if enough of us to loose our minds in unision, we can shake the earth. We are a powerful people.

Look no further than the vineyard to see the power of people. Land, crops, earth, water have all been moved to focus all the regions energy to grow the perfect sugary grape juice. Fermentated, that juice becomes a beautiful expression of all the goodness the world has to offer. A great sip of wine releases memories of season past, stories from special moments, secrets treasures hidden in the universe; wine, in it's sexiest form, is a conversation with god.

Wine is but one of the many expression of people power. The energy we have access to is limitless. It is up to us to let it flow, and once it begins to flow we choose how it flow through us. As I think that thought the room returns to my conciousness. Those I left behind are once again among me. As I look back, outward onto the world, I make eye contact with her once more. She smiles. As I feel that energy flow through me, I smile back. A New Year begins...

Hello 2011 - Have a Drink on Me

2010-12-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

On the eve of New Year's eve I find myself deep in thought. Part of me wants to scream, part of me wants to cry and all of me wants to drink; I'm just not sure what is motivating that craving.

I'd like to think my craving to drink is simply excitement for a newly popular Portuguese wine in my possession. I few month back I happened on a couple of bottles of wine that at the time seemed like a nice value selection. Little did I know, a few month later that wine would be one of Wine Spectator's top Ten wines of 2010. Had I known the wine's future pedigree I likely would have enjoyed the juice long ago. In truth, I would have purchased a few more bottles of the wine with the intention of selling this (now) hard to find vintage. And their in lies the problem...

As 2010 comes to a close I reflect on another year fraught by harsh economic times, the worst environmental disaster in know history and a country still at war. Please reflect on that moment yourself, so perhaps you can help me understand what have we learned?

With the a new year fast approaching it seems the biggest concerns facing the world is what outfit to wear, where is the "best" spot to be seen on New Years and what is Brett Favre up to now. I can't help be think we are all missing something. Something that is great, something important, something that is in all of us but we are scared to find out what it is. Instead, we remain in the now, ignoring that curiosity for something better in an effort to stay focused on chasing what we know, a buck. As the saying goes, "money makes the world go round."

My written ramblings brings me full circle to my current craving to drink. Tomorrow, I'll enjoy a fine wine with friends and strangers. We'll enjoy, enjoyment together. A feeling that is the perfect way to end one year and a blessing to start a new year. Top wine or not, best place or not and what I'll be wearing or not won't matter. If only for a moment we'll connect to the fact that what we have in enough and what that is, is each-other. Cheers to having "enough" in 2011, first drink is on me.

Until You Get Your Way, Hold Your Breath

2010-12-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

Like a four year old child, a New Zealand man is holding his breath until he gets his way. Frankly, I don't blame him. You can scream until you are red in the face but people seldom listen. So maybe, making no noise at all, not even breathing will be more effective. With that type of focused silence, a person can accomplish some amazing things.

The goal for this quiet tantrum; save the Hector Dolphins of New Zealand.

Yes, save the "dolphins". I know it sounds a bit ridiculous with all the other turmoil in the world, but that is just it. If we don't start appreciating all that is beautiful and strive to save it, what are we left with but turmoil. Besides these beautiful creatures are pretty cool.

I first laid eyes on them on a sailboat off the coast of New Zealand. While enjoying a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (the wine that put New Zealand on the map) a pod of Hector Dolphins thought they'd pay us a visit. Perhaps it was the wine's distinct bouquet of ripe passionfruit, yellow plums, juicy limes and freshly picked basil that attracted our companions. All I can remember was drinking in the grace of these animals while enjoying the wines long, crisp finish. The white streak marking that runs the length of these classic grey dolphins looks almost like an artistic flame on a 50's hot rod car. I was messmerized by these high performance "vehicles" as they crested and rode the bow wave of our modest little vessel.

A vision like that is worth saving. In this season of giving, the best thing I can receive is the knowledge that I will have the opportunity to experience the majesty of the Hector Dolphin once more. Until then, I hope that guy in New Zealand keeps holding his breath,... for all of us.

Grab Sum Booze, Let's Fire a Gun

2010-12-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Today the US Army announced a new infantry weapon with all the fanfare that only a great cliche line can capture, this weapon is "a game-changer". However, I'm not sure what game the army plans to play with this weapon. Briefly scanning the description of this weapon it becomes clear that the lethality of the new XM25 is not designed for any game my friends and I play. In fact, when the XM25 is involved most enemies wouldn't want to play that game either. This weapon system was not built for games, it was built to destroy.

The army proudly touts the guns ability to kill over, around and through any cover a target might hide behind. When "smart" explosive rounds are unleashed, this is no game. The gun was built to kill. They military goes on to claim that this type of pinpoint technology will dramatically slash civilian death and damage on the battlefield. One can only assume therefore that the more we fire this weapon in combat the more the "smart" explosions will find the "enemy". In turn, we just might be amazed by the amount of "bad guys" that really exist.

The image of the weapon alone has me drooling to hold it in my hand. Second amendment rights I say, this futuristic gun is exactly what the forefather had in mind. Picture me, John Hancock, GW and Aaron Burr enjoying some fine french wine while shoot'n stuff up with our fancy XM25. Now that is a history lesson any kid could get into.

Forget the Red Rider BB Gun this Christmas Santa, I've got something better in mind.

Top Reason to Enjoy - #7 Schild Shiraz

2010-11-22T16:06:00.000-08:00

Since the advent of the TSA we've been conditioned to leave behind liquid containers of over two ounces when traveling to the airport. However, recent "security innovations" should have you rethinking that belief. I have found that a 750ml bottle is the only way to deal with the ridiculous headaches and long lines that are the new reality of airplane travel. With the busiest travel day of the year fast approaching, you'd be wise to bring a few bottles so friends and line-mates might also enjoy this festive time of year.

Being that it is the unofficial kickoff to the holiday season, not only do I bring a bottle of wine to drink while I wait in line, I also make sure to dress in my finest holiday attire. My choice: the national formal-wear of the Philippines. Not only does festive clothing enhance the revelry of the already chaotic atmosphere, it also serves a more practical purpose. The transparent nature of the burong makes the need of x-ray scanning obsolete. No longer hassled by silly security as to what I might be hiding, I am free to share what I am enjoying.

Currently my enjoyment is focused on the #7 of Wine Spectators top wines of 2010. Schild Barossa Shiraz 2008 is a true expression of generous Australian Shiraz. This wine exudes great presence, lingering flavors and all the hallmarks of premium juice form Barossa. Once available at an affordable price this wine was a steal that I am now happy to share with anyone you needs a little reminder of the good things in life.

Rather then give in to the frustrations of the season, take a moment to rethink the wonderment of the world at hand. Rather than worrying about how to change the fate of the world, share the beauty of what is available now. If it feels like a hassle then you just aren't taking the time to make it fun.

Three Legged Dog - A Change of Perspective

2010-11-17T13:07:00.000-08:00

I want to be outside playing today, but it's wet. I have a cough, I have work that needs to get done, I need to be responsible.

Rather then diligently typing away in an effort to meet my deadline, I catch myself staring out the window, mesmerized by the falling rain. I'm feeling like a little kid; trapped inside, safely tucked away from the fun adventure of a blustery day. Instead, I rebelliously decide to enjoy a glass of last nights wine.

The pace of my typing has not picked up but thanks to the Dunham Three Legged Red 2008, my enjoyment has. Having spent a night in a half drank bottle did this juice some justice. This already very approachable blend was able open to up a touch more giving the wine a slightly silkier, smooth finish.

Looking at the black and white dog on the label, as the wine slides past my lips, I thinks about an article I just read about the majestic moves of another beautiful black and white animal. To gracefully slide on water like the orcas of the south, that would be a dream.
More rain falls outside my window but finally I agree its time to work. I'll pass on stomping in puddles today if it means floating through piles of powder this weekend.

It's funny how one glass of wine can change our perspective.

Day

2010-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:00

Just another day, could you feel it? Another day to think about it, yes you know it. It was another day to, did you miss it? Another day to be alive and thankful.

But looking back only allows one's vision to go so far. Turning around and looking forward allows one to see into forever.

Cheers to the veterans on 11-11. It is time we stop riding on their backs to carry us through war. The time is at hand to transform. Wage Peace.

Not Oregon's Year - Poor Pinot

2010-11-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

Leave it to Oregon to not get the memo about global warming. Rather than joining the rest of the planet by setting record summer temperatures, Oregon chose to chill. Western Oregon has posted the coolest growing season in 50 years, on pace for the coldest on record. Normally, I'm all about enjoying a greener planet and a chilled out attitude, but not in this case. There's only two things that I enjoy about Oregon, hot hippie chicks and tasty Pinot Noir. And it looks like the weather down there is helping me with neither.

Cold temps is a killer for hippie chicks. When there free loving, let's get naked style is cramped by cold weather, they tend to allow body hair to become another layer of insulation. In that same regard, cold temps hold back the beauty of the Pinot Noir grape.

Ever since that movie turned the wine industry sideways, Pinot has been the favorite grape of many Americans. And those in the know, know Oregon grows the best Pinot Noir in the world; normally. However with this unseasonably cold year in Oregon wine country, grapes have suffered, especially the delicate Pinot Noir grape. The result will be less fruit, lower brix and all around lower quality wine. For the wine drinker I suggest, start hording your favorite Pinots now. And for the Oregon wine maker, with less to work with, I have some advice,... time to "Step Your Game Up".

Here Comes the Rooster - Tierra Del Sol Malbec

2010-10-26T16:52:00.001-07:00

Chill'n on the train with some local kids. Funny anyone under 30 these days is a kid to me, even though I'm not much older than them. I break out a bottle I happen to have on me. It was for later but I'm sure I can find another. They are going nowhere and honestly I have no clue where I'm going. So we decide to sample the wine. I say cheers and pass around a bottle of Tierra Del Sol Malbec 2009.

When it returns, I turn off my computer, take a healthy swig and catch a glimpse of the passing landscape. It is soggy out there. Not good news for the grape harvest. The report of continued downpours must have farmers rushing to pull their fruit. What might be a bad year for grapes has part of me smiling though. The chill in the air tells me this same storm is dumping white gold at the Mountain. I'll be skiing in no time; maybe I do know where I'm going after all.

Craig's Sale - BYOB

2010-10-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

When you read on craigslist that Craig is having a garage sale and then you get a FB invite to attend, it's kinda something you can't ignore.

"This is going to be a party", were the first words that went through my head. Immediately, I go to the calendar to save the date. At that point I realized I already have a pretty nice little weekend planned, pretty nice little weekend indeed. Shoot, if we have enough time you might see me sleeping it off in Bed Bath and Beyond. (They have the comfiest beds)

Fall for me is always a busy time of year. Winter is right around the corner, and for those that don't know were to find me, like a bear I tend to disappear once the snow starts falling. Also being harvest season there are lots of loose ends to tie-up. But maybe the busiest part of fall is football season. You never want to miss a game, especially one at home. The demise of my first business can be traced back to the time I missed the season opener.

So wouldn't you know, "the garage sale to end all garage sales", happens this weekend. A classic busy weekend in the fall. But if you're like me, you realize you can bare down and get it all done. Weekends with the fun potential that this weekend promises are weekends that you need to go out and enjoy.

Looks like it's time to breakout the wine I made from last harvest, dust off the old debit card (I hear they'll have paypal at the event) and get after it. Cheap stuff to buy, a good buzz and laughs with friends; who can turn that down? who'd want to, especially in these interesting times. I'll see you at the sale.

Rubicon Wine On My Mind - Wash This Bad Taste Away

2010-09-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

After last night's rant, I tried to chill out with a little TV. For that, I turned to AMC. I was hoping to find a smart, entertaining show that would allow my mind to peaceful drift into a different world. The show I turned to shares the name of a wine, that vintage after vintage, I continue to enjoy. One sip of Rubicon, the superior wine from Coppola's estates in California, always takes me to a happy place. Without a bottle of Rubicon on the shelf (in these tough times I've had to reduce my cellar inventory) my hope was that Rubicon the new AMC show could produce a similar pleasure.

The show states, not every conspiracies is theory; true I say. I'd add, not all conspiracies are entertaining either. Maybe I missed something, this was episode ten. With no background on the series, perhaps I dove in over my head. Then again perhaps not. I may have been asking too much from a show simply because it shares it's name with a great wine. Or maybe that is the conspiracy of the whole thing; a writer who's dreams were destroyed by Coppola, decided the best way to get revenge was to destroy Coppola's best wine by creating a disappointing show of the same name. That is Diabolical.

The show did have one highlight. A piece of dialog, that for me, will be a classic line, "what is the significance of 4:20." Maybe if I'd taken that thought to heart the show would have made a lot more sense.

A Open Letter to Dawgs - Still Reason for Cheers

2010-09-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

All season long we'll be pouring wine, drink beers, and clinking glass cause no matter what it's Husky football season. But after what I saw at the last home game, I just can't stay quiet...

New Rules For Husky Nation.

It's a bye week so, I took sometime to reflect on last weeks game. Sark says not to dwell on the past, and that's good advice for the team, they've moved on. But as a nation, I don't think we've taking the time to think about the mistakes we made last week. I know as a fan I did. You might say, "who me?", I wasn't out on the field. But remember as fans they can feel us, feed on our energy, fight to the end and walk-off knowing I scraped for every extra inch today because I know those people were entertained. Remember that feeling we all had last year, walk out of that stadium after beating SC. Remember that feeling on the field. (note: to me that is sacred ground, and you don't go down there unless invited) But, the feeling after that game was electric. You don't think the players felt that? True Dawg fans make a difference. So, I'm calling out fans by laying down some new rules to live by until the next home game. Simple rules:

Have I thanked a Dawg? Who gets a game ball? rule one: Thank a Dawg.

Have you made your apologize? I did, my aunt and uncle were in from out of town and I had to apologize for getting my brother kick-out of the stadium. They are from the SEC and thought it was funny that we got kick-out of Husky stadium for cheering to loud. ("Legendary Husky Stadium" my uncle jokes, "home of the wave.") Sometimes you want to punch them, but when you've been out "played", you tip your hat and make apologize if you have to. After being beat at home I say we have to. rule two: Man Up.

Have you reviewed the tape? Are you ready to be apart of next weeks game? rule three: Do Your Homework.

Have I done my part? This is simple are you part of husky nation or not or do I really know what that means? rule four: Step Your Game Up.

These are the rules Dawg fans, be ready for ASU.

Break Out Another Box - We Still Have Wine

2010-09-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cardboard it seems has a bad reputation. Why that is, I don't know. Cardboard, in my opinion is a versatile invention, that like a good friend will be there when you need it. And in these current tough times, we all could use a good friend.

Dream homes going up for auction. Families struggling to make ends meet. Smart people out of a job or worse settling for any work they can get. Geez, when was any of this part of the American dream... never. But just when things look their bleakest, true friends step up to the challenge. Enter my pal cardboard.

Admittedly, I don't have the same buying power I did a few years ago, but to my buddy cardboard, that doesn't matter. Thanks to cardboard I still have a home. And though to many, a cardboard home might not be glamorous, my other good buddy wine would beg to differ. Tasty and more affordable I'm not ashamed to be seen in public with cardboard and wine. In these still scary economic times they've been their for me, and I thank them for that.

...honestly though, I do miss my other friends, million dollar home and stocked wine cellar. Once you get to know them they aren't as pretentious as they sound.

Greed Works, But For Who?

2010-09-08T10:02:00.000-07:00

For a lack of a better word, "Greed" Gordon tells me, "is good." In his thinking greed is the motivator. Rather than siting on one's ass, greed pushes people forward to strive for the best in life. Greed "clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit". Greed it turns out keeps us accountable, it weeds out the weak and rewards the strong. In Mr. Gekko's way of thinking we can thank greed for making things better.

For sure, it is greediest fruit that produce the most sugar, that become the riches in nutrients and thus is able to transform into the most complex of juice. The richness of the greedy grapes makes the Barolos that I lust for possible. In a sense, I must admit that old Gordo is right, greed works.

I'll make sure to tell him that when he is finally released from prison. I'll pour him a glass of wine and let him enjoy it before asking him to elaborate more on greed. I'm sure the greedy actions of his ex-wife have helped form some fresh opinions on greed which he will undoubtedly be moved to share.

Step Your Game Up

2010-09-03T16:21:00.000-07:00

Yes we can, just hasn't been getting it done, most of the problem being people would just rather not. Personally it has been driving me crazy. With unemployment inexcusably high in this country, environmental issues on the rise and corporate malfeasance seemingly out of control, I turn more and more away from society, choosing instead to go deeper down the trail of a solitary existence. Good wine, long walks and video games would be the the contents of my data sheet should I have a centerfold layout. Some people might think of me (and the many other like me) as a burnout, wasting time in rather than making a difference. But maybe we are just a reflection of the times, laking a uniting voice to rally our generation to make a difference. It seems crappy jobs and bad ties are all we have to look forward too.

...But suddenly a leader has emerged, and now I am compelled to make a difference. Tell it like it is Marcus. It's time we all stepped our game up. Crack me another bottle of Malbec cause I'm all in to make a difference. Let me just complete one more level on this game.

We Don't Have to Be Stuck - Make it Simple

2010-08-23T13:07:00.000-07:00

Sitting down with a good book and a glass of wine, it is amazing what you might learn. Simply opening a hundred year old first edition and reading the forward my mind is blow away. Holding in your hands a direct a connection to knowledge gives time for pause. A sip of wine during that pause allows for contemplation. I'm left to explore the first shared thoughts that catch my eye.

"On my road to Deli I passed a hundred travelers, each was my brother."

After another sip, I swirl my wine before sipping again. Such contrast on the roads today.

I'm Ready For Some Delicious Fruit

2010-08-11T10:03:00.001-07:00

rather than living in frustration I close my eyes and imagine a new tomorrow. one by one the troubling realities of today transform. taking shape first as a dream, I can see the outline of their reality. isolated in the wilderness I have increasing become reconnected. I am not alone. great prophets already live among us, calling out, hoping to stir us awake. turn off the tv, tune out the hatred. Open up your eyes and see all that is beautiful before us. The world is bountiful, it is time once again to taste the fruit of knowledge... I will proudly be cast out of the garden in which we currently live.

Where Do the Days Go?

2010-08-09T18:04:00.000-07:00

The last few months have flown past like a drunken blur from a high school weekend. Meaning, I've had fun but I knew things could be better. Life around me seems to suck but I know better days are on the way. And worst of all I haven't been enjoying good stuff, rather I've just been enjoying whatever is on hand cause it is easy to get to. Though I've learned it's a good thing to grow-up, I guess, sadly sometimes we must digress to appreciate all that the world has to offer.

With all the troubling news in the world, the tough economy and a strong desire to find happiness in these gloom filled times, I've spent more time in the wilderness then writing. Back with nature, high in the Mts, deep in the woods or lost on a beach; it has been good to get away from it all. The more the remote, the more I found my enjoyment, save one important detail... wine.

When gas stations are the only supply stops quality wine is hard to come by. So now back in-town, I'm stocking up on "essentials" for my next disappearance. I wonder what Mitolo 'Reiver' Shiraz 2006 will taste like in my camel pack?

Just Hand Me the Bottle

2010-06-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

...casue we aint got no cup.

We Need Your Help Captain America

2010-06-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

Still at war, (two of them) high unemployment, and oil pouring into the gulf, life in the States has felt bleak. As a nation we are hungry for inspiration, hoping that our boys in South Africa could spark some joy. But now with our backs to the wall, even they need help. Where are you Captain America?

I'm Not Bitter, I'm Just Right

2010-06-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

My glass of wine tastes bitter tonight. I should be drinking a beer, or better yet a scotch. Instead, I allow my attitude to ruin an otherwise elegant wine. It's the last night of another nba season and I'm supposed to care. Titans in history, giants in rivalry, legends in legacy are battling for this years title. I only know this because people kept asking where I'd be watching game seven.

Prior to today, I didn't even know who was playing. Nor did I realize after tonight, a champion would be crowned, meaning another season would come to an end. My seaming lack of knowledge is not a result of a hatred of basketball, on the contrary I love the game. (I also learned today that one of my favorite former college players is playing tonight.) My lack of knowledge of tonight's events stems from the fact that I HATE the nba.

The once glorious league has devolved into a perfect example of everything that is wrong with our society. Lies from the wealthy elite, corporations allowed to change the rules and worst of all the people have no voice.

Bring back my SUPERSONICS.

Why Whine When You Can Ride For Wine

2010-06-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

I had to ride today. I've had so much pent up frustration I had to do something to get me away from all the bad news on the computer. I needed to have space to clear my thoughts. With no direction in mind nor a destination as my goal, I set out on my journey. My only thought was to peddle away from all the despair.

When your head is clogged with things to contemplate its easy to loose track of time. The fatigue of my journey didn't really set in until I found myself half way up a steep incline, muscles burning, legs giving all that they could just to keep momentum forward and lungs straining to take in air. Suddenly I was back in my body. Worries, stresses, global messes, none of it matter. My only focus was the peak of that hill. Rhythmically I pushed on. Getting up from the saddle I alternated standing on each leg; one, two, oone, twwo, ooone, twwwoo, ooooone, ttwwwooo.

Just over the crest I discovered a small cafe with a beautiful view of the bay. Exhausted from my accent, I decided I'd earned a moment to relax with glass of wine. As I stared out across the bay, I enjoyed the wines elegant bouquet of rich black fruit with hints of dried herbs. My mind once again drifted off; how lucky I am to live in a place so beautiful and safe from the spoils of corporate malfeasance. (at least for now).

Taking a sip, my mind rushed back to my physical body, tired and yet content. I had a good ride home ahead but for now I had a pleasant glass of wine to enjoy. In fact, I just might have another.

Dark Waters in the Gulf

2010-05-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

All the wine in the world won't make this mess in the Gulf dissappear form our coast or in my mind. As the weeks go by I continue to be amazed by how little is being accomplished, while the mess continues to grow. Where is Prince Wrenn and his team of misfits when we need them.

On the Road Again - I Just Can't Wait

2010-03-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

The contents of my car...

A old boy scout pocket knife that belong to my grandfather.

Two boxes of business cards, each for a different job.

A plastic owl.

A odd assortment of hats.

A sleeping bag and pillow.

A workout bag, with gym shorts, socks, two t-shirts, sandals, two pairs of googles, swim trunks and a towel inside.

Ski googles.

Running shoes.

Yoga mat.

Three note books, each half full of thoughts.

Bag of coins.

A folder of gas receipts.

A tape gun.

A stick from the beach.

A book on the Chinese economy.

A wine opener.

A clutch of pens once held together by a now broken rubber band.

An empty pack of gum.

A picture of me with my ski students.

An old Powder magazine.

A plastic bag with toothpaste, an old tooth brush and shampoo from a hotel.

A clean but well worn towel.

A flashlight that needs batteries.

A packet of AAA batteries that need to make it into my house.

Running shorts for a woman.

A collection of business cards that need filing.

Two eagle feathers.

An orange that needs eating

And a bottle of wine I am currently drinking.

Lately I've felt like I've been living in my car but after cataloging the contents I know I'm not. If I was really living in there I'd surely have more than one bottle on hand. You never know when guests might stop by.

Who Drank 09?

2010-02-26T09:01:00.000-08:00

How does a year pass so quick? I'm standing on the edge of March of 2010 and I can hardly retrace my steps back to 2009. In the sense of time it blew by, but in the sense of attitude it feels like a life time ago. Much has change in a years time, most of all my cellar. I swear, I had some nice bottles to share, but appearently they're all gone.

I better click to the store, I'm sure friends will be visiting soon. It is always best to be prepared.

Who Are You? - A Delicious Barolo

2010-02-08T13:08:00.000-08:00

The second day of a great experiment and I can't wait to get home. It seems that I can hardly focus, every few minutes my thoughts drift back to the beauty that awaits me at home. The minutes of the work day seem to drag on, I know this because I'm constantly checking the clock, but I must wait. I made a promise to myself. I'd get a whole day of work in before I gave in to temptation. A promise is a promise after all, and an unkempt promise to oneself is the worst unfulfilled promise. So I wait, counting the seconds before I can partake in the last glass of my great experiment.

Yesterday morning, working from home, I decided to spice up the day with a glass of wine for brunch. Maybe it was the start of the month, maybe it was the stress of the day or just maybe it was because that bottle had been starring at me for far too long. Whatever the reason, I found myself acting on an impulse. The bottle of Clerico Percristina Barolo 2001 was going to be enjoyed. A friend had warned drink before 2012 would be like opening a present before Christmas. No matter, the pedigree of this wine was to great and my desire for her to grand, Christmas was coming early this year.

Still, I made a deal with myself. A beauty like this is not meant to be devoured. Noble juice such as this is best contemplated. Therefore, I would open the bottle now but only drink one glass. Later, a post lunch glass could be enjoyed, another for dinner, then at lunch again the next day and finally after a full day of work, the last glass would be consumed on my deck accompanied by the setting sun.

At first taste the wine does not disappoint. A robust Italian red, this Barolo is full of minerality. I wanted to chew on the wine as it was my brunch. Later, post lunch, the wine soften some and the complexity of balance began to show through. At dinner, paired with food the floral notes really began to show through. In fact, I think it was the breathing wine that called me to dinner. After a full day her bouquet had filled the room and I was craving another glass.

Today for lunch I expereinced Clerico Percristina as a sweet and powerful yet luxurious Barolo. Loaded with ripe dark fruit, spices and chocolate that flow onto the palate with stunning length, delineation and balance. I was hooked, I did care what the price was, if I could find it I was determined to enjoy another bottle. In the meantime I was happy to know one glass still remained. So that is were I sit, waiting for the fulfillment of a promise and the enjoyment of a superior wine.

...plus I know where to get more.

Can't Avoid the Truth - Starbucks Sucks.

2010-01-11T18:49:00.001-08:00

What the hell was I thinking, trying to return to a relationship I knew was a bad idea? As the old saying goes, “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” When I decided to walk into that Starbucks I should have heard that faint scream inside my head, shame on me.

Prior to a meeting, I found myself in an unfamiliar part of the city, in need of web access. The closest and most recognizable establishment happened to be an old nemesis, Starbucks. Years ago I began a personal boycott of that company because the founder and CEO is such an ass. Along the way other moves by the corporation reinforced my belief that I had made the right move, Starbucks sucks.

Still, even knowing this to be true, I’m amazed by the amount of people that still use their service. The majority of these “sheepeople” list convenience as their top reason for continuing to shop at the overrated coffee house. “Can I get you anything?” my friends would ask as they attempted to pull me in.

“No thanks”, my standard reply. Still, I could tell the constant barrage of friendly offers was eating away at my distain for the company. How can you continue to hate something that, no matter how despicable it is, everyone else around you seems to love?

So in a moment of weakness, I stepped out of the rain and into a Starbucks. I came for a cup of warm tea and web access but not surprisingly I left disappointed. It wasn’t the scalding hot water that destroyed the tea I ordered. Nor was it the fact that I couldn’t even bring the tea to my lips without feeling the burn. It also wasn’t the fact that the only way I could use their “free web access” was to purchase a Starbucks card what disappointed me. It wasn’t even the sterile corporate attempt to make a cozy space that disappointed me. I knew to expect all of these shortcomings, because I already know the undeniable truth, Starbucks sucks!

What disappointed me (and also made me feel a little dirty) was that fact that I succumb to the supposed convenience of a suckie Starbucks service. I was thinking like the very sheepeople I generally mock.

My meeting now over, I parked myself in a more familiar spot with a more familiar beverage. A glass of Sineann Pinot Noir Oregon 2008 helped wash away the earlier sins of the day. Every sip reminds me what true commitment to quality can produce. It may not be the most convenient wine to find (though I do know any easy way to order some) it is worth the hunt. The wine is dark, aromatic and has great natural acidity, with a long, long finish - a good sign for the future of the wine. In a world of suckie standards, it refreshing to experience a quality wine.

A New Beginning

2010-01-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2010

See What He's Drinking - Cakebread Chardonnay 2007

2009-12-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

Image, they say, is everything. What "they" don't mention however is the everything that image conveys. Ponder that statement reader while I'm take a sip of wine, making sure not to gulp, but rather; allow the juice to linger on the palette. I want to experience the complexity of the flavors, in the same manner one should appreciate the nuance of image.

In our consumption driven culture, flashy is the "go to" image. The short-cut people choose to achieve their "everything". Glitz, glamour, all eyes on me; keep the focus on the surface and avoid the complexity (or lack) of what is beneath. Besides, people are so busy consuming, who has the time to get beneath the surface anyway. Standing out with flash seems like the only option.

I have breaking news for you; beauty is only skin deep, you can't judge a book by its cover. The image one conveys therefore should be more than just attention seeking, it should be attention grabbing. Take Cakebread Chardonnay 2007 for example. On the surface, a simple yet elegant label, enough to catch your attention but at the same time subtle enough to not overwhelm the senses. (The second part is the most important) Elegant subtlety, conveys much more confidence than screaming for attention. And confidence is this wine middle name. Priced above an average bottle, this wine drinks in a manner above even its aggressive price point. Yet for those who've enjoyed this wine's purity and harmony displayed as succulent, ripe peach, yellow apple and lemon zest flavors, they would eagerly pay more for a second experience.

Image is everything, so of course words like purity and harmony jump to mind when discussing a Cakebread wine. That is exactly the image the label portrays. Not flashy, because flash warns that something else is lacking. The label is subtle and the price point high because the winemaker is inviting you to discover what the confidence is all about. Drink that idea in, followed by drinking in this wine I was sold. So until wine labels actually blink, flash and verbally speak to me I'll continue to explore the sexy juice beneath the understated labels.

Giving Thanks - Thanksgiving is Great

2009-11-26T10:43:00.000-08:00

Drink wine, eat turkey and be merry... then drink some more.

Thankful for another wonderful day among family.

Tip of the Glass - Thanks Vets

2009-11-11T22:36:00.000-08:00

I walked to the store tonight and bought a bottle of wine, simply because I could.

I sat on my deck and enjoyed that wine, happy to be relaxing at home. When two thirds of the bottle was gone I picked it up and poured the rest out. I watched the red juice first puddle, then spread across the deck.

I didn't pour the wine out because it was bad, but rather because for the price it was pretty darn good. In fact, I poured the rest out because I realized how lucky I am to be at home, able to enjoy a nice glass of wine simply because I was free to do so.

Across the many generations of this great nation, people of all classes, races, sexes and sexual orientation have sacrificed. The least I could do was pour out a little wine out in their honor. Happy Veterans Day.

To Drink or Not to Drink, That is the Question

2009-11-10T22:08:00.000-08:00

I have guests for dinner tonight and thankfully they have made themselves comfortable. I, on the other hand, have a problem. Looking over my personal wine collection a few things have immediately come to mind. First, at a glance it isn't much of a collection any more. The ever decreasing size tells me, that much like my bank account, I've been making more withdrawals than deposits. Second, I have good taste in wine. This leads directly to the third and most troubling thought. Of the remaining wines, what is good to drink?

Years ago, when this blog was in its infancy I wouldn't have grasp the complexity of that question. Even though I knew some wine can "mature" with age, I hadn't yet to experience the difference. Even further back in my history, prior to this blog, life was much simpler. If I was thirsty for wine and if a bottle was in reach, the only debate I'd have about a wine's readiness to drink was if a cork was still in the bottle's neck. Of course, with the wide distribution of screw tops these days life gets ever easier. (But that leads to an even bigger debate.) As I examine each individual bottle remaining in my collection my concern is; is this wine ready to drink or not to drink.

One of my guest, noticing me frozen in thought, hands me an open beer and prepares to listen to the details of my internal debate.

In attempts to bring my quandary to life, I site a few examples from current events to illustrate my point. On this evening of fun, with good friends and delicious food, I could easily throw caution to the wind. I could frivolously opening the first bottle to find my hand, all the while thinking, drink it young and enjoy. Wine for goodness sake is made to be enjoyed not deified. In fact, their is no better example of celebrating the joy of wine for wine sake than the third Thursday of November. The day which marks the official arrival of new wine, Beaujolais Nouveau. However, one must remember for every action their is an equal and opposite reaching. One need look no further than tomorrow's Sotheby auction to understand the value of patience. Wine is about passion. It is not an indulgent tramp to please one's fancy. Wine was created to enlighten one's experience. A good wine will make a meal more enjoyable, a great wine makes moments monumental.

After hearing me out, my friend cracks us a couple more beers so we can continue to stare at the wine collection. As I take a sip I wonder what my other guests are drinking.

OMG - Drunk Dialing Made Easy

2009-11-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

As a wine enthusiast, (drinker) I find I'm have tons of interesting information to share, hence I started this blog. (I'm a dorky know it all). As my sphere of influence has grown (I have too much time on my hands) I've noticed I have tons more to say (apparently I'm starting to believe my own Bull$#!%). Now, in addition to blogging I also tweet. (I'm so hip) But the problem I've come across lately is finding time to text, let alone type. (when you always have a drink in hand it hard to deal with those little buttons)

Finally, someone has invented something that really saves time. Welcome to the world of vlingo, the fastest way to get things done on your phone. Sure, to a simpleton (you) vlingo sounds like a voice activation app. However to a "business person" like myself, vlingo is a whole new world of possibility. When I first discovered vlingo I was compelled to crack a bottle of Sumarroca Brut Reserva, to celebrate.

This fine spanish bubbly was the prefect expression for how I felt when I first came across vlingo. On paper I'd describe the wine as intense straw yellow, with fine bubbles. The aroma showed good intensity, with notes aniseed, white fruit and bread. On the palette the mouthfeel is medium bodied, great acidity and fresh, with some persistence. But in average joe speak, (for you the reader) I was excited. At such an affordable price, this wine has endless possibilities to impress. Just like my new favorite toy, my vlingo app.

In fact, with glass in one hand and bottle of Spanish cava in the other, I able to send texts to all my friends about how great Sumarroca Brut Reserva is. Their is nothing so sweet as texting with ones voice. No more wasted phone minutes waiting for my turn to talk. Thanks to vlingo I can just speak my thoughts and my lucky friends get to enjoy my extraordinary insights. Don't worry I'll say it for you, viva vlingo.

A Crush with Plenty to Do

2009-11-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling surrounded, but for good reason. Wine, wine everywhere, so much good stuff to drink. This is a great time of year. It's crush time, time to harvest those grape and enjoy last years vintage. Problem is where to begin and then of course when to end. Luckily harvest is a month long process so theirs plenty of time to enjoy, drinking it all in. (and I do me all...)

As an optimist, I've been able to leverage my lingering "extended vacation". I have ample time to indulge in the joy of this time of year. Like Kane from Kung Fu I envision a month of drifting from vineyard to vineyard soaking up whatever life has to offer. And if my wisdom, calm demeanor or fist of fury are needed I will do what I can to positively impact the lives of those in need. Otherwise, it just me and my flute, well not some much a flute but actually a fine piece of stemware. That's not true either, it will likely be a crappy glass just nice enough to get the job done, but I promise it will get plenty of use.

On that note, off I go for a month of juicy good adventure.

[this post was written a month ago but in my exuberance to tour wineries I failed to hit the publish post button until now, I'm sure you all missed me]

A Taste of the Past - Antinori Villa Toscana Rosso

2009-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Finally deciding to address those old boxes of stuff in corner, I open a bottle of Italian wine to help motivate me. I settled on Antinori Villa Toscana Rosso 2005, a very approachable Tuscan blend. I can't help but think about my time in Tuscany whenever I enjoy a glass of Antinori. As fate would have it, in one of the boxes, I came across a long forgotten travel journal from my time in Florence. Pouring myself another glass, I allowed the journal to open randomly, reading the first passage to catch my eye...

A four piece band strikes up in the middle of the Piazza della Repubblica. The passing people couldn't help but stop and takes in the Italian folk tunes. Looking up from my writing I see a stunning vision standing with her back to me. Her red heels may have caught my eye or perhaps it was the large floppy hat she had worn to subdue the intense Tuscan sun. Now however, as the sun was setting the breeze picked up. At times she has to reach up and hold her hat down. I enjoyed drinking in the long elegant lines of her body. Loosing my train of thought, I ignored my writing to take a long sip of wine, waiting (or perhaps hoping) for a sign. A slight tap of her foot was all I needed. Slugging down the rest of my glass, I leave my seat in the cafe.

Without words, I approached her. Grasping both of her hands, I greet her with only a smile. Sliding my left hand down to her waist, we began to dance. She laughs, I smile wider now and our dance continues. As the allegro tempo slowed more to a waltz, I pulled her close and she lay her head on my shoulder. A gust of wind finally succeeds in pulling the hat from her head. Looking up suddenly we catch our first intimate gaze. In that moment we might have forgotten the hat all together if it weren't for the yelling. I turned my head towards it to see a waiter at the cafe waving my journal as he shouts in my direction. She turns in the opposite direction, hoping to spy her missing hat. Our connection breaks, each tending to our own business.

After unsuccessfully trying to explain my actions to the waiter, I finally give up. I shower him with more euros than he deserved so I can turn my attention back to my dance partner. I scan the crowd for those beautiful red heels. They are pointing directly at a pair of black leather dress loafers. The man who's feet are inside is taller than I. The suit he wears is a conservative cut, nicer than any suit I had ever owned. A finely pressed white shirt accented by a deep ocean blue tie rounds out his ensemble. It conveys an aura of seriousness, (hardly the demeanor to complement such a whimsical beauty as the woman in red heels). In his hand he holds her floppy sun hat. She on the other-hand holds his gaze. It appeared she was doing some explaining of her own. Grabbing her hand, he turns and begins walking her from the piazza. With my notebook once again firmly in hand I stood alone. She glanced once over her shoulder. I gave her one last smile but doubt she ever received it.

...another sip and the wine's silky tannins bring me back to the present. I may not have this girl, but I'll always have her memory imprinted on this seductive Italian red wine.

A Cab by a Different Name - Picchetti

2009-09-10T18:11:00.000-07:00

Inevitably, a friend returns from a visit to the Bay area and I know the conversation before it takes place. We cover the basic tourist attractions: Alcatraz, Ghirardelli Square, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, wine country, bla bla bla. In fact, the conversation is so predictable that I often begin to wonder why I haven't written a tour booklet for the region. Not because I know so much about all of these interesting places, but because I've been lucky enough to experience other things of interest.

Every city has them, untouched gems that tourist seem to miss. Perhaps that's why I haven't written my Badass Bay Area travel guide, I like that fact that my gems remain gems. Free from the bastardizing touch of the stereotypical ugly American tourist. (It's not all their fault of course, locals happily go out of their way to invent ways to separate these tourist from their cash.) Once people see theirs a buck to be made it gets ugly quick. Does anyone remember the gritty customer service friendly style of old Vegas, or the down-to-earth happy to see you farmers in Napa prior to this recent wine craze?

For my gaming pleasure Vegas is seldom in the cards anymore. But for down-to-earth wine tasting we still have options. Luckily, the country is still blessed with a few fun growing regions that consistently produce great wines. One such AVA is short drive southwest of San Francisco to the Santa Cruz Mountains. Incorporating parts of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo this region is full of unique and well established vineyards. Speckled with boutique wineries, one can easily spend a week exploring all the fine juice this region has to offer. Plus, you save yourself from the crowds, hassle and expense of the more famous tasting regions to the north. It can be hard to find many of these wines on at your local supermarket, but that can also be the fun of the trip, the discovery. One of my favorites, the Picchetti winery, dates back to the 1800's. A walk in the vineyard will reveal tree trunk sized vines (just beware the rattle snakes) but save yourself the walk and just enjoy the comforts of the tasting room.

The Leslie's Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a treat. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from our Estate Vineyards on Montebello Road. This wine is beautifully balanced. Rich and intense in color, the nose is tremendous. A classic Cabernet, luscious and bold with deep flavors of blackcurrant with a hint of chocolate. Decant now and drink or allow it to age beautifully over the next 20 years. It will not disappoint and neither will a visit to the Santa Cruz Mountains growing region.

Thanks For the Poppies

2009-09-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

As the speed of activity from the summer begins to slow into the fall, I find myself looking around my world. What am I committed to, what to I care about, how am I connected? So much of what we do in this society is done for the "me" in all of us. Seldom do we address the "we" unless it is an indirect benefit of taking care of the "me" first. Slumping deep into my chair, I meditated on that thought as I took a gulp of wine.

Peter Michael "Les Pavots" 2006 is an amazing blend I was luck to receive as a gift. Almost black with a deep red edge. A profound bouquet of black cherry, licorice, black currant, blueberry pie and blackberry, combined with chocolate, vanilla, coffee, black tea. The nose is almost overwhelmed. Subtle spice notes of cloves cinnamon first great the tongue. Very full-bodied-concentrated yet graceful. The same rich, ripe fruit impressions from the nose dance on the palate with spice black truffle. The massive mouth feel is round with silky tannins with hints of mocha leading to a very long finish.

As a blend it is a beautiful balance of what each grape can bring to the glass. Some more than others bring on the deep color, others the wonderful nose, each adds to the harmonics of the palate. Alone no grape can make this wine. Each grape asserts characteristics from a micro climate it came from, bring the best of what it could produce with the conditions of the 2006 growing season. Now together, this blend of grapes brings great pleasure to me as I struggle with my thoughts on disconnectedness.

Turning to my computer, I wondered what could be possible if we worked to create balance though connectedness. Imagine how delicious that world could be.

Time to Reflect - Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-08-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

The gentle cords of the guitar lead in as I break out. On the open road now, I came for the space to clear my head. I drive and it feels good, windows down, volume up. The lyrics lacing in, grabbing my attention before helping me drift freely with my thoughts. The piano break bring me back briefly. Just long enough for me to acknowledge I have no direction planned. I have just over 100 miles left on this tank of gas, a tent, a change of clothes, 67.23 in cash and a bottle of wine.

When its time to pull over, I'll know. That's when I'll look for a nice: river, stream, or "crick". Finding a spot on it's bank, I'll pull up a log and sit. No need for a glass, I'll drinking straight from the bottle and listen for the coming dusk. The last bird songs in the trees over head, the breeze as it passes through the leaves, the deeper tone of the lapping water as it seemingly grows heavier with the dropping temperature. I anticipate peacefulness.

Away from the calls, away from the sorrys for my lose, away from all the stuff that comes with the death of a close relative, I will have time to be with me. Selfish as it maybe, I knew this morning I needed to take time for just me. My goal was to find a quiet spot were I could enjoy bottle of 2005 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon. I want time to reflect on all that has passed. What a year it has been, what a year.

Scarrone - Simple Blend, But At A Price

2009-08-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

It's early, at least it feels that way to my aching body. Through the lens of one good eye I scan the room. Empty wine bottles and glassware liter the room but no one insight. It takes all my strength to sit upright. I'm not yet prepared to move beyond this point, so I sit back and allow myself to sink into the couch. My head is pounding. I close my eyes and think back to what got me here...

A blur of good food, friends and tomfoolery rewinds in my mind. Once at the evenings source I play it forward. A ruby purple color pours slowly into a glass, unleashing intense aromas cherries with vanilla and hints of brown spice. At first sip refreshing acidity and rich tannins excite the pallet. Great complexity, excellent balance give way to a long lingering finish. In instinctively I wet my lips. It is as if I am once again sampling this fuller-bodied Barbera.

Damn you Vietti, your Barbera d'Alba Scarrone got me again. Such a beautiful wine. It is easy to find yourself giving in to her temptations, allowing the nights merriment to carry on until daybreak.

Different, Yet Still the Same - Sagelands Merlot

2009-07-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't visited this city in years. I walk familiar streets that no longer have a familiar vibe. New shops in old spaces, buildings grown out of once open places, the old neighborhood is filled with fresh faces. I come to discover my favorite dive bar is now a hip coffee shop. I feel lost in my old town. Unable to take much more change I give. Settling for a outside seat at this hipster hangout, I need a drink. Thankfully they have more than just coffee on the beverage list.

With no stand outs in the wine list I resign to enjoy drinkable merlot from my past. As soon as my glass of Sagelands Merlot 2006 arrives I take a generous sip. Like visiting an old friend the wine fills my pallet with familiar notes. Lots of ripe berry fruit, accented by bitter chocolate and hints of leather. That's the good stuff that I remember from my last visit with this wine. A smile has finally returned to my face, I allow my eyes to close as I enjoy a second sip. This time I become aware of nice touches of smoke, fresh herbs, and a hint of leather. A new wrinkle in my memory of this wine.

Just then I hear the sweet tone of a voice almost forgotten. Opening my eyes, I see my surroundings differently now. I hear her voice again, this time it calls out my name. Turning, I see her for the first time in years. Different now, she is still beautiful. I invite her to join me for another glass of Merlot. The more things change, the more they stay the same. I'm in a familiar spot, with a familiar wine, enjoying the day and happy to be just were I am.

You Said it Man - Happy Fourth

2009-07-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

The words of our fore fathers continue to ring true..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Soaking in the sun from my seat at the lakes edge, I pour myself a glass of wine. Hours from now, a massive display of fireworks will explode over head. Thanks to all who have fought and defended my right to party. Another Great Birthday USA.

Breath It In - That's a Goode Wine

2009-06-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

Sitting with this beautiful blond, I realize just can't get enough of her. Constantly drinking her in threw my nose I am overwhelmed. A kiss from her honeysuckle fragrance gives me pause. A close my eyes to meditate on her; all that she is and all that she will be once I allow her to meet my lips.

Opening my eyes now I stare at her in the glass. The juice of the Murphy Goode Sauvignon Blanc 2008 displays a bright blond color, but it is her alluring aroma that holds my attention. With another deep inhale a crooked smile crosses my face. The pleasant taste imparted in my nose just might be enough. Too often we rush to the palate before we learn to appreciate the sensations on the nose. Like only experiencing half the love, the pleasure of the juice on the lips is nothing without the first enjoying the tantalizing bouquet that fills the nose.

Still, I could only tease my senses any longer. Prior to allowing the wine to pass my lips, I take one last long breath in. From the sweet scents of honeysuckle, my senses are quickly overcome by bursts of citrus and tropical fruit. The glorious blend of texture, bright notes of grapefruit and hints of tangerine fill my mouth. The moniker of Goode fits this wine well. Allowing the flavor to linger in the back of my throat I imbibe the nose once more. I'm in no hurry, my time with this beautiful blond will be savored.

Milbrandt Sauvignon Blanc - That's Workable

2009-06-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

A cool breeze rustles the leaves as the trees sway along the bank of the canal. It’s a weekday so most of the water-craft traffic is of a working nature. Still, a few of the passing boats appear to be out for a pleasure cruise. A tour ship passes full of out-of-towners, their eyes fixed on the passing scenery. I stare back. I'm content here in the park, not trapped aboard a floating tour. I grab my glass of wine and take a sip. (I know I shouldn't be drinking in a public place but sometimes it feels good to break the rules.)

Today is a lazy work, at least for me. Rather than slaving behind the computer I'm working on a bottle of Milbrandt Sauvignon Blanc 2007. A Washington Sauvignon Blanc, this wine leans more towards fresh fruit rather than the herbal flavors found in some renditions. The nose delivers melons, apples, mangos, oranges and kiwis. On the palate the wine is clean, bright, fresh, lively and crisp. On a warm day like today there are few beverages more refreshing than a cool glass of young Sauvignon Blanc.

A couple friends arrive by bike to help finish the bottle. We have a ride planned, but for now we will enjoy the waning moments of the workday.

Give 'em the Bird - It's Summer

2009-06-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

Gaming has always been a cherished pastime of mine. A passion with roots that run deep in my blood. So whenever the opportunity arises to place a bet, I often do. A friendly wager just makes things more interesting… sometimes very interesting.

I admit to not know much about horse racing or even horses. In fact, when it comes to equine most of my knowledge is based on Wild Horse wines. My current favorite being Wild Horse Verdelho 2008. One of the vineyards estate-grown bottling, this wine pairs beautifully with light summer dishes, hot summer weather and good friends. A refreshing summer wine displaying bright pear and ruby red grapefruit tones. Perfect for a Belmont stakes BBQ. I got very familiar with Wild Horse Verdelho during the pre-race festivities, some might say a little to well.

So with a lack of knowledge and a slight wine buzz, my limber mind and I decided to make the race more exciting by placing a small wager. Digging in the recesses of my mind I recalled a horse named bird was favored to win. And on such a warm day it was clear to me that the bird was the word, especial since the name was Summer Bird, or so I thought...

Friends, eager to take advantage of my apparent weakness jumped at the chance to get a piece of my half cocked wager. Soon the Verdelho fueled confidence took over, easing me into bets beyond my normal comfort level. (At this point I was still unaware of my misinformed choice of horse.) As the gates opened a large roar erupted among our modest group. As the horse began to sort out their positions, a cute blond leaned in to complement me on my bold bet. From her I soon learned that another horse named bird was actually the favorite and she thought I was crazy to bet against him. I could feel my drunken jaw drop open. This could be an expensive afternoon I thought, good thing I'm enjoying the wine. Not sure if she caught the expression on my face I decided it best to covered my tracks anyway. I turned to her, smiling as if perched in the cat-bird-seat, I laid a big wet kiss on her lips. Pulling back I exclaimed, "That's just me, bold."

The race was now in the final stretch. We locked eyes, I smirked and she smiled. The crowd around us went nuts as the unthinkable unfolded, Summer Bird took the Belmont. She leaned in to kiss me and I realized who the big winner was today.

Thinking Wine - I'm A Smoking Loon

2009-05-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Raising my glass to take in the sweet scents of floral and nutmeg I paused before allowing the straw colored juice to touch my lips. Then just as I began, I reverse. I set my glass down as I examine headlines...
'Idol' voting controversy
A corporate sponsor confirms that its employees helped Kris Allen fans send "power texts."

$100,000 for birthday party
Celebs like Tom and Katie go to extremes for their kids' bashes.

Genetically engineered monkeys pass green glow to offspring

...Its good to have important things to ponder I thought, as I again raised my glass. This time I hardly considered the nose as the wine approached my lips. I take a generous sip. My attention is fixed on the news rather than my drink. Of course, I could likely guess the description of the wine prior to tasting. Smoking Loon Chardonnay has a way of remaining consistently pleasant from vintage to vintage. Another thoughtless sip pass as I browse more of the important news of the day.

Now fully inspired by the world around me I take a moment to ponder. Complex flavors of green apple and pear with hints of oak which lend a butteriness with touches of vanilla. One more healthy sip, held briefly on the palette confirms my assumption. I continue to ponder; what was I thinking last year.

Happy Two - Four Eh!

2009-05-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

Beauty!
Belated of course, since we are now twenty-six years removed from Strange Brew, but for me the Two Four celebration just began.

After the conclusion of this evenings "Sixty Minutes", I discovered wine still in my glass. In an effort to entertain my now limber brain I began surfing channels, with little luck...

The NBA playoffs were on but the Super Sonics becoming the Thunder was the last straw, no more NBA for me. Sunday night baseball couldn't hold my attention so I passed. The Devil Wears Prada may have been the only movie of interest I could find but I had already seen it. For a time the "Fantasy Factory" held my attention but quickly the commercials brought an end to that. Once I resumed my search it seemed all I could find were shows about the illuminati, I guess I should see Tom Hanks new movie. Clearly the current state of television did not mesh with my current state of mind.

But in that realization I discovered a new option. A different way of thinking was needed. Off to the CBC for my answer, to which Canada replied with a rerun of the Two Four Tribute to Bob and Doug McKenzie. I was sucked in. Tom Hanks can wait, I hear the call of a different movie...Ka-roo-koo-koo-a-koo-koo-koo!

After a Fine Wine I'm Still Tortured by Torture

2009-05-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed Hedges Three Vineyards wine. This blend consistently perks me up at the end of the day. The wine has an intriguing nose of blackberry, plum and cherry with hints of cantaloupe in the background backed up by a chorus of toasty oak spice. Medium-bodied with velvety tannins and balanced acidity, the wine delivers the complexity of its bouquet on the palate. For the value, it has yet to disappoint or let down a meal. So, before diving in, to explore our latest hearing on torture, I thought I'd pour myself a glass of Hedges Three Vineyards wine to keep me company.

It wasn't long before I was disappointed. Not by the wine, but what I was reading. Rather than bang my head against a wall of partisan redoric, wallowing in the guilt of our nations moral failures and longing for good old fashion American ideals, I decided I should enjoy what their is to enjoy. (What has happened to the America I know?) I decided to turn my focus to the open bottle of wine.

Immediately closing my laptop, I grabbed the phone as I walked toward my fridge. As I dialed a friend as I opened the refrigerator's door. "Come on over and enjoy some dinner." I replied as my friend attempted a simple hello.

Without missing a beat he asked, "What are you offering?"

After a long stare at the nearly empty frig I answered, "Pizza. Pizza and wine."

I heard him say something about being on his way as I hung up the phone. It didn't matter, I knew his answer and I needed to make another call. Taking another sip, I let the velvety fruit flavor linger in my mouth slide before I spoke. "I need a large for delivery..."

A Bottle of Wine and No Whine

2009-05-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

Home now, I am tired. To fatigued to search for a glass, I drink wine directly from the bottle. It feels good. With every sip I let go. Relaxing ever deeper from thoughts of work, lose or pain. I melt into the couch as my mind drifts to a distant shore.

Stuck somewhere between steady employment and permeate vacation, life is surreal. Freedom leads to fun which gives way to fear only to be tempered by increasing funds which ultimately limits freedom. So we chase our tail back to the beginning only to find ourselves at the end.

Another sip and I place the empty bottle near my feet. I am struck by an image that is crawling out from the recesses of my memory. Once, only an interesting composition, the painting suddenly speaks to me. I am in the image walking along this new shore.

I close my eyes to explore the possibilities. As I drift off I hear myself whisper, "Happy birthday Salvador, happy birthday."

Last Taste of the Season

2009-04-24T08:37:00.000-07:00

Gone Skiing

If We Took A Holiday

2009-04-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

As the fun of previous day subsides, I look back and ponder what was discussed. Sometimes when friends, fun and wine are gathered, crazy agreements arise out of such joyful moments. Therefore, it is always important to review the events of a day to honor the integrity of a plan and especially ones word. Yesterday, on April 20th, it appears a half bake plan was created. This plan is a holiday of sorts that now sounds to good to stop. Yesterday gave birth to the idea of an epic road trip...

The Things We Do For Fun

2009-04-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Playing with tea bags seems like a waste of a sunny day in April. Tea is a glorious beverage to enjoy with friends and heighten the tone of a otherwise drab conversation. Tea is much better than a prop of a false protest, but then again tea in a bag like wine in a box is far from the good stuff, but I digress...

So rather than waste a beautiful sun drench day complaining, I invited a friend to meet at a patio. I thought we could share some wine while we watched for protesters. I'm betting the under on crowd size.

Resurrection

2009-04-13T17:23:00.001-07:00

The rains of today have washed over me, unable to dampened my spirit. It has been another beautiful day in the world. The string of current happiness reaches back now for weeks rather than just days, hours or, as it was for a time, only minutes. Though the scares from the new year remain, and the hurt still lingers, I realize much of the pain from that time is buried now under the rebuilding efforts. Those efforts, finally taking hold, breath life into me.

My senses, dormant for a time in order to protect my heart are now re-awakening. Simply recalling the name of last nights wine, Antinori Tignanello 2005, brings on a vivid memory. I recall the perfumed, well-articulated aromatics in the glass. The wine's distinct scent melds into a soft, generous core of ripe red fruits is complemented by smoke, mineral, tobacco and spice overtones that fill the air.

To call this a rebirth is to not understand the process underway. The tragedy of the experience that brought me here has not gone away, nor will the wisdom that grew out of this time. I am not new, rather I feel alive once more...

Afternoon Delight - Brunch May Have a New Meaning

2009-03-31T15:50:00.001-07:00

You never know what you might stumble across when surfing the web. Like unlocking the bowels of the human mind, everything and anything can be found inside. So when I discovered a previously unthought of use for bacon flavor I can admit; a little shock, no much surprise but a touch of curiosity, as in "why?" came to mind.

Allowing the brain to wrap itself around the idea, I guess I can envision how such an idea might work-up an appetite for a little "afternoon delight". Especially if that afternoon is merely the breakfast feast from an extended evening encounter the night before. (A good bottle of wine is know to bring people together in many ways, and how better to end such encounters then enjoying a nice breakfast.) Which is when it occurred to me that everyone loves bacon. So my thoughts changed from "why" to "why not".

Of course, allowing the thought to linger a bit longer I then wondered, what were the inventors of such a product snorting?

Message In A Bottle

2009-03-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

While sharing a bottle of wine today the complexity of the banking industry sunk in, let me explain...
I found myself sitting at the bar at a small bistro, snacking on food but focused on wine. Rather than drinking glass after glass I cut to the chase and ordered a bottle. Next to me sat a well dressed man, who after a offer to share some wine, felt compelled to share his story. He was winding down a 30+ year carrier in banking. A journey that began when he was fresh back for our nations last tragic war, Vietnam. With a young family just beginning, he needed a job that would be stable, reliable and allow him to make decent money. Bank seemed to fit the bill, and for the majority of his life he was right. By working hard, not taking risks and conservatively investing his disposable income he was able to build a small fortune. As retirement approach he saw his net worth reach beyond 5 million dollars. It seemed that soon he and his wife would be able to relax into the sunset as the regal grand parents always financially able help a family member in need or spoil the grand kids when they wanted. As the son of immigrants he felt like he'd achieved the "American Dream". The dream that drew his parents to risk everything many years ago. Hope in the future of their child, this banker, was all they had to go on. No guarantees.

But now this man, who still wears a suit to work everyday (while the rest of us get away with jeans) was sitting next to me at the bar, with hope the only thing left in his eyes. Work for him is so slow that no one noticed that when he chose not to return from lunch. His bank, like many banks around the country is in trouble. So bad in fact that he may not have a job in a few weeks, much less a retirement. Additionally, his investments in the market have evaporated. This one time multi-millionaire now has a few hundred thousand in the bank. Just enough I figured to last out his uncertainty but no longer the empire he thought he'd created. His honest hard-work was now gone all because others were rewarded when they took shortcuts.

Still as we talked I felt no bitterness in his voice, only sadness. Sadness not for himself, but sadness for those around us. Unable, unwilling, unsure how to share their story. Tough times are ahead, tough times for us all. But as we sat and shared our wine I found hope in our talk. Together we'll find a way to get by...

It Begins Anew

2009-03-20T22:56:00.001-07:00

Spring is here. A new season for growth is finally underway.

It's Not Easy Being Green - But It Can Be

2009-03-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Right about now we all could use a little green, but today is not the day for worries. Instead, wear a little green. Drink something green. Celebrate because you can. Rather than being green, live happily and you'll discover that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

It's Eco Nomics - Dude

2009-03-13T21:31:00.000-07:00

If you're an American and you love wine, you must know it was California that helped make it all possible. Like it or not, before 1976 wine was not on the consumption map in the United States. Before that, good wine in the US was an underground delight known only by the few who sought it out. Now, wine making grapes are so readily available that California often experiences a grape glut. An unthinkable thought before that fateful day back in 76.

With the current struggles of the World's economy new pervious unthinkable ideas are starting to surface. California's own personal mess has this trend setting state contemplating a radical idea. Will this be the dawn of a new green economy?

We've heard it before, it is time for change. The problem is when are we going to listen. Perhaps we all need to take so time to relax and alter our thinking.

Can You Hear Me Now?

2009-03-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

Alone in the woods, I slowly made my way back to the car. The sun was just setting as the parking lot came into view, the serenity of my hike would soon be over. Rather than returning to society I decided linger. Finding a perch on a fallen log, my new vantage allowed me to take in the many colors of retreating sun. Believed I'd be taking in a few more moments of peace, I pulled a "water" bottle from my pack with a few swallows left of wine. A choice Merlot, a winter sunset, and a chance for quiet reflection, I can't think a better way to end a day. Little did I know the events of this day in 1876 would shatter my hopes for a quite moment with the setting sun.

Back on March 10th, 1876, Thomas A. Watson heard the words that would forever alter human communication. A machine conveyed the audible thoughts of another person in a different part of the world. In that case the other room. The magnitude to the moment may have been lost over the years, especially now that we can easily share our most trivial thoughts with people on the other side of the world. But how different life once was, when it took human contact to pass along our intimate thoughts. Now we've grown accustom to the roll of machines in relaying our messages.

As I sat, believing to be alone, on that log with wine in hand I heard a muffed beep. Pulling my blackberry from my pocket I read the thoughts of a newly delivered text. " -- come here -- I want to see you." Apparently Mr. Watson was not to be the only one summed on this day.

I left my thoughts behind with the sunset and return to the car. Thanks to my phone the stress of society was back.

Buzz Killed - Have a Glass of Prosperity

2009-03-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

When sudden prosperity slips away in the ether of just a prank, perhaps their is nothing better to wash away the pain then an affordably drinkable bottle of wine. Cheers to Prosperity...

Still, $500,000 would have been nice.

Take'n Her Easy For All the Sinners

2009-03-05T14:54:00.000-08:00

I needed to roll. Back in the states and still jobless, a distraction was in order. Over a few glasses of wine, I convinced some friends that time at the bowling alley knocking pins around would help take the edge off the day. Strikes and gutters, life gives you both. The key is to just keep rolling and eventually something comes along that will make you smile.

Bowling has a way of cheering up the soul, but on this day it was the encounter we made that gave us that day's smile. There, practicing in the lane next to us was a guy preparing to bowling for a higher purpose, kids; in the hope of inspiring success and encouraging dreams. We all could use a little of that nowadays, so we gave him a few pointers and donated to his "Little Urban Achievers". I hope you do the same,... I'm sure the dude would.

It's Tuesday and I'm Fat

2009-02-24T22:58:00.000-08:00

A week of sins can really take a toll on the body. No wonder Catholics give something up for lent, it is the only way to recover after a week of Mardi Gras celebrations. Red meat, alcohol, swearing, all list topers of things to give up for lent, and for good reason. When I sober up in the morning I'm guess abstaining from one, if not all of those may sound like a good idea... Of course a little red wine in moderation (aka - the blood of Christ) is not a bad idea. Even lent should be handled in moderation.

Welcome to the Baja

2009-02-22T20:18:00.000-08:00

Cold beer in a hot shower, I taste of salt. Sometimes wine isn’t the right beverage for the occasion. After a day of chasing dolphins, swimming with sea lions and watching a grey whale partake in dinner, I’m back at home relaxing. Now clean, I can enjoy a feast of my own. Beneath a starlight night a plate of nachos and a few margaritas will do. It’s a perfect end to an almost perfect day. I feel happy.

Take Me Away - Bring Me Wine

2009-02-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

Finally aboard my flight, the last leg of travel is underway. Vacation will soon begin. The beverage cart arrives at my seat and the inevitable question is posed, “Anything to drink?” Before it becomes clear to my head, it is obvious to my mouth. I hear myself say, “A glass of wine would be nice.”

A plastic cup embossed with the word “Horizon” is placed before me. The white wine within emits floral notes with a hint of honeysuckle. Breathing in the wine’s bouquet, I feel the tenseness in my shoulders relax. It is only mid February but already the New Year seems long. This vacation marks a rebirth for me.

I toast myself with a glass of unknown wine.

Lost in Transition

2009-02-18T14:43:00.000-08:00

During the brief break between announcements I have a moment to think. However my focus is soon broken by the next broadcast, perhaps this news pertains to me.

Stuck between flights, time drags on with anxious anticipation. People moving in all directions, everyone has somewhere to go. Each of us wondering are we on time, is it delayed, am I in the right spot, do I have what I need, how long until I get there, when can begin to relax.

The promise of vacations feels so distant while trapped in the airport terminal. No one here is at ease. Instinctively the most nervous among us migrate to the bar in hopes of finding normalcy and escape from the masses. To me it feels like reaching for a crunch, a way to dull the senses. Still, I like the other I now share space with have come to the bar for a drink.

Here, in one of the distant outposts of LAX, my beverage choices are limited. I stare at the wine selection hoping that I’ve overlooked a gem, praying a suitable wine will soon reveal itself; no luck.

Rather than succumbing to disappointing juice I resign to lap the terminal once more. As I set out I’m greeted by another PA announcement, "Horizon flight 2603 has been delayed". It’s going to be a long walk about the terminal.

Stimulus Package

2009-02-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

After another long fruitless day of searching for a job, I like many Americans sought relief. A knock at the door jarred me from the web and pulled me back to reality. Stepping away from my computer I went to answer the door. An old friend had come to visit and to make sure I still found joy in life. We sat down for a nice long talk...

I realized that through all the tough times and disappointment I can count on the joy of good friends. Life can feel hard but as long as we have friends it is worth pushing onward. As my pal departed he left behind a few choice bottles of wine. "I hope they help to inspire you in the future." he said as he turned to leave. Looking over the package of bottles I knew this delicious assortment of juice would fit the bill when the time was right.

Good Friends, good friends,...what more is their to say but THANKS.

Super Beating

2009-02-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

Woe ho here it comes... In a couple more hours it will no longer be a surprise.

New Appreciation of Pink

2009-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

Under the strain of tremendous change I've abstained form drink to dull my pain. Recently a wise friend convinced me it was time to relax my worries and dull my wanting mind. Initially I was hesitant to partake, especially when a bottle of "Pink" colored sparkling Italian Rosa was placed before me. But eventually every heavy heart needs a little love, so I was seduced to undress the bottle and drink in the beauty within...

Rosa Regale for me unleashed more than just stream of small bubbles bursting into aromatic hints of rose petals leading to a fruity floral flavor. Like a psychedelic drug it expanded my thinking and reopened my heart. Suddenly, from the back of my mind poured out the soft sounds of a new mantra,
na-na-na-na na-na na na-na-na-na na-na
na-na-na-na na-na na na-na-na-na na-na

The wine allowed me to look pass my personal guilt to see my pain..."I gave you life, I gave my all, You weren't there, you let me fall.."

I still except the effects of my misguided actions leading to this woeful change but the experience with Rosa Regale remained me that in every relationship two are to blame. And now removed for the intoxicant the sobering truth still lingers..."I've got a brand new attitude, And I'm gonna wear it tonight"

na-na-na-na na-na na na-na-na-na na-na
na-na-na-na na-na na na-na-na-na na-na

Change and the Unknown

2009-01-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

The world is different today. Full of promise, full of hope, full of anticipation for a new future. I however find my mood tempered. What should be a joyous day is a somber moment. The lose of one's personal future can cloud the hope one has for the planet.

I known not where we are heading as a nation. I do know it will be a tough road. Eventually though we will weather the storm and the good times will return. That I know to be true.

I know not where I am heading. I have greater fear in this journey. I mourn the lose of my past that held all the hope of my future. But eventually I too will weather the storm and the good times will return. I know I must believe that to be true.