Whine (not Wine, well.... that too)

Because, you know, I’m always right.

But sonofab^#%h, I lost a bet to Tiger . I lost it. There’s no question. I suck. I know nothing of movie triva or actors, in general.

_{Damn it}

The bet: Who played the brother who ends up with Sandra Bullock in “While You Were Sleeping”. Tiger and TG said Bill Pullman. I thought it was Jeff Daniels. Wrong!

I concede and will pay my debt, in person at some point. But for now, I owe Tiger a big blendy drink with mint leaves and an umbrella.

Hope this ties her over.

_{ok, no mint leaves in this, but refreshing pineapple and strawberries}

Tonight I am enjoying a Stone’s Throw Azzulina (red) wine. I like it, though not as much as in the tasting over Memorial Day weekend.

Now, the Charbono Reserve, which I drank a few weeks ago, was simply amazing. I would like to order a case and give this out as presents over the holidays. Or save them for myself and a few good friends :)

A triple crown of them recently left me feeling very isolated and reflective. I lost my watch before the weekend, so I have been timeless. Yesterday, my cell phone broke. Today my work computer refused to boot up. Tech support is still working on it, in fact. I am on a borrowed laptop currently with none of my files or other important items.

I am feeling like I should be demure in communication and in interactions. Stillness feels right. Reflection in the stillness feels very right.

This weekend while in Door County, WI, I visited the Stone’s Throw Winery as I have been a fan of their Petite Syrah throughout the years. Wine tasting was $5 and included 5 wines (any type, select, etc.) and came with a commemorative glass.

Had some WONDERFUL wines and ended up joining their wine club because they do make some terrific, unusual select wines that I really enjoyed. Besides, it is nice to support a local winery.

Came home with four bottles of wine (three we bought, and one that was gratis): a Charbono Reserve, a Barbera, and an Azzulina. Exquisite! They also gave us a Sparkling Wine called Angelique that should be interesting to try, even though sparkling wines are not my favorites. Perhaps to toast a special occasion or with a dessert, as they explained.

this morning… I noticed that the boy had stolen my shampoo and conditioner and transported them to his bathroom. I managed to find a leftover bottle of my daughter’s Watermelon Suave shampoo and used that. Then her Sparkling Pear conditioner.

Between that and my grapefruit/pomegranate body wash and butter, I am fruitilicious; reminiscent of a Florida citrus grove.

_{off to rub some orange rind behind my ears. The fruit flies should be buzzing around me any moment}

On a whim, I picked up a new wine tonight. I get all caught up in the descriptions on the tags that accompany the wines at the grocery store. This one is Castoro Cellars out of Paso Robles, CA and had an endorsement and rating from Wine Enthusiast – 90 pts. And it was only 10.99/bottle. Yessirree!

Uncorked it for dinner, and POP! This stuff is dam fine (this is not a typo – they market “Dam Fine Wine”). Anyways…Bold and spicy, yet not too tannic. Light, almost. A perfect blend of zing and mellowness. Crazy. But good.

Check it out if you have a chance.

Edit: the photo shows a zin, but I had the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Five Rivers is a Cab that I have been drinking fairly steadily lately. I like it and at under $10 a bottle, it falls into my “superb value wine” category.

A blurb from CheapWines dot com:

Five Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation to soften tannins, and the riper, fruit forward style emphasizes aromas of blackberry, cherry, cedar box and vanilla, with evident toasty oak from the American oak barrels carefully selected for the flavorful Paso Robles fruit. As you begin to toast the Goddess of Air, you’ll find vibrant flavors of ripe cherry, plum and blackberry knit together with a solid acid backbone. The tannins are fluid, approachable now but fully capable of maturing with additional elegance.

OOps, I mean whining again..

Worked until 10pm tonight. Finished only half of what I needed to.

Need to be up bright and early for a 6:30am in person meeting (lots of times I can work from home in my fuzzy slippers and sweats. Nice.)

So my time here is limited. Too limited. I want to play!!!

Darn. Real life is hard.

Work is challenging lately. Very busy. Head-spinning busy. Just when I think I am going to explode, another demand (and not small demands) are placed on me.

I’m on my third night of working until 10pm. Worked over the weekend, and will work this upcoming weekend… just trying to stay above water.

::pulls up bootstraps::

Well, I’ve done this before, and for longer hours and for months (nay – years) at a time. I’ll get through it. Just needed to whine a little bit.

_{now, where’s that bottle of Cabernet? I always do a more accurate budgetary forecast with a little cab}