Friday Night Experiment

I like wine.

This makes sense, as the first drink I ever took was Boone's Farm Tickle Pink, vintage 1979.

I go to wine tastings, I've tried all sorts of wine at friend's houses, and I actually pay attention when the wine people talk about their wines. I know if a red wine clings to the glass after a sip, that it has legs.  However, I don't know what that means. 

Even though I drink a lot of wine,  I still don't know diddly squat.  When they say, "finishes with a peppery taste..." I have no idea what that means.  I couldn't discern a fruity taste from an oaky one.  Basically, I know what I like and I like what I know.  Frankly, I like most wines.  As the Commodores would say, 'I'm easy."

Sir Steven bought me a nice bottle of wine for our ThirteenYearsFromTheDayWeMetAnniversary.    "Nice," meaning he spent more than I normally spend on a bottle.  Oh, I guess you don't know what I normally spend.  The average is probably between $12 and $15; at the most.  He spent $50 on this bottle for our special day; a King's Ransom.

Tonight, I put my very immature palate to test.  We opened the anniversary wine and a bottle of $8 wine.   Sir poured both of them for me and placed them in front of me without me knowing which was which.

Here's me:  Wine #1:       Smell.  (don't know what I'm smelling for)  Sip.  (yum)
                   Wine #2:       Smell.  (still don't know what I'm smelling)  Sip.  (yum)
                    Repeat until both glasses are finished.

I did eat a piece of bread and have a few sips of water in an attempt to cleanse my palate.  But, at the end of the tasting, it was very close.  Neither wine stood out as super duper spectacular.  Maybe I should have swirled?

I opted for Wine #2.  And, you guessed it.  It was the $8 wine. I guess I'm just a cheap date.  I blame the Boone's Farm.

 But, now that I've opened the Anniversary one, I'm going to drink that, and consider it an investment.  Cheers!
               

Not Really A Mid Week Mute

I wasn't feeling like I could be muted today.  I don't really have anything to say, but as I was traveling to work today, I saw all sorts of boring mundane things.  So, I figured I'd share a list of some of the things I saw on the way to and from work.  (note:  today was a day I drove to our other office, about 90 miles one way)

Okay, here we go, put on your seat belts!

The Morning Star Storage Center sign with its cute saying:  "It's getting DRAFTY."
Five miles of fog
A very dead, very stiff possum
A broken down trailer (with no truck attached) on the side of the road,  filled with watermelons
A lot of BMW's
Three rest stops
One cemetery

13 stalled/broken down cars   (Yes, I counted.)
ZERO police
The SC Department of Corrections Trash Collection Crew.  Female.
Six crosses memorializing a lost loved one.

And one homeless man, in his usual spot.  I couldn't reach my newest hobo bag to give to him, but I was able to hand him a bag of Stacy's Pita Chips.  (garlic and parmesan flavor)
Yeah, I know.  

The Carpenters and the Yellow Brick Road

When I was younger, I knew all the words to all the songs on the radio.  If I turn on the 70's station today, I can still sing all those songs, and remember the lyrics.  I can't tell you what I had for lunch yesterday, but I can sing, "Afternoon Delight" from start to finish.

I tried to sing along with a  song yesterday, ha ha ha.  It's a recent song and I can't begin to tell you what any of the words were. All I heard was "nah nah nah bla bla bla."  Why can't I figure out what's being said nowadays?  Why was it so easy when I was younger?


I think I paid more attention back then.  The songs meant the world to me and they shaped me.  They sang to me.  They spoke about my heartache, love at age 12, and being on top of the world!

I had one of those record players that would play both albums and 45's.  I'll hear songs and remember the way the label looked on the 45.  I think one of the first 45s I can remember is, "Ride Captain Ride."  My brother bought that one.  How much did they cost back then, 99 cents?

I listened to The Carpenters over and over. I tried to sing like Karen Carpenter, and learned a lot of musical phrasing from her.  Her sad songs were so darn sad.  I still feel sad when I hear her sing.

I listened to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road over and over again, and didn't understand half of what I heard.  (Pinball Wizard? Really?)  I still don't understand most of it, but boy those are some good songs. 

I would sing along to John Denver, Barry Manilow, Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand and any show tune you could imagine.  I spent hours upon hours in my room singing the albums from beginning to end.  Man, those were the days.  Maybe that's what I need to do this weekend?  Lock myself in my bedroom and sing for hours?

What albums did you have as a kid?

Getting Ready for Cinco De Mayo

Here in the Creek, we don't have very many nice restaurants.  We have plenty of fast food joints, a Waffle House, and a few small independent places that I'm a bit afraid of...


However, we do have two really good Mexican restaurants, one of which, we frequent quite regularly.  La Hacienda is five minutes from our house.  We love the staff, I love the food and the margaritas, Sir Steven loves the big beers.  (note:  he doesn't eat Mexican food, but has been known to order from the kids menu when needed)

Last night, Sir and I went out with a friend from work. !  We enjoyed "Live Guacamole!"  They made the guac at our table, and it was delicious!  There were TWO whole avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro and jalapenos in there.  YUM-OLA.    Sarah and I shared the live guac and also shared the 24 Karat Gold Margarita.  (secret ingredient:  Sunny Delight.  I kid you not)

It was a fun evening topped off by Sarah's visit to our abode to meet the animals.  I think she wanted to steal Charlie, but we'd notice if he was missing.  For one thing, our food bill would decrease significantly.

 

She also spied this little gem we have on our shelf.  I hadn't really looked at this in years.  Great game, great memories.  Well done Dad.

(thanks to Sarah and SS for the pictures.  And the fun!!)

A Wee Thought For a Thursday

Still getting caught up on life and sleep.  But, this is what I'm thinking about today:

Mid Week Mute

Closing the Book on Vacation

We are home.  I am in my bed.  I've seen my child, and eaten a home cooked meal.  I've taken two naps in my bed.  I sat in my spot on the couch.  I recorded bank receipts and caught up my checkbook and paid some bills. 

But, before the new week begins, and this vacation becomes even more of a memory, I want to revisit some of the highlights and the very few low lights. 

I love seeing things I've never seen before:

-new people
-new places
-Puget Sound
-West Seattle
-Alki Beach

-Pike Place Market
-Elliot Bay
-Downtown Seattle
-Vancouver Canuck game with Canucks fans
-Gastown in Vancouver
-Listel Hotel
-Canadian Cider
-Granville Island Lager
-Hot Shot
-Lemon Drop Martinis
-Tulips everywhere
-Corner shops with candy, chips and drinks
-Riding the train when no one was talking

I love seeing things from home in cities I'm visiting:

-Subway Tuna (loved ordering this in Canada!)
-A&E and Discovery ID on TV
-Good Morning America!  (even if tape delayed)
-Reading my book at home, in Seattle, Vancouver and finishing it just before getting back home



And, things I couldn't get used to:
 
-Pacific Time Zone
-No iced tea in Vancouver
-More expensive gas
-No state income taxes, so BIG sales tax
-No ceiling fan in the hotel room or cottage
-the really talkative man who yakked for four hours from Vancouver to Seattle (dude, take a breath)

-All the folks who carry on their luggage
-That darn middle seat on the plane
-Missing my animals and that daughter

So, thank you for the memories Pacific Northwest.  You are gorgeous.  

And little town in South Carolina?  I'm glad to be back to your comfortable-ness. It is oh so true, there's no place like home.