I rose my glass to MLK over the weekend at the Russian River Wine Road Winter Festival. Say that five times after a few glasses. $25 got you access to about 50 vineyards. We went to six with Sidirui, Bella and Ridge the highlights. Sidirui, in a working warehouse nestled in an industrial park, opened up what seemed like their entire line up from their various vineyards...Santa Lucia Garys', Santa Rita, Close Pepe, Van der Kamp (my fav), Keefer Ranch, etc. All classic California Pinot Noirs. Clearly, Sidirui puts their money into the wine and not a fancy smancy tasting room.
On the other end of the spectrum, the tasting room/space at Ridge is trendy and chic (not as good as a Lynmar or Duckhorn) but what made that experience was the college footballer who allowed us to taste wine not on the festival list...Monte Bella Santa Cruz, Lytton Estate, etc. For me, he gained additional cred by admitting the Coors Lite in the back had his name on it.
The Zin at Bella is one of my recent favorites and their tasting cave has this great vibe to it...unassuming, chill, positive vibe. I joined their wine club. So there!
I feel I haven't fully recovered from my flu over the holidays in terms of weight or strength. I felt like I got it as a result of not touching the sauce for a week before going home. Last time I do that!
Federer is unstoppable this year and should win the Grand Slam if he can master the clay. If he does that, he will tie Pistol Pete with 14 majors. Roger IS the best tennis player...period.
The match up of Roddick and Connors is classic and I hope a successful one. Connors looks like a wise stallion ready to teach the youth the errors of its ways. It has the makings of "road warrior" Gilbert and "come back kid" Agassi . A die hard 'skers fan, Andy was on the sidelines at the CU game in Lincoln over the Thanksgiving Break and it appeared enjoying himself while the Hus whipped some buffalo butt.
Great Teutonic meal at Suppenkucken with Matt and Jenna last Friday. Good times. I hadn't had Koenig Pilsner, Jaegersnitzel, and Spatzle in many moons. Great atmosphere and food and a restaurant I'll keep in my rotation when I get a hunkering for the fatherland.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Saturday, January 13, 2007
2006 Tunes
A random list of a few of the heavily rotated tunes I bought in 2006...
Drive-by Truckers - A Blessing and A Curse – Time and time again, DBT consistently deliver southern rock-n-roll with great, down on your luck lyrics. They deviate a bit with this one in sound but it still holds true to porch drinking (Coors Lite, preferably) on a warm summer evenings in Dixieland.
John Mayer - Continuum - Great songwriting, picking and white boy pipes. I had written this guy off after Heavier Things. Props to Gene for playing "Stop This Train" during his west coast tour.
Wood Brothers - Ways Not To Loose – Great Sunday morning listening with the NYTimes. Interesting combo of blues, jazz and country toped with soft lyrics.
Beirut - The Gulag Orkestar – Cool melodic Eastern European beats and arrangements. It's even sweeter knowing that it comes from a 19-year-old from Albuquerque
Gomez - How We Operate – Not a great album as a whole but the first four tracks show what these guys are capable of…gritty vocals, complex layers of folk and pop, using different instruments and the unmistakable UK sound.
Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later – This was released late in '05 but I love the somewhat dark, rocking pop melodies and confessional lyrics.
Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock – Again, late ‘05 release (last one I swear) but have to mention it. Just a right mix of tight Jamaican grooves combined with R&B and hip-hop. After this a few times, I found myself spinning Burning Spear, Marcus Garvey…”do right, do right, do right”. Solid gold mon!
Bob Dylan - Modern Times – The master was hit by some fresh wind. To me, this album sounds new and is a great listen as a result.
Brett Dennen – So Much More – Combine the best parts of John Mayer and Jack Johnson and you have Brett Dennen. Very catchy album with a lot of positive energy. I hear he is great in concert and I definitely need to check out his first disc.
I have to mention the first two tracks of Sonic Youth Rather Ripped kicks some butt and immediately brings me back to my high school days and MTV's “120 minutes”.
Because of the move, I feel it was slow on the music front this year. Send any and all suggestions my way.
What we play is life - Louis Armstrong (1900 - 1971)
Drive-by Truckers - A Blessing and A Curse – Time and time again, DBT consistently deliver southern rock-n-roll with great, down on your luck lyrics. They deviate a bit with this one in sound but it still holds true to porch drinking (Coors Lite, preferably) on a warm summer evenings in Dixieland.
John Mayer - Continuum - Great songwriting, picking and white boy pipes. I had written this guy off after Heavier Things. Props to Gene for playing "Stop This Train" during his west coast tour.
Wood Brothers - Ways Not To Loose – Great Sunday morning listening with the NYTimes. Interesting combo of blues, jazz and country toped with soft lyrics.
Beirut - The Gulag Orkestar – Cool melodic Eastern European beats and arrangements. It's even sweeter knowing that it comes from a 19-year-old from Albuquerque
Gomez - How We Operate – Not a great album as a whole but the first four tracks show what these guys are capable of…gritty vocals, complex layers of folk and pop, using different instruments and the unmistakable UK sound.
Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later – This was released late in '05 but I love the somewhat dark, rocking pop melodies and confessional lyrics.
Damian Marley – Welcome to Jamrock – Again, late ‘05 release (last one I swear) but have to mention it. Just a right mix of tight Jamaican grooves combined with R&B and hip-hop. After this a few times, I found myself spinning Burning Spear, Marcus Garvey…”do right, do right, do right”. Solid gold mon!
Bob Dylan - Modern Times – The master was hit by some fresh wind. To me, this album sounds new and is a great listen as a result.
Brett Dennen – So Much More – Combine the best parts of John Mayer and Jack Johnson and you have Brett Dennen. Very catchy album with a lot of positive energy. I hear he is great in concert and I definitely need to check out his first disc.
I have to mention the first two tracks of Sonic Youth Rather Ripped kicks some butt and immediately brings me back to my high school days and MTV's “120 minutes”.
Because of the move, I feel it was slow on the music front this year. Send any and all suggestions my way.
What we play is life - Louis Armstrong (1900 - 1971)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Let's get ready to rumble!
Would my "reverse twinkie" moniker get revoked if I admitted I didn’t like shark fin soup?
Last week, I had an unbelievable bottle of wine as a late birthday celebration with a co-worker at Rick's Wine Bar in Corte Madera. Great wine bar, btw. Alban Vineyards, Reva, Alban Estate Syrah 2004. It was a gorgeous wine...very dark and intense with balanced notes of pepper, wild berry, earth, coffee and tobacco and what seemed like a 10 minute finish.
I had a dream the other night that my two college roommates had it out. Toto beat the piss out of Bafaro. I was on the top bunk and my buddy Mitch, in his coaching attire complete with plaid tie, khakis, docs and clipboard, stood in the corner during the dismantling. Crazy dream! I can still feel the thuds of Toto's fists landing. Bafaro never once connected.
The BCS Championship Game was a yawner. Got to hand it to Urban Meyer, he bitched and moaned about the system and then stuck it to Ohio (who didn’t even show up). With the Chargers doing well and Florida winning, Marshall must be dancing in his recliner.
Divisadero would beat out any street in Chicago as the worst to drive on. I don’t understand it because it’s not like SF has the winters like Chicago does. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking any vehicle except a SUV on it. “4 Wheel, 4 Real”
It might be due to the fact that I don't have a TV but is anybody watching the pro bball?
Last week, I had an unbelievable bottle of wine as a late birthday celebration with a co-worker at Rick's Wine Bar in Corte Madera. Great wine bar, btw. Alban Vineyards, Reva, Alban Estate Syrah 2004. It was a gorgeous wine...very dark and intense with balanced notes of pepper, wild berry, earth, coffee and tobacco and what seemed like a 10 minute finish.
I had a dream the other night that my two college roommates had it out. Toto beat the piss out of Bafaro. I was on the top bunk and my buddy Mitch, in his coaching attire complete with plaid tie, khakis, docs and clipboard, stood in the corner during the dismantling. Crazy dream! I can still feel the thuds of Toto's fists landing. Bafaro never once connected.
The BCS Championship Game was a yawner. Got to hand it to Urban Meyer, he bitched and moaned about the system and then stuck it to Ohio (who didn’t even show up). With the Chargers doing well and Florida winning, Marshall must be dancing in his recliner.
Divisadero would beat out any street in Chicago as the worst to drive on. I don’t understand it because it’s not like SF has the winters like Chicago does. I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking any vehicle except a SUV on it. “4 Wheel, 4 Real”
It might be due to the fact that I don't have a TV but is anybody watching the pro bball?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Council-tucky
XMAS ’06 was a good’un. I love being in the Hus land during this time...the sunsets are unreal, the whole place smells like wet earth, mom cooks heavier meals and everybody is in good spirits. The snow kept us from hunting this year (highway was closed) unfortunately. But, I was able to see my grandparents and spend some time on the farm up in Beemer. That drive from Lincoln to Beemer would be the best “101 course” or introduction to Nebraska. I know I am biased but that route is gorgeous and has it all...old Czech/German churches and cemeteries, gravel roads, family farms, valleys, bluffs, rivers, farm ponds, small towns, etc.
Thanks to my oldest nephew, I received what is possibility the most practical Christmas gift ever…a duct tape wallet. Hats off to the stud as he made it from scratch (no specs, directions or CAD) complete with a coin purse and licenses window (minus the clear plastic). Real tight addition to my camping and fishing ensemble!
There is a distinct difference in clientele at Bass Pro Shops (just over the river) in Council Bluffs and Cabela's in south Omaha. I felt like I just stepped into truck, gun rack and flannel country. I also noticed all waist lines grew. I would be willing to bet that all the customers at BPS made up a full set of teeth (barely). I’m being kind. Damn, throw some chlorine in that gene pool.
I have to admit that I'm fired up about my wader (one of those three ply, breathable jobs) and shoe combo (felt sole) I picked up for under 2 bills at Cabela’s. I anticipate they will be put to good use over the next year.
The worst airline is the one you fly the most.
Personal photographs should not be allowed in any company directory. Apparently, exceptions can be made at my company with NASCAR themed snaps or Diana Ross impersonation glamour shots.
My scrabble skills are improving. "Omelette" gave me 28 points, cleaned out my tiles and gave me the lead (only briefly). I regularly get trounced by a gorgeous vixen I play with from time to time. The wine and fireplace seem to sharpen her word building skills while only sharpening my woodrow.
The Cotton Bowl gave the kid some hope. We could have won that game. Real proud of the Blackshirts. Auburn is good but they were beatable (I got the same feeling during the USC game). Next couple of years should be interesting with this ’07 recruiting class.
I can’t wait until Coor’s gets on the bandwagon and comes out with a 16 oz aluminum bottle for its nectar of the gods like Budweiser did. Damn, that keeps the beer cold.
Thanks to my oldest nephew, I received what is possibility the most practical Christmas gift ever…a duct tape wallet. Hats off to the stud as he made it from scratch (no specs, directions or CAD) complete with a coin purse and licenses window (minus the clear plastic). Real tight addition to my camping and fishing ensemble!
There is a distinct difference in clientele at Bass Pro Shops (just over the river) in Council Bluffs and Cabela's in south Omaha. I felt like I just stepped into truck, gun rack and flannel country. I also noticed all waist lines grew. I would be willing to bet that all the customers at BPS made up a full set of teeth (barely). I’m being kind. Damn, throw some chlorine in that gene pool.
I have to admit that I'm fired up about my wader (one of those three ply, breathable jobs) and shoe combo (felt sole) I picked up for under 2 bills at Cabela’s. I anticipate they will be put to good use over the next year.
The worst airline is the one you fly the most.
Personal photographs should not be allowed in any company directory. Apparently, exceptions can be made at my company with NASCAR themed snaps or Diana Ross impersonation glamour shots.
My scrabble skills are improving. "Omelette" gave me 28 points, cleaned out my tiles and gave me the lead (only briefly). I regularly get trounced by a gorgeous vixen I play with from time to time. The wine and fireplace seem to sharpen her word building skills while only sharpening my woodrow.
The Cotton Bowl gave the kid some hope. We could have won that game. Real proud of the Blackshirts. Auburn is good but they were beatable (I got the same feeling during the USC game). Next couple of years should be interesting with this ’07 recruiting class.
I can’t wait until Coor’s gets on the bandwagon and comes out with a 16 oz aluminum bottle for its nectar of the gods like Budweiser did. Damn, that keeps the beer cold.
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