Red Wine

It's been a while since I've had some delicious red wine.  People often ask me if I like red wine or white wine better. I always say I like both. Which is true, except that 75 percent of the time my ritual glass of wine after dinner is white. There are two reasons for this. However, it doesn't mean that I don't like them each equally well for their own characteristics. It's just under different circumstances sometimes.

The first reason is that, in my opinion, a bottle of white wine is easy to stretch into the third day, or even 4th if necessary.  And for some reason, very few reds seem to hold up more than a couple of days. Feel free to disagree. But, I enjoy reds best the night that I open them. So, that means I need to share a bottle with someone on a school night, and on a weekend night...two bottles with someone. I mean, it's kind of fun to try a couple of different wines if you have company.  Also, if I have leftover white wine that is no longer "drinkable" it's always useful to have some extra cooking wine, and I tend to use white more than red when I cook. 

The second reason? Well, I think I am a bit pickier about my reds. My stance is that it is waaay easier to drink a bad (or mediocre) white wine, than a bad (or mediocre) red wine. Maybe it's the fact that white wine is chilled. Chilling subdues the flavor, etc, etc.  Usually, my 'pickier' also equates to mean more expensive. I'm not talking a lot of money, but 1.5 to 2x as much as I spend on a white for a random Tuesday night (unless it's a special or occasion or I'm mad at the world and am willing to spend a ridiculous amount of money for a Tuesday night wine that I'm probably not pairing with dinner or sharing with anyone cool...or anyone).  My usual price range for a bottle of white is between $4 and $13 (thank you Trader Joe's for $4 bottles of Vinho Verde).  But, I'll easily spend $15 on a white burgundy...but that's a story for another post. My red wine price range usually starts at.... $10 and goes up to $25... I'd pay more for something really special, but usually I just settle for something more economical.  So, you can see...my wine budget stretches much further when I buy white.  

But, I do like reds...And I'm craving some now.  Mmm, reds can be beautifully complex with a hit of mocha, blackberry, cherry, mushroom, tobacco; velvety or super smooth; pair beautifully with red sauce or lamb.  Maybe it's the complexity that I look for in my reds that drives up the price.  Maybe it's one of those personal-palate mysteries. Some of my favorite varietals are: pinot noir, syrah/shiraz, malbec, tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon. Favorite region-based wines are Burgundy (France), Rioja (Spain), Clare Valley (Australia), Marlborough (New Zealand), Willamette Valley (Oregon, USA).

Come drink some with me. I'll supply the wine and music (maybe a little Eva Cassidy?). 

See you soon. 

Top Five

Top Five Movie Quotes (for today, anyway):

"Stop saying you told me, you're a terrible liar, it's one of your best qualities." Kissing Jessica Stein

"I feel totally ridiculous. Like why do I have to be in camouflage? So the big bad quail doesn't see me? " Wedding Crashers

"Have you figured out what you're going to say to your board when they realize you paid me thirty million more than others were offering?" Thomas Crown Affair

"He's so cheesy, I can't watch him without crackers." Reality Bites

"Well, I just want it the way I want it."  When Harry Met Sally

Song of the day: How We Love

History of Vacation

Today I found myself thinking "I need a vacation."  A little strange, since I've been away from work for most of the last week and just had a vacation a month ago. Well, who said logic needs to be involved... Anyway, it made me wonder when the idea of vacations came about... and after googling it, this transcript of an interview on NPR came up.  Now, I know why I want another vacation =)

Well, I'm going to start making a playlist for my pretend-pending vacation...

Endlessly
Keep Holding On
Typical Situation
The Hop
Rock, Scissors, Paper
You Never Can Tell

That's a good start.

Happy Place

Face the Nation had way too many people on it this morning making me angry. So, I'm going to my Happy Place-- you can go there too. Enjoy.

Feeling Retro

Alright, I'm feeling a little retro...but the modern version.

How about something with a reference to the French Navy... and a Marathon ... next I'll want a cheeseburger and a chocolate milk shake.

The Second Part

I only do this until I get dizzy & then I lay down on my back & watch the clouds, she said. It sounds simple but you won't believe how many people forget the second part.
-StoryPeople


I'm imagining the best wishful setting for the second part.


75 degrees
sunlight, blue skies
drifting, enormous white clouds
a nearby cool, clear lake
sundress & a sweater
a blanket with
a picnic spread-
finger-sandwiches
cheese, a fresh baguette
fresh berries
whipped cream
wine


And some music to listen to while looking up at the sky, or across the grass towards the lake. Something peaceful. Maybe something Perfect for Napping or Daydreaming.

An Afternoon in the Stacks

An Afternoon In The Stacks 
                                by Mary Oliver

Closing the book, I find I have left my head
inside. It is dark in here, but the chapters open
their beautiful spaces and give a rustling sound,
words adjusting themselves to their meaning.
Long passages open at successive pages. An echo,
continuous from the title onward, hums
behind me. From in here, the world looms,
a jungle redeemed by these linked sentences
carved out when an author traveled and a reader
kept the way open. When this book ends
I will pull it inside-out like a sock
and throw it back in the library. But the rumor
of it will haunt all that follows in my life.
A candleflame in Tibet leans when I move.

Appetites & 8 Tracks

My artist friend Nessa created these: Illustrated Recipes.  Delicious (I'm sure) and beautiful.

Ani Difranco recorded this album, Educated Guess, on 8 track tapes:  Sample Song.

And another song for good measure: Fade Into You.

Would you...

Would you ask Picasso to play Pictionary?
Would you ask Noah Webster to play Boggle?
Would you ask Jacques Cousteau to play Go Fish?
- Sheldon Cooper 

Voiceless

So, I lost my voice.  Maybe someone else can talk more for a change =)

Today I came across two new musicians:

Jillian Edwards
Katie Herzig

Moments of Permission

There are these moments of permission

                                                                 by Camille Dungy


                Between raindrops,


                                space, certainly,


but we call it all rain.


          I hang in the undrenched intervals,


while Callie is sleeping,


                    my old self necessary

Pete and Repeat

Pete and Repeat went for a walk. Pete got lost. Who was left?
Repeat.

Pete and Repeat went for a walk. Pete got lost. Who was left? 

Repeat.

Pete and Repeat went for a walk. Pete got lost. Who was left? 

Repeat.

The point is... I love The Office.  And I've already posted this.

Li Po

- Martha  Ronk


There is the watery, uneasy feeling, that one has been there before, has encountered that reservoir of emotion, some other year, under one's fingertips if one could only remember when and where; and how often of late I find myself seeking it in the utterly useless as if I were, as I sometimes feel myself to be, the ancient Chinese poet gazing at the moon's reflection and longing for comrades of old from the other side of the mountains. Having been or having thought myself to be committed to the useful, I now find myself wandering into patches of sunlight for no reason but to be there, looking down for long stretches at the arrangements of moss on stone, floating on my back in a pond looking up at clouds. Uselessness is the purview of the very young and very old whose gift is the finding out of these reservoirs—even time falls off the edges, unrelated to anything and especially not to you.

Poker

Who wants to play poker?

Weekends

I can read minds, she said & I said, OK & she said, Do you want to know what you're thinking? I said no thank you. I don't do stuff like that on weekends.
-StoryPeople


Three Wishes

The Dancer

Love Me Like A River

Picnic For Two

Pizza Night

Pizza.
Tonight is a pizza night. There was a time that making pizza dough sounded like a lot of work that maybe I wasn't willing to do. I discovered a couple of years ago, that it's actually super simple and doesn't take long at all. You just need an extra 30 minutes to let the dough rise. And yeast. And flour. And salt. And olive oil. And sugar.

So, tonight I tried a new dough recipe. Just as simple, just as quick. And super tasty. For toppings I choose red onion, prosciutto, marinara, fresh mozzarella and a shredded blend of cheddar and mozzarella.

For dessert I had a fortune cookie...

Just kidding. I stole this photo... I thought I was pretty funny so I downloaded it to share with you.

Get Your Two Step On...

In a mosh pit... 8 Year Old Style... My First Hardcore Song

Feist

"And it came a heat wave

A merciful save

You choose you chose

Poetry over prose

A map is more unreal than where you've been

Or how you feel"

Excerpt from Intuition, by Feist.

One More

Okay. One more tonight. Because...just because.  I should just wait and put them in all one blog post. Even if they contradict in flow, feeling, or tone... note-to-self going forward. Maybe I'll follow my own suggestions, maybe not.

Somebody That I Used to Know

welcome to:

         -ani difranco

welcome to:
no amount of stoned makes you feel ok
welcome to:
this year's alone - brought to you by christmas day
welcome to:
the darkness into which prayin people pray 

it's quiet here except for this song
now that everybody's gone
but hey
least you don't have to play along today 

welcome to:
something like elation when you first open your eyes
just cuz it means 
that you musta finally got to sleep last night
welcome to:
the precipice between groundlessness and flight 

it's quiet here except for this song
now that everybody's gone
but hey
least you don't have to play along today 

besides which
welcome to: 
taking the good stuff down off of the shelf
and welcome to:
the art of conversation with yourself
welcome to:
humming an unbroken tune
all day long
yes it's quiet here
but hey
least you don't have to play along today 

Tulips

Yesterday it was bees. Today it is Tulips.

Bees

It snowed last night--two inches accumulated-- finally, a little snow for me! But, now it's all gone. And it's lightly raining. Well, here's to raindrops then. And onto my Bee-themed post.

Well, I'm sure if you asked several people they would say I had a bee in my bonnet today. This is not that unusual, but it is fitting, since I'm having dinner at The Beehive. First a glass of wine at Bar10, where I am updating my blog.  Back to the bee, I think I made a little progress but maybe not. That's the way it is with bees... just as you think it's buzzed off... it returns. Anyway, time will tell. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to the Beehive tonight. My plan, unless something derails it, is to have a grilled cheese. But not just any grilled cheese. This one has farmhouse cheddar, fontina and shortrib, on toasted/grilled bread, sliced extra thick (imagine a better version of Texas Toast). Mmm. It's been way too long since I had this tasty favorite of mine. I'll keep you posted on my success, and if it's as good as I remember.

Finally, a Bee-inspired poem, by Mary Oliver.

Hum

What is this dark hum among the roses?
The bees have gone simple, sipping,
that's all. What did you expect? Sophistication?
They're small creatures and they are
filling their bodies with sweetness, how could they not
moan in happiness? The little
worker bee lives, I have read, about three weeks.
Is that long? Long enough, I suppose, to understand
that life is a blessing. I have found them-haven't you?—
stopped in the very cups of the flowers, their wings
a little tattered-so much flying about, to the hive,
then out into the world, then back, and perhaps dancing,
should the task be to be a scout-sweet, dancing bee.
I think there isn't anything in this world I don't
admire. If there is, I don't know what it is. I
haven't met it yet. Nor expect to. The bee is small,
and since I wear glasses, so I can see the traffic and
read books, I have to
take them off and bend close to study and
understand what is happening. It's not hard, it's in fact
as instructive as anything I have ever studied. Plus, too,
it's love almost too fierce to endure, the bee
nuzzling like that into the blouse
of the rose. And the fragrance, and the honey, and of course
the sun, the purely pure sun, shining, all the while, over
all of us. 

Nine Million

How do you suppose that "nine million" became the common number used to illustrate that there are a lot of "things" to think about, accomplish, etc? Not 8 million, not 10 million, but 9 million.

I'd like to know. Meanwhile here is a song that conveniently is called Nine Million Bicycles.

P.S. Here's an added bonus of Jon Stewart in a bejeweled crown.

Betty White

To start the night, I'm going to suggest you tune into Betty White's 90th Birthday Special on NBC.  There are so many funny people in the line up that missing it, I think, would be rather unfortunate. There are bound to be some hilarious moments. Even Barak Obama is wishing her a happy birthday! I love it already.
Okay, most likely more to come later. Though it might be much later, since this is clearly going to be an absorbing distraction.

Covers

I'm in a list making mode. Here's a list of some of my favorite covers, listing the current performer not the original. You'll have to do your own research for the original.

Just Like Heaven  (Katie Melua)

Wild Horses  (Charlotte Martin)

Smells Like Teen Spirit  (Tori Amos)

Amazing Grace (Ani Difranco)

Long Black Veil (Dave Matthews Band)

Baby It's Cold Outside  (Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone)

No Surprises (Regina Spektor)

Nightswimming  (Ingrid Michaelson)

Last Night  (Adele)

Rolling in the Deep  (Piano Guys)

Sweet Jane  (Cowboy Junkies)

Chinese Writing

Chinese Writing
                         -Dick Allen

In my first week of studying Chinese writing, 
I placed two horses beside two tigers 
and the word careless formed. 
With just five brushstrokes, I made an eye, 
yet it took twelve for happiness, 
eleven for success and fourteen for long life, 
which I brushed on rice paper, 
trying to master all the hooks and angles 
of those difficult strokes. But then, writing English again, 
for the first time since third grade I started to count 
how many barely discernible movements my fingers make 
guiding my favorite pen into broken cursive loops and crannies, 
swirls and down strokes, up strokes, cross strokes 
entering and leaving every sentence, 
the anguished commas and dashes, the little ellipses 
come out of their hiding places as if they were 
pinpricks of honey at the end of clover spikes, 
into this fine moving world. 
And with such minute pleasures I was content 
at the end of the day, which the Chinese might paint as rì-yuè, 
or time passing in falling tones, 
almost as beautiful as míng baí, to understand 
those wonderful tiny crate characters, 
that miniature broken ladder character, 
the rising tones of sun, moon, clear-white, in two squares of sky.

Vote

Do you like this song or does it sound like an oddly catchy version of elevator music but you still never want to listen to it again?

Cheeseburgers or Chicken?

Vodka or Gin?

Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart?

Peas or Carrots?

The Beach or the Mountains?

Mitch Hedberg or Chris Rock?

Mimosas or Bloody Marys?

Cards or Checkers?

Apples or Pears?

Oprah or Ellen?

Oceans or Lakes?

Steve Carell or Vince Vaughn?

Scrabble or Yahtzee?

Chocolate or Cheese?

Yes or No?

Haha. Got you with that one.

Personal Moment

I was YouTube surfing for ideas for my blog today. I came across this "personal moment" and couldn't resist posting it. It's totally something I would do.

Anne Hathaway, you're terrific.

Saturday is officially off to a good start. More to come, I'm sure.

sometimes

Sometimes I am surprised that there is just enough comfort, pleasure, laughter, peace, (insert word) to hypothetically share something with someone, and know how they would react, to make it O.K. that you can't actually share it with them. It's not a replacement, but it's a small solace that sometimes makes a world of difference.

I think we should make all the flags in the parade out of long underwear, he said, because then only the really fun people will come.
-StoryPeople

She & Him

She & Him is an American indie pop duo consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. 
"The pair originally collaborated via e-mail, with Ward working out of his Portland, Oregon studio and Deschanel in her Los Angeles, California home. The city had a huge influence on Deschanel's music, evoking long drives along the coastal roads listening to Brian Wilson and golden oldies, jam music on 1970s AM radio." (thanks, wikipedia).


A few songs to give you a better feel:


Black Hole


Sweet Darlin'


I Was Made For You


If You Can't Sleep


Okay, one more. I like this remake too. I've been listening to it on repeat for a bit.


Lotta Love

Tweaked

So, for quite a while I've been looking to tweak my chipotle-chicken-avocado sandwich-- not because it wasn't delicious as is-- but because of how difficult (aka messy) it was to eat.  I thought of various ideas for a similar combination of flavors and tried them out...still, more tweaking was needed. But tonight, on a whim, I think I discovered a quick and easy alternative that encompasses all of the flavors...and more!  Mmmm.
So a few changes (not that you have the original recipe in your hands)...and viola, here's my new recipe. You can help me name it. I'm taking suggestions. But, I can't promise yours will be picked.

Ingredients:

Croissant
Oven-Roasted Turkey --sliced medium, or thick
Mayo (I use mayo w/ olive oil)
Basil Pesto
Fontina
Vidalia Onion or Red Onion
Romaine Lettuce
Spices: cumin, ground red pepper
Avocado

The best thing about this sandwich is that proportions don't matter that much. You can stack it as you desire.

Slice croissant open.
Spread basil-pesto on the bottom of the croissant, add sliced onions, and a slice of fontina cheese.
Mix a tablespoon of mayo with a pinch of ground red pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin (or to taste). Spread Mayo mixture on top half. Toast both halves in toaster oven or oven until cheese is melted croissants lightly toasted. Then add slices of avocado, turkey, and romaine lettuce. Add top half of the croissant, slice in half if you wish, and enjoy! Oh, and enjoy with a glass of chilled white burgundy (from Macon or further north, please) or Albarino (Salneval is a good one).

Well-Directed Quick Wit

There's nothing quite like an articulate man with well-directed quick wit. Or woman. But in this case a man. Thanks, again Jon Stewart.

Which side are you on?

Ani's new CD out next week.

Which side are you on? 

“Just listen, drop your idea of who is singing and what you already know they're saying, and go somewhere else, open yourself up to a new story.”

And... A very short Ani interview.

The Moon

Tomorrow is the first full moon of 2012. I looked up at the sky last night and realized that it must be close.  So, I thought I would do a little poking around to see when the exact date was... much to my surprise,  I discovered that full moons are named. Here's a list for 2012.

There is just something magnetic about the moon.

Advice for Alice...and the rest of us

Alice laughed. "There's no use trying," she said: "one can't believe impossible things." 
"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." 

Sunday Mornings

Sunday is one of my favorite days. This morning I woke up to more peaceful sunlight. How fantastic. There are other reasons my morning is putting a smile on my face, too.  I'll mention only a couple of them...
I'm sitting on my couch watching Sunday Morning, on CBS.  So far they've covered the personality-factor, or lack thereof, of politicians. Transitioned then to general charisma, something about AT&T (I wasn't paying attention, I guess), and then this really cool software program that turns spoken word into song! The Gregory Brothers have really taken advantage of it.  Quite amusing. Now CBS Sunday morning, is talking about football uniforms. And how the Portland Ducks haven't worn the same exact uniform for a game in several years. And Maryland is apparently following suit. Football players on the catwalk?  Interesting. And fish and chips oil turned into to taxi cab fuel! Amazing!

Well, I should get on with my day. Here's a morning poem for you. Hopefully it's not a repeat, but if so, it's a good one --so repeating it doesn't hurt.

Morning Poem

Every morning

the world

is created.

Under the orange

sticks of the sun

the heaped

ashes of the night

turn into leaves again

and fasten themselves to the high branches ---

and the ponds appear

like black cloth

on which are painted islands

of summer lilies.

If it is your nature

to be happy

you will swim away along the soft trails

for hours, your imagination

alighting everywhere.

And if your spirit

carries within it

the thorn

that is heavier than lead ---

if it's all you can do

to keep on trudging ---

there is still

somewhere deep within you

a beast shouting that the earth

is exactly what it wanted ---

each pond with its blazing lilies

is a prayer heard and answered

lavishly,

every morning,

whether or not

you have ever dared to be happy,

whether or not

you have ever dared to pray.

~ Mary Oliver ~

Breakable

Have you ever thought about...

(beautiful version of the song)

Sunlight

This poem was one of the first things that came to mind when I woke up this morning.

The Word

                        -Tony Hoagland

Down near the bottom

of the crossed-out list

of things you have to do today,

between "green thread"

and "broccoli" you find

that you have penciled "sunlight."

Resting on the page, the word

is as beautiful, it touches you

as if you had a friend

and sunlight were a present

he had sent you from some place distant

as this morning -- to cheer you up,

and to remind you that,

among your duties, pleasure

is a thing,

that also needs accomplishing

Do you remember?

that time and light are kinds

of love, and love

is no less practical

than a coffee grinder

or a safe spare tire?

Tomorrow you may be utterly

without a clue

but today you get a telegram,

from the heart in exile

proclaiming that the kingdom

still exists,

the king and queen alive,

still speaking to their children,

- to any one among them

who can find the time,

to sit out in the sun and listen.