Rees26

His/Hers

2010-05-22T15:21:00.002-05:00

His version:

Eagle Eye Cherry, Save Tonight
go on and close the curtains
'cause all we need is candlelight
you and me ... and the bottle of wine
and hold you tonight [ ohh ]

well we know i'm going away
and how i wish - i wish it weren't so
so take this wine and drink with me
let's delay our misery

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone
save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone

there's a log on the fire
and it burns like me for you
tomorrow comes with one desire
to take me away [ ohh it's true ]

it ain't easy to say good bye
darling please - don't start to cry
'cause girl you know i've got to go
and Lord i wish it wasn't so

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone
save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone

tomorrow comes to take me away
i wish that i - that i could stay
but girl you know i've got to go
and Lord i wish weren't so

save tonight and fight the break of dawn
come tomorrow - tomorrow i'll be gone

My version:

India Arie, Long Goodbye
Mmhmmmm.....

I say I love you
You say that's kind
You don't wanna get too close
You loved me crazy
I lost my mind

Listen...

You're everything I never wanted
And all the things I didn't need
This ain't who I wanna be
You don't have to stay forever
I'll take passion over pride
Full moon, high tide
Let's make it a long goodbye
Tomorrow we'll pick up the pieces
Try to mend our broken lives
Soft kiss, sweet lies
Let's make it a long goodbye

Yeah...
I cried in silence
I lived through you
I've given everything away
And maybe I can learn to fall
For someone who can give me all
The things I"m not afraid to lose

Whenever you see lonely faces
That's where I'll be
Don't cry for me, no no no no
Don't cry for me, don't cry for me yeah yeahhhh

Hey, don't cry for me, no no no
I'm gonna be okay

Excitements

2010-05-19T10:01:00.002-05:00

Awesome stuff going on/coming up around here as spring springs and summer is right around the corner. Some things that I'm looking forward to -

- Going home for a flash trip in for few days for my Grandfather's 80th birthday party. Other funs included in that weekend will be the first Follies Girls' Dinner in waaay too long, Luke's birthday party at Stacey's house, and seeing Richmond's baseball team play (despite the horrifically stupid mascot name - the Squirrel. Shudder.)

- Brandi Carlile concert at the end of June at Mountain Winery

- Mom and Lefty coming in September

A very. Good. Date.

2010-04-10T10:20:00.003-05:00

You know, the kind where he's tall. And where you look into each other's eyes all night, and are comfortable there. And where you finish each other's sentences. And where you are immediately smiling, just being in each other's presence. And where when he kisses you at the end of the night, it's hot, and passionate, and you both want more. Which is amazing, because it's been a while since it's been like that - where you were even comfortable kissing someone the first time you met them. Where you didn't feel like you had to constantly run defense because the reality was, you didn't want to be kissing that person. Nope, not on this date. On this date you were dying to keep kissing him, do dig your fingers into his arms while he pressed against you. Your eyes automatically clenched shut, and didn't open until a few seconds after it was over.

It was a good date.

See, this is why I have them

2009-11-03T22:13:00.001-05:00

Me: I don't know, guys. He was cute, super attentive, and seemed really sweet... but he's unemployed right now.

Friends: (Without missing a beat) Kinda like you were 4 months ago?

Me: (blink, blink) Ok, I'll go to out with him.

Grace in Small Things

2009-11-01T17:54:00.002-05:00

1. A freshly made, lavender fabric softener scented bed.

2. The coziness that settles in when it starts to get dark early.

3. Pumpkin muffins.

4. Library books.

5. Lazy Sundays where you don't leave the house.

Loving my crooked neighbors with my own crooked heart

2009-10-28T11:25:00.000-05:00

Monday I left my apartment at 8am, darting to the airport to board a 10am flight to Palm Springs for the day to represent my winery at a small tasting event. It was a long day, but a fun way to break up the monotony of a normal work week. When back to the airport at 6pm to board my first flight of the two-legged journey home, I checked a voice mail from my next door neighbor, which announced that they were making a 5 pound leg of lamb for dinner, and did I want to come over?

DAMN. THE. LUCK. I wasn't due to land back in San Francisco until about 10pm, so was doomed to a very rushed fast food airport dinner, at best. I returned the call, having to decline the invite, or so I thought.

"Well," my neighbor cheerily replied, "I'll be up all night working on a document for work, so when you get home come on over for a lamb sandwich if you want." I practically teared up at the relief of not having to stuff a very unappetizing Burger King meal into my mouth during my thirty minute layover.

So at 10:30 my weary body climbed the stairs of their porch and I knocked on the door. The house still smelled like lamb, and five minutes later I had sunk down on the couch, lamb sandwich and glass of red wine in hand. My neighbor took a much needed work break, and flipped the TV to a recorded episode of the Colbert Report, and we chatted while I ate, relaxed and happy.

I don't remember the exact context, but somewhere in the show there was a quote about "loving your crooked neighbors with your own crooked heart". That night, as with many of the nights of the last year living here, I felt so grateful for the block that I moved onto, and the wonderful friends I have found in my neighbors. To be welcomed in, taken care of after a day of weary travel, was indescribably valuable to me that night. And this was not an unusual occurrence around here - this is just how we roll. We really do love and take care of each other on this block.

It's awesome to feel so at home at home.

Cruelty.

2009-10-20T11:49:00.000-05:00

There I am, sipping coffee and innocently checking my email this morning, and suddenly this image pops up on my screen, courtesy of the MZ Wallace list that I am on:

It's just not fair, internet. Because now I want one. Bad. Look at the beautiful fall plum color, and the chic woman inspecting pumpkins... That could totally be me! I love plum colored bags and pumpkins too.

Sigh. Does anyone have $345 I can borrow? Actually, no wait. I already have one MZ Wallace. If I'm going to borrow $345, I'd probably use it towards a Rebecca Minkoff instead...

Batton down the hatches

2009-10-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the weather in the Bay Area was miserable. The first big rain of the season, complete with huge winds, occasional floods and power outages swept through the area. Luckily, we were all ready for it since for the three days before the meteorologists had been warning us as if the Apocalypse were coming. So late Monday night, after putting my mother and her friend onto their red-eye flight back East, I came home to snuggle into bed for the night, letting the sound of rain on my skylights lull me to sleep.

The next morning I awoke to everything that the weathermen had been predicting. The weather outside was absolutely gross, so I took advantage of my flexible sales job and called it a "work from home" day, and set about to do the only proper thing on a day like that - I made chili.

I got my basic recipe from my mother, and over the years have adjusted it a bit to fit my own tastes, following ideas that I've gotten from other sources. It's made in a Crockpot (my all time favorite kitchen appliance), and makes your kitchen smell like heaven. During the fall and winter I make it a habit to always have the ingredients for it on hand (meat safely in the freezer) for days like yesterday when the last thing you want is to have to run to the store. Oh, and it's best served in big bowls, pasta bowls if you have them, while sitting in front of the TV, blanket over your lap, loved one by your side.

Here is the basic recipe, and at the end are the substitutions/add ons that I've been doing lately. Feel free to adapt it in your own way, and portion off any leftovers into tupperware containers to freeze - it works beautifully.

Crock Pot Chili

1 ½ lbs ground beef

1 med onion chopped

1 can dark red kidney beans

1 can light red kidney beans

1 can red kidney beans

1 large can crushed tomatoes

1 (16) oz can tomato sauce

1 (16) oz can stewed tomatoes

1 small can chopped green chilies

¼ tsp garlic powder

4 Tbsp chili powder

½ tsp black pepper

2 shakes crushed red pepper

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp vinegar

Brown beef with onion; drain well. Combine beef with all other ingredients in large crock pot. Simmer on low heat all day (at least 8 hours). Serve with crackers or corn chips. Top with shredded cheese.

*For the last few years, I've been using a pound of ground turkey and a log of breakfast sausage instead of ground beef. Just using turkey works just fine, and once I even used two packages of veggie burger crumbles to accommodate a vegetarian I was cooking for, and it worked great!

*If I have it on hand, I'll add about half of a dark beer. Nothing lighter than an Amber. If I do this, I usually only use about half of the crushed tomatoes, so that there isn't too much liquid.

*I add about a tablespoon of curry powder

*I serve it with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and Chipotle Tobasco as condiments.

*Homemade cornbread or Fritos on the side are a must.

I know it's fall because...

2009-09-30T17:54:00.000-05:00

Someone put a pumpkin on my doorstep. (Ok, it was me.)And I'm getting to wear my favorite boots again.

And the grapes are rolling in to the winery.

And I'm drinking at least two Pumpkin Spice Lattes a week. (Side note: Peets Coffee's are a million times better than Starbucks. The 'Buck is too sweet, and since Peets has stronger brew in general, the espresso shots balance the potentially cloying flavor nicely.)

And I crunched on some leaves walking down the street yesterday.

And How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory are all new again. (How excited are we about Robin/Barney and Penny/Leonard!?!?)

And accounts are busy again.

And I'm craving red wine instead of white.

And a lot of birthdays are rolling around. (I'm an Aquarius, and all I know about my sign is that we get along really well with Libras and Geminis, and seriously, you have no idea how many Libras I have in my life. Not as many Geminis, but I'm swimming in Libras!)

Happy October, everyone!

Homemade Chicken Stock

2009-09-28T14:22:00.000-05:00

A long time ago, I remember reading a blurb in Glamour magazine about tips for a "Babe on a Budget", and for some reason that phrase stuck in my head. I guess I liked the idea of a modern, chic woman who wasn't afraid to admit that she didn't have all the money in the world, so wanted to find ways to still strut down the Fabulous Lane without emptying her checking account. So whenever I find myself doing something to save money, or talking about being cheap, it always pops back in and I find myself mentally, and sometimes out loud, referring to myself as that Babe on a Budget.

Combine that sentiment with my obsession with the foodie culture over the last few years, hearing Ina Garten over and over refer to using homemade chicken stock and reading on a few blogs about how easy it is to make - I became intrigued. I like to use chicken stock for a lot of things - certain pasta dishes like risotto - but the thing is, it's not cheap. Usually for my standard risotto recipes I have to buy two containers of it, which can add up to $10+. That considerably ups the ante on how much the whole meal is costing, especially considering that oftentimes the idea to cook at home is born from a desire to save a few bucks. So last fall when I started roasting chickens regularly, it seemed like a total waste to just throw away the carcass when I knew that something else could be done with it.

I did a little research on recipes and methods, and the basic conclusion that I came to was this - throw the carcass into the biggest pot you have, along with a loosely chopped onion, a few carrots cut into huge chunks, whatever herbs you've got on hand (parsley, thyme, rosemary, etc), a lot of salt and pepper, and then fill the pot the rest of the way with water. Bring it to a boil on your stove and let it hang out at a slow boil for 4-5 hours. It'll reduce down considerably. Then filter out all of the chicken and veggies, and you're left with the stock! Ladle it into whatever containers (portion it into quart-sized Ziploc tuperware thingys), and throw them into the freezer.

Voila.

So if you're like me, you've got enough chicken stock at this point to last you for a couple of months, at least. I've heard some people say that they don't think that this is worth it for the effort, but to me it totally is. I've found it to be super easy and cheap - if you've already got the carcass from a roasted chicken, all you have to do is buy an onion, a few carrots and maybe a bunch of parsley. Yeah, it's time consuming - but as long as your schedule allows you to carve out an afternoon while you're already at home doing other things, you've got it covered!

Plus, in addition to the money saving benefits that I've already touted, let's not forget the reason why Ina and so many others all but insist on using homemade stock in their recipes - it tastes better. Now, not necessarily in a side-by-side taste test of yours and the grocery store's. The grocery store's will have a lot more sodium, so therefore will perform better just by itself, but trust me, once you start cooking with your own stock there will be no going back. Yours will have a depth of flavor and layers that add a homey quality to your dishes that you just won't get with the pre-made stuff. (Although you might want to up the salt quantity in whatever dish you are making, just to adjust for that factor.)

And, cooking the stock will make your apartment smell good for days. Trust me...

Quote of the week

2009-09-27T17:12:00.000-05:00

"Listen to the whispers, or soon you'll be listening to the screams." - Elizabeth Gilbert, quoting her husband.

I actually think that this one is going to extend to become more than just a quote of the week for me, and hope that it is something that I will repeat to myself over and over again when I start to second-guess my instincts on certain situations.

Or more specifically, certain people.

As someone who has dated a considerable amount in the last 10+ years, I have definitely landed myself into some shitty situations. Liars, users, the insecure, the overconfident, the emotional basketcases, I think - or hope - that I've pretty much seen it all. And I know that I've gained the strength to avoid and extricate myself from these situations in a timely manner. Sadly, that wasn't always the case. And when I did end up realizing just how yucky the situation was, I could always look back and see warning signs that I should have heeded. I've long been chiding myself for not following my instincts more closely, but often times I was following other, stronger impulses - like boredom or loneliness - that were causing me to doubt my judgment.

So that is why this quote resonated with me so much - because I've gone through plenty of whispering and then screaming, and recently feel like I am honing the ability to listen and observe with an open, yet smart, heart when letting someone new into my life.

Eat, Pray... Queef

2009-09-25T00:17:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely in awe of Elizabeth Gilbert. Just around two years ago, my good friend Elijah told me that I must read her book, Eat, Pray, Love. I picked it up, plowed through it, and it changed my life. I am here in California because that book inspired me towards the courage to decide that I was ready for a change, and coached me towards the patience that is required to open your heart and allow a change to happen. Moving here was one of the best things I've ever done, and in some way I have Elizabeth Gilbert to thank for it. She taught me to slow down, listen to myself, and take care of my needs.

In preparation for the release of her new book in January (which, naturally, I can't wait for), she is touring around a little bit, talking about and reading from it. Tonight she was at an auditorium about twenty minutes away from where I live. As soon as I saw the marquee announcing her presence a few weeks ago, I immediately got a ticket. I didn't send out an email, I didn't go nuts trying to organize an evening with friends - I just dropped by the box office and purchased a ticket. For myself. Because I knew that it would be a rejuvenating evening, kinda like a spa day for the brain, and I wanted to treat myself to it without allowing myself to indulge in the normal social paranoia that inevitably ensues whenever I try to rally people to an event. So I got a seat towards the back of the auditorium, frugally saving myself about $20, and marked my calendar, giddy with anticipation.

Tonight I drove to the auditorium, had my ticket torn, and took my seat about two thirds of the way back. I sat there for five minutes before she took the stage, mainly looking at my iPhone (you know, because if I'm going to to an hour and a half without looking at it I have to see if anyone has texted, check email, and Tweet about what I am doing before I can turn it to silent) and glaring at the woman seated next to me who had the audacity to poke my elbow accidentally. When she did come on, she addressed the crowd's situation immediately.

Because it was kinda like being in church - most people were sitting towards the back. Hey, there really isn't a bad seat in the house, and it was a good $20 less for the cheap seats! So she addressed the economy, and the way the audience was seated, and then basically told everyone in the back to move forward to the front. I'm not sure if she intended to cause a near-stampede, but suffice it to say, people took her up on her offer in about two seconds flat. Myself included. And not having anyone there with me to slow me down, I managed to deftly scoot through the crowd and snag a front row seat. I could not believe my luck.

She was fabulous. Amazingly articulate. Hilarious. She said fuck at least a dozen times. She answered the few questions that people were allowed to ask with complete genuineness and honesty. She read from her new book. She endearingly showed off her new, sparkly ballet flats. And she said that, yes, she had seen the episode of South Park that mocked her book, titled Eat, Pray, Queef - and she loved it.

I sat there and listened, enthralled, excited, and breathing in slow, even breaths for the first time in a while. Let me explain that last part...

Oftentimes, I am so stereotypical of a certain part of my generation, that it kinda starts to frighten me - the MTV part. Those of us who came of age in the 80s and 90s grew up watching MTV and playing on computers, among other things. What that means is that we are incredibly used to having a lot of information hurled at us very quickly. We can understand and process it with no problems, and then oftentimes just spit it right back out, as if it never even entered our brains in the first place. It is why pretty much everyone I know jokes about having ADD - because for the most part, our attention spans are shit. It's why we don't talk on the phone anymore - sustaining a conversation without having the person right in front of you is too difficult and inconvenient. We send text messages almost exclusively, which allows us to either address quickly, or completely ignore until a more suitable time emerges, whatever issue is at hand. We check Facebook to see what people have been up to, rather than reaching out to find out ourselves, even via email.

When I'm not careful, I can become such a poster child for this generation, it's ridiculous. And lately, that's exactly what I've been. See, what happened is this - I got a job that requires me to be self-motivated and organize a lot of information in my head, and I got an iPhone right around the same time. So with my brain having to kick into a gear that the previous 8 months of under-employment had not required, coupled with the acquisition of a shiny new toy that allows me waaaay to much stimulation at my fingertips, and essentially my mind hasn't been still since. My attention span is all but gone, so I haven't read a book in two months because I can't go two pages without my mind wandering and picking up my phone to check my hotmail. I haven't written anything in two months because I can't organize my thoughts into anything but arbitrary lists. I'm becoming frazzled more easily, and forgetful of little things when that never used to be a problem. Not to grossly mis-diagnose myself here by saying that I actually have ADD, but when one can't stop at a stoplight without picking up her phone to check Twitter, things are getting ridiculous, and slight lifestyle changes are in order.

And it's amazing how contagious energy is. Seeing Elizabeth Gilbert tonight calmed me down internally, in a way I haven't felt in a few months. It's time to consciously bring my mind back down to earth, even if that requires literally imposing limits on myself about how many times a day I'm allowed to look at email, or taking a month off of Facebook, or forcing thirty minutes of uninterrupted reading time a day. Because for me, when my mind starts whirling like it has been lately, it's really hard to keep perspective on the important things - big and small. Like where I want my life to ultimately lead me, and remembering to keep food in the house and clean the litter box.

So that it, really. As of tonight, I'm turning off the TV more, not keeping the phone within arms reach as much, and basically just working on bringing my mind back down to earth a bit. Oh, and starting the countdown to when Elizabeth Gilbert's next book comes out, of course.

I just read LAST Sunday's paper

2009-09-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

So when I say that I had a crazy week, I meant it.

It was pretty awesome, though. I got to:

- Head up to Napa three times

- Have one of my best friends visit for three days

- Play a rousing game of bocce ball at this winery with two 80 year old Texan women

- Sell wine here, here and here

- Go on two dates

- Sit on a foggy beach for a few hours

- And finished the week off with waaaaay too much online shopping and chocolate bar nibbling

Ok, ok... enough. This blog has become nothing but a series of lists. That stinks, right? Kinda like this should have:

But it didn't. It was delicious. Kinda like life right now.

Oh my God. What a horrific metaphor. I'm sorry. I'll try to come up with some actual stories to tell soon. I promise.

Really, what I want right now is...

2009-08-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

To flounce around in heels at night.

To have time for the gym every day, and work on trimming my waist down a bit.

To build up my wardrobe more, with a few key and a few fun pieces.

To work my way through Entourage and Mad Men with my Netflix account.

To kick ass at work.

To get back into the rhythm of reading books.

To rebuild my savings a bit.

To spend quality time with my friends.

These are the things that are important to me right now, and how I want to build my days and weeks. If you think you can fit into this program without messing it up, great. If not, leave me alone.

Things you will always find in my car

2009-08-28T12:26:00.000-05:00

Since I spend so much time driving for work, it often feels like I live in my car. And maybe I could, considering all of the shit that is in there on a regular basis.

- A half full bottle of water

- A yoga mat

- Small first aid kit

- Jumper cables, flares, and a tire patching kit, all in a neat little car emergency kit

- Gym towel

- Hands free headset/earphones

- Hand wipes

- Baseball cap

- Garmin GPS

- A granola bar

- Pens

- Suntan lotion

- A blanket

- Book on learning Italian (this really needs to go, I have no idea why it is still in there)

Interestingly enough, most of this shit is tucked away pretty neatly. I swear I do not drive the equivalent to a rolling dumpster.

Ok, probably my favorite picture EVER. Of my whole life. EVER.

2009-08-26T20:26:00.000-05:00

And I mean that.

More pictures of the scrumptious Mac 'n Cheese contest over on Chow.com.

Snag.

2009-08-26T10:26:00.000-05:00

Lately I can't sleep.

I go to sleep just fine, and I've been waking up in the middle of the night for a few hours, and then I'll drift back. I'm not sure what's up. When I was a little girl I had phases of pretty bad insomnia, but it straightened itself out around college and I've been fine ever since. I hope this isn't a precursor that it's coming back...

I've been going to bed really early lately, like asleep by ten, and I wake up around 2 or 3, then go back to sleep at some point for a few hours. But if you add up the hours, I'm getting plenty of shut-eye, sooo...

Maybe I should force myself to stay up a little bit later. Maybe I should get back into the habit of setting my alarm, so that I know I'll wake up in time once I've back to sleep. Maybe it's no big deal, because even as I sit here writing this, I'm not tired.

I suppose we'll see.

Sorry, y'all

2009-08-24T20:56:00.000-05:00

I know. I've like, barely posted at all lately. But I've been busy. Doing things like...

- Actually working on a challenging and rewarding job

- Hitting the town with fabulous friends

- Making Macaroni 'n Cheese for hundreds of people

Yes, you read that last one right. On Sunday I had the blessing/curse experience to participate in SF Food Wars's first competition - the Mac 'n Cheese contest. Seriously, everyone should check out the website. This group is too cool. I stupidly got myself involved in the contest thanks to a bit of shit-talking via Twitter, and the next thing you know I had agreed to represent the Southern states by bring a baked mac 'n cheese that included lots of cheddar, sour cream, bacon, and looove, y'all.

Although there were several moments during the planning and execution that I cursed myself for getting myself roped in, the contest itself was a ton of fun. And, added bonus, my recipe will be featured in the Chow.com article about the event later this week! Very exciting. Here is a picture of my little station, that featured "Miss Erin's Deeply Southern Mac 'n Cheese".

So, that's about it. Working, cooking, going out, and oh yeah - dating. (Mainly, the person who provided the very beautiful flowers that adorned my station.) Those are the things that have kept me from doing less and less writing and relaxing lately. Which I'm pretty much ok with. Because there has been some time to kick up the footsies.

Too much

2009-08-18T11:47:00.000-05:00

I woke up last night at about 3am, bothered by something. My tummy, mainly. I had eaten way too much at dinner last night, and my stomach still felt so full it was difficult to get comfortable in bed. No good.

But something else was unsettling. These last few weeks have been great to the point of overwhelming, and I just need a breather. Too much stimulation. Too many new situations. Too much food. Too much wine. Too many social engagements. Too much shopping. Too many emails. Too much to plan for. I don't want to come down from any of the highs I've been experiencing, but I need some kind of break. And furthermore, I feel like kind of a jerk to be complaining right now - I mean, things have truly been awesome.

I just need things to level out a bit, I suppose. I had a very rough few months, and then careened into an awesome few months. And while I am incredibly grateful for the awesome few months, I also am craving a bit of a slow down and a return to normal.

But with the visitor, event, and job schedule of the next few months, it doesn't look like it's coming anytime soon. Guess I'd just better keep holding on. And stop whining. These are the days.

What I want to be when I grow up

2009-08-13T20:48:00.000-05:00

Yeah, my creativity sucks lately. Sooo... I'm blatantly stealing a post idea from my most favorite blog ever. Here's what I want to be when I grow up:

- the Hostess with the Mostess
- someone who has a really tight family
- still a size 6
- out of room for stamps on my passport
- someone that friends come to with their problems
- a partner
- holder of a solid career
- a yogi
- peaceful

Grace in Small Things

2009-08-07T08:53:00.000-05:00

1. Smoky almonds

2. First paycheck from new jobs!

3. Morning hikes (and an excuse to wear my new hiking boots)

4. A schedule that has me back to Flexible Fridays

5. This little face

This shit is way better than anything I could ever come up with

2009-08-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

One of my besties is constantly regaling a group of us with the crap that goes on in his office space. Here is an email from yesterday:

"Background Info - We have a coffee machine in the office that makes individual cups of coffee and tea. Next to this machine is a case of drawers that hold the various coffee and tea packets. (a pic is attached)

So amusing event of the morning...

Our office admin comes up to my desk: Jason, would like to start ordering the coffee and tea from now on?

I'm like RANDOM!!!!!!!!!! And with my usual smirk I respond - Well I hardly ever drink it and I'm on the road most of the time. Maybe Martin (co-worker) would like to do it, you could ask him.

Admin (mad b/c I'm not taking her seriously) -ARE YOU THE ONE REARRANGING THE COFFEE AND TEA DRAWERS?

Me (No Idea what she's talking about) - No, that was Brent. (random guy in the office)

Admin (practically yelling) SOMEONE HAS DONE IT TWICE THIS WEEK! WHO EVER IS RE-ARRANGING THE COFFEE AND TEA, CAN ORDER IT FROM NOW ON. THE SUMATRA WAS WHERE THE JASMINE TEA WAS, THE TEA WAS WHERE THE KONA COFFEE WAS, AND THE KONA WAS WHERE THE SUMATRA WAS! AND LAST WEEK SOMEONE MOVED THE SUGARS!

At this point a crowd has gathered and I make the fatal mistake of laughing.....

She, fully perturbed, announces/screams to the whole floor. WELL I THOUGHT IT WAS JASON, SINCE HE'S A JOKESTER, BUT WHOEVER IS RE-ARRANGING THE COFFEE AND TEA BETTER STOP IT!!!! OR ELSE THEY CAN ORDER THE COFFEE AND TEA FROM NOW ON!!!!! I'M TIRED OF THIS. THEY'VE BEEN MOVED TWICE THIS WEEK, SO STOP IT!

For their safety, the gathered crowd has now taken cover.

She storms off. Although innocent - I'm officially persona non grata with her! lol

Needless to say we've all been gossiping like little school girls as to:

1) why rearranging the display would totally fuck up the reordering process?

2) who would feel the need to rearrange the display to fuck with the admin?

3) who outed me to the admin as being the likely suspect? - We have figured this out. It was Harlee (that's right, her name is Harlee). She told the admin that when our group is on the road, Me and Martin are the pranksters. So it must have been me or him.

So this led to question #4) why did she yell at me and not Martin?"

My happy dance

2009-08-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

I can always sort of gauge my level of personal satisfaction with my life with one thing - am I singing along to the radio in my car? When I'm brooding and unhappy I usually just drive along, giving not much thought to what is playing on the radio. When I'm in a really good place, I'm singing along to pop music, driving with the windows down, and generally reveling in the freedom and release I feel.

Lately, I've been singing along for sure, and I've even noticed a new development - dancing in my apartment. Boogie-ing to Michael Jackson while I get ready to go out, blasting the radio as I blow dry my hair, hell, last night I even caught myself shaking my booty a little bit to an upbeat commercial on the TV.

So I guess life is pretty good right now. Happy dances all around.

Fabulous Foodie Week

2009-08-05T10:40:00.000-05:00

Right now I am three days into a week that basically sums up the entire reason that I moved here to the Bay Area.

Already happened...

Tuesday night - Glasses of wine at Bin 38. We started off with the Seghesio Arneis, which was bright and lively with a really nice weight on the palate, and moved onto a Vermentino (name of the producer I didn't catch). Then we scooted down Chestnut Street to A 16, which is definitely one of the hottest foodie spots in the country right now. We sat at the bar and shared a pizza with olives, anchovies, and hot peppers, along with a bottle of juicy red wine from Mt. Vesuvius (again, I'm bad about remembering names of producers...) and lamb meatballs. The bartender treated us to a strawberry and ricotta filled crepe for dessert that was to die for. The conversation was lively, and the food and wine were amazing. All in all a great evening.

And planned...

Thursday - drinks in Napa with a wine-pro girlfriend who I haven't seen in months. We get to catch up on our various romantic scandals, I get to finally hear about the few months she spent in New Zealand this spring working a harvest, and we'll sip and nibble our way through downtown Napa, one glass at a time.

Friday - Already have tickets lined up to see Julie and Julia. To say that I cannot wait is a ridiculous understatement. I can barely even watch the previews, I feel such a strong connection to this movie. I absolutely devoured both of the books that it is based on when they first came out, and profoundly loved them both. My and my girls (Jason and Rodrigo, natch) are seeing a 7:15 show at a theater that allows drinks inside - as all should - and then heading out for French food and wine at one of our favorite spots afterwards.

Sunday - Dinner at Saison, the new Sunday-night-only hot spot in the Mission. Run by two up-and-coming San Fransicso hot shots, the reservations are hard to get, the food is supposed to be amazing, and the buzz is huge. Added bonus - my dinner companion is all for dressing up for the occasion. I can't wait to slip into my heels and really enjoy making an event out of a random Sunday night.

And now I'm off to the gym. So that I'll look pretty in my dress on Sunday. Happy foodie-ing, everyone!

Grace in Small Things

2009-08-02T12:44:00.000-05:00

1. The phrase "take the paper" in lieu of reading or subscribing to the paper

2. Treating myself to an afternoon chick flick

3. Really feeling ok when something you knew was going to happen finally does

4. Taking a few hours to slowly get your apartment back in order after a whirlwind few days left it looking like a bomb went off inside

5. Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark" album

Welcome to the family?

2009-07-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

When I met the patriarch of the family owned winery that I just started working for, I was a little bit nervous. But hey, I figured, just make conversation and he'll like me. I'm good at that. It's essentially what I was hired to do anyway. So I had heard that he and the wife spend about six months a year in Hawaii. I was in.

"Oh, I heard that you all have a place in Hawaii! My brother is stationed at Pearl Harbor."

"Yeah? That's great."

"Yeah, I went to visit him once! Where is your place?"

"Maui."

"Oooh, I hear that Maui is even better. I've never been there though."

At this point I had somehow just started to babble. I needed to tie up this conversation, fast. And then, somehow it went a bit awry. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but about two mumbled lines later, he uncomfortably coughed and said -

"Um... yeah. Well, uh, maybe one day you'll join us there."

Huh? Woah. Backup. What just happened here? Had I in my nervous idiocy somehow made it sound like I wanted to go to his place in Maui?

"Um... I... uh..." I didn't really know what to say. And then he was gone.

Like I said, I can't say exactly what happened, but ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid that in the first three hours of my new job, I might have inadvertently invited myself to the Maui compound of the head honcho - namesake - of the company.

So much for my brilliant small talk skills.

Routine

2009-07-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

Suffice it to say, lately I've had none. Between quitting and recovering from the job that I hated, bouncing around with part time and freelance things, and trying to spend as much time as possible with the person who is moving across the country soon, the only thing solid in my life lately has been the cat that I've had for nine years who delights in waking me up every morning. For the most part, all of this uncertainty has been fine. I knew that a better job was right around the corner, and strict routines have always had a choking effect on me anyway, so for the most part I've been able to go with the flow and enjoy the freedom of the last six weeks.

But soon all of this is going to change. Because I was right - a great job was right around the corner. Tomorrow I start with a winery in Napa as their key sales person in the Bay Area. I can barely express how great it feels to finally have my job situation under control, after a year of struggle with it. I'm excited to have a second home in Napa, but be able to continue to live closer to the city. I'm excited to have been given the go ahead to take anyone I want on personal tours of the winery. I'm excited to work with people I like again. I'm excited for good health insurance, and a 401K - you know, the little things. And the best part about this job is that with it I still have a decent amount of the freedom that I value so much. I'm back to making my own schedule, but with enough structure to keep me from slacking. It's going to be perfect.

As much as I've enjoyed the proverbial wandering of the last two months, I am looking forward to having my life (not to mention my bank account) a little more settled. I can get back into working out a few times a week, trying to eat one piece of fruit a day, scheduling visits with friends more regularly, renting movies from Netflix, writing consistently, planning some travel - finally I can get my life back into a rhythm, but one of my own making.

I pretty much can't wait.

Grace in Small Things

2009-07-21T10:04:00.000-05:00

1. No longer needing to peruse job sites!

2. Four course lunches

3. Being able to wear some of my cute work clothes again

4. Buying hiking boots

5. More homemade banana bread for breakfast

Seen in Bolinas, CA

2009-07-20T11:43:00.000-05:00

The artist community of Bolinas, California was, like many communities, deeply struck by 9/11. This tribute is in the middle of their downtown area, with an eloquent explanation that includes this beautiful quote:

"Art is not a profession, but a path towards truth and self-realization, both for the creator and the viewer." - ancient Tantric axiom

Grace in Small Things

2009-07-10T14:58:00.000-05:00

1. The way my cat squints her eyes in distaste when I open a curtain and sun gets in her face.

2. Chicken salad.

3. Friends who are up for trying something new.

4. Butterflies in your stomach when you are on the verge of something awesome.

5. These little guys.

Nancy v. Britney

2009-07-09T11:20:00.000-05:00

This morning on the eliptical I caught a really great segment on Good Morning America about women leaders who used to read and were inspired by Nancy Drew books when they were girls. Dianne Sawyer talks to and about several very powerful women who cite themselves as childhood fans, including herself, Oprah Winfrey, Hilary Clinton, and Sonya Sotomayor. The segment goes on to outline the series, and talk about some of the qualities that make Nancy such a positive influence on girls - she is smart, brave, funny, modest, dresses smartly, cherishes her girlfriends, and always stands up for what is right.

You know - kind of like Paris Hilton.

The segment goes on to further talk about how when the series started almost eighty years ago, it provided one of the first independent, strong role models for adolescent girls to look up to. For decades, young women poured over the books, myself included in the late '80s. Even though around the age of ten I recognized the stories as being pretty formulaic, I devoured almost all of the hundred or so books in the original series. (I was never a fan of the slightly racier, more modern ones that came later.) I loved Nancy because she represented everything that I would have liked to be as a young woman. She was poised and loved by everyone, and constantly having different adventures. She drove an awesome blue convertible, and her two best friends and cute boyfriend completely rounded out the picture. Who wouldn't want to live Nancy's life?

It really depresses me now to see young girls idolize people like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Don't get me wrong - I frequently indulge in a good Britney song. Hell, I even like the Miley Cyrus singles that I hear on the radio. But the thing is, I'm old and smart enough to know that the persona that these people present to the world is not realistic. I'm sure Miley is a nice enough kid, but we shouldn't fantasize about living her life. Britney releases good tracks, but good Lord, there is certainly nothing glamorous about her life. The thing that scares me is that most teenage girls aren't really able to make the distinction between enjoying a good pop song every once in a while and actually attempting to follow in their footsteps. The latter would most certainly lead to disaster. If a random young girl attempted to emulate Britney, she would very quickly end up mentally deranged, exposed to the world, bald, and more than likely sans Brit's substantial fortune. Not a pretty picture.

Whereas on the other hand, if anyone tried to be like Nancy Drew, they couldn't go wrong. They might not literally end up as an eighteen year old detective, but they'd be classy, smart, hard-working, cherished by friends, full of great stories to tell, and would have a handsome, loyal boyfriend. That all sounds pretty great, huh?

Now, admittedly I do not know a lot of tween girls, but I'm guessing that more of them are familiar with Miley, Britney and Paris than Nancy, Bess and George. (Who, by the way, I'm thinking was one of the first lesbian characters in teen lit. Oh, come on! George was totally les. And fabulous.) So where does that leave us? Are these currently coming-of-age girls doomed to never aspire to anything besides Brazillian waxes and big sunglasses? Or are there enough positive influences out there to shine light onto those who are smart enough to bask in it?

I don't know the answer. Like I said, I am actually pretty far removed from that demographic. But I hope that there are, because one thing I can say definitively is that it was an awful lot of fun to sit around as a little girl and picture myself in some on Nancy's adventures, and to know that one day I would have my own.

Snippets

2009-07-09T11:12:00.000-05:00

Me: So I'm thinking about getting an iPhone.

Dad: Cool. Your stepmother wants to get a Nintendo!

Me: blink, blink. Uh.... I'm not really sure how to respond to that. Why?

Yet another networkng site

2009-07-07T22:37:00.000-05:00

In the last week or so, a few blogs that I read regularly have been chirping about a new website called She Writes that is basically a networking and support forum for women writers all over the world. I think it's a great idea, with a lot of potential inspiration, so I signed up.

I used to think of myself as a sort-of writer, but lately haven't. It's something that I used to feel pretty confident about, but, like singing and Pilates, seems to have fallen off the list of "Things I'm Good At". But the thing is - I can still sing really well, I'm just not in classically trained-shape anymore. And if I went to a Pilates class, I wouldn't embarrass myself or anything, I'd just be sore the next day. So even though I don't necessarily feel like I belong in the company of the women on this site right now, I'd like to. I think that writing is still somewhere in me, I just need to discipline myself and practice again.

And lord knows, if there is a social networking site somehow involved, I'm all for it.

Here's what I think...

2009-07-07T13:35:00.000-05:00

Because, yep, I watched the tribute. Give me a break. I was working from home and I'm human.

That Mariah bombed.

That Stevie was boring.

That the Reverend shouldn't have said the thing to his kids about their father not being strange. It was awkward.

That Jennifer Hudson was phenomenal, classy and radiant.

That John Mayer is too hot for words.

That his brothers looked really sharp, and I love that they dressed alike.

That I can't get over how freakin' bizarre it is that everyone seriously calls his youngest "Blanket".

That Brooke Shields milked it a little bit, but that's ok.

That Jermaine should have just said no when asked.

That Usher is very talented, but turning into quite the douche.

That Janet looked really beautiful.

Also, I couldn't help but wonder who paid for all of this?

Grace in Small Things

2009-07-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

1. NPR in the background during the daytime.

2. Glad Press 'n Seal

3. Gerbera daisies

4. Chelsea Handler and her awesome phrase, "hot mess".

5. Taking a few days of detox, and decidedly not being a hot mess.

Grace in Small Things

2009-07-06T10:40:00.000-05:00

1. Deciding to make banana bread (thanks to Molly Wizenberg's book, yet again), and realizing that I already own the appropriate loaf pan.

2. Lip balm with strong SPF

3. Going to bed really early on Sunday nights

4. Allowing myself to be lazy about returning calls

5. Peach season

My freakin' awesome 4th

2009-07-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

The day started at about 10am chasing down the beautiful small town parade that made it's way through the streets of Sausalito. We cheered for the UCal Alumni marching band (few things make me happier than adults with hobbies), dodged candy being thrown from floats by kids, ate at the fundraiser pancake breakfast, and browsed antique stores.

Later we boarded the boat and explored the Bay, waving at fellow partiers, nibbling on cheese and downing cold drinks. We stayed out through sunset, grilled hot dogs, listened to music, and basked in the sun before anchoring down to watch the fireworks from, well, underneath them. We stood up and leaned against the main mast when they started, arms wrapped around each other, partly for protection against the chilly wind, but mainly just because we like each other's warmth. After the show, as the dozens of other boats paraded back to their slips, we stayed and kissed. Under the lingering firework smoke, slightly illuminated by the lights of our precious city, we kissed slowly, and for a long time. He tugged at my bottom lip with his, and tasted of amber beer with a slight sweetness. His aura made me feel secure, and I alternated lifting up on my toes and lowering myself to flat feet as we pressed against each other.

After the boat crowd cleared we motored in, secured everything, and went off to meet up with friends for one last drink of the night. For a holiday that I've never much cared about, I'm really happy with the way I got to celebrate this 4th. God bless America, and parades, and pancakes, and sailboats, and floppy sunhats, and fireworks.

Constructing a character of myself

2009-07-02T20:08:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I get bored of what I visualize as my current persona, or decide I need a few items to spice things up. Today, being kinda bored and recently discovering that I "need" a few new things, I pretty quickly painted a mental picture of Career-Erin, and how hot, together and savvy I would be with those things. Here's how it went:

- Whoever runs MZ Wallace's email campaigns has really been torturing me lately. I've been oogling their purses for literally years, but just haven't bitten the bullet and thrown down $300+ yet. That's a bit pricey for me. But this week they sent an email letting me know that one of my favorites is on sale for 50% off. That was rough. Then two days later, they sent another email, letting me know that shipping would be free through the weekend, and Happy 4th of July. I give myself two more days before I cave and finally spend a bit too much money on the daytime purse of my dreams.

- Pulling on my favorite pair of Sevens jeans this morning for the first time since washing them last weekend, I discovered that we were coming closer to what I realized a few months ago was an impending certainty - holes are slowly wearing in the crotch area. Probably only one or two washings away. I've owned like four or five pairs of Sevens over the last few years, and eventually they all get holes there. These have had a pretty good run of almost two years, so I'm not mad about it or anything. But lately I've been eyeing how great most people's butts look in Lucky Brand Jeans, which I've never owned. I tried on a few pairs once, and realized that they are the perfect length for me wearing flats. Right now I actually don't have any jeans that are heel-height. (The current Sevens I had hemmed, so they are flat-height. I'm right in the middle, being 5'6", so there is no such thing as a pair of pants that would work for me for both.) Soooo... what this means is that clearly I need two new pairs of designer jeans soon - a pair of Lucky's for flats, and a pair of Sevens for heels.

- Then, I sent a text message, and took a long, hard look at my crap-tastic phone that I've never bothered to update. I've gone back and forth for months, considering getting a Blackberry, but have held off waiting for my job situation to stabalize before making any new phone decisions, in case my next job would require something in particular. All of the sudden, a lightbulb went off in my head, and after a few clicks around my Verizon account page, I realized something - I am no longer under contract with them. I am month-to-month. It didn't take long for a little iPhone bud to plant itself in my brain. Within a few days, resistance, I'm sure, will prove futile.

- Oh, and I also need highlights.

So, by the end of the day I was swirling in fantasies of how career-woman-together-hot I'm going to look in a few weeks when I am sporting my new purse, talking on an iPhone, and rocking new jeans with the heels that I have been sorely neglecting for the last year or so. My hair will look perfect, and I'll be constantly doing something sharp like hailing a cab, or reading a library book on the ferry. (Because amidst all of this fabulous-ness, I'll still keep it real by checking books out of the library. Clearly that juxtaposition will only add to my alure.)

I can't wait.

Weird Family Foods

2009-07-01T14:50:00.000-05:00

I'm a huge fan of the website Serious Eats. They consistently post stories and news-ish articles about food related items all over the world, and I've been introduced to a lot of cool things from them. They are a go-to site for me if I'm looking for a recipe, or need some info on a technique, and almost never fail me. But the best feature of the site is the open threads that they allow users to start. Anyone who is registered with the site (which is painless, quick, and free) can throw a question or train of thoughts out there to all of the readers and open it up for comments and responses. They are often asking for a recipe, idea, or just wanting to talk food in general.

Today on the site, they have one of the best threads I've seen yet - "What Weird Family Foods Did You Grow Up Thinking Were Normal?" There are over 120 responses, and some are really funny, touching, and just plain gross. I mean, come on - Jello mixed with milk? Captain Crunch served with whipped cream?

And here I thought it was weird that we grew up almost entirely on Pasta Roni, Shake 'n Bake, Pillsbury crescents, and iceberg lettuce salads... Apparently that was all pretty tame.

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-30T15:00:00.000-05:00

1. Clean sheets and towels

2. A plane ticket to NYC in my inbox

3. Smoked salmon for lunch

4. 75 degrees here when it's 100 back home in Virginia. I'd be dying.

5. Excitement of a date later.

My own devices

2009-06-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

Everyone has food that they knee-jerk to when they are on their own for dinner. For some, it's just a bowl of cereal or Lean Cuisine. Others have their favorite take out place. Someone recently told me that when left to their own devices, they almost always end up eating "melty, cheesy things".

For me, it's one thing - pasta. I can't help it, and I try to break it up a little bit, but whenever I'm in charge of myself for dinner, I almost always end up making some incarnation of pasta. Angel hair with whatever veggies I've got on hand and lots of cheese... Cous cous with chopped chicken and herbs... Shit, when I'm really feeling cheap and want to revert to being a kid, I make myself Hamburger Helper, and then eat on the leftovers for the rest of the week. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to wean myself off of my pasta addiction.

Last night it was leftover slow roasted tomatoes with angel hair pasta, olive oil, feta cheese and lots of fresh pepper. I chopped up the tomatoes and the sweet juice that oozed out blended with the olive oil to create a thin and yummy sauce that totally coated the pasta. That, combined with the salty, tangy feta was awesome. And I have another portion leftover.

So that's me. For better or for worse (says my waistline) I just can't stop eating pasta. How about you? When totally left to your own devices, what do you usually end up eating?

Delicious Reading: A Homemade Life

2009-06-29T15:57:00.000-05:00

I don't know where I've been, but somehow I have just started reading Orangette, the uber-famous food blog by Molly Wizenberg. And I only really started reading the blog, because I kept seeing her book, A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table, everywhere. After eyeing it for months, I finally picked it up a few weeks ago and delved in.

Most of the reviews that I've seen so far have been warm and glowing, just like the entire feel of the book, but I have seen a few sparks of criticism for the fact that we were reading a "memoir" from someone supposedly too young to have that many memories. I can definitely see that point, especially since there was a time or two in the book where I wondered to myself if the author was actually a kinda boring person (I mean, come on - she talks about having only been drunk once, and she's sometimes a - gasp - vegetarian...), but those thoughts were pretty easily brushed aside. Because the thing is, the book is really lovely.

It's comforting and cozy, and almost every chapter left my stomach growling. I love how she mixes totally old school, suburban recipes from her parent's friends with more trendy, foodie-ish things to try, and for as many cooking memoirs as I have read in the last few years, I have never actually taken so many must-try recipes from the pages. (People, hear me now - the slow roasted tomatoes are to die for, and ridiculously versatile.)

This book is definitely worth picking up, as a feel-good escape if nothing else, and a must-read for all of those who love food writing and follow the scene online. And come by my apartment this weekend if you want to try some of her banana bread with chocolate chips and crystalized ginger. I know it's going to be delectable.

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-29T12:15:00.000-05:00

1. Margaritas with salt on a beautiful afternoon

2. Playing fetch with my cat

3. Luxuriating in my favorite weekend activity - piddling around the apartment.

4. Spending the last few days indulging in some mega Chick Lit - Lauren Weisberger's third book. (Title of which is too embarrassing to even write here.)

5. Daydreaming about the very real possibility of spending a few days in Mendocino for work.

Sunday afternoon

2009-06-28T22:18:00.000-05:00

This afternoon, I got to go on my fourth boat ride in two weeks. Not bad odds. I am one lucky woman.

Saturday night

2009-06-28T22:00:00.000-05:00

At my first San Francisco Gay Pride celebration:

Inspiring, special, and most of all - fun. I love this city.

Conversation with a stranger

2009-06-26T10:54:00.000-05:00

Last night I found myself chatting with a fellow, and the conversation took an interesting turn. He had asked me a dreaded question these days - "What do you do?" So I tried to give the abbreviated version. My last real company went out of business and I've kinda been bouncing around ever since, recently quitting a very miserable job and working on a few part time things.

Him: "So how do you spend your days?"

Me: "Well, I'm doing some part time work with this start up website, so this week I've been spending a few hours a day working on that, and then I've pretty much been cooking and reading the rest of the day. And I have to tell you, it's been awesome."

And I couldn't help but break into a genuine grin.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah! I'm not going to lie - spending my days like that makes me really happy."

"You know, I don't really know you, but let me tell you something. When looking for your next job, you should remember that statement. That you are genuinely happy with how you are spending your time right now, and try to work like that."

Needless to say, I liked this conversation.

Woah... Deep

2009-06-26T02:06:00.000-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, my horoscope for Friday:

Circumstances are changing with regard to your professional aspirations, Erin. You may have been thinking about making a change for a long time, but someone that you meet with today, perhaps even in a social or other casual situation, could provide just the motivation you need to finally commit to a decision of some kind. This is not only the result of outer changes. You've been changing inside yourself, and you just aren't the same person you were when you chose your current job. Think about it!

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-23T11:21:00.000-05:00

You know, I'm starting to realize that this series should really be called something like "Cool Things Going on With Me Right Now" or "Things I'm Excited About", because a lot of the things I list aren't exactly small. Oh well. Here goes today's list, however titled:

1. The first shower, back in your shower, after a few days away.

2. Plans to attend the Dyke March during Pride this weekend.

3. Big chunks of lobster in the mac n' cheese I ordered at First Crush last night.

4. Bittersweet chocolate cake.

5. Watching the kitty play with her new toys.

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-22T17:40:00.000-05:00

1. Spending less and less time on Facebook.

2. A guy who's really good at spooning.

3. A fresh pedi, in a pretty pink for summer.

4. A yoga class today, and a hike tomorrow.

5. Homemade lemon bars.

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-17T16:14:00.000-05:00

1. The ever-charming Golden Gate Market, three blocks away from my apartment, and their fabulous sandwiches made on Acme French rolls.

2. A blissfully busy schedule. Appointments, appointments, appointments!

3. Being whisked away to Pebble Beach for the weekend.

4. New bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

5. Frasier reruns.

Reality check

2009-06-17T12:45:00.000-05:00

Right when I can use it the most, this article in the Wall Street Journal came along. I found it because I follow the people behind the fabulous Corperette Blog on Twitter, and they posted the link. The article is a must-read for anyone in America who is active in the career world, and uses their station therein to define themselves. And let's face it - we all do to at least some extent.

I won't attempt to paraphrase it here because, well, you are all totally capable of clicking over and just reading the real thing. And please do, because I think it serves as food for the soul and a reality check at the same time. It did for me, at least.

Courage?

2009-06-17T08:26:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, very serendipitously, an old friend from college called in the middle of the day to catch up. I'm always overly flattered when people think to call me for no real reason, even if it's just for their own procrastination's sake, so it was really good to hear from him. However, anyone who hasn't talked to me for the last few weeks is going to get quite an earful if they ask the question - "So, what's going on with you?"

Um... a lot.

We broke up, for one thing. Explaining what happened to someone who had no idea that anything was wrong can take a while.

Also, I quit my job running the wine tasting room. I had to. I was so bored and stifled that it was making me truly miserable and trickling down to affect other areas of my life. I kept remembering the very first thought that went through my mind when I was offered the job months ago - "I did not move out here to sit in this little store full time." It's a of a leap of faith, because while I am interviewing with several companies right now, and have two more part time gigs lined up, exactly what I'm going to do next is up in the air. Yes, I have a plan for tomorrow, but by next week I could be on a totally different path.

So the first week was really hard and overwhelming. Those two, pretty major, life changes happened within twelve hours of each other, so while I was trying to feel excited about the job and sad about the breakup, what really happened was that I was just numb. Now as the dust settles on both situations, I am excited, and really feel alive for the first time in months. I had been using both sub-par situations as simultaneous crutches, and now that they are tossed to the side I feel like the possibilities are endless again.

"Wow," was all my friend could really say as I finished my lengthy answer to his simple question. "Erin, that's all so great."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I hope you know how much courage you have, and how amazing that is."

"Um... yeah... you think?"

This is not the first time someone has called me courageous, and I never really know what to make of it. Ok, I guess not many people would have moved to NYC by themselves at the age of 22 with no friends there and no job lined up, just to fulfill a dream. I guess. And the same thing for moving across the country, traveling to Italy with people you barely knew, and quitting a job that you were miserable in without having the next one solidly lined up.

But it doesn't feel all that courageous when you're crying to your mother on the phone, asking her to help you with rent if you need it in the next few months. It doesn't feel all that courageous to be thirty and barely able to afford your health insurance, because you haven't had a decent job in the last year to provide it for you.

But it does feel good to be excited about things again. For all the near panic-attacks, and annoyance at not being sure if I can afford cable and other stupid little things, I really like the niche of people, and places, and experiences that I have carved out in my life. And it also feels good to know and trust in my heart that the little things, like money worries, will not last forever, and that life will fall into place exactly as it is supposed to, now that I have opened myself up to the endless possibilities that are out there.

So while I'm not so sure about courageous, but I am pretty positive about lucky. And alive. And happy.

In my first year

2009-06-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

I need to look up the exact date, but basically I've been in California for a year now. It has been an amazing, but not exactly smooth, year. Every once in a while I look back at some of the things that have happened and remind myself of my favorite old adage - "watch what you wish for, because you might just get it." I left Richmond a year ago essentially because I was bored, and needed some adventure. And for better or worse, the past year has definitely not been boring. Here are some of the things that have happened:

- Fallen in love with a town (Sausalito)

- Fallen into and then out of love with a man

- Went through one roommate in a whirlwind two months

- Popped quite a few corks - socially and professionally

- Made my cat endure what turned out to be a 13-hour cross country flight

- Watched the company I moved here for go out of business

- Made some truly great friends

- Signed two leases, broken one of them

- Barely traveled at all - boo

- Lost money

- Taken several leaps of faith

- Hosted a few visitors

- Loved and felt inspired by a job

- Hated a job

- Looked for a job (twice)

- All but given up on high heels

- Listened to way more Gypsy Kings than anyone should (mandatory salsa music at the hated job)

- Gone to the opera

- Sailed on the Bay

- Hiked through mountains and vineyards

- Taken a helicopter ride

- Eaten abalone

- Taken about a dozen + books out of the library

- Learned to make jam

- Been more stressed out than I ever have been in my life on several occasions

- Re-ignited a relationship with yoga

- Eaten a lot of really good food

- Cried

- Laughed

- Taken several deep breaths

- Learned my way around Napa

- Leaned on people more than I ever have before

- Gotten to the point where I can't not have coffee in the morning

- Fulfilled the dream of living in a place with wonderful window seats

Whew. Can't wait to see what the second year brings!

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-15T16:18:00.000-05:00

1. Organizing my recipe binder for the first time in years

2. Crockpot themed dinner parties

3. A really clean bathroom for the first time in... um... yeah...

4. A hot shower after a long hike - the kind where somehow your feet get dirty and you really feel like you are cleaning off

5. A mid-afternoon lunch/dinner

Grace in Small Things

2009-06-14T21:54:00.000-05:00

1. Sunday afternoon sailing on the Bay.

2. First kisses.

3. More free Meyer lemons!

4. Making brownies for the sailing trip, but deciding to keep them all to myself instead.

5. Discovering a honeysuckle bush that just started blooming on the path leading up to my apartment.

Reclaiming my apartment

2009-06-14T18:41:00.000-05:00

Breaking up with someone is weird. For me, the shock subsided quickly as a great group of friends swept in and kept me entertained and alcohol-lubricated for the first week or so. Yes, in the two weeks since my romance ended, there have been a few moments of odd re-adjustment - like figuring out this weekend that you actually have to make plans on Saturday, and just plugging my phone in at night rather than keeping it on my nightstand to be able to receive the good night phone call - but for the most part, venturing back into the single world has been ok.

I'm actually excited about dating again. Flirting and meeting people is fun. It's nice to wake up in my own apartment every morning, and stumble into the kitchen for my own coffee routine, rather than scrambling into yesterdays clothes and making the drive home before your day even starts. And it's exciting knowing that I can now really dig into finding the right person, rather than convincing myself that the person I was with was.

But the best thing, by far, has been reclaiming my apartment. Really getting to spend a lot of time in my charming little attic studio with the gorgeous views. Buying flowers every week, because I'll be here to enjoy them. Throwing out the extra toothbrush, the gourmet S'mores set (I hate marshmellows), and ugly candle holders that were all here because of the wrong person. As much as I did enjoy stocking a few of his favorites in my refrigerator, now it's just as satisfying to have it be all mine again. I can use my white noise machine every night when I go to sleep now, because there's no one here that hates it.

Because I really do love my apartment, and now I get to soak it up every day.

Mood meals

2009-06-01T18:54:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder how I'm feeling about my life? No need to be silly and ask me flat out. Just feel out what I've been eating lately. When everything is in order and I'm feeling good and balanced, my meals will reflect that. Whole wheat toast for breakfast, salad for lunch, relatively balanced dinner, one cup of coffee, maybe two of wine. My diet will show that I know what I need to do to be healthy but that I'm not afraid to splurge on things I love.

So, given the stress I've been in lately (entirely career related), I suppose it's no surprise that this is what I've eaten in the last twenty-four hours:

- A large bowl of pasta garnished only with lots of olive oil, pepper, Parmesan, and two fried eggs
- A bowl of cereal
- A bag of chips
- 2 cups of coffee
- A chocolate bar broken up in pieces and dipped into peanut butter straight out of the jar. (This one I've actually done twice at this point. Ouch.)

No wonder I can't shake the feeling that I'm about to throw up.

Necessities & other stuff

2009-05-31T12:14:00.000-05:00

When a long overdue scuba diving trip to Mexico with a buddy takes my BF out of town for a week, a few days from when I'm due to pick him up from the airport I start fantasizing. But not about the normal things. I don't picture myself running into his arms, I don't envision the fire-storm of "I love you's" that are sure to come my way, I'm not thinking about what will happen once we get home... My thoughts go a little something like this -

"I can't wait for him to try the strawberry jam that I made this week!"

"He's going to want a big glass of milk when he gets home and there won't be any in the 'fridge."

"Are we going to need eggs for Sunday breakfast?"

That's right. I'm daydreaming all week long of the food that I will greet him with. So as the time to pick him up comes near, my list gets longer and longer. The list of things that will be in the grocery bag, that is.

-milk
-bread
-eggs
-homemade strawberry jam
-bananas
-a frozen pizza
-one really good chocolate bar
-a jar of pesto that I made from his basil plant that I was left in charge of for the week
-a batch of his favorite lemon-poppyseed muffins that I whipped up right before I left for the airport

The idea was that it would be a mixed bag of necessities so that he wouldn't feel like he had to rush to the grocery store immediately, and treats to make him happy to be home.

Of course, my list ended up begetting the other things that would have been forefront on most other people's minds. The kisses, the I love you's, the stuff later... Oh, and some surprises of my own in the form of a beautiful turquoise necklace and some rich Mexican chocolate.

I think it's safe to say we're getting to know each other's desires pretty well.

Loved

2009-05-24T19:40:00.000-05:00

This morning I took my boyfriend and his friend to the airport at 4:30am. I sat groggily at the wheel, trying not to wake up too much so that it would be easy to slip back into sleep once I was back home, and he alternately rubbed my knee and folded the stray lock of hair behind my right ear. I felt loved.

Two days ago, I complained bitterly about my latest work injustice over Pad See Ew, and he listened. Then he got genuinely incensed about what was happening. It was nice to have someone care so much in an involved way. I felt loved.

Earlier this week we fought over where to go on our upcoming weekend away, and I got mad because I was afraid that his current trip was overriding the plans that we had already made. We sat tensely across the dinner table for a few minutes, and he ignored his burger while I picked at mine. I glanced up for a second to a weird look on his face. "What?" I asked gingerly, not sure if his look was mad or tender. "I just don't know how you can eat that burger with mustard and mayo on it. It's gross." Then he slathered about half a cup of ketchup on his own. We laughed at our standard burger debate and moved on. I felt loved.

This is the man in my life. He is not perfect. He is kind, and funny, and cuddly. He has his issues. I have mine. But we never have trouble finding things to talk about, and after eight months together my tummy still flutters with excitement when I see a new email from him in my inbox. We love each other. And that feels really amazing.

Decisions, decisions...

2009-05-21T13:36:00.000-05:00

Does anyone have any strong feelings about the phrase "Leap and the net will appear"?

I'm making some tough life choices over here. Trying to figure out how to have more freedom, more opportunities to be inspired, and less bored and frustrated.

Basically, I just need to be able to do this more -

And I know that there are ways to make that happen.

Grace in Small Things - Day Fourteen

2009-05-08T09:10:00.000-05:00

1. A new source who brings me bags of free Meyer Lemons

2. Birthday celebrations that include pitchers of margaritas and tacos

3. Taking the ferry

4. Ballpark food

5. The excitement of new possibilities

I'll take the peanuts, but skip the Crackerjacks

2009-04-28T17:07:00.000-05:00

No surprise that the ballpark food in San Francisco is so freakin' good. Mmmm...

Different Strokes

2009-04-28T15:45:00.000-05:00

Today I helped an attractive, early 40's couple from New York. They were both nice to me, but had that distinct air about them. She had a slight edge of superiority and that was almost waiting for you to slip up, and he was uber-fast and aggressive - definitely New Yorkers.

As they were looking around the store, they asked about the easiest way to catch a cab locally. Not satisfied with my answer that a cab hangout was about a block away, the man asked if I had a number he could call. Luckily, I did. (Like I said, they were nice to me, but I'm glad I was able to answer all of their questions and needs quickly and correctly. I wasn't looking to catch flack.) He went outside to call the car as I rang up her purchases. While chatting, I mentioned that I used to live in their city.

Right around this time, the man started yelling into his phone at the cab company. I'm not sure what it was about, or how you could possibly get into a shouting match with a car company that you have never used within the space of two minutes, but there were definitely a plethora of expletives being thrown around.

Back inside...

"So why did you leave New York?" she asked me.

It took a great deal of restraint to not point outside and utter these two words - "That's why." Instead I mumbled my stock response about wanting to work directly for a winery, blah blah blah.

But really, that's why. As much as I sometimes love the unabashed aggression and honesty of New Yorkers, for me the more laid back West Coast pace is a much better fit. I mean, who wants to have an aneurysm at the age of fifty anyway?

Grace in Small Things - Day 13

2009-04-27T10:25:00.000-05:00

1. Watching the cat cop a 'tude every time her favorite closet door is closed.

2. Pomegranate Greek yogurt

3. Tickets for two Giants games in one week!!

4. Down comforters

5. Monthly spa pedicure day!

Brills

2009-04-25T20:39:00.000-05:00

Love ya, Bea.

The way to a woman's heart

2009-04-24T17:26:00.000-05:00

The first time my boyfriend cooked for me was the morning after the first night we kissed (ahem). I woke up to the sound of his gentle snoring, tangled in his arms for the first time, and he peppered me with kisses before heading into the kitchen to make French toast from the two day old loaf on his counter. I sipped a homemade latte and we talked about our families while he proceeded to make one of the best breakfasts I'd had in years.

A week later we took our first trip to the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. He grabbed my hand and weaved me around from stall to stall making me try different pastries, knowing which herb guy was the best, and picking out vegetables for that night's dinner. I bought a bouquet of lavender and some jam, and the whole time could not get over how romantic it all felt. Later we rode the cable cars home I stepped outside of myself for a minute to relish this slice of life - newly in love, holding hands and fiddling over food while holding a vibrant, purple bunch of flowers in my arms. To me it was, and still is, one of the most breathtakingly beautiful moments of my life.

The second time my boyfriend cooked for me was that night. I returned to his apartment to find him wearing an apron, elbow-deep in juicy red tomatoes which were being crushed into a sauce with nothing more than olive oil and basil. As they simmered on the stove, I perused his wine collection - which was better than mine. We picked a bottle, sipped and chatted more. This time it was about past relationships - soon for that kind of talk, but it felt comfortable. Everything did.

The tomato sauce was ladled onto fresh pasta, also from the farmer's market, and garnished with nutty Parmesan cheese. We continued to talk, but the sauce was so good I could barely concentrate on anything else. The tomatoes were a bright crimson red, and richly sweet - easily the best tomato sauce I'd ever had. It was so good, at times I was actually holding on to the sides of the table to prevent myself from passing out. I had several helpings, and sopped up the leftovers with crusty bread.

And then he baked a strawberry souffle and hand-whipped cream...

Grace in Small Things - Day 12

2009-04-18T12:38:00.000-05:00

1. Watching my boyfriend patiently pet my cat for an hour.

2. Happy Hour by the water.

3. Old Navy rubber flip flops

4. The word "apothecary"

5. Mastering new recipes

Grace in Small Things - Day 11

2009-04-17T11:31:00.000-05:00

1. Nine hours of sleep in one night

2. Self-awareness

3. Finding new blogs to bookmark

4. Housewarming parties

5. Mushrooms sauteed in white wine and aged balsamic vinegar

*Picture from a restaurant on my first day in Italy about a year ago. Gasp.

Tasting Room Do's and Don'ts

2009-04-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

Don't grab the bottles and pour for yourself.

Were you raised in a barn? Would you do that at a bar? Are you aware that it's illegal?

What's weird is that I've actually had all walks of people do this. It's not just rowdy young people - once I had a matronly old Southern lady just help herself.

It even gets on my nerves if people pick up the open bottles to just inspect them more closely. I know that some people are just curious, and that this is probably one of those unreasonable pet peeves that people in customer service develop. But it annoys me. If you want to see a bottle, ask politely and I will happily hand you an unopened one to fondle to your heart's content.

Do wait patiently for your turn. Sorry if it's a busy time. Deal with it like a civilized person.

Wine-Geeking It Up

2009-04-15T10:53:00.000-05:00

I'm no fool. When my next door neighbor emails me an excel spreadsheet detailing his 400+ bottle wine collection with the note "If anything catches your eye bring over a loaf of bread sometime and we can crack open a bottle," I'm there in less than 48 hours with two bottles in mind.

I rarely reach for chardonnay, but his older vintages of some of Napa's most famous producers intrigued me. 1994 Grgich, 1999 Chalk Hill... there were a few on there, and suddenly I was curious - how were these babies holding up? After spotting a 2005 Puligny-Montrachet, I suggested cracking one of those open next to the 1994 Grgich to see how it was holding up. (I had a brief stint brokering some of the wines that the then Grgich winemaker produces now, so I was curious to see how his chards age.)

I knocked on the door at 6:15 with a creamy French goats milk cheese and soft Italian loaf in hand. I thought the cheese would work nicely with the white Burgundy in particular, which had been described to me as "France in a glass".

As I was welcomed into the kitchen I started to peruse the wines that were sitting out on the counter.

"Oh, here's that chenin blanc!" I exclaimed.

One of the wines in his collection was one bottle of 1985 Chappallet Chenin Blanc, which upon seeing it on the list sparked a slew of mental questions. A chenin blanc that old? Where did he get it? Was it just a random leftover that has been sitting around for years, or had someone told him that it was going to age well? Are any of them - outside of Vouvray - supposed to age at all? Did Californians even make chenin blanc twenty-five years ago? But I had refrained from mentioning it for this casual night because there was only one and I didn't want to overstep my bounds.

"Yeah that's probably the most random bottle in my collection. I got it a few years ago at an auction for a restaurant that was closing. Not like I paid a lot for it or anything. I figured, what the hell? Let's crack it and see what it's like."

As he eased the cork out of the bottle, the top half denigrated and it became apparent that some major cork surgery was going to be required. A few minutes later what was left of the cork eased out and we poured the amber-colored wine into our glasses, excited for a potential miracle.

Sniff, sniff - didn't take long for my hopes to be dashed and reality set in. Let this be a lesson - California chenin blanc does not age. (Shocking.)

And so it was on to the next. First we opened up the 2005 Puligny Montrachet from Domaine Bernard Millot, which soared out of the bottle and into our glasses. Lightly straw colored, with green apple aromas and a crisp but solid mouth-feel, this wine embodied white Burgundy. It was absolutely lovely.

Then came the 1994 Grgich, which I had high hopes for. Sure, California chardonnays aren't exactly known for aging potential, but this is a pretty substantial producer and it's not that old.

Predictably, it came out of the bottle looking like honey. It was thick and dark yellow. One quick dip of the nose, though, revealed - nothing.

"It's dead."

"No, maybe..." Bart started.

"Nope. Dead."

"Damn."

"It happens. But you know, I'm actually tempted to think that this is just a random bad bottle. I'm really surprised that it's this dead. Maybe it's oxidized, or has some other random flaw. I'll bet a different bottle of the same might not be this bad." (Identifying oxidation and other flaws, like bret, is not really my strength. I can call corked from ten paces but the others sometimes allude me, so I wasn't entirely sure with this one.)

Luckily, Bart had a backup chilling in the wings. He pulled out a Napa producer that I wasn't familiar with - Chateau Potelle - and explained the story behind the Frenchman who had been lured to Napa with a big house on a hill in exchange for winemaking services as he opened up their 1999 chardonnay. The wine was in a heavy, simple bottle and came out with the same honey color as the Grgich, but had a rich, developed nose.

"There we go," I sighed as I breathed in the toastiness. It was full bodied, still pretty oaky, and with a decent amount of fruit. Decidedly not dead.

But still, it was different than I had expected. My hopes with tasting the older vintages of Napa chardonnay was that some of the inevitable oak would have mellowed a bit and that they would have become more crisp and Burgundian in style, but I didn't really find this to be the case with this one. I suppose that was naive of me, but a girl can hope.

All in all, even if two of the four wines were disappointing, we had a fun time. And hey, isn't that what this is all about?

Next time, we're going for pinots...

The universe is conspiring to take away my money

2009-04-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

I mean, seriously? $80 for a new charger for my Mac Powerbook? That is crazy. Especially since the old one just up and died for no reason.

Damn you Mac with your sleek, fabulous, addictive products. Damn you.

Grace in Small Things - Day 10

2009-04-14T10:52:00.000-05:00

1. The Container Store

2. Weaning myself off of the Facebook addiction

3. Having enough quarters to do at least one load of laundry, therefore being able to wear anything I want to work this week

4. Clipping coupons

5. Homemade breakfast sandwiches

Grace in Small Things - Day 9

2009-04-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

1. Books on hold at the library.

2. Fresh flowers in the kitchen.

3. Having a boyfriend who gets scallops from work at cost.

4. Having a boyfriend who cooks scallops nestled in white beans, cherry tomatoes, artichokes and scallions for Sunday dinner.

5. A schedule that gives me my Mondays off.

Grace in Small Things - Day Eight

2009-04-10T10:09:00.000-05:00

1. My new guilty pleasure - Gwyneth's GOOP newsletter.

2. Mycanos Greek restaurant's combination platter #1

3. Ibuprofen for everything

4. The Millionaire Matchmaker

5. Realizing that it was just a bad dream.

New favorite word

2009-04-10T10:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Daily Candy SF:

froodies (n): friends who share your obsession with food.

Tasting Room Do's and Don'ts

2009-04-09T10:18:00.000-05:00

Don't ask me "What's good?"

That is a stupid question. They're all good, for different reasons. Plus, your palate is not mine, so I would never presume to tell you what you will like and what you won't. That is totally up to you. (Besides, by telling you that you will like something, I am completely setting myself for some jackass to throw it back in my face that they didn't like what I "promised" they would.)

The better question is, "What do you recommend?" Then I'll probably ask you one or two broad questions about your preferences - I'll keep it simple - and recommend accordingly. I am more than happy to recommend certain wines.

Grace in Small Things - Day Seven

2009-04-09T10:08:00.000-05:00

1. A new Nars lipgloss

2. Remembering to actually put it on

3. Granny panties

4. An upcoming brand-new Kathy Griffin comedy special

5. The beautiful cadences of the Indian accent.

My co-workers: an explanation

2009-04-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

In the tasting room, it's pretty much just me on the days that I work. The owner pops in from time to time, and on the days that I'm off we have one or two more people on staff at any given time who fill in, but for the most part we work our shifts alone, at least in these recent slow months. (This will change as busy season picks up, but more on that later.)

However, in this small town's little retail area, you become pretty friendly with those who work around you, and I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by some really dear people. We talk every day, we lament when it's slow, high-five when it's been busy, ask about each other's weekends - just like normal co-workers. So that is what I have come to view these people as.

They're fantastic, unique, and inspiring. And will be lovingly profiled here.

My co-workers: Greg the Parking Lot Guy

2009-04-08T10:53:00.000-05:00

There is a parking lot two doors down from the tasting room that my boss happens to own – in addition to the four retail spaces adjacent to ours on the block. She contracts out the work to a very successful company in the Bay Area, and our main parking attendant is a dude named Greg.

Greg is twenty-seven years old, and has parked cars at 609 Bridgeway for over four years. To say that it is a surprisingly lucrative profession is an understatement – last year he bought his first house.

Greg is kinda tall with short brown hair and a sun-ruddy face, talks with his mouth pushed to the side of his face, and wears his uniform pants much lower than has been fashionable since, oh, I don’t know… 8th grade. (Seriously, I’ve seen him holding them up with his hands before while walking.) He definitely comes off as a bit of a stoner. He knows how to run the lot brilliantly, but sometimes people gripe about him for some rookie mistakes – leaving people’s windows down, changing the position of the drivers seat, that kind of thing. Actually, apparently it’s happened so frequently that his boss would have kicked him to the curb, so to speak, had my tasting room’s owner not fought to keep him around and defended his loyalty.

Because loyal he is. You could not ask for someone nicer than Greg to have around. Need help sifting through the dirty cardboard pile to put it out for recycling? Greg is there breaking down boxes with you. Toilet in the upstairs office clogged with wishy toilet paper? Greg is fetching the plunger, exclaiming out loud how thankful he is that no one had “taken a big dump” in there. Light bulb fifteen feet in the air needs to be changed? Where’s the ladder? Under Greg’s feet – light bulb is changed in no time. I have never asked him for a favor and not had him help with complete willingness and expecting nothing in return.

Most of the time when it’s slow he sits in his little booth watching the TV that hangs from the ceiling, although he has lamented to me that after a while it feels like his brain is rotting. When it’s sunny he parks a chair outside and reads Stephen King novels. Carlos Santana (one of the most famous locals) is one of his biggest tippers, and has even bought him lunch before for taking such good care of his Maserati.

Greg and I don’t have a lot in common, but we get along great. Nothing too deep, but there’s always a little morning chat about the weather, wishing a busy day for each other, etc. And with my female-run operation, I can’t tell you how great it is to have someone around who is willing to lift heavy things, hammer the occasional nail, and be a male presence in general if I need it. (I serve alcohol, after all, and things do have the potential to get rowdy.)

In short, Greg is a bit of a character, and great to have around.

Grace in Small Things - Day Six

2009-04-08T07:13:00.000-05:00

1. Having eaten at 18 of the Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants.

2. NPR while getting ready in the mornings.

3. Good ole' Hamburger Helper.

4. My big, overstuffed red chair and matching ottoman.

5. Rain on my skylights.

New project

2009-04-07T10:50:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I've really written, and I've missed it. For some reason I've been having trouble jump-starting.

Back in December I accepted a full time job managing the tasting room in Sausalito where I had been just clocking a few hours a week. At the time I accepted the job partially out of desperation, and partially out of actual fondness for the work I was doing there, but I've come to realize in the last few months that even if this is not where I see myself five years down the line that this is a pretty unique situation I've got going here. Not many people get to spend time managing a store in this lovely little town, right on the bay, overlooking San Francisco. Heck, most people just get to spend a few hours here in their lifetime, and right now I'm lucky enough to really get to experience this.

I want to start writing about it, so that I don't forget the special experiences that happen almost daily. Snippets with amazing people that I've met, quirky Sausalito locals that have essentially become my co-workers, things I find out about this unique little town that I absolutely love... Some I'll post here, some will be tucked away into a Word file deep in my MacBook.

So anyway, that's what I'm working on. I'll definitely appreciate feedback, so if anyone's out there, please feel free to pipe up. And wish me luck...

Grace in Small things - Day Five

2009-04-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

1. My cat enjoying the window seat as much as I do.

2. Fleur de Sel, sprinkled on Recchiuti chocolate sauce, poured on vanilla ice cream.

3. The view of Alcatraz from my kitchen window as I make coffee in the morning.

4. Getting a grip on what I want from people.

5. Making a HUGE payment on my credit card.

Grace in Small Things - Day Four

2009-04-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

1. The smell that envelops my apartment while homemade chicken stock simmers on the stove.

2. Rescuing my cat from being accidentally locked in a closet for 3 hours. (Oops.)

3. Finally discovering this blog, and fantasizing about one day being that simple, creative, and beautiful.

4. Walking to work.

5. Sundried tomato turkey from the deli.

Grace in Small Things - the birthday edition

2009-02-10T19:59:00.000-05:00

1. Rocking 30

2. The fresh bread at Chez Panisse

3. 90 minute massage at Casa Madrona

4. Thoughtful presents

5. Great friends

Grace in Small Things - Day 3... Alternately titled "Have I really only done this three times so far?"

2009-01-24T13:44:00.000-05:00

1. Tapas food

2. Upcoming visitors

3. VH-1's new show "Tool Academy". Seriously, have you guys watched this one yet? It's priceless.

4. My daily supply of sweet tarts, salt water taffy, and miniature Mr. Goodbars from the old ladies who own the candy store next door. (Sadly, my mid-section is not as grateful for this one.)

5. Riding the ferry as often as possible

Loving my horoscope today

2009-01-22T12:08:00.000-05:00

For years now, MSN has been kind enough to email me a personalized horoscope every morning so that I can read it when I wake up. No, I don't take it very seriously, but it's fun, and some days I really love them. Like today -

Have love matters been causing you excessive strain for a while now, Erin? If so, you can expect that to end now. Someone you love very deeply reciprocates your feelings, and if there are differences between you, is very anxious to resolve them and look towards the future. This relationship will probably succeed - IF you go in with eyes wide open. Don't have unrealistic expectations of your partner. Learn to love human flaws as much as perfections.

Sometimes it really does seem to mirror my life, and they're nice little reminders in the morning of how to approach things.

Grace in Small Things - Day Two

2009-01-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

1. My Napa overnight tonight, and the fact that I have such easy access to a place that makes me feel centered and happy.

2. This article about indie bookstores that thrive.

3. Wandering around in said bookstores.

4. Morning powerwalks with my new neighbor.

5. Freshly grinding really good coffee in the morning, even if I never end up drinking all that I make.

See? It's already working. Snippets.

2009-01-12T19:51:00.000-05:00

Me: Have you ever noticed that we each religiously hang our toilet paper in the opposite directions?

Him: Yes, actually I have. My way is right.

Me: Nuh-uh!! Hello? Every hotel and every etiquette book - dropping from the top is clearly right.

Him: Nope. I have a very good reason for why you're supposed to have it dropping from the bottom.

Me: Let's hear it.

Him: (dead serious) I remember seeing an episode of, um... Oh, something Family... The crazy old lady when I was a little kid... Uh...

Me: Mama's Family???

Him: Yeah! I remember an seeing an episode of that show where they made reference to that being the right way to have your toilet paper. Dropping from the bottom.

Me: That is the basis for, not only your compulsion to put your toilet paper that way, but also for this argument? A stupid, redneck show from the '70s that you couldn't even remember the name of?

Him: (grinning) Yep! See? My way is right.

Me: (snuggling into his arm crook) Wow. This is the easiest argument I've ever won.

Grace in Small Things - Day One

2009-01-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

Clearly I've been completely unmotivated to write lately. First, things were to stressful to deal with it, and now things are too blissful to bother with it. But I'd like to get back into the swing. Really.

So I decided to steal an idea from Helen Jane, who stole the idea from this girl, and while I'm not even going to attempt to do it 365 days in a row, I'm hoping to do it fairly regularly, and that this fairly regular exercise will spark a voice somehow. So here goes!

1. My window seats

2. New culinary challenges (tomorrow, chicken stock)

3. The daisies on my kitchen table

4. Letting my cat outside for her daily adventures in the backyard

5. A $10 Cote du Rhone

I'm currently all about -

2009-01-05T17:32:00.000-05:00

- The Sausalito Public Library

- Blue Bottle Coffee
- Walking to work

- Reading in my window seats

- My new flat brown boots

- Hiding from the rain

- Tropisueno

- Planning my mom's next visit

- Chatting with people on Facebook

- Using my Crockpot

Letter to a friend...

2008-12-21T16:08:00.000-05:00

Ciao, Lisa!!

Wow. I know it has been a long time since we have emailed, and so much has happened! Diane told me that you are busy caring for Frits' father. I'm so sorry to hear about his illness. I know that you are probably missing your annual travel, and hope that you are all doing ok.

Things here are going very well. I'm not going to lie - I had a very stressful October and November. In October Diane and I realized that with everything that was going on with Grail and the challenges of the portfolio that it was better for me to look for another job. I was disappointed that things with Grail weren't going to work out, but other than that in pretty good spirits about it and launched into a full time job search. However, with the holiday season getting underway and the state of the economy, I wasn't having very much luck.

And then at the same time I had to deal with cleaning up the mess that my roommate left when she hightailed it back across the country! I spent a while searching for another roommate, and just didn't meet anyone that was going to work out. I finally decided to break the lease early and just find a place on my own. As luck would have it, I found an AMAZING little studio in Sausalito!! It's absolutely charming, with fantastic neighbors, plenty of room, and views of the Bay from literally every window. It is a dream. Getting out of the other lease was quite a hurdle, though, and right around that time she went MIA - literally refusing to respond to emails and skipping out on financial things that we had agreed to. So I ended up having to deal with the whole mess (including financial responsibilities) all by myself. Basically, she completely surprised me with her irresponsibility and horrible ethics. It was no fun, but I just got to the point where I released it, moved on, and the good news is that now it's over and I am settled into my new place and absolutely loving it! It is a dream.

In the meantime, I had taken a part time job at a store in Sausalito that is part boutique, part winery tasting room. It's a really unique little spot, I surprised myself with how much I loved the work, and the owner and I really hit it off. Then a few weeks ago she asked me to come on full time and manage the store! I thought about it for a few weeks. I was completely enjoying and loving it, and had a lot of ideas of things I could do if I went full time, but wasn't sure if that was really where I wanted my career to go. But I finally realized that it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, and accepted the job!

So that's where my life is now! I live in a great apartment in Sausalito, WALK to my delightful job (with a completely cush schedule - 10-6 Tuesday-Saturday - how great is that for retail?!), and am still dating the wonderful man and making new friends all the time. I am so excited to be here, and absolutely loving it.

I'm still in very close contact with Diane. I know that she is going through a rough time, but she seems to be keeping her spirits up. I think that soon a final solution with what to do with the company will be reached, and that she will find peace and be able to move on. She and Jim are having a New Year's Eve dinner party. The man and I are going. I can't wait. I think that it is so wonderfully appropos, after this year with all of the travel, the move, working with Grail, settling here in California, to ring in the New Year overlooking Napa Valley with my new California family. On Tuesday I'm heading home to VA for Christmas for a few days, which I'm looking forward to as well.

Wow, this is a LONG email! Please do write back when you can and catch me up on everything. 2008 has been such a life-changing and wonderful year, and I know that for ALL of us 2009 will be just as great.

xoxo
Erin

The world is conspiring to get me to drink Beaujolais

2008-11-12T17:21:00.000-05:00

Ever since I read Dottie and John's column last week about Beaujolais, I've been craving it. It's an oft-ignored region in the Southern part of Burgundy, and concentrates solely on the gamay grape, which produces very soul-full, easy to enjoy, character driven red wines. The basis of their column was the recommendation that instead of buying one bottle for someone as a holiday gift, to give them a mixed case of Beaujolais instead. Incidentally, I think the idea is brilliant, and if someone were to present me with a present like that, the word thanks would not even begin to describe the superfluous gratitude that would gush from my lips.

Anyway, ever since reading the column, and being on this new re-discovering my palate kick, I've been dying to get my lips around some Beaujolais. Luckily, I have a wine-industry girlfriend, Lily, here in San Francisco that is also, let's say, under-employed at the moment and up for bopping around the city and checking out wine places together. So yesterday afternoon we hit Arlequin Wine Merchant in Hayes Valley to dish over coffee and peruse the shelves.

After chatting a bit with the knowledgeable and crush-worthy manager, I asked how they were stocked on Beaujolais. (By the way, I hope none of you are confusing what I'm talking about with Beaujolais Noveau, which drops any day now. Shame on you if you thought I'd go on a hunt for that stuff.) With a smile he led me to a three case stack at the front of the store that was so new into inventory it hadn't even been priced yet. I beamed at the simple, pretty bottle in my hand and left the store a happy girl.

Lily and I parted ways for a few hours, me to continue scouting wine stores, her to perfect a letter that would further her cause of being hired on by Huia to work the upcoming harvest in New Zealand. A few hours later we met back up to check out Terroir, a wine bar in SOMA famous for being ruthless in their pursuit of wines that, well, express the terroir of the region that they are from.

I got there first and sidled up to the wooden bar, drinking in the atmosphere. It was an incredibly cool space that reminded me of a modern saloon. There is pale wood everywhere, and the decor is masculine and rustic. Instead of a hidden iPod serenading the crowd, one corner is devoted to a collection of vinyl that the owners took turns changing and playing with.

As soon as I sat down the Frenchman behind the bar asked me "Red or white?"

"Red," had barely escaped my lips when he said, "How do you feel about something on the light side? This one is made from gamay..."

Damn if he wasn't pouring me a sip of Beaujolais.

The wine was the 2007 La Pierre from Morgon, a Kermit Lynch selection. It was ruby red and fruity, with a beautiful earth on the mid palate and an easy, pleasant finish. I sipped happily and quickly fell in love with the wine bar.

Tonight I'll be trying the bottle I bought in the store with the seared scallops and fresh veggies awaiting me at the boyfriend's place for dinner. Something tells me that this Beaujolais kick is going to be a good thing all around.

Yet another reason to hate Emril

2008-11-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

In addition to the fact that his recipes are ridiculous, usually call for about 500 ingredients, and shamelessly promote his own seasonings...

And the fact that he is boring and brute-ish to watch...

I just heard him compare the Saddleback Ridge Petite Sirah to a pinot noir, saying that it had the same kind of herbaceous notes, or something equally stupid.

Now, in all fairness, I know nothing about the Saddleback Ridge wines, but I'm taking an educated guess that their petite sirah tastes nothing like a pinot noir. Unless, of course, they are doing something horribly wrong.

Bam, Emril. Take that.

Back to Basics

2008-11-10T12:10:00.000-05:00

So as you can see, there's been a lot going on with me lately, career-wise. It's funny because only when deflating from the stress do I really realize how bad it was. Now that I'm officially done with my import job, I'm free to take a few breaths and look around. When I do that, I realize that I'd been feeling out of touch lately. Working for one company can come with some great perks, but you tend to get stuck in a rut of experiencing only their products.

Since acting on the decision to move forward, I've had an insatiable desire to just get back to basics, wine wise. Right now my absolute Utopia would be to work for a wine store again, wandering through the aisles, touching the labels, daydreaming about the stories behind them, and tasting regularly with the vendors who come in. I feel like my overall wine knowledge is slipping, and more than anything I just want to go back to where I started on this journey and quietly immerse myself in the scene out here. I want to taste, and read, and interact with people - customers and insiders alike.

I'm not sure where the job search will eventually lead, but right now I'm planning on doing just that. Kind of like a dancer who goes back to the barre, simply tasting and reading are the best ways I can think to rediscover my center.

A Rainy Day in Napa

2008-11-09T20:45:00.000-05:00

I suppose it's apropos that on the day I drove to Napa to tell my boss, and mentor, that I had to start looking for a new job that it rained for the first time in the five months that I'd been living in California.

There were a lot of reasons that I had to throw in the towel with my beloved little company. Some were economy related, though certainly not all. The challenges that were presented with developing the lasting relationships needed to make a decent living with such a small, tailored portfolio were just not in my skill set. In short, it would take someone who can sell ice to Eskimo's, a true used car salesman, someone who is uber-aggressive, and has rhinoceros-thick skin to really make it work in this market.

I am not those things. I am a relationship builder. I am a customer service maestro. I am a person that people like, and who can make others feel good about the company that I work for - but I am not a hard salesperson. They knew that when I was brought on, and the position was originally tailored for me to be doing about 50/50 sales and distributor relationships. But unfortunately, in this horrible economy, those relationships that I was supposed to be nurturing are not even in existence, and I am left with just the cold calling, and a lot of frustration.

The frustration is not just felt by me. The entire four-person company is feeling the blow, and it looks like it will not be around much longer. Dreams are currently collapsing, finances are crumbling, and all four of us are going to be picking up our pieces and moving on. It is a hearbreaking, difficult, and just all around shitty situation for everyone involved.

So I am currently pounding the pavement and looking for a new job. But fear not for me - I am somehow actually excited by it. When I accepted the position with the importer I was fully aware that I was taking a huge risk, but did it happily because I was desperately needing a change. I knew that there was a chance that it would not work out, but was very happy to be positioning myself in the most dynamic place in the country to work in the wine industry. I am looking forward to exploring the endless career opportunities in this area. (Granted, my bank account is hoping that it will be a short search...)

So that's where I am right now. Job searching, a little bit stressed and nervous, but overall excited to find out about the next adventure that the universe has in store for me.

Now I want a burrito bol

2008-10-31T11:36:00.000-05:00

When I lived on the East Coast I went to Chipotle at least a few times a month. I could not get enough of burrito bols and crispy carnitas tacos. Here in the Bay Area, where chain restaurants are as hated as Republicans, there are significantly fewer around. So sadly, it has been months since I have consumed Chipotle's goods.

However, since seeing this article on Serious Eats today, my cravings for the cheesy, meaty, sour creamy goodness have renewed and reached new heights. And as a bonus - now it appears that I don't even have to feel guilty for embracing the chain that was once owned by McDonalds! Their commitment to local ingredients and sustainable farming make it a justifiable choice for even the snobbiest of foodies.

Mark my words - these words will be passing through my lips within the next week:

"Hi, there! Burrito bol for here. Black beans, carnitas, mild salsa, cheese and sour cream... Can I have some extra cheese, please? Thanks. Yes, guac. $1.50 is fine. And some chips and a soda. Thanks!"

My first rainy night in California

2008-10-30T19:53:00.000-05:00

This may seem kinda weird, but it hasn't rained once in the four and a half months that I've been in California. The weather has been absolutely glorious, but those who have been here longer warn me that it won't last forever. This weekend, apparently, will be the breaking point.

All day it's been gloomy, chilly, and a bit depressing. Wind whips through the small canyon that my apartment overlooks, and I've been contemplating the heater. Luckily, the menu planned for the evening couldn't be more perfect.

The World's Best Boyfriend recently signed up for a fruit and vegetable delivery service here in the Bay Area called Planet Organics. As often as you deem (he does it bi-weekly), they deliver a stash of seasonal fruits and veggies, as well as fresh milk, cheese, and eggs to your doorstep while you are at work. In addition to being convenient, it's a great way to force yourself to try new foods that you might not pick up at the market of your own volition. Two weeks ago, for instance, we learned all about rainbow chard. This week - persimmons.

So this morning I decided to confiscate the lovely little butternut squash that arrived earlier this week and use it to make Ina's Butternut Squash Risotto for dinner tonight. I made it a few weeks ago to great boyfriend acclaim, so a repeat performance was definitely in the cards. The sweetness of the squash against the saltiness of the pancetta and cheese is decadent and satisfying, and the creamy, filling starchiness of the risotto is absolutely the perfect antidote for the day.

Coincidentally (or was it?), today I was sampling out the perfect wine for the meal. One of the gems of my company's portfolio is the Poderi la Cappella Chianti Classico 2003. A tiny production made by a father-daughter duo, this winery uses the transcendent Luca d'Attoma as their consultant. His wines are always amazing (even in publicly challenging vintages), and this Chianti is no different. 90% sangiovese, 10% merlot, it absolutely oozes elegance. The balance between fruit and acidity is spot on, and it is the perfect weight to pair with the risotto.

What's for dessert on this glorious, autumnal evening, you ask? Thinly sliced persimmon chips sprinkled and cinnamon and baked until crisp.

And each other, of course.

Schwag and the French Kiss?

2008-10-23T10:57:00.000-05:00

When I got an email last week from the World's Best Boyfriend with this in the subject line: FW: Celebrate with Jacques Pepin, I nearly fell out of my chair. Opening the email revealed an invitation from KQED, the local broadcasting station, advertising a reception and book signing celebrating Jacques Pepin's new book. My reply to the email was eloquent, for sure. It went a little something like, "OMG, OMG, I LOVE him!!! We HAVE to go!!"

So the WBB reserved us two places, arranged to take the afternoon off of work, and proceeded to make jokes for a week straight about whether or not I was going to try to make out with the legendary chef right in front of him. The week went on, me getting more and more excited, him wondering more and more if I was really going to end up sitting on Jacques' lap.

The day of the signing we arrived at the restaurant a little bit early and scoped the scene. Beautiful space, waiters passing wine (Robert Mondavi Solaire Cabernet and Chardonnay - eh...) and the sign in table was loaded with bright orange gift bags. It was like my dream come true. Wine, a famous chef, and schwag? Awesome.

We signed in, grabbed our gift bag ("One bag per couple is bullshit!" I hissed into WBB's ear. He agreed.), and we settled down at a big, round table and happily nibbled on the passed food and sipped the wine. Soon it was time to line up to get our books signed. We approached the table, camera in hand, and when it was my turn I went around the table to pose for a picture.

"I have to tell you," I began, "my boyfriend is afraid that I'm going to give you a big kiss!"

Jacques let out a soft chuckle and said in his rich, warm French accent, "Well, I'm not afraid of that!" just as WBB snapped the picture.

It was priceless. Then he signed my book.

To Karen - Happy Cooking! Jacques Pepin

Sigh. Oh well. I've never been crazy about the name Erin, anyway.

The Great Roommate Search: 1

2008-10-20T23:20:00.000-05:00

So a few weeks ago, my roommate up and left. So freaked out was she by her brief time in Northern California, that she literally threw what she could fit into her car and hightailed it back east, leaving me with an extra - fully furnished, mind you - bedroom that must suddenly be filled. And so begins my great roommate search of 2008. I have a feeling I'll encounter several interesting characters before it's all over. And tonight it's just begun.

Yesterday I answered an ad in the Craigslist "Housing Wanted" section that had been placed by a 64-year-old Yogi named Laurelyn who was looking for a month-to-month sublet in the Marin County area. There was something about the transitional stage that she has taken on at this point in her life that intrigued me, so I sent her a message with a brief description of my offerings. She answered back that the situation just might work, and we arranged an evening visit.

She got out of her two-door Rav-4 with a shock of orange-ish hair pulled back in a clip and carrying a sporty hiker-ish purse. She seemed friendly enough, not too hippy-ish, and had that slower rhythm to her speech that made you realize that she thought carefully about everything that she said, and everything that she heard. It was one of those paces that sometimes unnerve me, because I'm not exactly used to having someone look straight at me for that long.

She came inside and slowly looked around, drinking in the apartment as if she was really paying attention to her surroundings and feeling our the vibe of the whole place. I nervously told her a bit of my situation, and she shared a bit of hers as well. She owns a home north of here that is much too big for her, so she rents it out and lives partially off of that income. She had been renting a place of her own until recently moving to Boulder for a few months to help nurse a terminally ill friend. Now that she is back she is listening to herself and figuring out where her life will take her next.

She is not weird. She is not lonely. She is not married. Again, I was fascinated by someone her age being in this kind of transition, and embracing rather than running from it. She seemed to like me well enough, but I'm not sure if she thinks that she will be the best fit here. Me, I'm on the fence. It might be neat to live with and learn from someone like this for a couple of months, or she might get old fast. Case in point - when I mentioned that my boyfriend and I love to cook, she looked at me hard and asked if I was going to marry him, in that not-nosy way that only older people can pull off because they have lived long enough to get away with it. When I nervously stammered that I'd only been dating him for a little over a month and that it was too soon to tell she paused only for a second before looking me up and down and saying, "That doesn't matter. You know." My heart skipped and my stomach dropped and I quickly changed the subject, thinking to myself that this woman was either comfortingly or scarily wise.

I'm not sure if she will end up here or not, but one thing is for sure - I'm starting to get more and more excited about this whole interviewing roommates process. It is bound to be entertaining.

A few Napa offerings

2008-10-16T18:15:00.000-05:00

This weekend welcomed my mother for her first visit to California in over twenty years. We dined in San Fran, walked across the Golden Gate, toured Sausalito, and spent two days in beautiful Napa Valley. Since it was mom's first time in Napa, we of course had to stop at a few wineries. Here's a recap of those we hit up for my industry discount.

Clos du Val
Quickly becoming on of my favorites here in the valley, Clos du Val is located at the southern tip of the famed Stags Leap District, right on the Silverado Trail. Brain child of the legendary Bernard Portet, the winery was formed in 1972. Their somewhat whimsical marketing and fun attitude are fabulously contrary to the serious wines they specialize in. In addition to their Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignons and Meritage blends, they also work with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Carneros. They are no stranger to great press, and the winery itself is beautiful. The coolest thing is the grapes planted right in front of the entrance - more for show than actual use, they demonstrate several of the different trellising techniques used by the team, and provide a great educational tool for the tours. At this point I've been so many times with visitors that I'm starting to make friends with some of the staff, which provides me with a total wine-geek thrill.

Mumm Napa
A solid domestic sparkling wine producer - not something to be taken for granted - Mumm is located in the Rutherford district of the Silverado Trail. Tastings are done in a sit-down style, so you grab a table on their beautiful patio, order a flight, and enjoy the view. Lucky for us, the weather was absolutely beautiful. It's hard not to enjoy the wine in a setting like that. Surprise of the day - one of our favorites was their 2006 Pinot Gris. Who knew that Mumm did such nice still wines, too?

Sterling Vineyards
I had only been to Sterling once before, on my inaugural trip to Napa over seven years ago. I remembered the famous gondola ride, but had no recollection of what a huge production the whole tasting was. Think, Busch Gardens, except you're allowed to carry a real glass around the park. After you get off of the ride, you are ushered on a self-guided tour of the winery which includes scenic overlooks of the crushing facility, bottling lines and barrel room, and is peppered with different tasting stations throughout. One of the stops is a sweeping patio that overlooks most of the northern part of the valley with plenty of tables to sit at and photo ops to snap. The industry insider in me would love to scoff this winery off as too big of a production - probably corporate and heartless - but the thing is, there is no denying that it is beautiful. It's also completely impressive and educational, especially for beginners. The wines are so-so, but for these purposes it's ok. I think this is a great place for Napa newcomers to stop, if for no other reason, to enjoy the views of this truly spectacular thirty-seven miles of earth.

So there you have it, folks! My newly-insider opinions of some of Napa's most famous offerings. For what it's worth...