'96 Butteaux smelled like buttox

A couple of bottles from the 1er cru vinyard of Chablis smelled like rotten eggs when they were opened a couple nights ago. This is a fault when sulfer fixes to hydrogen and creates hydrogen sulphide. The sulphur was added to prevent oxidation (as with most wines) and can also create a burnt match smell in its free (vs. fixed) form.

What I'm eating: hopefully some stuffing later at work, not totally interested in the turkey, but I like the sides (like my mom's over-cooked yams w/brown sugar... which is basically candy I guess). What I'm drinking: '05 mencia by Luna Beberide from Bierzo (Spain). Listening to: my current ipod selection of about 700 songs, currently playing 'Where the Boys Go' by the Stones. Hmm, seems appropriate.

I wanted to get a cheap piece of furniture from target or salvation army and as I walked out onto the street, there it was waiting for me on the curb. That's one of the reasons why I love NY. Why does my neighbor have to burn the whole pack of insense at the same freaking time? Smelly.

Rehashed my netflix account (they didn't save my queue from last year), so I'm watching movies on the laptop. My first 3 picks all rocked: Mad Hot Ballroom, Born Into Brothels and Bad Education.

Happy Thanksgiving btw. I don't mind working today, which is a first in a long long time. Most people will want to go out and get away from their families at around 8pm tonight anyway.

there's a guitar leaning on a marshall stack

When I go to heaven the thing I look forward to most is getting the answers to the big questions, like why do whales beach themselves? And who really shot JFK? I just read about a new place called Marshall Stack on the LES, and they have blue balls on the menu, with cold duck and toaster oven pizza. For you youngins cold duck is a classic, and one-time-best-selling, American sparkling wine... I use the term wine loosely.

celebration ale

I'm enjoying a celebration ale from Sierra Nevada late night as I'm catching up on the news (online) that the Dems got control back in Washington today. Rainy today here and looking forward to a visit this weekend from Krazy Mary of Sacramento. Next week the girls and I will head to the Spotted Pig for a peek into the popular gastropub. What does gastropub mean? I will report back. Finally getting my weekly TONY in the mail along with a ConEd bill in my name, and at a real address. Everything is good right now, except I keep having the feeling that I'm forgetting something and I cannot fully relax (well just about at 97%). But something is bothering me and I think it might be that I'm drinking too much coffee. I broke out with my famous "I know how to say bra in German" jokes at work. I'm assisting with some sake descriptions on a revised sake list to be printed in the next few days. Here's what I came up with on one of our new selections: With a slight sweetness, the round texture of this sake strikes a balance with the acidity in the finish. Fuhren is versatile as it will pair easily with with a wide range of dishes. It has a clean nose with floral and green notes.

Inspiration

Last night someone told me "you can do it Mary Ann." This morning I was screaming to the crowd "GO." We need each other for inspiration. I saw some people today that were serious about inspriring me.

Now I have a cold and am sick in bed... no wine today (other than that little mimosa at brunch).

Vote Brady for Gov in Idaho http://www.bradyforidaho.org/ and by the way, if anyone has an extra seat on a private jet to Sun Valley (from NYC) for Thanksgiving or Christmas, I'm a fun person to travel with. I can bring some great wine.

and now for the good news

Red wine will make you live longer. Great red wine will make your life more interesting. I don't care how long it lasts, as long as it is interesting.

Halloween

Halloween was a mellow night off, spent having girls' night dinner at my friend's beautiful apartment. I just added Groth to the list and sold my first 2 bottles tonight. It was weird unpacking the box that I probably shrink wrapped, and to see the bottle just made me remember the great time I had in Napa. I'm so pleased having my own apartment and just keeping my life as simple as possible. My apartment needs work (like cleaning), but it's mine and I don't have to leave or move for a while. Work is going well and I gotta get ready for the snow. I'm hearing all sorts of crazy stories about the snow up to yer ass and so on. I'd go to Tahoe each ski season you know, but I would ski only on sunny days. I got my mind set to just work and live like this till January, then I'll start listening to what my heart says. Now that I'm settled into a sort-of routine I can start to venture out more to see some live music and what not.