Visit to Red Mountain

So, this post took longer than I expected...sue me! The 9-5 has been stressful and my moonlighting as a somewhat cultured wine drinker/blogger has taken a back seat. Well, hasn't really taken a back seat, but I just haven't had time to sit down and blog!

Please keep in mind, I am doing this for my enjoyment. I want to be able to track of my wine shenanigans. Yes, I have a good palate but I by no means want to be taken seriously. That's just no fun!

First things first. I love Red Mountain. I has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. The grapes, the vines, the hills, the wine, I love it all.

Our first stop was at Fidelitas. Since I go tasting with my wonderful husband we usually share so we can power through more wines! I am usually a red wine kind of girl but the Semillion was quite nice. The reds were awesome. Of course we bought some. Here are my picks.

• Semillion - Notes of citrus, slight minerality, aged in lovely French oak
• Red Mountain Merlot - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I am pretty snobbish when it comes to Merlot and this one really stands out! Cherry and vanilla and just plain delish. Exceptionally smooth and drinks very well right now.

Our next stop was at Tapteil. Very cute, estate winery just down the road. They had four wines to taste so we splurged, both got glasses and went for it! All I have to say is, Syrah. My fave!

• Syrah - Lush dark fruits and smooth tannins
• 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon - Lots of cherry, hints of spice.

Moving on to Hightower where we encountered a limo. Being the wine snob that I am, I have come to HATE seeing a limo in front of a winery. It's usually a bunch of bachelorette bimbos or super drunk, super loud folks that take away from my wine drinking pleasure! Anyways, a recent addition to the Hightower family of wines is the "Out of Line" red. It was my favorite and, really, like my husband's opinion counts when it comes to wine!

• Out of Line - Cherry, blackberry and other yummy dark fruits. Check of their site for a full description. http://www.hightowercellars.com/index.htm

Kiona was next and if you want to get drunk off a tasting, Kiona would certainly be the place to do so. Lots of wine to choose from, whites, reds, affordable. Really something to please a crowd. I was introduced to Kiona through their Lemberger. Red, spicy and about $10 a bottle. It works on a Tuesday night or on a Saturday when you are cracking into your, um, 3rd or 4th bottle of the evening. One of my favorites is their Big Kiona Zin. I will quote the bottle.

• Big Kiona - "Youthful, highly extracted, intensely aromatic. A large alcohol fruit bomb." I must agree, especially with the high alcohol part!

Finally, the reason for the trek to Red Mountain. The Cooper grand opening celebration. I had been following Cooper on Facebook for quite some time and just had to go to the opening. All I can say is WOW! Delicious white, superb reds. Seriously, job well done! So much so, that we joined yet another wine club. There was great food, fun music and the most beautiful setting you could ask for. I got a chance to talk to Coop aka Neil Cooper amid all the hustle. Great guy! My top picks, the Chard and the Walla Walla Cab. Both were outstanding.

• Chardonnay - Buttery, creamy deliciousness! Worth every penny!
• Walla Walla Cab - Again, entirely smooth, wonderful fruit.

I should save it for a special occasion, but I highly doubt that happening. It will be a Wednesday or I will be watching football on a Sunday and I will want it. Heck, why save the good stuff... drink up!

Big News

Moving forward this blog will only be about my wine tasting adventures. This weekend I am heading to Red Mountain to sample some of WA best wines. Look for an amazing post early next week!

Birthday Fun...NOT SO MUCH!

From April 30th to May 8th my family has about 10 birthdays to celebrate...one being mine. We decide to have a girls night out. Prefunking, casino, dancing. Sounds like a good time.

The evening starts out awesome. I drink a bottle of champagne (on top of the half bottle I drank at my BFF's baby shower earlier that day). We take fun pictures of our saucy attire. I was looking especially hot in my motorcycle jacket, skinny jeans and red heels.

We get to the casino. The club isn't open yet because of a boxing pay-per-view...LAME! It's my birfday...I don't want to wait in line! Anyways, wait in line, blah, blah, blah, LET THE DANCING BEGIN! My niece and I head out to the floor. I starting shaking my money maker. I am waiting for the nasty dudes to pounce. You know what I am talking about. The yuckies that hang out at casino clubs. Scary, icky, dirty, ugly men. I have to give them props though. They will hit on anything with a pulse. Ok, back to my story. Shakin' my groove thang for, like, over an hour now. Time for a drink. Stand in line, stand in line, have some dummies try to cut in front of me, stand in line. DRINK!

My feet are starting to cry now so I go sit with the ladies at our table. I look around for my jacket. It's gone. I have lost way too many jackets at clubs. I am a little peeved.

"Oh, we think that Dar took it by mistake." RELIEF!

I got the brilliant idea to go look for her (note to self...casinos are BIG, next time rethink this idea).

I am wandering up and down all the slots, looking for my beloved motorcycle jacket. I start thinking this was a bad idea.

Then it happens. POP! OUCH! I CAN'T WALK! So there I am, hobbling around in 4 inch heels, looking for my jacket. To make things worse, no cell phone, just doesn't fit in the skinny jeans. I had one guy ask if I needed help or wanted to sit down. I assume I looked pretty tragic. Tears welling up in my eyes from the pain. "No, I just want to get out of here. Thanks."

I couldn't find a single person that worked there! I had to hobble all the way to the front freakin' doors, stand in line at "The Players Club" only to be told that I can't call my husband to come get me. I have to wait for their medic to check me out. ARE YOU KIDDING? Open up the flood gates. The tears start pouring.

Then. "Hey, Day, I took your coat back to the club." Then, "OMG, what's wrong."

People I know! YAY!

I get a ride back to my brother's house. I hear my brother and husband in the garage so I pound on the door. "Go around to the front door." I hear coming from inside. "OPEN THE EFFING DOOR NOW!" I finally get inside, up the 2 excruciatingly painful steps and to the couch.

Ahhhh....

My brother is trying to give me all kinds of narcotics to ease the pain. "All I want is some chapstick." Everyone laughs.

I will never go to the casino again without my cell phone.

Oh, and BTW, I tore the LCL in my left knee. I have a lovely knee brace that I have to wear for at least the next 2 weeks. I guess that's what I get for getting old.

A little St. Patrick's Day Tom-foolery

So far today has SUCKED it. I mean really, really, really sucked it.

We have been testing a new system at work. I had some junk I wanted to try, so I figure...hey, why not give it a whirl. BIG MISTAKE. I spent over 2 hours doing something at usually takes me 10 minutes. What the hell!

After my first hour and a half of misery I said, "Screw it. I'm going for a beer across the street. I need a damn break!" So I get in my car, drive across the street (yes, I am that lazy!), walk into the bar and plop my fat butt on a bar stool. The bartender asks what she can get me. "I NEED a Blue Moon. Havin' a rough day." I get my beer and spend about 30 minutes enjoying the time away.

I am almost finished and ready to go when I feel a hand on my arm. I turn to my left. It's an old dude.

O.D. "Excuse me, do I know you?"
Me "No, I don't think so. I am really good with names and faces. Sorry."
O.D. "Are you sure? I was in here last week and swear that you were my waitress." *touches my arm again*
Me "Nope, not me, don't work here."
O.D. "Don't work here, huh? Well, that's too bad...I'd sure like to get to know ya better." *touches my arm again"
Me ..................blank stare.........................*is this fool serious?*
O.D. "Can I get your number?" *touches my arm again*
Me "Um, I'm kinda married. I don't think my husband would like that too much."
O.D. "Oh, probably shouldn't then."
Me "Yeah, not a good idea, sorry."

It took every ounce of composure I have to keep myself from laughing at him. It was so hard to hold it in.

I should probably elaborate on OLD DUDE because there are hot older dudes out there...George Clooney, Brad Pitt (when he's clean and shaved), Sean Connery (ok, not a good example), but this guy was ooooooolllld! Like really old, probably 75. Way too old to be hitting on me! I mean, really, he had a cane!

He really didn't look like he could afford to be my sugar daddy either. Cuz if I am giving up my strapping 33 year old husband, this 75 yr old dude better be loaded! Not the case...

Of course, then I start thinking stupid things like maybe I look like an old bag, all haggard and gross. Then I want to laugh again. Then I feel sorry for him. Oh, the roller coaster of emotions! To make it even better, my dad was cracking up when I told him, wait...EVERYONE has been cracking up at this story...this St. Patrick's Day Tom-foolery!

Pump You Up...

A little over a month ago I started a "Biggest Loser" competition at my gym. I set a goal of 40 pounds by the end of April. I'm starting to think that might not happen because since I have started I have only lost about 10 pounds.

I was getting a little frustrated not seeing results on the scale. I talked to my trainer about it and she took my measurements and body fat percentage. To my surprise, everything was down! My body fat is down by almost 3%, I have lost .5 inch from each arm, 1.5 inches from my waist, 2 inches from my hips and 1.5 inches from each thigh. That's 7.5 inches overall and I have gained 2 pounds of lean muscle. I am convinced that soon I will be looking like Ahh-nold, but these numbers have lit a fire under me. I am super excited about my progress. In fact, I want to train for a tri-athelon now...I know, crazy!

I try to get in five to six days a week. Which is funny to me because I never used to go to the gym on the weekends. Now I find it's my favorite time to go because there are less people there. I have found a love for spinning. I love that it kicks my ass, that I am dripping with sweat when I am done, that my legs feel like jello. I went for an hour yesterday and it didn't even phase me. After my cool down, after the burning in my legs is done, I feel like a new person! Plus, I leave feeling better about myself and with tons of energy. I do think that I am going to reset my weight loss goal to only 30 pounds overall. I don't have to give up when the competition is over. I can keep going!

Just a little rant...

I have been suffering through a lovely case of vertigo over the last month or so. If you don't know what vertigo...IT SUCKS! Mostly a lot of dizziness, some nausea, inability to focus, reduced memory. Kind of like being drunk, but not drinking. It really had an impact on my ability to work. I would just space out at my desk. Not very cool at all, but enough of that...on to my rant.

Why is it that whenever I have an ailment of any sort, somebody, anybody and everybody asks, "Are you pregnant?"

This has to be my new biggest pet peeve. It tops my hatred of stupid people. It has even surpassed my loathing of people that call me Darlene instead of my given name DAYlene.

Since when has dizziness/lightheadedness been associated with pregnancy. Just because I am married and don't have any kids yet? It is really starting to frost my cookies. The incredible thing is it's not just friends and family(I have gotten over them bugging me)but strangers too!

We were wine tasting a few weeks ago when a major dizzy spell came on. I commented to Steve that I was not feeling too hot. The lady pouring wine said, "Oh, are you pregnant?" Seriously lady...SERIOUSLY???? Do you think if I was with child I'd be tossing back wine at a winery and carrying around a bunch of bottles that I had already purchased that day? What a moron!

So what if I have great-nieces and nephews. So what if my closest friends have either just had kids or found out that they are expecting. If I wanted to get pregnant...I WOULD! I am in no way a follower and just because I am going to be 31 in a few weeks doesn't mean that I have to get knocked up any time soon just because everyone around me is. This is not "you go, we go." I am trying to be responsible. I am trying to bring a child into this world when I am ready, not when everyone else thinks I should. I want to have my fun. I want to enjoy being married, enjoy my husband, take little weekend trips or even big week long trips! I don't want to be tied down for the rest of my life just yet.

So, please, please, please, stop asking me if I am, when I'm going to or have I thought about getting pregnant. Better yet...why don't you wait until Steve or I tell you that we are expecting.

That sounds like a plan!

Zzzzz-land

Have you ever watched a movie that made you think? I mean, really think about the what ifs. It happened to me last night and I had to ask a very difficult question of my husband.

"Honey, would you kill me if I turned into a zombie?"

I was really hoping for a "HELL YES!" Instead I get this sad ass look from him. "I don't know if I could. Maybe if you tried to attack me, but if you were just going to run off and eat other people then I think I would be ok with that."

Are you serious? Really! Because if it was me, I'd go all "Shaun of the Dead" on some zombies. I'd find me the biggest gun possible and blow them up. Forget the fact that they might have been my friends or family at one time. They are flesh eating ZOMBIES!

So, after internalizing, I turn to my husband and say, "I would kill you. Sorry."