way off the back

It's been over a year since I've posted here so, if you've found me somehow, I'm over at my new photography blog and my my new personal blog. See ya there!

So, today I dropped by the Nicholson Ranch to taste wine.

I live in Sonoma County and love that fact that many great wines are right in the neighborhood. So, I often stop by at a local winery to taste their wares when traveling from one point to another. I've been admiring the property where this winery is located years. It's on the corner of highway 12/121 and Napa Rd. just outside of Sonoma. It's really a beautiful place up on a hill.

I've been driving by it for a long time now, always wanting to stop in, but we've always been going by too early in the morning or without the time to drop by. Finally, this afternoon I had my chance.

I walked it to a bit of a crowd but not a deal breaker, for sure. I mosey up to the bar and see that they're giving me the 'chance' to taste 6 of their wines for $10. Now, anyone can run their business however they want. Many wineries charge for tasting. But, I'm not going to pay someone just so I can buy some more!

My point: do I really want to support a local winery that charges me to sample their wines? Uh, no. I am a local wine fan (not a snob). I want to support this region. I've met so many nice wine makers who are so impassioned about their wine they are willing to share it with me. Am a free loader? No way. Let me finish. If one of these fine people is nice enough to talk about their wines and share them with me, I feel more than obligated to buy some of their wine. That is part of the mystique. It's also darn good marketing. There are several wineries here that I'm very loyal, too. Why? They share they wine and passion for it. To me, it's kind of a psychological terrior - the friendly, sharing attitude of these folks is part of what I taste when experiencing their wine.

Nicholson Ranch - not!

Try these folks instead: Paradise Ridge, Siduri & Novy Family Wines, Hanna, Thumbprint, Bella, & A. Rafanelli. You won't be disappointed...as I was today...

Wow. I was scanning through my Flickr rss feed and came upon this great shot. Everything about this is great: the clouds, the angles, the balance, and, of course, the penguins. You should check out the rest of this photographer's photo sets. More amazing shots especially of the king pengos!

I'm having gastric bypass surgery.

I'm 46 years old and am an expert at losing weight. In fact, I'm even better at gaining weight. So, you see my problem. Or maybe you don't.

I've heard it a million times (mostly from my brain). 'why don't you just exercise and eat less?'. I told you 'I'm an expert at losing weight'. It's the keeping-it-off part that I'm miserable at.

I've been failing at this for close to all of my adult life. So, I'm prepared to take the risk and permanently change my innards so that I can enjoy life again. I have other responsibilities that need my attention, like my life. So, I can't have this heavy burden (sorry for the pun but it is literally that) distracting me from being a husband, dad, and employee.

Some thinner friends say 'you just have to do it'. Well, believe me, I've tried harder than they ever have and I've failed. Again and again. I do realize that I'll have to change other things in my lifestyle. I won't be able to eat high fat and/or high carb foods. I'll only be able to eat small portions. I may experience a 'honeymoon' period in which I may lose at lot of weight for about 18 months. I may even die from the surgery.

But, at 361 lbs. in January 2007, and with severe obstructive sleep apnea and on the road to other co-morbidities, I could become disabled or, yes, die. I'll take the chance at life rather than roll the dice on when I could have a stroke or heart attack.

I've joined the gym and am online at traineo where you can see my progress as I move toward my surgery weight of 'in the 320's' (says my surgeon). I have my pre-op testing on April 18 and surgery is scheduled for April 30th.

Here goes!

What was the worst job you ever had?
Submitted by salaryman.

Had to be delivering phone books. I was about 17 and unemployed at the time. The employment department sent me to delivery the books. Absolutely back-breaking work. Only lasted a day. All I could say was 'See Ya'!

Warning! The following contains many shameless local plugs...

So, I've been hearing about wine blogging wednesday from Tim Elliot on his podcast for some time now. But, I've never joined in so here goes:

When I heard that this month's theme would be new world syrah, I thought, 'I know a great one to try (again)!'. It started last year at the The Russian River Wine Road Association's annual Barrel Tasting event held every March here in Sonoma County. I finally got to go to Siduri Wine  after hearing so much about them. Well, the place was packed. I love all of the mom and pop winery's around here that aren't too crowded on event days but this was out-of-control crowded! But, if you have a great reputation...

Adam and Diana Lee and their family run Novy Family Wines in addition to Siduri. Everything that isn't Pinot Noir goes under the Novy label. So, at the event, they had a some of the Novy stuff to try. During the event that had a bunch of their grape producers there and one of them was Sharon Chistiansen. Her family has a few blocks of grapes that Novy buys for their Christiansen Vineyard Syrah. I had a little taste of what Sharon was pouring and thought it had promise.

We live about a mile from the vineyard and a quarter mile from Siduri. So, every time I drove by the vineyard it reminded me to try that Syrah. The '04 syrah was finally released in September of '06. So, the time had come. And with wine blogging wednesday to push me to it, I went to the Siduri warehouse to pick up a bottle.

Ann and Jody were working the tastings yesterday and I showed up at 2pm to taste with some other folks trolling the valley. One nice bloke was there from Melbourne, Australia and knew of Siduri from their rep and had to check it out! We sampled some great, diverse Pinot from the stable and a couple of Novy Syrah's - all very nice. But, I had come for the Christiansen and plunked down the plastic and brought it home (with some other goodies, of course).

I've waited a day to try it. So, it's been open for about an hour. Although a Rhone varietal, the aroma's are of a nice Bordeaux blend or cab but turned down a notch or two with a hint or earth. On first sip, the pepper hits you just a nibble under 'hard'. I can imagine how this would compliment a good, peppery steak! People have described this wine as having a big start (pepper) but no finish. I tend to disagree - it's finish is very mellow and smooth and at the end: oak. Very nice.

Okay, now the big test: I've ordered a nice Napoletana from Mary's Pizza Shack. Roma tomatoes, mozzerella, garlic, olive oil and a dry salami calzone. It's very nice with the pizza but this wine is made for the calzone! Awesome. This Syrah has made my meal. I was expecting it to go well with the pizza but with the dry salami - well, what can I say? Pure heaven (in a culinary sense, of course!). I'm not well versed enough to have a rating system but I do know that this particular wine made my meal tonight

Again, sorry for all of the shameless local plugs, but it's very special living in Sonoma County and I' m proud to live among some great artisans!

What song makes you rock the karaoke mic?
Submitted by Ann.

Without a doubt it's To Cry You a Song. This is a cover of the Jethro Tull toon by Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, etc.) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, etc.). The iTunes clip here is not as good as a part where Hughes totally cuts loose. Great Stuff!

...get married this Saturday!

What's on your Top 5 video games list?
Submitted by mileena.

1. Starcraft (bar none - this is my favorite. I can't believe how old it is but it's so great)

2. Pengo (all-time fave from back in the day)

3. Frogger (close second to Pengo - loved the atari home version. I thought the gameplay was as good as the arcade. You know, what's weird is that I listened to music all the time playing home versions, so I always equate certain albums with certain games. Frogger = "White City" by Pete Townshend)

4. Space Invaders = "Zenyata Mendata" by The Police

5. Breakout = '"Sinful" by Angel