Waterbrook: 1999 Cabernet Sauvingon.
Good fruity cab from Washington State. Loads of berry flavors. Some tannins, but not too bad. Bitter on the back of the tongue. I'm drinking it with dinner, which is marinated, spicy steak. This makes the wine more soft than it first appeared. Of course this follows the classical pairing: Red wine with red meat.

Where was I in 1999? When these grapes were being harvested I had just arrived in Moscow, ID. It would have been in October, so I was spending a lot of time hanging out at RedHawk coffeeshop on Sixth. Those were fun days. I spent a lot of time there with Dustin, Debbie, Sonny and Phil. Greetings to all of you, should any of you happen to read this.

I'm feeling a strong urge to read Tom Wright's books on Christ and the NT again. Of course, he has a new one out on the Resurrection, which would be invaluable. Maybe I can do a directed study on N.T. Wright in my last term at Saint Andrews. We'll see.

For my thesis, I've been focusing on the water washing pruficiation rite. It was connected to John's baptism, which connects that rite to our baptisms. What does it mean? The Hebrews practiced ritual washing before they entered into the presence of the Lord, which is why they were baptized by John in the Jordan. Our entrance into the covenant is a permanent entrance into the presence of the Lord.

Today is Father's day and I really miss my Dad. I hope he is doing well, enjoying warm weather and the sunshine. I'll call him here in a minute, but I want to tell you all how wonderful he is. He's not just supportive, and all that stuff. He got my brother and I up every morning at 5:30AM to go through the Psalms and Proverbs and pray with him before he went to work. He'd come hom and always had time to spend with us. His correction was wise and good. His advice was always timely and understanding. I want his sacrifices to not be unrecognized, unheralded and unsung, so I stand here in the gates and sing his praise. Here's to my dad, the finest a man could have, the best a man could hope to be.

R~
  ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 5:20 PM

  Greetings all. A&I just saw Chicago, which was playing at a discount theatre here in Moscow. I enjoyed the film, but I have some very strong opinions about it, most of which are negative. However, The Waif wants to write about it, so I'm not going to say any more. And she, being a smart woman, agrees with all of my opinions. So you'll get to read them anyway.

I painted for most of today at a French bakery with a Greek name with Italian decor in a town named after a city in Russia owned by an Asian guy and a Jew. Not that any of that is bad, or anything: just weird. We're VERY multi-cultural here in Northern Idaho. Almost famous for our tolerance. Yep.

Haven't drunk anything today. Well, I mean, I've had water, Coke (the real Coke, not soda), and Dad's root beer. But nothing which will be added to my "alchohol log" which I know is religiously followed out there in the sicker elements of society. You know who you are.

Hmmm. The Waif wants to blogify. And she shall blogify. But that means I have to stop. Alas.

R~  ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 9:24 PM

  For you wine snobs, yes, I know "Crisp" and "fruity" are usually not good appellations to give old wines, I was just using the comparison to discuss the '86 Rioja.

R~  ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 9:20 PM

  Today was a new day. But then again, aren't they all?

I spent a good deal of today scraping and pressure washing a house. I don't mean to bore, but this was the first time I have ever done that. It was kind of cool. Of course, I also got to be manly: I ripped a good chunk of my thumbnail off, sliced my hand open, waved off biting flies, and skinned my knuckles a good many times. At the end of the day, covered with paint chips, sweat and no small amount of blood, I bought beer. Don't get me wrong, I love wine. A lot. But being a man means that sometimes I have to act like one, too. And when I act manly, nothing tastes better than some grain alcohol.

This beverage of choice this evening is: Duvel, a Belgian ale. Another beer with a high alcohol content, 8.5%. Good. With my blood loss, I'll probably need it. Crisp, fruity, reminds me of some older wines I've had.

Speaking of older wines, last night The Waif and I were invited over to a party at Carrie and Erika's house. (Ani's too, but she's out of town). I brought a spanish wine, Marques de Caceres, vintage 1986. No telling where I got it. Of course I know, I'm just not telling. It was good and smooth as an aged Rioja should be. However it has grown a bit more tart since I tasted it last. Not quite as creamy. Perhaps it's now waning?

I also brought a 2001 Gewurztraminer for Carrie, since she only likes German wines. I think it was a Valkenberg. Since I had already had two glasses of the Rioja and was also smoking a cigar while drinking the Gewurtz, I don't think my tasting notes mean a thing. I should note that during the summer, when I smoke, I find the acid and sweet flavor of rieslings and gewurztraminers perfect for that warm evening cigar.

We sat around and chewed the fat about a lot of things, particularly Institute peoples. Ah, curious times we live in, in which we live.

R~  ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 9:16 PM

  Ok, I think everything works now. Let me know.   ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 12:09 PM

  Greetings to my friends, my foes, and dear old Mr. Stambler. Who are you anyway?

I have lots to say, none of it profound, but I'll say it anyway. Most of it is about what I have consumed recently.

What I've been Drinking in the past 24 hours:
Right now: Caribou's Kenya coffee, made in a french press with boiling water. Yes, I know it should only be around 200 degrees, but you make the water stop heating at that temp. The 'Bou's Kenya is the best thing ground for my money. Thanks to Sleonard for a handful of beans.

Last night:
Kunde 2001 Magnolia Lane Sauvignon Blanc from Sonoma. Very reasonably priced Sav-Blanc. Normally $14 it's now on sale at the Wine Company o' Moscow for the very low price of $6.50. Get them while they are cheap! Minerally, fruity, and acidic. Very drinkable, but Carrie wouldn't like it. I had it with chicken breasts broiled in olive oil, lots of oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper. The acid in the wine balanced the oil in the chicken very nicely. Add some form of rice to the side and you have a very easy, delicious dinner.

La Fin du Monde: A triple fermentated Canadian beer. Very carmelly. Yum. 9% alchohol. Can't have too many of these in one sitting. No you can't, though maybe you shouldn't.

What I'm reading:
Stuff on Leviticus. I love it, but I'm not going to bore you. It's not my fault you aren't sophisticated enough to find the purity offerings intruiging.

What I'm watching:
I Spy. Very funny. Owen Wilson is always amusing. I'd love to see him, Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller and Steve Martin in a very serious film, maybe a West Wing style political drama. Have Martin be the president with Stiller, Murphy and Wilson as his advisors. Wouldn't that be disturbing? Martin: "Stiller, I need you to go to Iraq to explain our new requirements for their Muslim government. Murph, you tell Congress I'm not going to take anymore crap from them on this healthcare package. And Wilson, you tell the press about our new high school level 'guns for condoms program'."

Thats all the things that aren't.
  ¶

// posted by The Wino @ 9:35 AM