Warning: Political Blog Entry

We all love our pets. We all love our families (to some extent). We love our kids. Everyone has a favorite flavor ice cream and everyone has their favorite color. We all know everyone around us is different and we all know everyone has his or her own opinions on the way things should be but sometimes going from caramel swirl to Obama-care is a big jump. Or is it?

Politics are a hard game to play. For me, this is because it is not a game nor should it be played like one. I try very hard to keep an open mind in matters of a political nature and those of you who are regular readers know that I try not to influence others or coax them to side with me. But I was challenged tonight to share so here it goes. Take it with a grain of salt.

Everyone has the right to their opinion. Not everyone will agree and the majority will not always make all the right choices. But that does not mean we tear each other down for making mistakes or for making decisions the way we did. If I choose strawberry and you think peanut butter crunch would be better, you do not have the right to make me feel bad for choosing strawberry. You should feel free to highlight the benefits of the other and talk about all of peanut butter's accolades, but do not ridicule me as a person because I chose differently than you did.

Have a voice. If everyone has a right to their opinion, that opinion must not be suppressed by other opinions but at the same time, if the other is not expressed, how can we learn from one another? If you feel passionately, share your passion. But share it as your passion not as why it should be my passion. If there is an issue close to your heart, please, tell me about it and why it is important for you. But do not think that by you telling me, it will make me feel the same way as you do about it. And then be ok with that.

People make mistakes. We are flawed. So what? We learn from our past and we apply it to the future. There is no need to remind those of us that like strawberry about that one time when it melted or tasted funny. There are just as many flaws with the peanut butter crunch. And that is ok. Instead of focusing on all that has gone wrong with each others flavors, let's improve the ice cream making and be happy with the out come.

Separation of one passion from the other is not required. Here I will stop with the flavor analogy and shoot straight for a second. I love God. All other decisions about the other things I am passionate about (human rights, individual liberty, the role of a federal government in everyday life, etc.) all come from a core belief in God and the application of His word to my life. If I am asked to remove that part of me from the decision making process, I ask you try to drive without use of your eyes and see how far you get. It is only through the choice to follow Him, that I base all others.

I love to explore all sides of an issue and I will promise here and now to always vote, be open to new ideas, and never vote a straight ticket, but I will not waiver in what I believe or be swayed by the masses.

We all know "the system" is flawed. We all know that we would do things differently if it were us. Let's not berate each other in the process of coming up with solutions. Instead we should work harder at finding answers, help those around us, love one another, and live our lives to the fullest. In the end it is the difference we make in the lives of those around us that really matters. Let's not focus on what we can't change and change the lives of those we can at home, work, and only sometimes through politics.

A Love Story

She was a curly haired, freckle face and she was the it girl of my third grade class. You know the one I am referring to. There is one in every class and if you are a woman reading this and you don't know what I'm talking about, then it was you. Walking into class with your pony-under-a-waterfall trapper keeper lighting the whole room with your smile and leading the other giggly girls around the playground as though you were some sort of enchantress. She was all of that.

And me? I was always the shy kid. The one that sat in the middle of the room because I knew the back got too much attention. I just wanted to blend in and not be noticed and I had never wanted to befriend anyone in my class until she came along. I desperately wanted to make the impression and that year I knew just how I was going to do it. In the most romantic way I knew how; I would give her a valentine.

When the thought came to me I knew right away it had to be something special. No paper cut out with a picture of a muppet and her name on the back would be good enough so I began saving every penny I earned. The day before Valentines day, I was at the grocery store with my mom and there it was, the solution to all my problems, the heart shaped box of chocolate. With all the money I had, I bought that little four piece box and a proud smile grew across my face. How could she refuse this amazing act of romance? She will be my valentine for sure!

The next morning, I got to class early and slid the heart shaped symbol of my affection into her crudely decorated shoe box and waited patiently for her to find it and then, of course, fall helplessly in love with me. She walked in a few minutes later, took off her coat, and sat down to see what her classmate had given her. She removed the lid and a grin appeared. I was in! She stealthily scanned the room to see if anyone was watching her and our eyes met. This was it! I knew it would be wonderful between us from here on out. And then he came in.

He was the kid no one wanted to be partners with on a project. He had a silly way about making himself stand out in a crowd that I appalled. He was constantly the butt of jokes around the lunch table for being the short round kid in class and wearing a yamaka in third grade doesn't help you keep a low profile. It wasn't that he was Jewish that was the turn off. It was his knowledge of the presidents. He had for some reason memorized all the presidents and their terms and in random points in any conversation, he would cut you off and challenge you to a presidential trivia contest. Who wants anything to do with that?

On this particular Valentine's day, after I had thought everything was going according to plan, he walks in with a cut out spiderman card for her taped to an entire bag of Kisses. He handed her the bag and that was all she wrote. A few weeks after that, our class was split due to teacher student ratio and I only ever saw her at recess and she never saw me again because I was, to her, invisible. Not only was I lacking in the chocolate department but apparently a vast knowledge of in depth, useless presidential facts are a must for the modern woman.

Zachary Taylor was the twelfth president and was the last president to own slaves while holding the office.


Happy Valentine's Day.

Due To Marriage

Several people have asked if I believe in marriage after everything I have been through. And I suppose the answer they are expecting to hear allows them a second to breathe a sigh of relief as they reflect on their own situation. Some people, when hearing of my divorce, will automatically switch gears in their conversations when I walk by just to be sure I hear them trash marriage. I assume this is to make me feel better.

I started watching this TV show a few weeks ago and thought I recognized one of the actresses from something else she had been in. Like a good nerd would do, I immediately looked her up on IMDB and Wikipedia. In one of the notes I read, it mentioned that she had recently been replaced on the show by another actress "due to marriage". I read the description again; "due to marriage". It was written as though she had been struck by some incurable disease and that this terminal illness had come upon her without her consent and was relentlessly choking her career to lifelessness.

Marriage is not a deadly disease or something that the unfortunate come down with against their will. It does not sneak up on the simple minded and squeeze the life out of the afflicted.

It is not something to be looked down on or trashed. Those that are married should not be looked upon with pity but esteem. We should raise them up and celebrate with them because they have accomplished what so few are able to in this time. Being married is not only a choice that both have made to each other but it is a commitment that takes work, daily forgiveness, and the kind of love that many never experience.

I do not feel bad for those who are married, I envy them. They have something I once thought belonged to be. Something I thought I had the strength and maturity for. They are my hope for another chance at not just true love but real love.

Yes, I still believe in marriage.

Soggy Wallet

A funny thing happened to me the other day. I am a predictable person in most areas in my life. I have a routine for almost everything, not to the point of being obsessive, but definitely predictable. A couple of days ago I was performing my pre-bed ritual which involves me checking my phone one last time before setting it to vibrate, letting the dog outside one more time, double checking my alarm is set by turning it off and back on again (ok, a little obsessive), and setting out my keys, wallet, phone and pocket knife on my desk. I had almost settled in for the night when I noticed, my wallet was missing. In my head I quickly ran through the day, highlighting the times and places I had taken it out. After taking the three extra seconds to do this I realized it must still be in my pants pocket. Oh no! I just put the clothes in the washer! Would I get to it in time before the water reached the pants? Nope. I ended up having to drain the washer and pull out the wet clothes and rifle through them on the garage floor only to find my wallet thoroughly marinated with soapy water.

While I was drying out the wallet and wiping down my debit card and the various gift card I had in there, I kept thinking to myself, "what are you? ten?" I haven't left anything in my pocket to be washed in years. And then it hit me: I have been doing a lot of things in the last few weeks that I haven't done since I was ten. Here are the top five things I have done lately I haven't since I was ten:

1. Washed my wallet
2. Scraped my knees (mountain biking accident. another story.)
3. Went on a bike ride
4. Watched Sesame Street
5. Took a picture with a camera that uses film

So why did it take that long? Except for the wallet mishap, I enjoyed doing all those things. I hope I will never grow too old to appreciate those simple little things that make us feel like kids again. Try it out sometime and if you feel like a fool while you do it, you'll know you're doing it right.

Temeekunga

The place of the sun. Or sometimes translated as the "place of the sun and mist".


However you translate it, the area of southern California known as Temecula maintains it namesake. It is a place where the evening air brings in the moisture over the mountains into the valley below and when the morning sun hits it, the mist rises and slowly leads into sunshine filled days and clear skies.


People were settled in this area hundreds if not thousands of years ago and once you see the place you know why. In every direction the majesty of creation is all around. It seems that along with people, everything thrives here. Temecula has been known for decades as a leader in the production of produce such as avocados, oranges and other citrus fruits, and now it has earned a reputation for growing the fruit for some of the nations greatest wines.

Similar to the contrast between the sun and the mist, Temecula is divided within itself whether to become an attractive place for outsiders or maintain its integrity among the locals. This separation is most obvious once one enters wine country. When you turn off the freeway onto Rancho California, you don't feel like you are in a place of ancient tradition. There is the Target and the Embassy Suites next to the chains of parasite stores and restaurants that have become common place in those areas. You will feel like you are in every other small suburb trying to make a name for itself by looking like all the others. Until, that is, when you reach wine country.

Almost like taking a misstep down a small flight of stairs, you will feel a little shaken and confused when you reach it. It doesn't seem to belong. You take a second to check yourself; "didn't I just see a Starbucks two blocks back?" but it is no mirage. The busy suburb turns into a countryside complete with rows upon rows of grape vines intermingled with small flocks of livestock and sprinkled with the occasional chicken coop. It seems almost unspoiled.

Many of the wineries are ran by their founders and they are committed to the area, producing great wine, and preserving the land and traditions of Temecula. But there are also business owners that have purchased wineries as though they would be a fun way to pass the time in between vacations to Europe. The struggle occurs when the winemakers realize they need people through the doors in order to sell wine but not to the point of sacrificing quality. On the other hand if you are willing to let your customers do anything from foot stomp junk fruit to weddings, to yoga in the vines...doesn't that take away from the traditional? Doesn't that take away the integrity of the others in the valley trying to produce world class wine?

And so the battle rages on between sun and mist, tourist and tradition, integrity and money. It is an old story, you just have to decide which side you are on.

Wine Snob IV

Exploring The World Of Wine


Wine is created for many reasons. Some winemakers are in it for the cash. Some are gentleman with easy retirement money who come to town, purchase a vineyard, and call themselves winemakers. Some are in it for the party. (Hey, if you're the one providing the booze, who is going to say anything bad about you.) But the wine you should be seeking no matter what, is that of the purest, the true masterpiece creator.

How do you find this most amazing wine? Simple. Drink wine. Not just the one you like to drink, but several. The broader experience will lead to the greater experience. I do of course have some favorites, but I also enjoy a good two buck chuck once in awhile. In my own meager collection I have several, hundred dollar bottles of wine. I have tasted the wine from several, thousand dollar bottles. I will still sometimes drop by the local supermarket and find the cheapest bottle I can. Why? To have a comparison. If I only drank reds, or if I only drank Viognier, I would be limiting myself to only one good thing without appreciating the others.

Let me stop rambling and offer some practical advice. If you are new to wine there will be one that makes itself obvious to you. It may be a Merlot, or a Sangiovese. For me, I will always have a bottle of 2007 CabSav in my collection. This was the first bottle I found I actually enjoyed (being a former beer man myself, it was hard at first to adjust). When I found it, I made a note of it, and when I would go out to taste, I would be sure to try the '07 CabSav. I would be able to compare wine styles from that point and became very familiar very quickly with the CabSav as a grape. What it could produce, its characteristics, and so on. Then I tried others and the journey continues.

My advice is if you want to get a fast grip on wine, pick a varietal or year or region and work your way out from there. Don't overload right away by trying a South American SavBlanc and then the next night try a Missouri Zinfandel. Instead try sticking with SavBlanc for a week or two then move on to something new.

Whatever it is you are trying, it is going to be good. Maybe not always good tasting but good that you are growing in your knowledge of wines. It can be fun, rewarding, and when someone at a party says something about the wine, you will have something to say based on personal experience. Good Hunting! Cheers!

Wine Snob III

Finally, The Fun Part: Tasting


It was my understanding when I began drinking wine, that this was the easy part. I was dead wrong. I had no idea what I was looking for or how to find it and when you take a journey like that you only end up lost and confused. I wanted to take a little time out for the first timers and work through some basics, but I haven't forgotten about you too, people that think they have forgotten more about wine than I will ever know.

Tasting is not a chore. It is an adventure that, if you let it, will open you up to a world you didn't know you were already so familiar with. Tasting wine should begin with your attitude. If you walk in somewhere in a bad mood, you will more than likely not enjoy the wine, but if you make it an exciting experience, you will carry those memories with you when you taste the next time. When served, take a look at the wine. Examine the color and clarity. Is it a deep red or a see-through blush? Does it remind you of pear juice or like liquid gold? Once you have taken not of the color, smell it. Really get your nose in there and smell it. (For me, I like to do all this before touching the glass. Then I will pick it up and do it again with the glass at an angle to get my nose closer to the wine.) What do you smell? Summer sea breeze? Sweet apricot? Caramel? Vanilla? Toast? Blueberry pie?

It doesn't need to be this nerdy but you get the idea

Once you have a smell registered in your brain for that wine, maybe a fruit or hint of something, or maybe even a memory, then taste it. When you taste you are looking for a variety of things. I will not take the time to list all of them. This is your activity. You can find anything from oak notes to varying kinds of fruit and so much more. You are also looking for texture. Is it soft, smooth, harsh/hot, acidic, sweet, or dry. As mentioned the list goes on but this is really about what you taste. Think about it. Talk about it. Smell it again. Swirl it to give it some oxygen and then smell it again. Taste it, yes, again. It doesn't matter how many times you do this, each time you will be able to get a little something else out of it. Try to focus your taste buds and find the tastes on the front, mid, and back pallet and then focus on the aftertaste. Once you have your idea of the wine in mind, then and only then, read the tasting notes provided.

Winemakers or cellar managers provide these to help you along, but do not use them as a crutch to base everything on. You will surprise yourself at how many of the things you find when you taste are listed. Now there will always be one or two you don't. Should there be wine left in your glass, then take the time to find those too. If you can't, no big deal. In the end it really only matters if you liked it or not.

Now if you really want to get crazy, taste it as usual, then take it outside. If the wine was made on site, the fruit has a tendency to pick up some of the neighboring smells and characteristics. You may be able to pull out scents you weren't able to before or get a completely different experience.

Think about the fruit on the vine. Think about the weather the berries saw. How much sunshine, how much rain? Think about the hands that picked it, the crushing of the fruit, the storage, the agonizing wait it endured in the barrels. Think about the people that put their lives on hold and made other sacrifices to produce this little bit of wine for you to enjoy, and you will taste it in a totally new way. Cheers!