I am back from my vacation and getting back into the swing of things. Work, exercise, hobbies, and reading.
Work is the same as I have come to expect. There is much to do, and I have to get it done without the help of a supervisor. The documentation is not complete, and I have to complete the upgrades or changes without them. Meanwhile I am getting called or paged to fix something here or there that has gone wrong, or help a co-worker decipher his instructions. I have to put down what I am doing and figure out another system, and fix it before I move on. I'm not complaining, I like the challenge of the job.
I haven't gotten back to exercise yet. I need to start hitting the gym. The Pasadena Marathon is really going to kick my ass. I think I am going to try to finish the full, but I fully expect to fail.
This Sunday I will be putting together another batch of mead. This batch will use clover honey and vanilla. I plan on putting oak chips in the secondary fermentor to simulate oak barrel aging.
So much to do
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Vacation 2008 part one
So about my vacation...
We began the trip on friday at a little after noon. Most of the day was getting our stuff together and then driving the 6hrs north. along the way we stopped at a place called Harris Ranch and had some late lunch.
The first stop on the vacation was a city near Sacramento where Sarah's parents live. We spent Saturday and Sunday morning with the parents going out to eat and shopping at craft fairs and a convenient street fair. I bought a clock/barometer/temperature gauge/relative humidity thingy.
Next was Napa Valley. We blew into town at about 4pm on sunday. We checked into our hotel south of Napa and headed on up to winery row to squeeze in some tastings. We hit Robert Mondavi and Peju Provence befor 6:00pm by which time all the tasting rooms were closed.
Let me pause here to explain what wine tasting in Napa Valley is like. Highway 29 runs right down the middle of Napa Valley, and the more famous wineries have vineyards and tasting rooms along this strip. As you drive north from napa city, the buildings are replaced by far reaching rows of grape vines. Every quarter to half mile there is a winery/tasting room. The winerys are as individual as the wines themselves. Most are fairly large buildings surrounded by rows of vines. The vines themselves are closely cropped and tightly maintained. The most common form (and again they vary by vineyard) is a 2 foot trunk that splits to to arms which have many spurs that go up about 3 feet further and have green leaves. We arrived after harvest but before the vines really started to lose their leaves, so most vines had little or no grapes, and most had green or yellow leaves. You drive past these vines and park your car. Then you enter the tasting room through what are usually large wooden doors, step up to the bar and taste some wine.
The second day we made it out to 5 wineries which is about the practical limit if you plan on staying under the legal limit. We went to Beaulieu Vineyards, Grgich Hills, Franciscan, Louis M. Martini and a smaller winery called Milat Vineyards. We had to take a break after Louis M. Martini. We took a walk to a nearby A&W and got some late lunch before continuing on. The wine tasting was fun. It was interesting geting a chance to try 3+ wines and talk a little about the vineyard or the founder or whatever. We took a tour at the Franciscan where we saw the fermentation tanks, french oak ageing barrels and tasted a few of the remaining grapes on a couple of different kinds of vines.
The third day in Napa Valley was only a half day, because we were headed out to San Fransisco. We managed a couple of tastings anyway. First we went to Robert Mondavi again to buy a Pino Noir that Sarah really liked. We took the tour there, which was exellent. First we got a little history on the Mondavi family and the vineyard, then we walked out to the vineyard and talked about the grape growing process and the vines themselves. Next we walked through the building where they ferment the wine, age, and bottle it. Last, there was a tasting of four Mondavi wines mostly purchased grapes from the carneros region in south napa valley. Then we drove over to the Charles Krug which was owned by Peter Mondavi, Robert's brother. After that we headed on out of the valley.
Thats all for now. I will write more later.
We began the trip on friday at a little after noon. Most of the day was getting our stuff together and then driving the 6hrs north. along the way we stopped at a place called Harris Ranch and had some late lunch.
The first stop on the vacation was a city near Sacramento where Sarah's parents live. We spent Saturday and Sunday morning with the parents going out to eat and shopping at craft fairs and a convenient street fair. I bought a clock/barometer/temperature gauge/relative humidity thingy.
Next was Napa Valley. We blew into town at about 4pm on sunday. We checked into our hotel south of Napa and headed on up to winery row to squeeze in some tastings. We hit Robert Mondavi and Peju Provence befor 6:00pm by which time all the tasting rooms were closed.
Let me pause here to explain what wine tasting in Napa Valley is like. Highway 29 runs right down the middle of Napa Valley, and the more famous wineries have vineyards and tasting rooms along this strip. As you drive north from napa city, the buildings are replaced by far reaching rows of grape vines. Every quarter to half mile there is a winery/tasting room. The winerys are as individual as the wines themselves. Most are fairly large buildings surrounded by rows of vines. The vines themselves are closely cropped and tightly maintained. The most common form (and again they vary by vineyard) is a 2 foot trunk that splits to to arms which have many spurs that go up about 3 feet further and have green leaves. We arrived after harvest but before the vines really started to lose their leaves, so most vines had little or no grapes, and most had green or yellow leaves. You drive past these vines and park your car. Then you enter the tasting room through what are usually large wooden doors, step up to the bar and taste some wine.
The second day we made it out to 5 wineries which is about the practical limit if you plan on staying under the legal limit. We went to Beaulieu Vineyards, Grgich Hills, Franciscan, Louis M. Martini and a smaller winery called Milat Vineyards. We had to take a break after Louis M. Martini. We took a walk to a nearby A&W and got some late lunch before continuing on. The wine tasting was fun. It was interesting geting a chance to try 3+ wines and talk a little about the vineyard or the founder or whatever. We took a tour at the Franciscan where we saw the fermentation tanks, french oak ageing barrels and tasted a few of the remaining grapes on a couple of different kinds of vines.
The third day in Napa Valley was only a half day, because we were headed out to San Fransisco. We managed a couple of tastings anyway. First we went to Robert Mondavi again to buy a Pino Noir that Sarah really liked. We took the tour there, which was exellent. First we got a little history on the Mondavi family and the vineyard, then we walked out to the vineyard and talked about the grape growing process and the vines themselves. Next we walked through the building where they ferment the wine, age, and bottle it. Last, there was a tasting of four Mondavi wines mostly purchased grapes from the carneros region in south napa valley. Then we drove over to the Charles Krug which was owned by Peter Mondavi, Robert's brother. After that we headed on out of the valley.
Thats all for now. I will write more later.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Car Trip
Today I am going to set out for a week long vacation. Sarah and I are going to drive up to Sacramento and visit points in between here and there. I hope to taste lots of wine and take lots of pictures. I will be back in town on Saturday.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Mead
I had another bottle of mead go today. It popped its cork quietly while I was at work. I put a stopper in it and stuck it in the fridge when I got home but it was not meant to be. It burst again and I had to clean out my fridge. All the remaining bottles are now being refrigerated but still I really need to have a party to get rid og the stuff. Perhaps a get-together this weekend, because it seems that I won't be going to Great Western War as I have made no plans. Sigh.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A Long Day Deserves a Long Post
To preface the kind of day I had let me tell you that I got to sleep last night at a little after 3:00am. I think it was the cup of coffee I had in the morning supplemented by the cup of earl grey (black tea) that I had in the afternoon.
I got up at about 7:30am and threw myself together as usual I slept in a bit too much. I rushed out only a zone diet bar as breakfast. I got to work at about 8:40am to do some crazy and somewhat dangerous equipment moves. The stuff had to be relocated out of a room while they do construction, and it is vital gear that they cannot live without, so we come in on the weekend and move it. At least I get paid time and a half for the 5th day. I There I had a couple doughnuts and a cup of earl grey tea to supplement my breakfast, and for lunch: delicious nutritious Taco Bell!
I was at work till 2:00pm at which time I headed out for an hour drive to a D&D game that I was already late to. I started to get drowsy on the freeway where the 55 meets the 405, and I took the 405 north and had to turn around, but i made it there safely. The game was great if a little dominated by a couple of fights (good though they were) that we got into. It ended with a feeling of progress and new goals set, which is important for maintaining player interest. Except for a break for In-N-Out we played straight through to 11:30. I started to drowse at about 10:30pm from all the lack of sleep and bad nutrition but I pulled it together and stayed awake through to the end.
Next was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, so at11:30pm I sped away from the game, hitting the door just as soon as the game was wrapped up. I wish that I had time to stay and chat but come other friends were meeting me at the Nuart in LA for Rocky. Another hour long drive later I arrived late for the show. Luckily (?) for me they take their sweet time getting going, and I didn't miss anything. My friends enjoyed themselves so I consider it a grand success.
Now I am finally home, tired and for some reason blogging. It is after 3:30am again and I had better turn in.
I really think I need to get more sleep.
I got up at about 7:30am and threw myself together as usual I slept in a bit too much. I rushed out only a zone diet bar as breakfast. I got to work at about 8:40am to do some crazy and somewhat dangerous equipment moves. The stuff had to be relocated out of a room while they do construction, and it is vital gear that they cannot live without, so we come in on the weekend and move it. At least I get paid time and a half for the 5th day. I There I had a couple doughnuts and a cup of earl grey tea to supplement my breakfast, and for lunch: delicious nutritious Taco Bell!
I was at work till 2:00pm at which time I headed out for an hour drive to a D&D game that I was already late to. I started to get drowsy on the freeway where the 55 meets the 405, and I took the 405 north and had to turn around, but i made it there safely. The game was great if a little dominated by a couple of fights (good though they were) that we got into. It ended with a feeling of progress and new goals set, which is important for maintaining player interest. Except for a break for In-N-Out we played straight through to 11:30. I started to drowse at about 10:30pm from all the lack of sleep and bad nutrition but I pulled it together and stayed awake through to the end.
Next was the Rocky Horror Picture Show, so at11:30pm I sped away from the game, hitting the door just as soon as the game was wrapped up. I wish that I had time to stay and chat but come other friends were meeting me at the Nuart in LA for Rocky. Another hour long drive later I arrived late for the show. Luckily (?) for me they take their sweet time getting going, and I didn't miss anything. My friends enjoyed themselves so I consider it a grand success.
Now I am finally home, tired and for some reason blogging. It is after 3:30am again and I had better turn in.
I really think I need to get more sleep.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
24 Hour Fitness
I went to my new gym for the first time last night. Adam and I went to the Pasadena location and got an easy workout in. We did some elliptical trainer and then worked chest on some machines. It was a good experience and I will be going back regularly. I plan to make this a normal tues/thirs routine until Adam gets a job at which time we will re-evaluate the schedule.
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