A time for celebration

Rated 92 points by Wine Spectator, this bottle is almost a perfect 100 points in my book. Curtis tells me he gets the cherry and cranberry aromas. While I get a strange light fruit like strawberry with a hint of a smoky oak and pepper. The finish is fine and cleansing with fresh acidity.
I love pouring this wine into a glass with it's color...a deep violet red. The wine was allowed to age in French Oak barrels (30% new oak) for 10 months where it gained concentration and picked up hints of vanilla and licorice.
This wine was finished off with another indulgence...Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Bark. A luscious trio of white and dark chocolate with peppermint candy sprinkles. HEAVEN for your mouth...If you don't know, you need to know...That's all...ciao for now...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18." -Mark Twain.

We went to go see the thought-provoking-Fitzgerald-novella-inspiring-movie yesterday. And I decided to blog about all the positive elements from the film. If you care to see it, be prepared--it's nearly three hours long; however, worth it. Also, let me know what you thought of it too. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I'll try to be vague as to not spoil the movie for you. The basic story is about a boy born in the body of a man in his twilight years who, as he ages, becomes younger and younger.

I'm using the main challenge of the movie as a spring board to this rambling post to which you are about to read. The main challenge: Mark Twains quote that inspired Fitzgerald's novella. That life would be infinitely happier if we could erase all the things that end up hurting us as we grow old. Anyone can tell you, you need to experience the pains of life (physical and mental) so that you can appreciate the good. With no pain, you lose all the valuable lessons you learn in life. I would like to think that it would be amazing to live life with hindsight, but I don't think having it would make life as rewarding.

I told someone I saw this film and he asked if it was sad. I asked, "How do you mean?" and he asked, "Do people die?" To which I answered, "Yes, a lot of people die actually." (Although that didn't make the movie sad, fyi) Death is a major theme in this film, specifically, how to deal with death. By a series of events (which I won't say), Benjamin is raised in a home for the elderly--a senior center if you will. Naturally, as he grows younger with age his housemates pass away. There is one part of the film where one of the characters tells him that we are meant to lose those that we love. She says, "How else would we realize how much they meant to us." I guess losing those you love reminds us of just how important that person was to begin with. And it reminds us of all the things that person taught us and how special your relationship was. Inevitably, everyone has to die. Knowing that death is a reality, it makes the present day a blessing. Following a carpe diem mentality, the film also raises thoughts on seizing your moment, no matter when in life.

Without giving too much away, there are several discussions in the film where characters regret things they never did or finished. This film raises the idea that it's never too late to go after what you want...whether that be a relationship with a woman or a man, a career path, a physical challenge, etc. There is one quote in the movie where Benjamin says: "I hope you live a life you're proud of. If not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again." These are powerful words because I fear too often people accept the cards they've been dealt and they settle with their life and all it's disappointments. I hope I never become that person.

Bake Off 2008!

My friend Alecia and I decided we would meet up today and start some baking. We made countless batches of sugar cookies and chocolate covered pretzels. Here we are taking a breather from the baking:
Joe and Curtis came over around 5ish and they were in charge of decorating. Todd came over for a visit at one point. I think he was in charge of eating.

Pretzels cooling off: (Tip - this works 100 times faster if they cool in the fridge. The challenge is making room!)
Alecia hand-dipping each pretzel. This kind of took a long time, actually.
The decorating "station". You have to be organized to pull this off in a NYC apt.
Yummy!

Xmas and wine: Part 2

Christmas tree...oh, Christmas tree...this tree was given to me randomly by my awesome neighbor Corrine. She bought it then decided she didn't want it. Since I have not bought my tree yet it came in quite handy. Ok...not handy...it came in AWESOME! This tree is rad, considering I wanted a Charlie Brown tree (as is our tradition) and now I have the PERFECT tree. I owe her.

And I decorated it with white lights and silver and pearl balls. Plus, some very special wedding ornaments from Grandma. This is a bride and groom...

By golly, this one says 2008. It's a tangible reminder of our marriage and the permanence of marriage. This is forever!

I love wreaths. Christmas wreaths to be exact. Like this one. It's on my door and it's pretty rad. It looks like little ice crystals. Notice--I'm apt. number five...Send my million dollar checks here!

This is my excited face ('cause I just decorated our tree) and possibly Curtis's relieved face (knowing he doesn't have to help)

It's NEVER to early for another VINE posting. Tonight is BV Napa Valley Merlot 2005. Beaulieu Vineyard was founded in 1900. I made shrimp for dinner tonight and I had this wine with it. I know how some folks feel about Merlot, but gosh darn I like a Merlot or two! The flavors of this wine are dark berries (cherry and berries) but some spice too. There is a hint of oak, light tannins and the finish lingers. Curtis saw this wine on last season's Top Chef and we've been drinking it with dinner since then! Great for a easy wine on a low budget!

Wine Reviews!

Before I start my first wine review entry I want to give you a few photos I took tonight of Christmas lights.
I walked to the grocery store on Ave C and saw this cute display on the way there.

I wish my building was decorated like this.

This giant tree is in the lobby of my office.

These three guys are also in my lobby. Yeah, we have a big lobby.

This tree is seen off in the distance from the ice rink in Bryant Park. Pretty, right?
Ok, now for the purpose of this post. Let's talk wine!
On first glance this wine label would make you question the taste. The wine is subtitled Cote du Bone Roan, a play on the phonetically identical Cote du Beaune and Rhone Valley wine regions in France.

The Rosenblum, founder and winemaker dedicated this wine to the "animals that bring joy to our lives each and every day." I think part of the proceeds even go to animal shelters so drinking it makes you feel good in several ways.

Rosenblum caught my attention in a 2005 edition of Wine Spectator magazine as the Number 3 wine of the year. It was the Zinfandel Rockplie Road Vineyard 2003 (94 points). You know I bought it!

It offers up ripe black fruit aromas --like black cherries and berries and also some notes of spice, and a little smoke. The label says the wine contains a whopping 14.9 percent alcohol, but it's so balanced that the only way you'd notice is if you drank the whole bottle. It's so good and a steal at Trader Joes for around $11!Joel Gott Cabernet 2006. This beauty was a gift from Joe Z. It was a random night last week and he came over for dinner after band practice. He happen to bring me one of my favorite wines.
He got it from this place called De Vino (they actually deliver --no kidding!). So we had it with dinner - of course!
The Cabernet is one of many Joel Gott creations. He also does a mean Zinfandel that he is well known for. "We make the wines from diverse vineyard sites, including high elevation rocky soil vineyards that produce concentrated wines as well as Napa Valley floor vineyards that produce wines with elegance and finesse." - From Gott's description of the wine on his site.
The color is a beautiful purple/ruby red, with aromas of blueberry and mocha. At first taste you get the richness of this wine and you realize it's fruit forward. It also has good structure, acidity, and sweet balanced tannins that leave an elegant finish. I love it!

Hope you liked my wine post. There will definetly be more!

Stuffed in NYC!

We made our way down to 40th and Broadway and beat the crowds by watching the Macy's Day Parade from the 9th Floor of my office! Ha ha! Suckers! Look at all the people!
There were so many people there to see the floats and marching bands. Here are two candy canes:
Uncle Sam was there...a gentle reminder of how we will owe our government so much with the bailout...
Here is a picture of me and Dave and Bonnie. I'm not sure where Curtis was...
Spongebob Square Pants makes his way down Broadway. We took over 60 pictures from the parade. I'm not posting all those pictures though.
Curtis and his dad...
Here comes Kermit the frog! Crystal would've been freaking out right now...


Kermit looked a little sad. Here is one guy holding up his foot! HA!Here are the 'rents on the subway...
While the bird was in the oven, we played a few games of Sequence.We won the first game, then the 'rents came back with a vengeance and beat us twice...


I made turkey dinner with green bean casserole , mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and bread. Who the heck was I feeding? I'm over stuffed....

Pukk is good!

No, this isn't a misspelling of our favorite Midsummer Night's Dream character--it's one of the many places I get take out from. Tonight's dinner: Market Fried Rice w/Chinese broccoli, tomato, onion, black pepper, egg, and tofu. It's de-lish! All for $7! YAY! Eating green vegetarian Thai is even easy for me: a meat lover.