2020, the gift that keeps on giving...

I was really excited about 2020. After a pretty darn good year, I was going to take advantage of the momentum from 2019, increase the number of my wine classes, work more hours at various venues, and travel. Yeah...JD and I were supposed to spend a few weeks in England and France this year, but that was not to be.

What a disaster 2020 has turned out to be. Global pandemic. Global shutdown. Families and friends lost. Businesses closed. So much anger, misinformation, fatigue.

Tasting outside your comfort zone: Part Deux...

This does seem to be the year where we're all out of our comfort zones. And the wines I've received recently reflect that. So when I opened a box and discovered three different sherries, accompanied by a big bag of Halloween candy, I thought it was just par for the course!

Sherry is a wine that many folks think is old-fashioned, found only in Agatha Christie mysteries, or meant to be drunk by self-important elder statesmen after dinner is finished, and the ladies have retired to whatever ladies retire to, while the men light up cigars and discuss world matters.

Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Tasting out of your comfort zone...

The Goddess of Wine gets crazy when a person says, "I don't drink xyz wine," or "I only drink xyz wine." I always ask, "Why would you limit yourself to what you already know?" So, when I'm approached by a wine rep or marketing person to try a wine that may not be something I regularly drink, I have to step outside my own comfort zone to taste it. 

Folks who know me well, know that I rarely drink sweet wines. I'm not talking about dessert wines such as Port or Sherry; I'm talking about sweet, low-alcohol porch-pounders. I received a package of 3 charmingly-packaged, partly-fermented, sweet, frizzante wines from the Mack & Schuehle Wine and Spirits Family, an international importer. 

Serving wine in the time of Coronavirus...

As some of you know, JD and I work 3 days a week at a winery tasting room. The wines are very reasonably priced, and our tasting fee has been $12 per person, waived with a wine purchase. Up until this weekend, we would waive tasting fees for everyone in a group if even one person bought one bottle of wine. You might say we have been very generous in this regard. 

We had 2 groups of guests on Saturday; one group of 6, the other of 4. Both were scheduled to arrive at 2 PM. The air temperature was fairly comfortable, and the smoke level was low enough that I wasn't concerned about serving outdoors.

#LifeinthetimeofCoronavirus...and everything else

A friend recently asked me about my writing. In fact, every time he sees me, he asks. 'How's the writing going?' And I always reply, 'Not really doing much writing right now. Still just not feeling it.' 

My colleagues who write a lot just tell me to keep at it. Write a little bit each day. Just form some sentences. Do the work.

But right now my head is so full of anger and frustration about the state of our country that I have trouble staying on topic.

Wining in the time of Coronavirus...

The GoW & JD pre-lockdown

Random thoughts during the lockdown:

Making the bed every day counts as an accomplishment.

Digging out old recipes that I haven't made in at least 25 years. Comfort food, as they're my mom's recipes.

Rereading books. Re-watching TV series. Not feeling the need to watch anything new.

Surprised at how easy it is to just stay home.

Discovering that it wasn't lack of time that kept me from cleaning out the closet.

Wondering if I can get the airline to refund my money instead of giving me a travel voucher.

Wondering if we'll be able to travel next year.

Hoping we can start pouring wine at the tasting room soon.

Alternating between acceptance and frustration.

Happy that after all these years together, we still really like each other and get along well.

Happy that we have the technology to stay in touch with friends near and far. Some family, too.

Surprised at how many of my friends and colleagues feel driven to create, while I'm just enjoying the downtime, even after almost 2 months.

Wondering how it is that I've lost a few pounds during this time, despite thinking about food all the time.

Hoping I'll be able to get the medical procedures done that I thought would be done by now. Still need some post-cataract surgery clean up.

Enjoying bird watching from my front door. Love the mockingbirds.

Missing baseball season.

Happy that we're locked down in Morro Bay and not in Burbank.

Hoping you're well and safe, wherever you're locked down.