kerewin's whine cellar

Is NOW good enough?

When would be a good time for the (relatively) new washing machine to stop working? When it is full of clothes that I want to take to NYC with me this weekend?

Apparently that would be the best time to stop working. Guess I am buying some new clothes when I get there.

See you all Monday!

(the Hub saved the day [sorta] by not only calling the repair people and setting up and apppointment, he also remembered to extend the warranty on our 3 year-old machine, hooray for men!)

Laguiole is French for Snob

About 8 years ago I was in a wine shop and I was immediately drawn to this beautiful wine key. I asked the guy who worked there about this piece of artistry. Turns out it was handmade by a famous French cutlery house, Laguiole. Beauty like this has a price and the thing ran about $125. I couldn't afford it so I told myself that the first "real" wine job I got I would buy myself one as a reward. Each of my last three jobs were wine-related yet when it came time to buy, I couldn't justify the expense.

Last week we were in a group meeting and everyone else at the table had a Laguiole except me! One girl found one in a box that had been lying around her house for over a year. She received it as a gift from a supplier and didn't think it was a Laguiole and just tossed it aside. I think it was at this point that I said, "Man! I would do almost ANYTHING for one of those!"

The guy sitting next to me asked, "Anything?"

His job previous to our little group was working supplier side for a well known wine group. Turns out he had a couple of branded ones just hanging around at his house. If I didn't mind getting one with the name of a winery on it, I could have it.

Of course I told him to stick his branded wine key up his ass. YEAH RIGHT, the beautiful thing has been with me all weekend. I might sleep with it under my pillow tonight. Best part, it was free! Good thing, too, since they seem to have gone up in price.

I Was In Ballard After All

I was getting low on fuel today and after work drove over to Doctor Dan's to get myse'f some biodiesel. Since it isn't your typical gas station and you prepay for your fuel (in 40 gallon increments!) you get a key to let you into the little trailer that holds said biodiesel.

There are a few rules and procedures to do before and after you get your fuel. Turn a key, zero out the meter, turn on the pump thingee, when done you mark down how much you used, etc. While I am doing this I get two calls on my cell phone and I get a little distracted. I also had to call the Hub to find out how much biodiesel we had left on our account. I go to get in the car. No keys. Turns out I left them in the hutch. So, duly embarrassed I get my keys out and then get in the Beetle and take off.

Four blocks later I glance in the right side rearview mirror. Oh shit! I left the gas door open and the gas cap off. So I stop to fix the problem and feel a deep relief that no one caught this silliness of mine. Then the Cell rings, it is the Hub.

"Hello?"

"Hey, you need to fix your gas cap."

(pause)
(look around)

"Um, how did you know?"

"Doctor Dan's just called to let me know I didn't get my gas cap on. I told them it couldn't be me and they asked if I had a yellow Beetle, so I told them it must be you."

Looks like I can pretty much just shrivel up and die now.

Not Down For The Count

Just overbooked right now. More after this weekend is over.