A Little Break August 20, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Blogging, Off-Topic.Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Colorado, Grand Junction, Merlot, Palisade, Wine, Wine Tasting
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Well, I’ve taken a short break from blogging, but I’m hoping to get back into regularly posting about whatever’s on my mind.
The wife and I took a trip to Grand Junction, CO last weekend. We toured the heart of Colorado wine country in and around Palisade. There are some great wineries in the area, and we lugged home about three cases of wine. My wife loves Syrah and Shiraz, so I think we got a bottle at nearly each winery we visited. We came home with several bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, and a delicious little find – the Cabernet Franc – that I haven’t seen in the stores (maybe cuz I haven’t been looking for it). Anyhoo, Cab Franc is widely used in blends, but vintners are starting to use it on its own. It’s a bit more mellow than the Cab Sauvignon, but still has a lot of intensity.
We also picked up a few novelty varietals, too. I found a great Merlot blush at a vineyard way off the beaten path that will be great chilled on a warm summer afternoon. I don’t usually care for the sweeter wines, but this is quite tasty.
At the same vineyard that we got the Merlot blush, the vintner was was doing a barrel tasting of a Merlot that had been in the barrel for about six months. My wife and I were lucky enough to get to sample this young wine. Oh my gosh, it was fantastic! He said he was going to bottle it early next year.
The prices were very reasonable, too. When you can get a great bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for under 20 bucks, it makes it easy to build up a collection.
The great thing about wine tasting is that you get to try it before you buy it. So everything we came home with is stuff we know we like. I’ve spent the better part of many trips to the liquor store standing in the isle trying to decide between this one or that one. Without being able to taste it first, or not having a recommendation on which to buy, it’s a kind of a game of chance. Usually the odds are in your favor, but when you spend 15 bucks for a bottle and it’s not what you expect, it’s disappointing.
So now I have to get a new rack for my wine cellar (more accurately, an empty part of my basement). And I’m looking forward to the next occasion when I can enjoy another great bottle. Wednesday can be an occasion, right?
And we’re back July 6, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Blogging, Off-Topic.Tags: Vacation
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What a great vacation, if you don’t count getting there and getting back. Our red-eye from Denver was canceled, so we spent the night in
the airport. Instead of getting to Cape Cod at 11am, we ended up getting there at 11pm, thanks to our canceled flight and a 5-hour layover in Detroit.
But Cape Cod was great! If you get the chance, spend some time there; I highly recommend it. We stayed in Dennis Port on the south part of the Cape. You’ve got to go to Race Point for the sunset, out near the eastern tip of the Cape. We were there for a near-perfect sunset, and it wasn’t crowded at all.
Later in the week, we toured Fenway Park in Boston (Go Sox!). They love their Sox in Boston – and hate hate the Yankees. It’s almost as if they hate the Yankees more than they love the Sox. And we were in Boston for the 4th of July fireworks.
So I’m off again tomorrow, but I’ll be back to my IT superhero duties on Tuesday.
If you’ve visited Cape Cod or Boston, let me know what you saw or what you did.
Superman Not Renting Out the Fortress of Solitude June 22, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Blogging, Humor, Off-Topic, Technology.Tags: Fortress of Solitude, Superhero, Superman, Vacation
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I’m going on vacation soon; even superheroes need some time to decompress.
A few months ago when I was planning this vacation, I called up Superman, and said, “Hey could I use the Fortress of Solitude for a week or so end of June/beginning of July timeframe? I’ll even pay you some rent.” Superman was like, “No, I’m having the place fumigated while there’s plenty of daylight.” So I said, “What? Fumigated? What kind of bugs do you get at the friggin’ Arctic?” And he says, “Well, I’m also having it deep cleaned, and it just wouldn’t be a good time.” I was like, “Dude, if you don’t want me to use it, just say so, but fumigation at the Arctic and deep cleaning, com’on.”
Then starts in on me, “All you everyday heroes think you need to vacation at the Fortress. I’m friggin’ Superman, the most awesome superhero, and I need a place to escape and recharge. I mean, why don’t you just take the kiddies to Disney World, for crying out loud!?” I said, “Dude, I was just asking. But I guess you’re spending a lot of time up there, yourself, because the crime rate keeps rising, and there’s still terrorism and all.”
There was a long pause, and I said “Superman? I’m sorry, dude. That was mean. I know you’re busy rescuing all those kittens stuck in trees back there in Metropolis!”
I don’t think I’m getting invited back to Fortress of Solitude.
The Best Cup of Coffee You can Make June 21, 2008
Posted by AlisterComputeron in Blogging, Off-Topic.Tags: Coffee, French Press, Mr. Coffee
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My Mr. Coffee coffee maker stopped working a while back. It started taking longer and longer to brew a pot, and the coffee began to taste bitter. I experimented with different grinds; some finer, some more course. Oh, and it leaked if I put more than 8 and a half cups of water in the reservoir. But ultimately I decided that it was time for a new one, which was kind of a bummer, since I’d only had the Mr. Coffee for about a year.
In my quest for another maker, I looked at a number of different models on Amazon. I like reading user comments about various products that I’m interested in, and have had some good luck purchasing items that have gotten favorable reviews.
I found several coffee makers that were highly rated. However, even some of the highly rated ones had a hand full of negative comments that made some strong arguments against a particular model.
My wife suggested that I research a French Press coffee maker, and initially I was skeptical. A French press is basically a glass beaker with a plunger. You put your ground coffee in the beaker, add some hot water, and let the coffee and water steep together for three or four minutes.
After reading some web sites about French Press coffee makers, I decided to give one a try. I found an eight-cup maker at Starbucks for about $30.
From the very first pot I brewed with it, I have been in love my French press. I get a delicious, rich, full-flavored cup of coffee, that I was never able to get with any drip maker that I had.
So if you love great tasting coffee, consider a French Press.
Web sites about French Press coffee makers:
