Mood:  cheeky

Last night, I did something I haven't done in a long time—I read. In complete silence. For hours. 

I was on pins and needles trying to finish Audrey Niffenegger's first book, The Time Traveler's Wife. So far, I haven't read much this summer, and frankly I blame that on drinking too much, and not having my usual amount of alone time. So, I was happy to come home to a quiet apartment, leave the television off, and curl up with about 300 pages of good writing.

I did finish it, and I really, really liked it. However, I have no clue how to explain this book. In a nutshell, it's about a girl, Clare, who is in love with a man who travels through time. They try to have a friendship, then later a relationship and a marriage, all while he travels back and forth through different periods of his life.

At the end of the book, there is a reading group guide that might help me explain myself a little further. Here is the last question of the guide, question 16:

How does the author use time travel as a metaphor: for love, for loss and absence, for fate, for aging, for death? To what extent are Clare and Henry a "normal" couple?

Technically, we are all "time traveler's," it's just that we are traveling forward through time, living our lives in the order of the sun, seconds, minutes and hours, as they fall. Henry, on the other hand, has lived his entire life once, and moves back and forth through it again, jumping back through time or into the future with no warning or notice.

Time travel as a metaphor for love is an interesting concept. It's like when people say, "maybe it was just bad timing." There is something to be said about timing and the effect it has on love. In order for things to work, both people in the relationship have to be at the right moment in their life. So as each person is traveling through time, they must cross each other's paths at exactly the right moment, or the relationship may fail.

This idea goes hand in hand with using time as a metaphor for fate. To blame a relationship's failures on bad timing is to ignore fate. If we rely on fate to get us to our match ultimately, then it wasn't bad timing, it was fate leading us to The One.  

Henry and Clare's relationship didn't work until they officially met in the present, in 1990. Before that, Clare was too young, or Henry was too old. Once Henry reaches the present, their relationship seems to grow, they fall in love and time seems to stop.

Now, as for time travel as a metaphor for loss, absence, death, and aging? This is a little less clear to me, but it comes in the form of Henry and Clare and their attempts at starting a family. While they argue about their miscarriages and how there is a chance Clare could die—Henry has seen her give birth, live, and seen his daughter as a young lady. So he knew somewhere that Clare wouldn't die. Same as the scene when Clare is 16, driving down the road with her eyes closed, she says she knows she doesn't die, so why not? Both of them, mess with fate and often don't seem to trust it. 

BLAM! Look who's the English major...I can still analyze text. Go me.

Seriously, I enjoyed this book. It made me think. I love the characters and their struggles—it wasn't so polished and clean like most fiction novels are. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I will—even if I already know it won't be as good as the book.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:44 PM CDT

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Mood:  mischievious

For this week's class, we made it to Spain—another wine territory I know very little about. But that will change, I hope. 

Like Italy, Spain has classification systems and definitions for aging. 

DO or DOCa must follow these terms and guidelines:

Vino Joven: red and white, no oak, minimum of one year aging.

Crianza: reds—24 months minimum aging, 6 months minimum in cask, down from the previous one year. Whites and Rosado—12 months minimum aging, 6 months minimum in cask.

Reserva: reds—minimum aging of 36 months, 12 months minimum in cask the remaining time must be in the bottle, not in a tank. Whites and Rosado—24 months in minimum aging, 6 months minimum in cask, remaining time in a bottle.

Grand Reserva: reds—60 months minimum aging, 18 months minimum in cask, the remaining time must be in a bottle. Whites and Rosado—48 months minimum, 6 months minimum in cask, remaining time in the bottle.

As Spain is one of the largest wine territories in Europe, they have many different grape varietals (according to a handout from my teacher), including:

THE WHITES 

Airen—the most widely planted grape in the world, but planted only in the center part of Spain. The million acres of Airen sited in Spain's Meseta amount to far more than all the acres of Cabernet in the world, as well as any other grape you can name. It is generally used for Brandy and for simple whites.

Albarino—depending upon the vintage and the subregion of Rias Baixas, the indigenous variety of Galicia in northwest Spain can be rich and expressive, with peach and apricot notes or tart and bracing, like green apples and lemon peels.

Godello—a relatively unknown variety that can express depth and character in Valdeorras, and increasingly more in Ribeiro.

Hondarribi—a cause celebre in some markets, this produces the bracingly tart, txakoli-style white wine of Basque Country.

Parellada—the bulk ingredient of most Cava and a few pleasant table wines. 

Pedro Ximenez—generally speaking, a variety used in the production of sweet Sherry. In Montilla-Moriles, this grape can produce great dessert wines but also a few dry-styled wines.

Verdejo—a delightful and textured grape, with citrus elements covering notes of melon, apple, and stone fruits. Often it is blended with Sauvignon Blanc in Rueda.

Viura—A grape that performs differently in different places. In Penedes, especially in Cava production, it's the fat and friendly part of a blend. But in Rioja or Navarra, you can find partisans who believe it simply requires careful vinification to unlock its character and even longevity.

Xarel-lo—one of the principle constituents of Cava, this surprisingly interesting variety goes into the production of some lovely wines from the slate soils of Alella. It can be the layered and age-worthy part of Cava.

THE REDS

Alicante—sometimes called Garnacha Tintorera, it's one of the few grapes to have not only color in the skins but also colored juice.

Bobal—ironically, better known for its blending attributes than for its stand-alone abilities, but there are now delicious Bobals being made in the Valencia region.

Carinena—known as Carignan in the rest of the world, but its rightful name is Carinena, just like the eastern Spanish town from which is probably originates. It's called Mazuelo in Rioja and doesn't get much respect anywhere except in Priorat and Montsant, where old vines can produce a powerful, notable wine.

Garnacha—known as Grenache in the rest of the world, it ought to be called Garnacha, as it originates in Spain, and traveled to southern France in the eighth and ninth centuries. The rap on the grape is that it is only great when it's powerful and alcoholic. That's not necessarily true, but Grenache does need to grow in a warm spot to display its best character. It's the critical grape in Priorat, and it is often bottled as a rosado elsewhere in Spain. It's the third most planted grape in Spain and the second most planted variety in the world.

Graciano—a very minor player in Rioja but one that has its fans. It can have beautiful aromatics, color, and tannin.

Juan Garcia—grown in Zamora, but is more about potential than reality.

Listan Negro—a grape that offers excellence on the Canary Islands.

Manto Negro—grown on Minorca and Mallorca and offering occasional excellence.

Mencia—some folks think its Cabernet Franc. It's not, but it's easy to understand why. It carries the red-cherry intensity and herbal note often found in Cabernet Franc. Like Cabernet Franc, Mencia can often be underwhelming. Even at its best, it is more structured than lush. 

Monastrell—known in the rest of the world as Mourvedre, it's a grape of Spanish origin. As in France, it is capable of producing truly great wines, but so few people are focused upon that goal. The grape shows the most promise in Jumilla and Yecla.

Moristel—a light and fruity grape in Somontano that almost never makes serious or powerful wine but can be a charming wine nonetheless.

Tempranillo—the reigning indigenous red variety of Spain. Its various clones that are grown in different parts of Spain have very different characteristics: in the south, it ripens early; in Penedes, growers say that it's low in acidity and doesn't age well; in Ribera del Duero, it's an ideal ager with moderate tannins and alcohol; and even in Rioja, growers accuse it of low acidity, yet it ages far better than its structure suggests. The variety has performed exceedingly well in the traditional style of Rioja; the soft, modern style of red wine; and also in powerful, rich, international school-style wines.

The wines we tasted in class include the Paul Cheneau Cava "Lady of Spain" from Penedes, the 2008 Rioja from Monopole, the 2008 Rioja by Rioja Vega, the 2006 DOC Rioja by Lorinon Tinto Crianza, the 2004 Labastida Reserva, and the 2006 DO Cava/DO Penedes by Can Feixes Negre Seleccio. 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:14 AM CDT

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Mood:  crushed out

The final episode of The Hills, ever, begins in a cheesy fashion—Lo, Stephanie, KCal, and Audrina are all hanging out together, discussing the future. They notice that they are all going on their own paths: Audrina says she wants to move out of Hollywood, while Lo says she wants to have Scott's babies. Lo says since they are all in their mid-twenties, it's time for them to have their quater-life crisis (thank you, John Mayer. Call me) and decide who they want to be. KCal says the Brody situation is done and she needs to make a change. 

And we hear the bittersweet sound of the theme song...for The. Last. Time.

Sigh.  

Brody, Frankie, and Taylor are golfing (raging) and talking about girlfriends. Brody tells the guys that he's talking to someone else (ahem, AVRIL LAVIGNE), and he wants to be friends with KCal, but doesn't know if they are capable of doing so. 

Lo and Stephanie are out, discussing the workings of Stephanie's new man, Josh. They aren't official, but Lo thinks Stephanie should put herself out there. Lo hasn't decided if she will move in with Scott, because she doesn't want to break her rule. However, Stephanie convinces her to take her own advice and break the rule. 

At KCal's house, Stacie is hanging out and KCal tells her about the Brody situation. Stacie reminds KCal that a "friends with benefits" relationship would never work anyway. KCal says she is still pretty bummed out; she feels like everyone else is changing and she wants to change and be excited about something. KCal tells Stacie she wants to move to Europe since she's never been there and it would force her to find what she wants out of life. 

Stephanie goes to visit Josh and watch him race his motorcycle. She tells him that she likes hanging out with him and they both admit they aren't seeing anyone else. So they decide to be exclusive...and they kiss, and then I want to die. He is gross. Stephanie Pratt has a boyfriend and I don't??? Even if he is disgusting, he's still her boyfriend. 

KCal goes to visit Brody at the pool and tells him that she is moving to Europe. She says she's bored in Hollywood and needs the change. Brody wants to know if he had anything to do with the decision, but KCal says no. His phone is ringing during all of this and it's obvious that it must be AVRIL LAVIGNE calling, but Brody says it's not important. KCal invites him to her going-away party, but he says he refuses to celebrate her going away. 

Audrina brings Stephanie to see her new house that's right on the beach. I'm not going to lie, this house is BAD ASS. Stephanie tells her about the talk she had with Josh and Audrina seems very happy about the new boyfriend. Audrina tells Stephanie that she isn't going to KCal's party, because she wants to get out of the club scene and she doesn't want to see Justin Bobby or RYAN CABRERA. Both of the girls are pretty weirded out that everyone is going their own separate ways, they wonder...what will happen to them???

Lo, Scott, Frankie, and Stacie are all at KCal's going away party. KCal is really concerned that Brody won't show up; if he doesn't, she says, then she'll know she really made the right decision by moving away. But alas, Brody pulls through and arrives at the party ready to rage. There's an awkward Sex and the City-like scene with KCal and the ladies as they debate whether she should go talk to him or not. Of course, she does. Brody says he is going to miss her and asks her not to leave. Although they both get teary-eyed, KCal stands her ground. 

At Scott's house, Lo is unpacking her boxes and has obviously broken her rule and made the decision to move in with him. He tells her he wants to spend the rest of his life with her, because she is perfect and he would marry her right now...and I want to die, once again. 

Back at KCal's, Stacie is helping her pack a few last minute things. KCal's driver arrives, she takes one last look at her house, and walks outside to meet the car. As they are loading up the trunk, Brody shows up, and Stacie says her goodbyes leaving KCal and Brody to themselves. He tells her that he wouldn't have dated someone else if he knew it meant she was going to leave. Although she says that's all she needed to hear, she knows she still has to leave. So they hug and say goodbye and she gets in the car. 

Then, we see moments from the past. We see scenes from Laguna Beach, and The Hills: the moment when KCal and Stephen spent their last night on the beach, when Lauren and Audrina met for the first time, Lo on that horrible date in high school...

Then, it happens.

We see Brody standing there, then the scene begins to rotate around him. The camera pans out, the perfect Hollywood backdrop rolls away, and we see a scene lot, with the car, cameras and a crew. KCal gets out of the car and gives Brody a hug, everyone high fives.

What. The. Fuck?????

Yes, I know, I can't possibly believe the whole show was real. I never did believe it. However, that was what I loved about The Hills. I didn't want to watch a show about people and their real lives—guess what? I live a real live every day and it's pretty effing lame. I want to see people my age living the absolute dream. And that's what The Hills has done for me for the last six years. I've gotten to see romantic shots of a city I love, I've sat VIP in Les Deux, eaten dinner with Jason and Lauren at Ketchup, spent hours sunning at The Roosevelt. The false ending broke my heart a bit; I knew the truth, but I never wanted to wake up from the dream.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:30 PM CDT

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Mood:  vegas lucky

Over the weekend, I finished reading my first Nicholas Sparks' novel—The Last Song. You may recall, that I saw the movie first, which I understand, is not the natural order of the world. 

When I saw the movie, I enjoyed it, however I noticed there had to be several details left out because several of the scenes weren't stitched together quite right.

So I read. Although I sometimes hate admitting it when I love a mainstream romance, I'll go ahead and say it—I loved this book. And how could I tell that it was love and not lust? I couldn't put it down.

The Last Song is a love story, but a tale of love through romance, family, animals, growth, and loss.

Just as in the movie, we meet the main character Ronnie, who is staying with her dad for the summer. She is 17, about to be 18, going through a major phase of teenage angst, topped with a hatred for her father after he left the family.

So there she is, in a new city for the next three months, with her younger brother Jonah. As if her father himself doesn't make her angry enough, his piano makes things worse. Ronnie's father, Steve was a music professor at Julliard—a love they shared together. He was her teach growing up, giving her the leg up on major performances such as Carnegie Hall. But since her father left, Ronnie's hatred for the piano grew, just as it did for her father.

During the summer, Ronnie meets a few new people—some good, some bad, and some very bad. But while learning about their lives, she looks into her own.

She spends her evenings guarding a nest of turtle eggs, which brings her closer to a few people. She learns more about her father, after he makes a drastic move just for her.

She also falls in love, only to be faced with the greatest loss of her life.

At the end of the summer, what will come of Ronnie, her family, the turtles, and her summer love? I won't ruin it for you...this is a book I would recommend. A great summer read! 

Nicholas Sparks is the author of several other books, including Safe Haven, The Lucky One, Dear John, The Choice, At First Sight, True Believer, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Guardian, The Wedding, Nights In Rodanthe, A Bend In The Road, The Rescue, A Walk To Remember, Message In A Bottle, and The Notebook.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 8:24 AM CDT

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Mood:  mischievious

In honor of The Hills series finale tomorrow night, I took precious time out of my weekend to pay homage to where it all began—Laguna Beach. So I did the only appropriate thing I could do: I sat and watched season one of Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County. 

Cue theme song:

"Let the rain fall down, and wake my dreams, let it wash away my sanity. 'Cause I wanna feel the thunder, I wanna scream, Let the rain fall down, I'm coming clean, I'm coming clean..."

Thank you, Hilary Duff.

So yes, in case you have forgotten, The Hills wouldn't have happened if the MTV cameras hadn't found one miss Lauren Conrad ("my friends call me LC") and her drama-filled crew, in a little beach town known as Laguna.

I watched this lil special on MTV that said the original idea for the show was a reality show based on 90210. However, no school in Beverly Hills would go for it. So the producers traveled to Laguna Beach where they met hundreds of students before deciding on the core group:

Stephen—Whether he knows it or not, he seems to be the core of most of the drama. He's in the middle of the love triangle with Kristin and LC.

Talan—he's the second choice hookup for all of the Laguna ladies.

Trey—OMG definitely the hottest guy of the show, but goes unnoticed. He's the hippie with the party house who is out to make a youth movement by starting Active Young America.

Morgan—the virgin of the bunch, and also quite the faggot loser.

Christina—the pastor's daughter who wants to be a singer/actress/dancer, even though she really sucks at it.

Lo—unfortunately, this chica made her way onto The Hills, so we've had to put up with her annoying voice for six years.

Alex—Kristin's good friend who really has no place on the show other than that.

Jessica—Dieter's boyfriend, and also a friend of Kristin's. Her role becomes greater in LB season 2, when she dates Jason.

And of course there's LC and Kristin, the lifelong rivals all because of lil old Stephen.

Season one, as you may recall, involved lots of drama. It was senior year for LC, Stephen, Morgan, Christina, Lo, Trey, and even Jenn Bunny. The whole gang was trying to make it one big party, starting things off with the "Black and White Affair." 

LC, Lo, Morgan, and Christina host the event at the Surf & Sands hotel suite, which runs at $700 a night (nearly the cost of my monthly rent). Just sayin...

But before the party goes down, we get to see the makings of a Laguna weekend. Trey hosts a BBQ at his place (or at his parents'), where everyone is welcome. But when Kristin stops by Stephen's work, Surf & Sport, she tells him she won't go to the BBQ if LC is there. Stephen goes to the party, while Kristin paints her toenails with Alex. LC is indeed at the party, giving Stephen the bedroom eyes the entire night...before they end up going home together.

Although Stephen does arrive at the Black and White Affair the next night, he brings Kristin along, which is a complete buzz kill for LC.

In episode two, Christina calls Morgan to tell her she got accepted to her top choice college, SMU. Morgan received her letter from BYU, the only college she applied to, and wants to open it with Christina. When she arrives, they walk to the beach and open the letter. 

REJECTED!

As mean as it sounds, this part of the episode makes me laugh every time. It's obvious she got rejected before she even opens the letter, because it's teeny tiny and we all know that acceptance letters come in large envelops. Loser.

Lo and LC get their makeup done and head out for the night to a coffee shop where Trey is hosting an AYA Open Mic event. On the other side of town, Jessica and Kristin attempt to cook Stephen and Dieter a dinner of bowtie pasta, sauce that tastes like feet, chicken, feta cheese, and an organic heart-shaped cake. The food doesn't go over so well, and Kristin answers her cell phone to chat with Sam—a guy she thinks is sooooo hot. Needless to say, Stephen gets pissed.

In episode three, Sam, Alex, and Kristin go to the car dealership to scope out a new ride for Kristin, even though her dad already told her she isn't getting a new one. However, on the ride home her car breaks down, to which she screams, "See?! My car is dunzo!!"

Later, Trey invites Stephen and LC to Los Angeles for a fashion show. LC, being the fashion guru we all know she is, is pretty excited at first, that is until Stephen starts drooling over all of the models on the runway. At the after party, the models are all over Stephen, sending LC into a jealous rage, and back home to Laguna.

In episode four, Christina has her first adult birthday party with no adults at the wild & crazy Joe's Crab Shack. She invites Morgan and Kristin, but doesn't invite Lo or LC, because she thinks they cause too much drama. For her birthday, Christina finds out she has an audition in New York City with the casting director of RENT, Hairspray, and Wicked. She's on a high horse until her and Morgan run into Lo and LC at the nail salon, where they are confronted about the birthday party.

Christina and Morgan are off to New York City, choosing this as their spring break location, instead of Cabo, like everyone else. We get to see Christina's singing audition, which makes me feel embarrassed for her because she sucks so bad, and obviously doesn't get the part.

Episode five is the lovely trip to Cabo, where drama in the love triangle really heats up. Kristin rips a few shots at the bar and gets on it to dance with her friends. Stephen absolutely hates this and chases after her calling her a slut. Kristin immediately does what she knows is right and makes out with Sam right in front of Stephen. Naturally, he goes to find LC, and she gets the hookup.

What happens in Cabo, stays in Cabo!

Although Kristin and Stephen broke up in Cabo, she invites him to join her in San Diego for a Blink 182 concert in episode six. Oddly enough, they run into Trey, Lo, and LC at the concert too.

Later, everyone is helping Trey put together a fashion show for AYA, featuring unique t-shirts and hats. Stephen and Kristin are the only ones of the bunch to not help out, but they make it to the show to watch, where it appears they are back together.

Episode seven is probably one of my favorites—prom. We get to see the guys ask the girls in cute ways. LC has had her date lined up for years, a guy no one knows. Stephen asks Kristin by posing as her secret admirer. The end of the prom episode is rather sentimental for the core group, as they realize it's their last hurrah before graduation.

In episode eight, everyone but Lo goes on an overnight camping trip. It's rather uneventful, other than Stephen putting on a bear costume one night in order to scare the girls. While Lo is back in Laguna, she goes on a date with a complete tool who answers his cell phone during dinner. I would put this down as one of the worst dates in history.

Graduation comes and goes in episode nine.

Episode ten is when the group begins to part ways for college. Trey hosts his last BBQ at his house the night before he leaves for school in New York. Everyone seems to be a little sad, remembering the times they have shared, while Stephen and Kristin's relationship is the best it's ever been.

The season finale of Laguna Beach involves everyone packing and leaving for college. Stephen and Kristin pack his things, and he says goodbye to his parents. LC invites her girlfriends over to help her pack and she catches a flight to San Francisco...everything is all sad, until Stephen picks her up at the airport and they head off to college together. 

From there, we now know that LC doesn't make it in San Fran. She gets homesick, moves home for a bit, and then travels to Los Angeles to attend FIDM...and so The Hills was born.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 9:51 AM CDT

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Mood:  energetic

It's been a long time since I've cooked anything, let alone cooked for myself. In fact, my refrigerator is pretty embarrassing, as it only has a 2 liter of lemonade, some sangria, and jelly inside of it. 

A small part of my is afraid to admit that cooking might be a little piece of baggage for me (just a carry-on). But it is also a great source of joy for me; it allows me time to myself, a project to accomplish, and a great meal to eat. So here's to getting back in the game!

I couldn't think of any greater reason to get out my pots and pans, other than the fact that my basil plant outside was ready to be trimmed. And eaten. So I planned one of my favorite meals to cook just so I could use a pile of fresh basil.

Years ago, my favorite restaurant (dare I say of-all-time) closed in Indianapolis. Known as Bertolini's, it was home to delicious pasta, pizza, and "Spaghetti Ice". I've always said if I had one meal left to eat on this earth it would be Bertolini's Calamari Fritti, their crusty bread with the olive and caper sauce, and end it with a huge helping of tiramisu. 

But for my entree? Hands down it would be Bertolini's Capelli d'Angelo al Pomodoro e Basillico.

Oh. My. God.

This dish is served in a large white bowl, full of the thinnest angel hair pasta, which believe me, makes all the difference. The noodles are intertwined with warm chopped tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and whole cloves of garlic, all glistening in a sheen of olive oil.

So amazing. It might be the closest thing to a religious experience I've ever had. And it packed its bags and moved to Vegas. Jesus!!

Anyway, I have always tried to perfect a dish like this at my own home; I come close, but it's never quite the same. However, Wednesday night, I gave it a whirl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basil (center) growing tall and mighty with Rosemary (left) coming along slowly, and Thyme (right), well taking its sweet-ass time.

 

 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Friday, July 9, 2010 8:12 AM CDT

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Mood:  suave

In this week's class, we moved out of Italy and into France. Although I've taken this class once before, French wine is something I know very little about. My teacher gave us a handout, "The Concept of Terroir," already something I have never heard of. 

So I did a little research.

Terroir: (noun). The complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate.

According to the article, wine has changed over time and has become more popular because of technological advances used in the wine making process. The quality of wine has improved, which wine makers appreciate, however they don't want to ignore the original flavor of the grape—which represents the region it was grown in.

"There is a fine line between making necessary refinements to a fundamental process and turning priorities on end. There is little mystery to the crafting of fine wine."

The article names the vineyard as the proper start to great wine, following these two rules: 1. 90% of the ultimate wine is created in the vineyard, and 2. the role of the winemaker is to let the wine make itself.

It refers to the holy trinity of terroir: soil, climate, and grape variety. These elements make each wine unique; the winemaker is present to ensure the wine is its most clear in order to represent is geographical region.

I take it this is wine many French wines are known for their "earthy" flavor—perhaps its winemaker was sure to only enhance the natural qualities of that grape.

I really enjoyed the first wine of the evening, a white, the Domaine du Bagnol. It is a blend of Marsanne, Clairette, and Ugni. This results in a very light, clean flavor—everything I look for in a white wine!

The second wine of the night was a pretty rose, the Domaine du Gour de Chaule. In making this wine, a small amount of the press juice is added back to the skins, which gives it the rose color. It is composed of Cinsault, Grenache, and Mourvedre. It's a sweet, yet refreshing summer wine. 

My favorite red of the class was the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape. It is made up of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. Portions of it matures in barrels for 18 months.  

The other wines we tasted this week include the Domaine de Monpertuis, the 2006 Dom. Massiac Minervois, the 2005 Jaboulet Gigondas 'Pierre Aiguille', the 2007 Cotes dy Rhone Rouge, and the 2005 Les Clo de Paulilles.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  down

For starters, let's partake in a moment of silence to acknowledge next week's episode of The Hills, as it is, the Final. Episode. Ever. 

...............

Alright, Holly, Lo, and Stephanie are having breakfast when Holly mentions that her mom, ole Darlene will be in town soon. She is curious to see if they will be able to get ahold of Heidi and if so, what will happen? Oh, the drama. Lo wants to know about the Costa Rica trip, which is then that I realize she wasn't there—why the hell not? They give her the scoop, particularly the drama that happened between Brody and KCal. On a lighter not, Lo says her one-year anniversary with Scott is coming up... 

Brody and the guys are at the speed shop, you know, raging. They too are discussing the trip and Brody still seems pretty upset that KCal was with another guy, even though he tried to play it off like he wasn't. Sigh—men. Frankie tells Brody he should just get another girl, when Brody says, "Maybe I already have another girl." HMMMM could it be...AVRIL LAVIGNE? Perhaps? Then they all ride off on bikes into the sun, channeling Justin Bobby. 

Darlene hops off the plane at L-A-X, with her dream, her cardigan; welcome to the land of fame/excess, is she gonna fit in? Holly is there to pick her up and Darlene is all—"this is all so crazy! Everybody seems so famous!" Actually, Holly tells her that she's been trying to get ahold of Heidi, but with no luck. Darlene makes it clear that she doesn't want the girls to write Heidi off, because she knows she will come around, it just has to be in her own time. And it's a party in the USA. 

Stacie and KCal are out for the night and they see Brody on the other side of the club, however he basically ignores them for the entire night. Scott and Lo arrive, along with Stephanie, who is immediately attracted to Brody's friend Josh. Josh introduces himself and asks Stephanie if she is dating anyone (of course she isn't, because she effed it up with Max—call me). Later, he walks her out to her car and gets her number. Brody leaves, walking by KCal without saying a word.  

The next day, KCal and Stacie are out, discussing last night's events. KCal says Brody texted her, saying he wanted to come over and talk. Stacie tells KCal she needs to use this time to put everything out there and see what happens. 

Later, Stephanie and Josh are out on their lil date, and he immediately catches on that she didn't order a drink. He confesses that he has to pick and choose because of his career of racing motorcycles. Josh also tells her he was a little nervous about the date because of some of the things Brody told him about her, like all of the drama with Spencer and the DUI. However, they seem to be getting off to a good start...for Stephanie. 

Lo and Scott are out for their one-year anniversary, and to be honest, it's pretty effing cheesy and makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit. She tells him it's been one of the best years of her life, all because of him, and he agrees. He hints at moving in together, but she brushes it off and says she needs "the next step" before that can happen. However, she still tells him she feels like the luckiest girl in the world. 

Brody arrives at KCals and they share some wine. She says she feels like things are weird between them and he says he agrees things are different. KCal puts it out there that she wants to give things another shot with him and she wants a boyfriend. Brody says she's putting herself out there now, but he wants to know why she was playing all of the games before...he seems really frustrated and tells her it's too late. And then he says it—the reason he's been distant lately is because he's been hanging out with someone else and wants to see where it goes (heard that before girlfriend!). Then, he leaves...and I actually feel pretty bad for ole KCal. The old whore just don't have it anymore.  

At yoga class, Lo and Stephanie are discussing the date with Josh. It's agreed that they both like him and they move on to talk about Lo's night with Scott. She tells Stephanie that she wants to move in, but she has a rule that she has to be engaged first. Stephanie thinks Lo should move in without the ring, because Scott isn't like any other guy...well, Stephanie also thought it was a good idea to drink and drive, so...Just saying!

Darlene and Holly are at lunch, still trying to get ahold of Heidi...but of course, they fail. Darlene says she thinks Heidi feels like she's had to choose between her family and Spencer. Because of this, Darlene says she has been mourning the loss of a child and she has been taking sleeping pills just to go to bed at night. Frankly, this pisses me off. I know Heidi is a complete fucktard, but I don't understand the point of Darlene being in this episode and why it's necessary for her to blab about her newfound drug problem to us. Get ahold of yourself Darlene!

KCal meets up with Lo for lunch and spills the beans about Brody's random girlfriend that no one knew about. KCal doesn't know what to do now that she's put herself out there and gotten rejected. Lo reminds KCal that she is the girl that guys crawl after. However, KCal just keeps saying that the guys she loves, doesn't love her (been there, done that, hated it). Lo suggests that maybe that isn't the case and it's simply bad timing, but KCAL insists that it's done. 

ON THE FINAL EPISODE: Audrina gets a beach house, Lo gets engaged, KCal talks to Brody and it ends in a sad goodbye!  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 11:08 AM CDT

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Mood:  lazy

Over the long weekend (thank you), I had a chance to finish a book I've been reading for months—Life's A Beach, by Claire Cook. No, it was not a difficult read and it was only 250 pages, but yes, it took me way too long to read it. 

As I've mentioned before, I haven't spent much time reading lately. In fact, now that I'm single, I spend more time with people than I do being alone—oddly, when I was in a relationship, I was alone more than ever. But that is neither here nor there—I've been spending my time with friends, a new guy, and well, out at the bars instead of curling up alone on a Saturday night.

And to top it off, this book is fiction, and I usually have a tough time getting into fiction novels. Don't you ever notice the characters are a little too put together? Their conversations are a little too...well written? It gets on my nerves. But nonetheless, I wanted to read more fiction this summer, figuring it was something light I could get into while relaxing by the pool.

Life's A Beach is supposed to be a story about sisters—one, Ginger, isn't quite where she wants to be in life. She still lives at home with her parents and her cat; she isn't established in her career of jewelry-making, and she is chasing after a guy who puts nearly everything else before her and doesn't want to commit (been there, done that, check please). Ginger's sister, however, seems like she's got it all—her job is at its peak, she is married with children, living in a home of her own. Life is so unfair!

Instead of focusing on the relationship between these two sisters at odds, I found this book meandering through Ginger's life—which is boring as hell. She ends up spending her summer playing mommy to her sister's kids, while she still tries to chase after this tool bag boyfriend wannabe of hers.

About 150 pages in, the sisterly bond comes up and makes the book a little more interesting. But what will happen with Ginger's jewelry-making dreams? And the man in her life? Will she finally give him an ultimatum and get on with her life, or is she doomed to be a cat lady forever?

I was kind of shocked I didn't enjoy this book more—Claire Cook is about to release her seventh novel, the others being: The Wildwater Walking Club, Summer Blowout, Ready to Fall, Must Love Dogs, and Multiple Choice. 

Most of the praise for Life's A Beach said the book was funny and witty...that might be true, if I was 45 (no offense). The main character is 41, so the things she does are a little funny, for her. At 25, I'm pretty damn funny, and sarcasm isn't anything new. I hope I don't lose my wit in 15 years.  

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:26 AM CDT

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Mood:  lucky

Since I went from 19 to 20, I haven't been a huge fan of my birthday. Growing up, I never thought I would be one of those women who complained about her age, or getter older in general, but I do. 

I don't know exactly what it is that makes me shy from the birthday celebration—a friend pointed out that since my day falls near the fourth of July, maybe I'm used to people being gone for the long weekend and I'm not used to the attention.

Could be.

I think it's simply the pressure. It's right there in your face—BAM! Another year gone, another year older, more things I haven't accomplished, less of an excuse to act-a-fool...you get the picture.

From the looks of last year's birthday blog entry, I was pretty down about the fact that I was single when many of my friends were not. Truth be told, I wasn't single last year. I was seeing someone who treated me like shit, as he ignored my birthday entirely. The year before that, I went to dinner with a cocaine addict, who was twitching at the table. No wonder I've hated my birthday—it's become a battle, much like Valentine's Day for me. 

This entire week, I've thought about my life. It's certainly not where I wanted to live at 25. It's not where I wanted to be in my career and it's not where I wanted to be in love. But this is what the cards have in store for me, and I'm going to try my best to seize the opportunity.

Already, this birthday has been different. I enjoyed a lovely dinner at The Melting Pot with my girlfriend Nicole last night and walked into work this morning to find gifts on my desk from my coworkers—a Starbucks coffee, a pack of Silly Bands, suckers, and a wine journal! I have lunch plans with my friend Leslie, and although I am officially single, I have a dinner date this evening with a sweet guy—what a change!

I am hoping this is a good sign for my 25th year—so here's to a jump start on getting where I want to go. Because hey, even though I'm currently suffering from a back injury and frequent charlie horses, I'm too young to be feeling this old (as Drake says). Thank you all for a great day!

Me and my buddy OJ, getting ready for the day: 

Posted by wittywriter7 at 10:11 AM CDT

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