tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345940282024-03-21T14:58:33.723-07:00Running over GrapesA blog devoted to my running and my love of wine.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-30751379703852432882010-01-19T18:59:00.000-08:002010-01-19T19:04:07.012-08:00NYT does Netflix CuesThe link in the title is pretty cool---it shows the top Netflix rentals in a variety of Mpls/St. Paul neighorhoods. The most intriguing stat in the whole of the area is that "Battlestar Gallactica" is the bomb in the MSP Airport Zip. That, and Milk, is really, really popular in the Minneapolis area. Does everyone really <i>still</i> like Sean Penn that much or is the story <i>that </i>good (or familiar?)...Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-9346136256002162892008-11-23T15:33:00.000-08:002008-11-23T15:40:49.190-08:00Louisville SwampOur Sunday running group headed down to Louisville Swamp for our run today--if you've ever been to the Rennaisance Festival here in town, you 've very close to a gem of a park. Instead of turning into the field outside of the Festival, continue down the road, where it dead ends in the Louisville Swamp parking lot.<div>The trail runs through oak savannah, flood plain forest, and by some great ruins of farmsteads.The Jab farmstead also doubles up as a warming hut come XC ski season. Add to that the fact that we saw a river otter floating around in one of the</div><div> creeks (swimming on his back, just looking at us) made it a great, great run. </div><img src="http://www.otternet.com/galleries/naotter/AmericanRiverOtter_01-Swimming-s2.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" /><div><br /></div><div>There is an 8 mile loop, but it can't be completed since a bridge is out. Hence, a double out and back is necessary to see the whole park. I highly recommend this trail if you are ever in the area just south of Canterbury downs.</div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-86159442862669853572008-11-21T18:30:00.000-08:002008-11-21T18:41:04.905-08:00Yes, the World has EndedI just drank a wine that came from a screw top bottle. No big deal. The same wine came in a plastic bottle. Yes, the World has officially ended. To be fair, it was a Beaujolais Nouveau--which I'm sure that all of you know is a "fresh" wine, meant to be drunk between the 3rd Thursday of Nov and the New Year. Nonetheless.... <div><img src="http://www.seriousaboutwine.co.za/wp-content/noveauboisset-thumb.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 160px;" border="0" alt="" /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div> I'm snooty. (or fancy in TX speak). Plastic bottles of wine are just plain wrong--unless of course you sell it as a "green" thing. Shipping less weight saves jet fuel (it does). However, it also saves shipping costs and puts money back into the pockets of the winemaker. I guess it is a win-win situation...</div><div><br /></div><div>So, the wine tasted okay--buy it for the novelty. Don't buy it for the taste.</div></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-59444881108761444332008-11-16T14:14:00.000-08:002008-11-16T14:18:57.168-08:00Feeling Wimpy.I went to the gym for the first time in a long time and lifted some weights. I'm shocked at how weak I am, particularly my right arm, which is the one I broke earlier this year. I think I need to eat my spinach. <br /><br />Speaking of spinach, a new grocery store (Cub) opened right by our house. It is so convenient I don't know what to do. Being able to buy bread an deli meat mid-week is going to make lunch that much better. That, and the store is much, much nicer than most Cubs. They even have a sushi bar. Yum. Maybe.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-62010811074440205452008-11-15T14:20:00.000-08:002008-11-15T14:22:59.218-08:00A Little MotivationThis morning's run was awesome. The weather was great, there were little fluffy flakes of snow in the air and the sun came out for the first time in days. Add to that a great group of guys to run with and a great group of people to drink coffee with after and you can color me happy.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-59502954610944842522008-11-12T16:21:00.000-08:002008-11-12T16:22:38.475-08:00I've ForgottenI've forgotten how to run. Well, at least it feels like it. A 6 mile run tonight felt like 20. It must be all the beer and hamburger I've had since Chicago. Ugh.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-66287194063908138582008-11-11T16:45:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:50:14.398-08:00Armistice DayKurt Vonnegut was born on Armistice Day, which is today. In one of my favorite books of all time (and one of my least favorite movies of all time), he wrote the following...<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(169, 169, 169); font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; "><p class="MsoPlainText" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“I will come to a time in my backwards trip when November eleventh, accidentally my birthday, was a sacred day called Armistice Day. When I was a boy, all the people of all the nations which had fought in the First World War were silent during the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of Armistice Day, which was the eleventh day of the eleventh month.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></em></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“It was during that minute in nineteen hundred and eighteen, that millions upon millions of human beings stopped butchering one and another. I have talked to old men who were on battlefields during that minute. They have told me in one way or another that the sudden silence was the voice of God. So we still have among us some men who can remember when God spoke clearly to mankind.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></em></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“Armistice Day has become Veterans’ Day. Armistice Day was sacred. Veterans’ day is not.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></em></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“So I will throw Veterans’ Day over my shoulder. Armistice Day I will keep. I don’t want to throw away any sacred things.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></em></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“What else is sacred? Oh, Romeo and Juliet, for instance.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; "></span></em></p><p style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; "><em><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; ">“And all music is.”</span></em></p><p style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; ">- Breakfast of Champions , Kurt Vonnegut<br /></p></span></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-62895421446433998752008-11-09T12:15:00.001-08:002008-11-09T12:17:35.922-08:00Shoe RecyclingI don't know about you, but I have a bag full of old shoes that I've been waiting to recycle in some way or other. Lucky me--the South of the River 'burbs are having a shoe recycling drive starting next week. The details are;<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; "><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><tbody><tr style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><td class="headingText" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; ">Recycle Your Soles</td></tr><tr style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Recycle your Shoes in Eagan, Apple Valley & Burnsville</strong></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Instead of throwing shoes away, residents in Apple Valley, Burnsville and Eagan are now able to recycle their shoes during a free one-week collection coordinated by Dakota Valley Recycling. Residents will be able to drop off shoes from Monday, November 10 to Sunday, November 16 at locations in each community. Shoes of all types, sizes and styles will be accepted.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Shoes donated as part of the program are shredded by a local company, Wipers Recycling LLC, and turned into new products.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Eagan <br /></strong>Eagan Civic Arena, 3870 Pilot Knob Road. <br />Daily 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. <br /></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Apple Valley <br /></strong>Apple Valley Community Center, 14603 Hayes Drive <br />Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. <br />Saturday/Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Burnsville <br /></strong>Burnsville City Hall, 100 Civic Center Parkway *<br />Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. <br />Friday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. <br />Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. <br /><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">*</strong>Closed Tuesday, November 11 for Veterans Day</p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><strong style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, tahoma; font-size: 13px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">For more information please contact Dakota Valley Recycling at (651) 675-5011 or visit www.DakotaValleyRecycling.org on the internet.</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-41371742715609540632008-10-14T17:55:00.000-07:002008-10-14T18:49:57.725-07:00Stealthy Guest PostFirst, I have to come clean, this is Anne. I'm trying to clean things up around the house and one of the things that has needed some attention is the backlog of wine varieties that should be added to our century club checklist.<br /><br />These bottles have been sitting around for a while...<br />(for some reason I can't get the photo to post right now...I'll be back to add it later)<br /><br />The only information I have on these wines is what is on the label, what I can learn from the internets and the knowledge that as soon as I publish this blog they'll all be moving to the recycling bin. I wish I could tell you that they were grassy or leggy or unctuous, but frankly, I can't remember any details about the wines themselves. I do know, however, that they are now officially checked off on our Century Club checklist.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-19264183745121067892008-07-07T19:55:00.000-07:002008-07-07T19:58:56.162-07:00Deer FliesFirst, I finally took the time to figure out how to add a title to my blog, which is nice. Second, I had a horrible, scary run at Lebanon Hills tonight. Swarms and swarms of deer flies chased me down for a good hour while I ran scared. The uphills were the worst, as my legs were tired and I had to slow down--meaning the evil flies had time to land. Ugh. I wore a white hat and white shirt and sprayed myself with bugspray but they still were horrible. I made it roughly 9 miles tonight, but I hardly enjoyed any of it...<br /><br />Here is to hoping that the deer fly season doesn't last long.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-12518434306184365452008-07-07T13:12:00.000-07:002008-07-07T19:59:29.417-07:00Alright already Chad…<span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I ran a 5 Mile race in Apple Valley on Friday and ran it pretty well—nearly 2 minutes faster than last year. The start of the race was total mayhem, with a cross country style start that combined the fields of both the 2 mile and the 5 mile race. The result is that you have no idea as to where you are in the race until the race breaks up at the 1 mile mark, where the 2 milers hang a U-turn. I went out in a somewhat conservative pace and found myself way back in the field with about 8 guys in front of me (and none were that close). I had my work cut out for me. Luckily, I've run enough races to know that patience can be a virtue. After climbing the ridiculous hill that is cruelly scheduled in the race after the first mile, I began to pick runners off, one by one. I had all but the top two pulled in by the time I hit mile 4 with only one runner hanging on to me. Somehow, I held off the 16 year old kid (that’s 20 years my junior-dang I’m getting old) and crossed the line in 28:26. Not a great time for a flat course, but this isn’t a flat course.<br /><br />My secret? I pre-planned and built in a great </span><a href="http://cnaustin.blogspot.com/2008/03/alibis.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">alibi </span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">the night before. </span><a href="http://minnehahablog.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nathan </span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">and I did a 90 minute progression run (30 easy, 30 medium, 30 hard) and ran the last few miles in sub 6. That took off all the pressure of running fast! Could I have run faster had I not done this workout? Sure. Did I have a great Alibi? You bet! And nothing beats a great alibi heading into a race.<br /><br />Truthfully, I believe I’m having a great early season because of the consistency of training over the winter that I had. Training for the Boston Marathon by only running base mileage built my strength up and made sure that I didn’t burn out after running a marathon like I normally do. I didn’t start doing any real speedwork until a few weeks ago and most of that has been oriented around sprint leg turnover (strides) and speed (short fartleks). I still haven’t run a track workout and I have no idea how fast I’m running during my workouts—I’ll take care of that later in the year when it is time to sharpen. Nor do I know what % of my HR I’m running. I know I’m breathing hard and that is good enough for me. Sure my Boston time suffered, but that wasn’t the goal. Running fast at Chicago was. And I believe I’m on my way. I’m looking forward to it already. </span>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-41945270702173539452008-06-01T15:06:00.000-07:002008-06-01T15:16:05.790-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;">TWIKR Notes</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">My favorite show when I was a kid was This Week in Baseball and one of my favorite segments of the show was TWIB Notes, when you got to learn about what was really happening in the league. In honor of the show, here are my TWIKR notes (This week in Kirk's Running)..<br /><br />I hit 80 miles this week, with all but 6 of them on trails. The week started with the Brian Kraft 5K, which went pretty well for me--I ran a 16:55 and placed 51st among males at the race. Yes, the field was that good. While it is a ways off from my PR, it is early in the season and I've only done a few workouts that even resemble 5K speed workouts (If you can call strides a workout...) The rest of the week's runs were amazing runs through Lebanon Hills (my favorite place to run in the Cities, and the Sibley House (Minnesota Valley trails). <br /><br />The only run of note was a 35 minute Steady State that Mike and I ran on Thursday night. Very good workout in that I was only ready to be done with it once we hit 30 minutes--so only 5 minutes of not enjoying a workout. We then proceeded to destroy any benefit from the run by drinking lots of beer, eating lots of peanuts and popcorn and eating an unhealthy meal at Lucky's in Mendota. Some people eat to run and some people run to eat. I'm Schizo on that one.</span>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-72656311230070912742008-05-26T17:31:00.000-07:002008-05-26T18:41:26.628-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">Building a Wine Cellar...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Anne and I have been talking about building a wine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cella</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yBrYHzrZ-oipeCqLaXvvSyVGusUI2Pun56Fq39-nEgKbKfCuwQFNVu7l9NQJu6tV1rYJVXz0SLFsFwCjlFYB4GdBLiY6feW_CLcl8dPlO7LWS2XVrtShFu8mG8Vnii8S7u8m/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1yBrYHzrZ-oipeCqLaXvvSyVGusUI2Pun56Fq39-nEgKbKfCuwQFNVu7l9NQJu6tV1rYJVXz0SLFsFwCjlFYB4GdBLiY6feW_CLcl8dPlO7LWS2XVrtShFu8mG8Vnii8S7u8m/s400/Wine+Cellar+061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204851449177163714" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">r for a <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> long time. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">This weekend, we finally got on it. I bought a book--<a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Why-Build-Wine-Cellar/dp/0967159806">How and Why to Build </a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Why-Build-Wine-Cellar/dp/0967159806">a Wine Cellar</a>, by Richard Gold--an Engineer's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Enginee</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">r. It i</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s a gr</span><span style="font-size:100%;">eat</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> read, and very instructive on how to build a wine cellar. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Sooooo</span>--</span><span style="font-size:100%;">--We decided on a rough <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1OwUngPrZw20JsHpqnQ58ZQvFb5Rv81yTBhdkhMbH5FqO9lrVF6HLDqQ8HzOi0Zy5smfNtjR_bauC2JQ8d32TQ9mSkCzuDyRDBppNHB4PWJ2eaMM96tMoj63G9YwVGYssPT6/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 140px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1OwUngPrZw20JsHpqnQ58ZQvFb5Rv81yTBhdkhMbH5FqO9lrVF6HLDqQ8HzOi0Zy5smfNtjR_bauC2JQ8d32TQ9mSkCzuDyRDBppNHB4PWJ2eaMM96tMoj63G9YwVGYssPT6/s200/Wine+Cellar+016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204853330372839378" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">dimension for the wine c</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ellar</span>, borrowed a</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> truck, and bought some lumber.<br /><br />The first t</span><span style="font-size:100%;">hing to do was to rip out the old insulation and vapor barrier. After this, I added electrical wire for future purposes. We don't need electricity inside the wine cellar (now), but we will (likely) need electricity in the rest of the basement at sometime in the future. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">insulati</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">on was in bad shape after having too many winters with moisture (note the black color in the picture on the left). T</span><span style="font-size:100%;">he problem was that the vapor barrier and insulation was stopped below the bottom of the wall, </span><span style="font-size:100%;">allowing for moist air to run up <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOlj0DCPasSs0Tdyzfrc3zBy0iX4sG_b_KMnZqBqwLjMIvzkDAD1UMQ3k4H7NmeZv2I7au33mfxGc7sW2RU65QS8lN-nFdvS4v_DC3vMOV4cBeHIOt7gUq-lQVlhFZS34uFzp/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOlj0DCPasSs0Tdyzfrc3zBy0iX4sG_b_KMnZqBqwLjMIvzkDAD1UMQ3k4H7NmeZv2I7au33mfxGc7sW2RU65QS8lN-nFdvS4v_DC3vMOV4cBeHIOt7gUq-lQVlhFZS34uFzp/s200/Wine+Cellar+031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204855009705052146" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">the wall and sit there. So, after the rough electrical </span><span style="font-size:100%;">was run (12/2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Romex</span>, for those who care about that kind of thing), I reinstalled insulation (R-13 Fiberglass) and added a new coat of 6mm Poly </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Vapor</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Barrier. The look and insulation is much cleaner and much better than the previous <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">installation</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. So, call the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">exterior</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> walls semi-done.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">I then had to</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> build and install the interior walls (those that face the interior of the room. The picture below is me starting to build frame that <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqTPMIYl1ikCHZ11xna-of8sLKOX17V0Rtaf6vwWqA4z9nSw1ttfv8NAZEChpIJosC4OGIfitSKFIbOj4aObKNrUB6n3CzRI08Sn7Pj56mRoZBNhsLWFdnIXwZpp6sPBdnqgs/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqTPMIYl1ikCHZ11xna-of8sLKOX17V0Rtaf6vwWqA4z9nSw1ttfv8NAZEChpIJosC4OGIfitSKFIbOj4aObKNrUB6n3CzRI08Sn7Pj56mRoZBNhsLWFdnIXwZpp6sPBdnqgs/s200/Wine+Cellar+036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204857200138373122" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">became the wall. I used 2x6 construction</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> and added 2x4 for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">stud wall</span> to allow for 2 layers of R-13 insulation (yes, it will be slightly compressed and if I had to do it again, I would have use</span><span style="font-size:100%;">d 2x8 construction). The finished </span><span style="font-size:100%;">product looked like the picture on the right.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuHLhSbUO5bw00WxVoVlwDv_juPER0GTiRKsvVXR3qsiQLPX0QSBnZxMRvKxrt5Dst8KsGEgp6l3T0korqDBscLLiVKsjrezFWI6A1g3o__1_fDhzs7NjtaiZXIyBFJxDR1mz/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuHLhSbUO5bw00WxVoVlwDv_juPER0GTiRKsvVXR3qsiQLPX0QSBnZxMRvKxrt5Dst8KsGEgp6l3T0korqDBscLLiVKsjrezFWI6A1g3o__1_fDhzs7NjtaiZXIyBFJxDR1mz/s200/Wine+Cellar+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204857599570331666" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now that the stud-walls were up, I had to put vapor barrier (6mm Poly) on the ceiling, but not the joices, per the book (too much vapor barrier can cause too much humidity). After this R-30 </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" style="font-size:100%;">unfaced</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> fiberglass insulation went up on the ceiling, protecting the wine cellar from the heat in the living room directly above the win<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEUBXo82YcZ-L16aJSrODqPsHREOgsFWsqWIQ-VC-6_wyIhHp_TNoOtv4nBOktz0lVLY-M5y-Ue3P4qYola25B2lklonChAF-qW7xvq8P_mmHbd-H95t2mSD_0CSJPXj3jLqA/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEUBXo82YcZ-L16aJSrODqPsHREOgsFWsqWIQ-VC-6_wyIhHp_TNoOtv4nBOktz0lVLY-M5y-Ue3P4qYola25B2lklonChAF-qW7xvq8P_mmHbd-H95t2mSD_0CSJPXj3jLqA/s200/Wine+Cellar+046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204859343327053858" border="0" /></a>e cellar.<br /><br />After finish the celings</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, it was time to insulate (R-13 again) and vapor barrier the interior walls. This seems easy, but it was time consuming. and I was happy to be done with handling fiberglass i<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO32KZ79FTLBGpStlDN73trbnc6pg1MEl8N4b9RBiZ7lKGue42vsnFzZGGcAq8Y3QvqV9tKJUHtow1QV9d71FTvSsl02OB5nrHn3AQMvYjVUIxTZ9YsqFRNRVAlRoLVZiIasZ/s1600-h/Wine+Cellar+056.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitO32KZ79FTLBGpStlDN73trbnc6pg1MEl8N4b9RBiZ7lKGue42vsnFzZGGcAq8Y3QvqV9tKJUHtow1QV9d71FTvSsl02OB5nrHn3AQMvYjVUIxTZ9YsqFRNRVAlRoLVZiIasZ/s200/Wine+Cellar+056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204863449315788882" border="0" /></a></span><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="font-size:100%;">insulation</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> for the time being. There is quite a bit more work to do, but the tough stuff (like handling huge amounts of fiberglass insulation) is largely done.<br /><br />There is quite a bit more to do, but the least glamorous parts of the project are done and things are looking up. I'm looking forward to next weekend so I can entirely seal up the room and see if how well it holds temperature and humidity.<br /><br />One of the things we really noticed was how much heat an incandescent light put off--and so we replaced it with a flourescent light bulb. The room stayed much cooler and will definitely be the normal light in the cellar from now on...<br /><br />To be continued...</span>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-24759411337918749022008-05-23T17:38:00.001-07:002008-06-01T15:03:42.917-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;">Overdue</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I can't believe how overdue on wine updates I've become. I'm adding 6 grapes to the list as of this moment--Riesling (I can't believe it wasn't on the list already, considering my love of the grape), Marsanne (a normal blending grape that should remain a blending grape), a Touriga (Portugal's National Grape), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCller-Thurgau">Muller Thurgau</a> grape from Deutschland, and a Columbard/Ugni Blanc Mix that I'm drinking as I'm writing this.<br /><br />I don't have alot to say about the grapes as none of them knocked my socks off. However, the Touriga is a Rose Wine that I picked up for under $8/bottle and was pretty pleasant. The winemaker is Quinta Da Alorna and was purchased at Byerly's.<br /><br />The Muller Thurgau was a gift, so was the best kind of wine in the world. Free. That and it tasted pretty good. I don't know how much it cost, so I'll leave it at that.</span>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-56467190921544396842008-04-28T11:53:00.000-07:002008-04-28T11:54:30.633-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;">24 weeks ‘til Chicago</span><br /><br />I’ve been thinking of adding a running angle to my blog for a while, but I’ve been afraid that I’d bore the tears off of my friends and family if I did. I’ve finally realized that no matter what I write, I’m boring them, so why not add some running stuff to the blog?<br /><br />So, my blog is down to running and wine. I guess that they are two of my major passions in life, if not the major passions. Maybe I should rename my blog to “Running over Grapes” or something similar…<br /><br />Why did I decide to do Chicago? The (Medtronic) Twin Cities Marathon is one week before Chicago and is my favorite marathon ever. I placed 3rd in my age group last year. I know how to run a great race on the TCM course and I love the local support. So why not run it? Why choose Chicago? I’m not sure. It might be that I’m starting to get up there in my running years and I wanted one last shot on a flat course and a significant PR. It might be that I was impulsive and when Marty and Deb decided to do Chicago, it sounded like a great idea and so I went and signed up. It could also be that I simply needed a change. (and CHANGE seems like the them for the year, doesn’t it???)<br /><br />I’m already looking forward to the training cycle; hard runs, easy runs, and long runs. Cold runs, yielding to incredibly hot runs, yielding to cool fall runs. To strides, to fartleks, to tempos, to hill runs, to long runs, to easy runs. I’m looking forward to it all. Chicago can’t come fast enough….Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-47714852441890325222008-04-25T18:06:00.000-07:002008-04-25T18:14:42.573-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">I Heart the Marathon (Part 3)</span><br /><br /><br />Anne's Freevo picked up the Paris Marathon, which I watched tonight. Two things stuck out. First, the Men's race was tight at the 40K marathon. Very tight. Two guys, mano-a-mano, trying to run the other into the ground. Kenya vs. Ethiopia. Man vs. Man. So, they pull up to a water stop, one guy grabs a water bottle, the other slows for him and they go on and share the water. Seriously? Share water? Slow down for the other competitor? Yep. That is marathoning. And that is why I love it. Ethiopia's 20 year old wonder one, but it didn't matter to me. 40Km showed everything I needed.<br /><br />Second, the women's race. Amazing. Kenya vs. Ethiopia again. Kenyan woman running with horrible form, obviously beat. Ethiopian lady, drafting off of her, biding her time and finally grabbing a commanding lead. Or did she? Kenyan lady, basically running like the Humpback of Notre Dame, passes her back. And breaks Ethiopian lady. Kenyan lady, runs across the finish line with her head bobbing like she was listening to <a href="http://www.defleppard.com/">Def Leppard </a>or Poison in the late 90's. With a strain on her face that makes waterboarding look like pleasure (okay, maybe not). I clapped at a recording of a recording. It was awesome.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-69627698471462902592008-04-25T17:32:00.000-07:002008-04-27T19:33:57.675-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">I Heart Boston (and the Boston) Marathon</span><br /><br />This (past) weekend was incredible. <a href="http://www.tvsnacks.blogspot.com/">Anne </a>and I flew into Boston on Friday and checked into the most kick ass hotel I've stayed at in a long time, the <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosch-marriotts-custom-house/">Marriott Custom House.</a> The building was built in the 1860's as a Custom's Building for Boston Harbor. In the 19-teens, the feds built a 26 story building on top of the building. So, imagine the Jefferson Memorial with a a 26 story building (similar in style to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foshay_Tower">Foshay </a>tower in Mpls.) The Feds moved out in the 70's into the awful <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I._M._Pei">Pei </a>designed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Government_Center_Boston_vista.jpg">Boston Federal Government Building</a>. Yes, this is the same Pei who designed the Pyramid at the Louvre and JFK Library. I can't speak for the new digs, but the old digs rock. Marriott gutted the tower in 1910 and renovated the Custom House in the late 90's. This hotel was amazing.<br /><br />Anne and I went out to eat at <a href="http://www.seldelaterre.com/">Sel de la Terre</a>, about a 3 minute walk from our hotel. Amazingly good. So much so, we went back later in the trip.<br /><br />Saturday, we went to the Expo, and because it was so incredibly beautiful out, walked around alot. We went to lunch at a restaurant on Tremont Street called cafeTeria, in which we had a pretty good Kobe Hamburger. Hmmm--Hamburgers and fries two days before a marathon. That evening we (<a href="http://jackalope_ranch.blogspot.com/">Mike</a>, <a href="http://minnehahablog.blogspot.com/">Nathan</a>, <a href="p://reuben_sandwich.blogspot.com/">Emily </a>and some of her friends) drank some beer at the Black Rose (awesome) and then went to Todd English's Kingfish Hall, which was mediocre. (Sel de la Terre was cheaper and 5x as good). So, we walked alot, but enjoyed the day.<br /><br />Sunday rolled around and we watched the Women's Olympic Trials. Simply amazing, except that we walked around for 5 or 6 hours 1 day before the marathon. No problem, right? That night we went to <a href="http://www.trattoriadimonica.com/">Trattoria di Monica</a>, an awesome but very small restaurant in the North End of Boston. Off the main drag, but packed due to it's 6 table space, it was great and an opportunity for us to meet a couple we met on diving on Dominica who live in the Boston Greater Area. Great Fun.<br /><br />Monday came early. Breakfast at the hotel at 5:30, buses to the start at 6:15, and the start at 10 am. It was cool before the start, with temps in the 40's and very damp. Unluckily, the clouds broke at 9:59 and shone on us throughout the marathon. I started in corral 1, and started conservatively. I don't have my splits, but tons of people passed me throughout the first 10 miles. The problem was is that I didn't feel comfortable. I realized that I hadn't run at marathon pace (or faster) for more than 6 miles all spring--and both of those were in very short races. My legs also hurt from walking around the 2 days prior to the marathon. I hit the half in 1:25 and change, exactly what I'd hoped.<br /><br />By 16, I knew I was toast. My legs were mush, especially the inner quad muscles. I was in trouble. I pushed through the Newton Hills and held myself together with very few people passing me. However, once we hit the downhills after Heartbreak Hill, my quads were on fire. I tried to stay composed, but I was sure that I was going to cramp up for the remainder of the race. Luckily, they didn't and I only slowed a little, finishing in 2:55:08. Losing just under 5 minutes in the second half. Much better than the first time I ran the race when I lost 15 minutes, but still slightly disappointing. But only slightly...<br /><br />Looking back, I'm very happy with my time. Very. I did no marathon specific training and ran this entirely on base mileage. I walked around a lot the days before and had some great meals and some great times at the Black Rose. I got severly dehydrated (my bad, yeah, but hey--it was the warmest day of the year so far!).<br /><br />So, in summation, great race, great time and an amazing city.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-43087340751714293882008-04-13T17:53:00.000-07:002008-04-13T18:00:35.722-07:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >I Heart the Marathon</span><br /><br />I work up 3x this morning before 4 am and finally got up at 4:15. Why? The freakin' London Marathon was on WCSN.COM for free. I dragged my butt out of bed, threw my body on the couch and watched the marathon. What a show! I can't believe the I can hang out and watch 2:05 (2:25 FOR the women) worth of running. But I can. And there is no better show on the airwaves. The tactics and the physicality of this are second to none. Imagine running 1:11 400's for 105 laps. And then having 2 other guys hang on to you. And then sprinting away from them. WOW.<br /><br />I can't wait until Boston next week.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-71719272330537413672008-04-04T19:15:00.000-07:002008-04-04T19:21:29.192-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">Spring has finally Sprung (2008)!</span><br /><br />I made it over to Lebanon Hills today and was astounded by the sounds of spring. Warblers, chickadees, cardinals, and yes, <a href="http://allfourseasons.blogspot.com/search?q=frogs">frogs</a>... I can't wait for the trails to be clear--they look like mashed potatoes and gravy right now-- snow, and mud mixed together to make a mess. In two weeks we'll be running in the parks and enjoying the solitude (funny that I used we, eh?) of the woods once again.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-17676600163310634252008-03-31T19:40:00.001-07:002008-03-31T19:47:07.520-07:00<span style="font-size:180%;">Lucy caught a whaaaaat?</span><br /><br />Yes, Lucy (notice here cool-ass runing i<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8gVzNDXcQFZ4EiWlGfM2ARuHAwjff0U57EAJzgE3t2_xE7KM5TvQDFDxr9jrx2B8iT47MkelW8pSN5UESp5C2_CH_23X6ukhWRoWzWiycsLaH8r9W8Ok7Tk7Zb0lrriKDnUp/s1600-h/DSCF2132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8gVzNDXcQFZ4EiWlGfM2ARuHAwjff0U57EAJzgE3t2_xE7KM5TvQDFDxr9jrx2B8iT47MkelW8pSN5UESp5C2_CH_23X6ukhWRoWzWiycsLaH8r9W8Ok7Tk7Zb0lrriKDnUp/s400/DSCF2132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184102268094707058" border="0" /></a>n really <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mHBl2bJmjtQ/R_Gh99kU9YI/AAAAAAAABCk/QjfCHoiUReI/s1600-h/DSCF2328.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 223px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_mHBl2bJmjtQ/R_Gh99kU9YI/AAAAAAAABCk/QjfCHoiUReI/s400/DSCF2328.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184102731951175042" border="0" /></a>cold weather beard in the Picture to the left) had this Possum in her mouth not too long ago. BTW--this possum wasn't dead. It was playing possum. As in not really dead, but playing like it was. I could see it breathing. I'm not sure how good of defense mechanism it is when you are in the grips of a predator (Lucy???)... but it worked with me. It was gone the next day.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-45215857608726967422008-03-31T19:25:00.000-07:002008-03-31T19:53:14.292-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mHBl2bJmjtQ/R_GeMNkU9UI/AAAAAAAABCE/DeMvcwAg3cE/s1600-h/DSCF2336.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_mHBl2bJmjtQ/R_GeMNkU9UI/AAAAAAAABCE/DeMvcwAg3cE/s200/DSCF2336.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184098578717799746" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0aENgoHRmS0/RgbBLOuwHwI/AAAAAAAAABw/n3FKo8FeKxA/s1600-h/DSCF1209.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0aENgoHRmS0/RgbBLOuwHwI/AAAAAAAAABw/n3FKo8FeKxA/s1600-h/DSCF1209.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Minnesota, Ain't She Grand?</span><br />Contrast this picture, taken today---<br /><br />With this picture, taken March 25, 2007 from<a href="http://tvsnacks.blogspot.com/"> Anne's Blog</a><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrcJZ5mLOSCkHI43IZ4CTwBOgjgoF4RNzehowPFEHKKuzltmFE3TFPEemU1Hbei0na30aCfkVmwt_eqTw2zoFtp2ttzlj-Ldr0d3uo6oGkeNlLwMKl3dDlhqEij771JCQ9QSG/s1600-h/blogosphere.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrcJZ5mLOSCkHI43IZ4CTwBOgjgoF4RNzehowPFEHKKuzltmFE3TFPEemU1Hbei0na30aCfkVmwt_eqTw2zoFtp2ttzlj-Ldr0d3uo6oGkeNlLwMKl3dDlhqEij771JCQ9QSG/s200/blogosphere.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184100215100339538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Ain't Minnesota Grand? At least it keeps most of the <a href="http://jackalope_ranch.blogspot.com/">Texans</a> out of here...<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-35084768165472861072008-03-15T15:54:00.000-07:002008-03-15T16:53:01.719-07:00Struggling to keep up with his wine varietal postings, Kirk asked me to guest blog tonight.<br /><br />Speaking of struggling to keep up, I'm feeling behind...my big bro (who Kirk refers to as the <a href="http://www.infiniteprimate.blogspot.com/">Wine Monkey</a>) is way ahead of us on his wine quest. He's up to variety #89 as of 6 PM tonight...we're currently up to 39, but with this blog I officially bring the total to 41.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/wootsaleimages/Mandolina_Woot-Off_Four-Packdr5Thumbnail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://s3-external-1.amazonaws.com/wootsaleimages/Mandolina_Woot-Off_Four-Packdr5Thumbnail.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>#40 - Mandolina Classico Toccata, 2003<br />This was one of Kirk's <a href="http://wine.woot.com/">Wine.Woot.com </a>bottles. A nice wine to have as a standby around the house. The wine is a blend of 5 varieties and only one of them, freisa, is new to our list. At only 15% it feels like a bit of a cheat to add it to the list, but I'm feeling desperate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bevmo.com/115images/2718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 69px; height: 289px;" src="http://www.bevmo.com/115images/2718.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />#41 - Chateau St. Jean Gewürztraminer, 2006<br />The decision to drink this wine was purely based on the fact that we haven't checked it off the list yet, but it was was a well made decision. This wine has a nose of vanilla, slightly sweet (but not to a fault) this wine is really drinkable. Just don't pair it with pistachios...<br /><br />Cheers!<br />AnneKirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-76490903025721437072008-02-29T18:49:00.000-08:002008-02-29T19:11:10.492-08:00Update Update Update<br /><br />Tomorrow we go on vacation. I'm very excited to escape the cold of MN. Very very very. Some warm days in a warm, humid clime is just what the Doctor ordered.<br /><br />So, I told Anne that I'd clean up the counter of wine bottles that I'd been meaning to blog about. So, realizing that I was (finally) done packing, I'm finally writing about them..<br /><br />Varietal #35-36 Viognier and Chenin Blanc--Pine Ridge, CA 2005. This is one of my favorite summer wines and it works well in winter as well. Light, with some residual sugar--fruity and yummy. I think this is one heck of a wine for ~ $10...<br /><br />Varietal # 37 Viura---Medievo, Rioja, Spain. This was another great white wine, especially for the price. Fruity, with some decent body, I like this one alot.<br /><br />Varietal # 38 Pansa Blanca. No wait this one has already been drunk. Same name as Xarel Lo. Dang. None the less this Marques de Alella makes a very nice wine of this grape, which is typically blended into Cava, Spain's version of Champagne.<br /><br />Varietal #38 (again) Garganega- Tamellni Soave 2004. The wine maker must love oaky Chardonnay. California Chardonnay that is. I'd prefer that they handled this wine a little more delicately... I'd no go this wine again.<br /><br />Varietal #39 Muscat. Joao Pires 2004. This one was bottled in a tall bottle, similar to wines from the Alsace Region or the Rhein. Labeled as a white table wine from Portugal, I figured it would be made in the German Tradition. I was kind of right. A ton of acidity, a little residual sugar. Fine, German Style. Odd taste, confusing palate. Not German whatsoever. I'd recommend that everyone try this wine, because you'd never expect a Muscat to NOT be a desert wine. Nor would you expect it to be as dry as this one... I'm confused. Still.<br /><br />I'll see you in a week. With a tan.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-76920215280992752792008-02-13T17:26:00.001-08:002008-02-13T17:37:26.120-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000NIJ47O/ref=dp_image_0/104-0904752-7395910?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000NIJ47O/ref=dp_image_0/104-0904752-7395910?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Vino Update</span><br /><br />Have you ever fallen so far behind in a task that you rue catching up? That's what I did in the wine varietal count. I finally decided to catch up today by simply placing them on the count and not worrying about writing what the wines were and how they tasted. That would take so long that I would never get it done. As you can see, we're up to 34 varietals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nataliemaclean.com/images/book_index_v2/homepage2_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 131px;" src="http://www.nataliemaclean.com/images/book_index_v2/homepage2_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>--this occurred much more quickly than I expected. Much more. And yet, I'm happy and my liver is just fine. It helps to have <a href="http://www.infiniteprimate.blogspot.com/">family </a>that is interested in the same thing.<br /><br />By the way, I just finished reading Red, White, and Drunk all Over by <a href="http://www.nataliemaclean.com/">Natalie </a><a href="http://www.nataliemaclean.com/">MacLean</a>. If you have <span style="font-style: italic;">any </span>interest in wine, this is a great read.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34594028.post-17023984844562519582008-02-05T18:44:00.000-08:002008-02-05T18:54:48.376-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglJzH86hEmZQUujQizHjgRC653vUTmp76RpnyO6iSL2t6Lr99e5ur2Lc2CHmzZR5MhKbmy1X-tTgGKQyWsyv1JQJcsPPRCtOXYRA1EWRl4Z1Qf_0TOrPMpw1ZKjgGKTL2_aeQ/s1600-h/i-voted.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglJzH86hEmZQUujQizHjgRC653vUTmp76RpnyO6iSL2t6Lr99e5ur2Lc2CHmzZR5MhKbmy1X-tTgGKQyWsyv1JQJcsPPRCtOXYRA1EWRl4Z1Qf_0TOrPMpw1ZKjgGKTL2_aeQ/s320/i-voted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163694771489897490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;">I Voted</span><br /><br />I wasn't planning to vote today. However, I got out on my run a little late due to a work function. I was running through my neighborhood and there was quite a bit more traffic than normal. I thought "Dang, there must be something big happening at the High School tonight"--because we live so close to the High School. I then made my way onto Diffley Ave, and I noticed that traffic was backed up nearly 2 miles, waiting to get to the High School. This is 2 lanes of traffic, backed up for 2 miles. I'd say voter turnout was high. Then I felt guilty, and decided I had to vote. So I dropped Lucy off after my run and ran to the High School, where they let me vote despite the fact that 8 PM was when the polls was supposed to close and it was now 8:15. Thanks caucus people. Thanks.<br /><br />FYI--Lucy has run 30 miles in 3 days. She is turning into quite the athlete.Kirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06481529620300782150noreply@blogger.com1