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« June 22, 2008 - June 28, 2008 | Main | July 6, 2008 - July 12, 2008 »
Gentle Readers,
For several years this was a standard at the Annual Fourth of July Bash. We'd do twenty minutes of Sousa, the Star Spangled Banner, then time the finale of the distant fireworks shows so we closed with Ray. Then it was back to raucous behavior and, if we were fortunate, CUH belting out Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother with Jerry Jeff Walker.
Video Here. There are others too, but you can't watch them.
As Always,
TWC
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.
Good Morning Gentle Readers,
Before I blew outta town last week on an old-fashioned road trip, it cost me a hundred bucks to fill the politically incorrect foreign pickup truck that's made in America. A hundred bucks. That's never happened, so I felt like I should open a bottle of Moet Chandon or something.
Funny thing about that too, once we crossed the Nevada border the gas prices dropped like a hot rock. Downtown Laughlin's Chevron Premo was selling for less than ARCO's Pingmaster regular down the hill from the Casa. The further southeast one travels in Arizona, the cheaper the gas gets. Twenty-five percent less in Tucson than in So Cal.
Course, like incest, gas prices are relative. $3.75 a gallon is still stiff. It's just relatively better than $4.85. Somebody emailed me that demand is finally falling and gas prices have eased a bit. Mrs TWC confirmed. Hadn't noticed, myself.
OTOH, high prices coupled with availability are preferable to cheap prices and long lines.
Been there. Done that. I'll pay.
Yes, that's 81.9 per gallon.
Why speculation doesn't necessarily affect oil prices.
Bonus: Well, no video bonus today, girls, because the video I planned to use has apparently been yanked. I've got A VERY COOL one myself but it isn't ready for YouTube quite yet. Well laid plans and all that.....But Wait! At the risk of burning through my entire bandwidth allocation for July, you can listen to it instead. You'll need WinAmp, Itunes, or Quicktime to hear it. It's way cool.
Freddy Mercury on Moet Chandon here.
As Ever,
TWC
Good Morning Gentle Readers,
Uncle Will fires up a whole pile of fat candles today.
Send in your birthdays, Outlook lost yours. Don't get me started on that.....
As Ever,
TWC
Good Morning Gentle Readers,
The B&G Bistro is yet another illustration of the TWC premise that price isn't always the best indicator of what to expect from a wine. At ten bucks US this is an excellent buy and is better.....stop me if you've heard this before.....than many Pinots costing twice as much.
As Pinot Noir goes, this one is pretty good, actually I'd say delightful. Much better than this one.
Winemakers Notes:
In France, the local bistro is where folks go to relax, socialize, drink wine and dine in a casual, friendly setting.
This Pinot Noir has all the right qualities of a good bistro wine: it is simple, delicious, fun to drink, and pairs well with lots of different foods and flavors.
Soft and round on the palate, this wine is chock full of ripe, wild berry flavors and aromas that culminate in a long, supple finish.
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. Definite Strawberries on the back side as well.
We paired this wine with (gasp) crab cakes, Waldorf salad, medium rare filet mignon, and crusty bread with olive oil (seasoned with balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and roasted garlic).
As Ever,
TWC
Tip of the glass to Kent