Good orderly direction

Today is my sister Martha's Birthday. I sent her a gift certificate for two cooking classes at the CIA. I hope she enjoys them and comes away with more skills that she can add to her already bountiful set. The temperature should rise up over one hundred degrees today. It was the hottest day on record in Los Angeles yesterday. It is still early enough in the day, so I haven't turned on the fan or air conditioner yet. Presently, I am working on a couple of pictures to add to my portfolio. I will post them as soon as they are ready to be put online. During the past couple of days I've been reflecting on the events of my life. It is difficult to stay in the moment. It is important for me to set out to accomplish a few tasks every day. I am going to start with baby steps.

A legend of the Fall

Looking at my previous blog, it is ironic that I have a picture of the Main entrance to what many consider to be the best of the best in west, facing eastward. Because that is the doorway view from the desk where I have worked, laughed and cried for the past seven years and nine months. I have since walked through this portal perhaps for the last time. As I right this, I have been "shown the door" as they say, with a warning not to step on these hallowed grounds again. To the best of my knowledge, Monday marks the last day I was allowed to work as Concierge at this beautiful facility. This happened on the last day of summer as the Autumnal equinox began it's yearly sojourn. One could have said that I should have seen it coming, but like the last of anything, I was the last to know. I am sure there are big lessons to come from this, and certainly more shall be revealed. Suffice to say that if Pride cometh before the Fall, This Fall happened on very short notice. As it turns out, the woman in this picture is Janice who worked the same position as me eight years earlier. I had the distinct pleasure of giving her my final tour on my final day.That's a badge that she is holding which designates her as a "Tourist". In some ways, I think this is what we all are ... really. Just tourists.

Peak of the Season

This is the time when all the " Seasoned" tourists arrive in the Napa Valley. They come for the numerous festivals, weddings, tastings and crushing parties that all take place during our harvest. For the staff and students here at the CIA, it adds up to a lot more work all around. It has been difficult getting through the day with a gazillion tasks and distractions that seem to be happening all the time.Today, I will kick back and do my laundry, get my tires rotated and perhaps do some shopping. If I even do this much, it will be enough. My serenity is directly contingent upon my spiritual growth. My relationship with my Higher Power is numero uno.

Light my fire

It was a very pleasant evening at veteran's park in downtown Napa. I showed up for the last hour of the show which featured a few original members of the band The Doors. Ray Manzarek was on keyboards playing along with the Napa Symphony.What a hoot! These 50 somethings were singing along, and pretending to pass around a fake doobie. I caught their shenanigans on video. All in all, everyone seemed to be having a good time. I hope your Labor Day was as fun as this party here.

Elevating the Humble

It pleases me when people will make a request by asking, " May I ". I want to bend over backwards to make whatever we have, available and open to them. But when people come in like they own the place and demand to see our teaching kitchen, I have to let them down easy. If I have learned anything on this job, it is how to be of service. I cannot promise things that cannot be delivered, and by the same token I cannot favor one person over another. Thankfully, I have met the most gracious people in the world and have learned that people will generally treat you as well as you extend yourself to them when they arrive. First impressions are lasting, and no one should ever miss the opportunity to make a great first impression. Today, it is my hope that our Special Events team doesn't think that I am being persnickety when I point out that Greystone has been looking rather crumpled when I come to work after a wedding has taken place. The fact is, that a lot of stuff gets moved or is lying around waiting for someone else to pick it up . The problem is that it has to be picked up.

Summer winding down

Today we are experiencing a heat wave in St. Helena. The temperature is slated to go above 105 ☠ Yikes! I will be in an air-conditioned environment however, and will probably spend most of the day inside. It is Tuesday and this is my "hump" day now that I have Fridays and Saturdays off. I will drink plenty of water today and will be stopping by Dr. Michael Mulaney's office to pick up some more Kangen water this evening. This Kangen water is an ionized water that has a high alkaline profile. My system has been fairly acidic for some time so I have been converting to a healthier lifestyle by consuming up to eight - eight ounce glasses of water every day. You should always drink before you get thirsty. Water is the best hydration fluid. I have been off coffee now for over four weeks. Good for me. The picture above is of a healthy salad that I was indulging in last Thursday.

On top of the heap

Or underneath it? I never seem to know or care these days. I have been driving a rather modest and dare I say, crummy little car for the last fifteen years. I am almost scared to talk unkindly about it for fear it may stop running as well as it has for over 190,000 miles. If I change the oil, I will probably try to drive it through the next winter instead of getting a new one. It has gotten me around in spite of it's rather banged up appearance. I wanted to purchase a cute little white Jetta a few weeks ago, but my neighbor sold it. Damn. Now I have been thinking of that Jetta almost every day since.I definitely want a white car because I like the way they get seen. I don't want to be missed as people pull in and out of traffic. I have been affirming that the perfect car is now manifesting for me in my life, in totally satisfying and harmonious ways for the highest good of all concerned.

Eight, Nine Ten

Okay, so it's August ninth, Two thousand ten. We have someone who decided to have their wedding here at Greystone on a Monday night ( How quaint, huh? ) Anyway, it is already creating a bit of a hassle among the staff here, because the Atrium is being decorated and the tourists are getting confused.Already, the entry to the store has been compromised because of the insistence on having drapery above the door. Several people have already bumped up against the stands and have almost knocked them over. I am trying to keep my cool because the Concierge is usually the first to get blamed for anything. Thankfully, I am just here to do MY job and not anyone elses ( which, by the way had to get sorted out when I first came to work here ). The Concierge is the go-to person at the main entrance.Usually we are the last to know about any types of protocol regarding special events.

Plum Tuckered

Giving tours 3 times a day can be a bit draining, unless I play around and modify it each time I give one.Today I was so exhausted that I pointed to the flags in the atrium and exclaimed that they represented the many ways one should know how to prepare an egg. People looked at me like I was nuts. luckily, they had a sense of humor as well and I was quickly able to point out that the flags actually represented the major wine growing regions of the world at one time. Now that was true and far more plausible when I said it.This week I was tipped a 20 by a guy who looked and acted like he had a little too much wine. I humored him throughout the whole tour so I guess he appreciated that.Last night I sat and ate Hog Island oysters on the terrace and drank Pellgrino water at a table with five female coworkers.Ah life is good ! ( so long as I didn't have to pick up their tab !! ) Right now I am home and wondering what my next two days off will look like.

Review of this month's posts

Okay, I have been exploring the Social Media a little more now that I have a new IPhone 4, and a bit of the know-how in posting videos both on my blog, FB, Twitter, QIK and Google Buzz.It's a big step into the unknown,only because I haven't asked all the questions there are to ask and it is all still a bit overwhelming. Below is the video I took in San Antonio at the big ALAMODOME Showdown with the friends of Bill. You can see that the place is filled to the Rafters with lots of special people. I ended up spending the night in my car because all the rooms near downtown San Antonio were BOOKED SOLID. I felt so grunged out the next day, but luckily I found a motel not far from the Conference Center and RIverwalk area. Before that though, I scoped out a community pool where I took a free swim along with a hot shower to freshen up. My higher power was with me the whole time I was there. It was an incredible experience even though I missed hooking up with the folks from the Northern California Fellowships.Waaaaaahh ! Anyway, I will be going to these again in the future.

Let there be peace in the valley

Hi, This is a silly little video I made for fun. I am poking fun at the fear some people have about "illegal aliens". I hope you like it. Today I am going for a hike with my friend Dave. We will explore Lake Hennessy which I haven't done in quite awhile.Yesterday, I baked my buns up at Harbin Hot Springs and had a great time swimming, soaking and sweating. I have also begun this regime of drinking a ionized water that is reaping me numerous health benefits. The other thing I am working on is my creativity. It seem that I will have to head off in another direction until I can find my muse again. Sometimes I have to change directions to get a better perspective on things.

Warm Summer Day

It's one of those days where I slept in, and did very little. Eventually I got my laundry done and fed myself, but only feel motivated to drive into St. Helena to get a cup of coffee at the NV Coffee Roasting company. I feel safe there. I have not been feeling too secure lately. I am not soliciting help, but perhaps I should be. The world seems to be in pretty bad shape, and it is not at all what I envisioned as a comfortable place be as an adult.It doesn't even feel safe to disagree with people anymore. Everyone seems on the defensive... so less inclusive as they once were.How sad.Perhaps it's because I am on vacation and feel compelled to be doing something...anything !

Back from San Antonio

Well it was a whirlwind couple of days but I am glad to be back. The heat was not as unbearable as previously thought. When I arrived we had huge cloud breaks and torrential downpours. Drove from Austin and got to the conference in time to attend the meetings in the Alamodome. Went for a swim in the morning and explored the Riverwalk downtown. Later on, I drove out to see the CIA at the old Pearl Brewery. It is quite impressive. I look forward to hearing about what it will look like when the rest of the building is renovated. Visited the San Antonio Museum of Art which was exhibiting a show of psychedelic art. All in all an interesting trip.

Still on the fence

As of today, I have not gotten a ticket for San Antonio, and I am still open to the possibility. When I come home from work this evening, I will either book it or I won't. If I don't, it means another "staycation" around Calistoga. I really don't feel like going anywhere at this point, but a lot is weighing on my mind. Today is another gorgeous day in the Napa Valley and the weekend is likely to be hot ( like San Antonio wouldn't be?? ) So I guess it is six of one and a half-dozen of the other. The only difference would be that I would be saving some money if I don't go, yet passing on a very significant gathering of the tribes. Oh decisions, decisions...

July approaching

Many things are coming up as this month ends. Dave Keegan is a friend who is returning from Italy who I plan to get together with to celebrate his birthday. San Antonio is the city chosen to commemorate the 75th anniversary of a Fellowship of which I am a member, and am currently planning on attending, even though I am registered and don't have a plane ticket or hotel reservation. My vacation begins on friday. Everything else seems to be okay... I still owe money for my student loans and the rent is due for this coming month. Let's see, what else? It's three o' clock in the morning on Tuesday, June 29th, 2010. I am wearing my snuggie that my nephew Edward gave me as a Christmas present last December and I am typing away, trying to make a blog. It is sorta like taking a crap at this point. Be well until my next post.

Trudging forward

Today is Sunday and I started the day with a bagel and cup of Joe at the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company in St. Helena. It has been a couple of weeks since I have written in my blog, but at least now I have a few things I can feel comfortable about writing. I have rekindled a relationship with Veda who I took an Art class with many years ago at Napa Valley College. We have a few mutual friends and a few things in common. She is an artist and convinced me to attend the Italian Chalk Art Fair in San Raphael this past week. The picture above is my creation. I was sponsored by a bike shop. but my design is rather nebulous and doesn't really fit into any particular category ( I just thought that it would make a nice tattoo ). In any event, we spent the day in the hot sun creating our pieces that turned out to be quite grueling, yet fun at the same time. I like Veda, but know my self well enough to proceed slowly as I get to know her. So far, I have found her to be fun, entertaining and interesting. I will keep you posted...

Sunday morning sunshine

Feels so nice.This morning the sun came out, the birds were making a racket, but you could tell that the day was going to be pleasant. I skipped mass and went to the Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company for a Machiado and a Jalapeno Bagel with butter. Work was pleasnt and I had the opportunity to take some Iraq war veterans on a guided tour of the CIA. These guys were all affected with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You could tell that they were a little skittish and didn't always seem present in the moment. Point of fact, that at times they just seemed to wander off on their own when they couldn't deal with what was happening in thier surroundings. One guys was a bit concerned about the elevator, but seemed okay after I told him that we would only be going one floor up to get to the barrel room. All in all, I was glad that I took these guys around. They really deserve our heartfelt gratitude for serving in such torn up, God-forsaken places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trying to make sense of it all...

Today is another cloudy day with possibility of showers. It is late May and the temperature has not gotten above 60 in the last three days. Coming to work, I am greeted by two tourists at 9:30 AM who are insisting on making sure that their reservation has been made for 1:15 PM in the restaurant. After booting up my computer I see that they indeed have a reservation. Next question... " Is your store open to the public ? " Uh, yes it is. What time does your restaurant open? It opens at 11:15 AM. What time does your store open? It opens at 10:00 AM. "We drove all the way to see this place. Do your students prepare a balanced lunch in the kitchen? Uh, yes they do. At this point I am ready to say something that could get me in a heap of trouble,so I swallow my pride and smile. Momma told me there would be days like this.

I just realized that the picture above is very telling after the continuing news about the Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. This saddens me greatly, and I pray that there is a way to plug it and clean it up after so many days of spillage.

Blogging on

Today I felt it was necessary to blog because I haven't done so in a while. Who has any time anymore? I worked today and got through it. That is what it was like at work today... I got through it. Just like this blog... today is just got through it.

Rise and Shine

Cockadoodledoo ! We celebrated mother's day on Saturday at my nephew Edward's house today in Napa. My friend Veda drove up from Fairfax to join in and meet the wonderful group of people that is my family. It was a pot luck, and because I don't particularly like to cook I bought a box of See's chocolates and some lollipops as the dessert. I was really impressed with the way Edward and Antonella take such good care of their guests. Edward made some bratwurst that was included some caramelized onions that were prepared in beer. He cooked some separately just for me because he is considerate of the fact that I am an alcoholic in recovery. Veda seemed to enjoy meeting the whole gang and everyone was very kind to her and made her feel at home. Most of her family lives near Sacramento, and she recently lost a brother, so I think it was just enough of family that she could take at this time.I realize after we left around 5:30PM just how much I appreciate what my family has done for me over the years. If it weren't for my brother in law Ernie, an0d my sister Martha, I don't know how I would have made it through the 80's living in San Francisco. The same goes for my brother in law, Hamish and my sister, Rita. It is gatherings like this that makes me want to stop and count my blessings.

Back and Forth

The bear in this picture looks like he is trying to do some exercise. The picture reminds me to do my exercise every chance I get.
The weather has been wet and dry, back and forth all week long. I rode my bike 14 miles on Sunday to St. Helena from Calistoga and back. Then I up and ran 10 laps around the local High School track yesterday, just to keep my momentum going. It will be so easy to slough off and not pursue the goal I made in the last blog. Today I refused to drink coffee and have switched to Green Tea. I am still dog tired after yesterdays run. I definitely need to get back in shape.

Food is fuel

When I turn 60 in December, I want to weigh in at 160 lbs. This is the goal I have set for myself. As i write this, I am 35 lbs. over that goal.
I went to see my cardiologist yesterday and was informed that I have high blood pressure and need to go on a regular exercise regime. I also am beginning to take a daily pill for my blood pressure along with the statin I am already taking for my cholesterol.

In my thirties and forties I was a marathon runner with a 2:50:14 personal best.I was in the best shape of my life and felt invincible. I have suffered injuries and setbacks over the years but have recovered well from a torn mininscus, ankle injuries and a traumatic motor scooter accident that nearly took my life.

Today, I rode my bike to St. Helena and back ( 14 miles ). It is my intention to keep a regular log of my daily activities from now until my sixtieth birthday. I will list both what I have eaten and what exercise I have done .Food is now fuel for my activities, nothing more, nothing less. My goal over the past fifteen years has been to get our of debt and back on my feet financially. I am almost there with that goal. I ask each of you for your support in helping me achieve these goals, and I thank you for taking the time to read this.I love you.

Uneventful days

The weeks have gone by without much happening. Spring seems a little flat so far, so I suppose we are all just proceeding in our own usual ways. The Giants win their opener, then lose the next day because my sister goes to the game to see what all the excitement is about, and blames herself when they lose the second game. The swallows return to Greystone only split a few days later when the rain returns. The yellow yarrow in the herb garden is the one of the few colorful plants that are around to pick and the lavender is too flimsy to put in a vase to display at the Concierge desk. Don't get me wrong, things may not be all that great, but they aren't too crummy either... just sort of flat. Hmmm... it makes it a little difficult to write about anything without sounding like Albert Camus in his book," The Stranger " when the main character proceeds day to day in kind of a mundane existence seeking only survival.

Momma told me there'd be days like this.

Who has time anymore?

Yesterday I went on an 8 mile hike in the hills near Pope Valley with my friend and colleague, Harrison Hood. The day was grey and eventually turned to rain. After about four miles of dodging creeks and muddy trails, I tried to step over a sloppy pile of mud that a bunch of cattle had gone through and fell sideways. Luckily, it wasn't the usual Meadow frisbees that the cows leave, but enough to get my shoe stuck and my pants completely drenched. But hey, I am a novice and should have had the sense to bring the proper gear. The other hikers had the right boots, hiking poles and the latest goretex pants and jackets. Needless to say, I felt foolish and was pretty angry with myself. The group leader then pulled out a pair of clean socks for me to put on !! (Talk about being prepared !) Anyway, the next time I go hiking it will be with the days are warm and dry.

Today, I came to work after a couple of days off, and was prepared to face the inevitable changes and communication glitches that occur.The day goes easier when I turn petty matters over to my Higher Power, but my tendency is still to try and place blame which only serves to make matters worse for everyone.Giving tours, running cameras, printing literature, answering emails, delivering communication and directing traffic are only a few of the duties that have been placed in my per view.

Allergy Season

is rapidly arriving, and my Flonase prescription has already been refilled. I recently purchased a new sleeping bag, a therma-rest air mattress and a lounge recliner to sleep out under the stars on my deck. The last couple of nights have been beautiful, even though it rained hard on Easter. Our company had their annual health screening in the Barrell room today. I found out that I am five pounds heavier than last year, but my cholesterol is good and my blood pressure is down. Yippee ! Now I suppose I will go out in this nice weather and do a few laps.

Easter 2010

The sun is out today but it is expected to rain again tomorrow, Easter Sunday. This is a time for reflection and reverence. I am staying at home for most of the weekend. It is Passover, a Jewish religious time that I find curious. I am sure that every ritual in both the Catholic and Jewish faith is time tested to reveal a particular significance that will lead it's followers to a holy hereafter.
I have been reading about the Pope's recent troubles with the covering up of the child abuse that has taken place in many of it's churches throughout the world. Not just the church in the United States, but the churches of Ireland, Germany and other places throughout Europe. It looks like the Vatican is scrambling for more cover, instead of taking the strategy of more transparency and openness. One would hope that Pope Benedict ( formerly Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger ) will continue to come clean with any information that remotely implicates himself, his brother, the German archdioceses or the Irish Catholics. This is not a time for covering up, it is a time for Revelation.

Gaels gone mild

Okay, So i watched as the St. Mary's Gaels got stomped in the Sweet Sixteen NCAA Basketball Tourney as Baylor went on to the Elite Eight. At least now, we won't have to face Duke.Traveling to S.F.'s ATT Park to watch the game on the Jumbotron was an experience. One of the Alumni donated money to have this free event for all the Gaels goin' wild. It was sad to see us lose, but it was great catching up with a few of my class mates that made it there. Afterward, I drove back to Calistoga and stoppped in St. Helena to get a free cheeseburger at the new "Gotts" that used to be "Taylors Refresher". A big legal battle is developing over the switching of the former name.
Today, I am back at work and I really am not feeling very prepared today. I drank enough coffee this morning to make me a little "thin-skinned" . Tomorrow is another day.

Spring Springing

The swallows have returned to make their babies and head south to Capistrano sometime in July. The Enchanted magnolias have blossomed and we have had a lot of tourists over the past weekend for the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives Conference.I went on a nice little hike to a place called "Zin Zin Falls" not far from Lake Berryessa on my days off. It was eight miles round trip. You can say that I was pretty spent by the end of the hike. I ate a tub of yogurt before I laid down to rest that evening and it helped assuage the pain I usually get from cramping, sore muscles. It worked. This is the type of weather that motivates me in to action. I make promises to myself to start exercising more, but there is only 24 hours in a day, and I usually have other things I want to do with my time.

Marching on

The weather is wonderful. The skys are clear. Today, we are having the Healthy Worlds of Flavor Conference at Greystone. I will only be there today and Sunday as the event will be held over my regular days off. It seems that the Mustard that fills the rows in the vineyards will soon be plowed under to add nitrogen to the soil. The days seem like they are getting longer now that we have set our clocks forward and the sun stays around until late in the day. Beautiful days are ahead. St. Patricks' day was yesterday and came and went without a lot of fanfare.

Moving Forward

Everyone and everything is taking on a certain color.Even my co-workers Susan and Liz look, uh... fresh after having seen "Avatar" . Now with the clocks moving ahead an hour, everyone is gearing up for Spring.Last Sunday was the Napa Marathon with the local winner crossing the finish line in 2:56:23 I would have beaten him in 1984 with a personal best of 2:50:14 Now after having had my meniscus repaired on my left knee, Thirty pounds heavier and 25 years older... well, you get the picture ). I do miss running long distances though. It was a cheap natural high when the endorphins produced a buzz that would last a day or two. My exercise regime nowadays is climbing a flight of stairs accompanied by heavy breathing and the only high being the altitude.

Wednesday is St. Patty's day and next Sunday is Palm Sunday. The swallows will return then, as it is also the Vernal Equinox. I should also mention that yesterday was my thirty-third sober birthday. I can still recall the half pint of Royal Gate vodka and eight Heineken beers that brought to the brink. Thank God for all the support of family and friends for putting up with me during those early days. Thank God for the running too... It helps me blow off steam while getting healthy. Perhaps I will get back to it this summer. I know that swimming will be on the agenda. Come May, the pools will reopen at Bothe State Park and in Calistoga. I can hardly wait.

Schedule Change

This week will be the beginning of my new schedule change. I will begin working almost regular business days. My days off will be Friday and Saturday instead of Monday and Tuesday. This suits me just fine. Working weekends can be a grind. Fridays can be the worst because most of the people in the education department are trying to get things wrapped up before leaving on Friday afternoon.Lately, I've been spending more time drawing and painting with watercolor pencils. Then I scan my work and modify it in Photoshop.I love the way I can enhance my images using Photoshop.

My Brother, a Swedish Hero

I was just sent a very moving flash video of someone that finds my brother to be a great hero. I see not a hint of any blantant gushing, or idolatry...only a warm, heart-felt acknowledgment of the great human being he is. Now take the time to download and see for yourself . Just click on the following link, and allow two minutes to witness this well deserved tribute.

My Brother

Also, if you are in the Chicago area, you may want to visit his web site, for he is truly the

Chicagoland Santa

Now excuse as I am trying to remove a swollen tongue that is caught in my cheek.

Great looking flower

This is a lovely passion flower which is so enchanting. It looks just great.The rains earlier this week have saturated the soil and the creeks are full. Yesterday though, a huge earthquake rocked Chile.It was 8.8 on the Richter scale and the death toll is currently at 720 people and rising. Haiti occurred some weeks ago, and that was in the 7's, yet the area was much more densely populated and killed a lot more people. Sitting here underneath a massive amount of Tufa stone sometimes makes me a little nervous even as I type this blog.If Greystone has survived three major quakes,it has to be said that nothing is really earthquake proof. We like to say that we are seismically safe here. We point out many things on the tour of this place, and usually take time to reveal the spots where many steel supports were installed, and showcase the overall condition of the building.I heard Wanda Sykes on NPR the other day comparing blogging to keeping a diary. She is so right on with her observations.

Open House not for the dogs

Today was our monthly Open House at Greystone. We had prospective students from all over the area, but not as many as last month. We have taken a "don't call us, we'll call you stance" when it comes to inquiring about admission to the CIA. In the past we have invited guests to come to our Open House only to find that they were more interested in a free tour with bakery goodies, than inquiring about our educational programs. Last month we had around 100 people. This month was more like forty people. Big difference. The Campus store, Viking Kitchen, Tasting bars and Chocolate Room are almost in full operation. The next big hurdle will be the Cafe and Bakery which will be a restaurant that is run by our students. I have been enjoying giving tours lately...since that is a new thing that generates revenue. Ask me again in a couple of months how I am doing with all this. The cute little puppy in the picture is my co-worker Eileen's dog, Pierre.
She emailed me the picture.

Love in the world

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day. The sun is out and I've already gone to the local bike shop to get my tires filled with air for a little ride. First things first though, as it is also laundry day. This past week has been very good. I got a box of candy hearts from the Store manager at the CIA, and i gave out a few valentines to some special people in my life. I also had an emotionally stable week at work, because I made it a special intention to treat everyone as I wish to be treated. Sometimes, It is just a matter of bringing the Golden Rule up to consciousness. Friday and Saturday we had the Napa Valley Premier held at the CIA. The vintners in the area along with sommeliers, wine merchants and brokers came to Greystone to bid on the best wines of the Napa Valley while the wines were still in the barrel. I guess if it were the stock market, you might say that this was like investing in "futures". An auction took place, and unlike the more publicized NV Wine auction that takes place in June, this is an industry event where the featured wines have not even been formally bottled yet (strictly barrel tasting). In previous years there would be a few celebrities floating about among the high profile Vintners and Restauranteurs, like the apologist steroid slugger Mark Macquire. Boston Legal's "Denny Crane" (William Shatner) also made a showing one year. This Premier was not as eventful and I cannot even tell you what the highest bidding wine was.

Besides, Today is a beautiful day and I could care less.

Managing upsets

I learned a long time ago about the "Anatomy of an Upset." It consists of three components... 1.) Unmet Expectations 2.) Undelivered Communication or 3. ) Thwarted intention. It can be said that if you are upset, one of these factors come into play.

The trick for most people is to get off their position and move on with their lives, and not get stuck in a control drama. I cannot begin to tell you how liberating it can be to move beyond anger and resentment. I am powerless over that surge of feelings that overwhelms me as my buttons get jammed.Most people will attest that anger and bitterness can poison an otherwise wholesome relationship. I tend to fear the anger response, which only compounds it.

The idea of choosing one's experience of anger is beyond me. I would agree that which is resisted, will persist, but unless I can be specific when communicating my upset, do I have any clue as to how to release it.

Today I am grateful that I have moments that I can move past. I still can have angry moments. I pray every day to move beyond my anger.

Rest and Recharge

Today is Wednesday, February 10th, 2010. That's two-ten-twenty-ten. Sounds pretty cool.

I am lying low today because I am recuperating from a chest cold that I stupidly pushed aside as I went to work last weekend. Monday and Tuesday were my regular days off and the only thing I did besides stay inside most of the time, was to shop for some new clothes. Big whoop. Chest colds require lots of liquids, rest and more rest.

However, I went to Target on Monday and bought some "Made in China" pants, socks, undershirts and a belt. I thought I was buying a leather belt that was actually stamped "Genuine Leather" only to find that the leather was probably less than a millimeter in thickness with some cellulose material sandwiched in between . The thing that amazes me, is that it is called a "Swiss Army belt" with the Swiss cross clearly designated on the buckle. All made in China. Hmmmm...Is this country selling the farm or what?

Anyway, I am not getting too upset about that kind of stuff, only because it only makes me feel cantankerous.Nothing worse than feeling like a crotchety old man. Rest will reenergize my drooping body and hopefully I will be ready for action on Thursday.

Below you can see how this new belt neatly wraps around my midsection and does nothing in terms of keeping my trousers up. It's all for fashion.

Mustard Magic

The Mustard Festival went off without a hitch. The people responsible for this event have gotten better at putting it on each year, and it gives people a good reason to come to the Napa Valley this time of the year. This year's Mustard Magic had only around 700+ people in attendance. Last year we had around a thousand. Thankfully, no rain put a damper on the event. They had an art exhibit in the Barrel room and various performers were roving about the building as expected. The Teaching Kitchen had a full buffet of delectables like fish sticks, Raviolis, Scallops, Ceviche Salad and the like. I had the opportunity to talk with Don Sanchez and the lovely Cheryl Jennings who anchors the news on Channel seven. It's funny how she approached me and asked if I would like to have my picture taken with her. Pretty bold, huh? I was more interested in getting a candid shot of her from a distance, rather than this vanity shot of both of us. Notice the little Mustard flowers above my name tag. As you can see, I was ready to participate in the spirit of the evening. Without a doubt, most everyone there had a good time.

Inside Activities

The rains let up today and the sun was out.What a week! The last couple of days were gloomy so I stayed inside and drew pictures. I used watercolor pencils for the picture above which I call "Flamenco" for no particular reason except that I thought it had sort of a theme going on with the fan and colors.This blog began at the end of the day on Wednesday, and today it is Thursday afternoon around 4:30 PM. I am bushed. I wanted to sleep in today. Thankfully, their weren't too many things that caused me to be stressed out today, but it is still only January.We are in the process now of setting up for the Mustard Festival this Saturday. Already, guys are dropping things, hammers are pounding and saws are whirring. Looks like I have cause to be stressed out after all. Some days, I'm too busy to be concerned about anything else except what is the next thing in front of me. The new students who arrived last weekend are beginning to find their way around. I am beginning again to learn the names, and putting names to each of the faces.Not a very exciting blog, eh?

Third Tuesday of the Month

Since 2002, I've been assisting Helen Archer ( shown in photo above ) with the monthly food distribution. I used to drive the truck down to the city of Napa to pick up the canned foods, bread, rice, beans, powdered milk and an assortment of other government issued surplus foods. They are generally pretty good, but you never know what is going to be allocated. One month, you might get box loads of cereal. The next month it will be bags of pinto beans. When the trucks arrive back in Calistoga around 9 AM, there are usually 5 or 6 volunteers there who help unload the trucks and bag up the food on four large tables that have grocery bags lined up. After a certain point, Helen will go pick up the high school kids who get community service credits for helping out. This is a fun activity, and people appreciate knowing that the food will be here on a month to month basis.

Today, it has been a week since we have been offering tours of the CIA and so far, it has been going okay. Come Monday, we will have a whole crop of new students coming in for orientation. Our new teaching kitchen is almost complete and so is the new chocolate room. Eventually we will have a cafe and a tasting area.

Tours starting today

It is Saturday, January 16th, and today we had our first group of paid tourists going through the building. This proposal of offering tours here has been met with a mixed reaction. The Instructors on the third floor wanted to put the Kibosh on the idea, but our managing director liked it and figured it would bring in some more revenue so...

Basically, I give a historical perspective of the CIA, talking about what the building was when it first opened it's doors back in 1889. From there, I gradually bring our guests through the preceding eras up to the present day and how the Culinary Institute of America established it's West coast campus here. The people I meet here are more fascinating than any history lesson one would ever think of imparting. It amazes me from how far and wide these people will come to visit Greystone. I understand that outside of Disneyland, this Napa Valley landmark is right up there as a popular destination people want to visit when they come to California. ( From it's appearance, I am still reminded of the Eagles' hit song, "Hotel California" }.

This area is so much more than grape vines, bike tours and balloon rides. St. Helena alone has become a Culinary mecca second only to the Loire region in France . Many have it that this place is where Food, Wine and Art have become the bounty of the good life. One that has emerged through the efforts of early California ancestors, including all the European and Mexican emigrants that have since worked this land over the past few hundred years.

Now our rainy season has just begun again on the West coast after a few meager starts and stops. The weatherman says that the coming front look like it could produce about 6-8 inches by weeks end.I am looking forward to getting a lot of little "inside" jobs to be completd this time of the year.

Wednesday

Ahhh, Conan. I found this poster more appealing than his campaign to get back his regular time slot on NBC.I'm a Letterman fan more than a Conan fan, but Conan is more likeable to me than Jay Leno. Carson was my all time favorite monologist, but Letterman provides a better show with the way he interacts with his guests.Okay, enough of late night T.V. because I don't even have a regular T.V. anymore.(( I have an Apple T.V. dontchaknow.))

The weather is nice and fresh after the rains on Monday and Tuesday. The sun has come out and things are slowly coming back to life. After the tragic earthquake in Haiti, many are counting their blessings for what they have.Yesterday, I went to the Calistoga Fairgrounds to get my H1N1 shot. This makes the second shot I received this season. Hopefully, this will keep me healthy and happy. I saw my friend Reid yesterday. We went for lunch at Yao Kiku over in Santa Rosa. We caught up on stuff, "kvetched" I think is the Yiddish term.

Rumblings

The big highlight of my week was going to see the movie "Avatar". More about that later...This week the store is completing inventory and is in the midst of continual expansion. The chocolatier bar is being constructed and the new teaching kitchen ranges and stove tops will be ready to fire up the first week in February if everything goes accordingly.Eventually their will be a cafe which will be sit down instead of take out. This will be a welcome sight on these frosty mornings as one will be able to greet the day with a hot latte and a blueberry muffin, all while reading the days Chronicle.The fog has been showing up in the morning, with the sun coming out in the afternoon around 2 PM. The space heater under my desk has been keeping me warm but I need to wear a comfy vest to keep my upper body warm.Greystone is a cold building in the winter,especially since most of the windows and door are open for future construction.Luckily the contractors have been able to get the heat going at the south end of the building which will be useful when the DeBaun theater opens back up, sometime this summer. Last Tuesday, I went with my friend Don to see the movie "Avatar" which was fantastic. I really enjoyed all the special effects in 3-D. The story was an adventure epic which had me on the edge of my seat for the entire two and a half hours. My only concern was that an intermission was sorely needed because the movie is just a wee bit long.Already the show has made boatloads of cash and I suspect artifacts like posters, books and other memorabilia will be showing up on store shelves very soon.

First day of Twenty Ten

The only thing waking me up last night was one firework launched at midnight which sounded like a bomb going off. The kids next door shrieked at the stroke midnight and I rolled over like a grumpy old man and tried to go back to sleep. I got up early enough to get to Noreen's house. She is my eighty-one year old friend who likes to take me out for breakfast. We drove first to Mt. La Salle for New Year's day Mass. It wasn't happening,but we paid a visit to the Christian Brothers who were there and walked around the grounds and said some prayers in the chapel. Then we drove to downtown Napa to find a place to have brunch. Gillwoods was packed, so we kept prowling around for awhile. Finally we drove back to St. Helena and had lunch at the Gillwood's there. I had a club sandwich and a cup of clam chowder. She had a Salad with ranch dressing and a cup of chowder as well. After that we went to the Cameo theater to see " Out of Africa " for Free !! It was a classic movie that was thoroughly enjoyable. The pairing of Redford and Streep was flawless. Noreen was very pleased that I went with her and kept referring to me as her "Adopted Son". What the hell, she is a sweet lady whose own family doesn't seem to take the time to visit her.

Did the Ipod just die?

This is my grandniece Mila on Christmas morning. I had arrived at my nephew's house five minutes earlier, and already I think Mila was getting anxious to open the gifts. My nephew's wife Antonella was trying to get the ipod to play some music after plugging it into a player device with speakers. Mila was already dancing in anticipation of the music that just wasn't to be. As it turned out, the Ipod just needed to be recharged. After breakfast we all went into the living room to open the presents. All in all, it was a nice day spent with family.

Can we get there any quicker?

Many are looking forward to the new year with a degree of excitement and trepidation. No one seems to know if the economy will buoy to the point where people will feel less stressed about making a living and saving money. Right now, all anyone seems to hear about is how much the prices of things will be raised in the new year. I have already heard that P.G. & E. will be raising their rates for the average user. We won't be expecting any raises here where I am , that much is certain. In fact I think that we may be scaling back on some of the jobs around here. but I hope that this is not the case.

Today we have a lot of tourists visiting our building, restaurant and store. I took two groups of thirty people on tours of our facility, talking about it's history and the history of the school itself. The regular scheduled cooking demonstrations were canceled because our demo chef was ill today. I came up with the idea of offering the "Greystone Experience" as a way of compensating those who already had made reservations and were expecting a cooking demo.It is so busy with people today, I am surprised that we don't have more staff to accommodate our guests.

The picture above is of Stephanie, who is one of the most positive people you will find around here. She always seems to have a smile on her face and I consider myself very priveleged to work with her. She works in our campus store, but also works Special Events like she is in the picture above.

Santa's greeting

My brother John has been very busy this year. He has created a wonderful persona as the Chicagoland Santa which has been in development for well over twenty years . Frankly speaking, I don't think he really cares who has been naughty or nice.He just likes going out, telling stories to little kids, giving out candy canes, smiling for pictures, going "Ho-Ho-Ho" at every opportunity and making a decent wage. What a great gig ! Now since he has launched his website, it's my guess that he will have plenty of work to keep him busy throughout the year. I drew this picture above while thinking about how I envision Santa Claus. I think my brother exemplifies this effort.

Back to work

Ahhh... four days off, and back for Holiday Season at the CIA. Last night was the Open House Event at Greystone. For me, a must to avoid. I was in S.F. yesterday, visiting my sisters Martha, Rita and my brother-in-laws, Hamish and Ernie. I went there to talk about marketing my chef hats, which will be one of my big projects for the new year. My aim is to get them into Cliff's and the Spice Island Marketplace. Right now, it is contingent upon whether or not the printer, Chromagraphics can figure find a way of recreating them with the right materials and packaging them in such a way that people will want to buy them. Then it becomes a costing factor. How much will it cost to produce 500, a thousand, five thousand. Being that this is my first is my first commercial product venture, I learned a lot from my sister Martha and her staff. Right now I am looking at redrawing the tag to simplify and making it more obvious what it is from a distance of five feet. So many questions arise as I move forward with this, and so many have specific types of advice to give me. So far it has been quite educational in a field I would not otherwise have any particular interest. Some have suggested creating a web site. I think that I eventually may do this, but I want to test market these products first in an actual brick and mortar store before I go online with this.

Just another day ?

Today is my birthday and so far I have heard from three friends. Two via telephone message, the other via email. I had some floating holidays saved up, so I decided to take this weekend off. I really prefer the Spring over these late Fall days. Winter doesn't officially begin until Dec. 21st, which is the shortest day of the year. I sort of feel like I want to go into hibernation and wake up around St. Patrick's Day. I have already done my spiritual exercise for the day and now I am ready for action.

My latest taste treat concoctions are Lundberg rice cakes with melted cheese, tahini and chapoltle sauce on top. Just for fun I put a roasted red bell pepper on top of that. So I guess you could say that my tastes are unconventional.

Last night I went to see the new George Clooney movie, "Up in the Air". It was a really good story and I drove all the way from Calistoga to San Raphael to catch it. It rained pretty hard last night but I drove carefully and made it back safely. I am so grateful that I am in reasonably good health. This time last year, I was recovering from a serious motor scooter accident and was just taking life a day at a time. I am still doing that, too. It's important to be grateful every day for what you have. Today I am going over to Trader Joe's to buy some more rice cakes, tahini and chapoltle sauce.

You see, I don't need a big cake like the one in this picture to make me happy on my birthday. Sometimes, these little things can make me feel like a winner.

Birthday coming up!

This is my brother with my grandnephew, "Christopher" who is his daughter's child. He and I had a little IChat spat the other day. We both wear are feelings pretty close to the cuff, which is tricky when we interact with one another. I think it was a good thing that we were a few thousand miles apart and talking online.I will tell you more about him later in this post.

Okay, I might as well shout it from the rooftops. Sunday is my birthday and I will be 59 years "of age". Doesn't that sound better than old? Besides, I am still very much a teenager in my mind. Being a child of the sixties in San Francisco, I could not think of any practical reason to grow up. The motto then was, " Don't trust anyone over 30." We all figured that those over 30 were the establishment, and were uptight squares. It must have taken most ALL of my adult years to acquire some semblance of maturity. Anyway,in our family no one likes to be advised of ANYTHING, because every last one of us is stubbornly independent. Some more than others, so one has to be VERY careful when soliciting the advice of an elder sibling. Of course if you talk with my brother he may disagree with you on that point.

My brother is the Chicagoland Santa and he has done quite well as establishing himself in this unique business.He has a real beard that is large, white and fluffy. His wife, Ariane helps him as Mrs. Claus at some of the events he is invited to attend.Last time I spoke with him we had a flare up because I felt that he was patronizing me. This can be difficult when as an adult, we are trying to relate to each other as adults who are respectful of each other. I think we were both tired.I still love him very much.

Monday, Monday

Can't trust that day. Well, I don't know about that. As I look out my bedroom window I see the sun trying to come through the clouds.The picture above is the sun peeking through the pine trees up at Robert Louis Stevenson State park about a week ago. It was supposed to be a big gully washer today, and I have yet to see what the weatherperson was talking about. Snow down to 500 feet? I doubt it. We had snow on the Valley floor a few years ago, but that happens on very rare occasions. It is more likely that the hills around here will have a dusting of the cold white stuff. Reflection time...

I was just sitting here thinking that it wasn't until the personal computer came along did we multi-task as much as we do now. I find that I pay more attention to my computer and Iphone each day, than I do to anyone or anything else. Is this a healthy thing? What about the computer that we used to rely on in our own head? Has this device actually helped us process information better than we already do?

Well, unlike Television ( which I don't now have any subscription to...) I seek out my information and entertainment in a whole new fashion. If I want to watch a show that I used to watch on TV, I will either download it onto my computer or just wait and watch a Hulu version of it for free. Hulu, who knew? I haven't ventured AT ALL into the gaming world. I see many friends and relatives getting involved in games like Bejeweled, Mafia Wars on Facebook, World of Warcraft or other such diversions. I avoid them precisely because of information overload. I think it's time to go back and take another look outside my window.

A Pleasant Day in the Neighborhood

Sundays are the best days here at the Culinary Institute of America. Usually this place is a behive of activity on Mondays through Saturdays, most every week throughout the year.Today is rather relaxed because people are heading home at the end of the four day Thanksgiving feast.Where I am in the Atrium,stays open until 6PM which is in the main part of the building.The restaurant stays open until 9PM on weeknights and 10PM on weekends. The food is fabulous and the atmosphere is exquisite. I am feeling much chipper about my job today than yesterday for some reason.My whole attitude and outlook has changed.I am intuitively knowing how to handle situations which used to baffle me.Is this an extravagant promise? I think not. This attitude adjustment is being fulfilled rather quickly, because I am working at it.

The Long Hike

Yesterday, I went for a hike with the Sanchez brothers and their friend to the top of Mt. St. Helena. They were very proud of thier accomplishment as this video will attest. We packed our lunches and set off from Robert Louis Stevenson State Park on a four mile trek to the top of the mountain. The boys were enthusiastic but began to gripe after an hour that they were hungry. Sebastian Sanchez and I ran ahead of the two others and hid behind a rock as the boys began calling out for us. We then jumped out and scared them with a loud growl. This was the first stop along the way.

After a lunch of bologna sandwiches and a peanut butter power bar, we continued on to the top. A lot of rocks were hurled down the hillsides and we kept our eyes out for good hiking sticks. Eventually we were above the timber line and they could see the whole town of Calistoga for the first time. Alejandro remarked how small the cars were, as if we were viewing the town from an airplane. Two and a half hours after we started out, we finally made it to the top.

The hike back down was fun as we invented a guessing game about different categories like Action heros, songs, rocks, vegetables, etc. just to pass the time. Around 4 PM the sun was beginning to go down and we still had about an hour of daylight left before getting back to the car.

When we arrived back in Calistoga, eveyone was dog tired but happy that we had undertaken this challenge.

Serving and being served

Today is Thanksgiving and I will be attending dinner at my nephew Edward's house in Napa. I suspect that relatives and friends of Edward and Antonella will all be there. It is common for me to dread these family events, until I get myself through the door. After that, I am fine. Some years ago, I attended Thanksgiving dinner at my sister Martha's house in San Francisco. I was in charge of making the garlic mash potatoes ( I read recently that this particular culinary assignment was given to Lindsay Lohan by her family their Thanksgiving dinner... a token gesture a best). I can hear them whispering to each other in the kitchen, " Well, it would be hard for her to mess that up. Anyway, garlic mash potatoes have become my forte.´

The dish came out pretty well, actually. Martha liked them, as did my sister Ellen who was visiting from Australia. This made me feel pretty good because I had been experimenting with dill pickle juice as a way of bumping up the flavor. All in all, I was proud of my meager accomplishment. Preparing and hosting an ENTIRE EVENT is quite another matter. I have only hosted one of these types of gatherings as an adult.

While working at Indian Springs Spa, I was able to secure a few cottages at a special rate. Family members from the Midwest and points north arrived to enjoy the weekend in Calistoga. I had to work and at the same time was trying to organize a picnic at one of the local wineries .Hosting a family gathering and enjoying what you have organized is not the same thing. Needless to say, one of my nephews ended up getting lost and the picnic had to be moved to another location because the reservation for the space was going to be scrapped if not everyone arrived on time. It all worked out however, and we had ended up having the picnic at a local park.

This reorganization happened because my sister Martha took charge and updated the plans. This is typical. I'm not saying that I won't ever host a family event like this again... but the likelihood is pretty strong that I won't. Thankfully, my family members have learned to be flexible. Besides, there are others who do a much better job of pulling it off.