There’s So Much More to Wine Country than Grapes

A quick trip to Sonoma offers an easy diversion from the daily blahs. The land’s natural beauty is even enough to excuse the two lane “highway” often filled with snail-paced sightseers.

As you drive past the rolling, golden countryside of Sonoma County, the endless, undulating hills and valleys of lush green vineyards mask a deep history. Long before world famous grapes grew here, ages before Mexican soldiers camped here and the Padres established Mission San Francisco Solano here, this area was home to countless Native Americans.

For thousands of years, Native Americans (Wappo, Pomo, Miwok, Cainameros, and Satisyomis tribes among others) settled in the Sonoma area which reaches from the Pacific Ocean teeming with fish, oysters, crabs, and more, through the Russian River valley which is abundant with vegetation.

From the mid-1500s through the mid-1800s, the Spanish, English, Russians, Mexicans, and Americans laid claim to parts of Sonoma. Ultimately (as we all know), the United States gained control of the area and California became the 31st state in 1850.

While the loss of the ancient Native American cultures and traditions is deeply regrettable and tragic, their past is not entirely forgotten. A little digging beneath the twisted grapevines of wine country reveals a rich history filled with intriguing (and disturbing) tales of humanity’s growth, struggles, perseverance, and spirituality.

Sources:
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/art/basket/pomohist.html
http://boxer.senate.gov/nah/tribe_group.cfm#UTO
http://ceres.ca.gov/nahc/califindian.html
http://www.sonomacountyrealestate.us/living/sonoma/history/
http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=479
Sonoma State Historic Park Brochure

Cough, Cough, Sneeze, Sneeze, Congress Wants to Hear from Me?

With all the partisan rhetoric flying around Obama’s healthcare proposal, I have no idea how to separate fact from fiction. I know what changes I’d like to see personally but don’t know how that fits into our president’s framework or congress’s changes.

To my utter surprise, when I opened my email this morning there was a survey from a California congressman waiting for me. (Just this once I’ll ignore the fact that someone sold my contact info.) The survey asks (these are just the questions/statements. I’m not listing the multiple choice response options for all of them.):
1. A government option should be a part of any healthcare reform passed by congress.
2. Government should remain a neutral regulator of the healthcare industry and refrain from taking greater control over the payment of or provision of healthcare services.
3. In order to insure all Americans, I would support a plan which increases taxes for: middle class and working class families / upper income families / my own family / none of the above.
4. I support Obama’s plan. (Yes / no / Don’t know enough about it)
5. Do you support the proposal that the same health plans provided to members of congress and federal employees be made available to all private employers and workers?

I wonder if my responses will have any impact whatsoever. Still, reaching out to the community requesting its opinion is a step in the right direction.

I think most of us would agree that we’d like to see high-quality healthcare at an affordable cost for all that also guarantees care for those who can’t afford it. What’s my personal beef with the current system? The list is endless and there are lots of grey areas in the points below. Here are my top three:
1. Annual increases in insurance premiums that outweigh or negate pay increases.
2. No affordable healthcare options for those who are unemployed. (I never understood how COBRA was a viable option for those who don’t have jobs. If you don’t have an income, how can you afford healthcare that's more expensive than regular healthcare?)
3. Quality healthcare and options for elderly and children who may not have insurance.

I understand that insuring the uninsured means someone else has to pay for it. Still, shouldn’t the government figure out a way to help its people? Or have we entered an era of survival of the fittest (aka survival of those with money)?

Whatever the grand plan the government comes up with, I fear the following:
1. Government Only Plan – Too communistic for my taste. I want choices.
2. Government Options – Do the poor get different treatment options (or no treatment) than the rich?
3. Tax Increases – Will tax increases outweigh more affordable healthcare options?
4. Lack of Reasonable Industry Regulation – If private options will continue, will reasonable rate increases or government imposed caps on costs be created or enforced? Or will the skyrocketing costs from private insurers force a government style HMO to be the only affordable option?
5. The Goldilocks Syndrome – Too much government intervention or not enough
6. No plan – Heaven help us all.

Whatever is decided, I don’t want it to be pushed through congress just to fulfill a campaign promise and save face. It has to be a viable, long-term solution that will benefit everyone.

Then again, this is Washington we’re talking about. Time to get my head (and hopes) out of the clouds.

God Isn't a Diamondbacks Fan?

It started in CYO basketball and cheerleading. Our coaches would say a quick prayer before games. I understood asking for God’s help to play to the best of our abilities, but I often wondered about why they asked the all mighty to help us win a game or event. Did God have favorite teams? Did he prefer St. Margaret’s basketball team over SCS? What did SCS do to piss Him off? How could we get in His good graces again to end our losing streaks?

The praying didn’t stop there though as it featured prominently in high school and college sports as well. I didn’t think much of it through the years as it was as commonplace as singing the national anthem before a game.

Watching Phillies baseball over the past few weeks, I’ve been surprised at how often a player (on our team or elsewhere) makes the sign of the cross after a good play. Tonight a Diamondbacks player made it to first base after getting a rare hit off of the Phillies’ Cliff Lee. As soon as he touched the base, he made the sign of the cross.
Does God care who wins? Doesn’t He have more important things to worry about than overpaid jocks hitting a change up or making a game saving catch? If everyone is praying for a win, how does God choose? Does he trip a player or send an extra gust of wind to carry a ball into home run territory?

Apparently God is a Phillies fan (at least today) because no matter how hard they prayed tonight, the Diamondbacks were destined to lose 8-1.

Diet Secret #1

I love food. Let me say it again. I LOVE food. Like Joker to Batman, it’s been my evil arch nemesis throughout my year long quest to get back into shape.

Early on I figured out that the key to my diet is moderation. I can’t give up chocolate, cookies, and pastries. I won’t give up potatoes, bread, and pasta. And, while it’s not necessary, I thoroughly enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail.

A diet of bland crackers and four paper thin cookies just wasn’t going to work for me. Dinners were the biggest challenge. I grew up on full meals, which included meat, starches, and veggies. These alone weren’t bad. However, vegetables were coated in butter, meats tended to be fried or roasted, and the starches oozed with greasy gravies. To top it off, I added salt to everything. Clearly, I was one big heart attack waiting to happen as I reached adulthood.

My biggest coup was figuring out how to make tasty “diet” food. One of my favorite experiments began with the grill. Considering California’s grilling season lasts about ten months each year, I figured this would be the best place to start. I nixed the roasted potatoes and corn on the cob from the grilled chicken’s side and replaced them with a large portion of spring salad. The trick was substituting the dressing. I tried the Wishbone low calorie/low fat option and didn’t care for it. Since I chopped a half-breast of BBQ chicken onto the salad, I figured I’d keep the taste consistent and drizzled about a tablespoon’s worth of BBQ sauce onto the salad instead. Presto! Low calorie, NO fat solution.

In honor of my first diet creation, I listed the recipe below. The marriage of salty and sweet flavors works surprisingly well. There are enough flavors and textures in here to keep your taste buds interested and enough food to keep you satisfied.

BBQ Chicken Salad
• ½ grilled chicken breast (sprinkled with season salt, lightly coated in oil to keep from sticking to the grill [keep the skin on so the meat doesn’t burn, but remove the skin before eating for less fat and calories.]
• Your favorite salad mix (2+ servings worth)
• 1 tomato (chopped)
• 1 apple (chopped)
• 1/4 chopped cucumber
* Handful of pimento stuffed green olives (chopped)
• Handful of dried cranberries
• Handful of slivered / chopped almonds (optional)
• 1 – 2 Tablespoons of Jack Daniel’s Honey Smokehouse BBQ Sauce

IKEA: American Microcosm?

Ironic? Yes. Surprising? No. The question is how a Swedish company figured out consumers so well when other American operations struggle to retain their market share.

Hell bent on reclaiming the living room from my children, I was determined to redesign and upgrade my child-triggered-tornado danger zone. Lofty dreams of an adult-friendly space were hampered by a restrictive budget. The solution: IKEA.

Jeff and I made the forty-five minute trek to the IKEA in Emeryville yesterday. As I wandered through the sample living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, my attention shifted from the furniture and decorative accessories to the unique clientele.

Parents with children could be overheard discussing budgets and options while more mature customers, wearing attire fresh from New York runways and bejeweled in gold necklaces and fancy watches, sought high-quality, chic designs. The store’s offering ranges in value and cost to meet pretty much any budget and home need.

IKEA’s true understanding of American capitalism lies in the layout of their store. Reminiscent of Oz’s yellow brick road, the main path through the store is marked with yellow arrows pointing you in the “right” direction which happens to wind through every department. Don’t think about exiting the main road or you’ll spend a good 20 minutes on a detour trying to find your way back. The scenic route through their entire product offering, which can easily fill a football field, leaves you feeling tired and disoriented. But then, just as you’re about to collapse from exhaustion and regretting forgetting to ask how your ruby slippers work in case you need to escape, the path clears to the entrance of IKEA’s cafeteria. The aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and coffee are too enticing to resist. You promise yourself you’ll only sit for a few minutes to catch your breath.

And they’ve got you.

With furnishings to meet any budget, kiddie play areas and babysitting on-site, and restaurant quality food at half the cost, IKEA caters to consumers of every class, ethnicity, and background. Unlike many retailers who thrive on niche markets (low end = WalMart; mid-tier = Macy’s; high end = Neiman Marcus), IKEA figured out how home furnishings can appeal to everyone. The answer lies in customer service, quality levels with reasonable costs, and simple, European designs.

I didn’t intend this post to turn into an IKEA ad, but I was remarkably impressed not only by the store’s diverse customer base but also its ability to “trick” customers into shopping. After all, the cost of a $1.49 candle here and a $7.64 breakfast for two there added to a new bookcase adds up fairly quickly. Smart marketing.

Did I find the Emerald City? Yup. And I left my wallet there too.

Beer & Dogs (Not the Ballpark Kind)

When you’re at the top, someone’s got to tear you down. Sometimes it’s an outside force. Sometimes we bring it upon ourselves.

Forget that the Phillies are the reigning World Series Champs and that the Eagles and Flyers made it to their respective playoffs last season. It seems that sports thrive on negative press. Then again, as the marketing industry says, no press is bad press.

This week’s fodder is brought to you by a Cubs fan, who prefers showering an All-Star with his $9 beer instead of drinking it (talk about throwing your money away), and the Eagles franchise, who signed a felon to quarterback when the team already has a hometown favorite (McNabb) in said position along with an heir apparent (Kolb) and backup (Feeley).

The Cubs fan, who attacked the Phillies’ Flyin’ Hawaiian as he made a catch on the warning track, is lucky he didn’t commit his crime in Philadelphia territory. Phillies fans won’t take the high road if one their own is assaulted. There are times when I’d love to hurl a beer, bottle and all, at prima donna celebrities, but not while they’re working and not at someone as down to earth as Shane Victorino.

Kudos to Lou Piniella, the Cubs manager, and the Cubs franchise for apologizing and filing the complaint. If our teams can act civilly on the field, why can’t we off of it? And props to Victorino for handling the situation with class when he probably wanted nothing more than to deck the guy.

In other news, Eagles’ fans have drawn a line along the 50 yard mark. One camp stands strong against Vick for his past sins (aka you served your time, but don’t deserve a second chance in the game); the second willing to give him a shot at redemption.

For me, the Vick challenge is more of a social issue. Kids look up to athletes, especially celebrity athletes. While Vick may be a solid player (though he’ll need to re-prove himself before any Eagles fan stands in his corner), he’s got to realize that serving time behind bars is one thing, but having people, kids specifically, idolize you brings with it a whole new territory of responsibility.

If Vick wants my approval, he needs to shed his image by doing PSAs, working in the Philly community—not because he has to, but because he wants to, and truly showing fans and kids that taking responsibility for your mistakes is admirable. I get this wish list is lengthy and totally unrealistic, but only Vick can change his own image and public perception.

I’m in no way condoning what he did, but the justice system doled out its punishment and he served his time. Now, he needs to rebuild what was lost. I just don’t want my kids looking up to someone like him unless he proves his worth off the field and outside of a jail cell.

Philadelphia fans are renowned for their obnoxious, albeit passionate, behavior. They’ll turn on their hometown golden boy if he turns in a shoddy performance just as quick as they are to defend their team from others. Though they may bicker amongst themselves, Philly fans stick together. [A word of advice: If you’re not a Philly sports fan, then don’t pick a fight with those who are. You won’t win. Seriously, you won’t.]

The true test will come in February. Will Philadelphia fans forgive and forget Vick’s shady past if we walk away with rings?


Sources: Victorino Pic (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Vick Pic (Barry Williams / Getty Images)

The Exploitation of Women – a 'Light' Dinner Conversation

The first 15 minutes of dinner last night were wonderful. It was just Jeff and me on our first dinner date in over ten months. Sitting at a little, square table tucked into the far corner of the restaurant’s deck overlooking San Francisco Bay, the setting was beautiful, the fresh air and ambiance ripe for romance.

Then, she arrived.

A couple took their seats directly behind me and not ten seconds later, a young woman began talking so loudly I couldn’t hear myself think. This alone wouldn’t have been a problem; with two kids I have plenty of practice at drowning out irritating noise pollution. It was her topic of conversation that got me. Would it bother you? You decide (Imagine a Valley Girl accent with “like” interjected after every other word. Her one-sided conversation is summarized/paraphrased below):
• So I’ve been working on this calendar. I pay the models $10 - $12 an hour. I’m not giving them anything else. It’s my calendar.
• I don’t have a distributor yet. This thing cost me $30,000 to make. I need to sell them. So I sent several boxes (for free) to Fort Bragg and I got some of the girls to dress up and hand them out after the police academy graduation.
• I learned everything from my dad. He’s an excellent photographer. He took me under his wing and taught me everything I know. He told me I should print more calendars, but I thought he’d help me figure out distribution. We fought a couple weeks ago and I haven’t talked to him since then.
o Yeah, he invested several thousand dollars in my project.
o He helped take some pictures for me (for free) but they were flat. I want the girls more “out there.”
• My mom doesn’t really approve of my work. We don’t get along and I can’t stand her. She happened to see the cover of the calendar and knew I needed cash, so she gave me a thousand.
• My mom asked about the models’ safety. I really don’t care…Yeah, we’ve got to be careful. I was worried the police might arrest us.
• I really want to establish my brand. Expensive accessories. I needed these designer boots that cost several thousand, but I found knock offs for $160. So the girl wore them for the shoot on the Harley and then I returned them. My marketing strategy is to put beautiful (naked) girls in expensive jewelry and shoes. I just hope the people who buy the calendars won’t know the stuff is fake. (Commentary: what man staring at naked women will know/care about her accessories?)

This is wrong on so many levels, not the least of which is that she doesn’t have the faintest clue about marketing. All kidding aside, I’m irritated that whatever “almost illegal” photography she was conducting would not in the least bit benefit the models taking their clothes off so she could make money off of their skin. Maybe the girls were desperate (then again, they could get a job in fast food/retail and make close to the peanuts she was paying them). Maybe they think this will launch modeling careers. Maybe they don’t care who sees them naked. Maybe they like it.

When I was younger, I felt any models participating in nudie pictorials were immoral, self-disrespecting bimbos. As I got older, I came to believe that it’s a matter of choice. If the models want to participate, then who cares? At least they’re willing participants and, if they make it to Playboy--if that's what matters to them, they’ll make millions and become household names (at least, in select male-only households). But what irritated me about my oblivious dinner non-companion was her cold, callous take on the situation. She readily admitted that she was in it for the money and that the “girls” wouldn’t get anything else from her entrepreneurial business profit. What makes her better than a pimp?

I could go on endlessly about why this bothers me. Then again, instead of complaining, I could've confronted her. But why? Apparently, everything was consentual and, quite frankly, it's none of my business. I'm just being an uptight, judgmental soccer mom.

What bothers me most is that I let this selfish, immoral woman cloud my time alone with Jeff. So, ultimately, who’s the stupid one? Don’t reply; I know the answer.