Tasting Tuscany Wines--Bin 201

Yesterday, I sojourned to Annapolis to a wine store named Bin 201 for a tasting of wines selected from Italy and more specifically, Tuscany and some of the nearby regions.

I enjoy attending these tastings because they are more than just tasting wine--they are about understanding the grapes and conditions in the region.

Bin 201 Being Prepared for Tasting

Although Tuscany was the principle region for yesterday's tasting, I was also treated to a sampling of wines from Umbria, Marche, and Abruzzo.  But the wines of the day truly were from Tuscany: Chianti, Chianti Classico, Super Tuscan.

I admit, one of the wines did not have a pleasant nose--it smelled like a cat box, but most of them were very nice and enjoyed. The tasting was complete with a plate of cheese, salami, prosciutto, and of course some palate cleansing bread.

The Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello de Montalcino 2000 Tuscany was clearly the wine of the day. But it was $87.99 and I just don't buy wine that expensive because I never want to drink it--so the enjoyment is never fully realized because it just stays on the wine rack.

The best buy was Ornellia "Le Volte" 2009, Bolgheri, Tuscany for $29.99. This was a Super Tuscan, being a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. It gets a solid average 88 rating on Cellar Tracker and I think it will be awesome with pasta.

I love expanding my wine knowledge and my tastes, and yesterday was no exception as I also tastes a few whites--but nothing spectacular.

While the Bin 201 tastings are not free, they are not expensive--less than tastings for more in Napa. And, we tasted 10 wines coupled with history and a small intimate group of 14 people. It makes for a nice Saturday afternoon activity. I highly recommend these events.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Crushing a Hero - What is the USADA, anyway?

I have to weigh in on the Lance Armstrong situation.

Despite whatever they say, Lance still won seven Tour de France races from 1999-2005. Period. And now, seven years later, the revisionists are trying to rewrite history. Nice move.

I don't understand the singly-focused expensive effort to discredit a hero and cancer survivor. And from what I can tell, the evidence, if there is any, is not all that conclusive.

One article notes that: A federal judge wrote last week, “USADA’s conduct raises serious questions about whether its real interest in charging Armstrong is to combat doping, or if it is acting according to less noble motives.”

Until yesterday, frankly, I didn't even know that there was a US Anti Doping Agency. I am still not sure where they get their funding--if there is any governmental money involved, then I think we have found a probable way to help alleviate some of the budget deficit. They indicate that they are a non-profit, non-governmental watchdog agency authorized by Congress, so there are few controls on them.

Unless more compelling evidence is released--I believe that the USADA needs to be suspended.

Continuing on in the referenced article I cited earlier, the writer related the magnitude of the odds stacked against the athletes by the USADA and the 

So forget Lance. I have so many problems with USADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) — which is supposed to be where athletes can appeal, only they never, ever win — that it’s hard to know where to begin. American athletes have lost 58 of 60 cases before the CAS. Would you want to go before that court?

Anyone who thinks an athlete has a fair shot in front of CAS should review the Alberto Contador case. Contador was found to have a minuscule, insignificant amount of clenbuterol in his urine during the 2010 Tour de France. After hearing 4,000 pages of testimony and debate, CAS acknowledged that the substance was too small to have been performance-enhancing and that its ingestion was almost certainly unintentional.

Therefore he was guilty. He received a two-year ban.

There has to be a better way. I understand why Lance is dropping his fight--it is not a fair playing field.

So, despite the proclamation by the USADA--Lance still won seven Tour de France races, AND, btw, is still a cancer survivor--I bet they want to strip him of that title next.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Convention Watching

Now that the Olympics are completed, it is time for our every four-year Presidential Sweepstakes in which we the people get to exercise our right to vote for the officials who will declare war and raise taxes while fighting economic maladies. Well, it sounds good anyway.

And it is off to Tampa, for the Republican entertainment. I think it would have been more fun had no one actually wrapped up the nomination. Maybe we the voters and people would have been better served as we watched the floor fights and the dealing to determine a candidate.

So the really fun part will be if the hurricane hits Tampa at the same time that Romney is accepting the nomination. Would that be considered a mandate for winds of change?

What do I expect from the convention? Not much really. It is just another campaign event.

And after the Republicans--then the Democrats get their turn. I think the last convention with meaning was the 1944 Democratic convention which found Harry Truman on the ticket with FDR--that was not the plan at the start of the convention--but it was a back room deal.

Unless Biden winds up being replaced, I'm not thinking we will have anything that exciting.

Too bad.

We could use a bit of mystery in the election season to help people decide.

But, with the Olympics over, we do need something to talk about and the conventions should do the trick. That is, if the Republicans don't get rained out.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

And it is only Thursday

Some weeks have a way of lingering beyond their welcome.

This week is exactly such a week. I do not know why that is, nor can I finger any specific instance or series of instances, but the week is just dragging.

It may be  that I will actually report to the office on all five days--even though I escaped yesterday for an afternoon of fun filled doctors appointments topped off by a blood draw and my allergy shot. If only the doctors had been running on schedule maybe I could have parlayed some of the afternoon into pool side lounging. But no--by the time I left the first appointment with the added surprise blood draw and got my chores done, it was time to go off and sit at another doctor's office who was running over 30 minutes late for my appointment.

At least I was able to get my allergy shot while I was waiting. What a reward that is--an annoying needle prick in the arm! Yay!

I am beginning to have dreams about getting shots--really!

I tend to like to schedule multiple doctors for the same day--it reduces the pain of leaving work for these appointments significantly. But by the time it was all done, I effectively got home later than when I would have done had I worked.

And on top of that, my insurance company has dropped the ball on paying for all of the shots I've been getting--so now I have to call them and discover why it is taking over 90 days to reimburse the doctor who wants to charge my credit card. Ugh!

And then the Security Company called to advise me of a low battery situation in one of my sensors at my house! Great! Another appointment for a service call. Too bad they can't call and say something like: "We are seeing a low battery situation in one of your sensors, our service technician will be there in 15 minutes to remedy the issue."

What a service concept that would be.

But no, I get a two hour appointment block on Monday.

Like I wrote--it is only Thursday, and early morning at that,

At least it is only two days until the weekend and then I get to do it all over again with a whole new set of issues and problems. Like traffic as the schools reconvene for the 2012-2013 School Year. Busses, soccer Moms (and Dads), teachers and too many students joining the already crowded roads. That is something to look forward to next week!

Well, there is that way cool wine tasting I'm doing on Saturday to look forward to. And sleeping in (until 6AM) is always nice. Lawn to mow. Errands to run.

Weekend?

It is still Thursday.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Freaked Out Dog

Bring in the Dog Whisperer. Makayla has gone off the deep end and is displaying a deep seated phobia about walking on the hardwood floors.

It is not so much walking, but rather starting from a standing. She looks like Fred Flintstone trying to get his car going as she flails against the floors to get moving.

Makayla Fighting Against the Wood Floor

Yet, she does not need to aggravate herself so.

She walks perfectly fine once she is going forward.

It is just the spinning her wheels (or rather paws) which freaks her out as she tries to gain some forward momentum.

I feel bad for her, but I do not want to contribute to the delinquency of a canine by coddling her. But the whining is terrible.

But, I cannot give in to her fears or they will not get better. And when she accidentally jumps on the couch--she cannot get off. Or rather she will not get off until she finally determines that no one is going to rescue her.

Where is the Dog Whispered when I need him.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Intolerance--A response

An article in the new yesterday about a 12 year old girl in Pakistan with some burned pages in a bag whose neighbors are calling for execution under the local blasphemy laws highlights one outcome of intolerance. The article, Pakistan girl jailed, accused of blasphemy, highlights the intolerance potentially associated with fundamentalist religious beliefs.

I believe this article also points out the widespread anti-Christian situation of many places on the planet. If not open persecution, very nearly so.

And, I also note that the situation in which this girl and her family find themselves is the end result of the intolerance of one belief system towards another. Special interest groups seek to impose their narrowly focused beliefs upon the larger majority, in even our own country. Unchecked, they are a threat not only to our way of life, but to the Constitution as well. They do this by seeking to implement laws and regulations designed to deny other portions of the population rights that seemingly are protected by the Constitution. It can be insidious at first--just a small loss of rights here and there--but where do there infringements end?

The article about the Pakistani girl contains some very concerning allegations:

Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad or defiling the holy book, or Quran, can face life in prison or even execution. Critics say the laws are often misused to harass non-Muslims or target individuals.

Police put the girl in jail for 14 days on Thursday after neighbors said they believed a Christian girl had burned pages of a Quran, gathering outside her house in a poor outlying district of Islamabad, said police officer Zabi Ullah. He suggested she was being held for her protection.

"About 500 to 600 people had gathered outside her house in Islamabad and they were very emotional, angry and they might have harmed her if we had not quickly reacted," Ullah said.

Almost everyone in the girl's neighborhood insisted she had burned the Quran's pages, even though police said they had found no evidence of it. One police official, Qasim Niazi, said when the girl was brought to the police station, she had a shopping bag that contained various religious and Arabic-language papers that had been partly burned, but there was no Quran.

I highlighted an important phrase. Potentially false accusations directed at someone to deny them of rights or life.

We must be on guard for similar behavior in our own society and country. I fear that we are becoming increasingly intolerant and allowing extreme special interest groups increasingly more access and power. The situation a few weeks ago revolving around the statements made by the owner of Chick-fil A is a good example of the depth to which some intolerant special interest groups have seized political power in our country. I wrote about this in my blog.

What can we do?

Pray. Really!

Pray for the girl in Pakistan and her family and her Christian community (which is apparently being persecuted) and pray for the persecutors that they would find enlightenment and tolerance, and pray that the local officials would seek truth amid inflammatory accusations.

Pray for our country. Our leaders--even if you don't like them, they are all we have. Pray for the person on the highway who just cut you off. Pray that intolerance can be defeated and that the enlightenment and hope upon which this country was founded can be restored.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - August 20, 2012

1. The colder temperatures of the mornings these past few days are announcing the end of summer.

2. The movies released lately are definitely not summer blockbusters.

3. I am tired of the political phone calls and mail already. Can we vote already?

4. Someday I will retire (again). But I will not stop doing something that I want to do which keeps my mind sharp.

5. I saw a funny sign the other day: We only serve fine wines! Did you bring any?

6. How about the Orioles? Still in the race in late August. I am beginning to feel really good about the team.

7. Heard in church yesterday--The answer to prayer is not as important as is the assurance knowing we are heard!

8. Headline in yesterday's New Your Times: School is Starting Soon, It's Time to Drug the Kids.

9. I felt very conspicuous last evening at a wedding when they did the who is married the longest dance--and Chris and I win.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Summer Sun Afternoon in the Pool

I can tell that summer is beginning to wind down. I looked at the thermometer this morning and it told me that it was all of 60 degrees outside. Yesterday it was 62 and for some days before it has been running about 64 degrees.

The afternoon temperatures are in the low to mid 80's. It is cooler. The humidity has broken and it is pleasant to be outside working around the house again in the afternoon. Chris and I finished cutting up the tree that we had felled earlier in the week. I also noticed the lawn is growing more slowly--I'm not sure if it needs to be mowed this week or not.

The pool is also beginning to cool in response to the lower overnight temperatures.

And so it was with this pre-autumn, early summer's demise that yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours in a floatie in the pool trying to restore some of my faded tan. The water was cooler. But the sky was so blue and the sun was warm--not hot, like it was just a too short month ago.

I read that the grape harvest has begun in Virginia. The first whites of 2012 are being prepared to transform from fruit on the vine into wine.

Summer is winding down.

Autumn is lurking.

I know there will likely be a few 90 degree days left to enjoy before the leaves decide to come off the trees. But every day right now seems cooler than the one before.

But at least for one day, I was in my pool, relaxing with my sunglasses and just enjoying the sun and the afternoon.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Hope Springs - Movie Review

Hope Springs, starring Meryl Streel and Tommy Lee Jones surprised me for its raw honesty and sensitivity. I am not a Steve Carell fan, but even he played a good role in the movie. It was a different role for him and he pulled it off fairly well.

I was surprised because I had low expectations for this movie--a true to life exploration of how marriages become dysfunctional after three decades together. The couple, played by Meryl Streep (Kay) and Tommy Lee Jones (Arnold), had reached a definite low point in their marriage and something had to change. At the insistence of Kay, Arnold is coerced into an intensive week of couples therapy in a small New England town conducted by Dr. Feld (Steve Carell).

I thought the acting was excellent--especially Tommy Lee Jones portrayal of the husband, Arnold, who is more concerned about his career than his marriage. I admit--I found a lot of similarities, too many really, between my own experience and his portrayal.

Meryl Streep, as Kay, was believable as the catalyst for the couple to reconnect through an intensive week of marriage counseling to rekindle their relationship.

I was pleased at the way the subject matter, sometimes sexual in nature, was handled. Professional and definitely not graphic. But this was not a movie about sex between a couple--but more importantly the reconstruction of an interactive relationship.

This movie will not appeal to a wide audience--not should it. But, for couples married for more than about 15 years, it should be mandatory viewing. To retain vibrancy and intimacy requires constant work, and it is the small things that occur in combination which can cause couples to drift apart--and cause the end of a relationship.

I especially enjoyed reflecting upon the breakfast scenes used in the movie to help document the state of the relationship. One strip of bacon and two eggs, perhaps a boring subject but definitely a bell weather of their relationship.

Recommendation: Married couples need to see this movie. Un-married people will not appreciate it. The movie deals with adult subjects and is not suitable for the under 17 crowd--but they shouldn't be there anyway.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green - A Review

This is an OK movie to spend time viewing when there is nothing else happening in life.

The character development is lacking, the acting is OK, and the cinematography is great! Filmed in the Northeast during the Autumn, the colorful leaves and hillsides were filed in their full glory. That, however, is probably the best thing that can be said about the movie.

The story revolves around a childless couple relating their history to a social worker while attempting to adopt a child. The story is about their encounter with their perfect child--Timothy Green. One night, after determining that they can never have children naturally, the couple writes attributes of their ideal child on pieces of paper and then buries these papers in a box in the garden.

From there, the story line is predictable. After fantasizing about their perfect child during the night in the middle of a freak a thunderstorm set in the middle of a drought--he appears. But, he is only with them for a short while. We, the audience know that but the couple seems oblivious to the developing story line--until the very end.

The movie is trite and full of overused lines and situations.

That said--it is a tear jerker at the end, even though everyone knows what is coming.

The moral is clearly, enjoy what you have been given today because you never know when it will be taken away. The couple grow as parents during their all to brief time with Timothy, as all parents grow. And of course, then there is the somewhat sappy ending.

Recommendation--If you need to suffer through a chick flick--find something else. I enjoyed the movie and the story, but I am a sucker for these kinds of stories. The movie was a bit long and seemed drawn out. I would not see it again nor will I rent it when available.