I Am Drinking F%$&ing Merlot!

Slowly recovering from the bashing it received in the movie Sideways, Merlot is showing promise in two up-and-coming wine regions in the United States. Tonight I was fortunate enough to taste two wines made from two distinct climates, more than 3,000 miles apart.

McRitchie Merlot 2006
One of my favorite vineyards in NC, McRitchie Winery epitomizes how far the NC Wine industry has come and is a stellar producer of French-style wines in the Yadkin Valley.

This wine is reminiscent of some of the more powerful right-bank Bordeaux, but with more New-World influence. The wine aged for 16 months in oak which reflected in the mouthfeel, but was well integrated into the nose. The tasting notes reveal "enticing aromas of black cherry, mocha and jammy fruit."

Yep. There were nice hints of sour cherry on the nose with a lot of blackberry jam. The palate consisted of more fruit flavors than anything else, but they were supported nicely by some baking spice and a touch of oak. This wine was surprisingly rich with tannins.

When paired with dark chocolate, more interesting flavors emerged. I caught a flash of rosemary as the chocolate neutralized some of the wines tannin and disguised the wines "sweeter" flavors. Earthy aromas and flavors emerged with more balance as the wine aerated during the evening.

Overall, this is a very good wine; the best Merlot from NC that I have tried, if not THE best, period. It is definitely ready for drinking, but if you are feel daring, put some away for a couple years. I am.

$18.00/80 cases made

14 Hands Merlot 2006

I tasted this wine a couple weeks ago at a Thanksgiving-themed wine tasting. It was one of the more impressive wines of the bunch, but showed much better tonight without the influence of having tried 15 other wines.

The grapes were sourced from Washington's prominent regions, Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley and the
Wahluke Slope. The cooler climate of the Northwest provides some more complex flavors while maintaining acid structure.

This wine also reminded me of some Bordeauxs that I have tried, but I was still surprised to discover from the winemaker's notes that the wine also contained "5% Grenache, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Syrah, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 4% other select red varieties." I guessed that the wine was aged in new French oak, although it was in fact between 70% American and 30% French, from new to four years old. I am not familiar with the many types of yeasts available to winemakers, but the fermentation process definitely made this an interesting wine.

At first sniff, this wine has nice earthiness with a hint of buttery, toasty oak. The oak is almost too much for me, but it whiffs away after some opening. Much mellower than the McRitchie Merlot, this wine exhibits the benefits of a longer growing season that cooler climate wines possess. Its complexity is staggering, doing an about-face every time I come back to the wine. Flavors of cherry, earth, herbs, hints of veggie, coffee and meatiness have all shown nicely.

The 14 Hands Merlot begs for food. The high acidity cooperates with a variety of foods, especially mild cheeses. I even tried it with dried fruit and gingersnaps, both worked a treat. Try it with smoked salmon, grilled chicken or steak. I won't begin to deny the goodness of a steak and cheese quesadilla with this wine.

The web site does not list the 2006 for sale, and they are out of the 2005. Keep your eyes peeled for it. At less than $20, it is an amazing value and a true expression of the Great Northwest.

<$20/No production statement. I think this one is there if you really look for it.

SC Redeems Self with "Tax Free" 2nd Amendment Holiday

Every year, Thanksgiving promises the same: Turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, pies, etc. This year, upon returning to South Carolina I quickly found out that the state gave its residents a reason to be thankful--for the 2nd amendment--by offering a tax free holiday on all guns purchased yesterday and today.

In our little corner of the state, it was a welcome gift. Even I found myself tempted to add excess to my arsenal.

Some Ads

I have been working more seriously in Photoshop/Illustrator and my design work is becoming more rewarding. Thanks to some handy tips I've picked up from The Pure Magic Matador, I've been able to add some much needed polish to make these into something special.

Here are a couple of the same ads in slightly different formats that I put together for the Winston Salem Journal and Charlotte Observer. Click on the images for larger versions.

This one ran as 2 col x 5.25" in the Observer. It also ran in black and white, which explains the dull fonts. I will update this blog with a higher res version of the Journal ad, which was a more difficult 6 col x 2" format, but I think it worked very well in this particular scenario.



A couple of hand-made items: The gift tag and the Christmas ball.

What I would do differently:
I would probably not use the Script font as much in the subtext.
Reduce the gradient just a touch more in the Observer ad (The b&w made this a tough call).
If I could only get a hang of that darn gradient mesh, I think I could have really made the Christmas ball zing!

Cabernet Franc: Love at First Sip

With so much to learn about wine, I could ramble on and on. Instead, I'll try to keep it simple. Let's talk about one of my favorite grapes.

Cabernet Franc. A minor grape in Bordeaux and a fixture in the Loire Valley of central France. According to Wikipedia, "The fact that it is known as Breton in the Loire suggests that it originally came from, which would be consistent with its preference for cooler temperatures."

Speaking of, I love cooler climate wines. I went to a tasting recently that featured Southern Australian and New Zealand wines. They were way more complex than I expected, more restrained than much of the Australian power bombs that you get on the wider market. Sadly, most cool climate producers know the value of their wines, and you have to break into the $20-$30 price point to bring home a gem, but you'll be rewarded for your investment.

Luckily for consumers, Cab Franc is a grape that is frequently looked down upon by the wine elite. Most people are turned off by the vegetal, herbaceous, spicy and peppery flavors that extol this noble variety. In reality, Franc is a good exhibitor of terroir, its relatively light body and tannins permit communion between soil and palate. Alas, for these reasons, Cab Franc is mostly condemned to blending, even as a "single varietal." It is the wild child that tells you how it really feels.

In today's 100-point-scale world, Cab Franc is a rarity among the New World liquid candy. It has taken well to the soils of these new continents; however, and new territory is being explored. I must say that Cab Franc has done surprisingly well here in the Old North State, and I hope it continues to flourish. Without naming names, there are a couple of Yadkin Valley Cab Francs that are on my list. They both offer fresh, complex, peppery aromas and flavors with nice bursts of red fruit; perfect as a summer wine, with red meat fish or spicy foods.

I went to a Loire Valley Tasting recently where I was actually disappointed with most of the Cab Francs presented. That is not to say that all Loire Valley Cab Francs are dismal. I have had very affordable, very tasty wines from this grape's home court. Truth be told, the good ones don't make it out of the Loire.

This is why I love wine. It is the journey, not the destination.

What Bothers You The Most?

I like your comments. Remember, you can comment anonymously at any time. One of the beautiful things about the human spirit is that we all experience the same things, but react and think of them differently. I enjoy hearing others' views on shared experiences. I am struggling to become what I want to be and/or what I think I should be.

It is interesting that as we grow older, our perceptions of time change, people change, habits change, the world changes and we die. Do you have control over who you are? Are you who you want to be? Are you becoming that person? Do you let your life lead you? Or do you lead your life?

What bothers you the most? Are you afraid to die? I am afraid of heights, but it is not what bothers me the most. What struggles have you overcome? What have you done recently that you are incredibly ashamed of? How do you think people would react to the news? I suppose that "Post Secret" has got the market cornered on this type of personal expression, but I'll still throw it out there.

Take a moment to think about who you are, where you are and where you are going. Let's talk about it.

Funny Faces of NC Politics

As I diligently work through my sample ballot and candidate credentials, I can't ignore some of the more distinctive faces of NC politics. If I had nothing else to go by but pictures alone, these candidates would get my vote.


President-Libertarian Bob Barr

This classic pose evokes a Murrow-esque significance. The muted portion of American flag in the back says "I'm serious about small government."

Why I Like Him:
Barr is from Georgia and serves on the board of Privacy International.






US Senate-Libertarian Christopher Cole

While his photo is not as flattering as his presidential counterpart, Christopher Cole's passion for politics is equal. He ran as the Libertarian candidate for Lt. Governor in 2004. When not campaigning, Christopher is honing his postal skills, e-mailing Bill Shatner and building pinball machines from scratch.

His personal statement says it all:

As the Declaration of Independence says,
'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' are fundamental rights
given us by our Creator, with no need for government permission.
Toward this end, I will seek to abolish the personal income tax, end
the war in Iraq (and pursue a non-interventionist foreign policy), and
oppose government rationing of healthcare.

NC House District 75-Democrat Dan Bennett

Bennett is a true North Carolinian. Born and raised on a tobacco farm in Franklin County, Bennett is a world citizen and one smart ass dude. His mathematics background and understanding of international economics gives North Carolina the tools it needs to compete in this tightening economy.

Don't be fooled by Bennett's trimmed beard and optimistic smile. He doesn't play games.

It's Finally Here

Now that Halloween has come and gone, the "Holiday Season," as it will, is now more or less upon us. Nothing else can save me from the agony of "family time," a long day at work, a bitter cold day AND provide nourishment at the same time like the sweet release of this sacred beverage of the season.

Egg Nog.

Some of you may be cringing at the sight of these words. Please, do not be afraid. I speak not of store-bought nog.











But real homemade goodness:









Making egg nog at home is really easy. Follow my simple recipe, and I PROMISE YOU, you will either a) love egg nog or b) love egg nog and never buy it from the store again.

You will need:

some sort of large cups to mix it all in
a mixer
a smaller cup to serve it in
microplane

and:
1 egg; separated
1 Tbsp sugar
pinch of salt (optional)
1 cup milk (of course, organic whole would be the optimal choice here)
2-3 Tbsp of Whisky (Bourbon works well, but you can use Scotch, rum or brandy if you so desire)
1 nutmeg for grating

Directions:

Add yolk of egg (don't toss the white!) and 1 Tbsp sugar to mixing bowl and mix like hell. You'll notice that the yolk will turn a lighter color yellow. That's when you know to slow down. slowly add milk and keep mixing slowly. In a separate bowl, spin the egg white with a mixer really fast until "soft peaks" form. That means that when you remove the mixers from the whipped egg whites they will look like "Peeps."
Slowly add your splash of tipple to the milk/egg yolk mix and then fold in the whipped egg white. Garnish with grated nutmeg to taste. (The nutmeg flavor is essential for egg nog.)

NOTE: If you are like me, when you tried this recipe you botched the egg-separating process. You can still make the egg nog by mixing the yolk and white together with the Tbsp. of sugar like above. Then follow the rest of the steps the same (except for the whipping of the egg whites).

So when all you hipsters are throwing your "Christmas Sweater Parties," you can impress your pals with this easy, homemade beverage.

HIPSTER NOTE: You can substitute Soy Milk for regular milk, but there is just no replacement for the egg. Sorry, vegans.

STRAIGHT-EDGE NOTE: You can make egg nog with no alcohol, but consume uncooked eggs at your own risk. The alcohol kills off any threat of salmonella. To "cook" your nog, simply follow steps as above and heat over med-low while constantly stirring and allow it to simmer just to a boil. Be careful not to let it scald. If you remove your stirring device from the hot nog and it forms a thin coat, you know it's done. Then leave to chill in your refrigerator.

This makes one serving of egg nog. To make more, simply multiply the recipe as appropriate. For more egg nog ideas or variations, I recommend Alton Brown's egg nog recipes.

Alton Brown Egg Nog Ice Cream

Wines from the Loire Valley

Wednesday evening I had the privilege to attend a wine seminar held by the good folks at Wine Merchant's Gourmet. The topic was one of my favorite regions, the Loire.

Also known for its historic castles and rustic landscape, the Loire is also home to France's 3rd largest AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) wine region. The primary grapes grown in the Loire region include Muscadet, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and to a lesser extent, Pinot Noir.

The region is easily split into three regions:

The western Loire, around Nantes, is the home of Muscadet. This is an area of low, sandy hills and the climate is cool.

In the middle Loire things heat up a little, and the climate is mild with moderate rainfall. The west of this area has a tendency towards the noble rot, and is capable of making some great sweet wines.

The upper Loire is to the extreme northeast of the valley. A more continental climate, summers are hot but short. The soil is a mixture of limestone, sand and chalk, known as "Tufa".

Whew, okay. Now that you know about the Loire, we tried the following wines:

Flight One
Domaine de la Fruitiere Muscadet Petit M 2007 $12.99
Domaine de la Fruitiere Chardonnay 2007 $12.99
Domaine des Huards Cheverny Blanc 2005 $15.99

Flight Two
La Craie Vouvray 2006 $15.99
Viking Vouvray Sec Tendre 2004 $22.99
Laureau Savennieres "Les Genets" 2004 $27.99

Flight Three
Domaine Vacheron Sancerre 2007 $29.99
Le Paradou Blanc Viognier 2007 $11.99
Le Paradou Rouge 2007 $11.99

Flight Four
Clos Delorme Valencay Rouge 2006 $18.99
Noblaie Chinon "Les Chiens-Chiens" 2005 $17.99
Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny 2006 $22.99

Flight Five
Louis De Grenelle Brut Saumur Rose NV $19.99

I should point out, these wines were produced on small family estates, and were not treated with synthetic chemicals. I looked forward to the event because Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc are some of my favorite varietals. I was intruiged; however, to try the other varietals that the Loire is known for. At the end of the day, it was not the stalwarts of my palate but the newcomers that stole the show. I particularly enjoyed the Domaine de Huards Cheverny Blanc, whose crips vegetal nose threw me for a Sancerre. Better yet, because the Sancerre rolled in at $29.99. Yikes! If you have not had a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or another cool climate region, I highly recommend it. The crisp vegetal flavors of the varietal make it a great food wine.

Next up, I must admit I was rather ignorant of Vouvray up to this point. While not my ideal choice for wine, the high acid/high sugar content is a fun and exciting style. Especially paired with your favorite offal and rich meats and cheeses. My personal fav of the three: Viking Vouvray Sec Tendre 2004. The acid attacked my tongue straight out, there was an obvious balance of sweet and acid in this wine. Pair this one with your favorite sweetbreads...and I ain't talkin' about cake. :)

The Le Paradou Blanc Viognier 2007 was one of the better Viogniers I have tasted. Complex with flavors of white pepper and mint, these grapes are nestled at higher altitudes keeping the body lean and allowing flavors to develop. There was a slight grassy finish. Probably my 2nd favorite white after the Cheverny Blanc.

One thing I was not expecting from this tasting was disappointment from the reds. While there were a few that I enjoyed. Overall, I have to admit the selections of the evening were lackluster. The first, Le Paradou Rouge, was a Grenache/Syrah blend. Oddly it was the first red we tasted and these varietals were missing their trademark weight.

Next up, the Clos Delorme Valencay Rouge 2006. Another new wine experience. A blend of Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, Malbec and Gamay. I liked the texture and flavor of this wine, but the first sniff and each thereafter reaked of sulfur, making it tough to get past.

I did enjoy the Noblaie Chinon "Les Chiens-Chiens", but outside of being a 2005 (a perfect vintage) this wine had nothing to make it stand out from the rest.

Finally, the Louis De Grenelle Brut Saumur Rose NV was a refreshing take on Cabernet Franc. A crisp bubbly, it made a nice finish. Light rose in color, bright red fruit flavors and light toast. This might sound weird, but the "toasty" flavor came through like the smell of a hot curling iron. I enjoyed it.

In all, I was glad to attend and learn more about the Loire. Although my experience with the wines was not outstanding, I will; however, check out more whites from this region.


Citations:
http://www.wine-pages.com/resources/loireexp.htm
www.loirevalleywine.com
www.winemerchantsgourmet.com

Autumn: A Photo Blog

With the onset of Autumn, I was tasked with taking some pictures at work this week. Landscape shots are difficult, because scenery may be awe inspiring, but it is impossible to capture it all. When you get home, your photos never stack up to the way it looked through your eyes. Therefore, you have to find something in the scenery and frame it to best capture the beauty of a place. Behind the lens, I was not all that impressed with what I took, but now looking at them on the computer. I am slightly less disappointed. Here are some of my favorites.

Google Maps Offers Marketing Opportunities

I may be the last person on earth to know about this, but Google Maps allows you to put together custom maps. Since I've just discovered it, I'm sure you can pretty much do anything, but I used it today to create a visual representation of customers from one of our most recent festivals.

We know where most of our target market is coming from, but you never really know until you actually see it. Sometimes it's easy to forget what towns are near which, but Google Maps to the rescue!

This also let us see how effective our newspaper advertising was. I can match up the locations of respondents with the areas where ads appeared.

These responses represent only about 10% of total attendees. This map represents individual responses. A blue dot is one person. A red dot is 5 people. For my purposes alone, I could also use this map to gauge incomes of our clientele, or even figure out which locations spend the most money on average and overall. There are many other uses, just be creative! Best of all, it's FREEEEEEEEE.

Has anyone used this? What did you use it for?


View Larger Map

Another Stock Pick for 2009

Pay no mind to the optimism from today's market leap. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is just a sampling of 30 companies from different sectors in the market, giving an easily quantifiable stock market indicator. A more accurate indicator of the state of the economy can be found in the LIBOR unit, or the London Interbank Offered Rate.

Another financial sector that shows promise for 2009 is Healthcare. Politics aside, the health care industry is in need of a massive overhaul. Malpractice suits and insurance premiums are sucking the blood out of Americans, not to mention the obesity epidemic and prescription drugs.

I am recommending this sector as an industry to watch in 2009. The industry as a whole is still ahead of the curve--it has lost less than the S & P 500--but is still off almost 25% from its peak growth in 2007. This industry will also reap benefits brought on with the coming election, no matter which candidate wins.

Pfizer Inc. (Public, NYSE:PFE)

Pfizer is a well-known company, and is ripe for the picking. Stocks are at almost $17 a share.

Merck & Co., Inc. (Public, NYSE:MRK)

Merk is another well-known druggist offering solid dividends and rings in at $29.00 a share.

And finally, Medical Equipment and Supplies. This sector would most certainly benefit from a nationalization of the health care industry, as machines make comprehensive care quicker and easier if there will be millions lined up for subsidized care.

Do your homework!

T Bag's Stock Picks for 2009

Well, the DJIA is back below 10k; the first time since 2004. Although record breaking losses abound and chaos seems imminent, buying opportunities are emerging over the horizon.

Capitalism works because it doesn't work, and since the stock market has hit rock bottom... ...it's time for T Bag's stock picks for 2009.

1. Green Energy
There are plenty of companies hawking green energy these days, and many of them have nowhere to go but up. Buy these with little to no risk.

Check out:
Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Public, NASDAQ:ESLR)
Earth Biofuels, Inc. (Public, OTC:EBOF)

2. Drinks
Consumer staples are a good hedge, look for them to come down due to tightening budgets and increasing fuel costs. That will make for a good opportunity to buy in later in the year when the dust has settled. It's said that alcohol is a recession-proof industry.

Check out:
The Coca-Cola Company (Public, NYSE:KO)
PepsiCo, Inc. (Public, NYSE:PEP)

3.General Motors
I'm going out on a limb on this one. GM is at its lowest level in more than ten years, and fringing on bankruptcy. At $4.89 since a share, a great deal. I feel like there are two camps as far as environmental change is concerned. There are those that call for immediate change, and those who call for a balancing of the energy portfolio. As with most trends, there are different classes of people. You remember this from marketing 101: they are "Early Adopters, the mainstream and laggards."

Long story short, with different kinds of zeal for the environmental movement, someone is going to break the internal combustion barrier. I'm placing a bet that GM is going to be the one and then my stock is going to be gold. Rumor has it they have a revolutionary new hybrid vehicle still in development that is soon to be revealed.

I'm just saying.

General Motors (Public, NYSE:GM)

Stocks to avoid:

The following sectors and commodities should be avoided as they are at the center of the problem we are facing now and will be volatile as they sort themselves out. These should be obvious:

Petroleum
Finanace

I would also recommend avoiding technology, but now might be a good time to invest in some of your favorites, namely Google and Apple, who have lost more than 50% of their former value. Although still pricey, represent a solid opportunity. The question is, just how many good ideas to they have left up their sleeves?

Stop Watching Fucking Lost: Branding in Web 2.0 is a Gold Rush

I've been working on this one for a while. Gary operates a wine vlog, is a personal branding maven; and because we share the same industry, is one of my professional role models.

It's easy to feel gullible when you get motivated by a keynote speaker, but Gary Vaynerchuk is no buffoon. After taking over his family's New Jersey liquor store, Gary worked to rebrand the business as Wine Library, also a web store. He was able to grow the business from $4 million to $45 million within 5 years. He has since appeared in, on and with Conan O’Brien, Ellen Degeneres, NPR, Nightline, Mad Money with Jim Cramer, The Big Idea with Danny Deutsch, Slate Magazine, the Washington Post and Men’s Health Magazine, all without the help of PR. Read Gary's full bio here.

To help grow the brand, Gary pioneered the video blog format for wine, with his blog Wine Library TV. He left behind his CO position at the company after the aformentioned period of growth to start the blog. For 17 months, Gary watched the company's profits dip as he performed the show 5 days a week, exposing new, different and very affordable wines for the everyday consumer, which he ultimately hoped would grow his business even more.

Gary spoke of his experience with the Javits Center crowd at the Web 2.0 conference in NYC, held the last week in September. Gary points out what it takes to be successful in this revolutionary medium; most of his advice you've heard from your granddad a thousand times. The two Ps: Patience and Passion; not to mention, working hard to get what you want. (Gary exemplifies his patience and passion by talking about his experience starting Wine Library TV.) The reason this simple strategy works in Web 2.0, is because it is still wide open, as Gary zealously emphasises. "Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what you want to do every day for the rest of your life...I promise, you can monetize that shit." But this advice is not without warning, "If you for a second...don't believe what in what you're doing...you need to get out now!"

From a PR standpoint, he refers to Wine Library TV as "becoming part of the community," emphasizing communication with your userbase, which is an integral part of the Web. Communication with the creators of media is like never before. With Web 2.0, direct, almost instantaneous communication with content creators is the norm, instead of distant admiration with more traditional media. One of Gary's goals is to meet every person on earth.

Gary has turned down 40 television deals, because he is "waiting for a bigger opportunity." "The gatekeepers are no longer in control," Gary argues as to why he should publish his own content.

Back on a PR rant, Gary emphasizes brand equity. And the best way to build brand equity, he says, is "to do what you love." One downside to new technology is that our lives are completely transparent.

There is currently a gold rush of branding in the new Web arena. In the old days, brands needed alot of traditional media. Now, one only needs to be the first to carve out a niche. "Niches can go crazy."

So what's an entrepreneur to do? "Position yourself to succeed....work your 9-5 (gotta have cash flow); then 7-2 is enough time to "kill it." "Stop watching fucking lost. If you want bling bling, if you want to buy the jets, if you want to do shit...work."

VOTE OR DIE!

In a lapse of maturity, I am glad that this video is relevant again. At least for a little while..

Article I: Amendments to "Things I Hate"

I can't believe I forgot this one:



Curve cologne. This stuff makes me want to throw myself into a grave. It's been a while since I have smelled this stuff, but I'm sure I would know it when, and if, I do. I kind of want to smell it again for the sake of this blog so I can try to describe it. Does anyone out there actually like the smell of this stuff? Let me know. I'm willing to hear your arguments.

Some Things I Hate

This blog should help serve to help you get to know me. I'm no narcissist, but there are some things that I just can't stand. Here they are in no particular order:

1. UGGS
I hate UGGS. No one over the age of 13 should even think about wearing these. It is not snowing, and you are not on the planet Hoth in "The Empire Strikes Back."



2. SMASHMOUTH
I hate SMASHMOUTH. They are the worst band ever. And I hate how they always use their songs in kids movies, along with "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves. Which brings me to my next one...





3."Walkin' on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves
See above. This song has appeared in more kids movies than I care to count. Why? I guess it's the positive message and upbeat rhythm that make parents want to shelter their kids in this cacophony of poo.


4. CHIHUAHUAS
I don't know what's worse. Chihuahuas, or the UGG-wearing people that own them. (For the record, I know of maybe one or two people and one or two Chihuahuas that are cool.) But any other Chihuahuas that cross my path? Guess what, now this is happenin'. That's how I roll.


5. BAD DRIVERS (aka Texting While Driving)



A lot of people let this one fly under the radar, or are in denial about their bad habits. It can wait. I bet this girl wears UGGS while taking her CHIHUAHUA to the vet.

6. The Phrase "Beg, Borrow and Deal"
Other versions include "Beg, Steal and Borrow," "Beg, Borrow and Steal," et al. This is an overused cliche, especially in music. It should be banned from the English language.

7. TRIBAL TATTOOS
Only guys who date girls who wear UGGS, own CHIHUAHUAS and text while driving walk into a tattoo parlor and have to order off a menu.




8."CRAZY" FROG

No explaination necessary. If you want to hear it, watch the video or call someone you know with a tribal tattoo.

9.PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION


Everybody loves good lovin' as much as the next person, but there is a time and a place. Holding hands is acceptable. So is a greeting or departing hug or kiss, depending on the level of the relationship. If you just started dating, keep it real. Besides, it makes it all the more worthwhile when you get home.

10. EVERYTHING ELSE

This is for everything else I hate. Not finishing up the last bit of food--or leaving just a bite or sip of something left, people who don't know how to say no, dude rock, four wheelers, data entry. I could go on.

Check back tomorrow when I might come up with a list of things I like.

In the mean time, check out this great blog.


I also invite you to comment and tell me some things you hate. Who knows, it might inspire a second post.
Peace.

Inaugural Rant

Greetings one and all. After much contemplation, I have decided to return to the blogging world. This blog will consist of any and everything that I deem necessary. I encourage all of you to discuss/debate any topics on this blog. Let the fun begin.