It's been more than a month since I last posted. I have several reasons for this, really I do. but I'll give you one and I think the true culprit.

I have discovered the joy of DirectTV.  I feel like I haven't left my house since Nov. 10, the day of Installation. what a glorious day. 

the joys of fall

Cooler weather does something wonderful:
1) I drink port-- current bottle is Graystone Lipizzan white port- delizioso
2) scarves come out of the closet
3) chai makes its way into my mug
4) chili is consumed

Auntie Dee strikes again

I love this little girl. She is becoming so full of personality. My mom knit her this super cute hat.
She's started pulling herself onto furniture. as you can see she is so proud of herself. look at those teeth!
The next two photos are the first of my many attempts at taking pictures of the 2 of us. She loves my camera but often wants to peer around the camera at me taking her picture. So I tricked her and took them of the two of us myself. The second one is my favorite. I like to think that she is kissing my cheek, even though I'm pretty sure that she is just super sleepy and smashing her face into mine avoiding the sleepy eye factor.

grape season

Crush season is coming to a close. Pressing the grapes is my least favorite part- that is what is coming. The above pictures show how messy this job can be. My arm, which looks like I have a skin disease, is covered with syrah juice. My face is covered with a combination of motor oil and grape juice. I wish I could say this was as messy as it gets...
Its amazing that it is the middle of October already. My dear friends Scott and Claire are here from Oklahoma. Its weird to think that about 6 months ago I was staying in their apartment in Bologna, ITALY. time flies.

driving

I normally consider myself a pretty good driver, if not a cautious one. Yes, I have been told a few times that I like to drive fast. I can't help it if my car is an awesomely smooth ride and I find myself going faster than I thought.
Last night I, on my way home from friends, got caught speeding. I had been on the hwy approx. 3.8 seconds when I saw the Sheriff's car lurking in the shadows ready to pounce. I had no idea what the speed limit was at the time. I figured it was 55. wrong. 45. I was driving 62. good lord, in a construction zone. He was nice enough not to charge me double for the construction zone. yet it will still cost me an arm and a leg and a couple of points on my driving record.
I asked about driving school or something to help remove the points. he chuckled. I guess I'll take that as a no?!?

that is so Italian

I'm enjoying a quiet evening at home, drinking tea, listening to some wonderful new music (Bon Iver-love it) after a full week of birthday celebrations... having fun can sure be exhausting. :)

I'm also reading the latest copy of food and wine magazine and found an article that I had to share a piece of with someone. The article is about Wine Scams- counterfeit, essentially.

"In Tuscany, where Italian authorities found quite a few Brunello producers making their fancy wine with cheap, non-Brunello grapes. You may ask, how did they find it out? The government's fraud-fighting tactics are quintessentially Italian- they began training police-men as undercover sommeliers."

love it. I was in Italy when this broke the news. It was such a big deal. I love the Italians!!

27

I'm 27 today. Woo-hoo!

Happy Labor Day!

dee @ the DNC

ok, not really at the Democratic National Covention. But its here in Denver. The city is a buzz and people are everywhere. People are so excited. Its so great to be a part of even if from a short distance of about 3 miles. We even got Obama pins in our tip jars this morning. I'm pouring wine downtown Tues. and Thurs. and plan on taking full advantage of the people watching into the evening...

my theme song has been playing in my ears for about a year now and I'm feeling it all the more as the birthday approaches. check out the song- Sara Bareilles "Many the Miles"

There's too many things that i haven't done yet
Too many sunsets
I haven't seen
You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down
You would've thought by now
I'd have learned something

I made up my mind when i was a young girl
I've been given this one world
I won't worry it away
But now and again i lose sight of the good life
I get stuck in a low light
But then Love comes in

t-minus one week 'till 27. wooh!