Food?

List 10 random things about you and food:

1. I love to cook, but make Coleman do most of the work. hahaha
2. I can eat a 5 lb. bag of carrots in 3 days...by myself.
3. I taught myself how to make sushi, and have successfully made it once and will make it again tonight. (currently making sushi rice)
4. I absolutely despise fresh tomatoes, mixed in things (ie. sauces, soups, salsa, ketchup) I'm okay with. But fresh tomatoes are disgusting.
5. I never even tried raisins until I was in college. They just looked gross, like rabbit poop or something.
6. I love to bake, but never do.
7. My biggest food weakness is spaghetti. I will seriously eat 4 servings in one sitting.
8. I don't like fish, but my new favorite food is sushi. And I love shrimp and crab and lobster.
9. I wanted to be a chef when I graduated high school, now I want to make wine.
10. (Almost) every day for breakfast I make myself an egg cheese and turkey sandwich. With a tall glass of chocolate milk.
    

IMPORTANT HEALTH ADVICE FOR WOMEN.

Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
Do you suffer from shyness?
Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Chardonnay. Chardonnay is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Chardonnay can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything.

You will notice the benefits of Chardonnay almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Chardonnay. Chardonnay may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Chardonnay. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNINGS:
The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you are whispering when you are not. The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to tell your friends over and over again that you love them. The consumption of Chardonnay may cause you to think you can sing. The consumption of Chardonnay may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning. The consumption of Chardonnay may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting. The consumption of Chardonnay may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.

Now Just Imagine What You Could Achieve With a Good Dry Red!!!

Everyone's a photographer...

So on my way back from class this morning I saw the plant ops guy mowing the lawn. Except he wasn't mowing the lawn. He was just sitting in the tractor with the engine running. Odd. So I slow down (on my bike), and he's taking a picture of these trees. Really? Really? You can't walk over here on your lunch break, after work? You need to take pictures now? But I generally agree at the amazing colors. Look at these bright reds! I'm writing this in class so I didn't have time to adjust anything on these yet. But aren't the colors on my campus beautiful?

Gastronomical Phenomenon

I just wanted to share that my dinner tonight consisted of mac'n'cheese with cut up hot dogs and 2/3 of a bottle of Ballatore sparkling wine. As disgusting as that sounds it was, surprisingly, not bad. I love the excuse of being a "starving" college student. I only had the sparkling wine because we opened it the other night and I didn't want it to go flat before I had the chance to finish it.
I'm a little bit sad because that was my last bottle from the Christmas bonus case last year. And the sparkling wine they have available for us this year is not nearly as good. So I asked for Gallo of Sonoma Cabernet sauvignon, mom should be more happy with this one. Hopefully I get it before Thanksgiving so nobody has to buy cheaper wine that we can just drink, and not necessarily have to enjoy. Because Turnbull and Zaca Mesa are meant to be enjoyed, not pounded {it taste better if you chug it, Kaitlin... ;) }.
So I just finished watching PS I Love You. What a horribly depressing movie. And it was no where near the book. I guess the basic concept of the husband dying and leaving letters is the same, but nothing else is.
Lucky you, two posts in one day. :)

Clean!

So today after work I decided to finally, after several months, clean my room! I know, it's like a throwback to the old days of barbies, dolls, clothes, and whatever else I had thrown about Kaitlin and my room. Except this time it's books, shoes, clothes, boxes/bags, magazines, schoolwork, a bulletin board that fell off the wall, etc. Where should I begin? The massive pile of blankets that were pulled out for whatever reason; folded and put back in the closets. Clean clothes...from before we went to Hawaii, folded and put away. Dirty clothes? Sorted and ready to go to the laundry room; they raised the price for doing wash so I only have enough change for 1 1/2 loads...I haven't done laundry since we got back from Hawaii. Speaking of which, my suitcase was not only still out, it still contained most of my clothes. Schoolwork/books, sort of piled in a corner...not much shelf space here. What the heck? Coleman's other pair of swim shorts? A bag with...a tablecloth? Where does all of this stuff come from? Maybe I should do some sorting and tossing of things. But that will have to wait for another day. Today I'm tired and don't want to do anything else.

Prop 2

DISCLAIMER: This is mostly my venting, because I want to say these things, but can't without being shot down by my friends that supported Prop 2.
I just want to start out by saying that I'm not a very political person. I don't care much who was elected president, especially this year. I was not impressed by either candidate, and voted for the person that I disagreed with less, not agreed with more. I was more interested in the propositions on the ballot. Namely Props 2 and 8.
I am so frustrated with the passing of Prop 2. I'm frustrated with the ignorant city folk that think the videos on PETA are the norm. Yes, it is terrible when animals are mistreated. But those are extreme events, they are not happening in most daily farm life. Something you have to realize is that these animals are NOT pets. These animals are raised for food, not for someone to name and grow an attachment to. Some dogs spend their whole lives chained up, where's the law to prohibit tying your pet dog up? Calves have to be tied up, they're so small that they fit through the bars of the fence, they would be run over by tractors if they were not tied.
Now that there will be less animals per farm (because there's no more land to buy to expand), there will be fewer jobs, higher unemployment, worse off economy, etc. etc. And anyone with a basic economics class could tell you: the lower the supply, the greater the demand. Prices for eggs from California are going to rise, no one wants to pay more money at this point. Where will we get cheaper eggs?
People didn't think before they voted. This is going to have a negative effect on all of California agriculture in the long run.
I don't really want any feedback on this. I just wanted to get this out.

Tag?

So I don't think I really need to explain the rules considering I only know of 2 people that read my blog...and you've already tagged me.


So if you can't really read the sign it says "Reserved -4- Sugar Bear". This was at the welcome home event at the baseball stadium for the team after they got back from winning the College World Series! This seat is the seat that Sugar Bear, a big guy with a big voice, has been in for the last ump-teen years. Coleman and I didn't want anybody that has never been to a game taking his seat. So we saved it for him.

Jars of Clay "Sad Clown"

So I'm sitting here studying and listening to music, and found this song on my computer...yes I have songs on my computer that I've never heard. But listen to this song and tell me that it's not good...Here are the lyrics too:

Say how's the weather, so I look out the window
To brighten my soul, but I can't control the rain
That keeps falling
Smile on the outside that never comes in
A comedy, mystery, irony, tragedy
So I scream "let the show begin"

You break me open, turn on the light
Stumble inside with me, with me

Do I entertain you?
Do I preoccupy you with my wit to cover this lie?
Are you mesmerized?
Do you think me faithful, do you think me a clown?
I picked out this shirt, I put on this hat
I wore all this paint just for you

You break me open, turn on the light
Stumble inside with me, with me

Half Dome

Monday, Labor Day. I. Hiked. Half Dome. Me. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. And I was sore until today, well, at least sore to the point of not wanting to move a muscle. It was amazing though. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I'm going to try to do it again sometime. Not anytime soon though. Here's a picture of me at the top.
And another really good one of me coming down the cables. What a stud, right?


Anyways, I forgot to put sunscreen on and am now peeling. Right when the red turned to brown too. Oh well.

Classes...

So, I'm still crossing my fingers about adding the Literature of the New Testament class. I'll be back to the class tomorrow and hopefully he'll let me add.
In the other two classes that I've had so far(I've got two new classes Friday), my Microbiology professor had us buy "iclicker" remotes. Basically in class polling systems. Great. Another thing to buy that I won't get money back for, cause I'm just going to let Coleman use mine, hopefully that works. I had to register the remote online, so we'll see.
I've already spent almost 8 hours in the winery this week. Monday was sorting Syrah and Tempranillo. I left after the Syrah was sorted, because it was 7:30, and class technically ends at 7. Today we were doing clean up work, because there wasn't a shipment coming in today. Between 30 people, we did pump overs(pumping red wine from the bottom of the tank to the top of the same tank so the cap(layer of grape skins) will be broken up to maximize the surface area of the skin to juice contact. We also racked a tank of Viognier(moved it from one tank to another, making sure there's little contact with any skin or other solids. We punched down the Syrah in macrobins(1/2 ton plastic tubs), this is done for the same reason as pump overs. Some people put together the starter yeast, which made the lab smell like bread. And some of us measured the pH, Titratable Acidity, and Brix of the Viognier; then we measured the Brix and Balling of all the wine and juice in the winery. I was doing more of the science today, which might be something I could do when I graduate, working in a wine lab that is.
Anyways I should finish reading and go to bed, I have work at 7am, then class til 7pm. Gotta love the busy days!

Back to school!

"Back to school, back to school, to prove to dad that I'm not a fool..." ~Adam Sandler, Billy Madison
So I'm excited and nervous about this semester. Looking at my schedule now I'm in class from 8am to 7pm Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Hopefully Friday will be changing so I get out at 1pm. I'm trying to add a Philosophy class "Literature of the New Testament". It counts as upper division writing class. I hope it works out, and that the class is great. Most of my time will be filled with 15 hours of lab for my enology classes. Awesome. OH well.
I'm also hoping that I can remain involved in the life group that I'm in. I think sign ups for that is in the next couple weeks, so I'm praying that I can stay in it. Especially now that we've all finally gotten to really know each other.
Anyways I should go to bed. Wish me luck!

Yikes, Bikes!

So, I got a bike yesterday. YAY! Coleman paid for part of it as an early birthday/anniversary gift. It is amazing. We went for a bike ride on a path through Clovis after I got it. I loves it. It's very pretty don't you think? If I can figure out how to post pictures again I'll get a picture of it up, but for now you can see it at http://www.rei.com/product/774420.
So this was not the EXACT bike I wanted. Well, it is, it's just the '09 model instead of '08. They look the same except for the paint job. I went to go get the '08 model because it was on sale from $399 to $329. Well, they didn't have a bike with a small frame in the '08 model at their store, being 5'4" I was on my tippy-toes to touch the ground with the medium frame bike, uncomfortable. There was also no '08 model online, but there was in another store. Now, if you order online you get free shipping to the store, if you order store to store you get charged $12 for shipping, plus an additional $35 for oversized packages(through UPS). Also, if the bike was taken apart to be sent they would charge another $25 for assembly(which they do for free if you buy it from the store to begin with). That's about $70 added back on, and I would not receive the bike for another week at least. Canceling out the sales price. As you can see through the link the price of the bike I got is about $50 more. But as a member of REI you get a rebate at the end of the year. So I'll be getting $40-50 back then. So I spent about the same as I would have, and I have the bike now, so I can use it when school starts. :)
It's a very pretty bike, and I love it. It came with a bell, which is awesome. I expect this bike to last me a very long time, if not forever. So yea, I have a bike that is not over 10 years old, and rusting. And yay for bike rides!

Synchronized swimming

Synchronized swimming is one of the most impressive, unappreciated sport in the Olympics. These women cannot touch the bottom of the pool, imagine the strength it takes to lift their teammates out of the water and throw them using only the force from your legs and arms. This is also a sport that has no future besides two 4-minute performances. That's training for about 20 years for 8-minutes of Olympic career. Then they have to find a real career(as in not pro-athlete).
Go watch it on nbc.com, seriously. I'm fascinated.

So, Pete and Marissa's wedding was really nice. It was in Oakhurst and the church had huge picture windows all around. A very simple wedding. It was good to see Huggie, and I know I'm being a little selfish, but I hope he ends up coming back to school.
Tonight Coleman and I are going to Shakespeare in the park to watch Hamlet. We're going with Josh and Ally might be meeting us there. Hopefully Josh gets off work early enough to eat dinner before hand. Otherwise we'll stay at Coleman's and play Farkle or another game. Here's hoping for Hamlet.

The Bear is back

No, not "Baby bear; I wanna hug it!" At least not the 'baby' part. Huggie Bear(Brian) is in town this weekend for Pete and Marissa's wedding. He's staying at Coleman's. He was supposed to be in town tomorrow, but called Coleman saying that he's on the grapevine on his way to Fresno. Awesome. So I'm on my way to help clean the apartment. Oh snap! haha
Huggie and I became friends my first year as an RA. He was a PSA(Public Safety Assistant/Security). He was one of my closest friends. He also graduated last year and moved many places including San Diego, Riverside(where he's from), and Sacramento. Now he's moving back to Fresno(soon-ish) to get his master's in counseling, so he can be a high school counselor. He would be perfect for that job.
Anyways, I've wasted enough time, and should go help clean what I helped dirty.
But here's a picture of me, Huggie, Jeanette, and Joe the first day on the job...Notice the smiles? Those only lasted that weekend. haha just kidding. Also, I look drunk, but I'm not, I swear. I think I was delirious with exhaustion at this point.

Prayer

At Life Group last night one of the girls, who happens to be a nurse, told us about this 18-year-old young man that is in the ICU at a hospital in Fresno. This young man broke his neck and drowned when he jumped into a lake at a camp. Medi-flight flew him to community regional after he was resuscitated. He is currently on a ventilator and is a quadriplegic. He has been in the ICU for a month and a half. During this time his family(from Morgan Hill) has been living in an RV, and his sister got a job in Fresno to get a little bit of extra money. Every day this young man worships and sings with his family. He has been incredibly selfless throughout this time. This family needs continual prayer and I thought I should pass it on. If you want to check out the website go to Connorwatch.org.

Not very good...

I'm not very good at this blogging business. Since I've started this blog I've journeyed to Thousand Oaks/Malibu/Santa Ynez Valley. Went to the Getty Villa which was amazing. And there wasn't one winery that we didn't enjoy.
I also made a trip home, where, SURPRISE! Kaitlin was home! Yay, or at least should have been, yay. I was helping mom with a catering job Saturday night so I got to see Kaitlin for a total of an hour, during which Kaitlin was tired and crabby. When the catering job was done we went to Colleen's going away party, tomorrow she leaves for Monterey. We'll see how Chris's grades are now.
Other than that I've been working, and reading, and that's about it.
On a lighter note I was invited to Pete and Marissa's wedding. It's in 9 days. This should be fun.

Beginnings

So I've decided to start a blog...again. Both of my sisters are on this, and I think this would be an easy way to keep in touch especially since my younger sister is moving to LA in the fall. I guess I should talk about myself then.
I'm 21, and a student at Fresno State, majoring in Enology, and possibly minoring in Chemistry. Look it up because I'm tired of explaining to everyone. I live with two girls(Ally and Mal) that if you told me 2 years ago I would live with, I would not have believed you. They are great girls and we've had a lot of fun this last year. I'm dating a great guy that I met a few years ago. I don't want to sound all cliche and girly, but he's my best friend.
I grew up in a small town in the Central Valley in California. Where cows outnumber people 4 to 1. We have the largest single site cheese production plant. My older sister(Courtney) and Dad both work there, in Quality Assurance and Supervising the plant, respectively. My mom runs the catering business that her father started 30 years ago. She has Graves Disease, which has recently started up after 2 years of remission. As I mentioned I have two sisters, one older(Courtney) and one younger(Kaitlin), I also have an older brother(Chris). For the most part we all get along, at least since we've all gotten out of high school.
So that's the gist of it. I suppose more will be found out as I start blogging more.