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All posts for the month February, 2020

Forbidden Topic: Traveler’s Constipation

Posted by golfkat on February 26, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Food, Health, Travel, Uncategorized. 2 Comments
Over the decades of my travel, the most common complaint of fellow travelers, other than jet lag, is traveler’s constipation.  Nobody wants to talk about it.  Even the “travel nurse” in the Travel Clinic at Kaiser was dumbfounded when I brought up the subject.  But over the years, I have picked up a few pointers, some rather extreme, and some rather practical to counteract this very real, and discomforting situation.
At the “bottom” of this condition are the reasons we have the problem in the first place.  In no particular order, these are: 1) change in diet, 2) dehydration, 3) lack of exercise, and 4) change in routine.
Even the medical experts have a name for this, commonly known as dysbiosis, though I prefer to call it gut lag.  
 
The best way to overcome gut lag is to restore the rhythm we are comfortable with.  This is where some gut extremists advise total bowel evacuation one or two days before taking a long flight!!!!  Though I have never tried this, it does sound tempting.  And I hate using the potty on the plane, even in Biz or First.  But sometimes this “reset” can be a miracle cure.
But I see nothing wrong with helping things along.  Keep up the exercise and normal diet before leaving.  And a stool softener certainly will not alter the landscape into an embarrassing situation.  I also take probiotics, and fiber (in the form of dried peaches) before, and during the trip.  Some people travel with a product like Benefiber.
I know the flight attendants and my seatmates do not enjoy it, but I try to move about the cabin, even on long flights, and between naps.  Airline food is certainly not beneficial to your system, regardless of your medical and dietary needs.  But I refuse, as should you, to take over the entire open space in an airliner by laying out your yoga mat!!!
As far as hydration, I stick to my basic routine.  I board, have a glass or two of champagne, eat, then go to sleep.  During the entire flight, I try to drink one glass of water for every 2 hours of flight.  Yes, it means multiple trips to the toilette, but WTH, I will never see these people again!  I always carry a bottle of water or a refillable (eco-friendly) container.
Some experts recommend half your body weight in ounces!  So, a 120 pound woman would need to drink 60 ounces of water, or the equivalent of five 12 ounce bottles of water!  And even more in hot or dry weather.
With all consumption, moderation is the key.  I prefer the word, balance.  Most of us know what works best for us when we are in a daily routine.  I would just adjust that for the twelve hour flight to Paris.
Where are the pitfalls?  Airline food is notoriously salty and high in fat.  Alcoholic beverages are plentiful, often free.  Even in First or Biz, I will often order a low salt, low fat meal.  In Coach, I always bring my own food.  But whatever you do, don’t over indulge!
The tendency we all have, once we land and get to our hotel, is to go to sleep.  I recommend the opposite.  Get out side, take a long walk, and hydrate.  Then go to sleep!
And in the words of that famous immunologist from Marin, you can never eat too much fiber!!!!
If you have any secrets to solve this problem, please share them.  Otherwise, this conversation is forbidden.
Cropped view of a pair of woman’s feet wearing sports trainers and walking

Drinking in 2020

Posted by golfkat on February 25, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food. Leave a comment
I read this interesting little tidbit about alcohol consumption:
America is drinking more alcohol, but less wine.
The nation’s consumption of spirits, craft beer and “ready-to-drink” beverages (read: hard seltzer) grew by volume in 2019, but wine decreased by 0.9%, according to new data from industry analyst IWSR. That’s the first time since 1994 that wine has shown negative growth.
“Wine companies aren’t addressing the values of the young consumer in their marketing,” wrote Rob McMillan, vice president of Silicon Valley Bank’s Wine Division, in his annual wine industry report this week. “We aren’t giving them a reason to buy wine over spirits.”
There are some bright spots: Sparkling wine, for example, grew by 4%, says IWSR. And although we drank less, the wine we did drink was pricier: Sales grew by 2.5%.
But those gains were small compared with the surges of mezcal (up by 40%), Japanese whisky (23%) and a category called ready-to-drink (50%). Representing a little less than half of that category is hard seltzer — currently being drunk to the tune of 82.5 million cases annually — while the rest is comprised of products like canned cocktails. Think Ritas Spritz (which in theory is something like a Lime-A-Rita, and something like a spritz, though it certainly is not a margarita), Cutwater’s Vodka Mule and MillerCoors’ Cape Line cans, which come in flavors like blackberry mojito.
So, the evidence dhows that we have upped our game in two ways, the upper end, and the lower end, price wise. My personal preferences are, of course, mostly champagne or sparkling wine.  But nce in a while, I enjoy other wines, as well as an occasional spirit, like an 18 year old Scotch or a rare Japanese whiskey.
 
Speaking of Japanese whiskey:  
 

It’s been tough love for Japanese whisky fans over the past year. In 2019, some of the most prized whiskies that come out of the country were discontinued: Kirin Fuji-Sanroku, Suntory Hakushu and Hibiki, as well as Nikka’s Nikka 12, Coffey Grain and Malt whiskies. Now comes the announcement that we have to also bid adieu to Nikka’s age-statement Taketsuru Pure Malt whiskies.

By the end of March this year, Nikka will cease to produce Taketsuru 17-, 21- and 25-year expressions due to the depleted stock caused by an unprecedented demand. When Japanese whisky was being made several decades ago, it was barely known outside the country. It wasn’t until 2001 when Whisky Magazine announced Nikka’s 10-Year Yoichi as its ‘Best of the Best’ blend that Japanese whisky was catapulted to worldwide stardom. Since then, the world’s growing thirst has been drying up stocks of popular Japanese releases.

On Super Bowl Sunday, Americans will consume 325 million gallons of beer.  That is one gallon for every man, woman, and child in the U.S.!!!!  Put it another way, that is TEN cans of beer.  It takes me two to three months to have ten beers.

Add to that, abut $600 million on wine, and $503 million in spirits.  In other words, we use the Super Bowl as an excuse to drink more alcohol.  The liquor stores, and sports bars must be very happy on Super Bowl Sunday.

In Burgundy, during the early Middle Ages, chardonnay arose as a seedling―a natural cross of the noble red grape of Burgundy, pinot noir, with the white grape, gouais blanc (GOO-ay BLAHNK) , thought to have been brought to eastern France by the Romans from Croatia.  DNA testing in 1999 uncovered the unorthodox parentage, a shock to the international wine community at the time, as gouais blanc is considered so mediocre that several French districts tried to ban it and it is no longer even cultivated in France.

For V Day, perhaps old Papa H summed it up best:“Wine is one of the most civilized thing in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing.”

—Ernest Hemingway
Death in the Afternoon

I tried cooking wit wine after 3 glasses, I forgot why I was in the kitchen

The Long, Long Journey

Posted by golfkat on February 23, 2020
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Food, Health, Travel. 2 Comments
Like you, many of us have been on really long flights, trains, or buses.  Here are a few of my longest journeys.
Bus
Mr. Mike and I endured a 12.5 hour bus ride from Ushuaia, Argentina to Puerto Montt and Chiloe.  We thought it would be preferably to back tracking our flights back to Buenos Aires, then back down to Puerto Montt, where we wanted to continue our trip up the country of Chile.
Train
No, it was not Amtrak cross country here in the U.S.  It was the ultra long Trans Siberian Railway, across 8 time zones, and ultimately two weeks (eight days if you go nonstop) of rail travel from Vladivostok on the Pacific Coast to Moscow.  A mere 5772 miles, I extended the trip, starting in San Francisco, flying to Tokyo.  Then two smaller flights from Tokyo to Vladivostok via Seoul, Korea.  On the back end, I took another train to St. Petersburg, and flew home via Frankfurt to San Francisco.  Total miles amounted to a trip around the world or 24,901 miles!!
Plane
This is purely a guess on my part, since I have taken so many long flights.  But Air New Zealand from Auckland, NZ to San Francisco would be FOURTEEN hours, or 6532 miles.  Sydney to SFO would be longer, but fortunately, we ended up in New Zealand.  It was nevertheless a very long flight, in coach no less.  But I did find a row with some open seats, and slept a good part of the way home!
The big question or questions, is the ability to cope with these long trips.  Despite my many years of travel, I still have great difficulty, even when I use my miles to upgrade!  Here are some helpful tips, that may or may not agree with the experts.
One suggestion I agree with is hydration.  But I urge moderation.  In my case, I don’t want to fall asleep, then get up constantly to run to the toilet.  I like to change it up, with some sparkling water, tonic, or club soda. Just don’t get carried away!
Easier said than done, try to break the trip up into shorter segments.  But this is difficult to do on a bus in the middle of Argentina, or a 12 to 14 hour flight.  Most train travel can accommodate shorter segments.  But remember, the train is more conducive to walking around for some exercise.  And it makes numerous stops for fresh air and exercise.  On my trip across Canada, many people were doing yoga on the platform at stops of more than 15 minutes.
Trying to keep your food intake as normal as possible always helps.  The food issue is controversial.  Some extremists recommend using laxatives at least 24 hours before flights.  But I do carry dried fruit with me on long trips.  For my meals, I tend to focus more on cooked rather than raw vegetables, some decent protein, and minimal amounts of bread.  Always remember to bring your own snacks, in my case, the dried fruit, trail mix, apples and cheese, and sugarless mints.
Reducing stress at both the start and end of your trip is a luxury that few of us partake.  We seem to be in a hurry.  When I travel with an experienced traveler, like Mr. Mike, we don’t seem to be scampering around like a fire drill.  Often times, we might have a cold beer, or go for a walk around a strange airport.  And keeping activities to a minimum on your first day or night in a new city is also a stress reducer.  A short walk and very light meal are perhaps best.
Privacy is perhaps quite underrated when traveling.  I don’t stay in hostels anymore, and I like the seclusion that airline upgrades bring.  I also like my little sleeper room on Amtrak.  Peace and quiet are valuable commodities on a long trip.  Even when doing an entire free lance trip, the nice, quiet hotel bed on the first night is required in my book.
The most enjoyable part of most long trips is meeting other travelers.  I have made lifelong friends, whether finding them in the now defunct internet rooms, common dining cars, and lounges.  Talking to strangers has a double benefit.  It helps pass time, but I have also learned so much from them.  And not just about travel, but just life in general.  Some of the stories are just amazing!  Unforgettable!  My gratitude to all of you who I have met along the way:  Barry the V, Jason and Chun, Michael, Katy, and countless others whose names I have forgotten.
When everything else fails, I just go to sleep.  Easier said than done.  I always bring light reading material, music on my phone, a camera, and several throw away reading materials.  And a light sleeping pill, like Ambien.  I do not enjoy video games, and most of the movies on the plane are terrible.  But they help me fall asleep!
With upgrades on flights, I do get a reclining seat or a lie flat bed, and pillow and blanket.  The roomette on Amtrak is fairly comfortable, as long as you don’t get stuck on the upper berth.  And the new FlixBus and Mega Bus services offer real beds!!!
Your phone is also a great source of entertainment, as long as it is used for fun and not work.  I always have my favorite music, but rarely do I watch podcasts or movies on my phone.  That just seems a little obsessive to me.
Having a good book is always a treat.  I always carry light reading, like a John Grisham novel.  Problem is, I read it so quickly, I am stuck with it, or need to trade it with someone.  And I always carry a travel guide, though many times this works like a giant sleeping pill.
I diverge about 180 degrees from the experts on the subject of alcohol.  I usually have about two glasses of bubbly, and maybe a half glass of red wine or after dinner drink.  For me, it is just enough to start dozing off after the meal, about the time  the movie I am watching hits a climax!
I don’t have too many self imposed rules.  But one is to always have a water bottle!!!  And rule 1A is to have some of your own food and snacks.  And it is even more important in Economy!  For the sake of the environment, please bring your OWN water bottle!!!
On layovers, always try to get some exercise, even if it requires running to catch your next flight.  Once I find the gate for my next flight, I try to take an extended walk assuming I have some time to kill.
I always opt for aisle seats, even in First or Business.  I would rather get up to let somebody out, than feel confined to the window seat.  I like the freedom, and it seem roomier.  My leg and elbow are FREE!!!  Might I miss the view?
Dressing comfortable is almost as important as the water and food issue.  No problem in First or Biz, but Coach rarely has blankets.  I like to have a jacket or light coat to cover myself when I fall asleep.
On the subject of neck pillows, I have probably owned many during my lifetime.  Just find one that you like.  Even in First or Biz, the pillows are marginal.
Talking to your seat mate is a great way to pass the time.  In the past few years, I rarely talk to anyone.  I prefer a little quiet time.  But on the rather rare occasion that you find the perfect seatmate, I say go for it!!!  Just remember that excessive and loud talking is bothersome to those seated nearby.  Even worse are the card players and video game nerds.
Just remember, there are no set rules for the long and winding road.  Just learn what works best for you, and keep fine tuning it as only you can!  Oh, and please share them with me!!
CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 26: An electronic board shows flight delays and cancellations at O’Hare International Airport after an early winter snowstorm left more than 7 inches of snow at the airport on November 26, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The storm also caused scores of traffic accidents and left thousands without power. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

What It Feels Like to Travel *****

Posted by golfkat on February 10, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Travel. Leave a comment
The article on MSN Travel Voices featured a young African American woman, traveling in Japan.
Here are some of her thoughts and observations:
When I go abroad, I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders to be a good example of a black woman so negative stereotypes don’t continue, especially in homogeneous cultures where there is a lack of diversity. The media doesn’t exactly portray black people incredibly well, and people watch it and make assumptions about what we’re like based on the color of our skin. In some places, they’ve rarely even seen a black person in real life.
I am constantly aware of every move I make when I step outside of the United States. There is not a single moment when I am not cognizant of how I’m representing myself as I walk through the streets of Bangkok or photograph the monuments of Paris. It’s a stinging fear of my presence in their country not being a positive one and therefore contributing to their biases toward people who look like me. When a white person does something unfortunate, they don’t become an example of their entire race. But when one black person does something wrong, it paints us all that way in the eyes of others.
Transposing her experiences over to my own, I have a vastly different awareness of my ethnic heritage and citizenship.  I have shared many of those with you, and may end of repeating stories you have already seen.
First, when I am overseas, people always seem to ask “What are you?”  They hear my perfect English, and observe my nice,  understated but very American style of clothing.  Then when I proudly say that I am an American, they seem totally perplexed.  Then I have to explain that Americans can look like anyone, including them!!  Perhaps it continues to perplex them?
Second, have I ever experienced racial discrimination while traveling on foreign soil?  Rarely, on a racial basis, perhaps a little more for being an American.  But I must tell you that I have been welcomed all over the world, with little negativity.  People love Americans, they just can’t figure out why Trump became the President!!!
Of course in third world countries, the local people think all Americans are wealthy.  When they ask about owning a home, or how many cars we own, they are astounded.  They are not shy about asking about our economic status.
Most often, I try to explain my ethnicity, how my grandfather came to California in 1896, and that I am a third generation American.  Yet, I still get the feeling that they do not entirely believe me.
I am certain that travel is significantly more challenging for African Americans, and Americans with roots in the Middle East.  Add to this equation, the challenges for women, gays, handicapped, and larger sized people.
But I firmly believe the world is changing.  I think we can transcend the politics, and rhetoric of our countries, and simply deal with people on a very personal level.  Often times, it just takes a smile, helping hand, or acquiring a small custom from the country I am visiting.  Other times, a small gift or trinket opens the door to smiles and conversation.
Why not try???

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The Legend of Joaquin

Posted by golfkat on February 9, 2020
Posted in: Action, Cultures, Travel. Leave a comment
For those of us who live in the great San Joaquin Valley, we learned a small, mostly inaccurate story about how this valley was named for Joaquin Murrieta.  Let’s see what we do not really know about this notorious “outlaw”.

The Robin Hood of El Dorado, as one of the most famous books about Murietta’s life describes him, was a Mexican immigrant who fought against unfair racial treatment in California. Born in Sonora, Mexico in 1830, Murietta moved to California to try his hand at prospecting. However, local authorities tried to drive out Mexican-Americans and pass legislation to limit their rights.

Murietta became a champion of the oppressed by robbing stage coaches and holding up gold mines. However, his destructive tendencies caught the attention of the local law enforcement, who demanded his capture — dead or alive. In 1853, Murietta was confronted and killed by a detachment of California Rangers.

But rather than try to figure out how he died, I thought it would be more interesting to see if he really fought for unfair racial treatment of Mexicans.  Some say he was a Mexican patriot, others ay he was a viscious desperado!  Some historians say he was horsewhipped, while they gang raped his wife, and hung his brother.  Maybe he was driven to this lifelong vendetta?

According to most history books, he, his brother, and several others turned to crime after being forced form his rightful claims near Placerville (Hangtown), CA.  They were angry and unable to find work.  His band of ruffians soon became known as the Five Joaquins, including his right hand man, Manual “Three-Fingered Jack” Garcia.

According to some historians, Murrieta and his gang were generous and kind to his Mexican compatriots, giving much of his ill-gotten gains to the poor.  They, in turn, sheltered and fed him, protecting him from law enforcement.  His vendetta, however noble, may have also been retribution for many Mexican immigrants who were killed or went missing.

At the very least, he became a symbol of resistance against Anglo-American economic and cultural domination here in California.  His legend may have been the inspiration for the fictional character of Zorro.

So, where might the truth be?  Maybe he was part Robin Hood, part Billy the Kid.  Or maybe, none of this is true.  I would rather believe that he was the original desperado!J Murj mur1j mur2

Super Dooper 47 (Now 54)

Posted by golfkat on February 8, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Sports, Travel. 1 Comment
Yes, I went to Super Bowl 47 in New Orleans, when our Niners lost to my buddy, Dirty Pat’s Ravens.  We were robbed on the final plays of the game, both by the lack of pass interference calls, and poor play calling by the Niners.  But it was a great experience.  This year’s game (I am not going!) was going to cost me over $8,000, with a game ticket well over $6,000, plus inflated hotel and meal prices.  Here is my story from 2013.  Nawlins is a great place for the Super Bowl.  In my opinion, it should be held there EVERY year, as it is a real party city!!!
Super Bowl 47 will start this afternoon.  I will be there to watch the Forty Niners.  I became a fan in the Fifties, when two players from my hometown, offensive tackle Monte Clark, and all pro defensive back, Jimmy Johnson were drafted by the Forty Niners.

Back then, it would have been difficult to envision the concept of the Super Bowl, or the greatness ahead for these two players.  My Dad would have truly enjoyed being here today.  He introduced me to sports.  He took me to my first college and professional football games.  We started out on a local level, our high school, where the Johnson brothers Rafer and Jimmy) starred in four sports.

I am sure this little story gets repeated over and over across the country.  A young boy is introduced to sports by his father, and stays a sports fan for life.  Thank you, Dad, you were the best!!!!

Meanwhile, in Nawlins, so far, Niner fans are outnumbered by Ravens fans by ten to one!  There are more Saints fans here, in fact, that Niner fans.  Was it the expense of travel or the ticket shortage out west?  Ravens fans are here, and will outnumber us greatly, unless everyone was hallucinating yesterday.

Speaking of yesterday, I went to the NFL Experience, with my two newest friends from Baltimore, Pat and Mark.  Mark has his own accounting firm, and Pat is now an attorney.  Pat is a little scruffy, but so interesting.  He was a Fulbright Scholar, and has lived all over the world, and is fluent in Mandarin.

Anyway, we met yesterday morning at a nearby coffee joint, gave each other the “Go Niner, Go Ravens” greeting, sat for about an hour together, and decided to spend the day together.  Fortunately, Pat had his son, Patrick, aka “Little Sh*tty” with us to keep things on the up and up.  In other words, no honky tonks, strip joints, or seedy bars.

If you ever go to a Super Bowl, skip the NFL Experience.  It is mostly for kids to do some football skills, like throw and kick.  The NFL tries to sell a bunch of goods, like GM cars, Bridgestone Tires, Under Armour sporting goods, and propaganda.

Speaking of, do you know the take on locals (Nawlins people) view of “Bountygate?”  They believe that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell penalized the Saints so they would not have any chance of playing in the Super Bowl here.  They say it makes a FIVE fold difference in revenue to the area businesses!  I find that hard to believe, but…..

Meanwhile, in the next few days, after we win our Sixth title, I will tell you more about the great folks here in the Crescent City.  Meanwhile, Go Niners!!!!


2020:  We met the very talented Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl 54.  KC has the BEST barbecue I have ever tasted, better than Texas, North Carolina, and here in California.  Staying home, we will have a special meal, but have not yet decided.  One thing for sure, I will open a bottle of my favorite bubbly to celebrate the BIG win!!! (We lost)

Go Niners!

Vacation Over, Reality Beckons

Posted by golfkat on February 7, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Travel. 1 Comment
As the years have passed, I realize I am getting much better at transitioning from my travels back to my daily routine.  Of course, a big factor is being retired, and generally not having serious obligations, like a job when I return.  But even when I had a full time job, I tried to leave a day or two of “buffer” to account for re-entry to reality, to overcome jet lag, and taking care of routine household chores.
Generally, travel for most of us involves adventure, exploring, good food, making new friends, and lots of relaxation.  Sometimes, we learn a new skill or sport, and generally try activities we don’t do in our everyday lives.
Before the smart phone revolution, many of us enjoyed a vacation away from email, particularly work email.  But that is no longer true, with texts, email, social media, and ubiquitous Wi-Fi.  So, for many of us, it is really difficult to unplug.  My best unplugging occurs when there is no wi-fi or cell service!
Perhaps more difficult than going, is returning.  The list of chores has piled up, not to mention bills, mail, yard work, laundry, and cooking.  And of course, the normal routine, including work, school, and other adult responsibilities.  Going from no schedule to an enforced schedule makes the transition even more difficult.
So, what can we do about this difficult period?
With shorter vacations, the transition seems easier.  But two weeks in Hawaii, or an Alaskan cruise amounts to culture shock.  Much longer trips like my three week trips on the Trans Siberian Railway, multiple safaris across Africa, and driving Chile from top to bottom present many challenges.   Just to mention a few, jet lag (on both ends), food options, strange beds, clean drinking water, personal safety, language barriers, and weather.
Psychologists say it feels natural to experience a rather glum transition from holiday to work mode.  Less freedom and creativity perhaps contribute to that feeling.  So, what can we do about this?
Experts say:
Prepare your home BEFORE you go.  This means stopping the paper, boarding your pets, cleaning out perishables from the refrigerator, filling the car with gas, and doing the laundry.  I just do not like coming home to a mess.
I always schedule a buffer, sometimes just a day, sometimes more for longer trips across multiple time zones.  The older I get, the longer it takes to overcome my jet lag.
Ease the transition, by looking at photos or purchases.  Organizing photos is a great way to return to reality.  My home computer is much easier to use than my smart phone or tablet for organizing photos.  I actually look forward to it.
Some activities from vacation mode can be carried forward, including more sleep, afternoon naps, better exercise routine, better eating habits, and a better attitude.
When all else fials, start planning your next trip.  I generally have two or three trips scheduled before I get back!!!
Some of use need closure, and some of us need a definite transition back to reality.  During my career, I would bring back small trinkets to my staff.  Many would never got to the far off places I just visited.  Providing a small token gave them a thrill, and gave me a sense that my trip was more than just a trip.
Each of you must have a “secret” method to move back into reality.  Want to share?realityreality1reality2

Gerry, Gerry, the Champagne Man

Posted by golfkat on February 6, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Entertainment, Food, Travel. Leave a comment
Everyone seemed to enjoy the previous email about wines and champagnes.  The feedback is always welcome.  I just enjoy knowing that you read some or all of them.  So, here are some more pearls of wisdom for you.
Aside from wine and champagne, I had perhaps the best Scotch I have ever had, an 18 year old Macallan, while I was in Atlanta.  It went down like this:  we returned from the Warriors-Hawks game to the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta.  With some time on our hands, I offered to buy a round of nightcaps for the four of us.  The other three opted for relatively inexpensive drinks.  Somewhat at a loss of what to order, I saw the Macallan sitting on the shelf behind the bartender.  I asked for the 18 year old version, and he offered a second shot at only $4.  Why not?  It was the best Scotch I have EVER had.  Looks like it runs about $300 a bottle!
Over 23.7 million of bottles of Champagne were shipped to the U.S. last year. The U.S is the second largest export market for Champagne in the world, second only to the U.K. Gradually on the rise in a particularly bright spot is rosé Champagne with 17% of the total Champagne sales in the U.S. last year.  Trump could ruin this!!!!
 
​When tasting several different vintages from the same producer, most professionals begin with the oldest vintage. The reasoning is that the oldest wine is likely to be the most integrated and nuanced, and possibly the most frail. The youngest wine is likely to be the boldest. If you taste the young bold wines first, you may not be able to fully taste the nuances of the oldest wine when you get to that wine. So most pros start with the oldest wine.  I never knew this!
The year 1783, is the oldest and most productive cork oak, named the Whistler Tree, was planted, in the Alentejo region of southern Portugal. Cork trees are generally harvested for the first time when they are 25 years old, then once every decade after that. The tree’s name comes from the sound made by the songbirds who nest within it.
Corkage fee $5500 (in U.S. dollars) reportedly charged to a businessman at a tony Melbourne, Australia, restaurant for bringing eight bottles of wine to be served during dinner.  This shatters the former highest corkage award worldwide, held by Per Se restaurant (New York) and its sister The French Laundry (Napa Valley): $150/bottle.  Many fine restaurants typically charge a more palatable $25-$30 per bottle.  I usually bring my own bottle of champagne or Cabernet to nicer restaurants, to avoid the expensive wine lists.  Then I know what I am drinking, and can really enjoy it!
What is the difference between Franciacorta and Prosecco?  Franciacorta is a region in Lombardy in northern Italy, famous for its sparkling wines. These dry sparkling wines are made by the traditional Champagne method from chardonnay and pinot noir (and sometimes pinot blanc). They are austerely elegant with a fine, creamy mousse of bubbles. Franciacortas come as non-vintage wines as well as vintage-dated (known as Franciacorta millesimato) and they spend a relatively long time on lees―18 months for non-vintage to 60 months for Franciacorta riserva. Prosecco is a sparkling wine made in the Veneto region of Italy. It’s made from glera grapes. It’s not made by the Champagne method, but rather by a process known as Charmat whereby the second fermentation takes place in large tanks. The top Proseccos are known as Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore. Prosecco wine is the traditional sparkler (along with white peach juice) in the Italian cocktail, the bellini.
A mere 55 miles per hour that a cork can exit a bottle of Champagne. At that velocity, the hot stopper could smash the waiting wine glasses, as well as shatter your spectacles. The pressure in a Champagne bottle ranges from 70 to 90 pounds per square inch—two to three times the pressure in your car’s tires.
Now this is terrible:  Champagne is a traditional toasting drink for NYE, but the Russians take it a step further. Before you imbibe, you need to write down your wishes for the new year and then burn them. Here’s where it gets interesting. Those ashes need to be sprinkled into your glass of champagne, which you have to drink before the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day.  Yuck!
What will I drink on New Year’s Eve, with my Maine lobster?  Not sure yet, but I guarantee it will cost under $20.
Instagram lost its mind over the case of Armand de Brignac “Ace of Spades” Champagne that Jay-Z and Beyoncé sent Reece Witherspoon after she asked them to share a glass at the recent Golden Globe Awards.  “Jay & Bey” have owned the luxury brand since 2014.
The new year, 2020, promises to be yet another year of adventures in the wine universe.  I hope you will share some of your favorites as you drink them.  I promise to keep them a secret!

MLK Day

Posted by golfkat on February 4, 2020
Posted in: Cultures, Travel. Leave a comment

mlk homecouragemlk dream6 mlkWritten in 2009. Have things improved? Do we really celebrate this day the way Dr. King would want us to? Is former President Obama’s idea of a day of service gone forever?

Monday marks a holiday that most of us can live and relive past events, as we were alive to see and hear Dr. King in the news almost every day. We saw him lead non violently, with no fear of white supremacists or military and police barricades. He was an inspiration to all of us. Monday, I am going to spend most of the day volunteering at Medshare, in his honor. I hope you will do whatever you can today to honor him.

When I first saw and read about Dr. King, I wondered. Why would he be named after the famous Martin Luther? Martin Luther was a German monk, known as the Father of Protestantism, and church reformer who ideas influenced the Protestant Reformation, and changed the course of Western Civilization. He also translated the Bible into a vernacular that all of us could understand.

Dr. King served us in a similar fashion. He made the struggle of the disadvantaged understandable for all of us. Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968) was born Michael Luther King, Jr., but later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family’s long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, serving from 1914 to 1931; his father has served from then until the present, and from 1960 until his death Martin Luther acted as co-pastor. Martin Luther attended segregated public schools in Georgia, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen; he received the B. A. degree in 1948 from Morehouse College, a distinguished Negro institution of Atlanta from which both his father and grandfather had graduated. After three years of theological study at Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania where he was elected president of a predominantly white senior class, he was awarded the B.D. in 1951. With a fellowship won at Crozer, he enrolled in graduate studies at Boston University, completing his residence for the doctorate in 1953 and receiving the degree in 1955. In Boston he met and married Coretta Scott, a young woman of uncommon intellectual and artistic attainments. Two sons and two daughters were born into the family.

In 1954, Martin Luther King accepted the pastorale of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. He was ready, then, early in December, 1955, to accept the leadership of the first great Negro nonviolent demonstration of contemporary times in the United States, the bus boycott described by Gunnar Jahn in his presentation speech in honor of the laureate. The boycott lasted 382 days. On December 21, 1956, after the Supreme Court of the United States had declared unconstitutional the laws requiring segregation on buses, Negroes and whites rode the buses as equals. During these days of boycott, King was arrested, his home was bombed, he was subjected to personal abuse, but at the same time he emerged as a Negro leader of the first rank.

In 1957 he was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization formed to provide new leadership for the now burgeoning civil rights movement. The ideals for this organization he took from Christianity; its operational techniques from Gandhi. In the eleven-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled over six million miles and spoke over twenty-five hundred times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action; and meanwhile he wrote five books as well as numerous articles. In these years, he led a massive protest in Birmingham, Alabama, that caught the attention of the entire world, providing what he called a coalition of conscience. and inspiring his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, a manifesto of the Negro revolution; he planned the drives in Alabama for the registration of Negroes as voters; he directed the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., of 250,000 people to whom he delivered his address, “l Have a Dream”, he conferred with President John F. Kennedy and campaigned for President Lyndon B. Johnson; he was arrested upwards of twenty times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and became not only the symbolic leader of American blacks but also a world figure.
At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the prize money of $54,123 to the furtherance of the civil rights movement.

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, he was assassinated.

*borrowed from NobelPrize.org.

Most of us remember where we were when JFK was assassinated. Do you remember where you were when Dr. King was shot? I was completing my second year of Pharmacy School, living in my fraternity house at the University of the Pacific. It was a sad day for all of us, as we sat around our fraternity living room, watching the news, and talking about this great man.

I visited the King Center, and Ebenezer Baptist church last October. I must tell you that it was a visit to remember. Many of us in the church could feel the spirit of this great man. We sat down, just to calm ourselves, as the feeling was overwhelming inside the church. I hope all of you can visit this special place.