Now, remember I’m an Aggie, so I’m big into traditions. . .and maybe it is early to call this a tradition but it sure is fun!

Last year, when I went to Napa, I was greeted with this warm welcome home:

So, this year to welcome Beth back to the mainland after her week long journey to Hawaii, Brice came over (hence the reason there was no wine o. Wednesday yesterday, sorry!) and we made signs for Beth. She got home around lunch time today so I didn’t want to leave the signs on the front door, you know for safety reasons. . .happy mom?

Instead we put her signs on the door to her room. . .I think we did a good job. . .and I know she liked them:

I think this could be a fun tradition to carry on. . .watch out Brice, you’re next!

On Saturday it hit me, I had exactly one month left in my 20s. I’m not scared to turn 30, I just can’t believe I am about to turn 30. That just seems crazy!

I remember when 30 seemed so far away and now it is just around the corner so I guess I better get ready for the big 3-oh!

For a little over a year now, I keep seeing Water for Elephants, and have thought about reading it. Well, I finally did and I loved it!

To be honest I wasn’t really sure what to expect, I kind of had an idea it was about the circus but wasn’t sure what aspect of the circus it was about. The more I read in this book the more I enjoyed it.

Sara Gruen wrote this book in the style of a memoir even though it is a fiction. Gruen stumbled up on the idea of writing about a traveling circus while researching a different novel idea.

This story follows Jacob Jankowski in the 20’s and 30’s, who after the loss of his parents and now where to go hopes on a train to escape, not realizing the train was carrying a traveling circus.

At first Jacob’s presence is met with much opposition until it is learned that he is a vet, well. . .almost. They decide to keep him on to care for all of the animals.

Throughout the novel, the reader is actually presented with Jacob’s story through his flashbacks from his nursing home. We meet Jacob when he is in his 90s.

Despite not knowing much about traveling circuses I still found this story fascinating and highly recommend it. So go out and get it!

I always wonder, would I rewatch a TV series if I owned it on DVD? And the answer is in fact yes. I don’t do it often or with many shows. There are only two shows that I seem to rewatch on DVD, even though I own quite a few.

Those two shows are Felicity and Gilmore Girls.

Felicity started my sophomore year of college and I was fan from the beginning, the only problem was the WB was no longer available in College Station my last semester, so I stopped watching it and had to wait to finish the series until it was available on DVD.

I’m not 100% sure why I love this show, but for some reason I do! Despite the fact that my brother always refers to it as “feelin’ sh*tty”. . .I can understand he thoughts because it definitely seems more female focused.

Probably the fact that I was in college and this show was based on a group of college friends I could relate. Though fortunately I didn’t have to experience a roommate like Megan, but would have been highly entertained by Sean. But my main reason for liking this show most was because I wish I had done something as elaborate as move across the country and try out a new place instead of just staying in Texas.

I started rewatching Felicity last weekend and have been really enjoying it. I seemed to forget most of the details of the story line but they are slowly coming back to me as I watch. Ever since her days on the Mickey Mouse Club I have been a Keri Russell fan. I think that is what initially drew me to the show, since her character was the focus.

J.J. Abrams created this show which I think is somewhat ironic because he moved on to Alias, Lost, Fringe and Star Trek the movie. Though, in watching his other shows I am impressed at his loyalty and the way he seems to have brought many actors and actresses along with him from project to project.

So. . .if you’ve been wondering, that’s what I have been up to in a lot of my spare time. And I am still (even though the show has ended and been finished for years) rooting for Ben over Noel. . .

I miss the good old days of the WB, Felicity, Dawson’s Creek and Gilmore Girls. . .the CW dramas just aren’t the same.

Oh yeah, big brother!

Sorry that’s what I think of every time I watch, hear or talk about Big Brother. Although in the song, it is actually big booty. . .oh the memories of Fish Camp!

I am way behind the times when it comes to Big Brother, because this is season 11 and my first season to watch. I must admit I wasn’t all that excited at first because it is a big time commitment being that it is on 3 times a week, but I think I might just be hooked.

After just the first few weeks I am convinced that I would be completely awful at this game. There’s too much backstabbing and gossiping and strategizing for me to survive living in the house. . .but that doesn’t mean I don’t get a kick out of watching it.

The original 12 contestants picked to live in the house are definitely an eclectic mix, and then the steroid looking addict Jesse that was brought back from last season only mixed things up more.

I was really surprised by Braden’s departure last week but not at all surprised by Laura’s eviction tonight.

Next week I am hoping that either Ronnie or Russell go home, they are both good at playing the game and I am assuming that is why I am ready to see them leave.

If I had to pick who I want to win this season right now it would definitely be Jeff followed by Casey. But, I guess we will just have to wait and see as the season goes on. . .

I was all set to continue me foray into White Wines, until my Saturday night trip to Target. I discovered a new Middle Sister Wine. This one is called Mischief Maker and it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Middle Sister has really expanded their offerings since I last sampled a bottle back in January.

The Cabernet was very good. I was glad that I thought a head and had it in the wine fridge so that it would be nice and chilled when I got home.

What I enjoyed most about this wine was the fruity and sweet taste to this Cab which is unlike most Cabs that seem to be more peppery than fruity. Because of the sweetness of this wine it was very refreshing on this hot summer day.

I definitely recommend picking up a bottle next time you’re at Target (well, a target that sells wine). My absolute favorite thing about this wine just might be the packaging because the artwork is so whimsical.

I wanted to share a funny video with you. My friend Joe introduced me to the TLC show, “The Little Couple” a few weeks back. If you haven’t watched this show yet, I totally recommend it! Jenn & Bill are so fun and not to mention cute. They live in Houston, which is fun to watch because having spent a fair share of time in H-town I have seen a lot of the places shown in the episodes.

In last night’s episode Jenn and Bill receive some disturbing news that there has been a break in in the apartment complex which concerns them. Jenn decides to take a self defense class, and that is where the video comes from:

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Sorry for the poor quality of the video, but I captured it with my cellphone. I am pretty sure you will still enjoy it!

Never, fear wine o. wednesday will still occur so check back later to see what vino I am enjoying.

Sorry, I got busy working on a project tonight and didn’t get a post up. But never fear, I have two books to review and I’ll do it tomorrow.

Happy Monday!

I’ll admit it has been quite some time since I’ve been to Bene Bene, so Beth and I decided to head over there after work and visit our favorite Italian family. Plus, I had forgotten just how good the food is there. So, here’s my plug for Bene Bene if you live in the Dallas area, go by and check them out you will thoroughly enjoy it!

Tonight, I persuaded Beth to even give white wine a try and we had a few glasses of Chardonnay at the bar. I know this makes me look like a complete and total slacker for tonight, but I’m not 100% sure what the wine was we had. I thought it was Le Terre Chardonnay, but the only wine close to it I can find is La Terre Chardonnay. . .so I was probably remembering it incorrectly.

It wasn’t too bad. . .in fact, I even think Beth liked it. Next time I’m in I’ll have to double check the exact name of the winery but it was definitely a refreshing fruity wine. And it was nice to have to wash down the Grappa we were given to try. . .while I recommend the wine I do NOT recommend the Grappa.

You have once again frustrated me, and let me tell you why. . .

I have yet to understand why on Sunday afternoons when there is a football or baseball game you do not build into the schedule time for the game to run over and not affect TV that night. You already set the times that the games will begin. . .can you please for the sake of my DVR and my sanity please build in a buffer?

This is normally only a problem for me in the fall during football season during The Amazing Race, but since I have been talked into watching Big Brother this summer I experienced this frustration this week too and missed the last 10 minutes of Sunday’s episode.

I know in the grand scheme of things this isn’t really a big deal, but seriously why don’t they think about it. Everyone uses DVRs these days. But maybe that’s what I get for watching so much reality TV?

Speaking of which, I was very disappointed in the Bachelorette last night and her decision to send home Reid. In fact I’m not even sure I want to keep watching. . .I could really see her picking either Kypton on Ed but I’m going to guess in the end she picks Kypton, sorry Ed. . .you shouldn’t have been so disappointing during your alone time. . .though I’m still confused about that whole situation. (Be sure to check out Lincee’s blog for her recap.)

So long Reid, you will be missed!

Big Brother is interesting. I have never watched this show before and I’m thoroughly mystified by the behavior of the “house guests.” I know I would not last long in that house; there is too much game playing for me. I couldn’t be “on” like that all the time nor would I want to be filmed 24/7. Most of these characters are beyond annoying, and yes I realize it might be part of their “strategy” but it sure makes me hope they get voted off soon.

Too bad Tanner P. from the Bachelorette isn’t on this show, there’s a girl with a foot fetish. . .it could be a match made in reality TV heaven! Now that I have finished watching the first three episodes, I have decided I’m ready for Jesse, Casey, Chima and Laura to go. Those four are going to drive me nuts!

I decided to stick with Jodi Picoult and read 19 Minutes.  I have to say, I have enjoyed the other two Jodi Picoult books I have read but this is by far my favorite one so far.

Normally I am not a fan of books that are written from multiple voices. Especially when the voices aren’t divided by chapters like My Sister’s Keeper was, but in this particular case I thought the fact that the perspective or voice the story was being told in continually changed was very fitting.

This book is about a high school shot which is a very chaotic incident and its effects are immeasurable. If this book had been written from one character’s perspective I don’t think I would have enjoyed it. To me this was a very well rounded story because there wasn’t a perspective that was omitted which deepened the impact of the story.

I also enjoyed that this wasn’t necessarily a book about a school shooting, but rather it was a look at the psychology behind why it might happen.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and actually have been recommending it to everyone I talk to. If you haven’t read it you should do so right away, I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

Here is your warning, that this will once again be a long post. . .don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Friday (where I left off):

After having the opportunity to taste some hops and barely (I passed on that), we were taken into the room with all the vats where the magic happens. The “tour” guide was hilarious but that might be due to the fact that he drinks beer all day long and may not have been entirely sober; he went through the tour as fast as possible to get us into the tasting room where we received our complimentary glasses and tried 3 different brews.

For the inquiring minds we were given the Boston Lager, Summer Pale Ale and the Boston Lager Brick Red (only available on tap in Boston).

When the beer drinking was finished we headed over towards the Boston Commons, wondered around a bit and then ended up on the Beacon Hill side, so we attempted to go into The Bull & Finch Pub, also known as Cheers.

It was so crowded we just used the “facilities” and then pushed our way out. . .maybe next time we can actually sit down and have a drink.

Oh, I almost forgot. . .while we were in the Commons we decided to go for a ride on the Swan boats in this teeny tiny pond. As soon as we set sail on our journey, I asked our driver (who was probably 20ish) if he was going to tell us the history of Boston as we went and he responded, “Well what do you want to know? I mean I could tell you the history of Boston but it would probably all be a lie.” I appreciated his humor and decided to ask him the history of the Swan boats. . .his cousin’s family started them over a 100 years ago. For $2.75 we definitely had a good time!

We finally decided to take a break from sightseeing and since Meredith and I spied “Best Cellars” on Boylston and wanted to go there for a glass of wine. . .well, after wandering down several blocks we were there and sad to see that we could only purchase bottles of wine there. . .so, sadly we wandered back to the Charles Mark Hotel and sat on their patio. Look at these fun martinis, they came complete with a gummy bear garnish. . .

We slowly worked our way back to home base to call it a night and hang out with a few new friends. It was a great first day in Boston!

Tired of reading yet? Sorry! But the next few days are low key and there aren’t a lot of details. . .so keep on trucking along!

Saturday:

We were definitely worn out from our super busy day and 4.5 hours of sleep the night before, but were very graciously woken up at 10:45 by Pepe who brought us coffee and wanted to say goodbye because he was headed back to Houston. We totally slept through Tatiana’s early morning departure. . .but they both made it back home safely!

Dr. Meyer was finally home from his 30 hour shift but we let him sleep for a bit and headed out to this really great little restaurant called “The Other Side.” Then we ventured down towards Fenway. The game had already started so we stopped into The Baseball Tavern and had a couple beers and watched the game.

Adam called us when he woke up and we headed back to his place, to figure out our dinner plans. We decided on a restaurant called Giacomo’s and walked over so that we could have a quick dinner and get back for the fireworks. We went to the Giacomo’s in the Southend but there are two locations (and they are cash only), the food was amazing!

Adam’s building was in the perfect spot to watch the big fireworks spectacular. Unfortunately we couldn’t hear Neil Diamond performing with the Boston pops, but we still had a great time watching the fireworks. Here are a few of the pictures of our view that Meredith took:

Sunday:

After seeing Fenway, Meredith really wanted to go to a Red Sox game. The weather was beautiful so Adam and I couldn’t object. We tried to buy last minute tickets on Craig’s list but
didn’t have any luck and decided to walk over to the field and try our luck there.

And it worked. . .but we couldn’t get three seats together so Meredith offered to be the brave one and sit alone. Fortunately her seat mates felt bad for her and told her to text us and they would go try and find better seats. While Adam and I were sad to give up our shaded seats, we moved into the sun and sat with Meredith and look at our view:

After the game we headed down to Faneuil Hall and the water but not before watching this hilarious street performer at Quincy Market.

We took the T back up to Adam’s apartment and since he had to be at the hospital bright and early the next morning we took it easy, but not before stopping by the water front so we could see it.  Here we are by the water front.

Meredith and Adam went to have dinner at a seafood restaurant, since that is not my cup of tea I stayed home and chilled.

Monday:

We didn’t have a lot of time before we needed to head to the airport to catch our flight home, but first we decide to head up to Cambridge and look around. We walked through Harvard Square and found a great jewelry store: Tis-Tik then headed to Bertucci’s for lunch.

Then we had to say our goodbyes and head home. . .I can’t wait to go back and roam through the city again, I don’t think either of us were quite ready to leave.

Hope it was worth it for you to read this novel of a post. . .next trip I’ll be better about posting on a daily basis, I promise!