We drank a couple of bottles of $40-$50 Chardonnay at Ravinia last weekend (that I got for Xmas from a stakeholder) and it was sublime. I'm usually very eh on Chardonnay but I would drink the hell out of this stuff. I won't, of course, but man it was delicious.

Wine is like coffee to me. I can tell when it's really awful, but I can't discern the difference between OK and the allegedly wonderful high end stuff, so it makes no sense to spend much money. The best-tasting I've ever had is an Italian moscato that goes for about $14 a bottle.

In the commentary, Tom Baker just announced:

"Look at those four jaunty buttocks. Phwoar! There was nothing we couldn't have done in those days!"

I would generally rather have prosecco or cava than champagne anyway.

Oh man, a good brut champagne is my happy place. Veuve Cliquot yellow label, if any sugar daddies are lurking.

In Santa Fe at the moment. Memorial service was great and motorcycle-iffic. Got caught in an apocalyptic hailstorm in the mountains on I70- when it stopped there were 3-4 inches on the highway.

Rockies pretty, when I could see them . Woke up sat morn with a painful mysterious cornea abrasion. Then I got conjunctivitis , possibly from the baby cousin with pinkeye . Completely disabling pain.Cue ER visit a town over since there are no hospitals or urgent care clinics in town. Can't wait to see that bill. Anyway, Vicodin. And antibiotics later, it looks much better this morning and the light sensitivity is was down( I had to wear sunglasses inside. At night.)

But seeing family was great, I met cousins from Franks side that I like very much & will stay in touch with. And his sister is amazing! So many conversations Frank would have loved. I wasn't able to get a ride due to my stupid eye (my balance was fucked. I'm surprised I made the climb.) but Joey is taking the motoguzzi, and the other Joe(my favorite cousin, shhh, don't tell) promised me too.

So all told good. Off to play in Santa Fe and then to Cruces later today.

Frank, I was just thinking about your ex-apartment. What is your situation now, all settled yet?

Theo - I'm in the process of buying the condo in Amesbury, which has proven trickier than expected due two vacant commercial units on the first floor. I think I've got everything set to get the mortgage, though. However, still pretty far from settled.

I can taste the difference between $10 wine and $25 wine, and maybe even the difference between $25 wine and $60 wine. But I doubt I'd be able to discern between $60 and $600 wine. If someone would like to give me a $600 bottle of wine to test this theory, ping me and I will send you my address.

All of my wine these days comes from Lot18 and is mostly $18/bottle rioja because it is fucking delicious.

I prefer prosecco or cava to most champagne I've had as well. I'm actually looking to learn more about reasonably priced wine so I can help with ordering wine for the bar (which will be opening this week!).

Sounds like a great trip, sara, except for the eye stuff.

ION, credit.com just gave me my Experian credit score for actual-free -- I didn't have to sign up for a trial anything -- and it's really good! I've never known my actual score before, partly due to being scared in the past. It looks like the only thing I could do to significantly raise it is have a car loan or mortgage, which yeah, no.

Wine is like coffee for me too. Mostly it's somewhere between "You're kidding" and "I wouldn't do it twice in a month or anything" and then you give me the expensive stuff and I'm all "This I can do like water."

But, to be honest, I have no idea where that price is for wine. My sister's friend had a sommelier pick out a couple wines for her since she couldn't find her absolute favourite (to thank her for burning some TV for her--sis will never explain torrents to her) and the red totally didn't have that edge that makes me not able to drink with abandon.

Dropped sis off at airport, am at office, foot hurts like bitch, head chiming in, and this is where I face up to "Life is pain. Anyone who says differently is selling something." Changing from driving brace to existing bandage, hope no one comes back to the area.