Dear Delta,

Dear Delta,

It wasn't that I missed my flight (well just a little bit), it was that you just didn't listen to me when I did. I am a customer. I paid money for this flight. I paid extra to fly from MSP to LSE. When I missed my flight, I ran to the next gate to ask if you could page someone to get me on the plane. The gate attendant just pointed to the phones and told me to get in line. I saw the plane drive away. When I spoke to someone on the phone, she said the only flight I could get on was the next morning. No help with a hotel and no help with a car due to bad weather. Bad weather? It is Winter in the Midwest. That is not an excuse. No snow, no ice.

Next I went to baggage to get my luggage. I mean I didn't make the flight so there was no way my luggage did. No bag. I stood in line and the people at the counter told me it would be a two hour wait for someone to find my bag and bring it out. So I took a shuttle to my hotel, which I paid for, and waited. Then I took the shuttle back to get my bag. I gave them three hours (an extra hour just in case). I looked around and no bag. I stood in line and they said it would be four hours. Picture me getting bright red angry! They said to come back. I said I already had. So I went to go get a beer but everything was closed. So I went back and got my overnight kit from them.

Inside the Skyteam overnight kit is an XL t-shirt, a toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, razor and shaving gel and deodorant. What the kit should have is dark chocolate, a couple bottles of beer, wine or liquor, socks, some Advil, playing cards, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and a voucher for free luggage on your next flight.

So I had the shuttle driver drop me off at the hotel next door which has a bar. I had a beer and got some to go beers and cheesecake. I am used to delayed flights, emergency landings, missing flights, but what I am not used to nor do I put up with is bad customer service. Today there are too many options to choose from to be just normal. All I wanted was for someone to listen to me and make me feel like they were helping me out. The first person to do that today was the shuttle driver and the bartender.

A few years ago I had a similar experience with Delta and had not flown with them since. Looks like I am a United customer for life. Even if I have to drive a few extra hours I know it will be worth it in the end.

Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.

It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way. --Barbara Bush

Things Wednesday via video

Wisconsin Grape Growers Association NBC15 Interview 9-4-2009

Things Wednesday

Today I am thankful for...

1. Bubbles and not the little kid kind.
2. The gym for giving me energy and confidence to live a happy, healthy life.
3. Wisconsin.
4. Text messages at 5:00 AM from caring friends.
5. Trader Joe's for making cooking easy.
6. Red Red nail polish from Wet n Wild. So festive.

Hello suitcase

Packing my suitcase...it's time for another wine adventure to Wisconsin! You betcha. I really said Wisconsin.

I am going to spend the next year traveling around the state:

• Analyzing the current state of vineyards in Wisconsin relative to acreage, varieties grown, quantities grown and grape quality.
• Surveying wineries on Wisconsin grape purchases, bottles of accredited wines produced and retail value of those wines in 2010 and earlier.
• Identifying vineyards with grapes for sale and connect those growers with interested grape buyers (wineries).
• Developing and nurturing industry relationships that will advance the goals of this project i.e.with Wisconsin Restaurant Association and Wisconsin Grocers Association.
• Implementing the WGGA Wisconsin Wine Accreditation Program.
• And much more.

Many of you are probably wondering how this all came about. It all began on December 1st when my mother forwarded me an email from the WGGA. When I saw the Grape Marketing Coordinator position, I knew this was the job for me. A few interviews and then a major life changing decision, and I accepted the job offer last Friday. I am sad and happy at the same time.

I am off to Wisconsin and to the 2011 Wisconsin Grape Growers Annual Conference taking place on January 2-4, 2011 in Wisconsin Dells. No more long commutes (well not counting a few trips to Wisconsin and back), a quiet home office, doing what I love. This is an exciting time in my life, and I am happy to have been given this wonderful opportunity.

Things Wednesday

Today I am thankful for...

1. The talented doctors who did my mother's surgery today and removed all the cancer.
2. Being from Wisconsin, snow and all.
3. Peanut butter. It is my favorite food.
4. The Direct Sales Team and Small Package Shipping for kicking ass today and getting all the orders out.
5. That the Christmas tree is still standing.
6. Having a sushi restaurant and bar in my apartment complex.
7. Being me.

Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Life is full of obstacles. Our road trip from Wisconsin to Oregon was a blast. Well, until we couldn't find a hotel and decided to get some shut eye at a truck stop. After moving all my stuff into my new apartment by ourselves (Yeah us!), winetasting and a trip to the Oregon coast was well deserved. Just like on the Oregon coast, there are going to be obstacles we face in life but we seem to always find a way to get through them.

Take it one step at a time. Remember that willpower is only controlled by one thing--your mind. Remember our "two" mile hike at Silver Falls State Park? You thought you wouldn't make it, but you did. Then when you made it you cried tears of joy because you had accomplished something  you never thought you could. I was so proud of you.

You are surrounded by family, friends and so much love. Although I live far, I am always close.

You are truly beautiful inside and out. Remember that. Enjoy each and every moment.

Tonight I raise a glass and toast to you.

Cancer I did not give you the right,

To invade my body and take a bite.
This is my body and with all my might,
I will prevail with one hell of a fight.
To the cancer inside, I will battle and kill.
For that is my body's God given will.
To my cancer, these words I do send.
Your life is short and near the end.
(For Lucy & all those fighting cancer)
J Joens, 10/13/05

You have taught me so much. I am thinking of you and wishing I could be there for your surgery tomorrow.

Love you so much.

Becky

Self reflection

Look left.

Self reflection. Literally.

A weekend dedicated to ME (and a Christmas tree that fell only once, high alcohol beer, cleaning, the gym, sad movies and great company).


Here is what I discovered:

1. I expect a lot of myself and of others. This applies in all facets of my life. I really believe that most people underestimate their true capabilities. If we all applied ourselves just 5% more, just think how much more we could accomplish.

2. I love to learn. After high school I went to college, after college I continued to take classes in winemaking, viticulture and Spanish. This year I graduated with a Certificate of Specialization in Enology from DMACC. Education is an important piece of me. It has shaped my life. It has guided me along. This weekend I made a concise decision to dedicate more time to further my education. A quote from John Dewey, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." Right on John!

3. I am lucky to have found a career in the wine industry at a young age. Over the years, I have collected experiences and built up a wealth of knowledge. So now I am choosing to use it in the best way possible. I want to make a difference with my work, and I am not talking about a financial difference. If I can change one persons' life with my words, my advice or by my example than I know I have succeeded.

4. I am at my best when I am healthy and fit. Brent and I joined the gym last weekend and so far so good. I am a running machine. My body is sore but my mind is strong.

5. I have met the most wonderful man who balances me. I am definitely a right brain thinker: a bit random, led by feelings, see the whole picture, naturally creative, the one who dreams big. Brent is definitely a left brain thinker: logical, rational, analytical, objective. It is now crystal clear as to why certain things happened in my life. I would have never had the opportunity to meet this wonderful man. It is amazing what a little time and a clearer perspective on life can make you see.

Things Wednesday

Each Wednesday I am going to post things that I am thankful for.

Today I am thankful for...

1. Ocarina iPhone app for bringing out my musical talents and providing me with 20+minutes of stupid fun.
2. Don Crank, Assistant Winemaker at Willamette Valley Vineyards, for taking time out of his busy work schedule to forklift certify three women. His patience, sense of humor and knowledge of safety is much appreciated.
3. The good news my mother received of negative biopsy results for her second biopsy. That means she only has to have a lumpectomy on one side and a little radiation and she should be back to new.
4. Brent being home from traveling and for having the coffee maker set to brew for me at 5:00 AM this morning. Coffee...mmm.
5. Windshield wipers. There is even a documentary about the invention (Blinking Eye Wiper) called "Flash of Genius".

Skype-ing with the Rochester Family

Saturday I watched my niece and nephew sled down R Little Vineyard in Wisconsin via Skype. For the first time, in a very long time, I am grateful for technology. My niece and nephew even had a snowball fight with me by throwing snowballs at the window where the computer was faced. Winter fun without the snow. Just how I like it. Below are some of the pictures I took via Skype. I miss my family heaps and being able to spend time with them even via a computer made my day.

Welcome to Ore-gun

\

I moved to Oregon in May of 2009 with no job, no friends or family close by, and into an apartment I rented on Craigslist. Fast forward a year and a half later. I am still in Oregon, but have relocated 1 hour and 45 minutes South from where I originally landed. I have learned a lot about Oregon.

First you pronounce it Ore-gun. Not Ore-gone. I think most Midwesterners do say Ore-gone. The most popular game in grade school besides Chinese jump rope was Oregon Trail. Using the space bar and arrow keys to hunt for food was amusing and challenging.

Out here the trees are bigger. Well, that was the first comment my mother made when we arrived here from our 30+ hour road trip from Wisconsin. Oregon is a lot like Wisconsin. It has dairy farms, vineyards, corn, rivers, nice people and cheese. And of course lots of Christmas trees and they are a lot cheaper than in the Midwest!

Snow stops everything. When it snows here everything shuts down. People have studded tires on their cars, and there are a limited number of snow plows and salt/dirt trucks. In the Midwest everyone jumps on their tractors to clear the roads so you can make it into work. Brings back the time when I moved back from California to Wisconsin. My Dad and I had driven cross country without an incident (Well an unexpected ice storm in Texas didn't stop us for too long. We had some excellent Mexican food in Amarillo, a quick nap and continued on our way.). It was a long trip, and we finally made it to the driveway. Home sweet home until I slid my Xterra and U-Haul into the ditch. It was 4 AM. We woke Grandma and Grandpa up because my Dad had to fire up the tractor to pull out the Xterra and U-Haul. Hey it was just my way of letting everyone know I was home.

Oregon is known for award winning wines and micro brews. Just another perk of living here. Not to forget the wonderful farm to fork restaurants in Portland, Dundee, McMinnville and Eugene to name a few.

When I changed my drivers license and license plates from Wisconsin to Oregon, I ended up with a license plate that read 353 EUG. Get it? I live in Eugene. How cool is that? I couldn't have asked for a better license plate.

There is still a lot of Oregon I hope to explore: Crater Lake, Southern Oregon wineries, the rest of the Brew-ha guide, crabbing on the coast. Oregon, you have been a great place to live thus far. Sorry suitcase, you will have to deal with the Oregon terrain for the time being. 

Reposted: Don't be scared of a little wine tasting by: Liz MacGahan

To view the article on Discover Yamhill Valley website click below:
Don't be scared of a little wine tasting

Don't be scared of a little wine tasting
By LIZ MACGAHAN
For Discover Yamhill Valley

Go ahead … spit it out!

No really. Wine tasting novices may find this advice suspect, since polite people are told not to spit in public. Then, suddenly, a situation arises in which it’s expected. Uncomfortable, isn’t it?

But spittoons and dump buckets are part of the tasting room experience.

New to wine? Tasting rooms are a great place to learn. It’s a welcoming experience, it’s fun and ever so delicious. Never been? Chances are, you aren’t the only newbie there. The people who pour in Yamhill Valley are here to help you get comfortable.

Allan Carter of Domaine Serene wants you to ask tons of questions. In fact, the Domaine Serene tasting room is set up to encourage this, with a smattering of tables instead of a single bar, giving tasters better access to the pourers. Those people are there to tell you about the wine, so ask away.

Becky Rochester of Willamette Valley Vineyards offers an important piece of advice: “Be adventurous.” The purpose of a tasting room is to have “your perception of wine educated.” Try everything that’s on offer, she says. For example, don’t turn down a flight of Rieslings because you expect them to be sweet; not all of them are.

But if what you’re offered isn’t something you’re dying to drink a lot of, dump it out. She won’t mind. Neither will Linda Lenyo of Twelve.

“We’re really, truly not offended by people using the dump and spit buckets,” Lenyo says. “We respect that everyone’s tastes are unique.” She would rather you walk out of her tasting room on Third Street in McMinnville thinking, “that was fun but not for me,” than leave feeling uncomfortable.

Maria Stuart of R. Stuart and Co. Wine Bar echoes the pro-dumping-out-wine sentiment. “It is definitely, completely appropriate. Wine professionals spit when they taste,” she says.

Sometimes those tasting room pours can look a little generous. Wasteful though it may seem, leave your glass on the bar and let ’em pour. You can dump it out later if you can’t finish. As Stuart explains, “you need to get enough wine in the glass to get the sensory experience. Take a moment, enjoy it, and pour the rest out” if you need to. It takes between one and two ounces in the glass to give a taster a fair idea of what the grape has to offer.

Comfortable with the idea of dumping out wine? Ready to find out what the 2008 and 2009 wines are like? Good. Let’s move on. Yamhill Valley wine professionals generously shared their tasting room advice at right.

Do
• Do realize the person pouring may know a lot about that wine. People are often “pleasantly surprised by the fact that they’re talking to people who are intimately connected to the wine they’re pouring,” Lenyo says.
• Do call ahead, particularly if you’re bringing a large group.
• Do buy a bottle if the tasting is free. Don’t be shy to pick the cheapest one. Spring for about $15. If you’re in a group, it’s a real bargain. If you were paying for a tasting, you’d be expected to shell out $5-20 a head.
• Do bring a notepad and pen. Most wineries will give you a tasting list and something to write with, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
• Do have a designated driver – because you’ll likely be offered 4-6 wines to sample.
• Do skip the lipstick. It’s really hard to clean from the rim of the glass. Plus, you look so pretty without it.
• Do ask questions. As Maria Stuart says, “if you know nothing about wine, you should feel comfortable asking questions.” Allan Carter echoes the sentiment: “The person pouring isn’t doing it for the money. They’re doing it because they love wine and love to talk about it.”

Don't
• Don’t wear perfume, cologne or any strong fragrances. Other tasters may be sensitive to smells and it could kill their experience.
• Don’t bring along coffee. You just won’t get the full flavor of the wine.
• Don’t chew gum.
• Don’t smoke. Sure, sure – we’re worried about your health. But, really, it’s about your tastebuds.
• Don’t be offended if you’re asked to show ID.
• Don’t pull away a glass to prevent a pour, or pop your glass upward to stop a pour in progress. It’s really hard to pour wine into a moving target. And that’s such a nice shirt. Let’s not ruin it.

Give Thanks

Give thanks each and every day. Eat fabulous meals, drink expensive wines and be thankful for all that you have. One thing I miss most about traveling with my two suitcases and working the most strenuous job ever is that I was able to live with less and appreciate more. I literally made around $5 US dollars per hour, worked 12 hours a day in the utmost undesirable conditions: lightening, rain, cold, dark, CO2 and still left with a smile on my face. I met some of the coolest people from around the world, learned all about wine and saw some of the most beautiful places in the world!

It seems as though I have been caught up in stuff and truly forgotten what matters most. Journey through life and live each day like it is a holiday. Set your table with your most expensive china, call up an old friend or write a letter just because it is Tuesday, wear your new shirt, but most importantly give thanks each day.

Monday, Monday

Monday 9:50 AM PST (I-Phone ringing): Hi Mom. Yeah I am working. You did? And? Really? Okay. Well...you seem to be taking this too well. Are you really okay?

Mom: I cannot change anything. Maybe I am in shock.

Monday morning my mother called me to let me know she has breast cancer. My...mother... has...cancer. It kind of numbs you. It is too early to really know what is exactly going on or what will need to happen. My mother is a firecracker just like me.

Up to this point, I know I have lived my life to the fullest. Whatever I do, I do with passion. This week I take back control of my life and what I want to do. That is the firecracker in me.

Snow day

Yesterday I decided that I am a fair weather commuter. Pouring rain, big trucks and zero visibility = NO FUN! Then this morning I woke up and there was snow and ice on the ground. Sorry Wisconsin, I definitely don't miss the snow. Yes. I know I have a bumper sticker on the back of my two wheel drive Nissan Xterra that says "I love snow", but that is really just me being sarcastic.

This morning I got ready for work, jumped in my car and started on my way to work. Let's just say I would have been better off throwing on my hockey skates and skating to work. About a half a mile down the road my car slid through a stop and decided to do a mini doughnut. I took that as a clear sign that I should just stay home.

I find it funny that when it snows here, people go outside and take pictures. In Wisconsin, we go outside and shovel.

Stay warm and safe.

Becky Rochester

Watch out...here I come

Somedays I wish I could just pack my suitcase and head off on another adventure around the world. What is stopping me? Lots of things...but the thing is this--you never know where life may take you. I mean I never imagined that one day I would live in Oregon, and here I am.

I have always been an adventurous person. Growing up I was not afraid of the outdoors or of getting dirty. I found myself rolling down hills inside a rubber garbage can (for fun), repelling out of my second story window of my house on a homemade rope made entirely of belts (my mother finally caught on when she saw us coming in the house but never going out), riding dirt bikes on the farm--and sometimes on the roads when we weren't supposed to, taking off to Germany between my freshman and sophomore year of college on a summer study abroad all by myself, with only one semester of German, two HUGE suitcases and a German phrase book, and the list goes on and on.

Lately life feels so routine; something I promised myself I would never let happen. So what am I going to do about it? Time to shake it up a bit. Adventures...here I come.

Mining wine diamonds

What do you get when you combine a 2005 Brandborg Syrah with a Venturi? The perfect tool to mine wine diamonds. After uncorking the Brandborg Syrah, I started to jump up and down and scream. I found wine diamonds. Let's just say I gave Brent a good laugh.

What are wine diamonds? Scientifically speaking potassium bitartrate or in baking terms cream of tartar. But to me, wine diamonds are an amazing thing to discover inside a bottle of wine.

How do they form? Wine diamonds sometimes form if a wine is not cold stabilized. Cold stabilization is when a wine is chilled so that potassium bitartrates form and drop to the bottom. When the wine is racked, these wine diamonds are left at the bottom of the tank. Cold stabilization has its disadvantages as it can also take away structure and flavor in the wine.

Wine bling. It's the new thing. Diamonds are a girls best friend.

Never drink and eBay!

As some of you may know I love cowboy boots. About a month ago I was bored and started to search on eBay for cowboy boots. It had been years since I shopped on eBay. In fact, the last item I bought was a San Jose Sharks jacket when I lived in California. So I decided to bid on a few pairs of boots just for fun. I mean who loves a good deal. I set my bids low and crossed my fingers that no one else on cyber space would outbid me. There were a few pairs of boots that I really, really wanted. Over the next few days I just patiently waited for emails letting me know whether or not I had been outbid or if I had won a sweet pair of boots.

So I admit that during my eBay search I had enjoyed a few glasses of wine. Back to the story...In just one hours time I had bid on over 10 pairs of cowboy boots. One week later I received via email notification that I had won two pairs of boots and one of them I would receive by November 5th.This morning on our elevator ride down to the mailbox, I told Brent that I was expecting a package. I opened the mailbox and inside was a tiny white box. It was addressed to Becky Rochester and was from the eBay merchant. There must be some mistake I told Brent. There was no way a pair of size 8 women's cowboy boots could fit in this box! Maybe they were boot slippers?

I opened up the box and inside was (see below). I somehow missed the ruler on the left, the title of the eBay post ONE (1) ~AMERICAN COWBOY COLLECTION~ ~COWBOY BOOT~ NEW!, and the price being $3.32+shipping. Duh! Now I have myself a sweet little boot (singular) decoration and a good laugh.




Standing just 3 inches tall, this boot is not made for walking.

  














Boot smaller than a wine bottle. Don't drink and eBay!

 

This is the package I received in the mail.
Smaller than the Oregon Wine Press.
I knew something was wrong.



An adventure at Waldo Lake in pictures

 

The Beginning: Waldo Lake. Ride began at 11:45 AM. Supposed to be an intermediate ride with a few experienced parts.



Where's Waldo? Checking out the loop around Waldo Lake. Having fun.

Brent's Before Picture

Becky Before Picture

Luke and Giles Before Picture

Breathtaking View of the Forest

The coolest part of the ride

Two hours into the ride. The guys trying to figure out where we are and how long we have left. I made them take a picture in case we got lost.

See this map? It seems we got off the main trail and onto the wilderness trail. Darkness creeping in and finally arrive back at the car at 6:00 PM.

Giles After: Took a spill.

Luke After: Stitches but he still had fun.



Brent After: Kinda smiling with a thumbs up



Becky After: Definitely broke my new bike in. What a ride now turn the heat on.



Do I have to or do I get to?

A few weeks ago, someone I know brought up a very interesting point. He was talking about someone he had interviewed and how the candidate had mentioned several times that they had to do things instead of get to do things. It was something that really stuck in my mind.

For example:

Do I have to commute two hours a day or do I get to commute two hours a day?
I get to commute two hours each day because I have a cool, rewarding job at a winery.

Do I have to go for a run or do I get to go for a run?
I get to go for a run because I am healthy enough to do so and it is a great stress reliever.

Do I have to make dinner or do I get to make dinner?
I get to make dinner and enjoy delicious food and conversation with my boyfriend.

You get the point. So the next time you feel like you have to do something, take an extra minute to think about why you get to do it and all the joy that comes with it. It will put things back in perspective.

Capital Press agriculture news...Old grape sparks new interest

Check out this article on the From Vine to Wine project at Willamette Valley Vineyards.

Capital Press agriculture news

"If not now, then when?" philosophy of life

I recently received an inspiring email from a woman named Julia in Boston, Massachusetts. Julia Googled "wine my way around the world" and wouldn't you know that my blog, "I was born with a suitcase in my hand..." appeared at the top of the search list. Don't believe me? Google it. I did. How cool is that? Google I heart you.

Julia is restless for adventures and travel, and her philosophy of "if not now, then when?" is right on. Julia I say go for it. What do you have to lose? Apply for your working holiday visa, board a flight to New Zealand and enjoy. I miss a good Sauvignon Blanc. Maybe you can sneak me a couple bottles back?

This email could not have come at a better time. Instead of thinking about doing something, I am just going to do it because "if not now, then when?" No second thoughts. No regrets. Leap forward and take a chance. Life as you know it will still be here waiting if things don't work out, but most likely you will open up doors that you never knew existed.

Just booing around together

Brent and I met seven months ago today. I am one lucky gal. In this short time we have experienced so much together skiing, the coast, biking in Bend, wine tasting and brewery tours, our trip to California, our trip to the Midwest and moving in together. Brent is an amazing person and I am lucky he took a chance on me.

Taking it one step at a time

Step by step. Day by day. I am counting down the days until I see the specialist in Portland. My health pretty much sucks right now. It has gotten worse over the past three months. Each day provides its own unique challenges both physically and mentally. It is kind of like looking in a mirror, seeing yourself, but not being able to be yourself.

The good news...Yesterday I rented my apartment in Sherwood. The lease only allowed me to sign on roommates and not sublet so my new roommates are a husband, a wife, a six month old baby and a dog. This is a huge relief.

Brent and I are still settling into our Eugene apartment. We still have a few things to unpack and organize, but it finally feels like home. It is just in time for my favorite season of the year...Fall. There is nothing better than the leaves changing colors, harvest beginning and of course fresh hopped beers!

Life is like a roller coaster ride. Sit, back, hang on and enjoy the ride.

Where I come from (Wisconsin)

Brent and I took a trip back to the Midwest. One whole week of vacation. Our adventures started in Des Moines, Iowa to meet his family (the whole extended family showed up) followed by a roadtrip to Wisconsin to see my family and then back to Des Moines, Iowa to end our trip.

The trip to Wisconsin was delightful because where I come from we don't get cell phone service, we ride tractors and gators around, we gift pistols instead of diamonds for 25th wedding anniversaries, relatives live close (grandpa with us and grandma next door) and we end the night with a bottle or two of wine while watching the sunset over the valley.

Yep. My family is something else. For entertainment we passed my mother's camera around the table and took self portraits. See below for a few examples.

Aunt Jen (She started it.)

Grandma Lee



Nikki and Nick

Cool weather takes toll on Oregon vineyards

Autumn Lee

On Sunday, my friend and coworker Autumn Lee was whitewater rafting with her family on the McKenzie River when her raft overturned. She became trapped under a log. She was finally set free and brought to shore by her 2 siblings, where CPR was administered until emergency crews arrived. Autumn, a mother of 6, was transported to the nearest hospital. She is in critical condition and on life support.

Autumn Lee has worked for Willamette Valley Vineyards for 11 years. She is passionate about everything she does. I admire her in so many ways and miss her. We are all praying for her and her family. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

When two become one

Six months ago I met the most wonderful man at Spoon's in Salem, Oregon. Who knew that one simple lunch date would change my life so much.

This weekend we combine two apartments, two pets, two wine collections two lives and two dreams into one. Goodbye Tualatin-Sherwood Road...I will definitely not miss you.

Thank you Bacchus fine wines and Willamette Valley Vineyards for loaning me a sprinter van which I so proudly used to pack all of my belongings in. I kind of viewed it as gorilla marketing campaign.

The future looks good. There are a few bumps in the road that lie ahead, but I think that I am too stubborn to let anything get in my way. All I can say is that seize each and every opportunity that comes your way. Don't save nice jewelry, expensive or special bottles of wine and/or new clothes for a special occasion...each day is a special occasion. Celebrate life.

From Vine to Wine Teaser 2010

Enjoy the view

Mountain biking in Sunriver was a blast! The views were unbelievable. The most amazing part was that I was able to bike for 4 hours on an intermediate trail filled with quite a few obstacles like trees, rocks, branches, chipmunks, other bikers and I didn't even hurt myself. There were a few close calls, but in the end all I ended up with is a sore butt from the bike seat. Not bad. Not bad at all. Brent's newest nickname for me is BABS (Bad Ass BootS). It must be the extreme sportswoman in me.

During my three fantastic days in Bend & Sunriver with Brent, we checked off two more breweries in the Brew-Ha Guide: 10 Barrel Brewing and Cascade Lakes. My new favorite beer is the 10 Barrel Brewing Apocalypse IPA. It is so good...especially after a 4 hour bike ride.

Life has been full of changes. I am moving to Eugene next week. Brent and I are renting a two bedroom place in the building he currently lives in now. Six months of living out of a suitcase from place to place was enough. I know what you are thinking. I should be used to living out of a suitcase, right? Yeah I still am, but there comes a time and a place when you just wish you had everything in one location.

I learned a lot this weekend:
1. Surround yourself with people who bring you happiness.
2. Challenge yourself to do things you think are impossible.
3. Remember to take time for yourself.
4. It is okay to be lazy once in awhile. Yes. Naps in the middle of the day are alright.

Pictured: View from bike trail looking over Deschutes River and the lava rock you can see Three Sisters snow capped mountains.

R Little Vineyard 2010 harvest

Established in 2006, R Little Vineyard is located in Stoddard, WI. The Rochester family specializes in growing cold climate varietals.

Harvest is right around the corner at R Little Vineyard in Stoddard, Wisconsin. That is right! We grow grapes in Wisconsin. The first vineyard was planted in 2005. And no, I did not get into the wine industry because my family has a vineyard and makes wine. My parents actually got into planting a vineyard and making wine because of me.

All of the grapes we grow are sold to two different Wisconsin wineries. Right now the grapes are hitting between 12-17 degrees Brix. Most of the varieties in the vineyard are targeted to be picked between 16-24 degrees Brix. The bird netting is on and now we just wait. Wisconsin is looking at a record season of rainfall and extreme hot temperatures. This can provide quite the challenge. These last few weeks are important and we can lose the entire crop to one storm.

My family plans to open up R Little Winery in 2012 or whenever my dad retires. I must say that he is making some pretty remarkable cold climate wines already. I am so proud of my parents for what they have accomplished and that they join me in my passion for the wine industry.

Check out R Little Vineyard website (still under contstruction) at http://www.rlittlevineyard.com/.

Cheers.

Boots

Remember that you know yourself best

Thank you Dr. L. Marcela Serrano. You have changed my life for the better. Three states, 10+ years and so many doctors I have lost count later, you finally figured it out. I have been diagnosed with Central Hypothyroidism, and I am happy. I am happy that I finally have an answer to why I have felt so sick for the past 10+ years. I am happy that over the next few weeks I will begin to feel normal again.

What is so astonishing is that most pituitary tumors are noncancerous (benign). Up to 20% of people have pituitary tumors. However, many of these tumors do not cause symptoms and are never diagnosed during the person's lifetime. The pituitary gland is a pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. The pituitary helps control the release of hormones from other endocrine glands, such as the thyroid and adrenal glands.

I knew that something was wrong with me, but the doctors could not figure it out. I spent thousands of dollars on different tests and nothing. I just accepted that this is how everyone else feels, but I knew deep down that something was wrong. Today I feel relief. Relief that I have an answer. Relief that I am going to start feeling better again soon. I also feel anger. I am angry that no one picked up on this sooner. To know that I had to undergo so many pointless tests over the years and not have any answers. Today is the beginning of a better life. I have a few more appointments and tests to undergo, but I know this is all treatable.

Tomorrow I start my journey of a better life. And yes, this is still my best year yet. I have met a wonderful man, have a challenging and rewarding career in the wine industry and I am living in a state that is full of adventure and beauty. Remember that you know yourself best. Don't give up when you know something isn't right.

Oh yeah...I am moving to Eugene!