Notes from the margin of an inspired wine diva..

Internet at Home?!!

2006-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

Did you know that technology has advanced such to the point that even those of us lowly Albion residents can receive cable internet? GET OUT! Yes, for mere selling of your soul to Adelphia, you too can join the rest of the world in having internet access without having to travel to Starbucks & buying a $5 latte. Poor Beth & Jaime...you missed out on the technology wave which, by the way, is great! I can't believe how fast the connection is! Now I have no excuse for not returning emails....

This may not be such a good thing after all.

Well, just in case anyone still checks this site despite my delinquency; you won't be disappointed. Here are some more pics of Bailey when he was a pup. I just found them and can hardly believe that he was ever that small...or that innocent. (He's the one with the blue collar) Now that I have a digital camera (thanks, DAD!) I'll work on getting some new pics of us.

Till then,

Kat

Bailey Pics

2005-09-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

I don't have much time for posting what with harvest and the tons of homework I have to catch up on from the wedding....which I'll post about next time. However, here's some pictures of the past to keep me, and you smiling. First, "The Angels" in Kauai last spring...I'm hoping to plan another trip for next March to an exotic location...anyone else in? Second, Roo as the princess that she is. Finally, Minnie and Roo, friends and nap buddies forever!

Love ya,

~k

It's my birthday I can wax if I want to...

2005-09-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hello great abyss. I am happy, relatively speaking to announce that I am officially 26 years old! Do I feel any different, now? Well, not really. Am I wiser? I doubt it. But I can say that I am definately older!

So I finished my first week at Pepper Bridge Winery and man, this job is great, but a real challenge. My first day I burned my butt...no really, I did. I was cleaning our 2,000 gallon tanks in a full rainsuit, and using a very caustic soda solution (ie. super basic) and a small rip in the rainsuit and the unlatching of one of the overall hooks caused my rear to become dowsed with cleaner. I tried to ignore the slight sting and really thought not much of it until I told the Assistant Winemaker who then told the Winemaker and I was instructed to go home, take a shower with a citirc acid solution and then come back when ready. I did as was told and once I covered my deriere in citric acid, the fun began. Can you say neutralizing chemical reaction? So now I have four small burn marks on my butt. And that was only the first day!

My gracefullness continue onward throughout the week with me dropping hoses, turning valves the wrong way, titrating past endpoints numerous times and so many other snafu's that I can hardly believe that I'm still employed. I thought I knew what I was doing...talk about a humble experience. Luckily enough the guys I work with have been very patient and even when I'm struggling climbing the ladders in wet boots to the top of the tanks to connect HEAVY hoses, they let me struggle so that I can learn. Sometimes they have to step out of the room (I must look like an awkward all-thumbed chimp up there) but they put up with it. Needless to say, I'm very fortunte to have such a great chance to learn.

Well, one year ago we were just wrapping up the Kat House Adventure Weekend and I hate to wax philosophically, but what a year it's been. From finding an amazing guy with which to travel, banter, play and cause chaos (all while dating!), to Beth & Jaime moving back to Corvallis (tear...) to moving to Walla Walla and working in vineyards with my new pup, it's been a good year. My only hope is that the next is even better. Filled with more friendship and time to enjoy the simple things in life such as a coffee and a beautiful September afternoon.

Darlene and Greg's wedding is next weekend so I'm sure that I'll have some great stories and hopefully a few laughs to accompany the pics and the purple dress. More to come.

Here's to another year!

The return of Ms. Kitty

2005-08-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

After one month of fighting my computer, I decided to reformat. I think I saved most of my files to a CD, but I am a bit afraid to check and see exactly what was transferred. Ignorance is bliss...

So now with a new computer, I should be able to blog, right? Well, life has been so busy here and it will only increase 2-fold in the upcoming weeks. Right now we're preparing for harvest and plan to start picking the first week of September. Harvest should last for ~2 months, during which time I'll be working 7am to 7pm, 12 hours a day. Gotta love farming, right Beth and Brandon?!

I'm excited to really get into making wine, but I can't imagine being busier that I already am. Darlene and Greg's wedding in the 3rd weekend in September, so I've been busy planning the bridal shower and bachelorette parties, all while trying to help the two of them with wedding stuff. I've decided that who needs a wedding anyway? So much work, maybe I'll just elope...right, Dad?

Last weekend I headed up to Pullman to check on the house and get it ready for the new roommates. Unfortunately, the last two summer roommates (with the last being the most delinquent) left it a bit of a mess. I've learned my lesson...security deposits are a must. I was really angry at first, and am starting to get over it. I guess I just had an unreal expectation of cleanliness...which, by most standards, is really not that strict. Just ask Lety...she saw my room in High School. I must have just lucked out with Beth and Jaime..you guys were great! Oh well...on to the next.

Dan comes back from his 6 week stint in Alaska tommorrow, so we'll finally get to spend some time together this weekend. Eight weeks is a long time to be out of the continental U.S., but he had a good time and learned quite a bit. I mean, c'mon, OBGYN in Ancourage, AK? What next, Pediatrics at Disneyland?

Next week I have a little break as I'll be touring the state's horticultural research centers (read: boring scientistics talking about their pet projects) as it is a requirement for my graduation. You know it'll be rough when it's a requirement to graduate...not an elective.

Well, back to work I go.

Here are some cute pics of Bailey and the vineyard.

Love ya!

I've been hit!!!

2005-07-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

My computer is out of commission for awhile (the comp. guru is busy w/ other stuff), so I have to stay late at work to blog. Don't worry though, the AC is pretty nice as it's 97 outside right now. Yikes. As promised, here are some pictures of the Bailey.....he's so cute! He's also getting quite big and a bit crazy.....

Dad and Lety arrive for the weekend today! I guess that means I'll have to clean up a bit...but they're staying at the Holiday Inn Express..what...my ghetto apt. isn't good 'nuff for y'all? Well, I understand. After all, they ARE getting older. Love ya guys!

Snips and Snails and Virus Details...

2005-06-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well....what do we have here? A puppy and a virus? No...it's not the dreaded PARVOVIRUS....you can breathe, Drs. Luft, Wolf and Ueda....it's a computer virus and a tired puppy.

Today was Bailey's third day at Seven Hills Vineyard and man...is he tired! Although I feel like a proud mamma in all the right ways, I am lacking a digital camera and thus, pics of his endeavors and my own are not available. I plan on "borrowing" the vineyard cam to take a few for the posts. We did soil samples and plant sap analyses today and Bailey did great...traversing 3- 5 acre blocks before I decided it was a bit too hot and too much for him to continue the route. He slept in the office w/ the AC on full blast, while I worked in the hot sun. Talk about a dog day...

Speaking of which, I feel that as a new "mama" I can now relate to how it feels to have a baby..well, at least kinda. Aside from him being overly hairy (though if Dan and I were to reproduce, I don't know how less hairy our own offspring would be...love ya hon =) ) and able to be left in a kennel for up to 4 hours at a time (I'm getting ideas for my own kids "rooms"), he's pretty much the same. Puts everything in his mouth that he can find and will bite at anything (cheap toys like yogurt containers are great....my shoes, not so great), "outputs" constantly, plays hard and sleeps harder (can you sleep through the sound of an air compressor operating?!!), loves to be held and will whine when he needs attention, and is so fast that if I don't hear him for 5 seconds...I know he's into something he shouldn't be. My sleep schedule is finally getting back on track as he can sleep up to 7.5 hours in his kennel if he has been pretty active throughout the day and gone out right before his bedtime. In addition to the modification of my sleeping habits, I have developed some bizarre new neuroses. I caught myself "stopping short" with my arm splayed across Bailey when I had to make a quick stop this pm. I have become excited to the point of hilarity when I see him "do his business" on his own. I organize my work schedule around his play schedule...and so much more. In short, my life is no longer my own and granted, he may just be a puppy, but I think you'd agree, he's the most amazing puppy ever. I can't believe that I love him this much and I've only had him 1.5 weeks.... god...I'm going to be one of those people who lives for their dog. But don't worry folks, the Roo is still first in my "dog heart".

On to more depressing topics; I have a confession. No, I'm not bi, I don't have a secret boyfriend (except for Dan as my Dad still doesn't believe he exists), and I'm not moving to France. Rather, I have a virus. Well, really, my computer has a virus, but it may as well be the same. I have been in denial about this fact for several weeks and tried to blame it's slow progress, random "shut-downs", and lastly, failure to upload Norton Internet Security as just bizarre flukes. However, after going to the Symantec site to try and upload Norton and failing several times only to succeed and find that I have 49...and counting...infected files, has brought me to my senses. Hopefully a simple virus scan and the upload of Norton will work as my life is now intimately attached to this "maquina de abuso", but the results are still pending. Pray for us, my children, for we shall overcome.

That's it for now as my battery is dying rather quickly. Take care all and I love ya!

Going on a Puppy hunt....

2005-06-19T07:38:00.000-07:00

Friends, neighbors, countyrment, lend me your ears! Despite the unexpected delay in blogging (a crazy two weeks it's been), I'm back, if only for a bit, with some very exciting news. The Roo will be getting a baby brother today! We've been on the hunt for a puppy to add to our little family and that can be a good "vine dog" for the vineyard. We've settled on a choosing between three different dogs, all laborador retriever mixes. The first, Jackson, is a lab/border collie mix. The second, Coco, a lab/ American Staffordshire, and the third, Tiger, a brother of Coco and thus, a lab/ American Staffordshire mix as well. All three are in foster homes in Yakima and today is the day that we will be visiting them. I have been pondering adding a little boy to our home for quite a while and have since decided that being in the vineyard all summer will provide the perfect opportunity for training. Being the dog lover I am, a rescue dog would be the only way to go, and with the www.petfinder.org site, it's so easy to find a great dog that needs a home! We'll keep you updated on who comes out to be the best fit, but feel free to comment on the pics. More to come! And by the way, Happy Father's Day!!!

The first and possibly the last post....

2005-06-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

So, approximately 1 year after actually creating my blog, I will make my first post. Let it be known, that the entering of this post is not the result of some amazing self-discovery or need to realize some sort of immortality found by bloggers the web over. Rather, it comes from, sniff..sniff...a bit of loneliness and boredom that has crept up from relocating from one small town to another for an amazing internship and in the process, my little microcosm of safety and friends. But don't cry for me Argentina, for I am as happy as all get out...despite being a bit tired of working 10 hour days and not having found any amazing friends such as I met while in crazy Pullman, Washington, life is good. Thus, in order to keep up with everyone...which all those who know me, find that I tend to lack the tenacity involved in keeping constant communication...I am resolving to blog at least weekly. Corvallis girls, parents, Seattle Dawgs and all those living in Utah (Keri), this blog's for you!
Like some of my other best intentions....how many times have I started a diary, craft project, new year's resolution, etc. and not exactly kept up with my goals....I am starting another. Some may say this move is brash and lacking forethought given my not-so-perfect record of promises, but hey, I think it's worth a shot. I mean, if President Bush can make empty promises of peace without the track record to back it up, why can't I? But let's leave politics out.....for this article at least. Who knows, I may actually keep up with this goal now that I'm in the oh-so-exciting town of Walla Walla where if you want to eat dinner after 8:30 on a Saturday night, well, you better be happy with Mickey D's or Taco Bell.
So here's a quick update on life in Walla Walla. Since I moved here ~3 weeks ago, life has been a whirlwind. I set-up my apartment, except for hanging anything on the walls (anyone got a drill?), and it is pretty darn cute, if I do say so. Dar, Greg, Dan and I painted it the week before I moved in such that the bedroom is a lovely shade of blue, and the living room is "Salmon Suede" with a nice dark brown "Burro"....aka pink and brown. Not the goal mind you, and maybe I should have taken the name of "Salmon Suede" to mean PINK, but hey, in the evil superstore lights it seemed like a warm ivory. Pictures will follow! So as the Danimal refers to it, I have a pink room and a blue room...at least I am following the title 9 rule of equality in paint colors...
My neighborhood is what I would like to refer to as "Working Class Chic"....also known as slightly sketchy yet quaint at the same time. It's 90% immigrated Mexican Americans, and 10% WT...white trash. So my spanish has come in very handy especially when tracking down the escaped Roo at 9pm and surprising neighbors who see this random gringa wearing corduroys and carrying a Timbuk2 bag in the WWGhetto. After chatting with some of my Chicano neighbors, I've made some great friends in the neighborhood and am planning some language "intercambios" to practice our English and Spanish. I've also gone to one first communion party, a birthday, and have a graduation party next week... talk about being embraced by a community! In white America, it would be uncanny to give an invitation to a family member's birthday party the evening that you meet someone, but in the hispanic culture, if you're fast friends you become family.
In order to relate to my other neighbors, Dan suggested I put on a fat suit and walk around with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth as that drops one's status by at least half regardless of how you look. Don't laugh, wait till you visit and you can experience the joy yourself. At least my neighbors are pretty nice and don't smoke...
Work has been great and although I'm still the new girl, I've been given lots to do...so much so that I am never really bored. I work 3 days a week at Seven Hills Vineyard (rated one of the top ten in the world by Wine and Spirits last December), and two days at Les Collines (the new kid on the block...planted in 2000). I am mainly responsible for taking growth measurements, updating spray and fertilization records, and developing vineyard updates biweekly, but as the season progresses, I'll work on irrigation, grape development tracking, etc. I'm finding out that the more I learn about growing grapes and making wine, the less I know...or at least the more confused I get. Can someone please give me the equation for making the perfect wine....something easy and straightforward would be best...yeah...I'll just keep dreaming.
On the school front, last week I attended the WSU foundation meeting (aka...fundraising "get us more money" conference) held in Walla Walla on Friday afternoon. The dean of the College of Agriculture, etc. highlighted the Vit and Enology Program and even spoke a bit about my research to the group. I also got to eat lunch with the CEO of Ste Michelle wine estates, Ted Baseler. Ever heard of Columbia Crest or Chateau Ste. Michelle? His company holds those two labels and about 4 others...job possibilities anyone? Overall, it was a great networking experience, and I'm off to go to Spokane tommorrow for TASTE Washington where I'll do some more smoozing and represent WSU. I'm starting to realize about half of one's success in this business is due to hard work and the other half is from smoozing....something that I need to work on a bit. Don't worry Dad, I'm bringing catalogs with me...Bounty Hunter will soon be well-know by Washington wine lovers if I have anything to say about it!

Alas, alack, I should probably go home now, before it gets too dark. I am writing from Starbucks downtown, to which I walk on a semi-regular...read 4-5x weekly...endeavor so that I can pilfer free internet, and have a chai or hot tea. Sorry Jaime, I still haven't adopted your love of coffee...or is it an obsession? I hope to write more again soon, but don't quote me on that one.

Ciao bellas....
Ms Kitty