New Year's Eve - New Year's Day
Well that was left some time to soak wasn't it.
For New Year's Eve, I actually did something thing year. Which was novel, since usually I acquiesce to simply sitting in front of the TV watching the world spin around. It was sad, when none of my girlfriends were interested in slumber parties anymore; and disappointing to find my likewise lack of enthusiasm for collegiate parties soaked in booze and strangers.
So I was more than happy to accept the invitation of a friend of mine to go to a New Year's Ball in Berkley - - and I mean, it really is a ball. It was all ballroom dancing, with a particular emphasis on waltzing. I have learned most ball room dances at least once, and forgotten them all at least once, as well; I've learned to swing, and forgotten how to swing, an impressive three times - granted, I learned three different types of swing. However, since I don't have too shabby a sense of rhythm and, I can move pretty fast, I was able to fake it for about half the dances. A swing I did with a new friend, whom I met through my invite, was probably the most fun. The ones I couldn't fake - such as the elaborate and elegant Congress of Vienna dance, which is basically choreographed - were beautiful to watch; I tried to put myself right back into the place and times where people were originally dancing them.
This wasn’t incredibly hard, considering how everyone was dressed up. Styles ranged from modern and Promish to full on petticoats from the 18th century to one elaborate and gorgeous dress with the cut of the 19th century but the material of the 20th (black shiny leather). Many men had on the 19th century suit type, whilst I did indeed find one with the full on 18th century getup, knee britches and all. In any case everyone looked beautiful. I myself went for a 50esque look, and all the females were very impressed with how my shoes matched my dress. In fact, I got a lot of compliments on my shoes, and good thing too, since my feet were in extreme pain by the end of the evening.
I drove home early afternoon today to the accompaniment of very high winds and flood waters. So ok, I didn’t have to actually drive through flood waters, but nearly, dude. The bridge between Davis and Sacramento was absolutely terrifying. Not only were the winds incredibly high, but the water was only about 3-5 feet away from the edge of the road, and swirling and storming at that, as well as having a thing layer being gusted across the freeway. At one stretch, there wasn’t even a guardrail. So yeah, I was looking at that water and thinking rightfully that if I got tossed in, I would die. So for the whole 5 minutes, I was more or less praying to Jesus, out loud. Scariest thing I’ve ever been through in a car.
But somehow I made it home, despite winds remaining strong right up until Roseville. Besides being a bit homesick, I was eager to make it because I knew my Godparents (Jim and his wife, Becca) had arranged for a special home wine tasting session. Sure enough, with the combined powers of my parent’s purchases and their purchases and wine they had hanging around the house, we had a pretty nice selection for blind tasting. We blind tasted four different types of Chardonnay; a Kistler, Two Buck Chuck, an Australian wine, and a wine they had picked up at a local place that day, where the pervert sex fiend owner apparently had fun sharing his sexual exploits with my God parents. They were glad I wasn’t there.
The activity was enhanced even more when our wine making neighbor came over to drop off some of his Syrah. He doesn’t sell anymore, but, for fun still makes some stuff. Grapes are hard to get rid of you know. So we had him try them all blind as well and what do you know, he liked the Two Buck Chuck the best. It actually usually does surprisingly well in blind tastings, believe it or not. The wine from the pervert winery was messed up; oh, he claimed he bottled it early on purpose, hence the oddity of bubbling Chardonnay; but we knew better. However, that didn’t stop some people from enjoying the taste anyway. But I thought it was rancid. It smelled and tasted like mushrooms. I like mushrooms well enough to eat, but I don’t want to drink them, thank you very much.
As for the Chardonnay, I liked the Australian wine the best, Lindeman’s. Becca also had a Zinfandel, but, I’m afraid red wines don’t quite do it for me. I want them to, since I’m fond of variety, but so far they all have that one basic taste which I’m not particularly fond of. And out of all the whites we tried, I liked the cheap, basic Two Buck Chuck Sauvignon Blanc the best; I’ve liked every Sauvignon Blanc I’ve tried so far, although admittedly that isn’t much. So I’m definitely leaning towards sweet, fruity and flowery wines in preference as opposed to earthy wines; Becca and Mom liked the mushroom smoothie, which I thought was pretty disgusting.
For New Year's Eve, I actually did something thing year. Which was novel, since usually I acquiesce to simply sitting in front of the TV watching the world spin around. It was sad, when none of my girlfriends were interested in slumber parties anymore; and disappointing to find my likewise lack of enthusiasm for collegiate parties soaked in booze and strangers.
So I was more than happy to accept the invitation of a friend of mine to go to a New Year's Ball in Berkley - - and I mean, it really is a ball. It was all ballroom dancing, with a particular emphasis on waltzing. I have learned most ball room dances at least once, and forgotten them all at least once, as well; I've learned to swing, and forgotten how to swing, an impressive three times - granted, I learned three different types of swing. However, since I don't have too shabby a sense of rhythm and, I can move pretty fast, I was able to fake it for about half the dances. A swing I did with a new friend, whom I met through my invite, was probably the most fun. The ones I couldn't fake - such as the elaborate and elegant Congress of Vienna dance, which is basically choreographed - were beautiful to watch; I tried to put myself right back into the place and times where people were originally dancing them.This wasn’t incredibly hard, considering how everyone was dressed up. Styles ranged from modern and Promish to full on petticoats from the 18th century to one elaborate and gorgeous dress with the cut of the 19th century but the material of the 20th (black shiny leather). Many men had on the 19th century suit type, whilst I did indeed find one with the full on 18th century getup, knee britches and all. In any case everyone looked beautiful. I myself went for a 50esque look, and all the females were very impressed with how my shoes matched my dress. In fact, I got a lot of compliments on my shoes, and good thing too, since my feet were in extreme pain by the end of the evening.
I drove home early afternoon today to the accompaniment of very high winds and flood waters. So ok, I didn’t have to actually drive through flood waters, but nearly, dude. The bridge between Davis and Sacramento was absolutely terrifying. Not only were the winds incredibly high, but the water was only about 3-5 feet away from the edge of the road, and swirling and storming at that, as well as having a thing layer being gusted across the freeway. At one stretch, there wasn’t even a guardrail. So yeah, I was looking at that water and thinking rightfully that if I got tossed in, I would die. So for the whole 5 minutes, I was more or less praying to Jesus, out loud. Scariest thing I’ve ever been through in a car.
But somehow I made it home, despite winds remaining strong right up until Roseville. Besides being a bit homesick, I was eager to make it because I knew my Godparents (Jim and his wife, Becca) had arranged for a special home wine tasting session. Sure enough, with the combined powers of my parent’s purchases and their purchases and wine they had hanging around the house, we had a pretty nice selection for blind tasting. We blind tasted four different types of Chardonnay; a Kistler, Two Buck Chuck, an Australian wine, and a wine they had picked up at a local place that day, where the pervert sex fiend owner apparently had fun sharing his sexual exploits with my God parents. They were glad I wasn’t there.
The activity was enhanced even more when our wine making neighbor came over to drop off some of his Syrah. He doesn’t sell anymore, but, for fun still makes some stuff. Grapes are hard to get rid of you know. So we had him try them all blind as well and what do you know, he liked the Two Buck Chuck the best. It actually usually does surprisingly well in blind tastings, believe it or not. The wine from the pervert winery was messed up; oh, he claimed he bottled it early on purpose, hence the oddity of bubbling Chardonnay; but we knew better. However, that didn’t stop some people from enjoying the taste anyway. But I thought it was rancid. It smelled and tasted like mushrooms. I like mushrooms well enough to eat, but I don’t want to drink them, thank you very much.
As for the Chardonnay, I liked the Australian wine the best, Lindeman’s. Becca also had a Zinfandel, but, I’m afraid red wines don’t quite do it for me. I want them to, since I’m fond of variety, but so far they all have that one basic taste which I’m not particularly fond of. And out of all the whites we tried, I liked the cheap, basic Two Buck Chuck Sauvignon Blanc the best; I’ve liked every Sauvignon Blanc I’ve tried so far, although admittedly that isn’t much. So I’m definitely leaning towards sweet, fruity and flowery wines in preference as opposed to earthy wines; Becca and Mom liked the mushroom smoothie, which I thought was pretty disgusting.
[[Jim is seated in the back, with Becca in blue and my Mom in red, and our neighbor is surveying our Chardonnays on the couch. Up front there on the table is my dog purse, which is totally rad.]]
But it was a lovely evening, really, and we are all going wine tasting for real tomorrow as well. One of the best things about tonight was getting to try the same wine in different cups; a shallow champagne glass, my new, nice glasses I got for Christmas, and Becca’s pair of huge, even more expensive ones. My mother was flat out amazed how much it really did change the smell and taste; she was skeptical going in, and was admittedly converted. I’ve decided that smelling wine is at least 50% of the fun, and am ever so happy with my new glasses. That and swirling is so much fun. It’s fun isn’t it? Whoo wee swirl swirl swirly….
posted by TeaRoseFury at 1:56 AM
1 Comments:
Actually, I faked the Congress of Vienna pretty well at last year's ball, with the help of an acquiescing lady. According to Woodley, they actually teach the choreography of the dance before the ball starts; if you and I go again next year, let's get there fashionably early instead of fashionably late, ok? :)
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