Banner image from Sonomamag.com
Guess who got [DFO] promoted to offseason Sunday nights? Well if you don’t like it, you can skip this and yammer away if you wish, this is the space for it.
Welcome to Sunday nights with Litre. If you like wine, weed, travel, and especially dumb travel stories then you have come to the right place. Imma going to try for 2 minutes to take your mind off of what is going to happen tomorrow. We may also learn wine stuff so that’s cool.
Dumb travel story time!
I ran across a bridge in central Europe naked (twice). Reason apart from me being an ass is that I had 4 other drunk backpackers convinced it was a tradition that backpackers have done for years. After we did it I told the guys and gals that I made it up and no one was mad, we just laughed and laughed. The bridge below is where we did it now name that town! It is way longer than it looks when running naked at 2 am. The next night they tried to hook other backpackers on this story and it worked so I had to do it again.
So, due to being inside for 2 years + I’ve noticed that I really miss social interaction so I set out to fix this by getting a part time job at a restaurant with my best friend.
For DFOers from 5 yrs ago you know I used to bartend a couple nights a week and regale you with cougar stories while I had a dart out back. These last two years due to the pandemic I’ve worked at home and I fucking love it. It will not change as recently negotiated with my boss in Ottawa that there is no need for me to be in an office. If I have to go to a site, I will. (I smoke weed while I work, which makes it tolerable). I hate my regular job but it pays well and I get great benefits so I’m stuck til 50 but we will get into this later this offseason.
Song break.
My best friend was the manager at my old haunt and got a job at an Italian spot that we call a “Unicorn” in the biz for ridiculous tips. Since September she has said they may need part time help for servers and had definitely piqued my interest due to my lack of being social. I now have a job there after nerding out on their wine list for months and nailing an interview that really wasn’t one due to my experience. Do I need more work? No. Are we doing ok? Yes. However I describe tips as drug dealer money and this place has it.
Gotta bust this up because my next point bothers me and if you have gone this far, listen to this tune and continue. (London vibes)
I love/loved being a f and b server since I was 18 and the social acceptability of that in North America really bothers me. Servers are treated like trash by clients and their employers alike. In 2008 I was in Cesky Krumlov and my “older brother” and I took this dude out who was our server out for beers once his shift was done (He was 60, no kink). We also did this in Slovenia to our server in Ljubljana. We wanted to know why the stigma of serving was the way it differed in North America to there and how happy they were being over 50 and doing it every day. Keep in mind tips are rare in Eastern Europe.
One answer to why they do it. Talking to people.
I miss that.
The new restaurant has been in town since the 70’s. It started out as a market and then expanded to a restaurant, market, and pizza place out the back. You are NOT allowed to consume pizza in the restaurant as it is purely for eating what is on the menu. Everything they do is Italian, fly specific Italian fare from there, only Italian bar (no vodka, coke, etc) and 100% Italian wine list.
So here we are. When I got my somm papers 20 years ago I fully skirted Italy. This risk has now bit me in the ass. Seriously, I passed with merit (while smoking cigs, and weed) and everything you see on those somm movies is fucking true. Once I passed I had thought that I’d gotten away with one. Twenty years later it has bit me in the ass.
Wine time! Guess who is going through this with me???? You.
Basics. OK. In Italy there is 4 classifications (levels) that kinda mirror France’s but we have gotten in to that years ago here. These cigarette smokers are tight as fuck with their regulations which is a good thing. So, you have in order of kick ass DOCG, DOC, IGT, VdT. Now in normal circumstance these abbreviations you will see around the neck of the bottle of your wine. The level of kickass is NOT 100% as the IGT denomination may have less prestige but it also has less rules for what you grow and where.
DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) – Kick ass. You could almost pinpoint the rows of the vineyard where these grapes were grown. There are 77 DOCG wines and most of them are in Tuscany, Piedmonte, and the Veneto. (Barolo, Barbaresco, Amarone della Valpolicalla, and Soave Superiore etc)
DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) – We know the neighborhood where they were grown. There are 329 different DOC’s each one having their own rules about what you can grow, how much and where.
IGT (Indicazione Geographica Tipica) – Could be table wine or the most unreal wine you have ever had. (No rules) This allows foreign grapes to be added to Italian varietals like Merlot and Cab to Sangiovese to smooth it out. Usually lower quality than DOC however some big houses ain’t want no rules and sell their stuff under this denomination.
VdT (Vino da Tavola) – Table wine. Cheap and rarely exported.
This is my 1st Sunday column, we will get deeper next week. Super Tuscans!
Sports tonight? Sure!
SecsiMexi Futbol
Blue Cruise hosts Santos of the Lagoon. 7pm DFO
Colombia – Primera A Apertura (For teh degenerate gamblers)
Bucamaramanga v National Athletics
Cali Americans v Once Caldas
There is MLS but whatevs.
MLB
Meetings and arguing!
NBA
Donald Sterlings vs Hakeem Olajuwons
Bad Boys v Muggsy Bogues’
Tall Euro White guys v Steph Curry’s
Colorado Weeds v Oregon Wines
Pelicans?!? v Lebron Jameses.
NHL
Vancouver v Rangers
Other New York v Gordon Bombay and co.
Kraken vs Sharks in the sea battle we have all been waiting for.
Have a good night!
Yeah…I’m gonna enjoy reading these. Booze and travel stories? yes please!
Way to sell the “tradition” by getting nekkid yo’self! 🏅
Somewhere, there’s a guy telling his internet friends the story of how they got this drunk Canadian to lead a naked bridge run, and then convinced him they needed him to do it again the next night “to fool some other folks.”
In the meantime, I’m still slowly working through this non-italian Malbec.
Had some beer and cider in between.
I’m drinking a California merlot, but the winery has an Italian name, so that ought to count.
I’m thinking it’s a cigar night. A little chilly on the patio, but alcohol and a good sweater should help.
It’s a vape night here on the couch. Sadly, I finished my wine last night. It was more important to hit the weed store, not sure what time they close on a Sunday. Priorities!
It won’t last (CA is a little behind on its updates) but on paper TX is within 12 souls of taking the COVID cup:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
That’ll be tough for them, though, because Texans don’t have souls.
This classic rock station is playing Donnie Iris. Yinzer music!
This post inspired me. In fact it should be its own post.
Things that elder me wish he could have told younger me.
In this case it would have been getting into and enjoying wine before you’re 50.
And as odd as this may sound coming from me be fearless with food. There’s nothing to be afraid of with food.
I didn’t try sushi or Thai food until I was in my 40’s and it was such a revelation that part of me wants to smack myself upside the head but the other part said at least I’ve corrected that.
What would you tell your younger self?
I certainly regret all those years I didn’t play Football Manager
Regrets. I have a few.
But then again, too few to mention?
Do not get married (1st time) because you think it is what you are supposed to do.
This is a tricky one because I would have been much better off for retirement but I wouldn’t have gotten Eldest and youngest right out of that reality and they are priceless.
Accept current reality on that regard.
I’m trying to pass on those lessons to my nieces and my lady friend’s son. A basic one is that it’s ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and don’t repeat them.
Related: Apologize when you’re wrong.
LIKE A LADY!
Depends on the age of my younger self. The common denominator would be “Here’s the couple of things you got right and here’s the metric shit-ton you got wrong.”
Be nicer to people. There’s very little to gain in being a dick to people, and a great deal to be gained in being nice to people.
I would say one thing I would tell my former self is that it’s ok to date without falling in love right away.
Buy Apple stock, as much as you can. When it dips buy more.
Whoa
Mavs only down by 4 now
This game is Rockingggg
Now it’s a 1 pt game
Yea Dubs have let Mavs back into this game
Hey Litre,
I’m a long time lurker and very rare kommentor-I get to YYC on the semi-reg. Would you mind passing the name of this joint on? Not for stalking or such, I’m much to lazy for that.
Thanks.
Mercato in Mission.
Many thanks. I searched around the ‘nets and narrowed it down just as you answered. Looks like a step up from Buon Giorno.
Buon Giorno is super Old School, their waiters are older than time. I had feared it went under through the Rona but it keeps on ticking.
What makes you think he would object to you stalking him?
Quick! Someone lock the Lurker Cave Door before we lose this one!
Braveheart is on, which compared to the GOP’s interpretation of history, is only slightly off in comparison. And this is a movie that implies William Wallace may be the father of King Edward III, even though he died approximately six years before he conceived the child with the then 9-year old future Queen consort.
I bought some blinds for the bedroom today. There are brackets already, so I figured plug and play, right? Wrong. Why in the fuckety fuck would you go off the reservation and design weird new brackets for cheap miniblinds? Who thought that was necessary? Evil Chucklefucks, that’s who.
Nicely written. If I’m back in your neck of the woods again I’ll stop by for an Italian red or three.
Always welcome!
Bel-Air Adds A Dangerous Twist To Uncle Phil & Geoffrey (screenrant.com)
I was going to give “Bel-Air” a chance, but not after this.
If you want a fun show with black leads, you should watch Grand Crew. It’s on NBC with free repeats on Peacock. I’ve been greatly enjoying it.
SPOILERS
I’ll check it out. I’m just upset because of what they did to Uncle Phil. He’s supposed to be an example that a black man can make himself a success without resorting to crime and without sacrificing/downplaying what makes him a proud black man. If anything, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air probably helped me overcome any passive racist tendencies I may have picked up from family and/or society.
The remake went the opposite direction.
Seriously, where are the good role models? I guess the only one left is Bill Cosby…uh, never mind!
Hey! He was declared innocent because supposedly a deal supersedes justice for some odd reason that doesn’t make any sense!
I thought it was because he’s blind and he mumbles for real like Mushmouth.
Not only is Grand Crew pretty good, but it’s also set in a neighborhood right next door to me.
I’m halfway expecting you to show up as the Token White Friend.
A friend of mine was looking for white extras for his production and I volunteered myself as “ten white people at once”.
Dubs look to be walking away from Dallas Mavs
That’s Rockingggg!
https://twitter.com/defend_nz/status/1497164761326579714?s=20&t=NU6Pnq4FtkGJLoiBPD8GUA
If they get enough foil they won’t be able to post to the internet anymore.
If we can convince these inbred hicks to microwave their heads to insulate themselves from the Government voices getting into their heads, we’d be one giant steps towards recovery as a species.
Pop! Pop! Jiffy Pop!
Great stuff Litre. You’re a very welcome addition to Sundays.
You’ve also inspired me to crack open an Italian wine.
And it’s got a DOC label!
I like a good Italian red now and then. We had a friend who managed a wine bar that was out back of the best Italian restaurant in Birmingham. (Seriously, this was the genuine article, great food.)He always hooked me up with the good stuff. The wine bar served the food from the resto, they just couldn’t serve anything but wine.
Found a funny;
Me: I’ll have a veggie burger.
Restaurant: Perfect, that comes with sprouts & none of the good stuff that’s on our regular burger, this is for no reason. Something pickled, not a regular pickle, like maybe a pickled carrot? On a drier, more disgusting bun, just how you like it.
Remember when we used to pass Xmas wine around to our office mates? I always picked out an organic wine, based solely on liking the bottle and/or it originating in Oregon. Because sulfites give me migraines (even though not for me to consume), and Oregon kicks ass.
The Willamette Valley grows really nice pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon grapes. The whole Western facing slopes near the ocean kind of thing. See France, Argentina, California etc etc etc.
Warriors vs Mavs should be Rocking!
Chelski had ONE JERB today. Hippo displeased.
I saw they took the L
Yea thats not Rocking
Fuck that! Toookel subbed in Kepa to be the shootout specialist. He let in 10 of 10 and then missed to lose! Rocking!
QUALITY MUSINGS!
There may or may not BE a tomorrow, so pat yourselves on the back, fellow procrastinators.
Brave to tell us you was once a fuck and blow server, too.
Speaking of great wines, I just picked up some Yellow Tail Red. Should be a great night!
That’s Rocking!
But a not-so-great tomorrow!
Great job, Litre!
Here’s my guess: the bridge is in Heidelberg, Germany.
WAIT! SCRATCH THAT!
I think I’ve actually been on that bridge! It’s Prague, isn’t it?
Charles Bridge in Prague. Yep. I have visited that city 3 times and have never been anywhere in the vicinity of sober.
LOVE that city! I’ve only been once but it was memorable. I wish I had more time there.
I think this was filmed in the Bone Church in Kutna Hora which is just south of Prague.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKz2U4fvA4U
“CNN Breaking News: Satellite Shows Three-Mile Long Russian Convoy on Road to Kyiv”
Well, here’s an idea: SHARE THE COORDINATES WITH THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY! A couple dozens hits and that convoy is suddenly a three-mile long scrap pile.
Pretty sure NATO has been feeding the Ukranian army all kinds of information. Rest assured they know all about this convoy, and have for quite some time.