Last weekend, I went to Fabbioli Cellars in Lucketts, and then on to Breaux Vineyards for a vertical Merlot tasting and 5 course dinner.  Well, the food was good, and of course the wine was good. But man, the amount of food received in this dinner made mlook at Ryan and say "Are we going to get food after this?"  To which the answer was a resounding "Oh hell yes."

Unfortunately though, I realized on the way to Magnolia’s that I’d lost my phone.   I’ll have a replacement tomorrow, but I’m more irritated at the phone numbers I’ll likely lose/have to find again.  GRRR!

Also, I discovered I can’t exactly drink port the way I drink red wine normally

I’m having a hard time deciding which vineyard is my favorite.  I really like Potomac Point in Stafford and its wines…but it’s a bit commercialized.  Although I really think it has its charms that way too.  But then there’s Fabbioli Cellars and Doug and Colleen.  Their wine is good, and Doug and Colleen are some of the nicest people you could encounter.  They treat us so well every time we are there too.

I’ve been contemplating heading south in March to view the Grapefruit league spring training games in Florida.   Well, next year, the Cleveland Indians will no longer hold their spring training in Florida, but will be with the Cactus league in Arizona. 

This means this is the last year I’ll be able to see the Tribe play down there.  I’m not really sure I would want to go to AZ to watch baseball.  If I go, I’m going to go when I can see my two favorite teams play each other:  Mets at the Indians.  Yes. I have two favorite baseball teams.  Growing up in NE Ohio made me very fond of the Indians.  And I really only started getting into baseball (and other sports) in the mid-90s.  But, my first baseball game ever was a subway series game between Mets at Yankees in 2000.  This game pretty much made me love the Mets.  I’m not sure if it was my massive dislike of the Yankees, or just that I didn’t like the fans in the Bronx, etc.  But I was hooked!  I went to many more games at Shea while living in NY.  Sometimes awesome seats, and sometimes crap seats.  But I didn’t care.  I was at a baseball game, AND I was seeing one of "my" teams play.

A couple of people have remarked at how boring they think this is.  Well, I just don’t think they are really fans of baseball.  Maybe they are a fan of a particular team, but are they truly a fan of baseball?  I guarantee I won’t be bored.  I don’t see how boredom will be possible!

 I’ve already reserved the hotel room and a car.  Oddly enough, I’m spending more money on the car than on the hotel room.  I saw a rental car agency was renting Dodge Chargers for only a little bit more than the full size…so…DUH easy decision. (Many who know me, know there are two cars I seem to drool over: Mustang and Charger.)   I haven’t done flight yet as I’m making sure first that the pup is taken care of.  As soon as I get confirmation on that, the flight will be purchased.

There is part of me that is hesitant to spend the money, and the responsible side of me is saying "NO!!!! pay off <foo>! Don’t spend the money! Save for <bar>!!!!"  But there’s also another part of me that just thinks life is so short and to live for today since who knows what will happen tomorrow.  And hell, I need a vacation…even if it’s just a short one.

So, on Wednesday night, I went with a couple of coworkers to the Washington Capitals/NY Islanders hockey game at the Verizon Center in DC.  They are avid Caps fans, and I am an avid Isles fan.  We paid a bit more to have better seats, and sat in the section right behind the goal.  Man, they were really great seats.

The game went to first sudden death, then to a shoot out.  The Islanders won with their last shoot out player.    It was so good to see one of the hockey teams I like!

It was a really good time though hanging out with John and Steve.  Good people. Good times.  Oh! AND they now sell LIQUOR and WINE at the Verizon Center!  That’s just so freaking awesome!

I must be out of my mind.  I don’t need more to do with my FD, I’m already training officer, and have somehow been sucked into 3 committees.  But a fellow department needs some help with recruitment and retention of new members.  So, I’ve offered to help "shepherd" their new members through the training process like I do my own.

What the hell is wrong with me?   The above says nothing about prepping for a practical exam to finish my EMT-I soon either!