Radical Rants by Richard


 

Control Freaks

wouldn't it be great if those control freaks in Washington got burned in the upcoming elections, why do they think that they know best and the ordinary citizen doesn't know how to run his life. When has the government ever established a entitlement program that cost what was projected?  There are certain needs that can only be met by government and that is all they should do. Not run every aspect of our lives or do they wish to make robots out of us. Let your representatives know what you want or they will give us everything they can to control our lives and finances. We get the government that we deserve, so tell them what you want and what you don't want- i am

Waining Light

The sun is slowly setting in the west, I hope, and the day is ending not with a crash and a bang but with a whimper. I have acquired a distributor in the central Florida area and will be there in late January. What do you think of all these doing in DC what would Alex de Tokville (sic) think of Hied and Pelosi.  Well history will give us a verdict and I hope it will be positive but some how I doubt that history will treat them well. I will just have to take care of myself and my own and let the devil take the hindmost. Is there something that I am missing, how can we believe our leaders when they make the type of deals that we read about, like the Nebraska bailout or buying a derelict Prison in Illinois to house the detainees from Guantanamo how convenient that there should be something in Illinois available, where does our great leader come from? I have to tell it like I see it, The Republicans were terrible when they were in majority why do the Democrats have to out do them. Is this a contest in bad governance? Where is the Seimpre Fidelis always faithful ideals. I go on and on and is anybody listening. "You can either make the dust or eat the dust" Make a difference and tell your representatives what you think about all of our national problems. Let your voice be heard Let me know what you think.

Third Day

i hate to feel like a radical doom sayer but it really feels to me like the Democratic Leadership of our country is trying to shift the direction of our political system to a government does it all nanny state. Where is the power of the people to tell the politicians what we want na d not accept what they think is best for us. I t seems as if they will do any underhanded deal that will help them advance their adjenda. The power of our country is in the free enterprise system of a market based system. Let the consumer decide what type of products that they want. I would like the government to build the framework of the system that will give me the opportunity to fail or succeed. Let the chips fall where they will and the strong succeed and the weak fail, don't keep unsuccesful business in the market place just because they are big, we Can adjust and move forward. I am an old guy who has succeeded and failed several times and is struggling with the economy now, but don't do me any favors just give me the chance. Watch the web site Ressurect Ronald Reagan coming soon to your neighborhood theater Let your representatives know how you feel do you like it or not? I am going to crawl back into my cave and hope that this is just a bad dream or something that I ate.

Day After

A day after Christmas and all thorugh the house no a creature was stirring no even a mouse. Well the season of joy and happiness is past for another year, start saving for next Christmas. I bought some perfume for Rebecca and sent some money to my young grandchildren and for the rest Bah Humbug. A young man came in this morning with a tee shirt which read "Smile it pisses people off." We should spread happiness and joy all year around. I thjink that our leaders are making a mistake with the Health care bill and I am writting to my Senators and Congressman frequently to tell them so,are you? This is going to affect our country in a major way let your reps know how you feel. Rebecca is going to Colorado to visit her mother and sister and get away from the crazieness that is going around. Secret to Success "Do the best you can with what you have where you are"

Cheers

Merry Christmas

I wrote a blog a few days ago and there were some errors so it didn't get posted, now it is up. Does anyone notice the difference between where that terrible man George Bush(our former President) and the terrific Barack Obama spent their first Christmas in office and where they are going to live after they abdicate the throne? i wonder is there part of Crawford Texas that we did not see? How quickly a humble man changes when he has new power. Have you noticed how expensive the cloths are that the Obama's wear at their gala White House events. Doesn't it thrill you  inside to live vicariously through our Regal President and know that while you are struggling to make ends meet our President is sharing your pain from on high. Is there a message here for the future? Stay tuned Merry Christmas Richard the Lion Hearted

Twas the week before Christmas

It is a grey foggy monday before Christmas and dampness is everywhere. I am taking a day off today because we are going to be open for Christmas. Last week I was talking to my friend Mary at Villagio in Yountville, she said Thank You for being open for Christmas we need a few Wineries for our clients who are here for the holidays and have nowhere to go. I think the same person who has been signing us up insurance quotes, extra schooling, motorized wheel chairs, and many other internet services decided that it would be a great joke if we were open for Christmas and did not know that until people started to show up on our doorstep. Well I decided what the hell why not be open since there were only a few wineries open and i wasn't going anywhere any way. Jon volunteered to help me out until 3PM so now we are making history and being open on Christmas for the first time in twenty five years.

Merry Christmas

Another day in paradise

Beautiful day to start the Calistoga Passport weekend check it out, we are not participating but it still will be a great opportunity. Stop by anyway. The Christmas port special went up today check it out. Save the Succulence (Port) for a special occasion in front of a roaring wood fire.  I will test my new skills while I am in Florida next week as to a long distance blogger, I know that is real easy for you young whipper snappers but the cyber-space is a challenge for us Great Generation tech ignorant old fogies. I will keep you all posted on my adventure to the other coast. Is it true that there are dragons in Florida? Don't forget that our Semillon goes wonderfully with Turkey.

Blending Seminar

Tomorrow 12/2/09 I am doing a blending Seminar for three guests at 1:30 and i have room for three more guests. Is anybody interested? You get a tutorial on the why' s and the wherefore's accompanied with a snack plate to illustrate how wine flavors change with different foods, then we tour the vineyard for a short show and tell aout trellising and how that affects wine quality and then we go to the cellar where you blend your own wine and take a bottle home with you. It costs $85.00 and takes about two hours. Rebecca is still doing her magic here at the winery in her marvelous manner  She has relinquished the opportunity to go to Florida to promote the winery, and i am going instead.

We are going to offer a Christmas special for the Port And Chocolate in a pretty box for a Christmas gift ti will be up on our web site soon.

Whether to be or not to be -End of Crush

Last June I wrote that I was now back and would be a regular Blogger. Well you know what happened. We have been on a rocky ride here at Graeser staff wise over the summer. First Bruce Harrison left for various reasons and then Jim Derrickson decided that he would rather pursue other avenues for his career. Tony Dodd joined us after many years of absence an event that pleased me greatly since Tony and I bantered with each other and had a fun time in the tasting room. Labor Day morning Tony colapsed with a major heart attack and died. Then Desire decided that she did not wish to work for us anymore and abruptly quit. Through all of this we have added many wonderful programs to add to the experience of Graeser Winery and I thank all of my departed staff for their contribution to our new selection, each one added a great deal to our efforts to enhance the Graeser experience. We are now doing blending seminars in which you learn how and why to blend wine and then you blend your own formula and take a bottle of your wine home with you. We keep the formula and will reproduce it for you on demand. Weather permitting we offer a vineyard hike around the vineyard and a wine and cheese pairing at the top of the hill or a sit down private tasting in our historic dinning room. As part of our regular tasting experience, when we are not slammed, a tour of  our historic 1888 Italian Farm house style Estate House and a tasting out of the barrel in the cellar. Jon Swenson joined us recently and is doing a terrific job in the tasting room and is learning how to take care of our club shippments. Jon also leads tours of our Estate House and does tastings in the cellar. Elizabeth Zima works in the tasting room on Thursdays which may give me an opportunity to get out and visit the Valley. My intention is to Blog at least once a week and more often if possible.

You can make the dust or eat the dust  I will write again soon

Richard

New Tasting Room, New Team

Well, here I am after short hiatus from blogging and I was supposed to bring you this sooner, but what the hell—I'm back now, and a lot of changes have been made since I last talked to you all. Rebecca supervised the remodeling of the tasting room: the bar has been extended from fourteen feet to forty feet; the walls are freshly painted with new colors; the floors are refinished and stained; there is new lighting; and finally, the wall separating the tasting room from the event room has been removed, thus creating a much larger space. But don't take my word for it—come by and see for yourself. Bring your lunch, buy a little wine, spend a little time, and enjoy the unique ambiance created here at Graeser Winery. 
 
Rebecca is still masterminding the entire operation, allowing me to put my foot down and have my way as long as she gives first approval. We recently added three new people to our team: Desiré Espinoza (Director of Sales), Jim Derrickson (Director of Marketing) and Bruce Harrison (Tasting Room Manager). Desiré will apply her considerable experience and skill to increase restaurant sales of our wine as well as help with the tasting room and tours. Jim will draw on his past experience to market the winery itself and increase the number of visitors that come here each day. Bruce will  bring his vast knowledge of wines to our tasting room and give you, our loyal customers, the best wine tasting experience you could imagine. And Rebecca, of course (what would we do without her?) will continue to concentrate on special events and celebrations as well as her regular duties of keeping the winery on track.
 
So, my friends, be sure to keep in touch. And remember: you can either make the dust or eat the dust.

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