Eva's Wine Cellar

you're up mighty late tonight, msEva...

Wine cellars, Rockie, are hopeless when they keep school hours. They are notorious for Dionysian revelry and especially when run by a lady.

The best ones have a chap on the door who screens out the sort of people who have joy from scranning a plate full of chopped up vegetables lathered in salad cream on a patio overlooking the Gulf of Salerno.

I WAS up late, Rocky. Since I teach, I'm off work right now, and the temperatures have been so unbearable that I've slipped into the habit of taking a long nap most afternoons then staying up late.

How's your new sleep schedule working out?

it's a work in progress...

but one upside is that I see the garden every dawn. it is beautiful when all the flowers start to open for the day, and everything is still dripping with life...

the cats are not big fans. they aren't sure when to beg now.

Yeah, my girl cat is used to a treat before I go to bed at night, and she's very vocal about having to wait longer!

On the other hand, she and the dog are loving the midday naps.

This is the steamiest, movin' an' shakin' wine cellar I have ever stumbled into.

Oh Eva, I would come up to SF just to see you (well, and George again too!)
but we're leaving for Europe in 3 weeks. I wish the timing would be better, darn it! You'll enjoy George tremendously though, I can guarantee you that already.

Europe? Where will you go?

I was hoping for a trip overseas this year, but decided to visit my favorite relatives instead. It's been too long since we've seen each other, and a lot has happened. You know how it goes.

I'll miss seeing you in SF, but I expect we will both have wonderful trips and good stories to share when we return. Have a great time!

You're doing the right thing. We just lost a nephew last week to a freak accident on my brother's family rafting on the Truckee River. Jon was full of life, and at the peak of his career as an attorney and judge in the small north-eastern town in California.

I'm celebrating my 77th birthday tomorrow, and all my siblings said they're coming.

We need to keep in touch with our family members, because we never know what our future holds. Saying we'll do it "tomorrow" never comes.

My siblings and I have made it a regular event some years ago to meet every several months to share a meal and conversations. We're at that age when attending funerals for family members and friends will become the norm.

A wild guess: Munich and Augsburg.

Thank you! We're going first to Amsterdam with all my European friends and will have tons of fun (like we used to have 20+ years ago) and then we fly to my family in Munich. My mother's health is failing and we want to spend as much time with her as we still have left.

Sorry to hear about the death of your nephew, c.i.!

But do have a very nice birthday with your family!

Happy birthday, cicerone!! Yes, you're right, one never knows how much time you have left with loved ones, so enjoy your special day and eat that extra piece of cake!!

Almost right!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!

How great that your brother(s) and sister(s) will be there! We're so spread out that's not possible any more. Most families we know are like us these days. You're very lucky.

Jacques went to the market today and picked up some lovely, ripe fruit.

He's mixing some fresh sangria now....anyone else want some?

Along with the Sangria, we should have some tapas as well...the time is just right for it.

Please make sure you change planes in Newark so we can have a cup of coffee.

That's a nice thought, Thomas, but we have a layover in Minneapolis where we switch Delta for KLM and then continue to Amsterdam.

You think she's trying to avoid both of us, Thomas?

Ah, tapas! Perfect with the sangria! I'll have one of these, and one of those, and...