A Daydream Believer

Davy Jones died today. It is always sad when an icon dies, especially one that you grew up with. 

He was my teen idol.

Davy Jones, who suffered a heart attack this morning, was only 66. It is unfortunate to die so young and makes me reflect upon my own mortality. The Monkees were a special part of my childhood and like most young girls in the 70's (including Marcia Brady,) I thought Davy was quite dreamy. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7TxTU_LYp0

It has been a while since I have thought about Davy or the Monkees. With the news of his death, I am flooded with wonderful memories singing along to Daydream Believer and Last Train to Clarksville. Listening to these songs today makes me feel like a teenager again.

A little music trivia for you...Did you know that Davy Jones' popularity with the Monkees is the reason why a singer named David Jones changed his name to David Bowie? 

Thank you for the music and the memories Davy. You definitely made me a Believer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfuBREMXxts

Self Happiness

It is easy to get caught up in what others think of you. No matter who you are, people will always judge how you look, the choices you make, the friends you keep, and the way you live your life.

Judgement is not limited to race, social class, or even gender. You know the old saying...

You can please some people sometimes...
but you can't please all the people all the time.

And you know what I've learned? That is Okay.

I'll admit, I've lived a good portion of my life worried of what others think of me. 

Wisdom (or perhaps just age) has taught me...

There are different ways to view this quote and while interpretation falls to the reader, it reminds me that my happiness does not depend of the acceptance of others. Of course, this is often easier said than done, but it is something to strive for. 

It does not mean that I will not be concerned for you. As my friends and family know, I have a huge heart and will go to any length for those I love.

But, I will exert less of my energy fretting over what others think of me. 

At the very least, I will be concerned, but not too concerned.

A Time for Wine

"Wine is the most civilized thing in the world"

-Ernest Hemingway

Celebrating a late Valentine's Day, J and I ventured out to the local wine area - Fairplay. The sky was blue, the air crisp, and the wines all red in their brilliance. 

Winery Road

Often alone of the winery roads, we were free to take in nature's beauty. One of our first stops was to a newer winery, Saluti Cellars. Although they are off the beaten path, they're well worth a visit. They offer some of the most beautiful grounds in the area. In addition to an exquisite tasting room and wine cave, Saluti has a bed and breakfast cottage that is breathtaking. We plan to go back in the summer to enjoy live music and perhaps play some bocce ball.

Saluti grounds

Saluti Pond

After Saluti, we stopped at one of our favorite local wineries; MV. In our opinion, MV has by far the best reds in the area. Our favorite of the day was the 2008 Syrah Reserve. 

Simply Divine!

 The deep ruby red color is enhanced by the aromatic flavors of licorice, vanilla, and berries. It finishes with a warm carmel and cherry taste. 

While MV's tasting room is understated and small, you will not be disappointed with their vast array of bold reds.

One of our last stops of the day was to a new winery, Skinner Vineyards. Skinner is located on gorgeous property and their tasting room is reminiscent of a winter lodge. We had our picnic lunch overlooking the valley. Their patio will be a popular spot in warmer months.

View from Skinner 

We had a wonderful day and look forward to our next wine tasting outing. 

We are fortunate to live close to such phenomenal wine areas.

Old Vine Zin

Until next time... And remember...

Life's too short, to drink bad wine.

Good in Every Day

Today has not been a particularly good day. Not a bad day, just enough little wrinkles to darken my mood. The guy installing our new blinds is two hours late; I dumped a bottle of pepper (little cap fell off) into dinner...just little things.

And this happens to all of us. Not every day is a good one. In fact, some days are just down right bad. 

I came across this saying this afternoon and wanted to share it. 

There has to be at least one good thing in every day. So, instead of focusing on the negative, I will look for the positive in each day. And most days, I bet I find more than one.

I hope you remember this too.

All of us are going to have bad days. But if you look hard enough, I guarantee the little piece of good you find, will be enough to brighten your mood. 

And who knows, it may even be enough to make it a ...Good Day.

Simple San Francisco

For the past few years, J and I have attended the ZAP Zinfandel Festival in San Francisco. It's always held the last weekend in January and is a blast! The event itself is entertaining and with over 200 wineries and 500 wines, you leave there quite happy.

However, what we both enjoy perhaps more than the festival, is the short getaway to San Francisco. It's fun to be a tourist for the weekend and enjoy all the eclectic sites. Our first stop was Buena Vista. They have the best Irish Coffee and it's a fabulous way to start your day.

Right across from the Buena Vista, you can catch the iconic Powell/Hyde Cable Car. We didn't ride the trolley this trip, but always love to see it.  It was a gorgeous day and although it was late January, the weekend felt like spring.

J and I had lunch and shopped in the Haight/Ashbury district. For all of our time spent in the city, we realized that neither of us had been to this area. It's a definite flashback to the late sixties and you can still feel the "Make love, Not War" vibe.

On Saturday, we ventured to the Hayes Valley district to Straw (who knew there were so many districts in SF!) Straw is a tiny, carnival-themed spot. J had one of the best things I've ever tasted; a fried chicken and waffle monte christo. If you think that sounds weird, I'll point you to the old adage....don't knock it, until you've tried it. It is truly heavenly!

No trip would be complete without a stop at Crissy Field. Despite being the hub of outdoor activity, it offers one of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate. It's this one area in particular that makes me wish I was a city girl.

Simple travels definitely keep life's wrinkles at bay. They keep us smooth and help us appreciate the abundance in our life. 

Until next time, San Francisco. 

We know our hearts will be safe with you until then.

A Life too Short

The wake of recent news about Josh Powell has left me baffled. In case you haven't seen the headlines, Josh Powell, who was already suspected of killing his wife Susan, killed his two sons in an explosive murder-suicide on Sunday. To make the news more grim, there is evidence that he took a hatchet to their necks before the explosion.

I admit that I didn't know anything about the Powell family until this tragedy on Sunday. Charles and Braden Powell, were only seven and five years old, respectively. These two little guys had their lives cut short by the one person who was supposed to protect them from malice. A father is supposed to shield you from the world's evil, not be the hand that pushes you in harms way. 

An Unthinkable Tragedy

I think what's hardest for me when tragedies like this occur, is that this man was given a gift of two beautiful sons. There are lots of people (like me) who have not yet been given this gift and this man's selfish disposal of their lives sickens me. Unfortunately, unthinkable acts of violence like this happen daily, often involving innocent children. 

Charles and Braden were robbed of a full life; robbed of their potential. May their family and friends find solace in the fact that they are now reunited with their mom. 

This is yet another reminder that life is short. And for many, it's a life too short. 

Living with Life's Wrinkles

Life is like a shirt that wrinkles. You can iron it everyday, smooth it out until it's perfect; but inevitably, the wrinkles return. When ironing out life's plans, the only way to keep sane is to accept and embrace the wrinkled obstacles along the way. 

In theory, permanent press means to resist wrinkling. In my life, Permanent Press is a road map. I am not looking for resistant. I am searching for the metaphorical iron to press and preserve life's fabric. 

Permanent Press is a blog about life; the good, the bad, and the in-between. It has taken me a long time to understand that wrinkles, whether they be in your clothes, on your face, or embedded in your life, are the key to personal growth. The wrinkles in my life have made me who I am today. I have learned that there is beauty in every imperfection; even in wrinkles.

Happy Ironing!