I found out through FaceBook that he had died. 

We were best friends for… oh, I don’t know, five years.  Mature years, both in our thirties.  Glory years, years when you could conquer the world together.

I remember so many things.  We gave him a ride back to Indianapolis one year for Christmas.  There he was, Rick, my best buddy stuck in the middle back seat of a yellow Suburu stationwagon surrounded on both sides by child seats.  His luggage was stuffed on the roof with the Christmas tree we were bringing home to set up.  We sang Christmas carols until we were all exhausted from laughing. 

Always quick with a smile.  Always someone who didn’t seem to be phased by the normal bullshit in life.  Always the winner.  Also always the jokester.  His favorite saying, “There’s no business like your business.”  still rings in his voice in my ears.  He was from Maine.  His dad was colorblind and always wore red socks.  Why I remember that, I don’t know. 

We grew up in fashion retail together.  We had so many great experiences, so many great New York trips.  I remember the day he told me he was taking a new job, a big job with a NY agency.  We were crossing 57th Street at 6th Avenue on our way to the hotel.  I was proud of him and yet pissed at the same time.  I knew we would lose contact.  Midwest guys have a hard time keeping up with high flying NY agency guys.  That is a life puzzle I have yet to figure out.  How do you stay in touch with the guys…with the friends…. you really love?  So, as scripted, we drifted away from each other. 

Years later I heard he was sick.  I was told he woke up from a three month coma alone, broke and divorced.  Nobody knew where he was.  Two years later I found him in Philadelphia a ghost of his former self.  He wanted a job, I didn’t have one. I asked him to move in with my family, he didn’t want to.  We lost each other again.  I don’t know the circumstances of his death or who to ask.  I don’t know his resting place.  I just hope he’s resting easy.

So this is to Rick Fairchild, my good friend lost and now passed.  I love you buddy.  Tonight I’ll open a bottle of red wine and drink to your memory.  I won’t review it.

Cheers, the Wine Oaf.   

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“Drop in anytime! We’ll open some wine.”

Here’s how it happens, What you said: “Sure no problem, you guys want to drop by tonight? Great see you then!”   What you meant: “You want to stop by tonight? Great, the house is a disaster. I have a million things to do. The weather outside is frightful. If you slip on the deck don’t sue me! And we have nothing in the house to serve guests! It will be fun…some other time”

Then you remember, this guy would give up a kidney for you…and that could come in handy. So, let’s see, we have left over cheeseball, crackers and some frozen ravioli that hopefully is not too far beyond expiration date. Add some tomato sauce, cut up some fruit and life will be good. Then again, no matter how sparse the food offering, if we serve a good wine the night will be a certain success! Let’s open some!

Here are some good cheap wine ideas from posts of this year past to help you get through those last minute drop by evenings and maybe even enjoy yourself. Tis the season!

Moscato D’Asti Saracco: A great Asti that’s sweet enough to be dessert but dry enough to sip and savor. Cut up some apples and pears to try and hide the stale cheeseball. Serve very cold.

Review: http://www.goodcheapwineguide.com/2008/04/24/the-pope-white-wine-and-catholic-coffee/

Santa Cristina Antinori: Add a little Italian flavor to your holiday. Great, easy to find inexpensive red that has good body and full taste. Great compliment to any Holiday snack table! Open two.  Room temperature and a little air time.

Review: http://www.goodcheapwineguide.com/2008/07/19/santa-cristina-2006/

Greener Planet Shiraz-Merlot- Cabernet Sauvingon: If you (or your spouse) are convinced that keeping the thermostat low saves the planet, you know the “green earth = blue fingers” equation, bring out the Greener Planet. Just make sure your cheeseball is organic. Drink in recycled paper cups.  (just kidding)

Review: http://www.goodcheapwineguide.com/category/organic-wines/greener-planet-winery/

Search the archives for other ideas or hit the self explanatory Good Cheap Wine Reviews table. Just remember the Holidays craziness only lasts a little while, a good friendship can last forever.

Cheers from the Wine Oaf.

Solitude Buy From Art.com

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The blood on my shirt and on my hands was not my own. I didn’t even notice it until after I’d left the accident scene,  climbed back into my truck , eased back onto the road, flashers still on and glanced down at the wheel. It was a 95 degrees and sunny July afternoon, the kind of humid-hot that makes everything under the sun difficult to touch. I had taken this heavily traveled, normal exit, a 45 MPH downhill ramp off of an interstate onto a side street. But it wasn’t a normal exit today. In front of me, at the side of the road, lay a scooter sideways and twisted. Broken pieces lay scattered around as if it were a Lego toy stepped on by an adult shoe. Next to the wreck lay a good sized guy wearing a white Bell helmet, face down and convulsing. No-one was there! He was alone on the pavement. I swerved my truck over and parked it quickly, set the flasher and ran to the scene. On the way I dialed 911, the operator informed me that police were already on the way. “Good!” I thought, “Someone else has at least seen this.” He looked bad.

As I got to the accident I saw another guy was running to the scene from across the street. We both looked at each other a little uncertain what to do first. The victim was a young man in his late teens or early twenties. Along with the scattered wreck debris I could pick out a broken Ipod, some smashed-up eyeglasses and other small personal affects that been on the driver until the spill. The scooter was piled up about thirty feet further up the road which meant he had fallen off earlier and gone for a ride on his own. It was easy to see that by the abrasions on his legs and his tattered shorts, he had scraped and slid across the pavement a good ways. I knelt down close to his face and let him know that there was help on the way and that we wouldn’t leave him. He was breathing, but rasping heavily. I don’t think he was really conscious at that time or at least unable to comprehend and reply. There was dark blood coming from his mouth and from a ragged gash on his eyebrow.

I felt the heat of the pavement on my own bare knees and thought about his head on the street. I ran back to my truck to get a towel I had in there for my planned workout. As I arrived back he was stirring a little trying to lift his head. I put the towel under him as he lifted up a bit and asked him to stay still. A police car was approaching now. I felt better. Amazing how flashing lights can sometimes upset your stomach and other times calm your fears. The officer let us know that EMTs were on their way. He took charge immediately and started assessing the condition of the accident victim. The other guy who ran to the scene had brought a rain poncho with him. He said, “Let’s give this guy some shade.” Good idea. As the officer tried to talk to the kid we shaded them both best we could with the poncho.

The kid started turning over trying to rise.  He sat up and fell back down with the helmet making a sickeningly loud “crack” on the pavement. We kept telling him to “Stay down.” but he wouldn’t. As he kept sitting up and then “cracking” back to the pavement, I couldn’t stand it. I handed my end of the poncho to another guy who had arrived and wanted to help and  the next time he attempted to sit up, I tried to support him. This I think just encouraged him and as we told him, “Keep the helmet on!”, he started taking it off. As we said, “Stay still!” he rolled to his bloody knees. As we pleaded, “Dude, don’t try to stand.” he struggled to his feet. Again, this was a big boy. He could pretty much do whatever his instincts told him and we could not have stopped him. Admittedly though I was happy to see him moving around even with the concern that he could hurt himself even more in the process.

As the EMTs arrived, he struggled to his feet and took slow, helmetless, staggering steps to the guard-rail dragging all four of us with him for supprt. He almost went head first over the guard-rail but then stopped, turned and sat down. I saw two EMTs putting on their gloves. I don’t know why that registered. The EMTs all wearing their nylon gloves, approached him and took over. I asked the officer if I could go and climbed back in my truck.

As I got back on my way… that’s when I noticed the blood, his not mine.  Our emergency people live daily in contact with other people’s blood. Do they get used to this?  Along with all of the other things going through my head I had just one little gnawing thought in the back of my subconscious. I selfishly hoped the kid led a healthy lifestyle.

By now the workout seemed of secondary significance, besides I had left my towel to be cleaned up I guess with the other debris. I changed directions and headed home.

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Five Unique Gift Ideas for Father’s Day.  Because We Deserve It!

It’s June.  Yardwork, home repair, baseball, grilling out and Father’s Day; what’s not to like.  Think of all the reasons to appreciate dad…and then remember how hard he usually is to buy for!   It has been years since the kids have selected ties or belts for dear old dad as a perfect gift. (There is a God!) They’ve learned over the years that dad has hobbies.  A couple of dad’s hobbies are really perfect for gift ideas.  So here are five unique, creative, unusual and totally cool gifts for Father’s Day that dads (like the wine oaf) would richly appreciate.  (Besides, who wears ties anymore?)

Father’ Day Gift Idea One: Dad’s own Branding Iron for grilling out

Perfect for: Dad’s who grill out.  Which is almost every dad I know! 

So here is the idea…dad has the family gathering out on the deck and he is at his usual post…he’s manning the grill.  And what’s on the grill? …dad’s famous steaks, chops, burgers, salmon fillets… just fill in the blanks.  It’s all about tradition.  This is comfort food from the masculine side of the family.  What would be cooler than dad bringing in a platter of burgers or chops and there…right on top…”Dad’s own brand” seared right into the meat.  Alma mater, favorite driver, something clever like “Roadkill” or just a branding iron induced monogram, kind of like a guarantee or trademark cooked into the grill fare. 

Where do you find such a creation? SteakBrands.com Inc.

Father’s Day Gift Idea Two: Cool glassware for enjoying wine

Perfect for: Dad’s who enjoy wine and/or entertain those who do
Crystal is not dad’s “thing”. It looks funny in the hearty hands of the guy who used to put your bicycle back together after you tried to jump the creek with it…for the third time. What does a dad like that deserve to drink wine from.. a much cooler glass. Part tumbler, part wineglass and perfectly built for the enjoyment of wine. Especially red and all dad’s drink reds, right?  Also, decanters improve the wine experience but most of them look a little less than exciting, doesn’t a really cool decanter make a good conversation!  Don’t good cheap wines look even better in a styling decanter?  The one pictured above looks like it came out of a modernistic sci-fi flick..and dad introduced you to sci-fi flicks, remember?  Where do you find pop-pleasing glassware? I found these on wine.com:  Glassware

Father’s Day Gift Idea Three: Great coffee

Perfect for: Duh, dad’s who like coffee maybe?

I wrote about this coffee in an earlier article.  I promised to let you know if I liked the coffee made by Mystic Monks.  I didn’t like it…I loved it!  You don’t have to be Catholic to enjoy coffee made by the monks of  Mystic Monk Coffee. I had a dark roast, my own preference, but there is a great selection of fair trade, organic and lighter fare.  This is kind of a payback for dad staying awake those nights before Christmas’ putting together that bike (you kept wrecking) the first time!

Father’s Day Gift Idea Four: High quality wine tools

Perfect for: Any dad who likes gadgets and enjoys wine

Remember when dad used to have heart-warming talks with you like, “Don’t use my tools if you’re not going to put them away right!” and, “Are you nuts? You can’t use my ratchet as a hammer!”  Ah yes… dad likes his tools.  He has a garage full.  But I bet you he is still opening his wine bottles with a corkscrew similar in quality to a cheap 99 cent plastic handled imported mass-produced screw-driver you would never catch him using to fix a broken mower.  Help dad use the “right tool” for his wine enjoyment.  Rabbit 6-Piece Wine Corkscrew Tool Kit – Corkscrews Accessories

Father’s Day Gift Idea Five: Healthy beef for the grill
Perfect for: The same dad as in every gift idea above!

Dad likes his meat on the grill (and so do you, admit it) but everyone should eat healthier and red meat, sometimes…well, you feel like you need to “sneak a steak“ onto the grill.  (it’s a conspiracy by big-chicken, like big-tobacco only..you know with chicken)  So how can you enjoy your red meats and still eat healthy?  I found La Cense.  They say on their site, Montana raised, no hormones, no antibiotics, no pesticides, no feedlots, no grain..these are grass fed cattle that produce leaner healthier meat.  So, you got to use that new branding iron from Steakbrands on something right?  Here’s a deal from La Cense listed on their website:  
Lacense® Grass-Fed Beef
Buy Delicious Grass Fed Beef. Free Shipping on Orders Over $45!
And  if you succumb to the idea that one should be grilling tuna or salmon instead of steak (not really a compromise, just change the wine!) check out this offer:

Of course there is always the obvious gift of WINE or something more unique like the Wine Club membership programs we reviewed in our article Wine Gifts for Mother’s Day.  Either way, give dad’s gift some thought! (hint, hint) Here is a special from Wine.com:
Get 20% off any 12 month wine club membership at Wine.com! Enter code DAD20 at checkout. Offer expires 6.15.08

Personally speaking, as a father, as a brother and as a son…thanks for everything guys…thanks dad!  Thanks for being last and making those you love first!  Happy Father’s Day from the wine oaf.  And to my kids this message, “Thanks for making me a very proud father!”

Cheers

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