Summer of Riesling 2011

June 30, 2011

It is with great pride and joy that I inform you On the Square is participating in the Summer of Riesling 2011. What’s that, you say?  Summer of Riesling? Sounds awfully sweet to me. Well, it is sweet.  Sweet, as in awesome.  Until September 21st, On the Square, along with many restaurants all over the [...]

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Change is Good

June 25, 2011

So, it’s been a month and I have yet to write a new blog. Maybe not a big deal for ya’ll, but for me, it’s really depressing as my therapy comes from writing. So much change these days.  Not just in my pockets but in my life. I remember when it rained more and the [...]

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Living up to the Expectations

May 26, 2011

Sometimes you get so excited about something that when it actually happens, you realize you have anticipated it too greatly and the event is more of a letdown rather than a great triumph. For the past 10+ weeks, I have been greatly anticipating the arrival of Larry Stone, Master Sommelier and President of Evening Land Vineyards [...]

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My Friend Maggie

May 5, 2011

Have I ever mentioned my friend Maggie? Maybe not in my blog, but on most days, her name comes up. Maggie is one of those friends you meet later in life.  Right when you start thinking you have made all of your life long friends. I met Maggie at a funeral in September of 2001. [...]

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There isn’t enough wine in the world.

April 13, 2011

At 12:00 a.m. this past Sunday, I turned 35 years old. When my cell phone rang at 12:01, I listened to my dear friend tell me a six-year-old child had been tragically killed in a car accident. My life turned so quiet, and a darkness overtook my mind. My husband and I drove home from [...]

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Wine, Nerves and Basketball

March 19, 2011

It’s been a disturbing week.  I don’t know how to explain it in any other way than I have bitten off more than I can chew. What’s new? My husband says to me this isn’t anything new.  I’m just not content unless I am overcome with obligations and responsibilities.  I am sure you can psychoanalyze [...]

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Does Marina Know?

March 11, 2011

Many of you know Marina from previous posts. She is my life coach, my love, my children’s second mother.  Everything about Marina is good.  I’m sorry it’s great.  Marina is an angel, and I am so fortunate she is my angel. I have known Marina for 6 1/2 years, the same amount of time my [...]

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Duck Rabbit

February 26, 2011

How could I not know? We’ve carried the beers on and off again for the past seven years, and I had no clue why the brewery was called that. No idea, that is, until this past Tuesday. As my busy life would have it, I met new friend Ed Brenegar on Tuesday afternoon to take [...]

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Unconditional Love

February 14, 2011

“Did you win, Mama?” “No, baby, I didn’t.” Quiet.  No comments.  No reaction. “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t win.” No comment.  No reaction.  No nothing. I say it again.  “I’m sorry, honey, I didn’t pass.  I didn’t do it.  I lost.” Again, no comment.   No reaction. I look in the backseat. My Cynthia, my daughter.  [...]

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Uncle Ed

January 21, 2011

If you work in wine in New York City, you know exactly who I am talking about. If you don’t or you haven’t, please allow me to give you some background. Ed Lauber was one of the first people in the country to bring wine from Bordeaux into New York.  A wildly successful entrepreneur, Monsieur [...]

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Where I am?

January 12, 2011

What’s in a Vesper?  Aviation?  Stone Sour?  Tell me about the weather in 1986 in St. Estephe. These were all questions at last year’s Master’s exam. In fact, I actually wrote that first line last year on February 25th as soon as I left the service portion of the examination. I now go back to [...]

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Smaragd

December 30, 2010

If you speak German, you know Smaragd means emerald-colored lizard. If you speak wine, you may know  Smaragd is the equivalent to Spatlese, a term used to define grapes picked later than other grapes, or grapes that have higher sugar levels. If you don’t speak either, you probably had no idea what Smaragd means, but [...]

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Old Fashioned

December 10, 2010

Call me old-fashioned, but I really like it when my husband opens the door for me.  Or lets me sit down first.  Or tells the sommelier that I will nose the wine. O.K.  So the last one isn’t really old-fashioned, but it’s super secure on my husband’s part. Because he has asked me to keep [...]

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The Elf on the Shelf

December 8, 2010

This is a long one, so bear with me. In Journalism, it is often wise to realize your audience so I will say I am not a professional journalist because I have absolutely no idea who my audience is. Could it be wine enthusiasts and hard core collectors?  Or is it the mother who is [...]

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“Wine”ing in Washington D.C.

December 3, 2010

Two days ago, I took the train from Rocky Mount to Washington D.C. to stage (that’s pronounced stahj) with Kathryn Morgan, newest Master Sommelier of the Universe and  sommelier at Citronelle. As nervous as I was about the trip, I was also extremely excited to get more advice on how to be successful during my [...]

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