California Gurls

"California Gurls" by Katy Perry

I feel that Katy Perry is personally taunting me. This song has played non-stop since I've arrived in Pennsylvania. You can travel the world, but nothin' comes close to the golden coast... WHATEVER, Katy Perry. So, you're right. NOTHING comes close to the golden coast. But you don't have to remind me all of the time. So, needless to say, California has been on my mind a lot.

I am a rotten, no good blogger. You all know how I feel about catch up entries, too, so, it should be in my best interest to keep current! Alas, I have not.

So, the last time I blogged I had just arrived at Galer. Two full months have gone by since then! I'm a year older and slightly wiser, but more like...more aware of all I do not know. This acknowledgment is beneficial, of course, but not fantastically helpful.

I think I regret leaving California three times a day, at least. But in those same days, I learn and do things that I would have NEVER done in California. And I have to consider: career-wise, what was there for me in California? Close to nothing. Here I am in PA, not ideal, but, I'm doing what I have to.

So, instead of droning on, I'm going to give you a glimpse in the form of a list into life. Then I can hopefully blog away at a more regular interval. (Not likely....harvest.)

Here are my favorite things about living in Pennsylvania:

1. Proximity to friends and family-- I drive home for weddings. I drive to Gettysburg to fish. I can drive to DC to see my girlfriends. Joy.

2. Thunderstorms. Eastern thunderstorms are one of a kind. Beauty.

3. French Bread -- For whatever reason, the person in the house next to mine periodically baked beautiful loaves of french bread. She indicates that there is fresh bread for sale when she puts out a french flag. That's all. No cash register, all honor system. No advertising, no store front. It's just her side garage. And, this is SERIOUSLY the best bread I've ever had. And I walk to pick it up!

4. Fireflies -- Every night, the vineyard outside of my front door gets blanketed in thousands of fireflies. It always happens before dark but after dusk. It is one of my favorite things about living here.

5. My Commute and perks -- (Note: I HAVE A WASHER DRYER on site. I will never take this for granted again!) In the morning, I wake up, put on some winery clothes, brush my teeth, wash my face, go make some french pressed coffee, eat some breakfast and check my emails, make some phone calls, go work in the cellar for a few hours. Then I take off at mid day to run, then shower and resume working. I LOVE running in the middle of the day. I love walking across the way to my workplace.

Things I dislike about living in Pennsylvania:

1. Humidity. Hottest summer on record. 'Nuff Said.

2. Working from Home -- This appears in the above list as well as this one because it is a double edged sword. I never leave work. I feel like I'm on guard all of the time. I'm always answering emails. I'm on the phone. It's not ideal and will only get worse at harvest. It has certainly been an interesting learning experience.

3. Not being able to plan -- I NEVER know what a day holds at Galer. It's always different from what I plan. I'm always stepping over contractors (who make a mess, btw). I hate talking on the phone because I never know what the conversation will blow into my path. Adventure? I guess so. My style? Not just yet.

4. Being ALONE at work -- I spend most of the time hoping I don't fuck up. I'm smart, but I've never done about 65% of this stuff, and there's no one here on sight to help me. So, I spend my days doing my best and praying I don't fuck the hell up!

5. Philly area DRIVERS -- OMG. These people are nuts! I can't even describe. TOTALLY different environment then Gettysburg, and it is not that far away. Odd.


Here are some pictures of my winery, as I don't have many others to share with you.






The tank room is unfinished here. It is still unfinished, actually.

The round window is a new addition. So nice from the inside.

The furry looking thing, that's my assistant, Chance.

Alright, time for bed!

Love to all of my dear friends, near and far!

Cheers
Catrina

Say Hey (I Love You)

"Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti and Spearhead

The above is a happy-go-lucky tune I discovered at the beginning of harvest that I often bump in my ipod when I'm outside checking tanks at the winery. It matches my mood...most of the time.

I wouldn't have blogged this evening but I am just so damn excited because the YANKEES ARE GOING TO TO WORLD SERIES!!! The game didn't end until 9 pm my time, which is late in New York, but I'm all wound up because of it. :-) And I spent the night making chili...high protein, high fiber, yum yum!

Anyway, it has been harvest pretty much since I got back from New York. In September, I spent two weekends in a row in Washington State doing the required "camps" for my certificate programs. They were lots of fun! I have been kind of dragging my feet waiting for the pictures to appear...but to no avail. I learned a lot about viticulture in the viticulture weekend. The enology weekend was....a nice review. I do enology-type work fairly, um, regularly, so, it was mostly a .....review. My classmates were excellent. I was surprised at how different the enology class was when compared to the viticulture class. There were more women in the viticulture class, which I was somewhat surprised by. I got a harsh reminder in the wine industry of often an old boys club when I left for my first weekend, so it was refreshing to see the abundance of XX chromosomes in the viticulture certificate program.

The harvest at Wente has been different then any harvest I have experienced. It was a slow start...with a trickle just enough to keep us marginally busy, but easily distracted. The sugars were slow to rise in the vineyard samples that I saw come across my bench. Then suddenly, the chardonnay was ready and BAM! It has been mania ever since. Six days a week crazy crazy. Don't get me wrong, that is exactly how I like it, but, it does a girl in!

In other news, I love 100 lbs! 108, now, actually. That's like...an entire person. It is a strange place that I'm in right now, I can honestly say, I feel like I'm the same size as I was when I went into surgery....maybe larger. My rational brain knows that that is not the case, but every time I look into the mirror I see...fat. What a strange reversal in the way that I think. I can't figure it out, but I don't have too much time to dwell on it either. My clothes certainly fit "better"....if better is defined by ridiculously large. My jeans are especially annoying because I spend the entire day hiking them up! Oh well. I think my hair is done falling out....it had been falling out since June and ceased last week. I'm still freezing cold though. Interesting new life I'm leading.

I'm DC bound fairly soon for a little weekend away (208 $ plane ticket...non-stop). I am excited to be the heck out of California for a few days. I went to Napa to spend the night with Deb and Ed last weekend, and a few dogs, and it was incredibly therapeutic! I enjoyed being away and with people I love so much. I got back to Livermore and was actually disappointed when I returned home.

Quick update. Sorry there are no pics, but I'm having a hard time finding some that looks like I've lost 100 lbs. That's probably because I'm having trouble seeing it myself. I will find something suitable hopefully. Be patient!

Til next time.

Cheers
Catrina

'Til Summer Comes Around

'Til Summer Comes Around, Keith Urban

Okay, so I just made a very very tasty meatloaf. Mushrooms, onions, 93% lean beef, fresh parsley, garlic, bread crumbs...very yum (24g protein per 3 oz serving, 220 cals). I got one broccoli floret and three bites of meatloaf in and BAM, no more. I think people think I'm nuts, but, this means that I'm having a "small pouch day". It always seems to happen when I have something delicious to eat! A small trade off for -90 lbs, but, occasionally frustrating.

Anyway, it has been about a month since I updated. I've been HOME since I last wrote. Being home was absolutely fabulous. Not only were the people from PY there, but my chicks from Gettysburg came too! I got to see beautiful Kate get married, and it was AWESOME! Here's a photo of the two of us:


She was a beautiful bride! :-)

The G-burg girls rented a boat, which was, of course, very much fun. Very therapeutic to spend time on my lake. Ahhhh. We had a good party at Casa North on Friday night. I hear the food was great, but I think the company was great. It was so fabulous to see you guys, enjoy the weather (hot and humid lol) and a few adult beverages! Being home is such a treat. I will be back at Christmas time! :-)

Anyway, then Kourteney came out for a visit, which was right at the beginning of HARVEST! Yay! How excited am I! Well, I'm excited to be making wine, but doubly excited to be making MONEY! Here's a photo of the first load of grapes (Chardonnay Cuvee) to hit the presses.


Upcoming, I go to WA for school! I'm excited, but not for all of the travel. I hate airports (think twice before you're rude to an obese person in the airport...we're not having fun either). I'll keep you posted on how my hands-on learning weekends go.

Sorry this is brief. Time to run back to Wine Chemistry. Boo.