Moving On

Tomorrow I move into my apartment, like a real life grown-up. A totally foreign experience to me. When I graduated from high school, I chose to attend the local community college's culinary arts program. A bunch of things factored into my decision. Mainly money, private culinary school will run you about $40,000 a year, as well as I just wasn't ready to leave home. I have an amazing relationship with my parents, and I loved living with them. We've always communicated well, they support me in every decision I make in life, they always make sure I know how proud of me they are. Admittedly however, once my friend's left for college, I felt like I was missing out. So when I had the opportunity to move to Orlando and work in the happiest place on earth for a semester, I jumped at the chance. I was pumped to live on my own (in the Disney version of dorms, at least.) and work at one of my favorites spots in the world! What could be better? I flew down with packed to the brim suitcases, a few of my community college pals along for the ride, moved in and started work. It's an experience, that shaped my future career path, and developed me as a person. However to say I experienced crippling homesickness would be an extreme understatement. My brother got engaged, and my 2 best friends found out they were having a baby together, and I felt disconnected from it all. It didn't help that my room-mates who were both keeping up long distance relationships were possibly longing for home even more then I was. When I got back, I was certain I'd never leave again. So when I started thinking about life after graduation, proximity to home weighed heavily on me. But my mentors, the people in the wine world whose opinion matters most to me, thought the program at PCI was the right choice, and as my friend's who attended four year schools begin to plan their path into adulthood, I didn't want to limit myself based on past experiences. My brother, Christopher, has roots in California, I have none. His 3 closest friend's have settled on the west coast, and he's dreamed of doing the same for years. So when I started to seriously consider it, he said he wanted to come along for the ride.

Now we're here a month after leaving home, and everyday I feel more excited, more confident in my decision. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm 3 years older, and more mature. But I think a lot of it has do with how much the people around me love California, my brother, his friends, they all love living on the west coast. I miss home everyday, that baby my best friends had, is now my 2 year old godson. A child I spent everyday with until I left. Leaving him was a thousand times harder then I could have anticipated, but he is surrounded by people who shower him with love constantly, and ensure he knows how important he is to me.


My parents, have an empty nest for the first time in 29 years, and I think they deserve some time to themselves.
My friend's are struggling with the same sort of decisions about life I was 6 months ago, and I feel well equipped to be there for them.


My oldest brother and his wife, real life adults, are always there for me to let me know things will work out, and not to stress, to take life as it comes to me.

(Awaiting permission from my brother for use of his image.)

I am blessed to have this cross country web of people to catch me if I fall, so that I felt confident enough to jump.

P.S. This post got pretty off track from where it began, but I'll write a post that actually talks about my new home and how I found it soon.

P.P.S Your comments would be appreciated, so that I can know people are actually reading this thing. What do you guys want me to write about? Do you like the set-up of the blog? The length of the posts?

Establishing Life

I love my new job. I know 2 days in is probably too soon to say that. Perhaps I should have prefaced it with, I thought I'd have to settle. I had an idea of the kind of job I wanted before I moved and I talked about at length with the people in my life. I wanted to work at a restaurant with a strong emphasis on wine, someplace I could really learn something, or in a tasting room at a vineyard. Somewhere I could put my knowledge to use to educate others, and hopefully learn something in return. So I went to my school and met with the career placement person. She gave me a few wine bars to get in touch with, I sent e-mails, and one replied. They were sorry but they didn't have a position available, and they wished me luck. Bummer. Then the next day, another e-mail, someone had resigned, did I want to interview? YES. I agonized over the outfit- http://www.theclosetconnection.blogspot.com/ and in I went. The place was so cool. All the wine kept in nitrogen displacement cases to keep it as fresh as possible. They served everything in flights so you could compare, in my opinion, the best way to learn. Plush benches covered in pillows, and tables surrounded by ottomans. The interview was short and sweet, I'd hear from her by the end of the week. The following Monday rolls around, and I had accepted that I hadn't gotten the job, but was prepared to call and confirm it. Then my phone rings, I'M HIRED! Now during this whole process I had been sending my resume to anywhere that had anything to do with wine in the region. I schedule my training, and am raring to go. My phone rings, and it is the tasting room manager at a vineyard, can I come in for interview the following day? YES. So I get up the next day pack my work clothes, put on my interview outfit (see above link) and head to the vineyard. It's in Los Gatos, a ritzy neighbor in south bay. There's a Bentley dealership next to the library. The vineyard used to be a monastery and it's gorgeous. I go in and talk to the manager for 45 minutes. We just click, she's a PCI grad (they're everywhere.) she thinks I'd be a perfect fit, but she wants to watch me taste. So she walks me through the catalog (a little bit about my favorites below) I talk about what I taste, and I feel totally in the zone. She wants to hire me, BUT I have to be interviewed by the big boss next week. Keep your fingers crossed. So I drive to work and spend the rest of the night training, and having a blast. The employees are knowledgeable and excited about the product they're selling, also just genuinely nice, welcoming people. It's the customers who make it though. Neighborhood people with a real appreciation of wine. They want to taste and discuss. They love where they live, and are excited for you to be joining the community. It's like a little family, and I adore them. Plus with a jazz band twice a week, I truly feel at home.

2006 Testarossa Diana's Reserve Chardonnay

Green apple and citrus on the nose. Round and creamy mouthfeel. Honey, and clove on the tongue, with a delightful spicy finish.

2007 Testarossa La Cruz Pinot Noir

Light smoke on the nose. Medium bodied. White pepper and blackberries on the tongue. Tannic on the finish. Delicious now, but will be even better in a few years when it's had time to round out, and allow the fruit to come forward.

Blogger, Maybe?

I created this blog over a month ago, about 2 weeks before I moved. At first I thought I'd write my first post about my birthday, and my impending move, my anxiety, my excitement. But then it felt too personal. So then I thought I'd start blogging once I'd left. I mean 2 weeks traveling the country, I would have tons to say. But I was too caught up in the actual act of it, to take the time to write about it. No problem, I'd start once I'd arrived. However without a job, and having not yet started school, I really didn't have anything to say.
Well, now I have a job, and what a relief it is. After relentless e-mailing I finally got a bite, a serving position at a wine bar. So I went and interviewed (The place was AMAZING, boutique wines served in flights, my kind of joint.) and then I waited and waited, and just when I'd given up hope, BAM! they hired me. So today I start training and I'm really excited- but wait! I get a call from a tasting room manager at a vineyard, and she thinks I sound like a perfect candidate for tasting room attendant (my dream part-time job) So now I have an interview there tomorrow. As they're both part time positions, working for people who are supportive of my school, and expanding my experience, as well as willing to schedule me so I can manage all 3, I think it may work out perfectly (here's hoping.)
So now I have to find an apartment, a bank, a pharmacist, get a California state driver's license, and register my car. Real life is an awful lot of paperwork.