About Being Happy

I know some of my friends *yawn*,or even *cringe*, with all my "rah-rah life" stuff. But, I just can't help myself. Life is good... really, really good. And, that's something new for me.

Prior to 2014, I marched through 15 years of  poop, beginning with the passing of my father in May of 1999. That instance was just a foreshadowing of the real gut-kick when my three-year-old grand daughter, the light of my life, died in a car accident in August of 2001. From that moment on, I became Joe Btfsplk, the sad sack from Li'l Abner. And, because that was how I saw myself, that is how my life was.

http://youtu.be/bXysRO11Xi8

Let me say that again... that was how I saw myself, so that was how my life was. 

And, it just got worse and worse to the point I began to think my life, for all intents and purposes, was over. Remember the show "Hee-Haw?" (Don't even try to act like you never saw it!) That was my outlook. That was the life I owned for myself.

I finally realized, something had to change. 

I knew I was miserable in my job. It wasn't that the job was bad. It was a great job! I worked with the most creative and smartest people I had ever known... many of them were very dear friends!!! I had amassed 15 years of raises and made a really good salary. I had all the perks that went with seniority. 

So, what was the problem? It didn't fulfill me anymore. There was no challenge, no stimulation, nothing to look forward to. I felt used and used up. And, my attitude reflected that feeling.

For a couple of years, right here on this blog site, I had been preaching about encore careers. And, while I had made some — in hindsight, feeble — efforts to find another career, I had reached the point of critical saturation in unhappiness. I decided to retire and gave notice. And, lo and behold, as soon as I made that commitment, an opportunity opened up, and it just so happened to be the absolutely perfect career for me. Getting the position became my new obsession, and my commitment and persistence paid off. I've never been happier in a job.

I know what some of you are thinking... well, aren't you the lucky one? It's not about luck. It's about the power of positive intention. It's about deciding what you want, committing to that goal... eating, drinking, dreaming of what you want. It's about letting God... the Universe... whatever higher power you ascribe to... know what you want and how badly you want it. 

Trust me, folks... I used to be the epitome of skeptic when it came to what I deemed metaphysical mumbo-jumbo. But, I was wrong. And, that was just the beginning of the good life. 

I was so grateful to get the job, I couldn't express my thanks adequately. I literally GUSHED thanksgiving. And, oddly enough, the more I acknowledged the goodness of that fortunate event and openly pronounced my gratitude for my blessings, the happiness and contentment I had always hoped was out there became manifest. It's just like every religion teaches — but I'll quote the Christian Bible, because that's what I know — "Ask, and ye shall receive." Can it be that easy? All I know is, it was that easy for me.

So, you see... I have to keep talking about how happy and grateful I am. It's part of the commitment. To stop talking about it would be tantamount to denying its existence. And, the last thing I want is to leave the door open for Messrs. Gloom and Doom to manipulate a seat at my table of life.

If there is anybody reading this who is going through some really bad times, I just want you to know, it can be better. My feet won't fit your shoes, so I can't tell you what it will take for you, but I can assure you... it can be better. 

It's kind of like, if you build it, it will come. Solidly commit to being happy, whatever that means to you. Choose your path and walk it. But, above all things, choose — CHOOSE — to be happy.

When that person cuts you off on the freeway, think of something happy or forgiving. You don't know what made him or her do that. It could be as simple as you just weren't seen. You've probably done it yourself without even knowing.

When a person is rude to you, smile at them. Give them the benefit of the doubt. For all you know, that person could have just lost a grand daughter in a car accident.

Bottom line... take the high road in all things. Avoid the anger, frustration and fear that is seething in today's society. Seek the positive in every situation. Smile. I can guarantee... yes, I said GUARANTEE... that the more you consciously make the effort to be grateful and positive in your life, the more your life will be bombarded by things for you to be grateful and positive about. 

There are some of you reading this who are witness to how this has worked in my life. And, I invite anyone reading this to expressively share the same happiness you may have found in your own life... here in comments, today with your family, tomorrow at work, this week with a total stranger. Say it out loud, put it in writing, make it known... often! It requires no money, no investment of time, no sacrifice. All it takes is gratitude for what you receive every day, pursuit of your passion, and a commitment to change your outlook on life. 

So, what's the first step? Determine what it is you want and pursue it with your complete being... heart, soul and mind. A quote by one of my favorite heroines says it all...

Wine Review: Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel 2012

Hey, Zin lovers... I found a remarkably good wine online at Wine.com, called Rancho Zabaco 2012 from Sonoma County. I learned through research that Sonoma County is second only to San Joaquin Valley for Zinfandel production in the U.S., so it's a pretty good guess they know what they're doing. Besides, being a Taurus, I liked the logo. 

This wine is 93% Zinfandel and 7% Petite Syrah. I did a little research on Zinfandel wines and, from what I read, Zin may just be the oldest varietal in the world, with evidence showing it in wine production as early as 6000 BCE. To put it in perspective, in 6000 BCE, Egyptians were just beginning to settle near the Nile.  

I also learned there is a technique in wine production that was developed specifically for Zinfandel, called Amador. There's some interesting controversy around this method which maintains the integrity of the alcohol content of the varietal.

This wine is a very deep violet red. The first thing I smell is spice and pepper over berries, typical Zin. And, on the first day, the taste was typical Zin... smoke, berries, licorice. I like it better on the second day. It's much smoother, with a velvety feel on the tongue and a nice, mocha finish.

Gotta be careful with it, though. It's very drinkable, but has almost 15% alcohol — which makes me think it should be enjoyed with food. This wine would probably work with any cuisine. I had it with a deli plate, and it was good, but what I wish I had been eating is a medium rare grilled steak with sauteed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach.

Wine Advocate rated it 90, I would go with that. However, I really think this wine could sit for a year or two, which would make it rate 91, at least. And, it's less than $20.

For the Love of Mushrooms

Courtesy Food Network

In order to get the full benefit of what my local farmers' market has to offer, I have to be willing to get my old butt out of bed early on a weekend... because in the case of my farmers' market, if you snooze, you lose. So, it all comes down to how willing I am to give up another hour of sleep in favor of scoring some really nice produce deals. Since I work full-time, that doesn't happen often. 

Don't get me wrong... once my bladder knows I'm awake, it becomes very insistent. But, most of the time, I fall back between the sheets and luxuriate in the knowledge that I can. But, some mornings, the old body gets to feeling frisky and says, "Let's do something!" This weekend was one of those times. 

At the market, I found an amazing deal on some white mushrooms for a fraction of the cost at the supermarket. Mushrooms are one of my favorite foods, because they are so versatile. I use them in omelets, salads, on sandwiches and, of course, every Italian dish I prepare. In fact, I eat them almost every day, for good reason. They are considered one of the "superfoods," right up there with blueberries and broccoli. 

I dug through my recipe stash for mushroom recipes and found this gem! If you like spinach mushroom lasagna, you're going to love this recipe. It's the same thing, only much easier to make with a couple of suggested modifications.

Following the recipe explicitly, it's 368 calories per serving. But, I decided to use bottled pasta sauce and eliminate the cheese sauce from the recipe in favor of a topping mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan only, which brings the calorie count down to about 300 per serving. 

Although the recipe considers a single serving to be three shells, I thought two was enough, which really drops the calorie count and makes allowance for a side salad and a nice red wine (I enjoyed it with Bogle Essential Red 2011)... or, maybe, some Italian wedding cookies or biscotti. (I'll bet that got your attention!)

Biscotti Toscani
Courtesy Food Network

You can't go wrong with the nutrition, either, especially the kind that is hugely important to boomers. Its ingredients are chock full of vitamins and minerals essential for vision, skin and cell health, immunity, bone health, heart health and boosting the body's antioxidents. 

Just in case you still are not convinced to try this recipe, I'm posting the picture of my first try to show that it's not hard. Even the culinary challenged could make this dish. Start to finish, it took about 40 minutes to prepare. (My version is half the recipe.) And, with some chopped fresh basil as a garnish, it's elegant and tasty enough to convince everyone you're a kitchen pro. Enjoy!

Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 Wine Review

Something new tonight, purchased online, but I think I've seen this offered locally, maybe on a restaurant wine list. It's Ghost Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. This is a blend to rival all blends, not only with grapes, but with appellations. And, I'm thinking it may be my new favorite Cab.

I'm a little confused as to why the winery decided to call it a Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up only 15%, with the majority of the grapes being Petite Syrah (48%) and Zinfandel (21%) with a little Petite Verdot thrown in 7% and 9% "other." Also, the grapes come from Sonoma, San Joaquin and Napa Counties. Here's what I found on the website:

"Each lot of our Ghost Pines 2011 Red Blend was fermented separately before blending. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah lots were cold soaked and fermented at warm temperatures to give the wine structure and depth. The Zinfandel was pumped over gently to liberate its spice characteristics, and we blended Petit Verdot from our Ghost Pines vineyard to add darkness and richness."

Whatever... it's very good.

Definitely let this wine breathe. It's gets phenomenal after about 30 minutes decanted. There's lots of dark ripe berries on the nose with a slight hint of licorice. On the palate, there's baking spice and chocolate with a little dark cherry. It has a nice tannin balance. 14.5% alcohol, so don't get carried away with the great taste! I think it would pair well with anything, but it's good on it's own, too. It was rated 90+ by every reviewer I read, and I will definitely purchase again, especially at $20/bottle on Wine.com.

Luca Malbec 2011 Wine Review

On recommendation a friend and fellow Malbec lover, I purchased a bottle of Luca Malbec 2011 from Mendoza, Argentina. This wine has everything I buy Malbec for... lots of berry aroma with what I thought was a hint of BBQ. In reading another review, it was described as hoisin and, BINGO! That's what I smell. I love hoisin, so it was no wonder my mouth started watering right away. On the taste, I get pomegranate, peppery spice, espresso and a little bit of tobacco... aka the perfect Malbec profile. Nice long finish with the taste of cola. Wine Advocate rates it 92, International Wine Cellar gives it a 91. And, I believe the ratings are well deserved.

I think it's important to introduce the creator of this wine, Laura Catena, referred to by many as the "face" of Argentinian Malbec. She is a fourth generation vintner PLUS an emergency medicine physician at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center PLUS an author and freelance writer PLUS a mother. Oh, and she's beautiful AND smart, graduating magna cum laude from Harvard, AND she got her medical degree at Stanford. Who says wine isn't good for you?

It's a little pricier than most of my choices, about $30/bottle purchased online at Wine.com. But, if you want to impress dinner guests, this is the perfect choice, because they'll swear you spent twice that. My friend said it was phenomenal with beef tenderloin, but I can imagine it going well with BBQ, Mexican food, spicy Italian and anything charcoal grilled... which qualifies it as a great summer wine for those who prefer reds. At 14% alcohol, it's no lightweight... so, please, drink responsibly. But, if you like bold, full-bodied wines, definitely drink this!

Dreaming Tree Crush 2011 Wine Review

Angel Tree, Charleston, S.C.

Ready for a new wine review? OK, then. I just happened to get a new shipment today. 

I picked Dreaming Tree Crush 2011 for my first tasting of the lot, mainly because the name reminded me of the centuries-old Angel Tree I saw while on vacation in Charleston (without a doubt, my favorite vacation, so far). The wine is a blend of 55% Merlot, 17% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Syrah, 8% Syrah and 7% other. 

Dreaming Tree is a collaboration of Dave Matthews (yes, THAT Dave Matthews) and Steve Reeder, who has a degree in Fermentation Sciences from the University of California (leave it to California to offer such a degree) and has been brewing and fermenting since he was 13.

I smell mostly berry jam, with a hint of baking spices. It reminded me of my brother's homemade cranberry sauce (which is awesome!) There's lots of semi-tart berries in the flavor, but with a slight earthy smoke backdrop and a little bit of moss.

Overall, I loved the wine because it is highly drinkable on its own, but was really good with my charcuterie plate of smoked meats and cheeses, it had a nice long finish, AND it reminded me of a treasured vacation experience. Any wine that can invoke those kinds of feelings and images is a keeper for me. 

I think you could pair this wine with just about anything, but I plan on enjoying it with a dish of farfalle and a rich, spicy tomato sauce for round two tomorrow night. 

I purchased this at Wine.com for about $15 and will buy it again. I couldn't find a rating for this vintage, but previous vintages were rated 90, and I would give this a 90, easy. 13.5% alcohol, so please drink responsibly.

Isn't It Ironic?

Wow! I actually did it!

I've posted before about how baby boomers are going to change perceptions regarding retirement, basically by choosing to pursue a secondary, or encore, career that aligns with a personal goal or passion. And, guess what! I have managed to do just that. Ain't it great when a plan works?

After fifteen years at a job in which my role had become mundane and dealing with serious personal issues at the same time, I was beginning to feel like my life had become a movie — which made me feel really old. 

The movie was "Finnegan Begin Again," starring Robert Preston and Mary Tyler Moore. (It got really bad promotion, because it's a sweet movie — about old people.) For those who have seen it, I felt I was living the life of the Robert Preston character, Mike. Ironic, in a Freudian sense.

Then, ironically, the communications medium I had declared an invasion of privacy — and the first step in the loss of civil liberty — gave me my heart's desire... the dream job... the encore career. The National World War I Museum was wanting to fill a position, for which I was uniquely suited. And, I knew this because I admired the Museum and "liked" its Facebook page. 

Again ironically, the 15 years of experience at a career I had come to loathe was instrumental in helping me get my dream job. The seniority I held at that job turned out to be leadership in an induced coma. I'm pretty sure there has to be a beatitude that covers this. And, if there isn't, there should be.

The plan had turned out to be the right direction, after all. The belief had been real. I feel I am making a living without working. How many people get to say that and mean it? 

The definition of irony is life.