3/15/13 Interview, Hand Doc, Beer Movie, Peruvian Restaurant

3/15/13

Interviewed here today —
Not for a barista position at Starbucks
but for a Wine Rep job in Bucks and
surrounding area.Let’s hope I get this job. I did my best!

I met with Joe Brandolo, PA Sales Manager
for Winebow, anyone know him?

After work I visited the Hand Center to get my
Trigger Thumb checked out.

this is a gadget that measures the strength of your hand.
I did better with my right hand, of course!

Dr Eon Shin is who I saw & he has a list
of impressive credentials from
Harvard to Yale to UCLA.
I was quite happy to have him Helping Me!

Here are a couple dogs “helping” with
a plumbing job….Do your dogs help as well??

My hands on x-ray look GOOD!

Basically the tendon in my hand is inflamed
& it can’t get through the little tunnels that make
the thumb work. Like a little pulley system.
I ended up getting a steroid injection & we hope
this will fix the problem. There is a 50/50 chance
it will work.

Dear Thumb: Please get better!
I have life to live & can’t let this slow me down!
We use our hands for A LOT of things!!

I had leftover wine from Wednesday night
wine tasting so I whipped up a quick batch.
I don’t think people realize how easy this
is to make. Let me know if you want to
attend a Sangria Making Class.

Got an unexpected FUN St Patrick’s day card
in the mail with awesome stickers inside.
Thanks R & D & G too!!!!
Looking forward to using the stickers.

On our ride to Lambertville, NJ.
Crossing the New Hope – Lambertville Bridge.
I just never tire of the view.
Of course, it’s always better in person.

I liked this one with the blurry people.
Taking pictures from a moving car is challenging.

City of Lambertville, NJ~This is their City Hall (during the day)

and at night it transforms into the
ACME SCREENING ROOM!!http://acmescreeningroom.org/

We came to see BREWED IN BROOKLYN.http://ow.ly/j2i0B

It was a documentary about beer-making in Brooklyn.

That’s the director John Weber.
He answered questions at the end.

After the movie we ate at EL TULE for our
belated Anniversary dinner.http://www.eltulerestaurant.com/

I tried getting a picture of the place
without using my flash.
It’s quite dark, as you see.
It’s also quite tiny. It is BYOB.
It’s Peruvian/Mexican food.
Food is good, Michael really likes it here.

I couldn’t decide on Red or White wine –
so I brought a Rose’.
Was good but it was no TAVEL –
that’s my favorite French Rose’.

Their guacamole is the BEST Michael has
ever eaten…. according to him!
Has he never tried mine??

We tried the appetizer special
so we could taste some Peruvian dishes

The appetizer was an assortment of Peruvian dishes.
It contained Shrimp & Scallop Ceviche,
calamari, Yellow potato cake with shrimp,
and a few sides.It was very tasty & liked it a lot.
Michael not so much bc he REALLY wanted
the Mexican Lasagna which is what he
SHOULD have gotten.

*************************************

“The brick walls are there for a reason.
The brick walls are not there to keep us out.
The brick walls are there to give us a chance
to show how badly we want something.
Because the brick walls are there to stop the people
who don’t want it badly enough.
They’re there to stop the other people.”

–Randy Pausch

March 14, 2013

3.14.(2013) Pi Day, beer, Anniversary presents, Dog Drivers, FREE stuff

3.14.(2013)

I know I know – it was PI DAY today & due to
improper planning on my part my co-workers still got
Soft Pretzels & no pie. I don’t know what I was thinking!
Maybe I’ll bring pie another day.You know all about Pi Day, right???
http://ow.ly/iXxFH

We tried this Hard Cider at work so
you won’t have to: Don’t Buy It.
It’s yucky.

Dark Hollow is another beer we drank at work today.When was the last time you said
” I drank this beer at work?”

I approve this one. OK to buy!

Found this note on my car when I left work!
I love a random note 🙂

This was with the note as well.

I picked this up to give to Michael as part
of his anniversary gift.

Gave him this one too.Will post reviews on both when we try them.

Michael picked up a couple Chicory Stouts for me.
mmmmmm.

Michael gave me an anniversary gift in this bag

BINOCULARS!!! he knew I wanted a “good” pair.

I tried to get a self photo of me using them –
didn’t turn out so hot.

Me, using the new binoculars.
Now I can really see into neighbors houses….
just kidding!! I’m checking on birdies!!

Does anyone want this?? It is a windowsill planter.
It’s pretty nice, ceramic & has little holes where
it can drain. We don’t use it anymore & it’s yours
if you will use it. LMK.

Dogs love riding in the car

Whooo Hooo,

Finally Got My License!

Dog Drivers

ALWAYS BE POSITIVE!************************************

“Those three things: autonomy, complexity and a connection between effort and reward are, most people agree, the three qualities that work has to have if it is to be satisfying. It is not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between 9 and 5. It is whether our work fulfills us. … Work that fulfills those three criteria is meaningful.” – Malcolm Gladwell

March 13, 2013

3/13/13 Bluebirds of Happiness, Anniversary, Wine tasting, Wine JOB?

3/13/13

My male Bluebird visiting the bluebird restaurant

The fluffy bluebird of Happiness looking right at me

Bluebird Couple checking out Housing.
Female is on the right.

brown headed cowbird – they are “brood parasites”:
they lay their eggs in the nest of another species
so they don’t have to feed/raise them!

First Egg! from the Falcon couple that lives in Harrisburg!!

here is the link to info & the bird-cam*:
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/falcon/recent_news.html

*don’t watch at night!!

Continuing with the bird theme….
I attended a meeting today & it was decorated
in DUCKS!!!

received my official Wine Certificate from
my WSET Advanced Course

Amazingly, somehow, Passed with Merit!!

I don’t know how I did it, but thankful I did!

Happy Anniversary!!!
Michael & I have been married 14 years today….
I’m married to the guy who once proclaimed:
“I’m NEVER getting married”.
Glad he changed his mind 🙂

Too bad he’s not here for us to celebrate 😦

Michael bought me this bluetooth for the car.
It is SIMPLE to use (Mary O. – get one!!)

Do you use a bluetooth? Do you like it??

Warrington Liquor Store.
Not sure WHY they have this statue here.

Tonight’s wine tasting —
Wines from France & Italy.

I have meeting tomorrow with this company:
WINEBOW

http://www.winebow.com/

Let’s hope the reason I haven’t gotten the
other jobs is because this is the right one!!!

Plan ahead — tomorrow is PI Day.

What is PI Day??? March 14th

http://www.piday.org/

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159.

********************************************
On anniversaries,
the wise husband
always forgets the past,
never the present

March 13, 2013

3/12/13 Michael Skurnik Grand Portfolio Tasting, NYC

3/12/13

Dog Walker in NYC

– all bundled up for a walk in the rain

“Life is great, Dogs make it better”

I was invited to a Portfolio Wine Tasting in NYC.http://www.sevenfifty.com/michaelskurnikwines/tastings/69

It was hosted by Michael Skurnik Wines.

Ryan works for Michael Skurnik Wines.
He is my sales rep at the Wine Store in NJ.
Lucky me to know him & get invited to an awesome event!http://www.skurnikwines.com/

Andrea & Helen.Andrea is the wine buyer for a NJ liquor store.
We took the Advanced WSET wine class together.
She passed with Distinction.
I passed with Merit.

Joel Gott — I always just thought it was a wine –
not really a person — well, here he is:
Joel Gott in the flesh. Drink his wines.
They are Delicious & reasonably priced as well.http://www.gottwines.com

Young whipper snapper learning about Wines
at an early age!

Chris Camarda the winemaker at Andrew Will wines.These wines are WONDERFUL. Chris is a super winemaker!

http://www.andrewwill.com

“I am not interested in the similarities of my wines but the differences. The different identities of our vineyards and the identity of Washington State as distinct from California or Bordeaux.”

~Chris Camarda

wine splattered tasting book

CHEERS!

I heard that Ginger Man was an awesome beer bar in NYC.
Of course, I had to check it out…..http://www.gingerman-ny.com/

so many decisions…….

I went with the Stone Enjoy by 4.1.13
bc it will be gone in 2 weeks.
Gotta get it when you can!

Made friends with Frank –
he has his own company & shared a lot
of good advice with me.http://www.digitalnewwave.com/

Another new friend David –
we talked book, bikes & beers.

He’s a director at Montclair Library in NJ.

Don’t give up…………..
Remember how far you have gotten!!!****************************************

see ALL the photos from the days events here:
http://helenspicturesoftheday.shutterfly.com/pictures/1634

****************************************

When things don’t go right,
it doesn’t mean
you have to go wrong along with them.
Goals and dreams are kind of like breathing
– once you give up, there’s no hope left.
Don’t do that to yourself.

http://www.marcandangel.com

March 13, 2013

3/11/13 birdhouses, HOSPITAL, Princeton Library for WordPress

3/11/13

Michael hung a few birdhouses in the neighborhood

They add a little color to the common area

One of our neighbors was having a birthday

Apparently they were 29…..AGAIN!

Look what has sprung at our house!!Do you need one of these flowers??
Brother Raymond can make on for you!

look how LUCKY I was today!!
Saw 11:11 on 3/11

Had to go to the Doctor today because I
developed this condition called Trigger Thumb.it’s the same as trigger finger –
but my thumb instead.
learn about it here:

I drove to Newtown to get bagels….
but discovered Bagel Junction was CLOSED,
permanently :(I was HUNGRY so I stopped at nearby OISHI.http://eatoishi.com/

Crunchy Tuna RollThe food here is soooooo good.
I don’t know why we don’t eat here more often?

haven’t had a “different signature” recently—so here ya go!helcha loves sushi 🙂

I stopped at Isaac Newtons to get
tickets to the Washington Crossing Brewfest.
They are an Anniversary present (3/13) for Michael.
shhhhh – don’t tell him!BUT — DO get your tickets NOW
before the sell out – this is the BEST FEST
& pretty much the only one we go to anymore.http://www.washingtoncrossingbrewfest.com/did you see my signature on that credit card slip?
heart beer!

I had to go to the hospital to get an
X-ray of my hand. I have an appointment Friday
with an Orthopedic Surgeon to get an assessment.

The hospital has a cool “Serenity Garden”

Tonight I attended a WordPress class held at
the Princeton Public Library.http://www.princetonlibrary.org/WordPress is the blog site I started using
since http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/ is closing down.

Our instructor John LeMansey – was very informative.
http://johnwlemasney.wordpress.com/Helping to better my blog
WHAT WOULD HELEN DOhttps://whatwouldhelendo.com/

Can you see me???
I was headed up front to take my picture for
Picture of the Day!

The class was at full capacity.
Lots of people want to learn about WordPress!Does anyone want to go to the next class with me??*********************************************

“We cannot change history
but we should try to do good things
for the present and for the future
to promote peace.”~ Kim Phuc

March 11, 2013

Sunday Funday 3/10/13 Pancake Breakfast, BIKING, baby Danielle :)

Sunday Funday 3/10/13

Stop To Smell The Pancakes!

We supported our local FIREHOUSE
by attending the IVYLAND pancake breakfast

Dave made me BLUEBERRY pancakes today –
they were totally tasty.
Maybe next time we can get banana ones?
Or chocolate chip??
hint, hint!

We headed to Bulls Island to kick off our Biking Season.
We had a tough winter weather wise so we
didn’t get to log many miles on two wheels.

We thought we were doing a CLUB ride with
our friend ROY who recently moved back to
the area but someone (ME!) got the start time
mixed up – so we did our own ride.
(sorry Roy – we had good intentions –
we WANTED to see you & do your ride!)

Here comes Michael, Deb & Greg

there goes Greg, Deb & Michael

Me – self photo WHILE biking – it’s tricky!

For friend Shannon – PUG sign!

Slugging up a hill….

Can’t say I ever get tired of the views….

Longhorn Cattle – I guess that’s what they are called?
Another tricky photo – snapping as we ride.

Me & Deb at the end of our ride

We logged 24 miles of beautiful countryside today.

Just get off your arse (as V would say!)

It’s a Girl!!!!

Michael, sister Pat, brother Raymond & I went up
to visit baby Danielle. We brought dinner too.
Thought it would be a nice treat.

Michael’s first time holding the baby
bc he was sick last week when she was born.
He must have been doing something right
bc she stopped crying when he held her!

baby Danielle

A Lucky Leopard for baby Danielle from friend CAT!

***************************************************

To the outside world we all grow old.

But not to brothers and sisters.

We know each other as we always were.

We know each other’s hearts.

We share private family jokes.

We remember family feuds and secrets,

family griefs and joys.

We live outside the touch of time.

-Clara Ortega

March 10, 2013

Saturday 3/9/13 The Grand Ivyland Chili Cook Off!!!

Saturday 3/9/13

The hosts of tonight’s Chili Cook off were
neighbors Kim & Dan.

The winner gets to take home this Amazing Award –
handcrafted by Michael Mathers!

Top contenders –
Dan’s brother Matt — I voted for his.
It was tasty, spicy but not too spicy & it had
some tasty vegetables which I found unusual
& liked very much.

Dan’s White Chili – made with Chicken

and MY Chili – which was well received!

I never made this recipe before but figured
I could pull off a winning pot of Chili.
I read a bunch of recipes & took the best
of each & came up with this concoction.

Here is my recipe:

https://whatwouldhelendo.com/2013/03/10/helens-award-winning-chili/