Windmill Musings

I dog sat, cat sat, and house sat this weekend. It had been a very busy week and another emotional one. I think I did better in hiding it and guiding it (not just hiding, I promise), but I'll never be sure 100%. I had struggles with my attitude at times, but I also think I did better in not letting them get out of control, too much. I did make one slip up; one I didn't mean but the words came out any way. Every day is a day that I have to gauge almost every behavior I have, and that I'm not proud of most of them. And that's it, that's the thing right now for me: controlling what I can over a day. And every day is different in what is hard. Nothing really is the same kind of hard. I've said a few times to a few select people that I'm tired, but they misinterpret the meaing of tired. Its not a sleep, work tired. It's a "I'm having to watch everything I do, I say, I act because I'm really, really sad, angry, depressed" and it's all I c

 Life is changed. It just is. I'm more stable now but living without a person who was part of you for almost 44 years is just life-changing period. You have no choice but to see things differently. Yes, you "learn to live without," which is a phrase I really hate (also "be strong" doesn't have the same meaning anymore, I hate those two words together), but it doesn't mean you aren't changed a bit, or its not okay to be a little different. It so COMPLETELY is OK! You just hope that the people around you can understand your transitions; can forgive you for them. And, really, you now truly know what someone else you know went through in their loss, when before you were the one saying "you'll get through this, be strong, etc." I'm thankful for those people to have forgiven me for my naivety during that time for them; and I pray to be the same graceful person right now - when all I want to do is scream at any of those statements. But I d

 I have a lot to do today but I wanted to type these thoughts, and a little about my skincare routine to help others with sensitive skin like me. Skin care I have struggled with my skin most of my life. It's uber sensitive, and with the addition of being of Portuguese, Swiss, Italian, English, Irish, decent, I also have fair skin and very dark, course hair. That is not a fun combination. I've tried A LOT of skin care and make up brands that are supposed to be for sensitive skin. Everyone's sensitive skin is different though so not every sensitive product works. Here's is a list of my top five sensitive skin brands, but only one is consistently good for my skin. That will be the last one on my list. 5. Dermalogica. It took a while, but it eventually cleared my skin. However, it wasn't the greatest of results. My skin looked better but didn't feel better. 4. Neutrogena. I was a big proponent of Neutrogena growing up, but as my skincare got more important to me per

 The great thing about housesitting is that it's a change from the norm. Whether I was in my own apartment, renting my parents basement apartment, or living in a room in someone else's house, staying at someone else's place is a good change - especially if I get to pet sit, too. It's nice to break up your daily routine, or weekly routine, and then get to help someone take care of their pets while away. This is my first time sitting for Benny (the boxer/heeler mix), and Rosa and Mabel (the tuxedo cat sisters). They have been an absolute hoot and so fun to watch.  It's funny though because though I get a break from my norm the one thing I do more of is clean in someone else's house. It's not because its dirty or anything; it's just that I really want to make sure that I leave someone's place better then when I came. So today, I'm not only making sure that tomorrow's transition is easy back home, but I found something to do to make my stay bette

The previous post, currently, lists over 174 wineries that I've tasted at in person. By a few of them there is "GO" in parentheses. This means one of two things: 1) the wine and experience are stellar, or 2) one or the other is so good that it trumps the mediocrity of the other.  I'm creating a separate online and print project that will partly expand on some subjects, including my wine tasting trips and all things wine. For now, however, I'll leave you with the top five wineries, in random order, I've visited in the following regions: Napa/St. Helena/Calistoga, Livermore, San Jose, Gilroy/Morgan Hill, Carmel/Monterey/Soledad, and Paso Robles. NAPA/ST HELENA/CALISTOGA Paraduxx Very relaxing, well-planned and presented tasting, beautiful area, fun concept of wines: hint, all wines are a "pair" of "Duck"horn wines. Cute, huh? Also, you have your own host/hostess and they'll stay with you or leave you alone if you want - at least, they did

Here is the updated list of the wineries I've visited so far. It is split by region (my way, anyway). WINERIES (CA)….updated 5/9/22….189 (Note: these are the wineries I've actually visited; but I've tasted other wines like Caymus, Williams Selyem, Saxum, Niner, Sterling, The Prisoner, Far Niente, Nickel and Nickel, Opus One, etc. One day, I hope to get to all of them) NAPA/CALISTOGA/ST. HELENA REGION Hall (Go) Walt (Go) Duckhorn (Go) Paraduxx (Go) Luna Black Stallion (Go) Miner Family (Go) Robert Sinskey (Go) Odette Turnbull (Go) Cakebread Cellars (Go) Tamber Bey Summer Estate Envy Sutter Home Robert Mondavi Beringer V. Sattui Vincent Arroyo (Go) Madrigal (Go) Rutherford Hill Mumm Napa (Go) Frog's Leap (Go) Frank Family (Go) Paradigm Grgich Hills Chateau Montelena Consentino Girard JAM The Wine Thief (Kale, Purileau) (Go) Clos Pegase Von Strasser Storybook Mountain Anarchist  Peju (Go) John An