Take Me Out To The Ballgame ($ucker)

My son is about to join the Marines, so I took him and a friend for a day at the Giants game.  I paid $180 for 3 so-so tickets in section Lower Box 127 (beyond third base under the overhang).  I paid $25 for parking (would have taken the ferry but the RT cost from Marin for 3 was $60).  Paid $45 for 3 dogs, 2 waters and 1 beer. So $250, plus gas for a day at the park.  Wow.  I remember going to 27 games in 1989 (earthquake year).  Now I will go to one or two.  Sad.

Chevy VOLT: More Bad Styling from GM

I could say a lot of things about General Motors, or should I say Government Motors. And I could say a lot about all-electric vehicles and whether they are going to save the Earth. But today let me just say, today I caught my first glimpse of the long-awaited Chevy VOLT and it's just butt ugly.

What school of design to the folks at American automakers recruit from anyway? We all know the Europeans have been out-designing us for-- well, forever.  That's why advertisers boast about "European styling".  But Detroit just seems to suffer from the inability to give us something that feels fashion forward. Instead, we get the same look and feel they've been putting out since the eighties.

Ford seems to be doing a better job. But GM and Chrysler, not so much. I remember one reviewer asking if the designers of the Chrysler 300 had used a cow's head for inspiration. That's funny; and true. Now we have the Chevy VOLT. Sorry, reducing my carbon footprint and paying a hefty premium for the privilege isn't enough to justify driving this dated-looking GM product.

The joys of cheap wine

These economic times demand creative searching for affordable wines.  I've always been a value hunter when it comes to wine.  I've always thought only fools pay $50 for a bottle of wine, unless that's chump change to them-- and then they are rich fools. 

By value I mean something in the teens.  You can find great wines for around $15.  But now that the Franklins are scarce, I'm having fun searching for decent wines under $10.  Usually I end up at $9.99, where you'll find a nice Pinot Noir by Sebastopol Hills (at Trader Joe's anyway).  Now that I've mentioned Trader Joe's, all the devotees of Two Buck Chuck will come out from under their 12-bottle cases.  Yes, I know, best deal ever, blah blah blah.  Sorry, I just refuse.

But tonight I went by one of my favorite little markets, Traverso's, which recently relocated to Fountaingrove from its longtime spot in downtown Santa Rosa, California.  This place might feel a little upper crust, but Michael in the wine department will help you find a good wine in any price range.

Mont Pellier 2008 Syrah

Right now I am enjoying a very drinkable Syrah by Mont Pellier.  It's a 2008 and, get this, it's a California blend.  To my Arizona friends that means that the wine is made from grapes from all over the Golden State, not from some coveted appelation such as Dry Creek Valley here in Sonoma County.  The best part is, this wine was $5.99.  Hey, let's play two!

So, sniff, swirl and spit all you like.  But life can be sweet at the lower end of the wine economy. 

Hope4Kids International

I want everyone to know about Hope4Kids International (http://www.h4ki.org/).  This is a great organization based in Phoenix, Arizona.  They are touching thousands of kids' lives around the world.  I got to know them when I lived in Arizona and I am proud to serve on their Board of Directors.

H4KI manages orphanages, schools, water projects and more on several continents.  My special project is Sunrise House orphanage in Fort Portal, Uganda.  I started Sunrise House as a Rotary project in 2004.  The connection to Fort Portal is a story that dates back to 1965 when I was only one year old.  The short version is that my father, an Episcopal minister, became friends with a young Anglican minister who was studying in California.  His name is Eustace Kamanyire.  He went on to become a high level Bishop in western Uganda and served in that role for 19 years.

In 2000, I was inspired to explore the idea of establishing an international project for my Rotary club and I traveled to Uganda to visit with our family friends, the Kamanyires.  We decided to develop an orphanage due to the thousands of children who have lost one or both parents due to AIDS, other disease and even civil war.  The home opened in 2004 and now houses dozens of children.  I have been fortunate to return there in 2006 and 2008, and I'm due for another trip soon!

We have children who need sponsors, and you can help for a small monthly amount.  Please check out www.hope4kidsinternational.org/sunrise-house for more info.