That's the one word I've been dying to say for about a week now. Without going into two much detail one of the counselors at my camp had to leave, right before the beginning of the season. They were already understaffed and asked me to fill in as a cabin counselor rather than as Sailing Program Coordinator which is the position for which I was hired. I was then saddled with 7 boys who were my charges for most of the day. They ranged between the ages of 7 and 8 and were here for a one week session (camp normally runs on two week sessions) so were both younger than the normal campers in "Beaver" village (who are generally 9 at the youngest and more often 10 and 11) and the kind of campers that parents are afraid would not do well away from home for two weeks. Four of them were manageable. Three were each on their own worse than any of the campers I was used to dealing with in my 7 years of summer camp counselor and junior counselor experience. Together they created a triumvirate of insanity that was an unstoppable force. Aside from constant disobedience I nearly died on two occasions. One when the rescue boat failed and I had to rescue campers from a canoe on a sailboat that sank in the middle of the lake so we needed rescue ourselves. Honestly I've never really been so close to thinking we might all die, and I had campers screaming that they didn't want to die, and others asking permission to pee in the water. Rescued by boaters. I was left on board cause there was no room on the boat (which showed up half an hour after we floundered) I mean, captain goes down with the ship. I sat on the upturned boat till rescue came in the form of some friends on a canoe. The other time was when a tree feel on our cabin. So, there was vomiting, bed-wetting, homesickness, and well, I have never been so stressed in all my life. After this week I'll be going back to Sailing Program Coordinator, it's gonna feel like vacation. Signing off to watch Pirates, gotta get into the mood.

The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvédere Viognier was absolutely insipid. Yes, insipid is the word. No character whatsoever and there is no doubt in my mind no word could better describe it. I was constantly wondering why I was even lifting the glass to my lips. Just plain not worth it.

The other night however on the recommendation of an English Co-worker I enjoyed a wonderful Carmen Sauvignon Blanc from Chile. Nothing remotely furry about the bottle (plain label, clear glass, screw top) but it was a good wine, and at 6.99 reasonably priced. Warm towards the alcohol but with tart mineral and nutty tones. The taste was almost a bit of sesame seed at least on the nutty note. A bit different from the Yellow Tail in that it's warmer. It's not really a delicate example of everything a Sauvingnon Blanc should be though. Not delicate enough. The notes run together a bit too much whereas in a $20 bottle (not to say you get what you pay for but in general) the notes would be more separate.

That's all for now. I'm working at a summer camp, meeting people from all over the world and having fun with them. I'm getting paid a lot more than my last job, but it's a resident camp and I have all sorts of legal obligations not to divulge anything. I have a fairly high position though, basically in charge of something I used to just be a part of at my last camp. They can monitor internet use so I'm coming to you from my apartment.

Peace
Apothacer

As for the Foxhorn Vineyards Merlot from last week... I was pleasantly surprised! I was sad to see that it was first of all impossible to open the bottle without destroying the lovely fox around the neck, and that furthermore the top was one of those that has a plastic cap and a small cork that goes down inside the bottle. Easy to open maybe, but not very aesthetic. At about $8 for 1.5 Liters It's a great value and I was expecting it to have the harsh finish that raises it's ugly head in even some of the "best" merlot. It simply wasn't there! The flavor was not terribly complex, but neither was it offensive. After a few glasses I was singing all the Irish tunes I could remember, and then after a few more I was started on gospel songs. I split the bottle with my friend who has a problem with sulfites and decided he was going to push on bravely anyway. He had a terrible hangover and splitting headache that he has had up until just an hour or so ago. I was fine. Were it not for the fact that this guy is pretty much my only drinking buddy at the moment I would certainly buy another bottle or two for the flavor and economy of it.


My only problem with this wine aside from the complaints of my friend was the lack of complexity. Better merlot have been aged in the barrel long enough to take on the character of the oak. An old merlot has all kinds of character. It will never become a shining star no matter how long you let it sit in the cask if it was grown on poor soil in some sprawling sea of highly efficient new vines, or gathered with grapes from several locations of varying ripeness. This however clearly started with good grapes, but dubious aging process. There is no year to be found on the bottle, my guess is this is 2008. In short, this is a new wine. If you've already had a nice bottle or two and you wanna finish off the night with something that isn't going to break the bank, and is hard to turn your nose up at, this is the perfect buy.

On a side note, the Gatão Vino Verde... At $7 for 750ml, I just had to buy another bottle. My drinking partner was fully behind the decision. I'm nearly finished my first glass and typing this just fine (I hope). At %9 alcohol it makes the perfect wine for deep conversations early in the evening or as the first course of a meal is served. Very refreshing. I know I already sung it's praises but with a second bottle bought I just have to say it again, it's a fantastic wine. I should be spending my money on new animal themed wines to review.... and I have!

Next up for review is The Wolftrap Syrah Mourvédere Viognier. Beautiful simplistic woodcut of a wolf on the label. From South-Africa which is actually starting up a very very respectable wine industry in the past few decades as far as the global market is concerned. I don't have any experience to prepare me for this bottle though because it is what it is, a red wine that does not claim to be a Merlot, or a Cabernet, or a Shiraz. It is what it is, a red wine with a blend of three different grapes (those three words after Wolftrap which I am not going to type again) so I'll just wait and see what unfolds when I try it tomorrow night, though I may have to sneak a taste tonight and hope not much is lost overnight in the fridge once I open it. Those bottle of Gatão go quick. Sadly my drinking buddy probably won't be able to join me properly attacking the bottle of Wolftrap because of his sulfite issue but at 750ml I should be up for the job.

Okay, Today we got ferrets, oh my god they are adorable idiots.

But enough about that, I think until such time as I am employed as a Camp Counselor this summer (and even then on the weekends perhaps) I thought I would share my wine and food experience. I like to buy my booze if it has an animal on the label. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, but I just wanna report on it so that if you want a tasty wine and a bottle to put on a shelf once you've emptied it you won't run into disappointment.

First off, if you are one of those people that does not like wine, man are you missing out. It's the best kind of drunk in the world. Wine drunk is just happy, murry, purry, and ready to curl up with new friends or total strangers and usually with no hang-over if you play your cards right.

If you have trouble with sulfites and have turned your back on wine for fear of bad migraines the answer to all your problems may lie with an animal-related wine label. Billy Goat has a line of sulfite free wines to choose from. I won't go into detail on that but for those of you that get a head-ache as soon as look at a deep red glass of wine this is an area you can look into for that blissful wine-drunk without the headache.

Spent all your money on commissions and you can't bear to buy a cheep five dollar bottle of wine only to find it weak? The value award has to go to Yellow Tail Chardonnay. Say what you will about Chardonnay but this is a real bargain and it get's the job done. Somehow by coming from Australia it's imbued with a tendency to take you by surprise and leave you feeling tingly and furry all over after just one or two glasses. Three or four will leave you feeling fantastic, but don't push it, the stuff goes right to your head. My one regret with this wine is that I tried to enjoy it with a salad including nutty fragrant Mustard Greens. After that every time I tasted the wine, I tasted the greens, and vice versa. The flavors are so similar you end up focussing on the one note in the wine if you have had anything to eat with a similar note. A complex wine is great but this one has a lot of notes running the race neck and neck with a lot of space between them. It's like playing chords on your tongue. A good wine to sit and contemplate if you want "The flavors you get by aging in white oak" for dummies.

I climbed out on a limb recently and spent close to $8 on a rather small bottle of wine, Gatao, Vino Verde from Portugal. It has a lovely blue-green cat on the label and almost no color what soever aside from a light blue-green cast. I had no idea what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. The taste is tart and refreshing, and the finish is slightly sparkling. There is wisdom in putting it in such small bottles, as I'm sure if left over-night in the fridge it would go flat once opened.

Upcoming Review! FoxHorn Vineyards Merlot. Okay, it's a Merlot, what the hell am I gonna report on? So far it has a beautiful fox on the label and it's a nice big bottle. A domestic brew so I'm probably gonna report back saying "Yep... it's a Merlot alright." but stay tuned.

Also in my next review a recipe of mine for mulled cider with rum that has had nothing but positive receptions at parties and would fit right in with any Redwall Feast!

Cheers,
Apothacer

I didn't want to put this in the title of the journal to be any sort of huge attention grabber. My grandfather just passed at 12:30AM. We had some warning and all but, it's still hit me a bit harder than I would have thought it might. I won't go into the details but it was a heart attack. My mother is making a long drive to be with my grandmother and other relatives tomorrow morning leaving me and my father and my brother in charge of my little sister. My father and brother are leaving on Friday which will leave just me and my sister. All this and it's the spring maple syrup season. I also have some big school projects that were assigned over spring break.

The other day I was contemplating leaving DA for good, not cause of any of you but because it's hard with all the memories of my ex-girlfriend that I associate with this place. I thought if I did that, I would have to give everyone a proper goodbye. I thought if I wanted to write a journal like that, I would need a few paragraphs for a LOT of people who I have known here over the years. I started to realize just how extensive of a list that would have to be.

Thank you one and all for your thoughts, your comments, your support, your faves, and your art. I find so much of the things you all submit here inspiring and uplifting. Thank you.

Best Wishes,
Apothacer

EDIT!

Sorry if I made it seem like I am leaving. I'm not, just gonna be dealing with IRL things for a little while. *hugs*