White vs red

I’m not much into trends or being cool, so I don’t know if it’s in to like red and dislike white, or vice versa. A couple of years ago I heard a woman who was being interviewed on CBC radio blurt out that she would never marry a man who drank red wine. This sort of disconcerted the interviewer because she was being interviewed about a book she had written on negotiating skills and this seemed like a somewhat intransigent stance for a professional negotiator. The interviewer asked her if she was kidding, and she replied most emphatically that she was not.
Anyway, back to red vs. white. I probably like more white wines than red wines. That is, if I had to list wines I like more whites would come out. The first one that jumps to mind is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. I haven’t met a Kiwi Sauv Blanc that I didn’t like, and Kim Crawford Marlborough is the best of the lot. For Canadian whites I really like Quail’s Gate Special Reserve 2001 Chardonnay. I’ve probably gotten the name wrong, there are too many Quail’s Gate whites on the market. Anyway, in the northern Canadian town where I live the liquor stores are all out of this particular one.
With reds it’s a little harder to think of favourites. I had a Grgich (sp??) from California last summer that was absolutely wonderful. I had to drive all the way to Calgary to find it. And, this may be heresy, but I think on the whole I like Italian reds better than French. And, of course, the Aussies have their shiraz.
See more progress on: Enjoy great wine

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So far, so good

This goal is progressing better than I expected it too. By having a plan and by making a commitment to making a monthly payment before spending money on myself, I’ve managed to really knock the line of credit down. If all goes as expected (and it might not; you never know when unexpected costs can jump at you) I will be debt free in five months (by the spring).
I’ve already managed to retire the debt on one credit card and have the other one under control: i.e. I don’t carry a balance. The reduced interest payments are contributing to my cash flow very nicely. I used to spend over $300/month on interest on two lines of credit; now it’s down to about $30/month and shrinking with every month as I make payment against principle.
See more progress on: pay my line of credit

Technorati Tags: finance, money

Waffling

I’m not really waffling about losing weight; it’s the weight that’s waffling. In the past week I dropped 5 pounds; put it back on within three days; and lost two pounds a day later. All this without altering my dietary habits (i.e. eating naughty things).
I think watching one’s weight too carefully and regularly is psychologically unhealthy because weight loss is not a straight line. It curves and cuts back; it waffles (I like waffles on the plate but not in my plans).
A turn in the wrong direction can be very depressing. Ignore it; it’s the general direction that counts. Make adjustments if weight is going up over a longer period of time, say a week or two. Don’t panic.

See more progress on: hit my target weight

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Saving passively

My life has seen quite a few changes over the last six months. I’ve sold my house and moved in with Christine. We share all expenses, so I’ve got more money available. I’ve spent quite a bit of it on a stereo and a garden shed, but I’m a little ahead and gaining every month.
I used to have car payments but I got rid of the outstanding balance with some of the proceeds from the house. Also, I used to put aside a bit of money every month to cover the taxes on the house. In both cases I’d set up my bank accounts for automated transfers of the amounts from one savings account into a special one that I didn’t touch. Without thinking about it I let this go on for a couple of months after my move. Lo and behold: savings! I’d gotten used to not having this money as part of my monthly operating budget, so I didn’t miss it. So, I’ve decided to let it pile up. My current car is 7 years old and beginning to show its age and we’ll probably want a vacation next summer, so the accumulation won’t go on forever. But, when I do feel the need of some extra cash it’ll be nice to dip into the savings instead of the line of credit.

See more progress on: learn to save money

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Huh?

This is a tricky one to write about, because I can’t really say anything anticipatory, or not very much, without contradicting the whole “no predetermined destination” thing.
It’s like I’ve limited my ability to speculate because of the very lack of specificity of the project. One could philosophize and say some lives are like a road trip with no predetermined destination. Maybe all lives are a road trip with no predetermined destination. Then again, if you believe in predestination or fate or some form of determinism, then you could say that no lives are a road trip with no predetermined destination.

See more progress on: go on a road trip with no predetermined destination

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Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin

I finished reading Eugene Onegin about one week ago. I quite liked it, though I’m not sure my reactions are the ones the author would have wanted. But then again, how are we to know what reactions Pushkin wanted?

The scenes of country life, Russian customs, and the Russian winter were wonderfully realized. The lives of the main characters were hollow, shallow, and meaningless. That Onegin should kill his best friend in a duel because the victim was upset at the way Onegin danced with his fiance is ridiculous. It reveals the imbecility of the gentleman’s code of honour.

Overall I was left with a feeling of distaste, intended I hope by Pushkin, for the Byronic sort of romanticism which exalts the exertion of the young male’s will above all else.
See more progress on: Read more great books

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I like chaos

Complete orderliness is boring to me. I can’t work in a quite, tidy atmosphere. I need some music; I need a couple of piles of paper around; I need another job on the go just in case the current one I’m doing bogs down. Why then do I want to get more organized?
I think it’s because I need my chaos to exist within a framework of my own making. There have to be boundaries to it; it can’t be limitless.
See more progress on: get more organized

Talisker

Talisker has great aroma, a mixture of leather and smoke. Its taste is not as big as Glenkinchie or Oban, though it does have a pleasant butterscotch finish. I don’t think I’d go out of my way to buy it again.
See more progress on: drink the six classic malts

Aiming for my year end goal

Thus far I have dropped 22 pounds. I’m finding it easier to make intelligent food choices as I get into the habit of eating good food. Things that I used to crave (especially KFC) now kind of creep me out.
My aim now is to drop an additional 8 pounds by the end of the year and make it an even 30 pounds lost. The going has slowed down as my body has become accustomed to the reduced calorie intake. The Christmas season looms ahead with its threat of over eating. The calorie threat here lies in eating out too much.
The benefits of my weight loss are becoming more and more obvious. I have increased energy, better flexibility, and a happier digestive system.
The next trick is to cut back even more on the red meat. I’ve really reduced it, but can still do better. And lunch will have to go more in the direction of salads and fruits and away from processed cheeses and luncheon meats. When I do eat protein it will have to be canned fish.
I’m optimistic.

See more progress on: hit my target weight

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Glenkinchie

This is the second of the six classic malts which I have sampled. It cost about $20 CDN less than the Oban, but went much more quickly. It’s a Lowland Scotch, one of the very few single malts still manufactured in that region. The taste is very different from what I’ve come to expect from most single malts. There is no peatiness, no salty tang reminiscent of the sea, and no smoky aroma or flavour. The aroma is somewhat like licorice and there are licorice notes to the taste, as well as walnut riffs that reminded me of good sherry. The aftertaste is very smooth, among the smoothest I’ve experienced in single malt.
Overall, I liked it and it was smooth, easy drinking. It’s not as distinctive as some other whiskies and I don’t think it will replace my favourites such as Bowmore or Glenlivet.
See more progress on: drink the six classic malts