House Wine Will Do Just Fine

Do you order house wine?  I do. Not always, but a lot of the time.

Do you know people that refuse house wine just because it is house wine? Some house wine should be refused, but I think a lot of house wines are very drinkable, and some good. I don't think I have ever had a great house wine, but I do not expect it to be great, and I do not need great wine all of the time. If I want a great wine, I will go to the wine store, carefully select the wine, then enjoy it in the comfort of my own home or some special spot with special people. Also, a great bottle of wine in a restaurant is -- sorry to say -- expensive. The exception is Wednesday nights at Lucca's. They have half-price wine on Wednesdays. There you will always have great food, a great atmosphere, and great wine at half-price. You will never be disappointed.

House Wine took on a new meaning last Thursday. Chris and I decided to head out to sell bracelets. Are you getting tired of hearing about the bracelets yet? I hope not, we just placed an order for 200 more. $5. Just let me know how many you want. As usual, we ended up at the Brewhouse. Unbeknownst to us, the going away party for Jackie, a long-time server at the Brewhouse, was in full swing Downstairs. Kitty brought in a band,  and all of the employees and regulars were there to see Jackie off. There was also a silent auction.

Well, how can we expect anyone at the Brewhouse to support our cause if we don't support theirs? You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Great motto, by the way. It really does work, and a lot of great projects get funded that way. If anyone has ever done anything for you, never forget to reciprocate.


Kitty, the manager, is also a photographer and had some really great photos in the auction. Woody, a great server, artist, and one of the most talented, creative, delightful people you will ever meet, had one of her paintings in the auction. Amber, another great server, cute as a button, made a whole bunch of great jewelry for the cause.  

The one thing that caught my attention was the House Wine Bike. I am sure you've all seen the really fun, trendy, cool, retro, one-of-a-kind bikes that different cool companies supply and have drawings for in local beer establishments. Fat Tire has one. Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville had one hanging from the ceiling. Cool colors, cool logos, old fashioned big fat tires, one speed, back brakes, straight handlebars; one of life's simple pleasures.

I wanted it. My husband said, "You don't need it." Well, when you turn 50, you start to look at life differently. You realize that each day is a gift, and "you don't need it" goes right out the window. First of all, I do need that bike. It says "House Wine" on it. It doesn't get any better than that. I thought I would buy it as a piece of art, hang it on the wall in the wine room in my basement that isn't finished yet, and it would look awesome. I also have a really cool whiskey barrel that is waiting for its spot in the wine room not finished yet. And there would never be another House Wine Bike. The two items would go quite nicely together. The whiskey barrel came from Tim, the brewer, at Blackfoot Brewery, and it was free. Thanks, Tim.

I was the successful bidder. Yeah! I have ridden my new bike every day since I got it. I really hadn't planned on that. Exercise; what a novel idea.

I sent a picture of my new bike to my nephew in California. He asked if it was a fixie and told me I was a hipster. I had never heard the term fixie so I Googled it. I don't know if it is truly a fixie, as I did not find a good definition, but I am going with it. My very own House Wine Fixie.

Tonight, my husband and I rode our bikes over to the high school where I proceeded to complete my photo assignment; a portrait type photo that you would hang on your wall. Well, I now have a portrait type photo of my new bike at sunset out in a field that I will be hanging on my wall tomorrow.

As I like to say, a win/win for everyone. I got something really cool, helped somebody along the way, and also got my assignment done. Life is good.

"No one has ever become poor by giving." ~ Anne Frank
(So go buy something at a fundraiser that will make you smile.)