After church on Sunday, mum and were walking with some friends when one suggested I find myself a Swedish man while visiting abroad. She continue by extolling the virtues of men of Scandinavian decent (her father, you see, is part Norwegian – or something of the sort – making her an obvious expert on the matter)…
Friend: You should totally consider it. Just imagine walking next to a blonde haired cuties
Her husband: Yeah, and you’d be royalty.
Friend: It’s true, you could … well … do all the things a royal person does.
Her husband: No, wait {shaking his head} I don’t think that’s right. I think Amy is more European-royalty.
Me: Is it that obvious?
Mom: Yes, yes it is.
Summer is now in full swing. The weekend was full of activity – showers, picnics, an outdoor baptism.
It was flip-flops intermingled with the green grass …
It was young …
hangin’ with the old …
It was water pups …
and pretty princesses …
It was surrounded by friends and covered with sun light. It was all summertime should be.
Based on the true story of love, victory, and fermentation
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Verdict: Loved
The gist: Bottle Shock is a loose retelling of the events leading up to the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” tastings – where California wines went up against the French in a blind tasting. Before 1976 there was one country synonymous with good wine: France. And then a certain sommelier named Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) decided to put it to the test. Traveling from Paris to Napa Valley, he set out to gather the best California wines to taste against the best French wines. Along the way he meets the owner of Chateau Montelena, Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman), and his hippie-son Bo (Chris Pine). The end result will shock them all.
My take: Bottle Shock is some good times. The cinamatography (Michael J. Ozier) is beautiful – from Napa Valley to the French countryside. The music is refreshing – 70′s music intermingled with the musical score. The story (Jody Savin and Randall Miller) manages to tell a wide range of side stories, without getting bogged down. There are also some great lines – including my favorite: in response to Jim’s Barrett’s question of why he doesn’t like him, Steven Spurrier says, “You think I’m an asshole*. I’m not really. I’m just British and you’re … not.” . The direction (Randall Miller) manages to imbue humanity into each scene - whether serious or humorous. Finally, the actors – from main to minor – are strong and a joy to watch. Though Alan Rickman does manage to outshine them all. Watching him each Kentucky Fried Chicken from the bucket or fresh guac is too, too much. All in all, it is an uplifting tale. So grab some grapes, an assortment of breads and cheeses, pour yourself a glass of wine – and enjoy!
*Note to my mother: That was a direct quote. I’m not randomly spewing profanities on my blog. And besides. It was funny. Hi-larious even. It couldn’t be helped …
I had good intentions to write up a Father’s Day post, but, as you can see, it didn’t quite happen. So, without further ado …
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
Some of you may find it a bit of a surprise to know that when I was little I was every bit a daddy’s girl. I would latch on to his back pocket to keep track of him. When he would run into the store, I would sing for him to hurry back. When he walked down the street to work in our elderly neighbors yard, I would ride along in the wheelbarrow. When family and friends would chuckle over something silly he said or did, I would get simply indignant! Hands on hips, teeth clenched, I would glare and say, “Don’t make fun of my daddy!”
My daddy, you see, could do no wrong.
So my wish for all you fathers out there is this: may you realize just how much you loved. That no matter your failures or disappointments, there’s a part of your child that will always hold out hope that you will be the man they believed you to be. That you would come to know the large place you hold in your child’s heart – and what a precious gift that is …
For my U.S. readers, Father’s Day is Sunday … just in case it slipped your mind. And if you don’t know what on earth you’re going to get him, how about a goat? A goat is one of many alternative gift ideas offered by World Vision. Is your dad a sports fanatic? Donate a couple soccer balls. A fisherman? Donate a fishing kits. A health nut? Donate some fruit trees. What could be more simple – or meaningful? In one fell swoop you can give a gift to a member of your family, and a family on the other side of the world. It’s perfect for the dad who has everything … for the dad who taught you it’s better to give than receive … for the dad who is no longer here on earth, but whose memory lives on …
Interested in this charity?
World Vision received an overall rating of 3-Stars from Chartiy Navigator. You can read the full report here; or, you can click the link, above, to visit World Vision’s site directly.
