Xterus

There is always room for beer.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends, your favorite passions--things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else--the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. "Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."

Types of red wines

A wine with only one variety mentioned on the label is called varietal and is named after the grape with a capital initial (Shiraz, Merlot, etc.). There are about 40 important red grape varietals grown in the world today. The list below are some of the major ones. As you go down the list the grapes will go from light to full-bodied in texture; low to high in tannin level; lighter to deeper in color (which generally corresponds to perceived acidity); younger to older in ageability.

Pinot noir (Pee-know Na-wahr)
One of the noblest red wine grapes. Pinot noir is difficult to grow, rarely blended, and with no roughness.
Food pairing: Excellent with grilled salmon, chicken, and lamb.
Districts: Makes the great reds of Burgundy in France, and good wines from the upper Loire valley, California, Oregon, and New Zealand.
Taste: Very unlike Cabernet Sauvignon, very fruity (cherry, strawberry, plum, tea-leaf), delicate and fresh with very soft tannins. Earth and mushroom notes only show in Bourgognes.

Sangiovese (San-gee-oh-ve-zee)
Food pairing: A good choice for Italian and other Mediterranean-style cuisines.
Districts: Sangiovese produces the Chiantis of Italy's Tuscany region and, of late, good wines from California.
Taste: The primary style is medium-bodied with fresh berry and plum flavors.

Merlot (Mare-lo)
Easy to drink. Its softness has made it an "introducing" wine for new red-wine drinkers.
Food pairing: Any will do.
Districts: A key player in the Bordeaux blend, now grown as a varietal on the US West Coast.
Taste: Tannic (rough) but less so than Cabernet Sauvignon. A middle palate gap is common. Black-cherry and herbal flavors are typical.

Barbera (Bar-bear-a)
Not as well known as Merlot but with similar attributes.
Food pairing: Barbera wines are versatile: they match many dishes, including tomato sauces.
Districts: Classic red of Italian origin. Widespread in California.
Taste: Juicy black cherry and plum fruit, a silky texture and excellent acidity. Tasting notes of Barberas at La Spinetta.

Zinfandel (Zin-fan-dell)
Perhaps the world's most versatile wine grape, making everything from blush wine (White Zinfandel), to rich, heavy reds.
Food pairing: Very much depends on the freshness/heaviness of the wine; tomato-sauce pastas, pizza, and grilled and barbecued meats.
Districts: Only found in California.
Taste: Often a zesty flavor with berry dominating.

Cabernet sauvignon (Ca-burr-nay So-veen-yawn)
Widely accepted as one of the world's best varieties. Cabernet sauvignon is often blended with cabernet franc and merlot. It usually undergoes oak treatment.
Food pairing: Best with simply prepared red meat.
Districts: Used wherever wine grapes grow. Makes the great red M?doc wines of France, and among the finest reds in California, Chile and Australia.
Taste: Full-bodied, but firm and gripping when young. With age, rich currant qualities change to that of pencil box. Bell pepper notes remain.
Picture of cabernet sauvignon

Syrah/Shiraz (Sah-ra)
The syrah variety gives hearty, spicy reds. While syrah is used to produce many average wines it can produce some of the world’s finest, deepest, and darkest reds with intense flavors and excellent longevity.
Food pairing: Meat (steak, beef, wild game, stews, etc.)
Districts: Syrah excels in France's Rhone Valley, California and Australia (where it is known as Shiraz).
Taste: Wild black-fruit aromas and flavors, with overtones of black pepper spice and roasting meat. The abundance of fruit sensations is often complemented by warm alcohol and gripping tannins.

winescout.eu.org
wine.com

Choosing an Affordable Wine

The world of wine can seem a confusing place. Labels mention regions but not grapes, or grapes but not countries, or in some cases nothing at all. How does someone just getting started in wine make a good purchase at the local wine shop?

The first step, as in all purchases, is to know what you like. It won't matter if the wine shop owner finds you the best Pinot Noir on the market if you really like Beringer's White Zinfandel. Try a few wines in local restaurants, or attend a wine class at the local community college. Taste a wine or two from different types, and figure out what you like. Wine tasting has little to do with what "the perfect wine" is. It has everything to do with what pleases you.

OK, you've found that you love Shiraz and want to bring some to a dinner your friends are having. You don't know enough about Shiraz, though, to know which are good and which are just tolerable. Go into your local wine shop, and walk around that section. See what kinds of price ranges you are talking about, and decide how much in general you are willing to spend. Check out the blurbs on the wine racks. You can usually discard the "winery notes" supplied by the winemaker - these are of course marketing material written with the sole purpose of getting you to buy that bottle of wine. Your best guideline is the handwritten notes put there by the owner - he is staking his reputation on his recommendations.

If there is a wine shop employee free, call him or her over. Explain what kinds of wines you've tried in the past, and then what you are looking for. It's perfectly reasonable to say "I like White Zinfandel, and hate Pinot Noir, so what in this type of wine would I enjoy?" The wine shop employee has a good idea of what each type of wine tastes like, and can make a reasonable guess at what type of Shiraz would be best suited for you. He should give you three or four choices, and, depending on your price range, you can choose the one best suited for you.

What if there is no wine clerk available? Again, go by the ratings and by a type of wine you know you like. If there is more than one choice, write down the names of the ones you do not buy. The next time you're in a restaurant, if you see one on the menu, try a glass of it. Also, many wine shops now offer tastings to let you sample various types of wines to determine what your favorite is.

Most importantly, remember that what you enjoy is your personal preference. No wine reviewer or shop owner is going to have your exact taste in wine. Learn what types of wines you enjoy, and keep a note of them. A list on the fridge often does the trick - a running tally of what you enjoyed and what you did not. In short order, the wine shop owner will be making new recommendations to you when you walk into his shop, as he knows what kind of taste buds you have!

www.wineintro.com

A Pebble by : James W. Foley

Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling, and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one kind word.

Total Self Confidence by : Unknown

I am resourceful and I have the ability to do whatever it takes to succeed, and to support all those whom I love.
I enjoy life's challenges, and I learn from everything that happens in my life.
I live each day with passion and power.
I feel strong and powerful, happy, and excited.
I have tremendous confidence in my talents and my abilities.
I meet every situation knowing I am its master.
I have deep respect for myself and for everyone I meet each day.
I am committed to perform at the best of my ability in all that
I do.
I forgive myself and others easily.
I am aware of the priceless value of my life and the life of everyone I meet.
My confidence is unshakable because I live with integrity.
I am always at peace because I trust and follow my internal guidance.

Ten Rules for Good Life by : Thomas Jefferson

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Never spend your money before you have it.
Never buy what you do not want because it is cheap; it will never be dear to you.
Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
Never repent of having eaten too little.
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
Don't let the evils which have never happened cost you pain.
Always take things by their smooth handle.
When angry, count to ten before you speak; if very angry, count to one hundred.

Risk by : Anonymous

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken.
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
If you risk nothing and do nothing, you dull your spirit.
You may avoid suffering and sorrow, but you cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, and live.
Chained by your attitude, you are a slave.
You have forfeited your freedom.
Only if you risk are you free.

A Place For Me by : Unknown

There is a special place in life, that needs my humble skill, a certain job I'm meant to do, which no one else can fulfill.
The time will be demanding, and the pay is not too good and yet I wouldn't change it for a moment -- even if I could

There is a special place in life, a goal I must attain, a dream that I must follow, because I won't be back again.
There is a mark that I must leave, however small it seems to be, a legacy of love for those who follow after me

There is a special place in life, that only I may share, a little path that bears my name, awaiting me somewhere.
There is a hand that I must hold, a word that I must say, a smile that I must give for there are tears to blow away.

There is a special place in life that I was meant to fill. A sunny spot where flowers grow, upon a windy hill.
There's always a tomorrow and the best is yet to be, and somewhere in this world, I know there is a place for me.

Peak Performers by : Adapted from the Self Esteem Workbook

One of the wonderful by-products of high self-esteem is that you become a "Peak Performer."

Every day you become more aware of your abilities and recognize that opportunities to stretch your capabilities are limitless. You desire change, growth, and challenge, and a healthy self-esteem provides the energy.

Peak performers have more than goals, they have a vision of what their life will mean to themselves and others. Peak performers do not live in the future. Peak performers make sure each step taken in the present keeps them on the road toward their life goal.

Peak Performers Can Say:

I am motivated and have a mission with realistic and measurable goals.
I accept complete responsibility for everything I think, say, feel, and do.
I look for the window of opportunity in every situation and know that I will learn from every experience if I choose.
I always help others to do their best, and I encourage everyone to contribute something.
I correct my course when I reach an obstacle. This way, when things go wrong, I am still headed in the right direction.
I expect and appreciate change. It does not overwhelm me because I am prepared.
I stand up for my own opinions and values and respect others.
I am able to manage myself. I do not require instruction every step of the way.
I am not afraid of making mistakes or of taking reasonable risks.
I am my own coach. I engage in positive self-talk and rehearsal.
I am a life-long student. I am always ready to learn, and I know growth takes sustained effort.
I know myself well and still expect to find hidden talents, resources, strengths, weaknesses, energy, and interests.
I respect reality both pleasant and painful.
I engage in self-confrontation and do not blame others.
I readily forgive others and myself and correct mistakes when possible.
I am patient, kind, gentle, and compassionate with myself.
I have no need to prove I am better or worse than anybody else.

It is the Man Who Thinks He Can by : Unknown

If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you like to win, but you think you can't,
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will.
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But soon or late the man who wins,
Is the man who thinks he can.