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Welcome to my blog, ZWineNinja update

02 Monday Nov 2015

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I love November. It is still reminiscent of my favourite month October and just before the mad rush of Christmas when everything calms down. Harvest time, a time for new beginnings, new possibilities and a path laid down fresh.

IMG_5315 Here is a sidewalk selfie from the summer, no doubt taken at a local winery on one of the few days I had off. I am surrounded by wine all day and still want to spend my days learning about the wines around me. Knowledge is my sustenance and education my goal.

I am a Certified Sommelier through the ISG (International Sommelier Guild) and are WSET Certified (Level 3 of Wine & Spirits Education Trust). I am just figuring out now how to finish my WSET Diploma long distance as I am now home-based out of the Central Okanagan, not near any cities that offer it.

I had relocated back to a home base after many years in the lower mainland aka Vancouver, BC Canada. Family and a sense of home returned me as well as leaving the second most expensive place to live on earth. Education is expensive, wine education when you are paying for it yourself and working to live is even more so.

Still wine is my passion and I will pursue it. Not to mention, I am in one of the youngest wine industry regions and have experienced it first hand from the age of 5. I will admit then, I thought the smell of wine was revolting and it took to the age of 20, one year past the legal age to enjoy here that I started to fall in love with this historical and evolving substance in moderation of course.

I currently work for a pioneering BC winery, but my posts here are my own. I will share my scholastic achievements and my whimsical finds, but will not advocate any winery over another, we are all in this together.

In Vino Veritas

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NaBloPoMo part deux circa 2015….

01 Sunday Nov 2015

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How has a year gone by so quickly? It is November again, like a new year full of promise and words to decorate. Many interesting things have happened this year, and many still to come. An old friend returns back to Canada this week and I am sure that there will be many fabulous items to share.

I join my colleague again in NaBloPoMo 2015, and welcome you to join me in posting!

NaBloPoMo November 2015

“I’m not old, I’m vintage”

14 Friday Nov 2014

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Today’s NaBloPoMo prompt is about getting old. “Do you enjoy getting old, or are you fighting against it?

I enjoy the wisdom that I have and all the things I have learned and are still learning. It has been an interesting road with many twists and turns, and a few career choice changes. Life is an adventure, and also what you make of it. That being said, the road is never easy.

To quote one of my favourite authors Terry Goodkind of the Sword of Truth series, “If the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way”. One of life’s own lessons is that you must choose your own path and walk it. In my case, I am on it, but I have had a few unplanned routes that have waylaid me from my goal but have taught me valuable life lessons. My future lies before me.

So, I equate myself to a fine wine still developing my characteristics and subtle nuances, ready to drink now but would benefit from further cellaring or aeration, pairing with the right accompaniment.

I am Vintage.

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12 things about me

12 Wednesday Nov 2014

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I am taking my friend I on Food, Drink & Life‘s approach to post a few things about me since I am new to #NaPoBloMo and meeting fellow bloggers!

1. I play several instruments; flute is my main, but I play the piano and guitar as well.

2. I’m a big fan of Wonder Woman

3. I was born and raised in Canada, even sport a built in sun tan

4. I am full of static electricity

5. I am a celiac ex-Chef. Yes, my food is still awesome! 😉

6. I have “street-luged”in Rotorua, New Zealand

7. I am an artist, sketching is my main medium, but I dabble in many genres

8. I love wine

9. I love animals; I have a cat, but I love dogs equally

10. Hallowe’en is my favourite holiday

11. I am a very handy person to have around, I can fix most things, but I need to work on my plumbing skills  no plumbers bum from me 😉

12. Oh, and it goes without saying, but I am a ninja

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The little things in life

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

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Today is still Remembrance Day in Canada, and I spent the whole day being thankful. Because of all the war heroes and veterans before us, I could wake up in Peace.

As I went to a local diner today for breakfast, everyone was wearing a poppy, the kind that you lose 6 seconds after you buy one and if you don’t lose it, it stabs you. I tend to purchase about 3-4 a year.

I wore a red sweater in case I lost my last one again in support and I was pleased to look around at the diner patrons sporting poppies and red shirts, hats, poppies, and some jackets.

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I had breakfast with my mom, and when her plate came out, I had to snap a picture of it. It was perfect.

As we were eating and chatting, we lost track of time and it was soon 11am.

One of the servers clanged a coffee pot and requested a moment of silence. You could have heard a pin drop, the noisy diner with a long line up to get in was silent as we all took a moment to remember why we were there. Why any one of us were.

I felt proud to be a Canadian at that moment. I was not at the Cenotaph, but my thankfulness is still the same.

My family and I are safe, because of all the people before us. A perfect moment in a small town diner, it’s the little things in life.

Lest We Forget.

Lest We Forget

10 Monday Nov 2014

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November 11th,  our national day of Remembrance. We are ever thankful.lest-we-forget

I think every child raised in Canada still remembers Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem ” In Flander’s Fields”. But in case you do not, here it is:

” In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.” 

To learn more about John McCrae, please visit our National Veterans Affairs website

My Ninja cat Bartholomew

09 Sunday Nov 2014

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As I sat here wondering about what to post tonight, my cat so nonchalantly sauntered on over to see what I was up to and sat on my wine tasting notes. Typical.

And so here is my cat post of Bartholomew, my mischievous little ninja of a cat who behaves more like a loyal dog. Yes, he does fetch and greets me when I come home.

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He is a rescued SPCA kitten, that stole my heart after I lost my Samantha who was my first cat after the family cat passed away.

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He is the destroyer of Kleenex boxes and the hider of any of my ponytail ties within paws reach, any casualties are found floating in his water dish . He is ZKitteh!

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Cheers

#BCWineChat, why you should follow it

05 Wednesday Nov 2014

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Have you ever really wanted to know what goes on in the BC wine industry? Do you want the opportunity to engage with fellow wine lovers and possibly even have the chance to talk to a winemaker, an owner, or various winery team members?

Then you should log on to @twitter every Wednesday at 8pm PST/11pm EST and look for the hashtag #BCWineChat which was created by Sandra Oldfield, CEO of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards located in Oliver, BC back in December 2011.

What an amazing way to keep in touch with the industry, to talk with your peers and share ideas. It is a great way to engage with fellow colleagues and other wineries, there is no travel time on twitter, just saying. Plus, you don’t even need to wear pants, there is no dress code! 😉

All of the chat discussions are archived at bcwinechat.com and you will noticed that there is even a schedule and a place where you can also suggest a topic. If you are afraid to tweet and jump in, you can always read and watch, but we all would love to hear from you, many perspectives is always key.

I have met many amazing people in the wine industry via twitter that I am happy to call my friends. We are all working towards the same goal and that is of course the success of our industry.

In vino veritas

My ideal job? Duh, Wonder Woman of course!

03 Monday Nov 2014

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Today’s NaBloPoMo prompt post was about what brand or organization, real or otherwise would you like to work for? My first initial thought was Wonder Woman.

Ever since I was little, I have had Wonder Woman as my role model. I had figurines who were almost bigger than I was, a utility belt and I would often spin around ala Lynda Carter hoping to turn into the iconic Amazonian Princess. She was who I aspired to be, a protector.

Throughout my career, I have worked my way up in different facets to be the manager of any business I was in, from a restaurant GM at age 21, to a domestic wine store area manager at age 30. I have had the opportunity to nurture and mentor my team, both women and men and throughout it all, Wonder Woman or the thought of superheroes in general is always in my mind. The Pursuit of Excellence.

I have just seen a documentary on Netflix about Wonder Women! The Untold story of American Superheroines and it makes me glad that I grew up in an age where women were not suppressed and that even in my own adoptive family, I have a superhero Mom to look up to.

So ask me about my ideal job, it would be in a place of balance, using my skills, learning and honing. Being a role model, helping and aiding as I can, being part of a solution and attaining my own goals no matter what obstacle is thrown at me.

Because aren’t we all superheroes? Just because I don’t wear a cape every day (it gets caught in things all the time 😉  ……. doesn’t mean I’m not one. We all ARE.

Cheers

WWZ

NaBloPoMo aka a well needed kick in my pants

01 Saturday Nov 2014

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A friend and colleague of mine told me about NaBloPoMo, and I thought to myself what a great idea! Post once a day, repeat for 30 days. What a great way to participate in the National Novel Writing Month by joining the National Blog Posting Month challenge. Sounds like a perfect prescription for me to get the old creative juices flowing. I would love to do  NaNoWriMo but somehow that is like Mt. Everest this year. Oh well, leaves me a goal for next year So my posts will be random but like clockwork and enjoy my ramblings about travel, food, wine, entertainment and the occasional offbeat musings. Cheers NaBloPoMo November 2014