The art of travel part 2

I think I started one of the first blogs with something about how traveling itself sucks. Let me add one simple adverb to that. The actual act of traveling REALLY sucks. before I elaborate on my increasing disdain for all things involved in travel, let me answer a few questions that have been bothering you for the last month.
I'm sure many (none) of you have been wondering "why hasn't josh posted any new blogs in the last month". the answer is simply because I was off traveling australia, from southern tasmania to well, southern Queensland (which really isn't that far north at all). And with my macbook having turned itself into a macbook sized paperweight, the lack of computer made the option for blogging about the adventures somewhat difficult. That and I was out living the adventures, not coming up with ways to blog about them.  Now for those of you (none of you) who are nervous that "The Bottom of the Bottle" was going to be said and done with due to my time in Australia being over, you can put those fears to bed. In fact, TBOTB is going to be expanding, covering more alcoholic beverage experiences, opinions, and comments on relative data. Tastings and stand out drinks will be acknowledged and praised with emphasis on those of high quality or uniqueness in flavor or technique. The blog will also be continuing for the very selfish reason of having an excuse not to answer the questions "how was (insert location)". I solemnly swear that I will not ask you that question but something a little more specific and relevant, and if for some reason I ask "how was (insert location)", feel free to slap me. Of course the blogs will still include my mediocre at best pictures, and I promise with the whole right side of my brain to still include as many grammatical errors as can be afforded. I would like this blog to be a bit more about beer and wine and the alcohol industry fueling the drinking culture, so it might be nice if any of the 2 readers have an opinion of their own about what I have said or points I missed.  One last thing, I will be posting blogs about each of the places I traveled to and specific ideas about the wines and beers of said areas. So get excited.

the new wine fridge

If it is true and the antibiotics that we have been taking for 100 years or so are failing to kill the evolving bugs, then I think we need to look no further than the immune system for long haul flight attendants for the new answer. The amount of recycled air and harmful bugs they come into contact with every day they work is astounding. basically I want their immune systems, and mine is pretty good. maybe If I had their immune system I would not have come down with some throat infection that is putting my 4th of july with my friends greatly in jeopardy.  I also decided mid-flight that the zombie apocalypse (we all know its going to happen) does actually happen it will take place on an intercontinental flight. Think about it. Close contact, everyone is already lethargic from either drugs, sitting in the airport and or other flights, no weapons are allowed, and the cockpit is locked so the plane could still land.  All you need is one infected person and bam, you have an international plane full of man eating zombies landing in some first world metropolitan airport.  Next time I fly Intercontinentally like I did, I would like the pearson next to me to be an anesthesiologist who can put me under for the flight. Either way. I got sick from the lack of sleep/recycled air/ long hours of being stagnant and it is going to potentially put a big damper on my 4th of july experience. being on antibiotics and having a really sore throat, drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages is out of the picture. perhaps guinness because its pressurized with nitrogen instead of CO2, and we don't have receptors that are effected by Nitrogen like CO2. Either way I am bummed that I did get sick, especially this time of the year.  people keep asking me how is home, my actual house is nice, family is good, other than that I have yet to leave the house and experience anything outside. Im going to assume its unchanged and won't live up to the inflated memories and expectations that we all have.

Very proud knowing that I was a big part of
making that wine. look for it. 

Two great things that were at home or available at home when I got home were a 6 foot tall 180 bottle wine fridge (hello) and 2011 Elk Cove Pinot Gris.  The wine fridge is great because it allows for temp control, and easier bottle organization, not to mention it looks damn cool (much better than the lame photo I took of it) I was easily able to organize and store my wine in a system I feel comfortable with. the 2011 Elk Cove Pinot Gris ( available at hitimes) is the first finished wine I will get to taste that I helped make. I worked harvest at Elk Cove in 2011 and did a large majority of the white wine work for that vintage, including a lot of tanks of Pinot Gris.  There will be a Blog post in the very near future discussing white wine, the white wine that I helped make, and the two beers I brewed around xmas time that I have yet to try. I know that this blog post was pretty lame, But i'll do my best to keep the ones to follow fresh and informative.