etc.

Had a lovely time in Ann Arbor this past weekend at a friend’s wedding. The drive down was fairly uneventful, which was a nice surprise considering the strict border laws that were just implemented the day we left.

On Saturday morning Michael forcibly dragged me on his “competitive shop” to J.C.Penney, KB Toys and Sears, where I offered my opinion on various Bratz and Diva Stars dolls, and then on Sunday, I forcibly dragged him to three libraries at the University of Michigan, where we took pictures of the pretty old buildings and autumn leaves, and where he helped me gather handfulls of library publications. It’s a good thing I like toys and he likes libraries, because our marriage would be on shaky ground if we didn’t.

I’ve finished reading A Short History of Wine and would recommend it highly to anyone who has a remote interest in the history of the noble grape and how viticulture and vinification have been impacted by major historical events. I’ve read that a couple of reviewers have criticised it on the basis of its eurocentricism, and the fact that the new world is not equitably represented, so that is something to keep in mind if new world wine is your main interest. If it isn’t, then this account is probably unequaled.