300th Post and Some Big News

It has been such a pleasure to write this blog, mostly because of the community of wine people it has given me access to. Thank you so much for having me! Thank you so much for reading and participating!

300 posts - amazing, really. It's hard to find something meaningful to say, and there is no way that I've said something meaningful in each of 300 posts. A good percentage though, I hope, although some of you may disagree. But you'll politely keep that to yourself, I imagine.

So on this occasion I want to share some big news and also some random thoughts for the future of this blog.

My news - I am thrilled to tell you that BrooklynLady is pregnant! Our second child is due on December 31st. Surprised that we're having another? Yeah, I do gripe sometimes about the difficulties of being a parent, but my wife and daughter are the central joys in my life. And if you took part in making this amazing little creature (BrooklynBabyGirl at left, now a year and a half old), wouldn't you seriously consider making another one?

So that's the big news.

There have been many smaller pleasures lately too. Life is so much better for me when I can take pleasure in little things. Like this - the orange lily that looked ridiculously dead all winter just began to bloom. If I remember correctly, it will flower for only a few weeks, but it's a lovely sight every time we step out on the deck.

And this - I just enjoyed meeting a fellow blogger (McDuff's torso below and glasses of 1996 Champs, 05 Anjou, and 05 Oregon Pinot) and we had a great time over dinner and a few bottles. And unlike what usually happens when you invite someone you meet on the internet into your home, he didn't hog-tie me and commit all sorts of vulgar atrocities.

And this - I've been grilling up a storm, experimenting with hardwoods and herb smoke. Just take a peek at this fresh ham steak - isn't that nice? Some grilled onions and an olive oil/mustard/tarragon sauce...yes, that's the good stuff.

So what's in store for Brooklynguy's blog? Well, the recession is hitting me too, folks. I am not in the wine business. With incredibly few exceptions, I pay retail for all of the wine I drink. I have a second kid on the way and must be responsible. That means spending less money on wine. And experimenting less too, for the most part.

That means there will be fewer wine review posts here, unless you want to read about Puzelat and my other Loire friends over and over and over. I feel less inclined to describe wines I'm drinking, and more inclined to go deeper, to learn more. To visit regions, to drink and taste everything with local food, to develop a much deeper understanding, and then of course to share that with you. But I have another job and I'm not sure how to accomplish this. There's a piece of me that feels like this might be the natural time to hang up the gloves, so to speak.

Instead I will promise not to write unless I have something meaningful to say, but I will write less about the wines I'm drinking - I already wrote about them. So I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm not really sure what I will be writing about in the next few months. We'll find out together, should you continue to visit. Suggestions are most welcome.