Soul searching during the holidays...

Well, it has been almost a year now… I started this blog last January with the intent of it being a journal of my thoughts, tidbits from life that I found interesting, and hopefully a place to share and insight or two . As you can clearly see if you have been following along, however, January 2011 started off well with 13 posts, that obviously fell off rapidly with absolutely zip for October and November. I hope to be better about that over the next year.

It has been a very interesting year, and sitting here behind this same laptop I typed on three hundred fifty some days ago when I started this, I would not have foreshadowed where the year has led me. It started off benign enough, but ultimately, through a series of events, in June I made the decision that I was done with the corporate grind. I quit my job. Life is short and it was time to pursue some happiness.

On the upside, since that time I have obtained my level I sommelier certification and have learned some basic oenology through UC Davis' online offerings. When it comes to wine, I have now firmly moved from the world of unconsciously incompetent, to consciously incompetent. Who knew there was so much to know about the simple grape vitas vinifera. Not only has wine become a passion, it remains endlessly intriguing. As I'm sure many have discovered before me, I could probably spend the rest of my life learning about it and only begin to scratch the surface.

Most recently I have begun to volunteer for The Infinite Monkey Theorem, a local winery that produces some really nice stuff. It has been very interesting to see both the differences and the similarities between commercial wine production and doing small, six gallon batches at home as a hobby. It's too bad there are not a lot of employment opportunities in wine production in Colorado… I could be very happy there.

Harvey MacKay had it right when he said, "Find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life". As a result I'm back where it all started, more than 25 years ago, playing paramedic. Don't get me wrong, I am acutely aware that the corporate world has provided opportunities and afforded a pretty nice lifestyle to raise a family. I also know that my decision has not been without consequence. My soulmate has had a rough six months putting up with an uncertain future and a move to accommodate our new lifestyle. Not to mention, it's probably not over. I have gotten it into my head now that it would be a blast to get in a RV and visit 365 wineries in 365 days (and blog about the whole thing) - hopefully more on that later...

As I sit here at work, on the eve of Christmas Eve, waiting for another call to drop, and taking stock of my life I find it very interesting that the movie that is on AMC right now is one that I must have missed previously.  Love Actually, is a british ensemble movie staring just about every english actor out there and I had never seen it. The older I get, the more I am beginning to believe in fate. The movie's message is poignant.  Colleen - I'm sorry for the rocky road … and all I want for Christmas is you.