Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Sophia's First Birthday

Today is my magical neice's first birthday. Her wise mother has made a request to the God parents of her child. Every year we will write a letter to the baby. I will track those letters in this blog. So here is letter 1, The First Year.

June 30, 2009

My dear Sophia,

You don’t know this but you are celebrating your first birthday. Years from now you will look back and think Wow, all that happened when I wasn’t even cognizant. Which is why your beautiful and smart mother thought it would be wise to write a letter to you every birthday. So the three of us, your fairy God mothers – Aunty Polly, Aunty Patty & Aunty Rekha will write a letter every birthday.

I think it’s brilliant. You will see not only how our letters change as you grow from babyhood to teenager to adult. But also how we alter as we, alas, grow older.

There are a few things you should know from the beginning. First of all, you are a magical child. You were conceived, gestated and birthed by extraordinary means. Ask your mom what those words mean in case she hasn’t already had a talk about the birds and the bees.

Your Mom wanted to have a baby for a very long time. But the forces thought it wise to prevent that baby from arriving. You will learn more about the forces as you grow. You will hear about God, about angels, Goddesses in due time. Know they are with you always. If you require their assistance all you need do is ask. So your Mom couldn’t have the baby she wanted and this broke her heart for she is a loving, nurturing, mothering woman. Then one day when she least expected it she found out she was going to have a baby. She was shocked and delighted. This is another thing you will learn, you don’t always get what you want when you want. It’s the law of the universe. I have fought it most of my life as have your aunties. Safe to say the sooner you accept this law, the less time you will spend fighting it.

And then you were born.

You get your beauty from your Mom. You get your gray-green eyes from your Dad. But if I’m not mistaken, you get that irresistible allure, the thing that makes people stop and say Ye Gads, what a charming baby! from your female lineage. It is a powerful and beautiful and mystical and emotional ancestry that you are born into. I hope as you grow you will cherish and ruthless use it, for it is yours. As we are yours to guide, adore and spoil you.

So happy birthday Sophia. Know you are loved by so many people that if we could we would shield you from any pain. We would protect you from any harm on this earth, above or below it. But we will also try to leave you alone so you can taste the glories and miseries of this world. Welcome little one.

Aunty Rekha

Friday, June 26, 2009

The Comedians


Only the comedians could induce me to such depths of depravity. Only forces as omniscient and (seemingly) punitive as the Gods could drive me to drink unholy amounts of liquor and smoke myself into oblivion. And not my usual swanky beverages of choice - Anejo Tequila, multi distilled Vodka and unoaked Chardonnays. No no, the brink of madness the Comedians drove me to caused me to nonchalantly sample Vodkas named after Polish composers, branded by rap stars, distilled from wheat, rye, potato, grape and even hemp. Ok, I didn't taste the hemp vodka, but if anyone knows where I can find it please give me ring...

Who are these Comedians and why do they torment Rekha, you ask? Ah, fine question my friend. Caught in the midst of the chaos that is my life these days all I can say is in the spirit of hammering new nuances into my writer persona, I've been forced to endure despair, rejection, depression and that fine old friend - rage.

Which is why last night found me in the company of my lovely friend Mariana who never fails to bring insight in dark hours. Even better, who can throw back booze like no mans business and loves the puff of tobacco products. Who better to accompany me to a wine and cigar tasting? To Jamie's Restaurant in Lyndhurst we went. The cigarman - Tony Santana was nowhere to be found so we moisied to the tasting table. My buddy Ryan was pouring a provocatively named Shiraz by the moniker of Layer Cake Shiraz.

Now Ryan is one of the wine assistants at Shoppers Vineyard, my favorite local booze emporium. Favored by me for their off the beaten Napa path selection of wines and decently priced spirits. Even closer to my heart is the fact that this wine shop allows pets. I know it sounds bizarre but it works. When Duke was a wee puppy I would pop him into my canvas bag and carry him around everywhere. When hitting the wine shop I'd pop him into the shopping cart and wheel down the aisles in pursuit of the perfect libation to accompany my latest dining creation. Now the wine assistants at this store are a convivial bunch, not over-pressured from sale quotas or domineering overlord managers. Upon spotting the dog in the cart, they'd relieve me of my Dog Mom duties and play with the pup till I was done shopping.

So here it was, years later. The dog stretched out on the couch at home and me being poured a tasting of an Australian Shiraz by Ryan, one of the guys. Small world, even my Comedian oppressed brain could appreciate the moment. The wine was poured and tasted, found to be deliciously deep-berried without harsh spice. Best of all, it finished with a flicker of dark chocolate. Gimme a case of that, baby.

By this time the cigarman - Tony shows up. Tony and his promoter - Rob Menaker do an upscale combo of cigar + beverage tasting once a month. Tony knows his stuff, descending from a proud line of Cuban and Mexican cigar makers. He swung into his demo of handrolling a cigar. The purity of tobacco based on location or terroir, just as important with tobacco as it is with the grape. Then Tony really got rolling, or dipping to be precise. Apparently Latinos of European and American descent have honored the art of dipping cigars in brandy to sweeten and compliment the leafy bouquet. Tony shared his family secret which involves soaking branding in a snifter of honey, then dipping the cigar in the mixture. It sounds sexy & decadent and tastes even better. Even the menfolk present - a macho handful of Italian-something guys who looked like they enjoy a weekly puff at Uncle Primo's house - got a kick out of the honeyed cigars.

Rob the promoter sidles next to me and hands a freshly dipped cigar with a flourish. "My compliments darling," He says. "Just do me a favor, smoke it in front of me." Glad Rob, gladly. Which is why hours later Mariana and I have chuffed down the whole freaking cigar. One each. Accompanied of course by glasses of the excellent wine. I could feel the Comedian yoke levitating off my body for a few breaths. Either that or I was blacking out from the heavy smoke. My friend Mariana, having no such burden to bear was displaying her comely left foot to a few men, at their request. She is voluptuous, flirtatious. All woman. I am heartened by our time fraternizing with friendly albeit aggressive men. (Yo, if I wanted to fly to Las Vegas for dinner I would!) By the chocolate-tinged wine - what will I make to bring out that note?! By the astoundingly unctuous lamb ravioli tricked out with slivers of mint in a demi glace. Or perhaps I'm just tongue dead and suffocated by smoking an entire Robusto in one shot.

In any case, for a few hours I forget about the Comedians.

Friday, June 12, 2009

40 days and 40 nights

Seriously, it's been raining so long in the tri-state area it feels like Biblical times. The Dog and I are ready to slit our wrists but since it would be a crime to soil my Santoku with human blood I'm opting to drink and smoke myself into a stupor.

Despite the deluge the air remains muggy, encouraging me to think of the tropics and a lush, soft Tequila. My latest Anejo amour - Gran Centenario certainly fits the bill. However I'm loathe to chug that beauty as one of my dinner guests recently did. "Effing Chug that Anejo?" I ranted. "No way, back to Cuervo my friend."

Speaking of Anejo I hit my basement bar to compare my Gran Centenario against my old standby - Patron Gold. I've long been a fan of D'oro but was shocked when a mouth to mouth comparison revealed Patron to carry nuances of flint and SOAP! I shelved D'oro back in my basement bar and cradling my new amour in one hand, a Nat Sherman in another, watched the rain with the Dog.

On a happier note I've discovered a wonderland of drinking pleasures via the Intoxicologist. Check it out and find a cocktail for your next soiree.

By the way, thanks to Priya for the soggy NYC skyline pix.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Frost Nixon Werewolf?



Really hating living in Seattle. No I haven't moved to the Pacific Northwest, just feels like it with the interminal rain, mist and humidity.

The Seattle on the Hudson weather has forced me and the dog indoors to engage in banal activities, like house cleaning and movie watching. Particularly amused by the diametrically opposing movies Frost Nixon vs. Rise of the Lycans. What's the unifying factor - the lead actor in both - Michael Sheen.

You might not remember him, since he's been a revered English stage actor. Not until the eeriely gory Vampire vs. Werewolf flick Underworld (the movie that single-handedly resusticated Kate Beckinsale's career from pretty English chick to ass-kicking leather bitch)debuted in 2003 did he get much attention on our side of the pond.

Can't help but appreciate the guys's cahonas for pulling off a tepidly polite David Frost. But I couldn't figure out why his face looked so familiar. Not till Lycans came around and I thought, holy crap! Why that's the same guy. Obviously a talented actor, and I certainly tip my hat to the guy for his range, which also includes Tony Blair in the Queen.