The first time I ever seriously bought wine on my own, I was laughed at by the wine steward. No, not just laughed at–humiliated. One of my top 10 most embarassing moments, easy. All I wanted was a Pinot Noir with my black-n-blue steak. But I don’t see what’s so fucking funny about that, do you? Well, do ya punk? The guy launched into a completely unwarranted, bombastic diatribe that I still have memorized. I’d tell you the whole story, but I’d have to check the statute of limitations on a few things first. Suffice to say, I was an angry youth (reeeeally?) and prone to… But the moral of the story is: You really shouldn’t be such an asshole. Especially to someone who knows your first and last name and where you work. Glass houses and all…

Why do I bring this up? Well, people talk to me today like an insider in this wine business. Because they think I am an insider. And most of the time that weirds me out; I don’t even know what it means. So maybe I am an insider, about some things. But sometimes…these wine guys give me a blinding flashback to that exquisitely posh assbag that made me feel so small all those many years ago. Sometimes, it’s not me that’s listening, but that little goth girl that’s still pissed off at the world.

Which is O.K. because the world still needs pissing off. Because if it were all puppies and kitties, I’d just be a poster on chowhound, and so would you.

So I make sure I keep my inner goth girl well fed. And nothing rekindles that spirit for me like my beloved NIN–those shows never disappoint. There’s a power to the music live, like hearing a symphony playing your theme song. And 16 years later, Trent Reznor is in top form–and by that I mean musically and bicep-tually. Seriously, the guy is ripped now. ((big sigh))

It’s become a personal barometer, shows like these. I didn’t wear all black this time. My hair is just plain, boring brown–but greasy–do I get points for that? I used to find the skater boys irresistable, now I just want to smash their little faces in. But I guess I still spend an inordinate amount of time in black boots–and being angry. At what, you say? Gawd, what are you…new?

For those who collect the playlists, the Seattle show is HERE.

Weekend bubbles - Ferrari Brut NV - Northeastern Italy does it better, and for only 20$. Why the hell would you pay close to 50$ (in WA, anyway) for Veuve when this bottle is all Chardonnay, has the same fresh, citrusy zing and self-cleaning bubbles? It’s not as juicy-fruity as a California sparkler, but a little more so than it’s twice as pricey cousin Champagne. And it even says Ferrari on it, you label whores you. (imported through Dalla Terra)

ed. note: my friend Fiorenzo has informed me that they do blend a little Pinor Noir into the Brut.