I should have posted these a while ago! But, slowly I am sure all my orchid blooms will feature up here!

	Dtps. Minho Princess "S.J." White with purple edging, transplanted 11th July 2007
	Dtps. Jiuhbao Red Rose Dark pink, transplanted 16th March 2007

My April 2007 orchid has bloomed again! Last year the flowers were in bloom from mid-March 2007 till end-August! Incredibly, this year, the blooms started mid-January and it is right at its peak at six weeks+

Curiosity does kill cats! On more humane terms, the 'mouse' drives them completely bonkers! I had a great time using the projector to project my monitor on one of my walls and Duke and Princess had a 'great' time 'catching' the 'mouse'.

They did take turns at it (= ze' mouse). Either one was the winner!

Lent is really hard this year and it is all my fault. In the past years, I have given up (separately in different years) coffee (never doing that again), alcohol, red meat (too easy!), and eating out. On Fat tuesday we had the wine tasting at my office and the following day onwards, I proclaimed that I would give up alcohol (yes, including wine and wine tasting) and meat (eggs, fish, and all other meats). Normally, I would give up just one thing, but the 'over-achiever' bug in me decided to give up a whole lot more. Lesson learned (or learning) the hard way that giving up too much will drive me nuts.

I have no idea, what possessed me to do the same. I thought I would use the 40-days to instill some good habits, but couple of weeks into it, and I have not done a dang thing! I know exactly what I am going to give up next year..... it will be that over-achiever bug in me. Now that will be a good challenge!

Anyways, I just realized that Lent is really not 40 days, but it is almost 47 days! Popular thoughts say, that Sunday does not count. But, that just sounds like excuses to me. I have never really bothered to find out how many days, but simply did what I needed to do to stay on track and by the time Easter rolled in, it did not really irk me to over indulge in the item that I had given up.

It has been hard this year, simply because, I am missing out on some tremendous wine tasting's. I land up going to wine tasting, but taste nothing. If it sounds great on paper, I sometimes purchase the wines and house is now getting pretty dang full with wine cases around. I have got to stop doing that. Perhaps, I should leave all purchasing powers at home and then get to the wine tasting, or even not go to the wine tastings. Giving up meat has not been that hard at all. I have well balanced meal normally, so, giving up meat was okay. I should have stuck with just that.

Well! All this next time! Lessons learned! Oh! by the way..... I am not Christian! Lent just sounds something of a challenge to do! Go figure!

Like minded people got together to put forth ideas and chanllenges for making life more simplified.

For a while now, I have been striving to simplify life and come to realize that it takes dedication, discipline and there are no magic buttons (or wands). On the bright side, there just knowing that I need to simpllify, has opened several avenues hetherto un-travelled. 

So, what does simplification mean to me? To me, it first and foremost means being organized, prompt, and uncluttered. This thought may evolve as time goes by and I have walked some of the new avenues and made some different choices. Can you simplify without being organized? Perhaps one can, but not me. So, towards simplification, my first goal is to be organized and uncluttered. Just the thought of the same is very liberating. It really is! But, a great thought is just that a great thought, and really not concrete until put into practice!

The plan is to get organized! Far more easily said than done. Perhaps breaking it down into Environment and Behavior might a good approach! Hmm, sounds better... lets start with Environment, which is obviously the easiest one! :)

What should be done to have an organized Environment? Environment being home, office and immediate surroudings. There is tones that can be done, and not being overwhelmed is just the start! Tackle Chart! That is what I have.... a Tackle Chart... simply said, it is a To Do List on steriods or a Vision Board with To do's. Over the weekend, that is what I have got a Tackle Chart. Some of the items on it, are simple like.... clean closet, complete taxes forms. These items are posted with little yellow postits (this _must_ be fun)! Whilst tackling these tasks, I am sure I am going to find some simple processes and behaviors, which are going to feed into the behavioral aspects.

What should be done to instil organized Behavior? I dunno yet! But as I do the environment organizing I am hoping that some of the processes and behaviors will come to light.

More to follow.....

It is always a treat to see DCI Tennison (Helen Mirren) in action. Previously, she was passed over for promotion due to politics and strange bed-fellows, despite her teams and her accomplishments. She files for transfer, and is tranferred to a location where she as to work once again with friends and foes. It is indeed very interesting to see how as a woman, she fights, struggles and succeeds in a male dominated world of crime. She plays her cards incredibly to get the promotion she deserves and on the way she manages to succeed in correctly deducing the murderers.

What always amazes me when I watch DCI Tennison, is the single-mindedness (sometimes at the cost of her personal life) of her efforts and dedication to getting to the bottom of the matter. She is incredibly good at what she does. It annoys and frustrates her immensely when someone else gets the credit for the sweat and tears that she has devoted, but she goes about getting even in her own way. If nothing else, watch this for a portrayal of one amazing woman.

Last night, The Score was sitting on my doorstep as I walked in. I could not recollect why I would have chosen this movie to see on my netflix queue. Until I had read the short blurb, and also popped the movie into the player, that it dawned on me. I like Ed Norton and Robert De Niro, and I had not seen this movie, so in a flash of brilliance couple of months ago, I had put this on the queue.

The movie is really watchably cool and extremely well cast. Ed Norton really pulls it off superbly, as a retard that cleans floors and also the cunning thief. There is something about his contenance that carries this duallity so dang well! The other movie where he plays this dual kind of role is in Primal Fear. I think it was last year, when I watched Primal Fear, that I really wanted to see Ed Norton's movies. Of course, Robert De Niro plays his role as aging thief who finally partners up with Ed Norton to steal a sceptre from Montreal customs offices. The plan goes great until Ed Norton decides to mess around with Robert De Niro to steal it all for himself. Hmmmm... sounds like the Italian Job, where Ed Norton steals the gold from his partners. Goes to show most movies are made from mish-mash of earlier movies or not. Anyways, it is like I said, watchably cool.

Coste-Caumartin Pommard, 2005 (Pommard, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France)
		Producer: Jerome Sordet Domaine: Coste-Caumartin is located in northern end of Pommard, between Petits Epenots and Beaune’s Clos des Mouches. About 1.83 hectares of Clos des Boucherottes, has belonged to the Sordet family since late eighteenth century. Notes from Bermans: The wine is especially deep and dark for a red Burgundy with lots of glycerin and concentration. On the palate the wine is voluptuous and creamy with lovely flavors of raspberries, cherries, oriental spices with fine, silty tannins. Grape/Varietal composition: 100% Pinot Noir. My notes: I could not wait to try this one, at my previous wine tasting I had the Borgougne from Coste Caumartin (click here and see number 3 in the list) and it was well received by most. Of course at that tasting I was extremely partial to the Chateauneuf, so, I was biased there. For this tasting, I held out tasting all the other four, until we (and the wine) was ready to taste. I jumped at the chance as soon as it was being poured, and god! It was awesome! Very deep red, very solid, very full, had hints of spice, hints of earthiness. Just very very smooth and by god, yummy! Buy Factor: If I have the spare budget! YEAH! Cost: $39.99 (reg. $49.99) a bottle.

Manzone Barbera D’Alba, 2005 (Alba, Piedmont, Italy)
		Notes from Bermans: Most successful in Italy's Piedmont region, where it makes such wines as Barbera d'Asti, Barbera di Monferato and Barbera di Alba. Its wines are characterized by a high level of acidity (meaning brightness and crispness), deep ruby color and full body, with low tannin levels; flavors are berrylike. However, plantings have declined sharply in the United States. A few wineries still produce it as a varietal wine, but those numbers too are dwindling. Its main attribute as a blending wine is its ability to maintain a naturally high acidity even in hot climates. The wine has more potential than is currently realized and may stage a modest comeback as Italian-style wines gain popularity. Additional descriptions: "Lovely blackberry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a plum, lemon and chocolate aftertaste" Grape/Varietal composition: 100% Barbera. My notes: It was beautiful ruby red color, quite grapey with hints of mixed berries. But, on the whole a very table wine, quite non-memorable. Although, at the wine tasting there were couple of fans. Buy Factor: I don't think I was too impressed with this one. Nah! Wasn't too jazzed with it. Cost: $17.99 a bottle.

Chablis Domaine Long-Depaquit. 2005 (Chablis, Burgundy, France)
	pic coming soon	Producer: Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit  this is one of several Chateau and Domaines owned by Albert Bichot, Notes from Bermans: Good Chablis from a top Domaine can be one of the most exquisite Chardonnay/white Burgundy experiences that one can have. The crisp minerality, subtle complexity pure, bracing flavors, that are distinct from each vineyard site, places Chablis' near the top of my white wine preferences. And compared with white Burgundies from further south they are down right bargains. And that's not to mention new world wine chardonnays. Domaine Long- Depaquit is renowned for their vineyard sites and the quality of the Chablis' they produce. This wine, from the great 2005 vintage, was described by Allen Meadows, "the Burghound" as having, "A classic green fruit and oyster shell nose (which) leads to admirably rich and rather fruity flavors that are naturally sweet and impressively concentrated. This is a big Villages (wine) with solid minerality and plenty of personality." Grape/Varietal composition: 100% Chardonnay. My notes: I had tasted this wine before and my notes stay as: Rich dry wines, citrus and mineral fruits along with lime and white blossoms (flowers). Good body, quite lively and fresh. However, showing this wine second over the Gewurtztraminer, did not fair well.   Buy Factor: Might consider this one as a good dry white with seafood. Cost: $19.99 a bottle.

Marcel Hugg Gewürztraminer (Bergheim, Alsace, France)
		Notes from Bermans: Gewürztraminer can yield magnificent wines, as is best demonstrated in Alsace, France, where it is made in to a variety of styles from dry to off-dry to sweet. The grape needs a cool climate that allows it to get ripe. It's a temperamental grape to grow and vinify, as its potent spiciness can be overbearing when unchecked. At its best, it produces a floral and refreshing wine with crisp acidity that pairs well with spicy dishes. When left for late harvest, it's uncommonly rich and complex, a tremendous dessert wine.. Grape/Varietal composition: 100% Gewürztraminer. My notes: I had not tried it before the wine tasting at my company, it showed tremendously well. It was very smooth, floral and sweet. For me, it is almost the definition of a Gewürztraminer. I could not help comparing it with the Trimbach and Gisselbrecht. Thus far have not been impressed with Trimbach, while Marcel Hugg and Gisselbrecht are comparably great alsace wines.  Buy Factor: Anytime, absolutely. Of the four for the wine tasting, we opened two, and one was snapped up by my colleague right at the wine tasting. Of course, I am hoarding the last one from the set. Cost: $19.99 a bottle.

Wine tasting at the company, yes, finally we have it. I have been planning this for a while (try last October) and finally I got to organize the wine tasting at the company. We had only ten of possible hundred that could have shown up, but the election, the weather, the falling sick, the cost, and not it town got in the way for several people. But, it was a good group that got together this evening to taste three wines from France and one from Italy.

From the left to the right the wines: Marcel Hugg Gewürztraminer (Alsace, France) Tasting results: Loved by majority of the people. 2005 Chablis Domaine Long-Depaquit (Chablis, France) Tasting results: Did not show well after the Gewurtz, but I think I loved its crisp acidity.  Manzone Barbera D’Alba (Piedmont, Italy) Tasting results: Most people liked this one. This wine also gathered one or two fans. 2005 Pommard Coste-Caumartin (Pommard, Cote de Beaune, Burgundy France) Tasting results: Some liked this some didn't. I liked it. I think I left the tasting notes in my office cupboard, and I am home, so the above results are simply overall impressions and not the actual votes. I will edit to write those in too in a couple of days.

Since coming back from New York, I have been keeping busy living life, rather than blogging about it or may be I was being just a tad lazy about penning (typing) down what was happening. Either way, nothing got written down for a while. So, what has been happening? Loads of stuff that was on-going, well, has continued to be on-going, loads of new stuff got started, loads of stuff got done, and all along loads of fun was up for grabs.

Work front, all well that works well.

Entertainment front: Movies. Thanks to Netflix (door delivery), Netflix online and Hulu.com sites, I have caught up with several items from the queue

Shattered Glass: All about seeing Hayden Christensen in a role which nothing to do with Darth Vadar. I did get drawn into the movie as it dealt with the ethics. The movie is about a journalist, who has dreams about grandeur and he goes about getting it by fabricating his stories. It reminds me people who love to talk, love to hear themselves talk and all the while are saying nothing or are simply lying.

Arsenic and Old Lace: After the heavy dose of ethics, this one comes with Cary Grant in one of the most hilarious roles as a newly wed with aunts that have a sordid passion of killing gentlemen callers and burying them in the basement. The two aunts go about killing and burying as it was the most normal pasttime ever. It is great!

The Pianist: Holy molly, loved and hated this movie at the same time. Cannot believe I did not go to see this at the theaters.

Prime Suspect 1 and 2: I really do like Helen Mirren's role as DCI Tennyson.

And Then There Were None: As a kid I have remember reading this book, with 10 people murdered on a island, and no one could have gotten to the island and no one left. Since then I have been on the lookout for the book. Couple of months back as I was browsing through tones of used books for sale, I spotted it and bought it. It was great to re-read the book. I couldn't wait for the movie. Hmmm! Quite certain that there was a movie, I searched, found, and moved it to the top of my queue on Netflix. I must say, I was dissappointed, arghh! The suspense was there, the thrill was there, and the ending was horrid. I could believe my ears (or eyes for that matter). How dare they change the ending!

House M.D. (playing catup with season 4... I think): Hugh Laurie is really really cool. The brilliant but caustic doctor and his team as they battle the weirder of the medical problems.

Crochet Conquered! Finally, I have conquered the dopey one needle in one hand and yarn in the other craft. Yes! It has been a personal ghoul to couquer. I could knit, I could embroider, I could pick up almost any other craft, but the whole crocheting business drove me bananas. I could never manage the whole yarn and single needle thing. Conquering this thing has led me down the path of doing a sampler which is almost 50inches in square and also started on an ambitious shawl. Hmmm! I wonder if conquering a craft has lead me down the obsessive crafting path. Time will tell, but this may be a passing phase or a lasting entertainment. My very own accomplishment.

Domaine Cauhapé, Chant Des Vignes, 2005 (France)
		Producer: Henri Ramonteu. Website: Domaine Cauhape Notes from the producer: Enchanting, the aroma evokes an aromatic polyphony which resonates with fresh and delicate notes: grapefruit, grapes, peach and spring flowers. It is full, rich and concentrated. Subtle but voluptuous. The finish is long and elegant with incredible lingering fruit flavours. Grape/Varietal composition: 100% Gros Manseng. My notes: I opened it, I sniffed it, let it stand for 30 mins and fell in love with it. It is indeed so elegant and bursting with fresh grapefruit and spring flowers. It felt like fresh rain over parched soil wine. Absolutely stunning. I have had the 2003 and 2005 continues to amaze me. Buy Factor: Anytime, I have had this just myself couple of times, and also shared with fellow wine tasters. It has been widely loved and accepted. Also taken a bottle for my sister. Cost: $19.99 a bottle.