Wednesday, August 13, 2008

I Owe, I Owe...

....blogs.

Yes, I realize I haven't been on here much lately. It's sort of feast or famine with me when it comes to blogging - I either have inspiration & no time or energy, or time & no inspiration or energy. Heh, some writer I am.

Let's see, I still want to write a blog on this awesome wine tasting we went to a couple of weeks ago, as well as a couple of other things, but not today. Maybe later this week.

Today's blog is about farewells. Not goodbyes - they suck - but farewells. There's a difference, & I like the former much better because they're usually temporary & not so sad.

For example, this past Saturday, my stylist cut off about 4 inches of my hair. I'd been thinking about it because the layers in my hair were growing out a bit too funky for me, & it was getting very frustrating. I thought it resembled an overgrown mullet in a way (in a way - I haven't had a mullet since they were the haircut to have, thank goodness). I'm sure you can understand my dilemma. Anyway, I did the usual back-&-forth of "Oh, I can be patient & just keep getting trims" & "This sucks, I hate my hair right now. Screw it!" - & the "Screw it!" won at the last minute. Diana was thrilled, & so was I. Sorry, no photos, but I'll tell you that my hair is now darker, barely grazes my shoulders, & takes next-to-no-time to dry! But the best part is that the layers are going to grow out better so that I can do something else - no more mullet-ish ways! (However, if one more person calls me "sassy", someone might get hit.) So you see, hair always grows back, therefore this counts as a farewell... to me, anyway.

Last Friday, I received an email from our favorite Missouri winery, Chaumette Vineyards & Winery. Usually, I just skim through those because it has a bunch of stuff about their new spa or special dinners that we usually can't go to anyway, but this time, something caught my eye:

"Farewell to "Stretch"! Join us this Sunday all day to say farewell to Head Waiter Keith King! Keith has been with us four years and is moving back to Arizona to live closer to family. If you aren't not sure which one is Keith, he goes by "Stretch," and the "Seven Foot Waiter!" Keith will be surely missed!"

kk

This news didn't make us happy at all. Keith has always provided us with the very best in service over the years that we've been going to Chaumette, & in the process, has become a dear friend. We've always looked forward to seeing him & hearing his stories & about his various projects, & we've shared many laughs (& beers). Sadly, Keith's father is sick, so he felt he needed to return home to Arizona to be near his family. He left on Monday evening, driving a U-Haul with his 2 dogs. Talk about a long drive!

Because Keith is adored by so many - coworkers & Chaumette guests alike - a small party was held in his honor. He was very touched, & it was clear that he loved everyone there. Here are some photos:



Julie, Keith, & Cheryl


That's Keith, in the middle, with 2 of his friends/coworkers. We had our picture taken with him (I stood on a chair), but sorry.... I looked like a hippo in it, so I'm not posting it. My hair sure was cute, though.

Here's the stable on Chaumette's property that Keith was planning to turn into an eco-friendly house:

100_2005

Very cool! And the thing is, Keith will probably be back to do what he planned to do...or at least, we all hope that he will be. I mean, really...if you had a job & people that you love & scenery like the pictures below to look at everyday, wouldn't you?


Chaumette Vineyards, Ste. Genevieve, MO


Chaumette Vineyards, Ste. Genevieve, MO


View from Chaumette Winery, Ste. Genevieve, MO

Ahhhhh....

Let's not forget about having constant access to what Doug & I think is the best Missouri wine in the state! We're particularly into the 2007 Dry Chardonel. I know, I know....it's Missouri wine, & some people have a real bias against it...but this stuff is really quite nice! It's very crisp, similar to a Pinot Gris. Doug & I both picked up some apple, honey, & grapefruit with a mineral finish. Upon our return home, we looked it up & found the same description on the website! We're geniuses, we are. Heh. Except that the website says it has notes of Fuji apple, & Doug said it was the Gala. Whatever. Like he knows. But hey, for those of you in the Lou... don't just read about how much we love it (& the place itself) - go out & get yourself some!

Anyway, so first it was farewell to my hair, & then to our good friend Keith. The hair will grow, & Keith will hopefully return one day. If not, we know we'll always be friends, so it's not goodbye.

There are some real goodbyes I'd like to make - for instance, my latest addiction, Nacho Cheese Doritos. Or cheddar cheese popcorn. Perhaps after kicking that, I'll say goodbye to my double chin & my ass.

Enough already - vaya con Dios, Keith, & the best to your family...

8 comments:

LucyinStLou said...

I can't wait to see your hair tomorrow! I think I am the only person I know not getting a serious haircut this summer. I feel so left out...

Claire Uncorked said...

If you want a haircut, Lucy, you should just do it. Like I said, hair grows back!!

Hmmm....I'm trying to picture you with a mohawk.

Tracey said...

I got mine cut before I went to Florida, but it didn't turn out as short as I wanted it, so I am going back this weekend to get it trimmed up more. Yours sounds cute! I want mine to be too short to put in a ponytail, which is what usually ends up happening to it by the end of the day every day. Anyway. Pretty pictures!

Stepher said...

Claire,

I bet your hair is sas....... oh wait. Nevermind. ;-) I bet it is cute though. I'm letting my hair grow and grow and grow so I have essentially the same look everyday: ponytail OR French Twist w/a stick poking out. I'm v. low maintenance - LOL.

Keith sounds like a v. cool guy. He's going back to help his dad and he has two dogs -- what's not to love about that?!

I have a secret wine confession that will no doubt make you think so v. little of me. Dare I blurt it out and have my favorite Missouri wine laughed at by people who actually KNOW what quality wine is suppossed to taste like? I don't know. It's probably really horrible... I'll tell but you can't (openly) judge me, okay?

Claire Uncorked said...

Tracey - I actually want to put mine in a ponytail from time to time, but with the layers, it always looked stupid. All on my quest to sleep a little later...

Stepher, Keith IS very cool. I just hope he comes back, I know he wants to. And you're silly. Go ahead, tell me what your favorite is. I have a few guesses... =)

LucyinStLou said...

Hmmm, I wasn't thinking mohawk. Maybe just shorter or longer. I'm undecided. The problem with my curly hair, any longer frizz city yet too long to straighten daily, any shorter frizz city and too short to really get a grip with the straightening iron.

Thom said...

I seem to be on a Saturday schedule with blogging. During the week I barely have the energy to commentttzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Stepher said...

Okay, okay. I'll tell.

St. James - Velvet Red.

Go on, go on. Let the mocking begin! ;-)