The Lisa Life

On the Wine Box

If you say the words "Wine Box" to many wine lovers, they will shudder or recoil in horror. For those of us who are the common folk who love wine, wine boxes are an affordable way to enjoy wine. I too, shuddered in disgust at the first thought of wine in a foil bag shoved into a box with a spigot. When finances forced me to forgo the fifteen to twenty dollar bottles of wine I prefer, I tried a wine box.

It was surprisingly inoffensive. I enjoy chardonnays, preferably full bodied, oaky and pear infused. While the wine boxes do not offer the distinctive taste of higher end vinters, the wine is just as palatble as a house chardonnay you would order in a restaurant.

Peter Vella wine boxes seem to be the most common and are advertised as the "Best Selling Wine in America." At twelve dollars a box, equal to 4-5 bottles of wine, it's a bargin. It's smooth, crisp and light, but lacks the bite of a higher end chardonnay.

Corbett Canyon, while a bit pricier for a smaller box, is a definate cut above the Peter Vella in terms of taste. Their merlot wine box is also quite tasty.

Yes, there is a wine box in my fridge right now.

Current 3 CDs

Introduction

You must understand, I only listen to music to and from work. Most of the time at home, I am overridden by the blare of the television. I listen to music faithfully in my truck though. I have probably 30 CDs floating around my truck. It's hard on me, because I am one of those people who always has a soundtrack going in my head.

Recent songs I have enjoyed:

Better Man, Pearl Jam Live
Sweet Sweet Girl, The Kingbees
My Mistake, The Kingbees
If I Had a Million Dollars, Live Version, Bare Naked Ladies
(Went out for the football team to prove that I'm a man/Guess I shouldn't tell em that I like DuranDuran)
Farmhouse, Phish
Theme song from the Dukes of Hazard (Just a good ole boy/Just trying to survive/If the law don't get em/The land surely will)
The Gambler, Kenny Rogers (On a train bound for nowhere/I met up with the gambler)
Polyester Bride, Liz Phair
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, Cake
Viva Wisconsin, Violent Femmes ( love this CD, know every word to every song but it does tend to make me hostile if I listen to it on the way to work)

Bit of trivia: My ex-husband used to work with a girl who's cousin was in the Femmes. She was not hip to the whole idea. Thought he was a freak. Paul DeLorenzo his name was, I think.

Last Three Books I Have Read

1. Pledged, the Secret Life of Sororities. By Alexandra Robbins, Hyperion Press, pub.

A startlingly honest look at the inside of Greek sisterhood. Actually, I think this was soft-pedaled, as the author masquaraded as a sorority member and had emotional ties to some of the girls. Which is not bad, shows she has compassion, if not distance. The Greek system is racist outdated and detrimental. This book reinforced every preconceived notion I had. The bad in a sorority far outweighs the good. Alexandra Robbins is a very good storyteller, I plan on reading Secrets of the Tomb as well, inside the Yale secret societies, which she also wrote. Pledged is hair raising if you are the mother of a daughter that you plan to send to college.

2. The Working Poor, Invisible in America. By David K. Shipler. Alfred A. Knopf, pub.

A wonderful sociological look at people right here in this country who struggle to keep their heads above financial disaster and generally fail due to the poor workingman's wages in America. Easy to read, not pedantic at all. Mr. Shipler followed several families for over five years. Very insightful and very heartwrenching. Inspired me to re-read:

3. Nickel and Dimed. By Barbara Ehrenreich. Henry Holt, pub.

A journalist goes undercover to work minimum wage jobs throughout the States to see if it is indeed, possible to live on the minimum wage or slightly above and confirm the Welfare to Work myth. Humourous, insightful. Made me appreciate all those people at Meijer's and Wal-Mart all the more. Why are they not real hip on customer service? Because they have a lousy dead- end job with not much to show for it. There are a lot more people like this than like the yuppie types anymore. This book will make you think about your station in life and what a short step down it can be.

On the Agenda:

Blue Blood, by Edward Conlin. Riverhead pub. A Blue Blooded cops's memoir of being a working cop in the South Bronx who tells the story just like it is. Doesn't need much embellishment. Getting my hands on this one tomorrow. He is a hottie, as well. Will let you know.