Today is my Dad’s birthday. Last year I had a chance to be in Minnesota for his birthday. That was for the big six, oh! One year later and I’m stuck on this side of the big pond unable to spend the day with him. This is the worst part of living abroad, but thanks to skype I get to talk to him weekly. My dad is a pretty darn amazing guy. He’s always available to talk, and he has gone farther than is necessary in helping Gabriella and my dream to live abroad come true. Both my parents are pretty special. I’m lucky to have them. Thanks to both of you.

So have a great day today, enjoy a cigar and some good scotch! I’ll be in Spain toasting you with a glass of bourbon, sadly without the cigar. We’ll see you in a few more months.

Love, Ryan

Lucky shot as Touriga decided to run around the house leaping I was able to catch this one shot. Not that sharp, but sometimes sharpness is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Last night we had some friends over for my birthday. To start out we decided to try some Flavor Tripping, a fad going on around the culinary world right now. If you haven’t heard of it read this. I’ll be doing a full post on Catavino but for now I just want to say the tomatos tasted best, in my opinion. If you don’t know what this is check it out, it’s cheap and lot’s of fun. The basic idea is that a “miracle fruit” when allowed to disolve on your tongue, flavors that were sour are now sweet and bitter is not as obvious. Needless to say it’s a “trip”. Afterwards we grilled a bone in Pork loin and a Bone in Beef loin. Damn I love grilling food. Happy friggin birthday to me!