Weekend Ramblings...

The original plan was to have a quiet weekend which didn't really work out.  We had to start Saturday with a trip to Costco to get a refund on something.  After that we had to get across town to have the screen of M's phone replaced... nice business those guys have there, looks like a lot of people have a similar problem and they're filling the gap nicely.

While we were waiting we took the kids for a walk around Green Lake.  It's a 5 km walk, but rather pleasant, especially on a nice sunny afternoon.  Once home we finished mowing the front lawn, which is a pretty significant task due to the front lawn being at a 45 degree incline.

In the evening we watch The Skeleton Key which was, on the whole, a rather nicely done story.

Sunday we had brunch eastside, followed by a Grappa Tasting while M had a riding lesson.  Grappa,..  an acquired taste.  I'm happy that these guys were making it, and I think they might be onto something with the aged stuff that they're working on, but the young stuff pretty much left me as unimpressed as the stuff I used to drink in Greece.

After that we hobbled next door (Nick has popped his kneecap), had a beer and then tasted some wine at our favourite winery over there.  Their 2010 Rose is amazing, a real Provence style crisp rose, completely unlike the usual US made ones.  I also took on some of their current best blend and some of their 2010 Malbec which has really matured nicely.

Their 2011 wines are being released next month and we'll have to go and make a comparison.

Dear Weather...

Ok, so I know it's only May and all that, and last year was really crappy.  But 2 weeks of lovely weather has not prepared me for the return to normal service we had yesterday.  I may have to wear long trousers and socks today!!!

Because people are complicated...

There was a bit of fuss over Eduardo Saverin dropping his US citizenship to avoid paying tax on his Facebook income.  Interesting, this turns out to be false. 

That said, I didn't actually have all that much of a problem with it even if he hadn't.  This might surprise some people  because they have me pegged as a pro-tax kinda person.  I am.  I see taxes as a system not unlike paying your country club or other club membership for which you get all sorts of amazing benefits - like not being killed in gang fights, clean water, clean air, blah blah blah....  I do have an issue with paying taxes in countries you don't live in.

Saverin hasn't lived in the US for a while, and frankly, in my opinion, was a little poorly treated while here.  So while he has paid tax, I don't really find that to me much of a problem.

People are complicated aren't we.