CD's

Still buy them. Digital media rights are minimal to non-existent. Possession, as always, continues to be nine-tenths of the law.

This is sad beyond belief.

2005 Harrison Clarke Grenache

This Santa Ynez Grenache, picked up from Jonathan's in La Jolla for $30, is hands down one of the best wines I've ever had. It's not dry, not acidic, not tannic, it's a bit like ... not the wines I usually drink. It's aromatic, medium thickness, and, to me at least, hints at port or brandy. I have no idea whether it's typical of other grenache wines, but it's something to be experienced. I drank it over a week, and I think it was at its peak on the third day. Out of this world!

Mountain Hardwear Clouds' Rest Sleeping bag

Last fall, as I was starting my three month dirtbagging phase, I decided two things absolutely had to be replaced: my sleeping bag, and my backpack. I replaced my North Face Aleutian synthetic bag, with a down bag I found at Wilson's in Bishop on discount, the Mountain Hardwear Clouds' Rest. Fatefully, this was a day before I hit Yosemite National Park and backpacked to 6 miles short of the peak of the same name: Clouds' Rest. This 5 degree sleeping bag has basically changed my outdoor life. I can now boldly go where I would not have previously gone, secure that I will not freeze my butt off. There is apparently a womens' version, which mine is not, but, as those tend to be short and narrow for me, I'm somewhat grateful to have the black and red men's version. My feet stay warm, I can sneak my shoulders out, or snuggle in, as I prefer, and it's soooo soft. Now that it's summer, I've taken to leaving my tent behind and just sleeping in the bag, and I still tend to leave it unzipped, because it really is HOT!

Warehouse 13

It seems really out of character for me to be recommending a TV show. I wonder if it's a symptom of my standards deteriorating... In any case, I've watched the first two episodes of Warehouse 13 on Hulu, and so far, I'm impressed. That anyone would manage to seamlessly incorporate steampunk into a mainstream TV show is beyond the pale. And the male Agent's character: hilarious! I'm really really enjoying this!

My favorite climbing/hiking/backpacking apparel

Cleaning on Summer Sojourn
Originally uploaded by slampoud

I'm very very particular about the clothes I wear when I'm climbing, hiking and backpacking -- and, if possible, I'm even happier if they can cross over to sailing, but very few garments do. I want my gear to be high quality and durable, since I don't want to replace it more frequently than every few years. I generally don't wear it around town, which keeps it feeling a little like fairy dust: put it on, and it's magically the weekend! My usage mode is usually to stick each and every one of these garments in my pack every time I go adventuring (hence they're all very lightweight), take them out and wash them when I return, and repeat during the next excursion two weeks later. So they have to withstand a biweekly wash cycle and the rigors of the outdoors, for a couple years.

The gear that's proven itself over the last one-plus year:

Long pants: REI Acme pants (I would live in these if I could)

Shorts: Lole (can't find the model, but they're SPF 50+, with carbon nanofibers, two buttons, fit like heaven, super stretchy and dry immediately! And I hate shorts!)

Puffy: Isis Whisper (converted me to a down fanatic for life)

Shell: Marmot Cloudlight (plain old competent)

Layers: Icebreaker everything (a love affair I've written about before)

Socks: Smartwool PhD (won't buy anything else)

Beanie: Icebreaker Bauble

Gloves: Sprigs Multi-Mitts

Approach shoes: 5.10 Prodigy

So, to the companies that make my favorite junk: I <3 you!

Well Re(a)d Organic Red Table Wine

Picked up from TJ's for $6. Very impressed by this organic, sulfite-free wine. Left it alone for 4 days and it uncorked with force. I wonder what sort of secondary fermentation was going on there... Either way, delicious with food or without!

Santa Ynez Valley Winery 2008 Gewurtztraminer

Been sipping this with dinner (mainly stir-frys) over the last week. It's very honey, quite fragrant and all-around delicious. Definitely think it would go well with satay sauce, but haven't had a chance to test the theory. It's made by Kalyra, by the way, who also make some of the best dessert wines I've had.