Three great reds

I've tasted three fantastic sub-$20 reds recently:
* Sean Minor 2009 Pinot Noir
* Babcock 2009 Merlot "Under the radar"
and my current favorite
* Curtis 2006 Syrah, which is like heroin

Marmot Membrain

I'm too cheap to buy Gore-Tex raingear, so I settled on the supposedly next best thing. That's Marmot Membrain, and this year, with the torrential rains, it's really proven itself and given me my money's worth. Highly recommended. I bought a second one!

Semi-technical pants that work

I've been pleasantly surprised by two pairs of Columbia pants: the City Slickerz and the Trail Twist. It's fairly difficult to find stretchy, water repellent, narrow legged pants that look good enough to wear in town, on the bike and on the trail. If you want them for cheap, to boot, forget it! Except somehow Columbia has really started delivering on the women's pants front. I'm really happy with these, and I could afford them!

Kenneth-Crawford 2008 Babcock Pinot Noir

I tasted this wine tonight at the SB Yacht Club and I thought it was remarkable enough to... well, to remark on. Go check out the tasting notes on the wine makers' website and tell me these are not full on wine nerds! This was a lovely Pinot Noir, completely out of the price range where I normally buy wine. I was, as expected due to price and origin, impressed!

Fuji FinePix XP10

I got this camera for Christmas. I did all sorts of review reading and research to decide where the price/performance sweet spot was for a water & shock-proof camera. I love love love my G11, but I'm afraid of hurting it when I take it sailing and climbing, and as a consequence... I don't. So I wanted a small competent little rugged camera. Everything seemed to indicate the Fuji XP10 was going to be it. Unfortunately after three days of testing I'm sorely disappointed and it's going back. Its low light performance is horrendous. In bright conditions its focus, sharpness and color reproduction are embarrassing. My Samsung Vibrant's 5MP camera takes better photos both inside in low light and outside in bright light. I'm depressed.

Brun-uusto cheese

Best baked cheese ever! Paired with Bogle Petite Sirah and maple syrup. To die for!

Kraemer Sharp Cheddar

When we went to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving Dan and his mom went out and bought a bunch of cheeses that we subsequently shipped out to California -- we're not ones to risk the fate of our cheese in the hands of the TSA! We haven't tried them all yet, but so far the Kraemer Sharp Cheddar from Watertown, WI is definitely the best cheddar and possibly the best cheese I've ever had. I'm blown away.