Anniversary

One year ago today I made my first post detailing my anticipation & anxiety before I set out on my journey to find an illustrious career in California. 366 days later, I am back in the same room where I wrote that first entry, wondering what was ahead. Now I possess the knowledge of the past year, though I am still wondering what lies ahead.

Here I am, back where I started. But now I am an apprentice in the industry I've tried to gain entry into for two years. I am no longer wishing I was elsewhere, at least not geographically. Financially, yes, I'm longing for better days. And they will come.

My California plates are retired. My car is registered back in Mass. I'm split between my new home and my old home, spending more time in my car than either of them. Unsettled, once more, yet I am on the right path.

The knowledge of my surroundings is no longer confining, It is instead a tool for my advantage.

My first client in Suffolk County is one of my late uncle's favorite places. My others are still waiting to begin.

I received my first commission check. My pay out for May was $7 dollars and 47 cents. I'm keeping that check, where one day it will be framed in my office. There's nowhere to go but up.

Yesterday I received my selling license from the state. I am officially in the wine/spirits business.

Though I don't live close by, I visit the ocean most days of the week. Soon I will have a book of clients and a home there.

I am with my family and friends. I am not searching, I am working. I am building my life.

All those things I set out to do one year ago are now coming true. This is not what I foresaw in terms of timing or location, but how much of life is? It took a lot of miles and hours to find an opportunity right next door, and now is the time. I am where I belong.

A year ago tonight I was nervous and excited, tonight in many ways I feel the same. But tomorrow I won't be packing, or heading West. Instead, I'll be headed into the office, and then out to visit prospects. That is the entire reason I left last year. And if I hadn't, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Ugh

Another trial today, no let-up in the evening. Just getting closer to the breaking point.

Uphill

Thought today would be the day I broke into the light with some new sales. A wait at the first retail store led me to try a place where I used to know the owner. The place is now under new ownership. Back to the first retail spot, they tasted three offerings, liked them all, had no money in the budget, 'keep coming back.' Then I got to my car and saw that I had a ticket after waiting over an hour to get through the tasting.

Off to the next appointment 26 miles away. Staffing issues interrupted their schedule so they couldn't taste today. From there I decided to regroup and hit a few places another 35 miles north in Cape Ann where I was well received on my first visit. First place, my contact had an off day. Stopped into two places around the corner who didn't want to add new vendors. Then another 14 miles north to find a restaurant closed due to inclement weather. Rockport was like a ghost town. Sure it was 45 degrees under a thick shroud of fog and heavy mist, but all the stores were dark and locked up. No one on the streets.

Fine, back south to hit the bars/lounges of Beverly and Salem where I had no contacts. Fortunately I ran into a couple of cool people that offered some hope of future sales. I ended up in a cafe I'd never heard of before 1pm today, and suddenly at 8pm I was standing outside. So in a way, every little bit leads you to where you're going.

And so it goes...

Update

LIstening to water trickle down the building after the morning rains, tomorrow I'll be back out on the pavement. Felt some momentum this week though did not enter any sales. Let's see what week three brings.

A Brief Fall Back To Earth

Got quite a surprise out of this story in today's Herald. Apparently the playoff runs of the Celtics and Bruins have brought Red Sox ticket prices back down to earth, though I'm sure only for a brief moment.

Overdue

For two years now, I've been searching for entre into the world of wine/liquor distribution. The quest has taken me in many different directions, heading from one side of the country to the other and now back again, and all along my interest in the business has held steady. It's the right path. I want to work with spirits, sell them, learn about getting them into the country, selling them around the country, and using that knowledge to learn how to import/export other products. It's a long term viewpoint, and I knew I would be starting at the bottom, the question has always been when.

This week marked my first official week in the wine business. Hired by a direct importer to learn the trade. This is a very exciting opportunity. And, as always, it comes at a cost. Two months ago I arrived in South Windsor, CT to explore my options here on the east coast. It was the right move. Of course my opportunity is coming to me in Massachusetts. After switching coasts and covering thousands of miles, the question of going another 112 is not going to stand in my way. Though I won't get to come to my new home on a daily basis, I'll be working to develop a brighter future. After so long in limbo, there was no hesitation and there is no doubt.

I have a long way to go, much to learn, and challenges to overcome. I thought for the past two weeks that this entry would be my last, as I have accomplished my goal of finding the right opportunity. But I want to continue to catalogue how this develops. In order to develop sales, I'll be knocking on quite a lot of doors. And this blog is labeled as a traveller's page, so I may as well share some of the places I go to help remember what it takes to get wherever it is I will end up.

The first week caused a bit of strain, as change always does, but whether I'm behind the wheel or behind the desk, I've felt comfortable and happy with what I'm doing. I got to speak Spanish with some Catalonian wine producers, who were kind enough to leave my some samples under a fancy new title, I've met quite a few people all in one week and though some were kind, others were indifferent, and every day there was at least one serious asshole, I'm very excited to pursue my dream. Best of all, when I finally did get back home on Friday night, I was welcomed warmly.

Go Rock Cats!

A couple photos from our first minor league game. The Rock Cats came back in the bottom of the 6th to take a 2-1 lead, but the temperature was dropping steadily into the 40s so we passed on witnessing the outcome.

Lovely experience, though. Real small park and every seat is a good one. There's a strong sense of community tied to the team and being there just feels good. Nice to touch base with baseball is supposed to be about.

Getting There

It is a Spring Friday, late April. RIght now it's a touch under 70 degrees as the clouds have briefly obscured the sun. I'm going to my first minor league baseball game tonight, to watch the New Britain Rock Cats (AA Twins) face the Harrisburg Senators (AA Nationals). That should be fun.

For now I'm getting organized, taking stock. I'll have more to post in the coming days. Until then, Happy Weekend, everyone!

Status Update

Been quiet this week. Another great Patriot's Day, but I forgot my camera. That was Monday. The weather's been all over the place. Sending out job inquiries and getting half responses, vagaries. What can you do. . .

New Addition

Congratulations to Matthew and Melissa on the birth of Lucy Valentine Gibson!!!!

New Territory

On my way back from a wine presentation yesterday I saw a sign promoting Historic Talcotville. The sign is about 2 miles away from where I live and I hadn't noticed on countless previous trips. It was a beautiful day, I was excited about the future, I figured there was no time like the present to see this landmark.

Talcotville is, I guess, a roughly quarter mile village wedged between Manchester and Vernon, CT. It was home to a manufacturing mill that changed hands a few times before being owned for decades by the Talcott brothers before it went out of business in 1940. Their former mansion is located across the street, along with a church nestled aside the flowing Connecticut River.

The Invisible Hand of Sanctioned Extortion

Check out this video from yesterday's panel discussion on the business of baseball. As Sam Kennedy, one of the Sox reps, starts talking about a responsibility to keep tickets affordable, window washers descend over the exterior of the room to distract everyone and break the tension. A classic, "keep looking at the dancing monkey" moment. I wonder if Sam Kennedy was simultaneously bound and carried out of the room before everyone's attention went back to the stage.

First of all, Red Sox tickets are not affordable. Woe is the middle class family of Red Sox fans who want to head to Fenway. That same expenditure could probably cover 4 flight tickets to Florida (in season) or 65% of a mortgage payment. Red Sox tickets will remain unaffordable while demand is high. But the demand is a smokescreen, as the secondary ticket market is driving the demand.

The Red Sox are supposedly on this unprecedented sell-out streak. How many times over the past few years have you seen empty seats at Fenway? Even at big games, empty seats. During last year's B-team run and the 2009 collapse, there were entire empty sections. But those seats are paid for. They're sitting in a pile at an Ace Ticket or Stub Hub office. The game is a sell-out, who cares if they actually go to a fan who wants to see the game. The Red Sox don't care. Major League Baseball doesn't care, they made their revenue from the ticket.

Now, if I have a couple extra tickets to the game that I need to unload. I can go down to the park and sell them. But if I sell them over face value I am scalping and breaking the law. There's a fair chance I'll be arrested. All the tickets sold by Ace Ticket and StubHub are priced over face value yet that is somehow legal and embraced by the community. They are licensed ticket brokers allowed, by law, to re-sell tickets at a premium. They give you a guarantee that the tickets are authentic, otherwise they could lose their license pawning off bogus tickets. You don't get that same guarantee from the scalper hawking tickets out on Van Ness Street. Is that really worth paying a premium.

Sure the team avoids the headache of wondering how many tickets will be sold for each game by unloading their share to StubHub before the season even starts. They can guarantee how much revenue they'll earn and focus their energy elsewhere. But is there anyone in the front office unsettled by seeing all the empty seats in the park while they are touting their unprecedented sellout streak? We heard all types of moaning from the Red Sox last year because ratings were down and the park wasn't full (yet every game was still a sell-out). The team was considered boring by the public so they went out this year and acquired a couple of new superstars to get everyone excited. But the only money lost last year came from the lack of a post-season. Ad revenues on NESN sure didn't decrease. And, sure enough, ticket prices went up again this year.

The ticket situation is entirely bizarre to me. In a very short period It is not the fault of the Red Sox, it is sanctioned by Major League Baseball. And it certainly isn't exclusive to baseball, it's a part of all sports and events these days. In a very short period of time, the last 10-15 years, ticket brokerages have become a powerhouse industry. Yet the common person on the street ca be arrested for attempting the same deal they offer. Money talks, and big money begets big money, who cares about the fan, they are just a piggy bank waiting to be pilfered. At a time when Wisconsin's governor is inciting other lawmakers and business leaders to become union busters, why isn't there any elected official who wants to bring back vending equality? The power of the ticket brokerages also has to do with our newfound 21st century entitlement to have anything at any time. If you want to go to that show, or that game, you can, for a price. We have fed it with our lack of discipline and rationale. And now it's a business that will never go away. It makes too much money.

Meanwhile, if I want to go to a game in San Diego, I can walk down to Petco Park 20 minutes before any game and get a face value ticket from the box office and sit in a beautiful ball park (except maybe if the Red Sox are in town). The demand is not there. It's here in Boston. And it's there in New York but the new Yankee Stadium is a total miscalculation of the market. The best seats there cost $1500 at face value and are always empty. The greatest franchise in Major League Baseball history, with the most fans worldwide, and they exclude their own fans from the games on account of the fat cats, who aren't big enough fans to plunk down the money themselves. And, if I'm not mistaken, the $1500 ticket price is actually a reduction from where they were last season. But even if the Red Sox keep playing like they have for the first two weeks of this season and the demand for tickets plummets, they'll still have their sell out streak, because their tickets are already sold. And if anyone in the front office wants to talk about making going to Fenway affordable for the families who want to go and enjoy America's pastime in person, cue the window washers.

Chipping Away

As the rain began to fall last night, I went out to Chicopee to follow up on a liquor store I'd stumbled upon two weeks ago. Walked out with a sale. When I arrived the proprietor was speaking on the phone in a language I don't understand. I had to interrupt him just to show him a brochure before, I figured, making my way for the door. Turns out, he was on the phone with a relative who lives in San Diego County, and we had a good discussion and did some business. You never know.

Wishing everyone a great day.

Some Recent Food

I'm in a cooking slump. It started a week ago with a so-so dinner I made for my parents. Since then I've ended up with bland sauteed vegetables, rubbery scallops, and undercooked chicken...undercooked chicken! I'm trying to break it up a little but I realize it's just a rut that will pass. Until then, here are some shots of recent successes, including a killer Jacques Pepin recipe for chicken in balsamic vinegar-shallot sauce, a Mexican breakfast crepe, and poached cod loin.

Caminando se aprende

There is a Spanish saying, "caminando se aprende, walking is learning," which I've always taken to heart. Today I went into Hartford for a job fair, which was depressing and unprosperous. But afterward I went walking around downtown and discovered a few new places that will be great client targets for wine sales. Hadn't been down those streets for a couple years probably and found some exciting businesses. Along the way I also discovered the fine art museum, which was closed today, but I felt a bit more connected to my new area. Best of all, I did not have that trapped, angered feeling I used to feel in Hartford. It may not be the nicest city there is but, like everywhere, it has beauty in it. And compared to Springfield, MA, Hartford is like Manhattan.

Sunday Morning

Looking at the forecast, every day is expected to be over 60 degrees. Excellent.

It's a bit overcast, but hopefully a Celtics win in Miami followed by a Red Sox victory in Fenway should make this day an exciting one.

My morning exercise and cleaning was set to the soundtrack of Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms and Making Movies. As a metaphor for my career, and for everyone's stability and success, I share "Solid Rock."

Springy Saturday

It is a beautiful early Spring Saturday. The sun is out, and the temperature is just over 60 degrees. Lovely day.
Went for a run earlier and then ran errands, including a stop at the Post Office, which always makes me think back fondly of going to the Post Office with my grandparents.

The Red Sox finally pulled out a win yesterday. My favorite moment of the game came in an email from my mom who wrote, "Lackey SUCKS!!!!!" So true. Reading the paper today, another funny moment, perhaps even some psychological warfare we're waging against our rivals, "The Yankees were unable to shower after the game because of a plumbing problem in the visitors’ clubhouse." Great move.

In other news, very sad to hear of the passing of Sidney Lumet. Lumet's book on filmmaking is an invaluable and hugely entertaining resource. Lumet seems to have done it all, big-budget, small-budget, tv, theatre, live television, musicals, and he had an undying excitement for making movies. In the last few years he was engaged in the digital medium and the openness it allowed for longer takes. RIP Sidney Lumet.

Fenway Opens...

Okay, no one expected this a week ago, but what a day for a fresh start!

Very excited to see the Sox take on the Yankees today, under very arduous circumstances. But the sun is out, the grass is green, and baseball is here.

I'm having trouble finding people in the office today, but this is an unofficial holiday in New England so I hope everyone has some excitement and that this day is a little more special than a regular Friday.

Go Red Sox!!!

What The F?!

Certainly no one expected this. I haven't watched too much of the games so far, which is more a result of co-habitation diplomacy than anything else. What is worse than the Sox becoming the MLB equivalent of the Miami Heat, is that now we are the exclusive worldwide promoter and partner of LeBron James. Awkward and definitely not cool. Sad byproduct of of 21st century hypermedia branding.

On a lighter note, one thing I really did enjoy about tonight's game was the camaraderie of my favorite fellow Red Sox fan, my dad. I came up to Andover tonight and it was all worth it to be in the kitchen hearing my dad's cry of "That's bullshit!" directed at the screen in the next room. Of course, he would have said the same thing on a tough call in a win.

Get it together, Red Sox. You're real fans can't even afford to buy tickets to the games. At least give us something to watch for the second mortgage we all pay to cable.

Rainy Monday

So. . . Rough weekend for the Sox. Good to see that they still have a sense of humor.
Right now I'm more concerned about the Celtics. Shaq looked great last night, until he was in agony. The C's need him to get number 18.

In other news, I'm very happy to see that the National Transportation Board is authorizing a bus inspection. I've made multiple bus trips to and from NYC and Hartford over the years and, though being a bus driver may not be the best job in the world, it should never result in death. On my last cross country trip, which you know took me coast to coast and across over 3000 miles, the most aggressive driving I saw came right here in Connecticut by, you guessed it, reckless bus drivers. Truck drivers in the rain is one thing. Bus drivers are not in the same category. The truck driver has a load to deliver and no one on board. The buses are carrying innocent, paying customers. You can routinely see buses weaving in and out of lanes up and down I-95 with no concern for the other cars on the road or for the passengers on board. It's a bus, it's not a sports car; slow down and drive safe.

Signs of Spring

It is a beautiful day in early Spring. Brilliant sunshine and blue skies populated with puffy clouds. A cold Northern wind is still swirling around, but it's a day of promise. Soon the trees will sprout leaves and the renewal of green will be with us.

Of course many New Englanders are seething today at the 0-2 start of the Red Sox. I'm not worried at all. They have several encouraging signs (Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz--Papi!) and a few bad breaks (you can't do anything about a seeing eye flair that lands on the foul line) so, as somewhere Bob Lobel is speaking of Adrian Beltre and lamenting, "why can't we get guys like that?"... the Red Sox are going to be great. It's a beautiful day today, on Friday it was snowing. The Red Sox will be winning soon enough.

Not that I know anything or care much about college hoops, how about UCONN making it all the way to the Finals, well done.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday.

April 1st

There is snow on the ground but you've got to love it--April Fools in New England!

Today marks the start of the Red Sox season and I know which shoes I'm wearing. Let's go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Signs of Spring

Yesterday was a beautiful day that actually felt like the beginning of Spring with sunny skies and warm temps.

I found an old fashioned breakfast spot in Longmeadow, MA called Coghlan's Place. Many people I know dream of owning a breakfast place at some point. Based on the hours, I could never be one of them. I'll remain a customer.

Baseball is back today. Tomorrow the Red Sox take the field in Arlington. I am exceptionally excited for this season, even with all the hype. Looking forward to listen to Don & Jerry and, of course, the Eck!

Sleep well tonight, and wish the Celtics well. In doing so, wish for an imminent return for Shaquille O'Neal!

Cherry Pop

I just submitted my first wine order; thus, I have officially entered the world of wine sales.

The All Day Firecracker

Well, the Bleacher Bar's Sandwich Showdown was cancelled so it looks like I'll be finding another venue for the All Day Firecracker and the A-Rod Wiener.

For those who want a headstart, here is the Firecracker, with options.

Last June I arrived in Albuquerque in the evening but did not go out anywhere for food until almost 10 o'clock. I found a hippie bar whose kitchen was still open and serving food. Of course they were out of most stuff, it was late on Monday night. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, but they were out of turkey, and ham, and bacon (which was turkey bacon anyway). So I opted for green chilies instead, and green chilies are available on most items in New Mexico. That sandwich was fantastic and one of the most memorable I've ever had. So here you go, in honor of New Mexico, a colorful, hearty, and very spicy sandwich that is good any time of the day or night.

The All Day Firecracker:

2 eggs
Sliced Swiss or Monterrey Jack Cheese
Choice of Ham, Smoked Turkey, Bacon, or none at all
Onions
Red Pepper
Green chilies
Soft roll

Get some olive oil going in your skillet and put in the onions and red pepper. As those start to cook and get tender, take your sliced roll and put it over them to soak up the flavor. Once the bread has absorbed some of the oil from the vegetables, transfer it into a heated oven to crisp. Then move the onions/peppers to the side to clear space for the eggs. Drop those in, add some cracked pepper and sea salt. As the eggs are cooking, add in your green chilies. If you're adding meat, put that in along the side of the pan to warm (unless it's bacon, which you'll need to cook in a separate pan). Once the eggs are nearing the end zone, add your sliced cheese over the eggs, then take the meat, onions and peppers and pile them on top. Just as the cheese begins to melt, pull that roll out of the oven and place it on a plate. Bring your spatula under the eggs and place on the bun and serve.

This sandwich is very spicy based on the heat of the hot pepper you used. Green chilies can come pickled to be a bit milder, or if you really want to blast it, use a fresh Serrano or jalapeno pepper.

Pair with iced tea or very cold beer.

Enjoy!

Walking In Beantown

Got to spend a few hours on Friday and Saturday walking through Beantown. This was surprisingly enjoyable.

In the past, I always felt constricted and restrained no matter where I was, and especially while I was in Boston. That is no longer the case. I feel more comfortable and confident in myself than I ever have. So it felt great to get around Boston over the weekend and do a bit of shopping (March contains the birthdays of my mother, sister, girlfriend, and girlfriend's mother, yowza).

I found 2 hour parking spots on both days in Bay Village (my old neighborhood) and the South End--huge! Caught site of this alley right off of Tremont street which leads to a number of private apartment gardens. Somehow I came across Stuart Street in a rare lull during Friday rush hour and snapped this shot looking west. There's a shot of the nightclub 33 that is now out of business. I remember when this spot was first purchased back in 2002. I watched the construction as I took meetings at Mistral about the creation of Teatro. And then when that project got delayed I worked in front of 33 as a valet, driving many flash cars including Antoine Walker's massive Escalade ---which has almost certainly been repossessed in the years since. Surprised to see the Boston Crossing Pond completely drained. I imagine that is a byproduct of the harsh winter, can't remember seeing that before, but in just a few weeks that will be full of water and tourists on swan boats.

Good times.

Culinary Exploits

With the extra time on my hands and the use of a spacious and well stocked kitchen, I'm trying to keep up my culinary skills up to snuff.

The usual dishes are the oft requested tuna tartare, guacamole, bruschetta, fried oysters; many repeat appearances for those.

I recently re-worked a Jacques Pepin original of sauteed asparagus/shallots (sensational and very simple dish). I kept the asparagus and shallots, but added shiitake mushrooms and champagne to fantastic effect (this side is pictured with the grilled chicken and parsnip puree).

On last week's snow day I slow cooked some pulled chicken which resulted in an excellent day after sandwich.

My travels through New Mexico also inspired a new breakfast sandwich that I will be submitting to the Bleacher Bar's sandwich contest as the All-Day Firecracker. Details on that for those that inquire.

Not pictured are the fantastic burgers I grilled last Thursday. First time I've used the grill for beef in over a year. Delicious.

And finally last night was grilled swordfish (unsustainable but delicious and I was not present when it was purchased) and panko crusted haddock loin cooked in lemon/white wine.

Update

Wow. A week between posts. I'm slipping! My new level of domesticity and suburban surroundings are thwarting my daily correspondence.

All is well. It's about 40 degrees but feels colder. Was up this morning for a run through the woods before 8am. Felt very good. Yesterday we all went to the beach for to celebrate the birthday of my girlfriend's mom. It was colder yesterday. Still, an absolutely clear blue sky filled with brilliant sunshine. We had a full-fledged picnic on the shore despite constant wind punctuated by forceful gusts. As you can see, the dog was very happy.

Culinary Distractions...

Made a nice dinner last night: fried malpeque oysters, sauteed asparagus, and grilled sesame crusted tuna with mango salsa. I started off the session with a homemade black velvet, which, if you like champagne and Guinness, is a pretty good drink. Basically, the Guinness becomes a bit brighter and sweeter with the addition of the champagne. It looks cool, and has a good name, so I recommend it.