A bit of humor is good for the psyche during these troubled times
By Steve Siciliano
Unless you’ve been working remotely from home or have been designated as an essential employee in an essential business, you probably have been looking for ways to keep from going stir crazy over the last four weeks. Barb and I feel fortunate that our store has been allowed to stay open, albeit with reduced hours, a skeleton crew and curbside deliveries, which gives us an outlet to get out the house for an X number of hours each day. While this has helped ward off the full-blown effects of cabin fever, I’d be lying if I said that sheltering in place hasn’t exacerbated our frazzled nerves.
Of course, an uptick in frazzle is directly proportional to a downturn in tolerance. My slovenly habits have lately garnered longer and sterner rebukes from my fastidious wife. For my part, if she continues to mutter “we’re going through some crazy shit,” on the average of twenty-eight times a day I’m probably going to lose it.
When Barb isn’t at the store, she spends her time working in the yard, painting the basement, watching the Ellen and Dr. Oz shows and plying through a volume of crosswords roughly the size of the New York City phone book. If I’m audacious enough to ask if she needs help with a clue, she looks over at me and scowls. As for me, I’ve been wiling away my hours at home reading, writing, napping and watching cable news.
While navigating through this dystopian nightmare one must keep in mind that imbibing too much news can send you precariously close to the edge. One afternoon last week I took a hiatus from CNN and spent two mindless hours watching Blazing Saddles. Mel Brooks' zany, irreverent, satirical film set in the late 1800’s American West was a nice counterweight to the daily helping of Covid-19 gloom and doom. Laughter, especially in these troubled times, is indeed a very good medicine.
FEATURED WINES OF THE WEEK
Kin & Cascadia, Pinot Noir, 2017, Oregon, $15.59/750 ml - "Bright red ruby in color and, on the nose, reveals notes of cherry and even mocha. A gorgeously, soft and delicate wine rich in flavor with overtones of strawberries and rose petals." (Source)
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"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices."
NEW AND RETURNING BEER
Founders-Mas Agave/12oz/$4.49 - "We love cocktails. Like, really love them. If you ask us, few are more refreshing than the tart and tangy margarita and our latest barrel-aged beer pays tribute to that perennial classic. We took an imperial gose brewed with agave, lime and sea salt and then aged it in tequila barrels. Consider it a party in a bottle. ¡Más Agave!" (Source)
Founders-Mas Agave Grapefruit/12oz/$4.49 - "The cocktail inspiration lives on. Our imperial gose is brewed with agave and sea salt before being aged in tequila barrels. But it doesn’t end there. Once it’s pulled from the barrels, it gets a dose of fresh grapefruit juice to ramp up the tanginess and to pay homage to our other favorite tequila-based cocktail, the Paloma. Sweet, salty, and mouth-puckeringly delicious. ¡Más Agave… Grapefruit!" (Source)
North Pier-Oh My Guava/12oz/$2.79 - "Just like a vibrant summer day, this pink guava Kolsch brings you a bright burst of energy. Each sip starts with subtle tropical notes and finishes with the crisp, clean flavor you love in a Kolsch." (Source)
Farmhaus-Skinny Dip Blueberry Shandy Bloom/12oz/$2.79 - Apples, local lemonade and blueberries!
Shiner-Ruby Redbird/12oz/$1.79 - "Real Texas Ruby Red grapefruit from the Rio Grande Valley combines with a hint of ginger to give this brew a bold and slightly tart flavor. Combining Citra and Golding hops amps up the fruity aromas, while the malt bill of Munich malt, malted wheat, and two row barley delivers a smooth, refreshing finish." (Source)
Lagunitas-Hazy Wonder/12oz/1.89 - "This fascinating ferment it full of fabulous Sabro, Citra and Cashmere hops for a smooth, tropical fruitiness. A slightly bitter, densely hazy phenomenon that's strangely light in mouthfeel, keeping you satiated and still coming back for more." (Source)