My Dinner with Malcolm Gladwell (Epilogue)

May 31, 2012 by

Making a Living

Bounty hunter #1: You’re wanted, Wales.
Josey Wales: Reckon I’m right popular. You a bounty hunter?
Bounty hunter #1: A man’s got to do something for a living these days.
Josey Wales: Dyin’ ain’t much of a living, boy.

- The Outlaw Josey Wales

TUESDAY: I had to come up with a plan. It had to be fate that Malcolm “Blink”ing Gladwell rolled up next to me at the Catalina having what appeared to be a cappuccino while looking nervously at his computer screen. I could leave him alone, or I could see what he was all about. This is Texas, and we are nosy, chatty, and very much want to tell people about ourselves; therefore, if I just start a chat it will either become a legitimate chat, or possibly one of the suicide scenes from Airplane. I took a shot of Rwanda to instill some bravery and —–I quickly decided that if it was fate I would indeed see him here again and we might even have a meaningful chat.

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True Italy Stories – Out of Gas in Puglia (Part 2)

May 4, 2012 by

Welcome followers of Bliss. This is a multi-part series as a test pilot for my upcoming book on Italy travel and life in the boot. I thought this an appropriate final series before our departure to Italy on Monday; where we will be researching the rest of the book. Enjoy! Here is the link to PART 1

Blissful Adventurer

Ristorante Alle due Corti in Lecce

“Meglio non avere una storia che averne una noiosa.”

Better to have no story than to have a boring one – From the label of a bottle of Castello, a Friulian beer

As our blood sugars depleted while we meandered the fleeting shade of Lecce’s not so grand avenues near the station, I knew I could count on a secret weapon to get this birthday celebration started properly and assuage the demise of our collective spirits. My weapon of choice was; the Pasticiotto! This absolutely compelling oval of shortbread filled with pastry cream is essential to any nutritious Leccese breakfast and I was certain that each participant in this day of honor would be well served by ingesting one of these bad boys and washing it down with some of the killer locally roasted Quarta Caffe. [Read more...]

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Top 25 Italy Moments – #13 Why I Was a Lousy Tour Guide

March 14, 2012 by

Me as a guide in 2006 "Photo by BJ Stanbery"

In 2006 I became a cycling guide in Italy. I wasn’t much of a cyclist and at the same time I was certain my passion for Italy and knowledge would be more than enough to lead clients through the region and give them a great experience.

After all, I basically served in this role in 1995 on my University campus and again in 2002 leading two friends on two occasions through Rome and Tuscany. I passed the Italian language test in order to work in Italy and so I assumed my language was at least “good enough”. [Read more...]

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Why am I here?

July 25, 2011 by

I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.

Joseph Campbell

"er eee eez"

That particular question has driven me to write, travel, read, and think since I was old enough to remember doing any of those things. It is now once again the question that is ringing most loudly in the storm of my thoughts. Why am I here? Why am I in Colorado? Why do I want to write? It seems with writing, it is not about want, but some inner drive to create, to see things manifest from the immaterial of my memories and the images that come from absolutely left field in my head. I have done this kind of creation with directing and acting in the theater, firework shows, stand-up comedy, and of course storytelling both written and oral. I love an audience! I am pretty sure I am better at anything I do well with an audience.

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Rocky Mountain High

June 6, 2011 by

This is our Happy Place

I am completely thrilled to report that Juliet and I will be moving to Parker, Colorado at the end of this month. [Read more...]

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To Juliet on our 2nd Anniversary

April 30, 2011 by

My Kind of Bride

“O my love, my wife!
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 5.3

As the Royal wedding was yesterday I find it appropriate to quote some Shakes publicly for the first time in our 4 and 1/2 year journey as we generally try to avoid references to R&J. Today is about much more than a milestone, a single moment in time, or the business of celebration. Today is about discovery, just as everyday has been since December 11, 2006. This week has been about reflection for me and the realization that Juliet has given so much to our relationship and I am not sure I have ever expressed my gratitude completely. [Read more...]

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Snoring in Europe (Part 2)

April 28, 2011 by

Near Montecucco

This is part 2 of my existential piece on snoring in Europe and how it enlightened me on Friendship, duty, and following my passion. Keep in mind I was living in Tuscany at the time this was written. Some fine work by my colleagues Alfonso Cevola and Jeremy Parzen have brought the subject of DOCG wines from the Montecucco appellation in Tuscany to light this week, and as I was embarking on a job in this area at the time I penned this, I thought it an appropriate piece for the week. [Read more...]

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Puglia in May

April 21, 2011 by

View to the Road

Ca’ del Fico is available in May!

Since I have been involved in Puglia my dear friend Antonello’s stunning villa (Ca’ del Fico)in the hills outside of FASANO in Puglia has never been available in May. As my readers know I fell in love with this amazing property in 2006 when I set eyes upon its’ acres of olive trees, orchards of figs, and view of the Adriatic. Now, my first year removed as owner of Southern Visions Travel, I am more enamored than ever by the region and by this stunning piece of property. [Read more...]

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My Dinner with Malcolm Gladwell (Epilogue)

April 20, 2011 by

Making a Living

Bounty hunter #1: You’re wanted, Wales.
Josey Wales: Reckon I’m right popular. You a bounty hunter?
Bounty hunter #1: A man’s got to do something for a living these days.
Josey Wales: Dyin’ ain’t much of a living, boy.

- The Outlaw Josey Wales

TUESDAY: I had to come up with a plan. It had to be fate that Malcolm “Blink”ing Gladwell rolled up next to me at the Catalina having what appeared to be a cappuccino while looking nervously at his computer screen. I could leave him alone, or I could see what he was all about. This is Texas, and we are nosy, chatty, and very want to tell people about ourselves; therefore, if I just start a chat it will either become a legitimate chat, or possibly one of the suicide scenes from Airplane. I took a shot of Rwanda to instill some bravery and —–I quickly decided that if  it was fate I would indeed see him here again and we might even have a meaningful chat. [Read more...]

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Puglia: The Finest Raw Ingredients in Italy (Part 2)

April 13, 2011 by

Me in 2006 with BR

In 2006 I left Backroads and moved to Houston to work for SPECs. The surreal 12 hours I worked at SPECs will most certainly be a later blog post. Shortly after those revealing hours I went to work for Jerry Lasco at The Tasting Room and many of you know the details of my life in wine during that time. I met Juliet, opened some wine joints, and lived high on the fat in one of the best places to be fat in America. In 2007 I rekindled my friendship with Antonello  and we began to discuss his exciting ideas for a travel company based in Puglia called Southern Visions. Antonello was also eager to get his beautifully restored villa Ca’ del Fico up and running as a vacation rental and I suggested I could assist him with writing some content on his website. At this point in time I had put my work for TTR on cruise control as I was interminably bored  and I was committed to finding the next page to turn in my life book. I was profoundly in love with Juliet and was poised to propose to her in December after an unreal 17 days in Italy that solidified my passion and hopes for this brilliant young woman. [Read more...]

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