And Happy New Year.  Yes, a little late as it is now the end of January, but the appropriate opening none the less (as long as I sneak this in BEFORE February…otherwise it is just plain tacky!).  Hopefully it sets a tone for the upcoming twelve (oppps eleven) months.

The goodies under that lovely little tree turned into the mess you see below.  I am still working my way through the much appreciated music, books, candies, etc.  There were so many presents under the tree (and some big gifts that did not even fit under the tree….new electronic keyboard!) that I can only surmise that Santa stayed long enough to enjoy that glass of Old Vine Grenache I left for him (no cookies, just crackers and cheese) and unload several heavy items that were weighing down the sleigh.  Thanks Santa!!! Next year I will leave the whole bottle!

And These Were the Presents Unwrapped by the Adults!

My "Personal" Gift Station

"Santa" at the New Keyboard

Ummmm, What's For Xmas Dinner?

What Should We Drink With That??

I added a couple of other holiday shots.  Again, I am not accustomed to carrying the camera so my pix can be a bit hit or miss.

The new year however has taken an interesting turn of events (and my excuse for being continually behind on blogging), at least for the short run.

Just before the Xmas holiday I received a call from the Associate Dean of the Natural Resources Department at Chemeketa Community College who asked if I would step in and teach one of the wine marketing classes.  CCC has put together a super enology/viticulture program.  A new campus was built to accommodate a small working vineyard and winery.  They teach a great intro to wine marketing, but have struggled to put together the upper division marketing program.  The primary issue seems to be an instructor (s) to teach the three classes offered.  For whatever reasons they come and go.  SO for now you can call me Professor Keegan!

I am teaching “Understanding the Market Place” and it is a perfect set up for me to unleash all that I have gathered in six years of running a wine distribution company.  BUT, it has also sucked up all of my time.  The good news is that I know the material so I don’t have to be learning that as well.  But we use a book and I had to read that, and then I read it again chapter by chapter as we go through those chapters in class. Since I have never done this before I had to learn to write up a class syllabus, and now make up quizzes, and class projects, and field trips…..and you get the idea.  LOTS of WORK, but TONS of  FUN.

Now you know that I have stayed OUT of trouble for the past few weeks and why.

When not preparing my class work I have been working/thinking about this blog going forward (and a couple of other items on the big board of course) and have LOTS of ideas.  Stay tuned, videos on the way!!