WARNING: Excessive consumption of alcohol may cause...pregnancy...

Oops, that's not really how the label reads, right? Perhaps the Surgeon General needs to reconsider a revision of that particular warning. Just a thought.

Hi. Yes, as my husband fondly describes my current state, I am 'with child'. Gulp. However, I will not be contributing posts on needlepoint. I'm knocked up, not elderly. I hope this adequately explains my recent absence from the blog; it wasn't due to anything but the shock of my pregnancy, believe me. Like Mike, I've been dumbfounded by the continued interest in our site (amazing, thank you!) despite the lack of new posts. Therefore I vow to come up with topics as best I can that relate to the blog. I can't promise a steady stream of posting, but I'm committed to keeping this blog alive, if only for the sake of continued promotion of that darned Macaroni Grill House Chianti. Could we get any more comments on that review? Apparently their PR people need to cut us a check.

Since tonight's post can't be a wine review, I thought I would write about the holidays. Recently a friend of mine asked for suggestions on cheap wines to be given as gifts. She was searching for the perfect inexpensive wine that wouldn't taste cheap to give to the neighbors she wouldn't want thinking of her as cheap. You know, that wine. Can you tell she just moved into the neighborhood? Her outdoor Christmas/holiday decor or lack thereof is more likely to influence her neighbor's opinion, don't you think? They'll drink any bottle of booze handed to them, 'tis the season! Ned the Neighbor won't think twice about the type of wine handed to him but he'll definitely have an opinion on the inflatable snow globe you've put up in the yard that impedes his view of the street. So I say don't go too crazy racking your brain for the perfect wine to give as gifts. Use the blog for suggestions but try to remember that everyone's taste in wine differs. What tastes delicious to you may be terrible to others and forever mark you as that neighbor. As long as you keep the gaudy holiday decor to a minimum, they'll forget about the crap tasting wine you handed out by the time next year's holidays roll around.

Happy holidays, Wine for the Cheap readers! Have a drink for me. Please.