Pre-trip

So we are international passengers and as such we can afford to bring some bags.

We are not packed.

Our hotel in LA is too posh for The Lonely Planet. I bought the book, and our hotel is not in it.

I'm worried about falling behind on Project Runway and Flight of the Conchords. We don't have the technology to record episodes.

I need to ask a neighbour to collect our newspapers and water our plants. I seem to be leaving it to the last minute. Which is tomorrow.

It is tempting to ask my doctor for a pill to help with my anxiety.

Overheard

CHILD (after blowing out the candles on his cake): I wished that my candles would stay lit--FOREVER.

* * * * *

HUSBAND: Are you allergic to dogs?

CHILD: No, I aren’t.

HUSBAND: Maybe one day we could get a dog.

CHILD: And I would take really good love of it.

Should we stay or should we go?

HUSBAND: I’m easy. I could go either way.

ME: I can’t intuit what you want to do.

HUSBAND: It’s up to you.

ME: I want to stay AND go.

Five bargain NZ rieslings

Riesling is a misunderstood varietal. It has a reputation for being too sweet and too full of alcohol.

I prefer the traditional German style. Think light, floral rieslings with intense lemon and lime flavours. The New Zealand terroir, particularly around Waipara, is well suited to this kind of riesling.

Here are some very affordable rieslings that you might try with seafood or Asian food, or just as an aperatif:

• Matua Valley Shingle Peak Marlborough Riesling 2007 ($13 at Pak'n Save). Lemony, easy drinking.

• Mud House Waipara Riesling 2008 ($12 at Woolworth’s).

• Montana Reserve Waipara Riesling 2006 ($13 at Pak'n Save). Not great depth, but still very good.

• Stoneleigh Marlborough Riesling 2007 ($17 at Pak'n Save). Yummy!

• Vidal Marlborough Riesling 2008 ($10 at Pak'n Save). Crisp. Tight. Youthful.