Bringing in the New Year the way Dr. Oz intended

I see I have gotten more followers since the New Year weekend. Welcome to you all, and I'm so glad you are here! I seriously think I need to go away more often since I have more than doubled my readership since the holidays. I still don't know what to call you all yet, because Taureans just isn't right, since you aren't all Taurus-like. I need some help with this one, seriously.

I had a pretty great New Year with my family. Several of us have been talking about trying out wines lately since Dr. Oz says it's good for the heart and lungs, and who doesn't want to take care of their tickers and breathing apparatus? I mean, hey. Who am I to go against a doctor who tells me to drink?

If someone could help me find a glass this size, you'd be my BFF!

Although I do try to block from my mind that he got his start with Oprah because, after all, she is the Devil! I am so glad she's going off the air. I don't think I could take one more story from Mom about what she saw on Oprah that day that is what Mom was able to equate to the problem with me. According to Oprah, I have so many conditions that you all should stay far away from me.

But wait! Don't run off now. We all know Oprah is full of herself and it's everyone else with the issues, right? RIGHT? Okay, you don't have to agree with me, but it would be nice. Just sayin'...

Let's press on and get back to Dr. Oz because I love him. He's already managed to get it through my head that I don't need to diet. I just need to be healthy. My sister and I are getting back on track with following his advice on things now that the holidays are behind us. My nephew and his wife are going to do the same, so we have an encouragement chain going. It's so much easier to do when you know you aren't in on this mission alone.

I'll give you my food advice that I've gathered from him another day, when I think you all are already bored are interested in hearing it. For now I'll tell you about our wine experiment a bit. I thought it would be fun to ring in the New Year with a little wine tasting of our own so I brought over 4 different kinds of wine. I wasn't sure how it would go over, but everyone who was interested in starting to drink wine was all for it. This would include my mom, my oldest sister, and 2 of my nieces. Yes, they are of age even though I'm a young pup! Yes, I AM a young pup, no matter what those sisters of mine will tell you. (Psst! They are all OLDer!)

My dad even had a sip or two, and just so you know my parents don't drink. Dad was worried he shouldn't drive though we assured him that a couple of sips 5 or 6 hours before he was to drive us all home safely was not a hazard in a man who is 6'3" and over 200 pounds. Thank God, since the rest of us were in NO condition to drive. I must say that playing pool, air hockey, and ping pong after having a wine tasting and then switching to my lover favorite beverage Captain Morgan can be a blast! I think a good time was had by all. I don't think my competitive father was too happy about losing to intoxicated individuals, since he can't stand to lose EVER. (Thus the reason for me buying him a shirt this Christmas that said, "Winning isn't everything, it's just what I do.")

So the next time you are thinking of having a beverage, or not thinking about it, do it anyway and choose wine! Dr. Oz says it's good for us so it must be. He wouldn't lie to us like that Oprah woman!

By the way, we tried Woodbridge Moscato and then three of the Yellow Tail Australian wines - Merlot, Pinot Grigio, and Shiraz. Although, now that I think about it, we didn't make it to the Shiraz. But of the others we tried, we enjoyed the Moscato the most. My niece even had a recipe for a "Lolita" that combined the Moscato with the Captain and it was awesome! I must admit I had to put a splash of Sprite into the Merlot to drink all of mine. Does that make me sound redneck? Oh, maybe I should send that one to Jeff Foxworthy. Would I get royalties for that? "You might be a Redneck if you make a Spritzer out of a really good Merlot." Would some rednecks even get that?

Anyway... We are thinking of taking a wine-tasting class together, if we can find one we can all attend together since they live in another town. I can't be driving after a wine tasting, after all. That would not be the "healthy" effect Dr. Oz wanted me to get.

Does anyone have any advice on wines? I basically know nothing, so you have a clean slate to brainwash educate.