Want to give a gift that keeps on giving month after month? A wine of the month gift club membership will do just that. This wine gift will impress your special friends, family, or business acquaintances, for as long as the club membership lasts. Because this gift extends over a period of months, it will send a little “reminder” each month of how much you care as a new bottle of wine is delivered to the lucky recipient.
The gift of sending wine every month is not a new concept – fruit of the month clubs have been very popular for decades. However, the latest trend has been towards a gift that sends a little different message – the monthly wine gift. Many individuals have discovered the wonderful taste of wines; whether they are red, white or rose. A delightful wine experience, combined with the well published health benefits of red wines, has created today’s popular trend toward drinking fine wines.
Benefits of a Wine of the Month Gift Club
Purchasing a wine of the month gift club membership really enhances a gift of fine wine by making it a year-round event. Each month, a new and exciting wine is delivered to the gift recipient’s front door, reminding them of your thoughtfulness.
Receiving a different wine each month is infinitely more exciting than getting a case of the same vintage and brand as a one-time gift. Most wine of the month clubs provide 12 unique vintages, each one carefully chosen to represent the season in which it is sent.
One of the major benefits of giving a wine of the month gift is that you need not worry about buying the bottle yourself, having it wrapped, and presenting it to the lucky recipient. Sending someone a membership, or subscription, to a wine of the month club means that the excitement of receiving a gift is not a once a year event, but a monthly celebration as a new, unknown vintage is delivered right to their home.
A Wine Gift Membership is Elegant – And Easy!
The beauty of giving this kind of wine gift is that all you need to do is make the initial choice, based on the wine costs and delivery charges, and leave the rest up to the wine specialists at the membership club. The difficult task of selecting the right wines is in the hands of the membership experts. If you choose a monthly subscription from a reputable club, you can be certain that their wine specialists will choose an appropriate wine within your selected price range. It really doesn’t get much easier!
Most wine of the month gift memberships are paid for up-front and cover the length of the subscription period. You may also be able to specify the recipient’s wine preferences and they will do their best to accommodate their specific wine tastes. No need for you to become a wine “expert” to ensure that the selections will be appreciated.
And don’t forget – a monthly gift of wine is a nice reminder of how much you care about the person receiving the wine. They will know that you thought enough of them to provide them with a special gift every month of the year, not just a gift quickly forgotten once opened.
Bill Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/a-wine-of-the-month-gift-keeps-giving-all-year-long-126477.html
Dog etiquette question (long read). What would you have done?
Last Saturday we had a little party here at home. One of the guests arrived already half "in the bag" (which was fine because she walked over). She can be a funny drunk, in her own abrasive way and she does have a good heart. But she did some things that involved my dog that left me steaming mad and I’d like to hear other dog owners’ opinions about it. I’ll call this person ‘Sue’ although that’s not her real name.
Sue came in with some Christmas gifts, a bottle of wine for us and some rawhide bones for the dog. We don’t normally give our dog rawhide, and before I’d even had a chance to know, Sue gave not one but two of these bones to our dog. Later on, the dog vomitted rawhide chips and had diarrhea the next day.
But wait, there’s more. Let me first describe some background. I have a Doberman, 8 1/2 months old. She’s high-energy, but well-trained. She understands commands in two languages plus hand-signs. She’s socialized with other dogs (dog park every weekend) and people (average 3 walks per day, sits when she greets people, including/especially kids and older people). We’ve taken her to family reunions and parties, visits PetSmart and the beach. She’s been to puppy-training school, learns new skills fast, comes when she’s called. She waits for permission before eating, going through the door to get outside and doesn’t even barge out of her kennel. She gets supervised like a toddler who can still get into trouble but is by-and-large becoming more trustworthy every day. I work from home, and set up a sleeping pad for her where ever I am that day.
Let me now describe Sue’s dogs. A chocolate lab approx 4 years and a PBxGreat Dane approx 3 years. They don’t go for walks because they’re too unruly on a leash, so they get exercise with each other playing in their fenced-in yard. If anyone walks by, they’re loud barkers (I’ve heard their neighbours don’t appreciate this). Sue can’t have parties because their dogs are too wired, jumpy and bitey. My husband, who loves big dogs, has been over to their house to help with their computer and even he feels uncomfortable with the level of nipping. I’ve been in their house only once, and saw the dogs demanding cookies by pawing at the cupboard, Sue caves in and gives them cookies "to be quiet." Needless to say this does not happen, they keep begging/demanding.
So let’s get back to my party. My pup was out meeting people but mostly contained in the family-room which is dog-proofed. I had to go attend to some things in the kitchen so I put her back in her kennel. Within minutes, Sue had let my dog out of her kennel and my dog was heading toward the dining room, where there was a buffet table with food at Dobie-nose height right within reach. I caught her in time and put her back in her kennel and asked Sue what she thought she was doing. She said she felt sorry for my dog and said I run a boot-camp and called me a Nazi (her words not mine). She said it in a drunk-joking tone but I didn’t find this funny. Several other people witnessed it as well. In the interest of not wrecking my party I didn’t confront her back.
She may have been joking or forgotten about this, but I have not.
So my question is, dog owners, what would you have done? Am I justified in being mad? Should I just ignore this and get over it (Sue probably has)? Sue keeps inviting me to bring my dog over to her place for a play-date with her dogs but frankly I don’t want to and have been making excuses not to. If you think I’m out of line, let me know, I’m open to all opinions.
Thanks.
Edit: LovemyMeyer, she puked up rawhide chips. And she had not been eating anything else, she was in my sight all night other than that. But thanks for your reply.
LovemyMeyer, you’ve definitely been outvoted. My dog was beside me up until I put her back in her kennel, when I had to put out some more food for my guests. I’m not sure what kind of free-for-all parties you throw, but mine are quite civilized (other than this one guest, unfortunately). I hope your new year brings you calm and bliss, you’ll be in my prayers.
Everyone else thanks for your responses. I won’t kick this neighbour to the curb, I’ll have a talk with her when she’s sober. If she still can’t abide by the rules we’ve set for our dog, she won’t be invited over any more. If she apologizes for what she called me, she’ll be forgiven.
Well, I think you are a little out of line. My mother in law brought my dog rawhide, my dog ate it and I didn’t care. Also my dog is trained that when people are eating he lays on the floor so my dog is not in a crate while people are over eating. You may think your dog is well trained but really it is not. She was drinking which you already know, she didn’t mean any harm. Get over it. Wow are people going to have to call you and ask you what they can get for your dog for x-mas. I am sure your dog eats much worse things than rawhide. Plus how do you know that the runs and puke were from the raw hide, if you had a lot of people over they could of been feeding him junk all night. So really if this person is your friend let it go before you ruin a friendship for no reason at all.
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edit: so instead of entertaining your guests you kept your eye on your dog every second, bull shit.
I would of put the dog out of site so no one knew where she was or could of given her anything..I would of kindly told her that to please leave the dog alone and the dog is to get no foods or rawhides..Your house your dogs your rules..period..If she was getting out of hand then show her the door and let her know that she is getting out of hand and go needs to sleep it off..I think by not saying anything the other guest become uncomfortable instead of just an uncomfortable moment so the party can go on without her and everyone then can enjoy themselves..
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First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on being such a responsible dog owner. You sound like you are doing everything you can to raise a well-balanced dog who knows her place and knows how to behave in all situations.
With that in mind, I would be very upset with the actions at the party, from the rawhide to "Sue" mocking you for actually being a responsible dog owner. I am sorry that your little girl is now sick from this woman’s irresponsible actions, even if they were well-intentioned.
From your description of "Sue’s" dogs, and what she considers decent dog behavior, I don’t think you’ll be able to get through to her about how you’re working with your dog. While I completely understand your feelings over this, it might be best to let it go and try to avoid the situation in the future.
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You are not out of line. my dog is just like ur dog. She shouldn’ve let ur dog out the cage or given her rawhide bowns without your permission. he dogs are roudy and disobedient. "Sue" needs to spend a little bit more time training her dogs not to jump or beg. and to be quiete on command. I wouldn’t bring mydog over for a play date either. I would say flat out, "No, becuase your dogs arn’t trained right and they might hurt my dog"
Remeber People My opinion.
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You are not out of line at all. At my home, my rules apply to my dogs. No one is allowed to give my dogs people food at all, or give dog treats without my permission. I entertain and if my dogs misbehave, they are crated or put in my bedroom, sometimes outside if the weather is nice.
You are a responsible dog owner – you have worked hard to train your dog and "Sue" needs to take a hard look at your dog’s behavior vs. her own dogs.
Several years ago, I had a party at my home. My Champion English Bulldog was in heat and I would bring in my other dogs so she could get some exercise and relieve herself. This couple came to the party and were eating and socializing when the mentioned that they brought their Bassett Hound mix to "visit" and had turned her out in the backyard. My husband and I both bolted for the door and it was too late. I had to take her to the vet and because of that, she had to be spayed. I was disgusted and this couple couldn’t understand why I was mad – they said that since we were "dog people", they thought we wouldn’t mind.
They paid for all the vet bills, because I told them I would take them to civil court if they didn’t. Obviously we are no longer friends. In the long run, you have it easy so far, but set your boundaries now.
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Breeder/Trainer/Exhibitor for 25 years. Sit on Board of Directors for local animal shelter.
I happen to disagree with Love My Meyer. It is YOUR dog, YOUR home, and YOUR rules. I would graciously thank her for bringing over a *gift* for the dog, but just tell her that you don’t give your dog raw hide. If she wants to give it to hers, that’s fine because it is HER dog. As for letting the dog out of the crate…..same thing! It’s YOUR dog. If she is truly your friend, she WILL understand. That’s what friendship is all about…..you must agree to be able to disagree. Personally, I wouldn’t take my dog to her house for a play date, as she may give YOUR dog something in HER house, thinking it’s OK because it is HER house. Well, that being true, BUT it’s still YOUR dog. This whole thing would have NEVER been an issue at my house. My friends have respect for my wishes, as well as I have respect for theirs when I’m at THEIR house. Example: I’m a smoker and most of my friends aren’t. Well, when they come to my house, I smoke, because it is my house. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to come over. When I go to a non-smoking home, I wouldn’t dream of smoking in their house unless they told me it was OK. I would smoke outside. As for her calling you a Nazi…..well, that is just ridiculous. Just because you have rules in YOUr HOUSE, doesn’t make you a Nazi….it makes you a responsible adult.
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Remember the case with Mel Gibson when he was drunk and made those anti-semetic comments?
They say alcohol actually releases your inhibitions and shows who you really are.
That being said I think Sue showed who she really was and what she really thinks of you.
I guess if having well behaved dogs makes one a Nazi, then I am one also.
Personally I do not associate with people that drink like that, so right there she would be out of my life. Now with her making those rude comments and showing what she really thought it would be time to kick her to the curb.
You know there are plenty of nice people out there to have friendships with.
I would move on to someone more worthy of my friendship.
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Adult with a lot of life experience
A well bred Dobermann with the typical drives/dominant traits for the breed would not want or need to go on a doggy play date. Dobermanns should be handler focused, tolerate the presence of other dogs & be aloof with strangers.
With regard to letting your Dobermann out of her crate, if that had been my dog I would have been extremely annoyed that someone disregarded by express wishes & at that point would have taken her to one side & asked her to go home & sober up.
I wouldn’t continue to make excuses, but politely & firmly state that you don’t agree with the concept of doggy play dates & are obedience training your dog so she’s very clear in her head what behavior is expected of her & obeys commands first time every time, regardless of environmental distractions.
At 8.5 months old your Dobermann is still in the rapid growth stage of its skeletal development & will almost have reached its adult height by twelve months old. Over exercising a young Dobermann can cause serious long term damage to the joints, so I would advise no longer than 45 minutes exercise a day. By one year old, my Dobermanns were taken on one hour walks, but no impact exercise such a jogging, running or agility.
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I don’t believe you’re out of line at all. My sister’s dogs, who I treat as my own, live at my sister’s house and therefore have rules there. I don’t ever do anything with or to her dogs without her permission, and that includes treats. "Sue" sounds like a horrible dog owner and kind of a crappy friend.
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I would just consider the source, and let it go.
Obviously this woman knows absolutely nothing about dog training, so who cares what she thinks about how you train your dogs?
Now you know, so next time meet her at the door, take the gifts (including the rawhide) out of her hands, thank her and put them somewhere she cannot easily find them to give to your dogs. And maybe put a "do not open" sign on your dogs crate (assuming you cant put it somewhere that is not easily accessible.)
(People are frequently harder to train than the dogs
))
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lots o dogs