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WELCOME TO
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go to wines |
VOLO DEL CORVO
WINERY Watch for new offerings |
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NEW!!!! Wine, Politics, Literature, Sex,
Religion, Ethics…A new book in progress… |
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In August of 2008,
the book came off the presses and we started bottling the first wine. In relating how not to start a winery, I
would now add: DON’T PICK THE WORST ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN 80 YEARS TO DO IT We have added a
new feature. A BLOG check it out. If you like it, tell a friend. If you
don’t like it, tell an enemy. BEST
TO ALL… ken |
Comments? Questions? Want to be on our mailing list? Contact us at corvo@redshift.com |
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THE BOOKS
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THE WRATH . . .
Where adversity thru humor spawns H-O-P-E
This is more than a book about starting a winery. It
is “reality” personified. Included herein is an account of
lessons learned about life...and death…and following dreams. If
starting a winery is a dream of yours and you are considering such a venture,
or if you are determined absolutely not to ever do such an idiotic
thing--wouldn't ever dream of
it--there is support for your conviction within these pages either way. There
are other dreams addressed here, both the day and night kind. But building a
winery, albeit a very small one, is the central one
and serves at least as a paradigm for following dreams. If you are interested in making home wine,
you will find assistance, support, and encouragement. If you just love wine,
you will find fellowship and you might be interested in what goes on before
you pull the cork out of the bottle. And your appreciation for what your
favorite winemaker has accomplished could be multiplied tenfold. There are so
many out there making some great wines. If you have just been introduced to
the beverage, you are most welcome aboard. |
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The philosophy expressed in
one sentence: Wine is
learning what you like, not being taught what to like. |
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What They Are Saying: “Winemaking is indeed
a dream adventure, and Ken Jones has made an educational, entertaining tale
of it. We loved the book!" --Margrit (Mrs. Robert) Mondavi "With the WRATH OF GRAPES you are definitely onto
something. After 22 years in the wine business I quite often become over
challenged. But strangely I get a huge kick out of the possibilities for the
next vintage." --Fess Parker, Davy Crockett to
the world, owner of Fess Parker Winery "It’s a good thing he can write, he couldn't hit a
curve ball if he knew it was coming." --Tom Seaver, Baseball Hall of
Fame Pitcher, Owner of GTS Vineyards " In addition to dedicated
oenophiles, the book appeals to dog lovers, especially for
Jones’ affectionate recounting of his
About the author: Ken Jones has been writing
for over forty years. His magazine travel and adventure articles, and his
photography, have taken him to all continents but Antarctica and In Now divorced, he describes
his marriage as having been a good one for fifteen years, but that it lasted
twenty. He states that he was a
prisoner of war during In 1995, he planted his
first wine grapes and has been making wine since 1998. Currently his winery is seeking a tasting
room manager, preferably of Scandinavian descent with prior experience as a
lingerie model.
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HERE'S . . .Through a series of fortunate and unfortunate
coincidences, a dedicated but relatively unknown writer/humorist finds
himself exiled to a piece of rural real estate near the But the coincidences that got this reluctant Ulysses here are nothing -- NOTHING! -- compared to the ones that follow. They lead to the acquisition of a chocolate Labrador retriever, "Roof" WALDO Emerson. |
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Together
they set out on one weird and wonderful, intellectual and spiritual
adventure, that makes the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland seem
like quick trips to the corner speedimart. The lessons learned -- those of
self-reliance and the conduct of life -- are age-old and would gladden the
ghost of WALDO's
namesake. You've heard the saying about teaching old dogs new tricks; well,
this young dog has a few things to teach us all. WALDO is about meeting
challenges, whether adversities or goals. It is a celebration of the
human (and canine) spirit. This is The X-Files meets The Funny
Farm. Except it isn't fiction. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about the
mysteries of nature and delved into transcendentalism. A century and a half
later, the protagonists of this book live it. WALDO is a
detective story, as the author and his dog investigate what has to be a
writer's worst nightmare -- plagiarism. How would you feel to discover that a
novel, "remarkably similar" to one of yours, has just hit the
best-seller list and that its author will be advanced $1 million for the
movie rights? What these sleuths discover is that a writer's work is about as
safe from larceny as a parked Mercedes with the motor running and the
driver's-side door wide open. Is this just another weird coincidence
or literary theft? WALDO is
an odyssey into ethics and the law that transcend the boundaries of reality.
Grab your magnifying glass and calabash, Sherlock, you're in for a wild read.
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Reviews: "Written from the heart, with a literary voice that is clear, insightful and intriguing." Michel J. Bryant, syndicated television consumer advocate, author of The Legal Edge (Renaissance Books)
"WALDO offers inspiring examples of how synchronicities come to life and guide us with precise elegance." Dr. Dianne Skafte, author of When Oracles Speak (Quest Books)
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To Order: Cover Price for case bound (hard cover) is $19.95 US Add
$3.00 for Priority Mail shipping and handling (within the personal checks accepted, no credit cards currently, do not send cash Send Orders to: Corvo Publications E-mail: corvo@redshift.com Future titles: Butterflies, Bells and Mirrors, a novel that chronicles a Japanese-American family, before, during and after World War II. Canary Road, an illustrated children's story about a canary who aspires to sing Opera. |
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Book signing/speaking engagements: We do our best to accommodate and enjoy reader interaction. Please feel free to inquire. back to top |
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WINES
Sign
Up for announcements We
like variety, tailored to the meal And
Hope you will, too We
currently offer a Sangiovese, Zin, Vin Santo dessert wine (from Malvasia
Bianca) and Sauvignon Blanc. We also grow and make Chardonnay, Barbera,
Syrah, Cab, Cab/Sangio blend (a SuperTusKen
{what vanity}), Vernacia, Pinot Gris, Nebbiolo, Primitivo, and heaven
knows what next. These
are now in tanks and barrels, and will be bottled in the next few
months. If You would like to be
notified when they are ready, give us your contact information. Email is
preferred. |
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REDS: Zinfandel Sangiovese Nebbiolo Montepulciano Shiraz/Syrah Primitivo Cabernet Sauvignon |
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WHITES: Sauvignon Blanc Trebbiano Toscano Malvasia Bianca Pinot
Gris Vernacia Chardonnay |
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Following
is a special offer to a now-forming wine club. We
are offering a book (The WRATH of Grapes)and wine incentive
discount that amounts to a savings of between 28%
to 50% when you buy six bottles of mixed case; note
an additional 10% savings when you buy a full case (12 bottles). Offer
to sell wine is good only in states where legal and to those
over legal alcohol consumption age. Email
us for specific details with your order. Prices do not
include sales tax or shipping that will be added to the order. Variety
Retail Price Wine Club 6pak Case(12) ’05
Sangiovese $40.00 $25.00 $135.00 $240.00 May be as close to ’05
Zinfandel $30.00 $17.00 $91.00 $183.00 Steak, Steak, Steak and Prime Rib if you run out
of steak....or ribs, or anything you can remove from the Barbeque before it
becomes ashes. Should age and mature well. ’07
Vin Santo $30.00 (375 ml) $22.00 $118.00 $211.00
Amber Dessert wine terrific with cheese cake,
puddings, or cream desserts. Keeps for
weeks in the frig once opened. NEW!! ’06 Sauv.
Blanc $25.00 $15.00 $81.00 $144.00 NEW!! A more traditional
Sauvignon Blanc than the ’06, terrific with milder seafood, and fowl, cheese or
vegetarian dishes. I am not a wine
sipper but drew a decanter From the tank and set it
by the computer as I was working. I looked up to discover that the decanter was
empty. Evaporation was not the culprit. ’05
Sauv. Blanc $25.00 $15.00 $81.00 $144.00 An unusually floral nose, tart, citrus up front,
with a peach finish. A rare pairing
with Chinese food or ahi with wasabi. Refer to
about wines below, a little “Kate” crept into this one. Book (THE WRATH) with purchase of a bottle is $6.00 SPECIAL MIXED CASE/HALF CASE PRICES: 1 Sangiovese, 1 Vin Santo, 2 Sauvignon Blank (specify year), 2 Zinfandel: $89.00 full case $170.00 About the wines:The Hepburn paradigm:
The REDS: Our aim is to make a bold, sassy, up front red wine
-- think Katherine -- the fruit, acidity and tannins enhance that steak,
tomato sauce, or chocolate dessert.
Usually these are aged in oak barrels. The WHITES: We strive for a delicate, refreshing, seductively
subtle white wine -- think Audrey -- that sparkles with that seafood,
poultry, and light sauces. Normally
these are aged without oak to keep the fruit up front. We
do try to keep our maxims to a minimum, and believe that wine is meant to
enhance and be enhanced by food, and if you like a red when others prefer a
white with a dish, then go for it. One
maxim that holds throughout the growing, making and consumption of wine is
that for every opinion there is an equally qualified opposite opinion. And for every rule, there is an exception. Wine
is learning what you like, not being taught what to like. SULFITES: In the book, our aversion to adding sulfur is
explained. In home winemaking, where the
wine was kept in the cellar, we did not use sulfites at all. But every winemaker we know and respect has
told us we are crazy not to sulfite wine for commercial sales where it might
not get the greatest care on a store shelf or a warm kitchen cupboard. That
we have started a winery supports the psychiatric diagnosis, discretion has
mandated that we add a minimal amount of sulfite at bottling. Not
using sulfur during fermentation and aging requires an added care for
cleanliness and sanitization, keeping the wine free from contamination. Forcing the wine to survive whatever
organisms might be on the skins and stems seems to give it resilience, like a
child after the first year in school.
Once opened, you will probably notice that it maintains its freshness
longer. We would consider bottling
special orders of two cases or more without sulfites and provide a certified
lab report of the contents. UNFINED, UNFILTERED: We like to
offer the whole wine. Consider gourmet
coffee, a few grounds in the espresso cup are acceptable, but at times a
little tweaking improves the result.
Most of our wines are unfined/unfiltered. About the vines:Free range grapes?
It
is illegal to use the “O” word in any wine advertising (shhh, the root word of inOrganic) unless you are
certified “O”. An
explanation for not applying for certification is given in the book. Basically it is due to the abuse the term
receives, the bureaucratic cost of certification, and the undesirable
intrusion of having inspectors tromping through the vineyard with disease
contaminated tools, shoes and tires. So we are not “O.” The
policy is NO PESTICIDES, NO
FERTILIZER, NO HERBICIDES.
This means that it takes longer (typically five years [if we are
lucky] from planting to first crop instead of the three years enjoyed by most
vineyards). There are some eight-year
old vines that we hope to get a first crop in 2009. There is an old Italian saying that the poorer the soil, the richer the vine
will make you. We just hope our dirt helps pay the mortgage. The
yield is smaller, and we believe the grapes produce a unique fruit. We
do wish that Noah hadn’t included yellowjackets, leafhoppers and
gophers when he set sail. {Editors
note: since Al Gore won his Academy Award and Nobel prizes for his work with
Global Warming, we have been beset by two frosts that cut production by
another 25%. We think he should give
the Nobel back but he can keep the Academy Award.} |
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VOLO DEL CORVOOLIVE OIL |
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We really aren't in business yet to sell olive oil. The eighty trees are still young and production is very light. We came out with about one gallon, which considering the cost of the trees, harvest and the press, each eight-ounce bottle should retail for $1000.00. It is still green and needs lottsa aging, but if you would like to try a bottle, we might be able to arrange it. The $1000.00 price would include shipping and handling. It should be excellent for lubricationg door hinges. |
THE BLOG
Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol II Number 4
December 24, 2011
A Christmas Rose
There aren’t many of them now with temperatures falling below
freezing at night, still a few stalwarts have the fortitude and remain
delicate. Setting a seasonal example
Some Spiritual Time of Year
The
time between Thanksgiving and Christmas has always been one of my favorites.
Second to Summer. It might have been explained in the
early years as “school’s out.” A
time to expand and test personal freedom, develop individuality.
The
difference between Summer and this season is people.
As a boy, the summer explorations were often solitary. Playing on a deserted beaches in
I
always knew when I’d found the perfect gift. It expressed my relationship
with the recipient. And on Christmas morning, I was much more interested in how
these were received than what I got. It wasn’t uncommon to be the last
opening presents. Not because I got more, but because I was enjoying them
opening theirs.
I
also took my gifts personally. Like the year I got my then wife a small and
imperfect ruby and diamond ring. I just liked the setting. And so did my wife.
Material gifts got her attention, and while the ring was intended to express an
endearing sentiment, it was diamonds and a ruby to her. That year, I got three
new pairs of Levi 501s that she had purchased on sale several months prior when
they were on sale. I did need the jeans, and 501s are my preference. But they
were just jeans. As I surveyed the pile of denim in contrast to the jewels, the
sentiment scales seemed pretty out of kilt. The marriage was also.
This
year has to be one of the most gratitude replete years
yet. Two new friends, three actually, or five if you count
Rosa Munoz’s husband Abe and their two sons. And I do. Rosa and
Abe have a UPS Store in
But that’s just the Levi’s of the
story. In addition to all being personally likeable, Abe is an avid outdoorsman
and he has brought his family to my ranch as they explored the 160 acres with
respect and as a consequence are always welcome. But the real ruby ring of this
story is that they bring carnitas and fresh corn tortillas. Now I have several
weaknesses, and near the top of the list is the slow-cooked,
melt-in-your-mouth, pork dish. GAWD!!! WHATTA FEAST. Goes well with my Zin, too.
The other new friend I have for the holiday comes
with a story that might be unrivaled in its poignancy in my history. I was
shopping in Wal-Mart in Paso Robles one afternoon. I do most of my staple
shopping there. And somehow got to talking to one of the
floor managers, Mary Beth. I tend
to do that when out and about, often taking laughter where I go. The subject
drifted to health matters. I mentioned my high blood pressure, and she revealed
that her husband had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (this just days after Steve Jobs had succumbed to the dreaded
disease).
I immediately thought of my book. It is funny and
humor under the stress of combating cancer can be the second best medicine (he
was an outpatient at Stanford). So I retrieved a copy from my car and brought
it to her as a gift. Of all the responses I might have expected, “Oh, I
already have that book,” would not have been one of them. It seems a
friend had already given her a copy. “Well then give this one to your
husband,” I replied. And she gracefully accepted the gift.
I happened to have just spent more on gas than I
had meant to, so was short cash for milk and eggs. I asked if she might want to
buy a third copy at half price as a gift for a friend, to which her response
was to give me $2.50 for my milk and eggs. People just being
good to other people.
Now that was just the Levi’s of that story.
A week later I sought out Mary Beth with a video recommendation…a
favorite comedy from years ago by Jacques Tati,
entitled Mr. Hulot’s
“You wouldn’t believe it,” she
said huskily. “The cancer is gone.”
I don’t usually like to admit it, but I like
chick flicks. I have been known to tear at a poignant commercial (beer
commercials kindle a special affection). It took a lot of discipline not to
give Mary Beth a shower. We hugged. I pulled out my handkerchief and blew my
nose. Some ruby ring.
I have read several in the great tradition of The
Power of Positive Thinking, Creative Visualization, The Secret,
and The Power of Now. I like to salt my life experiences with a little
Synchronicity. As I started out the day before Christmas Eve, 2011, I thought
about the process server who had done a lot of my early serving but whose
service I hadn’t used lately. On our last meeting she had given me a
discount and I had promised her a book (I probably give more away than I sell).
I thought I ought to call her and reached for the totally disorganized stack of
business cards that sits on my computer table, not even sure if her card was
among them. Funny thing, hers was on top.
I smile at such events. I did call, wished seasons greeting and assured
her that I hadn’t forgotten my book promise.
Books truly do reign in my life. The day before I
had called my favorite bookstore in
There
are several ways to get to
The
bookstore is busy. Greetings and Good Will is exchanged with the ladies on
duty. The book is purchased and more tidings exchanged as you leave. It is
starting to feel a little more like Christmas.
One
more stop: shopping for Christmas Dinner. There are three ritual feasts in my
household. Thanksgiving Turkey, Easter Ham (and colored eggs and bleenies -- spicy potato pancakes from my Russian
grandfather), and Christmas prime rib with Yorkshire pudding. Dare one hope to
find prime rib within my budget? Two days before Christmas, it is sometimes
impossible to find at all. I start my search at Albertson’s Paso Robles.
They do have a terrific meat department. It is crowded and finding a parking
space on the end closest to the store bodes well - the best space in the lot.
The store is crowded. Standing room only next to the meat.
If Chanticleer
on the radio as you head west on 46 is improbable, then the signs along the
beef section are out of the question: PRIME RIB 50% off.
Half
expecting to find none at all, there is roast after roast. Anticipating a
couple of Jerky rejects, these are succulent, marbled cuts that Michelangelo
might have dreamed up if had gone into meat instead of the marble business.
Starting to feel a lot like Christmas. A few accessories and garnish join the basket, then I nearly collide with a familiar face. Mary Beth, the
Wal-Mart floor manager, spouse of the cancer survivor. With the possible
exception of the holiday’s namesake himself, there are fewer people I
would have preferred to have encountered. A quick and
positively responded to inquiry on progress, then another opportunity to exchange
hugs and to send out Glad Tidings. As I now extend in gratitude and with
sincere blessings and great hope that all are…
Simply having a wonderful Christmas time…
send comment
back to top
go to wines
Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol II Number 3
April 27, 2011
What’s Wrong With
This Picture?
Too small to succeed strikes back at a Too Big to Fail
,
This
is supposed to be a wine and writing Blog but early on I said the scope would
include a variety of topics. For starters, one in keeping
with the mission on writing. I finally read the first in the Harry
Potter series. I try to stay true to Emerson’s (RW) advice not to read
books less than two years old. It eliminates some wasted time on less than
superior publications. Ms. Rowling, the Potter author, deserves all of the accolades
and profits she has received. She is imaginative, creative, and presents a
story by showing not telling. I just wish my book would be listed on Amazon.com
as one of those who bought hers and also bought mine. I will say, if you like
my books and writing and have a youthful spirit, you will like hers (now watch
her sales soar). She just proves that people will read books that don’t
rely on sex and violence. Mine don’t either and the lack of violence is
by choice.
I
did notice though that she identifies a majority of the world as second rate
unconscious beings (Muggles) and also that evil
exists even in the first rate world of Hogwarts School (the Slytherins
--snakes in the grass). JK Rowling’s work is fanciful, but maybe not as
fictitious as some might believe. Living here on the Volo Del Corvo for twenty
years, I have experienced a reality that does border on the magical. And
unfortunately life here has not been insulated from the wicked and destroyers.
Whose has been in the last two years?
A
few days ago, I received an email from a single mom of three sons in the
"The Federal Reserve Board on Monday
said it is preparing to release sensitive emergency lending data from the peak
of the 2008 financial crisis after the Supreme Court rejected a bid by major
banks to keep the information secret," Dow Jones Newswires writes. March
23, 2011
{Gee, we might
learn that they had been involved in one giant Ponzi scheme and we all know
those are illegal. Right, Bernie? KFJ}
I
wrote her back and told her that I sure supported her efforts, that I could
have used the help two years ago, but that I currently have the ranch on the
market for sale and didn’t know how much longer I might be here. I said I would inform any buyers of the
offer. A potential labor source would be welcome.
Then,
through one of those coincidences that have come to be common place here at the
Volo Del Corvo, I met someone looking to start a
project much in keeping with the above mom’s expertise. I put them
together. I don’t know how that will turn out but if any of the other
readers might have similar aspirations along the lines of a GREEN co-op, I
would be glad to forward the information on to her. Just use the contact-us link.
225,000
filings of foreclosure during the month
money.cnn.com/2011/03/10
{And that’s a huge improvement. KFJ}
When
the mortgage loan problem was new, it was identified as a dual problem: bad
lenders and bad borrowers. So how come only the
borrowers are the ones paying by being foreclosed? Or now almost four years
later is a new foreclosure a result of a bad borrower or a victim of the worst
economy in a century? One created by wholesale bad loans/Ponzi scheme
perpetrated by the banks?
One
observation: when BP created the oil spill off of the
Some Banks Start Restoring Dividends After Fed Approval
Published: Friday, 18 Mar 2011 |
2:05 PM ET
By Reuters with CNBC.com
I
would like to see this site become a center for assisting the victims like the
young mother above. I invite those in difficulty because of their mortgages or
foreclosure to write. Perhaps I can do more matching with those able to help. I
am dedicated to that purpose. And to truth.
Let’s wash some yams here in a constructive dialogue. (For an explanation
of “washing yams” see Blog Vol II
Number 1 January 28, 2011)
The
past almost three years have not been bliss here. My personal history has
already been recounted (link to banking Blog) 1. I am forced to sell a ranch I have spent nearly a quarter of a
century building. If the loan officer had been truthful, I wouldn’t be in
this position. I recently heard an interview with a blind elderly lady who had
complied fully with her loan renegotiation and was still foreclosed. I am not a
blind old lady.
Too Small to succeed STRIKES BACK at
Too-Big-For-Their-Britches…
On
March 24th, Wells Fargo and the loan consultant who told me the
reverse mortgage program ended when it didn’t were served notice of a
lawsuit for violations of the laws governing truth in lending and equal opportunity
in lending. Oh good, another full-time job.
The
contrast between where I could be if that loan had been made available and
where I am now is dramatic. It is the stuff that good books are made of, and
will be my next. The damage inflicted is not small. Not least of which is my
health. I have simply worked myself into exhaustion for which rest or even
hospitalization is prescribed. A regimen that has proven slowly successful has
been adopted: When I feel tired, I just rest (Not always, sometimes I lapse and
find that it’s 7:00 P.M. and I haven’t eaten yet that day. And I
pay for it for three days.). I read (glad for that renewed friendship with
books as I cancelled my satellite TV service), and I sleep. Renewed and
refreshed, I get back to a variety of work that makes for a gratifying life:
vine trimming, writing, wine making, and now legal education. I have been
disappointed by some well intended attorneys (maybe some not so well intended),
and once again rely on the one sure standby -- myself. I have gone pro per.
{SOME USEFUL HEALTH CARE TIPS FOR BOOMERS}
It
isn’t for sympathy that I mention my health, it
is an explanation for being willing to part with this
I
have also discovered that I can mentally control my blood pressure. The
exercise is to visualize that bar on internet maps for zooming in and out.
Mentally clicking on the minus sign combined with relaxed breathing and
relaxing the abdominals produces a twenty point drop in blood pressure in
minutes. It isn’t sympathy I wish to cultivate. I wish my life even now
to be an inspiration. Rocky coming off the canvas bloodied but not defeated. Uh, uh, no. I have read about what depression is. This
isn’t it. Yeah I am tired a lot, but at 64 I still manage to do the work
of two 32-yr-olds. And I laugh too frequently to be depressed.
Laughing
at adversity: As in the fact that with almost a million dollars in equity I
have to budget for batteries for my blood pressure cuff. Or that the “W” key isn’t
working all the time on this keyboard right now. Or that a rat devoured the
electric lines to my car’s alternator, but fixed now and got the rat (all
rats take heed). And one other thing: I asked the question at the beginning of
this Blog about what was wrong with the picture. Never claimed to be pretty, but two mild skin
cancers are gradually healing on the forehead. There were three others in less
visible locations that have come and gone that left no mark at all. But the
ones on the forehead are going to leave a combined, single, faint scar. It
bears a slight resemblance to…a lightning bolt.
And Now a word from our sponsor:
160 Acre View Estate, 3000 sq.
Location:
½ hour N. of Paso Robles, CA; a little over an hour south of Monterey/Carmel, a
little over two to
There is still hope for plan “A”: Do you know Tom
Hanks? How about Bill Murray?
Three
different visitors to the ranch have professional and/or personal associations
with Tom Hanks. They have all said that a movie should be made of the book and
that he should do it. They have all sent him copies of my book. Haven’t
heard from Tom, though there are rumors he has set up a card table in his front
yard and is selling books (I am sure these are unfounded). Still, if you know
him, have your people call my people.
I
had considered the book to be Cast Away
meets Turner and Hooch but now with
the court room drama, it would add a third dimension: Philidephia? Erin Brockovich?
Actually,
I thought Bill Murray was brilliant in Lost
in Translation and he was more apt, so if you know him, be glad to send on
a book to forward.
Writer Will Write for Food:
Writer/Editor
with broad background and experiences would like to discuss your project.
Ransom Notes a specialty (just kidding, but serious about taking on projects as
ghostwriter). PR or Advertising also of interest.
Knowledge of computer graphics (I do my own labels and book covers).
Help to mortgage and foreclosure victims:
Write
us here. Be glad to assist if we can. If anyone has a project that can benefit
from the industry of the single mom in the Blog, we would be glad to forward on
the information to her.
Seeking Attorney/Attorneys to assist in
Civil Suit with Wells
Currently
the wealth is spread around several consultants. More help is welcome. Knowledge of
[Note: readers can send comments via the contact link. They can
also buy books and wine…just a thought. I make a wine that goes well with
yams.]
And finally, a prayer for the victims in
Ue o muite arukoo
Namida ga kobore
nai yoo ni
I look up when I walk
So the tears won't fall
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go to wines
Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol II Number 2
February 10, 2011
TRUTH II
(Continued from last month)
I
left off on the last blog talking about slogans and the untruths they mask. First a little truth about the so-called MEDICAL CARE REFORM BILL.
There are few industries in our society that are more in dire need of
reforming. Medical,
Dental and Veterinary business in
I
heard recently that
There
is one area of medicine in which the
Did
anyone else notice, though, that the first charges filed against the shooter
were attempted assassination of a member of congress and then killing those who
were government employees. No mention was made about
the tragic death of a nine-year-old little girl. It just sounded to me that
government employee’s lives have been elevated above private citizens.
Those governing have declared themselves a new elite class…American
Royalty.
When
I was nine, I had a paper route. While I folded my papers and wrapped them with
rubber bands I would read the front page and the sports section. I remember
Khrushchev taking off his shoe at the UN and pounding the table, and VP Nixon
telling the world that his wife wore cloth coats. I was a young devotee to
current events and have been all my life.
At about this time I was also a frequent movie goer.
One movie made a lasting impression based on George Orwell’s 1984. It is
a futuristic movie (thirty years before 1984) about how government controlled
everything in the lives of the citizens, to the point of fabricating history
and the truth. The citizens just followed along blindly, accepting what they
were fed. There was an enemy of the state whose picture they broadcast on big
screen televisions (this was in the early days of T.V.). The citizens were told --brainwashed -- that
“Big Brother” (the coinage of the term) was protecting them.
Recent broadcasts of Bin Ladin
and the establishment of homeland security are reminiscent. Eisenhower was
president then. An excerpt from the US President’s retirement speech:
“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. “
Ike had a lot of military experience. He also warned:
“Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper
meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our
peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper
together.”
The citizens in the movie were neither alert
nor knowledgeable. In researching this Blog, I came upon an interesting tidbit
of information. The CIA now owns the
publication rights to Orwell’s 1984.
I guess they are concerned about being sued for infringement on
intellectual property rights (plagiarism). A more recent version of the movie
was made that was vastly different (I haven’t seen it) from the first.
Such information leads me to doubt the veracity of claims that Wikileaks is
jeopardizing our troops or national security.
And if it did, I hope our military leaders are astute enough to make the
required adjustments. What makes anyone think that the other side didn’t
already know first.
Maybe the other side is the source of the leaks. Such claims of damage
to security have, however, served to deflect attention from the contents of the
Wikileaks publications. Such claims are
analogous to what a dog does by kicking grass and dirt over their business.
They do it to hide their business. I believe that truth about our government is
welcome. The revelations are contributing to our alertness and knowledge. They
are an antidote to brainwashing, a prescription for blankly accepting
platitudes from public officials like “Weapons of Mass Destruction”
or “Healthcare Reform.”
Truth
In the previous Blog I described an
anthropological phenomenon, Critical Mass, observed in monkey populations. The
writing of these two blogs has been a profound spiritual experience for the
writer. Topics and information are
appearing serendipitously. At the time of writing the previous, I had been
discussing with a friend the self-immolations that had occurred in
In the previous Blog, I came up with the analogy
of truth telling being like driving on the right side of the road. I
don’t know where that idea came from but it was celestially apt for this
discussion. I said that I don’t make a practice of driving on the wrong
side of the road, but then, now I recall a recent visit to
{As I was writing this it was announced
that George W. Bush has cancelled his first trip to
Also a federal judge in
You think someone has been washing
yams?}
[Note: readers can send
comments via the contact link. They can also buy books and wine…just a
thought. I make a wine that goes well with yams.]
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol II Number 1
January 28, 2011
TRUTH
"George Washington was better than me. He could not lie. I can
lie, but choose not to."
Mark Twain
I
have just finished reading The Kite Runner. Given my current circumstances, it probably
wasn’t the best book to be reading now as it describes fatigue as a
symptom of cancer and the story is about displaced persons and the hardships
encountered. Earlier blogs explain the personal relevance.
As
a writer, I particularly appreciated the author Khaled
Hosseini’s keen observations of human strengths
and weaknesses. There was one observation he made that especially struck a
chord. The author describes the protagonist’s best friend as,
“Always meaning everything he said, and believing that all others do
too.” Implied was that the protagonist was not always truthful, and
didn’t much care that he wasn’t.
That passage got me thinking, which is the real point
of literature. My personal
assessment: I always mean what I say but I am different from the kite runner. I
know that most don’t hold to their word. I always hope they do, but
experience has taught me otherwise. Still I hope, and only when the personal
cost becomes too high do I abandon that hope.
Then
I began to wonder why the protagonist embraced his stance (a popular one, I
have observed). I find it puzzling. Isn’t truth like driving on the right
side of the road? You just do it. In discussions with friends and associates,
it was often suggested that people don’t tell the truth because it is
easier. I have a problem with that suggestion. Truth isn’t difficult, you
just do it. One difference in wrong-way driving is that it is hazardous to your
health. There is a clear and present danger from it. Not so obvious are the
hazards of lying.
Indeed,
in one highly publicized example today, the hazards seem to be set for those
telling the truth. I am referring to the Wikileaks publications and the arrest
of its head Julian Assange. CNN is carrying a story today that he could get the
death penalty. For
telling the truth.
A
great smokescreen has been thrown over what he has really done. Statements that
he has jeopardized our national security raise questions that I haven’t
heard articulated.
1.
How secure is our nation if he got such information in the first place?
2.
What evidence is there that the bad guys didn’t already have the
information?
3.
What specifically was jeopardized?
Nor
have I seen some of the benefits of those publications articulated.
1.
Security of our nation has been enhanced. Hopefully information vital to this
country is now better guarded. If it
isn’t, I hope it is
publicized.
2.
The husband is always the last to know. In this case, the
American people. We know the truth…or more of it. One of the greatest
truths is that war is mankind’s worst endeavor. Dig the deepest pit, and
at the bottom you will find war. Put an outhouse over the pit, and still at the
bottom is war. The truth is that sometimes war is justified. It is that truth
that stopped me from signing a paper that could have prevented my being drafted
forty years ago. But maybe knowing the truth about war will make people a
little more cautious about waging one.
Gee maybe if everyone is a little more cautious there won’t be any
wars at all and what would all the generals do then, poor things. Or all of the bomb makers?
What
Wikileaks has exposed is that we are doing some dirty things in waging war. Truth. War is dirty. Truth. When
you are in a war, the wagers of it do dirty things. Both sides, or all
three sides when you are waging two wars.
We are being dirty in two places.
But you know, that is how you win a war. This
isn’t tag or flag football. You
don’t wave a hankie and call, “Tag, you’re it.” This is
tag, you’re dead or maimed or mutilated.
World
War II was finally won when we decided to fight as dirty as the enemy. For
years they had been bombing cites --
Today
the enemy is fighting dirty wars. They
capture civilians as well as military and lop off their heads on video. “Fowl!!!” we cry. Just like the British did in our
revolutionary war. They were playing by
the rules of their day where soldiers marched in bright red uniforms in
straight rows and columns. We hid behind trees and won the war fighting dirtier
then the other side. One feature of trying to fight a “clean war”
is that you will loose more of your troops in doing it. So the British found
out.
I
should admit here that I am not a military expert. I served two years of active
duty as a draftee. Which is more than the White House
occupants for the past 18 years have done. I knew before we went into
3.
I hope, too, that empty slogans will someday be identified for what they really
are: Untruths.
In
writing this blog, I did a little fact checking and found that about three
percent of traffic deaths can be attributed to wrong-way drivers. There are no
truth statistics that I could find but it does seem to me that lying is
epidemic. Perhaps there aren’t many deaths you can attribute to them. Except maybe the one about weapons of mass destruction.
A lot of people have died in
I
wonder if anyone else is as repulsed by the statements of those in power
(Congress) who voted for the invasion into
I
was on a Google trip the other day. I wanted to use the Atomic bomb concept of
critical mass in something else I was writing and wanted to be sure of the
term. The search took me in a serendipitous direction to the anthropologic
theory by that name. It seems that a study of an island population of monkeys
revealed a fascinating phenomenon. There had been an interruption of their
normal food supply and the scientists started supplying them yams. The monkeys
liked the yams well enough, but they got covered with sand, and the monkeys
didn’t like the sand. One of the monkeys started rinsing his off in a
stream. Another monkey started copying him.
Soon a lot of monkeys were doing it.
And a funny thing: when 100 monkeys were washing their yams, monkeys on
a different island started doing it spontaneously…no communication with
the two islands. The scientists theorize
that when sociological phenomenon becomes accepted by a large part of the
population (critical mass), there is a mechanism whereby it is transferred to
the whole. Like accepting slogans as gospel. Just something in the air. Like accepting
untruths. But I believe that Truth will out. It is a basic law of
physics.
{I
try to keep these blogs to three typed pages. So this will carry over to the
next blog. I will post it in about a
week. Oh wait until you see what news tidbit just came across my desk. There is
something in the air. Truth.}
[Note: readers can send
comments via the contact link. They can also buy books and wine…just a
thought. I make a wine that goes well with yams. Readership is picking up. If
you like it, tell your friends. If you don’t like it, tell your enemies.]
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 11
December 24, 2010
The A,B’s
of Winemaking
First an apology for having been so long in adding to
the Blog. The graphic here is part of the explanation
(excuse). The Harvest
Moon. Harvest
of the grapes. A busy time for a winery. The grapes have never looked so good. This year, the full moon coincided with the
autumn solstice. A rare happening and if
the heavens have a role in determining subsequent events there has been no
disappointment in the moments that have since passed. I will get to those but for now a break to
some things a little more light hearted, a photographic tutorial of the basics
of winemaking.
Note
that the “C” is missing from this Blog’s title. The reason is
I don’t know everything there is about making wine. I may be the only
winemaker (or wine reviewer) you will ever meet who admits he doesn’t
know everything. Let alone everything about making wine.
I have already stated that I don’t really make wine at all. I am reminded
of the story of the genetic scientist who bragged to God that he had discovered
how to make life.
“Is
that so?” an interested God replied.
“Yes,”
the scientist boasted. “Give me a couple of shovels of dirt and I will
make you life.”
“Uh,
uh,” God responded. “Get your own dirt.”
I
don’t make grapes and I don’t make yeast (the only ingredients you
need). I only nurture them. The growing of the fruit and the selection of the
clones, I believe, are the essential element in winemaking. So….
FIRST YOU
TAKE A GRAPE
(I have similar recipes for making pea and leek soup)
Grapes
are tested in the field for ripeness. A
rule of thumb is that you want fruit of about 24 degrees brix. This will theoretically give you a wine of 12
percent alcohol. A telescope like device
called a refractometer measures sugar in the field. Juice from several bunches of grapes needs to
be tested.
It
helps immensely if you have additional pickers.
Shown are two of the greatest guys I know: Beto
(right) and his younger brother, Aaron. They have been working for me on their
days off or when they can’t find other work with the trust that I will pay
them upon sale of the ranch or when I obtain financing. They are hard working, work with their heads
and their hearts, and are the greatest asset this vineyard has. While I have
done everything in my arsenal, I still haven’t succeeded in either sale
or refinancing. Aaron and his wife,
Nellie, are expecting their first child any day. On this day before Christmas, I have opted to
extend a small portion of what I owe them at the expense of my mortgage
payment. They aren’t my employees, they are coworkers and friends. The
compensation that I extend, and will extend, does not represent my gratitude.
I
am as disgusted as anyone with the failed policies of our government and their
guarding of our borders, these guys are here legally, not only assets to my
life, they are assets to this country.
Then You
Smash It
The
crusher-destemmer is an Italian design. Grapes and stems from the field are dumped
into the hopper and then feed into two rollers that crush and destem. The stems are
pushed out to the trash bucket and the crushed grapes and juice fall into the
bin below. Yeast naturally occurs on the
skins of grapes in the field. I have a
wonderful, aggressive naturally occurring flora and elect to not add
commercially prepared yeast. I want to
express the land. I don’t
fertilize, use any pesticides or herbicides, don’t even add sulfites
during fermentation.
And You
The
buckets and primary fermentation vessels are food-grade plastic or stainless
steel. I like a Sodium Percarbonate solution (oxiclean)
for cleaning and sanitizing. The fermentation vessels are sanitized with a
Potassium Metabisulfite solution.
When
making red wine, you pour the crushed grapes and juice into the primary fermentor, skins and all (a few stems). The color of red wine is derived from the
color of the skin. During the week to two-week fermentation, the cap forms on
top, floating grapes and skins. Several times a day, the cap has to be punched
down so that the color and tannins can dissolve in the liquid.
Red
Fermentation
Fermentation
can be almost violent. It sounds like a
giant bowl of Rice Crispies. The tank is warm to the touch. The yeast converts the sugar to alcohol. A hydrometer is used to measure sugar. When it gets near zero, it is time to press
and send to secondary fermentation.
And You
The Press is
Italian Design Dating to the Romans
The
“must” is scooped out of the primary fermenter and dumped into the
basket of the press. The modern press
has a bladder in the center that is inflated when the press is full and lid in
place. The juice that runs out without
pressing is called free run. The pressed must offers more tannins
and gives wine its character. Free run
is smoother and some wines are made exclusively from it. Not mine.
White
wines are pressed after coming out of the crusher. You don’t want the
skin color, although one winery I respect does ferment their whites like their
reds. The result is a little more amber
than clear. White Zin lovers might enjoy the fact that their wine is made from
the same grapes as red Zin, it is just pressed after crushing to avoid color
extraction. I don’t make white Zin.
Secondary
fermentation can take months or years. The wine is “racked” several
times. “Racking” is just
pumping off the wine from the “Lees” (yeast, seeds, solids left
from pressing). Some wineries will
filter. I haven’t yet, but reserve
the right. The result of filtering or “fining” (using clearing
agents) is less sediment. This is where personal preference comes in. My wines will often have a little sediment in
the bottle and may need decanting. I use the analogy of coffee. I like espresso
coffee with its full rich flavor and make my wines according to that
preference. I just think that filter and fining takes away from the wine and
its ability to enhance and be enhanced by food. I do use a filter in my daily
coffee, however.
I
do like the effect of oak on my reds but not my whites. Most of my reds do spend part of their life
in oak barrels.
The Finished
Wine is then bottled…oh and consumed.
That’s
it. Except….
You
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 10
July 31, 2010
A short Happy(?) History of Banking in
PART 4
This is the fourth of a four-part segment about a
particular wrath encountered during and after the publication of WRATH. Little
did I know then. You may want to scroll down and start
with PART 1
The
words of that second reverse loan officer still give me chills. I did query her
on my particular situation and all of her replies were positive. I could have
gotten the Jumbo Reverse.
The
loan officer that turned me down for a reverse mortgage had now left Wee Fleesco. He was in private practice doing reverse mortgage
brokering. I approached him openly with a phone call and office visit. I
presented a two-fold agenda :(1) I wanted to find out
if there was anyone with a jumbo reverse and (2)get his explanation for turning
me away in light of what the other Wees Fleesco agent had told me.
Fortunately
for me, I was out in the field when he returned my call as all was recorded on
my answering machine: There were no real jumbo reverses now available, and Wees Fleesco “STOPPED MAKING JUMBO
REVERSE MORTGAGES IN FEBRURARY OF ‘08” He went so far as to
state that the other loan officer was mistaken. All recorded as evidence on my
answering machine (and now copied on to a tape recorder). I have subsequently
gone to the county recorder’s office and pulled recordings of Wee Fleesco Jumbo Reverse loans in August of 08 and even one in
September. I am dumbfounded. Particularly in view of what has happened this
last year.
By
late Spring of 09, I saw the situation as potentially
serious but was hell-bent to not be defeated by it. In my third blog, I talk
about taking on traits of loved ones who die. I would like to think that I have
my mother’s TRUE GRIT. There are history books that cite my ancestors
preceding William Penn to what is now
But
I just get so tired. The cure for exhaustion is not exhaustive work. As I would
be educated one evening as I tried to milk the last of daylight to mow the dog
run. It isn’t lawn, it is native grasses and
weeds that dry up by summer. But in the Spring, the
foxtails come out and if I don’t keep them down, they have a nasty way of
finding their ways into canine nostrils and ears.
I
had already put in a full day, and was typically exhausted. I have a riding
lawn mower, so the activity isn’t so strenuous. If the
battery is charged. But on this evening, there was no response to the
turn of the ignition key. I proceeded to push the “tractor” to the
front of the garage. Not a small feat as it is a 35 horse -- one of the biggest
Sears sells. As I struggled on the dirt driveway, my feet slipped. The
aggressive treads of the tractor dug into my shins. Fortunately I was wearing
long pants. It hurt a little but my adrenalin was up, angry at my own
clumsiness. That helped move the tractor, too. It wasn’t until I climbed
into the seat that I noticed the damage. My socks were full of blood.
In
the interest of expediency as it was getting dark, I flushed my shins with
peroxide. The skin was gone from both in wounds the size of a softball. I then
completed my mowing, in a state of shock. That was the moment that I realized
then that I was going to have to sell my ranch.
That
wasn’t an easy decision to make, but I was on a direct path of severe
injury if not death. It took three months for those legs to heal. In that time,
I wrote to the president of Wee Fleececo. There was a
big drive on renegotiating loans for those companies that had received TARP
funding. I hoped and initially thought that I would get some help. It took over
a month for anyone to call back. The message I got on my answering machine was
from “THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT (of Wee Fleesco).”
I was told somebody was being assigned to assist. From the time I sent the
letter to the time I talked to my “assignee” nearly two months went
by. For the first time in my memory, I missed a payment on a credit card, then
another. Then my mortgage payments. I had been trying
to sell the Porsche at that time and four different buyers who had promised to
appear with cash, cancelled out on the night before we were to transact.
The
sum of the assistance from the “OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT” was phone
calls not returned, phone appointments not made and finally an explanation of
the current reverse mortgage program (which was half of the one offered in
’08) which I could have gleaned off of the internet in 15 seconds.
Actually I had found it on the internet, and the information the “OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT” provided was slightly inaccurate. In truth, they
didn’t give a damn about negotiating. I hadn’t taken out loans
beyond the value of the property. They would have no trouble selling my ranch
for their money. Real worth, and 19 years of my hard work wasn’t their
concern. They would get their money.
There
was one kernel of golden information. In my discussions with the “OFFICE
OF THE PRESIDENT’S REVERSE MORTGAGE EXPERT,” I asked when they
stopped making Jumbo Reverses. He wasn’t sure of the exact date but his
memory said “Late June or Early July.” I asked him if there could
have been a sixty day closing. He answered in the affirmative. I could have
filled out the paper work in late June, and signed on my birthday.
My
credit rating had gone to hell in the meantime. I was having a hard time selling
anything. I was late with my payments, but eventually caught up with the car
and tractor sales. The asking price of the ranch was dropped. Then dropped again. It went from $2.8 million to under two.
I was priced below replacement by nearly $500,000. And still no buyers. My
blood pressure medication was doubled and even at that, I have days when it
spikes to 200 over 120. If I can get a siesta, I can squeeze out two four-hour
work days. I also applied for social security at an earlier date than I had
wished.
As
I sit at the computer, responding to potential buyers, I have to wonder what
happened to Truth in Lending, or Equal Opportunity Lending. When you are turned
down for no good reason isn’t that discrimination? There are laws against
that in mortgage lending. Bernie Maduff went to jail
because he lied to his clients. Where’s the difference? I have been a
customer of Wee Fleececo for forty years. As far as I
know, I have always told the truth. Am I not entitled the same from them? At
present, I can’t get a loan because I don’t have proof of income.
When I sell my ranch, even at the below value price, I will pay taxes on a
Million Dollars. Some proof of income.
Money
is so tight, I don’t have funds for any but the
bare essentials. In this vein, I believe the experience is a spiritual one. I
am experiencing what it is like to be poor. The difference is that there is a
light at the end of the tunnel: HOPE. I will get out of this. There are a lot
of people out there in my same situation but they don’t have an end to
the tunnel. I can only imagine how that must be. Three months ago the initial
filing for a suit against Wee Fleesco was made. This
month, I will confront them in court. I may be representing myself in this.
Should I prevail, some portion of the proceeds will go
to assist someone else victimized by Wee Fleececo. I
know it will be a drop in the bucket. But better than no drop at all.
In
my blog of July 4th, I talk about forgiveness. It may seem that I am
going against that sentiment in this case. But I see this as self defense not
as vengeance. After forty years of being a good and honest customer, they have
not performed in kind. They have made a lot of money from my finance and
interest charges. And now they wipe out the work of 20 years of my life? I gave
them the opportunity to correct their mistake. They ignored it. I am asking $3
Million in damages.
In
that blog on forgiveness, I acknowledge the extra weight one carries with
resentment. Being conscious of this is helpful. I have focused on the sweetness
of the life here. I am doing what I can. And when I get tired, I rest. The
grapes have never looked so good. I just topped up the oak barrels after a
prolonged dereliction of this task. I had feared the worst, but not everything
defaults to the worst. The wine is wonderful. Ready to be racked (another fire
to put out) and bottled. There is going to be some great wine
come out of here. I am also spending more time with the dogs, including
them on walks. I sold my ATV so I am walking more. The chocolate, the father of
the other, has a lipoma that has worried me. I
don’t have money for a vet right now. He doesn’t seem to be in any
pain, has a good appetite and is playful. I probably wouldn’t do anything
surgically anyway (subject of future blogs: medicine). In fact I do think that
it might be in remission. What great gifts dogs are. I thank them every night.
Show them every day. And above all, I do eat well. Somehow I am managing to
bake my own bread, cup cakes and cookies. And of course, I have some pretty
fine wine to go with them. I don’t think of this as a failure. I
didn’t strike out, I was hit by a pitch. Intentionally. Sometimes pitchers that do that get thrown
out and fined. I am doing my best. You can bank on it.
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 9
July 24, 2010
A short Happy(?) History of Banking in
PART 3
This is the third of a four-part segment about a
particular wrath encountered during and after the publication of WRATH. Little
did I know then. You may want to scroll down and start
with PART 1
The
jumbo reverse now doubly unavailable, I proceeded to get the line of credit
with a different institution. It was a low interest rate, but not as good as a
payment-free reverse. I was about 50% loan to equity for five acres (the appraisal
the banks use), about 25%, if you counted all the land. I didn’t like
borrowing, but thought I was well in the confines of prudence. And if worse
came to worse, I could always apply for an additional loan.
It
was a wonderfully crazy time; divided between the vines and the manuscript
being readied for the printer. I was really hitting Dan Poynter’s
website hard. Dan is a small press publisher that offers all kinds of
publications to assist with book production, promotion and sales. If you are
interested in publishing, you will want to know about his site, http://www.parapublishing.com/sites/para/
.
I
was dealing with the back cover design. I hadn’t sought any endorsements.
I had a couple of great ones for WALDO that had come during the
course of writing. My first request went out to Tom Seaver, the Baseball Hall
of Fame pitcher. I like to include baseball in my books. Waldo begins with the
time I met Joe DiMaggio, and how he had stood to shake my hand. The prologue in
WRATH
tells how I made a fool of myself as a college freshman when I went up against
then senior pitcher, Seaver. Suffice to say, Mr. Seaver and I were on different
orbits and probably still are. I doubted that he would remember the incident.
And considering all of the baseball batters he faced, he may well have
forgotten our confrontation. Still, he wrote back generously with the quote I
will cherish for life, as a writer, as a baseball fan, as someone who is always
grateful for kindness bestowed.
And
then I got the quote from Margrit (Mrs. Robert)
Mondavi. Good Gravy, I am still humbled by the generosity. That
all those people took their time to respond, and then to do so with such
generosity. The book was off to a great start. And though the sales are
mainly local and consistent, it continues to live up to its promise. I hope to
be able to announce soon a movie deal. Then in August I got a call from BOOKLIST,
probably the foremost publication of book reviews. WRATH had been selected for review. I am
still in awe and humbled. Of course they could have panned the book. There was
no guarantee that the review was going to be positive, but it was. It was
glorious.
In
August I also had T.V. and bookstore appearances, and my first wine festival.
Wine started three years earlier was showing promise. But I hadn’t even
bottled any. In fact I was up late the night before drawing a few cases from
stainless tanks. I knew that the wine wouldn’t be shown in its best
light, but I hoped it would kindle a few advocates. And I did get some positive
feedback. I did sell a few books (alcohol sales were banned at the fest). But
sales weren’t forthcoming the next week. As I was waiting for the phone
to ring off the hook with orders, I was browsing through the program from the
wine fest and noticed that they had put the wrong number for my winery. So, four cases of wine given away, a day and a half spent and no
new orders. But I did get hit on by several comely damsels, so we could
call it even.
I
have described my life here on the ranch as a never ending series of
firefights. As I lived in the little trailer without electricity, the fire was
to get the roof on the house. Then to keep up with the
building and get out of that trailer. When I got the final inspection on
the house, there was a lot of finish work, mainly painting walls, and having
carpet installed. But then I started planting wine grapes, and their care
became a priority and the progress on finishing the house was negligible. I had
a kitchen that had two sinks and was virtually finished,
and the choice of four bathrooms in various stages of completion, and a
bedroom/office/war room that was in unfinished, but taped dry wall. There is a
primitive coziness to my home. And if I don’t keep after them, it is
shared by the persistent Daddy-long legs, who are
innocuous save for the webs they weave in my beamed ceilings.
I
am of that school that believes you should try to do more than you possible can
so that you do as much as is possible. I
felt I was pretty close to being there. Doing the dishes is luxury time. I say
that I leave the vacuum out just so people know I have one. I have a sign on my
car that reads, “I know my car is dirty. I grow wine grapes and just like
to take a little of the vineyard everywhere I go.” I have been living like that for eighteen
years and it was starting to catch up to me. I went to the doctor because of
the perennial fatigue. After a battery of tests he diagnosed that I was
exhausted. I thought that was what my complaint had been before paying for the
tests and office visits. But he did prescribe some blood pressure medication.
Just to make me feel better.
I
was becoming increasingly aware of the drain on my financial reserves. It
isn’t easy starting any new business, let alone two. I didn’t know
how much the events in the economy influenced it. I had no basis of reference.
I had always been gainfully employed with a salary during past recessions. What
hilariously poor timing. I bring out my new book and first wine as the
world’s economy goes into the toilet. I just hoped someone wouldn’t
get the idea I had caused it and blame me for it.
My
book was selling everywhere I placed it. Placing it wasn’t as easy as it
will be when the movie is announced. The wine is slowly gaining a following,
which is how I understand Boutique Wineries start out. I tried to emphasize
wine sales because there was more profit in it. And when the line of credit ran
out, I tried to sell off some superfluous assets, like a ’53 MGTD that I
had started to restore, and then the ’74 Porsche Targa
that I had restored. I managed to keep up with my mortgage payments. But was doing so at the expense of building my business.
I
realized that I was going to need a shot of capital. But by early ’09, it
wasn’t so easy to find financing. I did enquire about reverse mortgages.
I wasn’t able to find any on line, so I called a different branch of Wee Fleesco than I had the previous year. The loan officer was
bright, affirmative, well informed. I told her of my situation. “Gee,
it’s too bad you didn’t call last year,” she said. “We
had a Jumbo Reverse that ended last August that would have been exactly what
you are looking for.”
(To
be continued)
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 8
July 17, 2010
A short Happy(?) History of Banking in
PART 2
This is the second of a four-part segment about a
particular wrath encountered during and after the publication of WRATH. Little
did I know then. You may want to scroll down and start
with PART 1
A year after taking out the mortgage with Wee Fleececo, Lou, the mortgage manager (not his real name),
called to offer an even sweeter deal.
The interest rate was more attractive and it would not reset for an additional
year. My mother had recently died and I was appointed executor of an estate
that made it possible to pay down the loan or add a solar generator that would
make my meter run backwards. I chose the investment in the ranch and the new
mortgage for the same amount.
Two
dry years later, water was becoming a concern. The small domestic well was
still putting out but when the pump went out, it prompted consideration of
drilling a second well. The county was spiraling permit fees and there was even
talk of metering private wells. I bit the bullet, though it would put my
liquidity low. I wanted a 35 gallon a
minute well and got a tad better. A week later, we got a rare late summer rain.
It wasn’t so heavy to damage the grapes that were nearly ripe, just
enough to tamp down the dusty roads and let me know the gods were laughing. I
wasn’t aware of it then, but they were just streaming in, lining ringside
with a distinguished litany of deities.
2007
was a wonderful year. I was rewriting THE WRATH, which is the most fun
part of my most cherished activity. Getting the first draft
of anything down borders on hard work. But refining it is joyous. The
wine in my hobby winery was also coming into its own. But I was disturbed by
world events, particularly the invasion in
But
I was really fed up with American politics, the lies, and deceit (see July 4
Blog). We were was not justifying the sacrifices I
refer to in my Memorial Day Blog of May 31. The emperors have no clothes, and I
fear the emperors are us.
Through
some complicated circumstances, I had enough frequent flyer miles with British
Air (that I got through ATT long distance miles in the ‘90’s) to go
to
What
a luxury it was to sit in the terminal restaurant at LAX. I marvel at it now. I
was exhausted. I had only taken two vacations in the nearly two decades of
living here. The last one was to NYC to fly in the face of the idiot who
proclaimed Americans were afraid to fly. And now some seven years later, I am
contemplating leaving my country permanently. Something I didn’t even
consider during
I
am an American.
I
needed to rest from that vacation, but there was little time for it. The book
was back from the Editors, the vines needed pruning, and I was going to have to
start bottling some wine. Oh, and I saw signs in the economy that maybe I ought
to tie down another source of funds. I called Lou at Wee Fleesco
and asked about reverse mortgages. He then put me on to the reverse mortgage
specialist in that office. I was going to be sixty-two in August, eligible for
the program as I understood it. “We have a jumbo reverse mortgage but it
ends in August,” he informed me. (For those not familiar with reverse
mortgages, they are loans made to senior citizens, where only age and equity
are the basis of qualifications. Payments are deducted from the equity. The
borrower is payment free, only his equity is reduced.)
I
about leapt out of my seat. I knew I had the equity from past appraisals. I
could pay off all my loans and have a tidy sum left over, with no future mortgage
payments. I had no other debt. Social
Security could take care of the rest.
“I will be 62 in August,” I exclaimed. “Can we fill
out all of the paperwork and on my 62nd birthday come in and sign
the documents?”
There
was a brief pause. Maybe more than brief, “Nooooo. We caaaan’t
do thaaaat.” I was a little taken back. I kinda wondered why they couldn’t. And was also
surprised by what seemed a surly attitude.
I had either asked him a stupid question or made some transgression. But
that was that. They couldn’t do that. He was the reverse mortgage
specialist and should know. He said they couldn’t do it. End of story.
Well
not exactly end of story. I went to other institutions looking for the program
like Wee Fleececo’s and couldn’t find
one. I was given an offer for a generous
line of credit through a different institution. It was an attractive package
but before accepting it, I went back to the reverse mortgage officer at Wee Fleececo hopefully to motivate him to try to do what he
thought couldn’t be done, or at least find out why it couldn’t be
done. “Oh that program ends in March,” he told me. “I thought
you said August,” I replied. “No, uhhuh. March.” And that was end of story. Or so I thought.
(to be continued)
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 7
July 10, 2010
A short Happy(?) History of Banking in
Part 1
This is the first of a four-part segment about a
particular wrath encountered during and after the publication of WRATH. Little
did I know then.
I
got my first credit card in 1970. It was the Year of the Dog, which is also my
birth sign. Reliability is one of the
key characteristics that are ascribed. I do believe it is apt and over the next
forty years do not believe I missed a single payment. Though
I would test the limits in that early year. I was 23 and had very little
banking experience. I had been recently introduced to the stock market through
my stepfather. I had even less qualifications as a stock trader than I did as a
credit card holder, but as it would turn out, the two would become intertwined.
I
had purchased two hundred shares of a two-dollar silver stock that my step dad,
a sage investor, had put me on to. After watching the quotes in the newspaper
(Los Angles had a financial TV station but my stock was too small to be
featured. An interesting aside, two of the commentators on that station had
come from local TV. One had been the host of a kiddie
show as Sheriff John, and the other was host of a weekly Polka parade. Chucko the Clown was left out, though I think I have seen
him recently on CNBC.)
As
an aspiring stock market tyro, I observed that particular stock would often
bounce back and forth seventy-five cents in just a few days. As it did this
several times over the weeks, I finally decided to take the plunge and bought
two hundred shares. In those days the commissions were a lot higher than they
are now (anyone remember the $29.95 revolutionary commission first offered by
Charles Schwab?) My plan was to catch that seventy-five cent move,
I would net something like $50 after commissions. My plan was to buy it, sell
it before the week’s settlement date of the purchase, and rake in the
profits. I was prepared for as much as a
fifty-dollar loss and stood ready to pay the difference if the trade went
against me. What I didn’t understand was that there was a week’s
settlement date on sales, also. As I had interpreted the procedure, the
settlement on purchase was to allow time to bring in the funds. I had thought
since the broker had the funds, the closing position would be immediate. In
fact, the settlement on the sale of the stock was the same five business days
as the purchase, and would be coming several days after settlement on the
purchase.
When
the broker requested the payment, I was panic stricken. My step father, who was
not a trader, declined to come to my rescue. I got myself into this mess, now
it was up to me to get out of it. He was a great dad. As the trade had gone my
way, I was even more anxious to reap the profits. I went to the bank with the
hope I could get a short term loan of some kind.
Banks
were different in those days. And so were bankers. The fatherly manager
listened with amusement about my dilemma. He explained that bank loans required
some sort of collateral. As a specialist-5 in the Army, I had job security,
though my wife’s income was probably more influential. In those days, I think a spec-5 took home a
little over a hundred dollars a month. While we didn’t have any tangible
assets to qualify as collateral, a relative newcomer to the financial scene
could offer the solution. It was a MasterCard. Long story short, the margin
call at my brokerage was satisfied by taking a cash advance on my new credit
card. Although with the finance charges on my cash advance, my profits were
greatly diminished. Just
enough to take my new wife out for a spaghetti dinner.
I
used the credit card to pay for it. My first charge.
And when I got home, I realized that I had left the card at the restaurant. I
was there promptly the next day at noon to retrieve it after a night of little
sleep.
Since
that first credit card (and brokerage dealings), my education with finances has
progressed through the last four decades. I bought my first house with the GI
Bill, and then with the profit from that house, bought a larger one, but not
before I added on a master bedroom and bath, doing all the work myself. I also
added on a family room and office to that new house. During all of these years,
I maintained an account with that bank. It went through a series of name
changes and acquisitions until Wee Fleececo bought
it. During that time, I do not believe I ever missed a payment of any kind:
credit card or mortgage. I have held my credit rating as a sign of my word, and
assumed the same integrity from those I dealt with. I was born in the year of
the dog.
In
1991, I purchased the land that I now live on. The book WALDO chronicles the
exploits as I lived in a little camp trailer without electricity for five years
as I built the house. With final building inspection, I started planting wine
grapes. By the year 2003, I had built up
a sizable equity. It was made more
sizeable by the real estate boom. Adjacent land was going for ten times what I
had paid for mine. I had lived hand to
mouth as I developed the ranch. It was a labor of love, to be sure. I have said
that I would rather plant a row of grapes than play a round of golf. I do love
the work. But I was getting awful tired of worrying about money.
If
only I could even get a small loan. But I knew that what I didn’t have
was proof of income. I had been building this ranch for twelve years. If I sold
it, then I would have proof of income and every loan broker in the universe
would lend me money. I didn’t want to sell here, though.
While
in the branch office of Wee Fleesco, I happened to
articulate these thoughts to the assistant manager, who has been a most
reliable contact when dealing with nearly all bank questions. She is also cute
as hell (and respectfully, a happily married mother of three), so directing all
questions to her is usually a pleasant experience.
She
listened for a moment, then asked me to follow her to
their real estate office next door. The story was briefly repeated to the
manager of the real estate lending arm. One of the things he said was rather
strange: it was that assistant manager had “vouched” for me. I felt
flattered, but also like I had passed some sort of screening into a secret
society. I was given an appointment time, and dismissed.
Several
days later, armed with comp sales, and financial statements, I appeared for my
appointment. I was given a form to fill out, and did so expediently, asking for
clarification on a couple of points. I wanted to be sure that there
weren’t any misunderstandings like the one involving settlement dates for
stocks sold.
I
was prepared to make my case for proving income when the loan officer told me
it wouldn’t be necessary. My word was good enough. Just as long as the
appraisal would back up the loan. I believe I was told that the appraisal would
have to come in at $500,000. It would be based on just the house and five
acres. The loan was a residential loan, not an agricultural or ranch loan. The
house on bare five acres (the ranch is 160 acres) was appraised at a million
dollars.
I
was proud that my efforts and last twelve years had born fruit. It was
gratifying. But my thoughts went back to the loan officer’s statement
that my word was good enough. I was flattered but also disturbed. I do regard
my word as being better than any contract. But there was no way for him to know
that. Had the introduction from the adorable manager from the banking side been
the key? I didn’t know.
I voiced
my appreciation but also my apprehension: “You know, Lou, I am telling
you the truth, but there are a lot of people out there who won’t be. This
is going to cause a lot of problems.”
(to be continued)
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 6
July 4, 2010
WAR…What’s it good for???
The
holiday spirit is a little different than a few weeks ago on Memorial Day. It
is more festive, fireworks and light shows. A celebration of the rockets red
glares and bombs bursting in air. This particular celebration is for the end of
the war that gave this nation its independence. Most wars have a good purpose
attached to them by the winners. History is those lies we all agree upon. You
hear about taxation without representation as one of the war cries. Kinda think that we have that now.
The
American Civil War wasn’t to free the slaves (it was being done on a
wholesale basis before the first shots were fired); the civil war was about
establishing Federal power supremacy over individual States rights. And the
good people of
I
have done a lot of thinking about war, even did a little research. One common
denominator and the answer to the rock-n-roll song’s question:
“IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID.” War motivates, has us all working
like little ants in that cause. Alexander the Great
found that out. All conquers know it. Hitler took a terribly depressed economy
and made it one of the great world powers. WWII certainly got us out of the
depression.
Several
events occurred during the week that seem relevant.
Again, the sources were interviews on Public Radio. There were two, in fact, on
two very different subjects.
One
was the reporter who had interviewed Hugo Chavez, the president of
Going
back to the Hugo Chavez interview, which was more generous than most, Chavez is
alleged to have been in conversation with GW Bush concerning economic recovery
where GW supposedly made the statement that WAR was the best medicine for a
slogging economy. The reporter then went on to cite the wars started by
Republican presidents, leaving out
The
question then comes to mind, “Is there an alternative to the war
galvanizer?” One was the internet boom. Another might be global warming.
I acknowledge that there is a common denominator here: Al Gore. I am not a
believer in global warming, but do support the cleaning up of our act that is
the result. If he is consciously seeking war alternatives to economic stimulus,
then he deserves his awards. He is just so boring. Another alternative might be
home ownership, but that will take some creativity now with the mess the banks
have made out of what is traditionally the best single investment.
I
mentioned that there were two radio broadcasts that caught my ear. The other
was also from a PBS interview with a Holocaust survivor who was speaking on
forgiveness. Boy that’s a tough subject. Resentment is such a malignant
intruder. I have a lot of it and some very justified. But even the justifiable
ones weigh disproportionately -- intrude. I am sorry I didn’t get the
survivor’s name, but he had made that observation and by not forgiving,
was spending more and more of himself as a result. By forgiving, he
wasn’t saying that the Holocaust was alright, he was just saying he
wasn’t going to pay any more for it. To those who create the resentment,
you can just hope that they will get better. Not do it again. Maybe even atone
for having done it. Whatever, it isn’t my job to oversee; I’ve got
other activities with which I would rather be involved.
An
interesting observation that goes along with this release is that often justice
comes to those that create the resentment. Hitler didn’t live happily ever
after. One who transgressed against me died soon after of a heart attack,
another had a severe stroke. One of my favorite citations comes out of my
military service days. Those days in the army were not my favorite. I say that
I was a prisoner of war: I was drafted. I do take heart in the observation that
Fort Ord, where I spent twelve weeks in basic training, confined to quarters as
were all draftees (because so many were deserting), with weekly PX privileges
(if we were good), has been decommission. It is no longer there as a military
installation. But I am. I drive by frequently on my way to
I
have taken the path of resentment release successfully with a number of
businesses and individuals. It occurs to me that the forgiver might have one
more responsibility. That to warn others of the
transgressions. Whether it be death camps or a
faulty product or service. I do not want to make the blog a bitch session. One
element of forgiveness is just letting it go. Probably also
one of the biggest benefits. My desire here is to contribute
constructively to people’s lives. For those that don’t want to hear
my bitching, you can skip right around it. I will try to confine it to a
colored box labeled, THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES.
Like
this.
|
The Emperor’s New Clothes: I
am not sure how many years I have been a customer of Dish Network. I do
remember seeing 911 live with Katie Couric, so at
least a decade. Recently, experiencing cash flow problems, I have been paying
a little late, usually when they start calling with threats of cutting off
service. Yesterday, I got such a call and as I have money coming in ten days,
requested that I be able to pay then. I was surprised when they said
“NO.” When the current bill is for service not yet received (they
charge a month in advance)? When
the service was cut as they threatened, I called to cancel altogether. As the
recording box is rented, they say I will have to pay shipping to return it.
Also they want the channel changer, too. Supposedly that is also rented.
Funny thing, three years ago when it stopped working, they said I owned it
and that they would charge me for repairs or replacement. Now it is their
channel changer. I still have it, and will send it back. You know, it is
funny how much I don’t miss T.V. Oh and the bill due has been reduced
by about $50 because I was being billed in advance. FYI in case you are
looking for T.V. provider. I forgive them, hope they get better, and will
live happily without their service and they will live without my money. |
Finally on the subject of forgiveness. Have you heard about Detroit Tiger baseball pitcher
Armando Gallaraga pitching a perfect game (every
batter he faced made an out) until the last inning and then loosing it to a missed
call by the first base umpire? But instead of going ballistic, he was generous
and F-O-R-G-I-V-I-N-G. To those not interested in baseball, a perfect game is
about as rare as two holes-in-ones in a row in golf. And to have it taken away
by a mistake: hey, I’m inspired. Oh and by the way, for whatever
relationship that might have, he is also from
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 5
June 22, 2010
Free-range grapes
“It doesn’t matter about clones. A good
winemaker can make good wine from any grape.” - Unidentified head of vineyards at leading
agricultural university during a class he conducted on clones.
In
my first planting, I planted three different clones of Zinfandel and two of Sangiovese.
I’ve done a lot of personal experimenting, and I can tell you that clones
do matter. I’ve since added several more clones of each and now only
plant new rows in only one variety of each. Of course, the sip and spit guys
will point out that the operative word was “GOOD”
wine maker. And that’s why some of those good winemakers pay twice the
price for some grapes than for others. Why some vineyards are sold out years in
advance and some vineyards have fruit hanging in December.
That
instructor did say that certified vines from his university produced better
grapes than uncertified vines. Yet, the winemakers whose wine I respect have
contrary opinions. In fact of my four favorite local wineries, not one has
certified vines. Some even advocate that the vines that are mildly diseased
produce more interesting fruit and wine. If there is one true statement about
wine and winemaking it is: “For every opinion about wine there is an
equally qualified opposite opinion.” Often both are right.
The
vines in my vineyard are not fertilized. I do not use herbicides. In 2001 I
used some organically certified insecticidal soap on some leafhoppers, and
tried unsuccessfully some organics against the grasshoppers. The bait I have
subsequently used on these is organically approved, but not considered a
pesticide. I would have no problem being certified organic, but I choose not
to. I don’t like being “inspected” and have other people verify what I already know to be the truth. I don’t
like the intrusion of having people come in with their tools that might have
been used in diseased vineyards, spreading that disease to mine. And if not from their tools, their shoes or vehicle tires that have
been god-knows-where. I also don’t think that organic wine adds to
the salability. It might even hurt it. You can not even use the term in
advertising if you are not certified. I hope the use of the “O”
word in this paragraph does not violate that. It might.
I
like the term “free-range” it gives a cavalier, note to the
vineyard. I do love free-range eggs, and hope the use of the term also
doesn’t violate some ag
legal definition.
My
intentions are two fold. First I don’t trust chemicals. In my boyhood, my
grandfather kept a flint gun full of DDT on the back porch. I used to hunt
spiders and flies with it as a boy, shooting ‘em
down like the Red Barron. Later in life, I used an
anti termite spray on a new deck I had made in my family’s first house. A
month later it was banned. I remember one vegetable growing mentor extolling
the virtues of an insecticide that she swore was safe. I tried not to notice
the terrible rash she had all over both arms. My distrust extends to
pharmaceuticals, but that is for a different blog. But I will digress to
mention that I used to be a great early supporter of sun block, but I am not
anymore. The product I used turned the skin on my nose and forehead into a
crusty sluff. It was eventually banned as
carcinogenic. Today, I have several minor skin cancers in that location.
I
just don’t want to screw up the environment. I have a great respect for
the land and want to leave it in as good or better condition than when I found
it. I also want my grapes to express the land. I do believe that the wine
making starts here. There is an old Italian saying
that the poorer the soil, the richer the vine will make you. I am waiting. (But
not idly)
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The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 4
June 14, 2010
But when it does “Have that Swing…”
I
was listening to Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz
on NPR recently as I worked with some Zinfandel vines (aha…finally,
grapes). The vines have never looked so terrific. It is early June, and the
vines are hell-bent to over crop. It is the first year since Al Gore got his
Academy Award that we haven’t had a brief but punishing frost in April. I
have suggested that he give back the Nobel, but keep the Academy. The year he
won them, I lost PVC Irrigation pipe to freezing. The result had been more
destructive to the younger vines than the old, which merely had a little less
fruit. I trimmed to two buds this year and still have to thin. Shoots are
putting out three bunches where you really only want one. Two is sporadically
acceptable.
It
was a fine day. Warm, not hot. Bright. And the music
reflected that. Ms. McPartland’s commentary
also gave me a lift. She was contrasting Jazz to Classical music. I like both
equally, and when doing rolled up sleeve work, like planting or pounding posts,
Country Music is more appropriate. But I was fine tuning the vines, and Jazz
was appropriate. What Ms. Parland said in contrasting
Jazz to Classical gave me pause. In Classical, the musician spends hours
getting the music just the way it had been written by the
composer…coloring within the lines. Whereas with Jazz,
a musician kinda follows the composition, sometimes
taking off on a little spur or trill of improvisation, maybe even running along
parallel to the original. The rules are not as concrete, and probably a
little different every time. It dawned on me:“THEY
ARE TALKING ABOUT MY WINE!!!”
I
have already freely admitted to be outta sync in life
and have just come to realize that my wine probably is too. I also like art,
particularly the Impressionists and also the Plein-Air
and Fauvists. I have even come to accept Picasso. What is amazing is their
history. These great works of art that now command millions were shunned by the
art establishment of the day. Van Gogh sold one painting in his life time. He
also did a painting of a bunch of old muddy shoes. It
isn’t pretty. Such works caused a lot of snickering when executed. But
wouldn’t you love to have that painting displayed in your home now.
I
think that wine is going through such an evolution now. The classicists -- who
I refer to as the sip-and-spit-school
-- have their prescription for their wines and they judge wine according. They
do make some terrific wine. There is also a lot of way overpriced wine that
gets that way because of support of the classicists. The wine snobs are in
there somewhere, who believe in intimidation. I wince
at the pretty little damsel who begins her wine conversation with, “I
don’t know very much about wine…” I point out my maxim that,
“WINE IS LEARNING WHAT YOU LIKE, NOT BEING TAUGHT WHAT TO LIKE.”
And that has gotten me into trouble with the sip-and-spit guys who have a vested interest in selling their
opinions. My reply to the damsel is that you know what you like, and
that’s what’s important…enjoy it.
I
have never been much impressed by arrogance. I think it is a defensive response
that reveals insecurity or ignorance. The people I have met who might be most
entitled to the vice have been entirely devoid of it, and that includes Joe
DiMaggio and Clint Eastwood. An early encounter with one wine steward comes to
mind. I had just passed the drinking age and my stepfather, a generous, and
nurturing and conscious man, had taken the family to dinner at a very exclusive
The
steward made a muffled sound like a corked volcano but did take the bottle
back. I was working under the assumption that acceptance was based on liking
the wine. I really didn’t like the wine. But when I rejected a second
vintage (I didn’t like it either), the steward turned beet red, nostrils
flared, chest swelled. I know how the ancient citizens of
One
step in that direction is to allow others their preferences. Perhaps somebody
liked those wines I rejected. I won’t condemn them for that anymore than
if someone has an ice cream preference different from mine. Merlot is one grape
that I don’t care for. I don’t grow Merlot grapes. I don’t
make the wine. I have to admit that I enjoyed the characters in the movie Sideways when they
denounced that wine, but I would not make such proclamations myself. If you
like Merlot, it is all right with me. Hope you don’t mind if I
don’t.
My
second wine maxim, and I really do try to keep my
maxims to a minimum: “WINE IS MEANT TO ENHANCE AND BE ENHANCED BY
FOOD.” I just love to eat. I love all kinds of food, except for okra. And
I love to pair that food with wine.
Here
is the experience I seek: First take a sip of wine…to size it up. Then
take a bite of whatever food you are hoping to pair it with. Now take a second,
more substantial sip of wine. Has it changed (been enhanced)? If you
can’t even taste the wine (I find it happens with some very highly rated
classical wines), then the pairing isn’t the best. It hasn’t stood
up to the food. You also don’t want a wine that drowns out the food. You
wouldn’t want my Zin with delicately poached sand dabs for example (but
oh, try that Zin with BBQ ).
My
2006 Sauvignon Blanc is a good case in point. On first blush, it is a little
overly tart, lemony, with an odd almond aftertaste. But with lemon chicken or Ahi with wasabi, it looses its oddity and the tartness is
diminished to graceful refreshingness. The great
discovery: it is marvelous with Chinese food. My first wife was Chinese
(actually I guess she still is), and my education in Chinese cuisine was one of
the best benefits of our marriage (had a great marriage for fifteen years --
but it lasted twenty). Mushi Pork gains a notch in my
esteem, or pork chow mein. And what that wine does to
these dishes should almost be illegal. The flavors of the main ingredients as
well as the seasoning sparkle on the palate. The acidity cuts through the heavy
oils. Wine enhancing food, food enhancing wine. Wine
is fun, enjoy it. You know that Mark Twain saying, Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing
like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth. I think he
wouldn’t mind if I added, and “Drink wine with the same personal
confidence, with abandon (or maybe just short of. ).”
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Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 3
June 7, 2010
King of the wild frontier.
I
know that wine is supposed to be one of the topics here, and I promise that the
next one will offer that, specifically some insight to what I am trying to do
with it…outta sync and into the
sink…well, sometimes.
But
first I wanted to pick up on a thread from the last installment. It has to do
with the memories of those who have given their lives in the service of this
country. Actually it pertains to the loss of any kind: a loved one, a spouse, a
relative, I have found it to also even pertains to
cherished pets. I mention this in WRATH. First, death is a natural
and, so far as I have been able to find out, also
inevitable fact of life. But to label it a loss, I feel, is to put a negative
definition on life. I seek not to do that. Death is just not getting any
“new”. It is a time to be so grateful for all that you had, to give
thanks for that. It helps to have a spiritual basis that supports it not being
the end for the deceased. I know it isn’t.
You
can’t help but be sad at the event, somehow even in cases of severe pain
or suffering that might be a relieved by death. I have found it helps immensely
to identify a trait I most cherished in the departed and I vow to make it my
own, to concentrate on developing and expanding it in my own character. A gesture at immortality, in memory at least.
A
case in point, movie actor/icon Fess Parker died recently. I didn’t know
Mr. Parker personally, though you will note a contribution he made to the cover
of WRATH.
In that book, I recall a quote from Davy Crockett (played by Parker) that my
mother had me memorize when I was eight years old: “Before you act, think
twice. Be sure you are right, then go ahead.” In
1955, there was a national -- international -- Davy Crockett frenzy. It was the
early years of television (we had an 8-inch black and white), and the Walt
Disney show popularized Davy Crockett to the likes of Elvis Presley a couple of
years later. Most notably was the coon skin cap that became so popular that the
national population of raccoons was nearly wiped out. The image of Davy
Crockett was on everything from drinking glasses to t-shirts. The Ballad of Davy Crockett was on top
of the hit parade. He was my boyhood idol.
More
recently Fess Parker developed a world-class winery in
In
one of the many tributes that Fess Parker was given, I read that he was
respected and highly regarded among those who knew him, and that he was known
for his gentle kindness. I was certainly the beneficiary of that kindness, and
added “kindness” to the top of my priority list: pay it forward. Kindness. I mention it here in the hope that a few others
might be inspired to do likewise. Might even be contagious: a
pandemic.
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Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 2
May 31, 2010
Where have all the flowers gone.
I
believe it is appropriate that I am writing this blog on Memorial Day. I will
probably be misunderstood for a lot of things I say here. And a lot of things I
say will offend some. But I want to make one fundamental truth very clear: I am
a patriot. I love this country and the principles on which it was founded. One
foremost: Freedom. It is the fundamental one. (An editorial aside: those who
are familiar with my writing, know the regard I hold
for synchronicity. Those happy little coincidences that I
consider road signs that you are on the right road. As I am writing
this, I have CNBC on mute, which is the best way to watch that channel. Say aren’t those CNBC girls, hot? Anyway, I had to laugh,
having just typed the word, a quote for Patriot Oil went by on the ticker
tape.)
When
I was twenty two, about to go to
The
two years in the army were not the most treasured. They made me a surgical
tech, which, given my biology and premed major in college, defied conventional
military logic. I was not without gratitude and was dedicated to do the best I
could at it. I was in training for over a year and graduated at the top of my
class. As a reward, I was given my choice of on the job training sites, and
chose
I
did not have the greatest military bearing, but I did develop great respect for
some that did. The Hawaiian drill sergeant -- veteran of Korea as well as
several tours of Viet Nam -- who was built like a bowling pin and though not
the biggest man, he turned some of the biggest trainees from St. Louise every
which way but sideways in his hand-to-hand demonstrations. Or the WAC
specialist who used the army training to lift her life from poverty who helped
me be better at my job there. I hope she used her GI
bill to get her RN. Or maybe MD?
I
did start my writing then, or rather my writing started getting published. I
have always written. WESTWAYS MAGAZINE, the Auto Club publication in
I
digress here to add the Auto Club to the good-guys list. I was a member then
and have been ever since. On several occasions they have come through in
spades, but never more beyond the call than one night when I was on duty in the
The
ambulances were rarely ever sent out at night. But one night, the doctor on
duty requested the keys to retrieve a retiree in medical distress. I handed him
the keys, and the ambulance dutifully bounced out of the driveway. Several
hours later, it had not returned. I was responsible for that ambulance.
Finally, a call came in from the driver. He had gotten lost. And the ambulance
had broken down…in the middle of
I
called the auto club and was connected to the driver of a tow truck. “I
am in the army,” I told him. “I was drafted. And I am in charge of
the ambulances. And I am also a member of the AAA. Is there any way you could
use my club card to bring the ambulance back to the fort? (Note: the Army also
had tow trucks but they didn’t answer the phone.).” The civilian
tow truck driver, took pity and agreed to do it. But
it would be an extra twenty dollars because of the distance. I had the mess
hall money, so agreed gladly to pay it. The way I saw it, for twenty dollars, I
was probably saving the Army an ambulance. An hour later, the ambulance was
delivered to the post motor pool. The next morning, I turned in the mess hall
money short twenty dollars, with receipts from the Auto Club Driver. I thought
I had done a good thing.
But
later in the day, the hospital sergeant in charge called. He was furious. I had
taken the mess hall money without authorization. I was going to jail. I
was…Going to be fired? I hoped… Eventually I was forgiven. I
didn’t go to jail and I didn’t have to pay the twenty dollars out
of my own money and they let me stay in the army.
Since
the army tour, I did a lot of work for WESTWAYS, and other travel publications.
On this memorial day, I can recount standing at the
gates of the Alamo in the sweltering heat of summer, as well as driving up the
frigid
When
I was frantically coming home to report for to the military, I made some
frenzied forays into the bazaars to buy souvenirs for friends and relatives.
Coming home I had a carry-on straw bag full of them. Threaded through the
handles of the basket were two spears I had purchased from a Masai. My luggage brought laughter from the flight
attendants. On a more recent flight, I had an overly large bottle of shampoo
confiscated. Are we more free? The emperors have no
clothes. But I will finish this blog with the same two words with which it
began, “I believe.”
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Outta Sync
The Wine and Proses Blog
Vol I Number 1
May 17, 2010
Welcome
to the first installment of Outta Sync. To begin, a
statement of scope/purpose/why the devil I am doing this.
I am
a writer. Writing is my calling. I have been doing it for forty years. Some
very great people whose opinions I respect have said that I am good at it. Which is one of the reasons I respect their opinions. The
topics covered will center on wine and prose and will draw from a lifetime of
experiences and adventures as a writer, as a computer programmer, as a builder,
as an investor, as a citizen of the
If
there is one common thread to my whole life, it is that I do seem to live out
of step. In the 60’s when it was cool to be a hippie, I was a yuppie with
my Bass Weejuns and khaki ivy-league trousers and
blue pin chord shirt with the button-down collar. Now that it is cool to be
“metro,” I wear flannel shirts, stocking caps and a variation of a
clog (Still from Bass. Editor’s note, I would be glad to rent a link to that
fine company here, if anyone knows who to contact. I am new at this Blog
business. Also to W.W.Grainger who’s
great industrial supply catalog keeps my life humming with replacement parts
for home and ranch. Sears might be another of those companies invited, all
having provided quality products to me for decades. I mention these now to lend
balance to stories that will be told of less satisfactory dealings which at
times seem to number ten to one. Suffice to say, I will not solicit links from
the ten, and will refer to them by hypothetical names, particularly a bank who will be referred to as Wee Fleececo
as I launch a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against them. A portion of the
proceeds, if successful will go to aid those whose lives have been destroyed by
them.) I think this country needs to do some “Emperor Has No
Clothes” recognizing. I will assist and as for those “Too Big to
Fails,” they are only too big for the britches that they don’t have
on, and THEY HAVE FAILED!. Miserably. What they have done to millions of people’s
lives is no different than what BP did to the
Fifteen
years ago, I started planting wine grapes. A secondary (to writing), but
powerful, passion is my wine making. Wine and food will be featured topics.
What ever else, I eat well. Bad news to my detractors, if living well is the
best revenge. Unashamedly, I would like to see sales of my books and wines be generated from this effort: BUY MORE BOOKS AND WINE!!!
As
I am writing this, I am also offering my entire ranch, winery, vineyard and
home for sale, forced into this position by the economy and Wee Fleececo specifically. And I am not particularly happy
about it, as there are forty-foot oak trees in my back yard that I planted as
acorns. I designed and built 90 % of the house myself, planted and maintained
90% of the 20 acres of vineyard, and have made 100 percent of the wine in
inventory myself. In the process, as I now approach my
64th year, I have torn my health up trying to do the work of three
men a third my age. The math just doesn’t work out here. One
sixty-year-old can’t do the work of three twenty-year-olds. Except maybe
when it comes to sex, where there is just no substitute for experience.
Fortunately the health issues have not extended (perhaps an unfortunate choice
of words) to that area. I have thought of assembling a harem to help out here
as a solution to the labor problems. (All candidates’
applications given careful consideration.) I wonder who came up with
that saying about living well being the best revenge. May you all have the same. And may this blog assist.
Oh,
and if you like the blogs, tell a friend. If you don’t like it, tell an
enemy.
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