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2012 Cabernet, Harvest’s End.. In the Rain

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20121031-115047.jpg

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policing my pages

10/29.  Over 100 words into novel.  I meant 1000.  ONE THOUSAND.  Thought about a break from the coffee, but no.  Need to keep writing.  Will have some time2Self later in day.  At least 90 minutes to dive into my book.  Like Hemingway’s character in Midnight in Paris said, “…honest book, affirms courage…” or something to such color.  Want this book done, DONE, by year’s end.  And I mean completely, ready to sell.  Need that Road.  All the roads.  Paris especially.  That city doesn’t need me, my erratically stretched prose, poetry.  Was thinking about driving up to Alexander Valley to pick up my wine from Lancaster, maybe do a roadside writing session as I used to.  But that drive would remove time from sitting, from my novel.  This book, I’m seeing it make people afraid of the workplace, so-assumed “managers” completely incapable of managing/organizing their own lives much less a schedule, squad of underlings.

Rain, just ahead.  Can’t wait.  But, that entire day I’ll be working.  I’ll be able to write in that instructors lounge before class, and maybe a little at winery beforehand.  My journal, in the old blog, talking to me, asking for a prominent role in this “novel” of mine.

Only time for a couple notes before little Kerouac wakes.  Right now, he sleeps.  Wonder what he dreams of.  Probably simple scenes, moments, which I entirely envy.  This story I write, hopefully helps him, alongside my scribed career.  That’s where the reactions to the winery’s visitors enters mind.  They are so enamored, so awestruck, so instantly in love, infatuated.  I envy that as well, loudly, especially when I notice Self becoming desensitized.  They, the guests, will always say something like, “You must have a very stressful life.” Or, “You must hate it here.” Yesterday, an older non-stop dialogue man from Florida said, while driving down from the mountain [after tasting, and he didn’t taste that much, constantly citing his diet, how he didn’t need additional points], “SO I can tell you really hate your job, huh Mike.” All remarks, satired, but still poignant, letting me know how they’re digesting, estimating what’s around them.  Vines, wines, hills, autumnal shades.  It’s almost too much for them to take in.  But I’m here everyday, not seeing it the same.  I want to see SOMETHING that way.  I see my son with such stunning encapsulation, yes.  But I need a location.. a stage.  Want to follow Kelly.  Pursuit.  Jobs.. a character’s job, perplexingly crucial.  What it does to them, how it factors into the “what one does vs. who they are” gauge.  The call center, the box, their recollections filling me with, for better tag’s truancy, rage.  No one should work somewhere like that if they want to be happy.  Simple word, “happy.” But so complex, gripping.  Only 4% left on laptop, why I hate tech.  Recharge then return–

2:30pm.  Starbucks, 12 & Mission.  Sitting with 1 goal: Standalone chapter for “novel.” 3 pages.  Nervous someone’s looking over my shoulder.  The music here’s awful.  Self-pitying country/folk/blues garbage.

 

10/30.  Halloween, in morrow.  No treating me.  I must be tricked.  Into this pattern.  Finishing a glass of this blend, after injecting 1000 words into novel.  Or book.  It’s definitely a book.  One I’m going to finish.  Finally.  Exhausted, after day and word sprint.  Teaching tomorrow night, and yes I thought about calling in, for Jack’s 1st Halloween.  But I need the money.  For publication, wine production, regular overhead, my morning mochas, and I can’t even think of what else.  Every dollar counts.

Wrote a full page in Comp Book today.  Felt amazing to decorate a canvas as she does.  How does she, my character, do this to me?  Want to say something like, “She doesn’t even exist!” But I know very well she does.  Stopping.  Saved for novel.  OR book.

Not sure the rain’ll make it.  Ready for it now, as most everyone’s fruit’s in.  Hoping I get to make this second wine.  And if I don’t, I can just write that I did.  Blatantly lie.  Beauty of fiction.

Can’t write, for some reason.

Think I need a break.  Or just clock out.  Just looked at remaining power.  18% — How did that happen?  Didn’t I charge this bloody thing?  This device monster?  See, when writing in Comp Book, there is no such worry.  Need another sip.  Posting this before this little tech toxin quits.  Bona …

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journal – 10/28/12: “Covered”

Sipping a sparkling water.  Not in any mood for wine.  Opened a 2010 Sauvignon Blanc I was gifted at work a couple days ago, but only had a glass.  Actually less.  More like a couple pours.  Had an intense feeling this evening, up until a couple minutes ago, really, that I was a failed writer, that I was still “trying.” Could almost see mySelf at ages later, looking back, wondering what I did wrong, why I couldn’t make it happen for my manuscripts.  Was in no mood to write, till I realized the moronic shape my thoughts were taking.  My Friday night [2nite].. excited for the writing time I’m to enjoy in morrow’s stretch.  Have to teach in PM, but before that, I’m attacking the novel.  My wine, fermenting quite quickly.  Actually took my first taste of the juice, today in the tasting Room when one of the winemakers brought in a poured glass for me.  The second wine, still in planning, negotiation.  WAITING, which I hate.

Rain, expected for Halloween.  Halloween.. has me thinking, “Am I pretending to be a writer?” Another stupid thought, I realize, as I AM writing.  I’ve BEEN writing.  Not sure why these silly entertainments speak forth and back through my careful cognition.  And I don’t have time for this putrid hypothetical puzzle–  Tastes amazing, this sparkling water.  Need a break from wine, honestly.  Seems like I’m always there.  Plan on being there tomorrow for punchdowns, learning whatever I can..  Didn’t know I could get “punchdown” into this document, on this program, as 1 word.. huh.

Glad I made mySelf sit down to write.  And yes, I’m saying “write,” even though I’m typing.  On that mountain this morning, couldn’t help but think of my travels, being on the road, anywhere.  My writing needs that, so until them I can just annoyingly remind you, and mySelf, what my wishes are.  Asked mySelf, also just moments ago, what I really want.  Is it this blog?  The winemaking?  The Parisian café I used to write about on my Napa Literary Lunches?  No.  It’s books.  BOOKS.  A career of writing them.  Traveling with them.  Write while traveling with them, so I’ll have a new manuscript when I get home.  Want to live as she does, through Creation.  Through curiosity, whimsicality; delicious Defiance.

Sometimes I think this blog’s a drug, a devilish distraction.  Other days, I feel it’s the only grip I have over my writing fantasies.  It’s always here, waiting.  I love that it’s waiting for me.  Guess it gives me some shape of oddly contrived power.  But I need to cut that.  Especially after watching that Austen movie the other night, “Midnight in Paris” only a couple days before.  In those films, real writing.. the Literary; pages, Books, from authors, not “bloggers.” This writing trail, all struggle.  I need new material.  Yes, I meet new people in the tasting Room, everyday.  But it’s still centered in that tasting Room.  There’s no variation, variety.  Starting to feel it’s too contained.  Thinking about this, again minutes ago, even made me wonder if I want to write anymore.  How dare I think such an evil self-inflicting drowsy sphere.  That’s another reason why I’m at this table in my kitchen.

To fight.

I’m writing.

And there’s nothing you, or anyone, even me, can do about it.

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2gether

All writing tonight, for blog.  Found out today that I may be making a Cabernet, with a picking taking place in the next few days.  Tonight’s reading assignment: anything winemaking related.  Again, Mr. Kerouac put on hold.  Hopefully I’ll follow my alarm’s orders for the morrow, wake early.  Could get a couple chapters in, then.  Saw the Barbera brought in today, to soon after soak in sun, in designated gondolas.  Thinking my winery may be–excuse me, my LABEL.. “winery” sounds far too commercial, corporate–closer than I ever estimated.  The writing’ll pay for my bond, licensing, fruit purchases.. glass, corks, labels.  Everything.  Think I have some material from mikeslognoblog, that was never posted, possibly worthy of publication.  Kind of funny when I phrase it that way.. like I’m a publisher considering a writer’s submission.  Don’t want to be like that, a suit, but I have to be I guess as a Self-circulator.

Today was one of those days at work when I couldn’t believe how lucky I am to live where I live, do what I do, in this wine world.  Made me think about my beefs with “the industry.” They’re still there, but days like today make me forget.  80 degrees in fall, no clouds, grapes lining the crush pad.  Like I told a guest today: “We live this, drink this, think this, and through passion give this.” After I said that, I quickly poured that ’09 Barbera so I could scribble my lines in the little notebook I bought from Kunde, a week or so ago.

When I do offsite pourings for whoso [again, that’s my LABEL], I’ll bring only wine, no “literature.” Want people to be focused on THE WINE.  I know, what a concept.  Sometimes–no, many times–”the industry” takes away from what it’s supposed to promote.  In fact, I may even be one of those labels without a “wine club.” Wine clubs, I’ve found, many times, are pains all around.  I don’t know, that’s just what I’m thinking right now, but I’m not convinced this is the best approach.

My notes, taken while working at the box.  On mind.  My attack, eminent.

9:45pm.  On notes more positive, sitting here with my Racer 5.. can’t get those views from my head.  What other views are out there, I have to entertain.  In New York, Croatia, Spain, Italy, France, Costa Rica..  Tonight’s goal for book, just one paragraph, or 1 poem.  Think I might write it, though, in Comp Book.  Maybe that’ll initiate another session like I had in the instructors lounge on Wednesday night.  Couldn’t believe that I carved 3 whole pages into those borders.  Austen was on mind.  And she still is.  Her story, I also have to revisit.  But not now.  Have to study my winemaking world.  Especially fermentation.. what could go wrong, how to remedy what surfaces [if it’s negative].  My Merlot, now, outside.  One of the Kunde winemakers told me that fermentation is a couple days away, as it was so cold in that warehouse, during cold soak.  Just checked word count, time to close session– I know, that’s pathetic, that I let some number generated by some function of this device’s inherent program shift and clip my Literary moment.  Keeping my winemaking mission in scope, writing about each step.  So, now, I go study.. note everything I can.  I’m an educator, and I know I can educate mySelf in this bottled sorcery.

Turns out I’m leaving bottledaux in this sitting.  Not what I intended, but I’m sure it’s healthy.

10/26/12

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visitation

Wish I could just stay up
Here, stare out at the valley.
But, again, retract from impulse’s
Pulse. Seriousness how…
My circulation, not listening to
This station. Moving.

20121028-105206.jpg

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I’m cramped by a clock.
This has to stop. Joking with
Grapes while I punch
Them down. Can’t taste yet.
Hate thus wait.

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By Hand

Rather be part of it– NO, actually
B IT. not one talking about it.
Or just representing it.
Immersed in fermenting verse.

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Stare

Anything but equaled.
Cuz of this kneeling temper.
Char, my journaled currency.
November.. Starboard, nicely
Knitted. Off sleep? Leaving from
A game’s pane. Ridiculously into
A leap. I grimly reap.. See Self in
Deeds dealt. My lead melts. In a
Plea’s bell. Compute my commute
Till I’m mute–

Pushing to breath next.
Put it in breakfast.
Notebooks in set sets.
Unable to fret. Yet.

10/26/12

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Poem Peninsula

One step at a time.
Down stairs that sing diagonal
ballads in autumnal tongue.
Bell rung. Books, hope I sell
1. Is my game going 2 end with
Same waves? Rain in wait, bane
To gate. My brain, new straight..
Weather pattern, just teasing a
Writer. Wish I had enough to
Speak in a vacant glass. Arrive
To expectation’s plate completely
Famished– empty like an abandoned
Carboy. Reinvest my lines. But how–
Need surgery. Poet under construction.