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This is the worst storm I’ve ever been through. Things got really hairy about 4 AM. Unknown objects were bouncing off the roof. The house was creaking at the seams. The winds were so strong that the windows were chattering with the pressure. I tried not to let Fiona know I was scared, but I was.

Fortunately, we live in a new, well protected subdivision. There were no tall trees to succumb to the howling winds. We have little debris to clean up.  Power was out for less than a full day.   We have plenty of wine to keep us entertained.  The storm is over, but the hard work begins.  It is unknown when Houston, much less Galveston and the coastal areas, will be up and running.

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I lived by myself for seven years and was never lonely. Turns out, I never had anyone I really missed. I’ve been singing Cinderella all week long. That’s really strange, because I never really liked them as a band. I LOVE my wife, and she’s been gone for a whopping three days. That’s not very long, but I really miss her. I seriously can’t remember when the last time we spent time apart was. I know how cheesy it sounds, but it’s true.

I feel like I’m just sitting around waiting. I hate waiting. Ask Fiona. I’m really bad. This is a different kind of wait. It’s not like a slow checker at the grocery store or being stuck in traffic. I can’t change lines or exit and take the long way. This is one I’ll just have to sit out. The waiting ends tomorrow morning, but I’ll be at work by then. Somehow I’m thinking it’ll be different once she’s off the plane. Does that make any sense?

I’m feeling better now that I’ve jotted this down. It’s not like having her here, but I’m sending a little piece of myself all the way to Seattle to be with her. I hope she sees this before she gets home. I’m letting everyone read it, but it’s mostly for her.

Baby, I miss you! I need you around to brighten up this joint. Turn it back into a home. See you soon!!!!

Update; I just finished watching the Cinderella video.  It took 25 years, but I think they’re growing on me.  Here’s another video you may or may not remember.  I may have even seen these guys in concert, 80’s were a long time ago.

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Anyway, I wanted to take some time to let you know that I plan on changing things up around here. I really loved doing the Wino thing. It was cool to sit around and spend a summer immersed in wine. I learned more than I ever imagined. Wine has become a part of my life. One that I embrace. As I write, I’m working on my third glass of some cheap, but very refreshing French white table wine. I have a red Bordeaux in the kitchen begging me to cook that porterhouse steak marinating on the counter. All in due time.

When I started this blog, I wanted to become the “wine guy”. Hell, I even renamed myself JohnnyWino. I was The Weezer for 25 years, why change? I had a couple of comments wondering if I had abandoned my former self in favor of a new, updated version. I guess in some ways I had. But I’ll always be Weeze. Right now, I feel I should say something about old dogs and new tricks or leopards and spots. But, contrary to outdated cliches, I really could have changed. Thing is, I’ve decided I don’t want to.

The best part about writing is that you can express yourself without having to deal with outside commentary. Right now, it’s just me and the keyboard. A monitor doesn’t tell you your ideas are shit. I don’t have to screen my thoughts to make sure I’m not offending someone, because there’s no one here. If I don’t like what I type, I can backspace or even delete. I don’t even have to share it with anyone if I don’t want to. I control all the variables. I like control.

Wine writing offered me a release. It may sound strange, but I get the same rush from both activities. Drinking wine allows me to shed any built up tension or frustration. In its own way, writing produces the same effect. Throughout the summer, I was able to combine the two. Because of this, I was one laid-back motherfucker. It was incredible.

Writing JohnnyWino was easy. There’s so much out there. I still have stories I never published because there were better ones out there. I’ll have to admit, some of it was quite boring. I was going for content. I was putting a product out there consistently and making the best of what I found. Quality suffered. Pick two posts and ask yourself, “Which one was more important to JohnnyWino?” and it’s obvious. I felt a pressure to produce.

The new blog should produce better posts. I’m going to write about what I want, when I want to. No pressure, only release. I’ve never written just for me. It’s always been for someone else, usually a teacher of professor who had his/her own biases, preferences, and deadlines. I work well under pressure, but there’s no need for that now. I’ve finally reached a place where this is a luxury rather than a necessity.

So, what’s in store for JohnnyWino? To be honest, I can’t answer that just yet. Right now I’m thinking a heavy dose of fiction, current events commentary, and pop culture. These are things that I know and feel comfortable writing about. I’m even considering doing a political piece. I’d like for this to be a place where everyone can find something that interests them. That would be somewhat narcissistic, because I will be writing about things that have meaning to me. Even so, this is my therapy, so bear with me.

Expect longer, less frequent pieces. I’d like to add substance rather than volume. Wino published plenty of fluff in his early days. Sure, it passed the time, but did it really matter? I’d like to make an impact. Positive or negative, it doesn’t matter. I want comments. I’m sharing with you, please return the favor. Granted, this is my release, but I want your feedback. I need ideas and opinions. Otherwise, I’m just some guy typing. Let’s make this worthwhile.

I’m keeping the name because I just had 250 stickers made. Plus, I have two JohnnyWino t shirts. Most of the good URL’s are taken anyway. It really doesn’t matter. I’m just letting my shit out, and you’re reading it. I think that’s cool.

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Robin Goldstein, author of The Wine Trials, submitted an application along with the $250 fee and an imaginary wine list for consideration. The main wine list was comprised of wines that had scored well in the magazine’s rating system. Conversely, the reserve list was purposefully composed of wines that received poor reviews from the magazine.

How did he do it? Goldstein isn’t going into any details, but Wine Spectator says it called the phone number on multiple occasions only to receive a message. There were also reviews for Osteria L’Intrepido posted on Chowhound.com. Thomas Matthews, a representative for the magazine, said that the wine list submitted was worthy of the award if it had existed. He further went on to state that, “This act of malicious duplicity reminds us that no one is completely immune to fraud.” The magazine has removed the restaurant from its website.

Obviously, Goldstein’s hoax was developed to prove a point. On his website, he claims, “If Google, Chowhound, and a couple of unanswered phone calls suffice to verify not just the existence of a restaurant but also the authenticity of its wine list, then it’s not clear what role the critic is playing.” Turns out the Award of Excellence isn’t as prestigious as it seems. Two-thirds of the restaurants that apply receive the award. There are currently over 4000 recipients on the 2008 list. At $250 apiece, that translates to $1 million in revenue for the publication.

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I have found the ultimate gift for the beer drinker in your family. The Beer Tender is now available from Krups for under $300. Dubbed “The ultimate at home draught beer experience,” it refrigerates and dispenses Heineken from their 5 liter draughtkeg (also available in Heine Light). A carbon dioxide cartridge within the keg reportedly keeps beer fresh for 30 days. It’s perfect for those of us that always wanted at-home keg access, but 1) didn’t have the space for a full sized cooler or 2) would rather spend the grand or so on beer rather than a beer toy. Feel like a fratboy without all the nasty hazing. Sure, you can just buy the keg by itself and leave it in the fridge, but that is nowhere near as fun as having your own personal tap.

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