The Privilege To Drive

I am working on regaining the privilege to drive in the state of California in mid November (I'm confident you can do the math here.) After functioning for four and a half months without a license, I have a fierce new appreciation for laws and social responsibility. Plus, an awareness of the luxury of exercising logical forensics to make an exception to policy. I have waited in line for hours. I have paid temporally and financially. I have never been a more humiliated, and, of course, humbled. I'm now more patient. More respectful. (Sorry for all of the "I"s.) And I'm thankful this happened. It is easy to go through life and never experience what I did. Respect your fellow humans and the law. If you don't, the clock is ticking. Think it is only fair to finally share this.

I Apologize

for the lack of posts recently. I have been home for an overdue visit to friends and family in New York and Connecticut, reading to try to improve on my writing, working on launching two new companies (that, unfortunately, have nothing to do with wine) before Feb '09, and finally attending to things that I've neglected over months when I've prioritized blogging, wine tasting, traveling, and mulling over life questions on long walks by the ocean. Bottom line is that not too much wine sipping and exploring is going on at the moment...I'm just happy if I can squeeze in a Leffe and a twenty minute walk around sunset time.

The purpose of this blog has always been to add value (wine knowledge, recommendations, philosophical exercises, etc.) to the lives of my readers through its content. I hope to resume posts in this nature in the next few weeks. Thanks for your patience. XO

Stoned Immaculate

A favorite Jim Morrison track and the theme of this post.

I recently tasted the best wines of my life. Also the oldest. This ultrasensory and wildly potent encounter was elating and overwhelming.

After the moment in time to feel the joy from these wines passed, the memory summons peaceful content. I'm craving nothing. No Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at the jacuzzi. Not even a splash of Dolcetto d'Alba while watching the sunset. 

In time, my appreciation for (and delight in) more simple, younger, primary wines will return. I just need to be patient. I'm sure most people who have an ultimate experience in their field of passion have a similar reaction.

Focus

On Saturday, Michael (in hot pursuit of a WSOP bracelet and big win) boldly tested his skills against the best players on this planet. Yesterday he played in a World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas for over 12 hours. His focus, patience, 6th sense (a gut instinct he trusts), and a little luck made him one of 720, out of 6,000, players to make it to Day 2! 

Very impressive, Landau :)

Morning

I've always kept a journal, but privately. As a new "blogger", I'll do my best to appropriately use this new technology to stay in better touch with family and friends...and more actively experience the (scarily) strong bond more and more humans have with computers. I'm heading out for a morning walk around Ocean Avenue in Corona Del Mar. It's two blocks from my house here and one of the most peaceful/exhilarating moments of the day. For at least ten breaths I will consciously inhale the sweet ocean air to beyond my lungs capacity. Then slowly exhale with restraint - a proper balance of patiently coming to the end of this ultra-sensory breath and beginning the next one.