my research paper on Blood into Wine

Documentary about Wine or Infomercial?

Blood into Wine is an epic documentary that humors its audience with a heavy array of actors and comedians, while teaching them in a beautiful and spiritual way about wine. Maynard James Keenan is well renowned musician and philanthropist. He is the front man of successful bands such as, Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer. Maynard Keenan, an affluent man of much fortitude, decided to make wine in a place no one would ever expect; Jerome, Arizona. Nestled away in the Verde Valley Canyon, Jerome used to be a ghost town twice over. Maynard Keenan is bringing life back to the nearly deserted town with his winery, Caducesus and Merkin Vineyards, to a population just fewer than 400. Blood into Wine is surely an interesting documentary about wine, and not an infomercial for all things Maynard James Keenan.

Directed and written by Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke, Blood into Wine was released in February of 2010. Ryan Page and Christopher Pomerenke are known for another hit documentary in 2009 involving celebrities and musicians called The Heart is a Drum Machine. In this documentary, numerous celebrities speak about how music affects them in a scientific and spiritual way. The celebrity testimony in both films is shot in much of the same way, giving them interesting twist compared to most bland documentaries out there. The directors’ mission to make people feel enlightened with their film-making about physically and emotionally stimulating concepts is very clear in these two documentaries.

Maynard James Keenan is just one of the characters in Blood into Wine. Though it is easy to overlook anyone that may be in Keenan’s shadow, there are quite a few people who contributed to this film. Eric Glomski, Keenan’s business partner, has a lot to offer considering he is a master winemaker. Keenan is merely Glomski’s novice apprentice, thirsting for wine knowledge and learning as he goes. Glomski establishes his credibility by giving some of his background information. He moved to Arizona in his teens initially to go to college. In the early 1990’s Glomski graduated with a degree in river ecology. During one of his first big contracts, he hiked hundreds of river miles, and he had picked some heirloom apples to take back home with him. After experimenting with home brewing before, he decided to brew his own wine. As Glomski states in a very conscious way, “I’ll never forget that first whiff; it brought me back. I could smell those grasses. I could hear that babbling brook. I could smell the Ponderosa’s”.

Keenan and Glomski formed their partnership rather quickly over a couple of meetings. Eric Glomski had already started his own vineyard in the same area, they both shared a passion for wine, and they both were entrepreneurs. Glomski’s wife recalls when he had first met Keenan, and her account is rather amusing. She states that Glomski described Keenan showing up in a limo, dressed in gothic attire, with a woman that was wearing a dog collar. Keenan attests this statement with great resistance, and claims with a couple of swear words that he would never do such a thing. All humor aside, Keenan speaks very highly of Glomski. In the late 1990’s, they began their quest of growing grapes together, beginning the ever long process of wine making.

Along with Maynard Keenan, there are a few other well known celebrities that grace this documentary. There is a one on one with Keenan and Milla Jovovich. Jovovich is in many movies, but a couple of her most well known are Fifth Element and the Resident Evil trilogy. The one on one is very casual as they speak about her singing contributions the band Puscifer; one of Keenan’s many side projects. With their closeness very obvious, Jovovich is even curious as to why Keenan would want to make wine. Coincidently, earlier in the documentary, Keenan compares Milla’s character, Lilo, in Fifth Element to the wonders of grapes. Lilo is considered the Supreme Being with a much more complex DNA strand than other humans. Keenan continues the thought by saying, “The complexity within a grape is so far beyond than that of other fruits. The processes of fermentation, consumption, and the complexities of enzymes swirling around in your glass; it’s a supreme being”. With that being said, Keenan clearly feels deeply for wine and finds all of its wonders intriguing.

Other celebrities that have small, somewhat pointless roles in the documentary are Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim of the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Patton Oswald the comedian, and Tim Alexander, drummer of the band Primus. Heidecker and Wareheim host a silly segment throughout this documentary called Focus on Interesting Things, where they continually give Keenan a hard time about how uninteresting wine is. Oswald’s small bit of commentary is pretty much nonexistent and honestly only good for a couple of chuckles. Though, Alexander brings home a good base of information on the background of why Keenan initially came to Arizona in the first place. Alexander lived in Jerome, Arizona for a good portion of his life, finding the area to be very peaceful and powerful – a vortex of energy. After partnering up with Keenan to work in the band Puscifer, Tim Alexander convinced him to take a trip to Jerome to see if he felt the same; as a result Maynard Keenan is making some of the best wine in the country.

The cost of planting a vineyard and running a decent winery could almost be considered astronomical. In Arizona, planting grapes runs about $35,000 an acre. For the winery, expect to pay upwards of two million dollars. They say, the best way to make ten million in the wine business is to lose 100 million first. Due to winter colds and animals, Keenan has had to replant many acres of his vineyards. Considering that the wine business is a black hole for money, it further proves Maynard Keenan’s dedication.

One of the main goals for Keenan’s wine making mission was to find a place with water. The desert would most certainly not be the first place to look, but interestingly enough vineyards conserve much water. The mines in Verde Valley, Arizona control the water supply, and give a very limited amount to Jerome, Arizona. Whereas most crops such as corn and cotton eat up water supply, grapes do the complete opposite. There is one eighth the usage of water with a vineyard compared to an average family household. In a way, Merkin Vineyards is a great economic uplift for the small town Jerome, and that makes Keenan very welcome to the town with his business.

Much of the process of enjoying wine is smelling it; similarly, introducing oneself to one of our five senses in an extreme way. In Blood into Wine, they list many of the ways that people describe what they smell. Examples of the smells being forest floor, strawberry, or even a creative way that defines what the person is feeling with their other four senses. Keenan and Glomski’s wines are most impressive when it comes to taste and smell. Most people comment that it’s some of the best wine they’ve ever had. Neil, a wine reviewer sums it up in a perfect way, “I’m listening to Tool’s Ænima album, and am reminded of the crafted, complex pro-duction that one can expect when listening to a Tool record. Tool of course is one of the bands that Keenan fronts, and after tasting his 2005 Nagual de la Naga, I can say that similar production techniques are applied to the wine, as the results are equally crafted and complex”.

Napa Valley, which is where the Verde Valley resides, is becoming a booming area for wine making. Tourists will come from across the country to hit each of the wineries located in the heart of where all these wonderful wines are brewing. While Caduceus may be a novice winery, it is making a serious impression in the wine making industry. Keenan is proud to announce that Caduceus and Merkin Vineyards has, “received top awards at the Arizona Wine Growers Association event. Four gold, one silver, and four bronze” which is an astounding accomplishment for such a young business. The anticipation and love for Maynard Keenan’s wines is not just about his celebrity; moreover, it is about the wine itself.

Many people do not consider what goes into wine making or consider what an amazing feat the end result establishes. Those who are clueless to the wine making process never really wonder what sort of passion and goodwill it takes. Wine making takes decades of hard work and true dedication. Though Maynard Keenan expresses in the documentary that he never had a desire to live in Arizona, thinking that it was nothing more than sand and tumbleweeds, he had a powerful feeling come over him that was beyond his control it seemed. Keenan is consistent in never letting his audience or consumers down. Whether or not one believes that Blood into Wine is serious, the proof is in the pudding as they say. The only fool proof way to completely enjoy this documentary is to taste the wine, and then perhaps the truth will be known. Blood into Wine is exactly how the title states and it is nothing but for the people that wish a simple, though worldly explanation.

my second paper for english composition.

this one is based on a memory of or remembering something that you've done.

Castle from a Fantasy

I always thought that living in Indiana meant I’d never visit a castle. Looking at pictures of castles in Ireland where they are surrounded by mountains and emerald colored trees, I knew that I would never have an opportunity to make it there. That is before I knew about a wonder that was sitting right under my nose. Meyers Castle is nestled right outside Crown Point, Indiana. When my boyfriend Christopher and I pulled up to a large gate right off the highway on an evening in late spring, we had no idea what was in store for us.

After parking, a shuttle came to pick us up. The man driving the shuttle was very pleasant and amusingly clever. At this point, we couldn’t see anything, and I was definitely bubbling over with anticipation. As we crept up what seemed like a mountainous hill, the castle began to unveil itself. I saw a white peacock, a courtyard with a stone walk-way leading up to the most beautiful architecture I have ever seen in person, and white lights looked like little stars lining arched light posts that guided the way. The shuttle pulled up to the back door, and I tried to gather myself from already being completely awed. A large man in a black suit checked our I.D.’s and we were in. I had trouble keeping myself from giggling and speed walking down a stone corridor; an adult in my version of a Wonka Chocolate Factory.

I hesitantly put my hand on the handle of one of two giant dark wooden doors, thinking that there was still some way we were not allowed there, and the smile across my face started to hurt my cheeks. We walked into what seemed like a dark cave, but it was filled with its own Aura Borealis of lights. Mellow reggae music played as we walked to up to the bar. Patiently waiting for our drinks, I evaluated that the basement was broken up into multiple sections. Some had brown leather couches with end tables to each side, glowing with the light of candles. Others had high tables with equally tall chairs seating two people. There was a whole wall of overly large recliners, with people sipping on martinis, drinking wine, and conversing with a calmness that only the atmosphere could create.

I was eager to explore the outside. I grabbed Christopher’s hand and followed a few people that seemed like they knew where they were going. We stepped out onto an extremely large stone balcony. Every ten or so feet there was a statue; statues of griffins and full-bodied women. Overwhelmed with joy and excitement, I kissed Christopher long and hard. He took my hand again, and walked me down the stairs of the same walk-way I first saw when we began our journey. The little star lights lit us up and a soft night breeze blew through the trees, making them sing slightly beneath our quiet conversation. There had been a light rain earlier in the evening and the grass around us was bold and dewy. When we reached the end of the walk-way, we did not spin on our heels but slowly turned on them. We were facing the castle; it was in our full view. I had to catch my breath because it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Once we were back inside, Christopher left me for a few moments to use the restroom, and I walked around more. I found more rooms encased with white sheer fabric. I made my way over to the right side of the bar where the band was playing and people were loosely dancing with colorful lights flashing all around them. Dark wood thrones, with red velvet seating, graced each side of an elaborately carved fireplace. I took a seat in one of the thrones, and waited till I saw Christopher come strolling back out. His face was bright as he exclaimed, “The bathrooms even have attendants!” It felt as if this experience kept getting more sophisticated by the second, and I pondered whether or not anyone would believe me when I told them the story of how I visited a castle; furthermore, a castle in Indiana.

As the evening closed in, I wished that I never had to leave. We too, among friends, found ourselves in the over-sized recliners. Smiles spread across our faces, casually talking, but thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Everything seemed so fairy tale and perfect. For a mere second I kicked myself for not bringing a camera, but then I realized it was all about the memory that had already completely burned itself into my brain. For so many years I was convinced that I did not have a romantic bone in my body, but I felt romance shooting from every nerve ending that evening. I felt passion and wonder in ways that I never had. I possess this memory in a very deep way and completely cherish it for every way that it made me feel. In my mind, pictures could never adequately capture how vivid my emotions ran, and I challenge any camera to try.

sometimes i miss writing...

this is my first paper for my english composition class. i'll have 5 done by the end of the semester, and i have to pick 3 to build a portfolio.

Look at it in Moonlight

It is roughly ten in the morning. The smell of fresh brewed coffee and stale cigarette smoke is thick in the air. In this living room, little rays of light are peeking through the curtains layered with dust. A coffee table sits at the very center of the room, showing signs of a fun evening full of card playing and beer drinking. Beneath the table, spread across the floor, is a huge black rug that never seems to get clean. The carpet hides stains that were made by people acting carelessly over the years, but the base carpet will not be silenced of its story. Parts of it creep from the outer corners of the rug, rearing its ugliness.

In the early hours of the day the living room is a lonely place. Besides the obnoxious sound of a washing machine coming from the other room, the living room is otherwise silent. Action figures from various horror and science fiction movies, almost asking to be played with, line the top of four large book cases full of DVD’s. It is apparent that movie lover’s live here, but also obvious the room is in desperate need of a deep cleaning. The hunter green walls are laced with cobwebs in the corners, moving around as if there were some kind of breeze coming in. There is no airy breeze whistling through this room, but it could sure use one.

In between the bookcases is an entertainment center with a silver 36 inch television that is about 5 to 6 years old. Atop is an XBOX 360 with 2 cords dangling off, reaching to controllers that are erratically placed on the coffee table. Video games are scattered next to the game counsel in the never ending dust. A giant clock hangs above the entertainment center. Its numbers are all in Roman numeral form. The time never changes and is frozen on 2:43.

The sound of the washing machine stops for a moment after a loud buzz, and the room becomes oddly still. Only to then be disrupted by a thundering slam of the door as an enormous angry faced man enters. He tosses his keys on the table making an ear-piercing clank when they land. Without removing his boots, he stomps through the living room into his room, slamming the door behind him. The objects in the room shake as if a small earthquake just hit. All the action figures stare blankly at nothing as they did before; still, they remain unfazed by the lack of attention.

The day continues on as it usually does, and night falls rather quickly upon this living room. Clicking the lights on and opening the windows allows the room to breathe a sigh of relief. The smell of fall air replaces the stagnant smell of cigarette smoke fairly quickly; replacing the humidity that was once there. There are sounds of crickets singing away flowing into the room as if it has become a part of the outside. Calmness overtakes the discomfort that was here in the earlier hours.

A different place now, the dust is hidden in the shadows. A handsome man with crystal blue eyes turns on music; the room comes to life. The music is beginnings of a soundtrack for whatever may occur here. The man clears off the cluttered table. He replaces the mess with a single deck of playing cards.

People from upstairs barreled in, boisterous voices in tow, and the presence of the room became much more diverse than it was before. It is less bleak, more endearing. Shuffling cards and boughs of laughter can be heard. The smell of smoke is no longer stale but fresh. As beer and whiskey flow like wine, voices talk more over one another. A promiscuous British man brings in a drunken woman from the bar. He picks up three of the lonely action figures and imitates a fight that he tried to break up while they were out.

As the night winds down, the people disappear to their rooms, and the living room is somewhat cleared out except for the remains of a gathering. New beer bottles replace the ones that were there before. Impressions are left in the black rug from people sitting. Different cards are spread across the table and a score card with everyone’s name written across the top. It will all surely sit till the next day.

The handsome man with crystal blue eyes enters the room one final time. Attempting to clear off the table, he catches a ray of the moon shining on the floor, and follows its trail out the window. With a short moment of thought he turns off the lights. Pulling the curtains as far open as they will go, the room fills with a luminescent glow. The room shines in its success. Every little thing encased in moonlight. What this room once was has become a distant memory till the morning. The living room sleeps. Rest assured it will see day and night continually in different settings for the rest of its existence.

where do i begin? i was thinking of beginning where i ended up at a castle, but that's been a few weeks ago, now. i feel the story may be better told in person...

i'm feeling enlightened. perhaps the "3rd times a charm" may be true, and i am embarking on it in this very moment. since i was very young, i've lived in fear, and evaluated everything around me. allowing my assumptions and conclusions to kind of carry me through life. i've gone with gut feelings more than just because they felt right, but also because of what i've learned on this journey. i feel i've concluded that i live in a matrix......more seriously, there are such things as fate and destiny. yesterday, for some reason i felt the need to delve into astrology. it's not something i follow every day, or very frequently in a year. it never fails at fucking with my head a little bit. for example, i found that the 2 people i've been in serious relationships with are 2 of 4 signs i'm compatible with, and the person that i am currently dating now would make that 3 of 4. all different astrological signs. i feel that without this knowledge, i've been very selective. not selective in a way that i go, "oh, this person is an aries, i must investigate this man further because he is compatible with me," but in a way that from the moment i made contact with these people, i felt a connection with them beyond control. what the dick? how is this possible, and how could something that's just theory prove to be so valid in my life?

with all that aside, i am feeling very at ease. i'm doing things that i've always had a desire to do, and no one to be my companion while i enjoy it. they are the simplest of things, but they are thoroughly productive. i feel much more alive than i have felt in a long time. i'm gaining back a sense of adventure that i lost in my late teens, and some how this sense has grown into an adult version of itself. even though it has been stowed away while i wasted it in some shitty bar, drinking myself half to death every night/every other night.

on the 25th, christopher, baas, and i set out for chicago to catch a screening of maynard's documentary "blood into wine" and puscifer the following night. it was a very neat theatre. old seating, neat wood carvings, and a red curtain that reminded me of something you'd see in the early-to-late 1920's. upon standing in line to grab a drink, i met an older couple that were there for the "other wine guy," eric glomski. they decided to give me a little lesson on eric, and i gave them a lesson on maynard. with it all said and done, i realized this man must be feeling a little buzz. when he got closer to me, i smelt booze. he then offered to have my friends and i come over for tea and coffee cake? his wife laughed and informed me that he would be at work, and it would only be her. cue the porno music, for my mind has taken me to a lonely housewife scenario. we sat three rows from the stage, in the very center. perfect seating. not too close, and not too far away. we had a sneaking suspicion that maynard may show himself considering puscifer was playing the following night. we were correct. after the screening, maynard & eric did a 20 minute Q&A seated on stage. we were seated so close and centered that we could see maynard's eyes. quite a few people in the row behind us and in front of us were asking plenty of questions, so all 3 of us undoubtedly made eye contact individually with maynard quite a few times. this has become the best $12 dollars i've ever spent.

after the leaving the theatre, we walked across the street to have a couple drinks, and ended up having dinner. what joy, there was also a free burlesque show. i've never been to a burlesque, and i've never seen girls get naked on a bar...but let me tell you, it was pretty fucking sweet. we then hit up an old friend, cath pierce, had another beer, and headed back to baas's. what a night cap, i must say.

the day following, i made breakfast, and then we toured a comic book store, a couple of head shops, the alley, and a thrift store. at this point in time, i was way over stimulated, and almost couldn't find words to describe anything i was feeling. feeling blessed with the company i was keeping, and finding it overly enjoyable to say the least. fast forward to the concert, it was fucking epic. one of the most entertaining shows i've ever seen. members of puscifer were carting around luggage, dressed as flight attendants/pilots passing out bags of nuts for "vagina airlines". when men asked for them, they said, "sorry, vaginas only." i got my package of vag-nuts, for sure. come to find out, i got my nuts from the drummer of primus! how neat! maynard had his wine available for $8 a glass, which for a show and the quality seemed like a deal to me. uncle scratch's gospel revival played first, and they were hilariously enjoyable with tunes like, "i banged a sinner". puscifer was fucking awesome! they had these 26'(i'm guessing) flat screens set up so that when they stood behind them, their faces showed up huge, and you saw their smaller bodies behind them. on stage, they had the "flight attendants" just chilling and acting as if they were drunken conversations...which might have been really drunken. this concert is definitely second to tool at bonnaroo in my book. especially since this may be the only opportunity i have to see puscifer considering maynard starts projects and then kind of just leaves them in his dust to appreciate over time.

baas dropped christopher and i off at the train station, which happened to be the same station that a scene of "the dark knight" was shot in. fitting for christopher and i. we ran to the train stop to see if we could catch the 11:14 train, we missed it. as with many moments with christopher, it suddenly became romantic. we kissed at the empty train stop, and i became dizzy. feels good to have that sort of smile revived back in me. they had a bar open until midnight in the train station. we had a couple of beers, and conversed about things that most beginning relationships converse about. i noticed when i walked to the bathrooms, there was an eerie feeling that i was in the movie "creep". i texted myself this while peeing, so i wouldn't forget. i do that often.

all in all, what an amazing experince. i have some pictures, but not many. it was definitely one of those moments in life where most everything about it is photographed in my memory. like a flip book, and i can actually feel the air kick up in my face as i flip the pages.