The Vineyards

Years ago, there was a time when AudioGalaxy was the best way to download Mp3 files. It was a great service, and not only did it allow trade, it also hosted files for artists trying to get into the market. One day I noticed a nice band described in their main page, and downloaded the two songs available from them. The band was Breech, and the songs where "Charms" and "Awful Spill". I was impressed - no, I was in love. That very week I ordered their CD from Amazon - it cost only U$ 5,95 at the time (fair, since it only has 27'30 of audio). That was one of the longest odisseys in the history of imports - it took this CD three months to arrive, and the one I ordered with it was here six months after I ordered them.

"Breech" is probably the best album in its style, in my collection. I showed their songs to two people, and both liked them as much as I do - actually, one of these cases happened precisely two minutes ago. I am no good at spreading memes.

In fact, I only remembered to mention the album to a second person because I was listening to it, after so long. And I was listening to it for a particular reason. In "Charms" there is a verse that goes like "I realize tonight, two beers and one cocktail later, that you've been that dead now for three months". I remembered that line tonight, three beers and one champagne later.

The champagne was an unusual case. It was afternoon, I skipped work today - oh, really, I can play Solitaire at home without getting insulted. I needed white wine - no, really, I did need white wine right then. In honor of King, partially - although I believe she prefers red wine. But I wanted white. As I hope you know, white wine must be served cold. I looked in the refrigerator for my always present Riesling - and found none. None, none! What bothers me the most is that I know there was at least one bottle in store somewhere - then why was it not cold? Well, there was a bottle of white wine in the refrigerator, but not Riesling. I chose not to open it when I noticed a smaller bottle of what I thought was white wine nearby. I find these small bottles funny and cute - they hold exactly two glasses. I looked closely at it, and all signs pointed to white wine - but it was written in German, so there was no way I could tell for sure. Let me end this paragraph, it is too long.

The label was in German, and naturally I understood nothing in it beyond the "21%", which is obvious. "German, eh? Fitting!", I thought. I would remember to offer my first toast with it to all Valkyries and Norse Gods represented in the Cycle of the Ring (or rather, "Der Ring des Nibelungen") - the other toasts had their subjects already. So I opened the bottle, and it acted like a bottle of soda. I poured it in my glass, and there were bubbles.

"I opened a bottle of German champagne," I shrieked, upstarting. I wanted anything but champagne. Champagne is no good for toasting alone, in the name of Bacchus! I wanted wine! Wine! But it was already open, and the only thing to do was drink it. So it was done. Champagne has never been among my favorite, but it was not bad - I just wanted something else, that was all.

The day went by in a silly way, spent mainly in downloading and listening to remixes from OverClocked Remix. Truly, it was far better than playing Solitaire and/or reading fanfics all day at work! Then night fell. "Are you going out tonight?", I was asked. Why would I, I considered. I was short on money, having spent more than I planned to during the day, and had no company. The one place I could visit was my friend's restaurant, although I was sure I would not get another job this time. But I did want to talk to him, no less; off I went.

Troublesome it is to be a friend of the owner; more troublesome still to be a friend of someone who is a friend of everyone else. I sat down with my beer and had endless minutes to ponder on the situation. I like thinking over beer, but somehow that beer, which I find so good, never tasted worse. Besides, people singing in the karaoke were particularly bad tonight - so bad that I nearly went up there and gave it a shot myself, just so they would learn! There was one good song the entire time I was there - New York, New York. Frank Sinatra is always good, always good.

As I said, the beer was awful. "Maybe it is just the first one", I thought, and ordered another. No better. "Fine, but it is too early to leave." I still had hopes, so I asked for another beer. Gods, what lack of luck, still no good. I stood up and left, mere minutes after I arrived, much to everyone's surprise.

Of course, all was not bad; beer is not too good, either, for toasting alone, but I paid homage to a number of things with each sip. And at the end it brought me the thought of "three beers and one champagne later", which led to Breech - and now I have a second soul who likes it.

Sum this to a good morning, a delightful lunch, and a pleasant afternoon, and we have a very good day.

(Just so people do not think I only write to complain about power supplies - I do the trivial, too.)

Posted by Etienne at October 10, 2003 11:40 PM