HAVING SIPPED "TEARS OF CHRIST"...

Am back but horribly jet-lagged. Good to return to my publisher Marsh Hawk Press being hailed by Huffington Post (as a press who takes risks -- yadda: how many poetry presses publish bricks!) and MiPOesias kindly giving a venue to my novel, Pewter.

Meanwhile, here's my latest Recently Relished W(h)ine List which, of course, is heavy on airport reading and Italian wine:

SPRING/SUMMER HARVEST:
1 stalk of "miner's weed"
100 stalks of green onion
77 strawberries
2 artichokes
2 cherries
7 zucchini
4 stalks of scallions
3 summer squash
6 cucumbers


PUBLICATIONS
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE HILLSIDE, 25th anniversary book celebration of Harlan Estate winery

SLEEPERS, autobiography by Lorenzo Carcaterra (gut-wrenching; a must-read for everybody)

WAR OF THE WORLDS, novel by H.G. Wells

FIRST BORN, novel by Lindsay McKenna

THE HAMMER OF EDEN, novel by Ken Follett

61 HOURS, novel by Lee Child

THE KILLING, novel by Robert Muchamore

CONTACT, novel by Susan Grant

DEAD WATCH, novel by John Sanford

AGAINST THE WIND, novel by J.F. Freedman

THE PIED PIPER, novel by Ridley Pearson

RAPTURE IN DEATH, novel by J.D. Robb

VISIONS IN DEATH, novel by J.D. Robb

MEMORY IN DEATH, novel by J.D. Robb

THE BODY FARM, novel by Patricia Cornwell

ILL WIND, novel by Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason


WINES
1997 Sandrone La Vigna
2000 Bierzo "Corullon"
2008 Lacryma Christi del Vescorio Il Continiere (Tears of Christ, sipped right on Vesuvius -- a moment)
2005 Carfe Sant' Alda Amarone della Valpolicella
2006 Az. Le Ragose Valpolicella Classico Superiore "Le Sassine"
2009 Villa Rocca Soave
2009 Villa Rocca Valpolicella
2008 Brolio Toscana chardonnay
2008 Brolio Chianti Classico
2005 Brolio Casalferro Toscana
2004 Gaja Remaina
2006 Fattorie Parri Ribaldaccio Chianti
Ripalta San Giovese
Ripalta chardonnay Tuscan
Foscaro Prosecco
2008 Fattorie Melini Chianti San Lorenzo
2006 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Rosso