tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post1986293163806845848..comments2024-02-25T02:50:53.858-08:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: Why I Do Whatever It Is I DoRon Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-65695631794652596152012-06-20T13:25:32.889-07:002012-06-20T13:25:32.889-07:00I didn't say I praise the Hose (well, sorta di...I didn't say I praise the Hose (well, sorta did) but I praise the guy holding the Hose. Better for all of us than psychotherapy.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-54989021196635640102012-06-20T07:55:56.374-07:002012-06-20T07:55:56.374-07:00John and Kathy,
I say a humble thank you for your...John and Kathy,<br /><br />I say a humble thank you for your kind words. I'm uncomfortable with praise, especially after a post that may seem to be soliciting it. And I hand out so little praise on HoseMaster that it seems especially embarrassing.<br /><br />I think most everyone here seems to get what I'm doing, some of you even get it more than I do. It is 90% about fun, and 10% about being cheaper than psychotherapy.<br /><br />Thanks again for your kind and generous sentiments.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-53202815894021364712012-06-20T05:49:37.416-07:002012-06-20T05:49:37.416-07:00You walk the satire line - not unlike the guy who...You walk the satire line - not unlike the guy who didn't die while walking over Niagara Falls. (Success probably damages ratings, his and yours).<br />I judged one round of Poodles early on. That, in fact, is how I found you and gave you first prize, or whatever it is, but it didn't show in the official ratings. It left me with access to great lines and laughs, so I give the Poodles one credit.<br />Thanks, Hose; thanks, Ron.Kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-55997377956399737972012-06-19T08:30:49.230-07:002012-06-19T08:30:49.230-07:00I'm late to the party, though rarely late to a...I'm late to the party, though rarely late to a meal. I don't have you bookmarked on my computer, but I would dial your number on my phone if I could. Anyway, I check in a couple of times each month and enjoy a protracted read, both of the HoseMaster post and the often very clever comments.<br /><br />I have always enjoyed the what, it was nice to read the why.<br /><br />Thanks for writing. While you write because you have to, to exorcise demons, to practice the craft of satire, to try to impress - or merely please - yourself, there are many (several, a noble few) of us who are greatly entertained, who experience genuine joy finding a new post, or several posts, from you to read.<br /><br />Once again, simply, thanks.John Cesanohttp://www.hoplandpassport.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-19828326734640965322012-06-14T20:54:06.752-07:002012-06-14T20:54:06.752-07:00This is good. This is good.
I think most who com...This is good. This is good.<br /><br />I think most who come here get what you're trying to do. It is appreciated. We all need to be taken down a notch here and there (humans, in general, even subhumans, not just wine bloggers, who are below subhuman).<br /><br />Humility is a good thing. I'll take humility and sense of humor over hubris and self-importance any day.Subhuman Edhttp://www.suburbanwino.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52265701137313187602012-06-14T08:33:35.068-07:002012-06-14T08:33:35.068-07:00Alfonso,
You got that right.Alfonso,<br /><br />You got that right.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-71041007957977096822012-06-14T07:14:19.241-07:002012-06-14T07:14:19.241-07:00AC, where's DC?AC, where's DC?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-5241060205143697002012-06-14T06:24:40.364-07:002012-06-14T06:24:40.364-07:00you all are so dearly pathetic ;pyou all are so dearly pathetic ;pAChttp://acevola.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-59700132187132220012012-06-13T19:48:58.409-07:002012-06-13T19:48:58.409-07:00Dammit! Should have been "Any" or "...Dammit! Should have been "Any" or "All"Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-81648981512670168102012-06-13T19:46:34.609-07:002012-06-13T19:46:34.609-07:00Don't worry, I can fix this.
A recently crap ...Don't worry, I can fix this.<br /><br />A recently crap dropping Poodles please send inquiries to Thomas via VinoFictions<br /><br />http://vinofictions.blogspot.com/Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-3978618709508045092012-06-13T19:27:18.702-07:002012-06-13T19:27:18.702-07:00Scandal in the making: Richard Jennings is using H...Scandal in the making: Richard Jennings is using Hosemaster as a guide to judge the poodles.<br /><br />All I can say is that Richard must be a novice at this. I'm the guy who owns a bona fide standard poodle. I should be the one to pass judgment on the list of poodle award nominees.<br /><br />I'm hurt, Deeply hurt. I think I'll go chase rabbits.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-12301620994174995202012-06-13T18:41:38.411-07:002012-06-13T18:41:38.411-07:00Richard,
Yes, you're right, we met first at o...Richard,<br /><br />Yes, you're right, we met first at one of the Ridge events. Sorry, I have a lousy memory for people. Especially at blogger events where I have to hide.<br /><br />If I have the time I'll glance through the Poodle nominees. That's the sound of me slipping into a coma.<br /><br />My Gorgeous Samantha,<br /><br />When they're not attention barking, Poodles often crap. Nothing to do with me. You were also with me at that Ridge event. I think I forgot meeting Richard because I was busy watching you taste Zin and make a fartyface.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-92195097631060832402012-06-13T18:29:43.214-07:002012-06-13T18:29:43.214-07:00Oh My God, did you guys just hear that?! I do beli...Oh My God, did you guys just hear that?! I do believe half the wine blogosphere just crapped themselves.Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-43972083752884467102012-06-13T16:30:40.064-07:002012-06-13T16:30:40.064-07:00Ron,
I also met you at at least one of the Ridge ...Ron,<br /><br />I also met you at at least one of the Ridge bloggers tastings.<br /><br />The HM definitely has a strong voice and point of view, and that's a good thing.<br /><br />I'll figure out how to get you a list of the nominees and/or categories. I'd love to get your input.<br /><br />--RichardRichard Jenningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650183864718395917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-9202678041113158512012-06-13T15:57:31.048-07:002012-06-13T15:57:31.048-07:00Richard,
I think we briefly met at the Napa Valle...Richard,<br /><br />I think we briefly met at the Napa Valley Wine Writer's conference where I appeared as Samantha's eye candy.<br /><br />Thank you for being a fan of HoseMaster. This was a rare appearance as myself, and is a post that nagged and nagged at my consciousness to be written. I wasn't going to publish it, but decided to just toss it out there and see what people thought. <br /><br />As to vitriol, the HoseMaster's voice is a satiric voice I've been honing since I was a teenager. When I write, I let him make the decisions as to what is appropriate or inappropriate. I may choose the tone and the style, but it's his voice that selects the language and the jokes. Over many decades of writing, I've found that there is always, always someone who will be offended or who will believe I've gone too far, been too cruel, taken too cheap a shot. The HoseMaster loves walking that line, and, believe me, he makes me cringe too. But I let him do what he wants to do because if I don't, he abandons me.<br /><br />I'd never be asked to judge. If you want help, Richard, let me know via my private email what categories you're judging and I'll give you my opinions... The HoseMaster's opinions, well, I'm sure they'll show up after the nominations are announced.<br /><br />You're a much more serious wine writer than me, a low bar to get over, but which makes me grateful to have you as a fan.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-83660020200417736622012-06-13T14:59:51.738-07:002012-06-13T14:59:51.738-07:00Ron,
I thought this was a lovely post, one of you...Ron,<br /><br />I thought this was a lovely post, one of your most personal. I appreciate your sharing your semi-serious thoughts about why you (and many of us) do what you do.<br /><br />BYE I'm a big fan of your writing in general, even though I think the vitriol sometimes gets a little thick.<br /><br />BTW, I think you'd be a great judge for the wine bloggers awards. Like Amy, I was asked to judge this year (which rather surprised me, as I very much criticized the organization of last year's bloggers' conference, and they now own the awards). I agreed to do it after confirming that I can't be a judge in a category I'm nominated in. Seems like there are an awfully darn lot of nominated blogs, though, in the few categories I've been assigned. Sure wish we had your help.<br /><br />--Richard (RJonWine.com)Richard Jenningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650183864718395917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-57399267756126314202012-06-13T11:40:21.666-07:002012-06-13T11:40:21.666-07:00"Spending my weekend reading nominated posts&..."Spending my weekend reading nominated posts"<br /><br />Penance?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-4930272633065189662012-06-13T09:00:32.244-07:002012-06-13T09:00:32.244-07:00Hi Amy,
I'm a nominee, so I can't judge. ...Hi Amy,<br /><br />I'm a nominee, so I can't judge. Oh, wait, I forgot, that's OK with the Wine Blog Awards. Catavino got a Poodle when they were judging. And it didn't have an asterisk. <br /><br />Sadly, I wasn't asked to judge. Though I do it on a regular basis anyway. While you're reading posts and turning your brain to mush, I'll be judging wine this weekend. Turning my liver to paste.<br /><br />Have fun, Amy. Can't wait to see who you come up with.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-58195689410133899832012-06-13T08:43:09.159-07:002012-06-13T08:43:09.159-07:00Given that there are 17 judges, one would think yo...Given that there are 17 judges, one would think you could have joined in.<br />Signed,<br />Spending my weekend reading nominated postswinebookgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01108898075062843791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-25065209362097574832012-06-13T06:31:12.794-07:002012-06-13T06:31:12.794-07:00Ron,
I like shrewness instead of shrewdness.Ron, <br /><br />I like shrewness instead of shrewdness.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-78610842177030435022012-06-12T18:46:43.802-07:002012-06-12T18:46:43.802-07:00Thomas,
Yeah, perspicacity may be overstating it ...Thomas,<br /><br />Yeah, perspicacity may be overstating it a bit. Good catch. I meant to imply shrewdness and tirelessness, and perspicacity is the wrong word. Maybe indefatigable is the root word I should have used. <br /><br />I need to learn to write.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-40785581071082435712012-06-12T10:50:19.286-07:002012-06-12T10:50:19.286-07:00To Cactus Daddy and Sam,
I wouldn't sit on an...To Cactus Daddy and Sam,<br /><br />I wouldn't sit on anything in a dessert for fear what the sticky stuff would do to my clothing, and if it's ice cream--c-o-l-d.<br /><br />I always thought that a peccadillo was an armadillo with a beak!<br /><br />Ron, "<br /><br />Perspicacity is one word I would not think to apply to bloggers.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-30010292179620268152012-06-12T09:38:17.030-07:002012-06-12T09:38:17.030-07:00So I guess a Spotted Dick joke is too obvious righ...So I guess a Spotted Dick joke is too obvious right?Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52749604306955433452012-06-12T09:06:30.496-07:002012-06-12T09:06:30.496-07:00My Gorgeous Samantha,
We write in a place that is...My Gorgeous Samantha,<br /><br />We write in a place that is desolate for talent and voice, the wine blog world. You are the rare voice that has grown over the past few years, improved, blossomed, expanded. That's what makes you extraordinary. The HoseMaster is just a way for me to vent all the weird stuff that lives in my head, it's a pressure valve for an angry old wine guy, and a way to fulfill my lifelong ambition to be the Fool.<br /><br />I applaud the perspicacity of the poodles who have blogged consistently over the years. At any talent level, maintaining a blog is hard work. The vast majority of them weren't good to start with, and never changed. If, in fact, wine blogs are most like diaries, diaries where we prevaricate because we want people to read them and think us special, you'd think that personal growth would be important. It never is, it would seem from reading them now and then, and that's why, really, it is just the attention barking of lonely poodles.<br /><br />And despite Mockingbird thinking this post is "self-deceiving, self-important" (which begs the question, what's more self-important than thinking you need to be anonymous on a wine blog?), it's really about occasionally stepping out from behind the HoseMaster curtain and examining my own motivations for bothering to do this twice a week. An awful lot of people wish I wouldn't. It is, as I wrote, self-absorbed to publish it. But that's true of every post on every wine blog. And most comments as well.<br /><br />Charlie,<br /><br />OK, that's twice you've confused dessert with desert. I doubt Mrs. Olken appreciates you remarking on things growing in desserts. And I know how much she loves a great desert wine like Yquem, which is not grown in the dessert of Washington.<br /><br />I can only hope that one day I get my just deserts. Palm Springs would be nice.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-40340296962899343392012-06-12T09:01:33.218-07:002012-06-12T09:01:33.218-07:00Cactus Daddy,
You ought not be worried about me my...Cactus Daddy,<br />You ought not be worried about me my adorable friend. I am smart enough to take the sage advice given to me from wise people like Ron and yourself. So don't sit on prickers in the dessert, got it!Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.com