Sunday, January 18, 2009

Funny thing happened in Rabbit Hash, KY

Another cold Sunday found us paddling over the rough, Ohio river waters to Rabbit Hash, KY. We meet at the public landing in Rising Sun to paddle across to see the best kept secret in Kentucky, Rabbit Hash. The General Store attracts many awesome musicians. I mean, awesome. It's almost like a rites of passage thing for any serious musician in the midwest area to play the General Store. If they don't play it free, it's very cheap. They are not playing here for the money, I'll put it that way.

We canoe over there, well, because we like to canoe anyway... and Rabbit Hash it right across the river from Rising Sun. A little walk up the bank on the other side, and you're right in the middle of Americana. Imagine this, you walk in, and you're greeted by the locals with a genuine welcoming smile, there's cornbread and taters on the wood stove, and a buffet of other country-folk food brought by the locals placed there to help yourself. No cover, no charge, just buy your beer, play nice and be merry. Be yourself.

A few friends of mine head over about once a month and I'm in attendance whenever I can. There's ALWAYS great bands that play in the General Store... sometimes in "the barn". Last time I was there, we watched the "Gregory Morris Group." Today, we saw "The Tillers." Just plain out good times, good friends, true music, the good people of Rabbit Hash and the best dutch oven corn bread this side of the Appellations.

But you know what made today's visit exceptionally awesome? As I was shaking hands with the locals and listing to the Tillers rippin' on the dobro and stand-up bass, I was bending over to ladle out a some chicken and and dumplings off the stove and I bump hands with... Jean Robert de Cavel, yeah, that one, the biggest chef in Cincinnati, and he has his little girl with him. And he wasn't the only one with a kid there. This place is essence of my most nostalgic place on earth.

Many of you know my love of cooking... and food/wine experiences, so I'm really interested in what Jean Robert is eating, or not eating. Last time I saw him was at Seven Days for SIDS at the Cincinnati State Culinary Institute... next to the likes of David Cook (Daveeds, in Mt Adams) and other culinary dignitaries. Seeing Jean Robert ladle out the same dumplings as me, is like meeting Donald Trump partying in a trailer park. This goes to show that a true culinary experience... has to be found, and it's alive and well in Rabbit Hash.

The General Store can probably only hold 35-40 people legally. It was shoulder room only and everyone is just happy. Happy on a Sunday. Happy in general. Man, it's really what the doctor ordered.

Labels: canoe, friends, jason, music, water ski, winter

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:49 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 15, 2008

The state must love me... for Jury Duty

Jury duty... our civic duty. Something that each of us are supposed to do at least one time in our life. Maybe you've been called for it, maybe you've done it... maybe you've done it more then once?

Well, I'm only 36 and I've been called four times now. It's getting old being a whiner. Is that what I sound like? I know my obligation to this country is still lingering over my head since I've talked my way out of it each of the previous times. But, for good reason, in my opinion. Everyone knows I'm P.O.A. for my dad and if I'm not running across country to and from work, or busting late hours at the office, I'm trying to get a second to be a dad, and a decent husband.

Apparently my letters of woe are taken seriously, because they just throw my name back into the hat to be called again... and the cycle repeats.

They tell you to bring a book, there will lots of waiting, and you will likely be presiding over something intensely wild, like traffic or seat belt offenders. It pains me to think that I could spend a week, or 3 days, or even a day of my life for $10 bucks an hour and worse, more time that I don't have to spare. Kids need fed, bills need paid and ailing dad needs me, family wants attention, feeling guilty not being there. Life is cruel sometimes. But, maybe these are the tests that if we pass, we're really are a man worthy of God's countenance upon us.

I think our system is broken, in many ways, but I'll keep it to one thought. If you can afford a lawyer dream team, it all comes down to knowing the granules of the law and having a set of people who want to save your ass, i.e. money. The jurers in there typically don't know the law enough, myself included I'll admit, to possibly offer any intelligence on evidence evaluation, proper ethics associated with the field, the list goes on. Others, arguably couldn't pass a 5th grade civics test. But, most of us with a shred of brain, feel that an officer who gets his head beat in by a perpetrator, or a son that wipes out his family, should be put away. Again, enter the dream team.

I know it sounds like I'm making excuses, but... I *really* am not interested. Ashamed, maybe a little... How life is right now, still not interested.

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 11:42 AM 0 comments

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Flat Rock Canoe Trip

On a brisk, late December morning, the crack of dawn found the fellas and I heading to St. Paul to find some more Indiana water... and some scenery.

A couple of canoes, cameras and some MRE's provided a the fun for the day. The sights included an screeching eagle, a flock of wild geese dragging their wings in the water as they took off, loads of natural rock and river formations and some wild, very cold water.

Take a look at these fine photos and videos and you'll agree that winter is as beautiful as summer.

Labels: canoe, friends, jason, winter

posted by Jason Morgan at 6:56 PM 1 comments

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Camping with Steve, Dick and Bill

No, not Tom, Dick and Harry... Steve, Dick and Bill... I was invited to share an evening with "the Dickel" on their annual camping trip with the guys. You haven't partied until you've had an evening around a fire with guitars, shischk-a-bobz, gin... and "the Dickel".

Fun times. Of course Bill was there to shed a little civility on matters. I wasn't even aware of the existance of a coleman coffe maker. Set it on top of some heat and it'll brew you a pot of fresh coffee in minutes. Between the coffee maker, the stovetop, the tent heater and lanterns, it was an evening of music, debachery, and expending cans of coleman fuel by the dozen.

The weather was jsut incredible... almost as if the sun came out just for us. The night was a little chilly but well worth it and it beats rain anytime.

Note to self... not to miss out next year. Dickle + gin + homemade beer + bill's coffee maker = one helluva good time an no dissappointments.

Labels: camping, fall, friends, jason

posted by Jason Morgan at 5:25 PM 0 comments

The WinePod

A friend sent me the most interesting link and I just had to blog about it. For the winemaking yuppy, try this on for size. A completely contained and integrated vessel for pressing, fermenting and making wine.

For me, the biggest challenge in making a stellar wine lies between tasting, interpreting and making changes. That is, truly understanding what you are tasting, making educated interpretations and ultimately the best decisions in changing the chemistry of the must now for your future award-winning wine. These interpretations are subjective in nature and you will not know how the decisions you make now will affect the wine several years down the road.

I could see using something like this to sharpen such decision-making skills... assuming one could afford it. However, once you own one, why would you need to learn anything since this thing will do it for you. It's probably not for me, but I love the idea of checking the temperature, pH, brix etc... from work!

The WinePod is a state-of-the-art tool for small lot artisan winemaking. The WinePod integrates fermentation, pressing, and ageing in one elegant unit yet it is simple and easy to use. The WinePod controls the heat of fermentation and maintains appropriate ageing temperature using electronically controlled thermoelectric heating and cooling. Your wine ferments and ages in a variable-capacity stainless steel tank with an integrated wine press. The WinePod collects and transmits fermentation and temperature data wirelessly to your PC where our software offers winemaking guidance and manages your processes and records.

You would think they'd at least make it resemble a barrel? If you haven't heard of the WinePod yet, you should in the next couple years as it will be marketed to commercial wine makers in 2007. All for now.

Labels: jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 11:56 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

The 60Gb Video iPod... in black

I did it, I bit the bullet and ordered it. The thought behind it was to not only keep track of my already extensive music collection (and playlists of course) but to also keep my photo library (even more extensive) in a second place... why not have it all just as handy. And... videos to boot, I couldn't resist the urge.

The iPod is an awesome thing. I truly love it and still find after owning the 40GB 3rd Generation version it will be in my life for some time.

My existing iPod doesn't seem to hold a charge very long... but I can say it's probably because I've beat it to hell and back. It goes everywhere, commuting, band practice, and plugged up while I'm at the puter. Now with the synching of videos and photos, it's an office/home-office staple.

I again bought a refurbished one from the Apple store. i think it's the only way to go. With 30-40 bucks off the original price and free shipping, it beat the best eBay deal I found.

I have been keeping a secret iPod log/list of random thoughts I have had and it's about time I made them public. Starting with the two thoughts below that I had long ago. I plan to make a random entry in the blog about the iPod and other things going forward.

1/19/05: When I'm in the iTunes Music Store, I'd like a way to flag a song or an album for later purchase... my wish-list if you will. Am I missing somethig here or has Apple not yet seen this?

1/5/05: The iPod is an awesome thing. I truly love it. But damn, if it had a button that I could hit to instantly record something from the radio while I was driving, it would be the iGod.

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:40 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

The Spring plantings are complete

Everyone heard me blathering about planting grapevines this spring. Well, the promise is delivered. I have three hybrids: Mars Seedless, Concord Seedless and Catawba. In addition, I planted two more Sweet Cherry trees (North Star and Bing) to add to the two Mont Morency Sour Cherry trees that will bear fruit this year.

What's more you may ask? I did establish the asparagus patch this year as well as strawberrys and a blueberry bush. I hope that in a year or three, I'll have a nice selection of wine, pie or canning fruit.

Click here for grapevines.

Labels: garden, jason, vineyard

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:38 PM 0 comments

Friday, April 21, 2006

"Sweetie" launches website

To showcase odd videos, pics and music, Sweetie thought it may be cool to assemble a site to put it all together. Watch out, it's really unpolished and strange. Thanks to Brian Faust for the rippin' logo. He threw this together for Scott a while back.

The reason for the site was that we seemed to be able to get together once a week and have some fun... and coincidentally, pull a gig once a month. So, it made sense to put something up so people could see where we might be. At the same time, we have put together some goofy photos and even a video on an original. It's all low-fi and crude. Please, lower your expectations and then click the link below. Till next time...

www.listensweetie.com

Labels: jason, music

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:38 PM 1 comments

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

More progress on the wine cellar

Yet another weekend of workin' the wine cellar. It's getting down to the exciting, yet frightening part. Frightening in that one wrong cut and I can screw a lot of things up. The latest pics show the plank paneling about done. There's still a little more to put up. You will notice I have the 8 holes cut for the smal 3" cans that will circle the perimiter of the wine racks. These can be aimed down towards the racks and will provide the mood one needs when retiring to the cellar to bust open a bottle of the finest.

Still to do... the lower sofit under the racks. I expect this to be the most difficult part and the part that can make the whole plan work... or suck. I also need to plumb in the stationary tub. I've been aching to do this but I've held off so that it does not get in the way of the other millwork happening around the room. This thing has been waiting to go in since Oct. 2005! The last things to do are finish the tile behind the sink, install the racks and put up the crown molding. The crown molding will set this space off like nothing else. I'm telling you, it will be on fire! I got my sights set on some awesome crown molding and I'm holding off until my budget allows. Yes people, I'm talking musuem-like crown molding. This is the stuff you just can't justify putting in many places.

Stay tuned for the next update in a week or so.

Click here for the latest pics

Labels: cellar, jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:36 PM 2 comments

Monday, March 13, 2006

Another hit on the wine celler

Over the weekend and a half day on Friday, the wine celler took a big step. Oh if I only had another 1-2 days on it. After extensive preparation and re-preparation within the walls, I got the 1/4" ply walls up and all the tonge and groove cedar planks installed.

I set the racks in the room just to get an idea of where it's all heading. Not bad. I hope to finsish this thing up by the end of March. Stay tuned for the final pics.

See the latest pics

Labels: cellar, jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:38 PM 4 comments

Thursday, February 16, 2006

The Park City, Utah 2006 pics

My nose is burnt, my board is on fire and my body is exhausted. This Utah trip was just WAY TOO GREAT. I'm not worthy. There is nothing like sushi, saki, hot-tubbin' and shreding up some of the finest snow in North America. I'm back folks and I'm tired and ready to do it all over again.

Here are the pics.

Labels: jason, snowboarding, vacation

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:33 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Boarding the best of the west

Today is the last day of a fine adventure out west. The last 4 days have been nothing but shreding in some of the finest conditions I've done. The sun is blazing and my face is burnt. I love it.

After wrapping up a couple days at Park City, one day at the Canyons and one at Brighton (the BEST so far) we wrap up this trip with a visit to Snowbird. I've never been here and I look forward to it. I hear it's better then Solitude, which we were pretty impressed with!
One of the sweetest things about the Park City area is that you can rip a half hour from the Salt Lake airport and take your pick from 6 or 7 different resorts.

Ok, let's top off this coffee and get moving. Pictures coming in a day or so!

Labels: jason, snowboarding, vacation

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:34 PM 0 comments

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Morgans Canoe and Outdoors Centers website launched

I just deployed the new website after several all-nighters before the big trip. It's up and looking and working good. I might also point out that while I personally threw this together over the course of a few days, it was really the efforts of the entire Innersync team that whacked this code into what it is today.

Yes, the new Morgan's Canoe site is a perfect example of everything a website should be. It's fast-loading, compliant, scaleable, easy to update and maintain. Behind the scenes, it uses 100% pure CSS and is coded in a way that allows people to get in via Macromedia Contribute and make updates all while we shield their view from the technical inter-workings. All the navigation is driven by XML and structured in a way that as we allow regular Contribute clients/people into edit, they only have access to the appropriate things. For the sake of time, that is about all I have to say. Enjoy the site.

www.morganscanoe.com

Labels: canoe, jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:35 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

The top reason why 4:30 sucks on any given day

A friend of mine runs a series of blogs called the "The top 5 things I love about Fridays" which I always thoroughly enjoy. He can really hit his point right on the head, something not a lot of us are blessed with... including myself.

Anyway, if this blog sounds like it's going where it's going, it's not. I am pissed. It never fails. Always at 4:30 on any day that I have some important plans, shit hits the fan somewhere, or let's just say something blows up and needs immediate attention. I can't escape this stuff. I wasn't even looking forward to what I had to do, but still had to do it. This, after fixing whatever blew up of course.

In short, this blog is nothing more than a little about venting. Let's see, it's 8:15pm and I'm not even ready to wrap up. I've got the coffee on, FOX News on and up for the President's State of the Union and I'm bearing down to burn some midnight oil.

If my calculations are correct, between now and Feb. 11th (when I supposedly leave to hit the powders of 'Solitude') I may be able to get a few hours sleep in between the work that still has to be. Schnzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:58 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 30, 2006

Microsoft's "Google Earth"

Damn... I just love these. It's a litte scary really. To think that just anyone can use something like this. This one has no installers, a great picture and its fast! Just scoped the roof of my house!
Virtual Earth

Labels: jason, ranting, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:59 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Park City, Utah, here I come... again

Only 3 weeks left. On Feb. 10, I'll head to Utah to board some of the best powder in the US. A friend/client of mine invites my partner and I to his condo right on the slopes each year. I took him up a couple years ago, but popping out kids makes it difficult to make it every year. After taking a year off to help my wife with the birth of our son, Nic, I'm finally heading back.
You can never prepare enough when it comes to the proper workouts leading up to a ski trip, but I try. It has literally been just over 2 years since I strapped a board on. However, I've had longer stretches before. While there is fast access to over 5 resorts, I'm looking most forward to Solitude again. It's a boarders paradise and a place that in one day, you can get almost a week's fill. Solitude is not packed with the tourists. I think it's more of a local favorite. Its altitude is higher than the other nearby mountains and when the snow is heavy, the pass is sometimes closed and you can't make it up (Argh!).
This all said, I still need to get out the board and tune up, move a shit-load of work off the platter and countless things around the house. More later.

Labels: jason, snowboarding, vacation

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:59 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 23, 2006

Xavier University selects Innersync as continued partner

It's official. After what we understand as an extensive search to take the Xavier web site a notch higher and interviews with 10 (count them) other content management firms, Xavier has chosen to stick with Innersync in their new endeavors. This, after 5 previous years of success in graphic design, application development and overall service and dedication to their cause.

In my mind, Xavier has paid due attention to all the aspects of creating and maintaining a professional web presence. For a large organization, it is difficult to cut through committee red-tape and push for a solution that benefits all. Xavier spent the dollars 5 years ago to put their website on the Internet map and always adhered to the standards set forth in their brand. Through time, they conciously updated that image and made good decisions that led to a better, positive compelling web experience and ultimately, increased admissions. I salute Xavier for their ferver in developing, measuring and changing not to mention funding things that are needed to meet the needs of todays surfing students.

Xavier is a great example of a client that Innersync would seek out. That is, one who appreciates quality design, a trusting relationship and knows the benefits that a firm such as Innersync can provide.

Historically, it has been difficult for any design firm to demonstrate to anyone why they are better. Let me give you a hint. It's not only the portfolio of work in your pocket. The client has to see the value you can provide to them first.

Innersync *is* better. We always tell people you get east- and west-coast design at midwest prices. Of course the whole well-rounded package is what makes Innersync timeless. The philosophy of Innersync has always been unwavering. Less is more, give your customer what you would want to be given, and of course, the short way out is usually not the best for the long-term.

Where else can you go and talk to the designer, the programmer and project manager on one call? Of course they are out there somewhere--but they are few and far between. And sometimes... when you do find one, they are absolutely wreckless with the use of cool technology. Enter the flaming logo or some other page-spanning projectile.

The meaning of this blog?? Well, maybe because I couldn't think of anything better today. But, maybe also because, in the past 5 years of working with Xavier, Innersync has done projects from one end of the spectrum to the other--each with huge success and pride on both sides in the end. You just can't buy this anywhere. So, for this, I thank them for trusting us and I look forward to even greater things to come.

Labels: jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:00 PM 0 comments

Friday, January 20, 2006

Morgan's Jungle Lodge in Costa Rica

The Jungle Lodge is back on track. My uncle and cousins have done so many deals in Costa Rica, I finally lost count. They've been trail-blazin' from the west side of the Osa Penninsula (Carate) to the east side (Puerto Jiminez).

But it sounds like they have finally settled on the place that they plan to "civilize." Several write-ups have been done in the past including this one in City Beat. It shows a little of the progress going on down there, but so much is yet to come. I'm currently working on the new site as the old one is now out of date and way off.

One day, you might hear me say "C'mon, man, let's load up and head on down to Costa Rica and do some primitive vacationing." Hit the existing site to see the tent-cabins, incredible wildlife and what you can get with a stay at the lodge.

A lot is in the works and I'll make another entry when there is something new to talk about.

Labels: canoe, jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:00 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

My wine cellar is prepped and ready to install racking

For a wine lover, a cellar is nice to have. For a winemaker, at least one who has turned out just over 100 bottles a year for the last two years, a cellar is a necessity. Otherwise, all that wonderful juice just sits in large carboys or demijohns all year.

Don't get me wrong, I buy my share of wines just out of curiosity. Fine wines are worth paying for if you can store and eventually serve them in good condition. It is this reason and the fact that I make my share of wine that led me to build my own wine cellar.

The principles behind storing wine are neither difficult to understand nor to achieve. If you can't achieve all factors, then some are better than none.

If you're interested, here are the factors to consider if you are going through the effort to build a private wine cellar... as I am.

Building your own wine cellar

Labels: cellar, jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:01 PM 1 comments

Friday, January 13, 2006

My new Dell

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have been ordering Dell computers consistently for the last 6 years... plus. In all, I have configured and ordered about 7 either personally, or for my company.
No matter what the stocks say or what you read in the press, Dell has consistently impressed me with every aspect of configuring, purchasing and receiving a new computer. All you have to do is add the 3-year next business day on-site service warranty. Expensive you say? A mere $100 extra. Worth it. I admit, I have used this many times. Particularly with some video cards whose fans kept burning up and making loud noises.
Everytime I had to have a replacement sent, they were out of my brand of card and so they sent the next best card--twice. Who would have a problem with that? In addition, I got to the point of saying "hey, just have the part sent next day and I'll install it myself." Whatever your jolly, it just works and damnit, when it comes to your computer, it needs to work, everyday.
So, with my latest order of a Precision 670 Dell that was not even supposed to ship until Jan. 22, this is the third time it showed up WAY EARLY and here I am typing on it. It's adorned with 2G of RAM, 3Ghz Xeon and 15,000 rpm SCSI drives, not to mention a phat-ass video card with 256M RAM onboard. Bitch be lookin' like a double-decker card sandwich witha fan blowin' down the middle of it. This time, all the money went into the box and I'm using my existing Sony 23" LCD Cinema display which I have no problems with. So there you have it people. I'm a consistently satisfied Dell customer.

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:01 PM 0 comments

Thursday, January 12, 2006

10 basic things you need to make wine at home

I've had a few people ask about the equipment to make wine. So, while I have pushed this in other areas of the site in the past, it's time for an official blog entry.

I was lucky to inherit much of my dads old equipment, but to your surprise, you would probably have 5 out of the 10 basic things you need to make wine. You can get all 10 things for under $75 if you bought it new. Take a look.

Labels: jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 4:21 PM 0 comments

Monday, January 09, 2006

Tis the season for Holiday E-cards

Sorry for the late post everyone. For Christmas 2005, Innersync decided to develop and send an interactive e-card to all our clients. How appropriate for an interactive company to demonstrate how saavy we are. Anyway, it did get a lot of attention and was truly a hit.

Here's some press:
Mail Chimp People
Check it out here:
http://www.innersync.com/happyholidays05

Labels: jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:02 PM 0 comments

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Wine racks are assembled and ready for install

After several hours across 3 days, I have the wine racking assebled and ready for install. Thanks to my ever-faithful helper on alternating Saturdays, Brian. I am still working on the walls of the wine cellar and plan to have these buttoned up soon. After that, I have to build the upper and lower sofits of the wine racks before they can go in. This will be a job and one that will make or break the aesthetics of this project. Stand by for fun... Click here to see the pics of the racks.

Labels: cellar, jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:04 PM 0 comments

Tasting of the Dandelion Wine

I bottled up the first bottle of the dandelion wine for my brother the other day.

Of course, I couldn't help tryin' a little taste for myself. Mmmmm, not too bad for the first attempt. Check out the photos so you can see how the cloudy mess of before has turned into the sparkly delight it is now :)

Labels: jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 4:23 PM 0 comments

Saturday, January 07, 2006

HAN Asian Vodka website launched

Whew... after several grueling nights of knocking the shit out of the technical obstacles on this site, it's finally live and I might add... one sweet deployment. We plan to use this and one other possible beverage-type site to land another. Here is another fine example of the Innersync standard--less is more. No flash and nothing fancy, it gets right into what the client needs while he was on a budget until the next fiscal year. There will be more to come... including the addition of flash to this site.

In the meantime, check it out. www.hanasianvodka.com

Labels: jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 8:32 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Building your own wine cellar

The principles behind storing wine are neither difficult to understand nor to achieve. If you can't achieve all factors, then some are better than none. I have set forth to build my own wine cellar and here is what I have learned.

Since wine is alive, it reacts either positively or negatively to its environment. How it is treated will determine how fast or slow it ages and how it will turn out in the end. Wine wants to be kept in a clean, dark, damp place with good ventilation, where it can be stored, vibration free, at a constant temperature.

Temperature is the most important factor that should be sought after above all others. The ideal temperature is 50 to 55F. You will get different opinions depending on who you talk to. However, any constant temperature within 40-65F will do.

More important than the actual temperature you will be able to achieve, is the degree and speed of temperature fluctuation the wine is subjected to. A slow change of temperature of ten odd degrees between winter and summer is not a big deal. But this kind of fluctuation on a daily or weekly basis will cause damage to your wines and age them prematurely.

You will notice damage of this nature from the sticky deposit that often forms around the capsule. In time, as the wine expands and contracts, it will damage the integrity of the cork. When this happens, small quantities of wine may make its way alongside the cork even allowing oxygen back in.

Wines kept at too high a temperature will age faster than wines kept at a cold temperature. Theoretically, wines kept at 68F will age twice as fast as those kept at 50F. At 55F wines will age so slowly--with ultimately greater complexity--that you will never have to worry about them. This is not to say the colder the better. Wine that is stored too cold can develop deposits or other suspensions in the wine. White wines are affected far more than red wines by temperature problems.

Moderate humidity is important so as to keep the corks in good condition and thereby preventing them from shrinking. A relative humidity of 50-80% is the acceptable range, but about 70% is recommended. Excessive humidity will not harm the wine but will cause the labels and any other paper products--like cardboard cases and boxes--also present in the cellar to rot. Insufficient humidity may cause the corks to dry out, lose their elasticity and thereby allow air to get into the bottle. Bummer, especially on a $500 bottle of cabernet that I don't have... but would like to try.

Light will prematurely age a bottle of wine. Naturally, clear bottles are most susceptible to this problem, but ultraviolet light will penetrate even dark colored glass. Ultraviolet light can even give a wine an unpleasant aroma and ruin it. Extra care should be given to sparkling wines as they are more sensitive to light than other wines. It should be noted too, that incandescent or sodium vapor lights are better for a celler than fluorescent lighting.

Calmness... Believe it or not, constant vibration from machinery or even a nearby road disturbs a red wine's sediment and can be harmful to all wine. This is not a common problem in the average home as extremes are rare and obvious... not to mention bad for the wine. It should be remembered that excessive sound creates vibrations that are harmful as well.

Wines should be stored in such a way that you don't have to move them around to get at a particular bottle. Once a wine is laid down, it should stay there until it is opened.

Clean and Airy... Keep your cellar clean. Extraneous smells can enter through the cork and contaminate the wine. Proper ventilation will help with this problem and keep the cellar from giving the wine a musty taste. Finally, debris that could be a home to insects that might infect the corks i.e. untreated wood, food, etc. should be removed. Never store fruits, vegetables, cheeses or any other food that is capable of fermenting.

Angle of Storage... Table wine is stored horizontally so that the wine stays in contact with the cork. This keeps the cork moist thereby preventing air from entering the wine. Fortified wines other than port, are stored standing. If bottles are stored with the labels up, it will be easier to see the deposit of sediment that forms on the opposite side of the bottle when it comes time to open it.

This is it for now. These ideas are my thoughts, some of my experiences and even factual information about wine cellars gathered via the wonderful Internet. I plan to maintain this information through time and I will update you along with pictures of my process over the next year. Your input or story about your own wine cellar is welcomed.

Labels: cellar, jason, wine

posted by Jason Morgan at 2:51 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Innersync Christmas 05 party

This years company Christmas party is one to be remembered. Ya definitely can't many company partys with a live band, fresh sushi, the first and only Asian vodka in the US (HAN) and some flirtatious hoochi-mamas.

I decided to carve up the sushi eastern-style and with it was served the up some HAN martinis. Then we plugged in and wooed the employees with some hot licks and cheap tricks. See the pics, including some R-rated ones here

Labels: jason, web

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:56 PM 0 comments

Monday, December 12, 2005

Lawrenceburg Home 2005 Photo Collection

Check it out folks. This is a collection of photos that I have taken around the neighborhood over the last three years. These simple things in life remind me of how good it is to be alive and... how much I love this country.

Labels: garden, jason

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:57 PM 0 comments

Friday, December 02, 2005

Carpet Shopping Sucks

Three months of carpet shopping... bringing swatches home... taking material samples to and fro... just to find the right one. Now after 5 weeks of waiting for the carpet to arrive, it is down. This marks the end of all the "necessary" major purchases to finish the basement. Check out these fine photos of a job that I'm glad is done.

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:55 PM 0 comments

Monday, November 14, 2005

Processing a deer

As we comb the history of the Morgan's we see many repeating traits. We were "dwellers by the water," and "at one with nature," and "hunters." We know that the land and being in harmony with our environment has been a very important thing. I see these same traits in many of our newer generation too. Sure, there's lots to instill in our children, but it was right around when I turned 30 when these inborn traits emerged. I found myself interested in many of the same things my father was in to like, antiques, gardening and growing our own food, things that are home-made and just ideas that keep life simpler.

While only a handful on the newer generations get out to hunt, I try to make myself one of them. Alas... not this year. Thanks to my friend Scott for nabbin' one for the freezer this year. These pics are not for the faint, but if you like deer jerky, and steak you might be interested in the process.

Labels: fall, hunting, jason

posted by Jason Morgan at 7:54 PM 0 comments

Monday, October 24, 2005

On life when we were kids

These are not my words, but I was struck by how true these words ring true for me. I know that the world is different today and we can't let our children run about without keeping tabs on them. Can you remember those days?? The following at least allows us to remember something sweet from childhood and still sheds light on some of the things we do need to restore in our lives today.

Up until the 70's, life was considered more simple, and therefore able to be enjoyed to its fullest. Now, it seems we can't step outside for fear of sunburn.

We survived being born to others who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes. After that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms ....WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

We're so lucky to have grown up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good, before predators stalked our children and before the sick seem to somehow, outnumber us. What's happened in the world today?

Labels: jason, ranting

posted by Jason Morgan at 10:01 PM 0 comments