I have two mottos
March 8, 2010
I don’t hold myself to very strict standards in most areas of my life, but I do seem to embrace two credos. From my parents, I get “it doesn’t hurt to ask.” From bowling, I get “it’s only fun if you make it fun.”
It doesn’t hurt to ask
This is a philosophy that was instilled in me by my parents from an early age. In my young life, I was made to practice this by having to make my own requests about things. When I was eight or nine, I had come across a science activity to make my own bouncy ball by mixing certain chemicals together. I don’t remember what the substances were, but I do remember that it was very convenient that one of my best friends’ dad was, in fact, a chemist. As much as I wanted my mom to make the phone call for me, I had to do it. He was more than willing to bring me a little of what I needed. What still stands out in my memory though, is that, having never really directly addressed the dad before, I just went ahead and called him by his first name. Nowadays it’s common for kids to call adults by their first names, but back then, there was a brief hesitation from Mrs. H on the other end of the line as well as the suggestion from my mom to call him Mr. H in the future. I also remember that the ball did not turn out very round.
More recently, just asking is how I got Lagunitas Brewing to sponsor one of my bowling teams, even though they’re in California and I’m in Minnesota. I had the opportunity to meet the owner and brewer toward the end of last summer, and the idea hit me like a lightning bolt. So when it was my turn for a few minutes of conversation with him and I had finished gushing about how I absolutely love his beer, especially the India Pale Ale, I said, “Hey, I’ve got a promotional opportunity for you!” And his answer was, “Sure, we love doing things like that.”
It doesn’t hurt to ask.
It’s only fun if you make it fun
This one has developed in the last few years as a result of bowling with better bowlers in better leagues. Everybody wants to be good, including me, and there are some really intense people in these leagues. I always try to do my best and even when I’m having a game like the one pictured above, I try not to give up or get crabby. Being upset doesn’t benefit me or my game. But a lot of people don’t see it that way. They throw their towels or smack the scoring console or swear loudly at the foul line. I don’t believe that those things make them feel any better or help them figure out how they could adjust to improve their shot. It probably only raises their blood pressure a little. If we were that good, we’d be out on the PBA tour with a sponsor. We are good, but it’s still just a game and not a matter of life and death. We should enjoy ourselves while we’re out recreating.
It’s only fun if you make it fun.
And now I will refill my glass, even though it’s still half full.
Everyone knows that smoking stinks (addendum)
March 5, 2010
I had a really stressful few days at work. I handed off the project at 1:00 this afternoon, at least for the next twenty-four hours. On my way home, I stopped to get some comfort provisions—sushi and beer. Posted next to the door of the sushi place was this placard. Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Collection: tasty beverage photos
February 15, 2010
My interest in taking photos of the beers and wines that I’ve sampled began in the summer of 2008. I’m trying to remember what the catalyst was, because I’ve liked better beers for a long time. I think I simply realized that it was an easy way to keep track of what I’ve tried.
So the first time I have something, I make a photographic record. You will notice a lot of five brands of beer—Lagunitas, Bell’s, Sierra Nevada, Summit, and Surly—because those are my favorites and there are many regular varieties of each, plus a steady output of seasonals and limited editions. And as I acquired the branded glassware for each of those breweries, I have retaken some of the photos so that the beer can be pictured in its native glass. I usually take three shots, so that if the focus is off, I have others to choose from. The top half of this photo are the ones that are already posted to my Flickr set. The bottom half is the unsorted backlog of new photos.Minnesot-ah: summer hoorah!
February 14, 2010
These photos sum up a lot about Minnesota. There is my Minnesota Twins baseball cap. There is a large fiberglass golden gopher (the state rodent). There is Summit Beer. There is Summit Beer on a stick. It is a gorgeous, sunny day at my perfect temperature of about 75°F/24°C. And all of this is happening at the Great Minnesota Get Together, otherwise known as the Minnesota State Fair.
If the temperature doesn’t go above 80°F, I love summer. If the relative humidity stays reasonable, I’m great. The Twin Cities are full of bike trails, golf courses, festivals, lakes, outdoor bar and restaurant seating, and everything else that takes advantage of our three week summer.
But the climax of the summer that everyone looks forward to is the State Fair. Probably the first thing anyone with experience would tell you is that at the State Fair, you can find just about anything on a stick. Sure, it’s mostly food items, but some non-solids find their way to stickdom, too—just look at my flight of little Summits (that’s Oktoberfest Red Ale, Extra Pale Ale, and Red Ale for those of you keeping track). There is a wide variety of music, exhibits, a sizable midway, and other entertainment. There is a grandstand. There are animals and agriculture. One wing of a building is dedicated to seed art. The Aquatennial Queen (a midsummer festival revolving around the Mississippi River and the many area lakes) has her head carved in butter. Or is that Princess Kay of the Milky Way? The downside to the State Fair is that it also signals the end of summer. It finishes its nearly two-week run on Labor Day (the first Monday in September here in the US). Summer work hours end, the kids go back to school, and you pack away your white clothing. Fortunately, winter doesn’t hit until at least the end of the month.I made up a drink, sort of
February 2, 2010
In the spirit of drinking two drinks (of my choice) at once, I decided on the way home that I was in the mood for a Black and Tan. So I jauntily entered the liquor store that is dangerously convenient on my walk home (across the street from the sushi restaurant that is dangerously convenient on my walk home) and strode to the beer cooler in the back, expecting to grab a four-pack of Guinness Draught cans and a six-pack of Bass Pale Ale bottles.
Fail. What liquor store doesn’t have Bass? “It’ll be in on Thursday,” said the evening manager who has learned that, even though I wear a big coat and carry a giant backpack, I am no threat to shoplift. We bonded over the lag time between when Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale was released and when it finally showed up at this store. During several visits over two weeks as I hopefully inquired “now?”, I heard what has become a famous refrain, “Check back on Thursday.” In all fairness, I suppose I should mention that this liquor store does focus on their wine selection. And though their beer department is small, relatively speaking, it is weighted toward the non-Genuine Draft varieties of malty goodness. I will also mention that, perhaps apropos, I have Anthony Bourdain’s new episode from Prague on as I write this and there is a heavy emphasis on beer. It’s hard not to find the Guinness these days, but in lieu of Bass I chose one of my favorite pale ales, Sierra Nevada. I selected it over, say, Lagunitas or Southern Hemisphere because those are grapefruity pales. Sierra Nevada is regularly aley. Not bad. Perhaps even better in this situation (but also unavailable) would have been Red Seal Pale Ale. So I christened this concoction the Black and Nev, to distinguish it from the legitimate Black and Tan. I had thought of Black and Pale but decided to go with Nev to give it a more specific identity. Then my friend suggested Dark and Pale, which I love in principle because of the oxymoronic wordplay. But in the end, I think I’ll stick with Black and Pale, as the Black is a practical reference to Guinness, which it does actually contain. Sorry, Lauren!I love my branded glassware!
January 19, 2010
Yeah, whatever. I love having branded glassware from which to enjoy my beer. You may think it kooky, but it tastes twice as good from a heavy glass pint glass with the same name.
It has been pretty easy collecting these. If I were 20, I would stash them in my bag and steal them from bars. But I am not 20 and I don’t usually carry anything remotely close to being large enough to hide a glass. I have discovered a different tactic which seems to work quite well—I ask the bartender if I can have the glass. A lot of the time they’re so astounded that they grunt and gesture in my general direction to go ahead, and frequently are nice enough to rinse the glass out for me. At one other place, I am happy to pay $2. That’s sure better than the $5–$10 that I’d have to pay retail. I have a glass for each of my five favorite breweries (Bell’s, Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, Summit, and Surly), but on my wish list are non-varietal pint glasses for Bell’s and Sierra Nevada. Picky, picky. So, from left to right: front: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Summit Extra Pale Ale, Surly, Lagunitas. back: Newcastle, Grumpy’s Bar (the place where I pay $2, and Grainbelt Premium, a local brew that I don’t drink), Minnesota Twins (oh yeah, and Bud Light, but that doesn’t count as beer in my book), Point (my hometown), and Guinness. Missing due to oversight: Bell’s 12oz snifter, Pilsner Urquell 12oz fluted-ish stemmed glass. I also have a 22oz version of the PU glass.Bottle Bunny Opener
January 1, 2010
This week running a close second to Dasie in things that make me smile (waiting for my face to freeze that way) is my new Bunny Bottle Opener. To those of you who follow me in other places, I promise this is the last time I will initiate the topic. Rob, ya done good!
The Bottle Bunny Opener combines two of my favorite things—rabbit and beer! Rob brought it last weekend on his post-Christmas visit.
Last night I finally had time to install it, but lack of charged drill battery thwarted the effort for a couple of hours while I impatiently waiting for just enough charge to build up. It was just enough. If the bit had had to make two more revolutions to get through the drywall, it wouldn’t have made it.
Then I pounded in the plastic anchors and whacked two dents into the wall.
The drill didn’t have enough juice left to screw in the screws, so I had to do those by hand. But it was worth it!
I took a movie of the first bottle I opened with the Bunny. The first opening didn’t go so well, as I set up the camera in just the right place to get in my way and it was rather awkward. Tonight, I did it again with much more success!
Unfortunately, now I just want to open bottles of beer so that I can use it! And on that front, New Year’s Eve has thwarted the effort, as I am making my way through a bottle of sparkling wine rather than multiple bottles of beer. Argh! I’m not good at being patient. Well, I am, but in a different context.
Happy new year, everybody!
Things that make me happy
December 23, 2009
I only had to come up with five, but once you think of one you think of 100. Here are the top pleasure-givers in my life.
The best First by default are Robbin, CJ, and Dasie. Even if they’re not doing any of the innumerable cute and sweet things they do, I only need to look at any one of them to feel better. I treasure their companionship. The other top vote getter is working out at Curves. Not only is it good for me but it makes me feel good. Really good! I’ve become a believer in endorphins, because for a good two hours afterwards, I’m very joyful, regardless of how my day had been going previously. The rest in no particular order (well, in a little bit of order) Writing this blog Good beer (the two pictured are my favorites), and related to that, a nice wine buzz Pizza “Dancing with the Stars” — Say what you want to about reality tv, but you just can’t beat this show for feel good escapism, especially when people experience life-changing personal growth, like Kelly Osborne did this past season. The show is a joy to watch. Anthony Bourdain — when I watch his tv show I just want to eat and drink. It’s fun. Craig Ferguson — the man is a comic genius. The thought of moving to London Travel in general, especially long car trips by myself — Particularly effective if I can stay off the interstates and just take state and U.S. highways and go through towns. Going to baseball games Pigeons — I love pigeons. There are a couple of flocks that I encounter frequently. The one near my home has lots of mottled and white members. Mother Nature — When she throws up a rainbow or shows me tracks in the snow, or one lone tulip in a random place, or Maxfield Parrish colors in the sunset.Coworker appreciation day
December 18, 2009
It’s true that in whatever context, you are more likely to hear about the negative. So in the spirit of being positive, today we wrote encouraging notes to coworkers. I do have my unfavorite coworker who I love to slag off, but today I took a few moments to appreciate the joy that a different coworker brings to my life two days a week.
His name is Chris and he works from home on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He’s also my beer guru and helps keep me informed on good ones that I should try. I thank him for my love of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale.
I never had any doubt that when he began telecommuting there would be afternoon beer involved. So on Tuesdays and Thursdays via iChat, it quickly became my custom to check in. It is not to see how his work is going. No, I always have the same one-word query for him: beer? I am rewarded with a photo of Chris and his beer, mugging for the camera. All afternoon I look forward to the moment when I can ask my question. There is no reason why I should enjoy these photos so much.
I have amassed quite a collection of images in the year or so that he’s been working at home. When it came time to make his office birthday card in May, I knew just what to do!
So today I wrote him a little note that read Chris, Thanks for being a good sport and sending me all your beer pictures. It really does brighten my day. Kelly
I like beer, it makes me feel mellow
December 6, 2009
There is no logical explanation for this photo. I was commanded to make up a drink using what was on hand. What was on hand was Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Southern Tier IPA, and Magic Hat Black as Night Winter Lager. Unlike the Southern Tier IPA which I liked and had only one left of, I was willing to donate the Magic Hat to the effort as I was unimpressed with the first five of it, and I had 11 of 12 of the SN Celebration Ale left.
I was hoping for a result like a Black and Tan, and I didn’t know which way might be more successful. I knew I’d sacrifice both bottles, so I tried pouring it both ways. Zero visual success. Taste results, um, drinkable but nothing special. A little like each of the ingredients. So, since that was largely a failure, or at least a non-event, let me tell you this about me and beer instead. I have five favorite breweries. And I have met three of five of the brewers. They are as follows (in the cliché, no particular order):
Lagunitas. I had the opportunity to meet Tony Magee in late summer. I convinced him to sponsor one of my bowling teams. Really.
Bell’s. Several years ago I fell in love with Oberon, and then several others. I met Larry Bell about a month ago when he was in town. He taught me that the reason why I like hoppier beers now is because hops have estrogen. Beer is my estrogen replacement therapy. Who knew? (Dan, that’s why people say it.)
Summit. From here in the Twin Cities. Summit EPA is my go-to beer. Most places have it. It is best at the Metrodome, where it flows cold and fresh. Eric—oh dear—Harper, is that you in the photo? I remember Eric, but not a surname.
Surly. My other favorite local brew. Furious is wicked good. Bender and Coffee Bender get me revved up! Haven’t met anyone from Surly yet. Sierra Nevada. They’re in California, so I wouldn’t expect to have met anyone—oh wait, Lagunitas is in California, too, and they sponsor my bowling team!… Maybe Sierra Nevada will read this and at least get in touch. Celebration Ale is nectar of the gods, and Pale Ale is a good all-rounder. Torpedo IPA’s not bad either. Red Seal Pale Ale is trying to sneak in to my best-of list.
Kelly’s Unnecessary Blog 