Category: beer

B-double-E-double-R-U-N

Went to the Music City Brewer’s Fest on Saturday.

Mmmmm. . . beeeeer. . .

Mmmmm. . . humidity . . . ugh.

Lots of great brews, including my all-time favs The Highland Brewing Company.  I hovered around their booth for a little while but figured I should branch out.  I would write about my impressions of all the different beers that I tried that day but I can’t really remember.  I must have drunk too many good ones.  The heat is really the only thing that I can remember.  Oooof.

I do remember that I missed having a little water to rinse out my cup at each booth.  You should be able to wash out the remnants of the prior beer before you tried a new one.  I feel that I didn’t get a good representation of taste because they were really all mixed together.  Oh well.  This was my first time away from my favorite brewer’s fest, the Brewgrass Festival, and maybe they don’t offer that everywhere.  At least it gave me a hint of beers that I’ll try to find the next time I’m at Midtown Wine and Spirits.

I did a lot of comparisons between the Music City Brewer’s Fest and the Brewgrass Festival.  My apologies to my partner in brew, I  sounded like a guy talking about his old girlfriend that just dumped him.  I must have sounded like such a putz (no real connection for this link I just love the name of this company)(a shout out to my buddy Mountain Kilter).

On the subject of beers and festivals, walking around amongst the throng of amatuer and professional beer drinkers in downtown Nashville in the humidity I came to realize that I really love to listen to bluegrass drinking fine brews in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Here I am talking about my old girlfriend again.  So sorry.

Sigh . . . well, the introvert/extrovert clan may have to take a trip come September 22 to Asheville, NC.

Travelling Tales of the Introverted One: Part One

To start things off I was invited to participate in the SERVE to Sell training workshop up at the PSAV corporate headquarters in Schaumburg, IL. This workshop is a sales skill-building program which is good because I have no sales skills whatsoever.

    I got my e-ticket (wasn’t there a ride at Disney that was an e-ticket ride back in the day?) and was dropped off at the Nashville airport at the appropriate time to go through security and all. Boarded the plane at approximately 6:30PM and started to taxi on the runway. And then stopped. The captain came on the intercom and said there was a “ground stop” at O’Hare because of a big thunderstorm and that he was going to stay on the runway and wait because it could be minutes or hours before he was okay-ed to go. This guy did not want to lose his place in line.

    TWO HOURS later we return to the gate. I kept hoping for a cancellation because I could just go home. Unfortunately for me (fortunate for the Chicago residents on the flight) there was no cancellation and TWO HOURS later got back on the plane. Needless, to say I arrived at O’Hare very late and the hotel in Schaumburg even later. I think I got into my room around 2:00AM. Good for me the hotel bar wasn’t open because I could have used a brew to unwind but I had to be at the training at 7:30AM.

    The training was good and meeting other directors of Event Technology was pretty cool. These guys (and gal) were go-getters. I was wondering if I made the right decision to leave the exciting life of a rigger to move up (not as literally as a rigger ‘up’) to be a director. I’m enjoying being here and learning the ropes and all of the business related aspects of the job but I don’t seem as focused as these young turks were on being a director. But I also haven’t gone through the official DET training. Maybe I’m just lacking some of the DET jargon that I heard. So, I guess I feel somewhat unprepared for some parts of this job.

    We had such a small group at this training that we were released into the wild that is Schaumburg. At least what surrounded PSAV HQ. Which was The Ram Restaurant and Brewery that was behind the hotel. They had a 6 ounce sampler tray but I was going for the 16 ounce (do the math) sampler. I only made it through 4 before we planned to walk over to the Woodfield Mall. I’m not sure why we ended up there but I thought I could at least get some Chicago related paraphenalia there but we quickly regrouped and walked to another bar called Houlihan’s located in the parking lot of this wonderful mall. Houlihan’s is just like a Bennigan’s. A cookie-cutter bar and grill sort of place. Ho-hum.

    I then returned to the hotel for a final beer before turning in. My planned escape from Schaumburg on the next day will be for another post. I really need to look like I am working!

    The Future Looks Bright . . . Someone Cut That Light Off!

    It’s looking more like I am getting the Director of Event Technology gig at the Marriott at Vanderbilt University. It seems like an exciting venture but there is a little more involved than just technology. I have to check in regularly with the hotel sales staff to get audio/visual leads, call these leads, meet with clients and generally be a real good audio/visual presence with hotel staff. Unfortunately, my technical background of 15 years or more is not enough because I can set up some mad a/v gear for a presentation and then gaff tape the hell out of some cables.

    So, there is a bit of apprehension about the people thing. As the name of this blog suggests I am not much of a people person. I do alright, generally speaking. But that’s every once in awhile. And after a couple of beers. Dealing with people everyday might just drive me to drink.

    . . . oh wait. I already do that. Nevermind, I guess I’ll be alright. For the most part. Must . . . stay . . . sober . . . at . . . work.

    **UPDATED: Peter Rabbit vs. Jesus Christ*

    *But not that vampire hunter version. That wouldn’t be fair for that poor rabbit.

    The other day the crew (Young Extroverted One, Elder Extroverted Holy One and I) went to the 12th South Taproom to attend the CD release party of Leslie McClure. We got there a little too early but we sort of planned to eat before the show. After finishing our meal the YEO started to get restless and began singing Easter songs which mostly consisted of bunnies and stuff.

    While we aren’t freaky and fundamental about it we do try to be intentional about the Christian holidays. So, EEHO brought up that we also, and mostly, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at this time of year. “So, why don’t we sing songs about Jesus instead of Easter?”** thus spake the YEO. Because in her mind Easter is the candy and bunnies and chicks and that annoying fake grass you put in baskets.

    It’s kind of difficult to keep a balance between the secular, commercial side of holidays and the other religious side. For Pete’s sake (ya like that don’t ya?), the YEO is a potential preacher’s kid. She shouldn’t go through life just celebrating the Roman-pagan holidays. I think she needs to see both sides of the festivities (while not demanding the double-up of goodies).

    Not only do we like to be religiously appropriate but also historically appropriate. It’ll make for a nice clash of ideals for teachers/authoritarian figures to deal with later. Maybe we’ll send her to a private Christian academy of some sort in Kansas.

    **UPDATE: Apparently, my recollections of the YEO’s quote were clouded by the many Highland Brewing Company’s Gaelic Ales that I consumed. I suppose the EEHO should be my editor before I publish my posts. But that would take way too long.

    The Young Extroverted One actually said, “Why would we sing songs about Jesus at Easter?” I apologize for my misquoting of the YEO lest she sue me for libel.

    Spring Break Adventures

    This is pretty old news but worth writing about.

    All of which would have been forgotten if it had not been for my trusty Moleskine Pocket-sized Ruled Notebook. Yay for pens, paper and no short-term memory!

    The Young Extroverted One’s spring break was a week later than the Elder Extroverted Holy One’s. So, we had to scramble to line up some ways of childcaring while we were working. Luckily, I was off on Days Three and Four!

    Day One: Hanging out with her bud Griffin at Natural Fields Farm. Then over to her grandmother’s house for the night and most of the next day.

    Day Two: See above.

    Day Three: Off we went to the Nashville Public Library for Story Time. After story time we browsed the stacks for a little while and found some books and a DVD. When we were done there we decided to hit the Mellow Mushroom mainly because I wanted a beer with lunch but also to try to have lunch with EEHO since it was near the divinity school. My cell phone calls were ignored so YEO and I had a lovely lunch.

    After a little digestion at home we headed out to Shelby Park and Shelby Bottoms for the YEO to ride her bike. Considering that we’ve never been to Shelby Bottoms we just decided to walk it orI walked it and she rode on my shoulders. It’s pretty nice out there along the Cumberland River. Plus, they’re in the process of building a nature center.

    After my lovely, laden walk we hit the new ice cream joint in East Nashville called the Pied Piper Creamery . All I have to say about this place is MMMMMmmmmmm . . . me likey. I think the YEO liked it too.

    Day Four: We went to the Nashville Zoo ! Unfortunately, so did everyone else. Beside the crowdedness, which I LOVE, it was very fun and the weather was, in YEO’s words, “AWESOME!” After zoo time we went home waited for EEHO to get home and we took her to the Pied Piper Creamery. Another convert was made that evening.

    Day Five: Was spent with the EEHO and they went to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts . I had to go back to work so I can’t report on that trip.

    Day Six: Was a Saturday and we had planned a cook-out and general family/dog fun time back out at Natural Fields Farm with the Say crew and a couple of other families. Good food, good beer, creek time, good beer, bratwurst, dogs, ticks, good beer. I’m pretty sure it happened just like that. Really, all that I remember were the bratwurst and the beer and, I believe, nobody got hurt.

    No zoo animals or naturally grown foods were harmed during these adventures.

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day to Ye

    Enjoy the day!  But please be careful out there.  This is one of those holidays (like New Years) where the amatuers are out in full force.  If you are a pro be careful and avoid that green beer crap (real professionals wouldn’t  mess up a fine brew with food coloring).  Any of you amatuers out there reading this should not drive drunk.

    Everyone should have a designated driver no matter what your status!

    This Guy Deserves the Nobel Prize!

    This is awesome!  For more information on the genius AND the launcher go to beerlauncher.com .  Definitely go there because this is an unauthorized video on YouTube.  The real video is here.  Apparently, WordPress won’t allow embedding video from this site so I had to go a different route to share with you.

    It’s okay.  I’ll take the heat.  All in the name of science, beer and laziness.

    Enjoy!


    My Own Private Idaho


    Well, not a whole private state, state of being or otherwise. Just a room. Where I can put up my hockey/green bay packer/beer paraphernalia and the Holy Elder Extroverted One need not worry about the general public witnessing that part of my somewhat man-ness.

    I didn’t want to suggest the move upstairs. At least, out loud. But, this move does make a little more flexibility with a room downstairs and makes a little better use of space upstairs. This may seem like some sort of den of testosterone that I can escape to so I can feel more like a man and not a father/husband. It’s not. It is going to be more of a place to exercise my introvertedness (Like I need any help with that!). I don’t need to retreat from being a father/husband because I love being those things. I wasn’t much of a manly man before marriage and fatherhood so it’s not me trying to get those things back. I guess I need a place to decompress after a day of dealing with stuff/people at work.

    I don’t get to climb the stairs (into my hole of solitude) very often because of other responsibilities and that’s okay. It sure is nice when it happens. Which is where I find myself at this moment. A much needed day off of work and home alone. I have things that need my attention but I have some time right now to do some chilling out, reading blogs and writing one. Not a good one mind you. More like blogorrhea which is more of a problem for you because you’re reading this. This is the fruit of my introverted den of lonliness. Enjoy!