Bell's Amber Ale

Ian gifted to me a six-pack of Bell's Amber Ale for my graduation. As I had already begun to get quite wasted that night, I decided to wait for a better opportunity to share them. The beer was great, it was unfortunate though, the events that brought Ian and I together for the tasting.

Otherwise in a delightful mood, I managed to upset one of my bestest friends. Things were said that probably shouldn't have been and my loaded tongue got the best of me. To quote The Secret Language of Birthdays, "It is crucial that they recognize how influential and powerful they can be, since many operate almost entirely on an unconscious level, unaware of how they are impacting on others." It is with this that I do tend to get myself into trouble more often than I ever try to. I don't know why I feel such an overwhelming need to help my friends, but I do. And if that wasn't the worst of it, I also managed to get pwned by my own Real Detroit Weekly horoscope. More often than not, that horoscope is freakishly dead on.

Any how, back to the beer. After such a rotten ending to the work day, I got the most pleasant invite to come over for beers the following night. That little invite made me smile when I really did need it the most. The following day, Ian and I enjoyed those beers, while playing washers and enjoying the hot summer sun. I managed to get more of a buzz than I really wanted too that night, but it was nice to get my mind off things for a while.

As for what I am going to do about said friend, I still do not know. I have spent the last week going over in my head what I am going to say, but it just doesn't seem like the right words are out there. It'll work out I am sure.

Remaining Beers on the To Drink List:
Bell's Brewery Inc.: Cherry Stout and Two-Hearted Ale
Founder's Brewing Co.: Breakfast Stout
Jolly Pumpkin Artisin Ales: Bam Biere, La Roja and Oro de Calabaza
New Holland Brewing Co: Mad Hatter and The Poet

Star Wars

I have never seen a Star Wars film in its entirety.

There I said it, and I know my excuses don't stand up very well, "I was too young to appreciate it," "It was 10 AM and I was drunk." Whatever the cause, I know there is no excuse. I am not worthy of the titles geek, dork, dweeb, or nerd, and in my defence, I have always admitted my short-comings.

Now, before you start passing judgements, I do have a general understanding of how the plot unfolds. I have - and I will give you a moment to ensure you're sitting and not consuming a food or beverage - I have seen Space Balls, Family Guy and listened to Weird Al songs, to have a vague idea of the story line, but I know all to well, that its just not the same.

Well, the time has come. I have made it a goal to see all six Star Wars films before September. Now I just pose two questions to you all:

1. Do I start with the original trilogy, and end with the newer three? Or do I watch them as the story should unfold?
2. Do I go balls out and watch all six films in one night? Or should I take my time, and fully grasp each movie in its entirety before moving on to the next?

I need your honest opinions. And I will take all of the criticism you would like to dole out as well. I am ashamed, and this has been eating at my dorky soul for quite some time, so it is only appropriate I get this done as soon as possible.

Celis White - Michigan Brewing Co.

So this will probably not be quite the review you would have expected. I really don't know a lot about beer. I just know what I like and what I don't like.

About a month ago a friends offered me her six tickets to see the Detroit Derby Girls play their Grudge Match, she had accidentally bought the wrong ones. I invited Gabby & Matt, Beaver, Jerri & Alex to join me. And since Gabby, Matt, Beaver and I had enjoyed Slow's so much the last time we'd gone, we decided to go again.

The day started off a bit rough due to a lack of planning and communication, but once that slow cooked meat was placed in front of us, it was all done and behind us. I had a pint of Celis White with my Big 3 entree; pulled pork, pulled chicken, and brisket. Paired with mac n cheese and waffle fries.

The food was good, and the Derby even better! The Detroit Pistoffs played a great game against The Pistolwhippers. The Pistolwhippers played hard, but Effin Money and Cookie Rumble were unstoppable! The Pistoffs won it, 131-63.

Good times with friends new and old. Food was great. Beer was good too, I would drink it again. Derby, my new love!

It's been a while...

I haven't written in a while, and I suppose its because I really haven't had a lot going on. I did reconnect with a dear friend these past few weeks. He's really one of the only people (besides Mikey of course) that I can spend an entire weekend with and not be frustrated with them at the end. It was actually kind of sad to see him go. Things are going to be good this year, besides the fact that he now gets to spend so much more time with his baby girl, it gives us the chance to appreciate one another much more. I'm not sure how we did it, but I think we listened to close to six hours of Jack Johnson the other day. We're going to the concert this summer and I apparently needed to be "schooled."

Speaking of schooled, I have my graduation coming up in a few weeks. I'm going to go up to CMU and walk the stage, then come home and have a nice bonfire with some good friends. Hopefully it will be a good time, its definitely worth it.

And speaking of good friends, I am very excited to be going to see the Detroit Derby Girls this weekend with some of my bestest friends and my sister. We're planning on going to Slow's BBQ first, which not only tastes great, but eating there just makes me feel good. They use meat from humane ranches, most of the building is made from recycled materials, and they try to recycle as much as they can. Good food with good karma... and good beer!

Ha ha! I can see where this one is going. My friend posted a list of Michigan Beers that were included in the '1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die' book. My goal this summer is to try each of them. And they are:

Bell's Brewery Inc.: Amber Ale, Cherry Stout, and Two-Hearted Ale
Founders Brewing Co.: Breakfast Stout
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Bam Biere, La Roja and Oro de Calabaza
Michigan Brewing Co.: Celis White
New Holland Brewing Co.: Mad Hatter and The Poet

As I drink each of them, I will be sure to let you know!

Well, I guess that's all for now. Mikey's got burgers cooking and I should check on the waffle fries. Yum! :)

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Politics No Longer Welcome

My neighbor is a passionate man. Foolish at times, but at least he stands by what he believes. I am usually one that will speak my political views if asked, but I try not to argue if I can help it. As Mikey knows, I can get pretty worked up over things too.

With the recent passage of the Health Care Reform Bill, my neighbor has been especially angry and exceptionally more vocal about it. Usually I shrug it off, but there was something different about it recently, and I think I figured it out. My neighbor doesn't know shit. Well, I am sure he has a good idea of what he's talking about, but one night, as he was talking to Mikey about Global Warming, of all subjects, he started quoting facts that I just couldn't believe. So, while he chatted in the kitchen, I sat in the living room with the laptop and started some searches, and some Snoping, and kept finding that a lot of what he was quoting as fact, were in fact, wrong. Again, I have no problem with him believing what he wants to believe and voting the way he does, but I really lost some respect for him when he couldn't get his stuff right.

And then I noticed something worse. The keywords. If you watch The Daily Show like I do, (I will admit it), Jon Stewart has a pretty comical way of breaking news stories down to the keywords, and I'll be damned if my neighbor wasn't using all the words that Fox News uses to scare its viewers. Now, I don't know what he watches on TV, or listens to on the radio, and by all means he has the right to listen all he wants, and whatever he wants, but this to, made me a little more perturbed with the man.

The poor guy had to feel my wrath, not once but twice in the same week, and though its not an excuse, I had been suffering with yet another sinus infection. Mikey and I have since decided to ban political talk with friends. Honestly, I know what I believe in, and I know I am not going to change anyone, if I can have a civil conversation, I'm down. But in most cases, people just get emotional and angry. And, since my main goal for this year is to just be happy, there is no need to go and drag people into conversations that no one will be comfortable in.

Change of subject!

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New Shoes

Well, today was a good day. Today, I got new shoes. Actually, I got two pairs of new shoes, and thanks to Kohl's sale, I got two for the price of one! However, with every new pair, an old pair must go. Today, I retired my Classic Black Hi-top Chucks.

My Chucks have seen their fair share of life. They have explored new trails and traveled roads near and far. There was even that one day we realized that they weren't the best shoes to wear for an 8 hour shift at a register. And they weren't the best grip at indoor paintball, but we've had a few successful rounds at Stoneycreek. They've been to indoor concerts and outdoor shows, and a multitude of bars across southeastern Michigan. There was even the zombie massacre where I discovered that All-Stars were the official footwear of zombies.

My Chucks will be missed, but there will be many more adventures to be had in my new blue, low-top All-Stars. :)

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Skate World

As anyone who knows me best will tell you, I tend to get addicted to ideas. For instance, after Gabby showed me 'Shock and Awe' by Henry Rollins for the first time, I couldn't get enough of him. I tend to spend too many nights googleing and wiki'ing my way through topics, anything from zombies to organic food, from disc golf to Zoe Bell, once I get a topic on my mind its hard to get it out for a while.

My latest obsession, Roller Derby. It started with a poster in a co-workers cubical, led to a bout by the Flint City Derby Girls, and eventually to a Detroit Derby Girls bout, to now where I have laced up skates once again just to see if I could even skate any more.

On Wednesday, I headed up to Gemini Skate & Sport, which is formerly known as the Rochester Skate Rink. From 3-5 PM, Monday-Friday, open skate is just $3. I have to admit I had to wonder if they still had those old brown and orange skates from when I was going there back in middle school, to my surprise, they did.

Skating around the old building, despite its renovations over the years, brought back a lot of memories. It made me think about all those nights that they would host parties for Avondale kids, and about how we'd all head up there to skate and hang out with our friends.

I remember my mom driving Mike, Rhonda, Jamie, Crystal and myself up to that old building in our minivan. Specifically one night after I had bought a bottle of cologne for Mike for Christmas and he used so much my mom had to crack a window.

I remember standing in line at the front doors with all the other kids from school. Holding the five or ten dollars our parents had given us for the night in our sweaty nervous hands. Its kinda gross but I can still smell all that sweaty money. Why were we nervous? I know there were a few times my teenage mind was racing with the thought of skating with that boy I had my eye on, or if that girl friend I had a fight with earlier was going to be there.

Once we'd paid our admission, I can visualise walking through those doors into that loud, dark rink. Orange/brown carpeting covering what seemed to be every surface of the building. Walking to the back of the rink to get our skate rentals, and lacing up those brown and orange skates. One of us would front the change for a locker and we'd cram all of our coats inside and make someone in charge of the key. Once that was all set there was no stopping us.

The music was always loud, playing the current top songs from the radio and not to mention a few oldies but goodies. Certain songs stick out in my mind: "Girls" and "Brass Monkey" by the Beastie Boys, "December 1963" by the Four Seasons, and "Undone - The Sweater Song" by Weezer. Don't ask me why those songs in particular, but they always make me think of those nights when I hear them. The lights would flash and the reflections of the disco ball could be seen on the floor as we skated around and around.

Of course, another common sound was that of any love song by Brian Adams. The lights would go dark and the spotlight would come on and sometimes I'd be skating along with my boyfriend at the time, or maybe I would be gaging at the thought and running up the stairs to join my friends in the snack shop area.

Speaking of stairs. Whomever decided that a two-story building was appropriate for a skating rink is nuts. But I could run up and down those stairs in my skates without even thinking about it. Not to mention the bathroom was downstairs too!

Those were the good ole days. Spending a few hours each month with many of my classmates. Singing, laughing, playing, skating, and sometimes even crying, but I really remember the kissing! Oh to be young and in love! Those days don't last forever, but they helped us grow into what we are today.

Its good to reminisce sometimes. I know I enjoyed it. :)

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