Leif Erickson Day

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Another Leif Erickson Day has come and gone. I didn't get to plan any big festivities this year (because I have been too busy), but I did go out to dinner with my mom, and make an authentic Viking chowder that came out pretty well.
I don't understand why any of us still celebrate Columbus Day. He was such a jerk and a ruthless douche bag. I really think it is doing a disservice to the American people by continuing to celebrate this holiday while ignoring ones that are more truthful, and involved less torture and depravement.
Join me and BOYCOTT COLUMBUS DAY!

Beer O'Clock

This weekend by BF and I decided to do a beer tasting. As can happen with so many things, sometimes you just find yourself in a rut doing the same thing over and over, and not really feeling engaged or inspired. Such can be the case with beer too. We usually get what we know we like, but that excludes the other 99% of the beer on the shelves at the supermarket. And we don't really have a clue about what any of them taste like. We decided to end that, and test a few out.

Most grocery stores don't allow you to buy a single bottle out of a six pack, but because Trader Joe's is so AWESOME, they do. You can go into any TJ's and fill your own variety 6 pack. This is an excellent way to try new brews without buying a liquor store worth of beer. And it's the perfect serving size for a taste (the really big bottles are too much, especially if you decide you don't like it). I got 2 six packs, and two larger bottles for $21. That's 14 different beers at $1.50 each. Not too shabby.

It wasn't a formal tasting. I just picked up a bunch of different beers, and we consulted my book on beer (it was a birthday gift from a friend) when we wanted to know something like what malt is, or why some beers have more alcohol than others etc.

We tried to group them together as we tasted. For example we did all the lagers in a row, and the same for IPA's. It was surprising how much more we noticed by trying them side-by-side. 

I tasted the most incredible and delicious white IPA , and we both enjoyed a pumpkin ale. My Sweetie discovered he really likes unfiltered wheat beers and we found a double IPA that he liked as well (he is usually not an IPA guy). We discovered that neither of us is a big fan of amber beers, or porters. And the one Octoberfest we tried tasted like a car air freshener to me. We didn't care for either of the light European beers we tried either.

It was a really great experience though. And best of all, when we went to Safeway yesterday (for groceries) we recognized a whole bunch of the beers on the shelf! It feels good to be so well informed. The only downside is that you end up wasting a lot of beer if you don't like them. I think we dumped out at least 5 almost full bottles. And the ones you do like will only last the day in the frig once opened. But it's a small price to pay for the horizon expansion that occurred. In fact, I think we might try it again next weekend!

Muddy Buddy 2013

Oh! I've been so remiss in posting all the happenings in my life that I can't even remember where to start! I love being busy (well, most of the time), and I've been doing lots of fun things, but the downside is that I don't have much time to reflect or write about any of it!
Anyway, I guess I'll start with the Muddy Buddy race me and my Sweetie did a few weeks ago. It was a 5 mile run, and 6 obstacles, including a rope climb (which I failed miserably) and a slog through a mud pit (which I excelled at)!
It was a lot of fun. The race was put on by REI, and it benefited the Prostate Cancer Foundation. It was held up in the East Bay Hills at Joseph D. Grant State Park, and it was a great day for a run.
Our team name was the Packer Backers and we came in 10th in our division! WooHoo!

Just Fallin' Around

I'm trying to be as festive and as excited about autumn as I can be, but it's hard when it's 80 degrees out and sunny all the time! Not that I mind the weather, I just wish it would...I don't know, smell more like fall, or be more windy than normal, or maybe have more leaves laying around. I know it's coming but, I just get impatient sometimes...all the time.
Anyway in an attempt to bolster my excitement I decided to do a little fall decorating in my office at work. It's nothing extreme, but it was fun, and I'm already feeling the urge to plan my Leif Ericksen Day dinner. Happy fall!!!
My pumpkins from left to right are named: Horatio, Alexander Pumpkinseed III, and Kyle.

The Way Eye See It

This is just a random little project I started for no reason. I was collecting the inside stickers from printable CD labels, and got the idea to draw various different eyeballs from all sorts of creatures. How many do you recognize? (And don't feel bad if it's not many, I'm not the best eyeball drawer in the world.) See below for answers:)

Human, snow owl, pengiun, iguana, spider, snail, shark, horse, cuddle fish, chameleon, goat, cat, barn owl, alligator, Secretary bird, tarsier, dragonfly, shrimp, frog, wolf.

Let There Be Light!

I got bored while driving home from my weekend in the Sierra. So I started playing around with my camera in the long exposure setting. Maybe it's just me, but I think these came out awesome!