Category Archives: Blather

Juneteenth

Note: Starting tomorrow, our nephew is visiting for the next 10 days, so this blog will be silent for his visit.

Today is Juneteenth. The celebration of the end of America’s era of slavery, as on 19 June 1865, slaves in Texas, the last remaining enslaved people, were publicly declared legally free. This year is the 150th anniversary of this momentous and fabulous event.

If you grew up in a way or place where the existence of this holiday is news to you, as I did, please go read about it. The Wikipedia article linked above is interesting and informational, and the holiday is important. Especially in light of what has and has not changed in 150 years.

Black lives matter.… Continue reading →

Travel.

I just found a CF card from almost a year ago. A lot of the photos on it are from a Hop Farm tour I took in early August last year. It was so much fun, but I never did manage to write a post about it. Now I’m in southwest Washington State and vaguely contemplating the post again. Why? Because far away in Washington state there’s a hop museum. I live in Chicago, so even a drive of two or more hours feels practically next door. Of course, one just opened recently in Wisconsin, so you’d think I could just go there. But, really, I don’t see why I can’t do BOTH1. Then write you guys a post. In late July.

It’s 85F here today.… Continue reading →

Five Years. Holy Cow, Five Years.

I have been blogging for five years now. It’s kinda overwhelming to consider, honestly. I’ve published (as of this post) 508 posts, so theoretically a rate of 100 posts/year. Not too shabby.

Of course, there’ve been ups and downs. I basically took 2011 off, which wasn’t hot. But Steve from Drinking and Writing Theater once called my blog “the best beer blog in Chicago.” He was talking to someone else, even! He was sober at the time! So that gave me some serious ups.

I love this online space, and I plan to inhabit it a long time. That said, I also want to stretch my wings, so two things will be changing, a little. I’m going to start looking for more places to guest post at and I am launching a new blog, Getting Ready to Go.… Continue reading →

Photos

Yes, I drank a beer made with bugs. Yes, it was beautiful. Yes, it tasted great. I would like more, please.

I went to an event that paired food with beer. Of course. BUT! Also with performance art. Mostly comedy. It was a fun, fun time.

I finally got to try a cocktail that really involved edible flowers. It was fantastic.

Which made me all the sadder to realize I will not be growing these guys or any other edible flowers this year. Time got away from me, and I didn’t get my plot planted before we left for a long trip. Someone else will be using it this year, though I’ll still be part of the community around the garden.

I tried Indonesian food for the first time.… Continue reading →

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  • Wednesday, May 13, 2015
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Overwhelmed. I lost track of time. How did it go from the end of Beer 3Up to the beginning of Chicago craft beer week (CCBW)? And how did it go there without a post from me??

I lost track of time because I do not have a ton of it right now. Or, rather, I have the same amount as every other human on earth, but in addition to my normal things (like sleeping more than some of those I admire have to sleep), I’ve been working on a new brownie recipe, a new beer cocktail recipe, a new vegan dinner recipe, plotting out CCBW shenanigans, unsure if I want to shenanigan, working more hours, opening my big mouth and telling my co-workers I want to sit the Certified Cicerone exam at the end of the year…

I sat down the other day and wrote a “big” to-do list.… Continue reading →