RaremediumRare
nuff said
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Lists!
I did pretty well last week even though it was hella cold. I gave up on Thursday afternoon before crossing the Steel Bridge. The cold biting wind on my face was just too much. I did walk yesterday and my route took me across the Broadway bridge and up Interstate to N. Mississippi. I had to stop by Widmer for a happy hour beer. I tried to pull in others via Twitter and text messaging, but no one was available. I did learn this. Even though the 23oz glass of brew is only $3, it isn't necessarily what one should order. Unless you drink it fast, it warms up before you can finish. Next time I'll order the pints.
When I walk, I think. I usually put together lists in my head. Some of those lists come to fruition, others not. Yesterday, my list was about beer. Tinymeat wants to brew some beer and so do I, I I have been thinking about what equipment I still have. When I got home, I grabbed the homebrew book and began putting together a list.
When I walk, I think. I usually put together lists in my head. Some of those lists come to fruition, others not. Yesterday, my list was about beer. Tinymeat wants to brew some beer and so do I, I I have been thinking about what equipment I still have. When I got home, I grabbed the homebrew book and began putting together a list.
As you can see, I have many of the items listed. What is crazy is that most of it was stored in a big pot in the basement along with some 3 and 5lb bags of malt, some hop pellets, a thing of yeast (that should have been refrigerated...,) and sugar. Now, I don't know how much of this is salvagable, but the equipment will still work just fine. The pot has some surface rust which may or may not doom it to the scrap bin. I'll have to figure that one out. Also, I have some hose, but none of it is the length I require. So, we'll need to do some shopping at some point. 15 years ago when I brewed last, the only resource for beer making equipment was FH Steinbarts which was pretty darn spendy. Now luckily we have places like Home Depot. Still, we'll have to hit up Steinbarts for the ingredients at least.
So, we're off and running I guess. A friend has bottles and I have space in the basement to store beer while it ferments, albeit with the cats. Soon, we'll have a beer tasting party somewhere.
Next up, an outbuilding to store the still......
Some of the stuff I found:
So, we're off and running I guess. A friend has bottles and I have space in the basement to store beer while it ferments, albeit with the cats. Soon, we'll have a beer tasting party somewhere.
Next up, an outbuilding to store the still......
Some of the stuff I found:
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The bridge.......again
Where were you at 2am Sunday morning? How about 2am this morning? Wow, what a weekend. I have to say that one of the best moments of the weekend was walking around downtown at 2am Sunday morning. Yeah, it was a little cold and a bit damp, but the city was quiet and enchanting. We were downtown to see a show at Dantes and then needed to head over to NE to pick up my friend's van and find him a hotel for the night, so we walked. The Burnside Bridge was closed even to bike and food traffic and MAX was long shut down, so we ventured down to the waterfront and across the Steel bridge. We even caught it when a freight train was rolling across. So cool, so loud.
When I say we, I mean Mr. WizardBoots and I. See, the weekend started with a walk home from work and then an evening out with Spindrift, one of the bands we like. They were playing at East End. An internet friend of Anna's - Wizard Boots - came to Portland to see the band. We hit it off and became fast friends, so Saturday, after waking and coffeeing, I took him out to show him Portland. I love doing that. We hit up Rocky Butte, Pittock Mansion, Hawthorne and Bridgeport Brewing. He and I then went downtown on Saturday night to see a band named Hello Lobster - devo-ish. We missed most of their set due to a misunderstanding and going to the wrong venue. That's what you get when you have a few beers on an empty stomach.
Sunday was quieter, but not as quiet as you would expect. Wizard Boots came over for dinner and then he Anna and I went to Revolver Studios to catch Spindrift again in a small private show. The studio is owned and operated by our friend Colin and his partner, so they wanted to do a grand opening in style. There were about 100 people there once the band started, but it was a school night for many, so the crowd thinned as they played. I would say about 60 people were left when the band finished. They performed a great set that had people dancing, swaying and clapping excitedly. Oh, and to listen to a band perform with just their amps and a powered mic is way cool. Like I said- intimate.
Two busy days and three late nights has me a little raw and tired. Not hungover or sick, just worn out a bit. I feel I lived like a rawk star a little this weekend and I love it.
some more photos of the weekend
Despair in the Westerner Hotel
Ok, I guess I had a couple of beers.
We learned chess on the fly.
the fog. times like this is when I want to learn photography.
When I say we, I mean Mr. WizardBoots and I. See, the weekend started with a walk home from work and then an evening out with Spindrift, one of the bands we like. They were playing at East End. An internet friend of Anna's - Wizard Boots - came to Portland to see the band. We hit it off and became fast friends, so Saturday, after waking and coffeeing, I took him out to show him Portland. I love doing that. We hit up Rocky Butte, Pittock Mansion, Hawthorne and Bridgeport Brewing. He and I then went downtown on Saturday night to see a band named Hello Lobster - devo-ish. We missed most of their set due to a misunderstanding and going to the wrong venue. That's what you get when you have a few beers on an empty stomach.
Sunday was quieter, but not as quiet as you would expect. Wizard Boots came over for dinner and then he Anna and I went to Revolver Studios to catch Spindrift again in a small private show. The studio is owned and operated by our friend Colin and his partner, so they wanted to do a grand opening in style. There were about 100 people there once the band started, but it was a school night for many, so the crowd thinned as they played. I would say about 60 people were left when the band finished. They performed a great set that had people dancing, swaying and clapping excitedly. Oh, and to listen to a band perform with just their amps and a powered mic is way cool. Like I said- intimate.
Two busy days and three late nights has me a little raw and tired. Not hungover or sick, just worn out a bit. I feel I lived like a rawk star a little this weekend and I love it.
some more photos of the weekend
Despair in the Westerner Hotel
Ok, I guess I had a couple of beers.
We learned chess on the fly.
the fog. times like this is when I want to learn photography.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Reflections!
We're on day three of Walkathonizationism 2008. Per the header of this blog, I started walking in earnest in 2005, but last year, it kinda waned. I got lazy and reverted to my old ways and thinking. In 2005/6 and part of 2007, I walked almost 4 million steps. Wow. I also kept my weight steady and felt healthy and energetic most of the time. Anna and I would also do these challenges with ourselves- how many steps in one day! We would chalk up 25,000, 30,000 maybe even more. It was so fun to just keep walking.
Well, I want to get back to that mentality and method of staying active. When I say I reverted back to old ways it meant that I psyched myself into thinking that walking home (which takes all of 1hr 15 minutes) is a waste of time and I had things to do at home. You know what those things are? Yep, sitting and relaxing in front of the TV with a beer. Wow, that is some sense of accomplishment.
To get myself remotivated, I have filled up the Ipod, made sure I have my walking clothes always in my bag and picked up some cigars. See I enjoy a cigar occasionally yet with the weather so cold, sitting on the porch isn't an option. Yet, having a cigar on the walk home works perfectly.
I'm also getting back to some photographing of my city. I love the photo to the left because it points out how calm the river was. You don't get that kind of reflection when the current is running. The tide must be in.
So, raise your cups of coffee or tea or your beer if you are reading this after 12pm. I'm pledging again to be an active walker in 2008. Wanna walk with me?
Well, I want to get back to that mentality and method of staying active. When I say I reverted back to old ways it meant that I psyched myself into thinking that walking home (which takes all of 1hr 15 minutes) is a waste of time and I had things to do at home. You know what those things are? Yep, sitting and relaxing in front of the TV with a beer. Wow, that is some sense of accomplishment.
To get myself remotivated, I have filled up the Ipod, made sure I have my walking clothes always in my bag and picked up some cigars. See I enjoy a cigar occasionally yet with the weather so cold, sitting on the porch isn't an option. Yet, having a cigar on the walk home works perfectly.
I'm also getting back to some photographing of my city. I love the photo to the left because it points out how calm the river was. You don't get that kind of reflection when the current is running. The tide must be in.
So, raise your cups of coffee or tea or your beer if you are reading this after 12pm. I'm pledging again to be an active walker in 2008. Wanna walk with me?
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