My blog n'at

Dear Christina,

WTF! Seriously, wtf are you doing! I just watched your latest video and have to ask, are you that upset Lady GaGa has been able to do what your X-tina personality failed to do almost 10 years ago? Honey, you are turning 30 this year. Stop with the “this is the real me and if you don’t like it fuck you.” Face it, your time to be edgy like that has past and as you saw previously that not only made you a joke but ruined your image. Yeah I get reinventing yourself but please, you’re looking pathetic trying to be someone who’s obviously taken over your fame.

Christina, you have one of the most incredible voices but yet you choose for whatever reason to screw up your career with the consistency of Big Ben. You have the potential to be one of the classiest women in music. You’re still hot but you’re also from Wexford; you’re not gangsta or edgy. Do yourself a favor, figure out what exactly it is you want.

Love,
spoon

Since I started listening to KISS FM in the morning more my music appreciation has changed in the last couple of months.

I’ve liked this song and *JUST* found out who sings it. Shut up. You know you like it too. jagoffs.

Christ… who am i kidding. i need to drink whiskey and eat some steak while watching a Rambo movie

July
Began the month with recording at the BeerDependence Day celebration at Bocktown. Attended the Penguins Stanley Cup DVD Release Party. Started a contracting job at EDMC that would become the longest month of my life and that’s all I’m going to say. Enjoyed my first ever bowl of Pho. Rocked the Beer on the Bay festival in Erie which the videos are epic and may never be released. End the month being interviewed by KDKA for the Craft Beer Summit.

August
Won a 2009 Mustang! Bees invade our bathroom (landlord still has yet to remove the dead bodies). I got a full-time job in social media/web dev that has turned out to be freaking cool plus I’m on a rockstar team. Threatened Lushie with divorce after she gets rid of the Back to the Future marathon channels.

September
Attended “Best of the Burgh” at the Warhol with sickpuppy, PittGirl, Woy and Rachel. Go big time and hosted Beer School at the Cabaret downtown to a sold out crowd. Teaspoon hits 17lbs.

October
Hosted 2 sessions at Podcamp Pittsburgh 4. Should I Drink That passed 500,000 download mark. Pens start defending the Stanley Cup. Revised Google Maps errors. Celebrate 4 years of marriage with Lushie. Lay the smackdown on poor fact checking by the Post gazette about Erie. Teaspoon goes pumpkin farming.

November
I blogged the whole month. Seriously. Bought a X-box. Teaspoon’s first Thanksgiving. Wonders of fatherhood and a kid who grows like a weed. Craft Beer Dinner with Lew Bryson, Education on the Pittsburgh Potty. Making your own Bacon. BEER AT GIANT EAGLE! Yinz Bowl 2.o

December
Still living it for 5 more hours. Remembering dad on his anniversary. Hosted a Christmas beer sampling at Bocktown. Saw KISS in concert. Teaspoon’s first Christmas. Finished the school year with a 3.65GPA. SNOW!

So what do I have to look forward to in 2010?  Come back tomorrow and find out!

I have to admit that this has been the most life changing year of my life. Some good, some bad and some mind blowing kickass. Here’s a quick recap as I reflect before tonight’s festivities start. I’m splitting this up into 2 sections because lets be honest, no one will scroll through 12 months.

January
Reflected on the first beer I EVER drank and yes, I kept the bottle. Prepare for the end of my 10+ year employment at ForeSystems/Marconi/Ericsson. Bitched about the weather and yinzers inability to drive in snow plus dumb ass snow removal by my neighbors. Both of those still hold true today. Got ready for an unbelievable run to the Super Bowl

February
Steelers won the Super Bowl and became the first ever 6 time champ thus giving every knock off t-shirt maker starry eyes at the potential of “6 pack” shirts. Punxy Phil said 6 more weeks of winter. I was officially laid off, was interviewed for a Post Gazette story on unemployment moments after i was laid off (that never was published), Pens started to turn it around and the biggest shock of them all… Teaspoon arrived 2 months early making me the happiest and most terrified dad. Came in at 4.1lb, dropped to 3.2lb and would leave at 5 in March.

March
It was the month of Teaspoon. Lushie and I spent every minute we could at the Mercy NICU while he got healthy in an incubator. 28 days later he came home. Also witnessed the stupidity of some Hill District parents who think its a hotel in there and the joke that is unemployment system in PA.

April
Went to my first ever Rugby match and got addicted to watching Claire and the girls kick ass. Missed my first opening day of Pirates baseball since 1984 (watched it on TV with Teaspoon and started a new tradition with my boy). Bought a Wii. Enjoyed the greatest comeback in Pens Playoff hockey that I have witnessed as the Pens turned the series around with 1 fight and the Max Talbot shhhhhhh! Saw Beer Wars the Movie with hundreds of other craft beer fans around the world and baked an incredible beer ham for Easter.

May
Should I Drink That turned 3. Pens defeated Washington and Carolina to earn a second trip to the Stanley Cup Finals for a 2nd year. Bought a Blackberry. Joined Sadie’s Soldiers and took some Great Strides. KDKA reads my “tweet of the day” which I WISH they would bring back. The great personalized jersey debate. Meatshield welcomed his first child (i swear it was the year for kids to be born) and we had a cookout with some family. Bowling league ended and we were the undisputed champs.

June
Teaspoon’s first trip to the ER. Coming out of golf retirement after 3.5 year for a day with Yinz Teamer’s Woy, Lokay and Shireman at Cranberry Highlands. The Clarks release Restless Days after 5 years. Pens win the Stanley Cup in 7 games vs Detroit. Pittsburgh floods… again. Unemployed Utensil makes his first appearance as a way to help me get through not working. My first Father’s day and Pirates waste of talent Ian Snell cant take negative people.

up next… July through December.

I had a post for today but then this came across twitter and it was too good to not share

You’ve got to make a serious decision…

After I was laid off I was lost. Since high school I was never without a job for more than a couple weeks and all of a sudden I was 33, unemployed, a baby on the way and no clue to what was next. Teaspoon was born 2 months early pushing the whole world into hyperactive mode and me into a tizzy.

While I was driving the back roads of Cranberry one morning, after Teaspoon’s extended stay in the NICU had ended, I heard this song on XM.

Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
Stop! Take some time to think, figure out what’s important to you.
You’ve got to make a serious decision.

It was at this moment I knew something needed to change and that set into motion everything which has happened in the last 2 months along with what I have planned in the near future. I love being a father and a husband. This is gonna be fun.

We’ve all been there. You have a secret that you’re dying to share and know you can’t. That has been the last few weeks for me and this CD. Biting my lip and wrapping my head in duct tape is the best way to explain it. Restless Days is the latest release from Pittsburgh’s 20yr+ rock veterans and (I’m not just saying this because it was just released or that I may or may not help out on the site since 2002) is hands down my favorite of their whole collection. Here’s my quick review:

1. “True Believer” starts out rockin that you will find your head boppin and body bouncin.
2. “Inside” does a great job keeping up the pace from “True Believer” and takes you on a 2:53 auditory adventure.
3. “Trampoline” has some of the most memorable one liners that you’ll find yourself singing during the day while you’re working… “I was never your lover and I’m not your trampoline. Never your lover and I’m not your trampoline”  See, Now it’s in your head.  You’re welcome.
   
4. “Midnight Rose” has taken me a few times to get into. Still trying to figure that one out.
   
5. “Soul and Skin” is what old school Clarks fans will enjoy as it took me back to the Someday Maybe CD.
6. “Sunshine” and “Come ‘Round Here” will be a hit for fans of Scott’s solo cd’s and also songs that I find myself singing quite a bit.
   
7. “Restless Days” is going to be a great drinking song with friends. You’re ready to chill and sing together a song that doesn’t make you into a coke’d out monkey.
   
8. “The Clowns” I’m not sure what to make of this one yet. I keep thinking of the Cleveland Browns
   
9. “The Runaway” reminds me of an upbeat jam that I would have expected with Let It Go.
   
10. “In Between” is one of the medium tempo songs that I’ve always been fond of from the band. I think Lushie calls it “cleaning music”. Its what you can listen on repeat and get lost so you don’t realize you’re doing work.
    
11. The CD closes out with what has become a huge hit with Pens fans, “What A Wonderful World.” The full version of this song is even better than the commercial. Suck it Ramones!
    

Pre-sale CDs arrived yesterday to fans and today the general public can purchase it. To find out more and listen to tracks go to clarksonline.com

*Programming note: Humpday happiness will return August 27th*

Saturday we woke up to a picture perfect day. Blue skies, sunny and a nice breeze. All of these along with stellar organization came together for what has been dubbed as the best beer fest of the summer. Erie Brewing, with the help of countless volunteers and staffers Becky, Jim and Bruce, knocked the ball out of the park. Hands down this was one of the best times I’ve ever had at a beer fest of the many I’ve adventured to. We were attending on press passes so we had to make sure we lived up to our names.

*click here for the photo gallery*

Overall we hit 20 brewers before the afternoon session ended. Each brewery was very generous with their time (except Sierra Nevada who said they don’t do interviews. *pttthhh* you’re at a public event, jagoffs). Liberty Park was an incredible place for the event as the horseshoe of brewers opened to a view of Lake Erie.

The memorable moment came when we finally met the winners of our “Trip to Erie for Beer of the Bay”! Emilie was the big winner and as a treat to her boyfriend, The Drunken Polack, drove them 9 hours from Virginia Beach to Erie for the weekend. Great people and it really felt good knowing that someone who appreciates craft beer won the prize.

Also for me it was great to finally meet Tony the Beer Guy. His passion for the craft beer industry is amazing and reminds me why I do the show. He’s towards the end of our show so check him out.

For a full review of the day check out EP41 – Beer on the Bay.

We head to the Avalon to check in for the night and get ready for dinner.  Wouldn’t ya know it, we’re on the same floor as the brewers from the fest.  This is gonna get ugly. More on that later.

We make the 4 block walk from the hotel to the BrewErie for a couple beverages and food. For the next 6 hours my ass stays planted at the bar socializing.  I knew it would happen. When you’re in great company you never wanna leave. Ailyn, Mo, Davin and Chris made sure that we were well taken care of. At one point some of those less experienced intoxicated beer fest stumbled in and we had to keep the peace as guys were throwing themselves over the women working. When Chris’ shift was done he joined us on the other side of the bar for shots of Jameson. yes, shots. you can guess where that lead to… where am I again?

The band for the night was Sting Theory and I have to say that it’s been 7 years since band that I didn’t know was playing in a bar and blew me away. They ended the night with a version of Comfortably Numb that was as good, if not better than Floyd!

The bell rang and it was time to head out of the BrewErie. Closed one place so why not another! We were told that the after party was at Docksider which we promptly made the voyage to.  I had never been there before and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Very cool bar and nice beer selection. Flaming Dr Peppers were ordered while Matt from VooDoo revisited the joys of hanging with SIDT

Night ended and all were told to go to room 637 which was where the next party was. Apparently no one told the brewers there as we were the ones to break the news upon arrival. Main Street guys treated us to some of their kegs which were chilled in the bathtub by filling our water bottles. The rest of the night is sealed. Maybe some other post.

Sunday we hit one final token of a trip to Erie and had meatball omelets at Dominick’s on E.12th Street. Most locals know this is THE place to go for food either after drinking or the morning after. Meatball might sound foul but trust me that it is the only thing to ease your pain.

The trip was a complete success and Erie Brewing did a fantastic job playing host. I’m all ready for next year to come around!

It’s 2am and I’m off tomorrow so of course, I’m still awake. Updating some web code and watching… hockey. Yes it’s 2am and I’m watching the Winter Classic for the 3rd time. I have the Pens 10 greatest games on DVD which I got for Christmas so I may pop one in. So as the title suggests here’s my random thoughts.

1. Sid f’n Bream – Tonight was the first night at the gym we joined and who do i see but Sid f’n Bream. Why do I say that? If you’re not familiar with the 92 NLCS allow me to show you (go to the 3:40 mark) or read the story here *sigh*

2. As I said I’m watching the Winter Classic for the 3rd time. God I *LOVE* hockey. My cable provider cant work fast enough to get me the NHL package. I’m geeked for when NBC starts broadcasting games because I can watch it in HD.

3. Tomorrow, err I guess later today actually will be the first day that I have completely to myself since my vacation started 12/20. My plans, work on the basement and watch hockey… or my KISSology DVDs

4. I love stuffed olives. It’s an addiction.

5. I really need to find a Curling league on Sundays. I absolutely love the sport

6. The only thing sweeter than the *tink* of a puck of a goal post is a 3 martini lunch

7. My wife wants to go see the Vagina Monologues. riiiiiiiiiight…

8. I can’t get enough of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy and Gorillaz’s Dare

9. I can’t imagine life without Google Reader. I use it all day and follow more blogs/podcasts than I probably should.

10. Kim Reed is the most talented photographer I’ve ever met and you’ll ever see. Seriously.

FINALLY I can get back to blogging and enough has happened this past week I have enough to say for the next 2 weeks easy. Lucky you eh?

Finals and my first year back at college wrapped up on Saturday night. Not sure of my overall GPA yet but I didn’t finish lower than 85 in any class so I’m pretty psyched for next year. The color theory class I just finished up kicked my ass but I pulled out a B.

For the first time ever, well besides my honeymoon, I’m taking a vacation from work that’s more than a 4 day weekend. 2.5 weeks to be exact starting tomorrow. Am I going anywhere? hell no. Well I may road trip but for the most part it’s so I can chill, get caught up on Studio B, visit some friends, drink good beer, eat many meals at Fat Heads, bowl some frames, watch hockey until my eyes bleed, work on concoctions in the kitchen and maybe write. I may record a couple voice overs but nothing is planned for SIDT.

I like to call it a “me” vacation. Now I’m sure that my wife will have plans for me and that’s fine but unless it’s meeting up for happy hour don’t expect me to be around (Well of course unless you want an interview). If I say no don’t take it personally

I wonder what ever happened to DTiP anyways?

Woy inspired me to add this after reading his post for today. He’s uber obsessed with All 4 One so I thought I’d share the bestest greatest dog gone video ever made.

Ladies and gentlemen… Tommy Seebach’s Apache!