My blog n'at

Think I could make that any bigger?  Of course but I won’t.

I have had very little free time the last 12 days and that calendar which I have at my desk shows why. Layoff day comes Friday morning and I’ve been busier in the last 2 weeks than I have in years. There’s getting ready for the baby, replacing the hardware that I have to return on Friday, finals for school, getting financials in order to transfer from my company.

The end all be all of the past week was when Lushie’s car blew a head gasket on 279 Friday afternoon. Seriously, who did I piss off to get this kinda hex? We won’t get that back until next week some time so we’re carpooling for a couple more days.

That is all. I promise more quality posts coming soon, I just need to catch my breath.

December is usually the slowest month for me with blogging. Holidays, end of year at work, school finals and some other randomness that gets thrown my way.

random thoughts over the next 10 minutes

• I plan on watching A Christmas Story at least 5 time between tomorrow night and Christmas night.
• Side note to the previous, I once hung out with Flick after a Pirates playoff game. He got in front of me for a foul ball. Told him he sucked in The Toy.
• Finished the winter semester with all A’s so I’m pretty stoked about that.
• Lushie had a doc appointment this morning and reports that Teaspoon is in great shape. Measurements are all on course. When she did try to get a picture for us though he turned his back. 22 weeks and already giving attitude.
• I’m not a fan of Christmas (most holidays in general actually) but Lushie is working on me about it.
• For some reason my business thinks it’s OK to run the AC when it’s 10F outside. The vent for said system is directly above me.
• I’m getting back in touch with a lot of friends from pre-Pittsburgh days thanks to social networking.
• Someone I know still thinks new media and podcasting is a fad. Their kids getting into it now makes it hip and someone won’t stop asking me about it. Time to start making shit up.
• Listening to NIN’s Fixed CD (That would be halo 6 to us fans). It is the bad ass. Yes, you read that correctly. 9:09 minute version of Wish.
• I think my feet are frozen. I just dropped a router on it and nothing. Trying to find Dick Hammer and have him stomp on it.
• HP laptops are not waterproof nor lightsabreproof… just sayin.
• The floor above me is being remodeled and the drilling is above my head. jagoffs
• We’re shopping tonight for Christmas dinner between Lushie and myself. We’ll be feasting like rockstars!
• My hands are cold and I need to nuke leftovers.
• Christmas shopping is done. Time to buy the beverages.

cheers!

That is hands down my favorite picture from the night.

Along with myself and sickpuppy, celebrity judges for the beer festival were Jim Lokay (KDKA), Demetrius Ivory (WTAE), Ron Man (B94) and Zeke (Y108). These guys could all be future professional beer judges! just sayin… Very cool to find out Zeke homebrews also. I’m sure sickpuppy will be after him about samples.

We had 20 beers total on each of our lists and we were split up over different brewers along with the people who attended had their chance to vote on favorite beer. Out of the beverages that SIDT judged, we had a tie for best beer. It was the Oskar Blues Old Chub and Ommegang Hennepin. Overall best beer of the night was hands down the Snow Melt Winter Ale from Scott at East End Brewing.

This was my first time visiting Saddle Ridge and Bar Room down in Station Square. I could see myself going to Saddle Ridge to enjoy a band but it’s a little too country for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice place, just not me. Bar Room was more my speed these days. Granted that it was packed with people it seemed like someplace I could get a decent martini. Yes, I drink martinis. Hendricks Gin, not vodka. 2-3 olives.

The event was very well organized and I applaud Claire and her Angels for a job well done representing the Pittsburgh Rugby Football Club and helping out The PLEA Agency

Following the fest a group of us went to Ruggers Pub to hang out with the rest of the rugby folk. It’s 2 blocks off Carson so unless you know where it’s located you’d probably never go there unless you’re lost. Kinda like most great places on the South Side.

This was my first time in a rugby bar so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Instead of bar fights with drunken English and Irish thugs I found a haven filled with great people who are passionate for the sport. I shared a few pints with players and fans while being educated on the game and it’s history in the area. Would I ever play? I’d entertain the idea but I’m sure Lushie would take out extra insurance on me. I do have a new respect for these players and the sport. I may even have to go down and catch a few matches.

Next year I expect to see you at this event! no excuses!

I think I’m the only person who hasn’t posted a Podcamp Pittsburgh recap yet. Still debating if I will. All last week I was fighting the flu and this week started the project from hell at work. I have no free time and that I do find is spent doing homework. Also been busy pimping Should I Drink That for the Podcast Awards on shows and interviews plus other things going on. I’m taking this weekend to myself so if I owe you something remind me before 4pm Friday EST. There’s a certain 1.5yr old wants to show her Doug her princess Halloween costume.

Oh yeah, new Hump Day Happiness is posted on the new website.

I know, it’s not hump day so I had to add one but for good reason! Today we released the audio and pictures from the Steel City Big Pour which took place last weekend. Over in this space I’m going to give you a recap that you won’t hear on SIDT.

Download SIDT EP44 | Photo gallery from the 08 Big Pour

This was the second edition of the SCBP and once again the organizers put together the best event of the year. I know that you hear that from me a lot about festivals but all around experience this is the place to be. Not only were there over 20 brewers but also local restaurants joined in. I had the chance to sample foods from establishments that I either hadn’t heard of or is “on the other side of the world”, leaving me to eat closer to home. Sounds off the wall coming from a guy that will drive 45 minutes for a Red Onion sub in Bethel Park.

I’m not a fan of muscles but I had 5-10 on the half shell and loved every single one. Vegan foods has always been cardboard to my taste  but a couple of these new dishes appealed to me. (note: see I’d mention names. If you don’t offer business cards or handouts, I wont rememebr you).

If you didn’t order your tickets early enough then you weren’t getting in. Both sessions sold out faster than a Hannah Montana concert and I was one of those screaming fans with a golden ticket. Brewers are my rockstars. I stayed for both sessions and sampled many, many, many *hiccup* many beverages over the course of 6 hours and even witnessed both special tapings of East End Brewing’s treats. (want the details on the beer, listen to the show).

One of the memorable moments came in Session 1 when the hype behind a custom made tap handle that was being poured at the event almost fell through. Mother nature started to rain down on the metal workers and time was running out. Brian Sprague (Sprague Farms), who happens to be and excellent wood carver, stepped up and within 5-10 minutes had a custom made tap all ready for Scott. Crisis averted and beer flowed.

The only downside to the day for me was the weather. Host company Construction Junction held the event,as with last year’s, in a warehouse. Typically this isn’t bad because there is air flow however, it would rain, warm up, rain, cool down, rain, warm up to give us some ungodly humidity. I felt like an old man by the end of the day with sore feet and lower back.  One thing I’ve noticed at all of the festivals I’ve attended is that the beer geeks and fans tend to come to the early session while the drunks, rookies and 2 beer drunken ladies come to the second. It’s just a fact of beer fest life. We stayed for both so I guess that makes us…

Overall my favorite beer of the day was the Stone Levitation which was on tap for the first time ever in PA and will not be seen again unless a special occasion.

Next year make it a point to get your tickets early for this event. $30 gets you great food, incredible craft beer and a buffet of artsy eye candy. Something about a woman throwing around a chain saw that gets your blood movin.

cheers!

I’ve heard there comes a time when you stop for a second and realize that something you created (besides life) has grown larger than you ever expected. At that moment everything clicks.

I’m having this right now and I must say, it’s pretty fucking cool.

more later…

Most of you know by now that the Pens lost Wednesday night 3-2 to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup finals 4 games to 2. Normally a fan would be depressed but not me. Yes, I would have liked to see my team win but when you look back over the last 5 years you can’t help but feel pride.

The franchise was on the verge of leaving Pittsburgh. A cash dump by then GM Craig Patrick left us with a team that couldn’t even beat the Johnstown Chiefs and those of us die hard hockey fans were on life support for a sport destined to leave and keep this struggling city a major league town. 5 years later the Penguins became Stanley Cup finalists and the promotional baby of the NHL which was revamping a sport considered dead from a full season lock out.

Hockey isn’t a sport that you can just jump into. You need to know the rules to fully appreciate it. It’s also not something that can go to and just drink unlike football where it’s usually one big kegger. Hockey fans are similar to baseball nuts in regards to the amount of information they can pull out of their rear at any given moment. They are a plethora of random sports knowledge. Come up to F balcony some game and you’ll see it first hand.

My point is that not only as hockey fans but citizens of Pittsburgh, we’re on the verge of something very special and rare. We are at the birth of a dynasty. Granted that the offseason could really screw that up if Shero can’t resign some guys but still we have a core group of guys and a fan base that is more passionate than any other professional sports franchise. We don’t set fires like the people in Montreal or get violent like the thugs in Philadelphia but we do bleed black and (las vegas)gold.

I’m upset that the team lost the Cup but I could never, on any level, be disappointed in the season. I’m proud of this team, the organization and I’m DAMN proud to be a season ticket holder and a fan.

THESE GUYS!

——————————————————————-

DETROIT — The Detroit Red Wings were 34.3 seconds away from a magnificent celebration. They were 34.3 seconds away from their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 seasons, as they held a 3-2 lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And then Maxime Talbot crashed the party.

Talbot evened the score with Pittsburgh’s first goal of this entire campaign with the extra attacker, then Petr Sykora scored with 10:03 remaining in triple overtime as the Red Wings failed to close out the Stanley Cup Final in a dramatic 4-3 loss to the Pens at Joe Louis Arena on Monday night

——————————————————————-

LETS GO PENS!

best Soundgarden song ever… EVER.

best… movie… ever…

I couldn’t resist that picture. Lushie took it while on our way to visit her family last weekend in central PA. That’s right, an Amish buggy on a flatbed and that guy walking would be the Amish guy.

So here we have it, the last day of 2007. I’m at work for a few hours today fixing a couple of things and decided this would probably be the only time today I could write. I plan on a Hendrick’s martini haze come this evening. This past year wasn’t too bad. We found a new place to live, we have our health, had the one year anniversary of my dad’s passing which was rough, went back to school and finished the year as a A student, watched the Pens finally make the playoffs, welcomed some new babies into the family, podcast soared to whole new levels with downloads and publicity, made some great friends through Podcamp Pittsburgh and took on new responsibilities and title at work. So yeah, it was a good year.

When I started to think of what 2008 will bring my wife was quick to remind me that in 08 it will be 13 years since we met in college, 10 years since I moved to Pittsburgh and 3 years since we got married. The college thing amazes me because I remember feeding Griff’s plant with Killian’s Red for a whole semester like it was yesterday (It finally died when he gave it water).

Hrm so what to look forward to… I guess I can spill the beans on some here. Some are tentative but if they pan out will be a damn good time.

Podcast
An overhaul of SIDT website along with hardware/software upgrades and new gear. Studio B will be finished. You will see us on national cable TV and also a quarterly beer article in a new publication. We have road trips lined up with breweries, live recordings scheduled and of course hella more promotions we’re throwing together. We also will be doing our part to promote Pittsburgh as the best friggin place to go for all your new media needs. We’re not going to change the way we do the show but after 30 episodes we have set some goals for what we want to accomplish next. I want to WIN the Podcast Award this year and not just be a finalist!

Food and Drink
I’m going to start home brewing. As I’ve been told, it’s addicting and worth it more than I can imagine. I’m sure I won’t have a hard time finding people to sample. I’ll be cooking more now (with beer) since the arrival of our new toy. I’m still perfecting my BBQ sauce from scratch and plan on attending a couple cook offs. Phil, Grace and the Big Foamy Head guys have all been a great inspiration for me to do more.

Personal
Work will have me busy in 08 as will keeping up my “A” average at school. This year I’ll get deeper into Interactive Media so I’m very psyched for it. Yeah, me excited for school. I want to get more involved with some of the new groups and people I’ve met over the last year or so to promote new media and this city.  Heh, that’s why I love Podcamp so much. Well, when I’m not being hit in the chest.  I have a goal for a healthy lifestyle that Lushie and I have been working on organizing the last couple of weeks.  I know it’s cliché to start on 1/1 of the year so I’m starting on 1/2   Nick and Tara are expecting their 2nd child in Feb so Bella will have a brother to play with. Lushie and I will be traveling more than we have in the past so the Burgh doesn’t dive her completely nuts this summer. I’ll finish moving superunknown content over and do more with this site to market myself.

There you go for now. Now I’d like to know, what are some of your plans for 08?

cheers!