Feb 29, 2012

I worked in my favorite English class today at the Senior High. It's nice to know a class and be able to take a job knowing that it will be a good day. After work I got something to eat and went to the gym to do some random machines and the treadmill.

I went to Applebee's again to write with Chuck for a while before Quizzo and then we got into the game when the others showed up.

Feb 28, 2012

It was a long day of working, but it was all easy work. I did Child Study Team meetings at Reick Avenue in the afternoon and then I went to Alternative School for more. So the day went pretty well. I met Shannon at PB's later for a few beers. It was nice to see her and to get to use my NJCB card for great discounts.

After a nice evening catching up with Shannon, I went back home and then over to Kate's for a while.

Feb 27, 2012

I worked at the Senior High in a math class during the day and then I wanted to get outside so I went for a bike ride over to Parvin and around the loop. It was chilly but a nice ride.

I came home and had dinner and hung out for a while before going to the gym with Ryan later.

Feb 26, 2012

We got up pretty early for how late we stayed up last night, but Nathan and I took to the kitchen and started cooking up some breakfast for us.

After some delicious eggs, toast, and potatoes we sat around talking for a while before we headed home. It was a fun time, but Nathan had to get back to work.

When I got home I went to the gym with Ryan and then came back to work on photos and video for a while. I spent the evening relaxing and then went over to Kate's for the rest of the night to hang out.

Feb 25, 2012

I had to go up to Globe Dye Works in Philly to film video interviews with the owners of the building and people who used to work there for the Kickstarter video for Philadelphia Sculptors' summer installation project.

The filming went well and we took a tour of the building. It's a pretty amazing space, with old spools of colored thread and dusty sewing machines in an upper room with holes in the floor. It should be a great installation.

Later we went down to Nathan's beach house for his party/gathering. There was a nice spread of food and we added some beer to the fridge. We hung out, ate, and drank for a while and decided what to do with the night.

Nathan was comfortable in his robe. It is his house after all. We decided that we should go jump in the ocean since it was freezing and windy outside. And February.

Not everyone was so keen on the idea, but Ryan, Nathan, and I donned our shorts and headed out with Jamie and Jeff in tow to document. It was very cold on the short walk down the beach and we hesitated for just a minute before going for it.

It was too dark to document the actual jumping in the ocean, but suffice it to say that it was very cold and we were not in there very long. Just long enough to dive in and submerge and then run back to Jamie and Jeff for towels to try and warm up. While it was cold, it was not so terribly bitter that I felt frozen. It actually didn't feel as shocking as it does sometimes in the summer.

The rest of the night we stayed inside playing games, drinking beer, and eating snacks in the warmth. It was a lot of fun and we laughed a lot.

Feb 24, 2012

I worked at the Senior High resource room again for the day and then went for a run around the river trail after work. It was a rainy drive up to Philly and a brief wait in the alley outside Marrakesh. One of my favorite parts is that it's kind of hidden and you have to ring the bell to get in.

Kate and I went upstairs and made our choices for the meal and then began to salivate as we waited. You never wait long for the first of seven courses. It's just so much food. It's all amazing. Between the spiced veggies and bread then the sides, it's hard to eat any of the giant fruit bowl they bring out at the end. And of course the amazing baklava and green tea at the end. Mmmm.

We headed over to Northern Liberties to see The N Crowd improv comedy group. I hadn't seen them in quite a while and they were really good. They are quick and funny. I like that they use audience participation a lot.

We walked down to The Abbaye after the show for a couple of beers and then headed home after a nice late Valentine's night.

Feb 23, 2012

I worked at the Senior High in a resource classroom during the day, and then I went down to Sea Isle where Nathan had rented a house for a couple weeks to get away from Brooklyn and get some work done. He wanted to get some promotional photos done for his website so I shot some of him working at his workstation and recording some instruments.

We took to the beach with a banjo next and went looking for some good shots. It was a nice day on the beach and the sun was starting to drop. We took a bunch of fun shots and walked all the way down to the bridge.

We got some good serious shots too, but the funny ones were the best. I had Nathan run and jump as I shot from a low point so he was jumping over the sun.

We headed back to the house and hung out having a few beers and talking for a while before I headed home. Nothing like a fun photo shoot on the beach in winter.

Feb 22, 2012

I worked in a special ed class at Lakeside during the day, leading me to desire a run after work. I went to South Vineland Park and did a couple of laps around the trail then went home to have dinner.

I went to Applebee's early to meet Chuck so we could do some writing/editing and brainstorming for future ideas we want to film. We got some ideas on paper and then it was time for Quizzo to finish out the night.

Feb 21, 2012

An exciting day in the life of Don: I worked at Lakeside in a science class, then I came home and edited photos and updated the blogs. I stopped that fun to go to the gym with Ryan for an evening workout. I then came home for television viewing and sleep. And there you have it.

Feb 20, 2012

After a long sleep, I got up and went to Parvin for a run. It was cold, but nice to be out in the fresh air with the sun.

Kate, Chuck, and I decided to go down to DuClaw Brewing in Maryland to sample some beers and get some food. They have an amazing tuna melt and tons of beer to sample. 

We got two full samplers of everything they had on tap. I shared mine with Kate, but Chuck went for his all on his own. We liked pretty much all of them, but we ended up coming home with a growler of the Misfit Red and the Venom. I really wish this place was closer. 

Somehow when we got home we decided we needed to drink more beer, so we came to my house and did just that. We hung around the table talking for a couple of hours sipping bottle that we had in the fridge.

It was quite a beer filled day, which is nothing too unusual. At least I didn't sleep in the car this time.

Feb 19, 2012

Kate's surprise for my birthday came around today as we headed to Lancaster and it was soon revealed that we were going to the Winterfest Craft Beer Festival at Club Chameleon. I was pretty excited at the news. We got there early so we wandered around the city a little bit. There are a lot of art galleries downtown. None of them were open, unfortunately.

When we were allowed inside it was a crowded and small basement level room with a few vendors. It seemed like that was all there was, but we realized that it was a multi-level event. The sampling began, and the rule is: if you want to sample craft beer, a craft beer festival is the worst place to do that. Once you have a few your palate is not what it should be. There was a table of home brewers who brought their trashcan keg system to give samples.

I was happy that this sandwich was included in the admission price. Part of it anyway. It was a delicious respite from the beer drinking. Don't worry, we didn't lag for too long.

We went up and down the many levels on our sampling spree. I tried some things that I've had before and some that I had never heard of. Lancaster Brewing had their Double Chocolate Milk Stout, which is amazing. Erie Brewing had some great stuff as well.

The upstairs area had a DJ playing on stage. The room feels much different when there are bands playing and the whole room is packed. St. Boniface's Libation Double IPA was one of my favorites of the day. It's always hard to pick any. Some of the bigger names were represented upstairs, where I tried a dark Yuengling and a Guinness beer I'd never had.

The day took time, but it also flew by. We had sampled pretty much everything (or at least I had) and I was feeling it. There is some desire in me to make sure I check off every beer and make sure I've had a sip of them all for some reason. It ends with me being drunk and wanting to go to sleep.

So we came out to Kate's car and took a nap in the back for a short time. We considered getting a hotel just so we could sleep, but we ended up getting food at Wawa and making the drive home. Lancaster is too far. Next time we definitely need lodging. Either way it was a great day and a great gift.

Feb 18, 2012

I went to Kim's in the afternoon and met her and Chester do their engagement shoot. We went to the farm and took a bunch of shots around the tractors and equipment. They were coming out really nicely.

We went to the field cross the street so I could get some shots in the grass and with the barn and silo in the background. The weather was amazing and the sunset was perfect. I got some great shots that I'm really happy with and we had a really good time.

Chuck came over later so we could write. We picked up some beers for inspiration. It really works. We get funnier as we drink. Or so we think. Kate came over for a while to laugh at us.

It was a very good and productive day. I was excited to show Kim what I had gotten during the shoot.

Feb 17, 2012

I had a pretty good day at Memorial in an English class. I went to the gym with Ryan after work and went through our up and down workout.

Kate, Chuck, and I met up with Jeff and went to the Pour House near his house for some beers at a discounted rate. After a few we went to catch the train into Philly.

We got to the Troc as Less Than Jake was starting their second song. We missed a good opening song, but the rest of the set was fun. I'm not a big fan of the venue since it's so small and the crowd packs in. I enjoyed the show even though they played a few new songs that I wasn't into.

We took the train back to Jeff's and saw him off before we drove home. It was a fun night though it seemed to fly by.

Feb 16, 2012

I had an art class at the senior high followed by going home and editing photos and watching TV for a while until later when I met Ryan at the gym for some circuits. Fin.

Feb 15, 2012

I worked for Erika at Lakeside and Memorial during the day. It was the usual fairly easy day of band classes. Later I met Chuck to do some writing for the show before we did Quizzo. And we won! Free food!

After the quiz we went to the oar house and had a few drinks while we discussed more on the show and took some notes.

One day we might do something with this.