Mar 31, 2012

After some much-needed rest we got back to it in the morning. We grabbed a breakfast sandwich on the way to the convention center and then I got into interview mode with a handful of NJ breweries. I think I got some good footage.

After the crowds came in I joined in the tastings once more before I decided I needed a break. I took a walk and went to the hotel to relax for a little while away from the insanity and lines.

When I came back it was even crazier since everyone was drunk. I wandered around and took some shots of what was going on and sampled a few more then I went back to the NJCB booth and hung out.

I chilled at the booth during the changeover and read a little bit until Kate got there at the beginning of the third and final session. I brought her inside and we began making the rounds. I was able to direct her to the best brews I had tasted so we were able to get around the whole place much more quickly.

Once Kate was sufficiently buzzed (drunk) we came back to the booth and hung out with everyone. Mike had to put up a sign letting everyone know that we just sell the discount cards and don't have beer. A lot of folks were quite disappointed when we couldn't fill up their little cups.

Once the final bell had sounded we packed up all the shit at our table and I brought the car in. It felt odd driving through the convention center. Once we were all packed up I headed to the hotel room to drop everything off.

We hung out for a bit at the hotel sipping on a bottle of Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Iron Hill. It was good stuff, but you know how it is after tasting beer all day. I was not interested in more than a taste.

Once we said our cheers and thank yous and goodbyes a few times in the hotel, Kate and I made our way back to the car and headed home. It was a great two days of AC Beer Fest, but I was ready for bed!

Mar 30, 2012

The best job I could get was a half day so I had the morning to do some things that needed doing. Like getting my hair cut. The woman that cut it was so awkward and unfriendly though.

I went to the park for a run and tripped on a little stump in the first minute. Haven't had a skinned knee in a while. I ran five miles and stopped because I had to get to work. I substituted a fifth grade class. It was an easy day; they watched a movie, went to lunch, played on computers, and had art class.

I finished packing for the weekend and Kate picked me up and took me down to AC Convention Center for two days of Beer Fest! True, I'm working it, but it's still exciting.

The building is massive and was relatively empty of people when I got there. The vendors were setting up and putting out their signage and icing down the kegs. I got the lay of the land and then tried to get some pre-doors beer.

I got a couple of beers from nearby tables before the doors opened. I sipped them down and then did some video of everyone setting up.

The New Jersey Craft Beer table was right in the cluster of Jersey breweries, fittingly. We had a nice spot and some great neighbors. Carton's Milk Stout was pretty good and Cape May Brewery brought their Honey Porter. Oh, and how could I forget Turtle Stone Brewery from Vineland had a Chocolate Milk Stout. Yes.

Chuck came down with Brian using the tickets he won from NJCB and we began the great tasting. I really started slacking off on the photography when we started going around trying things. We did our best to hit up as many tables as possible.

Among my favorites of the night were definitely the Innis & Gunn Scottish Stout and Blue Point White IPA. Solid beers. There were a ton of other great beers I tried, including my first taste of mead, which is similar to wine, but they use honey instead of grapes. It has a really interesting taste and seems quite versatile.

The night was a blur and a success. I met some great people and tried more beers than I can count. The night fest finished its first session with Marky Ramone's band playing a set before they called last call and gave everyone the boot.

We all went to Vagabond for the NJCB after party with a special beer called SS NJCB brewed by Carton. It was strong and I was not in the mood for more beer, especially strong stuff. We sat at a table in the back and I ended up heading back to the hotel room early when Brian and Chuck were ready to leave.

Mar 29, 2012

After a seemingly long day at Lakeside, where I finished The Girl Who Played with Fire and began The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (so good), I met Kate at the course for a round of disc golf. We played most of the wooded holes and skipped some of the more open ones because of the wind, but it was a good time.

Later we went to her house and Chuck came over to watch Big Bang Theory before we went to pick up Aiden and take him home. He's hilarious.

I got some things done in preparation for the weekend when I got home and then I got to bed pretty early.

Mar 28, 2012

It was a nice and easy day subbing for band class at Lakeside and Memorial. We watched some Toy Story 3 in one class and then watched Super Size Me with the health classes for the rest of the day. Not bad. I went to the park for an interval run after work as it started to rain a bit. The run was good, but we decided against disc golf.

Chuck, Kate, and I hung out at her place for a while trying out the Samuel Adams New World and talking about music stuff. We have some songs on a list for an acoustic cover project we're working on.

Quizzo was good. We got our old waitress back that we like and we did pretty well throughout, until we started struggling at the end. We managed to pull through and win by forty points by naming NBC Thursday night comedy shows over the past five years. Harder than it sounds. Remember My Name is Earl?

After a close victory I headed home to lie in bed early and watch 24 until I fell asleep.

Mar 27, 2012

I subbed for the vocal music teacher at the Senior High, watching That Thing You Do, The Producers, and Mamma Mia. I spent most of my time reading as the students watched. After work Kate and I went up to Iron Hill Brewery in Marlton. I wanted to get a pint of their Luca Brasi coffee stout before it was all gone. I also got a Rising Sun IPA that was fantastic. The food was pretty great as well. Why can't we have one of these in Millville??

After dinner we came back to Kate's and spent two or three hours playing the Big Bang Theory drinking game. We need to amend the rules a bit I think, but it was fun anyway.

Mar 26, 2012

No jobs came up last night or this morning so I decided to make a list of things to get done since I was up early anyway. I stopped by Chopper's to pay for work done to my car and then headed to some local places to sign them up for New Jersey Craft Beer. After some great success in Millville I headed to Glassboro for a few more meeting with places I've been hoping to get in the club for a while and was met with equally positive reactions! Great day! Hoping that all five businesses will be joining in this week!

After some frustrating driving around in Marlton I found the rock climbing gym and Ryan. We spent an hour or so climbing several paths up the bouldering walls. I did well on a few, but I found some of them frustratingly difficult to accomplish. I need to get better.

On the way home I stopped at REI and got a new pair of hiking boots then met Ryan back at home and did a six mile run in a little under an hour. It was cold out, but I felt motivated to do a long run since it's been a while. Gotta start training harder!

Mar 25, 2012

Kate and I started heading to the Flightline for breakfast before we realized they are cash only and we had none. We went to Bob Evans instead and I had some tasty sausage gravy.

I went to the gym with Ryan a short time later to do various muscle workouts since we haven't been this week per our Tough Mudder training plan. We did some interval runs on the treadmills after working out.

My day was pretty lazy after getting back from the gym, but later we went to get some beers and hung out at Kate's with the fire going. It was a good night for fire.

I didn't feel too much like drinking, but the Lancaster Milk Stout is always delicious. Chuck played a few tunes for us now that the guitar is back in working condition.

After the fire died down and we got chilly the party moved inside for a short time until we got the boot and I came home and watched some 24 and tried to get a job until well after midnight.

Mar 24, 2012

After doing a few things at home I picked up Kate and her mom and Fred followed me up to Yards Brewing. We brought Fred for his birthday since he has started getting interested in craft beer. We got a couple of flights to sample and they went on the tour for a short time until they got bored. We went to The Abbaye for brunch before I had to go to work.

I met Leslie and others at Globe for more interview sessions. This time we were focused on getting information from the artists to use in our Kickstarter campaign. I think we got a good amount of video to use. Now I just have to do all the editing..

When I got home I relaxed for a while and spent a good portion of the night reading before I went to Kate's to watch Buried.

Mar 23, 2012

I met Laura and Jess in Glassboro and began our drive at 4:30am toward Patapsco Valley State Park in Maryland. After driving the periphery of the park for quite a while we found an entrance and came in. We were the first and only people in the park at 7am. I took some photos of the fog as they tried to nap in the car.

I walked the Switchback Trail down to the river and got some really great shots of the silhouetted trees and spiderwebs outlined by droplets of water.

We went over to the Rapids Trail after they stopped trying to sleep and wandered along the edge of the fast-flowing water. It was a nice secluded area with plenty of great views.

Henryton State Hospital is inside the park boundaries and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to explore the complex of abandoned buildings while we were so close. Several very large buildings sit out in the middle of the forest, long empty and decaying. It took us quite a while to walk through each of them.

They were all mostly gutted and covered in graffiti. It was interesting, but nothing really unique about any of it unfortunately.

We headed down to the southern part of the park and stopped at a picnic area to have lunch and rest for a bit. We then picked up the Cascade Falls trail and headed up the mild grade, following the stream.

The falls came pretty quickly on the hike and were smaller than we expected. The trail was a really nice and relaxing walk. Nothing too difficult. When we got back we were ready to head out.

On the way home we stopped at DuClaw for some food and a beer. The Celtic Ale was great. After hanging out for a bit at home Kate and I went to Christie's to hang out and watch The Lion King since we couldn't decide on any other movie.

Mar 22, 2012

I didn't manage to get a job subbing so I decided to try to be productive for my other "job." I went to a couple of liquor stores and bars in the area to attempt to recruit them to our club. One out of three isn't bad. The others are still on the fence. After that I went to the park to meet Chuck and Kate to play some disc golf. Kate did quite well for her first time and she didn't seem to hate it.

Ryan met me at the course for a training run of two laps with exercise stations and a log climb. It went well but I was exhausted by the end of the second lap. I need to get back into it if I'm going to run eleven miles next month with obstacles along the way. I spent the night getting some things together for hiking and trying to get to bed early.

Mar 21, 2012

I had a good day at the Senior High with an English class that I'm always in for. The students had their work and did it, for the most part. I spent most of the time reading more through The Girl Who Played with Fire. It's getting really good. I had a nap after work and then we headed to Philly for The Abbaye's U Buy the Glass night for Southampton Brewery.

I ordered a red bean burger even though I wasn't that hungry. It's hard to resist. We sampled the beers which included a porter, a double white, and a marzen. The double white was really good and pretty much what I wanted last night. The porter was also delicious, but I wasn't in the mood for the heavier stuff. The rep from the brewery came and talked to us about the different styles and the brewery which I now want to visit.

We headed home after sitting in the bar for a while finishing our drinks and food with our complimentary glasses in hand. I met Ryan for a walk around Vineland after I picked up my car from Chopper's. It was a beautiful night to walk outside and we made a few laps around the developments in east Vineland before calling it a night.