Mar 22, 2017

I got a job at Memorial and I really didn't want to go in so early, but it ended up not being too bad. I thought about taking a run after work, but I figured I should give my legs a little break after 5 days skiing. I took a nap or tried to and then we picked up Chuck and Alycia and went to The Abbaye for Firestone Walker's U Buy the Glass Night. Chuck and I parked and walked back from the Piazza lot. The beers were all fantastic. I loved the Pilsner, 31, Double Barrel Ale, and Easy Jack. Unfortunately we didn't have a chance to have Union Jack because it kicked.

Once the event was over and we finished our delicious cheesesteak and vegan wings along with our last beers poured after it finished we decided to go over to The Foodery and get a few bottles and cans to drink. We had to get a Union Jack since we missed out. We also got a Crunch chocolate PB Porter from Manayunk brewing and hung out there for a while longer. On our way home we may have passed a car on 55 on the right shoulder while a tractor trailer passed on the left. No big deal.

Feb 22, 2017

I worked at Holly Heights covering meetings with a new CST person. It was a decently easy day. I spoke to Ryan from Flo-Foto on the phone about upcoming races. Even though I canceled our ski trip this weekend because he wanted me to go to possibly go to Florida it turns out he won't need me for a few weeks for our new race. The day went by pretty quickly. Becca and I headed up to The Abbaye for a standing room only start to the Evil Genius U Buy the Glass Night. We got a table within a half hour so we were saved.

We ordered our cheesesteak and wings and the beer was amazing. The O'Doyle Rules IPA was great as was the Hooray! Sports! and the Han Shot First DIPA. They also had Purple Monkey Dishwasher on which is always great, but I don't have it much. Christie came to join in on the fun a little later. I'm glad she could make it out. We had a great time there and ended up staying later while our waiter kept on pouring beer after the event was over. I drank quite a bit and it was a great night!

Feb 26, 2014

My third day at Memorial covering meetings was somewhere in between. I had a good amount of break time so I watched New Girl and Sherlock as I hung out eating my yogurt parfait thing.

We went to The Abbaye for DuClaw's U Buy the Glass night early enough to get a good table. They had six beers on the menu. I had forgotten how good the Euphoria was, but I was happy to have that.

We ordered our food and the beers kept coming. There was the Venom Pale Ale, Bare Ass Blonde, Misfit Red, and Sweet Baby Jesus. I had forgotten about the Mysterium, but it didn't sound like one I would like. I was very wrong. Might be my favorite of the night.

People got drunk. Matt had to leave for his volleyball game and we stuck around until they stopped pouring. Once the raffle was over Kate had won a shirt and I didn't get anything. Earlier I had talked to the DuClaw rep, Chris, about being a big fan of their brewery for a long time so he told me to come out to his car after the raffle if I didn't win anything.

I did just that and he hooked me up with two bottles: Hell on Wood, which I'd never heard of, and Cocoa Fuego, which I actually haven't had yet. That was pretty awesome of him and just solidifies my love of that brewery and all that they do. After hanging out for a while longer we headed home to drop everyone off.

Feb 1, 2014

I went to the gym with Ryan in the morning to do some jump rope circuits. After we had enough I came home and had something for lunch and hung out for the day. We went up to The Abbaye in the evening for the Vegan Wing Bowl, which I had considered taking part in before I realized I wanted to enjoy my wings and not gorge myself on them. They were even on special at half price! I probably should have not eaten all day so I could eat more.

Before I got to sit down with everyone I went over to the Troc to get tickets. It should have been easy, but there was a ton of traffic in Chinatown and when I ordered Bayside tickets the guy gave me tickets to some other event entirely, which I realized after I had walked out and had to move my car before getting a ticket.

So eventually I made it back and sat down eager for a beer and food. During the event they had a Philadelphia Brewing U Buy the Glass with mostly beer we had tried before and the Schwarzinger. That was really good. We had a fun time at the back table squeezed in while everyone was yelling at the contestants in the wing contest. Always a good time at The Abbaye.

Jan 15, 2014

My second day of work in the science class went well. The students were cooperative again, partly, I think, because they know me now. It's nice not having to get to know a class before getting into the rest of the work. I did have a couple of girls that decided to be jerks so I had separate them and they complained and cursed at me. It happens. Can't kick them out, apparently!

After work I cleaned out my car and spent some time putting the back seats back in. Matt and Kate came over, and I picked up Chuck to head up to The Abbaye for Six Point Brewing Company's U Buy the Glass Night. We got there 15-20 early and I asked for a table for 5 and Meaghan shook her head no. I said, "table for 4?" to which she shook her head again, but said she could squeeze us onto a small table. And that she did.

We ordered our first beers, and Chuck was quick to notice the bacon wrapped meatloaf sandwich had made a triumphant return to the menu. For the first time in a while I was really impressed with every beer they offered. I think Bullfrog had very good varieties as well, but these were amazing. I started with the Sehr Crisp and it was sweet, fresh, and wonderfully flavorful. The Sweet Action was great as well; better than I remember it being even. The Mad Scientist 17: Braggot was a high-alcohol, tasty and slightly tart brew. The Spice of Life Summer IPA was a floral and grassy fresh beer. Finally, the Gorilla Warfare was a big, delicious porter. I was feeling the light beers though.

Jamie joined us and squeezed in at the corner of our little table. We had a great time, great food, and better beers. We (I) kept trying to take pictures from above the table, but we couldn't get all of us in. I settled for a good shot of our feet and help from our waitress. There were two girls sitting on the bench without a table that we talked to for a while, and then the guy at the table next to them asked me what my problem was, implying I was bothering them somehow. Apparently he was pretty drunk and our waitress left us a note on a napkin saying "OMG is everything okay?"

I didn't pick up on much of the drama happening and I ignored it as we continued to laugh and enjoy our night. Once we got the bill figured out we headed home. I had the house to myself, so I spent an hour or so playing bass loudly just because I could. It was nice and freeing.

Nov 13, 2013

I had a good day at work, in for a science teacher at Memorial. The students were good and they worked quietly on bookwork and then we watched a video about ocean life hosted by Leslie Nielsen. It was as silly as you'd think. Probably would have been better to show Planet Earth. I need to watch those again. I also got a bunch of blog updating done so I've backdated even further now.

After work I had lunch and finished watching New Girl and Son of Anarchy then I went for a walk along the river trail. I wanted to shoot some foliage, but it wasn't so colorful anymore. I got a few shots, but the sun had already dropped below the treeline so I couldn't even get the light. After shooting a few photos and dropping my book at the library I headed home and got ready for the night.

I picked up Chuck and met Kate and my sister and then we headed to The Abbaye. We got a good parking spot and a table for six and ordered our food. I got the summer salsa rice veggie burger and split some wings. The burger was good but super filling and I couldn't even eat more than one wing unfortunately. Stoudts was having their U Buy the Glass night and we sampled five beers. The Four Play IPA #4 was very good as was the Scarlet Lady ESB. The Pils and Revel Red were quality also, and the Big Nasty IPA was strong and hoppy.

Jamie got there right after us and Tracy showed up a little later. We had a new waiter and I think we like him. We rarely had an empty glass. The food was great and we spent some time guessing what NFG might open with and debating whether or not anyone besides my sister was happy that they weren't playing second. I asked Meaghan to do the raffle a little early since we had to leave, and Tracy ended up winning a mixed six pack! Good thing we stayed.

We headed to the Electric Factory in time for a brief wait until New Found Glory played. They definitely mixed up the set a bit from previous shows. It was nice. The crowd was hit or miss (ha!), but I was surprised they weren't into some songs but were into others. There were a few jerks in the pit that were being really obnoxious and swinging. I got hit a couple of times and then hit in the face intentionally because someone thought I was hitting his friend. So many assholes always appear at a NFG show. I have no idea how this happens. In any case it was a great set and enjoyable except for the facial abuse.

Alkaline Trio came on next, playing a bunch of really old, somewhat old, and newer stuff. I ventured that I knew about 70% of it. I wasn't feeling like getting into anything after the previous incidents so I stood with Chuck and watched. While they are a great band and they play well live, the room really lost a lot of energy after NFG played. They just have a more upbeat, fun set and crowd participation that lends well to a headliner. Ohh well, we got to calm down before getting in the car.

The drive home was good as I wondered how my face would look. It doesn't look that bad yet, but I iced it a little bit as I watched Oz awkwardly. Icing your forehead isn't the easiest thing to do. Once my head was nice and cold I gave in to my sleepiness.

Oct 16, 2013

It was another early morning at Merion Elementary School for portraits today. Lots of kids coming through very quickly without much of a break this time. There weren't really any problems, just the usual tedium of getting the kids to actually sit up and smile, while trying not to be rude to kids who have different smiles. One kid just would not smile, so I gave up on it and let his picture go looking like he just got punched in the stomach. It turned out his mom would not be happy about that one, but her kid is an idiot, so that's her problem. After we wrapped up for the day, I went back to the office for a brief graduation training session with Derrick. It was a quick run through, but I feel like I got the idea of what I need to do. (It's distorted because it's probably illegal to show his face..)

Once I got home and showered and changed it was out the door and right back to Philly with Chuck for Left Hand U Buy the Glass night at The Abbaye. We met Kate, Cody, and his friend there. They had the Polestar Pils, which is always great, the 400 Pound Monkey, Milk Stout, and one I'd never had before called Ambidextrous Ale Step 3 - Great Juju. That one was fantastic. My favorite of the night. I got the seitan cheesesteak because the vegan lasagna was sold out (damn!) That's not a problem really, because the cheesesteak is one of my favorites they have. We had a good night and Chuck won a shirt in the raffle so bully for him! After we left the bar we stopped in at the Foodery to pick up a few beers to bring home.

Jun 9, 2012

After a morning of editing photos I went up to The Abbaye with Shannon and Kate. Breckenridge was the featured U Buy the Glass "night" brewery for today. Beer Week in Philly is a great thing. We had a few beers and got some swag before heading back out on the road and getting stuck in traffic on our way to King of Prussia.

Journey's Backyard BBQ tour had Circa Survive playing here. We parked as they started playing and ran over to the stage to see them a couple songs in. I was happy to see that most of the crowd was into the show so I had a good time.

They played a great set even though it was pretty short. Anthony is crazy. They played a song off of their upcoming album as well that sounded good. They closed with "Act Appalled" as the encore. It was a Juturna heavy set.

After a good day we headed back home. I went for a walk with Ryan later in the night before it was bedtime.