Dec 22, 2016

I got to work to find out I had to cover my full first block I was supposed to have off. It doesn't usually bother me too much at Memorial, but it's been happening a lot lately. About a half hour before the end of the coverage Adrian ended up coming in to relieve me because he was assigned to that teacher for the day from Lakeside. It was enough time to run home and grab some food to bring back for lunch. The rest of the day went pretty well. No real problems at all and I was just reading on my computer the whole time.

It was nice outside after work so Becca and I high-tailed it to Parvin for a run. I took the Black Oak Trail because there were a lot of cars there so I wanted to avoid the people and also add some distance. I was feeling pretty good if a little slow. When I checked my phone a little over 3 miles in my phone turned off again. It pissed me off to no end so I stopped at about 3.25 miles after a pace of 8:40. Still not bad, but really annoying. When I got back to the dock Becca was sitting at the end and the scene was beautiful!

We went home and got ready for the night then drove down to Becca's boss Karen's house for pre-dinner cocktail hour. It wasn't really awkward, just unnecessary. I had a Bulleit on ice and then a glass of wine and the women and I boarded the bus to Atlantic City. I was feeling a little tipsy already but having a good time.

When we got to the restaurant it was even worse than it looked on the menu I checked out. It seemed like some old run-down restaurant you'd find at a midwest highway rest stop. The beer list left much to be desired. I met her friend Dan, who was really funny and the main thing that made the night fun. Her boss was a little strange, but ended up being really nice and came down to talk to me about craft beer for a long time.

I got quite a few Goose Island IPAs because that was literally the only thing remotely craft on the list. We got eggplant parm because the only other thing we could have gotten was pasta with marinara sauce. The food was good, I'll say that. I was looking forward to craft beer, which according to her boss this was supposed to be at a craft beer/wine bar with a pairing menu, so I think I wasn't alone in disappointment. In any case, the night ended up being pretty fun and we went back home afterward to get to bed relatively early.

May 24, 2012

I worked between two elementary schools during the day covering meetings. I didn't have any to cover at the first one and then the second one used me for two classes. And then I left. Hm. Kate and I went to AC in the evening to Vagabond for their Dogfish Head tap takeover.

They had thirteen beers on tap, including the World Wide Stout and 120 Minute IPA. The latter is just fantastic. They would only give us small glasses of it. The Red and White was interesting, with a sweet cherry flavor. The Black and Blue was probably my other favorite, having a slight taste of a sour ale with fruity notes.

We had some good food and free fries while we hung out and talked to some of the reps from Dogfish and the people that work at Vagabond. Our table had a nice view of the sunset as well. It was nice to try some new beers from them.

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.

Dec 29, 2011

I slept in for the early part of the day then Kate and I tried to find things to do early. We fail so I went out to get a new desk chair. It was long overdue. I picked out this nice "executive" leather chair and came home to put it together. Then I sat in it for a little while. I like it.

Later, we headed to AC to Tun Tavern to try all of their beers in the sampler. They have a lot of good ones, including the Maple Black Walnut Brown Ale. That and the pale ale are my favorites.

We got some food that was presented nice and fancy-like. It was all quite good. I'd go back. We had to catch the Jitney and rush back to the House of Blues to get to the show on time.

We came in while Bayside was on their second song. They played a set with very little talking and all music. It was good stuff. They played a lot of new songs, which I'm always excited to hear from them. The old ones kind of got old, honestly. Their set was great.

Taking Back Sunday was up next and we had to push through the boring crowd of people to get closer. They were really great musically and Adam was entertaining as ever.

They played all but three songs off of of Tell All Your Friends and they played a lot of new stuff. Their oldest and newest stuff is my favorite so that worked out nicely. "Existentialism on Prom Night" wasn't even so bad this time around. I was kind of excited to hear it. Adam ran off through the crowd for the last two songs, singing to the crowd from atop the bar. It was hilarious.

After a great night out we headed home. Dinner and a great show were definitely a great birthday gift from Kate. Thanks!

Nov 25, 2011

Ryan and I met at South Vineland Park to do our workout outside in the nice weather. We replaced a few things and added a hill run to the mix. After four sets of exercises with a hill run each time I was exhausted. We kept adding it still. We did a run around the lake after we finished.

Kate, Chuck, and I went to Dave's and then headed to Atlantic City. They stayed at the car and we went to Firewater's to get some drinks before the show. We had quite a few but we took the Jitney so we had a way back.

We got into the House of Blue in time to see the Reel Big Fish starting their set. They were entertaining as always played what we've come to expect.

I had to keep dragging Kate into the crowd to dance then we went over by the bar and I danced some more over there. We all had a lot of fun. The Fish never let us down.

The ride home seemed very long but we made it. I was ready for a shower and sleeping.

Feb 11, 2011

I worked at Lakeside for a math class, where I had to give a test while the actual teacher came in and out of the classroom, usurping my authority regularly and leaving again so the students didn't want to listen to me. It was fun. After work I had a nice run because it was something close to warm outside.

I picked up Jess and we went to Olive Garden where there was a wait to get in. We sat at the bar and had some beers while we waited for our buzzer to go off.

We sat down and made our entree decisions and then commenced the next waiting game. I got the seafood alfredo, which I think is the first time in over a year that I've gotten anything besides the portobello raviolis when I've gone there. It was really good but I couldn't eat much of it after the breadsticks and soup. And the one really hot pepper from the salad.

We headed to Showboat in Atlantic City where we found a little bar and then we played some penny slots. I spent three bucks and had enough. Gambling doesn't really interest me anymore. Jess played a little longer and I just watched.

We went back to the bar and got some more drinks and people watched at the casino. It's probably the best place possible to do that.

It looks like Jess drank a lot but she really didn't. The first glasses were much smaller, which is why she needs two of her small hands to pick up the big glass.

Tracy and Tina were wandering through the casino so we called them over and they hung out and had a few drinks with us. I got a vanilla vodka and ginger ale, which I really liked. I like most things with ginger ale.

We went up to the House of Blues just a bit before Jimmy Eat World came out to "Bleed American" followed by "My Best Theory." It was a great opening followed by an amazing set of songs I didn't expect and some that I did. The crowd was almost totally still the whole show until they closed with "Sweetness." I guess they should have opened with it?

Even though the crowd was lame, the show was great. They always put on a great show and I was happy with the changes in the set list from the last time I saw them. When are they coming again?

Nov 26, 2010

Nathan and I went out to the course to play a game since the weather wasn't great for hiking. They have recently renumbered the course and added a couple of new holes to make up for the ones that were taken out from the flooding.

We had a good round, with me somehow almost acing the last hole. It's a considerable distance from the tee and I rarely get anywhere near this basket on my first shot.

I met Jamie at Kawa later for dinner. Her sushi was entertaining. I had the vegetable curry which I requested extra hot. It wasn't. It's never spicy at all actually. Those little peppers on the menu lie.

I picked up Shannon and we went to her friend's house in Brigantine where we played water pong for a while as we drank some beer. We lost a lot of games.

There was another gamed called Nemo that was suggested so we learned the rules and started playing. At that point a bunch more people had showed up so we were crowded around the table trying to bounce a ping pong ball into a cup before getting skipped. Either way I was enjoying my Troegs Rugged Trail.

At one point the game stopped completely so everyone could dance to Sandstorm. I was in the same position as the guy at the end of the table.

They called a cab to take us to Atlantic City so everyone had their last drinks or shots and got ready to head out.

We went to Ri Ra Irish Pub in the Tropicana where I had some lower quality beer and we danced to the cover band Sugarbuzz. They were pretty good but I always think that cover bands rely on everyone drinking and singing along to the songs.. which we were doing so it was fine.

We stayed there for most of their three sets. They played a lot of good songs and the girls got on stage with them at one point to dance and help sing. There were a few strange people in the crowd including an older guy that was dancing behind me for a while. He seemed pretty out of it.

We called the cab to take us back to the house and had the driver stop at Wawa for some much-needed food and water. After hanging out at the house for a while I dropped off Shannon and came home. Aside from some minor drama the night was a good time.