11.28.04
Posted in culture at 10:55 pm by
Greg asked that very question in the comments of my last post. A fair question if I ever heard one. I haven’t really been posting as much as I would like. Here’s a rundown of why.
1) Thanksgiving with the in-laws. The in-laws are wonderful people. However, they live about 47 miles past anything resembling the internet. It’s a 4 hour drive to get up there and when you’re ‘up there’ you’re really ‘up there’ if you know what I mean. So that’s one reason. Celebration with family.
2) I’ve also been finishing a few papers for my classes. In true grad-student style, I’ve pretty much devoted my first semester this year to you, my reading public. This was, of course, wonderful. However, it’s now time to pay the piper and hammer out some papers, the ones I’ve been putting off all semester. I’d inform you of the content of these papers, but in truth, they’re really boring. Suffice it to say I’m developing an experimental design and working that into a feasible experiment…I’ve fallen asleep while typing. That should pretty much say it all.
3) I actually planned on blogging this afternoon but interestingly, on our 4 hour drive home–which happened to be through snow and ice,–we witnessed a rollover accident. We weren’t involved, but we did witness a vehicle skid out, cross three lanes of traffic, and roll over in the ditch. We stopped. I was the first one on the scene. The woman driving was fine, thank God. I wasn’t so lucky. I tripped while I was running to see if she was alright, I think I got whiplash.
4) I probably overestimate the ‘fun’ Jen and I have when we go up north. We don’t really. It’s actually quite boring. So, in an effort to quell the ‘up north thanksgiving blues’ Jen and I decided to drag the in-laws out to the bookstore. It was raining, so something inside seemed wise. I found a book about homebrewing. I read this book, pretty much cover to cover. I got hooked, again. You see, I’ve always been about a half a minute away from starting my own homebrew hobby. This weekend, I’ve quelled that urge as well. Just about as soon as Jen and I got unpacked from our trip this weekend, I was on the internet finding the closest homebrew shop. Luckily, it wasn’t far away, and it was open on Sunday. Beautiful.
We went and purchased me a deluxe homebrew starter kit. (Grandma Joyce had this weekend given both Jen and I a ‘christmas money’ cheque…I think she’ll be thrilled to hear that I spent mine on beer making equippment.) Now, those of you who know me also know that I have the patience of a third grader…who has to pee. I couldn’t just HAVE a homebrew kit, and enough malt barley (extract and crushed), hops, and yeast to make beer…and then NOT make beer. So…at about 8:00 tonight I threw my new 20 quart stock pot on the stove and started making my very first homebrew.
American Amber. Should be spectacular. Come if you like, it should be ready to drink in about 4 weeks, give or take a week.
And that, my friends, is where I’ve been. I’ve got some thoughts kicking around for posts that I’m absolutely itching to get down onto ‘cyberpaper’ so stay tuned. I think it’ll be a good week. And, of course, I’ll keep you posted on the status of ‘our beer.’
Toodles,
Brandon
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Posted in culture at 10:55 pm by
Greg asked that very question in the comments of my last post. A fair question if I ever heard one. I haven’t really been posting as much as I would like. Here’s a rundown of why.
1) Thanksgiving with the in-laws. The in-laws are wonderful people. However, they live about 47 miles past anything resembling the internet. It’s a 4 hour drive to get up there and when you’re ‘up there’ you’re really ‘up there’ if you know what I mean. So that’s one reason. Celebration with family.
2) I’ve also been finishing a few papers for my classes. In true grad-student style, I’ve pretty much devoted my first semester this year to you, my reading public. This was, of course, wonderful. However, it’s now time to pay the piper and hammer out some papers, the ones I’ve been putting off all semester. I’d inform you of the content of these papers, but in truth, they’re really boring. Suffice it to say I’m developing an experimental design and working that into a feasible experiment…I’ve fallen asleep while typing. That should pretty much say it all.
3) I actually planned on blogging this afternoon but interestingly, on our 4 hour drive home–which happened to be through snow and ice,–we witnessed a rollover accident. We weren’t involved, but we did witness a vehicle skid out, cross three lanes of traffic, and roll over in the ditch. We stopped. I was the first one on the scene. The woman driving was fine, thank God. I wasn’t so lucky. I tripped while I was running to see if she was alright, I think I got whiplash.
4) I probably overestimate the ‘fun’ Jen and I have when we go up north. We don’t really. It’s actually quite boring. So, in an effort to quell the ‘up north thanksgiving blues’ Jen and I decided to drag the in-laws out to the bookstore. It was raining, so something inside seemed wise. I found a book about homebrewing. I read this book, pretty much cover to cover. I got hooked, again. You see, I’ve always been about a half a minute away from starting my own homebrew hobby. This weekend, I’ve quelled that urge as well. Just about as soon as Jen and I got unpacked from our trip this weekend, I was on the internet finding the closest homebrew shop. Luckily, it wasn’t far away, and it was open on Sunday. Beautiful.
We went and purchased me a deluxe homebrew starter kit. (Grandma Joyce had this weekend given both Jen and I a ‘christmas money’ cheque…I think she’ll be thrilled to hear that I spent mine on beer making equippment.) Now, those of you who know me also know that I have the patience of a third grader…who has to pee. I couldn’t just HAVE a homebrew kit, and enough malt barley (extract and crushed), hops, and yeast to make beer…and then NOT make beer. So…at about 8:00 tonight I threw my new 20 quart stock pot on the stove and started making my very first homebrew.
American Amber. Should be spectacular. Come if you like, it should be ready to drink in about 4 weeks, give or take a week.
And that, my friends, is where I’ve been. I’ve got some thoughts kicking around for posts that I’m absolutely itching to get down onto ‘cyberpaper’ so stay tuned. I think it’ll be a good week. And, of course, I’ll keep you posted on the status of ‘our beer.’
Toodles,
Brandon
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Streak said,
November 29, 2004 at 12:20 pm
Home brew? email me if you want. I brewed for several years and am planning on doing another batch when this interminable semester ends!
Mainsheet said,
November 29, 2004 at 4:20 pm
I’m also a brewer of some experience … I’ve been fascinated by yeasts and yeast-based products since I was a little goober. I got started on home-brewing when I discovered two things. In grad school I learned I really, really, like India Pale Ale; and, I couldn’t afford to drink it much on my TA stipend. I learned to brew it instead.
Just Pat said,
November 29, 2004 at 5:41 pm
Ah, BC…I’m in awe!! Do you have Bohemian blood running through your veins? My Bohemian grandpa used to make his own home brew. My mom said it tasted more like champagne than beer.
Hey, you can give bottles of home brew for Christmas presents if you start now!