So Far, Not A Fan

I tried a new IPA, from Boulevard Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri. Their Double Wide IPA was sub-par. However, as there are four bottles in the package, I will give it one more shot, though I am not enthused...

The Road Less Traveled

Route 3 was its typical cluster fv¢# today, so instead of driving up onto it for my commute home, I bypassed it and went via Route 62 West instead. What a great drive! It was rainy and grey, but I had my window down with the amazing WZBC playing (among other things, songs by My Bloody Valentine and Thievery Corporation), and there was NO traffic all the way to Route 2 West. And by the time I got onto that familar highway, there was no traffic to speak of there either. The rush hour drive home was fantastic.

I foodshopped when I got to my neighborhood, and I also grabbed a half gallon growler of Opa-Opa IPA and a four-pack of a new (to me) beer called Double-Wide IPA from the Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, MO. Dinner was four fried chicken wings that Ma dropped off on Sunday, with corn bread and a glass of birch beer soda. Add all that to a decent work day, and this rainy Tuesday wasn't half bad...

The Avengers Film

I finally went to see "The Avengers" tonight on a whim, on the way back from work.

• Pros: It had great action, lots of humor, amazing fight scenes, and good pacing.
• Cons: The Chitauri (the alien race who invaded) were soulless, and did not provide a foe that could truly be hated or despised for their motivation. It was basically a mindless invasion (like a swarm of insects) that had to be endured.

Overall I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I am sure the sequel with Thanos (fantastic scene at the very end!) as 'The Big Bad' will be even better.

The Cranberries @ HoB

I worked 9 - 4 today (Friday, May 11th), and left soon after for Alewife. erik was running late, so I hopped the Red Line solo to Harvard Square, and was the first to arrive at John Harvard's for a pre-concert dinner with Jay & Erik.

I waited at the bar and had a Houblon IPA, which was probably even better than my cold-affected senses could determine properly. Jay arrived a few minutes later, and Erik wandered in around an hour later. We got a table, I had a different pale ale from their taps, and then I ordered a round of Triple Eight Cranberry Vodka shots for us, to annoint the evening's Cranberries concert later on. I had fried calamari for an appetizer and then the fish & chips for my dinner. Jay got another round of shots at one point, and we left full, and ready to listen to one of the greatest bands on Earth.

After uneventful trips down the Red and Green Lines, and a short walk past Fenway Park, we decided to get one last beer before the show at The Lansdowne Pub. I had a Harpoon IPA, we watched a bit of the Red Sox game, and then we headed over to The House of Blues to see The Cranberries.

Long story short: the show was amazing. The band threw "Linger" in right away (instead of saving it for the end). And the power block of "Schizophrenic Playboy", "Zombie" and "Salvation" was driving, hard and intense in the best way possible! What an amazing show...

Howth's About Music

I just got the Kickstarter package from a band whose project I supported.

Howth has a fantastic 'beyond folk' sound that just couldn't be passed up when I was scanning through the various music projects. So I gladly plunked down my twenty-five bucks for their latest release, "Newkirk", plus a limited-edition t-shirt and a hand-written thank-you note. The music is amazing (it will most definitely be a big part of this summer's soundtrack), the note is cool, and the t-shirt is a great bonus. Supporting local music (whether it is local to me or not) is always a good idea...

Florida

It seems like Florida is the destination of choice for my family lately.

Sarah & Jon and their kids drove down to visit Jon's father for school vacation week last week (more like ten days). Highlights included petting zoos, long stretches of road, and Hayden leaving his appendix behind.

Dad & Ma flew down to St. Augustine today to visit with Aunt Aggie and the rest of the Lebanese branch of our family. Dad will return next Wednesday, and Ma will spend a few more days with her cousin Dimples.

When I was a kid we went twice:

1. We (my parents, Kevin, Sarah and I) flew down when Ma was pregnant with Jason, spent a week and then drove Isa's Hornet back.
2. Everyone but Dad flew down and back, with my Aunt Wendy when I was 13 and we went to Disney World for a day. I hated it, and the next day I was too sick for us to go back. I was at that age where the lines were too long and the rides didn't live up the wait.

Personally, as an adult I have no interest in ever going back on my own dime. I prefer a less humid climate. But I am glad the others are all enjoying their times visiting family and seeing the sights...

Customary

I'd spent so much time trying to decide whether to spend $10 each on some 12 oz "Life is Good" mugs, or $11.95 each for a few 16 oz classic Disney mugs (you know, the really old versions of the characters from the 40's) that I finally gave up and decided to create my own at eCustom. They were $10 each for 15 oz mugs (11 oz would have been $9 each, but I prefer a bigger mug), so I got two, and they arrived today, just over a week later. They are high-quality, have large handles, and best of all, are not made in China!