NightWoundsTime

Yes it is International Plaza. The only thing I've gone there for in the last four years is gelato, and only once at that. I go there at least once a week for deliveries and it's part of my toughest day of the week. Going for dinner or brews just doesn't appeal most of the time, but this place may change that. Sadly Sir Gene, it isn't open just yet and probably won't be before I leave for Tallahassee. How long before you go on the big summer trip?

Just found an interesting connection. There's a new entry in a chain of British style pubs (confoundingly each one is simply called "The Pub"), opening at Tampa's most soul-sucking mall very soon. I just researched a bit trying to figure how bad the place was going to be, when I found that ratebeer reviews for other locations generally involve mention of their casks, and 100% of the time those are mentioned to be Brewdog casks, up to and including Paradox. I wonder if Brewdog has any investment in the chain. There's one down close to Mike as well, wonder if he's been there. EDIT: And, looks like there's one near Jacob. Could this be where he mentioned getting Paradox on cask?

So I've just stared at the atrocity that Al posted up there, and I really can't figure how that's supposed to be a cake. It's almost insulting to send a baker such an ugly cake. Let's get you something more worthy of your class and distinction. That's more like it. Happy Birthday, big man.

Happy Fuckin Birthday! Hope you, John & Vicki enjoyed your weekend down there and made a dent in that box of Hunahpus. Is that a 110K you're pairing with the cake? Can't imagine that worked out too well.

Yep, watched it last night. The Reliant segment was definitely a winner. Loved the huge map.

Vicki, I get Sprecher sodas at my Sweetbay grocery store, so it's definitely not limited to those two places in Florida. Strangely enough, it's not located in the soda aisle but rather with the organic dry goods. I know you don't have Sweetbay down there but check around. Also, if you like real Ginger check out their awesomely unique Ginger Ale. Actually, I was destined for a craft beer fascination, as I went through a craft soda phase years ago. I had a local deli that was completely packed with sodas from around the country. The owner and his family would take roadtrips with a large trailer in tow, and stop at local soda breweries to load up. I've had quite a few very rare local offerings, but my favorites are still the sodas from the beer guys (Sprecher and Tommyknocker). Tommyknocker Almond Cream is right up there with the Sprecher Ginger in terms of unique awesomeness.

Sunday Sunday Sunday!!! Can't wait.

You know whose custom title isn't fine how it is? Mine. I issued a challange and you have not fulfilled mister Reks. Get on that.

Congrats all but I agree Ryan that you're especially brave to be coming out to us so early. I did notice your newfound freedom but suspected nothing other than drunkenness. I definitely don't have an actively working gaydar but that's because I hardly care. I do however make far too many gay jokes and I'm fairly sure you folks aren't offended by them but just in case... apologies all around. I don't think I can ever give up using the words 'gay' or 'fag' in regular speech though. My standup comedian hero Doug Stanhope said (paraphrasing), "If you're gay and you're offended by my use of the word 'fag' see me after the show and I'll blow you. It's too good a word to lose." Then of course there was the recent South Park episode redefining 'fag' to mean riders of loud motorcycles. I was a polite little Christian kid who grew up in a household that was vaguely racist and seriously homophobic ("I'm not homophobic, because that implies I'm afraid of you. I just think you're disgusting", being an oft repeated phrase in my house). My rebellion was to stop practicing religious morality and start with a more practical morality. The worst I do to anyone is curse an awful lot, and I need all the ammo I can get for when I find the person who is actually offended.

Strange things I've eaten and don't really even know what to call them: Lots of random gelatin or mung bean based desserts at the Buddhist temple, coconut milk custard things at same (sounds normal but the texture is quite abnormal), and a bowl of bones and fat from a cuban cafeteria. That last was rough, I think they referred to it as oxtail but I couldn't find a single shred of protein. Who sits down and eats chunks of fat?

Actually this is far preferable to the alternative of stretching this move out for months. As it is now we should be up and running on July 1st, and I'm going early to run with the current drivers from Pensacola and learn the routes.

Well, as of my last conversation with management, I'm going to have to go back to a negatory on CanJam participation. My move could be happening sooner than I thought (about two weeks, moved up from the six weeks I was expecting). Crap consolidation begins now. I'll be impatiently awaiting my drunken phone calls for the weekend.

Suck it.

I've got an unhealthy love for them too, but prefer Rise Above to the new one.

Don't worry, be happy. If you knew my truly unhealthy love for Justin Timberlake you'd probably have me committed.

Janelle Monae - ArchAndroid Best pop record since.... well there's never been a pop record like this. Equal parts Lauryn Hill (specifically 'Miseducation Of' material) and Outkast, but taking a much wider range of influences than either of those. Letterman performance from a couple nights ago, what most people would consider her debut to the world, and a damned fine one.

Sam Cooke - Ain't That Good News

Went and traded a bunch of old CD's in for fresh tasty vinyls: Hendrix - Band of Gypsys Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica Destroyer - Streethawk: A Seduction RX Bandits - Mandala Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights

My local post office has always had an asian market located next door, but now there's a new one on the other "next door", note that the original is still open. Crazy. Anyway the new one is a full-fledged supermarket, much bigger than the original. Long story short, picked up a bunch of different packaged Ramen and Pho, and even a Pad Thai. The PT was pretty excellent, dressed up with an egg, peanuts, and bean sprouts. Got a few drunk friends over so ended up making a big batch of Ramen/Pho with all the various seasonings and that was tasty, when combined with a big spoonful of chili sauce.

Posty, count on a meetup this fall sometime after I get moved to Tallahassee. Never been to NOLA.

While I clean the house: RX Bandits - Mandala Along the modern progressive lines of Mars Volta, Coheed & Cambria, and Fall of Troy. This band is my new favorite of the pack.

Just a personal prejudice against the distributor. The same distributor that along with his Bud distributor network got some stupid laws passed, like not allowing retail stores to do beer tastings. They can do wine and liquor just fine, but the lobbyists got that one on the books, probably back when the first few microbrews were hitting the market. Now that the Bud network is moving into the craft beer game, I've heard that Mr Pepin has expressed an interest in reversing the law.

I take it a step further and avoid anything distributed by my local Budweiser folks. The Miller distributors have been on board with good beer for a while, and made a seperate sales division to handle the good beer accounts. I'm ok with that, but now Pepin (Bud) is trying to flood the craft beer market with a lot of useless crap. Victory and Magic Hat are two major brands they've brought in and I haven't bought a bottle of either.

Complete overload. There wasn't a page you could link to? MMk.