After work last night, a co-worker and I went out for our normal after work, relaxation, stress taking away beer at a local establishment. Normally we get there and it is a little busy, but there are still plenty of tables to choose from. It also starts to wind down because it is close to midnight. Last night, however, was different because the college kids are still out for winter break. Before I pulled into the driveway I thought that it wasn't going to be busy because it was snowing (yes, twice in one month!) and most people in Wichita hunker down because they never learned to drive in the snow. Then I turned into the parking and was shocked at the amount of vehicles in the lot. I walked in and found one lonely little table just abandoned and quickly sat. I didn't care if the glasses and ticket were still on the table, I just wanted to sit.
Throughout the course of the hour or so we were there, we had several servers come up to us to basically say hi and thanks for not being douche bag college kids who don't know how to behave or leave tips. This, honestly, was one conversation from a guy who has been our server maybe twice: 'Still drinking Guinness?' You know it. This was BEFORE the beer was sitting in front of me. How great is that? Another server came up to us right before we were ready to leave to tell us how much she hated the college kids and that she couldn't wait until school started again. I am just a few more visits away from claiming 'Norm status'.
We hadn't been there in a little over a month because of the way our schedules worked out at work, so it was nice to get back into the routine and people watch. College kids try too hard to look hip and cool. I don't remember trying to look cool, but maybe I did and just blocked it out of my mind. We mostly get to watch office people drunkenly fall over each other before realizing how awkward it would be if they hooked up and the college kids were a change of pace. They were drunkenly catching up with people they went to high school with and what they had been doing the past couple of years. I did enjoy going back home from school at winter break and hitting the Downtowner or Maloney's and doing the same thing.
30 December 2009
28 December 2009
Inconceivable!
In an attempt to start saving an uber-amount of money I went through the last six months of bank statements and found where I can cut costs. Beer. Scary, right? So I have come up with an insane idea. One case of beer a month. Twelve cases for the entire year of 2010. Can it be done? I think so. Same thing goes for bottles of booze, but because they are so much more expensive (at least the ones that I buy) than a case of beer I will only buy them on rare occasions. The number of bottles will not exceed six, so one every two months.
As always, there will be exceptions to the rule. I will not use this as an excuse to go crazy and buy several cases just because we have family coming into town. Whenever we have family or friends coming into town, I will go out and buy another case. What kind of host would I be if I didn't supply beers and booze? A horrible one, that's what kind. Another exception to this pseudo-rule is camping or float trips, which we only take once or twice a year. Getting a beer at dinner while eating in a restaurant does not apply to this, but I don't go too crazy when we go out anyways. Some may look at these exceptions as loopholes, but I am not using them as loopholes. I figured I would lay the ground work for future events. I don't want to be the guy that tries something like this only to go back because I don't have any booze for a float trip or no beer in the house when family comes to visit.
In the coming year to keep everybody up on my progress, I will write twelve posts about beer (and some other posts dealing with booze) in the year 2010. So, in the coming months, look for the '2010' tags to the right of the posts and follow my trek in money saving ventures.
As always, there will be exceptions to the rule. I will not use this as an excuse to go crazy and buy several cases just because we have family coming into town. Whenever we have family or friends coming into town, I will go out and buy another case. What kind of host would I be if I didn't supply beers and booze? A horrible one, that's what kind. Another exception to this pseudo-rule is camping or float trips, which we only take once or twice a year. Getting a beer at dinner while eating in a restaurant does not apply to this, but I don't go too crazy when we go out anyways. Some may look at these exceptions as loopholes, but I am not using them as loopholes. I figured I would lay the ground work for future events. I don't want to be the guy that tries something like this only to go back because I don't have any booze for a float trip or no beer in the house when family comes to visit.
In the coming year to keep everybody up on my progress, I will write twelve posts about beer (and some other posts dealing with booze) in the year 2010. So, in the coming months, look for the '2010' tags to the right of the posts and follow my trek in money saving ventures.
25 December 2009
Repost from 2008
Author's note: I wrote this last year on Christmas Eve and thought it would be appropriate to repost. Enjoy the day everybody.
We are watching A Christmas Story right now, and there is nothing better in this movie than the nostalgic feel of the Christmas morning scene. More than the kids ripping apart the wrapping, it is the expressions on the faces of the mom and dad. Just the joy that they have watching their kids.
We are watching A Christmas Story right now, and there is nothing better in this movie than the nostalgic feel of the Christmas morning scene. More than the kids ripping apart the wrapping, it is the expressions on the faces of the mom and dad. Just the joy that they have watching their kids.
As much as people think it is all about the Red Rider BB gun, the movie is more than that. It's about family, more than anything.
- Idolizing the father
- Having a life long understanding with your mother
- And the fighting with your brother
And the final scene of the mom and dad relaxing with the christmas tree alit and the snow falling at night. Magic.
23 December 2009
Traditions
Traditions at Christmas. Everyone has them. Whether it revolves around religion, family, or just plain presents. If it has been passed down for generations or if your parents started it. As I was coming up with the idea for this post, I tried to think of what my family always did. The big tradition that most families have is whether or not the kids can open one present on Christmas Eve. We never had that. Our family will forever be a 'presents are for Christmas morning' family. IF we ever have kids, I will carry on that tradition. The only exception is if you are visiting extending family members and won't be around them on Christmas morning, then it's okay. Who wants to open presents the day before. It would be like opening presents the day before your birthday. How is it different? Is it because there are more gifts to unwrap?
This is the situation I grew up with:
Christmas Eve, we went down to visit our extended family and attend Christmas Eve mass. It was followed by a huge dinner and many rounds of Tom and Jerrys. Of course I didn't get to experience them until college. It was worth it. Excellent wintery drink. On Christmas morning, when we were younger, my brother and I were usually up by seven or eight. It varied year to year who got up first, but because we shared a room when we were younger it didn't matter. Once one got up, the other soon followed. I'm pretty sure we were both up earlier than that, but didn't want to be the first one up. We were allowed to open the presents in the Christmas stockings before my parents got up, but that was it! We had to sit and wait anxiously while my parents slept in and waited for the coffee to be made. That was our other tradition: we had to make the coffee before our parents woke up. Dad always worked left to right with the presents under the tree. He also made sure that the present distribution was even amongst us kids.
All in all, a great tradition to grow up with. The memories I have on Christmas morning growing up are the kind of memories I think everyone should have.
This is the situation I grew up with:
Christmas Eve, we went down to visit our extended family and attend Christmas Eve mass. It was followed by a huge dinner and many rounds of Tom and Jerrys. Of course I didn't get to experience them until college. It was worth it. Excellent wintery drink. On Christmas morning, when we were younger, my brother and I were usually up by seven or eight. It varied year to year who got up first, but because we shared a room when we were younger it didn't matter. Once one got up, the other soon followed. I'm pretty sure we were both up earlier than that, but didn't want to be the first one up. We were allowed to open the presents in the Christmas stockings before my parents got up, but that was it! We had to sit and wait anxiously while my parents slept in and waited for the coffee to be made. That was our other tradition: we had to make the coffee before our parents woke up. Dad always worked left to right with the presents under the tree. He also made sure that the present distribution was even amongst us kids.
All in all, a great tradition to grow up with. The memories I have on Christmas morning growing up are the kind of memories I think everyone should have.
20 December 2009
But...it's my dog
As I was shopping in World Market today, I saw some lady walking around with a little dog in a handbag sitting in the cart. In what world would someone think that this was okay? I understand having a close relationship with your pet and wanting to spend time with them, but leave them at home. Or in the car. The weather is nice enough, not too hot not too cold, to leave a pet in the car for just a quick trip into a store. All anyone would have to do is crack the window. Or leave the house with someone who can sit in the car while it runs.
Lane etiquette
Author's preface: I apparently stated that I needed to write this entry after coming back from the bowling alley a little bit past the drunk line. Andrea decreed it, I don't recall ever mentioning it.
I went bowling a few days ago with some people from work. It was the first time I hit the lanes in what seemed like forever. There are some things that always seem to happen when a bunch of somewhat drunk people throw heavy balls at innocent pins.
1. Someone always has to yell 'Over the line!' It is at that moment that I hate the Coen Brothers and John Goodman. That is the only time though. I have been that guy in the past and I try my best not to do it anymore because I know someone else will do it. I can then judge them, it's what I do.
2. I seem to be put next to some couple that can bowl 150 without even flinching. Its great that they can do that, don't get me wrong, but I hate them a little on the inside. I struggle to break into the 120s and occasionally have an excellent game up into the 130s or 140s. We were next to a group of people that were having a good ol' time and one of them threw a 290 game. 290! It was amazing to watch.
3. I love bowling next to people that understand lane etiquette. Waiting for the person in the next lane to throw before you go is the nicest thing anyone can do at the bowling alley. The idiots that don't wait need to be slapped around a little. Maybe bowling alleys should employ etiquette police that would take these people away for some 're-education'.
You don't have to be the best person at the lanes or go there frequently as long as you have a fun time with the people you are with that is all that matters. And don't be a menace, be aware of your surroundings and your bowling brethren.
I went bowling a few days ago with some people from work. It was the first time I hit the lanes in what seemed like forever. There are some things that always seem to happen when a bunch of somewhat drunk people throw heavy balls at innocent pins.
1. Someone always has to yell 'Over the line!' It is at that moment that I hate the Coen Brothers and John Goodman. That is the only time though. I have been that guy in the past and I try my best not to do it anymore because I know someone else will do it. I can then judge them, it's what I do.
2. I seem to be put next to some couple that can bowl 150 without even flinching. Its great that they can do that, don't get me wrong, but I hate them a little on the inside. I struggle to break into the 120s and occasionally have an excellent game up into the 130s or 140s. We were next to a group of people that were having a good ol' time and one of them threw a 290 game. 290! It was amazing to watch.
3. I love bowling next to people that understand lane etiquette. Waiting for the person in the next lane to throw before you go is the nicest thing anyone can do at the bowling alley. The idiots that don't wait need to be slapped around a little. Maybe bowling alleys should employ etiquette police that would take these people away for some 're-education'.
You don't have to be the best person at the lanes or go there frequently as long as you have a fun time with the people you are with that is all that matters. And don't be a menace, be aware of your surroundings and your bowling brethren.
17 December 2009
The 8-4-8
When we found out that our families were coming down for roughly three weeks this month, I did my best to take some time off of work to be with them. A recurring theme when writing about family is the fact that we live so far away and don't see them very often. So when we go home or they come down here, I try to take some time off just to visit.
One problem that can come up is vacation time. Whether it is not having enough or at a time during the year when work is so busy and hectic that I can't take the time off. When it is too busy to take vacation time, in rolls ingenuity. And in rolls a two week schedule that makes me wonder about my sanity from time to time. It is what I refer to as the 8-4-8. Work eight days straight, take four days off, work another eight days straight. Crazy right? Yes. I have good reasoning for doing this. It takes up no vacation time! Instead of taking sixteen or twenty four hours of vacation, I use none. One question that people ask is usually, Is that legal? The way it balances out on the work schedule is that the first three days of the eight day stretch starts out on one work and then rolls over to the next week for the next five days. So there is no crazy overtime (the pay would be nice) and both weeks involved include two days off. The second part of this stretch is a mirror image of the first.
I have done this a few times in the past two years and it works out great. There is always something to do at work so the time just flies through the week. When the four day vacation stretch comes, it is insanely relaxing. Later on this year when we want to take a seven to ten day trip somewhere, having that extra vacation time banked will come in really handy. It is all about looking ahead and planning.
One problem that can come up is vacation time. Whether it is not having enough or at a time during the year when work is so busy and hectic that I can't take the time off. When it is too busy to take vacation time, in rolls ingenuity. And in rolls a two week schedule that makes me wonder about my sanity from time to time. It is what I refer to as the 8-4-8. Work eight days straight, take four days off, work another eight days straight. Crazy right? Yes. I have good reasoning for doing this. It takes up no vacation time! Instead of taking sixteen or twenty four hours of vacation, I use none. One question that people ask is usually, Is that legal? The way it balances out on the work schedule is that the first three days of the eight day stretch starts out on one work and then rolls over to the next week for the next five days. So there is no crazy overtime (the pay would be nice) and both weeks involved include two days off. The second part of this stretch is a mirror image of the first.
I have done this a few times in the past two years and it works out great. There is always something to do at work so the time just flies through the week. When the four day vacation stretch comes, it is insanely relaxing. Later on this year when we want to take a seven to ten day trip somewhere, having that extra vacation time banked will come in really handy. It is all about looking ahead and planning.
12 December 2009
Keeping active
Over the past two years, I have tried to keep this blog active with posts. I made a deal with myself to try to write the same number of posts or even more post than the previous year. It has been a success so far. This is number 115 for the year 2009, one more than last year. I never wanted to be the person to start one of these and then stop or lose interest, and as I look back at the achieves I think I have done a good job at that. This has been active for going on five years.
There are times throughout the year when I just want to take a break from writing. And I do. A week here, two weeks there. What do you write about when you are going through a boring point in the year? 'Ho hum, I woke up this morning. I went to work. I came home. Blah blah blah.' Who wants to read something like that? I try to find fun or interesting things to write about.
There are times throughout the year when I just want to take a break from writing. And I do. A week here, two weeks there. What do you write about when you are going through a boring point in the year? 'Ho hum, I woke up this morning. I went to work. I came home. Blah blah blah.' Who wants to read something like that? I try to find fun or interesting things to write about.
09 December 2009
Off season trade
The Tigers traded away one of the city's favorite players today. Curtis Granderson is off to the New York Yankees (booooooooo). They also traded away Edwin Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks. All of this was done in a three team trade. Two big names (and contracts) shipped out of Detroit and four very young, very cheap players shipped in. On the books, this is an excellent trade. And in terms of Granderson, it is a great trade. He can flourish in a ballpark that will caters to left handed hitters and he has a chance to win a World Series every year.
I dislike the Yankees as much as the next person, but I talked about it with my baseball confidant (my brother). We came to the conclusion that we can still like the player even though we hate the team they play for. So it is all good from my standpoint. Just as long as he doesn't become a doucher.
As long as the young talent that the Tigers are getting in return pan out, this can be beneficial for all teams involved. Unfortunately, baseball fans do not always want to wait for players to develop. So for the sake of these new guys, I hope they have an excellent year within the first couple of seasons they are in town. Three pitchers and one outfielder. Pitching was the greatest need for the team and they knocked it out in one trade.
I dislike the Yankees as much as the next person, but I talked about it with my baseball confidant (my brother). We came to the conclusion that we can still like the player even though we hate the team they play for. So it is all good from my standpoint. Just as long as he doesn't become a doucher.
As long as the young talent that the Tigers are getting in return pan out, this can be beneficial for all teams involved. Unfortunately, baseball fans do not always want to wait for players to develop. So for the sake of these new guys, I hope they have an excellent year within the first couple of seasons they are in town. Three pitchers and one outfielder. Pitching was the greatest need for the team and they knocked it out in one trade.
06 December 2009
Excellent point!
One of my friends is attending graduate school in the Washington D.C. area and is having trouble finding a great bar. He is in search of an English Pub and all the qualities that go with it (read all about it here). After reading it you may think it is very particular, and it is, but what he is in search of is what makes a bar great. After careful consideration, I have come up with two bars in the Wichita area which I absolutely love.
One is the Chalet. It is cheap, dark, it has a few pool tables, has great deep fried bar food, and is smokey. The smokey aspect of the bar is what makes it a little less desirable. Another great thing to consider is distance. It is within three miles of the apartment. Quick to get to and it is back off the road, and is not close to the downtown bar scene. They have a dollar beer night on Thursdays. Great deal, but it attracts the college crowd and I have outgrown that crowd. These days, they just bug me. I don't ever feel old until I come across some frat boy douche convention.
The second bar is the Artichoke. It is first and foremost a sandwich bar. They have great food, is smoke free (mostly), decent prices, it's small (which can also be a draw back), and have live music from time to time. It isn't loud bass thumping music, but mostly acoustic. It ranges from country to folk to open mic. The one downside is the distance. It is way downtown and is away from the main scene. It is the best place to go and have a few pints and just sit and talk. An excellent 'catch up' bar. A place to hang out with people you haven't seen in some time.
If I were to pick one over the other, it would be the 'Choke. The tipping point is the smoke free aspect. Last year, bars and restaurants started to go smoke free in Wichita. It is fantastic. It is up to the owner whether or not they want to be smoke free, so those who want to voluntarily get cancer can just scope out those bars. The smoke does not irritate me as much as some others, but it is nice to wake up the next day and not smell like it.
There are some other bars that I enjoy going to down here, but they don't have the same 'charm' as the Chalet or the Choke.
One is the Chalet. It is cheap, dark, it has a few pool tables, has great deep fried bar food, and is smokey. The smokey aspect of the bar is what makes it a little less desirable. Another great thing to consider is distance. It is within three miles of the apartment. Quick to get to and it is back off the road, and is not close to the downtown bar scene. They have a dollar beer night on Thursdays. Great deal, but it attracts the college crowd and I have outgrown that crowd. These days, they just bug me. I don't ever feel old until I come across some frat boy douche convention.
The second bar is the Artichoke. It is first and foremost a sandwich bar. They have great food, is smoke free (mostly), decent prices, it's small (which can also be a draw back), and have live music from time to time. It isn't loud bass thumping music, but mostly acoustic. It ranges from country to folk to open mic. The one downside is the distance. It is way downtown and is away from the main scene. It is the best place to go and have a few pints and just sit and talk. An excellent 'catch up' bar. A place to hang out with people you haven't seen in some time.
If I were to pick one over the other, it would be the 'Choke. The tipping point is the smoke free aspect. Last year, bars and restaurants started to go smoke free in Wichita. It is fantastic. It is up to the owner whether or not they want to be smoke free, so those who want to voluntarily get cancer can just scope out those bars. The smoke does not irritate me as much as some others, but it is nice to wake up the next day and not smell like it.
There are some other bars that I enjoy going to down here, but they don't have the same 'charm' as the Chalet or the Choke.
04 December 2009
Historic weather
I was flipping through the channels this afternoon and went past the Weather Channel, continued going and then stopped. Did I just see what I thought I saw? Went back to the Weather Channel and, oh YES! They put together a show called 100 Biggest Weather Moments. Let me write that again. 100. Biggest. Weather. Moments.
Unfortunately I only caught the last ten minutes of the last segment. Yeah, there was more than one one hour special. You have to take a serious look at storms, floods, hurricanes, etc. Those who do not learn from their past are doomed to repeat it. You know, in case people can eventually control the weather. I wanted to see them mash together just the top one hundred moments in the entire span of time.
Unfortunately I only caught the last ten minutes of the last segment. Yeah, there was more than one one hour special. You have to take a serious look at storms, floods, hurricanes, etc. Those who do not learn from their past are doomed to repeat it. You know, in case people can eventually control the weather. I wanted to see them mash together just the top one hundred moments in the entire span of time.
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