David Turley at Musings Over A Pint punked me last week — in a good way, and on my birthday no less — by pulling me into 7 Things, an internet version of a chain letter. I’m sure it’s a coincidence, but 7 Things is also the name of a song by Miley Cyrus (a.k.a. Hannah Montana). Before you think I knew that little factoid off the top of my head, I did a Google search for “7 Things” to see what I could find out about it. The idea is “I’m supposed to write seven things that people might not know about me” and then bestow the same “honor” on 15 more unsuspecting bloggers. David also nominated fellow beer bloggers Tom, Lew, Eric, Jeremy, Brad, Julie, Thomas, Joel, and Edmond, though so far none of them have stepped up. So I guess it’s up to me to get the ball rolling. I’ve never been too shy about sharing personal details and I’m just superstitious enough to think I better do it … or else.
7 Things You May Not Know About Me
- I’m obsessed with wooden clothespins. I even used to wear one every day on my collar.
- I write and throw with my right hand, but bat and play golf left-handed. I believe I may be partially ambidextrous. I can beat you at ping pong with either hand.
- Whenever I travel, I pick up small rocks to bring home as souvenirs. I try to find the most interesting and diverse rocks I can. I now have jars and bowls in the house filled with stones from around the world.
- I was active in the Boy Scouts when I was a kid, and even worked at the Scout Camp during the summer when I was in high school. I still have some of the council and OA patches I collected. I even have my bright red scouting jacket with the giant wolf on the back indicating my membership in the “Order of the Arrow” for the Minsi (now Kittatinny) Lodge 5. Once a geek, always a geek.
- Something like ten to fifteen years ago when I was struggling with whether or not to pursue writing more seriously, I wrote to one of my favorite authors, John Updike. Updike was born in the same small Pennsylvania town as I was: Shillington. Many of his earlier works were set in towns like Shillington, especially the Olinger Stories. He sent me back a hand-typed postcard that was very encouraging, which he signed and also wrote a note in the margin. I keep it framed in my office as inspiration.
- I have a half-brother and a half-sister but didn’t grow up with them. My father had a child with each of his subsequent two wives after he and my mother divorced when I was a year old. I used to keep in touch with my brother but lost track of him over ten years ago. I’ve met my sister two, maybe three times.
- I also have an e-wife. I was married in the early 1980s for just under four years. A somewhat funny side story is that the last I heard, she thinks I’m dead. About ten years ago I called a mutual friend of ours, who answered the phone by saying “hey, you’re not dead.” I thought he was joking because we hadn’t talked for a number of years, but it turned out he’d heard from my ex and she’d told him she thought I was dead.
So now you know.
Here are my nominations for 15 bloggers to follow in my footsteps:
If any of you actually post your own 7 Things, please be so kind as to post a comment here with a link to yours. Thanks. Oh, and by the way, if you don’t … something might happen. Or it might not. Just sayin’.
In an effort to help the Giants win for the last win in Game 2 — and being superstitious — I met an old friend of mine from Pennsylvania (actually we were in kindergarten together, making him my oldest friend) who was in town on business Thursday. We met at the 21st Amendment Brewery to watch the game. Hop Crisis, 21 A’s Imperial IPA was tasting fine, as was their regular IPA. I also had one of Rodger Davis’ IPAs from Drake’s (I was in a hoppy mood).
From the moment I got there, I knew we would win, because karma was with me. First of all, I found a parking space directly across the street from 21st Amendment and then not only was co-owner Shaun O’Sullivan there with a seat for me, but he was wearing one of my logo shirts! Thanks Shaun!
My friend Jim, from Shillington, PA, though he now lives in upstate New York. That’s 21A sales manager Lloyd Knight’s infamous orange vest I’m sporting.
Since we were just a few blocks from the stadium where the game was being played, at the 7th inning stretch we walked down to the ballpark just to drink in the atmosphere.
Even McCovery Cove was packed with boats.
There were tons of people hanging out around the ballpark, and there was an electric vibe in the air. Very cool. I hope this helps recreates that atmosphere tonight! Go Giants!
In a scene straight out of a deranged adult version of Willy Wonka, the beer waterfall on the belated birthday card below arrived in my mailbox today.
The card was primarily the work of my friends Ray and Cornelia, both Beer Drinkers of the Year in separate years. But they took it along with them to Brewvival in Charleston, South Carolina and had a few more friends sign it, which was very cool of them. There were separate notes from Julie and Jason from Brusin’ Ales and also Patrick Rue, from the Bruery. Then there’s another birthday greeting from a name I can’t quite read, though the initials look like G.H. Of course, it’s the thought that counts and I really appreciated getting the card. Thanks guys!
But there was one more note, from the John Hancock of the signatories, big and bold. His (or her) message took up nearly the entire inside left side with the following: “I want to see this in your fucking blog!” So how could I refuse? If only I could figure out the identity of my mystery person. Here’s his signature below. Any guesses?
Today is my 51st birthday, and I’ve been overwhelmed by an embarrassment of riches from well-wishers sending me notes via e-mail, Twitter and Facebook. Thanks to one and all. Since it’s usually me posting embarrassing photos of my friends and colleagues, last year I posted a bunch encompassing my first 50 years on a page entitled Beer Birthday Overkill. From old baby photos to the high fashion of the 70s and beyond, they’re still up and good for a chuckle. So again in a spirit of fair play and transparency, here are a few more cringe-worthy photos from my days of youthful indiscretions.
Another classic from the early 70s, around 1972 or 73 when I was 13 or 14. It was taken for a church directory when the Lutheran Church I attended was celebrating their 100-year anniversary, or something like that. My Mom actually made the jacket and, no offense to her, but she was not the finest seamstress to peddle a sewing machine. You gotta love the butterfly bow-tie look. I’m sure glad that died a much-deserved fashion death.
At Woodstock (’94 — I’m not that old!) and yes, that’s a can of Miller Genuine Draft I’m holding. After a few days in the mud, we couldn’t be very picky or stand on ceremony about using the proper glass, sad to say. The sleepy-looking fellow next to me is Jim Noecker, my oldest friend in the world, who I’ve known since we were in kindergarten together.
While I can’t recall the exact details of where or when this photo was taken, it was definitely on one of my first dates with my wife Sarah, which places it around 1993 or so, roughly seventeen years ago. Good god, we look young.
There’s many more where these came from, just check out Beer Birthday Overkill and thanks again for all the birthday wishes.
Here at the Brookston Beer Bulletin we’re pausing today to wish you and yours a very Happy New Year. 2009 was yet another interesting year and was rarely dull with plenty of drama. Nobody knows with any real certainty what 2010 will be like for the beer industry, but I’ll be here for my fifth straight year of ranting about it, er .. analyzing it, online. I hope you’ll join me on another year’s worth of adventure in the beer world.
Taken last night in front of the Christmas tree; Alice, Porter and a tasty beer. Westvleteren. What better way to start the new year. Sometime today raise a glass of a tasty libation as we toast you a Happy New Year with one of my favorites:
Observe, when Mother Earth is dry,
She drinks the droppings of the sky,
And then the dewey cordial gives
To every thirsty plant that lives.
The vapors which at evening sweep
Are beverage to the swelling deep,
And when the rosy sun appears,
He drinks the misty ocean’s tears.
The moon, too, quaffs her paly stream
Of lustre from the solar beam;
Then hence with all your sober thinking!
Since Nature’s holy law is drinking,
Mine’s the law of Nature here,
And pledge the Universe in beer.
— Tom Moore, The Universal Toast
This is one my favorite out-takes. I have plenty more of the kids mugging for the camera and making funny faces. And here’s one final toast.
Love to one, friendship to many, and good will to all.
— Anonymous
Welcome to 2010.
Here are more of my favorite toasts. Let me know if I’m missing one of your favorites.
by Jay Brooks on April 20, 2009 · 4 comments
in Uncategorized
If you’ve ever eaten with me, then you know how much I love frites. Along with bacon, cheese, potato chips, Monte Cristo sandwiches, and anything with peanut butter and chocolate, French Fries are among my favorite foods. I can eat them by the truckload, and usually do. I love all shapes and sizes, loaded with salt and with a variety of dipping sauces. One of favorite things to dip frites into is a chocolate milkshake. Yum.
Anyway, since I’m often out on beer adventures where there are also frites, I decided to start documenting the frites I encounter on a separate blog, which is called simply Frites. Wherever I encounter my beloved French Fries, I’ll take a photo, describe the frites and rate them. If you know some damn fine frites I should try, please let me know.
The wonderful shoestring frites from Father’s Office 2.
