Drinking Update

After spending several months sampling the best of European drinking traditions, I'm back to good old 'Mmmerican drinking.
ok, so not completely true, I found out that a liquor store near me carries Paulaner Oktoberfest, which I bought out of curiosity (an expensive curiosity at $10.99 a sixer) and have deemed a) not as good as their German stuff (duh) and b) not worth it (double duh). Aside: at the same liquor store I happened upon several bottles of Kilbeggan's Irish Whisky, the "last independent distillery in all of Ireland" brand I bought in the Dublin airport duty-free store. The woman who was giving out samples assured me I wouldn't find it in the States. I feel had, although I didn't check the price here in the states. That'll teach me to buy anything from an airport ever again.

So even though I can't really afford it, I've been buying the best booze America has to offer: microbrews and bourbon. I've taken to Bulleit for a bourbon, which is both reasonably priced and very good. Also, it is a killer, as I learned on New Years. (Stu, if you're reading, you should try a Sazerac rye whiskey and ginger next time).
For the microbrews, I've been drinking a lot of Bell's from Kalamazoo, MI and Capital Brewery in Middleton, WI. Specifically, the Bell's Two-Hearted Ale and the Wisconsin Amber. My friend Glenn likes to make the joke that "American beer is like having sex in a canoe - it's fucking close to water." Granted, I think he had only ever had Keystone Light at that time (and still prefers Malibu to beer), but the microbrewery explosion really has helped out American beer. Unfortunately, microbreweries have seized upon Yuppie dollars are pumping out a lot of watery ales and unpleasantly hoppy IPAs, but there really are some good beers out there, especially in my neck of the woods. Wisconsin brewing tradition certainly has produced some good little outfits. If you're lucky enough to live outside of Wisconsin but can get your hands on some New Glarus or Capital, do it, by all means, even send me the bill if you don't like it.

All I have left to do is lament that I can't find one of my own favorite breweries in Madison - O'Dells, from Fort Collins, CO. Everybody in the country is now inundated with New Belgium beers, also from Fort Collins, but in my opinion the wrong one got foisted upon us. I'm sure that O'Dells decided to keep operations small, while the phonies at New Belgium aggressively pursued expansion to other markets (they preach sustainability, yet truck their brew hundreds of miles away). All I have to say is that Fat Tire is an OK amber, while O'Dells 90 Shilling ale rivals even my Wisconsin Amber from Capital.

I will step off my soapbox now, time to play team trivia.

Gchat with my buddy Schmitty

me: ok

I'm somewhat considering just saying "fuck it" and going somewhere far away for a year or something

Schmitty: do it

ricky williams did

and look at him now

Bid it up!

I sense I have begun to develop a bit of an addiction lately. After pretty much never having used it before, I've tried it five or so times since I've been home and I even use it when I don't particularly need it. Of course, I'm talking about John Donahoe's company eBay.

It all started when I needed a new charger for my laptop after mine almost started a fire in Europe. Next, was the search for the now discontinued Polaroid film. Polaroids have become a novelty again, ironically, and economics 101 has correctly predicted that the dwindling supply of unused film now translates into ridiculous prices. some packs of film, i.e. 10 exposures, are going for $30. I ended up bidding on four packs of film with a camera included and I won, but at what cost? $80. So now I have 40 exposures of film that has expired a few months ago. We'll see how this all turns out. Then I found an awesome seersucker suit from J.Crew to wear to my friend Denton's Southern shindig wedding, but lost, and made up for it by buying a vintage polo. And capped it off recently by buying a ray-ban sunglasses case to replace the one I lost. So there you have it, my second most expensive "addiction", after alcoholism.

Dammit, and Unscathed

my documentary about Dartmouth Cross Country is apparently too long for youtube.

In other news, last weekend a glass pie plate exploded about two feet in front of me on the stove. Luckily the only injury was from when I stepped on a shard after I reflexively lifted my leg up in what I assume was a move to protect my gonads. The episode still has my mom, who was also in the kitchen at the time, freaked and she is now absurdly considering switching to metal pie plates as a result (just don't put a glass pie plate on an electric range that is still ON).

Andy made a movie

Now I just need to fill the other 6 nights

My new friday night is Genna's Cocktail Lounge. Not that I haven't spend Fridays at Genna's before, but ever since my buddy JP moved away it's been just a little different. However, I've been the past three weeks and each time has been a success, even when I decide to just up and go by myself. It helps that I know one of the bartenders and my friend Brent works as a doorman/barback, but I've run into people I know from my past life each time I've been.

Blah blah blah, it's nice not to drink alone anymore.

In other news I feel like I'm playing Oregon Trail or something; I've been only mildly successful at fending off cougar attacks. She had a house. Wow.

A mini trip around the (cultures and cuisines of the) world

A few weekends ago I went on a whirlwind trip around the State Fair grounds convention hall, sampling food and shopping for purportedly authentic trinkets from around the world.
The occasion: the annual Holiday Folk Fair, made extra special by the fact that I hadn't been since I was in High School and it was my grandmother's 87th birthday.
This is a family tradition - my Grandma has been going for at least 30 years. It features food and shopping booths sponsored by ethnic group societies and such. Some groups present include the Bavarians, Czechs, Chinese, Egyptians, Thai, Native Americans and Mexicans.
The Folk Fair is a shell of its former self, many of the best food booths have disappeared (the old grannies are too old to cook anymore) or are catered instead of featuring homemade goods, but there is still tasty stuff to be found for adventurous eaters. Considering that half of my mom's family was there, it also helped that they serve 24 oz beers, with no apparent limit.

There was a cool photography exhibition, of astronomical effects as seen from Earth. I really liked how it showed how outer space looks from (and in relation to) vantage points here on earth. I also babysat my mom's cousin's kid Johnny. Johnny is about 4 or 5 but wicked smart. We tried playing chess and while it took some prodding to make him make legal moves, his understanding of some of the basic principles of the game was impressive.

The coolest thing was seeing some of the very things I had eaten in Europe during my trip. I could pronounce the names of the dishes at the Czech and Slovakian booths (but didn't eat them, since I'd had better not too long ago).

The next trip is scheduled

yes, I have only been back for a little over a month and my next trip is already being planned. A little bit different than the last one, and I may fit in another trip before then, but I will be going down to the dirty dirty South to Hotlanta in Summer of 2010. Why? Because my friend Dmoney is getting married. Hopefully there are lots of single bridesmaids.

Lost and Found

I'm bored so I'm making a catalog of all the things I lost and picked up while travelling.

Lost:
Dartmouth Baseball cap
smartwool socks
Ray Ban sunglasses case and lens cloth
A book on the European Southern Observatory
vintage plastic wayfarer sunglasses with neon-blue earpieces (I think)


Found:
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
30 Rock season 2 disc 2
I heart NY t-shirt (strangely not in NYC, but in London
a dozen beer mats of various brands

Rock Bottom

I"m living at home again with my mom.
tonight I was sneezing up a storm because I kicked up a lot of dust putting my old stereo back together.

mom: are you ok?
me: yah, i'm fine
mom: you should take some benadryl, your cheeks look puffy
me: yah, I know, I will
mom:get some from the medecine closet
me: mom, I already have some.
mom: ok, just remember to take two, but only if they're 25 mg, if they're 50 mg only take one

later, as I'm watching 30 rock in my room around 10pm
mom (calling from downstairs): ANDY!
me: what?
mom: did you take the benadryl
me: yes. jesus.
mom: did you take two?
me:ma, for crying out loud, I"m 22.
mom: ok. you can take another dose in 4-6 hours.
me: ya, except I plan to be knocked out by then
me(to myself): f my life.

I feel like Michael Scott in the Office, because I've hung out wit my Grandmother twice in two days, and have only seen one friend, on one occasion.