I Think Ma Was Right

“I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn't look the same

But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself…”
--Rick Nelson

I had a candid conversation with my folks on the eve before I left for home after visiting their home in Florida for the “escape the Normal house” vacation at Christmas.

My Mom was quoting Rick Nelson. She was right.

I will not give the F ‘em all quote, but you know it is there.

I cannot change who or what I am. I can certainly improve, of course, but at some point people will or will not accept me.

By the way, I had some true fun in Florida. Mark and Mary came down and we wasted some money at an arcade on the Boardwalk. I enjoyed seeing the folks in their lovely home. The weather was nice for me, a bit cooler. Dad took me to a sandwich/beer place in the mall that actually had Tucher and Kronenberg on tap. Kill me now, because I was in Heaven. Of course Mom, Dad, and I went to a bar to watch the Bears kick the snot out of the Packers I drank Yuenglings on tap. Kill me again.

Home is a place of rest and relaxation for me, so I missed it a bit. The cats, joyously greeted me, and I was soon back to my routine.

For once, just once, I took Mark’s advice and upgraded on the flight home to business class. Nah, no big deal to me. I read the Marvel Ultimates I mini-series; but other than that, kind of a waste of money.

I did, however, meet a spry 85 year-old woman on the flight to and from Florida. She was an inspiration as she had a zest for life. She chatted with me about what was wrong with kids today and her experiences as an immigrant from Italy in the USA.

She was quite comical and endearing.

Dad also said something of importance—a job is not to be taken for granted and one must be loyal to the company. In my case, well… loyalty to me is a two-way street but I must remember that I was promoted. Therefore I will take a greater leadership role. I truly respect my bosses, as it were.

All-in-all, it was an important get-away.

Learning is always a great thing.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Holidays

from BATFAN63

and the Three Wise Cats

A Nice, Even Number

“You, and you alone
Is forging the path;
Leave your sorrows with the past…”

--Khan from Kamelot, Wings of Despair from the LP Karma, 2001.

I tend to like numbers like 44. They have a “repeat” quality about them.

This week, I turned 44 and decided that changes in my life were inevitable.

Being the youngest in a family of five, one expects a certain amount of immaturity with it all. Some of that immaturity, will go to the wayside.

The last year has been a rocky one, indeed. When I key-padded my last birthday blog; I knew I was separating and I knew that life would change. I did not write about it, but I knew it.

The divorce is here, my life is changing and I think my world will be a better place with time.

On my birthday, my sister sent a nice email; my parents called (Ma is still so pissed that the email card STILL has not made it, and it seriously has not. I should have lied and told her it was here…) and Mark called and put up a nice blog.

Now I have a few goals for this upcoming year.

One—I need a new perspective.

Two—I need to work nicely with others.

Three—I need to lose weight (see picture above for proof).

Four—I need to buy less stupid stuff.

Five—I need to make others laugh which makes me laugh.

Six—I need to help Chumley lose weight.

Seven—I need to be more assertive.

Eight—I need to laugh more, which makes others around me more comfortable.

Nine—I need to educate myself more by reading more.

Ten—I need to accept things as they are.

I still plan on weekly listings on this blog and bi-weekly listings on the Metal one.

And Foggy the three-legged wonder; Guinness the Bold Maine Coon, and Chumley the…well Common Man’s cat seems to fit, will all enjoy the path we have taken.

I have met some truly nice people in the last year; dealt with some jags who wanted to take some potshots at me; and probably alienated myself from some folks during the last year.

Oh well…at least it was entertaining.

I mean, think about it.

In the last year the Bears have gone from the BEST in the NFC to just about the worst.

Captain America was killed.

I found a certain niche with Power Metal Music.

The war is STILL not over.

And there is so much more.

Now I give you a nod, gentle reader, as I really had no purpose other than the purpose of celebrating another year of life. Heart surgeries and personal angst aside; our lives are to be celebrated because we are here and we share so many experiences with others.

My classes helped me celebrate by giving me oranges, singing to me, having their parents email me, and sprawling “Sweetwood is older than my Dad” on my board.

Ah…I raised them well.

Look for some more fun in the next year.

Another Year; Another Twelve Beers

“Merry Christmas time come and find you happy and there by your fire;
I hope you have a good one, I hope momma gets her shoppin' done;
And it's a Christmas all over again…
Baby it's Christmas all over again…
And it's Christmas all over again.”

--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “It's Christmas All Over Again” single.



This year the Twelve Beers of Christmas was our biggest fundraiser for the Humane Society in the ten years we have done it. We had close to two hundred people show up to Fat Jack's Bar this year who enjoyed quaffing the evening away.

Again, we associated with the Humane Society, thank our good friend Tyler Holloway of Fat Jacks Bar for his relentless efforts to give to the Humane Society. Pictured above is Tyler and me after announcing the Twelve Gifts of Christmas for the Patrons. Not only does Tyler donate proceeds for the event, Tyler actually arranges for twelve people to walk out with gifts from the beer distributors.

This year’s selections included in Tyler’s Twelve Beers Order are as follows:
1. Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome (A Good Traditional British Ale)
2. Hibernation Ale (one I truly loved)
3. Weltenburger Kloster Winter-Traum (from the oldest Monastery brewery built in 1015)
4. Harvey’s Christmas Ale (Another British Christmas Ale)
5. Anchor Christmas Ale (from the fine makers of Anchor Steam)
6. Baladin Noel (from Italy)
7. Delirium Noel (one of the all-time best and one of the highest alcohol contents)
8. Corsendonk Christmas Ale (Another Monk-made high alcohol brew)
9. Stille Nacht (The Silent Night of Christmas Ales—The best of the evening)
10. Quelque Chose (This is warmed and has a cherry flavor—drinks like warm Cider)
11. Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence (Truly rare uses Chocolate malts)
12. Lambic Choice (gone before I got there, they had Raspberry, Cherry, and Peach; as they tast like Wine Coolers, but they have a really strong alcohol content).

Before the event, I met with and chatted with the Bartenders who made sure that I had a chance to sample the most unique before the others. And as I worked the introductory table, I had a nice choice of various Beer samples of the Twelve beers with me at times as folks would ask the Bartenders to offer me a sample. Excellent food (chicken wings, Irish batter-sausages, veggies, and Meatballs) provided by Tyler’s other main business effort in the area Maggie Miley’s, our British Pub as manager Peter Conolly brought over awesome choices. My Aunt Dar made sure to grab me a plate of food.

After I worked the table, I had 45 minutes to take pictures, grab a few samples; meet with my friends; join Uncle Dan, Cousin Danny, and the fore-mentioned Aunt Dar; hang with the Humane Society staff; and thank Tyler for the fun.

Now it feels like Christmas. And drink enough of the beers and the YouTube video will make sense.

Hoppy Holidays to Ales, and to Ales a Stille Nacht!

Oh My God--For Those Of You That Thought The Super Bowl Shuffle Was Bad

To quote Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull--"You Keep Living In The Past..."

And sometimes, as in the case of the Chicago Bears, one has to. I offer this reflection of the 1985 Chicago Bears as shown through the all-seeing eyes of Commercials on television. Sadly, I remember all of them.

Here you go. Enjoy:


Or:


Or:


And Finally: