Miscellaneous musings
March 18, 2008
AT&T is killing me today. First they drop all data connections for two of my users’ BlackBerry handhelds, then they start bouncing back our emails sent to their various domains claiming my firm is spamming. Bah! Clearly they’re in error, but it’s going to take them a day or two to get it sorted out.
St. Patrick’s Day has never really been a particularly auspicious holiday for me as I’m neither Irish nor am I Catholic. My memories of it tend to include pinching people when I was younger if they weren’t wearing green and people using it as an excuse to get piss-drunk in college. Please. As if people need an excuse to get piss-drunk, especially in college. I never like going out on St. Paddy’s Day just because all the bars are full of crazy, surly people who think that green beer is awesome and Guinness is the best beer brewed anywhere. Everyone thinks they’re Irish on St. paddy’s Day just like everyone thinks they’re Mexican on Cinco de Mayo. I wonder how many people who use both as an excuse to booze know what either holiday is about? No, I’d prefer to stay in under those circumstances and just gripe. Plus, corned beef and cabbage is just disgusting, and that’s the typical pub fare on St. Paddy’s Day.
Despite her reservations on wearing green being British, Hanne and I decided we’d partake in some beer to “celebrate” the day, so we walked up to the grocery store for sandwiches and beer, and we ate our sandwiches and drank our beer and watched TV and then played Scrabble while listening to the Chieftains. I originally put on Ozomatli in an attempt to be ironic and listen to Latin music on an Irish holiday, but I caved after a few minutes and switched to something more appropriate. Here’s a helpful tip: Scrabble on your third beer gets a little more difficult. I’m of the mind that Hanne keeps beating me because I’m always drinking beer while we play, and if I ever want to redeem myself I should remain sober to retain more of my…uh…what’s that word again? Vocabulary. I particularly enjoyed my salami sandwich with red peppers, provolone, and artichoke hearts along with a side of gourmet olives while drinking my Lagunitas Gnarley-Wine, Laughing Dog Imperial IPA, and Ninkasi Tricerahops, so I think my avoiding Guinness and corned beef worked out very well.
This past weekend was fun. Friday night Hanne and I went to a wine tasting at our local wine shop and partook in samples of seven different pinot noirs, followed by dinner at a place that sells waffles and beer. Yes, it’s as odd as it sounds, but both were quite delicious. I had huevos racheros waffles with Laughing Dog Dark IPA, and the whole thing was tasty if a bit surreal. Eggs, waffles, ranchero sauce, and…beer.
On Sunday, Hanne and I drove out to the coast to have lunch at a new McMenamins that opened up in Gearhart early this month, and so I had the unique experience of visiting a new McMenamins before my Dad. I think that puts me maybe four or five behind him, but I plan on hitting at least three in Seattle in a couple of weekends, so hopefully that will help even the score. It was a nice day on the coast, though, and we walked on the beach for awhile so I could collect whole sand dollars. Then we hopped in the car and headed back, and I must say, highway 26 is a much more pleasant way to drive to the coast than highway 99, even if it is somewhat more of a boring drive. Not having to stop and slow down constantly for towns is a blessing, however, and I’m willing to compromise scenery I’m not looking at for maintaining a decent speed. What can I say? I’m an impatient driver.
Hanne and I are definitely joining the climbing gym, we just have to find the time to get down there with a copy of her transcripts so that she can get the student discount.
I’ve decided I’m going to make postings of “Andrew’s Random iPod Song of the Day” from now on. I have my iPhone set to play songs I haven’t listened to in at least two months, and it kicks out some very definitely random tracks–some I didn’t even know I owned. I have a feeling Dan was responsible for downloading some of them in the Napster days, and since I know he snagged some Rick Astley tracks, one day one of them will pop up unannounced, and my college roommate will have RickRolled me, more than ten years later. Curse you, Dan!
Speaking of which…”When I See You Smile” by Bad English. Didn’t even know I owned it.
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