1) I have a passport (application).
My previous kid-sized passport expired in 1997, and though I’m not 100% certain where the original is I have a photocopy that reminded me just how much of a goober I was back then. So I filled out the form, got a picture taken, and I turned in my passport information and somehow managed to not only write checks my checking account couldn’t cover, but simultaneously remembered where both my parents were born on the passport application. It was a magic confluence of WIN and FAIL at the same time. Quite remarkable. The only thing that saved my unintentional check kiting was that Hanne owed me money because…
2) We booked tickets to England.
London’s calling, and we answered the call. We’re spending two weeks in London, Leeds, the Yorkshire area, and Cardiff, all post-bar exam. Hanne’s now done with clases and finals, and this abuse of my vacation time is our reward for her taking the bar. She’ll be visiting relatives, I’ll be visiting relatives and abusing England’s bars, and the two of us will be having a grand time overall. We’re flying Air Canada there, so hopefully we won’t be beaten and drugged, as are common practice with American airlines in my experience. Hanne is concerned I’ll be grouchy for days, but I think that the non-American airline will break that tradition.
3) We walked to and from FredFest 2009.
Fred Ekhardt is a Portland beer writer, a contemporary of (the beer writer) Michael Jackson, and a hell of a character. For a few years now there’s been FredFest each May, something that began as a surprise birthday party and turned into and exclusive who’s-who of the regional beer crowd because the entire thing is limited to 250 people, is entirely for charity, has a steep price of admission (relatively for other brewfests) and has a tendency to attract special beers, all donated.
Hanne, my Dad and I all went last year and had a hell of a time, and the weather was a bit nicer this year and we managed to repeat the experience. Good beer all around, sightings of Portland beer brewers, pub owners, bottles shop owners, characters and bloggers. It was a great time, and due to last year’s experiences Hanne and I were wise enough to have a big lunch beforehand, so we weren’t quite as…toasted…as we were last year.
The whole shebang was held out at thr Hair of the Dog brewery, which is a good three mile walk for us each way. Not a bad walk for a day of pretty much exclusively drinking beer. 23 beers available, most of those sampled, 2 beers won in raffles. We walked away with a small 7 oz. bottle of Rogue I2PA and a large 750 ml. bottle of Widmer Imperial Red Ale, all from drawn tickets. We didn’t win the grand prize smoker grill, but hey, there’s always next year.
4) Work is hell.
Maybe “hell” is too strong a word. Let’s just say that there’s a lot going on because hypothetically, there’s a law firm that’s changing its name, and hypothetically I have a lot of responsibility in that project. This hypothetical firm has a lot of a work ahead of it in the next three weeks.
5) I had a beer judged by professionals.
21/50 and 25/50 from two professional brewers. I knew it was lacking due to circumstances beyond my control, but it was nice to see some professional opinion.
6) Dan and Kristine will be here in Portland for the fall/winter.
My college roomate and his girlfriend will be auditioning Portland for their permanent home from September to December. I think we’ll convince them to stay given that Portland is the shiznit and we just rule the universe.
7) Hanne’s done with school.
No more classes, no more books, no more teachers asking inane questions and using a cheat sheet to remember names while still sticking to a strict schedule of who to call on. We popped the cork on a bottle of champagne Friday night, but have decided we need another half-case of champagne to celebrate graduation, taking the bar exam, her first day of work in the fall, etc. etc. It’s amazing how far she’s come since I met her.
Without further ado or exposition into additional events, I shall retire.