Z.Monkey’s Blog

The scientist and I are thinking of having a beer brunch sometime in the near future.  This would be a beer tasting that focuses primarily on summer, flavoured or fruity beers.  I’m thinking have waffles, pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit and eggs to eat, with mimosas and blood marys served on the side.  Mmm…  What do you think?  Anyone interested?

Our window is still broken, and pieces of glass are slowly starting to fall onto our deck.  It was supposed to be replaced sometime last week but the window from the manufacturer had a big scratch in it (it would have been nice to receive a call portland glass).  Anyway, hopefully that will get replaced soon.

On Sunday, Goof, jefe, addie, the scientist and I all piled into the car and drove to Pittsfield for a BBQ/Beer tasting.  I had never been to Pittsfield so it’s nice to be able to say I been someplace else, though I’d probably never go back accept for the fact that people I know live there.  The beer this time was a lot more summery (i.e. light and/or fruity) which was a nice change from the very dark beers that we had last time.  There were some pretty interesting beers there, here are some highlights (there were 13 total… I’ve only got 9 here and 8 named.  If you remember let me know and I’ll update the list.):

• Fraoch Heather Ale - it is different.  It reminded me of drinking a field.
• Chipotle Ale - Tastes a lot like smoked beer but milder.
• Ommegang Witte - A white beer that I brought.  Very mild.
• Summer Lightning - Tastes very british to me but it was not warm so I liked it.  (The scientist beer choice)
• Dave brought a porter that was really good but I can’t seem to remember what it was called.  I was drink, shoot me.
• Sam Smith’s India Ale - This is the only Sam Smith’s beer that I’ve ever really liked and it wasn’t half bad.  Though as jefe put it, “how can you mess up an IPA?”
• UFO - too fruity.
• Festina Peche - still too fruity (and I brought it).
• Elephant Malt - Okay for a malt, but I’m not a big malt fan.

I think fun was had by all (even Addie and Jess who did not drink due to age and pregnancy) though I had a small tummy ache this morning.  Blah…

A lot of things may be about to happen in our lives but, right now, there is just a lot of waiting. Here is what has not happened:

1. We have not had a baby.
2. I have not gotten a new job.

Both of these things will be really cool when they happen, but in both cases (more so in the first) I am waiting on someone else! Silly babies. Silly me not applying for more jobs! I just had an interview, which I think went well and which I am interested in taking, but I’m trying to keep myself from getting too excited. It’s probably not going to happen.

In the last post I mentioned a beer tasting extravaganza. I’m thinking that the beginning of June will be the best time, as it will give the Scientist and the baby a chance to recover. I’ll try to keep everyone informed.

Also, feel free to notice that Dan has a new blog. Apparently, he needs to keep making new ones.

Since I have never had to worry about my weight I never gained a real appreciation of how many calories are in what food.  I always heart that fast food is bad, but how does that compare to, say, a bowl of ketchup?  Well, if you are interested check out this site.  It show what 200 calories of different food looks like.  I think that the list is a little short (where’s the beer? and what’s with only using Jack-in-the-box fast food?) and it would be nice to compare specific items side-by-side, but it is something.
I found this site via Information Aesthetics.

I’ve been hungry for several days but I think the combination of leftover Pizza, bread, cheese, chocolate milk and Swiss Cake Rolls.  I only had two but there are several more waiting for my stomach to empty out… mmm… debbie…

Anyway, I don’t know how many of you noticed the post from Maletas in regards to duplicating Xumbi’s beer taste adventure.  This is an interesting idea that I fully support; but it also brought to mind two three facts:

1. we have the equipment to make beer
2. we will soon have a place to make beer
3. I like beer

So once we’ve moved into the new condo (assuming everything works out well) I will be making forcing Maletas and the Scientist to make me beer.  Now I have a feeling that neither of these individuals think I am capable of actually making this tasty beverage (mostly because they’ve told me several times) so I will stand aside and leave the work in their capable hands.  But what kind of beer should be made?  We made an IPA from a package last time and it came out really well.  So should we make beer using another package or venture into the world of uncertainty?

There’s not really any place close for beer brewing supplies, so I guess they must be ordered via the intertron.  Has anyone order stuff from online?  Research must be done!

So as I was quickly clicking through CNN (trying to dodge tripe) I was drawn to this article on how U.S. policy and perception in regards to the Middle-east is dumb.  I’d agree with this and would add that our policy makers should learn more history.
Also, it looks like big Agro businesses will be able to inject toxic chemicals (and other things) into their food without warning labels (via the National Uniformity for Food Act).  This article shows how this could negatively impact the New Hampshire Maple Syrup business (i.e. people will be able to put other things into their syrup besides sap and still be able to call in New Hampshire Maple Syrup) and points out that our Reps voted for it and that Gregg is co-sponsoring it in the Senate.  From the article:

It [National Uniformity for Food Act] would overturn Proposition 65, a California law that requires producers to place warning labels on food that California officials believe could cause cancer or birth defects.

“That undermines consumer confidence in the food supply,” Pape said. “If food ought to have a warning, it ought to have a warning in New Hampshire as well as California.”

Benjamin Cohen, a senior staff attorney for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said the food industry hates Proposition 65 because it forces producers to reformulate food to avoid the warning label.

Isn’t reformulating food so they don’t contain chemicals that can cause birth defects and cancer a good thing?  Oh, and in case you are wondering some companies inject dioxins and PCBs into beef to make it look better/redder.

I picked up some fish last night for dinner (canuckian aquaculture not wild Alaskian salamon but I tried) and there it was, Drunken Goat cheese. The only thing that keep me from getting it was the goat part but maybe, just maybe the wine makes in good! I think we should soak more things in wine or beer.

As it is Cinco de Mayo, I will be celebrating my Mexican heritage by drinking beer at a bar while listening to Famous (who are thoroughly Mexican). What could be better.

This weekend we’ll be traveling down to southern Mass/Cape Cod to visit some of Heidi’s family.

On a side note, apparently Honda does not expect to release a mass-market fuel cell car till 2026 or so. So, if you were looking for that as a solution for our high gas prices, it’ll be a long time coming.

I have an interview next Friday. I’m not sure what the job is exactly (writing abstracts I think) but I know it’ll pay 7 to 12 thousand dollars less than what I am making now. Maybe.

Wow, has this post been disjointed.

Alright I really have nothing much to post except that I had chocolate cream pie for breakfast and that Google SketchUp is a really cool program. If you are bored and feel like creating a house, town or city in a very short amount of time download it and try. They have a really easy to use tutorial. I recommend Steve (Dad not the Texas-hating so-and-so, though you may be a Texas-hating so-and-so… crap) try it out.

Also I will not be voting for our local Republicat. Instead I would like to announce that I will be the Democan candidate for 2008 (though I am also a Liberal according to Pew… it is good to know I and my ilk read the news a lot).

A new report on how bad Bush’s tax cuts are.

Heidi and I went out with my parents, my brother and Nikki (hello.). We wandered around Portsmouth and went out to dinner at the Portsmouth Brewery, which was delicious as always. I had some mushroom thingy and a couple of beers. After dinner the family headed back home (sans one pair of reading glasses) and Heidi and I headed to Quigley’s for a pint before taking in a showing of “THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (abridged)” performed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company at the Music Hall. The show was greatly amusing and I applaud Heidi for finding it. The second act (New Testament) was a bit short and it did include a long rendition of ‘Old McNoah had an Ark’, which was a bit disappointing. It seems like they were trying not to piss off the majority too much by primarily satirizing the Old Testament. Eh, it was funny so why complain?.

So far for my birthday I have received the following (with much thanks):

• A tool box with new screw drivers, a saw, a funky utility knife, some pliers that do not suck and more from my folks.
• A tea pot for steeping tea from Heidi.
• A new router/AP which will hopefully allow me to play my DS online from Matt and Nikki.
• Dinner (see above) from my folks.

On an exciting side note I’ve finally figured out how to get the photos out of my phone! Thank you MotoModders.net and fuck you Motorola for trying to make me buy software for something as simple as downloading photos from my ridiculously expensive phone. To prove that it has been done here is a bad picture of Itty Bit.

Land of Nod is not a word.

Just posted a few pictures from our trip to Boston. They can be found here.