Mendocino Red Tail Ale

As I crossed the knee-deep meadow, grasshoppers leapt ahead of me like porpoises playing off the bow. Butterflies did their best impressions of seagulls in the surreally cerulean sky. A thin gravel ribbon lay below the tall grass, tying together two clouds of pine forest six hundred yards apart. A massive island of granite sat amid the pasture, calling me to rest. I was thirsty; I obeyed. I propped my creaky conveyance, climbed the miniature mountain, and took a well earned five. Above me circled a majestic Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) I saw him, he saw me. Our eyes met. His brow knitted with a look that said, “This is going to be good!!!”

I’m not wearing that bunny jersey ever again.

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Mendocino Red Tail Ale
A lot like Sam Adams, trading Sam's full creamy head for a bit more caramel flavor. Despite the thin foam, nicely aromatic. A little watery, but still enjoyable. This would be a nice post-ride/run beer.

Rites of Spring

The temp was up near 70° on Saturday. We encountered many tell-tale signs that Spring is indeed just around the corner.

1) Spring Peepers - These little frogs emerge from the pond behind my house when the evening temperature is above 45°

2) Daffodils and Crocus - The daffodils are 4-6" tall and about ready to burst. The yellow crocus under my maple tree have already started to bloom.

3) The Alto sax - The Korean man who owns the Atco Cleaners plays his saxophone in the doorway when the daytime temperature is approaches 65°

4) Atco Raceway - They were racing Saturday night. When the breeze is just right, they sound like they're at the end of my block. No jet cars / trucks yet, though.

5) Hogs are running - About 100 Harleys, V-Twins and choppers cruised up & down the White Horse Pike Saturday afternoon.

6) "Unfortunate Choice of Tube Top While Waiting for the AC Bus" - Sadly, that kind of explains itself.

Things we're looking forward to:

a) First Morning Run WITHOUT Sweatpants

b) First Bat Sighting

c) First Evening Cigar on the Porch

Ash Wednesday

D'Wife asked me on Monday if I might give up beer for Lent.

"Ummm, honey, how long have you known me???"
"Too long."
"Agreed. How many times have you know me to give up beer for Lent???"
"Um, never."
"Correcto. What makes you think that this year I might???"
"I dunno. We could save ..."
"Stop. That's an economic argument. It has nothing to do with sinning, lack of sinning or me being a better person. In fact, I feel I am a much better person, much happier and nicer to be around when I have a pint of Dogfish Head waiting for me at the end of the day."

Here are my Lenten absentences from the past few years

2005: Cheese
2004: French Fries
2003: Bootlegging MP3's
2002: Unemployment (I started working at Lockheed just before Lent)
2001: Taco Bell
2000: Strip clubs (Mariel was just a baby, and I couldn't bear it - pun, fully intended)

This year I'm giving up pizza at lunch. Why is that a big deal??? Every day I bring PB&J, yogurt, fruit of some sort, ginger ale or water, for lunch, usually in a Home Depot bag. I supplement this with a slice of pizza from the cafeteria, which as far as food service goes, is not bad. I usually get a pepperoni or sausage, then "hot rod" it up with onions, peppers and black olives from the salad bar.

But it's a good candidate for abstinence, and the one I will go with. Other finalists included: television, cursing, and flirting with Mom's at church functions. They all had too many drawbacks.

I also do something during Lent other Catholics might not: Not only do I take something away - I also add. I add saying the Rosary at least once a week. I add at least one trip to Confession during the six weeks - not like I'm short on material.

Wish me luck.

Happy Snow

I've been waiting for a decent snowfall to post this.

We finally got one, so here 'tis.



It's snowing in town now.

A good snow. A quiet snow. A happy snow.

A snow that invites you to walk seven extra blocks (actually 12) to the train because you want to. Just to see what the square looks like tonight. To see runners in their special jackets and pants that they only wear when it's snowing. Not just any kind of snowing either. It has to be snowing a certain kind of snow. Happy snow.

Happy snow isn't that cold. It's like regular nighttime air with snow wrapped around it. It doesn't have ice or rain in it. It's just crisp clear winter air with a little extra gift of harmless flakes.

Happy snow is light. It doesn't fall fast or hard. It just floats down, as if it doesn't want to get in anyone's way. It wants to cause as little trouble as possible. It's not slippery. It's almost sticky, like clay. It's a toy from the sky wishing for you to play with it. Make snowballs, a snowman or both ... a SnowMan with SnowBalls.

Folks can walk in happy snow. They do and they enjoy it. When they see others walking in happy snow, they smile, say "Hello" and smile some more. "Isn't this great?" their eyes ask each other. There's no pushing or shoving or honking of cars. "We'll get there when we get there." After all, everyone knows it's snowing.

The night sky is brighter when the snow is happy. It's closer to the ground. Happy snow falls from just above the rooftops so that it doesn't gather too much speed on the way down. Too much velocity would cause the snow too make too much noise upon impact. It would sting people's eyes and ears. Fast falling snow would make an umbrella necessary. How could you enjoy the snow that way? What's the point if you can't see the white braches of the leafless trees, or the little dance the flakes do around the streetlights?

You might as well be inside.

What fun is that?

Poetry Corner

Haiku #1

Cold. Dark. 5AM.
But the miles won't run themselves
So I need to go.

That being said, though ...
Wind Chill: Nine-f'n-Teen???
Just too cold for me.

Lake Effect Snow folks
May call me a big pussy.
Four miles ain't worth it.

***********

Bike-ku #1

Most horrifying news ...
My wife has now decided
She's a bike person.

She thinks she can ride.
She can't be bikey. I'm bikey
That's my world, baby.

First time she asks me,
"What's a bottom bracket do?"
Crescent wrench meets head.

***********

Tights???

When I was young and fast.
Yes, but that's in the past

Now I'm old and slow,
I have to say, no.

I don't want to seem like a kook,
So I prefer the hobo look.

Sweatpants and hoodies are fine with me.
Because they can't laugh if they can't see.

Hopefully by spring, when it gets warm,
I will have regained my speed and form.

Then I'll be brave enough to strip down
To my t-shirts and shorts and run around town.

Seussifier ON