Holidays

Happy Holidays to one and all.

Cold

I went to Chicago in Late November and forgot to take my coat. I froze my uknowwhat off. I guess I could have purchased a new coat, but I've got three here at the house that hardly ever get used. I did use one on my trip to Boston last week. The snow started around 12:45 PM and by three the airport was shutdown. That screwed my return flights, and my next days flights for a weekend in Chicago. I guess I will make it up in January.

I really hate traveling this time of year. American seems to cancel early, and Delta doesn't cancel until the last possible minute. By that time, all hotels are booked and you end up sleeping in the airport.

Re-Cap

It has been a busy couple of months travel wise. Also, I am a lazy blog writer, not to mention a non-talented one at that. Here is a quick re-cap.

Ohio - Sucked. Rainy and watched the Noles lose on TV.
Colorado - Great
Wyoming - Great
Idaho - Great
Chicago - Good
Kentucky - Good
Maine - Lousy
New Hampshire - Good
Vermont - Lousy. Cold and Rainy and see Mississippi.
Mississippi - Lousy. Delta canceled the flight and I drove home.

Next up:
Chicago, Orlando, Boston, Chicago

Great Holidays to all.

August Travels

I took most of August off from traveling. I spent the first week in Chicago on business and finally made it to downtown. I had a cheeseborger at the famous, or infamous, Billy Goat Tavern. I also made it to a Whitesox game which was a walk-off winner for the home team.

Next Month are stops in Ohio, Colorado, Wyoming, Kentucky, Chicago, Mississippi, Idaho and Missouri. Should be fun.

July Travels

First off, I used to think I was a pretty decent writer, but looking back over the posts on this blog, I can see that isn't true. I believe the quick fire format of the blog doesn't lend itself to my writing style. However, that is really no excuse for not taking the time to write with a bit more flair.

I went to DC for a few days in Early July. I got to see my old friend Tracey Oskey and her husband Dallas. They owna small Telecom Company in Northern Virginia called TelForward. We had a nice dinner at the Tyson's Corner Tower Club. It was good to see them both, but I still call Tracey by her maiden name - Spivey. I guess old habits die hard.

After DC it was off to Honolulu for a few days. My parents were also their on business of their own, but we got to go to dinner one night at the legendary Hy's Steak House.

Once back on the mainland, it was off to KC and then a drive to Jefferson City, MO and then to Chicago. I had a nice 1554 Black Ale along the way. It was very tempting to just park my carcass for a while but I had to press onward.

That is all for now. Next stops include Chicago, Denver and a New England tour.

Cool Places

I have been reading on a lot of blogs about lists lately. I have decided to list, in no particular order, some of the cool places I like to frequent when I am on the road.

1. The Brewhouse in Helena, Montana
2. The Bittercreek Ale House in Boise, Idaho
3. The Snake River Brewing Company in Jackson, Wyoming
4. The Old Chicago in Boise, Idaho
5. Touring the New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado
6. The Firehouse Brewing Company in Rapid City, South Dakota
7. Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse in New York City
8. The Cheeseburger in Paradise in Honolulu, Hawaii
9. The Ram in Boise, Idaho
10. The Big Buck Brewery in Gaylord, Michigan
11. The Breckenridge Ale House in Grand Junction, Colorado
12. The Flying Saucer in Little Rock, Arkansas

More Travel Notes

1st off, Phoenix/Scottsdale, ROCKS. Even though it was 110 Degrees plus all 6 days of my stay, it is still one of my favorite places. The Hotel of the conference was outstanding and had two golf courses.

I played the Faldo Course and shot a poor 102, but not bad considering it was my first time out in about a year. I also checked out the Casino Arizona with some folks. Saw the celebrity impersonators show and lost 20 bucks.

It was still a good time to be had.

Thoughts on places I have been recently

I have hit some old and new towns recently and here are a few thoughts.

Boston was cold and rainy. The hotel by the airport was dirty and rat-infested. I couldn't get tickets to the Red Sox game. All-in-all, it was disappointing. I will try again later.

Hot Springs, AR. What can be said about this town? The hotel was old and smelled of 100 years of cigarette smoke. All the residents seem to smoke, including 10-year old kids. The Porterhouse Steak House did do a great job on my Pittsburgh-style T-bone.

Chicago is Chicago. The Corp. HQ is out in the 'burbs, so I haven't made it to downtown yet. The hotel is new and across the street from the new HQ.

Boise is the best. I really dig this town. The hotel was horribly old, but I stayed there due to the conference being there. I enjoyed the plank-grilled salmon at the Bittercreek Ale House. I always hit this spot as it ROCKS. Also I enjoyed my first Basque meal at Leku Ona. It was INCREDIBLE!!!

Oklahoma City is a fun town. I was in-and-out to quick to enjoy it this time, but plans are in-the-works for a return trip in August. The same can be said for Albuquerque.

Upcoming towns: Phoenix/Scottsdale, Honolulu, Washington DC., Chicago.

I'm Back

Hey y'all. Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I switched jobs, so there has been some down time and lag time in getting the new equipment up and running. I am now working from home and travelling the country again looking for new clients and keeping current clients happy. It is a stressful job, but it is fun and rewarding. I wouldn't change it or anything about it. I hope to have more posts of my trips and work and thoughts in general coming over the next weeks and months.

I have noticed this: I travel to my companies' HQ in Chicago, and it seems I gain five pounds simply by being in that city.

February

Why is it that February causes so much consternation amoung folks? I get, "It's a short month" from everyone from the banks to the paycheck people to the lawn guy. "It's a short month so..." they say. I looked and it is only 2 or 3 days shorter than a regular month. What is the big deal. I could understand if there were 17 days less in February than any other month. I know this is neither an insightful nor funny post, but i have run into this excure a lot lately and it just made me wonder.

FSU Basketball

I am not a fan of basketball, and perhaps this is why. The Seminole Basketball team does this to me every year. They win a couple of big games; get within sniffing distance of the dance, then loose games they shouldn’t loose. Not one game, but three, four, five in a row. From Pat Kennedy to Steve Robinson to Leonard Hamilton. The legacy continues!!!

There I go again getting all negative!

Time Away

I haven't posted in awhile and for that I am sorry. It seems the mortgage game is starting to heat up again and I have been busy. That is a good thing.

Found at Publix over the weekend

I posted most of this as a comment on a different BLOG, but I thought it might go well here too.

As you may know, I am partial to the microbrews of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Alaska. I acquired these tastes in my business travels to these states over the past five years. Many of the brands I so admire are only served in the establishments brew pub, tasting room, and by bottle within the state or region. That is why I was so excited to see a selection available from Spanish Peaks Brewing Company during a recent visit to Publix. I immediately purchased a sixer of the Black Dog Ale, which they say is English-style Amber Ale. While I am sure time, distance and heat did not help the taste, it was great to see the label and read the motto “No Whiners” again. It was like a visit from an old friend. One quickly led to two and then three…

The original brew pub was in Bozeman, MT and I spent numerous evenings there enjoying lunches and dinners and all the ales. Alas the brew pub closed for business in 2003, around the time of my last visit there. Coincidence? I have also heard nasty internet rumors that Spanish Peaks isn’t even brewing it anymore. Someone bought the recipes and is brewing, bottling and distributing under the Spanish Peaks name and logo. Then again, I have also heard the original is back and running again. Maybe I need to go and have a look for myself.

Sorry for my gushing ramble, but I feel like it’s Christmas.

Length of my post

Several folks have told me I need to write more in my blog if I am hoping to elicit more comments. Well, after some serious thought about this, I have come to the conclusion that I really don't have all that much to say. I guess there are too many rocks in my head to allow for a lot of serious thought.

What is this from

I don't remeber where I heard this, but it always makes me laugh.

"someone once asked me whether my attitude was from apathy or ignorance"

"I replied, I don't know and I don't care"

Passwords

I can't remeber all my passwords to all the various progams and emails.

Can't wait until fall

Yesterday was a dark, dark day. It appears we are in for a LONG year.

Fat Tire

I love Fat Tire. If it ever comes to Tally, it will be a great day indeed. I also have my OSU sweetshirt on today.

Go Noles!!

Notre Dame

Notre Dame Football sux and Charlie Wies has man-boobs.

This blog probably won't get too deep. Nor will it get political. It will probably be just random thoughts that I can't get outta my head. For instance, lately the song lyrics to Warren Zevon's "lawyers, guns and money" make me laugh.