Wanda Sykes has a show on FOX. It's terrible.

Don't watch it. I repeat: Don't watch it.

And by the way, Stina and I had a great time today learning to snowboard. Pretty sore at the moment, but it was a lot of fun.

Brewing beer tomorrow--more to come on the BPA

Wii-Tastic

Check Me Out!

Wii Tennis

Take home test

So, once I decided to put my head down and get this thing finished, it hasn't been too bad. It's the final for my operations class, and it feels like the instructor noticed that we didn't do all too well last time and decide to make it a lot easier this go around. And he did.

So, back to work.

Is there anybody out there....

Has anyone seen Virtual Stina?

Second First day of winter

Getting ready for a big snow day. Heading off to the grocery store right now to get sundries for my weekend alone.

B.P.A.: New England Atlantic Amber

Comes in a can, but has taste a bit better than you'd expect. Pours out nicely. Looks like a beer should look--not too much head, not too light. The hops are there and it finishes nice and crisp. Decent malt flavor, but not sweet. That said, there isn't much in the way of heft: a little too thin for my liking. I could drink a few more of these and have a pleasant evening. I wouldn't buy a bunch for the weekend, but I wouldn't kick it out of bed, either.

Taste: 5
Mouthfeel: 4
Color: 5
Drinkability: 5

Overall: 4.75 ish

Early Says: "Brown Party Liquor this is not. A good driving companion or drink for your womans. WHoo!"

B.P.A. 1: Rules and Regulations

I know what you're thinking: There has got to be some sort of guideline for the rating system you plan to use for the B.P.A. You are right. And since I did absolutely no research into existing beer rating systems, I was unable to find any pre-existing rules and therefore have created my own.

So, her goes:

Basic presumption-- scale of 1 to 10

1 is water, 10 is Nectar of the Gods

For a frame of reference: Korbinian will be a 9. So a ten will have to be just plain awesome...

Taste: I'm looking for a flavor that fits the description and follows some loose guidelines for maltiness and hops

Mouthfeel: Is i thick when it should be, and carbonated when it should be?

Color: Or namely how it appears in the glass

Drinkablility: Could I have a handful or do I want to pour it out.

With all that being said, I will add this: It's my rating, so deal with it! Yo may have a different opinion, so share it!

Oh yeah, my boy Early will be helping out with some wit and wisdom along the way. You'll like him. He's a no bull-shit type guy.

Introducing: Ashford Living B.P.A.

I've noticed recently that there is a bona-fied shortage of blogs about beer that I want to read. And any business school will tell you that if you notice a need in the market, you've got a great business idea. That's right: while all you people were sleeping at the switch, I went ahead and put together my business plan and secured funding from my wallet to create the latest and greatest in beer critique interactive technology.

Introducing: Ashford Living B.P.A

The B.P.A. stands for Beer Point Average, or my personal rating of the Taste, Mouth Feel, Color, and Drinkability on a scale of 1-10. I'll then average the 4 scores (if I can still do math after "tasting" the beers) and give the final reading.

Plan on Installment #1 this evening. Please do comment and make suggestions as to which beers I should try. This is a Blog people. If I wanted to do this alone, I'd be tweeting the scores.

Lets have fun with this. Lord knows I will!

I love Fish Tacos

Doesn't this look great!

Getting the TARP Monkey off your back

Bank of America (full disclosure: My money goes there via direct deposit) has decided to repay its TARP money as soon as possible. I can't blame them.

They have been hoarding cash reserves and issuing additional securities in order to raise the capital needed to get the Pay Czar and the House Finance Committee from meddling in its compensation plans.

How's that working out for the economy?

What's not for dinner?

Argument.

I have to admit that Christina is right: I used to feel I did all the cooking---because I did.
BUT--not anymore. Team Davis has stepped up the Teamwork due to our hectic schedules and become much more egalitarian about the chores.

All except vacuuming and the bathroom.

Skirt work 100%. My hands develop welts when I touch the vacuum. Scientific fact. And you can trust me on that, I'm practically a scientist. I could clean the bathroom, but I don't. That's just my preference. Hey--she doesn't cut the grass. 'Nuff said.

Off to eat pasta salad.

Now everyone's a blogger

So, Stina thinks that she can blog now, just because all it takes is a laptop and an imagniation. Well, mayne just a laptop. SO I suppose she can do it. And you shoul dwatch.

I hope we can have some cross blogination happening. Stay tuned.

virtualstina.blogspot.com

I can't help myself

http://twitpic.com/36hpf

Thanks Christian-great time on Saturday--

I can

Bail this.

Why are we now going to allow the irresponsible people and banks who made stupid mortgage decisions with thier money have another chance to make stupid decisions. With MY money?

Relax the lending standards of Franny and Freddy? Isn't that what got us into this?

Great job, folks. Great F&%#ing job, ASS^%LES.

I pay the mortgage, as I promised to do when I signed the paperwork. I did not sign anyone else's mortgage note.

Better Idea:

Buy houses that are in arrears, rent the property back to the "owner", and divide the profits amongst those of us who will fund this plan.

Bobby, Out.

When is the inauguration?

I've been watching television and listening to the radio and I can't seem to find out anything about the inauguration. If anyone has any details, PLEASE send them to me. This is an Historic event, and I don't want to miss it!

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

And what are they serving for lunch?

Fishes and Loaves

Three days and counting, in case you hadn't been watching the "historic event" ticker on CNN or MSNBC or The Weather Channel or The Food Network or Disney Channel.

Will you be there? Will the weather hold out for this historic day? Will the crowds be peaceful and celebratory or raucous and heated? Will there be enough food, water, and heat for the masses gathered on the mall? Will this be our generation's frozen Woodstock? Will you be telling this story to your children?



I love this picture. I say Marlboro Reds. I'll be at work trying to save the economy. One two-martini lunch at a time. I will put my head down, cup up, and plow through. We all do what we can.


Good By Pudding and Pie. Been real. Won't miss you a bit. Have fun in Dallas. Please don't run anything ever again. And I voted for you twice.

I saw a house today on the way to my inlaws that had a gated entrance with a "Do Not Enter" sign posted on the fence. Isn't that what a gate is for?



I am America's favorite dance crew. And I promise not to cry about the people who "dancing they hearts out" It's absolutely Hilarious how silly those judges are.



Shoes off to the future, folks. This is an open invitation for everyone to join the Mayocrat party. We will run on a platform of Universal Malt Care and Gross National Hoppiness.

"Mayocrats: The cause of and solution to all of life's problems"

Our first rally will be at "Septemberfest 2009: The Ending Begins" in Ashford CT. Wear your flare and clean your bladder for a knock down, drag out beer day. With food. SPOON!

Seriously though, what ever became of Mello Yellow and Mr. Pibb? The Hampster Dance?

Has anyone seen Puddles? Her feet are so cute and damp.

Beer time. Magic Hat "Odd Notion" Winter '08: Malty, cider-ish (honey), very carbonated. Bitter but non distinct hoppy start. Has a finish of sweetness and a side tongue/pallate lingering aftertaste.
1-to-10, 1 being pukish and 10 being metaphysical certitude: 4. Too much like a thicker, hoppier Butt-wiper, and too heavy on the latter's side. Wouldn't go out of my way to find it in the store.

It's supposed to stay above 0 tonight. Snow tomorrow. I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing. It's fun to talk about me.

Love,

Bobby.

You dip your balls in it: Septemberfest!

Right now, that would be cheese doodles. Talk about a delicious bath. An how about that soap.

The alt beer I have bottle conditioning is a very full bodied Newcastle-ish, with a heavy Hallterau flavor. No hop aroma but a full malt taste. High gravity, so it will probably be a few weeks until it's spot on.

Open invitation to all who read and the friends that you tell:

September 12, 2009 will be the opening of Septemberfest celebrations. First order of Business: Raging beer drinking party on Lake Chaffee (my house). I will brew a few batches and expect all those who brew to bring theirs as well so we can sample the wares. Burnt weenie samiches and beef burgers to eat. Soda for wimps. All day long. Wife to be cooperative, guaranteed.

September seems to suck as you remeber back to school, fall approaching and summer leaving, so let's spice it up a bit. Agreed?

Vanilla Pudding would be nice too.

Brrrrrrrr.....

It is freakin' cold. You know when you breathe in through your nose and the hairs start to freeze? It's past that. Really, really cold. -4.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire. I highly recomend it.
The cat sleeps on the sheets of my bed when I'm not home. Keeps them nice and warm. Every little bit helps.

Sometimes we call her puddles. Not really.

The Iceman Falleth

More winter weather today. For those of you who enjoy the snow and wish you had more of it: There are two houses for sale next to mine. I could certainly get you in if you want to take a look around. I have the inside scoop. And a screwdriver.

Connecticut has stopped plowing the roads. Subtle budget cuts by the state DPW. It certainly makes driving an adventure, every day!

One glimmer of hope: 83 days until April.

Purple Mountains, Candy Rain

I just got back from the Y a bit ago. The New Years resolution folks are in full effect, God bless 'em. I've been getting pretty buff with my new workout routine. Who would have thought that toe curls and the 2 pound medicine ball would work so well. Any more than that is just plain work. I do that during the day.

One of the girls at work brought in Jelly Bellies today. Those things are frickin' nice! So, so, oh, so delicious and full of high fructose corn syrupy flavor.

I'm reading a book about the collapse of civilizations. Nice an uplifting, I know. It titled, aptly, "Collapse". Written by Jared Diamond who also wrote Guns, Germs and Steel. If you're a broad history/civilization type buff, it's a good read.

Why don't the Israelis ever finish anything? Oh, poor Cynthia. I for one would have been happy. And this time I do know who you are, so empty your pockets and start swimming.

When you take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow morning, look real close. Ask yourself: Am I the bad apple? Then get dressed, eat your breakfast a go to work. Wash you hands three times while your at work to fight against the flu. And remember not to blog on company time.

I'll be putting together a mash/lauter tun over the next few weeks and getting ready to do full mash batches over the next few months. We'll see what I can make in this style.

Time to do some reading.

A tribute to 2008

1 Word: Fuck off.

3 Things I never want to hear again: Subprime, Bailout, and Barney Frank's Voice. I thought JabberJaw had a nice run 2 decades ago, so WHY does the people's republic of Massachusetts insist on sending him to Congress every other year?

4th thing: "Worst since the great depression." And yet every single one of our grandparents survived it only to feel better about themselves and go on to build the greatest nation that has ever existed on this Greene earth. Maybe less bad and more good is in order. And I'm not talking about talking about hope. We need the real thing, and It will never come from some elected official. It is in each of us. Not in a sappy way. People, not governments, change the world. That's why we read biographies, not the Congressional record.

The best thing that happened in 2008: The election ended. After two years of almost omnipresent coverage, the news can now sleep easy at night knowing they played a crucial roll in boring and frustrating the fuck out of millions of Americans with their constant blabbering about the historic implications. A death knell for bloated old fuckers that have lost their grip on the public and reality all at once. Big bus, the cast of Fox and CNN, fire and tragedy...Oh well.

The worst thing that happened in 2008: Sarah Palin. Retard. Done.

I'm thinking about writing a book. I know, everyone does it. Dream about writing, I mean. I think I can do it. I may need your help. Stay tuned.

2009 Resolution: Be better than last year. All areas. Personal, professional, web presence. School.

Doom and Gloom. Ha! I don't believe that shit. People that mope and complain and end up sitting on their doorsteps waiting for a job to walk by so that cab grab it and replace the ho-hum occupation they were kicked out of due to the sub prime horse shit and credit crunch hooey: Be Damned. That's not me. I'm going to grow this year, get bigger than last. Size 36, here I come!

Should it be an American coming of age story? I bitter why my parents were so bad Oprah-esque expose? Thriller? Satire? Collection of short, humorous stories?

The plan is to produce no less than 12 batches of beer, so again I will need suggestions. I'll be posting more about the brewing this year. Feel free to comment.

Outlook for 2009: Excellent.

Keep your head up. Don't let them get you down. It's all bullshit.