Science fiction, fantasy, mystery and what-not
“I love hot showers,” he said. “They’re my second most favorite thing, right behind pizza, cold beer, hot coffee, lemon meringue pie, watermelon, grilled steak, the beach, and the fourth of July.”
His wife said, “Where am I on that list?”
He said, “I’ll get back to you.”
Beer and I get along well. We go together like pizza and beer, ice cream and pie, or coffee and pastries.
The other day, we had a warning about climate change and chocolate. Each week brings another story about global warming and the increasing seriousness.
Earlier this year – 2018 – came a story about rare poisonous sea snakes being discovered in California, coming north with warming waters.
Before that, of course, were stories and warnings of wild weather swings with rapid temperature extremes, blizzard hurricanes and increasing wildfires. Before then, climate change warnings were about melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and coastal flooding that threaten cities like New York and Miami.
But a segment of population says, “Nope, climate change, and all that’s attributed to it is fake science, or a hoax, or a conspiracy, or blah, blah, blah.”
Today, a warning from Montana, where malt hops are grown. They’re not faring well there, and climate change is blamed.
Without malt hops, we’re going to have some problems with beer production. Hopefully, more will now start paying attention. The Guardian puts it in perspective in this article, from 2015.
My social group met last night for the last time in 2017. It was a good time, as always, and we raised our glasses in a commemorative salute.
Six beerites were absent, including one recovering from injury and illness. We sent him a special salute that is guaranteed to improve recovery times.
If you make it to Ashland and want to join us for a beer, we meet at Northwest Pizza every Wednesday at 4:30 PM for our winter hours. We’ll resume meeting at 5 PM in a few months.
Happy 2018. Cheers
I’m pleased for my friend, Ron.
Ron’s son and daughter-in-law have started a business. Located in Sherwood, Oregon, it’s called Smockville Brewhouse. Click on the link, and check it out. Go ahead, I’ll wait here.
I’m please for Ron, not because his son is opening a business, but because of the relationship the two of them, and the entire family, demonstrated while the idea germinated, the business plan was created, and the brewhouse established. It was beautiful to see Ron’s happiness, pride, and enthusiasm.
I hope the business flourishes. If it’s dependent on enthusiasm and pride, there’s a damn good chance that it will.
It was a good day to have a beer, or die, so he thought he’d do one and see what happened with the other.
This bumper sticker raised several questions.
1. Beered? I get it, but…hmm….
2. Is someone trying to debeer Missoula?
3. Debeer? Hmm….
I’ve had my Magic Beer Bottle for ten days. It’s a harmless novelty, like Mattel’s famous Magic Eight Ball. You ask the Magic Beer Bottle a question and give it a shake. Then you turn it over, so the bottom is up, and the answer floats up to the bottom of the bottle.
Made by Magic Hops, there are caveats to using the Magic Beer Bottle. One, all your questions are supposed to be about drinking beer. That’s it, actually, except using the Magic Beer Bottle can affect your counting ability.
I find it an excellent aid for when I’m torn about having a beer. “Magic Beer Bottle,” I say, shaking it, “Should I have a beer now?”
Peering at the answer, I learn, “All indicators point to yes.”
That frees me from feeling guilty. After all, it’s fated for me to have a beer. Although your questions must all be about having a beer, the Magic Beer Bottle provides interesting answers. “Go with wine, this time,” it once told me. “Yes, drink an IPA,” it answered another time, while it suggested, “Yes, enjoy a lager,” at another questioning.
It has also told me, “No, you’ve had enough,” and, “Go pee first,” so it’s not all about encouraging me to drink. What really interests me about the Magic Beer Bottle are three things: one, the brown bottle is empty. There’s nothing in it. It doesn’t have a cap, so you can blow into the bottle.
I’ll get back to you on the second thing, as it escapes me now. Time to consult the old Magic Beer Bottle.
We heard this on the blues station last night on our way home. We love Koko Taylor, and I like beer, so this works. I don’t know what year it’s from, or anything like that. It’s the blues, and it makes me feel good.
Here’s the fabulous Koko Taylor with “Beer Bottle Boogie.”
Michael Seidel, writer 