Friday, June 25, 2010
I've Been Wanting to Write this for Days ...
While we didn't take the cruise to Alaska that Amy has been talking about for years, we had a great 25th wedding anniversary. The day was this last Tuesday, the 22nd, but, we, really, started celebrating shortly after I got off work on Sunday.
We head to a little bar and grill near our house, Fire Creek. A nice little place that we have enjoyed, regularly, ever since we moved here. We hadn't been in a while, and decided to go eat there.
I walked in, ordered beers we would like, and found us a table.
(The following is integral to the story.)
I ordered Amy an amber ale by a local brewery named "Mac and Jack's". Now, normally, when we go out around here, I order her the amber ale made by the Alaska Brewery. It's a fairly clear ale about the color of red brick. Mac and Jack's amber is unfiltered. So, in the glass, it is cloudy, not clear, but about the same color and taste as the Alaskan beer of the same style.
Anyway, ... I sit down at our table. Amy is out in the truck, still. A young man is seated, by himself, at the table closest to us. (I find out later that he is a young Sergeant in a Recon Platoon for one of Fort Lewis's Ranger Battalions.) He and I do the "guy thing" for this situation, you know, make eye contact and nod, without smiling, and I start reading the menu, which has changed since the last time we were in.
After I have been there for a while, Amy comes in. She looks at the menu for a second, then picks up her beer. She looks at it briefly, tips it slightly, and starts to ask me what is in her glass, because it is not what I, normally, order for her.
Well, she tips it a bit too far for the amount of beer in the glass, and pours some of it onto her menu.
Without even thinking, the following words come out of my mouth: "The top of the glass is open."
The young man across the way guffaws, and grabs his beer glass. Amy and I find out later that he ended up spitting part of his "chaw" into the glass, he is laughing so hard.
The best part is that he ended up drinking part of that beer to slow down the belly laugh from my comment.
He came over to the table later to introduce himself, and relate that story. Even though he was there to see his girlfriend (one of the waitresses), that episode was the most entertaining part of his evening, apparently. And our "banter", as an old married couple, was more entertaining than visiting with his girlfriend.
We head to a little bar and grill near our house, Fire Creek. A nice little place that we have enjoyed, regularly, ever since we moved here. We hadn't been in a while, and decided to go eat there.
I walked in, ordered beers we would like, and found us a table.
(The following is integral to the story.)
I ordered Amy an amber ale by a local brewery named "Mac and Jack's". Now, normally, when we go out around here, I order her the amber ale made by the Alaska Brewery. It's a fairly clear ale about the color of red brick. Mac and Jack's amber is unfiltered. So, in the glass, it is cloudy, not clear, but about the same color and taste as the Alaskan beer of the same style.
Anyway, ... I sit down at our table. Amy is out in the truck, still. A young man is seated, by himself, at the table closest to us. (I find out later that he is a young Sergeant in a Recon Platoon for one of Fort Lewis's Ranger Battalions.) He and I do the "guy thing" for this situation, you know, make eye contact and nod, without smiling, and I start reading the menu, which has changed since the last time we were in.
After I have been there for a while, Amy comes in. She looks at the menu for a second, then picks up her beer. She looks at it briefly, tips it slightly, and starts to ask me what is in her glass, because it is not what I, normally, order for her.
Well, she tips it a bit too far for the amount of beer in the glass, and pours some of it onto her menu.
Without even thinking, the following words come out of my mouth: "The top of the glass is open."
The young man across the way guffaws, and grabs his beer glass. Amy and I find out later that he ended up spitting part of his "chaw" into the glass, he is laughing so hard.
The best part is that he ended up drinking part of that beer to slow down the belly laugh from my comment.
He came over to the table later to introduce himself, and relate that story. Even though he was there to see his girlfriend (one of the waitresses), that episode was the most entertaining part of his evening, apparently. And our "banter", as an old married couple, was more entertaining than visiting with his girlfriend.
Labels: Alaska Brewery, beer, Fire Creek, Mac and Jack's Brewery, wedding anniversary
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
For All "Dedicated Howserites" Out There
Okay folks, I have had an interesting email exchange with Mr. H over the last few days. I am sure part of it has to do with the excruciating pain he has had from that root canal, and the pain meds. He has been a bit down in the dumps, lately ... about us, and the Music Fest.
He was talking about cancelling. I think he has been talked out of it. But, the low number of commitments from people (whether you register or not), is a bit disconcerting. I will be registering shortly. I had made a commitment to attend, but could not register until my vacation was approved, and my wife and I figured out if both of us were attending. We will be registering shortly.
COME ON, PEOPLE! Just a few months ago, the Howser Music Fest FB page was abuzz with excitement for this! Mr. H has affected the lives of each and every one of us, in one way or another. We owe this to him and each other to do this, now, ... not at some funeral or memorial service. Let's celebrate our common bond with the man that created it.
And for added incentive, the way things appear, now, I will be making a cross-country drive, from Washington state to Missouri, for this thing ... and, if I have to collect you, along the way, to get you there, I will. ... and those of you that live in the Lake area, my vacation starts on June 10th, I have time to come find you. ...
Don't make me get all "Sergeant Robertson" on you, you won't like it. I make soldiers cry, and scare combat veterans, when I'm in "Sergeant Robertson" mode. ... Hee! Hee! ... It's fun!
He was talking about cancelling. I think he has been talked out of it. But, the low number of commitments from people (whether you register or not), is a bit disconcerting. I will be registering shortly. I had made a commitment to attend, but could not register until my vacation was approved, and my wife and I figured out if both of us were attending. We will be registering shortly.
COME ON, PEOPLE! Just a few months ago, the Howser Music Fest FB page was abuzz with excitement for this! Mr. H has affected the lives of each and every one of us, in one way or another. We owe this to him and each other to do this, now, ... not at some funeral or memorial service. Let's celebrate our common bond with the man that created it.
And for added incentive, the way things appear, now, I will be making a cross-country drive, from Washington state to Missouri, for this thing ... and, if I have to collect you, along the way, to get you there, I will. ... and those of you that live in the Lake area, my vacation starts on June 10th, I have time to come find you. ...
Don't make me get all "Sergeant Robertson" on you, you won't like it. I make soldiers cry, and scare combat veterans, when I'm in "Sergeant Robertson" mode. ... Hee! Hee! ... It's fun!
