tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18936204932832624042023-11-15T08:09:10.690-08:00Chad Foutz: Musings from Mr. HydeInformation about author Chad Foutz, including new releases on Amazon, new blogs, and other random thoughts and musings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-16004726367602516592015-11-11T05:05:00.000-08:002015-11-11T05:05:27.896-08:00New Stories and More Coming...Good morning. The saga of the busted computers continues. The desktop is kaput. The laptop trudges on and I have narrowed down the new laptop to three contenders. Now all I have to do is pull the trigger.<br />
<br />
'The Smallest Hour' and 'Hard Times' are now for sale on Amazon. I like both of these stories and it was fun to see how 'Hard Times' had changed numerous times through the editing process.<br />
<br />
Two more stories are on the horizon. 'Angelic Sins' is about an angel who comes to help a grieving husband, while 'DOX-20' is about a robot that causes some issues for her owner. Both stories should be on Amazon by 11/20/15.<br />
<br />
Also in the hopper, is a Xmas story about a female devil named Glasya, (hopefully) the paperback version of 'Nine of a Kind' (including part a bonus story called 'The Shower Curtain Man.'<br />
<br />
Gotta go. Glasya is waiting for me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-10905738906581641972015-09-18T05:34:00.001-07:002015-09-18T05:34:08.454-07:00A Writer Writes...When He Has a Working ComputerGood morning. No new stories on Amazon as of yet. My desktop has died, or at least took one step closer to the great computer graveyard. My laptop is struggling through its own problems, but so far, I'm able to post this blog.<br />
<br />
Now a writing update. The covers for 'Hard Times' and 'the Smallest Hour' are finished. The stories are edited, formatted, and ready to go. However, they are on my desktop's hard drive that crapped out last week. If everything goes as planned, both stories will be on Amazon the week of September 28th.<br />
<br />
On the horizon, another two stories will follow the week of October 5th. One story is about an angel and the second is about a character that I am thoroughly enjoying writing about. She's a sweet girl named Bernice.<br />
<br />
Signing off. Have to write while the laptop is perking. I might even look into buying a new computer.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-84696703164709516452015-08-27T11:31:00.001-07:002015-08-27T11:31:49.361-07:00A Writer Writes... AlwaysThursday afternoon. A productive day of writing, so far. Twelve pages for a new story, edited a recently finished story, and nearly completed the final edit for two upcoming releases. Then, wasted time planning and forecasting upcoming stories for Amazon.<br />
<br />
Also, wasted more than an hour sifting through images for my next two releases (there are thousands of images and it takes time to pick the right one).<br />
<br />
Animal Control is now live on Amazon. I hope you like it.<br />
<br />
The story coming next week is called The Smallest Hour and it is about the evils of man. The following week I will release Hard Times, a story that has been changed and edited, and lengthened, and shortened, and lengthened again, and re-imagined more times than I care to remember. But I love the story.<br />
<br />
Gotta get back to it. Thanks.<br />
<br />
And for tomorrow, cheers and TGIF.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-2522246328624701322015-08-14T05:43:00.000-07:002015-08-14T05:44:05.074-07:00Go Buy My Stories!!!Good morning. It's Friday August 14th, and by end of day, I will have 5, yes 5, stories for sale on Amazon.<br />
This has been a long time coming and I am thrilled to finally be doing something that I truly love.<br />
<br />
The five stories are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. Birthday Wish -- see how a kid's robot can really foul up a birthday party.<br />
2. Virgil's Haunts -- there are bad, grudge holding people in the world (and not all churches are good).<br />
3. Death Waltz -- an accident leads to a man's sanity cracking to the point of no return.<br />
4. The Salem Rocker -- who would've thought that a rocking chair could be so deadly.<br />
5. Bernice -- my story from the Stalkers Anthology and this girl is CRAZY.<br />
<br />
The next short story on the horizon (about a week out) is called Animal Control. It's a tough story about a community that takes their pet regulations to the extreme.<br />
<br />
I'm having a blast publishing, writing, and editing. I hope you are enjoying them as well. Cheers.<br />
<br />
Chad<br />
<br />
And a HUGE thank you to J.B. (mentor), R.F. (cover girl), and my Buddy. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-21595086336459034002015-07-10T09:05:00.003-07:002015-07-10T09:05:45.913-07:00Total computer malfunction. 'Virgil's Haunts' will be delayed at least for a few days. Sorry.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-73248799195042842852015-07-10T06:42:00.002-07:002015-07-10T06:42:34.815-07:00A Bunch of Stories...I'm back. My writing over the last several months has been very sketchy. The desire to have my stories available on Amazon for anyone to read has consumed me. The road has been tedious, at times difficult and confusing, but on June 25th, my first story went live on Amazon.<br />
<br />
There are many more to come. Please enjoy and feel free to leave any and all comments. Thanks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-29361247573772960332015-07-10T06:40:00.000-07:002015-07-10T06:40:14.534-07:00A new story from my twisted catalog should be for sale on Amazon. The story is called Virgil's Haunts and will be followed in two weeks by a story called Death Waltz.<br />
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Enjoy.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-23984058928142157542015-06-25T13:52:00.000-07:002015-06-25T13:52:11.686-07:00Books<div style="text-align: center;">
Birthday Wish</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Virgil's Haunts</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Death Waltz</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-50074118738834229392014-03-28T12:43:00.003-07:002014-03-28T12:43:43.636-07:00Seven Weeks...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Seven weeks...where does the time go? Believe it or not, my absence was for a good reason. Since January I have been writing like a madman. I've probably put down over three hundred pages--not sure how good some of the stuff is, but at least I'm writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">AND MY FIRST RELEASE, "9 OF A KIND" IS FINALLY IN THE LAST STAGES OF EDITING!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A quick writing update without the caps. My book of short stories has changed drastically since I first envisioned the selections seven months ago. Stories have been deleted, others added or edited, and two have actually spawned companion stories. I might just be my own worst enemy when it comes to deciding when a story is finished. Damn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Fear not folks, I have not forsaken my love for craft beer. For now, I'll skip my rant on beer snobs, beer geeks, and beer assholes, in favor of giving you a quick rundown of ten recent beers that I sampled. Some were great, others were clunkers. Here goes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">1. Sierra Nevada's Ruthless Rye IPA (draft) -- solid IPA -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">2. Troeg's Nugget Nectar (draft) -- better on draft than bottled -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">3. Sierra Nevada's Snow Wit White IPA (bottle) -- easy drinking IPA -- rating 3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">4. Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA (bottle) -- tasty and hoppy -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">5. Sierra Nevada's Nooner Session IPA (bottle) -- malty hoppy goodness -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">6. Sierra Nevada's Blindfold Black IPA (bottle) -- like drinking a hopped up coffee -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">7. DuClaw's Dirty Little Freak Coconut Caramel Chocolate Brown Ale (draft) -- the name lasts longer than the muddled taste -- rating 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">8. Tongerlo Prior Tripel Belgian Triple Ale (bottle) -- excellent, but strong -- rating 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">9. New Belgian Spring Blonde Ale Belgian Ale (bottle) -- OK at best -- rating 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">10. New Belgian Snapshot Wheat Beer (draft) -- thin and lacking -- rating 2</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">OK, so I like everything that Sierra Nevada makes (including their Summerfest which grew on me slowly). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'd love to write more, but it is Friday and there is beer to drink. Cheers!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-72168589933383956972014-02-10T09:23:00.001-08:002014-02-10T09:23:09.182-08:00Better Late Than Never<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hello beer fanatics, it's Monday and I'm finally posting what I had promised to post three days ago. Better late than never.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First, let's talk about some craft beers. I'll start with a new release from our friends at Sam Adams. Their new beer, a west coast style IPA, is called Rebel. I sampled this beer twice on draft and thought it was quite good. The beer arrived in a Sam signature glass--the color was bright amber, clear, with a fair amount of bubbles, topped nicely by a thick white head. The beer smelled of piney citrus with heavy notes of grapefruit. The taste was bitter and typical of an IPA. At 6.5% ABV this was a solid beer. It's not the best IPA, but I would drink it again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The second beer was enjoyed during the Super Bowl. Rogue's Yellow Snow IPA is also another example of a quality beer from a great company. The beer was sampled (I drank the whole thing) from a 1/2 gallon growler (their packaging) on that boring Sunday. The beer first, then the Super Dud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rogue's Yellow Snow IPA was poured into a SPG and was a cloudy crisp yellow, with a nice off-white billowy head that yielded thick lacing. The smell and taste were both of floral and citrus notes with a mild sweetness in the background. Pleasant beer and easy drinking--I did finish the half gallon. Also, if you check out any of Rogue beers, you'll find out about IBUs, degrees Plato, and Lovibond. It's complicated...Google it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The Super Bowl. A football fan's best and worst day. If your team is in it and wins it, oh happy days. If not, you still want a good game, with good commercials, and a decent halftime show. If you watched the game, as I did, then maybe you might agree with me. One word, horrific.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Game was a snorefest, halftime sucked, and the commercials were just OK at best. If it wasn't for the company of my wife and brother, great wings and chili, and lots of craft beer, I would've never made it through the day. That's that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The last beer I want to tell you about is Iron Maiden Trooper ESB English bitter. This is a solid British-style beer. A little thin in smell, taste, and even the finish, but I love Iron Maiden (the band), so I forced myself to give this a decent rating. Bias is a bitch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My ratings for these three beers...Rebel IPA 3, Yellow Snow IPA 3, and Iron Maiden Trooper a 3. I guess I'm in a generous mood.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next time, beer snobs, three brews I'm looking forward to, and a writing update.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-61328614802278748152014-02-04T04:31:00.002-08:002014-02-04T04:31:53.123-08:00The Return of Craft Beer Friday<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hello to all. CBF will make a triumph return this Friday. Super busy the last few weeks, churning out what I hope are four really good stories so far this year. Friday, I'll be talking about a new beer from Sam Adams, a beer called Yellow Snow IPA, and a few others, including a beer from one of my all-time favorite bands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A hint on that last beer, Up the Irons!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I'll also talk about beer snobs, a horrible Super Bowl Sunday, and a few new beers on the horizon. See you Friday. Drink up...</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-49733029531115329522014-01-10T09:07:00.003-08:002014-01-10T09:07:27.542-08:00MIssing a Friday and Happy CBF<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Craft Beer Friday. It is a wonderful day for drinking craft beer, but so is any other day. Somehow, I missed last Friday (maybe too much craft beer). Anyway, a trio this week plus a writing update.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All three beers this week are from our good friends at Sam Adams. All beers are collected in the Sam Adams Spring Brews 12 pack. Each of the beers were poured into a SPG and enjoyed fairly early this morning I'm not ashamed to admit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Number 1, the Maple Pecan Porter. The beer pours like a cola, with a reddish tint to it and a small head. An attracvtive beer. This American porter comes in at 5/6% ABV. The smell, sweet and malty, is followed by a nice mix of chocloate and syrupy goodness. The taste is very good. Pecans, a hint of vanilla, and a good balance of malty sweetness, without being too sweet. Overall, a solid 3.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Number 2, is Cold Snap, a witbier at 5.3% ABV. The look and smell of this beer is typical for most wheat beers, cloudy yellow with a good head and decent carbonation. Hard not to compare this beer to Blue Moon, other than the fact this beer is a little spicier. If you want a witbier from Sam Adams, I would suggest the Blackberry Wit--excellent beer. This rates a 2.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Number 3, is Escape Route, a Kolsch beer at 5% ABV. This beer was the most difficult to rate. I liked the appearance and the smell was OK, but the beer started out tasting a little too tart for me (almost lemony), but finished with a malty sweetness. On Sam Adams website they claim that the beer is a hybrid of an ale and a lager--maybe that's where my confusion comes in. An oddball for sure. I'll rate it a 3 (grudgingly).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sidebar--look for Sam Adams Rebel IPA coming soon. I can't wait to review this west coast-style IPA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">9 of a Kind, my first book is really coming soon (by the end of the month I hope). I'll blog the first of the week about my writing plans for the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Cheers!! It's Friday...drink up.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-65380914475106246072013-12-31T05:52:00.000-08:002013-12-31T05:52:19.371-08:00Quick Reviews and Short Football Rant...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Merry Christmas to all! And Happy New Year as well! Another Christmas in the rearview and it's kind of sad already. A lot of work for one day, but I had a truly wonderful holiday. Spent time with family and friends, received some nice gifts, and enjoyed quite a few craft beers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First, the best of the lot that I had over the holidays--Goose Island's Ten Hills IPA. This APA is 6.2% ABV and was poured from a bottle into an SPG. This beer gives you everything you would want from a pale ale. There is a creamy head sitting softly atop a copper-colored beer and as the glass was emptied, nice lacing remained around the glass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Big scents emerge immediately--tropical citrusy fruit, some maltiness and hints of bitter grapefruit. The taste is also quite good. The usual bitter hops of a pale ale blended with a nice bready mouthfeel make for a very good beer. This is a solid 4, but limited. If you see it, buy it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Now for maybe the worst of the lot. Ridgeway's Bad Elf Winter's Ale, is a poor excuse for a winter beer. Maybe I was expecting a true winter beer--spicy, hearty, delicious, but Bad Elf offered none of that. Instead, the thin, pale IPA from England is just OK even for an IPA. I believe this beer to be more of a holiday novelty than a serious brew, as there are other beers in their holiday line that are much better. Some of those include Lump of Coal Dark Holiday Stout, Pickled Santa English Xmas Ale, and Insanely Bad Elf Imperial Red Ale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">To football. The Pittsburgh Steelers were bounced from the playoffs Sunday afternoon, when the Chiefs back-up players were cheated out of a win over the Chargers (yes, I'm bitter). But, that's football. It stinks that the NFL officials wait til the day after to say that we fucked up--I already knew that, but would rather them keep it to themselves since the game was over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There's always next season. Speaking of seasons, before you know it spring will be here. Will we see some more Orioles magic in 2014? I hope so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">More beer reviews coming Friday. Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year's to all.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-41260742813278116352013-12-20T06:53:00.002-08:002013-12-20T06:55:57.506-08:00Crazy CBFs<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I know. I missed last Friday, but I assure you that I did enjoy a few craft beers. And even though it is early right now, I want to talk about two of my favorite beers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First, last Friday, I sampled the always excellent Anchor Steam Christmas Ale. Now if you've had this beer and really <em>know </em>this beer, then you know that the label changes every year as does the recipe. Not only is the beer a wonderful experience, with tastes and aromas of Christmas--spices, malty goodness and a slight trace of mild hops, but it reminds me why I love the Christmas season. With this great beer, I do something that has become a Christmas tradition for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Each year, I buy a magnum of the Christmas Ale and wait a year to enjoy it. But, for today, I am reviewing the 2013 release from a 12 oz. bottle. This beer is a solid 5 for me. Beer was poured into a SPG with a beautiful brownish color with a creamy white head. There are notes of chocolate, holiday spices like cinnamon and clove, all finished with a slight bitter taste reminiscent of a dark chocolate. I love this beer. Try it...you won't be disappointed, and at only 5.5% ABV, you enjoy more than one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The beer for today, actually from last night around 12:30am, is another winter favorite--Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale. First off, this is a far cry from the traditional gingerbread Christmas beers. This is an American IPA (or APA), with a big 6.8% ABV. Sierra Nevada makes many beers that I love, and this is one of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Forget the cinnamon and spices you might expect because this is a big pale ale that pours a somewhat cloudy amber color with a rich head and excellent lacing. The citrusy, hoppy aroma remains a constant, with slight hints of earthiness and grapefruit. This beer lacks the heavy bitterness typical of many pale ales, and that makes it finish with a nice smooth mouthfeel. Excellent beer. I would also rate this a 5.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As for a Christmas blog, can't do it. Too much to say, too little time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year as well. In the meantime, drink good beer, enjoy time with family and friends, and if at all possible, do something nice for a total stranger. And I don'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">t mean just hold a door or offer a holiday greeting, I mean something truly heartfelt and full of Christmas spirit. It will make you feel good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Earlier this week, at a local restaurant with a good friend, he and I noticed a woman, perhaps in her 40's with two young children. The woman wore a head scarf and was seemingly bald. Maybe a cancer patient. Regardless, I secretly paid her tab and was thanked by her waitress and the manager. And you know what, it made me feel damn good. Try it. I hope she and her children have a fantastic Christmas.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-3612095070724990452013-12-07T05:16:00.000-08:002013-12-07T05:17:07.533-08:00Beer Friday <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Welcome to another CBF. I know it's Saturday but I'm trying my best. Lots of Christmas business this week and very little writing. But, I'm still in it for the long haul. Things are definitely on the horizon. Part one of my vampire novel is coming right after the New Year and I will also begin two other fairly lengthy writing projects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You will find all of my updates here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Anyway, who wants a cold beer? (The answer to that is always a resounding hell yes!!!) This week's beer is Blue Point Brewery'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">s Winter Ale. I would rate this a solid 3 (see previous post for rating info).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Blue Point's winter seasonal is somewhat of an oddball--it is an American amber/red ale that comes in at a robust 7% ABV. The beer was poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a standard pint glass (SPG) and enjoyed while staring at the undecroated Christmas tree. A blog about Xmas is really coming, by mid-week at the latest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The winter ale is a crisp amber color, clear with a fair amount of lacing. The beer smells of malts and doughy sweetness. The first sip was like drinkling a typical red ale, save for the slightly higher alcohol content. Amidst the malty goodness there is a hint of caramel that gives the beer a nice sugary quality. There is very little hops to speak of, typical of a red ale.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Blue Point's winter offering is good, not a traditional winter beer that leans on spicy goodness for the flavor character.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Until next time, drink up and drink well. And if you are in a store that sells beer and happen to see Anchor Steam's Christmas Ale, give it a shot. You won't be disappointed. Who knows, maybe I'll review the beer next week.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-57139370302175500432013-12-02T11:27:00.001-08:002013-12-07T05:16:41.853-08:00Beer Friday and a Writing Update<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's Friday again (well actually Monday) and I have a new beer review. It would have been sooner but I was busy sleeping off my Thanksgiving turkey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today's beer is a real treat, a limited release, an expensiove one at that, and last but not least, a damn fine beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The beer is Goose Island's Bourbon County Brand Stout. This Imperial Stout, aged in bourbon barrels, is high octane--almost 30 proof, or nearly 15% ABV, three timers higher than the average beer. Where to start?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The 4-pack of 12 ounce bottles aren't cheap. They retail for about $23, but are so limited that if a store has them then chances are they aren't sitting on a shelf. Instead, a valued customer might receive a psst and then a few whispered words. That's how I came to buy the beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The bottle was sampled at a Tipplers Beer Society meeting on November 30th. The beer pours a thick black and aromas of coffee, chocolate, and molasses burst forth, with a strong scent of bourbon never too far behind. The head is thin, but rich in tannish color. The first taste...ah, bourbon and chocolate stout. The beer reminded me of Stone's Russian Imperial Stout, after someone poured a shot of bourbon in it. The aftertaste is of roasted chocolate and coffee with the tang of bourbon lingering.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's a big beer, but easy enough to drink. Would you sit around and drink a 4-pack by yourself? Probably not. Especially at over $5 a bottle. And for the first time, I will give a beer a number rating. This beer is a solid 4.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I rate beers 1-5. Here is how the scale works: a 1 is a horrific beer that I probably wouldn'</span><span style="font-family: Georgia;">t drink even if it was free. A 5 would indicate an all-time favorite, a beer that I would actively seek out whenever possible. An example of a 1 beer is Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy (tastes like a lemon cleaner) and a 5 would be Anchor Steam's Christmas Beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">On a writing note, I am in the final stages of (finally) releasing '9 of a Kind' and I also have a story anthologized in a book just released last week. The link is here. My story is 'Bernice.' Support your independent authors and enjoy the creepy stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stalkers-A-Collection-Thriller-Stories-ebook/dp/B00GX9VVWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386012158&sr=8-1&keywords=stalkers+anthology">http://www.amazon.com/Stalkers-A-Collection-Thriller-Stories-ebook/dp/B00GX9VVWI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1386012158&sr=8-1&keywords=stalkers+anthology</a><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-2250059879976382692013-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:002013-11-22T08:00:08.404-08:00A Trio of Beers (with a Spaghetti Western twist)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hello. Craft Beer Friday again. Question is, where the hell have I been??? Out of town, shitty memory, and wrote a draft but didn't post. So, that brings us up to speed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyone remember the Clint Eastwood flick <em>The Good, the Bad, and The Ugly</em>? Great movie which also stars Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach rounding out the trio. Anyway, I'm going to review four beers today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We will call them--the excellent, the really good, the good, and the horrifically awful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beer #1. Samuel Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock (available in the winter variety 12 pack). An excellent beer, sampled on...hell I can't remember the date. The bottled beer was sampled from a wide-mouthed snifter glass. The beer poured a dark brown with a creamy off tan head and a wonderful aroma of chocolate malts with hints of cherry. The cherry flavor comes through like a shining star in the taste--crisp with the sweetness of maraschino cherries. The beer reminds me a lot of Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, also quite good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As a side note, years ago, when Sam's Cherry Wheat was a summer seasonal beer, my friends and I bought fifteen cases to make sure we didn't run short. Sadly, the beers did not see the first cool autumn day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beer #2. Stone Brewery's Ruination IPA. This heavy Imperial IPA comes in at a stout 8.2% ABV. As stated before, I love IPAs. I would have rated this higher had I not tried the Sam Adams Chocolate Cherry Bock first. The bomber bottle was poured into a standard pint glass. The beer smells like a typical IPA--citrus, piney, and a strong hop aroma. The amber colored beer maintained a good head and the lacing on the glass was off white and prominent. I love this beer--but my favorite from Stone is their Russian Imperial Stout.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beer #3. Blue Mountain Brewery's Steel Wheels ESB. I wanted to love this Virginia beer, but could not. The ESB (extra strong bitter) poured yellowish clear with minimal head or lacing. The taste was reminiscent of a bitter American red ale. The canned beer was poured into a standard pint glass. The bitterness flattened the taste of the beer a little too much for me, but I still liked it OK. ESBs (a British style of beer) are typically not my favorites. On to the ugly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Beer #4. Samuel Adams Juniper IPA (also from the same winter variety 12 pack). This beer is a swing and a miss. As I opened the beer and sniffed the bottle I knew instantly that I would not like this beer. Juniper berries are used to distill gin--NOT for flavoring beer. The bottle of beer was poured into s standard pint glass (SPG from now on) and the colro was golden with a whitish head and minimal lacing. The beer smells piney with strong odors of juniper--horrific. I am not a gin drinker and so maybe for someone who does like gin, it might be the beer for them. But not me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I never finished the beer. Still have a full one in the beer fridge. I'll have to offer that to a guest, assuring them that it is a good beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A holiday blog coming Tuesday or Wednesday. (I hope)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Keep trying craft beers--you never know when you just might discover your favorite new brew.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-54351825610820024642013-10-25T12:52:00.000-07:002013-10-25T12:52:07.385-07:00CBF (Craft Beer Friday)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Friday again. Where does the time go? Well, as long as it's Friday, I might as well enjoy another fine craft beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today's beer is from Devil's Backbone Brewery Company out of Lexington, VA. The beer, Eight Point IPA. The deer-themed label depicts a timid buck sipping from a pond--but this is no timid beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Not to argue the minutiae, but I almost want to call this an APA (American pale ale, as opposed to an India pale ale) because it was not only made here in the US, but IPAs should be more bitter and have a higher ABV than APAs, but the lines can blur. This beer tends towards an APA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, back to Eight Point IPA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The beer poured a clear, deep golden color with decent head and nice lacing. Big aromas came right away. There is a citrus odor masking a bready, doughy scent. It is quite pleasant. The beer is immensely drinkable at 5.9% ABV.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The grapefruit-like taste melds well with the consistent bitterness that is typical of this beer style. There is a nice balance of carbonation as well, easily noted as the bitter fruit taste remains even after the beer is empty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you try and like Eight Point IPA, I would suggest Devil's Backbone's Vienna Lager. It was the first beer I had from DB and it is also a very good beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And if you try both beers and like them, go to the DB site and buy something, or send them some love. I especially like the shirt that reads "Nelson County, Va. More Breweries than Stoplights".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Sounds like a wonderful place to me. New post Monday or Tuesday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-60158087685926285912013-10-18T10:28:00.003-07:002013-10-18T10:28:53.898-07:00It's Craft Beer Friday Again...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Welcome back to another edition of Craft Beer Friday. The beer this week is from one of my all-time favorite breweries, Sierra Nevada, out of Choco, California. Other than their summer offering (I dislike almost all summer beers anyway), this is an outstanding brewery with a great heritage and the unique ability to constantly crank out great beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The selection this week is Sierra Nevada's Flipside Red IPA. You might be wondering how a red IPA differs from a regular IPA, and I will tell you. A red IPA is a normal American red ale, brewed with a stronger alcohol content, then hopped up like a pale ale, or in this case, an IPA. And Sierra Nevada does it quite well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Right away you get the bitterness of the hops and the dry mouth-feel, followed by the malty richness of the red ale. This was purchased in a 12-pack and quaffed from a pint glass. It is a beautiful beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Flipside pours a crisp copper red, with a hearty head that retains and leaves some lacing on the glass. Because of the color of the beer, you immediatley think of a malty, bready richness, typical of American red ales. But this is no 5% ABV beer. Flipside is 6.2% ABV and has a depth of flavor unique to the style. The maltiness is like a shadow for the powerful hop notes--in the background, yet always there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The bitter, grapefruity smell is slightly cut by the sweetness of the malts. This is a very drinkable beer that could forge the way for other brewers to start making red IPAs (at least I hope so).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Another great beer for a Craft Beer Friday. Go and grab yourself a 6 or 12 pack, or even a case of Sierra Nevada's Flipside. You won't be disappointed. If you are, send me the unused portion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I will see that it is disposed of properly--one bottle at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Cheers.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-13362254716939759642013-10-12T05:02:00.000-07:002013-10-12T05:02:20.023-07:00Craft Beer Friday<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I decided I would combine two of my favorite things--writing and beer. I love beer. Cheap domestic in cans (if that's all that is available) to expensive single bottles of limited release beers, I dig all of them. Do I prefer Michelob Ultra over Anchor Steam Liberty Ale? Never. But when in Rome...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So every Friday (forgot to post this last night), I will choose a fine craft beer and give an honest review. I am not by any means a beer expert, but I know a lot more than most. Through my review, I hope to convert one non-craft beer drinker over to the dark side--and that dark side is full of wonderful beers, like porters and stouts, the trendy black IPAs, and all of the other wonderful shades of beer in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Today's beer is from Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, CA). The selection is Sculpin IPA. To not muddle the review, a quick word or two about the name of the beer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ballast Point names many of their beers after fish--a sculpin is a fish. An IPA, or India pale ale, is a style of beer often brewed with pale malts and has a higher alcohol content (the earliest of these beers were shipped from England to their colonists in India and had to survive the long trip at sea).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, enough history, back to Sculpin IPA. The beer was from a 12oz. bottle and the ABV (alcohol by volume) was 7%, high by the average beer standard, but right on par with most IPAs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Simply stated, it is a wonderful beer. The beer pours a mostly clear amber, with a generous head. The beer was sampled out of a 16oz. pilsner glass. As the beer level lowered, beautiful lacing rimmed the inside of the glass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As for the smell of this fantastic elixir--imagine the aromatics a freshly peeled grapefruit would give off. Strong scents of grapefruit and hops are easily noted. The taste, magnificent. Big, bold hop notes with the bitterness and boldness of grapefruit make for a great IPA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ballast Point Sculpin IPA could be my new favorite IPA. I still love the beers that Stone, Lancaster, and Dogfish Head are making, but Sculpin certainly ranks among the top.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">That's all for now. After all, the beer did come in a six pack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-12108028175052000582013-10-07T19:16:00.002-07:002013-10-07T19:16:57.941-07:00Where Did the Year Go???<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Opened up my blog and was shocked to see that I hadn't posted anything since August 3rd. So I ask, where did the summer go? It seems as though it was just Memorial Day, as opposed to Labor Day. Hell, now Halloween is just around the corner.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">What about all of those summer projects that I had planned to tackle this year? What about playing several rounds of golf, outside with buddies, drinking beer and hanging out? Damn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It was a weird summer. We had a few streaks of weather that felt almost like autumn, and very few hot and humid days (thankfully). A mild summer makes me hope for a mild winter. Snow is for kids, and getting out of school, and snowball battles with friends. As an adult, snow is just not my favoirite weather.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Snow is pretty to look at, initially before it is marred by dirt, exhaust and general grime. But it sucks when you have to shovel it, dig a car out from under it, or worry about getting anywhere. You don't have to shovel heat or humidity. So I try not to complain about any summer weather.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Anyway, the Steelers are currently 0-4. I'm a realist, so I know any chance for a playoff run is extremely slim, if not impossible. I'm still hopeful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Coming later this week, I will finally post a blog updating my (at best) fledgling writing career and what plans I have between now and the end of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-84377643850814913282013-08-03T05:21:00.001-07:002013-08-03T05:21:42.404-07:00A Super Bowl High...in July?<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I meant to post this sooner, but shit happens. Before I start, this is not a rant, nor the ravings of a bitter fan. These are simply facts as I have experienced them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
As a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, I have nothing against the Ravens, their players, their quality organization or their fans. First and foremost I am a football fan. I will watch the worst two teams play even during preseason. I love football that much.<br />
<br />
But it's baseball season now. And a few years ago, for one summer, I was an Orioles season ticket holder. I have always been an Orioles fan. Last season was a treat for O's fans as the team finally showed some real promise. This season is no different. I occasionally wear an Orioles hat in public, whether it be at a grocery store or out getting gas. But since the Super Bowl on February 3rd of this year, something odd has taken place.<br />
<br />
The Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31 in an exciting game. I was happy for all. It would not have broken my heart had the 49ers rallied at the end, but that may be a topic for another entry.<br />
<br />
Anyway, since the Super Bowl, no matter where I go, someone is always decked out in Ravens gear as if it was December and the team had already locked up the AFC North.<br />
<br />
I guess some folks are still high off their Super Bowl victory. Look, I rooted for the Ravens when they beat the Giants like a drum in Super Bowl XXXV. I rationalized that if not the Steelers, at least someone in our division.<br />
<br />
I knew a lot of Ravens fans who felt the same way. They <strong><em>ALL </em></strong>have changed. They hate the Steelers and want to see them do poorly forever. Oh well. I also find that people who are new to me and seemingly think I'm a decent guy, soon change their opinion when they find out that I support the Steelers.<br />
<br />
It's just a kid's game, played by rich men, who are not nearly as fanatical as you or me or any other crazy fan that bleeds Purple, Black and Gold, or Philly Green.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, I will continue to support the Black and Orange, rooting for Mr. Jones, Crush, my all-time favorite Greek player, and Manny the Kid. But when the Steelers play their first regular season game on Sunday, September 8th against the Tennessee Titans, I will be cheering my Black and Gold to victory.<br />
<br />
But I'll also continue rooting for the Black and Orange. Go O's.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-65637970321212670182013-07-08T11:54:00.000-07:002013-07-09T06:10:44.350-07:00Moby Dick, the Masterpiece<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>Moby Dick</em> is a big book, full of deep images and stark characters set against one of the harshest jobs ever undertaken by man--whaling. Herman Melville, a writer of great vision and views that were decades ahead of their time, poured his soul into <em>Moby Dick</em>. Sadly, he died broke, and several years after his death, critics finally realized the power and scope of his novel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For the first-timer picking up <em>Moby Dick</em>, it is quite the task. The novel is dense with allegory and references to Shakespeare and the <em>Bible</em>, to name just a few. If you decide to read the book, I have a few simple suggestions. I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I have read the novel almost a dozen times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First, skim or skip all of the sections about whaling. More specifically, where the descriptions of the rendering of the blubber and other whale harvesting chapters are concerned, skip them. They show Melville's knowledge of whaling, but do little to further the momentum of the story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Now, when the men are on the whale boats, chasing, harpooning, and killing whales, these pages give great insight into the main characters. Read these and enjoy the high adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Second, think man vs. nature. After all, it is the crux of the novel. Moby Dick took Ahab's leg and the maniacal captain wants revenge on the white whale. By the time you finish the book, you will also see a mythical side of Melville as evidenced by this enigmatic white whale called Moby Dick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And Melville, having been on whalers and traveled a great deal to faraway islands with different races and cultures, made a statement that is just as true today as it was a century and a half ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ishmael, the narrator of the story, thinks about sharing his bed with Queequeg, a South Sea islander, headhunter, and possible cannibal. At minimum, he is most assuredly a savage. Ishmael rationalizes the situation simply.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"> "What's all this fuss I have been making about, thought I to myself--the man's a human being as I am: he has just as much reason to fear me as I have to be afraid of him. Better sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunken Christian."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A beautiful passage. Very thought provoking. A novel idea for 1851.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-90435869610735075512013-06-26T08:32:00.002-07:002013-06-26T08:32:31.074-07:00Catching up on movies...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Well, summer has arrived and the Missus and I have started to catch up on some movies that we missed. Finally, we have seen the <em>Avengers</em> (after being ridiculed by tons of friends, and you know who you are). Excellent movie. Hulk smashing Loki back and forth like a rag doll was epic. Best part of the movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">From there, we saw the new Bond movie, <em>Skyfall</em>. Another great movie with an opening chase sequence to rival any other Bond chase scene. Great fun, great film. I really enjoy Daniel Craig as Bond--very suave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Next, we tackled (lame football reference), <em>Silver Linings Playbook</em>. Another fine movie, and in case you just climbed out from under a rock, check out Jennifer Lawrence. Phenomenal actress, and not too shabby on the eyes. Also, check out <em>Winter's Bone</em>; Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as a tough girl under tough circumstances in the Ozark Mountains.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Monday, I watched <em>Brave</em> (by myself), the Pixar movie about a Scottish tomboy named Merida. The movie won Best Animated Film of the Year. I rarely do animated films (the Missus, never), but this was fantastic. Funny, heart-warming, and profoundly original, I am not ashamed to admit, that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Well, it was inevitable. Because <em>Moby Dick</em> is my all time favorite book, not to mention the greatest American novel of all time, I will post a blog soon about lessons from <em>Moby Dick</em>, that still apply today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you haven't read Moby Dick, go buy a copy today.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1893620493283262404.post-85181759674162134232013-06-10T10:43:00.003-07:002013-06-10T10:43:49.667-07:00Perils of Writing...<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Where to begin? Imagine that, a blog about writing, by a writer who can't find a place to start a story. Let's cut the shit. I have too many ideas in my head and not enough time to write. And I'm not bitching. Just stating facts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I am currently editing 9 stories, editing a novel-length piece of 478 pages, and trying to work on five new stories, 2 of which will probably end up at 200 pages or so. I am having a hell of a time organizing myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hope to have a book of short stories for e-book sale on Amazon and B&N (and the other outlets) by the end of the month. Waiting for some artwork and for a few beta readers to get through the stories.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have a tentative title in mind for the stories, but not written in stone just yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I made a list this morning, a very detailed list, of how I am going to approach this conundrum. Everything has to be worked on based on how important they are--in other words, the novella that is bouncing around in my head shall take no precedence before the nine stories that should be for sale by June 30th.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Organize, yourself, man. Keep writing you bum...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">By the way, if you happen to stop by and check out my musings, feel free to leave a comment. Good or bad, they will be appreciated.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00746400509599744409noreply@blogger.com0