Weekend Update

Okay, so it's a bit late, but there was just so much to think about and try to encapsulate for this post. I tried to remember everything, so here goes...

Thursday
The actual birthday was pre-empted by cookie training for the upcoming GS cookie sale. I spent almost 3 hours of my 30th birthday having to listen to ladies sharing their best cut-throat tips on how to maximize their sales to benefit their troops. Yay... not.

No cards from the family have arrived yet, except for one from Harland and Jenny. Yay... sort of. (He signed it, but when he found out it was for me, I think he realized that it was lacking something, so he's promised me a new card. I really appreciate that!)

Friday
Worked around the house most of the day and then went to eat that evening with some friends. Their son (age 8) bought me a gift all by himself with his own money. How awesome is that! I got two tiki torches for our little garden. I also got two new pairs of earrings from Amy and Connie. They were really neat. We brought the cake with us to Ron's Island Grill and had it for dessert.

It was a pretty good night and then we went home and got prepped for the next day, which included making ten gift bags as party favors for the tea party, plus making sure that I had all the equipment ready to make crafts and play games. After all that was done I finally got to cast on for the Knitting Olympics and get that project started. I think it will be great!


Saturday
All I can say is, TWO Valentine Tea Parties in one day is too many! Bug and I had to come home and take a nap to recharge before we went to the 2006 KLCC Brewfest at the Lane County Fairgrounds. I really wish that P could have been there with us. He would have loved it!

There were brewers from all over the Western US, some from the Eastern US, and even brewers from Hawaii and England offering tastings as a fundraiser for KLCC 89.7. When we got there, the security guy loved my driver's license so much, he used it to show his co-worker how to determine if an ID is real by using a blacklight. Apparently, KY ID's have "The Bluegrass State" embedded in them in invisible, but UV reactive ink. You learn something new every day...

There were 40 brewers there, and it was really packed with people socializing and having a good time listening to the live band. For 50 cents you got about 6 oz. of beer. Bug and I split $5 worth of tickets, with a couple more of our favorites added at the end. Here are the ones we sampled:

• Snipes I.P.A. Definitely not my favorite, but then again, I don't really drink beer because of the hoppy flavor.
• Pyramid Snow Cap Ale This was toasty dark, and smooth, but had a very bitter hoppy aftertaste.
  
• Wyder's Pear Cider Crisp, clear, and awesome! Just like taking a bite of a crisp ripe pear. A joy to drink, and it wouldn't be until you'd had a few that you remembered the alcohol content...
• Alaskan Amber Ale This had a toasty malty flavor with no bitter aftertaste, but it still tasted like a beer, just less crappy.
• MacTarnahan's Orange Honey Beer Finally a beer that doesn't have a really beery flavor! It has a clean sweet flavor with a hint of citrus.
• Eugene City Brewery Honey Orange Wheat I thought this one was better than the MacTarnahan's. It was just as sweet and palatable, but has a wheaty middle tone that just fills your palate with flavor. Great taste! (P and Zab: we'll be getting this when we're in San Francisco)
  
• Rogue Kells Irish Lager Good, but not a favorite.
• Laurelwood Organic Free Range Red Ooooh, toasted red wheat and lots of hops make this one beer we couldn't drink... very bitter.
• Siletz Noggin Knocker Barleywine Ale I cannot be a connoisseur of this stuff. It was like tar in a glass. Definitely made me want to knock my noggin against a wall to get the taste out of my mouth!
• Pelican Kiwanda Cream Ale Very smooth at first, but the aftertaste was sort of musty. Just weird.
• Wyder's Strongbow Cider Also awesome! Bug didn't like it, but the crisp apple flavor shines in this cider that was imported from England.
• Kona Longboard Lager Very smooth and medium hoppy.
  
• Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale This one outshines it's lager sibling in all areas. A really drinkable beer that would probably go well with just about anything.

Sunday
Housework and knitting and watching the olympics, then went out with Bug to eat after she got home from work. YAY!