News of My World

First, this here blog: the good news is that there hasn't been any issues with my comments. The bad news is that Blogger Beta's new layouts - which cause said problems - are not available to those of us who ftp to our own domain. Phooey. So you'll be seeing this old template here at Obscurorant for some time to come.

Now the season: the holiday is rush is in full cry. On Friday Heather and I went Christmas shopping, which is a whirlwind kind if experience where we purchase gifts with the speed of a mongoose and the precision of a sniper. Trust me, it's vaguely awe-inspiring to behold. That evening I attended two holiday soirees, including the gang's annual get-together to exchange presents and drink lots of cocktails, held this year at The Fox and the Hound. Thanks to my very kind and generous friends I have lots of DVD goodness to look forwards to, what with the Forbidden Planet special edition (six! hours! of extras!) and the Carry Grant box set.

Saturday afternoon the Girl and I took in A Christmas Celtic Sojourn, at the Cutler Majestic, which I highly recommend if you enjoy Celtic music at all. Afterwards we strolled up the street to Silvertone. I hadn't been there in almost a year and discovered I've missed it. The retro feel of the joint, combined with excellent rasberry martinis and Dean Martin Christmas music put me in the spirit.

I played hookey on Tuesday and spent the day in Boston, mostly at the Aquarium. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the chance to hop out over the giant ocean tank and feed Myrtle the Turtle (thanks Aunt Kate!). Turtle feeding pictures will be forthcoming.

And finally, my coming return to school. I'll be starting a class, for the first time in over ten years, at the end of January. Here's the description for Reference/Information Services:

Covers reference services, searching, and sources. Introduces reference concepts and services, such as the reference interview, customer service, evaluating the reference collection, management, ethics, reference philosophy, service in different institutional settings and for diverse populations, and the assessment of reference services. Students learn how to search in digital and print sources, including full text information retrieval in subscription services and the freely available web. Students become familiar with over two hundred core, fundamental print and digital sources.

On Wings of Beer

You're Not Hardcore if You Don't Live Hardcore.

Coming soon - the world's longest pubcrawl ...and it's all for charity!

I'm delighted the crawl is returning after a tragic one year hiatus. This is an event that separates the wheat from the chaff, the drinkers from the talkers, the hardcore from the wannabes. Rumor has it the Bunny will be joining Heather and I on the day of days. If you're interested in attending, send me an email.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

Fall is approaching, and fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the way it feels, the cool, crisp air, and I love the way it smells - of cider and burning leaves.

And then there's the pumpkin ale.

Autumn brings an onslaught of pumpkin ale, and this year I'm going to try and sample as many as possible. Of course I'll try and report my opinions on the various brews back to you... but really it's all about the sampling.

Right now in my teeny fridge, in addition to three or four pounds of bacon (no I'm not kidding), I have the following pumpkin ales queued up for tasting:
Pumpkinhead Ale, from the Shipyard Brewing Co.
Pumpkin Ale from Saranac
Pumpkin Ale from Smuttynose Brewing Co.

That was all I could take home from the Stop n' Shop. I'm saving the Post Road Pumpkin Ale (Brooklyn Brewery) for another trip, along with the Pumpkin from Blue Moon. And there's the pumpkin ales both Rockbottom and the Boston Beerworks will be cooking up. I can't think any more off hand, but then I haven't even typed 'pumpkin ale' into google yet. Lord knows what I'm getting into here.

Running through the Dog Days

August was one a hell of a busy month. It started with Heather's birthday and then went on to encompass the Bunny's bachelor party, my cousin Stephen's wedding and the Bunny's wedding.

Somewhere along the line my camera decided enough was enough and took it on the lam. I don't miss the camera - it was five years old and due for a replacement - but I had some good pictures in it from the afore-mentioned. Sadly, you'll all have to make due with the contents of my cell phone camera.

You know what I would like to do? Rent a cottage on one of the Boston Harbor islands for a weekend. Is that possible? If not, I'll go find a lighthouse somewhere. New England is a full of them, and either way, it'll make for a different kind of weekend getaway.

Moon Child

As Heather kindly observed, this past Friday was my birthday - thus the cleverly wrapped beer presented to me at the local. Suitable festivities followed.

Thinking Out Loud

You know, maybe when the Bunny gets all married and stuff, he'll have access to a computer again and will resume blogging.

I Can't Pay The Rent...

The question, which has much vexed my friends and I of late: who was the villain in the cartoon Dudley Do-Right?

The answer: Snidely Whiplash - not to be confused with that other mustache-twirler, Oil Can Harry.

Forest for the Trees

The place: The Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College
The time: Wednesday, May 17th at 7:30 PM.
The event: A Forest for the Trees, a 'distinctive evening of cabaret celebrating the life of John Beresford'.

Why? It's for a good cause, in memory of a good man.

Get Yer Kilts Heah!

I remember way back in the months leading up to Heather's wedding, there was some talk about some of us wearing kilts to the grand occasion. The idea was discarded because, among other reasons, you can't just go out and rent a kilt, and they're quite expensive to purchase.

But now I learn, thanks to this gentleman, that you can now purchase an economy kilt for the low low cost of $44.00. Oh Frabjous day!

While I don't anticipate any formal type opportunies for kilt-wearing in the immediate future, I can't help but think that a kilt would be useful item to add to my wardrobe. You know, for lounging about the place, or entertaining and such.

Oh We Meander

The Bunny was home for the holidays this past weekend, and many important topics were discussed and issues resolved. As I am pressed for time at the moment, I shall acquaint you, dear reader, with two of these weighty matters.

1. Mass Ave has been renamed 'the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.' For the exact reasoning behind this decision, you may seek me out at the local for an explanation. If you don't where the local is, you'll just have to take my word for it. Trust me, our reasoning was sound.

2. Hats. There was much talk of hats. Friday night the Bunny decided that he needed a new Red Sox hat, and so the following morning we drove in to that giant-ass souvenir store by Fenway. Not only was there a lengthy debate on which hat to purchase, to join the existing rotation of Sox gear, but once the purchase was made it was necessary to determine which place in the rotation the new hat would assume. You see, any serious Sox fan who is also a hat person has a serious collection of Sox hats... and a serious collection of Sox hats merits a serious rotation, comparable to the pitching rotation of a Major League ball club, with the forethought that requires.

I am talking serious stuff here people.

So, after much consideration, I present to you my 2006 starting rotation of Red Sox hats:

The Ace
Navy Blue with a red B. The old reliable of the staff - the hat you can count on, the hat you can turn to when you need a win. This classic is definitely a stopper, and can anchor any fan's rotation.

Number Two
Navy Blue with red socks icon. While the number two hat may lack the historical pedigree and track record of the Ace it has more than earned it's spot on the staff. If the bold red B is a blazing fastball, then the two red socks emblazoned on the front of number two can be considered a devastating changeup.

Number Three
Navy Blue with red Nine in a white circle. Like Ted Williams this hat contains elements of greatness. And like Ted Williams the number three is also a little ornery and out-spoken. This hat is best suited for occasions that call for swearing and opining loudly, hitting things, and landing crippled jet fighters.

Number Four
Kelly green with white B and shamrock. This hat was purchased Saturday and immediately entered the rotation in the four slot. Not a hat you'd lead off an important series with, but not a hat you'd fear sending to the mound.

Number Five
Kelly Green with red B and shamrock. This hat is number five for the same reason Bronson Arroyo often rounds out the back end of the rotation - both are inconsistent. The key to the number five hat is finding it a suitable match up.

The Southpaw
Kahki bucket hat with red B. Like a left-handed reliever of the Mike Myers ilk, this hat will come out of the pen only in very specific situations.

The Kid
Kelly green with red P. This hat has great stuff, but is struggling to find a spot on an already crowded staff.

Alive and Well

Yakov Smirnoff is alive and well and living in Branson.

I mention this because, beyond all odds, the name and subject of Yakov Smirnoff was referenced in actual conversation the other night.

Yes. This frightened me as well. It was such an ominous development that Mike and I decided our best option was to A) pretend it never happened and B)immediately order another round and sit quietly.

Vive le Bacon

Like my consigliore, I am now a proud member of the Bacon of the Month club, thanks to our mutual friend Jerry!*

Not only does membership include a boss t-shirt, but bacon delviered to my very door - monthly!

*The genius-and-should-be-famous inventor of the bacon wrapped in bacon appetizer.

It's That Time Again

Heather delivers her annual admonishment on the proper way to observe Thanksgiving Eve.

Here I deliver my annual repsonse of Fuck. Yes.