Category: Bun in the Oven


LIFE. Can’t live with it, can’t live without it. Almost a year ago I posted about being pressed for time before year’s end, and now here I am again sensing urgency – except these days urgency is compounded by exhaustion, frustration, and often feeling as empty as naked lunch.

One thing that’s been bothering me is, well, my beers. I’ve yet to brew a batch that I’m entirely confident or proud of. Good beer? Yes. Great beer? No.

Another thing, my Scottish Lee Heavy’s successful carbonation test wasn’t nearly as successful as I’d thought; not only was half the batch disappointingly under-carbonated, but the entire batch has also been affected by haze. Sure, it can be drunk, but it won’t be entered into any beer contests soon ever.

Oh well, back to the drawing board.

At least I didn’t have to dump it like my good friend and beer brother, Mark. In fact, several other brewers I know have had to chuck out recent batches. I’ll count my blessings, then. Knock wood. There’s more to groan at than an occasional flat cloudy beer.

Something else I’ve been meaning to address, and was reminded of in an e-mail asking, “Where’s the magic? Your website says, ‘exploits in homebrewing and magic’.” I know, I know! One of my aims this year was to shoot and upload videos of me performing my favourite effects. But patience please until I’ve video editing software; I’ve no desire to amaze you with utter sh*te.

Finally, there’s the missus. It’s been over a year and still no luck. What do you do for someone who only wants the one thing you keep failing to do? Try try again, I suppose. But the thought of her having an unhappy birthday followed by an unhappy new year is simply unbearable. :sad:

Aye, another round of heavy sighs. I’ve gotten this far, can’t give up now…right?

AuspiciouStout Hebdomad

Or – Beware the Baker’s Dozen of March! – because Lucky 7 Stout Week at Nakameguro Taproom will soon be here! From the Latest News at bairdbeer.com:

This year we will be holding Lucky 7 Stout Week at our Nakameguro Taproom, kicking off noon Sunday, March 13 and running through the Japan national holiday, Monday, March 21.

We will be selling special Lucky 7 Stout drink cards throughout the week and purchasing customers who complete the card during the week will be eligible for a raffle of special Baird Beer prizes. The NT kitchen will be serving seven Irish specialty dishes all week to match the stouts. Sayuri and I will be in attendance on March 13 to enjoy Stout, talk Stout, eat Irish food and revel in the camaraderie of fellow enthusiasts. More Stout Week details will be forthcoming shortly.

Needless to say, I’ll be in-and-(St)out of there drinking happy-go-luckiLee. And so should you, if you know what’s good for you. The Morning Coffee Stout alone is worth the visit!

In other, rather sobering news…had fate dealt my wife and I a more favourable hand, I would’ve been a father this week. As I reflect upon what’s happened to us and the rest of the world since last September, I’m reminded to appreciate and treasure all that I do have now. But just so you know, we’re still trying. Fingers crossed, wish us luck!

Until the next, peace.

Retracing Baby Steps with Both Feet Forward

Thanks to everyone for the follow-up e-mails and messages asking how my wife and I are doing. If you’re familiar with the Kübler-Ross model and its five stages of grief (Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance), I’d say we’ve definitely experienced the lot more times than we care to admit and are now desirous, if not impatient, to start over again. The good news is she’s back to laughing and renting Ewan McGregor movies, so *thumbs up*

Something I can’t stop contemplating, though, is just how changed our lives were during my wife’s pregnancy. For fourteen weeks she was nothing but blissful and I had transformed into a benevolent saint (for those of you who know me personally, stop snickering). We’ve both since reverted to our former imperfect selves, as if those two weeks had simply been a dream.

Eerie.

So, what’s next? Well, for starters: a winter holiday and New Years in Switzerland. We’ve already purchased our tickets and are having fun creating itineraries for ourselves (she: shopping for tableware and teacups; me, magic shops and beer halls). Life is good. :grin:

Thanks to everyone again, your support has been inspiring. I’ll leave you with a quote from the aforementioned Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who, incidentally, was born in Zurich, Switzerland:

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”

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