Some news and perhaps an anticipated Frankly post. Here I go:

I sent a letter to Freaking News (source of some our Photoshop Phonies pictures) asking them for permission to post their pictures on the site. I received a reply which basically said, show our banner underneath, give us a text credit and a link for each image used and email us the links. Hmm. My time is limited in the mornings when I post. Firing up Gmail and doing all the html linking would take more precious time. I wrote them back explaining just that and I’m waiting their reply. This last Friday you would have seen their red banner under each image I obtained from their site.

I’ve also sent an email asking for permission to Worth1000, my other source for Pshop pics. I’ve done this previously and never received a reply. And I’m still waiting on their reply as well.

Readership has dropped off a bit, from over 1100 to just over 900 visits per day based on the last 3 weeks, but it’s still up there. I’m surprised that readers search for beer reviews and find the stuff that’s posted here. Thanks.

Speaking of beer reviews, I’ve read through a few of my old reviews and, frankly, I’m embarrassed at what I wrote. I never knew back then that the BJCP Style book even existed and what beer was really supposed to taste like. But in these times, I’m quoting passages from the BJCP Style book and researching ingredients and citing IBUs and grain bills in the reviews I’m amazed at this beverage called beer and the diversity of tastes it offers me. I thought about deleting those old reviews, but I figured it could serve as a history of how a beer geek’s palate matured over time. I’m still no expert and I’ll readily admit it, but the taste of this wonderful beverage called beer is worth sharing. One of the reasons this site exists.

Pressured by my a couple of my sons, I woke up early on Saturday (10:30.) and poised myself at the Mac and aimed the browser at the 3 Floyds’ link for tickets to Dark Lord Day with the hopes that I’d score. From 11:59 to 12:01 Saturday morning/afternoon, I sipped tea while I waited for some indication that I be afforded the privilege buy DLD tickets. The refresh icon would be my friend.

A few seconds after 12:00 noon, I was soon offered the option to purchase tickets, limit two, $15 apiece. Success! Dark Lord Day will be an experience for this guy and I hope to return home with any pictures and a great story to tell. It’ll be a 1.5 hour trip one way and about 6,000 people in the crowd in front of 3 Floyds, all waiting to get two bottles of Imperial Stout. (And I’m included! WTF did I just get myself into?) I’ll report back on the entire experience. (15 bucks per ticket [$30,] gas for the journey to Munster, Indiana, maybe $30 for parking, and standing in a crowd of 6k people all drinking beer while they wait to get in. Priceless! It should be better than DisneyWorld.

I have run an idea past a son or two and a couple of my buddies about doing a video shoot where we compare some ballsy IPAs. Everyone I asked raised their eyebrows and agreed vehemently. That should be coming this warm season, if everything works out.

Spring has arrived and my thoughts turn to the Suzuki Intruder which I hadn’t ridden at all last year. I’m a bit ashamed of myself for that and I hope that the StaBil did it’s job when I finally get the battery charged up enough to fire the beast up to take another ride. Then all the confidence issues will arise again. Practice at the high school parking lot is top priority. Maybe Saturday classes at the local community college. I must do something to justify my ‘need’ to get up on two wheels.

It appears that the B&W pic of the week is going well. I have a stash of a quite a few more in reserve and will be scouting for more as the days go by along with other babe images. I also had a thought concerning the weekly babes: why not add one more style of babe-of-the-week to make it Six in the sidebar. After all, we’re all about things that come in sixes. My son suggested a PinUp of the Week. You know, some artwork that you saw in your Dad’s or Grandad’s garage years ago? That may just be perfect. Gimme a week to think about it.

I’m really looking forward to more Manly Garage time, but it’s such a mess. Winter has taken its toll inside. How did it get that way? Perhaps a few days of vacay and a strong determination would help rectify the situation on my part, but I’m thinking of renting a small dumpster, throwing a Garage Party and inviting all my sons and their babes to participate. Young strapping men, babes, beer, pizza and a clean garage. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

I’m finding that my ol’ white MacBook is starting to get a little bit long in the tooth. I don’t have the wherewithal to get a new one just yet (MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.) I’ve resolved myself to stick with what I have and not let my credit card bill exceed my checkbook amount. That new iPad also has me drooling at the chops. Where’s that wheelbarrow full of money I’ve been wanting?

So many plans on so many fronts and so little time and so little money. When you think about the world as a whole, perhaps we don’t have it so bad after all.

Thanks for stopping by.

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and by request, here’s a repost of our Black&Tan – Half&Half video from a few years ago.

And, of course, the outakes.