tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-158605052024-03-18T23:40:33.011-04:00Northeast by NorthwestNorthwest native and Seattle-ite transplanted in New England. Technologist, geek, gamer, motocrosser and homebrewer with a penchant for good food. Oh.. and coffee.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-17659620559401547592013-12-23T09:28:00.002-05:002013-12-23T10:08:51.363-05:00Social Media..I have been a user of the Internet since 1993. For the young folks, that was before the World Wide Web and most things that we consider normal these days. I've learned a great many things in the 20 years I've been using this great and wonderful tool. <br />
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Perhaps the single most important thing that I've learned is that while the Internet is a wonderful tool for expressing ones views, it also lacks the personal connection that we all use to gauge the effect of what we're saying on others. It lacks the mechanism that provides the ultimate feedback when we say things that are truly hurtful: physical threat. Said another way, if I were to say something truly hurtful/hateful/mean to someone in person, I'd have to consider the very real threat of a punch in the mouth, right? <br />
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The Internet lacks this feedback mechanism. There are ZERO consequences for poor behavior. We've devolved into a society which alternately places too much and too little emphasis on what the masses say & think and marginalizes the truly beneficial connections to those around us.<br />
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My real reason for saying these things is this: Facebook has become the altar at which all these undesirable behaviors manifest. I've watched it become something fun, interesting and useful. I've also watched it become a cesspool of misinformation, hate and spite as well. I find myself going less & less and with the New Year, will be making a decision. Starting on 1/1/14, I will not post to Facebook any longer. I may check in from time to time, but it will not longer pollute my life.<br />
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If you want to find me, I'll be over here on Google+.<br />
<br />Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-84434584534984168082013-07-25T22:26:00.001-04:002013-07-28T09:15:13.371-04:00Shameless plug for a good cause...<div style="line-height: 16px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey everyone,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured that I'd put this here rather than blast out status updates. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've decided to do something that I haven't done before. That's been a theme of mine for the last several years. Life is way too short to spend it wanting. It's what prompted me to begin practicing martial arts and brew beer. It's also why I'm posting this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, I've lost 3, close family members to cancer or complications as a result of it. My grandmother was in the late 90's, but my father and grandfather were in 2008 and 2010 respectively. For them, I've decided to participate with a couple of my co-workers in the Jimmy Fund Walk this year. The Jimmy Fund supports a local, children's cancer hospital that does amazing work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be walking 26.2 miles along the Boston Marathon route on September 8, 2013. If you're interested and would like to support my walk (and cancer research and a children's cancer treatment center), click on this link: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2013/jnduvall" target="_blank">http://www.jimmyfundwalk.org/2013/jnduvall</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and donate, if you like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I appreciate all support in any way that you choose to give it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jeff</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">p.s. I'll be live-tweeting, Facebook updating throughout the entire thing. I'm sure I'll be a wreck but I have 2 great partners to walk with.</span><br />
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Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-12178818705862453362013-04-30T20:51:00.001-04:002013-04-30T20:51:25.823-04:00The TripelThis is another beer post. After what has seemed like a long time, the Belgian Tripel IPA that I made over my holiday vacation is finally drinkable. I decided to try one this evening. I put one of the oddball bottles that I had in the fridge at around 6pm. It was moderately chilled by 8:15 or so.<br />
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I was rewarded with a healthy pop when I opend this one. The last month sitting in my office did the trick. Warming up the yeast and letting it eat the last bit of sugar in the beer and I now have a decently carbed Tripel. <br />
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I'm going to leave it in my office until 5/15 and will then transfer it downstairs. This is not an every day beer. We'll see how it ages.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-17449111394843043582013-04-15T20:30:00.001-04:002020-12-25T09:36:15.460-05:00RageI was angry in 2001. I can only describe what I feel today as rage. Rage that someone would do this to innocent people. Rage that the individuals responsible chose my new home. Rage that the perpetrator thinks that it will somehow change us. I want to spit in the eye of anyone who thinks he can intimidate me into changing my lifestyle due to fear. If I'm honest with myself, I really want to do much worse than spit in their eye.<br />
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My parental genes, at least on the my dad's side of the family, are pushing in a direction that doesn't surprise me. Rather than cower in my home, where I feel safe, I feel an overwhelming urge to continue to do what I have always done. I want to go to work and enjoy the time I have here. I want to continue to help those that I can and, hopefully, enrich my family and my life at the same. <div>
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Those feelings are at war with my intense desire to keep my family safe.<br />
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I resolved today, on my train ride home, to not cower in fear if I saw someone doing something wrong. I resolved to do something to stop it, if I could. I resolved to be the person running toward the problem and helping rather than away. <br />
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I guess, in short, that I resolved to put my rage to good use. </div>Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-56756191413443862972013-02-08T18:22:00.000-05:002013-02-08T18:22:26.977-05:00Holding out for Winter Storm Shaggy.I've spent the better part of today, when I wasn't working, watching the Winter Storm Nemo updates either on the local news or on Weather.com's live stream. It's been enlightening to watch modern technology at work. <br />
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The storm predictions seem to have been pretty accurate. Local news is comparing the blizzard that we're in the middle of to the one in 1978. In that case, many people died and the meteorologists complete missed the prediction because their models weren't as accurate as they are today. Quite a few people died from what I understand. <br />
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In this case, however, preparations began several days ago, and for the most part, people prepared.<br />
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I'm sitting at home now with the only real worry is that we don't lose power overnight. We're ready for it, but it's going to be a little cold.<br />
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Part of my "watching" today taught me that the National Weather Service must be hard up for a naming scheme for storms. I thought Nemo was kinda silly but learned that Winter Storm Orko is in Utah right now. Really? Orko? Orko ranks among the top 3 most annoying cartoon characters of my childhood. I had horrible taste in both television and cartoons, so Orko's making the top 3 should tell you something. <br />
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It's also funny listening to the TWC commentators say Orko over and over.<br />
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I spent a few minutes thinking up more ridiculous names for storms. Here they are:<br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Winter Storm Skeletor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Winter Storm Panthro</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Winter Storm Ratchet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Winter Storm Scoobie Doo</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and my personal favorite: Winter Storm Shaggy. I'd better stock up on Scoobie Snacks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Minor beer update: The tripel is very clear after a move to my 58F basement. Can't wait to drink this one.</span>Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-39216618277390590902013-01-26T17:16:00.002-05:002013-01-26T17:16:43.987-05:00Brewing UpdateIt's been a month since I did my vacation brew-fest. The ESB is just about ready. The flavors are toning down and when I bottle this one, it should be very tasty. I've had a very tough time not drinking this one. In retrospect, I should have just let it age and not sample it until the recipe said it would be ready.<br />
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My tripel IPA, on the other hand, has been an interesting journey. If you read my last post, you'll recall that fermentation ended very early and with and exceptionally high gravity considering where it was supposed to be. The good news is that my gravity is now where it should be. It's still fermenting though and I'm curious how long the gravity will go with the second addition of yeast and with the starter.<br />
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My sample today was 1.016. My original gravity was 1.078. That puts the ABV at around 8.5%. According to my <a href="http://hopville.com/">hopville.com</a>, that's close to it's target gravity. Taste wise, it tastes like the tripels that I've had. I'm hoping the dry-hopping that I intend to do will balance out the fruity & alcohol flavors a bit.<br />
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<br />Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-57048448402249995892013-01-12T16:08:00.005-05:002013-01-12T16:08:43.909-05:00Always learningEnough politics and social issues for now. Let's talk beer. I brewed 2 batches while I was on vacation around the Holiday and both were ready to work on today.<br />
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<b><i>Skid Lid ESB</i></b><br />
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I've been looking forward to this brew for quite a while. I cut my teeth (or you might say I conditioned my liver) on <a href="http://redhook.com/beers/esb/" target="_blank">Redhook ESB</a> and <a href="http://widmerbrothers.com/beer/#hefeweizen" target="_blank">Widmer Hefeweizen</a> back when craft brewing wasn't as big as it is now. When I started home brewing myself, I wanted to make beers that were close to both of these. <br />
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My first attempt at home brewing, while good, wasn't close in color or flavor to the Widmer brew.<br />
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Today, I kegged my ESB. It is a beautiful golden/amber color and is exceptionally clear. Having not dry hopped anything before (or actually tasting a Redhook ESB in years), I have to admit that I found this one interesting and quite nice.<br />
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In my sample, it initially hits you with hop aroma and flavor. It's not an IPA, but the dry hopping certainly adds something that is intriguing and nice. The back of the mouth has what I recall from my "youth" of the ESB. It has a nice blend of bitterness and malt flavor. <br />
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I'm going to sample some in about a week but won't be truly drinking this in earnest for another 4 or so.<br />
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<b><i>de Coster Hop Monster</i></b><br />
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My renewed interest in beer has taught me which styles and flavors that I like. Two of those are Belgian/Trappist style Tripels and IPA's. This brew was a kit purchased from <a href="http://www.northernbrewer.com/" target="_blank">Northern Brewer</a> in Minnesota. It combines both styles and I have high hopes for how this will turn out.<br />
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I racked it to secondary today. I learned that I made 2 minor mistakes while making this particular beer. If you're not familiar, Trappist styles are high alcohol brews. The tripel weighs in at around 8-9% but has a clear and light flavor when compared to other styles. They generally take 1-3 months to ferment and up to 1 year to condition properly in a bottle.<br />
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One of my mistakes, after a quick call, was to not get the yeast going prior to pitching. The other was that my basement cooled down below the range where this particular yeast is really happy. I'll be buying/ordering another package of the yeast and pitching it into the current fermentation container at a higher temp. <br />
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As a side note, it tasted pretty good today but wasn't close to the final alcohol content or flavor profile.<br />
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One last thing, all of my beers have a motocross/motorcycle theme. Check out my work in progress, <a href="http://holeshotbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Holeshot Brewing</a> if you want to learn more.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-57782633897143087692013-01-10T19:06:00.001-05:002013-01-10T19:06:47.195-05:00I have a fork and spoon problem. Let's ban those too.America has a problem. The problem is that Americans, as a whole, are unwilling to look at a situation objectively and come to a reasoned and practical solution. In this case, I'm talking about the recent mass shootings and the debate around gun control.<br />
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I'll be up front. I don't own any guns, nor do I plan to in the near future. I do, however, believe in The Constitution and all of it's Amendments, specifically, the 2nd. In my view, we'd still be a British Colony had guns in the hands of the public not allowed us to fight for our Independence. I also feel that in a free country, you assume certain risks for your freedoms. One of them is that occasionally someone is going to make a mistake and/or abuse their rights and harm someone. <br />
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The debate around gun control based on these incidents is like outlawing wheat because people are allergic. The analogy isn't perfect but you get the drift. Many, many people own firearms legally, use the safely and live productive lifetimes with them around. They're a tool, and tools, when used properly, are a benefit to society.<br />
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Here's the question that I ask myself: If someone walked into a crowded theater and began hitting people with a baseball bat, would I we be wanting to ban baseball? No. We wouldn't. Swords? No. Heck, if we extended the current thinking, we'd be banning forks because we're overweight. <br />
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The real problem is how we treat each other and how we, as human beings, value other life. Something was and is clearly wrong with the individuals who perpetrated these events. They clearly valued other human lives very little and their own even more. We should be investigating how and why we weren't able to identify and treat these individuals for their problems prior to their actions.<br />
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Personally, I do blame my fork. Of course, when I don't lose weight after the fork ban, I'll have to ban my fingers as well because I'll still eat more than I should.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-312177660668281642013-01-01T10:11:00.001-05:002013-01-01T14:04:42.030-05:00So the Mayans were practical too?Like the mainframe programmers in the '70's, the Mayans simply made a practical decision about when to end their calendar. As I suspected, the end of a calendar isn't some dire prediction of doom. It's an opportunity to start with a clean slate and move toward something better without the shackles of time to drag you down.<br />
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The year 2012 was eventful even if the supposed apocalypse didn't occur. It did see quite a few significant events, at least for me and my family. Here's a recap.<br />
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<b><i>Family</i></b><br />
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Where to start? I suppose you could say that this was our year to try new things. Everyone in the family did something that they haven't before. <br />
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In February, my son, daughter, and I started talking karate lessons in Grafton. In particular, we are practicing Ed Parker's American Kenpo with a fantastic instructor. My daughter and I are currently at orange belt and working toward purple. It's been a great way to spend some quality time with my daughter while learning and exercising at the same time. I've always wanted to try a martial art and this one seems to agree with me. <br />
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After a bit of a hiatus, the kids and I have started playing pen and paper role playing games again. Our neighbor across the street has been interested in playing for a while and I offered to run a game for them. With a few exceptions, we've played weekly since June or so. It's been great fun and a good way to spend time with my son doing something he enjoys. I expect that we'll be playing for the next several years.<br />
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Lastly, for me at least, I began a hobby that I've been interested in since I was in college. I've had the equipment for several years but actually started brewing my own beer in August with the help of my neighbor. In particular, this is a hobby that I thoroughly enjoy. The act of crafting, and drinking, the beer speaks to an inner need to create things that taste good. <br />
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<b><i>Friends</i></b><br />
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Thanks to my wife, karate, and brewing, we have begun building a network of friends in Massachusetts. This was something that took us quite a while when we moved to Puyallup in 2000. Thankfully, we have a few neighbors that we get along with very well and enjoy doing things with. We've also been spending time with a few of my new friends in karate. <br />
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I look forward to continuing the building of those friendships in 2013.<br />
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<b><i>Work</i></b><br />
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My job has been an interesting and enjoyable ride since our relocation to MA in 2010. I've had a total of 3 different managers in that time, but those changes were primarily due to attrition. The first 2 managers have moved on to other positions outside the company.<br />
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The good news here is that I've been offered, and accepted, a promotion in 2012 and am working toward building programs and processes that improve our group and the IT department as a whole. It's interesting and exciting work. I look forward to 2013 and what my professional life hold in store.<br />
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Recently, I spoke at a user conference. While I've spoken in front of groups before, I haven't done so in front of so many. It was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. I'm resolved to do more of this in the future. <br />
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I'm not the sort to make New Year's resolutions. I find that I don't keep them anyway. Instead, I choose to look at every year as an opportunity to learn and grow. This year will be no exception. My message to my friends and family is this: Keep striving for what you want. Keep learning. Keep growing. Never give up. Lean on those that you love. Seize the opportunity in front of you.<br />
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Happy New Year!<br />
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<br />Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-57483931826521181472012-12-27T09:52:00.001-05:002012-12-28T09:17:42.240-05:00You have failed me.I had a long post mostly written that tried to articulate my feelings on a few of the current events of this year and today. I deleted it. I can sum up my feelings in the title of this post.<br />
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My government, and I mean both sides aisle, have failed me in every way imaginable. They are so wrapped up in their petty bickering over who's plan will win that they fail to realize that we, the American people who put them there, are going to pay the price.<br />
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I am not apathetic though. I am angry. My anger will come out in my votes at the polls. Any candidate, regardless of party, who did not vote with America's best interest at heart and instead voted with their party, will not get my vote. Period. <br />
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That said, the majority of my anger will be directed at the current Republican candidates. They've lost their way and capitulated to extremists in their own ranks.<br />
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I leave you with the words and ideas of Warren Buffet. I would wholeheartedly endorse this plan.<br />
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<br />Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-65467176652619409282012-12-24T00:20:00.001-05:002012-12-24T00:20:26.572-05:00Let it snow.I'm still working on a long, somewhat racy post for me. I hinted that I have a lot to say but I want to spend the right amount of time saying it. As I articulate my thoughts, I find that I need to make several passes at the process in order to say what I mean.<br />
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On another note, it's almost Christmas and we're stay-cationing in Massachusetts. All of the presents are bought. The wrapping will occur tomorrow. I'm making smoked salmon lasagne for our meals and that's about it. Should be very relaxing and a good way to spend a vacation.<br />
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I'll do a "year in review" later in the week. It's been a busy and eventful one and I'm looking forward to 2013.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-9171309749340582952012-12-01T20:35:00.000-05:002012-12-01T20:35:03.678-05:00A good endingWell, they will continue to get my business. The call went well and my shipping was refunded. After some discussion, I was able to understand that I could, now that I had the proper parts, change them out. I asked the technician to note on my account that if I broke the regulator, they'd make it right.<br />
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I did that this afternoon and I am officially in business. The Kolsch is in the keg and carbonating! Yay!Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-79364093089919716462012-11-30T20:06:00.000-05:002012-11-30T20:12:38.928-05:00Sit back, relax, and have a homebre..wait. what?I'm annoyed. Seriously annoyed. I recently purchased a draft dual keg system from a rather large and reputable home brew supply store in Minnesota. I was, per the packaging, led to believe that I would receive everything I needed to transfer my freshly brewed beer into a nice, aluminum keg. I could then wait a fraction of the time it would normally take and begin to enjoy my freshly brewed creations.<br />
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This is not the case as of today. What I received was a single, wrong piece on one of my items. Unfortunately, it's a crucial piece that connects the CO2 bottle to the kegs and both carbonates the beer and allows me to serve it. After a call to the very helpful technician, who told me that this particular problem has occurred before, I opted not to take his advice and directly connect my pre-made gas line connects to the flanged valves. <br />
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Hey. I'm a smart guy. I can figure out a way to retain the most flexibility with my setup and still be able to use the gear this weekend. At the same retailer, I was able to find the part I needed. It is, incidentally, a male stainless steel 1/4" barb X 1/4" flare adapter that looks a lot like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF4SFl-K05_VYIAq8qt79gFAtGfBuTEoxDJRkc2_zEUbP3W7ocPSdTkKak9oIi1D36fTvR8of64W-W1YviW5OAYKiPl0D1clwRokjjr1GMD2ebuXbh9BbxyRfYjkgyflBO2GeYg/s1600/image_2000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF4SFl-K05_VYIAq8qt79gFAtGfBuTEoxDJRkc2_zEUbP3W7ocPSdTkKak9oIi1D36fTvR8of64W-W1YviW5OAYKiPl0D1clwRokjjr1GMD2ebuXbh9BbxyRfYjkgyflBO2GeYg/s1600/image_2000.jpeg" /></a></div>
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So I happily ordered 2 of these items (and the hoses and clamps to fix things up) and requested rush shipping. I received my package tonight, as promised. What I didn't receive, as promised, was the item pictured above. Instead, what I received was a male 1/4" shutoff valve. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem8xARbYGG41y6ppsWH2zwSR1tFg5CiApLbjz6cQbOKmwLkWwmPP8XpdnL-wiX-s7CjFdGLyerYgTJKywDQHPo5YVZtcIxWZBkhbReu11RZCLGR4ygW6UkhuoZjHmVjKT9WYC4Q/s1600/image_1933.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhem8xARbYGG41y6ppsWH2zwSR1tFg5CiApLbjz6cQbOKmwLkWwmPP8XpdnL-wiX-s7CjFdGLyerYgTJKywDQHPo5YVZtcIxWZBkhbReu11RZCLGR4ygW6UkhuoZjHmVjKT9WYC4Q/s1600/image_1933.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<br />
This is the item that should have been attached to my regulator in the first place. <br />
<br />
I'll be calling them tomorrow. On my agenda:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Refund shipping charges</li>
<li>Refund incorrect parts</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
or<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Replace regulator all together that includes all of the appropriate parts</li>
</ul>
<div>
How they handle this tomorrow will determine if they get my business again.</div>
Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-29212150851667689562012-11-17T20:13:00.002-05:002012-11-17T20:13:43.233-05:00The Money ShotSpeaking of said Oatmeal Stout. A bottle that I gave my neighbor, whom I blame for my newfound joy, turned out exactly like mine. This is why I brew. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9I17-JjM8cdotVfqIhsQ9RkGE8wTPW33LzpZf2JMdgq8RzmS966Xcia0fFyftwDuuI8j2s4MFdTU1b_qGD7OsahZw3x6C4LCze3JnzGE9X9htSYJT3XPIcUabeGj2KEEmdebFg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9I17-JjM8cdotVfqIhsQ9RkGE8wTPW33LzpZf2JMdgq8RzmS966Xcia0fFyftwDuuI8j2s4MFdTU1b_qGD7OsahZw3x6C4LCze3JnzGE9X9htSYJT3XPIcUabeGj2KEEmdebFg/s400/photo.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-30909518504716954772012-11-17T08:49:00.002-05:002012-11-18T09:43:29.278-05:00Patience is a virtueIf I've learned anything since I've started brewing, it's that patiences is indeed a virtue. I used my lack of it to advantage with my first brew. It was a honey wheat that I started drinking within 2 weeks of brewing and only a few days in the bottle. I was able to learn how the flavor changed over time. I was lucky in that I hit the right amount of ABV, remaining yeast in solution and bottle conditioning to have every bottle well carbonated by the time I popped the cap.<br />
<br />
My second batch was an oatmeal stout. The original recipe called for a cold steep of coffee to be added to the secondary fermentation vessel, which I omitted. That, combined with a bit of over hopping, produced a very hoppy stout that I hesitate to call an oatmeal stout. It's more like a Imperial Stout or Russian IPA.<br />
<br />
Here's where the patience part comes in. I bottled this batch over a month ago. Almost every bottle that I've had or given away has been moderately flat. I attributed it to not using enough priming sugar when I bottled. Last night, however, I opened one and poured it into my favorite glass. I was rewarded with a rich, thick, 2 finger head that lasted for the entire glass. I'm going to ensure that I'm not subject to an outlier and crack another tonight and see if it give the same result. If so, I'll make sure to update my notes to allow for 4-6 weeks of bottle conditioning next time before sending these out the door.<br />
<br />
Brewing side note:<br />
<br />
In Primary:<br />
Strange Brew - Killer Kolsch<br />
<br />
On deck:<br />
Dry hopped ESB<br />
Northern Brewer - Houblonmonstre Tripel IPAAbyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-81506225291638974682012-11-15T19:15:00.001-05:002012-11-15T19:15:54.998-05:00I absolutely LOVE intelligent television. One series that we, as a family, watch is The Big Bang Theory. Here's a sample of why:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dql26ssMcVI" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dql26ssMcVI</a>Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-81821855284496780212012-11-12T17:59:00.001-05:002012-11-15T07:21:41.576-05:00It's getting a little Kolsch in here..This summer, I finally took the plunge into home brewing with the help of my neighbor. It's been a blast and I think, like many others, I've found something that I may do for the rest of my life. It has the perfect combination of science and art to make it fun and enough variability to keep in interesting as well.<br />
<br />
This weekend, I brewed my third batch of beer. This batch was something much lighter and less alcoholic than my previous two batches. It's a Kolsch style brew. If you think of a standard, mass-produced beer, you'll have the basic idea. The primary difference with what I did and what the big breweries do is in temperature and the fermentation process (i.e. yeast). Your Miller's, Michelob's and Budweiser's are lagers, which ferment at lower temperatures on the bottom of the brew and for longer timer periods than your standard ale.<br />
<br />
A Kolsch is an ale from the Cologne region of Germany that has lager-like qualities but ferments in the 65 F range. We'll see how it turns out. I pitched the yeast yesterday and as near as I can tell, active fermentation has begun. <br />
<br />
UPDATE: Fermentation is going strong on day 4. I used new airlocks that behave differently than the ones I've used in the past.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-31451994190811952162012-11-11T09:07:00.001-05:002012-11-11T11:31:17.793-05:00Changes. Again.I'm resurrecting this site again. I tried TypePad and liked it but couldn't justify the expense for the number of times I posted. But, I've got enough to say and no place to say it, for posterity's sake, so here I am again.<br />
<br />
Here's a quick rundown of the changes: <br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Name: changed to <b><i>Northeast by Northwest</i></b>. It's really the nexus of who I am right now. I was born and raised in the Northwest. I can name 40 different variation of rain as proof. But, I now live in the Northeast and have fully embraced certain parts of the culture here.</li>
<li>The URL: Yeah.. it now matches the name. <a href="http://nexnw.blogspot.com/">nexnw.blogspot.com</a>.</li>
<li>Content: Going to be a mixed bag of very disparate stuff. Food, beer, games, technology and yes, some politics.</li>
</ul>
<br />
I'll also start tagging my posts so you can filter out what you don't want to see. I'm nice that way.<br />
<br />
~J.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-79837365996076728302009-10-29T18:38:00.000-04:002009-12-18T18:32:39.627-05:00Twenty years & still going strong: Part 3 "The Reunion"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKspQtdag6dzmdQdID_ZYEd_R6KIKJNVoer9TF9K43-uIATsTr-9i56mtMUbrjcMZrYNXkWW4irCIhPOueCuzJdq5nRtucLOrLs_s7h1sE3bpbYn7LLbmOgL_f4bUwpoXPO1pD_A/s1600-h/5492_135517019047_719394047_3306425_781627_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKspQtdag6dzmdQdID_ZYEd_R6KIKJNVoer9TF9K43-uIATsTr-9i56mtMUbrjcMZrYNXkWW4irCIhPOueCuzJdq5nRtucLOrLs_s7h1sE3bpbYn7LLbmOgL_f4bUwpoXPO1pD_A/s320/5492_135517019047_719394047_3306425_781627_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416722256566277170" /></a><br /><div>(Feel free to catch up on <a href="http://abyssleaper.blogspot.com/2009/08/twenty-years-still-going-strong-part-1.html">Part 1</a> or <a href="http://abyssleaper.blogspot.com/2009/09/twenty-years-still-going-strong-part-2.html">Part 2</a> by doing the clicky clicky on the links.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Part 3 of this post has been a long time in coming. Part 2 was posted on September 4th and it's now December 18th. Quite a bit has gone on since then. Work has been exceptionally busy and I've not had near enough free time to put my experiences into a more accessible form. For those that have been wanting me to finish, you have Dani to thank for this. Hopefully she'll get to read this before she leaves for Rio.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pre</b><b>-</b><b>pre</b><b> </b><b>Func:</b></div><div>Saturday morning started somewhat late. I think it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3AM by the time I actually slept, and 9AM seemed like torture. Nevertheless, I made it out of bed and got myself ready for what lay ahead. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michelle, Kristelle, Joe and I stayed at the Quinault Beach Resort. That's "QBR" for those of us who like to use acronyms. I enjoyed the room and the appointments. I think I'd like to take my wife down there for a weekend getaway. What I didn't enjoy was the lack of a coffee maker. I understand the economics of the lack, I just don't like it. I wasn't there to gamble and the likelihood that I would dropped by a factor of 10 by their lack of support of my caffeine habit. </div><div><br /></div><div>As it happened, all four of us NEEDED coffee of some sort and we met up and set out to find some. This proved more difficult that one might think. We wanted a Starbuck's. Believe it or not, the only "Starbuck's" anything was a snack area in one of the hotels that served it's coffee. That's it. I would have thought that Ocean Shores would have at least 1, maybe 2, by now. No such luck.</div><div><br /></div><div>We found a place that served coffee eventually though. The name escapes me, but it was across the street from the IGA grocery store that used to be called Dick's. We spent a good deal of time sitting in the "guest area" and talking. Catching up and just enjoying the fact that our families were at home and we had nowhere to be until much later in the day. </div><div><br /></div><div>With our caffeine addictions sated, we parted ways. Joe and I went out to the house he grew up in and then to The Sand Castle for food & fried bread. We also made a stop at the liquor store. The rest of the afternoon was pleasant and restful. I found out later that Michelle & Kristelle (yep, still rhymes..) went to the beach. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pre</b><b>-</b><b>Func:</b></div><div>The details, at this point, are a little fuzzy, but we all agreed that we'd meet in Joe's room before the actual reunion for drinks. Our foray to the liquor store resulted in finding a very fine, locally distilled gin. That, some limes and tonic water formed the core of our refreshments for the evening. Yes, even the ladies participated. It would start of with "Oh, I don't like gin." Joe or I would respond with "It doesn't taste like a Christmas tree." They'd respond with "Oh, you're right" and we'd end up making another not too long after. </div><div><br /></div><div>Joe, Kristelle, Michelle and I started at around 6pm. Dani, Amber and Chris (Amber's husband and all-around great guy) showed up soon afterward. Diane showed up at some point after that as well. We talked and laughed (sound familiar?) until we realized that the reunion had already started and we weren't there. I was nursing a decent buzz by then and we made our way to the door.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Reunion:</b></div><div>Chris was gracious enough to be our designated driver. We piled into his SUV and went to the Ocean Shores Inn and arrived at around 8ish. The group of folks that organized and put on the reunion did a fantastic job. The food was good and we were spared any of the "award" ceremonies. Thanks Steve & Jen-nei for a great time.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we arrived together, we spent most of the night mingling with classmates. Some we remembered, some we didn't. Some we recognized, some we didn't. But, in all, it was great seeing everyone again. We would fan out amongst the crowd and when we met in passing, we'd compare notes on who we saw and what they were up to.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1-yoQ5jV8plDY3mHPsh-MvRO_R_3zDS-9XCE_WA1Yuyt6W5zM-iE5bNWLIE_MfNEbAbXzqQ-_YSMTFTJnhoUI-9TwHi-pg81ghVx0RzcMGqyLxcoVxnHQ010BNtePCGh_EkDlA/s1600-h/6733_1189966716804_1457437223_510617_8263536_n.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1-yoQ5jV8plDY3mHPsh-MvRO_R_3zDS-9XCE_WA1Yuyt6W5zM-iE5bNWLIE_MfNEbAbXzqQ-_YSMTFTJnhoUI-9TwHi-pg81ghVx0RzcMGqyLxcoVxnHQ010BNtePCGh_EkDlA/s320/6733_1189966716804_1457437223_510617_8263536_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416719317858997218" /></a><br /></div><div>I particularly enjoyed seeing a few people. Rob S. was absolutely as funny as he was in school. No, I wasn't moving in on his action, but it was fun to make him think I was. Rip and his wife were fantastic. I didn't realize that we knew some of the same motocross people. Steve B. was a surprise to see. He was one of the first friend I had when I moved to Hoquiam when I was 10. I was glad he could make it. I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Lance & Angel too. Raylene and Becky were a joy as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Throughout the night, a few minor things seemed out of place, though. A few of our friend couldn't make it, and I missed them. I didn't particularly care for how a certain person was treating Michelle, and would have gladly opened up a can of whoopass should it have been necessary. Thankfully, it wasn't. The person we dubbed "The train wreck" was a constant distraction. It wasn't necessarily bad, but the behavior, attire and general attitude was a constant source of conversation. </div><div><br /></div><div>At one point of the night, I distinctly remember being grabbed by both arms and dragged onto the dance floor by Dani & Kristelle (now that doesn't rhyme at all...). I didn't realize what was going on until I was already out there. One minute I'm talking to someone and BAM!, I'm being dragged out to the floor. I was thoroughly glad that I'd had enough alcohol to break through my blatant "white-guyness" and allow me to have fun. And before he has a chance to comment, yes, Joe did teach me everything I know around dancing. Thanks bud.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wVzSPD8v4RXrmCi27YSinptUr0PlMVoKKmqOiouKTMviQ-JXFp3QXRuK-yBgdtZ5oitMqoUpDgVPNwTSJwQY8rb-K7p9BSJM9HIgGhZs65GmTwg6_Sr3QbHUq-pGLfovXvFSfg/s1600-h/6249_1198497999306_1134187562_632610_8320777_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wVzSPD8v4RXrmCi27YSinptUr0PlMVoKKmqOiouKTMviQ-JXFp3QXRuK-yBgdtZ5oitMqoUpDgVPNwTSJwQY8rb-K7p9BSJM9HIgGhZs65GmTwg6_Sr3QbHUq-pGLfovXvFSfg/s320/6249_1198497999306_1134187562_632610_8320777_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416720344210279058" /></a><div><br /></div><div>The reunion proper wound down at 10PM. We piled into Chris & Amber's SUV and headed back to the QBR to change. Our night wasn't over by a long shot.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Post </b><b>Func:</b></div><div>As we talked to friends, the same question came up: What's happening after this is over? Our response to a person was: We're heading to the QBR and will continue the night there. It wasn't a disappointment. In all, I think there were about 40 of us that met up afterward. In fact, I think we actually took over the bar. As for people, I sat with Marni, Amy, Michelle G. & Lisa and had a nice chat. We didn't spend a whole lot of time together in school, but it was good to see them again and talk. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Iwa1ffIQZo7L6jN9mzSSeNA_8A8_UHB7Fhh8YllQIcGMlLRFT0R1Ff1N1mfcdHOAI6pg8W6_sn-R-E6HspVdveWjJ7a8d7jCjwhUAoj1NiBnyxIRKs6FOdpRcOC1B6H8bkc2A/s1600-h/5735_1084096792842_1539035337_30202954_961591_n.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9Iwa1ffIQZo7L6jN9mzSSeNA_8A8_UHB7Fhh8YllQIcGMlLRFT0R1Ff1N1mfcdHOAI6pg8W6_sn-R-E6HspVdveWjJ7a8d7jCjwhUAoj1NiBnyxIRKs6FOdpRcOC1B6H8bkc2A/s320/5735_1084096792842_1539035337_30202954_961591_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416720806101293090" /></a><div>The highlight of the QBR part of the night was seeing Joe, Steve B. and a few others dancing with several ladies who I'd classify as older than a MILF and younger than elderly. The blackmail material was too good to pass up, but I missed the boat. The camera on phone didn't do it justice and didn't have anything better.</div><div><br /></div><div>In all honesty, I can't recall specifics about that part of the night. The combination of the amount of drinking I'd done, the lack of sleep and time lag between August and today has taken away the details of the QBR bar experience. I do recall this, however. We all said our farewells, promised to keep in touch on Facebook and made our way upstairs. It was around 2am.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Post, Post </b><b>Func:</b></div><div>Michelle, Dani, Joe, Kristelle and I closed out our night in Michelle & Kristelle's room. Amber & Chris went home at some point prior to us meeting up there, I think. This was probably the best part of the night, for me. It ended as it started, with us sitting around and talking. I can't forget the last of our Champagne (of Beers) as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was around 3am that I finally got to sleep. I didn't sleep well, but managed to feel somewhat rested the next day. I was tired, but it was bearable. Joe, Michelle, Kristelle and I checked out, loaded our cars and met for breakfast at around 11am. You could tell that we'd had fun, though. We sat, staring at our coffee cups and not saying much. Personally, I was wishing for aspirin & water and my hat pulled down low over my eyes because it just felt better that way. Really, it did. It wasn't because the light was a blazing fireball that seared my retinas at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>We eventually made it through breakfast and said our farewells. I got into my car and headed out, looking forward to going home to my wife and kids.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Random Thoughts:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Facebook Effect</span></i></b></div><div>I started thinking about the reunion about 6 months before. I've been on Facebook for a while but had recently started spending more time trying to find folks from school. I think it was worth it. The majority of people I'd kept track of were there and we got to talk about more than the standard questions: What do you do? Are you married? Kids? Where do you live? etc. I think that really enhanced my enjoyment of the whole event. I still keep track of everyone and we get to interact there still. In fact, Dani's <s>harassment</s> encouragement of me to finish this came by way of Facebooks' chat feature.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Friends</span></b></i></div><div>Most of my high school friends didn't know this, but I had a bad attitude my entire senior year of high school. I was angry about many things that I've come to grips with over the years. After that weekend, I came to realize that I love and respect my high school friends. We may not have kept in touch, I missed them and was very eager to see them all again. I realized that I didn't want to lose touch with them and will make sure that I make every effort to see them more often. </div>Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-71373790697608756022009-09-11T12:16:00.000-04:002009-09-11T14:50:12.127-04:00Never forgetAs I sit here, I am forced to remember a day 8 years ago and all that has occurred since. I was just returning to work from a conference in Washington D.C. A close friend & co-worker called me in a panic asking if I'd heard what happened. It was just after 6AM PST. He then, while I was on the phone, described the 2nd aircraft hitting the 2nd tower. <br /><br />As people slowly began to arrive at work, all of us were transfixed by the images on the news. We wondered if friend or colleagues were affected. The investment industry is a fairly small community and many vendors, colleagues and clients were based in Lower Manhattan. No real work was completed and the markets were, if memory serves, unreachable due to the telephone networks being down. <br /><br />Many of us went home early as air travel was halted by order of The President. I sat at home with my wife and kids, wanting to keep track of happenings, but not wanting to expose my young children to the horror.<br /><br />Looking back, the only good I can see that came out of this event was a distinct and focused effort by business and government to ensure that recovery from disasters was an up front and primary issue going forward. The so-called security measures and heavy handed legislation are not what I'd call "good." The Department of Homeland Security isn't either. Too many personal freedoms have been lost as a result of the goverment "protecting us."<br /><br />Never forget those that lost their lives both on the air and on the ground, but don't let that be an excuse for giving up personal freedoms and abandoning the will to fight for what you think is right and protecting your way of life.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-44301278585349592622009-09-04T15:32:00.000-04:002009-09-08T23:02:57.522-04:00Twenty years & still going strong: Part 2(You can find Part 1 <a href="http://abyssleaper.blogspot.com/2009/08/twenty-years-still-going-strong-part-1.html">here</a>.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday continued:</span><br />I left off last time lamenting the fact that I felt like I was not very nice to Amber my senior year of high school. As the commenters on that post would agree, I was probably a little too hard on myself. I was who I was at that time, which is to say that I was a self-important teenager who probably said and did things that were horrible and didn't realize it. I should clarify one point, however. My comments in Amber's yearbook seemed very out of place while I was sitting in her kitchen 20 years later. That was the major source of my feelings on the situation. I can't remember exactly what I wrote, but it just struck me as not a good thing to say.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joe & Dani:</span><br />Joe and Daniela showed up around 40 minutes after I arrived. I think I was just finishing up my first beer of the evening. It was a good thing too. I was in for a special treat. They had brought a case of "The Champagne of Beers." For the low brow folks reading this, that's Miller beer. I believe that the pizzas that Amber had put in the over were done as well. Drinking Miller and eating pizza while on the Harbor is a truly special experience. I think I described going home in my last post as being "uncomfortable." This was 100% the opposite.<br /><br />As always, Joe & Daniela's arrival increased the fun factor by 10. Between the 2 of them, they could easily turn any gathering into a party. Bar Mitzvah? Easy. Garage Sale? Puh-lease. Funeral? Definitely. I had no reason to believe that the rest of the night would be any different, and I wasn't disappointed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michelle & Kristelle:</span><br />If memory serves, Kristelle & Michelle (..and that rhymes the way I'm saying it in my head right now.) showed up around 30 minutes after Joe & Dani. It's almost as if they snuck in, because 1 minute we were all in the kitchen enjoying our champagne (of beers) and the next they were cruising in the door with their suitcases.<br /><br />Kristelle was soo funny that I don't think it took more than 5 minutes before I was laughing so hard that I almost blew champagne (of beers) out of my nose. I'm going to skip over the actual topic. Don't ask, 'cuz I won't tell. Actually, that's not much of a stretch because I was left speechless then too.<br /><br />We took the opportunity to get a few pictures before we left. I'm pretty sure Amber took this, which is why she's conspicously absent. I think I'm the only one who doesn't still wear the same size as in high school. Sheesh.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU4-jAPQUVliIOUyxEWmT9ei_eaE0a7oP00McM-IUyFVWO07E_XyGW70n9DHYu3-UboBiwUvr8YL2Y9DdnlIb-pd-NEKh27Tf80n2eT_NvikrWmzpy2sCoRZaWCB2gjpaKRcZiQ/s1600-h/5253_1215257544967_1334687101_611302_6052068_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggU4-jAPQUVliIOUyxEWmT9ei_eaE0a7oP00McM-IUyFVWO07E_XyGW70n9DHYu3-UboBiwUvr8YL2Y9DdnlIb-pd-NEKh27Tf80n2eT_NvikrWmzpy2sCoRZaWCB2gjpaKRcZiQ/s320/5253_1215257544967_1334687101_611302_6052068_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378962981737538290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bar (a.k.a. Stiffy's)</span><br />It's a long-standing tradition that on the Friday before a reunion for HHS that anyone who can meets at a local bar. It was at a place called, of all things, Stiffy's. I could go on for hours on the name. I won't.<br /><br />The Friday event is always very casual. My experience at our 10 year reunion was less than stellar. My daughter was 13 months old and I wasn't really sure what to expect. A classmate who I suspect had a crush on me found me and told me a long story that I won't relate. Needless to say, it wasn't fun. This time it was better. I think around 20 people were there, as well as a quite a few other people. We arrived a little later than usual and I guess that we missed quite a few other classmates that were there earlier in the evening. Steve B, I'm talking about you, pal.<br /><br />The first person I ran into was Neil Meyer. Yes, Neil, you're taller. This was phrase that could have madeyou money over the course of the next 24 hours. I was also very lucky to meet Neil's lovely wife. Marty Skinner, who, I've known longer than just about anyone else, was there too. I could (and probably should) mention the rest, but this post is getting long in the tooth already, and I haven't even gotten to the reunion yet. It was all pretty much a blur of laughter & drinks. Mostly laughter, but drinks were a close second.<br /><br />I should mention 2 things at this point. Firstly, it wouldn't be a reunion without a teeny little bit of drama. We had a little, but as we found out later, it was more the alcohol talking than anything else. I think all was forgiven in the the end. Secondly, what's up with the ass-grabbing? I've learned to live with my distinguished good looks over the years. But ladies (and gentlemen), keep your hands off of my ass. I think it was grabbed twice, and I honestly can't remember exactly who did it. Actually, I remember one of them but she'll remain nameless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEGg5nGTR3mOQXly6s5E7UmV-9N8hrDqk4rNSDK4PXRTTXTz0YzQfb5Y9vbjIeP4Vs1x2fVLLQM6EHaVeDfNF9ctq6cLzub09y-fBaI1U7Um_Tvpk-KgDManS5GxbstydS6rWmA/s1600-h/5253_1215257904976_1334687101_611311_3046219_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEGg5nGTR3mOQXly6s5E7UmV-9N8hrDqk4rNSDK4PXRTTXTz0YzQfb5Y9vbjIeP4Vs1x2fVLLQM6EHaVeDfNF9ctq6cLzub09y-fBaI1U7Um_Tvpk-KgDManS5GxbstydS6rWmA/s320/5253_1215257904976_1334687101_611311_3046219_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378967633246522018" border="0" /></a><br />In any case, it was a great time. The picture to the right here pretty much sums up the whole night. Laughter & silliness. Thanks ladies. A good portion of the fun I had is due to you two. :-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Hotel:</span><br />As with all things, the night had to come to an end. Amber & Daniela headed back to town, while Joe, Michelle & Kristelle (yep.. still rhymes) headed to the Quinault Beach Resort, where we were staying.<br /><br />The drive was uneventful, thankfully. Joe and I still drive insanely fast down that road and still pass like everyone is standing still. We checked in at around 1:15 AM. Joe, Kristelle and I went to the bar for a drink. As luck with would have it, the casino bar was dead, empty and closing up. So, instead of a drink, Joe and I picked up a fabulous sandwich and some bottled water. Actually, the sandwich's only redeeming quality was that it was solid and edible.<br /><br />It was with the help of the friendly bar staff that Friday night came to a close. We all turned in for the night.<br /><br />Next up will be "Part 3: The Reunion"..Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-48102119427287764562009-08-29T13:43:00.000-04:002009-08-29T13:45:59.724-04:00A way opensHeck with it. I don't need to have a theme. I do, however, need to write, express and get things out there. I don't expect to see anything come of this, but after a long while, I am comfortable with just putting my thoughts down and leaving it at that. With that, I'll post more often without the pressure of making sense. :-)Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-75775302021787922712009-08-29T13:39:00.000-04:002009-08-31T16:13:35.575-04:00Twenty years & still going strong: Part 1I went to my 20 year reunion for high school last weekend. While I'm not at a loss for words on the subject, I am having some difficulty accurately describing how much I enjoyed seeing people I haven't seen since the last reunion, and in some cases, longer. Like the trooper that I am, I'll do my best.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Friday:<span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><br />I left work a little early to beat the traffic. I guess I didn't hold the monopoly on that idea, as it was bumper to bumper from Southcenter to Fort Lewis. I'm not just talking about the regular, heavy traffic, I'm talking about the "never get above 10 mph" traffic interspersed with long, single lane stops. It was grueling.<br /><br />It was only bearable because I was trading text messages with Joe & Daniela the entire way down. " Yes, I'm 30 minutes ahead of you". "No, traffic still sucks down here. When will it end??" You get the idea.<br /><br />As I drove into Aberdeen, I decided to make a restroom stop at the local Wal-Mart. Why? I have no idea. I guess I was a little hungry and not thinking clearly. Anyway, I went inside and it hit me. I haven't been back home, except to see my brother under what I would call "stressful circumstances", more than just a handful of times, yet it always feels like home. Not the warm, fuzzy "grandma's making cookies" type of home, but the uncomfortable sort of home that you never really want to go back to. It hit me how much I've grown since leaving The Harbor. My worldview is so altered that I just don't feel as comfortable there as I used to.<br /><br />With nature no longer pestering, I decided to try and find Amber's house. I was a little nervous, to tell the truth. The last time I saw her was at our 10 year reunion. I cheated used my iPhone to give me the aproximate location, and after several trips around the block (Yes, Amber, you need to put the numbers back up), I made it there. I called my wife to let her know that I made it to town and would be meeting up with friends. My other motive was at least give the police a last known point on the off chance that I was at the wrong house and wasn't to be seen again.<br /><br />As luck would have it, I had the correct house. Amber was a very gracious hostess. I showed up before everyone else, so we spent that time catching up, looking at old yearbook photos and talking about who we thought we'd see at the bar that night. I was appalled at just how big a jerk I was toward the end of high school. The things are wrote in Amber's yearbook, while meant to be in jest, sounded horrible. I felt bad, especially as I was sitting in her kitchen. (So yeah, I was an ass, Amber. Sorry. Thanks for not holding it against me. )<br /><br />(More to come in Part 2...)<br /><br />JeffAbyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-67949108674500093182009-04-18T11:22:00.000-04:002009-04-18T11:24:10.568-04:00Dusting off the table..After a long while, I think I'm going to start using this thing again. I still don't have a *really* good idea, but I'm feeling the creative urge. I've had enough people ask if I do this to finally give in and start writing again. We'll see how this goes.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15860505.post-23831874635002670222007-05-01T01:09:00.000-04:002007-05-01T01:10:39.055-04:00Oh, how blue I am not.09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0<br /><br />There. I did it.Abyssleaperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16436937887314922699noreply@blogger.com0