One Last Trip

I'm on my way out to Park City for a week. Then it's back to real life for quite a while I think.

Ahhhhh

That was fun. What a great weekend. Started out right off the plane, when we headed over to my favorite Philly cheesesteak joint, Tony Luke's. Then we headed up to the area I would be staying in/had lived in previously. On our way to my friend's house we drove through the little town that I used to live in. I tell ya, I missed the boat on this one. After I moved away it turned into the trendy town for twenty-somethings to hang out in. Lots of new bars and a brewery.

When I got up Friday morning, I talked to my friend's wife and daughter for a bit then headed out to a brewery tour of the oldest brewery in America and one of my personal favorite beers, Yuengling, with my friend Mark. First, let me thank Dr. Mark for driving and all of the costs incurred. Brother, that is why I bought that case of beer...and I can tell you that the Ichor and Rasberry were great, I wasn't really into the Saison. Save a bottle of the Icarus for the next visit, or you trip down here. The rest is yours. Next, let me say, I missed my friend Yuengling. What a great beer. We don't get it in St. Louis. Plus at the end of the tour, they had a bock beer that was soooooooo yummy. I hope they mass produce it after their limited run. It was awesome, but if it is a one time thing, I will never get it again.

After the tour, we headed back to the convention center where all types of drinking, socializing and related hilarity ensued. I remember a lot of it, but I was very, very drunk for some of it and my retelling would not do it justice. Suffice it to say it was a great weekend. Reconnected with some old friends and made some more new ones.

This week it is back to work with a ton of stuff to do before Friday. Because after that I will not be back to work for a week and a half. My ski trip to Utah starts next Wednesday.

Just A Few More Hours...

...And I will be on a flight to Philadelphia. I've been promised a trip to Tony Luke's to get my favorite cheesesteak once I deplane...

...Lots of drinking with Scottish and Irish folks to follow...

...Recover on the flight back home...

...I'll write about it sometime next week.

Yet Another Hockey Post

Last night, I played hockey in my rec-league. One of my friends, who I have known for a little over a year, came out to watch. In real life, I am a mild-mannered...no, I am a nice-fun-laid-back-nothing-needs-to-be-taken-too-seriously sort of guy. Mild-mannered isn't really accurate. This is all my poor friend Mandy had ever seen of me.

I tell stories every now and again about losing my temper while playing hockey. Just the general stuff, trash talking opponents, getting rough and even an occasional "fight" (not a traditional fight, there are rarely more than one or two punches thrown in these things). She kept telling me that she couldn't see me being like that. Last night, she saw it come out full force. I'm a smart ass most of the time, anyway. When I get angry, I'm downright ignorant. I must've said a few things while yelling at some other players that were pretty funny. When I got back to the locker room after the game, I had a text message on my phone. "I love angry Larry! It's so funny!" I had to laugh. She sent it to me while I was seated in the penalty box.

You'd Think I Would Know Better

Last night I went to play hockey with a friend of mine that I really hadn't seen much of since high school. I ran into him a few weeks ago when I was at the local Home Depot picking up materials to build a closet. We caught up at the store and he invited me out to play with his group of friends. They have some ice time every week at one of the outdoor rinks. I couldn't go last week because of a huge snowstorm that forced me to work massive hours and get very little sleep. This week, however, I was free to go.

When I showed up, my friend wasn't there yet. I introduced myself around, met one of his many brothers that I did not know and found out that his older brother (who was also a friend of mine that I hadn't seen since we graduated high school 13 years ago) was in town and going to be playing. So, I got dressed out, stretched out, and ready to play. My two friends came in and we caught up a little bit, then went outside...

I forgot how flippin cold 10 degrees and windy could be. I also forgot to bring any insulated undergarments. It was bitter. Any part of my body that was only covered by a jersey, socks or helmet and no other padding, was bright red and numb for several hours afterward. With all of the snow removal, skiing and past outdoor winter surveillances that I have been involved in, you would think that I would know better than to be caught out in that sort of cold with no insulation. Hopefully, next week, I will remember to pack some more clothes in my hockey bag.

On a side note, it has been about 15 years since I have had ice form on my face while playing hockey. When I reached up to touch my beard it was caked in ice. Brought back a lot of good memories from my youth.

The Waiting Game

I am playing the waiting game, now. My trip to Philadelphia is coming up in about a week and a half. A week later, I fly to Scranton, PA for a few days of work and then I fly back home just long enough to switch luggage at home and return to the airport to head out to Utah for my ski trip...which we just added a day to!

I washed my kilt and won a free beer or two in a bet when I get to Philly. I love it when St. Louis teams beat Philly teams. It is especially fulfilling when the loser's fan has to buy the first round. We have a trip to my the brewery of one of my favorite beers planned for the first day, a concert that night and the festival the rest of the weekend. It's soooo close. Come on, Next Friday!

I am trying my best to stay focused, but the closer it gets to my trips, the harder it is. I took my skis to the one shop in St. Louis that actually tunes skis. I pick them up tomorrow. I have been watching ski videos and downloading music that I will listen to while skiing. I may actually have to go purchase an iPhone before the trip with some of the money I am going to be getting from an unexpected raise that I just received (retroactive to last July...33 weeks of back pay!!!!). The iPhone will allow me to have a 2-way radio, phone and MP3 player all hooked up to the speakers that are installed in my ski helmet. That way I can keep in contact with the guys on the slopes, listen to my music and receive any phone calls that may come through.

I will leave you all with a photo that I took three years ago (i think...it might have been two).
Sorry for the lack of quality. I took it with my cell phone. What did we ever do before camera phones?



This is proof that God prefers skiers to snowboarders. :P