Sounds, Suds and Cinema XI

I wish I could make up a good excuse as to why I have been neglecting my blogging duties of late but I am all out!  The reality is that I am still somewhat exhausted, the grueling training I went through for four months combined with one surprise after another in life has kind of sapped me of motivation.  I use to write my blog on my lunch at work but that has given way to watching The Wire on HBO-GO, and you know what, I am way happier right now watching The Wire than I would be worrying about my shiteous sentence structure!  I pretend that once I get home I will finish a post, but then I relax and melt into a pile on the coach for an hour or two before passing out while watching The Voice, SOA, Seinfeld or The Walking Dead.  Exciting, I know.  Let’s look at the bright side, although I don’t particularly want to write about the “R-word”, I assure you that I am still on track for my bucket list goal of reaching 1,000 miles for 2012!  I am also still posting somewhat regularly, I could’ve fallen completely off the map and completely neglected all of your blogs…but I am still here, still interacting! Someone give me suggestions on something to write about so I can feel like I am appealing to the masses (this means you, no one else is reading)!  Do you want me to tell you what guys want for Christmas, tech gifts, terrible fashion advice or the best holiday meals?  Come at me bro…(that is a joke)…moving on.

Sounds

Delta Spirit – People C’mon

My buddy Andy has been trying to get me to fall in love with this band for a while…and true to form, I avoided it like the plague.  The jury is still out on their most recent albums, so this recommendation is based purely on their first album Ode to Sunshine.  They have all the traits of a band I would love… guitars, semi-raspy-bluesy-vocals, some background yelling, clapping, and a piano…I mean hell the only thing missing is a harmonica or banjo.  Well Delta Spirit meets most of the prerequisites of being one of my favorite bands so why not just make them honorary band of December!  Well, the issue is that their track, People C’mon is my favorite.  The catch is that I expect a similar sound on their other albums but instead I get slower, more poppy and more polished tracks that don’t appeal to me as much.  So take this as a glowing endorsement for Ode to Sunshine and a partial recommendation of all the Delta Spirit albums.  Hey this could have been a share based on one song and one song only so at least you are getting a deal! FYI…they toured with the Cold War Kids and Dr. Dog when they first formed so if those are bands you like then I can guarantee you will love this album.

Suds

Firestone XVI Anniversary Ale (2012 Limited Release) by Firestone Walker Brewing Company – Paso Robles, CA

Disclaimer, I have yet to drink this beer.  So how can I possibly recommend a beer that I have never had???  Great question.  The answer is…because I know it is good.  I have proclaimed my love and more fittingly, my respect for Firestone Walker Brewing in the past and this annual release reminds me why they are one of the best breweries in the world.  Firestone’ anniversary releases are a blend of at least 10 different types of beers, once mixed, they are barrel aged together to create a strong, flavorful and unique creation.  This type of beer will definitely fall into the category of American Strong Ale and with good reason, XVI checks in at 13% ABV…so don’t plan on drinking this one solo.  If they stuck close to the previous releases, it will be almost black with no head (foam), smell amazing, and taste like a combination of brown sugar, toffee, vanilla and bourbon.  It is hard to find, but it doesn’t hurt to ask your liquor mega store of choice if they have any on hand.  Be prepared to pay $23 a bottle but rest assured it is worth every penny.  I try to crack one of the anniversary ales at my annual holiday party or on New Year’s Eve when I know I will have friends and family to share my FAVORITE beer.  Happy Hunting…ladies or gents, a great stocking stuffer idea if your man likes beer!

Yeah, I have a problem…but it is soooo good.

Cinema

The King of Kong : A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

How this was not my first SSC recommendation, the world may never know!  Jesus, I love this frickin movie!  One of the first movies I discovered while perusing the expansive  Netflix Instant Watch library years ago.  This is the movie that really showed me that documentaries are the most entertaining things that a TV has to offer…think reality TV in 2 hour segments with important material instead of meaningless crap and you have documentaries.  This one is more towards the meaningless crap side of the spectrum but it is oh so brilliant because the characters, err people are unbelievably real.  I could go on and on but the teaser has a way of expressing the ridiculousness in a way that my words could never achieve!  Let’s just say if Ben Stiller needs inspiration for a villain in his next movie…two words…Billy Mitchell.