Beer Night

Everybody needs a social event. Hermits live in caves but I'm sure that they talk to rocks and other being that they believe are listening. Beer night is my social event. It suits me. There are good people, good conversation and it is a good micro brewery. Have I had better? Yeah, there are obscure beers that have great "tines" and and all the other qualities people talk about when they try to sound smart but really don't know what they are talking about. This is really good quality beer and the location beats all. The manager at City Steam as well as many of the wait staff are considered more than just people who serve me. They are fixtures. They are friends. When it is time to get out of my own head, I meet my friends at City Steam. Thursday happens every week.

Beer night has been going on for about four years now and it is a tradition that I will continue for many more. I started when I was in my mid-twenties and it has continued now that I am thirty. I can see doing this for many years to come.

http://www.citysteambrewerycafe.com/

Veteran's Day

I'm keeping this short today. After my little tour in the sand box, this is the first year that I qualify as a veteran on Veteran's Day. Something about that gives me more of kinship to the warriors that came before me. To all the Vets from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf I, OIF, OEF and any other unmentioned foreign service; thank you. It has been an honor and a pleasure to follow in your footsteps and and serve along side you. If you are still over there, make it back safe.

LT Brooks out.

The Need for a Man Room

So, I have a really great wife. Many guys would say that and they would be paying lip service. They are saying what they are supposed to say and hoping to "earn points" with such a statement. I, however, really do have a great wife. The reason being this: she likes guys, and I am an unapologetic guy. She knows my style.

That is just one shot of my man room. A place where I can go to write such posts and do all the necessary things a man does. You can't see it, that is the "band of brothers" speech from Henry V by Shakespeare. It is next to a classic clock with the liquor cabinet near by. I have my cigar box, a set of comic book cabinets in once corner, my bookcase with my favorite books on one wall and a classic re-finished vintage desk for my computer in the last corner. What can I say? She knows me.

On Being and Being Home

I went away. I went away for a while. It would be fair to say that I was away while I was preparing to be away. If I had it to do again, which I probably will given my profession, I would not lose all the time I lost while preparing to go.

Now, I am back. I would even venture to say that I learned a few things along the way. I have spent the last three months since I got home from deployment enjoying the fantastic changes that my wife has made to our house. She really is remarkable.

Now it is my chance to to start making my mark on our humble abode. Myrrh wanted a corner cabinet in the dining room and with the help of her cousin Ben, I learned all the necessary skills to give her one.

Not only was I able to put in a professional looking custom built in cabinet, I was able to plan it a way that made it look like it was originally a part of the house. I also discovered that I really like woodworking. I'm pretty good at it too. It's good to be home.