Firepit

I can sit here and stew over what to write.  I can mull over and over in my head what I've learned, what would be relevant and what has actual meaning to others.  This evening, however, for me, it's the firepit an amazing dinner, a conversation with a buddy, a few great beers and some ski and mountain bike films.

I believe I could quantify this evening in the ultimate relaxation category.  That's right, here at home, no cabin, no mountains and no gently falling snow.  Right here at the house, in the midst of normalcy.  It truly can be done.  Granted, the firepit, food, beer, etc. did help.

It's nice to know that there is and can be another world right outside the backdoor.  I believe I've said this before, but, the best investment that I've ever made is my firepit.  There's just nothing quite like the dancing of a fire.  The quiet sway and flicker tend to lull you into relaxation and take you away to a different place.

Eric and I are enjoying our first bottle of Pyramid Breweries, Discord, their attempt at a Dark IPA.  Now, I'm a big, bold flavor type of person, but this is very drinkable.  It has that subtle dark IPA taste, a little hoppy and a great firepit drinker.

The simple life is good.  Step outside your backdoor, away from the clutter, enjoy the firepit.

Cheers

Stay the course...

I'm not really sure if this post is more for your benefit or mine but I've got a pretty good idea that I will be reading it again myself.

I realize that I could post and repost a number of things solely about craft beer, brewing equipment or beer reviews, and someday, my website will be full of useful information about beer.  But, that is not what I intended this blog to be about.  If I stray from my objective, I will become no more than a yes man, conforming to an expectation.  The intended purpose of this blog is to chronicle my journey, a journey that started with a decision to follow my passion.

For the first time in my adult life, I feel that I have the opportunity to truly speak my mind, unbound by corporate policies, should's and shouldnt's.  I get to share my thoughts, which is so much easier to do in written form than spoken word.  I will not conform.  My goal is to share with you my life, hopefully a life less ordinary.  There won't always be action, adventure, humor or balance.  If that is what you are looking for, turn on the television and find a reality show.

My commitment will be to to learn, to grow, to listen and to be transparent, everyday.  I will not quit.

Thank you to all who have given your feedback and comments, they are greatly appreciated.  I hope that you enjoy the bits and pieces of my life that I share daily.   I've never attempted something like this before and I want it to be useful and something that you find of value on a daily basis.

Cheers

Event No. 1

Event number one is in the books.  I thoroughly enjoyed helping Adam Haynes with the grand opening of  Rolling H Cycles in downtown Nampa.  It's truly satisfying to see someone who is passionate about what they are doing and willing to step out of their comfort zone and do it.

Adam has a real love for cycling and it shows in his shop, attention to detail and interaction with his customers and friends.  The open house had roughly 100 people from all walks of life come through over the course of the evening to enjoy the great selection of everything from mountain bikes to vintage bikes.

We were very fortunate to have a new local beer on tap for the event in Crooked Fence Brewing's, 3 Picket Porter.  It turned out to be the perfect beer for the occasion for a number of reasons.  First, a porter is not necessarily the average beer drinkers first choice and I think it contributed to people stepping outside of their comfort zone.  Second, I would call it a very drinkable beer as it is very balanced and mellow for the enjoyment of both the rookie and the connoisseur.  Third, it allowed us to introduce a new local beer to the Nampa market.

Thank you both for the opportunity to share your great products with the community in this true lifestyle marketing event.  Be sure to stop by both Rolling H Cycles in Downtown Nampa and Crooked Fence Brewing in Garden City or as Andy so eloquently stated, the City of Gardens.

Cheers

A day to remember...

It's not often enough that I get a date with my daughter, let alone a of couple days.  So, that's what I decided to do.  Two days at the cabin with just the two of us.  I think it's important to spend time with your children one on one, uninterrupted.  Kids are always battling for their parents attention, talking over one another, and generally the more persistent one wins out.  I'm sure it's entirely unintentional on the parents part, possibly irritation or laziness, but nevertheless, it happens.

One rule.  Her choice!  That goes for food, activities, anything.  As a girl after her daddy's own heart, her first choice for our full day was skiing.  I can say this, patience is a virtue.  It's not the easiest thing in the world to teach an almost 4 year old how to ski, although, pizza (wedge) and french fries (parallel) seems to work pretty well.  It was, however, an amazing bonding time.

A quick lunch and it was down to the lake with our sleds.  It amazes me how much time kids can play in the snow.  Generally, I assume, completely oblivious to the frigid wind, numbing fingers and green eleven coming out of the nose.  Pulling her up the hill and sending her back down, time after time, her laughter was contagious.  We were the only two out and even if we weren't, we were the only two that mattered to each other at that moment.

Back to the cabin, log on the fire and on goes the Blu-ray.  She loves the series on Planet Earth and picked a disc on Yellowstone and Grand Teton before we left.  For those about to turn up your nose at the thought of a documentary, I suggest you watch one on a Blu-ray, you'll be blown away.  I really love to see her learn and ask questions about the outdoors.

Sitting on the couch, unprovoked, she moved her blanket, climbed over to my side and gave me the biggest bear hug I believe I've ever had from my daughter.  She gave me a kiss and whispered in my ear, "I love you so much daddy."

Sitting here in complete quiet, a pint of SRB, Chunder Stout at my side, it's so simple.  They don't want much, today didn't cost a dime.

  "Don't look at your children as a paper awaiting your pen, but a book awaiting your study."

- Unknown

Cheers

Reality check.....

Unfortunately, the quiet and calm of a cabin, the relaxation of the crackling fire and the awakening and adventure of a Cat Ski trip don't translate to the real issues of everyday life.  It's one thing to be able to find clarity in a situation such as that, it's entirely different to find that same clarity in the stresses of everyday life.

That's right, my Tibetan prayer flags don't do me a bit of good when the kids are fighting, when my wife and I have a disagreement, my snowshoes don't solve the problem and when the bills are piling up the only thing the crackle of the fire can do is, well, you get the picture.

So where is the true sense of balance?  I certainly haven't found it yet.  I have certainly used this time to center myself and be more aware of life.   So, my search will continue, and with any luck, begin to have a better understanding of myself, my life, my family and my purpose.

Everyday is a journey and an adventure, wherever you are.  Every experience is an opportunity for growth.  If you pick and choose what you want to accept and what you want to avoid you are only limiting the person you can become.  Today, for the first time, I can say that I see it as such.

I've got a long way to go………

Cheers

Redwood Forest

Step out...

Sunday March 4th has been a long time coming.  The skis were waxed and ready to go back in October.  We've watched virtually every Warren Miller ski film under the sun and our choice of skiable terrain had grown increasingly steeper and more technical for the last two years.  We even brought a special bottle to commemorate the occasion.

After a short night, celebrating the next days adventures toasting Boogoop, an amazing Buckwheat Ale prepared in collaboration with Mikkeller and Three Floyds, and an early morning, we were up before daybreak and on our way.  Nature served up her cup of coffee as a brisk morning air to get the blood pumping and after a short drive, we were on the hill to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises I can recall.

Excitement was in the air, I pictured the turns in a deep white quilt of snow, hucking cliffs and performing aerials.  Then it happened, four little words that jerked me out of my dream, "here's your avalanche beacon."  My what?  Well duh, sure I knew it ahead of time but there is nothing like hearing it after you've boarded a Cat and are headed into the backcountry and have nothing you can do about it.

So, there I was, gripped and puckered, face turning a ghostly white and listening how I may meet my demise in the hours ahead.  That's when it hit me.  We are so often gripped by fear that we don't allow ourselves to continue into what may be one of our most amazing adventures.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was scared to death to leave the "comfort" of a 17 year career for something unproven and unplanned.

As the Cat pulled to the top of our first run, I looked out the window into the vast expanse.  Untouched, unblemished as far as the eye could see, a playground to be explored and, for the second time in the recent past, I stepped out……….

You can't erase the past.....

I've found myself scrolling through my phone and my list of "contacts" lately.  It's been weighing on my mind to sit down one on one with everyone in my database.  Granted, that will take some time, but thus far, it's been extremely enlightening and not to mention, enjoyable.

In my life I've had, constant friends, friends who I've lost contact with, fairweather friends, clients and clients who have become friends.  I truly feel that I have lived a blessed life to this point and feel fortunate to have great people around me.  It is, however, quite sobering to find a recurring theme in some of my acquaintances.

With that being said I will add that life is truly short.  In your lifetime, you will be fortunate to be able to count the number of true friends on one hand.  If you have the good fortune of many great people in your life, don't take it for granted.  I know that in my life I've neglected alot of those relationships.  I have personally placed focus on material things, financial gain and leveraging relationships to better improve my personal position.  At the end of the day, it is a pretty gripping reminder of a somewhat hollow life that I'm happy to look in the back.

But, before I do, I'll say it again.  I refuse to live a life of regrets.  I will learn from my mistakes and I will grow through them.  I'm thankful for the support I have around me and the many wonderful people I've had the good fortune of meeting.

To that end, thank you for your friendship and to a good friend who had the guts to tell me, I enjoyed sharing a pint of O'Dell Brewing Company's, Red Ale.

My toast, "You can't erase the past, but you can learn from it, it's your choice."

Cheers