Bagpipe things

I was in Kansas City, MO for the Winter Storm 2009 events and concert. This event is about bagpipes and drumming, Scottish drumming. The best pipers and drummers from around the world come to the bleak cold Midwest every year to give lessons, compete for prizes and money, participate in a concert, and connect with fans, friends, and colleagues from around the world. This event is sponsored by MHAF - Midwest Highland Arts Fund, a non-profit group dedicated to the promotion and support of piping and drumming. I flew down on Thursday and flew back home on Sunday. It was an incredibly amazing event. Here are the best pipers and drummers in the world playing.

Thursday, I volunteered to help sign in pipers and drummers. It was colder in that hotel than it was my garage in Minnesota. For a Marriott not to keep the lobby and 2d floor heated is just beyond belief considering what you pay for a room there. Thom and I stayed at the Holiday Inn across the street. I turned in around 2 am and Thom came in around 3am and went to sleep around 5am. We got up at 6:30 am.

Friday, I was dressed in my Highland outfit and I spent the day running the timing lights. The timing lights were timed so when the piper came out to play for the judges, he had 4 minutes to tune his pipes and then start his competition set of tunes. So I manned the lights from 8 am to 5 pm and by the end of that shift I was completely shagged. The piping was remarkably outstanding. You look at the lineup of contestants and judges and they are the top namesin North America and Scotland. At 11 pm they had the awards ceremony for all the different competitions from the whole day. I was able to figure out some and completely lost it on others. I went to bed early in the morning, 3 am.

Saturday, I helped set up the community Church for the evening's concert and then went for a wee walk. The church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and it was a real gem. built to FLW's height requirements. The space is charming, intimate, and wonderful acoustically. I also had some Gate's BBQ brought in by the sponsors. YUM YUM!! I am glad I do not live in KC. I stumbled on the Nelson Atkins Art Museum. What a lucky break for me! I wandered in and saw the various galleries. They have a gorgeous Caravaggio - St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, a painting of such beauty and depth. They also had two Lucas Cranach the Elder paintings - Three Graces and the Last Judgment. The Three Graces was just beautiful and invoked memories of the past. I walked around and watched people looking at the art as I myself looked at the art. People watching is great fun and two great places are museums and airports.

The concert that night was so cool. The piping was world class as was the drumming. The cd will be out next year. I picked up the cd from last year and it is a real show stopper. There was an old grandma sitting in front of me. She had been brought to the concert by her grandson. She must have been in her nineties but she loved the piping and drumming. After the concert was the party - Winter Steam. Newcastle Brown Ale sponsored the event and provided a prodigious amount of beer for the festivities.The party lasted all night. I finally went to bed at 4 am so I could get up for my 8:30am shuttle to the airport.

Would I go again? Hell, yes! It was very exciting to be part of this event. A major world event in the piping and drumming world right here in the Midwest. Thank you MHAF for all your work at making this a truly great event.

Scotch things

We went to John & Deb's home last night for a scotch tasting. The gang was there Thom, Steve, Charles, Phil, Bob, Damian and myself. There were 5 scotches presented by John: Bruichladdich 20 yrs old - bourbon cask, legs close together as a virgin (good viscosity), Nose - vanilla, pear, heather, sea, iodine, grassy, peppery. Finish - woody and long. Glengoyne 16 yrs old 15 years in bourbon casks then 1 year in Scottish oak, darker colour, warming. Nose - spicy, vanilla, butterscotch. Mouth - maple syrup, butterscotch, woody. Finish - woody, astringent. Glengoyne 15 yrs. Nose - butterscocth, citris, vanilla, pepper, creme brulee. mouth: mold, old shoe, musty warehouse. Glen Grant 30 yrs., cask strength, sherry butt. Nose - strong sherry, brandy nose, dried fruit. Mouth - sherry, brandy like, dried fruit. Finish - fruity and long. LAPHROAIG 30 yrs. Nose - peat, smoke, vanilla. Mouth - astringent. H2O added less smoke. This is the best whisky I have ever tasted. Good balance and complexity, it is best without water. Lagavulin 16 yrs. just a really good whisky. Port Charlotte 5 yrs. 46% Nose - iodine, fruit prickly, smoke, charcoal. Mouth- light, vanilla, sweet. Finish - short. Gordon MacPhail Imperil 14 yrs. Sweet, slight smokey taste and nose, fruit, dry finish. Laphroaig 15 yr This is a very tasting whisky and one of my personal favorites. A good time was had by all and I especially had a very good time as I was completely comatose till 9 this morning.

Summit Things

I was the tour guide today at Summit. It is very cool talking about beer and Summit. I had a great time. It is funny, I always flog the Great Northern Porter and the Oatmeal Stout. Invariably, the people taking the cue try it and enjoy drinking it. The pouring was fast and furious. We served over 100 people three beers each. It was mad.

Porter Things

2 January 2009, I held a porter tasting or some friends. We tasted 20 porters and 6 stouts mostly of the imperial variety. The tasters were: myself, Patrick, Thom, Bob, Damian, Andrew, Mike, Brian, Phil and Tina. The porters were Fitger's Parr's porter, Olfabrikken Danish porter, Capitol Baltic porter, Bell's porter, Mudpuppy porter (Central Waters, WI), Badger porter (Black River Falls, WI), Tyranena Devil made me do it coffee porter, Summit Great Northern porter, Surly Bender, Rogue Mocha porter, Smuttynose Robust porter, Zywiec porter (Poland), Gonzo Imperial porter (Flying Dog, Denver), Baltika 6 (Russia), Nogne O (Norway), Cygnuc X-1 (Flat Earth), Cygnus X-1 cherry infused, Samuel Smith Taddy porter, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, Okochim porter. The best of the night were Olfabrikken, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, and Nogne O. The worst was Capitol's Baltic porter. It was terrible, thin, tasteless, no character, and no redeeming qualities.

The imperial stouts were Pozharnik Imperial stout, Speedway Stout (Alesmith), Southern Tier (NY) Creme Brulee Chocolate stout, Pizza Port Santa's Little Helper, Obovoid (Boulder), and Tenfiddy (Oskar Blues, Lyon, CO). The best were Speedway but it needed another year lying still and Tenfiddy (in a can) just excellent. The worst and almost unpalatable was the Southern Tier too sweet in the bottle. Perhaps some aging might mellow it out. The taste and smell stayed with you as well.

Tattoo things

I was tattooed by Nic onMonday 29 December. He put a picture that Ava drew of Ann in the summer 2001. I placed it on my right leg opposite of DeDe's drawing. I think it is very cool and I like it a lot. I need to get one from Damian. The number is now at 8, eight tattoos. I still want a large one on my right shoulder and arm. Thanks Nic.

Christmas things

here it is 24 December, Christmas eve, and I am all finished with my shopping (I hope). last night I shared some beverages with Doug, Colleen, and Molly. Good conversations and good beer at TownHall Brewery. What more can you ask for? I had a Scaldis Noel which was sweet and flavorful. Definitely a sipping beer for a winter's night, a cold winter's night. I also had two pints of milk stout. Those were absolutely delicious and tasty with lots of depth and character. It had hints of chocolate, coffee, toffee, dried savory fruit, and hints of vanilla.

On Sunday, we had the Skrade family Christmas and it was a good time. Angie came down with vertigo and Nic took her to urgent care. they called me to come over early to take care of the ham and glaze it. I also hung around with the kids. before I went to Nic's home, I dropped off some beer for the McGilp's. In the afternoon, I took Damian over to Brent's home to shovel his sidewalks and to do some grocery shopping for him. He is invalided at home.

The dinner was delicious. We had ham, cheesy potatoes, squash (prepared with ginger, maple syrup, and olive oil), salad, cranberry sauce, and cookies. We exchanged gifts after dinner. I think everyone was very happy at their presents. angie had been wishing for a couple more place settings of Lenox Christmas bone china and she was happy to get it. I picked it up last year the day after Christmas. Gears of War 2 was Nic's gift and some art books. DeDe was given a cook book 'Soul Vegetarian', Fashion Encyclopedia, pie weights, and china. Ava asked for and received manga. She has so much manga especially some of the very specific titles like Fruits basket, Mixed Vegetables, Muyho & Roji. WOW!!!! Damian received books from the Saxon series, French Dunnies, and Fallout 3. K and I received a gift certificate to the Nicollet Island Inn from DeDe. I received the 2nd season of Rome and a Japanese demon.

On saturday, Ava and I went to the Nutcracker, Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker which quite an extravaganza. Ava had a cold and coughed quite a bit. We ate at the Rock Bottom restaurant. I had a busy day, Summit in the morning, Ava in the afternoon, and I shoveled DeDe's driveway then came home and shoveled our driveway. I was shagged. So I called K to say I was not coming to the TCGC concert at Bethel. Instead, I out on Seven Samurai and had a good time watching the remastered version. It was just beautiful. A couple of beers and snacks and I was in hog heaven.

Friday was the Solstice Party and we had a really good time. I came home early picked up some things at the store. I cleaned a bit and just got ready for the evening. It was good to see everyone. K commented on that there were around 30 people there. I guess there was. Karen gave me a cd of Bob Wills with Tommy Duncan. It is so good! My freinds brought some nice beers: Anchor Christmas 2007 and 2008, Rush River Winter warmer, Chimay Blue, Sam Adams Chocolate Bock, Flat Earth vanilla porter, and a variety of winter warmers from New England. Great beers except for the Rush River, quite forgettable.

Things Christmas

Well, here we are in the throes of another Christmas season. The lights are up on the tree outside, the cards will be mailed, parties are planned, the days are being mapped out. This is so I may be able to participate in as many events as is humanly possible. The goal is to sample drinks and food without achieving a massive weight gain. Here is the schedule until 4 January:

11 Dec. - Ava's concert with tenor sax at Anwatin.
12 Dec. - Game at Doss's home.
13 Dec. - (killer day) Go and visit Alsadhu 10 am, fencing 12-1, Bjorn's Harn game 1-6? maybe?, Mark & Sue's wedding reception 2-8, Brian Boru Band party 7 - ????. Holy Hannah that will be one full day. I doubt Katherine will accompany me as Ellen is coming into town and she has practice all morning and going to watch Adam sing at 7 pm.
14 Dec. - Visit Mike W., make pumpkin bread for the MJC party.
15 Dec. - Stop at TownHall for some milk stout and then to Brent's for a game of Harn with Bjorn.
16 Dec. - Band practice, Stub & Herbs K-9 on draft.
17 Dec. - RockBottom $5.00 growlers, $2.75 beers, Old Curmudgeon on at 6 pm.
18 Dec. - Adam's Winter Concert 7 pm.
19 Dec. - 1/2 day off, Solstice Party starts at 7 pm
20 Dec. - Work at Summit 10:30 - 12:30 pick up Ava and go to RockBottom for lunch and Nutcracker at the State. DO NOT FORGET THE TICKETS OR THE ROCKBOTTOM $10
21 Dec. - Christmas at Nic's home with Grandma Dee
22 Dec. - Making Christmas cookies
23 Dec. - Fencing or band practice
24 Dec. - Church service
25 Dec. - Christmas Day at Cindy's home, Alex More's birthday
26 Dec. - Go to the stores early for cards at Barnes & Noble, ornaments at Macy's, and fencing. Game at Alan Coleman's home.
27 Dec. - Game at Alan Coleman's home or Stout Tasting.
28 Dec. - Open house at George and Anna Atkin's home. My birthday brunch at DeDe's home.
29 Dec. - Game at Brent's
30 Dec. - Fencing, Wendy's birthday
31 Dec. - Home? New Year's Eve with Nic & Angie and bowling?
01 Jan. - Bowl games
02 Jan. -
03 Jan. - Katherine's birthday, my mother's birthday
04 Jan. - Laurel's Birthday - send card

What a line-up and there will probably be more to add to the list. I hope I make it through the holidays with slight weight gain, good blood pressure, a good liver, and piece of mind.