Heading home from Colorado Springs

I was out here to support a missile test. Like most missile or rocket tests, we had delays and delays. The real bummer was that I had to head into work at midnight each night. Yuck! Your body does not like switching its night and days.

It was great having Karen join me out here for a few days. She had a blast shopping. Her favorite buy was a neckless from Everest Tibet Imports in downtown Colorado Springs on Bijou Street.

The Blue Star

The Blue StarSaturday night, I ate at The Blue Star in Colorado Springs.

I had the “Whole Trout with blue corn crust, chipotle cheddar grits, grilled chayote fan and red eye sauce”.

Wow!

It was great. And, I had it with Bristol Brewing Company's Beehive which complemented the fish well.

I had thought about dessert, but the service was so slow with the crowd. I gave up. The hostess was servicing my table more the waitress. The waitress was mainly working the larger groups and I was by myself.

Sitting in Freezing Cold Colorado Springs

I have taken the day off in Colorado Springs, because I have to go into work tomorrow at 1 AM. Yes, you read that right. Augh!

It is 7°F outside as I look out my window seeing all of the snow. I would guess we having around 3 inches on the ground.

I may just have to sit in the hot tub.

Karen’s Visit to Colorado Springs

Karen came out to Colorado Springs February 10th to join me for Valentine's Day.

Karen got to do some shopping while I was working. And, we got to do some shopping together at the Outlets at Castle Rock. Karen didn't purchase much, but I bought a great deal of clothes. The shopping was great with all the snow on the ground and the sunny skies.

We had a great Valentine's Day dinner at The Warehouse. Karen had the Ginger Soy Glazed Ostrich which she thought was surprisingly great. I had the Antelope which included a potatoe/parsnip hash. We tried the for dessert the banana-nut ice cream, but it was just so so.

Karen got to see snow, but she is missing the 66°F in Huntsville.

She flying back today.

"Nothing But Stout" Night

I made it to Bristol Brewing's “Nothing But Stout” Night and had a blast. The evening started out with a cab ride with Yellow Cab so that I could keep the evening safe.

They ran out of sampling glasses, but the guys working the door saved me one of the sampling glasses for me. They felt that since I was the first person to sign up for the tasting that I should get one of the glasses.

Here are the stouts that were on tap:

Artic Brewing's Imperial Milk Stout
Breckenridge Brewing's Oatmeal Stout
Bristol Brewing's Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout
Carver Brewing's Imperial Stout
Great Divide Brewing's Oak Aged Yeti Stout
Il Vicino Brewing's Chocolate Rye Stout
Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.'s Raisen Stout
Rock Bottom Brewing's Bourbon Stout
Rockyard Brewing's Bourbon Stout
Ska Brewing's Steel Toe Stout

My favorite stout was Il Vicino Brewing's Chocolate Rye Stout

Free The Hops' Huntsville Beer Tasting was a Success

Our first tasting in Huntsville was great! We had over 100 people tasting even more beer.

Don Alan Hankins of Olde Towne Brewery was wonderful to host the tasting at his brewery. He even provided his Hefeweizen and Pale Ale for sampling. A few of us got to sample his Bock beer which is due out around the end of February.

The Rocket City Brewers is the Huntsville area homebrewer club and they had a good showing at the tasting. They brought a big sample of their homebrew, too.

A large number of the Birmingham members of Free The Hops made the trip for tasting, too.

Only bummer of the night was that I didn't have my camera, but others took pictures and I hope to get some to post here soon.

Update: We have pictures over on Flickr. Thanks svana!!

Shagged some Cool Santana Tunes

Last night I as listing to a great band play covers at The Furnture Factory restaurant. And they played some great Santana. So, it is time run over to iTunes and get some great tracks off of The Best of Santana and The Best of Santana, Vol. 2.

It amazes me how you can stare at the iTunes stone and you can't think a single song to purchase. But every night out on the town, I hear a band playing a cover of a great song that I would love to have on my iPod.