Where have I been?

Oh where do I begin? I haven't worked since last Thursday. It's been glorious. I wish I was still on vacation. I didn't go anywhere, but it was perfect...

The Festival was this weekend. That's one place that I've been. I would say that it was a success. I'll do a recap post later, I need to get some more pics before I do that...

I finished the third season of Lost. WHO IS JACOB!!?!?!??! Now on to season 4...

We're all gonna die out here

This town is so hot. They're saying that we could break the overall high temperature ever recorded. It's horrid. Last night in an effort to find ways to keep the house cool I shaded out all the windows and pried open the windows in the living room. I'd really love to kick the person that painted all the windows shut...

I really need to make a list of all the things I have left to do for the festival. I feel like something major is being over looked, but I usually feel that way it seems...

I can't get enough Blur. There are two things that I listen to when the mercury rises: blur and outkast. Nothing better...

I like the President's style. Like this whole nonsense between Gates and Crowley. So on Thursday both men will be joining the President in the White House for a meeting "about having a beer and de-escalation." This is great. If I had beef with someone thats how I'd go about solving it. Nice work Obama, but it does make me wonder...What kind of beer will they drink? Do they have a tap system in the White House or is it going to be served from bottles? Could the President make the mistake of serving macro brewed swill and only inflame the situation more? Hopefully we'll learn the answers to these questions and many more in time...

I guess I am a scout - So I should find a way out

I can't get enough of The Whale Song. It's genius...

This week is crunch time for the Festival. If you're coming check out this post to get the latest update!...

I had a very strange dream over the weekend. I was going to the bank, but for some reason I couldn't find one in Seattle and had to take a bus to Portland. Once we got there the bus drove down these alleys for miles. I was frantic that at some point I'd miss the bank, but luckily the bus allowed me to depart right in front of the door. The building was dilapidated and appeared more like a crack house than a bank. Once I got inside there was a large rotunda where many people were all standing about. At first I thought they were all in line, until I realized that none of the tellers were occupied. I moved to speak with one and tripped over a small step that led into what appeared to be a pit of sort that was lined with tellers. I went up to the most non offensive looking window and a woman was there to help me, or so I thought. When I reached her everything went wrong. I didn't have my account number so she confiscated my debit card and cut it to pieces in front of me. Then I deposited a check and attempted to withdraw some of the funds. I was told that I could only take out $300, which I said I would like to do. She then excused herself for a moment and went to speak with someone who appeared to be the manager. His face was tattoo'd and the sleeves of his suit were cut off at the shoulder. They both leered at me as if they were deciding how to take me down. Finally he nodded and she returned to the window. She then told me that my withdrawal had been approved. She then then took $300 in unrolled change and threw it at me. It went everywhere. I rushed to pick it all up, thinking that other patrons were going to try to get it first. When I looked up I realized that I was the only one in the "pit" and all the other people in the bank, customer, employees, everyone was staring at me...





Got a bunch of beer kegged this weekend. It's a good thing...

Well I know I was a scout. I should've found a way out. So everyone could find a way out...

I might be a carpenter yet

I built a table last night. Well I had lots of help. Maybe shout out to PMRob for the assist. And the Sharp Shooter for championing the saw and much much more. Couldn't have done it without you guys. We're one step closer to the festival...

How are you?

I've become obsessed. Lost. I can't get enough. I have so many questions!!! Is Claire's baby the Antichrist? What'd Locke find in the woods? Is the Danielle really insane? Does Ethan eat people? Where the hell did that polar bear come from!? It's gotten so bad I just ordered seasons 2, 3 and 4 so that I don't have to wait for netflix to get the answers I want. I'm hoping to find a local place to get season one so I don't have to wait for shipping. Anyone who isn't familiar with the show I have two suggestions. First, start watching it now! It's amazing. Second, you might not want to read any of my post labeled "Lost" in case I get overly excited and start giving it all away...








I bought the wood last night to build the picnic table. I think I'm going to hit up Lowe's on my lunch break to get the bolts and stuff. If I'm really on the ball I'll get the thing built tonight. We'll see. It would be good since I'm going to have some peeps over for a BBQ. It will definitely be ready for the festival...

Oh the festival. It's only 15 days away. I hope we're ready. I also feel like I'm forgetting something major (the image that follows is the number one google image for "forgetting something major)...

I am the ex-offender

Strange dream last night. I don't remember much. In the beginning I was at home. The neighbors across the street had switched houses, no explanation why. Fast forward and I was in White Center at an old friends house, but he was no where to be found. There were a lot of people there and I didn't know any of them. I sneaked out to run to the convenience store and ran into an old girl friend. Her hair was long and curly. She was with a group of guys that appeared to have gang affiliations. Her face was withered and appeared as though she hadn't slept in days. It was sad and beautiful at the same time...

They let me out in the summer...

I really need to take some initiative on getting the yard ready for the festival. It's a month away now and I still have to build a table. Last night we also worked up a plan for an outdoor bar of sorts. It should be pretty sweet when its done. I'm also getting close on the Tiki stand. I should stop and buy some wicks tonight...

I think I was in a coma...

BLUR! The NESF reminded me of their greatness last night. Now I can't get enough. If there were ever two songs that described me very well I think that they would be Bugman and Trimm Trabb. Kind of a strange contrast, but I guess I am too...

I didn't know what to do...

Quote of the Day: fucked up is not an excuse to piss in the fish tank...

The subject was always just out of frame

I can't wait to get out of here. I'm sitting at work bored out of my mind and this weekend I finally get to get away. I'm going to Ohanapecosh (SE Mt Rainier) with my dad. Well we're hoping to find a site there. If not we're going to hit up the family compound and pitch tents there. Either way it's going to be nice to get out of Seattle even if its just for the weekend...

I've been fending off boredom by working on the festival. Things are starting to come together nicely. Looks like I still need a few more acts, but I'm also adding a surprise performance. I might release more details as the date nears, but I probably won't. You'll just have to show up to find out...

I mowed the lawn last night. I must say, "Damn, it looks gooood!" It was exhausting though. By the time I was done I was dripping in sweat, my leg throbbed and my skin burned. But my foot didn't hurt. There's a plus...

I'm still obsessed with Deerhunter. It never stops...

No connecting actions and words

Seattle is sweltering. 90 degree temperatures in the beginning of June is too much. They say relief is on the horizon. We just have to make it through today...

I just finished reading President Obama's speech in Cairo. That man continues to inspire me. I'm glad that we finally have a president whose concern for the Americans in unwavering but also recgonizes the plight of others in the world. He also referenced a great quote from Jefferson that I think is still very true today, "I hope that our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be." One thing that he said that really stuck with me was, "If we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward." This hit home for me and I think that he's been able to express an idea that I've believed for a long time but have never been able to phrase so eloquently...

I've been making some progress on the Festival Front. I got a blog post up yesterday on the Lucile Street Brewing Blog. There is a lot of information there about the stuff we're going to try to get accomplished. However if any of you have some ideas for other things don't hesitate for a moment to throw them my way. With the way things are shaping up so far I think we may be doing it big enough this year to make last year seem like child's play...

I've got a meeting this weekend about 7. I think that I'm getting much closer to a final product. But just to hold everyone over here's another little excerpt:

Jason Itzler entered from the middle door wearing a coat of animal skins and a feathered hat, hoping no one noticed his presence. He was aided by a group of rival girls, "I don't know who you think you are!" The words echo down the narrow hall and fall upon the ears of Christ, sitting four rows up shaking his head. Jason glances around quizzically. "I'm going to show you who I am!" Two women in oversized coats rise from their seats and begin to assault the others. Further forward a man begins to slur quotes of the Lord to anyone willing to listen. Everyone was going back and forth between the violence and the false prophet. Finally the skirmish subsides. Jason takes a seat in the rotunda and pulls out a small mirror as a young girl tugged on his leg, "Have you seen my mommy?" He couldn't bring himself to suggest that she may be the one bleeding on the floor. Jesus weeps at his creation as he reads a sign out the window, "Homeless, God Bless".

Call for Acts!

Alright everybody out there we need acts. Music acts. Comedy acts. Mime acts. If you are a performer of any kind and are interested in performing at the Lucile Street Summer Festival we want you there! You can contact me directly or email lucilestreetbrew@gmail.com and we'll get you scheduled! I hope to see everyone there regardless. It's August 1st on Lucile Street. It's guaranteed to be bigger and better than last year.

The world is coming to an end!!!

The skies are bleeding and the ground shakes. The world has come to a standstill and everyone is flooding into the streets in panic. Volcanic eruptions are imminent. We must all join together and stand tall as the giant eagles fly overhead heralding the end of days...

Okay, so the world isn't ending anymore. Which is why I'm able to write this blog. For some reason this morning all Google related websites were down. Youtube, blogger, analytic, search, everything. I was starting to freak out. What would we do in a world without Google? Personally I don't want to live in a world where I'm reduced to Yahoo as a search engine...

I hate getting coffee at work. Not because its bad coffee, but its not great. It's because every morning I go to get a cup there is only about 1/3 of an inch left in the pot. So I'll make a whole new pot and then by the time I get back in there to fill my cup I'm back to square one with a small puddle left in the pot. People around here need to learn to make a pot of coffee and not just pass the buck to the next person...

Quick update on Lucile Street activities...

Chili Cook Off is rapidly approaching. This weekend I'm going to be sending out information about how to register your chili. I really hope to see all of you there stuffing your faces with chili. EAT MORE CHILI!!!!...

I have to brew like crazy this weekend. I need to get 10 gals of IPA and 10 gals of porter done. I didn't do any last weekend, which I now regret. But I work well under pressure. Everything will be ready for the cook off...

Got a call from the city about Lucile Street Summer Fest. It was just a preliminary thing, but I'm optimistic that we'll be about to get the street permit. I will be using the Cook Off as a spring board for Summer Fest stuff. We'll be calling on people to chair different committee's and also starting to rally bands to perform. If you know any musicians or other acts (I'm pretty open) let me know and I'll contact them...

Let's talk worms!

I can barely see right now. I just rubbed my eye and I think there was some jalapeno juices on my finger. It's painful. My vision is blurring. In some ways it seems as though the world around me is now displaying future scenes, but they're very hard to make out...

I haven't been bowling in a while now. I think that I should go soon. I find it relaxing. Maybe I'll go after work and just watch the pins re-rack themselves over a plate of lack luster nachos. I probably won't...

Nathan and I went to play Buck Hunter last night. We fought through the rain to get down to Hooverville, only to find that it was recently burnt out by a fire. You could still smell the burn wood in the wet air. Needless to say we were disappointed. We wandered through Sodo to Pioneer Square checking every bar we could think of for Buck Hunter with no luck. We ended up at Collin's which wasn't too bad at all, but I still wish we'd gotten to play Buck Hunter...

Chili Cook Off is coming up. I'm hoping to get out the information soon. I can tell you that the date is going to be April 18th. There will also most likely be admission fees this year in order to help offset the overall cost of the event and hopefully get some money together for the Festival. It's going to be huge this year...

I've been having a reoccurring dream of sorts. Reoccurring in the sense that it always happens in the same place. It's never a bad dream. I live on a farm with a large library in the center of an octagonal outer wall that is thick enough as to house all the necessary provisions to sustain life. I wish I was there now...

I guess this isn't about worms at all...

"I think we had some bands...there might have been a BBQ" Festival Recap

Okay, so I'm a little back logged on the blogging so I'm going to make this short and sweet...

Lucile Street Festival was a HUGE success! We started off early in the day cleaning, setting up and the like. Things really got kicked off with the arrival of our first BBQ Cook Off team, "Kink Street Crazies": Morgan, Cat, Angie, and Casey (pictured below). Now we've got to give props to the crazies because they are the ONLY team that showed up in costume. They were also the team that went on first, initiating the festivities. They also won best dessert! Thanks Kink Street Crazies!!!!


























The next highlight was our first band of the day Incogneato! (pictured below). These guys were awesome. By far the most fun stage presence of the bands that we had. If you want to hear more of Incogneato! check them out online at http://www.myspace.com/incogneatotheband . Thanks Incogneato! !!!!















After Incogneato! we had our second BBQ Cook Off entry from "Adam's Family": Rebecca, Jake, and Randy. This was a solid entry which ended up taking both Best Appetizer and Best Cold Side. Thanks Adam's Family!!!!















Now this is where I should mention it was HOT! Something like 90 degrees. We utilized the willow shade as much as possible but it wasn't enough in the end. This is where an unexpected phone call changed the course of the festival. Friday night while I was grocery shopping and grabbing the last things I got a call from Dane offering up the use of two collapsable shelters. I hadn't even thought about that! So here's where we have to give mad respect to Dane and Janelle for coming through with the shade. Thanks Dane and Janelle!!!!















Here is where everything starts to get a little confusing. Johnny Durango showed up and did a set (pictured below, notice Parker loungin' we'll come back to him) that was awesome. There was a little confusion getting everything set up but once it was all said and done it sounded great. Check out Johnny at http://www.myspace.com/jdurango . Thanks Johnny Durango!!!!


























Now this gets a little difficult because it seems that people quit taking pictures...

The next BBQ Cook Off team to hit up the grill was "You Guys" which, and forgive if I'm wrong here, was David, Dane, Marek, and Christina. Solid entry all around. They took home the titles of Best Hot Side and Best Entree. In a VERY close battle they also took the All Around Best in Show! In the end the difference in scores was from highest to lowest was only .6 overall, so I have to say this was not an easy victory for them. Thanks You Guys!!!!

The last band we had, The Nihilists (you remember Parker from before), was unscheduled. Turns out they were just going to practice and decided they might as well practice with a live audience. These guys rocked. They were the cause of our first noise complaint and our second. (It was still only 8 o'clock, so we politely dismissed the complaints). Great set and a nice way to round out the music. The Nihilists are online at http://www.myspace.com/nihilists . Thanks to The Nihilists!

We also need to give a big shout out to Morgan for taking so many great pictures. If you want to see more check em out at www.flickr.com/fullgrownraiju Thanks Morgan!!!!

Finally I just want to thank everyone else for showing up. Without each and every one of you it wouldn't have been the amazing success that it was.

THANKS!!!!

PS...we'll also be doing it next year for any of you that missed out this time around and it will be bigger and better.

Trampolines, Cider and the Powerful Hand of God...

So we're getting down to the wire with the festival planning. It's going to be awesome. If any of you have questions don't hesitate to hit me up. You'll have to either comment here or email me since, well you'll find out...

This weekend was full of fermentation. Started by making 10 gallons of beer on Saturday, Sharp also got in a five gallon batch. Then Sunday we picked the apple tree with a 2x4 and made up some cider. Cider is hard work. Spent hours cutting up apples and now I've got blisters on my fingers...

The cell phone is dead. I was taking a shower and forgot it was outside when the sky opened up and God released his fury in the form of torrential downpour. It kind of sucks, but ob la di. I'm going to get a new one tomorrow...

I watched some of the Olympics this weekend. Synchronized diving is an amazing sport. I also saw some pretty sweet burn outs, which deep down is why I watch. I would like to know more about Trampoline though. Like when did it become an official Olympic sport? What kind of people participate in this? Has anyone ever missed the trampoline and bashed their head on the side, causing massive hemorrhaging and long term bodily damage?...

A customer just accused me of slacking off! HAHAHA! Little does he know I'm writing this as he's ranting in my ear...

Nine days. I just need to make it nine days...

"Like a breeze blowing through the house..."

I've finally got all the beer brewed up for the BBB Festival. 30 gallons in 10 days isn't too bad. Hopefully it's enough. If not, you'll all drink rum...

I support any mail carrier who wishes to wear a kilt....

I want to know everything that there is to know about growing cereal grains, crop rotations and sustainable farming techniques. If anyone out there possesses some of this knowledge or knows a good direction to look let me know. Once I get a firm understand I can move on to the next subject: animal husbandry...

It's market day! I'm going to make curry tonight with some friends. Probably drink some Spanish wine. Definitely something to look forward to...

I disassembled my desk last night. It was time for it to go. It's been a couple weeks since the computer broke down and I think that I've been getting more done. There are times that I miss it, but I get a fair amount of computer time in at work....

I'm glad that the rain finally made an appearance. It'd been too long...

I'm back on the patch. It's been kind of up and down. Hopefully I can stick with it this time. I pretty sick of smoking right now...

Just a reminder: If you want to get in on the BBQ cook off let me know ASAP. I'm cutting off registration in the near future....

Short and sweet

Haven't blogged in a while. I guess I've just been busy...

Doing lots of brewing. Got about 20 gallons done in the last week. 10 more gallons to go and we'll be ready for the BBB. I should do it tomorrow, but won't. I guess I should leave something for the weekend...

Went to Portland last weekend. Good times. Spent most of Saturday on the Columbia drinking beers and soaking in the sun. My skin felt much more reptilian when I got back home...

We're thinking about getting a whole pig for the BBB. I was looking into getting a live one to butcher in the back yard, but the city won't let me keep around the house for a couple days, so I've got to call Bob, hopefully he can help us out...

Bands, brew and BBQ: A Lucile Street Event

Alright everyone summer is here. And in honor of the season we'll be having an extravaganza down on Lucile St, August 16th.

We will have beer and other beverages to keep you cool through the day.

So far two bands have been confirmed to play, The Madonner Party and Johnny Durango, if you know of any one else that would be interested in playing let me know.

We will also be having a BBQ cook off. Anyone interested in participating here's the scene:
It's a team effort. Each team will consist of 3-5 people.
Pre-registration is REQUIRED. If you don't register by August 1st, sorry no dice.
Each team is responsible for bringing their own BBQ and cooler if necessary (sorry I only have one)
Each team must enter and dish into each of the following categories: Main Entree, Side Dish (BBQ'd), Side Dish (Cold), Appetizer, Dessert.
All dishes (except the cold side and dessert) MUST be prepared on site, on the BBQ.

Any questions, don't hesitate to hit me up. I hope to see EVERYONE there!!!!