So web 2.0 it makes babies cry.

Sadly, it looks like we lost a few posts from 2010.   Here is the rest of the year in short:

July:

• Did some traveling
• Went to some Phillies and Riversharks baseball games
• Of course, a lot of drinking and picnics
• Helped run a benefit which raised about 3k for a family.

August:

• Plenty of drinking and  enjoying the summer with my friends and family.
• Our annual fishing trip was a failure because I wasn’t involved enough.
• Shot some big guns at the Widows Sons first annual ATF.
• Did a pub crawl in Rehoboth

September:

• Nearly got into a fight with some jag-off at the Red Bull Flugtag cause he felt he was entitled to take the spot I had been standing in for 5 hours.
• Did a pub crawl in Philly, missed the ferry on the way back, well sorta…..
• Again did some traveling, put lots of seat time on the bike.
• Helped at the Hogs for Hounds Benefit by the WS.
• Started a new batch of Syrah.

October:

• Did a few rides/poker runs, all enjoyable.
• During Restaurant week, I reviewed a few new places for the other blog.
• Went to see Social D in Philly.
• Hit a few Halloween parties, as well as a late Oktoberfest (it’s actually in September)
• Joined the Knight’s Templar, confirmed my belief that one should only join the Royal Arch path after they are a PM

November:

• Started off the month in Key West, how can you go wrong with that???
• My guys did a great job at GLI even if some people are already predisposed to dislike us, but that’s fine, it makes us stronger.
• Plenty of family/friend times between the holidays and wine tastings and such

December:

• Installations, Installations, Installations.
• Finished up my year as WM, what a year and experience it was.  I learned a lot about people, an experience I might try to do some things differently, but not that many.  I have many many thoughts on this, but sadly I’ll need to keep most of those close to my heart.  I’m glad I gave a year of my life to the lodge, but it’s time for someone else to take the reins.

January:

• Started off 2011 with a nice kiss from a nice girl, or two.
• Started my new role as Lodge Secretary, lots of work to get in order.
• Started Geocaching more often, thanks to a new portable GPS as well as one for my car.
• Visited Massachusetts for the weekend
• More wine tasting’s,  I won my first contest with a Zinfandel
• The first GLI I wasn’t required to be at, but I did goto the M&W meeting to help get the assessments sorted out.
• I didn’t do as well at the Shipwreck Brewery Chili cookoff as I had hoped, 5th place
• Started a batch of Bavarian Wheat Ale, can’t wait to taste this one and start another.

These are just some broad strokes, but as always been busy and I like it that way.

Judging from the lastest pics this year,  I have been busy.  There have been crazy nights with the family, crazy family dinners,  benefits,  wine tastings,  of course there was also the trips to Washington for the Phils, Boat Drinks, Buehler’s, and Malibu for Joe’s Wedding.  And those are just the ones I actually took/posted pics for!

Of course, one of the most important things that has happened to my life since February,  my bike.  During the coldest and wettest weekend of March I successfully passed the  motorcycle safety class, which was good because my mind was all over the place then.   About two weeks later I purchased a used Honda Shadow and I’ve been riding it as much as I can.   I reached that first milestone of 1,000 miles, then doing my first run.  There is just something therapeutic about jumping on the bike and riding a few miles and letting things work out in your head, or go away long enough for you to enjoy the experience.

I’ve also been very busy being WM of Mozart Lodge #121, it really is like a second full time job.  I love it, but it’s been a stressful few months, and I’m looking forward to a small break in so much to do each night.  From this task, and some of the other people watching I’ve been doing, I’ve actually wondered why I never went into the field of sociology.  Of course, a lot of this has involved Lionshead Puzzle Caps, so expect that page to be updated soon!

ps. I love how everyone is pissed about the oil spill, and yet so few are doing anything about it.

Wow I have been busy, and not just normal busy for me, but really busy. That being no excuse, a “month in review” for you. Following the weekend we left off on, was Memorial Day weekend, which as always was at Buehler’s Idlewild. As always, I can’t say enough good things about the weekend, the people, the hosts, the food. Take note of Nana drinking a PBR, and now stop wondering where I get it from.

Nanna drinking a PBR

The Lake at Buehlers Idlewild

Karley and Matty

Chilling with Bacon and Sauasge

The following Saturday was the Mozart Lodge #121 Beef and Beer, which consumed many days of planning, and running around. Which was all worth it, as we managed to have over 80 people come through the door, and after expenses we managed to raise about $500 for the Masonic Charity Foundation, which is how they fund the Masonic HOME in Burlington, NJ. The next day I went to the Camden Rivershark’s game where they did a nice presentation by the Warrior’s Watch , and Sicily sang the National Anthem w/ her class.

The next weekend was pretty quiet as I remember it, I think I worked on my gimlet recipe.  On the 13th I ran all over the state, there was a christening in the AM, then I shot down to Wildwood for the longest DeMolay banquet in history, Congrats Wes!   Followed by a visit to a southern gin joint till the wee hours of the AM. Seriously, it was like 5,  I was tired for all of Flag Day.  Then on the 19th, was the Mozart Lodge trip to the Camden Riversharks. We managed to get 65 people together with very short notice. On account of the iterest of this trip, and the amount of people we had to turn away the day of the game, next time I’m just going to buy out the whole section and fill that.

That is about enough for the broad strokes of social events for the month, I’m sure there were other things I have forgotten or not cared to write about today.

Then there was cooking…. Well lots of cooking, but the only things I have pictures left of or even bothered to take are my crappy donut balls, my awesome french bread, and one of my staple foods, PBR and Pierogies. The donut balls were done on a whim, and I wanted to try something with baking powder instead of yeast. As a result, I was not impressed at all and next time I will be sure to do those with yeast. Now my French Bread was really nice, the best I’ve done yet. Next time, I’m going to add some I-Tai herbs though, cause I’m crazy like that. The last pic is just for me, mmmm.

My Dounut balls kinda sucked

My best French bread yet.

PBR and Pierogies with peppers and onions.

Most recently, there was Father’s Day thrown in the mix there. We had a bbq over at Dave’s and had a good time. I got to spend a few minutes relaxing in the hammock sipping a DFH Midas Touch, which is still one of my favorite beers.

Just chillin in the Hammock, drinking a Dogfish Head

Currently I’m in the midst of planning our annual fishing trip (LMK if you wanna go!) and getting my “term plan” set for my year as WM, pending my election of course.  While I’m thinking of planning, what really gets me is the way no one likes to make a reservation early.  I must admit, it adds a whole new level of complexity to planning large events… Anyhow, that is more than enough for now.

QDB: Top 100 Quotes

A woman has a close male friend. This means that he is probably interested in her, which is why he hangs around so much. She sees him strictly as a friend. This always starts out with, you’re a great guy, but I don’t like you in that way. This is roughly the equivalent for the guy of going to a job interview and the company saying, You have a great resume, you have all the qualifications we are looking for, but we’re not going to hire you. We will, however, use your resume as the basis for comparison for all other applicants. But, we’re going to hire somebody who is far less qualified and is probably an alcoholic. And if he doesn’t work out, we’ll hire somebody else, but still not you. In fact, we will never hire you. But we will call you from time to time to complain about the person that we hired.

The Associated Press

Turkish maritime officials say pirates have commandeered a Turkish chemical tanker off the coast of Yemen.

A statement from the Turkish Maritime Affairs Directorate says the Karagol, a ship bound for India, was hijacked Wednesday, 16 miles (26 kilometers) off the coast of Yemen. It was carrying 4,500 tons of unspecified chemicals.

The statement says 14 Turkish personnel were aboard the tanker.

It is the second ship to be commandeered in the area in the past two weeks. On Oct. 29 Somali pirates hijacked a ship carrying iron ore and demanded a ransom for its return.

Check out the nice summary that Andrew Sullivan posted which, pretty much sums up how silly these ads/media and hype are getting over this presidential election. Frum on Palin.

Mike King posted a nice article this week as well, on 10 Ways to Simplify and Eliminate Waste in Your Life. I’ve been flipping back and forth from it today and it makes quite a bit of sense.

So we are going to be closing up shop early today which is pretty great. I have a TON of stuff I can get done at home, since I don’t ever seem to have ANY time anymore.   I have come to the conclusion that I really need to get myself better organized.   Every time I think I take one or two steps forward to using my time and resources more efficiently, I realize that I have more be improved upon. Perhaps today would be best spent cleaning up my office. I have an obnoxious amount of work to do in there. Not excluding all of the items I have to put up for sale on ebay!

Tonight I’m planning on picking up my Grandmother and taking her to a ParrotHead show over at Riverwinds. That should be a good time, I might have to sneak her a few half beers!

I spent sometime this morning looking over my schedule for September, it looks like it will be a VERY busy month. As of now, I’m double and triple booked all over the place. Sadly it looks like Elvis weekend and the Dog Fish Head Dash may be in jeopardy. That is also the weekend of the Henry S Haines Ladies night in Cape May.  I of course want to do both, it is always good to have the “Tattooed Slacker Degree Team” together.  I’m trying to figure out a way to make it happen.  There is always the ferry to get me to slower lower Delaware if needed.

I need to also plan a wine tasting for the end of this month or early next month, get the guest room cleared out so the new roomie can move in, and of course throw a bbq in there at some point. I have to get rid of some of that outdoor wood before winter! And upload a crapload of pics to the 2008 photo gallery that have been waiting.

btw: If you have not noticed today is 08/08/08 and the Olympics are started. Game on.