Travis Erwin's Blog, page 3
November 13, 2014
The Killer B's
I changed the name of this blog last year because I'd reached the goal spelled out in the old one and well because Bacon, Beer, and Books are three of my favorite things. However as I reflect on the months that have passed since the name change I realize it hasn't been a great year for two of the three.
Bacon has become some sort of fried glistening gold and as much as I like the crunchy strips my tightwad side just can't pony up 6 buck a pound when I can still get steak for that.
I guess I should have named this sucker Beef, Beer, and Books.
As for the latter I haven't had a great writing or reading year. I want to blame time but maybe time is what you make it and I haven't done a great job. Nevertheless, here are a few of my favorites I've read lately.
Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond
I got this one free as part of Amazon's Kindle First program. Now this YA Mystery sales for $4.99 but still a bargain at that price. It is the tale of old magic in a new world -- circus lore, old vendettas, and young love and a great read.
Anatomy of a Spy by Stephen Parrish
Anatomy of a Spy is a brief sketch of the quintessential American spy. The author draws on his experience serving under Clyde Lee Conrad, one of the most notorious turncoats in American history. Written primarily to help authors of espionage fiction, Anatomy of a Spy will also enlighten readers of the genre, as well as anyone interested in the little-known facts and often bizarre reality of the world’s second oldest profession.
As a long time fan of the noble Stephen Parrish I had to read these even though I have no plans to ever write a spy novel. The how-to element aside, this book is just flat out entertaining, enlightening, and engaging. Parrish delivers a wryly witty look at spy culture while sharing his brush with spooks during his tenure as a serviceman on foreign soil.
The Memory Child by Steena Holmes
A woman’s dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.
A haunting tale marvelously crafted. I wanted to say more about the way this novel is written but I can't without potentially spoiling the reading experience.
I will try to chime in with my thoughts on my reads more often but now lets get to the one subject I did have a great year in ... beer.
I gotta say the craft beer revolution is a glorious thing. If your idea of beer is still associated with Bob Uecker, claims of Rocky Mountain Spring Water, or talking frogs then you my friend need to wake up your taste buds and experience the glorious side of beer. Here are my top three beers of late ...
3) Devastator from Wasatch Brewery in Utah
A strong, amber lager (8% abv) with a nice malt aroma and flavor. Double Bocks date back over a century when Monastic brewers knew it as "liquid bread." Made all the better when drinking in the great outdoors.
2) TurboDog from Abita Brewing in Louisiana
From Abita Brewing ...
A dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog® its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor. Turbodog® began as a specialty ale, but has gained a huge, loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews.
This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild-game dishes. Turbodog® is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog®. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!
1) Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve by Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland
No doubt the best beer to ever touch my lips.
From the official description ... Ola Dubh 12 pours black with a modest spattered head that reduces slowly, leaving behind textbook lacing. The aroma is delicious; smoky Worcestershire sauce, leather, iodine and grilled steak. Flavours of smoky-sweet malts, roasted peat, coffee beans and a well-bittered finish. Overall this is a rather exotic brew with a defined barrel influence. It’s refined rather than over the top and very delicious indeed.
I know it is a bit early for a year end best of post but it's been a rather crappy year blogging wise so I'm flushing the past with this entry and starting anew. Hope you enjoy a few of this picks.
Bacon has become some sort of fried glistening gold and as much as I like the crunchy strips my tightwad side just can't pony up 6 buck a pound when I can still get steak for that.
I guess I should have named this sucker Beef, Beer, and Books.
As for the latter I haven't had a great writing or reading year. I want to blame time but maybe time is what you make it and I haven't done a great job. Nevertheless, here are a few of my favorites I've read lately.
Girl on a Wire by Gwenda Bond
I got this one free as part of Amazon's Kindle First program. Now this YA Mystery sales for $4.99 but still a bargain at that price. It is the tale of old magic in a new world -- circus lore, old vendettas, and young love and a great read.
Anatomy of a Spy by Stephen Parrish
Anatomy of a Spy is a brief sketch of the quintessential American spy. The author draws on his experience serving under Clyde Lee Conrad, one of the most notorious turncoats in American history. Written primarily to help authors of espionage fiction, Anatomy of a Spy will also enlighten readers of the genre, as well as anyone interested in the little-known facts and often bizarre reality of the world’s second oldest profession.
As a long time fan of the noble Stephen Parrish I had to read these even though I have no plans to ever write a spy novel. The how-to element aside, this book is just flat out entertaining, enlightening, and engaging. Parrish delivers a wryly witty look at spy culture while sharing his brush with spooks during his tenure as a serviceman on foreign soil.
The Memory Child by Steena Holmes
A woman’s dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.
A haunting tale marvelously crafted. I wanted to say more about the way this novel is written but I can't without potentially spoiling the reading experience.
I will try to chime in with my thoughts on my reads more often but now lets get to the one subject I did have a great year in ... beer.
I gotta say the craft beer revolution is a glorious thing. If your idea of beer is still associated with Bob Uecker, claims of Rocky Mountain Spring Water, or talking frogs then you my friend need to wake up your taste buds and experience the glorious side of beer. Here are my top three beers of late ...
3) Devastator from Wasatch Brewery in Utah
A strong, amber lager (8% abv) with a nice malt aroma and flavor. Double Bocks date back over a century when Monastic brewers knew it as "liquid bread." Made all the better when drinking in the great outdoors.
2) TurboDog from Abita Brewing in Louisiana
From Abita Brewing ... A dark brown ale brewed with pale, caramel, and chocolate malts and Willamette hops. This combination gives Turbodog® its rich body and color and a sweet chocolate, toffee-like flavor. Turbodog® began as a specialty ale, but has gained a huge, loyal following and has become one of our flagship brews.
This ale pairs well with most meats and is great served with hamburgers or sausages. It is a good match with smoked fish and can even stand up to wild-game dishes. Turbodog® is also great for marinating and braising meats and cooking such things as cabbage and greens. Colby, Gloucester, Cheddar and blue cheeses go nicely with Turbodog®. It’s perfect with spicy Louisiana jambalaya or Spanish paella. Some even like it paired with chocolate!
1) Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve by Harviestoun Brewery in Scotland
No doubt the best beer to ever touch my lips.
From the official description ... Ola Dubh 12 pours black with a modest spattered head that reduces slowly, leaving behind textbook lacing. The aroma is delicious; smoky Worcestershire sauce, leather, iodine and grilled steak. Flavours of smoky-sweet malts, roasted peat, coffee beans and a well-bittered finish. Overall this is a rather exotic brew with a defined barrel influence. It’s refined rather than over the top and very delicious indeed.
I know it is a bit early for a year end best of post but it's been a rather crappy year blogging wise so I'm flushing the past with this entry and starting anew. Hope you enjoy a few of this picks.
November 11, 2014
The Right Writers Rites
Days, weeks, months ... anymore they slip by like the phases of moon. Sure I notice and note the spectacular moments like a glowing full moon, birthdays, holidays, and such., but it seems like time passes quickly, yet unremarkably so.
Writing wise I have not been as busy as I'd like to be. I'm always working on one thing or three but the finish lines have been harder to find. Self-imposed deadlines are not as demanding and life is busier with two active boys so excuses to skip a night or three are easier to come by. I'm writing this as a prod to myself as much as anything. A reminder that I need to write more, push myself harder, strive for lofty heights even if I can't currently see the peak from my viewpoint.
Writing is a solitary task for the most part yet I have a need to surround myself and interact with fellow writers. Somehow my creativity feeds off of their energy. Not like some kind of soul sucking zombie that leaves me fellow authors comatose and incapable of anything more that a clumsy shuffle but for of a spirit bolstering camaraderie that stirs the neurons in all our brains. I do miss the days of critique group and even of a larger supportive blogging community, but time waxes on and the writing community takes on different shapes. We must adapt with those changes.
Which brings me to a fine organization of which I am proud to be an inaugural member.
The Women’s Fiction Writers Association is…
Whether you are an aspiring, debut or multi-published author, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association offers resources to help you improve and succeed.
Member Info Can Be Found By Clicking Here
The WFWA will be hosting a writers retreat in September of 2015. As one of the retreat coordinators I will certainly be there and I hope to see some of my longtime writing friends. There will be something for everyone regardless of what stage in the writing process you are.
Annual Writers Retreat Save the date!!The first WFWA retreat will be held September 24-27, 2015 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The details of the agenda are still in progress but here’s a quick snapshot:
The retreat will kick-off on Thursday evening with a “putting a real face to the profile picture” meet-and-greet. Friday morning, instructor, agent and WFWA member Donald Maass will present a workshop geared for women’s fiction writers. The afternoon will be spent putting what you’ve learned from the workshop into use, attending the breakout sessions (details to come), or networking with fellow attendees. Saturday will include more writing and breakout sessions throughout the day and conclude with an awards dinner. Sunday we sadly say good-bye. The retreat committee is working hard on the agenda and we’ll be updating the website and sending out emails as things firm up
.
The WFWA retreat is a craft and networking event. There will be agents attending but we will not be offering pitch sessions. It’ll be a weekend to discuss women’s fiction and the publishing industry, to work on your WIPs, your query and your synopsis, to meet fellow WFWA members. We’ll write, we’ll brainstorm, we’ll network, we’ll learn, we’ll have fun. And to keep with the retreat feel, we’re limiting attendance to 100 members.
Early registration fee will be $325, closing four (4) months prior to the event, and $375 after that. Registration will be limited to WFWA members.
Hotel rooms will be $129 a night.
If you have questions or recommendations, please don’t hesitate to contact us at retreat@womensfictionwriters.org.
Orly Konig-Lopez, WFWA president and retreat chair
Travis Erwin, retreat coordinator
Cerrissa Kim, retreat coordinator
Writing wise I have not been as busy as I'd like to be. I'm always working on one thing or three but the finish lines have been harder to find. Self-imposed deadlines are not as demanding and life is busier with two active boys so excuses to skip a night or three are easier to come by. I'm writing this as a prod to myself as much as anything. A reminder that I need to write more, push myself harder, strive for lofty heights even if I can't currently see the peak from my viewpoint.
Writing is a solitary task for the most part yet I have a need to surround myself and interact with fellow writers. Somehow my creativity feeds off of their energy. Not like some kind of soul sucking zombie that leaves me fellow authors comatose and incapable of anything more that a clumsy shuffle but for of a spirit bolstering camaraderie that stirs the neurons in all our brains. I do miss the days of critique group and even of a larger supportive blogging community, but time waxes on and the writing community takes on different shapes. We must adapt with those changes.
Which brings me to a fine organization of which I am proud to be an inaugural member.
The Women’s Fiction Writers Association is…
An inclusive organization of writers who create stories about a woman’s emotional journey.We are a volunteer-run organization dedicated to providing a community for career-focused women’s fiction writers via networking, education, and continuing support in career growth.
Whether you are an aspiring, debut or multi-published author, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association offers resources to help you improve and succeed.
Member Info Can Be Found By Clicking Here
The WFWA will be hosting a writers retreat in September of 2015. As one of the retreat coordinators I will certainly be there and I hope to see some of my longtime writing friends. There will be something for everyone regardless of what stage in the writing process you are.
Annual Writers Retreat Save the date!!The first WFWA retreat will be held September 24-27, 2015 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The details of the agenda are still in progress but here’s a quick snapshot:
The retreat will kick-off on Thursday evening with a “putting a real face to the profile picture” meet-and-greet. Friday morning, instructor, agent and WFWA member Donald Maass will present a workshop geared for women’s fiction writers. The afternoon will be spent putting what you’ve learned from the workshop into use, attending the breakout sessions (details to come), or networking with fellow attendees. Saturday will include more writing and breakout sessions throughout the day and conclude with an awards dinner. Sunday we sadly say good-bye. The retreat committee is working hard on the agenda and we’ll be updating the website and sending out emails as things firm up
.
The WFWA retreat is a craft and networking event. There will be agents attending but we will not be offering pitch sessions. It’ll be a weekend to discuss women’s fiction and the publishing industry, to work on your WIPs, your query and your synopsis, to meet fellow WFWA members. We’ll write, we’ll brainstorm, we’ll network, we’ll learn, we’ll have fun. And to keep with the retreat feel, we’re limiting attendance to 100 members.
Early registration fee will be $325, closing four (4) months prior to the event, and $375 after that. Registration will be limited to WFWA members.
Hotel rooms will be $129 a night.
If you have questions or recommendations, please don’t hesitate to contact us at retreat@womensfictionwriters.org.
Orly Konig-Lopez, WFWA president and retreat chair
Travis Erwin, retreat coordinator
Cerrissa Kim, retreat coordinator
September 5, 2014
Abacadabra, Don't Make Me Stab Ya
I was recently talking to a non writing friend of mine (they need a cool muggle-like moniker so we writers can quickly establish things when speaking about our not writer friends) when they asked me why I spend so much time researching when I write fiction.
"Just make something up," they said. "Why do you care if the neighborhood is right, you can see that bridge from the corner of that street, if a doctor would really prescribe that medication with those symptoms? It's all make believe anyway."
I nearly choked. I was downright incredulous on the inside but I smiled and racked my brain for a way to describe the magic of a fiction book to an obvious non-believer.
Then it hit me. Magic is the answer.
The really good authors truly are magicians. But we don't have smoke, mirrors, and scantily clad women in tight sequined dresses to fool the eye. we have clever words, emotions, and honest storytelling to deceive our readers.
I'm gonna go ahead and say it -- David Blaine, David Copperfield, Lance Burton. Y'all got nothing on Kent Haruf, JK Rowling, Barbara Kingsolver.
It's all an act, an illusion. The people who buy tickets or gather on the street to watch a magician and those who purchase novels all know they are being duped, tricked, bamboozled to believe in what is not real. And this is where the research comes in. So long as that audience or reader do not see up the sleeve, or spot the wires dangling they are perfectly willing to suspend their belief. A simple mistake ruins the whole thing whether it be a magician knocking over that mirror or me writing about Amarillo being overrun with Armadillo's. Armadillo's are a rare critter here in Amarillo, but can be found aplenty not far south of here.
I've read novels, otherwise good novels where the author made a simple or stupid mistake that jolted me out of the book. Once a readers pauses to think Uh-uh Buster, that ain't how it works, you've lost them. And that my friends is a very non magical explanation of why I'm anal about the small things when researching my novels.
*********
Yeah it's been a while since I blogged but I've been in morning over the price of bacon. It's hard to sit down and right posts on a blog with Bacon right there in the title and not get a little choked up. Also I've been editing polishing and otherwise writing my butt off in the hope I can afford more bacon. Now on to the beer portion of this post ...
*********
If you are a discerning beer drinker and are not on www.untappd.com you my friend are missing out. Beer drinking social media that keeps track of the different beers you have consumed, offers recommendations based on your personal ratings and puts the social in social drinker. Look me up by name.
You can share pictures along with the reviews like this one of what might be the best beer I've ever tasted.
Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve
Harviestoun Brewery
And here was my original Untappd review ...
Hell yeah! Puts hair on your chest and a smile on your face. Smells harsh but tastes smooth. Thick malty and robust.
That's it poured up in a glass. Nice and dark, like a good beer should be.
"Just make something up," they said. "Why do you care if the neighborhood is right, you can see that bridge from the corner of that street, if a doctor would really prescribe that medication with those symptoms? It's all make believe anyway."
I nearly choked. I was downright incredulous on the inside but I smiled and racked my brain for a way to describe the magic of a fiction book to an obvious non-believer.
Then it hit me. Magic is the answer.
The really good authors truly are magicians. But we don't have smoke, mirrors, and scantily clad women in tight sequined dresses to fool the eye. we have clever words, emotions, and honest storytelling to deceive our readers.
I'm gonna go ahead and say it -- David Blaine, David Copperfield, Lance Burton. Y'all got nothing on Kent Haruf, JK Rowling, Barbara Kingsolver.
It's all an act, an illusion. The people who buy tickets or gather on the street to watch a magician and those who purchase novels all know they are being duped, tricked, bamboozled to believe in what is not real. And this is where the research comes in. So long as that audience or reader do not see up the sleeve, or spot the wires dangling they are perfectly willing to suspend their belief. A simple mistake ruins the whole thing whether it be a magician knocking over that mirror or me writing about Amarillo being overrun with Armadillo's. Armadillo's are a rare critter here in Amarillo, but can be found aplenty not far south of here.
I've read novels, otherwise good novels where the author made a simple or stupid mistake that jolted me out of the book. Once a readers pauses to think Uh-uh Buster, that ain't how it works, you've lost them. And that my friends is a very non magical explanation of why I'm anal about the small things when researching my novels.
*********
Yeah it's been a while since I blogged but I've been in morning over the price of bacon. It's hard to sit down and right posts on a blog with Bacon right there in the title and not get a little choked up. Also I've been editing polishing and otherwise writing my butt off in the hope I can afford more bacon. Now on to the beer portion of this post ...
*********
If you are a discerning beer drinker and are not on www.untappd.com you my friend are missing out. Beer drinking social media that keeps track of the different beers you have consumed, offers recommendations based on your personal ratings and puts the social in social drinker. Look me up by name.
You can share pictures along with the reviews like this one of what might be the best beer I've ever tasted.
Ola Dubh 12 Year Special Reserve
Harviestoun Brewery
And here was my original Untappd review ...
Hell yeah! Puts hair on your chest and a smile on your face. Smells harsh but tastes smooth. Thick malty and robust.
That's it poured up in a glass. Nice and dark, like a good beer should be.
April 22, 2014
The Hybrid Author
I'm lucky to live in an area ripe with literary talent. Right from the start of this journey I had a wealth of knowledgeable and talent writers to draw inspiration, motivation, and education from. People like Dianne Sagan. Now the rest of the world can benefit as well. Because ... The Hybrid Author,by Dianne G. Sagan, is now available on Amazon.com.
With a publishing industry in constant change, authors find themselves trying to make decisions about whether or not to self-publish or traditionally publish. Mrs. Sagan’s book explains what a hybrid author is, what options are available, and how to decide what path to take in this ground breaking book. It includes interviews with C. J. Lyons, Joanna Penn, J. A. Konrath, Hugh C. Howey, Marie Force, Barbara Morgenroth, Jennifer Archer, and of course, Travis Erwin. Author of 21 books, ten ghostwritten (six of which were best sellers), Mrs. Sagan is a hybrid author with books published traditionally and self-published. She brings her experience and knowledge to writers in this timely book.
Reviewers are calling a treasure full of information valuable to all writers. You'll want to add it to you personal resources. You can find out more about Mrs. Sagan and follow her at http://thehybridauthor.com
April 15, 2014
And People Thought Ozzy Was Disrespectful
I'm a proud Texan.
I know my state history.
I have visited the Alamo.
So I have always enjoyed the famous Davy Crockett quote ...
And I do love keeping my beer cold, so when I spotted this can coolie in a little gift shop in Chillicoathe, Texas, I found it quite tempting.
After all what better way to honor a true Lone Star hero who died while fighting for Texas's independence against Santa Ana's army ...
a man who stood his ground despite being outnumbered nearly ten to one ...
than with a beer holder declaring his bravado?
I turned it over to check the price and what did I find?
The man killed him a bear when he was only three, but 178 years later ... the Mexicans are still getting the last word.
I know my state history.
I have visited the Alamo.
So I have always enjoyed the famous Davy Crockett quote ...
And I do love keeping my beer cold, so when I spotted this can coolie in a little gift shop in Chillicoathe, Texas, I found it quite tempting.
After all what better way to honor a true Lone Star hero who died while fighting for Texas's independence against Santa Ana's army ...
a man who stood his ground despite being outnumbered nearly ten to one ...
than with a beer holder declaring his bravado?
I turned it over to check the price and what did I find?
The man killed him a bear when he was only three, but 178 years later ... the Mexicans are still getting the last word.
March 30, 2014
Expectations Are Dangerous Things
The bar is set. Picture it now ...
Shot glasses carefully arraigned. Beer chilling on ice. The hum of the margarita mixer.
No not that kind of bar. What are y'all lushes?
I meant the bar of expectation. The bar which I assume is a metaphor from the track and field world as in the high jump and pole vault where competitors must achieve a predetermined height or goal.
You've waited for months maybe even months for a certain movie and finally, All Dogs Go to Heaven Part 19 is here. But then the actual flick simply doesn't live up to your anticipation. It failed to clear the bar.
Books, movies, new seasons our favorite TV shows. Albums, return trips to favorite restaurants, a new post from one of your favorite bloggers. (Don't kid yourself you know that's why you are here)
At one time or another we've all been disappointed by something eagerly longed for.
And sometimes it is this very pressure that creates a problem. Heck we've all been awaiting Harper Lee's next book but something tells me she never quite came to grips with the success of To Kill A Mockingbird. I dare say she even feared any follow up would follow short. J.K Rowling released a book last year under a pseudonym to escape some of the hype and pressure. And look what happened to Lucas when he finally put out a new round of Star Wars movies.
On the flip side we've all stumbled into that movie we thought would suck or that dive cafe expecting a ho hum experience only to have our expectations blown out of the water by a great viewing or taste budding pleasing extravaganza.
Let me share a recent day in my life where expectation and reality fought a hard battle in my life.
There I was in Plano, Texas. Ready to watch my son and his soccer team battle. Now we've been making the nearly 6 hour trip to Plano quite often since last September as his club team plays league play all the way down there since there is not much of a soccer culture up here in the Texas Panhandle. His team had battled hard and improved greatly while adjusting to bigger playing fields, hotter temps, higher humidity and the challenges of facing more experienced teams. Despite the improvement they were a combined 0-14-2 heading into a weekend where they were slated to play the two best teams in the league. Expectations were low yet his squad battled hard and tied the very best team in the league. it felt like a win for his team and a loss to the other guys. All because of expectation.
Post game, we dined at a place called La Hacienda Ranch.
We'd eaten there the week before and the steak fajitas were the best I'd ever had. Week two, I'm proud to say held up. The place was just as tasty the second time.
And then I went to Whole Foods.
Y'all know me. I'm the Lettuce is the Devil guy.
Organic! Healthy! Green!
These are curse words in my vocabulary and her was an entire store not only full of that stuff but the kind of beatnik, hemp sandal-wearing, do-gooder yuppie moms people. How could I, a devote meat man enter the den of vegetarians, vegans, and various other vagabonds of the "healthy living" lifestyle?
My expectations were below ground level. The bar was set deeper than carrot roots.
And then I spied the beer aisle.
I felt like a like a hungry panther upon catching sight of a juicy cottontail in a field of dandelions.
I spent the better part of an hour ogling battle of all shapes and sizes from locales all over the world. Ales, Lagers, Stouts, Pilsners ... OH MY!
I bought one of these on one of that. A bottle of trappist from belgium. A lager from Germany. An amber from California and then I spotted the dunkel.
I like dunkels. No I love dunkels.
from the German Beer Institute website ... Dunkel — The World's First True Beer Style
German Dunkel ("dark") beer is a deep-brown, mahogany, or sepia colored all-barley lager. It is soft and elegant, with a rich, mildly vanilla, nutty-sweet palate and a dry, rounded finish that is never harsh, toasty or acrid. The beer is full-bodied, with a chewy texture and a firm, creamy, long-lasting head. Though it looks much like a British dark ale or Porter, unlike these brews, a Dunkel has a typicallly clean lager taste without any fruitiness at all, and next to no nose.
Except this dunkle wasn't exactly German. It was Texan, But from German ancestry according to the bottle. It was brewed jsut up the road in McKinney Texas at a place called Franconia Brewing. I was so sure I'd love this beer I bought a whole six pack versus all the other singles I'd picked up.
Well folks let me tell you, and this is painful for a prideful Texan to admit ... not everything is bigger and better in Texas. The dunkel was an awful disappointment. If you check that description up above you will not find even the slightest of mention of peas. Yes those evil little green suckers good for nothing but thumping off the dinner table. Peas. That is what this dunkel tastes like. In the bottle, poured in a mug, it doesn't matter the stuff tastes like damned peas. Peas people.Why for the love of all that is holy would anyone brew beer that smells and tastes like garden peas?
Franconia Dunkel you broke my heart with your overriding pea flavor. At least Coors Light only tastes like pee. Yes, I consider urine a slight improvement over peas in the taste scale.
To be fair it's not the worst beer in the world. I mean there are people who enjoy the falvor of peas but come on man warn a fellow. Put it right there on the bottle ... HEY, IF YOU AIN'T A VEGGIE LOVING PEA POD PARTIER! THIS ISN'T YOUR BEER!
But don't try to sneak in your evil healthy living flavors on an unsuspecting fat guy. It's not right to trod upon his expectation like that.
Shot glasses carefully arraigned. Beer chilling on ice. The hum of the margarita mixer.
No not that kind of bar. What are y'all lushes?
I meant the bar of expectation. The bar which I assume is a metaphor from the track and field world as in the high jump and pole vault where competitors must achieve a predetermined height or goal.
You've waited for months maybe even months for a certain movie and finally, All Dogs Go to Heaven Part 19 is here. But then the actual flick simply doesn't live up to your anticipation. It failed to clear the bar.
Books, movies, new seasons our favorite TV shows. Albums, return trips to favorite restaurants, a new post from one of your favorite bloggers. (Don't kid yourself you know that's why you are here)
At one time or another we've all been disappointed by something eagerly longed for.
And sometimes it is this very pressure that creates a problem. Heck we've all been awaiting Harper Lee's next book but something tells me she never quite came to grips with the success of To Kill A Mockingbird. I dare say she even feared any follow up would follow short. J.K Rowling released a book last year under a pseudonym to escape some of the hype and pressure. And look what happened to Lucas when he finally put out a new round of Star Wars movies.
On the flip side we've all stumbled into that movie we thought would suck or that dive cafe expecting a ho hum experience only to have our expectations blown out of the water by a great viewing or taste budding pleasing extravaganza.
Let me share a recent day in my life where expectation and reality fought a hard battle in my life.
There I was in Plano, Texas. Ready to watch my son and his soccer team battle. Now we've been making the nearly 6 hour trip to Plano quite often since last September as his club team plays league play all the way down there since there is not much of a soccer culture up here in the Texas Panhandle. His team had battled hard and improved greatly while adjusting to bigger playing fields, hotter temps, higher humidity and the challenges of facing more experienced teams. Despite the improvement they were a combined 0-14-2 heading into a weekend where they were slated to play the two best teams in the league. Expectations were low yet his squad battled hard and tied the very best team in the league. it felt like a win for his team and a loss to the other guys. All because of expectation.
Post game, we dined at a place called La Hacienda Ranch.
We'd eaten there the week before and the steak fajitas were the best I'd ever had. Week two, I'm proud to say held up. The place was just as tasty the second time.
And then I went to Whole Foods.
Y'all know me. I'm the Lettuce is the Devil guy.
Organic! Healthy! Green!
These are curse words in my vocabulary and her was an entire store not only full of that stuff but the kind of beatnik, hemp sandal-wearing, do-gooder yuppie moms people. How could I, a devote meat man enter the den of vegetarians, vegans, and various other vagabonds of the "healthy living" lifestyle?
My expectations were below ground level. The bar was set deeper than carrot roots.
And then I spied the beer aisle.
I felt like a like a hungry panther upon catching sight of a juicy cottontail in a field of dandelions.
I spent the better part of an hour ogling battle of all shapes and sizes from locales all over the world. Ales, Lagers, Stouts, Pilsners ... OH MY!
I bought one of these on one of that. A bottle of trappist from belgium. A lager from Germany. An amber from California and then I spotted the dunkel.
I like dunkels. No I love dunkels.
from the German Beer Institute website ... Dunkel — The World's First True Beer Style
German Dunkel ("dark") beer is a deep-brown, mahogany, or sepia colored all-barley lager. It is soft and elegant, with a rich, mildly vanilla, nutty-sweet palate and a dry, rounded finish that is never harsh, toasty or acrid. The beer is full-bodied, with a chewy texture and a firm, creamy, long-lasting head. Though it looks much like a British dark ale or Porter, unlike these brews, a Dunkel has a typicallly clean lager taste without any fruitiness at all, and next to no nose.
Except this dunkle wasn't exactly German. It was Texan, But from German ancestry according to the bottle. It was brewed jsut up the road in McKinney Texas at a place called Franconia Brewing. I was so sure I'd love this beer I bought a whole six pack versus all the other singles I'd picked up.
Well folks let me tell you, and this is painful for a prideful Texan to admit ... not everything is bigger and better in Texas. The dunkel was an awful disappointment. If you check that description up above you will not find even the slightest of mention of peas. Yes those evil little green suckers good for nothing but thumping off the dinner table. Peas. That is what this dunkel tastes like. In the bottle, poured in a mug, it doesn't matter the stuff tastes like damned peas. Peas people.Why for the love of all that is holy would anyone brew beer that smells and tastes like garden peas?
Franconia Dunkel you broke my heart with your overriding pea flavor. At least Coors Light only tastes like pee. Yes, I consider urine a slight improvement over peas in the taste scale.
To be fair it's not the worst beer in the world. I mean there are people who enjoy the falvor of peas but come on man warn a fellow. Put it right there on the bottle ... HEY, IF YOU AIN'T A VEGGIE LOVING PEA POD PARTIER! THIS ISN'T YOUR BEER!
But don't try to sneak in your evil healthy living flavors on an unsuspecting fat guy. It's not right to trod upon his expectation like that.
