More fun shopping for baby

Yea, this is actually the first of the 2 videos, and another reason why I don't think I can handle the shopping thing. As much as the idea scares me I think I just have to tell Erin to buy whatever she thinks is important, b/c I have no clue.

Baby Shoping

The video says it all, I'm hosed.

Poker Night

Poker was a hoot, and if you missed it here is the recap.

Tie Breaker!!!!

The beer video contest was everything I hoped it would be. It consumed 20 to 30 min of peoples lives and made them strain their eyes. I love it. The results are in and we have a tie between Ryan and Brian. Each scored 11 points out of 25. The answers to the questions will be posted tonight as a comment to the original video. Check the out to see how you did.

As for a tie breaker... While brewing the batch of beer I kept track of every time I "tended the pot". The includes any time I removed the lid and or stirred the brew starting after the malts were added (which you can see early in the video when the pot gets moved off the burner while I add stuff, then put back on) up until the pot is moved to the sink for cooling. Simply tell me how many times I "tended the pot" in and e-mail by Friday, and I'll decide a winner. The winner can clam their prize when they come to help me move.

Good Luck

Ginger Saison - (Video Quality improved 1/7)

At Erin's suggestion I brewed one last batch of beer before Tax season, move, and baby. So I pulled a recipe from the book "Extreme Brewing" by Sam Calaione - owner of dogfish head brewery. Just for kicks I decided to make a video of the brew process. I have a couple of trivia questions for those who are observant enough to pull the details. To make it exciting I will award $5 to the person with the most correct answers, and a six pack of the brew in question. To enter into the Lincoln Brew Trivia competition just post your response by Friday 1/11/08, on my blog. Feel free to forward the blog to anyone you want. The only requirement is that you sign your entry, and you only get one entry.

Good Luck, here are the questions!!!

1) How many full glasses of beer did I consume during the entire process?

2) What is on the red cutting, that I cut up?

3) What is the unusual object in the back of my shirt? (It's only there for about 45 sec of video)

4) What piece of technology do I hold up early in the video?

5) Erin is in and out of frame in the first half of the video, then she shows up again in the second half. What does she show up with, and from where?

6) Which cat shows up on camera?

7) At the 30 sec mark of the video, what the hell am i pulling out of the pot?

8) How much time elapses in the video. (Hint: the Video is 15FPS, and the camera shot 1F every 5S)

9) I can be seen cleaning 3 things in the video, what are they.

10) Toward the end of the video I sit down twice and do two different things. As specifically as possible, what am I doing either time?

If you don't want to give out your answers, e-mail them to me, but to be eldgible to win you must still post a comment on this entery of my blog indicating your in the competition. If you don't know my e-mail... that's a damn shame.

Good luck,

Matt

Christmas was good.

Tis better to give than to receive, some years I believe it, some years not so much. this year was all about giving for me. Don't get me wrong, I scored some Killer gear for Christmas. Here is a list of some of Erin's and mine gifts that have already hit it big.
- Blender - We got a simple blender, on, on more and off. It blends. Since Christmas we have broken it out at least 10 times. The major treat - smoothies. 1 cup soy milk, 1 banana about 5 frozen strawberries, one pack of sweetener (sweet&low). Blend, drink.
- Beer - I got some Dogfish Head 90 min IPA and a bottle of their 120 min IPA. The 90 has really grown on me. It is strong, very malty, and very hoppy. Much more of a malty flavor than most IPA's. The 120 min is just the 90 min, but more of it. Even more malt, and hops flavor. For me, I can't believe I'm going to say this, it was too much. I think the 60 min is still my favorite, but I'm going to have to try it against the 90 again to be sure. What a lovely dilemma.
- iShuffle - Was getting use on Christmas day, and accompanied me on a 6 mi run Dec 26. Rock the Shuffle!!!
- Clothes - I told the wife I wanted to look more GQ, and I got hooked up. Love it!
- Appliances - ok, we haven't used them yet, but we bought all the appliances that we need to wrap up the new place. Delivery date - 2/26/08.

As I mentioned giving was the big thing for me. The big give, was to who else, the parents. My parents have really been great to me. Mom has taken me in the family business and taught me the ropes of taxes, and dad makes me lunch and keeps me in hot coffee. I'm probably unique among people in that I see my parent almost every day. It certainly is a contrast to the days before I worked for mom. Back then I could goo weeks without seeing the folks. So with all the parental love comming in the least I could do is give a little back. With the help of some $ from dad, I ... bought and installed a new dishwasher, installed a new garbage disposal, bought them all new dish wear and glasses, and all new tablecloths, place mats, and dishcloths/washcloths/sponges.

While Patrice was a little defensive about her old dishwasher, the project was a big hit on the whole. I'm excited about the changes, and hope mom and dad like it.

Tis the season

 
It's officially here... Tax Season. It's an odd way to earn a living, 75% of the work squeezed into 25% of the year. With changes in staff, office procedure, software and tax law (at the last min... thanks for that congress) I'm amazed that things are going as well as they are. Danielle and Nancy, the new ladies in the office, are awesome. They have both proven to be excellent finds, and very dedicated to their job. I am thrilled to work with them. Judy is back again (for year 10?!?!). Every day working with Judy is nothing short of awesome. She is so professional, and yet funny and easy to work with. I truly feel like we are a team.

And then there is Aunt Bobbette. I say Aunt, b/c I've she's been my neighbor since birth and always very, well Aunt like. Bobbette rolled in for the first day this year and was not happy. She would like to be full on retired, and the only thing keeping her from it is the guilt we heave on her every time she mentions leaving. I do feel bad that we have guilted her into staying, but not that bad. You see I think, that after she gets over the first day, that she really likes working hear. As a matter of fact, today being day 3, I can say for certain that she is enjoying working. When she is in the office she helps all of us. Running copies back and forth, handling the phone, or just a piece or to of brutal honesty. I realize that this may really be her last year. She doesn't need the job, she just does it b/c she knows how much we need her, and for that I am thankfully. But just maybe Bobbette will realize that she doesn't just put up with us, she really enjoys being apart of what we do here. For that I'm hopefully.

(You be thinking "wait you mentioned everybody except your mom, what type of lousy son are you", to which I'd say "Is that really necessary, I'm saving the best for a later post. Chill man.")