Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

A New Year

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Jan 1st, 2022
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Another year has come and gone. It was pretty much like the one before it. Standby for another one.

I do see some changes coming though. Not much longer will the "pandemic" be the basis for political overreach and profit. The "America is racist and something-phobic" agenda is being exposed. The clouds are gradually being removed from the eyes of even the CNN and MSNBC watchers. Maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

At least the days are getting longer.

Happy New Year!



2021 Was Certainly a Year

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Dec 31st, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

This silly website is now 26 years old. It’s older than one of my kids. It’s older than 99% of the websites alive today. It’s older than the Dole - Kemp 96 campaign website, which, inexplicably, is also still online.

Our 2021 was a lot like our 2020, but with less stress, especially once we were both fully vaccinated by the Spring. I had hoped that by fall 2021 we be into the endemic phase of COVID and not still in a pandemic, but the anti-vaxxers need their freedumb. Personally, I’m hoping their freedumb is served with a ventilator. I’m out of patience of with them. They are literally making life miserable for millions of people. That’s not freedom, it’s terrorism, and should be treated as such.

We had plans to dress up fancy and go out on NYE, but Omicron invited itself to the party, so we opted out of our plans. The band ultimately canceled the show, so we are even getting our ticket money back. Does that count as 2021 going out on a good note? You are deprived of a selfie of us dressed up fancy, though.

2021 highlights include a week in the Smokies, a bunch of weekend camping trips around Virginia, a week between jobs highlighted by Asheville, driving the entire Blue Ridge Parkway over two trips, Purdue Homecoming, and wrapping up the year with a week on the beach on Puerto Rico.

2022 will look similar, except that we are headed north to explore Western NY and Arcadia NP with the camper, some time in WV, and if all goes well, another week in Puerto Rico to end the year. I also plan to work on working from the camper this year, to open up mid-week travel opportunities for us. I can do my job from anywhere, so why not? Hopefully earlier than later in 2022 we can stop thinking about COVID-19, and let it fade into the background noise of life.

So that’s a wrap on 2021, and the 35 blog posts I wrote and 48 books I read over the course of the year. I’ll see y’all in 2022.



2021 Was Certainly a Year

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Dec 31st, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

This silly website is now 26 years old. It’s older than one of my kids. It’s older than 99% of the websites alive today. It’s older than the Dole - Kemp 96 campaign website, which, inexplicably, is also still online.

Our 2021 was a lot like our 2020, but with less stress, especially once we were both fully vaccinated by the Spring. I had hoped that by fall 2021 we be into the endemic phase of COVID and not still in a pandemic, but the anti-vaxxers need their freedumb. Personally, I’m hoping their freedumb is served with a ventilator. I’m out of patience of with them. They are literally making life miserable for millions of people. That’s not freedom, it’s terrorism, and should be treated as such.

We had plans to dress up fancy and go out on NYE, but Omicron invited itself to the party, so we opted out of our plans. The band ultimately canceled the show, so we are even getting our ticket money back. Does that count as 2021 going out on a good note? You are deprived of a selfie of us dressed up fancy, though.

2021 highlights include a week in the Smokies, a bunch of weekend camping trips around Virginia, a week between jobs highlighted by Asheville, driving the entire Blue Ridge Parkway over two trips, Purdue Homecoming, and wrapping up the year with a week on the beach on Puerto Rico.

2022 will look similar, except that we are headed north to explore Western NY and Arcadia NP with the camper, some time in WV, and if all goes well, another week in Puerto Rico to end the year. I also plan to work on working from the camper this year, to open up mid-week travel opportunities for us. I can do my job from anywhere, so why not? Hopefully earlier than later in 2022 we can stop thinking about COVID-19, and let it fade into the background noise of life.

So that’s a wrap on 2021, and the 35 blog posts I wrote and 48 books I read over the course of the year. I’ll see y’all in 2022.



Christmases Cold and Warm

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 30th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

It's an old joke that if you don't like the weather in Virginia, wait a few minutes and it will change. It's also true that the weather on a any calendar day can be wildly different from year to year. This is especially true in the winter. (In the summer, you can just expect it to be hot. Period.) White Christmases are rare here, but last year, we were treated to one of those uncommon events. 

Over Christmas 2020 we experienced snow and very cold weather. That didn't stop me from enjoying the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition shown below. The full experience is recounted in this post


Christmas 2021 was at the complete opposite end of the weather spectrum. The day was sunny, and by the afternoon the temperature hit 71°. That meant smoking on the deck without the need for supplemental heating or winter clothing.

On this most recent Christmas afternoon I chose the new Undercrown 10 Lonsdsale with which to celebrate the day. The Undercrown Maduro is a favorite, and the new Undercrown 10 is a special release to mark the 10th anniversary of the cigar. The Starr Hill Snow Blind Dopplebock is a perennial favorite.

The difference in smoking experiences between the two years was remarkable when it comes to the weather. However, the pleasure of a good cigar is universal no matter the temperature.



Christmases Cold and Warm

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 30th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

It's an old joke that if you don't like the weather in Virginia, wait a few minutes and it will change. It's also true that the weather on a any calendar day can be wildly different from year to year. This is especially true in the winter. (In the summer, you can just expect it to be hot. Period.) White Christmases are rare here, but last year, we were treated to one of those uncommon events. 

Over Christmas 2020 we experienced snow and very cold weather. That didn't stop me from enjoying the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition shown below. The full experience is recounted in this post


Christmas 2021 was at the complete opposite end of the weather spectrum. The day was sunny, and by the afternoon the temperature hit 71°. That meant smoking on the deck without the need for supplemental heating or winter clothing.

On this most recent Christmas afternoon I chose the new Undercrown 10 Lonsdsale with which to celebrate the day. The Undercrown Maduro is a favorite, and the new Undercrown 10 is a special release to mark the 10th anniversary of the cigar. The Starr Hill Snow Blind Dopplebock is a perennial favorite.

The difference in smoking experiences between the two years was remarkable when it comes to the weather. However, the pleasure of a good cigar is universal no matter the temperature.



When Are They Open?

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 28th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I get that not everyone is adept at online marketing and social media. But clearly telling customers when you are open should be pretty simple. And a priority. While researching a local brewery to visit during my vacation, I came across this confusing mess.

First, I checked the brewery website for their hours.

Mon - Tues: Closed

Wed - Thurs: 3pm - 9pm

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 11pm

Maybe I'll visit on Wednesday or Thursday, I thought. 

Next I looked at their Facebook page and saw a slightly different schedule.

Mon - Tues: Closed

Wed: 3pm - 9pm

Thursday: Closed

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 11pm

However, Wednesday still looks good. 

Then I started scrolling through the brewery's posts, and saw a post labeled "Winter Hours."

Mon - Tues: 3pm - 8pm

Wed - Thurs: Closed

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 10pm

So, Wednesday is out? Monday or Tuesday? Which listing is current, and correct?

Maybe I had better call them. 



When Are They Open?

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Dec 28th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I get that not everyone is adept at online marketing and social media. But clearly telling customers when you are open should be pretty simple. And a priority. While researching a local brewery to visit during my vacation, I came across this confusing mess.

First, I checked the brewery website for their hours.

Mon - Tues: Closed

Wed - Thurs: 3pm - 9pm

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 11pm

Maybe I'll visit on Wednesday or Thursday, I thought. 

Next I looked at their Facebook page and saw a slightly different schedule.

Mon - Tues: Closed

Wed: 3pm - 9pm

Thursday: Closed

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 11pm

However, Wednesday still looks good. 

Then I started scrolling through the brewery's posts, and saw a post labeled "Winter Hours."

Mon - Tues: 3pm - 8pm

Wed - Thurs: Closed

Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight

Sunday: Noon - 10pm

So, Wednesday is out? Monday or Tuesday? Which listing is current, and correct?

Maybe I had better call them. 



Five-Can Soup

Author: From https://www.pointsinmylife.com/ • Dec 27th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

A very easy and FANTASTIC recipe that you can make and keep in the fridge ahead of time for a light lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

- 1, 18.5 oz. can Progresso Garden Vegetable soup
- 1, 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1, 15 oz. can Hormel Turkey Chili with no beans
- 1, 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn (or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn)
- 1, 14.5 oz. can french green beans

Combine all ingredients and heat in a medium sauce pan. Dinner is served! Enjoy! 

"Love makes you strong in front of the whole world, but weak in front of the one you love." - Anonymous 


Five-Can Soup

Author: From https://www.pointsinmylife.com/ • Dec 27th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

A very easy and FANTASTIC recipe that you can make and keep in the fridge ahead of time for a light lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

- 1, 18.5 oz. can Progresso Garden Vegetable soup
- 1, 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1, 15 oz. can Hormel Turkey Chili with no beans
- 1, 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn (or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn)
- 1, 14.5 oz. can french green beans

Combine all ingredients and heat in a medium sauce pan. Dinner is served! Enjoy! 

"Love makes you strong in front of the whole world, but weak in front of the one you love." - Anonymous 


Five-Can Soup

Author: From https://www.pointsinmylife.com/ • Dec 27th, 2021
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

A very easy and FANTASTIC recipe that you can make and keep in the fridge ahead of time for a light lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

- 1, 18.5 oz. can Progresso Garden Vegetable soup
- 1, 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 1, 15 oz. can Hormel Turkey Chili with no beans
- 1, 15.25 oz. can whole kernel corn (or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn)
- 1, 14.5 oz. can french green beans

Combine all ingredients and heat in a medium sauce pan. Dinner is served! Enjoy! 

"Love makes you strong in front of the whole world, but weak in front of the one you love." - Anonymous