It's Good To Be Back

Back in California and feeling a little dissoriented from the culture shock and the transition to an unknown future. Holed up for a week in the Rio Sands hotel in Aptos while Susan is in So. Ca. visiting with family. We will be house sitting these next six weeks and searching for a permanent home while we're at it. When we left California last year we gave up on the 'sure thing' house to return to, for various reason and so the challenge of finding a new place in the over crowded and over priced rental market of Santa Cruz county is upon us. Let us pray.

In the mean time, I've spent the last week and hundreds of dollars having repairs made to my car. Fixing mechanical failures because of the abuse it suffered exposed to the winter weather for the five months while I was in Mexico. Lesson learned - cover vehicle with a big blue tarp while away for any extended period of time.

On the up side, I'm really enjoying all the beers that now seem to be everywhere, enjoying beyond moderation to be frank. It's overwhelming to have such a great variety of fantastic beers after that dry spell I call Mexico. I went after my favorites right away, Sierra Nevada pale ale and Torpedo from the grocery store, Trumer Pils on draft at the nearby bistro and Pelican Pale ale at Seabright brewery. Not to mentions the beers that I've had chilled in my kegerator while I was gone, La Chouffe Golden, Affligem Double and Paulaner Salvator. Besides that, I've got twenty five gallons of homebrew that has been lagering this whole time including a year old 10%abv. Russian Imperial stout, a Weizenbock and a Schwarzbeir. As much as I like Mexico, Oh it's good to be back.

My upcoming beer activities begin with the American Homebrewers Associations Big Brew Day on May 1st. where I plan to brew with fellow Zymurgeeks homebrew club members at Seabright Brewery. I've also got the five weekend intensive brew course scheduled at Cabrillo College in July but first a beer tasting session at the end of June. If you're in the area and want to attend the Cabrillo College classes but have questions, please feel free to email me for more information.

Now, I've really got to get back to drinking some more of this beer!