These Gravely Digs of Mine

My local speakeasy got in a case of Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier -- just the Weizen, but I ain't looking a gift horse in the mouth -- and so I am spitting right in the face of my allergy and having one, because it's worth it.

I can feel the angry hives rising on my body as I sip. And it's so worth it. Mmmmm.

Now I want a nice piece of fish for dinner. Maybe some arctic char, or wild salmon. Hmmmm.

Dear offensively perky Starbucks barista,

Yes, I suppose that the next time I come in I could say "Venti Refresh" instead of "large mint tea". However, as we don't live in the Harry Potter universe, I will not.

With utter sincerity,

Me

PS. And, for the record, "Venti Refresh" is actually more syllables than "large mint tea", and is therefore not easier, despite your excessively cheerful chirping to the contrary.

Oh yeah.

Apparently some models have problems wearing nothing but their underwear, some feathers and the steel skeleton of a hoop skirt when it's 20F out. I don't understand their problem. I'm out here in a T-shirt and jeans and I'm just fine.

The wind is a bit nippy though, I'll grant you.

My friend Rev's birthday cake. The candles are his birthday in binary.




ETA: The candles were my idea.

I have achieved caturation. All three cats are in the bed with me, all in separate corners, each pretending that the others don't exist.

There is some metaphor here about dating or international politics or something, but I just woke up and I have to pee really badly, so someone else can make it.

It is whiskey week at the local dive bar, and it is possible -- just possible -- that I may have ordered a tasting flight too many.

In possibly unrelated news, my teeth are numb.

Before this all dissolves into a drunken haze, as the last few shots have yet to hit the ol' metabolism...

Old Potrero 18th Century: Spicy as all get out. Fierce, uncompromising, minimally tannic. Delicious.

Hudson (Tuthilltown) corn whiskey: Smooth, mellow, well-rounded. Best corn likker I ever had.

Hudson corn whiskey Manhattan, with Vys(?) vermouth and Fee Brothers orange botters (2:1, generous dash of bitters): Fucking delicious. Strong orange character, and the corn liquor's rough edges are perfectly balanced by the vermouth's mild fruity/herbal front-end.

Michter's 10-year single-barrel rye: Mild caramel nose, some weak banana esters, spice and tannins foremost. Strong, complex, delicious.

Michter's 25-year single barrel rye: Wow. This was too much for me. intense caramel nose, but all I got out of the back end was vicious tannins with the faintest hint of plum and spice. Might be good with some water, and worth a second try, but on first blush not worth thr $44/shot. Might have to regroup and try again a other day.

Georgia Moon corn whiskey: BEEP BOOP BLIP! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! DANGER! AVOID! AVOID! AVOID! PURE POISON! I AM DOING THE ROBBIE THE ROBOT ARM MOVEMENTS!

Ezra Brooks mumble mumble slur drunk drunk bourbon: Delicious. Strong plum and vanilla nose. Rich mouthfeel, medium spice with fruit and mild tang. Smooth, like a less complex, less spicy Blanton's (in a good way (though I still love Blanton's)).

Onclusionc;
: That was a lot of whiskey on a stomach that hasn't seen food in over 10 hours. Here comes the rain again, if by "rain" you understand I mean "being drunk with my cats worrying about me".

Here is a random picture of a glass of Chivas Regal, which I did not drink tonight.

Yum!

As requested.

"Hello, Shop-n-Bag."
"Hi, do you carry chestnuts?"
"What?"
"Do you guys sell chestnuts?"
"Chestnuts?"
"Yes. Chestnuts."
"We're on Walnut Street."
"Yes, I know where you are. I want to know if you sell chestnuts, the food. Fresh or in a jar."
"The food?"
"Yes. Correct."
"Is this a joke?"
"No, this is not a joke. I want to buy some chestnuts. As in the nut. That grows on the chestnut tree. That you eat."
"Let me check." *hangs up on me*