Despite concerns it might by too windy several hundred balloons lifted off this morning as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicked off.
A picture with hundreds of balloon mostly shows a bunch of little dots. So here are a few of them (view from our back patio – known as a portal in these parts of the country).
The wind has kicked up since, but I expect to be able to sit out back tonight – inspired by Lew Bryson’s barbecue adventures of yesterday – eating properly smoked (trust me, Lew, it will be smokey) Texas-style ‘cue and drinking Flying Dog Dogtoberfest.
Fact is, though, thoughts about the beer will be way in the background. We’ll talk about the Illinois and Northwestern football games and monitor the progress of the Chicago Cubs.
New Beer Rule #5 will be in full effect: It is only beer.
But if you need some serious beer talk there are worthy discussions going on.
First, Jay Brooks’ wrapup on the beer bloggin’ brewhaha (it’s about ethics, but that would have screwed up my alliteration).
Pair that with the Wall Street Journal’s story about food blogs and free meals. Connect the dots.
Second, Alan McLeod wraps up a ménage à trois involving Ron Pattinson, Garrett Oliver and the Beer Advocate community (so it is a lot more than trois, plus Stonch was in there). I was already planning on pointing you to Ron’s original post, but much more fun broke out in the meantime.
Great stuff. That is if you are inclined to be thinking about beer today.
That WSJ article is interesting. I sure wish I didn’t live in Canada behind our border regulations and have little kids so I could take part in this graft economy everyone is talking about. Like the reviewers for the WSJ I have to depend on ads for their “free” food.
Sorry, but if you get this far south you’ll find a disappointing lack of graft.
Sorry, saw your picture and could only think of that 99 Luftballoons song I so loved once upon a time….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/99_Luftballons
Sounds like a good time close to home, and those simply can’t be beat.
Damn! With all the money in beer, why can’t the spare change float down to those that really deserve it!!!
I am still hunting out more photos of the illicit bling of beer bloggers before I do my full expose on our corruption. I can only think that your claims to regional purity are a front, Stan. Maybe you are taking it all in beer coasters but it is still pure evil.
Damn! With all the money in beer, why can’t the spare change float down to those that really deserve it!!!
I think much of the money being made in beer is by the breweries whose products you may not want to drink.
Recall that the discussion about Stella wasn’t whether to accept the coasters and poster but not to publicize beer you wouldn’t drink.