Another Strange Brew

Well, this was installment #6 of Strange Brew (I think) -- but we have only kept notes at three of them. This is the third of those. We had a lovely man's meal of grilled brats, steak and chicken, complemented by french fries and asparagus. Those present were Ryan Gibbons (host), Hector Santiago, Jonathon Pratt, Robert Ortega, Keith Bailey, Aaron Williams, Michael Walker (Dr. Pepper member).

After dinner we headed to Central Market in Ft. Worth, where we picked out all the beers, as well as a couple of 6-packs of Dublin Dr. Pepper for Michael, who is still just 20. This was our best batch of beers and ciders yet -- we didn't have any zeroes or below -- that is a strange brew first. A good time was had by all as the weather was perfect and so was the company.

Here were the top 5 brews...
1. Woodchuck Raspberry Cider -- 3.93
2. Melbourne Strawberry Beer -- 3.71
3. Wyder’s Dry Apple Cider -- 3.50
4. Great Divide St. Bridges Robust Porter -- 2.93
5. Edelweiss Berry Weiss Beer -- 2.79

Orval Trappist Ale -- 2.64
Fireman’s Blonde Ale -- 2.64
Cassis Lambic Belgian Beer (Black Currant) -- 2.64
Wells Bombardier English Premium Ale -- 2.64
Harp Lager -- 2.57
Hornsby’s Hard Cider -- 2.57
Pranquster Belgian Style Golden Ale -- 2.43
Chimay Triple -- 2.36
Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale -- 2.14
Monty Python Holy Grail Ale -- 2.00

Cave Creek Chili Beer -- 1.86 (Had a chili pepper IN the bottle!)
Full Sail Wassail -- 1.86
Tommyknocker Jack Whacker -- 1.79 (much higher than other types of Tommy Knocker beer we have rated)
Tsingtao -- 0.79

Animal Kingdom is Incomparable

We have to say that Animal Kingdom gets our vote as best park at WDW. It has great shows, the best educational opportunites, great rides AND it's the newest park. We would HIGHLY recommend visiting Animal Kingdom if you come to Orlando -- in fact, start there like we did -- we don't think you'll be disappointed. The most amazing part is how close you can come to the animals -- better than any zoo we have been to, and with Nathan on the scene -- boy, have we been to some zoos!

Ryan has style?

Drummin' at Epcot

Last Day at Disney World

With Lily coughing up a storm, we set out for a final day at the Parks, starting at Epcot on Living with the Land and The Seas with Nemo. Both were ok, and we picked up a fastpass for Soarin', but what did Nate want to do? Go back to the World Showcase! So, we went and had lunch at the 9 Dragons (today is Chinese New Year) and around to the Maelstrom ride in Norway. We decided to hop to the Animal Kingdom to hit the Nemo stage show, but first Nate had to go through each country (the only 9 year old who WANTS to go to the World Showcase!). The Nemo show at Animal Kingdom is a HUGE production with animotronic puppets as well as live actors and tons of special effects. We were sad to have missed that show when we went to AK and thankful to have chosen the park hopper option that allowed us to go back and check it out. At that point Nathan decided that he was done, and so we bid sayonara to WDW, and came home so I could go pick up another prescription for Lily at the Walgreens down the street. It has been a great vacation -- one to never be forgotten -- but we are ready to head home and see friends and family once again. Much love to you all...

Ryan

Playhouse Disney

This was a great show, but we had to sit on the floor -- and I had one child or another in my lap the whole time. Right now I have muscles that hurt I never knew I had.

MGM -- oops, I mean Hollywood Studios

We took it easy this morning and went to the artist formerly known as Disney-MGM Studios, now known as Disney-Hollywood Studios (although most of their signs haven't caught up yet, either!). We saw the
High School Musical Show, and Nate provided us with his self-titled 'Red Hot Pepper Dance' -- I almost fell out laughing.

We went on to see the Playhouse Disney show, and then Nate and I went to our favorite thing at Disney. We saw a short but very funny film about Animation (a lot about 'Ratatouille') and then went into an actual drawing class where we each had our own light table and learned how to draw Pluto (wish I had a scanner here to show the drawings) -- it was AWESOME! Then, in classic Disney fashion, as we left we were funneled into a shop, where Nate found and purchased a book called 'The Art of Ratatouille', which showed a lot of the original sketches and creative processes behind the animation in Ratatouille -- thanks to Mr. Don and Miss Susie -- your disney bucks helped Nate purchase the book.

On the down side, Lily's cough worsened and we called the doctor again. So, on our last day here, Lily and I may have to stay here at the vacation house. In reality, there is a 60% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, so there may not be a lot of good Disney time to begin with. Friday we come home (Brian and I will return Saturday evening)...looking forward to seeing all of you.

Ryan

'Nuff Said

PhilharMagic 3-D Show

Here is a deep philosophical question we need Robert, Brian, Jamie or Jonny to plumb the depths of...can you look hot wearing 3D glasses? What is the appropriate outfit to wear with 3D glasses? Should you accessorize -- or does bling clash with the glasses?

Stroller?

Who needs a stroller when you have a daddy? Plus, Lily asks me if she can mess up my hair -- how much fun is that?

The greatest picture ever

I should probably send this picture to Disney -- because it captures everything they seem to be good at. This is Lily's first glimpse at 'It's A Small World.' Priceless.

Space Mountain and La Nouba - AWESOME!

We spent an AWESOME Tuesday at Magic Kingdom...Nate wanted to ride Space Mountain, so Lily and I went and fastpassed Peter Pan while they nervously approached the largest roller coaster Nate had EVER been on - and the biggest one Amy had ridden in a long time. Nate was so giddy afterward that he couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes after the ride.

If you ever come to Disney, you have to attend PhilharMagic -- the most amazing 3D show I've ever seen. We had lunch at the Crystal Palace, where they have Disney Characters come to your table -- we had Piglet, Eeyore, Pooh and Tigger -- Lily even loved it and hugged the characters.

After Lunch, Nate and Amy rode Space Mountain one more time, and then we headed home for a nap. Amy felt cheated for not riding on Pirates of the Caribbean, so we headed back last night, primarily so we could hit that one ride. They have done some serious updating since I last saw the ride...Johnny Depp is plastered all over it!

The last event of the evening was La Nouba -- Juice, you were so right -- it is one of the bets things I've ever seen! Plus, we were in the 5th row!!! Everyone's favorite are these little juggling Chinese acrobat girls...some unbelievable stuff they can do! If you ever get the chance, go and see La Nouba!! We are taking it easy Wednesday morning, and heading in to MGM in the afternoon -- and we close withe Epcot and whatever we missed on Thursday. Love to you all!

Lily and the Holy Land

Well, for those of you who have been concerned and praying for Lily, her fever seems to have gone away and we are all planing to go to the Magic Kingdom tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers -- it was a little tense for about 24 hours there. ter She is still coughing a little bit, but overall seems to be much better.

Today, Amy, Nate and Lily chilled at our vacation house and I went for a couple of hours to the Holy Land Adventure here in Orlando. Kudos to Juice for suggesting it...there are some really worthwhile sights there. It is also one of the homes of Trinity Broadcasting Network, and I saw one of their hosts today -- she seriously wears as much makeup as Tammy Faye Bakker -- it was BAD!

They have a lifelike reproduction of the Tabernacle, as well as this huge model of Jerusalem built to scale. They have also have a world renowned collection of early Biblical manuscripts, set up in a unique format which went from early manuscripts up through Wycliffe and Tyndale. Fascinating for a geek like me.

We are planning on a big day tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom and then Amy and I are attending...(drum roll, please!)...the 9pm performance of La Nouba, the Cirque Du Soleil show here at Disney. Should be a GREAT day!

Oh, and for those who know and love him...Nathan would officially like to go home (smile)!

A word on the Super Bowl

Because I'm at Disney I didn't see the whole Super Bowl but just the fourth quarter (by far the most exciting part of the game apparently) -- and I just want to sound off on one thing, 'cause I'm not around my boys to talk sports.

I was listening to sports talk radio here in Orlando this morning, and I am so thankful that last night Bill Belichick showed EVERYONE what a lizard he is, by leaving the field BEFORE the Super Bowl was over. So now, BILL, you have snubbed Peyton AND Eli, who BOTH KICKED YOUR BUTT!!! They all were calling him out here, and I hope they are calling him out in EVERY CITY IN AMERICA!

What a glorious moment to see Bill, wearing that IDIOTIC sweatshirt (looked like he hacked the sleeves off with a pair of kindergarten scissors) trotting off the field, BEFORE THE GAME WAS OVER!!

Then, I find out he has been CAUGHT CHEATING AGAIN! WHAT A LOSER! Thank you, Bill for showing America exactly how classless you really are!

Nate at 9 Dragons

I think this was Nate's favorite meal in a long time.

Sunday at Epcot

Well, Lily got sick (sadness!)...so she and Amy didn't get to go today -- so it was just Dad and Nate. We started off at 9 Dragons Restaurant in China for lunch (Nate nearly licked his plate clean he thought it was so good!) and then we proceeded to go to the ENTIRE World Showcase (Nate wanted to pick out a gift for Lily since she was sick - he is SO sweet!) and finished off the day at Innoventions, where Nate was able to make paper and then went into a virtual reality zone where he got to design his own robot and then race it (he finished 2nd!). After the virtual race they took you into another area where you could create your own plastic robot and take home with you (do ya think Nate liked that?).

We did a little shopping in Epcot (Nate wasn't thrilled with that - he's like his pops, a serious ANTI-shopper) and overall had a great day. His stamina wasn't as strong on the second day of touring and so we only stayed about 3-4 hours then came home. Nate wrapped up the day in our heated pool and is currently watching a DVD in his room. Lily is up and down, fighting a fever all day, but our doctor says we're already doing everything we can -- she is on an antibiotic already for something else. Just pray for us. We love you all!

We almost died...

There is something about me and wildlife creating near death scenarios while on vacation. This is all I could get of the Crane that almost took us out during the 'Flights of Wonder' show at Animal Kingdom. (For those if you who don't know what I'm talking about, look down to my trip with Robert, JP and Pick this past Summer)

Saturday - Animal Kingdom

WOW! For animal loving children like mine, how cool is Disney's Animal Kingdom? We took a safari through the wilderness to see live Elephants, Wildebeasts, Hippos (one was running!), Ostriches and a variety of deer, Alligators and other animals I saw when I went on a real African Safari in 1998. We took two walking trails through a variety of animals including the ever popular Naked Mole Rats. We saw the Lion King Stage Show - which is the most awesome Amusement Park Show ever!

We ate at Yak and Yeti (a brand new Asian restaurant) - and it was a GREAT experience! We also saw a bird show called Flights of Wonder, where a Crane swooped DIRECTLY over us and made us duck! Unfortunately, Lily developed a fever in the afternoon (more about that on Sunday's blog!) and so we didn't make it to the Rainforest Café for dinner.

Nathan was a real trooper and we did a WHOLE day at a theme park - A NEW HEIGHT for him! Hope you are all well...it is 80+ degrees and I am sweating!

Dad and kids at Animal Kingdom

We had a GREAT day at Animal Kingdom!

Thanks to Ted and Deanna

This was Nate at his first Magic Kingdom parade - he was entranced!

Driving by yourself...

Have you ever driven somewhere by yourself or where you were the only driver? This is what that looks like for me...

Traveling to Florida

So the South can be pretty boring to drive through.

Shreveport. Monroe. Vicksburg. Jackson. Meridian.

Then an abismally boring 2 lane road from Meridian, MS to Mobile, AL.

Rain. Clouds. Trucks.

Blah.

At times Nathan could be so quiet in the back that I would forget he was there. Minutes (Sometimes hours) would go by, and he would *sneeze* or something and I would just about jump out of my skin until I remembered he was back there.

Nate was a real trooper and we made it all the way into Orlando just fine tonight. Arrived about 8:30pm cst, and found the WAY COOL place we are staying. We will pick up the Howard's and Amy / Lily at the airport tomorrow morning, and away we go!

Another Strange Brew

Because everyone cannot make it to each Strange Brew, we have not kept notes on each event (I think we are up to 5 or 6 now). However, this one was held while some of our wives were on a ladies retreat over at Ryan's house. We had brats, steak and chicken, as well as grilled veggies, potatoes, bread and other stuff. Those members present were: Mr, Ryan Gibbons, Mr. Greg Foster, Mr. Aaron Williams, Mr. Brian Pickard, Mr. Robert Ortega, Mr. Ronnie Tibbs (and his cousin Kevin) and Mr. Keith Bailey.

A good time was had by all and Mr. Foster graciously purchased all the beer. Here are the ratings for the evening:
* Blackthorn -- 3.0
* Ur-Weisse Ayinger -- 2.9
* Spaten Optimator -- 2.5
* Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse -- 2.4
* Spaten Premium -- 2.2
* Dundee's Honey -- 2.2
* Weihenshtephaner -- 2.0
* Harbin -- 1.4
* Samuel Smith Winter Welcome Ale -- 1.4
* Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout -- 1.3
* Pacifico Clara -- 1.25
* Saison Dupont -- 0.7
* Fuller's 1845 -- 0.4
* Young's Special London Ale -- 0.0
* Arrogant Bastard Ale -- (-1.0)