Categories
Beer Music Work

Louis XIV and Editors

Tonight Kelly and I went to see the Editors show at Roseland, with Louis XIV opening. After I left the office I met Kelly at Shanghai Tunnel, which turned out to be less than great. The bartender woman was in an obviously foul mood and made no attempt to be even superficially friendly. And despite how empty it was (there were about six people in the entire place) the music was cranked up to 11, so loud Kelly and I had to yell to talk to each other. I finished my pint of Guinness and then we left and went down the street to the Thirsty Lion where, despite how crowded it was, and the TV’s all playing a soccer match, it was still half as loud as Shanghai. We had a meal there, and another pint before walking up to the venue.

Louis XIV at Roseland, Portland OR We got to the Roseland early enough to sit in the downstairs bar and share a beer before we went upstairs. It was pretty empty so we got a couple seats in the balcony. The Louis XIV show was really fun. I liked their first album a lot, I liked the raunchy, innuendo-filled lyrics, the rock vibe, etc, and the show was a lot of fun. It was a refreshing show to see, with lead singer Jason Hill strutting around the stage like he was Mick Jagger, and the violinists adding a touch of larger-than-life. Just fun. There is a track from the new album, Air Traffic Control, which I already liked, but the live version was a great deal more powerful (nearly brought a tear to my eye).

Editors at Roseland, Portland OR After a long break between sets as the stage got reset, Editors came on stage and played a really strong show. This was the third time Kelly and I had seen them (the first, at Dante’s, and the second at Berbati’s Pan). Each time they get stronger, and this show was no different. It was a really great show, energy from lead singer Tom Smith was at full, at times running around the stage, crawling / standing on his piano, etc. Excellent show all around.

We left and it was pouring down rain, so the walk (no, run) from to our car was just far enough that we got pretty drenched. Even that though, after the show, was fun. 🙂

Categories
Beer Work

Kelly job news!

After a hard day of work (today was particularly exhausting, mentally) Kelly and I met up at Rose & Thistle for a couple well-deserved pints.

Shortly after getting home, I was sitting in my man-cave (the garage) with a beer and my laptop when Kelly literally BURST in to announce she’d received an email offering her a job she was hoping for! This is, hands down, the most fantastic news for her, and I couldn’t be happier. Assuming she accepts the offer, she’ll be working downtown (for the first time in several years) not far from the SuperSweetCo offices (for now anyway, until we move to a new building). While she still has nearly two months left before she finishes her Masters program, I’m sure she’ll be able to finish the program while learning the ropes at a brand new job.

All together now: Congratulations Kelly!

Categories
Beer Entertainment Food Movies

The Golden Compass

Following my previous post, Kelly and I just saw The Golden Compass at Kennedy School. Well, Kelly had already seen it, but wanted to see it again with me since I’d just finished reading the book.

I enjoyed the film, despite how different it was from the book. There were some things that did bother me; first, the switcheroo they did with Bolvanger and Iorek’s big fight, and second, the fact that they didn’t finish the film with the cliffhanger ending the book had. I suspect they changed things with the assumption that they would reveal those events in the sequel. In fact, I suspect they altered the order of events knowing they weren’t going to wrap things up the same way the book did, and the Bolvanger fight made for a more climactic ending. The film was, however, true enough to the book that even though the order of events (and some of the story) had been altered, it wasn’t disruptive. The casting choices, sets, costumes, and visual style all fit what I saw in my head while reading the book. If anything I was surprised rather than annoyed at the differences.

In the end, I enjoyed The Golden Compass, and I hope the last two books get made. It was no Lord of the Rings, but it was good, and better than 99% of what’s pumped out of Hollywood year after year.

After the movie we suck around Kennedy School for another hour or so, had another beer and some pizza and discussed the movie before heading back home.

Categories
Beer Movies Work

Weekend Update

Good weekend so far (now that it’s almost over). Kelly made it back Friday, about mid-morning. We met up at Rose & Thistle after I got off work and had a couple pints and caught up on each other’s week. Afterward we left and buzzed up to Moon & Sixpence, Kelly wanted a particular beer (Hale’s Cream Ale) which I swore they had, but was mistaken. We stayed anyway, and I was glad we did… they now have (and it may be a regular beer, apparently) Old Speckled Hen! It’s a beer I have whenever I go to Horse Brass, and I had loads of it on our last trip to London. Had a couple pints of it and some food before we went home. Kelly was exhausted as she didn’t sleep well while at her sister’s place.

Saturday we went out to my folks place for a belated birthday dinner for my kid bro (Happy Birthday C!). We both ate WAY too much, but it was all good. Got home early (around 9:30) and decided to stay in. We both ended up dozing off in the living room watching Psych off of our DVR.

Slept until 10am today, surfed the web for a bit and then played a few hours of Call of Duty 4. Now I’m at Kennedy School (Kelly just met me here after working out) and we’re going to go see The Golden Compass at the theater here (can’t beat a $3.00 movie, and beer, and pizza). I just finished reading the book last week, so the timing of it coming to Kennedy School couldn’t be better. Might write something about it afterwards.

Categories
Beer Entertainment Work

Tun night, Work day

Yesterday afternoon (about 3:30) the development team at SuperSweetCo were treated to a couple hours at Ground Kontrol (yes, on top of the dinner thing last night). Pretty fun, though I wasn’t fully in the mood to leave the office when we did, as I was getting work done and had a lot more to do. That said, I got to play some Discs of Tron, some fun sit-down car racing games, and some old Star Trek and Doctor Who pinball machines.

After leaving the arcade I hopped a bus to meet my friend Miranda at Mash Tun. I arrived early and surfed a bit (free wifi, hooray!) and had a pint of the Tun’s delicious Watership Brown ales before Miranda arrived. Later we were joined by my friends (and ex-coworkers) Jenn and Lara & Todd. Had a fun time out, and it was good to catch up. Jenn mentions the night here.

Today was a busy but productive work day. Worked until about 6:30pm before catching my bus home. Kelly’s still up north helping her sister after her surgery, so I’m kind of ‘hanging out’ on my own. Just me and the cat. Chillin.