Microbrews in the Northwest

One reason I love the Pacific Northwest is all the incredible microbreweries that exist out there.  They also have quite the jones for IPAs.  I'm still acquiring my taste buds to those extra hoppin' brews.  Sidenote: Seattle, Washington has a whole week dedicated to beer, can you believe this?!! Sounds amazing and like I should RSVP tomorrow! Not until May though...I'll keep ya posted on my attendance.  

Cold weather means perfect time for a good porter! That's exactly what I had my fair share of on my last visit to the Seattle/Tacoma area. 

 

Naked City Brewery& Pub

First was a sampler at the Naked City Brewery & Taphouse .  From left to right were the following:

Naked City Duplicity

Naked City Betsey's Mountain Amber

Naked City Podunk IPA

Naked City Boo Radley Pumpkin Ale

Naked City Pinkerton Porter

Naked City Dobb's Gold

One of my favorites was the Podunk IPA (surprisingly), it was an oatmeal IPA which was different, but extremely flavorful despite the hops.  Also, the Boo Radley Pumpkin Ale, probably because it's that time of year.  Least favorite: Dobb's Gold and the Pinkerton Porter.  I just was not impressed with those two.  

The twelve beers of the Apocalypse

Afterward came Tangletown and a beer or two there.  I had the Omen Raspberry Stout.  It was perfect for the cold weather and only slightly sweet.  Rich, but not too rich and definitely filling like a meal.

The Omen

My Omen and Peter Pan collar

Last stop was at Chuck's Hop Shop, such a neat place.  Not quite a bar, but definitely a hip feel.  They serve you a pint in a mason jar glass, so very southern of them.  I wish I could remember the name of the beer I had, all I know is that it was the best chocolate stout I've had yet.  Mine is on the right in the picture below.  

At Chuck's Hop Shop

So, you failed.

I am so unbelievably tired of working.  Yes, I have had a full on working weekend.  Things are just getting so busy towards the second half of the semester.  My classes this year are just a semester long so it is officially crunch time.

Here is a play by play of my weekend just to give you an idea of what it looked like:

Friday: I stayed after school until approximately 4:30pm for a student to make up some work.  Meanwhile I attempted to do some work of my own.  When I came home I made a large cup of coffee and I sat on my front porch as the cold front came in.  It was wonderful to just sit in the cold on my rocking chair breathing in fall.  Around 6:30pm it quickly became too much to bear and I went inside and attempted to focus on my graduate school essays.  I did not allow myself to eat dinner until I had finished writing.  That turned into seven pages too long and a pizza order at 8pm.  I felt quite productive and put on my happy hat (literally).

Saturday: I went to school and worked on my lesson plans for the week up until about 4pm.  When I got home I showered and prepared for a little fall party we hosted for our lovely neighbors.  The chilly weather called for some corn bread and chili (leftovers for dinner tonight), pumpkin pie, and pumpkin carving.  We were ever so festive and I had a pumpkin beer to go with it all.

Happy Halloween!
From left to right: a witch, a fleur de lis, a skull and cross bones, a jack-o-lantern

A hearty bowl of vegetarian slow-cooked chili with cornbread mmmm

The ladies working hard on the pumpkins.

Today: I have literally been grading tests (the same tests I might add) since 12pm and am not finished.  I decided to stop because of how unsuccessful I currently feel.  Most of my students completely bombed their unit three exam and I feel like I have failed them as a teacher.  I started thinking about what I did wrong and why most of them failed this exam.  It is a downward spiral from there and I need to think positive thoughts so I have decided to finish my last bundle of tests in an hour and/or tomorrow.  I cannot tell you just how disappointing it is see results like this when you feel like you have been working as hard as you have at your job.  I can also tell you that his is not uncommon for those working in schools like mine.  Rather than looking at all of the circumstances I immediately begin blaming myself.  I hate to make excuses and by looking at other factors I feel like that is exactly what I am doing.  

I'm just trying to find a balance between my job, which seems to take over my life sometimes, and talking to my friends and family.  If you fall into one of those two categories and you feel neglected lately I apologize deeply.  I am going to attempt and do better about that within the next two weeks.  I also really need to attempt and meet my personal deadline for the UW-Grad School application.  I know I still have time, but I'd like to have it taken care of a good three weeks before it is actually due.  This essay needs to be perfected before anything else can happen.

Here's to hoping this last week of October is not as crazy as my weekend was.  Expect a Halloween post if our internet is up and running. Happy Halloween Week! 

I'll leave y'all with a little something to cheer up this post. I'm sure y'all have seen this already, but it's such a feel-good thing to watch.  

Anyway

Perfect rainbow in Tacoma, Washington yesterday

Back in the south already my friends.  I sure miss Washington already, and I can only hope that a move there is in my future.  As I begin my week I would like to share some words that have been on my mind the past couple of days.  I heard this poem/prayer back in college and it inspires growth through risk taking.  I think that the fight for social justice requires courage and perseverance, and sometimes we need a little reminder to fight anyway.

People are often unreasonable,

illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of

Selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you successful, you will win some

False friend and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank,

People may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,

Someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,

They may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,

People will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,

And it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis,

It is between you and God;

It never was between you and them anyway.

- Mother Teresa of Calcutta -