by Jason Meinen | Jul 28, 2015 | Beer, Food, Rave, Sports
Today marks the official kick-off to the NFL season for me. Today is the Green Bay Packers Shareholders Meeting. While I am disappointed that I will not be able to attend the meeting in person (you have no idea how much it pains me to miss this event)…you better believe that I will be streaming the meeting on my computer. Mike and Ryan, you guys better be doing the same, since you have decided not to make the trek to Green Bay (sorry I had to break up our streak…I really could have gone for a steak sandwich at the Courthouse Pub along with the multiple refreshment stops along the way). So start airing your grievances and let the season begin! Super Bowl L here we come (conveniently located in Santa Clara, California…it’s got to be fate)! GO PACK GO!!!
More…check out the sweet new throwback uniforms leaked last night. They look awesome!
by Jason Meinen | Jul 20, 2015 | Beer, Rant, Rave, Sports
Well, we survived our first weekend in California. After sleeping in on Saturday (kind of), we ran some errands so that our temporary home (apartment actually) has all the amenities that we need to survive over the next couple of weeks. The Pleasanton Farmers’ Market, Target, Costco, Walmart, Safeway…all we missed was Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond and we would have had a nice little Saturday…just ran out of time I guess.
We also spent some time driving around looking for an apartment this weekend…as our searching has been done exclusively on the Interweb since our visit in early June. This has become a very daunting task. Pictures online never paint the true picture of what these places actually look like. Everything is small and expensive…and in a lot of cases, not very impressive. We aren’t sold on the apartment complex idea either and would rather find a home that we can rent, but getting in touch with people has become quite the process as well. Hopefully in the next week (fingers crossed) we will find something. While our temporary housing (apartment) is fine, it is temporary and it just doesn’t feel like home, and besides…Ari misses all of our furniture!
On Sunday afternoon, after some more house rental hunting, we decided to have a little fun and did a wine tasting at Wente. The wine was great and the complex was really nice. And because Altamont Beer Works was super close by, we had to make a stop there…I really dig this place and their brew. And it just wouldn’t be California if we didn’t hit In-N-Out Burger, so we closed out our Sunday there. All in all, a nice start to our California adventure.
Tidbits…I was able to stream the Brett Favre Packers Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday night (thank God for technology). It was really good stuff, and I could have listened to Holmgren, Winters, and Favre tell stories all night. In the end, this is what life is truly all about…not the wins and losses (remind me of that during the season). And I would be remiss, if I didn’t mention how much I miss Jim Irwin and Max McGee calling games…I absolutely loved their calls during the highlights portion of the program. It brought back so many great memories. Also, in case you haven’t noticed, the Brewers are undefeated since we left Wisconsin. I’m taking all the credit for this, but I have to ask…when are the trades going to start happening? Seriously! Lastly, I’m addicted to the show Ballers on HBO…I’m not sure if it is even that good of a show, but I can’t stop watching. I love Ricky Jerret! It has become my new summer addiction show.
And now, time to settle in for the conclusion of The Open Championship. Spiethslam?
by Jason Meinen | Jul 17, 2015 | Beer, Food, Other, Rave
No, it’s REALLY happening! The cars got loaded up today and we shall see them again on July 30th…that’s right, TWO weeks from today we will get them out in California. I don’t want to know what happens with our vehicles between now and then, but just get them to California in one piece please!
The house got packed up today as well (tomorrow everything gets loaded up in a truck). Three gentlemen (in between several smoke breaks) completed this task in around six hours…they really had things down to a system. I had no idea that our stuff would fit into so many boxes. I’m just glad I didn’t have to do all of that packing, but I was informed that I will have to do all the unpacking…which I’m already dreading. Meanwhile, our cat Ari is loving his new jungle gym…jumping around from box to box. Speaking of Ari, tomorrow is his big day…as he will be flying with us on the airplane. Doesn’t this look like the most comfortable seat…for 6-8 hours!
We are hoping Ari will be a trooper and will have no problems getting to the airport, getting checked in at the airport, flying 4 hours from MKE to SFO, the craziness of baggage claim, the fun of getting our rental car, and finally driving to our temporary housing…this is GUARANTEED to be QUITE the interesting experience.
And now, here I am…sitting on my couch, staring at my 52-inch high definition television that is in it’s box.
All I can do is ponder the last couple of days/weeks…it is has been quite the whirlwind. Thank you everyone for all the kind words, thoughts, and positive vibes. We appreciate all of your friendships and you will all be missed. Special thanks to my mom and sister for going out with Clara and I one final time this evening. It was great and we will certainly miss you guys the most.
And with that…I am going to enjoy one final beer (or two) at 245 Pine Street. Cheers all!
Update: The moving semi has arrived and the loading has begun.
by Jason Meinen | Jul 14, 2015 | Beer, Food, Music, Rave, Sports
It was a good day (cue Ice Cube)! Yesterday I had the opportunity to have one final breakfast with the Assholes + Carla (the Assholes know who they are). This group of misfits (myself included) have a very special bond and I am going to miss working and hanging out with each of them. I can only hope that in my next job, I will be lucky enough to have colleagues just like them. I’m going to miss the Seinfeld-type banter that this group has, but I’m sure I’ll keep in touch as our group text messages are a LOGICAL sounding board when you need an escape from reality.
After breakfast I was lucky enough to get in one final round of golfing with my dad. I’m going to miss being able to get a round of golf in with my dad (plus Ken sometimes) during the summer months. It was the perfect day yesterday, the weather cooperated, the slower group let us play through, and I had the ball rolling for a bit on the front nine. So while we won’t be able to golf together as much, I’ll definitely cherish the rounds we had together, and maybe I could even be convinced to do a fishing trip to Canada in the future…we shall see. Either way, it may be time for my dad to invest in a golf travel bag (or borrow Uncle Jim’s) so that we can play some rounds in California…during the winter months. FORE!
To conclude the day, Clara and I had dinner with J Hawley. It was nice to catch up and talk Badgers and Packers. John and I have known each other for almost 20 years, as we met after…I allowed occupants in my vehicle to fire missiles at another moving vehicle. During that time, John has seen me grow up (a little, I hope) and it’s nice to continue our friendship even when our lives become busy and we sometimes drift apart. Hopefully we can get together sooner rather than later in California…or at the nearest Badgers or Packers event.
I got to say, today (yesterday…sorry, I watched the Home Run Derby last night) was a good day!
More: Thanks for the Reese’s Carla…they are going fast and probably won’t make it to California.
by Jason Meinen | Jul 13, 2015 | Beer, Food, Music, Rave
And what a weekend it was! From golfing Friday afternoon to steaks at Five O’Clock Steakhouse to bar dice at the Country Club to fist pumping/shoulder shrugging at Joe-Cat’s…it was awesome and everything I could have asked for in my last stand…MKE style. Thanks fellas!
Saturday was just as perfect as we got the opportunity to throw one last bash at our house. Thanks to all of our family and friends that attended…it means so much to us, and we are so thankful that we have each and every one of you in our lives. Please stay in touch and please make sure you come and visit us in California.
It is all starting to get real now, as these are our final days in Wisconsin (our flight leaves Friday evening). The emotions are starting to get real too as we say our goodbyes. It’s gonna be a tough week ahead, but thanks again for sending us off in style for our final weekend in Wisconsin…until September.
by Jason Meinen | Jul 1, 2015 | Beer, Music, Rant, Sports
Nothing like a little Bone Thug-N-Harmony to ring in July 1st. At least that is the song I assume played in every NBA front office as free agency officially got underway at 12:01 am EST. And wouldn’t you know it…Al-Farouq Aminu was the first player off the board for 4 years 30 million to Portland. Not bad for a guy that averaged 5.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg last year and was the 8th overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. There is bound to be even crazier money to be thrown around over the course of the next couple of days. The NBA loves their guaranteed contracts.
Speaking of contracts, congratulations to Bobby Bonilla for cashing in on another 1.2 million dollars today on what is unofficially know as Bobby Bonilla Day in New York. Towards the end of Bonilla’s playing career, the New York Mets agreed to pay him $1,193,248.20 annually on July 1st for 25 years, beginning in 2011…instead of paying him the 5.9 million that he was actually owed. Not a bad deal for a guy that hasn’t played in a major league game in over 5,700+ days!
Lastly, July 1st means that I’ve reached the halfway point of my Untappd challenge. It’s not really a challenge as much as it is to see how many total beers I can assume in 2015. My goal for 2015 was 1,000 beers. Well, halfway through 2015, my total now stands at…514. I don’t know if I should be proud or alarmed. Anyways, remember to always drink responsibly.
