by Jason Meinen | Aug 14, 2015 | Beer, Music, Rant, Rave, Sports
The Modesto Nuts!
Well, I survived my first trip to Modesto (The Death Star…yes, George Lucas is from there)…barely. Let’s just put it this way, if Clara had made us live in Modesto…I’d already be back living in Wisconsin (and I’m being dead serious). I’d compare Modesto to a Wisconsin city, but I don’t want to offend any cities there (just think of your least favorite city in Wisconsin and times that by 10, and you’ll have Modesto). When one of your most popular bars is in a strip mall…you know you have problems (major problems). Thankfully, the Modesto Nuts game was fun (very similiar to a Lakeshore Chinooks game, but with less people). It was also Barefoot Tasting Night at the game (very refreshing¡)…I guess that was probably why we got free tickets (plus almost half of the entire crowd were Gallo employees…we also could have gotten a free Nuts hat). We even spent the night in Modesto at the Best Western Palm Court Inn…nothing like staying in a motel (Pitbull wasn’t there). Today, I got the much anticipated E&J Gallo tour (nothing like getting a tour from a recent college graduate). It was nice, but nothing too amazing (the history and production were impressive though…more of that please). I guess you could say, been there done that (when you’ve been on as many brewery tours as I have…you become desensitized to it all). Well, I survived, and safe to say, I probably won’t be going be back to Modesto anytime soon…maybe a Nuts game (I guess).
More: Special shout-out to our little buddy, Ari. Five years ago today (time flies), we went to the Wisconsin Humane Society just to look for a cat…and lo and behold, we came home with Ari. It’s been a blast having Ari in our family the last five years…he has definitely changed our lives (Ari has no trouble waking us up super early every morning…he’s like a kid), and more impressively he made it to California no problem at all (where he is living the life in our fenced in yard). Ari, enjoy an extra scoop of food on us tonight…hopefully the food coma will help you sleep an extra hour or two.
Ari’s (or Moo Moo’s) adoption photo.
Even more: Tomorrow we are making the trek to Russian River Brewing Company. There are no words that I can use to give this place the proper recognition it deserves. So, let’s just put it this way…it is going to be AWESOME! (I got the cooler all ready).
by Jason Meinen | Aug 12, 2015 | Music, Rave, Sports
Yeah, you could have said that about Dustin Johnson on the 72nd hole of the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Instead that is the theme (not this theme…that you’ll also hear plenty of this week) for the 2015 PGA Championship also held in Kohler/Sheboygan/Haven…check the by-lines, no one knows where Whistling Straits is actually located.
Nonetheless, it pains me to miss the Season’s Final Major…Glory’s Last Shot (I likely would have attended a round or two). I attended the 2004 and 2010 PGA Championships during practice and early rounds. The Straits Course is an amazing spectacle and the state of Wisconsin (Sheboygan County!) is lucky to host such a great event for the 3rd time (wait until the 2020 Ryder Cup). I have been lucky enough to play the Irish Course (thanks Jon) on the Fall leg of our annual Jackass Open Tournament (not sure if I’ll make it this year, Tim).
No. 1 (High Ground) on the Irish Course. Thankfully there was no Konica Minolta BizHub SwingVision camera around, as I missed the fairway to the right…badly.
So tomorrow (today) I’m looking forward to hunkering down and watching as much golf as possible (I finally have cable after many, (MANY) issues…f’ing Comcast) before I head to Modesto tomorrow night (my next blog post for sure). So, here are my picks for this week…Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, and Brooks Koepka (we’ll see if the Guys Weekend Invitational reads my blog…I’m posting early…no stealing my picks). I know I didn’t go out on a limb with these picks, but it would be epic to see Spieth, McIlroy, et al battle it out down the stretch like last year when McIlroy held off the likes of Mickelson, Fowler, and Stenson. As I tweeted at the conclusion of last year’s tournament…
No pressure, Herb!
If that can be topped…than this will have been major!
Note: I’d also settle for a DJ win (I don’t see that happening the way he’s been playing). Talk about major…redemption.
by Jason Meinen | Aug 6, 2015 | Beer, Music, Rave, Sports
I want to ride my bike (now that song will be stuck in your head). Seriously, it is so nice to have my bike back…even though it is not in tip-top shape (thanks moving company). Exploring a new city is best done on a bike. You can see so many things that you wouldn’t normally be able to take in while driving in a car and there are always cool bike trails to check out. So as I get acquainted to the Livermore area and find the fastest route to Altamont Beer Works, it is nice to have a little piece of home back…my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle!
Speaking of back home, yesterday I had the opportunity to meet up with a former student/athlete of mine, Jake. Jake was one of my really good jumpers from back in the day (he was actually pretty good at everything…especially pole vault) and is currently doing work out in Redding, California. Jake attended UW-Oshkosh and competed in track & field while there (I think I may have helped recruit him there). It was nice to catch up with him and reminisce about the glory days at good ol’ UW-Zero…especially over beers at 21st Amendment (Jake’s pick). I guess we learned something at Oshkosh…how to drink beer and find good breweries. And yes, that is back-to-back Wednesday’s spent at 21st Amendment. I guess you have to become a regular somewhere…right?
by Jason Meinen | Jul 26, 2015 | Music, Other, Rant, Rave, Sports
If you’ve seen the show Weeds on Showtime, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. The “little boxes” phenomenon is very prevalent in the Dublin, Pleasanton, and Livermore areas. It is very strange and frankly, just doesn’t look right. So with that to comprehend and a limited amount of rental housing (we just couldn’t do an apartment complex and can’t quite afford a home out here yet), our exhaustive search appears to finally be over. We received a phone call this evening confirming our selection…yes, it is that competitive in terms of home rentals out here (there are few options and the good ones are scooped up right away). So for the next year, we are happy to say that we will be calling Livermore, California our home. (Ironically, today’s Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, Randy Johnson – the Big Unit, graduated from Livermore High School…a did you know tidbit). We’ll iron out the full details tomorrow and hopefully be moving into our place rather soon. Our temporary housing has been acceptable, but we really miss our household items…especially our comfortable bed. So hopefully next weekend at this time we’ll be all moved into our own “little box.”
by Jason Meinen | Jul 25, 2015 | Music, Rave
Happy Anniversary to my beautiful wife! I can’t believe it’s already been 6 years…and now, here we are, living in California. It’s been an amazing journey, and likely to be even more adventurous in our new place we call home. Now, let’s go hit San Francisco (The City) and celebrate.
Love you!
Here’s a little Bob Matthews for you as well…as it is “Dave Day” back in Wisconsin.
by Jason Meinen | Jul 18, 2015 | Music, Other, Rave
We’re all here…safe and sound! We arrived late last night…after what seemed like the longest flight from MKE to SFO, the longest car rental line ever, having to navigate construction on the ride from the airport to our temporary housing in Pleasanton, AND the fun of trying to find said housing at almost 1am. It was quite eventful! But through it all, Ari was purrfect (sorry)! He never said one peep. He was such a trooper and we’re very proud of him. All told, he spent about 10 hours in his carrier. Now we are all trying to adjust to our new surroundings and catch up on sleep.
More details to come later.
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.
