I Hate to Love Sports

Sometimes I wear a shirt with a number and someone else's name on it. That's not the worst part. Sometimes I sit on my couch, get angry, and yell swear words at the person who's name is on the back of my shirt. That's the worst part.

I love the Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, and White Sox. I love them because I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and my dad loves them. Basically, the same reasons I love my sister. That was a joke, she disappoints me a lot less.

This is where the problem starts. I love them irrationally and unconditionally, which means my emotions hit the extremes. The level of my happiness has a direct relation with the day-to-day game-playing ability of strangers who make millions of dollars and wear my favorite shirt. Damn, it sounds even more ridiculous when I type it.

When I think about it, loving dudes who wear my favorite shirt and who are among the best at what they do with balls of various sizes and shapes isn't the problem. These are the real problems:

1. Irrational hatred. I throw things, say hurtful things to friends, argue and pout like a child. Lebron James, Chicago Cubs, Green Bay Packers, teams from Detroit among others have caused these same reactions from me. How dare these millionaires with families wear a shirt that's not my favorite? More importantly, how dare my friends like those shirts and wear them in my presence? Idiots.

2. The suckiest bunch of sucks that have ever sucked. Sometimes you really want to wear you favorite shirt, but it's dirty and needs to washed. That sucks. It sucks more when it takes years to clean the shirt and for some crazy reason, you spend money to watch the entire spin cycle. Will the White Sox be better next year? Will I still care? Probably.

Who knows?

3. Why should I do things when I can watch others do things? I'd love to go meet new people, sky dive, go to that concert. How can I do those things when other humans are on TV playing a game wearing a shirt that says Chicago against some weirdos wearing shirts that say Boston? My life can wait.

4. $8 beers, $5 hot dogs, $70 nose bleed seats, $20 parking, traffic. Worth it!

October 26, 2005: one of the greatest nights of my life. The White Sox won the World Series! My dad, my friends, the strangers in the white and black hats and shirts - all one. We smiled, drank beer, cheered, gave high fives, and hugged. All because we love the same talented millionaires.

Sometimes things don't make sense. I don't think I hate to love sports.

                                          Kiss the ring!

17 Reasons Why I Need a Beer

Some days make you really want beer. Today is one of those days. It's the same as any other day, except my brain decided to have Jedi-like focus on the crap that drives me crazy. Bottom line is I haven't blogged in over a year despite countless unfinished drafts, and I figured a good place to start is by blogging a list of the usual things that piss me off and make me crave a Beer Recess with a cold IPA. 

Anyway, here are some of the everyday things that grind my gears.(I never said I was rational; This is just the way my brain works.):

1. That my dog scratches her nails on a chalkboard (that's what her high-pitched whine sounds like) from 12AM - 6AM, and then when my alarm goes off at 6:30AM she climbs onto my pillow and falls asleep before I can turn the water on in the shower.
2. That no matter how prepared I get the night before for the morning or how early I wake up, I will always be 10 minutes late for work. Where does my sock go? Why can't I remember my computer bag before I get down 2 flights of stairs? Why does my computer bag get caught on the door knob on the way out? Don't even get me started on my car keys.
3. That people hit their brakes when merging onto the highway. It's a speed UP lane! The point is to merge into the flow of traffic, not to go 15 under the speed limit so you can carefully place yourself in between two cars, leaving the five cars behind you 300 ft. to get over before the lane ends.
4. That cops would rather go on a witch hunt to catch speeders who are on their way to work than try to prevent speeding in the first place. Hey, cops, when you strategically place your car out-of-sight of motorists you are baiting them to speed. If you put yourself in view, you'd encourage drivers to drive safely in the first place. 
5. People that leave their shopping carts in empty parking spaces! Anyone ever had the wind blow a shopping cart into their parked car? Let me tell you: It SUCKS! 
6. When people walk extremely slow on the side walk or in a grocery store and can't stay in a straight line. I'm a naturally fast walker and I don't care if you walk slow, but stop aimlessly angling to the left so that I can pass you. PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS!
7. Any time the reason for something is "because." A free-thinking adult should know the reason for why they are doing something. Otherwise, we might as well be robots.
8. Regular definition television. It's like needing and owning glasses but choosing not to wear them. On that same note, when is HD TV just going to be TV? Stop up-charging me for things that are the norm.
9. Justin Bieber. I imagine he's just like this kid who wants a flat screen in his tree house. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGS90HEbP5U
10. Why can I not find Choco Tacos anywhere?
11. Talking on the phone.
12. People who constantly talk about how great they are. If you're truly great, you don't need to say it. Other people will say it for you.
13. Headaches. UGH. Where's that beer?
14. Offended people. "How dare you say 'Merry Christmas?'" 
15. Bud Light. Why even bother?
16. When people don't pull up to the front-most gas pump.
17. Trendy allergies. Why weren't you allergic to gluten last year?

That's enough for now. Time to shotgun, anyone?

What makes you want to have a beer?

It's Beer Season!

It's the most wonderful time of year again: Beer Season! You may know this season by its other name, Fall, but that just doesn't have the same ring to it. Now, I know what you might be thinking. "Isn't every season beer season?" Well - technically you would be correct, but this is the one season when around the world the glorious combination of water, yeast, malt and hops, commonly referred to as beer, is celebrated and given the proper respect it deserves. If you want a Beer Recess ... this is the time to do it. Don't believe me? Just check out this Beer Festival Calendar.

In America you have the creme de la creme of all beer festivals, The Great American Beer Fest (GABF), taking place September 29 - October 1 in Denver. This is the 30th annual GABF and will feature 2,375 American Beers (yeah, I too would say that qualifies for the use of "Great" in the name.) If this isn't something you would be interested in, well then, I have no idea why you are reading this blog.  The GABF is definitely a priority item on my bucket list, as it should be for every beer fan. You can learn more about the festival here, or follow along on twitter.

Beer Break....

...MMM Sam Adams Octoberfest.

Even higher on my personal bucket list is OKTOBERFEST! The 201st birthday of the festival of all festivals takes place in Munich, Germany September 17 - October 3. Cheers one liter Bavarian beer mugs, referred to as a "Mass", in one of 14 enormous tents full of happily toasted Germans and tourists, then ride a ferris wheel - only at Oktoberfest. A good friend of mine attended this year and returned with this quote: "I will never drink beer without the GIANT mug ever again!"A liter of beer (only beer brewed within Munich, can be served) will run you about 9 Euros and a bottle of water will cost you 7 Euros. Now if that doesn't inspire you to order the Mass of beer, I don't know what will. Things I haven't mentioned are women wearing Dirndls, loads of delicious German food and Oompah music.

Yeah, I dare you to not purchase your plane ticket for next year within the next 10 minutes.

Now if you can't make it to those two Main Events, please refer the the calendar above and be sure to visit a local beer festival and celebrate this joyous season. I personally will be attending two Octoberfests conveniently happening right next to one another, in Jacksonville Beach at European Street Cafe and Engine 15 Brewing Company this Saturday, October 1. If you can make it out, send me a tweet and lets chug a Das Boot!

Cheers!
@Beer_Recess