Cedar Point

Teri, Ashley and I took a Monday off and went to Cedar Point. We stayed with my parents on Sunday and Monday nights. It was a full day; we stayed till after dark and close to closing time. Even on a Monday the lines were long. We hit most of the rides but didn't have time to hit everything.

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DC United w/ coworkers

A group of coworkers went to go see DC United and we had a good time. There isn't 100,00 people but they tailgate and chant like the best of them.

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Kentucky Breakfast Stout

I've heard some rumblings about this beer the last year or two but never paid attention because I'm not a huge stout fan. But I was at my neighborhood beer store (the Whole Foods a few blocks away) and was talking to the beer guy. I see this guy less than my coworkers but more than my friends. On this occasion he was tending to some customers asking him about inventory age... "Have you heard of Total Wine?" "Have you ever been to Brickskeller?"

Once he saw me Tom asked if I had any of the Stone 14th Anniversary or some other special beers not in the shelves. I had been in earlier in the week and picked up some 14th Anniversary. Quite the interesting Emperial IPA. The one he did mention that I have yet to have is the Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. From the Examiner:

"The original" actually started with Breakfast Stout, an Imperial Stout at 8.3% alcohol by volume, made with flaked oats, chocolate and coffee. In 2005, Founders premiered the "Kentucky" version, so called because it was aged in oak bourbon barrels. This beer pops up to 11.2% alcohol, and is meant to be poured into and enjoyed from a snifter if possible.

It is also an extremely rare and very hyped beer. It is brewed once a year, is hard to find and not cheap. Whole Foods sells it for $20.99 but my guy hooked me up and put a $9.99 price tag on it for me.

4th of July

Teri and Ashley rented bikes for the day and we went on an initial bike ride during the afternoon. We took Ashley on a quick sight-seeing tour although we didn't have much time. The Folklife Festival was happenin' on the east side of the mall. We went in and out of security on the west side of the mall and took note of all the people already camped in their spot for the evening fireworks. There were a lot of people but the masses hadn't hit yet. People were crowded in the shaded areas and the Lincoln Memorial steps.

After our initial bike ride we met up with Matt and Kevin and we had a biking gang of five. Hell Burger had a line out the door so we went to Rhodeside Grill for dinner. Then we met up with Sonny at the office who only had Sam and Vanessa with him this year.

The five of us rode off to the mall. The sidewalks were covered with people. Every year you see this mass migration of people headed to the mall from every direction using every method of transportation. Biking is definitely the best. We got there pretty quick and heard about metro stations that were over flowing with people. We got a nice spot up front just as the show was starting. The fireworks were decent with a big finale.

The way back is always difficult because the streets are flooded with people. My bell came in handy. I followed a guy and his kid but lost the group behind me. It would be very difficult to stay together unless we were walking but then that's a waste of a bike. It took some time but everyone made it back to my place.

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GPS route

Phish in Charlotte

Teri, Ashley, Erik, and I saw Phish in Charlotte.

setlist:

Set 1: Buried Alive > AC/DC Bag > Vultures, Wolfman's Brother, Back on the Train, The Wedge, Mexican Cousin, Stash, Sparkle > Chalk Dust Torture

Set 2: Drowned > 46 Days > Twenty Years Later > The Lizards, Carini > Fuck Your Face > Also Sprach Zarathustra > You Enjoy Myself

Encore: A Day in the Life

Notes: This show featured the first Fuck Your Face since April 29, 1987 (1,413 shows). AC/DC Bag contained Buried Alive teases. YEM contained Fuck Your Face and Moving in Stereo (The Cars) teases. The YEM vocal jam included portions of Proud Mary and Get Back interspersed with Dong Work for Yuda (Frank Zappa) and Slow Ride quotes.

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