I can't believe that all I have gotten out of beer blogging is being Stan's whipping boy - but, yes, again I am to blame apparently this time for being along with him on a list posted by Jay of people supposed to write a post about seven things you don't know about them. A meme! How 2006. Jay wrote quite an earnest piece and Stan mocked the gods of memes. Which is fine because memes died before Ron Pattinson started blogging. Yet...
- I once was courted by two national news networks to be a paid political blogger... you know when there were political bloggers and networks willing to pay them. I sold out to the highest bidder.
- I own two banjos.
- People ask me how I have to time to fit in all I do yet I consider myself incredibly lazy... lazy but organized.
- I own the complete Space 1999 on DVD.
- I had my coat opened with the muzzle of a machine gun in Paris in 1986 by a gendarme when the Syrians were setting off bombs in the town and security was on high alert. When they figured out we were clutching at our coats to hide opened wine bottles the Frenchmen with machine guns laughed and pointed at us.
- I own a box full of 3 x 5 or 6 foot flags because where I used to live in PEI folk were so meddling that they would actually tell you only to fly the flag of PEI or Canada. Flying Botswana's got the most gossip going in the village.
- I have blogged for almost eight years now and still have no idea what sitting here typing day after day gives me other than a compromised cardiovascular system. I have met very few other people in beer because of where I live. I have only gone to one beer fest. I find them a little creepy.
There. I never really told you anything of note. By the way, Stan is not Santa and his name is really spelled J-O-N-E-S but it is pronounced "high-er-on-y-mous," a fact which he covers up by the adoption of the pen name H-I-E-R-O-N-Y-M-U-S. Freaky but true.
Comments
Stan Hieronymus - March 12, 2011 9:56 PM
No, no, no. I am Santa. As hinted in the prelude, one of the statements might be the truth compromised, but it was . . . No. 1.
I give you that as a Good Beer Blog exclusive. So we can be friends again.
I thought about making "We've slept on Alan's basement floor" one of the seven "things," but worried it sounded too creepy.
Jay Brooks - March 12, 2011 11:06 PM
Once upon a time when I was sporting a beard and was a little bit heavier than I am today, a young tyke pointed to me and cried "Santa." I tried to explain to him that it was actually Stan, but he wouldn't believe me. True story.
JayZeis - March 12, 2011 11:27 PM
I think your "fact" about the flags is hilarious.
Alan - March 13, 2011 12:59 AM
Jay (simplicitor): my four year old daughter says two things when she sees me in the morning = "Big Belly!" and "can we watch Doctor Who?" My beard is now white (when I grow it out) which means I scream Santa.
I was also going to mention we foster parent (and that everyone should) and that when Stan stayed over with his wonderful family I was briefly slightly conflicted as I had to figure out if it was OK under the rules but that was about seven foster dudes ago and it was OK and they were great. But I still don't know that many people of the beer.
Velky Al - March 13, 2011 8:17 AM
I am glad I am not the only person with an aversion to beer festivals. But as Eric from Relentless Thirst pointed out to Mrs V and I yesterday, we are both pub centric beer drinkers.
Mario Rubio - March 14, 2011 11:06 AM
Your #3 is great. I hear the same thing, but if you'd ask my wife I've taken forever to get to a point where this beer writing/blogging thing is worthwhile.
Jeff Alworth - March 14, 2011 9:04 PM
Alan, I have been blogging for MORE than eight years. You always lord the age of this blog over me (Beervana is but a precocious five), so there.
Also, since I'm obviously feeling inadequate following your first thing, I will offer this story of guns and foreign locales. In April 1992, I visited the Taj Mahal first thing in the morning--pre-dawn, actually. Most people don't realize that the coffins in the main area are fakes--the real bodies are in a crypt down below. (They may have since sealed that off.) You were allowed down there, but couldn't take photos. But, on that morning, the attendant wandered off, and I did take photos. Later, I recorded audio from the vast, echoey, upper (main) area, and as I was walking out, a guard held me at gunpoint and demanded my camera and cassette. I took a chance and just started walking away. Lady luck smiled and I lived to tell the tale.
Finally, since Stan has a weird last name and since you invoked him, I must ask about yours. Is it pronounced McCloud? Some day we'll meet and then you can add another name to your list. We're young enough that I can make this claim with semi-plausibility.
Alan - March 15, 2011 9:12 AM
Lordly. I am so lordly. I didn't know you were a pre-April 2002er. Early on I was hunting for other beer blogs and websites like this in Oct 2004 and here in Feb 2005. I found Knut in April 2005. I knew Jon at The Beer Site was older than me. I see you as a January 06 newborn beer blogger but missed your pre-beer blogging past.
The name: I am McLeod, pronounced "Ma Cloud" but not so in Scotland really. There's be a real lilt to the "Leod" back in the hills. It is a hybrid of Gaelic and Old Norn and means the son (Mac) of the man who turns into a bear in battle (Ljot). I am therefore Alan Berzerkersson. We are also related to non-humans and are known to wrastle loose oxen with our bare hands.
Jeff Alworth - March 15, 2011 2:18 PM
One of us is bad with our maths. I started political blogging in Jan 2003, which means I will climb back into my hole of shame. Your lordship.
Alan - March 15, 2011 4:51 PM
But I only started blogging at all in April 2003 so I think we are pretty much tied.
Alan - March 15, 2011 4:52 PM
Oops, I see I made my own math error. I said pre-2002er up there. Should be slapped around for that.
Jeff Alworth - March 15, 2011 7:06 PM
It was the 2002 that threw me. Out of the hole of shame!