Whew!!!

   Guys, I am so sorry I haven't blogged in a couple of months. I know some of you may have nearly lost the will to live without my nonsensical, mildly amusing antics, but my schedule has been brutal. I just got back from my European tour last week. I was on the road with a hard core band, they're from Canada you wouldn't know them, and I just didn't have time to write. Don't expect to read the details of my tour; it would not be appropriate.
   I promised a write-up about my trip to the Rockies back in October, and I still intend to post that. I have a draft; I just need an editor to proof it so I don't look like a tard. So listen, I'm not gonna make any promises or tell you when I'll post again. I don't want that kind of pressure on me. I'll link it to FB so you won't miss a thing.
   Merry Christmas!!! That's right, I said Merry Christmas. I said that because I celebrate Christmas. If you do not, more power to you and happy whatever you celebrate, but I say Merry Christmas.   

The Last Five Minutes

   I am working on a lengthy blog detailing my adventures in the Rocky Mountains, but in the mean time I want to throw something out there. Have you ever noticed when you are on a plane that people usually only talk to each other in the last five minutes? Why is that? It's kind of sad how society has become so isolated and unsociable. People don't want to initiate a conversation up front and risk having to talk to you the whole ride, but they don't want to be remembered as a total doucher, so they figure ... if I talk to them the last five minutes, and they'll remember me as a friendly person. I don't want to be that guy, so I try to talk to the person in the first five minutes. Hey, where ya goin? What do you do? It's just small talk, but this could create amazing opportunities. What if the guy next to you turns out to be the CEO of a huge company and in your talk he discovers that you have a certain quality his company needs? Never mind the fact that the CEO is in coach where I usually sit. I'm just saying, what if?
   I'm not advocated that you talk the person's ear off, but why not open a dialogue which can be opened and closed civilly at any time? Next time you're on a plane, or train, or any means of public transportation talk to those around you. You may be surprised at who you meet.

Travel, Travel, Travel

   What a month! I will have visited three places I have never been, all in just under a month. First it was Savannah. You may be thinking what everyone thinks ... YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO SAVANNAH? BUT YOU LIVE IN GEORGIA! I know. It was a cool little town, and it is where Meg and I spent out first anniversary. We will go back.
   Just this past weekend, Meg and I visited Baltimore for her best friend's wedding. Another great town that I can't wait to visit again. Talk about crabs (not those kind). Blue, king, snow, crab dip, crab cakes, crab cakes, crab cakes. Crabs everywhere. The inner harbor is where we spend most of our time. It was easy to walk everywhere and see many attractions. We got to tour the USS Torsk, a WWII submarine. I cannot imagine sending a week on that thing let alone months. I have several things I couldn't do due to time constraints. I will visit Camden Yards next time.  
   My next adventure will take me to Grand Junction Colorado where I'll be ascending to approximately 8,ooo feet on horseback to look for Rocky Mountain Elk. Unfortunately I won't be behind the trigger. I will be assisting with some videography, but the experience will be awesome! I'll get back you'uns soon.  

Bird boasts new BLOG title but winds up on the 10-day DL

   Holy swollen knee batman! The only good thing that came out of our softball loss tonight is the new title of my blog. It certainly wasn't the ball that almost decapitated my patella, or the one that could have broken my jaw, or the one I just said F--- it to and watched go into center field. I know it wasn't the 17-4 shellacking we took, so yup ... it was the new title.  I have to thank the man who created the new title, Mr. Andy Lane. One of G'nnett's finest! I have to give the team some credit though ... we are getting a little better. We definitely had some fun.
    Who wants to bet on how big my left knee is by morning? It begs the question, is the pain and potential for serious injury worth it? I think so. I never want to use the, "I'm gettin' to old for this," saying (at least not until I'm 30). I love playing competitive sports and can't imagine going too long without playing softball or baseball or ping pong. Bruises will heal, and muscles will recover. As long as no one looses an eye ball, we're doing all right. That's right, I said eyeball. Big deal, wanna fight about it? 

Battle of the Badges

Yesterday the fire department softball team played in the 1st annual Battle of the Badges tournament. It was a best of three tournament played at Coolray Field between us, the fire department, and the police department. Playing on the field was bad ass. It made me wish I could go back in time and try harder to make it in baseball. The games were really good games. PD took the first game 12-10. In the second game, the FD turned it on and beat the Po-Po 12-9. That took us to the rubber match ... game 3. The game stayed close. The lead changed a few times, but in the end there can only be one winner. PD made a valiant effort in the bottom of the 7th, but FD would emerge victorious 9-8. It was a great day to play some ball.  

 View from home. It was awesome playing on a top notch field. Even if it was softball.

Here's a team shot before the game. Me on the back row, far right.

They put our picture and name up on the jumbotron. That was sweet.

Me making the bellsouth call to the bullpen.

Chillin' in the dugout

I got to meet Larry Wachs from the Regular Guys Show.

And finally ... the trophy. 

"Scotch, scotch, scotch, down to my belly ..."

A week or so ago, I wrote about smoking cigars. I don't smoke them often, but when I do I smoke good ones. The same goes for whiskey. Aside from a Jack & Coke every now and then, when I drink whiskey I prefer it straight up and top shelf. Sometimes middle shelf will do. Some of my favorites are Single Barrel Jack (bourbon), Crown Royal (Canadian), Jamison (Irish whiskey), Chivas Regal, and Macallan 12 ( both Scotch). This weekend I tried five whiskeys that I have never had. Cheap? No. Please forgive me for not giving detailed descriptions of how they taste. I'm a rookie whiskey connoisseur.

The first thing I tried was The Glenlivet 12 years. I had two because it was that good.

 
Saturday evening I tried two different whiskeys. J&B and Dewar's White Label. I wasn't crazy about J&B, but Dewars was pretty good on the rocks.

Sunday night I tried a new bourbon on the market from the makers of Makers Mark. Makers 46. This came highly recommended by a fellow whiskey drinker. This tasted like the original Makers Mark but a bit smoother. Smoother even though it's 94 proof. Excellent drink. I had it again Sunday.

The cherry on the pie, the icing on the cake, the blue ribbon winner was the Macallan 18. This was similar to the 12 year old version, but this had more of a kick. It finished very nice though. It wasn't what I was expecting, but good. I had to pay to experience this delight. About $50 to be exact, but it was worth it. 

Conferences

Today is Meg and my first wedding anniversary. I am bummed that she is not here with me right now, but we had a good time while she was here with me. Where amI? I am at an EMS conference in Savannah until Tuesday. What does one do at an EMS conference you might ask. Drink. Everyone drinks a lot. Haha, just kidding, but not really. I love coming to these conferences because I get to mingle with folks from my profession that I only see once a year. I get to hear great lectures from nationally renowned speakers. Still, it sucks to not be with Megs. It's only a couple of days.