Bernard NA Beer & Greg

My nephew Greg lives in the Czech Republic. When he comes back to the states, Greg likes to bring his old Uncle Pete some of the Czech beers he samples over there. One time he brought a bottle of the original Budweiser Budvar, not that stuff from St. Louis. Much better.

This year he brought a couple of new (to me) brands. The Gambrinus Premium I had the other night was very good. I haven't tried the Radegast Original yet. It's not the type of thing you want to just slug down with a bowl of popcorn. Better to make a good meal of it.

He also brought a bottle from the Bernard brewery. It is a no alcohol brew, but he said there was another reason he picked it out. The label translates to "...with a clean head, nonalcoholic beer". He says the intent is "...for a clear head", meaning you won't get drunk.

I'll go with the "clean head" translation. You be the judge.



Thanks, Greg!

http://www.gregstrock.typepad.com/

UPDATE: The Radegast Original was pretty darn good, too.

Big Bird & Beatles

unknown photographer

This photo was taken in the late '80s back stage at a shoot for Vee Corporation. It was a commercial for the live stage version of Sesame Street. I was on the lighting crew and got to meet the biggest of big celebrities, Big Bird himself.

I was reminded of this picture because I recently saw Bill Carlson, the shoot's director, for the first time in many years. Bill did an event at Barnes & Noble Highland to promote his excellent new book, The Beatles! A One-Night Stand in the Heartland.



The book features stories about the day The Beatles came to Minnesota and the photos 17-year-old Bill took that day. Bill & Denise have put together a great document of The Fabs visit. A must-have for all Beatlemaniacs. For more info, see these links:

F-Stop Productions

Barnes & Noble

Birthday

On this day, where the key number is 56, I offer one of my favorite snapshots of myself and Mom. I was all of 10 weeks old. Mom was 34.

A copy of this picture is with Mom now, and always will be.

A Scary Halloween

I sent this one around in an email last October 31st. I guess I'd have to call my 1962 costume "Nerdy White Suburban 5th Grader". Not a great costume, but still kinda scary.

I rediscovered this photo in the picture drawer of the dining room buffet. It's kind of amazing this 45 year old Polaroid has survived. It seems the fixer "goop", even hastily applied at a school carnival, did it's job well.

Polaroids were so cool back in the day. It's not the same with digital. Too bad Polaroid itself didn't survive.