Whew, Hipsters! It's been a crazy few months and they have sure flown by. So much has been going on, both good and bad. I've been super busy with work (currently working two jobs at three different bars for a total of 70+ hours a week) and life stuff. Made lots of new great friends and lost a dear family friend. Got to attend my first conference as a blogger and made some great new contacts. Eaten lots of late night meals and gotten very little sleep. But these are the everyday ups and downs of life. The day in, day out of living. They are all important to the grand scheme of our lives. But last night, something happened that was so insane, so unbelievable, as to stop time for a few hours.
It started out as an ordinary Monday night. I had gotten out of work at the bar that I work at down the street from my cottage. Had a few cocktails, then had dinner with my parents at the local Mexican restaurant. (Carnitas were delicious.) Headed home and decided to get to bed early. I had just laid down and was obsessively checking my Twitter feed (I now have almost 100 followers!) when the pup and I heard what I thought was thunder. But something in the sound made my stomach flip flop a little. Then I heard it again. And again. And again. It started to become a constant booming noise, louder than the fourth of July fireworks that were shot off just down the street from my house.
I immediately called my mom, since she lives 1 1/2 miles down the road, to find out if she was hearing the same booming. She answered the phone with a question. "What is that? Can you hear it too?" I could hear her yelling to my dad to run outside. "The sky is all lit up! What's going on?" I jumped out of bed and threw on the first clothes that I could find (which happened to be the shortest shorts I own and a jet ski tshirt) and ran outside, barefoot and headed towards the lake. As soon as I got to the edge of my driveway, I could see where all the explosions were coming from.
Across the lake from me, only about 2 miles as the crow flies, was a giant fire blazing, at least a hundred feet in the air. I think I had some panic in my voice and it had risen up a few octaves as I was describing the scene to my mom. I was trying to figure out exactly where it was, when my phone beeped with another call. My dear friend, and former roommate was calling because he could hear the booming and thought it was right at my house. Then the craziness began. We all started calling everyone we could, pushing our phones to their limit. And people started showing up in their cars, following the sounds towards the lake. Lots of people. Car after car driving down Main Street, trying to discover the source of the disturbing booms and the orange sky. Then I called my grandmother.
I don't think I will ever forget the panic in her voice. She told me that the propane plant a half mile from her house had exploded. She was desperately trying to catch her cats, who of course were hiding because of the ruckus. I told her to just get in her car and head towards my house, when, with great relief I heard my aunt's voice in the background. Good, she was not alone. But I could tell when she put the phone down in her rush to escape, so I hung up the phone and called my mother. She relayed the info to my dad, who immediately jumped into his truck and took off to try to help his mother. What followed was a nerve-racking hour of phone calls, rumors passed from one spectator to another, and pure, unadulterated terror.
It took my grandmother and aunt nearly an hour to get the 3 miles around the lake to safety at my aunt's house. Then the rumors of toxic fumes and possible evacuation, and the possibility of the three 70,000 lb propane tanks blowing led me back into the house, with a very nervous dog and two twitchy cats. So I got ready, in case I needed to head to mom's or even farther. Dressed, shoes on, cat carrier and leash ready, and bag and keys by the door. Watching the propane tanks explode into the air from the tv chopper, then hearing the explosion rattle my windows. The booms seemed to get louder, and lasted for two more hours. By 2 am, it seemed that the fire had settled down, and we could all finally get some sleep.
After an unsettled night of tossing and turning, it was time to get a new day started. Tired, but hopeful, I took care of all of my errands, and headed to work. Thinking I had my day planned out for me, I was returned to that moment of terror from the night before, when my mom called me as I was finishing my drive to work. News of a leak in one of the aforementioned giant storage tanks had led to talk of more evacuations on a wider scale. Trying to keep it together, when all I could worry about was my family, friends, and animals. I'm so thankful for understanding supervisors and teammates that got me out of work quickly.
So now I'm home, and the danger seems to be minimized, thanks to the great efforts of the local emergency personnel. Now I'm trying to decompress from one of the scariest evenings of my life. I've been through hurricanes, tornados and other disasters, but this one has affected more than any of those. And I think the biggest reason was because I was alone. My family was close, but they weren't close enough. There was that fear that I wouldn't be able to get to them, or them to me. Being alone, that was terrifying. And I could understand the panic that overcomes people in times of great upheaval. It took everything I had to keep myself together.
I'm writing this because I want everyone to know what happened without me having to tell the story over and over. But I'm also writing this as catharsis. An act of emotional purging, if you will. I was scared, and alone, and I didn't like it. I think maybe we all have these moments in our lives, but we all have the choice as to how we will react.
To the eight workers who were injured, I wish quick healing and positive vibes to you and your families. To all my local peeps, I wish peaceful thoughts and deep sleep. And to everyone, I wish for a life filled with great, fantastic moments with no moments of heartbreak and loneliness.
Next time, back to the fun stuff. Stay hip, kids.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Beer vs. Whiskey. Am I dreaming?
Hiya Hipsters!
Hope things have been going well for you. I've had some ups and downs the last few weeks, but that's life, right? And honestly, I should probably be a little more emo for a hipster. But alas, I have survived and am currently thriving. It's all about the small things that get us through. And I have had a great week of small, yet awesome things. One of my favorite things to happen this week happened on Monday night.
I got to attend an amazing dinner with some amazing peeps on Monday night at an amazing restaurant. Cask and Larder is a Central Florida gem. I have had the opportunity to eat there before, so when I heard they were doing a special Beer vs. Whiskey dinner, I knew I had to attend. But who to invite to this delicious evening? One of my favorite foodies. Metro Leprechaun (ML) immediately said yes. Then she suggested we invite my lookalike, Doppelganger and her man. Next thing I know, DG's brother, the Mad Irishman and his wife, the Hair Mistress, joined in and it was a party!
Cask and Larder is the sister restaurant of The Ravenous Pig. It is described as a "southern public house". To me, that means southern food (my favorite and birthrite) amped up to fantastic levels. I had previously attended brunch there and I was so excited about the food. Of course, the booze was pretty exciting, too.
The evening started with passed appetizers of frog legs, headcheese, and smoked oysters, which I am desperate to try at home. There was also a beer and a whiskey starter. The beer was a Berliner Roggen Weiss. All the beers were created by in-house brewmaster Ron Raike, a legend in the Central Florida craft beer scene. This particular beer was a sour, which is a great, lighter style of beer. It was a great, easy way to start out the dinner. We also got to try a Reverend Palmer, which was a refreshing mix of tea infused Gentlemen Jack, lemon juice, and a golden ale.
The courses that followed were just as awesome. A beautiful cucumber gazpacho with lobster, a grilled chicken liver spedini, which is a skewer of chicken livers with grilled plums, (honestly, that was my favorite, and I'm not a huge liver fan), pork cheeks with a beet ravioli, (another surprise, as I never would have thought of a beet ravioli, and it was super tasty, and really pretty!), and a peach-cornmeal upside down cake. Lots of yums and moans coming out of our group with every dish.
But the real stars of the night in my mind was the drinks (of course). Ron Raike's beers were actually paired after the food and cocktail menus were created, yet they complemented the courses as if they were brewed for each one. Old Southern Red Wit, (my fave), Trois Mois Saison, a beautiful stout that was aged in a Jack Daniels barrel for 5 months, and an imperial porter for dessert made my beer nerd heart happy. And the opportunity to talk with the master himself at the end of the evening was the icing on the cake. In the brewing room, no less!
And then there were the cocktails. I'm a girl that loves her whiskey. I wasn't sure what to expect when I signed up for the dinner. Not sure if it was going to be straight shots of whiskey, or what. So I was pleasantly surprised when the whiskies were presented as beautifully prepared cocktails. Again, each cocktail was matched to the food for that course, starting with the lighter Reverend Palmer, and finishing with a Bourbon Peche, which was a mix of Woodford Double Oak (which I would take a bath in, if someone would let me), Carpano and a peach liqueur. It was so smooth and sweet that ML poured it over her dessert. I think she might have licked the plate, but I don't have pictures of that. Every cocktail was blended using quality ingredients and though provoking combinations. I was in heaven!
Of course, the best part of the dinner was the group I was with. They are such a fun, adventurous, often loud, but never boring clan. And that's truly how they think of you if you are their friend. It's a clan, a family, and I am so lucky that I'm included in that family. Jokes, insults, sexual innuendos, and plate-sharing were all a part of the enjoyment of the evening.
It was a great night and I'm so happy I insisted that it had to happen. After the last couple of weeks, I needed a night like this to remind me of the awesomeness that is my life and my friends and family. I couldn't be who I am, or do what I do without them. And thanks to Cask and Larder for making such a great night happen. I am definitely in for the next one!
Hope things have been going well for you. I've had some ups and downs the last few weeks, but that's life, right? And honestly, I should probably be a little more emo for a hipster. But alas, I have survived and am currently thriving. It's all about the small things that get us through. And I have had a great week of small, yet awesome things. One of my favorite things to happen this week happened on Monday night.
I got to attend an amazing dinner with some amazing peeps on Monday night at an amazing restaurant. Cask and Larder is a Central Florida gem. I have had the opportunity to eat there before, so when I heard they were doing a special Beer vs. Whiskey dinner, I knew I had to attend. But who to invite to this delicious evening? One of my favorite foodies. Metro Leprechaun (ML) immediately said yes. Then she suggested we invite my lookalike, Doppelganger and her man. Next thing I know, DG's brother, the Mad Irishman and his wife, the Hair Mistress, joined in and it was a party!
Cask and Larder is the sister restaurant of The Ravenous Pig. It is described as a "southern public house". To me, that means southern food (my favorite and birthrite) amped up to fantastic levels. I had previously attended brunch there and I was so excited about the food. Of course, the booze was pretty exciting, too.
The evening started with passed appetizers of frog legs, headcheese, and smoked oysters, which I am desperate to try at home. There was also a beer and a whiskey starter. The beer was a Berliner Roggen Weiss. All the beers were created by in-house brewmaster Ron Raike, a legend in the Central Florida craft beer scene. This particular beer was a sour, which is a great, lighter style of beer. It was a great, easy way to start out the dinner. We also got to try a Reverend Palmer, which was a refreshing mix of tea infused Gentlemen Jack, lemon juice, and a golden ale.
 |
| A smoked oyster, one of the starters for the evening. |
But the real stars of the night in my mind was the drinks (of course). Ron Raike's beers were actually paired after the food and cocktail menus were created, yet they complemented the courses as if they were brewed for each one. Old Southern Red Wit, (my fave), Trois Mois Saison, a beautiful stout that was aged in a Jack Daniels barrel for 5 months, and an imperial porter for dessert made my beer nerd heart happy. And the opportunity to talk with the master himself at the end of the evening was the icing on the cake. In the brewing room, no less!
 |
| Chicken Liver Spedini |
Of course, the best part of the dinner was the group I was with. They are such a fun, adventurous, often loud, but never boring clan. And that's truly how they think of you if you are their friend. It's a clan, a family, and I am so lucky that I'm included in that family. Jokes, insults, sexual innuendos, and plate-sharing were all a part of the enjoyment of the evening.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Be fairy, fairy quiet...
Hiya, kids! Happy new year! Hope the new year is treating you well. I was just so relieved to get through the holidays. In my little world, it gets pretty crazy. I think it gets that way for everybody, though. So take a big breath, let it out, and remind yourself that you have a few months before you have to see your extended family or do any heavy kitchen work.
And let's talk about those resolutions. We all make them, and that's okay, as long as they are fun and interesting. Of course, we all want to get in shape and save money, but honestly, wouldn't you rather make a promise to eat better chocolate?
So that's what I did. I made a resolution to eat at some great local restaurants that I haven't tried, work on my Cicerone certification (which means drinking great beer), and travel more. So far, I have kept two out of three.
This weekend I got a chance to go on a little trip. Where do people from Florida go on vacation, you ask? Why, Michigan, of course! One of my favorite people in the world, Painting Mama, lives in Ann Arbor, so I took advantage of the slow down at work, an overflow of vacation hours, and a stupid cheap flight, to visit a very cool family and a very hipster town.
So many great things I could say about Ann Arbor, such as great food, fabulous cocktails, and cool boutiques, but my favorite thing were the fairy doors.
Created by a local artist, and installed all over town, these adorable little bits of art appeal to the kid in all of us. I was able to see five of the original doors, and several "copycat" doors. It became a game to try to find doors hidden among the buildings of downtown.
The original doors were designed to mimic the doors of where they are installed. Some of the doors are very simple, while others are more elaborate. One door lead into an entire fairy store, with a set of stairs going down into what one would assume was a fairy basement!
These little bits of architecture serve a great purpose. All the people I saw while on my fairy door hunt were smiling. Happy people, dreaming of fairies. And how wonderful is that?
So, my weekend adventure was wonderful, and full of fairy dust. Hopefully, some hipster fairies hitched a ride home with me and will set up a home here! If that happens, I will certainly let you all know.
For more information on the Ann Arbor fairy doors, check out www.urbanfairies.com. Also, check out the artwork of Painting Mama on www.etsy.com/shop/SherryStreeter. Her paintings will also make you smile.
Also, I apologize for the less than stellar layout this week. My computer decided to die after a valiant, long term illness and I'm blogging on my iPhone. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade here soon. So, until next time kids, stay hip!
And let's talk about those resolutions. We all make them, and that's okay, as long as they are fun and interesting. Of course, we all want to get in shape and save money, but honestly, wouldn't you rather make a promise to eat better chocolate?
So that's what I did. I made a resolution to eat at some great local restaurants that I haven't tried, work on my Cicerone certification (which means drinking great beer), and travel more. So far, I have kept two out of three.
This weekend I got a chance to go on a little trip. Where do people from Florida go on vacation, you ask? Why, Michigan, of course! One of my favorite people in the world, Painting Mama, lives in Ann Arbor, so I took advantage of the slow down at work, an overflow of vacation hours, and a stupid cheap flight, to visit a very cool family and a very hipster town.
So many great things I could say about Ann Arbor, such as great food, fabulous cocktails, and cool boutiques, but my favorite thing were the fairy doors.
Created by a local artist, and installed all over town, these adorable little bits of art appeal to the kid in all of us. I was able to see five of the original doors, and several "copycat" doors. It became a game to try to find doors hidden among the buildings of downtown.
The original doors were designed to mimic the doors of where they are installed. Some of the doors are very simple, while others are more elaborate. One door lead into an entire fairy store, with a set of stairs going down into what one would assume was a fairy basement!
These little bits of architecture serve a great purpose. All the people I saw while on my fairy door hunt were smiling. Happy people, dreaming of fairies. And how wonderful is that?
So, my weekend adventure was wonderful, and full of fairy dust. Hopefully, some hipster fairies hitched a ride home with me and will set up a home here! If that happens, I will certainly let you all know.
For more information on the Ann Arbor fairy doors, check out www.urbanfairies.com. Also, check out the artwork of Painting Mama on www.etsy.com/shop/SherryStreeter. Her paintings will also make you smile.
Also, I apologize for the less than stellar layout this week. My computer decided to die after a valiant, long term illness and I'm blogging on my iPhone. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade here soon. So, until next time kids, stay hip!
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