When life hands you hops...tour a brewery

So how do you like the new design?  Classy, simple, but true to the  black and gold!

Well I have been hitting the books hard, still finding ways to distract myself, becoming very tired of studying.  I just WANT to be done.  Oh by the way I start up classes again for my Master's in two weeks.  I'm crazy.  I officially got scheduled to take my PT licensure exam on Sept. 7th.  No pressure!  Now, if a single place I've applied to will call me back.  I feel that I have been patient enough the past year, can a job please open up!

This weekend I once again headed north to the Twin Cities.  Are you noticing the trend?  I have decided to call myself a hockey mom in training (HMIT).

I have completely fallen head over heels in love with hockey.   It is the perfect game for someone like me who has trouble sitting still for more then a few minutes and is easily distracted.  The fact there is nothing but fast paced action constantly is enough to keep  anyone with ADHD focused.  Furthermore, what is more fun then sipping a cold beverage (while freezing from the ice arena) snuggled in warm clothes and yelling/cheering when someone is checked into the boards?  Although, there are no cold beverages served at AAA (little league of hockey) games they are still fun to watch.  Things are getting exciting because it is as if the gears started turning and kids are fully understanding the game (not that I have a single clue about the game).  The pace is picking up, kids are in the box, goals are being scored by sweet moves such as back handed, AWESOME.  I need to learn more so I can expand my cheering vocabulary to something other then "skate".  I'm sure I'm very embarrassing.  I will say one thing I don't enjoy about hockey is the early games.  REALLY, who wants to play/watch hockey at 7 am, especially when there was a really good live band the night before? Good thing one can just throw on sweat pants a nice hoodie and cover up ;) !

So taking pictures of hockey requires a lens with a SUPER fast shutter...these were way better when I first pushed the button :)

So the GRAND story you are all waiting for....HOPS and Brewery!  Well on my magnificent drive to the cities (actually Baldwin Wisconsin)  a wonderful truck driver was nice enough to kick up a rock and hit the top of my windshield.  At first there was nothing, and I swiped the sweat from my head and took two deep breaths, because that was close.  However, right about the IA/MN boarder after hearing/singing Ace A BASE "I saw the sign" (random fact: that was my first CD with my first CD Player HOLLA) for the SECOND, yes I sang it more then once Northern Iowans really like that song, I saw the sign.  I turned my head...of course jamming to the beat...and out of the corner of my eye I saw something.  I investigated further to watch with my own eyes my windshield start cracking, further and further, spider webbing out.  AWESOME! I kept driving trying to devise a plan and decided I would make it the rest of the drive and get it fix in the AM.  So I continued my drive and signing and car dancing.  In the morning I started calling all auto glass places in the western side of WI hoping not to drive and hour in a half into the Cities (although I did that like, um, 3 times that weekend).  Well just as luck would have it, the only place (IN WISCONSIN) to have a windshield for my car was in Chippewa Falls.  Unfortunately I had to drive 30 min further east but THANKFULLY I put two and two together and realized Chippewa Falls was home to THIS:

LINENKUGEL's Brewry. YUM!  Not the best picture but I had a limited time to take the picture....I guess copyright reasons in case I were to sell it to a competitor!

So when I dropped my car off I studied for a little bit at a bar next door, until a homeless man was harassing me about a ride even further east or $50,  so I continued down main street till I found a coffee shop....that sold Line's.  After partaking in a little studying and a little Line action it was then time to do a little BREW TEW! So I headed down and took a few tours.  Highly recommend tour, I literally could touch the sweat beads coming off the cans of summer shandy as they come off the line. SO COOL, but they don't let you take them off the line, YEP THAT WAS ASKED! 

After the tour (S) I helped myself to a little of this:

Even cooler, they had drink recipes for their beers.  So I mixed and matched beers together to create many tasty drinks (perhaps too tasty ;) )

The boys did a little of this:

oh and Rootbeer sampling.  

After a 'few' samples it was time for some WI fried cheese and onion rings. YUMMY, now I need to double my 'G' of GTL.  With a stomach full of delicious fried cheese I headed off to the Cities to meet up with a former co-worker of Brian's.  We shared drinks at a sweet little bar called sweeny's. It was a prefect night on the patio filled with numerous stories (many were one's Brian failed to mention, but that is ok, I would have LOST IT if I knew that when I was away on an internship the living room turned into his man cave filled with clothes strung about, plates, cups, and food).  

When Sunday rolled around and after a 7 am game I was just exhausted.  To keep my eyes open I made a stop at the outlet mall.  I can't resist gap outlet and it was SALE DAY.  My favorite way to shop, true fact I have never boughten anything full price.  If there is no sale I tell myself it was not meant to be.  Thankfully, there was a lot to be on Sunday and I even had an additional 20% of coupon. LOVE IT.  I picked up some new shirts for IOWA games, you know when it is somewhat chilly but not sweatshirt worthy.  I made it home Sunday afternoon in time to find my bed and shower....and stayed in bed till um Monday afternoon.  YIKES!  I guess I was tired.  

Hopefully, changes are good.  I think it has made me happy...if only a job could pop up!  This weekend has in store something SUPER, UBER, DUPER, exciting.  So exciting I know BRIAN is FREAKING OUT!  I will hold you in suspense but it is AMMMMMAAAAAZZZZINNNNNGGG!