Date Night, Kind Of

Another Saturday would normally mean another Date Night, but this week was a little different. We started with curbside pickup of dinner from Crazee Burger, and we added onion rings, sweet potato fries, and milkshakes just because we could.

After such a heavy dinner, though, we decided that neither of us felt like drinking any beer. So, Beers Across America will have to wait another week.

Instead, we bundled up together in bed and caught up on a fun show, Good Girls. We were four episodes behind on the new season, so it was the perfect chance to binge watch and just relax.

We'll be back to our regular date night next week. Stay tuned for our continued adventures of sitting in our own backyard, enjoying our lighting display, and staring up at the night sky. It's the best we can do until things get back to normal and we can get back out on the town.

Date Night and A Stop In Germany

Another Saturday, another date night, and it was just a cool evening spent hanging out again in our own backyard.

The night's soundtrack was Ric's pick again, and he went with Sade. We both love her music so it was a win/win. 

Our big news this week is a change to our Europe 2022 itinerary. We have been talking about Switzerland, because Ric has always wanted to see the Eiger and to stay in the hotel featured in the movie, The Eiger Sanction. Unfortunately, in the many years since the movie was filmed, the hotel has really slipped. The modern reviews are all super critical of everything about the place, so Ric decided that he would just as soon not go.

What does that mean for us? It means out with Switzerland and in with Germany!

Yep, Ric would rather go to Germany. We both appreciate the beauty of the country plus we are WWII history buffs, so it's a wonderful spot to add to our travel plans. More details to follow as we sort out the time we have and the places we want to visit.

After a big change like that, I totally needed a beer. And wouldn't you know it, we just happened to have Austrian Pilsner from the brewery at Brauerei Schloss Eggeberg in Vorchdorf, Austria. 

The pilsner was delicious and so smooth. Those Austrians really know what they are doing.

It was a nice evening with amazing San Diego weather, and we loved hanging out with each other for a few hours. Can't wait to do it all again next week!

Date Night and Summer BBQs

Another Saturday, another date night, and I am really enjoying having the time with just me and Ric.

This week, we were both feeling optimistic and happily looking forward to the months ahead. People are getting vaccinated and there's finally reason to think that things are going to get better soon.

On the music front, it was my turn to pick the music, so I went with a jazz playlist. It set just the right tone and sounded great in the background.

Looking ahead to the summer, we decided it's time to make plans for a couple of barbecues here at the house. We're going to do it in style with a two-fer, planning back-to-back barbecues over 4th of July weekend. On Saturday, we're hosting a party for my Communications team from the office, and then on Sunday we're hosting a combination marriage anniversary/barbecue for friends party. I'm more excited than I can explain about our lives getting back to some version of normal.

And then it was on to the other fun part of our Saturday date nights - beer tasting. Our brews of choice came from Lake Placid Brewing Co.

Ric liked their Big Slide IPA, but it wasn't something he would want to try again.

I enjoyed their Ubu Ale. There wasn't really anything about it that made it noteworthy, though. It was just another ale.

That's it for this week's date night. And I'm ready for next week!

Date Night and Dark Beers

Another Saturday meant another date night, and once again we hung out together in the backyard. It may not seem like a big deal, but we're both really enjoying having time set aside to spend with just each other. 

This week, we talked some more about our planned trip to Europe in September 2022. I took some time earlier in the week to put together a first pass at a travel agenda, and now we're both really excited. Just seeing it written down makes it feel more real, already. Of course, that also means I have started our travel budget, and this is going to be a pricy trip. Worth it, sure, but pricy.

On the music front, it was Ric's turn to choose, and he wanted to listen to the Rolling Stones. It was a nice, random mix of new and old tracks, so that made for a nice musical background.

And then it was on to the good stuff, the European Beer tasting in preparation for our trip. 

This week, it was the delicious Kostritzer Black Lager Beer from Germany. Like its Pale Ale cousin from two weeks ago, it was a popular German beer that hit all the right notes. If given the chance, I'll definitely try to find some of this while we're traveling.

It's still a long way from San Diego to Bitburg, Germany.

And that's it for our date night recap. I hope you all are finding ways to keep yourself engaged and happy during these times of isolation. Good company makes the long days that much easier to get through.

Date Night and Brau Brothers

As I mentioned last week, every other Saturday, Ric and I are going to sample random beers from Europe in preparation for our September 2022 trip to Italy, Switzerland, and Scotland. But that still leaves two other weekends each month, so I decided to also sign us up for Beers Across America. 

This week, we're sampling beers from the Brau Brothers Brewery in Marshall, Minnesota. We're trying their Moo Joos Oatmeal Stout and their Thresher Bohemia Style Pilsner.

The beers were delicious. Ric preferred the Stout and I preferred the Pilsner, so that worked out great for us.

1,800 miles from my home to Brau Brothers Brewery

As for Date Night, we talked mostly about the different expectations and wants we have looking forward to a post-COVID environment where we can spend time visiting with friends face to face.

Specifically, we talked about how we are going to focus on building and nurturing the friendships that have helped us through 2020. We are going to put energy into the relationships that have truly mattered. So thanks to those of you who know who you are. We look forward to the time ahead of all of us.

And I should say, it was a beautiful 65° and sunny here in San Diego today, so the backyard feels like a private little hideaway and the perfect place to hang out.

Date Night and Beers of Europe

It's been nearly a full year since the COVID lockdown, and that means it's also been a year since Ric and I we were able to go out for our Monday date nights. I miss that. So we've come up with a way to start it up again... sort of.

Saturday night, we went to our own backyard with a six pack of beer, a portable speaker, and the determination to at least feel like we were out on a date together.

Of course, I also have a John and Ric Mix playlist. It's some country, some pop, music everyone knows and some tunes you'e probably never heard before. It made for the perfect musical backdrop.

 

And it wouldn't be about me if there wasn't something more to the story, right? Well, here's that part.

Ric and I are planning a trip to Europe in September 2022. Yes, I know that is a long way out, but there is still a global pandemic and international travel concerns. So planning that far ahead seems like the smart thing to do.

Our itinerary is still a work in progress, but we do know that we want to visit Italy (and see our friends, Juliet and Tom), Switzerland (so Ric can see The Eiger), and Scotland (just because I've always wanted to).

And this is where the story of the beer comes in. Even though the trip is eighteen months away, I want to start enjoying the planning. And how better to prepare than to join a Beers of Europe club and sample beers twice a month? Fun, right?

(It's actually an International Beer Club, but you can specify which countries you want to sample.)

And that was how we spent date night, sampling a delicious Kostritzer Pale Ale from Germany. It tasted a bit like Guinness but not as strong. In two weeks, we will be sampling the Dark Lager from the same brewery. I'm thinking it will be much more of a full, heavy beer taste.

It's a long way from San Diego to Bitburg, Germany.

Hopefully, by the time we get to September 2022, we'll be more knowledgable about European beers and know exactly which ones we want to enjoy while we're there. And we get to enjoy International Date Nights between now and then!