Recently, I’ve bought a couple beers that explicitly told me not to cellar them.  Pliny the Elder from Russian River and 13th Anniversary Ale from Stone are the two that I’m thinking of specifically.  On the bottle, they make it seem shameful that one even has the idea to cellar their products. What do these beers have in common?  I believe that the hop factor is the real answer.  It is semi-understandable that they want their product to have the fresh hoppiness that they intended when making it.

A big welcome to our readers today! Be sure to read to the end of the interview to find out how to WIN the fabulous prizes being offered up. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a fixed time event, the post just goes live at 10:30 am CDT. You can stop by any time during the day or evening and leave your questions and chat. PLEASE KEEP SPOILERS TO A MINIMUM. Not all of the readers today have read Annette’s books.

Alabama’s liquor control agency has banned Cycles Gladiator Wine because its label protrays a nekkid woman riding (flying?) a bicycle.  The image is from a vintage 1895 cycling poster and has been sold nationwide for years without issue.  Now, however, Alabama’s ABC Board has sent a letter to all stores and restaurants telling them not [...]

There’s a reason Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural sights in the world: Approximately 150,000 cubic feet of water per second rush over the edge and drop 170 feet to the rocks below. And that’s just on the American side of the falls. Explore this natural wonder for less, taking an in-depth tour of the falls, staying at an English-style inn, and indulging in the local gourmet fast food. Play Cave of the Winds : Rain slickers are included in the admission fee of this “must-do” Niagara Falls tour, and on the “hurricane deck” you’ll understand why.

I’m really not trying to pose as a seasoned veteran of the nonprofit sector when I say this, but I’ve noticed that I’m less inclined to try to change systems now than I was when I started. It’s on all levels, from seeing if we can get a more efficient volunteer timesheet system to sinking a couple of hours into managing my contacts more effectively to seeking additional programming for my students to sending emails to my representatives regarding Adult Basic Education.  I would have been all over all of those things three years ago, but right now they’re on the back burner.

Phew! We’re back from our 17-day whirlwind adventure through Paris and Greece. (I apologize for our stealthy departure–it didn’t seem wise to broadcast to the wide, wide world that our house would be empty and vulnerable and awaiting any wannabe burglars for two solid weeks!) We took an evening flight on Air France (which, by the way, happens to be my new favorite airline for international travel–I love on-demand movies!). I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and I Love You, Man .