I’m a collector of things – but I am far from a hoarder.
Instead of stacking newspapers in my basement, I like to pick up odd rocks and twisted sticks from the trail when I’m out hiking. In the spring and summer, I’ve been known to press flowers between pages, and it wouldn’t be out of the spectrum of reality for me to do the same with fallen leaves in autumn.
I like to acquire vessels to hold these things in – like this bowl – which I just bought three of, so the girls and I can walk the trails, and collect our treasures. But I have had the pleasure of finding a jar or two, in my travels, that have sufficed beyond sufficiency for the task.
And, yes – I’ve passed this passion onto my littles (you should see their collection of seashells and seaglass). It’s my job to maintain their imagination levels, afterall. Their attention to detail is astounding – even inspiring.
In our home, windowsills are filled with rocks and the crumbling structures of aforementioned flowers and leaves. We’re daydreamers and when we catch a glimpse of these things in our daily lives, they transport us to the time where we found them – what we were doing; what we felt that day.
As I’m writing, I’m staring at a stick – which you might call a limb – its three-inches in diameter and seven feet tall. It’s got a mighty twist on it and was part of a dying Beech tree, so I sawed it off and hauled it home. It’s making it hard for me to type right now – as I am thinking about that day – before the girls, with their mom, and our dog..
We’ve also got a collection of antlers and bones – a couple of skulls – and a pelt of rabbit fur. These are all things that appealed to us and came to us naturally. I hid a couple of old beer cans on Ragged that I’m going to go pick up today. I already know where I’m going to put them – one on the shelf above me – one on the table on the deck, where I put the turkey feathers we found before the first snow this year.
I’ve even been known to transplant plants because there’s nothing like watching something grow and that’s what kitchen windows are for.
I put these things inside and outside and everywhere; sometimes out in the open – like on windowsills, which I told you before – but sometimes we’ll tuck these memories into corners and slide them into drawers. We like surprises – the girls especially – as they’ll stop in their tracks and examine their special specimen and sigh or smile.
We are the stories that got us here – the moments in time that set our course and smoothed out our wrinkles. Why not have a trinket to amplify those times in space where chance meetings changed us forever?
I’ve got a box in one of the cubbies in our loft here at the house that has all of the aforementioned. It’s what I’ll give the girls when I move on – it’ll tell them the story about their mother and me before there was the all of us…
December is the beginning of the end; the swan song to the preceding year. We generally spend it getting ready for the holidays – which we’re still doing – but being that this year was a little off-kilter, I wanted to make a playlist that reflected more than just Christmas and New Year’s.
So I made a Spotify playlist about the month of December.
For me, December has always been a month filled with emotions. Yes, I’m still like a kid on Christmas, but what’s the otherside of that? Is there room for sadness in a month that anticipates happiness? Is there room for anger? You can’t just be in a state of bliss for thirty-one days, in your late-thirties, because of Christmas.
Especially this year – with it’s sharp turns, stress, and unlimited supply of unknowns.
So this playlist is about the snow. It’s about the changeover to flannel. It’s about short days and night hikes. It’s about love. It’s about loss. It’s about the change and the need to keep one foot in front of the other. In short, this playlist is a reaction to the bits and pieces I’ve picked up in the world around me.
I share a Christmas playlist every year, I felt it apropos to share something that takes the holiday’s into consideration in congress with my day to day life.
Around ten years ago – today – my friend Ian invited us out to an orchard in a nook and cranny town here in CT, to press apples for making cider.
I had made my own hard cider before, but not from personally fresh pressed juice. I had hunted down a farmer up in the Storrs-Mansfield area who sold me five gallons of unpasteurized apple swill for that one.
So, coming from a family of people who made their name in apples, this was big medicine to me. Heck, the idea of pressing apples was so agrarian and colonial to me, that it had my mind going a mile a minute.
I was giddy.
We spent the morning walking the orchard – collecting the perfect specimens – warts and all – and then spent the afternoon cranking away on the apple press. The smell was fantastic. My head was swimming. I was going to make a hard cider – from tip to tail.
I was in a state of continuous giddiness..
I remember driving the hour or so home and getting right to work on making this all into a delicious reality. I’m not even sure I walked the dog that night.
This was an extremely small batch – just two gallons – and I didn’t calculate for all the excitement when I mixed it all together, that night at home. I especially didn’t consider how potent the fresh maple syrup I used instead of sugar, to ignite the fermenting process, would be.
Either way, I put the four crowlers in a cooler, and left the whole get-go under my workbench in my warm and damp workshop; the same area where many home brews had been left to fester before.
Hindsight – this should have been a more methodical process. This should have all been done in a carboy – airlock and all – and then transferred, proper – wherein I could add in the maple syrup, once the natural sugars of the purée and the yeast had done their primary dance.
Anyway..
A couple of nights later – around 2am, I jumped out of bed after hearing, what sounded like, a shotgun blast. I cleared the house twice before my nerves were settled enough to let my mind wander back into dreamland..
The next morning, I headed downstairs – into the basement – where the workshop was – and was instantly hit with the smell of rotting apples when I opened the door.
There, under the workbench, was the blue Igloo cooler – shifted and disjointed and way worse for wear..
And inside was a pool of would be cider and shards of floating amber glass.
I over-primed something that really didn’t need priming. I ignored the need for this wort to breathe. I really dropped the ball..
That English Cider yeast and pure, unmolested, apple juice would have done a fine enough job on their own. But I had a vision and I took a chance with the addition of that Grade A Amber syrup.
Oh well. It would have been a real dandy – that’s for sure.
The little bit I did taste had a specific sweetness and tang that I know would have matured nicely to become a crisp, but creamy, apple cider – worthy of my Grandfather’s name.
Sure there’s a staunch group of diehard outdoor enthusiasts disbursed throughout the world that don’t mind the cold weather, But most folks take the winter off – in terms of outdoor activities in colder climates.
Truth be told: this is perfect hiking weather. Cold. Quiet. Covered in snow. It’s a real hell of a time to wander in your wonder. The perfect time to reflect and plan the next few steps in life…
Are you ready to get on with it? Good! Leave the concept of time behind. Dress warm. Open your mind and be prepared to experience something different and soulfully rewarding!
—
There’s very little on the trees and those familiar vivid colors you may have just experienced a few weeks ago have been usurped by base grey and stark white.
Here and there you’ll catch those autumn hues in a Beech leaf, but for the most part you’re left with a blank canvas to create the path of your journey.
And of course, living in New England, you’ll be graced with paths of verdant conifers that remind you that life goes on even in the biting cold..
But, how to you see the trail?
Well that’s even easier than before – look for the break in the lines of trees, or for patterns in the way the trees ebb and flow. Generally speaking, in heavily wooded areas, trails follow the natural path of trees. So, you may not see the trail on the ground, but you’ll see it’s shadow in the tree line.
If you’re down for a bigger adventure, follow the footprints of the residents of the woods – deer, rabbit, fox, and even bear – all of whom will have all been wicked active last night and early this morning. They’ll lead you where you need to go (but, remember: it won’t be on the trail – it will be on theirs).
Pro Tip: no need to change up your gear selection, but pack your water inside your pack and keep it close to you back. Pack and extra sweatshirt or mid layer to insulate the inside of the pack and keep things in there warm. They’ll keep you warm later.
Bring a fatty or high carb snack, and possibly a tin of bourbon. You will get cold – and these things will fill your tank with energy and warmth. If you don’t drink, hot cocoa in an insulated vessel will do the trick.
A good walking stick and an added traction contraption on your boots are a great addition. If the snow is deeper than 6”, snowshoes could really change your game. But! The downside to snowshoes is that they hate rocks and mud – so keep that in mind when traversing this new and wild landscape.
Keep in mind that you may be sharing space with hunters – so wear something out of the ordinary – orange, red – something that pops. Hell, bring the right rifle and you too may bag something proper for a good stew – just make sure to follow the seasons and guidelines in your state.
Also! Depending on how dedicated you are to this plan – bring a little bag with you to collect tinder for a fire. Everyone thinks that just because you’re in the woods that you can stop anywhere and start a fire, and get fuel for that fire. That’s not always so – especially in the snow. You need small, dry stuff to get a spark to keep. Then, once you get that tinder bundle up and running, you can be a little less picky and grab some dead fall around the area.
Remember to start small and go bigger, in terms of the size of material you’re putting on that fire. Avoid leaves, and be sure to save some water – or gather some snow – to put that fire out when you’re done. Though it’s less common in this cold, snowy environment, you can still start a forest fire. #leavenotrace
Another tip – from me to you – would be to mind your endurance levels. If you can usually do 5 miles on the trail, plan for 2 1/2. If you’ve got to really stomp through the snow – either bring snowshoes – or plan in less mileage. You’re exerting more energy in temperatures where your body is going to fatigue quicker.
Keep it slow and steady and absorb what’s around you. The great thing about walking in a winter wonderland is that you will notice things that aren’t white and grey, easier. Cardinals are abundant right now and are a wonderful juxtaposition.
—
Winter weather hiking is rewarding but less popular amongst the common folk. It’s completely different than any other time of year. Head out there and catch the sun, feel the wind, and find yourself. We can all use a little self-reflection under normal circumstances, but in 2020, the more instances the better.
The following is a bit of a playbook, formatted in a stream of consciousness. It’s intended to help anyone and everyone get back to experiencing life on two-wheels (if you ever end up in a pandemic and want to get back into biking). Enjoy!
So you find yourself in the middle of a pandemic – with a little extra time on your hands – and you want to get back into mountain biking. Problem is, you don’t have a mountain bike. In fact, aside from a strong will and an able body, you don’t have anything that relates to mountain biking because you sold it all when you sold your old mountain bike.
(Yes, I sold everything last year. It’s the second time in my life I’ve made that mistake and this will be the third time starting over – but the first time in this unique situation.)
Problem is, there aren’t any bikes in stock – anywhere. And it’s not just mountain bikes – it’s all bikes, man. Bike shops have been wiped out all summer. And it’s not just bikes themselves – it’s damn near every accessory, save for a few pannier racks, as well.
So what the heck are you supposed to do to quench your thirst for crushing trails on some fresh knobby tires? You could order a new bike and have it here in time for Christmas – or – you could comb through the classifieds…
And that’s exactly what your boy did – and, though it was a long strange trip – I couldn’t be happier that I was patient and waited out the waves for the perfect one – one that met all my needs; present and past.
Let’s get down to brass tacks…
Right now there is an insane amount of turn of the century chromoly-bombers peppered all over places like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and beyond. It’s a feeding frenzy for someone on the back edge of their thirties looking to pick up something affordable, that they know will last – based solely on the fact that it made it this far (like us, Mikey – The Goonies!).
When I was fifteen, I had a 1996 Diamondback “Topanga”. Solid frame, solid fork, solid bike. I rode it right from the shop to the trail and started an addiction I’ve been enjoying ever since.
But I always wanted a Specialized “Rockhopper”.
I remember it being the first bike I ever saw with a front shock and it hit me like the first time that Marty McFly saw that tricked-out black Toyota SR5 in the first “Back To The Future”.
But unlike Marty, I never got my Rockhopper. I never experienced the kush ride that, that Manitou fork gave the bike on the trail. In fact, I all but gave up on mountain biking when I turned 17 and pawned my Topanga to finance my very own SR5 – which was way better than Marty’s.
But mountain biking never left me. Hell, I even worked for the largest bike rack manufacturer in the world for ten years. And at some point in that mix, I built a dream bike – a 2012 Santa Cruz “Heckler” – which was better than my SR5 and Marty’s SR5, combined – and worth easily thrice as much.
Oddly enough, that Heckler was just too much bike compared to where I was going to ride and what I was going to do – so it sat in the shed, collecting dust – and that’s the bike I sold last year, along with every tool and accessory I had, to finance upgrades on my new house.
So, anyway – here we are. Present time. Present pandemic. Present “lack of product” situation – and I’m staring at a goldmine in the classifieds:
Trek. Pre-Trek Gary Fisher. GT. Specialized.
Every bike I saw in all those mountain bike magazines as a teenager had become garage ornaments in the last twenty some-odd years, and now – in these weird and wild times – were all up for grabs.
Now before I go any further and tell you how to land your next trail chariot, I want to instill some hope and tell you that I landed a pristine 1998 Specialized “Rockhopper Comp FS”. It had been kept in great shape, had been regularly tuned-up over the years, and had that gravy Manitou shock I used to dream about. In fact, this thing was so cherry, it was still rolling on its original, factory tires.
It was my size, and even had bar ends! BAR ENDS! But obtaining this trophy bike took time, patience, and a willingness to not grab the first retro-relic that I saw. Yes. I did end up with my dream bike. But I had to get through a few other bikes first and I had to remind myself that I wasn’t having a mid-life crisis and buying a bike to fill a void – but that I was looking to get back on a bike and needed something that was safe and functional as well.
So yes, there are late model bikes for sale all over the Internet – HOWEVER! – a lot of these bikes had the shit kicked out of them before Y2K and were left to rot in the corner of a shed or garage. Lubes coagulated. Rubber dry-rotted, and the folks selling these bikes are literally selling them as if they just rolled off the assembly line (though the reality is that some of them are coming out of a dumpster).
Also, the world of online sales isn’t the most honest place to spend a buck. Each post is trying to lure you in by a seller who’s not out here playing games. They don’t want a return customer – they want your money. This isn’t amateur hour – some of these sellers are extremely cut throat – so you need to enter this arena with your game face on, ready to test ride – and ready to haggle.
You also need to be going into this realizing that these bikes are going to need a little TLC, so budget for at least a couple of hundo over the price you pay for the bike.
As I said, my Rockhopper was in great shape – greased up like a pig at a county fair and looking as fine as pie – but the pedals were on their way out, and the saddle turned my ass black when I sat on it. Nothing major, but these bits and pieces add up quick – especially in a market where there’s high demand for these components. Scarcity drives up demand and demand drives up prices. Keep that in mind!
My mantra through all of this was:
The world is not in a rush right now, and neither am I.
I highly recommend subscribing to it or something similar to it because you’re going to want to have a little zen on your side to come through this with your sanity intact, as well as the right ride.
That said, be mindful about getting into a used bike that needs any major components to be replaced because – dead serious – it’s slim pickings out there. Like bikes and their accessories, components are a commodity right now – and far and few between. Local bike shops are decimated right now, as are most online retailers that specialize in bike parts.
Amazon has a fair supply of forks, cranksets, and the like – but I’m always weary about getting those types of things from places that aren’t authorized dealers. So, really, unless you’ve got a line on bike parts – or don’t plan on riding until the Spring – think twice about grabbing something all banged up thinking you can flip it around and hit the trail lickity-split. It’s not like you can return it.
Also, you don’t want to walk into any of this with your fly down – be prepared for anything. Something as innocent as wanting to tool around the neighborhood with your kids, and casually cruise some trails, could turn into your life’s work.
I found, and relied on Bikepedia to familiarize myself with my Rockhopper from tip to tail in terms of sizing, components – you name it – and it’s made repairing and upgrading a breeze. It also might come in handy when checking out your chain-driven dream: as people swap out components all the time and you want to make sure you’re not getting a pig in a prom dress – but a viable trail demon, as designed. After-all, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that some of these bikes were re-cobbled together for a quick sale between two perfect strangers where the buyer has no recourse. Trust no one.
PRO TIP: there are a slew of component and accessory brands out there that you may never have heard of – that will suit your needs better than the super hip brands out there. I wouldn’t go “off-brand” for a major component, but you might find a saddle, pedals, and the like. Every brand starts somewhere, and in the world of cycling, these manufacturers know they need to put out a legit product to stay in business. Do your research, you’d be surprised what’s out there – and the kind of dough you can save with lesser known name.
REAL TALK: RIDE BEFORE YOU BUY!
In 2020, bike manufactures can’t get on the same page about bike sizing – how do you think they were handling it in the Wild Wild West of the 1990’s? I’ve ridden three “medium” framed bikes – and all three had different stand-over heights because of the way they were built or what they were built on. I had the chance to ride a 1997 Gary Fisher “Marlin” that the owner was practically giving away – I mean seriously; this dude didn’t know what he had and could have gotten another $200. But, when I sat on it, my berries were getting split by the top tube – no bueno.
Remember, Patrick Swayze had to jump out of a few planes, rob a few banks, and kidnap his own girlfriend before he found his perfect set of waves. Be patient and stay the course!
The other thing that’s not easy to get your hands on right now is a bike rack. All of the major players are working double time on the assembly line to get something out to the masses – but most racks are backordered through September. As someone who used to swim around in bike racks and rack parts, I’ve found it extremely hard to find a bike rack.
I would like to tell you that the secondary market for these racks is as flourishing as the bike segment, itself – but it’s really not. This may start to change seeing that summer is almost gone – but you would be better off getting online and in-line to get something back ordered. That said, if you’re serious about this and if you’re really going to do it, do it now – even if you haven’t grabbed a bike – because all of that stock coming in is either being spoken for or being watched like a hawk.
So! To recap and wrap this up: it’s a buyers market for sure when it comes down to going old school and getting the bike of your dreams – but you’re going to have to put in work and earn this one. Heck, some shops are turning into consignment shops just so they have bikes on the floor and their store doesn’t look like it was robbed – but they’re gone just as soon as they come in.
Bottomline: You’re not just going to randomly walk into a bike shop and walk out with a new or used bike anytime soon. You’re going to need to do your homework and be patient. But I’ll tell you wait – determination pays off. As, at some times, inconvenient as this experience was for me, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome!
During this pandemic, when life slowed down to a crawl, we should have all been given an opportunity to do a system’s check and suss out what we like and don’t like about ourselves, make adjustments, and adapt to what’s being called the “new normal”. This also should have been a time where we upped our levels of compassion and care and looked out for one another.
Sadly, that’s not what happened and that’s not where we are today, as a whole, in the United States.
Where our efforts should have been focused on burying the hatchet and stitching society back together, our time has been taken up with trying to find the truth in what’s going on in our world today. What should have been a straight line to a solution became a tangled breeding ground for agendas that have created an even bigger divide between us. And as society continues to tumble to the hairy edge of collapse, the only solace is in the fact that the majority is heading there blindly, as the wool covers their eyes.
Right now, more than ever, it is obvious – do to incestuous infighting – that our problems in this country originate with our politicians. There’s also a large piece of the media that has been poisoned to report particular narratives to keep us blinded from the goal line. Everything has to do with progress. Sadly, when there are so many agendas in place, progress that should benefit the whole has become fragmented to the point where it’s obvious that the people in control are only in it for themselves and those that line their pockets.
The government has failed. It’s not one side or the other – the whole damn thing has tripped and fallen and its fragile bones keep snapping under the weight of its own incompetence. However, needing an answer to cling to, people have generally become more stratified and have been steadfast in taking sides. This has created a much larger divide which has been fueled by the politicizing of this pandemic. Equally damning is a major uptick in racism as people fight for what’s right, only to be met by people not willing to change.
Would now be a good time to talk about the attempts being made to systematically dismantle our police forces? Anyway.
The once mighty and respectable United States has become a cold, dark place – and the whole world is laughing at us; turning away for their own safety. Rightfully so, I guess – but I’m still an American and I am proud that I am. I will always defend this country and the freedoms that it allows me.
That said, in this crooked piece of time, the general population feels forced to align itself with the left or the right. All the while, I find myself living in the middle – something a large number of Americans still do, and something I’ve caught a lot of shit for – as they probably have as well.
People in the middle are able to discuss tenets of both sides that they agree with and the ones they don’t. From there they draw conclusions which support their beliefs and help form new ones. This is another example of progress and if the whole thing needed a label, these people would be considered “independent” – but I like to refer to it as “balanced”.
This ability to think freely should seem like commonsense, but the roars of those who have confined themselves to their blue or red cages is loud and proud. Freethinking is something we all can do – and should be able to do – under our flag of freedom – but it seems to be a negative more than a positive these days.
Anyway.
The reality of all of this is that the blue team doesn’t seem to mind so much, as most of them have the ability to keep an open mind – so I shouldn’t slam them for their convictions. Their cage door is either unlocked or they’ve all been given keys to come and go as they please. It’s the red team, however, that seems the most disturbed and, to me – that’s disturbing.
Though both sides cling to their headlines and sound bites, where the blue team seems optimistic and understanding – the red team cannot allow such insolence as it leads to defectors who see the blinding light of reality and are drawn to it. But even that is unfair to say, as the real soldiers of misfortune and misinformation in this matter aren’t necessarily Republicans in general, but Trump supporters at the core. It’s going to really put those folks in a tailspin once they realize that they’re not really living in a red state, but within his grand illusion.
It’ll be an even bigger blow when they realize that they, themselves aren’t really on the red team and that the alpha force behind the Republican party is slowly pulling back their efforts in supporting Trump.
That statement alone is enough to cause a disturbance in the force – so the comments preceding it are sure to trigger some. My intention was to enlighten others. After all, this is America – land of the free, because of the brave – and we should all make our decisions based on our beliefs and not because of what a party that doesn’t care about us tells us to.
That said, there’s nothing special about being able to think collectively like a Democrat and a Republican – and even beyond. There’s nothing wrong with it either. It shouldn’t cause an issue or even be a topic of conversation, but if there’s an ugly scar on the United States of America, it’s that people feel they need to find a label and a team to follow, and there’s no room for free-thinking in that situation.
This has been holding back progress for years and in order to survive, we need to keep moving forward. Treading water works to keep you afloat, but it doesn’t move you in one way or another. So, eventually, thinking that’s all you can do, you get bored and accept your fate. All the while, if you opened your mind – you’d remember you can swim.
Enter Teddy Roosevelt, an extremely strong swimmer. Teddy was one of the best Republican presidents in our history because – one, he wasn’t a Republican, and two – because he wasn’t a politician. Teddy was an author, an ornithologist, and a freak for preserving nature. Politics just happened to work for him due to his robust personality, his uncanny knack for oration, and an adventurous course of action which kept him alive, even when he was told he was living in the confines of failing health.
The Republican Party invited him into their fold because they were tired of running around in circles, and he was their ticket onward and upward.
(Seriously, Google it. Read a book about it – as every book about Teddy mentions it in one way or another.)
Remember, the Republican Party was created to help this country grow as it had stalled under the Democrats. At the turn of the century, when the Republicans wrapped their arms around Teddy, they, themselves had stalled. They saw him as the spark they needed to gain enough momentum to move forward – and they were correct. Though they soon too would regret empowering him, as he was light years beyond being sequestered to the left or right.
Teddy Roosevelt was balance. He lived in the middle and he has been honored and chastised for it for more than a century. In a time where the country was treading water, Teddy was an excellent swimmer. In that, Teddy was progress.
One-hundred year later here we are, all being able to think freely in the freest country in the world, and we’re stuck to verbally abusing one another – online and in person – because we refuse to understand and respect one another. In 2020, under the shadow of a pandemic, you’re either a snowflake or a racist. There’s seemingly no room for anything else – and it’s all a distraction. We’re in a vicious cycle of treading water and creating more labels for labels to feed a system that has its claws in every aspect of everything out there – and never been stood up to in modern America.
Our government survives on our willingness to be submissive. It knows that we’re not going to put in the effort to stand up against it because it has programmed us to think that if we push back, they’ll cut us off and we’ll be left in the dark; forced to fend for ourselves.
Sadly, with all that power – they’re not that powerful.
We’re allowing this government to divide us by manipulating a virus and a cultural defect – racism – to distract us. All the while, it knows it’s running around in circles and running out of steam. That reality is what allowed the Republicans to let Donald Trump in – just as they did with Teddy Roosevelt over a century ago. But where Teddy was a revolutionary gunning for progress and posterity, Trump is a sensationalist who has aligned himself to gain – personally.
If anything, Donald Trump is living the American Dream. But in this sequence, America suffers while he prospers. And, look – he’s not all bad. In fact, he’s done a ton of good for our economy. He’s done this while being crippled by the Democrats at every turn. Every time he tries to make a difference, they sweep the leg and knock him down. But he’s a showman, a huckster, and he’s playing into their game and taking the Republican Party down with him.
(Which is probably why they’re starting to separate themselves from him.)
If there was a point in time in this generation where we should collectively stand up for what we believe in – it would be now. But it won’t be now, because every time we, as society, pull the wool back to see clearly, it only lasts for a minute before another agenda is executed and knocks us back. Once we start to swim, a wave of deceit takes us out and leaves us forced to tread until the waters calm down again; just in time for the next wave.
We’re living in a time where we’re being forced to question science because our government tells us to. We’re living in a time where we can no longer survive off the headlines of the news and a little lite-reading. We are pre-occupied in doing our own research and drawing our own conclusions. We are too-preoccupied, in general. This, in itself, is an agenda being pushed on us by a desperate government which has grown so long in the tooth to the point where it’s no longer effective. It can no longer power the engine of progress to benefit the whole and has become fractured and focused on only benefiting a select few.
This is why we need a middle. This is why we can’t currently fall to the left or the right. Right now isn’t the time to be a Democrat or a Republican. We need to toe the line and be Americans. We must balance ourselves in the middle. We must think for ourselves and align on the common goal to move past 2020. This, and only this will allow us – as the whole – to shed the wool and progress towards the future.
Again, there is nothing special or specific about thinking freely. It is your right to approach every aspect of your life with an open mind. I, like many other fellow Americans, have built my own belief system, culled from aspects of both political parties – and beyond – to draw my own conclusions. I was once labeled an Independent – then I chose to be a Democrat. I spent my thirties as a Republican, and now – as I touch the leading edge of my forties, I realize that if I want to be free in a country that exemplifies freedom, then I need to lead the charge – straight up the middle – and so I find myself Independent again.
Bottomline: if society is truly going to take a nose dive, I want to go out on my own two feet; not being carried to the fire by false prophets, profiteers, and sensationalists.
Open your mind. Find your balance. Start swimming. After all, wool is heavy in water and you’re only going to drown.
“Where most businesses usually suffer due to internal struggles, or an inferior product, saturation in craft beer is when the market has reached its capacity and breweries start to suffer because of it. Saturation is a naturally occurring outside force that has internal impacts, out of your control. It can only be countered by amplifying your presence and offering a superior craft beer experience.”
Craft beer, nationwide, has been growing steadily in the past decade – to the point where I like to refer to it as “America’s NEW pastime”. It’s more widespread and more accessible to anyone and everyone then ever, and though it’s bound to plateau, it’s here to stay.
In Connecticut, we’ve added nearly 100 breweries in the past decade, and that’s still on the up and up with more breweries filing for licensing and buying up old buildings to rehab, across the state, weekly.
It’s been a boost to the economy and has also created a well-blended micro-culture of people who have adopted craft beer as a lifestyle. Now, more than ever, people are are well-informed of what goes into their craft beer, what styles they like, and who’s brewing what. Most enthusiasts are in-tune and educated – having either gone out and sampled a ton of oat sodas, studied up on the various facets of craft beer, or – more commonly – a mix of both.
From the outside looking in, and even while on the inside – it seems like a bit of elitism ruling over the rest of the rising class. And that’s not a knock or a negative, it’s the best way I can describe the customer base in the demographic I work within: some folks come in, order what they know they like, and enjoy it. Other folks come in and ask for a beer based on a specific ingredient – usually hops – confirm the presence of an expected set of specific tastes and mouthfeel’s, and then enjoy it.
I liken it to sports. Some folks enjoy watching a game, other folks commit player and team statistics to memory.
I think there’s room for both types of followers and welcome them as they riff off of one another to (usually) create a bigger and better experience, as well as keep the ball rolling in terms of organic business and brand growth – a lot of which happens on social media.
Three years ago, I was brought into Kinsmen Brewing Company, in Milldale, Connecticut to help create a customer base while they were still under construction. They already had the foundation of their brand built and wanted me to create the voice and spread the word of “Kinsmen”. So I began writing copy and posting to their social media platforms all while the brewery was still being built (this is “Brand Amplification” in it’s purest and most enjoyable form).
This role grew into many more positions – bartender, manager, event coordinator, construction worker, and mascot. It became my life after years of craft beer being my lifestyle. The whole thing was – and still is – surreal.
In a short period of time, as Kinsmen grew, other people came on board, or rose to the occasion, to take on different roles and even out the workload, and I became the sole, driving force behind their social media outlets. It allowed me to express my creative writing and photography talents for a good cause, but it also kept me close to trends and changes within the market, which allowed the brand to be proactive and stay relevant.
I was recently asked – in so many words – how to open a brewery and be successful in a market that’s nearing saturation. There’s a million ways I could have answered that question, but I kept it close to the vest – and stuck to what I knew, as opposed to what I assumed.
So, having a good financial backing and stellar craft beverage assortment aside, this is how I see it:
“Opening the brewery and establishing the Kinsmen brand and voice seemed easy compared to creating a differentiation between our brand and other brands in a market nearing saturation. But it requires constant upkeep. Nothing in this market can go on “autopilot”. You need to stay relevant to keep the lights on. To do that, we continually research what other breweries are doing in terms of beers they’re brewing, social media efforts and trends, as well as how they set themselves apart, or if they do at all. Additionally, we visit other breweries and try their beers and attend any and all relevant beer tastings and brewfests, either as the brand or part of the crowd. It’s hard to not develop a “house palate”, but if you’re supporting a brewery – in our current market – you need to have knowledge of what’s going on around you – and that includes tasting notes. Essentially – your brand needs to be your primary focus, but the customer base is so in-tune with trends, popular hops, etc – they will eventually quiz you on other brands. And they’ll call you on your bullshit, so you need to be relevant as well.
Bottomline:If you want to succeed in craft beer – and want your brand to succeed – you need to be part of the craft beer culture.Beard and Flannel Optional.“
It’s important to note that most of us – across breweries – even across state lines – are friends. We may start off as strangers, but once you talk about your common bond in beer, then the friendship quickly forms and rarely dwindles. We’re constantly talking about what we see in the industry and how we employ particular tactics to stay organically viable. And we’re always supporting one another – either directly, or indirectly – most obviously seen in the myriad beer collaborations out there today – but also by hanging our trying one another’s lab samples and giving honest feedback.
We also benefit from bunch of enthusiast groups and official organizations – such as The CT Brewers Guild – who promote various brands and keep us all connected either through social media, or boots on the ground efforts – like throwing their own brewfests. These factions are all borne out of their adopting of the craft beer culture as their way of life. It’s like being a Jedi, really..
If I had to end this whole thing with one message to my friends and family in craft beer:
Having gotten into craft beer, and then into homebrewing, way back in 2000, I feel like an old man out here. But, I’m rooted, open-minded, and make my rounds in the scene – and that helps me stay relevant. I thrive on writing about our beers as well as photographing them and thinking of new and different ways to present those beers to the public. With people’s spans forever shrinking, and the market forever expanding, I can only hype the Kinsmen brand so much as a person. But social media – just like print before it – will exist forever and has the uncanny ability to spread its wings damn near anywhere. So make sure you’re getting out there and getting people’s attentions in the most organic way possible – Instagram, Facebook.. Visiting other breweries… OH! And cool merch. Don’t skimp on the merch. Especially stickers!
If I had to end this whole thing with one message to the craft been enthusiasts:
Make sure you’re out there having fun. If you’re dreading waiting in lines to mule beer, and you need to put a pause on a mortgage payment – for beer – then you’re making it more of a miasma then something that could easily allow you to flourish socially and culturally. We’re brewing it and marketing it because it’s something we enjoy – and want you to enjoy. After all, it’s just beer. It’s here to make you happy. Also, don’t let it become an addiction – and I don’t mean the fact that this stuff is alcohol – I mean, don’t let it run you around. There’s plenty of IPA’s, Lagers, and Stouts for everyone!
A Marketing Engineer who’s main objective is to increase a brand’s presence through social media, merchandising, and boots on the ground marketing.
Life is about you, so why not make it about you?
Why should we settle into an occupation that we were conditioned for, when we can work at one that utilizes our natural, raw talent?
I’m a square peg.
An engineer without an engineering degree who excels at engineering, but thrives in marketing and brand amplification situations.
I became an engineer because someone took a chance on me and allowed me to learn how to become an engineer. Through enthusiasm, I took it upon myself to design in 3D, utilizing my ability to think outside the box – all while learning to understand why I designed something the way I did.
Theory. That’s what engineering is really about. The end result is always the goal – but the theory behind the design is the objective.
And I enjoy it. Man, do I enjoy it. But I don’t thrive behind a desk for 10 hours a day. I need stimulation. I need an environment that cultivates my interests.
I’m forever writing. I’m forever getting behind an idea and exploiting it, organically. When I find something that interests me, there’s no glass ceiling to my capabilities.
I’m creative. From taking photos, to creating custom graphics, to materializing successful events, or supporting brands at events, I thrive when I’m allowed to take off the suit and be myself.
It’s been craft beer. It’s been knives and tools. It’s been after-market roof racks.
It’s all been an extension of who I am. It’s all been an exploitation of a hobby or my culture.
And I’ve been successful at all of it. But Engineering has always paid the bills.
Engineering has also allowed me to get my fix for tinkering. But marketing – and to that extent – sales – is where my personality is allowed to show up, everyday, for work.
So that’s the next adventure, right? Shouldn’t I focus on “me” at 38 years old, and find that one brand that let’s me give it my all to their benefit?
Well, here I am.
Looking for a place that allows me to be me and utilizes my natural talents.
If you had to put a name on it, I would call it a “Marketing Engineer”. Someone who understands the goal, but isn’t afraid to think outside the box to get there. A creative tinkerer with a interesting way of getting the message out there. Whatever that message is.
But here, we’re going to call it a “Brand Amplifier” because it draws attention as it leaves the outermost edges of your lips when you say it. It’s more captivating.
As a modern design engineer, your job is to design and virtually build a part or assembly that someone is going to have to fabricate and assemble in the real world. You are creating models and drawings on a computer that a fellow human-being is going to have dissect with their brain and transcribe into an actual “thing”, that takes up space in the real world, with the tools they have available to them.
So why not design it to their abilities, with the tools they have in their toolkit? Or, in the very least, present it to them in a familiar format that they understand (which would be more practical)?
I became an engineer through unethical and unacceptable means: by experience when someone took a chance on me and exploited my enthusiasm and creativity – taught me how to harness it and focus on the task at hand – and, mostly about what really can be built on the real world.
It’s something that some recruiters and hiring agents dismiss me for because I don’t have a degree, so I don’t fit in a checkbox on their paperwork. But I am full of theory, am proficient in Autodesk Inventor, and professionally certified in SolidWorks.
In short, I am experienced. I learned in the field. I’m good at what I do. I’m an asset. I also think outside the box, am open to criticism, and work well on a team and alone. Work doesn’t scare me. Neither does putting myself on the firing line and pleading my case, in defense of a design.
In the process of getting to where I am as an engineer, I have working with companies where the engineers worked with fabricators and assemblers – directly – so I’ve been able to ask those folks how they want the information delivered to them; or in the very least, have been able to apply processes that help them understand how they’re going to manufacture something – and keep the delivery consistent across the board.
This involved utilizing standardized dimensioning on drawings (a common, but forgotten practice), standardized Bills Of Material, standardized file structures for easy drawing and rendering access, and – here’s the biggie – communication. All of the aforementioned was communicated and taught so that everyone was familiar with the process and could get their jobs done.
I also left my door open to make myself available to anyone who had a question or suggestion and had to problem getting my hand dirty, turning wrenches, to help people get the job done. I’m a natural tinkerer.
I digress.
I’ve left two jobs, in the past five years, where – while working with fabricators and assemblers – I was able to implement these SOP’s to help streamline the manufacturing process. It made us a well-oiled machine where we could all talk to one another during the fabrication or build processes, and learn from one another where applicable.
It allowed for everyone to be part of the same team – where troubleshooting and feedback became less of a burden and more a form of learning and growing.
So imagine my horror when I found out that this wasn’t the norm!?!?
Imagine how I had to comprehend the fact that there are manufacturing companies where the engineers do not communicate with the soldiers in the field!?!?
That, in some cases, there’s a perception of elitism, where the engineers hand-off their compiled information and the people on the floor are simply left to “figure it out” !?!?
As if these engineers float by and hand off their work in a bin and are never heard of again?
Okay.
One. That’s horseshit. Two. In a world of 5S-Kaizen-Lean Manufacturing; how the heck does that type of practice even hold up? How does a company succeed when its labor force is constantly struggling and doesn’t feel as if they have a support line within the engineering team?
That’s like a sales team and a marketing team not working together. You’re getting sparks, not fire – working hard, and not smart. It burns people out and has minimal effectiveness, at best.
Yes, sure – to an extent – fabricators and assemblers are familiar with common practices and are able to decipher drawings and renderings to a point where they can get the job done.
But there are more situations where products can be new and confusing and it’s pure egotism to think, as an engineer, that you can hand-off something you transmitted from your brain to a program on your computer, and then to an uninformed coworker so they could try and figure out what you’re thinking.
Here’s where this rant stems from: a series of unrelated conversations I’ve had the random chance of having over the past month or so with folks who weld and assemble for a living. People who have been in the manufacturing field for a while, who, when I told them I was a design engineer – immediately went into a tirade about engineers and their lack of communication.
There’s lots of jokes about engineers assuming their designs are easy to physically create, a lot of real accurate dingers – but the issue here is that a growing number of engineers are fresh-faced kids coming out of college and are being hired by firms who employ a workforce full of either seasoned welders and assemblers, or seasonal workers with little experience.
These kids are smart, yes – but a lot of them don’t have job experience. They don’t know how to work with a welder, or someone turning screws – so why would they try? They come into the job, pre-programmed to design and engineer widgets; not communicate the process. How can you expect them to step out of their comfort zone and troubleshoot or accept feedback?
I have been fortunate enough to have worked for a large company (Okay, it was Thule), where every person involved in a project was part of the whole process – from beginning to end – so that everyone was well-informed on the methodology used in designing and building the product – whether it was a simple part or complicated assembly.
Everyone was brought on board, even if it took hours of explaining the meaning behind something or the purpose of the product. No one was dismissed – no questions were tossed off. Everything was communicated and had a lengthy paper trail.
But, as I mentioned previously, what I’m finding out, more and more, is that this isn’t what’s happening out in the world – normally. That the normal process is to work in an environment with minimal communication across the departments and to just expect people to figure it out.
As I previously stated – that’s horseshit.
By the way, FYI – ICYMI – This isn’t an issue with older engineers – most of them, though generally thinking of a much more complex wavelength, are open to talking about their designs and welcome feedback. But those guys – like the guys who helped me along the way – are getting to the age or retirement.
It might be a good time, while manufacturing continues to make its triumphant return to the United States, for these companies where their engineers don’t feel the need to inform and educate, shift their step and focus on company-wide communication.
It might take a little more time to onboard everyone, but once you get a process in place and open lines of communication, your company can only profit.
” For me, it’s not always about being an audiophile. It’s about being a functioning music aficionado who isn’t trying to block out the world, but to enhance his day to day life with some background music.”
A little while back, I admitted that I listen to music all the time – even while sleeping – and recommended you do the same.
It’s something I’ve been doing since I was a kid, that has become borderline therapeutic; as an adult. Music sets the tone and the mood, but it also keeps us from getting sucked down the rabbit-hole of life – and is also a proven trigger that leads to memory recall.
At home, listening to music is easy. I just tell Sonos, via Alexa, what I want to listen to (or to turn my lights on and off) and I am able to exploit my mood, recall a moment, or even just go through the motions while the music acts as white noise. But, out on the street, at work, or in the woods – music becomes a personal enhancement.
Not only do I NOT feel the need to share what I am listening to with anyone else – it’s kind of a jerk move to do so.
After all, we are almost in our fourth decade of personal music devices; a movement, arguably launched, by “The Walkman” – so there’s no need to make the music we listen to part of someone else’s day.
In fact, why would we? Why would we want anyone else to know about the adventure we’re on? Save that shit for a romantic moment – when you really want to “wow” someone. Don’t infect your neighbor next to you at the grocery store with your personal, freethinking movement. That’s not the time where you want to influence someone or have them draw opinions about you; they’ve already judged you for those two cans of SPAM in your cart or basket; why offer them more fuel for the fire?
Anywho.
With myriad devices – corded, uncorded, budded, and unbudded – available in the market today, what have I singled out as the right device for multifarious old me?
Well, truth be told, I was a huge subscriber and town crier for Skullcandy’s Method Sport Earbuds until my dog ate them. I’m not even kidding – I wore them all day, every day – for a solid year – and left them on the table for a couple of minutes and the dog ate them.
This left me with the option to buy that neckband style headset again – or to branch into a territory I have briefly lived within a couple of years prior – totally wireless earbuds.
Looking at my current, over-active, lifestyle, I chose the latter over the former because it fit into my career-life, dad-life, outdoor life, and every other type of life I live, daily, indoors and outdoors.
In the end, I stuck with Skullcandy and chose their “Sesh”, True Wireless Earbuds, and I have been nothing but stoked about their fit, form and function for the last two months.
PROS – Easy to pair, and they stay paired. – Easy to control for both music and phone calls from my iPhone. – Continuously play music for 4-5 hours. – 5-6 recharges via recharge case. – Fit (and stay) in my ear, comfortably and mostly inconspicuously. – Sound great for the price.
CONS – Easier to control via phone than on-board controls (especially if you’re only using one bud – which has to be the left bud).
Now, I don’t mind – AT ALL – having to use my phone to control the earbuds, but some folks might find them to not be “truly wireless” being that each bud has its own set of functions where, if you’re only wearing one bud – and want to use the on-board controls – you can’t.
Furthermore, the left earbud has been determined to be THE earbud to use – by Skullcandy – if you’re only going with one bud in. When that runs out of battery – you can’t just pop the right one in. The right bud needs the left bud to function, bud.
Full-disclosure, I thought the two couldn’t operate on their own was drawback at first, but when considering that:
1. I use my phone to control the buds. 2. I don’t have the buds playing for a full, continuous, 4-5 hour clip. 3. I rarely have both buds in. 4. There’s a lot of buds on the market, for double the price of the Sesh, that function the same way.
I quickly got over it. And found that these earbuds not only fit my ear and stayed in my ear without discomfort, but they also were putting out some great sound which I had no trouble hearing, even in a factory setting. They were even equalized well at higher decibels – with little to no noticeable distortion.
Also, the price is quite nice: $60 to be untethered and at peace at your own personal concert, for a few hours – is quite the bargain – especially seeing that most buds that make it on to any type of rating review usually are at $80 or higher (sure I only cherry-picked one link, but it’s thorough and reputable).
So Why Skullcandy, Bud? Being a gear reviewer who has also worked in the outdoor gear industry – where trading products is a way of survival – I have had the opportunity to try out a lot – A LOT – of different headphones and earbuds. I have also spent way too many hours traveling the world on an airplane RELYING on headphones. So, I know what I want – and I want something affordable, reliable, and quality driven that I can replace, without crippling my income, if I lose them or my shitty dog (who I love quite a bit) eats them.
I have an awesome pair of Sennheiser Momentum Wireless Headphones sitting feet away from me now, as I type – and yeah, they sound epic – but that’s not my style – and they won’t cut it out in a global warming downpour on a hike. So, for me, it’s not always about being an audiophile. It’s about being a functioning music aficionado who isn’t trying to block out the world, but to enhance his day to day life with some background music.
And you know what? I think a lot of people are like me – who woke up one day and wanted to have gadgets and gizmos – but wanted to be conscious about where they spent their money – so they had to find a middle ground, and the middle ground turned out to be a goldmine of awesome products hiding in the shadows of commercialized hype.
That said – for me, right now, in my active day to day, inside and outside, four seasons out of the year, life – the “Sesh” by Skullcandy is where I want my personal concert coming from. In my qualified opinion, they offer the perfect balance in form and function – and, for the price – they can’t be beat.
Tribe Of Flannel 