It was nice to get out of Buffalo for a while. Having been gone from Jamestown for so long, going home provides an opportunity that I can only describe as one that allows you to rediscover where you came from.

Despite the gloomy economy, retail outfits seem to have sprouted up over the past few years. What is particularly pleasing for me, however, is to find new and exciting products made by new companies established right in Chautauqua County. Coffee microroasters, candy companies, local farms pursuing what they call "horizontal integration" at business school. I think it's great to walk into Wegman's and see locally made products that are given prominent shelf space.

This isn't to say that there is an economic renaissance happening in Chautauqua County, although we ran into people who had actually came back home to work after having been elsewhere for a while. I still fear for the blue collar manufacturing base, although it should be said that Jamestown is actually a more business friendly place than Buffalo in terms of policy and taxation. What is happening back home is more of a homespun renaissance and I hope it continues. Businesses are once again establishing themselves in vacant downtown space (including great new restaurants and a coffee house), and there was even a new office building under construction. Having grown up there and now understanding as an adult how poor the economy was in Jamestown when I was a kid, it gives me a great deal of pride to see real progress there. I think it is fair to say that (e:jay) and I enjoyed our time back home and we likely would have stayed another night if it weren't for previous football plans.

Go Bills. *sob* that's all in football news.

After arriving in J-town, we stayed one night then traveled to Owego, NY for dinner at my uncle's house. Everything was fine, until my uncle got a call from his hunter friend saying he had a deer for my father. (Back story - traditionally, every year my father gets deer meat processed into jerky and a trillion different cuts, although we've never actually transported one before). We got dressed, took ropes, cables and a tarp, and proceeded to load this dead deer onto the top of my dad's Jeep Liberty. It was hanging off of this guy's tree, from the back hoofs, with some rope strung through his legs to keep it from, you know, falling. So we backed up the Jeep to the tree, slid the deer onto the truck, tied the thing down, and drove it 3.5 hours from Owego to Jamestown. The thing eventually slid back a few inches and its head was hanging from the roof, right in front of the rear window. Niiiiice. Then, the story got worse.

We were between Salamanca and Allegheny when my father receives a call from his friend - they are going to see Brian Eno and David Byrne at UB CFA and he wants my dad prepared by 4pm! Looking at the clock, it was 3:00pm. It becomes distinctly apparent that we're going to have to store the deer in grandma's garage in order to keep dad's concert plans intact. So, we ended up manipulating the dead animal off of the truck and hung it from a crossbeam in my grandma's garage for a day. I'm not a hunter, I've never shot a gun, and I'm generally bad with dead animals. This was one of the weirder and more uncomfortable things I've done in my life, I have to say. I can't wait for the venison jerky though!

After the deer scenario, (e:jason) and I naturally agreed that a strong beer or two was in order. So, we went and visited Southern Tier's pub and had some fresh craft beer. While we were there I bought a snifter, a pint glass and a 22 oz. bottle of their seasonal halles lager, which they call "Krampus." Krampus is the evil alter ego of Santa, fyi, who allegedly punishes naughty children. Fantastic beer, highly recommended. I drank "Gemini" while I was there, which they do bottle commercially once in a while. I had them mix it for me from the tap - half Unearthly IPA, half Hoppe. I don't think I've ever tasted a hoppier concoction in my life. Incidentally, their pub offers free wifi and tours of the brewery are available for $8, which includes a glass and free tastes of the stuff currently on offer. (e:jason) brought home a bottle of their limited run Cuvee #1, which is a heavily alcoholic, oak-aged ale, and a case of their Chautauqua Brew, which is a Southern Tier beer sold only in Chautauqua County. It's a damn fine session beer, easily drinkable and not a complicated as their usual craft brews. It is what Labatt and Bud should be - easy finish, with a faintly hoppy/citrusy/flowery note. $21.99 for a case isn't cheap but it is definitely a higher quality beer than most commercial stuff out there.

This is the time of year where it is an American tradition to overeat and see family and old friends. (e:jason) and I will be visiting our uncle and his family for the second year in a row, then returning to Jamestown for some dessert at the home of our friend Jerry's parents. Jerry's mom has always been the Martha Stewart type and is a dynamite cook, so this is something we look forward to.

I have to admit about being worried with the food. It isn't as if my aunt doesn't serve traditional fare, but her family has always ate things we didn't grow up eating, such as *gulp* creamed onions. This year I worry a little more since all of the kids will be there, from Washington state and California, and so I expect that all their "favorites" will be on the table. I'm pretty sure the only things I'll eat are the turkey, the potatoes and the cranberry sauce.

Then again, I'm a firm believer in the spirit of Thanksgiving. For me this is the beginning of the big wind down, where we finally take stock and relax until the new year. Some won't eat at all tomorrow, and some will eat at places such as Loaves and Fishes. It is good enough for me to take a ride with dad, (e:jay) and grandma and see my uncle and his family.

I plan on bringing a book and some work to do during the ride. I expect that the ride will be a bit long because of the weather, so I'll have some latent time to get something done. I haven't been to Jamestown in a while, so while we are there I hope to stop by Southern Tier for some beer and glassware.

These are prunes.



If they were as good as this girl makes them seem, every kid in America would devour them. Truth be told, to me they seem like they have a consistency similar to the abdomen of a tarantula.

regarding social compliance and Uncle Wally.



You have no idea how badly I could eviscerate this article if I were allowed. Social compliance audits on behalf of W-M have been going on all over the world for at least 5 years.

I wish I could get into it but I can't. These outside observers are so ignorant and clueless regarding this topic that I'm sure they are unaware of how off the mark they really are. This is why advocacy groups annoy me at times.

Just don't be that guy/girl to freeze reality until you hit level 80!

I think I've been pretty even keeled. The country ain't blowing up like a lot of people believe. I want the best for the country and will grant Obama six months or so before I get critical (with the possible exception of his cabinet - Rahm getting picked to be his right hand man is a bad sign). The thing about Obama that people who didn't vote for him need to understand is that he's a decent man. You might not agree with him but you can trust beyond doubt that he's pragmatic and a good man. I am willing to put some confidence in Obama and give him a shot, and in my opinion so should everyone else.

Americans don't and shouldn't care about world opinion when selecting their candidates - we are a sovereign nation. However, nobody should short change or denigrate the opinions of the world. We've lived through eight years where GWB was granted the good will of planet earth, particularly after 9/11, and shortly squandered it. Look, the world *wants* to have confidence in and follow the United States. On the other hand, they don't want to feel marginalized and shut out. We have plenty of admirable and not so admirable qualities, but in the end we are the lone superpower for the time being and we have to be proper stewards. I think all the world is asking of us is to be a decent, fair and just nation. The rhetorical flourishes in Europe regarding Barack Obama have been fascinating. They seem to see it as no less than a rebirth, a recreation, a correction of one of our original sins. I sat and stopped after he tipped 270, and all I wanted to do was listen to what he had to say. Really, for a second I felt like the world stopped... it was time to soak it in a bit and realize that once again in America we've flipped the script. It was a historic and momentous occasion - I only regret that I didn't have the foresight to run out and get a paper, like we did when 9/11 happened.

However, I've been entertained with some (presumably) good-natured ribbing on my MySpace page. I'm not sure if he's being a dick or not, honestly. One of my brother's former co-workers is in Lazlo Hollyfeld, and after the election he drunkenly posted some pictures on my page, which I have to admit entertained me. Not to be outdone though, I bombarded him with the following -







He posted the shittiest little Obama logo - I'd have kept it on my page if it wasn't so small. Afterwords he posted a picture of GWB kissing Cindy McCain at a podium, while John watched. Now, I could go the famous Al Gore/Tipper route on this one - that was the single most uncomfortable embrace by a politician and his wife in American history. He doesn't want to bring a knife to a gun fight - I've got some shocking GWB pictures that are the de facto coup de grace.

All partisanship aside, it is an absolutely amazing achievement. We're witnessing the popular election of the first African-American as the President of the United States and it is something I was hopeful we'd see in our lifetimes but was never sure about. This is America at its grandest.

The last time I wore a Halloween outfit, I went as a boxer with a black eye. I can be a festive person at times but Halloween isn't my thing. I'll be at the parties on the schedule (Paul's and my friend Kevin) without a costume, most likely. That is... unless... I figure something out. I've got all kinds of ideas. The best thing about Halloween, of course, is the free license for women to dress like strippers.



The 70's detective. Ma'am, I'm afraid we're going to have to do a more, how do you say, "private" interrogation...



The bricklayer. Lady - can you find me a place where I can bury my spade?



Julius Caesar. The Emperor always gets what he wants. That is, until he's murdered.



The southern gentleman. Miss, I do declare, your bosom is making this man hunger...

And a few I'd never consider yet think are hilarious.



The Keystone Cop. I see this and I think of Scott Joplin's The Entertainer and bungled police work.

And what might just be the coup de grace....



Lt. Dangle from Reno 911. I won't go here, but I would love anybody that did.

So basically, I'd be interested in anything will allow me to derive a sexual innuendo.

I'm establishing a moratorium on disturbing condiment products such as baconnaise and mayostard. Some things just aren't meant to exist, and the combination of bacon and mayo is one of them. Why is stoner cuisine gaining legitimacy? Look - I understand the novelty, and perhaps the product is good. Nothing, however, will replace the crunch of salty, smoky bacon on a sandwich. I can understand the pull with vegetarians/vegans, but even those people can get the faux bacon. I need crunch with the bacon flavor and can't understand those who might slather an unholy product such as that on a sandwich! Deep down you know it's wrong.

If you are curious about what the pinnacle of mustard production is, please check out this link - - Maille of Paris. This boutique was featured in Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods, on the Travel Channel. Here they pull mustard out of a tap like a pint of stout, except the pint glass is substituted with small earthenware. Any wacky flavor you can imagine has been produced here. They've been at it for over 250 years so you'd think they might have exhausted their flavor options. Personally I'd like to know what mustard tasted like 250 years ago, rather than try a lavender or thai spice mustard. Are you are jerk at this store if you buy "original flavor?"

I'm trying to weasel my way back here -









The pacific northwest came back around... and there is a lot to do. I definitely am going to talk my boss into letting me go.