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!