The Epic Jouney Continues

Have you ever read the book 'The Hobbit'?  It is really quite a good read and very entertaining.  If you have not, let me give you a quick synopsis.  Bilbo, the hero of the story, is a rather timid being, enjoying living his rather dull life.  He was reluctantly convinced to join in an expedition to search for a mythical treasure in a far away land.  What makes the novel "Epic" is the fact that this quiet, unassuming hobbit left the comfort of his home to embark on a daring  journey, wrought with danger, excitement and thrills.  His interaction with all sorts of people and creatures that he had never even dreamed existed, both good and evil, shape him into a person quite unlike the person he was at the beginning of the story.  In the end he found that the rather dull life that he thought was the perfect life had not been so great after all.  Of course, if he had not gone a travelling, The Hobbit would have been only one page long and not terribly epic.

It is now time for me to continue on with my epic journey as well and search for my mythical treasure in a far away land.  I hope that over the years I, or rather we, have opened your eyes and mind to being a bit more adventurous, even if it is only in an epicurian manner.  To those that I have offended and insulted, well, I would like to say that they were mistakes and not prone to repetition, but that would be a lie, for I am an offensive beast.  I would like to leave you with a few thoughts:

1.  Support your local breweries.  There are some incredible beers being brewed here in north Texas (and a few truly awful ones) and they need your support to continue their journey as well.

2.  Try new things.  New beers, new restaurants, new dishes in old restaurants, new music ...... for goodness sake you only get one life, go live it!

3.  Be the teacher.  You are enjoying a beer in a pub that serves craft beers and the person next to your orders a Bud.  Gaaaaaak.  Engage that person in a conversation and suggest a better beer to try .... be gentle, remember, it is their first time.  The only way for the craft beer movement to continue is if we, the lovers of good beer, convince those with open minds to follow along with us.

4.  Life is too short to drink crappy beer.

Thank you for your patronage, we're off to Rivendell.  Now, where did I put that damned ring?

I guess I announced my retirement too soon as that many of you wish to see this continue.  Thank you for your support and I will keep posting as long as you keep reading.  Cheers - Bon