I wasn't really sure which blog to post this in. Then I decided, "meh, doesn't matter. my blogs, my rules. BOTH!"

(WARNING: I am so fracking tired and wiped. Prepare for careless use of words and blatant disregard for punctuation)

So, my beer buddy has this saying that there is a time and place for every beer. Meaning, even the biggest craft brew snob has to agree that you just wouldn't beer pong with barley wine style ale. (though, I have had some argue that this would be an epic ponging event - I don't play beer pong, but I still pretty much think barleywine ale pong would be the worst event ever)

That being said. I finished tough mudder today and retested my friends rule (more thoughtfully). In fact, I am awake now because of my epical bruisyness.

Anyway, as I said, I tested my friend's rule today, as I have tested it after every race/athletic event I have participated in for the last year or so (beers post running is getting ever more popular. It might be because of this study saying that beer helps recovery or this one, you get the point).

Any who, when you cross the finish at TM, they hand you your bright orange sweatband, water, a cliff bar, and dos equis (either amber or lager). Let me tell you what, I generally don't go for the mexican beers unless I am on a beach miles from nowhere (or miles from sober) but it was the BEST beer ever. And, I knew it was going to be.

Why? Because I was 10 miles tired - not like my normal saturday 10-mile run. More like a muddy, bloody, sweaty, 10-mile hike at 7,500 ft elevation with 19+ obstacles including walls, ice baths, electric shocks, and mud pits (yay, mud!) I needed me some CARBS and refreshment and to feel like I was drinking a cool breeze.  And, that beer, mmmnnnnomnomnomnom. Also: You probably shouldn't have a super high abv beer post something like tough mudder. You just put your body through the rigamaroo.  Besides, the most interesting man in the world drinks it. So DUH! Clearly the post-mudder beer of choice.

I think my friend is right. Beer can be situational.

I mean, I can honestly say, I've had an oly from time to time when it seemed right. I've even had a pabstini (if you have to ask, you don't want to know). When I check into Untappd, my ratings can change based on my situation. A beer I thought was fantastic yesterday may suck in comparison to something else I had today, so my rating would change, right?

I think the factors that will influence beer selection are these:

1) Activity - what are you doing, or what have you just done. I first gave the example of beer pong. But also, while I have sworn off coors - yea, I'll drink my Killians after my shamrock half marathon (still don't drink blue moon anymore)

2) Location - Are you in brew country or miles away from sober? I mean, for realz - you do not waste good beer when you've already been drinking all day, and sometimes a lighter more refreshing beer fits the bill (I usually will go for cider when I need refreshment).

3) Company - Let's be honest, never be rude and never refuse hospitality and NEVER EVER make someone feel bad for their brew choice. Ever. 'Tis absolutely inappropriate. If your friends are drinking coors, pop one open and pretend if you have to. OR, even better, just bring your own, pop a better beer and SHARE. (Sharing is caring, didn't your mother teach you that?)

4) What you just drank - Again, tastes can change based on recent comparisons. A Lagunitas IPA used to be like, the best beer ever for me. Now, it is my old faithful. My standard, if you will. Why? Well, I have been exploring the world of IPAs and now have a better handle on what I really like and what I don't.

Back to rambling. After my dos equis, my fiance sneakily poured a delicious brew into my cup while I was changing into my TNMT post race outfit (pics to follow). A Hop Crisis.

Well, then that was the best beer ever. I was feeling good from dos equis. Plus post race high. Plus (as some stranger pointed out) I was a tough turtle. :) I'd drink one more right now, but it is morning and there are lines that just shouldn't be crossed.

Moving on: So then we drove home. (duh). I took the longest shower ever. Relaxed and ready to eat a pizza to myself, I finally crack open a beer I had been saving for two months. New situation: home from a major event equals a major beer. I knew when I brought it home from Colorado that I would drink it only after tough mudder. A time and a place, my friends.

Anyway. I had planned to write a much more interesting post on a beer's time and place. An actual article or something rather. But, I'm totally cool with using the idea to write in the middle of the night.

I suppose I am all written out and the pain killer is kicking in, so off to bed with me.

reboot

As you may have noticed, some of my posts have disappeared. Or you may not have noticed because no one reads this but me anyway. So, I guess what I am saying is: "Self, just so you know, I have reverted many posts to draft until we figure out what to do with them."

While I want this blog just to be sort of a space for aimless musings, I do also want to have spaces that are slightly more focused. I kind of started out with an overwhelming goal or three. I wanted to academically explore the relationship video games have to couples and women. I wanted to write more fiction. I wanted to be hilarious and witty. Eh. Too overwhelming for me.

So here it is. I just want to write when I feel moved to write. If I have a particularly good day playing video games and have some thoughts about why that was, I am going to write about without burdening myself with having to look up articles and such to prove some kind of a point. I just don't have time in my life right now. If I have an idea for some fiction or have writers block and need some kind of outlet (that's how "rain" came about) then I will use this space. If I have some beer musings (I do want to write something about every beer having its time and place) or alcohololy thoughts, then those will definitely go here. Silly puppy things: sure!

Any who, no promises about how often I get to post. I do have to spend a lot of my time working, taking care of my house, planning my wedding, and being social (I love my friends).

In the meantime, I did start a blog for reviews of food, booze, booze events, and possibly my own kitchen (though I may start something separate for that since I love cooking so very much).

So there you have it. Hopefully I will actually write more now. I am supposed to be writing my vows, so you might actually see more posts here as I try to work my way through what I actually want to say to my beloved.