Part Time Vagabond

VIDEO: New York City’s High Line Park

// January 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // VIDEO

THE FIVE: Carbondale, Colorado

// January 25th, 2010 // No Comments » // THE FIVE

This week, one of my lifelong friends contributed her latest adventure to The Five. Angela Paulone is an experienced teacher and writer (her blog is The Writer’s Corner) who — after leaving a highly stressful job last year — made the decision to completely change her life and move to Colorado. Angela and I pretty much grew up together; we come from a small city in Connecticut, where very few people ever make it out. It’s a family oriented place, and coming from very Italian families who had spent generations in the area, something always made us feel a bit trapped. Of our group of friends, only a few have managed to make a move out of state, and some of those ended up back home. But Angela has now made that huge move, and I wish her the best of luck, because it’s truly an adventure to be out on your own really making it for yourself.  And how can you beat the mountains of Colorado? Here is Angela’s take on her first few weeks in Carbondale, Colorado.

What force propelled me here, in the middle of two mountain ranges, in the middle of cowboy country Colorado?  The answer comes quickly: Connecticut, as much as I love it, has not offered the lifestyle I’ve been innately searching for my entire life.

The mountains I now live among are the gurus of my reconnection with nature.  They are the spiritual directors of my faith journey.  They are Mother Earth embracing me, calling me Home.

The sun winks at me, the dry air of this desert climate eases my aching joints and the stillness calms my East Coast nerves.  My body is working harder to breath, circulate blood, burn calories and such, but my mind is relaxed with the help of the thin air at 6,620 feet.

As a teacher, I will live to live here, not live to work.  My life will be who I am and what positive achievements my students reach not what reports I don’t do.  Reality is among the ski slopes, the hiking trails and the horses.

Is this my future long-term residence?  That answer is uncertain, but if Mt. Sopris and the red rock mountain of Carbondale have anything to do with it, I will heed their whispers and rebuild a new, active, healthier life within their bosom.

Roadcamp – A Social Media Roadtrip

// January 20th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // News

If you’ve read this blog enough, you should know by now that I love a good road trip. I love technology too; I’m a geek at heart. It should come as no surprise, then, that I am completely excited about a little project some of my friends have dreamed up. The good folks at Roadcamp.org are taking a trip from Montreal, Quebec to Austin, Texas on their way to the South by Southwest (SxSW) conference, holding workshops and get-togethers along the way. I had floated a similar idea with some of the participants a year ago or so, but I’m in no way taking credit for this project. In any case, Roadcamp is going to be a blast for all those involved.

From the Roadcamp.org website:

RoadCamp is going to be a tour bus packed of musicians, vloggers, bloggers, and developers that’s going to spend three days on the road travelling from Montreal to Austin to SXSW, the biggest music, film, and interactive festival we know of. Along the way, there will be Workshops and TweetUps and we’ll try to solve many of the problems facing many media industries today.

My sources tell me there’s some big news in the works, but since it’s still preliminary, I can’t say anything about it. If it happens, it’s going to be amazing. In any event, Roadcamp is the geek equivalent of a hippie roadtrip in a VW bus. But bigger. And wired. And less patchouli. Keep an eye out on the Roadcamp.org website and the @Roadcamp Twitter account for updates on the progress of the trip. This is going to be something to watch!

The Beer Post

// January 14th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // GRUB

Happy New Year! It’s been longer getting back to PTV than I’d anticipated, what with a few new developments on the personal side. So, let’s not waste anymore time and jump right back into things!

You’ll notice that the tagline of PartTime Vagabond includes the word “beer,” and it’s high time we spent some time on the topic.

Beer is a fantastic little beverage with so many iterations as to appeal to almost anyone. When I first started drinking beer, I disliked the taste and tried to avoid most. I stuck with the lightest, cheapest beers I could. As my palate grew, however, I started going darker and darker in my beer selections, trying new brands and types, and finding that I really enjoyed them. Then I discovered the universe of craft brews, and my tiny little beer-world changed forever.

Photo courtesy Shipyard Brewing

There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of beers out there, and one for nearly every occasion. From the “get drunk on a Saturday night with friends” beers to the “sip this thoughtfully with other beer snobs” brews, beer is as versatile and satisfying as any great wine. In fact, many people are finding that pairing beers with foods is more enjoyable than doing so with wine, and are now switching sides. I enjoy both wine and beer, so I won’t go into which is better or worse.

What I will get into is a bit of a primer on the various types of beers. In fact, the good people at The Oatmeal put together a little history of beer that works nicely. I’m no pro, and I’m still learning about the history and types of beers, but I feel that I’m getting a good handle on the drink. Here are a few things you should know:

• There are two main categories of beer: Ales and Lagers.
  • Ales are made when the yeast in the beer ferments at a higher temperature, staying at the surface of the liquid. This produces substances called “esters” which result in a more “fruity” tasting beer that tends to have a fuller, more robust body. Some common types of ales are stouts, porters, IPAs (India Pale Ales), Belgians, and Pales. Some of my favorite brand beers are Shipyard Brewing Prelude Special Ale and Lakefront Brewery Cream City Pale Ale.
    • Fun Fact #1: Guinness is a famous stout.
    • Fun Fact #2: IPAs, or India Pale Ales, are incredibly bitter beers historically stemming from British sailors needing to store their beer for a very long time on their trips to India (or for it being shipped to them while stationed in India). Because hops are a natural preservative, brewers used large amounts of them in the brewing process. Add in some extra alcohol and dry-hopping to preserve the beer, and BAM! you have an IPA. I can’t stand IPAs, but I think they have the most interesting historical story.
  • Lagers are made when the yeast ferments at a lower temperature, allowing it to remain at the bottom of the fermenting container. It’s stored at cold temps for at least 3 weeks. In that time, the yeast settles at the bottom and flocculates. Flavors in lagers tend to be less complex and have a lighter body than ales, although some lagers can be quite dark and complex. The types of lagers you’ll see are Pilsners, Bocks, and Dunkels. One of my favorite American lagers, and actually my favorite beer, is the Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It’s a darker, medium bodied beer with a relatively complex flavor.
    • Fun Fact #1: Budweiser is a lager.
    • Fun Fact #2: Steam Beer is the only lager that is produced at higher temperatures.

So that’s the PartTime Vagabond Beer Primer for today. Future posts will have more info on beer and beer related accessories, including a short history on craft brewing, home brewing, food pairing, and interviews with local breweries and beer connoisseurs. Now, go out to your local liquor store and get yourself a good Friday brew.