Into the SPHERE of Summer

6/1 - I met some friends today at Shotgun Willie's Texas BBQ in Madison for lunch and it was pretty darn good.  With my giant brisket plate I also had a can of the decent Howdy Beer, a pilsner from Howdy Beer Brewing (CO).  Later in the afternoon, I was able to get another pool float in where I enjoyed a couple more brews from my latest Beer Box shipment including the nice Grateful Dead Juicy Pale Ale from Dogfish Head Brewing (DE), and The Imperial Geezer, a DIPA from Warpigs USA Brewing (IN).

6/2 - I got another small buy-in NLCP tournament win on Global Poker tonight vs. 32 other players.  The ROI came in at just under 1,200%! 

6/5 - I got a nice pool float in today after my second day in a row at home working remote.  I cracked open the excellent Boxcar Porter from Tighthead Brewing (IL) out of my BeerBox order and enjoyed my New Brew (and Brewery) Thursday.

6/6 - 6/8 - I had another repeat pet-sitting gig down in Smyrna over the long weekend.  It was also The Great Tennessee Air Show weekend nearby and I got to see some pretty cool (and loud) flyovers for practice on Friday afternoon (6/6) despite some rainy weather creeping around.  Saturday's (6/7) show was hampered by weather too. Sunday (6/8) was clearer and more active in the skies above.  (see video above of the Blue Angels streaking overhead from the back deck)

6/10 - I went to see the USMNT play Switzerland in a friendly match (free tix!) at Geodis Park tonight.  I parked for free at Fait la Force Brewing and imbibed in a couple pre-game brews including their excellent new porter called Interrupted Duel, and their solid schwarzbier called Parasol.  It was a beautiful night for the beautiful game with a nice big crowd.  But it got ugly quick with the Swiss jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first half which they held thru the final whistle.  Disappointing, but with good beer; and free parking and ticket; and some tasty tacos from LaBanda in the stadium, I will call it a wash.  

6/13 - I flew to Las Vegas after work today to meet up with Ashlee and some of her girlfriends who were already out there for a Kenny Chesney show at the Sphere tomorrow night that I decided to crash as well.  I watched a couple of rented films including 28 Days Later which I've never seen but wanted to since the three-quel is coming out soon and I want to see it was well; and also, a 2015 film called Hidden that was bit of a bust. 

We had a room at the nice Park MGM Hotel and Casino (smoke-free!!) right on the Las Vegas Strip.   Ashlee and her girlfriends were at a male strip show when I got there, so I opted to skip a late poker tournament I had been eyeing and decided to just have a few beers at the Beerhaus just around the corner from the hotel instead.  Great beer menu, but insane Las Vegas Strip prices.  These babies cost me $11 a pint!!  So, it's a good thing they were all pretty good.  First up was the solid NAC NAC IPA from HUDL Brewing here in Vegas.  Next was an excellent NEIPA called Love Juice from Lovelady Brewing out of nearby Henderson, NV.  I finished with the quite good Zombie Duck Hunter IPA from Beer Zombies Brewing here in Vegas.  Can't believe I paid that per pour, but, hey, BEER MADE ME DO IT! 

6/14 - I love waking up in Vegas!! I headed over to Planet Hollywood this morning for a daily poker tournament with a decent structure.  I lasted about halfway through the 45-person field when my pocket tens ran into aces on the button.   Womp, womp.  

It's damn hot here all week, so I limited my usual long walks while in Vegas. 

But I did hoof it 1.2 miles back to my favorite Vegas craft beer bar, Pub 365 in the Tuscany Casino just off the Las Vegas Strip.   I played quarter poker and blackjack on the machine at the bar and only had to pay for my last of three craft beers there.  Thanks barkeep!   I started with a great IPA called Nectaron of the Gods, a collab brew from Karl Strauss Brewing and Pizza Port Brewing (both in CA).  Next up was very good DIPA called Murkeley from Pure Project Brewing (CA).  

I got some tough news today while in Vegas.  One of my favorite "clients" passed away suddenly.  RIP, Pippen.  He was an elderly gentleman at 12-plus years and had a good life, but he will be missed.  He was also an easy, sweet gig up in Gallatin for me, but they still have two elderly cats, so maybe I will get more opportunities up that way.   I toasted Mr. Pippen with my last brew at Pub 365 - an amazingly hoppy, yet clear, IPA called Silver Fern from Beachwood Brewing (CA).  

I still had some time to kill before meeting Ashlee and the girls at the Sphere, so I walked another half mile to the old-school Ellis Island Casino which used to brew its own beer.  They are undergoing some major changes, however, and one of those changes is no more craft beer made on site.  Instead, they look to have contracted with Silver Reef Brewing out of Utah.  I had a couple of their brews in EI's new beer garden called The Front Yard along with some Millionaire's Bacon (photo above) as a tasty snack.   The beers were a bit lackluster, especially after the kick-ass Cali trio I just had beforehand.  But for the record, they were the DIPA called Planet Utah; the Agua Del Diablo Mexican-style lager; and finally, the best of the three - the Silver Reef Hefeweizen.  

My last half-mile walk was a stop at another old favorite of mine here in Vegas, The Yard House, just under the giant Ferris Wheel known as The High Roller.  I had a pint of the tasty RPM IPA from Boneyard Beer (OR) along with some of their signature lettuce wraps for dinner.  So good!!  

Then it was time for the event of the trip: Kenny Chesney at the Sphere.  The scale of this place is kind of mind-blowing from the outside and the inside.  I was done walking, so I took a Lyft over to The Venetian to meet Ashlee.  At the show, I had a pretty good (but overpriced, of course) blonde ale from BrewDog USA called Jazz Infused.  

This reverse panoramic shot is a pretty good interpretation of our show experience.  We were in the "sandbar" area on the floor in front of the stage which was awesome.  The show was fantastic with the fairly hot Brandi Cyrus (Miley's older sister) as the DJ opener.  Chesney puts on a helluva show and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I've really grown to appreciate him as an artist as I think he is filling the big shoes of the late, great Jimmy Buffet, as the King of the Beach and Good Times.  He clings to his Tennessee roots well also including shoutouts to the Vols and Titans on the video screen, so I gotta love him for that as well.  And he just seems to be a down-to-Earth dude who's just having some fun and invites everyone to come along for the ride.  

It was a fantastic experience from start to finish.  Worth the money?  Well, I say it's a bit overpriced, but it's new and fancy and pretty cool and the only one in the world (for now), so what ya gonna do?  

6/15 - After a morning and early afternoon of shopping and snacking up and down Las Vegas Boulevard, we found ourselves back at the Sphere for another (pricey, but awesome) experience.  We went to see Postcard from Earth, a sensory film directed by Hollywood heavyweight, Darren Aronofsky.  It's a 50-minute futuristic tale using incredible cinematography of Earth as a memory for humans looking for another home.  The $100 pp price I paid for us was, again, kind of steep for an experience of less than an hour, but it was truly amazing with not only projection, but seat movement, air currents and even smells.  It was also some payback to Ashlee for getting my Chesney ticket.  Thanks, hon!  

Here's another screen grab from Postcard from Earth, the fantastic experience at the Sphere.  We sat up in the 200 (middle) section which was a very different perspective than down on the floor during last night's show. 

Tonight, I finished out the evening with a frustratingly close finish back at Planet Hollywood in their nightly tournament   I went out 14th on a terrible call of my ace-seven, by jack/ten but it hit for the caller.  They paid only 10 players.  I survive that hand, I am definitely in the money.  So close. 

6/16 - I had a day off from work here in Vegas.  Ashlee was headed home today, but I decided to stay downtown at The Golden Nugget for a few more nights for more poker including The Grand Poker Series.  I got a great price on a room there (under $80 a day!!).  The room was nothing fancy, but it was clean and quiet.  I hopped into Event #16 at The GPS and the NLHE tournament structure was great.  Too bad my cards weren't.  I was card dead most of the time and finally got knocked out frustratingly when my pocket eights (the best hand I had seen in a while) hit a low flop and right into JJ.  Crap.  

Time to start drinking!  I walked down Fremont Street a half mile or so to Atomic Liquors - a legendary and historic Vegas watering hole.  The dive bar interior was pretty cool, and their craft beer selection was not bad.  I started with their own decent Atomic Lager made for them by Beer Zombies Brewing here in Vegas. Next up was the fine Irish dry stout from Pure Project Brewing (CA) called Milagro.  I finished with the solid Mexican-style lager called Mexikanisch from Enegren Brewing (CA).  

Originally displayed at Burning Man, this amazing sculpture made with real semi-trucks is now in the courtyard of the historic Ferguson's Downtown Motel just across the street from Atomic Liquors. 

Per a recommendation from the Atomic Liquors barkeep, I Lyfted over to the unknown to me until now, Hop Nuts Brewing.  I was the only one in the place to start with and had a nice conversation about soccer with the Argentinian bartender.  I started with their signature IPA called Hopathon.  With that kind of name, I was expecting more hops, but it wasn't too bad (photo above).  Their Harry Porter (cute name) was a little better, but I still wasn't blown away, and I needed food which they did not have, so I decided to keep moving. 

I walked just around the corner to Las Vegas Brewing Company and had an excellent smashburger along with their very nice German-style Pilsner.  The neck-tatted barkeep was from Mt. Juliet of all places, what a small, tatted world!! 

I had hit my gambling and beer consumption quota for the day, so I just hung out in my room this evening relaxing and planning for another run tomorrow! 

6/17 - Remote Workday in Vegas!! I kept it mum where I was during my team meeting via phone his afternoon and enjoyed another day in Old Vegas starting with this golden Golden Nugget view this morning at sunrise.  

On my lunch walk I headed over to the kinda sad Main Street Station Casino to check out and take a leak on some of The Berlin Wall.  As a proud German, I felt it a must to take a piss on that piece of awful history.  

I had a brew that only cost me $1.50 in quarter poker at Chicago Brewing inside the 4 Queens Casino.  It was their pretty good Old Town Brown ale.  

I also checked out the pool area here at The Golden Nugget that they call The Tank.  Yep, it's got an aquarium in the middle of it and that's a waterslide tube through the center of the aquarium.  No doubt about it, I am hitting this bitch tomorrow!! 

I altered my poker playing plans after work this afternoon when I discovered a Lazy Pineapple tournament at the Westgate Casino which was just a short Lyft ride away.  I gotta try this game live since I love it (and do pretty well at it online on Global Poker).  Now LAZY pineapple is different from the CRAZY pineapple I play online where you discard one of your three cards dealt, but in Lazy Pineapple you keep all three.  It turned out to be just basically a one-table sit-n-go with rebuys available.  I liked it overall and will play again tomorrow.  I was card-dead late and couldn't make up any ground finishing 6th with no rebuy when my KQ suited couldn't best a pair of jacks.  

Time to drink again!!  I Lyfted over to the Silver Stamp Beer Bar and at first glance I thought my driver who spoke no English had dropped me at the wrong place.  But this unassuming door opens up too...

 ...a nice, cozy dive bar with an amazing beer list!  I started with the excellent Blind Pig IPA from Russian River Brewing (the Pliny the Elder IPA guys in CA).  I ventured overseas next with the interesting Salted Tangerine Peel Infused Lambic from Oud Beersel Brewing (Belgium).  I finished with the more-to-my-palette-pleasing Neon Bloom pale ale from Pure Project Brewing (CA).  

Able Baker Brewing was so close by I just had to stop in, and I am glad I did.  What a fun, active brewery!  I love that their name came from the A-bombs tested in the Nevada desert. And the duck symbolizes the supposed only survivor of one of the blasts.  I had to pace myself, so it was one and done here (but I may be back).  I had their lovely session IPA called Waddle...

Dammit!  I didn't even know Nevada Brew Works was a thing!  It was just on my path back to the hotel, so I stopped in for one, just one.  They had an Ariana Rye IPA that caught my eye.  It was decent, but I needed more rye.  I did not stop at HUDL Brewing, which is basically next door, but maybe tomorrow? 

My last (intended) stop on this Vegas beer crawl was Cin Cin Craft Brewhouse and Seafood Bar.  Interesting combo!  My beer was their Red Rice Lager which was great.  My spicy edamame and tuna sushi roll were excellent as well.  What an awesome joint!  

North of The Strat is where it's at!!  That'd be a good T-shirt!   I absolutely love this area.  I hope to come again in the fall as part of our G.A.M.E.  Screw The Strip.  The Arts District and Downtown Vegas are where you want to be!  Real people, real small business, real arts and at an affordable cost to the humble out-of-towner.  

6/18 - Another remote workday in Vegas! The pre-dawn view this morning from my bed in my dark room at The Golden Nugget was pretty serene and cool.  

Where else can you have a sack full of White Castle sliders before 7 AM.  Breakfast of card-dead non-champions!!

After breakfast I stopped The D Casino to check out one of the last coin-operated (and only horse-race themed) slot machines still working in Vegas.   Yep, it still takes quarters.  And it was cool to see people playing it even in the morning on a weekday.  I didn't myself because to be honest it was pretty damn complicated for an old slot machine! 

My lunch meal was a little classier and pretty damn good.  I went to the Eureka! Restaurant on Fremont Street for their excellent beer list, but then they had me at pastrami quesadilla.  Beer-wise, I had my first 5-star brew on UNTAPPD in quite a while.  It was the fantastic Euphorical IPA from Faction Brewing (CA).  It's copper in color (strange for an IPA) and almost tasted cask-conditioned but was served cold.  So unique and tasty! I finished with another must-drink based on the name: Vegas as Fuck is a nice NEIPA from Revision Brewing over in Sparks, NV.  

Time to drink again!!  Well, lazy pineapple poker this afternoon went down the toilet quick - as usual this trip, so I headed back over to The Arts District for another beer crawl where the craft beer is never card-dead.  My first stop was back at Able Baker Brewing where I had their sweet and interesting Our Cha Tah cream ale in collab with Servezah Brewing just around the corner.  The glass was also rimmed with a cinnamon, cajeta and sugar.  The 100-degree heat did some weird things with the rimming as I enjoyed drinking it out on their shaded patio.

My next stop was just up the street at HUDL Brewing where I had their nice NEIPA called Scorched Meadows - Hazy.  Nice place.  Did I mention there are a LOT OF CRAFT BREWERIES in this area? 

Opening soon!  Just another reason to come back!  Sounds like my kind of place in regard to poker too!!  

I ended tonight's crawl back at my favorite brewery, Cin Cin Brewhouse and Seafood Bar.  Yes, that's Jack Daniels out on the bench.  Beats me why he's there.  More awesome edamame, more awesome sushi and three solid craft beers.  First up was the light and fantastic Japanese Rice Lager (Kanpai); then my almost second 5-star brew of the day, their excellent Double Strata Hazy IPA; and finally, their serviceable Cold IPA.  I'm gonna miss these guys, but my wallet probably needs a break from $20 sushi rolls.  Time to get back to reality and $5 sushi rolls on Wednesdays at Publix!! 

The Fremont Street Experience is a pretty fun atmosphere.  It's basically Vegas' version of Bourbon or Beale Street, but with a groovy roof! 

6/19 - Well, it was time to fly home from Vegas with a connection in Chicago.  I had the day off from work (Happy Juneteenth!), so I had all day to get back. I hit the White Castle again for "brunch" - ah, shut up, I know it's trash, but it's my trash!  I watched a couple of rented movies on the plane rides including Arthur the King (which was cheaper to buy actually, and I am glad I did - it was wonderful!!) and the kind of goofy, but watchable, One Day as a Lion.  

When I got home, I also started a repeat dog-sitting gig off Hwy. 109 for the long weekend tonight as well.  Just Izzy the dog and an old grumpy cat named Calli - it'll be easy-peasy.  

Scenes from a plane:  American desert mosaic 

Scenes from a plane:  Trouble in Colorado 

6/20 - I went to see the three-quel 28 Years Later tonight with my pal, Curtis, at the Watertown Stardust Drive-in.  I am new to this franchise (just watched the original on the plane to Vegas last week), but since they had the original director, Danny Boyle, back at the helm and a great trailer, I decided to give it a look.  I thought it was fantastic! Very slick and stylized.  Better than the original even.   I snuck in some beer, of course, and I had the excellent and new-to-me, Colorful Colorado IPA from Left Hand Brewing (CO) and a classic Stone IPA from the now-macro Stone Brewing (CA). 

6/21 - A large order of Global Poker swag came in today from two previous final table finishes in the US Poker Open and Rattlesnake Open.  For the record, that's three hats, two hoodies, two T-shirts, a robe and slippers!!  Not a bad haul!  Now, I just need more of those first-place trophies!! 

 It finally got over 90 degrees outside, so time for some pool immersion and some pool drinking! I saved my last beer from last month's BeerBox.com order to use in Ashlee's new Ninja Slushie machine (video above).  It was the light and tart Meyer Lemon Drop Shandy from Left Hand Brewing (CO) and it worked perfect in it.   You can even check in beers now on UNTAPPD as a "slushie" and so this was my first...but it won't be my last! 

6/23- I started a four-day daily drop-in for a repeat cat client up in Gallatin today. 

6/24 - This month's Beer Box has arrived, and it looks like another good one.  There's a couple IPAs, a hazy pale ale, a fruit ale, a couple wheat beers (one might be a repeat, but still a good one), an interesting vanilla red ale, and a blonde ale.  Just in time for the 4th of July holiday weekend! 

Well, that's a new record... I guess I'm going to see The Eagles at The Sphere in October during our G.A.M.E. Weekend with a couple other guys.  Never spent $425 on a single concert ticket before.  I sure hope it's good and we don't lose another Eagle before then.  RIP Glen Frey.  

6/25 - Remote day!  I went to see one of my favorites, Scott Miller, perform in Chattanooga tonight at the cool little Songbirds Guitar and Pop Culture Museum's listening room.  I went a little Bohemian with my lodging. choosing a private room at The Crash Pad Hostel just around the corner from the venue that I found through AirBnb.  Am I too old for a hostel?  Never!!  Private room, dirt cheap and within walking distance of the venue and several microbreweries!  Upon check-in I was impressed.  Clean, modern, comfortable, safe and, again, in a great location.  I could see me staying here again for other shows and events here in town. 

Speaking of, I did a pre-show crawl to a couple of those microbreweries.  First stop was the fairly new Tailgate Brewing location that has taken over the ultra-cool building that was originally Terminal Brewing (RIP).  I was not a fan of their remodeling where they've added a ceiling between the first and second floor which really kills the open-air feel of before.  I had their so-so lager called Except on Party Business.  I really went here first because I knew they had food and their Mexican street corn pizza was tasty and half-price.
I still had some time before the show and decided to check out Hoptown Craft Bar Southside which actually brews their own beer up at their nearby Ooltewah location.  I had their excellent Sofa King Tropical IPA (photo above) and found out they do have food also.  Next time! 

The show was good, but QUICK!  With no opener, Scott was done by 8:30 which gave me time to either go drink some more (fat, gout flare up, sleepy - better pass) or see a movie.  Movie was the choice, and I decided to go see 28 Years Later again.  Yep, I loved it that much!  Plus, I had missed a few things in at the drive-in due to some distractions.  Well, worth the rewatch at the AMC Chattanooga 16.  Next one coming in January 2026! 

6/26 - Waking up in Chattanooga is nice.  I love the direction this great little city has taken.  Even their potholes are filled in with art!!   Sadly, I did have to get back to check in on my Gallatin cat client and then back to work in the office this afternoon, so no more fun in the 'Nooga, but I will be back!! 

Back at home tonight, after a long dry-spell, I got a small NLCP tournament win on Global Poker vs. 20 other players for an 800% ROI! 

6/27 - We decided to skip going to downtown Nashville tonight and opted for our local Rock the Block on the Lebanon Square.  It was a nice time with humidity and temps knocked down by an earlier thunderstorm.  We ambled over to Cedar City Brewing Company where I had their new-to-me sour called Just Peachy.  It was tart more than sour and I really enjoyed it.  

6/29 - I got 4th in a free satellite NLHE tournament on Global Poker today that got me (and 49 others) a $99 entry into a larger stage one feeder tournament for The Hydra with big, big bucks to win.  It was a crazy hyper-turbo format with 718 other players in it. What would the ROI be for free to $99?  A LOT I guess!! 
The feeder tournament didn't go great when I ran into a sandbagged set of eights with 20bb left and I had flopped top pair. 

7/2 - I was offered a free ticket to see Gladiator with The Nashville Symphony playing the score at The Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville tonight.  Hard to pass that up!   Beforehand, we had dinner at the nearby Barlines at the Omni Hotel so we could watch the first half of the USMNT soccer game against Guatemala in the Gold Cup semifinals. (They went on to win 2-1 and play Mexico in the finals on Sunday!)  It was an awesome experience for one of my favorite films especially the lady they had singing all the mournful background vocals plus a full choir!  

Even before all that, I had lunch and some way-overpriced beers at the M.L. Rose in Mt. Juliet while getting an oil change at the nearby Honda dealership.  The pricey beers were good at least.  First up was the citrusy pale ale called Pseudo Sue from Toppling Goliath Brewing (IA).  I finished with the quaffable Teddy Loves Cerveza Mexican-style lager from Fat Bottom Brewing here in Nashville.   

I also got a late-afternoon small buy-in NLHE turbo bounty tournament win on Global Poker vs. 106 other players and four knockouts for a total ROI of right at 1,400%!! 

The June 2025 issue of the Ante Up Online Magazine (late as usual) came out today and my monthly article featuring AC/DC looks nice! 

7/3 thru 7/6 - I am sitting with my favorite Watertown pit bulls over the holiday weekend. This is my favorite current house to sit at too.  Nice, quiet and peaceful.  Easy money and easy living.  

7/4 - We held an Independence Day pool party over the holiday weekend, and I had a couple new-to-me beers this afternoon including a gift from my beer pal, Nate - the tasty Hollow Shore hoppy pilsner from Fait la Force Brewing here in Nashville.  I also cracked open my most recent BeerBox.com order and enjoyed the excellent Hazy Rabbit NEIPA from Lakefront Brewing (Milwaukee).  

7/5 - More party pooling today.  And that means more beer today.  I started with another gift beer from my pal, Nate - the nice maibock called Gothic Spring from Fait la Force Brewing here in Nashville.  Next was the tasty wheat ale called Sun Crusher from Revolution Brewing (Chicago).  I finished with the light and smooth Vanilla Doom red ale from Obscurity Brewing (IL). 

Back in Watertown with the pit bull doggies tonight, I got 2nd in a NLCP turbo bounty tournament on Global Poker with 66 other players.  With five bounties, I got a total ROI of over 1,800%!  It was also hosted by a site rep on Twitch, and my screen name got some shoutouts from her also.  A couple other small cashes in other tourneys made it a pretty good night.   I cashed out $50 in profit.  

7/6 - And yet more pooling (and beer) today!  I started with the nice DIPA called Truth Bomb from Rhinegeist Brewing (Cincinnati) out of my most recent BeerBox.com order.  I followed that up with another great DIPA that Ashlee got for free at our local liquor store.  Thanks, hon! It was the Flash Cat from Creature Comforts Brewing (GA).  I finished with another one from the BeerBox.com order - the nice pale ale called Lil' Geezer from Warpigs USA Brewing (IN).   

7/8 - I got word today that one of my two projects submitted to the 2025 Pitch Competition at the Nashville Film Festival was selected to participate in the opening semi-final round via a Zoom meeting next week!  They selected my historical fiction story idea called "The Shohola Five." Fingers crossed!! 

7/9 - I attended the Lamar Hunt Gold Cup Semi-Finals at Geodis Park with our NSC boys in gold taking on D.C. United.  Thanks, Nate, for the seats!  My friend, Toney, went with me and we parked for free (and I drank) at Broadcast Brewing.  I had their only house beer left (good work selling out those brews!), their nice Echo pale ale.  The game was a doozy.  We started out in 2-0 hole including an own goal.  The second half was a different story with five unanswered goals as we dismantled them 5-2. (The D.C. coach even got fired later in the week).

Beforehand, I had a remote day at work and decided to do a "burger crawl" since it's Burger Week in Nashville.  For lunch at Grillshack Burger and Fries at Yazoo Brewing in Madison I had their "Grillshack Smasher" burger along with a pint of the Yazoo Hop Project # 27 IPA. Both were excellent.  I finished with the equally good Impy Hop Project # 7 DIPA. 

I had a quick stop at The Black Abbey Brewing Company next where I had their solid Stained Glass IPA: I and then their outstanding Blonde Stout.  

Then I met Toney and a couple more friends at Common Ground restaurant over in Berry Hill for dinner where I had their fantastic house "Smashburger" along with a pint of Dale's Light Lager from Oskar Blues Brewing (CO, NC) before heading to the game. 

7/11 - I got a small NLCP tournament win tonight on Global Poker vs. 25 other players for a nice 1,000% in ROI!! 

7/12 - I played in a new-to-me private live poker tournament down in Murfreesboro this evening.  Nice folks and a good atmosphere.  The structure was OK, but nothing great.  I finished 19th out of 40, so out of the money, but I did get one $20 bounty.  I will probably play again here if the timing works out.  

Mr. Brews Taphouse, was near the poker tournament and new to me also, so I checked it out after getting knocked out. I had the very good DIPA called Mortal Bloom - Imperial Thorn from Founders Brewing (MI).  I was supposed to have a second new-to-me brew when I first ordered a lager from 3 Floyds Brewing who are one of my favorites.  What I got served was awful and I was very disappointed.  It was only later as I was settling up that the new (and more knowledgeable) barkeep told me that the 3 Floyds keg had actually kicked and it was the shitty Pacifico Clara Mexican lager from Modelo Brewing on that tap now.  So, faith restored in 3 Floyds, and a demerit to Mr. Brews for giving me such a soapy-tasting flub which I still had to pay for.  

7/13 thru 7/15 - I was sitting with the Watertown pit bulls again for a couple nights.  I just love these two puddin' heads!  Even this big, sweet boy, Sampson, who's really just a big baby who is afraid of thunder. 

7/13 - Beforehand while chilling in the pool, I had a nice and tart fruited beer called the Athena Paradiso (Watermelon Salt) from Creature Comforts Brewing (GA).

I had a good night on the virtual felt tonight too.  I won a small NLCP tournament on Global Poker vs. 22 other players for 900% ROI.  I also got the 3rd highest mystery bounty in a small buy-in NLHE tournament that was worth 2,500% ROI!  I had earned enough collectively to cash out another $50 in profit tonight also. 

7/14 - I did it again!  I got the 2nd highest mystery bounty (3,600% ROI!!) tonight in the same small buy-in NLHE tournament on Global Poker.  I also made the final table in it vs. over 220 other players.  I cashed out another $50 in profit.  

7/15 - I went to see the new Superman film in IMAX at the Opry Mills Theaters in Nashville with my pals, Toney and Todd, tonight (discount Tuesdays!).  I thought it was very good and really had the feel of a comic book come to life.  Well done by DC Comics luring James Gunn away from Marvel Studios.  

7/17 - I gave my pitch via Zoom today in The Nashville Film Festival semi-final round of their Movie Pitch Competition.  It was a quick two-minute spiel, but I hope I gave "The Shohola Five" the recognition I think it deserves.   I was more nervous than I thought I would be and had some hesitations in my delivery, but I got the story and point across and was able to have the picture above as my background during the presentation which I thought was pretty cool.
(By the way, I created this pic with a free AI website called CRAIYON.COM)

7/18 - I had another remote workday today, so I headed to Nashville for the free Finally Friday live music radio broadcast at 3rd and Lindsley.  Gotta go now with Trump pulling NPR and PBS money, it may not be around for long.  What a bastard.
This week's artists were Alaina Stacey, who is a looker and has just as pretty a voice.  Next up was veteran songsmith and Emmy Lou Harris keyboardist, Phil Maderia. He was fun. Closing out the great 2 hours of live music was the smokin' blues group, Crooked Eye Tommy, who were excellent.  I hope to catch them again sometime soon around town.  

On the way back, I swung through Smyrna and caught a matinee of the new Jurassic World: Rebirth reboot - one draw to it is the luscious (now MILF) Scarlett Johannsen, a runner-up for my Hollywood babe Mt. Rushmore.   I chose the Malco Theaters because their prices are the lowest in the area with recliner seats that aren't in Lebanon.  I thought the movie was decent with good CGI and a good story for the most part.  

On the way to Smyrna, I stopped and had a quick beer at Tailgate Brewing South where I had their pretty good TIPA called Big Dawg. 

Back at home tonight, I got a low buy-in NLCP turbo tournament win on Global Poker vs. 26 other players for just under 1,100% ROI!!  
AND THEN...
I won another low buy-in NLHE turbo progressive bounty tournament vs. 94 other players on Global Poker as well.  With five knockouts, I got an ROI of over 2,100%!! 
I cashed out yet another $50 in profit.  Little by little! 

7/19 - While not an original beer check-in, a few Yeungling Traditional Lagers went down great during our dinner IN the creek in Linden out in west-central TN this afternoon and evening.   Good brews with a view! 

7/20 - We dropped in for a quick visit to our friends, Curtis and Kate, who were having joint birthday celebrations at Yee Haw Brewing at the 6th and Peabody Complex in downtown Nashville this evening.   I had their very good Yee-Hazy NEIPA and a few sips of Ashlee's Hefe wheat beer. 
Beforehand, we had some great pool time, and I enjoyed a slushie of the shandy from Creature Comforts Brewing (GA) called Summer.  That was the last one from my June Beer Box, but never fear, a new one is on it's way!!  

7/22 - My July Beer Box order arrived today, and it looks like another good haul.  There are three IPAs, a pilsner, a lager, a fruit sour, a sweet stout and a hefeweizen.  And at first peruse, I don't see any repeats!  Cheers!! (check that, three repeats) Oh, well, Cheers! 

7/23 - I got a small NLCP tournament win tonight over 9 other players for a decent ROI of right at 500%.  To cap off a good night on the virtual felt, I turned a 50-cent satellite into a $3.30 entry into the Global Poker GOAT Series Event # 14-L NLHE with unlimited rebuys for a deep run to 44th out of 576 other players.  I didn't rebuy, but did an add-on for another $3, so the final ROI was just over 450%.  

7/24 - I spent some of my remote day at work at the Honda dealership in Mt. Juliet having a quick repair to the trusty ol' gold Accord.  And while I kind swore off the place earlier in this blog, there is no other place serving lots of craft beer nearby, so I had lunch (their awesome Thai chicken salad) and a brew (the tart and light Berry Blonde ale from Rogue Ales (OR)) at the M.L. Rose Craft Beer and Burgers in Providence.  

OK, here's something new...so tonight during a NLHE turbo progressive bounty dollar tournament on Global Poker, me and this guy - Smokin_1 - got to talking about how he's in New Jersey and they are taking "sweepstakes" style online poker away there, so he won't be able to play for money anymore on Global, even for a stupid dollar.  But hey we can bet on sports and play lotto all the live long day.  I had notes he was a decent player and was a nice guy.   So, when it got down to heads up and I even had a lead on him. I decided to sit out and let him have the win as a goodbye gift. (You hear that poker gods?  I was a nice guy.  Now, stop fucking with me!!).  And, hey, I still got eight knockouts and second place vs. 89 other players for a total ROI of over 1,400%!! 

7/25 - I got another small buy-in NLCP turbo tournament win on Global Poker tonight vs. 14 other players for an ROI right at 600%!   Along with some other deep runs (two frustrating 2nd place finishes), I was able to withdraw another $50 profit! 

7/26 - I enjoyed some poker in the pool today with my railbird/dog, Sunny, hanging with me.  I had a couple beers from my latest BeerBox order.

  First up was a nice IPA called Scentinel (in the photo above) from Old Irving Brewing (Chicago).  And a great German-style pilsner from Half Acre Beer Company (Chicago also) called Pony.  The poker went pretty well too.  I had some deep runs including a second-place finish in a $5 NLCP progressive bounty featured tournament with 60 other players in it.  I got quad threes early in that one which is always a good sign. Considering I satellited into that one for 50 cents, my ROI was a whopping 20,000%+!!!  Another $100 cashed out as profit!! 

7/27 - I attended a Nashville Sounds minor league baseball game tonight with some friends from work tonight.  Beforehand, we stopped Von Elrod's Beer  Hall and Kitchen next to the stadium for some dinner (an excellent grilled chicken grain bowl) and a brew or two.  I had the solid Crushinator session IPA from Maplewood Brewing (Chicago), and the nice Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier (Germany) because it's never too early for some Ocotoberfest!
At the game I just had to have the light and refreshing Sounds Strawberry Lemonade Shady (photo above) from Tailgate Brewing here in Nashville (and also right next door).  I followed that up with the so-so Tropic Wizard - A Wizard's Order Juicy IPA also from Tailgate Brewing.
The game was a defensive fight with the Sounds and the Charlotte Knights going into extra innings knotted at 1-1. But in the bottom of the tenth, down 2-1, the Sounds got a walk-off two-run homer for a thrilling 3-2 win!  Despite it being hot, we had no rain while it just poured down at home.  
Kinda cool to know the entire evening: parking, beer, dinner, ticket and more beer were completely paid for by poker winnings! 

7/28 - I had a remote workday at home today and played some more poker in the pool this afternoon with floating Sunny hanging with me.  I got a nice NLHE satellite entry win (top 10 out of 38, so there was good overlay too) worth 700% ROI on Global Poker.  I turned that into a deep run and while I didn't cash, I did get four knockouts that got me most of the 700% ROI back and into the bankroll.  

7/29 - My pal, Toney, and I went to see the new Marvel flick, Fantastic Four: First Steps, tonight at our local Roxy Theaters (recliners!) on Bargain Tuesday.  I thought the film was fine, but nothing special.  I may be getting a little burned out on these.  They all seem to look and feel the same to me now. 
I also did some afternoon dog-sitting for an elderly couple here in Lebanon that looks like it's going to be a reoccurring job for me.  And Teddy is such a sweet and easy boy to look after too!