Wine and Beer

Jeff and I spent the night last night in Omaha. He had a cricket match early this morning and rather than drive in at 5 this morning, we headed there last night. We stayed in my favorite hotel. An old Embassy Suites that has become a Doubletree. The rooms are huge and beautiful. The hotel was quiet. And breakfast was free. Even the pool and the hot tub (which we took advantage of) were warm.

The match was not warm. It was freezing. Drizzling and about 50, I spent most of the time huddled in my sweatshirt or watching from the car. It was not the best weather for a match. Jeff's team lost but they put up a great struggle. It could have gone either way.

But the weekend trip was invigorating. Jeff and I had some incredible talks this weekend. It was nice to just get away from everything together. I came home ready to do things. I've cleaned the kitchen, gone through some paperwork, started a box of things to get rid of, and finished putting away dishes. Right now I'm working my way through a bottle of Barefoot Pinot Grigio, one of my new favorite wines. It's a bit too dry for Jeff but I'm not complaining on having the bottle to myself. The other thing I'm doing is baking. After last week's banana bread I decided that I need to make more quick breads. This week it's beer bread.

I'm using the Super Secret Bierling Recipe for beer bread. It is:

3 cups Self-Rising Flour
4 1/2 Tbsp Sugar
12 oz Beer

Mix together until moist. 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Make sure to flour your loaf pan before baking.

Yep, that's it, that's the list. It's such an incredibly simple recipe and it's so tasty. Both Jeff and I prefer this yeasty bread a little undercooked. I love the soft interior and the slightly crisp crust. It has a unique flavor. I'm sure you can vary that depending on what beer is used. Most of the time I just use whatever is in the fridge, tonight Bud Light. So it's a wine and beer night. Following an incredible day. I'm so lucky. 

The Ashes

I'm one of those odd Americans who not only enjoys cricket but understands it as well. When Jeff started playing a couple years ago I went to every game and learned a ton about the sport. I still "watch" regularly. I put the watch in quotes because there are simply no television channels that broadcast cricket. So instead, I fire up the computer, head to Cricinfo and listen to the play by play. I can't see the game but I can imagine it. Cricinfo has some of my favorite commentators with Will Luke being my hands-down favorite. He has been covering this week's event since it's in England, and I'm in heaven.

And there is no greater time for me to watch cricket then now, during the Ashes. The Ashes is one of the greatest rivalries in the sport, between England and Australia. The national teams from both countries play a full test cricket series (5 matches, 2 innings per match) for the right to hold the Ashes. The event will last all week. The competition has been held every other year since 1882. Australia won two years ago but I have my hopes up that England can pull it off this time. I make it no big secret that I'm a huge Anglophile. So as much as I loved Australia when I was there, I'm an England fan.

The name is in reference to a comment made back in 1882 after a particularly brutal match between the two countries. At the end of the matches one of the commentators said that English cricket was dead, would be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia. Supposedly one of the fans decided to create an urn, burned a set of bails, (the pieces of wood placed on top of the wickets) and presented them as a trophy. After that year, the competition has been for the right to hold the ashes.

Imagine if the US battled against Canada every two years in hockey. Imagine that these are the best players in the sport playing for a national title. Now imagine that it had happened every other year for 120 years. You can imagine the rivalry that would build up. The excitement and the patriotism. This is what the Ashes represent. So today, as I go about my work, I'll keep a close eye on the innings and wickets taken. And I'll cheer my team on. Here's to great rivalries and an English victory.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

No not spring and summer although that is part of it. It's Cricket Season!!! Ever since Jeff took up this little sport I have been enamored. Not just because all the guys are wonderful and treat me like family. Not just because I get to hang out with the amazing international crowd in Iowa. And not just because I love the chance to sit out on a Saturday morning and watch the field and the birds and the game. I love the game itself. So much so that baseball is now boring to me. 

I mean how exciting is an at bat when you know that the person has another coming up in a half an hour. Now with cricket, when you're out, you sit down for the rest of the game. No more batting for you. That means a lot more tension and a lot less forgiving of mistakes. 

When we were in Australia, Jeff and I had the chance of seeing a match at the amazing Sydney Cricket Grounds. But we were rugby mad at the time and ended up seeing a rugby match. Not that I regret that in the least. But to see where the international Aussie cricket team plays. Wow that would have been cool. 

So we went out this morning in the rain with the thought that there was no chance that we would play. Cricket is even pickier than baseball about the field. But I guess if you were playing on concrete you would be too. But surprise, surprise we played. A shorter 25 over match. But we played. And Jeff hit a six. His first. He'll be living on that for a while. 

I know that I'm pretty much writing this for me. I'm sure no one is reading, particularly this early but I just have to say, it was great to be back with my boys of summer. At least one new face this year and I'm sure he'll fit in beautifully. With the way the guys accepted Jeff and adore him as the token American (no longer token white guy thanks to Chris) I'm sure this new guy will fit in. And really the way the guys have accepted me as one of them. I go to Hooters for wings and beer after the games. And I noticed this year that most of the guys have no issues padding up in front of me anymore. Mmmm half naked men and cricket, could life get any better. 

Summer starts for me when the first cricket ball is bowled. I'm so glad it's here.