I can't read.

I think grad school has given me ADD. My mind can only handle so much and books just tire me out these days. In the past four months I've read the first a hundred pages of a half a dozen books, yet can't read anything through. At the rate I'm going I probably can't justify buying a book for my trip back to California and I'll have to choose something from my collection.

One sentence reviews of books I haven't finished: 

The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall-- I enjoyed it, but these days my mind can barely handle an episode of Sister Wives. 

One Day by David Nicholls-- I haven't seen the movie, but I read everything in Anne Hathaway's awful British accent, which obviously made it difficult to read. 

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin-- I'll admit that chick lit has the ability to get me out of a reading rut, this one... not so much.

Between the Bridge and the River by Craig Ferguson-- I liked this and should probably try to finish it. 

Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahnuik-- ehhh, I didn't enjoy the beginning, but I liked the premise and might bring it for the plane. 

And books I'm hoping to get for Christmas (along with ADD medication)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Mindy Kaling-- Cause whats a better option for someone who fantasizes about becoming a comedy writer when grad school is too stressful.

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta-- Cause my favorite author is worth buying the hardcover for. 

I initially wanted The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides, but based on mixed reviews it might be worth waiting for paperback. 

Ugly Christmas Sweater Bar Crawl

We started the evening at The Boiler Room in Logan Square where I had the pleasure of drinking  Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Boont Amber Ale. My favorite place in the world is the Mendocino Coast, which is about a five hour drive from where I grew up in California. The drive is long and the second half is unbearably windy. Anderson Valley is a small spot of flat ground between two coastal mountain ranges. Booneville was the spot we stopped to get gas, mentally prepare for more winding roads, pick up fruit, and for my parents, have a beer at the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

No wonder they always insisted on stopping! I really loved the Boont Amber Ale. It's one of the tastiest beers I've ever had. So drinkable. A little hoppy, a little fruity. It sounds weird, but it reminded me of a soda, only alcoholic and not carbonated. It probably had something to do with the can it came in. Being the hippy that I am, I know that aluminum cans are the greenest option, and have the added benefit of preventing light from ruining the beer. Still though, I usually choose draft, then glass bottles. This made me realize the error of my ways. Good beers can come from a can!

Second stop was Cole's. I was boring and cheap and had a $2 PBR. Can't complain.

At the Two Way Lounge I split a pitcher of idk what. It was a light and cheap lager. I know it wasn't Old Style and it wasn't offensive so I know it wasn't Miller Light. I judge, but should admit that my absence from blogging has something to do with my grad school diet of splitting a pitcher of the cheapest beer, which at "our bar" (Drum & Monkey) is Miller Light.

My final stop (sorry Bonny's, not tonight) was The Rocking Horse. A lovely bar I'll be returning to (despite the door nazi). I started with The Great Lakes Brewing Company's Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. Cause it was the special. I'm not super into darker beers, but my group insisted I had made a good decision. It's true, I generally think the the hoppier the better, but the combination of oatmeal, chocolate, and coffee was good. I generally feel like porters are a little thick, and unpleasant to swallow, but this felt good going down. The only beer I can think to compare it to would be Founder's Breakfast Stout, which I recently had at Lillie Q's, and I think the Edmund Fitzgerald is 1000x better. And because this blog is an effort to educate myself, I will soon explain the differences between stouts and porters. But, spoiler alert, I probably liked this one more because porters are hoppier than stouts. Also, if I wanted chocolate I'd eat cake.

My second beer at Rocking Horse was Dogfish Head Brewery's Sah'tea. Possibly the best beer I've ever had.  To think I was initially disappointed when the waitress said they were out of my favorite beer, Firestone Walker's Union Jack. Sah'tea tasted like Christmas. Well, like the beer version of the mulled cider my aunt makes around Christmas. It smelled amazing and half the group had their nose in the glass, enjoying the scent. It was spicy with strong cinnamon, clove, and tea flavors. I highly recommend getting it if it crosses your path.

And as soon as the ugly christmas sweater pictures come back, I'll obviously add them.