The Glue and I have both been having fried chicken hankerings so this past Thursday we were thinking about going down to the bottoms to get some when I ran across this cajun place in AJ called King Neptune's Cajun House.  We decided that sounded interesting so we headed on down.  We got there a little before 4 and they didn't look open yet so we went next door to Bob's Tavern for a beer while we waited.  Bob's is a hole in the wall type bar and the owner and his wife were very friendly.  While we were talking with the wife we mentioned that we were going next door for cajun and she said they weren't going to serve until February.  We asked about other places to eat while we were down there and were told Brick House Grill.  Big drawback about Bob's is they still allow smoking and even though I didn't see anyone smoking the smell was still there.
We then walked to King Neptune's for a beer and to check out the place.  Really nice place but they didn't have any draft beer.  We asked there too about places to eat in Anna and they consensus was Brick House there too.  We'll go back in a few months when they serve food and the newness has worn off.
Our last stop was Brick House Grill to get something to eat before we went home.  They didn't have any beer on draft either and they also didn't have any cold/frosted mugs.  The Glue went with fried catfish and I went with fish tacos.  Once the food arrived I gave the Glue a taco and she gave me one of the catfish.  The fish was solid but nothing spectacular, the fish in the tacos were good but overall the tacos were just ok.  It almost seemed like they were trying to make tacos more than what they are but that's not unusual I guess.  Overall I'd say the experience was just ok, not bad but nothing that really stood out.

Another Christmas come and gone, for better or for worse.  Forget the presents, forget the music, forget the lights, forget the sales, getting together with family is all that I really care about at Christmas time.  Christmas Eve we went out to the Glue's sister and got together with her family.  On Christmas we had our traditional Christmas breakfast.  Joe, Angie, Kaylynn and Trina came over with a new addition this year in Keegan who is Kaylynn's boyfriend.  Bailey, Shad, Brinley and Greyson came over for the grandtwins first Christmas.  Lastly Andrew, Tiffany and Ethan came over and per Ethan's request I greeted them in my Grinch costume which I was going to do for Joe's family too but missed the opportunity.  Everyone stayed for a while but had other places to go which is why my mother made the change to a breakfast years ago, smart move mom.  After a nap it was time to go back over to the Glue's sisters for a late Christmas lunch and after a little bit there it was time to head home for some much needed R&R. 

For the first time since 2008 the Packers will play the last two games of the season with no playoff chance.  Since 1993 this will only be the fifth time the Packers have missed the playoffs.  Farve and then Rodgers have given the Packers a chance practically every year.  It's been a great run and I hope this is just a bump in the road.  It's hard for me to not want the Packers to win so they get a better draft pick but I think the best option is to set Rodgers and Davante Adams for the rest of the season.  While this doesn't guarantee we would lose it does make it much harder to win.  I'd like to see some changes made but know that not all changes end up positive.  Knowing that I'd like to see a new defensive coordinator and staff and also some fresh ideas on offense however I will stop short of wanting a new head coach.  I have mixed emotions on changing general managers but regardless would like to see some better talent to take advantage of Rodgers remaining years.  Ultimately Packer fans have to be careful what they wish for, change isn't always best.

We made a trip to Belleville this past weekend to pick up a double stroller for the grandtwins.  We met the seller at Hicks BBQ and while we were waiting the owners sister brought out a sample of their brisket chili for us to try.   After the dealing was done we went inside to get a rack of ribs to bring home.  We also got to talk briefly with owner and former football teammate Alan but his place was swamped so we had to cut it short.
We then headed to 4204 Main Street Brewing to check it out.  They were really pushing their heated patio but after a glance in it didn't look too inviting so we sat at the bar.  We both decided on The Answer which is an American Amber.  We also decided to order some chicken wings and their house chips.  The beer and wings were solid but I wasn't as wild about the chips, they were ridged and thicker and I prefer the thinner ones with no ridges.  There were a lot of big groups coming in and after getting a better look at the patio we should have sat out there.
We then headed down to Waterloo to the Stubborn German Brewery which took us quite a bit longer than it should have since I missed a couple turns.  Once we got there they let us sample several of their beers to help us decide what to get.  The Glue decided on their Schitzengiggles mainly because of the name.  I almost went with it too but decided on a Black and Mild.  I like this place better than 4204 because it was smaller and had more a taproom feel whereas 4204 seemed more like a restaurant.
We decided to head down to Chester to check out a place but the trip was interrupted with a stop at the Ruma Mill in Ruma.  I'd been wanting to check it out just because I thought the name was funny.  It seemed like a neighborhood bar and there were only a few guys in there but every one was nice and the beer was good and cold.  If we'd have been there the next day we could have checked out their version of a testicle festival, glad we missed that one.
We then made it down to Chester and stopped at Benson's Wine Bar which is owned by the kids of a couple we know.  We were the only people in there at first and it was great to see Killians on tap which is what we both got.  I liked the setup of the bar which seems more for conversation.
After Benson's it was on home to an excited Otis and our rack of ribs.  Even though we had to microwave the ribs Hicks BBQ did it again with some really good ribs although I wish we'd have brought some of the brisket chili home with us.

I finally felt healed enough to try playing golf this past Monday.  Temp was in the 60's, sun was shining, wind was blowing but overall a pretty good day for December.  My plan was to only play 9 holes and try to keep an easy swing with a shorter backswing.  It was great getting out and playing again.  The only pain I felt was if I got carried away and swung too hard.  Swing was definitely rusty and short game was very rusty, only good thing is that my putting was solid.  No three putts and made a couple decent length putts. 
My legs were sore when I got off the course and there was a little soreness in my belly.   There was a little more soreness the next day but nothing too bad.
Overall it was a successful test but I may have to stick to nine holes for another month or so.

It's been several years since we've been to Paducah so we decided to go there yesterday instead of our normal Cape get away. 
We got there around 11:40 and went to Dry Ground Brewery, only to find out it doesn't open until noon on Saturdays?  We drove around a little to blow some time and get a sense of where we were in relation to other places we wanted to go.  Rather uneventful other than almost turning the wrong way down a one way street.  Once we got back to the brewery and I was surprised to see they had doppelbock on tap but it was 8.5% ABV.  I decided to go ahead and have one and the Glue had a kolsch.  Both beers were ok but got a little old by the time we were getting to the bottom of the glass.  The brewery was kind of so so but on their walk in frig they had a wide variety of bumper stickers and had glued bottle caps on top of it which I enjoyed looking at.
We went down to the riverfront municipal parking lot and were going to walk to our next stop which was Paducah Beer Werks but we had a person tell us it was too far to walk.  We went back to the car and drove to it which ended up only being about three blocks.  We both had their Irish Red and ordered an order of pepperoni chips to try.  I really like the Red and the chips were ok but I think they would have been better a little thicker.  We had a mot excellent hostess/waiter who was a joy to watch.  They also told us we could leave our car in their lot while we walked around.
Next stop was an old stand by, the Silver Bullet which is probably the definition of dive bar.  Worst part is they still allow smoking.  After a quick beer we headed to our next stop which was JP's.  They had an enclosed outside area and we got a seat at the bar where we were also in the sun which was nice.  We both had a lager but I don't remember the name of it, it was good though.  Talked to the couple next to us who were from Fort Knox and checking out different places too.  When we left it was time for the rather intoxicated guy at the bar to talk which meant it was time to finish up and get out.
We walked around the old part of town a little but the Glue got parched so we stopped in Doe's place to have a quick beer.  We both had an Amber but again I can't remember what brewery though it was also good.  In talking to a couple who were leaving we found the guy was familiar with carbondale and the bartender had gone to school at SIU so it was enjoyable talking to them.
At this point it was time to head back to our car and got to Fat Ed's in Metropolis which was the main reason for going down there.  The Glue had been wanting some of their peel and eat shrimp for a while.  We ordered 12 wings and a pork kabob to get us ready for the ride home.  Both were ok but nothing special, we should have got the wing sauce on the side.  We'd also ordered 24 shrimp to go for when we got home.
I took the back roads out of Metropolis and we weaved our way home where Otis was more than ready to see us.  The shrimp was very good but Fat Ed's cocktail sauce is awesome.
Overall a very enjoyable day with that stirred some old memories of previous visits there.  My favorite places were Paducah Beer Werks and Fat Ed's with JP's not very far behind.

Another birthday come and gone.  Starting off your birthday with a dentist appointment isn't an ideal thing and thankfully it wasn't the highlight of the day. 
I guess age has diminished the excitement of birthdays.  In my teens it was about presents, getting closer to a drivers license and getting closer to being able to drink legally (beer and wine drinking age was 19 back then).  In my twenties and going thirties it was going out to the bars. In my forties it was going our for supper and a few drinks but now trying to get home by ten or so.   In my fifties it became supper and drinks but getting home by 8ish or early.  Wednesday on my 61st was an uneventful day, something that would have bother me years ago but not I'm just fine with.  A couple beers at home after the Glue got off work then over to Quatros for pizza and a pitcher with the grandtwins.