Last week I decided to have a birthday party at the Austin Beer Garden Brewery and invite all my Facebook friends, or at least the ones I was most familiar with, and my family members who all live in Austin. I was a little apprehensive at first because, you know how Facebook is, you never know how relationships have changed since the last time you saw each other. But I sallied forth up the long ramp to the ABGB entrance and come what may, I was willing to take the chance.
I told everybody to be there between 4 and 7 PM at the ABGB, as it is known. My wife Chris and I got there at 3:50 PM and got in line to order a pitcher of the Day Trip pale ale. That is my new favorite. Then we went to claim the table. The brewery is situated in a warehouse type building so they can accommodate their brewing operation, which is extensive, and the kitchen that produces some fantastic pizza at reasonable prices and their 30 foot (mas o menos) long bar with multi-taps.
We had been warned earlier that they were going to be busy on Sunday. We decided to sit outside since there were no empty tables with space to accommodate at least 20 people that we were expecting. It was already 50° and dropping, so it was pretty cold. I was on the verge of being uncomfortable, but when my 2 grandsons and nephew showed up I was glad that we were outside because they had room to play. Allison showed up 1st while we were in line and helped us bring out the glasses and decide on the table. Then Kerry and Pamille came next, followed by John and Janet and their youngest child. Then came Christie P. and John F. and then the flood gates opened with guests ordering pitchers of beer and every type of pizza they had to offer. Charlie and Amy, Joni and David, Dennis and Leah, Amelia and José, my stepdaughters Kim and Adrienne, along with Jason and Charles, and Celia were all there. It seems that every time a guest showed up to the table they were announcing another pitcher. At one point Jason, my new son-in-law, brought me an Imperial pint of the Superliner IPA because he said that I would like it. No arguments there.
Later, my siblings showed up. Terry, Cristy, and Carlos are the rock of my recovery, along with my stepchildren and wife. They have been there since day one providing monetary assistance, moral support, and practical advice. My two other sisters could not make it because they live out of town but have been big supporters of mine, as well.
Because I was trying to watch my carb intake, I held myself to two slices of pizza and 4 beers (mas o menos). Even at my own birthday party I was trying to control my carbohydrates. It's a good thing there was no cake because I don't know if I could have resisted that.
All in all it, was a great time! Though my greatest regret is that I have no pictures to show. Everybody who showed up said they were going to be there. My point is, and everybody already knows this, friends and family are the most important facets in our lives! Do not take them for granted, as I used to do. Do not under-estimate their ability to lift you out of the dumps, help you celebrate any occasion, provide assistance when you need it, or inspire a good laugh. Friends and family are essential, like hops and grains.
I told everybody to be there between 4 and 7 PM at the ABGB, as it is known. My wife Chris and I got there at 3:50 PM and got in line to order a pitcher of the Day Trip pale ale. That is my new favorite. Then we went to claim the table. The brewery is situated in a warehouse type building so they can accommodate their brewing operation, which is extensive, and the kitchen that produces some fantastic pizza at reasonable prices and their 30 foot (mas o menos) long bar with multi-taps.
We had been warned earlier that they were going to be busy on Sunday. We decided to sit outside since there were no empty tables with space to accommodate at least 20 people that we were expecting. It was already 50° and dropping, so it was pretty cold. I was on the verge of being uncomfortable, but when my 2 grandsons and nephew showed up I was glad that we were outside because they had room to play. Allison showed up 1st while we were in line and helped us bring out the glasses and decide on the table. Then Kerry and Pamille came next, followed by John and Janet and their youngest child. Then came Christie P. and John F. and then the flood gates opened with guests ordering pitchers of beer and every type of pizza they had to offer. Charlie and Amy, Joni and David, Dennis and Leah, Amelia and José, my stepdaughters Kim and Adrienne, along with Jason and Charles, and Celia were all there. It seems that every time a guest showed up to the table they were announcing another pitcher. At one point Jason, my new son-in-law, brought me an Imperial pint of the Superliner IPA because he said that I would like it. No arguments there.
Later, my siblings showed up. Terry, Cristy, and Carlos are the rock of my recovery, along with my stepchildren and wife. They have been there since day one providing monetary assistance, moral support, and practical advice. My two other sisters could not make it because they live out of town but have been big supporters of mine, as well.
Because I was trying to watch my carb intake, I held myself to two slices of pizza and 4 beers (mas o menos). Even at my own birthday party I was trying to control my carbohydrates. It's a good thing there was no cake because I don't know if I could have resisted that.
All in all it, was a great time! Though my greatest regret is that I have no pictures to show. Everybody who showed up said they were going to be there. My point is, and everybody already knows this, friends and family are the most important facets in our lives! Do not take them for granted, as I used to do. Do not under-estimate their ability to lift you out of the dumps, help you celebrate any occasion, provide assistance when you need it, or inspire a good laugh. Friends and family are essential, like hops and grains.
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