Oh hey guys, did ya miss me?
It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted. It’s been ages since I commented on anything. Heck, I haven’t even logged into WordPress since last August. There are reasons, but if I’m honest with myself, they’re just excuses. However, in the interest of full disclosure here’s the quick and dirty rundown of why I’ve been such a slacker (other than slacking being my number one M.O.).
First off, right around the time of my last post I interviewed for and was hired to work my dream job. As with most new positions this required learning a new role and its associated responsibilities as well as a move to a new town. This led to more than a little mental exhaustion and the desire to just sit on my couch each weekend and watch Gold Rush marathons on the Discovery Channel while holding my dog and eating super fattening ice cream instead of crafting engaging and witty reviews of delicious brews.
Best ice cream in the world. If you look closely, that is ONE. SINGLE. DARK. CHOCOLATE. CHIP.
On the upside though, I get to go to work at the most magical place on earth every day!
DisneyLand ain’t got nothing on this place!
Second, usually when I neglect something I care about for to long I develop this self-defeating mindset that if I ignore it somehow it will magically get better. Not once had this ever worked for me, but I still tend to do it from time to time. Oh well, live and learn!
Third, after six months of 1-2 posts a week every week, I got sick of writing about beer. I felt like my posts were getting repetitive and my creativity was decreasing rapidly. I wasn’t enjoying the beers I was trying because I wasn’t drinking them for the love of beer, I was doing it only to pump out posts. I got to the point that I wasn’t drinking anything I actually enjoyed more than once, and that was sad. I finally just snapped, bought three sixers of beers I loved but had already reviewed, and said screw it. Now, after four months of that, I think I’m ready to start again, but with a few new ground rules:
- I review when I want, not on a schedule. Everyone will just have to deal with that one.
- No more buying beer only to review it. If I like it or hate it or think it’s OK, I’ll tell you about it, but it will be because I want to.
- Not every post will be literary gold. I’m not Oliver, after all.
Finally, it is my sad duty to report to you that for the foreseeable future, Carney will no longer be writing for The Beer Revue. Just like me, real life seems to have caught up with him. I hope that eventually he will rejoin me, because we all know he was the reason you all read this blog in the first place.
In the end, I think that’s what convinced me to give this another try.
You.
I missed this little community of friends we’d built here. So thank you Ed, Oliver, Megan, Mike, Ed, J, and the ladies at Stouts and Stilettos and Beerbecue for sticking with us. I promise I’ll try my best not to stay away so long again.
Cheers,
Mike
Dude! Welcome back!
I completely understand the “burnout” part of beer reviewing (you’ll notice I don’t do as many in rapid fashion, either, anymore). That’s why my blog is full of all kinds of other written nonsense. Ever try your hand at non-beer related nonfiction? Sacrilege, I know, but worth trying just to keep things fresh.
Thanks man, I really appreciate that you’ve stayed with me! I’ve considered expanding my topics but that wasn’t on the radar when we started this blog… but since I’m the decider now you may indeed see some different things from me!
Welcome back, Mike! I’ll gladly have The Beer Review back under any rules! As far as non-beer stuff, how about a review of that Raspberry chocolate chip, or a photo essay of your new work digs. Both look amazing!!
Done and done my good man! Those are two things I could talk about for days!
Good to have you back! I was wondering what happened to y’all. You’re on my follow feed, so whenever you feel like posting, I’ll read.
Likewise friend!
Welcome back buddy. I’ve been MIA myself, but am planning my triumphant return.