Paul's Corner

Hi Paul!! Congrats!

Cat, beautiful job on the new site! That must have taken quite a bit of time and effort! I know it will make quite a spash!

The beer looks yummy, Paul. International???? I know it will be a great success for you.

I'm glad your feeling better! Keep up the good work! I'll bet your family is VERY proud of you.

Terrific picture, by the way!
"Cheers" to you too!!!

Margie

ooops! I meant the ALE looks yummy! ahahahah My hubby is particularly fond of ale, although he perfers the darker variety, ah well, he'll just have to wait for the perfect peach one!

That's right, with the short sleeves, it's summer there, isn't it? What a wonderful time to start something new! Please forgive my ignorence, tell me the difference between beer and ale, besides alcohol content. Now I'm curious!
Take care,
Margie

Hi All!

Paul, website looks good! Can you give a sense of what this ale tastes like? Like on the back of a wine bottle. Can you find the words to make us drool? Can't-live-another- moment-without-a-taste... I'm having a hard time imagining what it must taste like, never having had a peach ale before.

I admire your courage to try something new. I am trying to find that courage in myself these days. That first step is a doozy.

I'm glad to hear the reduction of salt is working out for you. I recommend garlic as replacement. Garlic pepper is very good. I can't think of anything garlic isn't good on actually... Eggs, steak, shrimp, chicken... Just don't over-do it or you'll start to smell funny. (or do you smell funny already?) :) just kidding.

What about real sea salt? Is it better for you than regular salt?

Thanks GM for filling us in on the Florida Fun! I wish I'd tuned in earlier, I might have joined you for a day since I'm having a child-less weekend here and I'm tired of the snow. Cabin-fever setting in. Aching for spring...

Have any of you guys read, "The DeVinci Code" by Dan Brown? I enjoyed it but it seems it upsets a lot of people. Reading "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" now. So far, so good. Can't think of the authors name. I'll remember it if I like the book.

Saw "Lemony Snickets Series of Unfortunate Events" at a movie theater with the wee beasties. The beasties and I enjoyed it and recommend it to all.

Hi All!

Paul, website looks good! Can you give a sense of what this ale tastes like? Like on the back of a wine bottle. Can you find the words to make us drool? Can't-live-another- moment-without-a-taste... I'm having a hard time imagining what it must taste like, never having had a peach ale before.

I admire your courage to try something new. I am trying to find that courage in myself these days. That first step is a doozy.

I'm glad to hear the reduction of salt is working out for you. I recommend garlic as replacement. Garlic pepper is very good. I can't think of anything garlic isn't good on actually... Eggs, steak, shrimp, chicken... Just don't over-do it or you'll start to smell funny. (or do you smell funny already?) :) just kidding.

What about real sea salt? Is it better for you than regular salt?

Thanks GM for filling us in on the Florida Fun! I wish I'd tuned in earlier, I might have joined you for a day since I'm having a child-less weekend here and I'm tired of the snow. Cabin-fever setting in. Aching for spring...

Have any of you guys read, "The DeVinci Code" by Dan Brown? I enjoyed it but it seems it upsets a lot of people. Reading "The Five People You Meet In Heaven" now. So far, so good. Can't think of the authors name. I'll remember it if I like the book.

Saw "Lemony Snickets Series of Unfortunate Events" at a movie theater with the wee beasties. The beasties and I enjoyed it and recommend it to all.

Beer 101

There are only two types of beer in the world: Lager and Ale. The main difference between the two is the yeast. Lager Style beers use a bottom fermenting yeast that works at low temperatures 2 - 8 degrees C and generally produces a beer that is clean, crisp and dry. An ale yeast is a top fermenting yeast and works at warmer temperatures around 16 - 22 degree c usually producing a beer with more body and fruity characters. This is a very large generalisation on how it all works.

Within those two beers Lager and Ale you have many different styles:

Lager: Lager, Pilsner, Bock, Dopple Bock, Export/Dortmund and a whole lot of other brands that basically fall in to these catagories.

Ale: ale, sparkling ale, pale ale, indian pale ale, bitter, wheat beers, stout, porter, old or alt, amber etc

Beer was the generic name for an alcoholic liquid produced from malted barley, water hops and yeast (although hops are a relatively new thing only being used for the last 1000 years - beer has been around since 10000 bc) Most beers were in fact ales up until around 1876 - this is when loius Pastuer published his studies on beer and really got the good yeast thing going. From his work and some from carlsberg the lager strain was discovered/cultured. The generic term beer was changed to ale and lager added to the beer family.

This is my abbreviation and interpretation of the facts.

Eeek! I was getting a message that your server was out of whack so I sent the above message again.

Sorry!

Nice job on the Merc's Own site Cat. Nice list of available place Paul, it's an impressive start which I'm sure will grow. I know I'm dying to taste it..I can't wait until you go international. There is a local place here called Black Rock Brewery that likes to say it has a wide variety of small brewery beers both local and international. I am going to have all my friends ask for Merc's Own! Maybe I will get a taste yet.
Leaving tomorrow for FIF and I can't wait! I will take lots of pictures to share.
Peace, Inn

Congratulations, Paul on the launch of your new website for Merc's Own. Unfortunately, my browser wouldn't take me there and directed me to an article from the Sydney Herald about raspberry beers. There was a mention of Merc's Own, so I guess all was not totally lost.

Wishing you lots of good luck with your new venture. Maybe one day I'll see it at one of the "international" pubs that are starting to pop up around our vicinity and if I do, I'll be sure to raise a glass in your honor.

Be well.

Dearest Paul, and All,

Another update on FIF!

Most of my chickies have arrived since Thursday, and yesterday, (Saturday) Linda flew in in time to catch the evening program which consisted of watching "Strictly Ballroom" on a 9ft screen in our multimedia auditorium, which we had for ourselves until almost 11 p.m.

We also watched the documentary of "I Robot" where you, Paul, were introduced as the movement specialist. I guess this was the closest we could get to pay tribute to you for all that you have done for us.

7 precious people have met in person, embraced each other like old acquaintances, and are talking about another get-together next year, with God's help!

During the day, Ellie and I accompanied the group to a nice beach, which, though it was a bit nippy for Florida, turned out to be a lovely event! The surf was up, and the surf boarders were having a ball! We took lots of pictures, and then went to Dairy Queen for some chocolate cone dips.

For dinner we went to a newly opened Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet, and the place was jumping with professional eaters! (Ellie and I decided this was a special occasion, but we wouldn't make a habit of chowing down in that place!)

Today, Ellie and I are hosting a supper for everyone in our home, and tomorrow is the opening performance of "Follies" at 10:00 a.m., after which Evelyn, Linda, Monika and Koen will be leaving, but Diane, Mary, and Michelle will stay until Tuesday.

Inn and her friend, Cheryl are flying in today, and staying until Tuesday also. They are the only ones none of us have met, and we are looking forward to meeting them!

Hope all is well. I printed out the material on your new website for Merc's Beer, and will distribute it to the group tonight after dinner.
We will be raising our glasses in a toast to your success!

Until later,

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

During these few days there has been an outpouring of true friendship and love, and even a surreal feeling some had that "is this really happening"? It's an event for the books!

Hi Everyone,

Haven't posted in a long time but did want to say hello. Ms. Mill I'm so glad to hear your having such a good time with the others and hope that your show is a great success.

Paul, yes, sales is a rough gig. I worked for Nestle's and a couple of other corporation as a sales and marketing rep. and people can be quite rough. Sounds like it is doing you a lot of good having something else to think about though.

Giving up the beer a couple of days a week will lower your blood pressure because of such a high salt content. When I was a major beer drinker my body was always puffy the next day from all the salt and alcohol.

Anyway, my life is plugging on. No hurricanes that is a blessing and am looking for a hourse. That is an adventure. Sometimes I think Florida may not be the place to stay, but the weather is so great. Hard to leave.

Well good luck and God bless to all.

Joan

P.S. Rented a very inspirational movie this weekend. "Joshua" is a movie that I don't think will hurt anyones spiritual sensibilities and I found most uplifting. At least I don't think so.

Hello everyone,

Grandma, you missed the part about how much of a blast we are having here!!! I can't even describe this experience but it is absolutely astonishingly amazing and fun and ... hmm, words are failing me just now. wish you all were here as well! Re. last night, since I hadn't seen Strictly Ballroom on the big screen, pretty nifty!

Cat wonderful job on the MercsOwn website!!! We all oohed and ahhed over it last night in the hotel room. We were going to post something to you all as a group, but somehow we got sidetracked. Perhaps today.

Paul, nice picture on MercsOwn--group consenus! :-) Good luck with getting your beer established! wishing you only success with it and then some more.

Got to go-group breakfast ist coming up.
Love to all!
Evelyn

One thing I forgot this morning--sorry, brain wasn't fully awake--Paul, thank you for being who you are and allowing us to meet here on the Corner and also now in person in Florida. This is pretty powerful stuff, difficult to describe, but I do want to say Thank you to you, even though that doesn't quite cut it.

Cat, thank you for creating this space for us to meet here and for maintaining it so well and being so incredibly generous. Thank you to you and again, this doesn't seem to be enough.

Finally, thank you to you Milllie and Ellie for getting us together in Florida, for all the arrangements you have made, and your hospitality, all the driving around that you and Ellie are doing for and with us, taking the time out, being with us, all the hugs and smiles and ...

I just want to express my gratitude to all four of you. Can't tell you enough who blessed I feel right now.
Hugs and love to you all.
Evelyn

Well, here it is the 6th of February already, where did December and January go.

Happy birthday to all those who have celebrated lately. Had one myself on the 3rd of January.
I've hit the old double nickle (55) and was informed just over a week ago that I'll be a grandma late September.

Tim, may look you up in October or November, will definitely have to go to Atlanta to see this new addition. Yes, the kids have/are moving to Atlanta. Keith took a position with Sprint in the Atlanta office and started on the 10th of January. Lauren is still in NO trying to get thier house ready to go on the market.
Now, they find out they are having the first GrandBaby and the 1st. Great Grand Baby ! What a responsibility.

We had fun in New Orleans at Christmas, of course we were blamed for their first snow in How Many Years????. Tampa was nice, we went over to NASA and down to Ft. Meyers to tour the Edison/Ford museums. Really lovely there. Saw lots of damage from the hurricanes. Very interesting the way it tore up the trees and metal power poles.

Grandma Mil; hope you and the rest of the FIF group will be able to post lots of pictures of your activities over the past few days.

Well I must get back to my rat killing, trying to get the sewing/computer room back into shape so that I can get to work on baby things.

Paul: Nice web site for your beer. Glad to hear that you have cut out the salt, check with your doctor about your potassium level. I read somewhere that it can be a problem for those on a restricted salt diet. Mom has been on blood pressure medicine for years and she has to take extra potassium because the blood pressure medicine affects it somehow. Also congratulations on DWTS. Glad to know one season was not enough for the viewers.

Hugs to all,
Sherrlyn

Thanks Cat for setting up the new site.

Paul
Happy to hear about the new site.

Here is a questions for you. A friend of mine sent me an article about a 'Gun Toting Grandma,' in Melbourne Australia who tracked down two men that carjacked and raped her Grandaughter. When Granny found out she tracked them down and shot off their private parts. The police don't know what to do with an 81 year old woman. The article was a lot longer, but that is the short version. The rest of Melbourne wants to nominate her for some kind of award. All I can say is "Go Granny"

Take care love to all.
Marge

From a web designer who's very picky - great job on the Mercs Own site, Cat! Nice and simple and to the point. Keep up the good work.

Just one tiny suggestion - make the pages a little bit narrower, as I have to scroll right and left to see it all. (Max width should be about 775 pixels for no-scroll viewing at 800x600 resolution.)

Teresa : )

One word for ya, lovey...EXPORT!

;-)

Keep at it! Good things come to those who wait...yes? YES.

It's Friday evening 5:50 and I am still sitting at this desk pounding away at the keyboard. COuld REALLY go for an ale right away!

Kisskiss!
Have fun all you folks down on Fla! If my mom hadn;t been getting married down there next month, I'd have been there in a heartbeat. (Poor timing on her love boat, eh?)