Vacation Is Over.

Today was my first day of work at Loudeye. When I first walked in I met Craig, with whom I'd had the ridiculously long tech interview over the phone. "So you really exist!", he said. He proceeded to show me around the place. The server room was absolutely massive, not to mention the CD depository; I'm pretty sure they have a copy of every CD ever created in there! I was finally sold, though, when I saw that not only did they have free sodas and water coolers, but there was a Tornado foosball table in the break area. Life is good.

To celebrate my first day, Nathan, Auri and I adjourned to Hale's Brewery. Of the many, many brewpubs and beer joints I've visited in the last week, this one was definitely my favorite. Of course I ordered the beer sampler ("the wheel"), and was delighted by the creamy cask ales (blonde and porter), and the grapefruity seasonal ale. The food was terrific as well, especially the fluffy sandwich buns, which tasted like English muffins, and the "Jo Jo Potatoes", which were like a spicier Rally fry. Yum!