It would be unfair to say I am not creative in my work. I interview people, compose television scripts, web stories and record voice-over tracks for those stories day-in-and-day-out.
The work takes creative intelligence for sure.
But sometimes, when reporting on some stories, I get an itch to try my hand at something different.
Take this story on a collaborative project between a group of Greater Cincinnati writers and illustrators. They created an anthology-style comic book called “Cincinnati Cabinet of Curiosities,” where artists re-imagine popular and not so famous local urban legends.
What got me wasn’t their ability to draw. I can hardly draw a recognizable stick figure.
It was the fact that some of the folks I interviewed also run a podcast. Looking at our group zoom interview after the story aired on television (see embed below), I thought, “Hey, I could do this too!”
I have the equipment to put a podcast together. I lack the technical knowledge to produce one. It is so frustrating to learn a new skill, but I think it is time this old dog learned a new craft.
So, stay tuned for a poorly edited podcast based on the Zoom interview mentioned above.
COVINGTON, KY — Braxton Brewing Co. announced on Monday, Feb. 17, that it will release its newest IPA, Hop Fit this March.
Hop Fit will clock in at 100 caleries and four percent alcohol-by-volume per 12-ounce can.
The low-carb IPA is expected to be available in Kroger stores throughout Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington for $9.99 per six-pack.
Braxton will mark the releaste of Hop Fit on Saturday, March 7, with a launch party at its main taproom, located at 27 W. Seventh St. in Covington.
The party will include a “POUND & POUR” workout class, an obstacle course, a live DJ, sampling and more.
Braxton made waves in the low-calorie craft drink market around the same time last year with its release of Vive, a lineup of hard seltzers.
Warp Wing will begin selling Hydro Haze Pale Ale on draft and by six-packs in its taproom during the launch party.
The beer then will be available for purchase through Warped Wing retail partners starting Tuesday, March 10.
Warped Wing’s release describe’s Hydro Haze as a a pale ale that “carries delicious, juicy, and tropical citrus/pineapple notes.”
NOW ONTO THE REST OF THE RELEASE BELOW. 👇
“We have been working on this formula for some time,” said Nick Bowman, VP/Sales & Marketing and Managing Partner at Warped Wing. “This has been a missing puzzle piece within our portfolio of core beers. It’s something we did not want to rush out to market until we knew it would be special. Last summer we launched a ‘Test Flight’ program reaching out to our customers, urging them to taste test several Pale Ales and IPA’s. Having our customers as part of the final result of the product was very rewarding for us. We used that feedback to create and perfect this beer. John Haggerty and his brew team delivered and we are extremely proud to share Hydro Haze with our Ohio friends.” said Bowman.
“There’s a much deeper historic piece to the brand”, said Tara Michel, Marketing Manager at Warped Wing. “I started digging into some Ohio history around flood management and found out that a major water/dam control system was developed right here back in 1913. The design was based on controlling flooding in our river systems. It’s a technology that is still used today around the world. The name for the beer seemed like a natural. Especially given the fact that water is the most important natural resource in our brewing operation. And Dayton presides upon one of the finest water aquifer systems in the world.”
Copy on the can reads, “The water came crashing over the banks as the smoke rose from the valley below. Hydro Haze. A tsunami of juicy tropical citrus and pineapple, balanced with a whirlpool of creamy hop goodness. Pop a top and break the dam. The haze awaits.”
Please join us on Thursday, March 5th for the Hydro Haze Pale Ale launch party at the brewery. Festivities run from 3-10 p.m.
Warped Wing Brewing Co. is a Dayton craft brewery inspired by Ohio’s rich history of innovation and invention. We are committed to carrying that spirit forward by brewing new proprietary beer styles along with original interpretations.
I wasn’t diagnosed with acute ADHD until I was 38 years old. What can I say? I’m a late bloomer.
That also means I spent most of my life frustrated with myself and belittled by others for not being able to focus or just . . .
I was only diagnosed after entering a new work environment that was loud and chaotic, which spiked my inability to stay focused for long periods of time.
I found myself with two choices at the time: Either figure out what was going on or lose my job.
Initially, I thought I might be dyslexic.
After taking a battery of tests, the psychologist who administered them looked at me and said, “Holy shit! I’ve worked with children and adults for 18 years and have never seen someone with as an acute a case of ADHD as you. How have you functioned this long?”
I’m pretty sure the comment was a mixture of truth and an attempt to disarm me with humor. Anyway, the diagnosis led to coping strategies and some medicine.
It helped. I never told my boss about the diagnosis. He just assumed I miraculously got my shit together.
Through the diagnosis I also learned I have a superpower. It’s called hyperfocus.
Here is what hyperfocus is, as explained in the ADD-centric publication “ADDitude”:
“Hyperfocus, a common — but confusing — symptom of ADHD, is the ability to zero in intensely on an interesting project or activity for hours at a time. It is the opposite of distractibility, and it is common among both children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”
The best part about hyperfocus is my ability to spend hours fixated on a work task that I find completely engaging. The worst part about hyperfocus is my ability to spend hours fixated on a work task that I find completely engaging.
The truly funny part about sharing my ADHD diagnosis, work woes and hyperfocus superpower wasn’t even why I began writing this blog post.
I started out wanting to share the graphic below I created for work before Kings Island Amusement Park in Mason, Ohio announced its new 300-foot-tall giga-coaster, Orion on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. (The coaster opens next spring.)
Graphic by Brian Mains for WCPO
As I started to write this post though, I realized I probably spent way too much time creating the graphic, which reminded me of my ADHD and the pitfalls of hyperfocus.
And that’s what led me here – the end of this post, where I share another aspect of my ADHD – I ALWAYS underestimate how long it will take me to do something because I ALWAYS forget that I ALWAYS find myself meandering down a few side streets and tangents along the way.
