It’s not uncommon to have a bunch of things on your mind.  Some are just so powerful and so bothersome that they just seem to consume your life.  They drag you down and always let you know they are there.  Even when things go right they just seem to keep coming at you.  But I’m persistent or maybe just stubborn.  I keep powering through.  Eventually you do make it past and you can get out of the funk.  And for me I am finally out of it.

For what feels like months I have just not been myself.  I lost my concentration with this site and just couldn’t think of things to write about.  I lost the desire to even do simple things with my friends that I used to love doing.  Work began affecting my personal life in ways that it never should.  I needed change.

So I stopped writing and just thought, not putting anything really down.  I took time off from work but at the same time kept working.  I worked on myself and my situation.  I went into Due South Brewing, where I bar tend one day a week, and started just helping with whatever I could.  I stirred a mash.  I cleaned kegs.  I filled kegs.  I moved them all over a building.  I sanitized fermenters and brites.

I felt two things after those days.  One was a soreness in my body that I haven’t felt in years and the other was pride of a hard, honest days work.  I felt like I contributed towards something.  I contributed towards a product I believe in.  I have felt pride towards my work before but something about this was different.  It felt new and quite good.

That brings me to this past Sunday, sitting at a bar after over lunch.  I find that the hard work, the determination and the never give up attitude finally paid off.  I was offered a job, full time, at Due South Brewing.  Just like that my bummed feelings were gone faster than Penn Jillette on Dancing with the Stars (sorry Penn I do love you).

I thank all of my family, friends and readers for their continued support of me.  You all helped me keep fighting to achieve this goal in my life.  And thanks to Mike and Jodi at Due South for seeing the potential in me.

So what does this all mean for MikeLovesBeer.com?  To be honest, I don’t know.  And I’m okay with that.  I probably will never get as active as I once was but I won’t give this up just yet.  I will try my best to keep bringing you the going ons in South Florida craft beer along with the occasional rant.  I know you love those.

So again thanks all and on to another new chapter in my life.