Well... After I wake up that is; nights are a bitch.  So I found my family is coming up for Thanksgiving (they live in SC and I haven't seen them in close to 5 years) so I thought I would break out my Northern Brewers Kit.  I received it as a Christmas gift and never even opened it. I was reading up on meads and thought I would try one, but according to the internet it won't have aged by the time my folks get here, I guess my fall back will be an Irish Amber.  It is going to be an extract kit but I am pretty stoked. One more vice to take funds and time away.

I know the yeast will be deceased so I am hitting up the local hobby store in town when I get up to pick up the grains, yeast and extract syrup so I can start as fresh as I can.  I will be brewing after that and we shall see.  I have already "emptied" enough bottles to refill with my brew.  Any Irish Red drinkers that can throw out anything to make my first brew a bit better?  I have from today to Turkey day to pull it off.  game on. Lord, don't let me burn the house down.

I just recently got into home brewing not that long ago, and was pleasantly surprised to find this forum on here. I've completed 5 extract batches, and the last one I did was the best. I did a full boil instead of partial, and made the clearest, tastiest beer so far. Another quick one would be the Hefeweizen from Northern Brewer it only takes two weeks. I ordered one Wednesday though and it still hasn't shipped yet.

There is a hobby store not that far from me so I will be heading there shortly.

I would love to order from Northern Brewer, I just don't think I have the time for it to get here and brew before Thanksgiving.

Normally they're pretty fast about shipping, I don't know whats going on.

All the equipment is cleaned and I have it sanitizing as I type. Once I finish grilling supper I am off to make beer! I went with a Scottish ale. Still an extract kit  but its gonna be great!

Great! Be sure to tell us how it tastes!

Will do. The directions say that after a week I can rack it to a secondary or go straight to bottling. But it has only been three days and the airlock isn't bubbling much anymore. Should I rack now?

No! Only a week that doesn't sound right at all. Also airlock activity is not a indication that fermentation is completed especially if its only slowed, the only way you can tell is to test the OG/FG by using a hydrometer (Which I don't do hardly, I always just leave in the fermenter for about a month). I would at least give it 3 weeks then bottle.

Do a Google and/or look at this thread, secondary fermentation is really unnecessary.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/dont-secondary.387698/

Have you thought about getting a kegerator or building a keezer? Once you go to kegging your beer, you never go back.

I never heard of a week, then straight to bottle.  Seems a little early.  I wouldn't rack it yet.  My rule of thumb has always been let it sit at least 2 weeks in primary before kegging/bottling.  I don't bother taking gravity readings anymore.

Well, I held off for 2.5 weeks and now its in the fridge. Tonight I hopefully drink Scottish ale.

It will be fine. As Pappazian et al say: relax, have a homebrew. Congrats.

I might get flamed for this, but there really isn't any purpose in a secondary unless you're dry hopping or adding a flavor post-fermentation.  I know you can get better clarity in secondary though. For my first pale ale I just did 2 weeks primary then kegged.

When I transferred to the secondary I (and this is just me and my opinion) feel that it was more to reduce the trub at the bottom.  I will have to take some pictures tomorrow at the finished product. It came out a nice nut brown color and delicious.

Anyone out there know how I can get away from bottle conditioning?  I would love to just drink from the bottle without the residue.