Summer 2009 Top Five List (Food Edition)

School is starting very soon so my summer is officially drawing to a close. I have slowly been trying to introduce some discipline and routine into my days but I'm not having much luck so far. As usual, I am using this space to simultaneously prove I can do something somewhat constructive with my time and...avoid doing other chores. I guess this makes it a win/win and lose/lose situation. Or something.

I will now share some of my favorite food related things from this summer. I love lists and it has been a while since I've written one.

1. Frozen Yogurt!




I'm not talking about your basic frozen yogurt, the kind that is sweet enough to be ice cream. My obsession is with the tart frozen treat. Yes, it is trendy but its deliciousness trumps any kind of pretentiousness. I think there are claims about its live cultures and other goodies but honestly, all I really care about is the taste. I first had some on a trip to San Francisco and as luck would have it a branch of the same chain is on Bardstown Road in Louisville. Ce Fiore has been my favorite spot for a cool treat this summer.

I have had the special Golden Cherry flavor and the Original flavor. I liked them both but generally stick to the Original because Adam prefers the latter and we get a cup to share. I like to be nice to him whenever I can. The frozen yogurt is pretty creamy with not a lot of iciness. It is distinctly tart in a way that is ultimately very refreshing. When you order a cup you can pick three toppings. While there are many to choose from, my usual combination is Original with kiwi, strawberry, and the other part of my obsession with this kind of dessert: mochi! Mochi is a kind of sweetened rice candy. This kind of mochi isn't like the soft stuff that you can get wrapped around ice cream. It is a chewier texture that is closer to a gumdrop. It brings to mind Botan rice candy though there isn't any citrusy flavor to the mochi. Must be the rice then? Whatever...I think its muted sweetness is a good foil for the tart yogurt and fruit. It also provides some textural interest.

The problem with this set up is that while we are often in Louisville, it is still pretty far away when a craving hits. I've put some work into creating a fairly decent substitute. Sometimes trendiness works in your favor. Edy's has a new selection of tart frozen yogurts, one with a swirl of mango and one with a swirl of honey. I have tried both and they are both quite good but mango is my preference. So a quick trip to the store is all I needed for the yogurt and fruit. The mochi was a different matter.

After doing some internet research, I discovered that what I wanted was actually a Korean rice confection usually served with a dish called bingsoo. Bingsoo seems to be shaved ice with toppings that may include sweet red beans, frozen yogurt or ice cream, condensed milk, fruit and/or fruit cocktail, and the sweet rice cake candies (dduk). After more searching I found an online Korean grocery store that sold me some. They were perfect.

I am really happy with my efforts though I can only wish I were more motivated to pursue other matters with that degree of focus. Priorities. I need to get mine in order. This is something I am sure to ponder while enjoying another bowl.

2. Ice Cream. Haagen Dazs Fleur de Sel Caramel Ice Cream, specifically.


I am slightly ashamed to admit that my two of my five items are in the ice cream family but in the interest of honesty and awesomeness I am going to confess to it anyway. This special edition flavor is ridiculously good. Here is the description from their website: "Fleur de sel caramels covered in a chocolaty coating blended into caramel ice cream with caramel ribbons and French sea salt accents." Fleur de sel caramels are one of my favorite candies and the addition of chocolate just sends it over the top. The salty sweet combination is too powerful for me to resist. And that is why I can't really allow myself to keep any in the house.

3. Love Street Living Foods Vegan Chocolate Coconut Spread



If you are asking yourself whether I have a serious sweet tooth the answer is a resounding yes. While I have had plenty of savory delights this summer I must say that they have had tough competition. This find was a Whole Foods impulse buy. Unlike some of my failures (like kombucha for example) this stuff is spectacular. Chocolate and coconut are a classic combination. The flavor of the spread highlights them both. The chocolate is dark and rich and the coconut is prominent but there is a perfect balance between them. It is a lovely dip for fruit...but mostly I just grab a bit with a spoon and enjoy that. This is one time where Adam's issues with coconut can come in handy. I'm not double dipping or anything but sometimes spooning from a shared jar isn't the most...decorous...thing to do.

I would say this spread is superior to Nutella but I haven't yet given it the toast test.

4. Fried Chicken



I am still learning to cook and there are many things I haven't tried to make yet. One technique that has completely been outside my comfort zone is deep frying. I was put off by many things--the relatively high temperatures, the splattering (for both mess and potential burns), and the clean up and disposal of the oil. For some reason I decided that this was the time to get over that. Maybe it was hearing about Joe's quest for decent fried chicken that planted the idea. I wanted to see if I could fry and why not start with fried chicken?

Many of my kitchen projects begin at Williams Sonoma. This one was no different. I can be a bit of a name brand whore and they know how to get me. So I purchased a new All-Clad deep sauté pot with a basket, an oil thermometer, and an Ad Hoc fried chicken kit. This may be as close as I'll come to the Thomas Keller restaurant so why not?

It is quite a process. I brined the chicken, poured and heated the oil, and followed the directions: dry mix, buttermilk, dry mix. And then I fried. It was a bit scary at first because I didn't know what to expect but it wasn't all that bad. I crowded the pan a bit too much at first and the oil temperature dropped more than I would have liked. I learned and the next couple of batches were fine. The chicken came out looking good with a firm golden crust. I was worried that the chicken wouldn't be done under the coating but thankfully I was mistaken. I was quite proud of the outcome. It wasn't perfect but it made for a nice couple of meals. I am no fried chicken expert but it tasted good to me. The crust was crisp and the chicken was moist and flavorful. It is a good thing for us that the kit comes with enough stuff for two separate batches. I'll be trying it again soon.

5. My final item is actually a movie: Julie and Julia.



I loved this movie. It isn't a masterpiece, really. It is, in many ways, a typical Nora Ephron film. It is sentimental and kind of light...but that is part of its appeal. I don't want to get to the point where I can't watch a film like this and love it. It was a delight. I laughed many times, teared up a couple times, and was thoroughly entertained. The food looked gorgeous and it really made me want to get back to Paris again.

Meryl Streep was amazing as Julia Child. She seemed to perfectly capture the exuberance of Julia Child. Stanley Tucci as Paul Child was also great. Their chemistry and the love story was lovely to watch. I have admired Julia Child and I knew the outlines of her biography. Still, seeing the dramatization of how her famous cookbook came to be was riveting.

I also enjoyed the Julie sections of the film. Amy Adams' performance was so good--even when her character is being bratty or narcissistic I was never turned off by it because the rest of the time she was sweet and vulnerable and spunky and fun. I rooted for her and her husband. The cooking scenes were hilarious and triumphant (even the disasters were good). The little touches really made it for me, especially things like the choice of music during the lobster story. Oh, and there was a really cute kitty.

I am a fan of food blogs (and many blogs in general) and I was interested in Julie's journey as well as Julia's. I liked the balance between the two sections. Often when there are dual narratives I will become impatient during one because I want to get back to the other. In this case that didn't happen. It was kind of odd. When a Julia section broke away I looked forward to its return and I felt a little surge of happiness when it did. And yet I didn't greet the Julie sections with any sense of disappointment. I enjoyed them too. I guess it is just a matter of degree.

This film is a celebration of life, love, and food. And it makes my list of favorites for the summer. I am definitely going to get a copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. And I am definitely skipping the aspics!

That is it for this list. Even if I get off track there is still something very comforting and orderly about a list. I am going to need every bit of that kind of feeling when I launch into the chaos that is the opening of the semester. Until then I am going to savor the last days of my summer.

Something Old, Something New

Louisville, 2009: Adam is driving. I've got shotgun. We're leaving a Starbucks, comfortably caffeinated. A pickup truck a few cars away is driving along with a load in the back. Wait a second, is that...seriously?



Yes, that truck was hauling what could have only been a huge old console television, decorative wooden cabinet and all. I haven't seen one of those in ages. I have become so accustomed to the wide flat screen remote control driven HD marvels that the sight of the old tube was a bit jarring. It also started a fun conversation. Adam and I remember a lot of the same things about tv in the "old days."

I remember actually getting excited when I would get to change channels. I suppose for a kid it would have been a nice little exercise of power and a way to burn off a little energy. I am sure it was far less entertaining for adults. I would miss my remote now but back then there was something really satisfying about the clunk, clunk, clunk of the changer. The whole experience had a tactile kind of quality that is missing these days. I remember how it felt to pull to turn on the set and the popping sound it made. I remember pushing it back and the fade to a pinpoint of light when you were through.

I remember how frustrating it could be when you couldn't quite get the station fine-tuned enough to come in. When you did get it the victory was sweet. TV could really seem like a game of skill back then, especially if you also had to manipulate an antenna.

I remember how it could seem to take an eternity to warm up, especially when you were a little late in turning on the cartoons. I don't remember a lot of channel surfing. I remember watching things through snow and messing with the color knobs (apparently turning people green on screen passed for wit in my circle of one or two). I vaguely remember beating on it from time to time but I don't remember why (so don't tell my parents).


I don't miss those days but the nostalgia was pleasant enough while it lasted. I am very happy with sharp images, remote controls, and the like. I must admit that I am still feeling the sting of missing the DVR. Remembering the experiences of my childhood does make me realize how good I have it now, even with our recent downsizing to basic cable--. I suspect that effect will soon pass and I'll be back to grumbling when I watch live tv and can't pause it and so on. I just have to hone my rusty skills. The old commercial time bathroom/kitchen dash will have to come back into play.

We haven't completely jumped back into the twentieth century. In fact, Adam and I exchanged early anniversary gifts that are definitely on the newer end of the technological timeline. We both got the new iPhone 3GS. I'm sure that some wouldn't think that is terribly romantic but they are probably not geeks.



Adam had a first generation iPhone but I moved from my old Motorola Razr. It was quite a leap. I absolutely love my new phone. I find it easier to operate. I will admit that I ignored more than my fair share of missed calls and voicemail messages. I'm surprised that my message didn't say something like "How does this damned thing work?"...then again it might have said that for all I know. I never checked. I have hopes that now I'll keep on top of messages and even maintain and use a decent contacts list.

I also like the ability to check websites when I'm out and about. Sometimes I just need a bit of information or some entertainment.

I've seen the transportation guide/map feature in action during our trips to Chicago and San Francisco and it was excellent. I really liked the help in navigating public transportation in different cities.

And I won't lie...the games are interesting too. I mean, how could I say no to a Katamari game and a version of Cooking Mama? I couldn't. Now if I can resist the urge to play Peggle all of the time I'll be in business.

All of that and videos, pictures, and music too. It is a great thing and I'm happy to have it.

I wonder how long it will take before it looks as clunky and archaic as that old television. I'm looking forward to finding out. But for now I'll be enjoying the phone. I should probably check the Apps store. Who knows what has been put there since I checked yesterday?

Play Time

Construction toys were never really childhood favorites for me. I remember fooling around with Tinker Toys and Ringamajigs. I mostly built crazy towers and other unwieldy structures. Lincoln Logs were a bit better because they easily led to the creation of fairly decent looking log cabins but they got boring after awhile. It was Legos that were the real heartbreakers. My brother would get these great big boxes filled with Legos and would while away the hours creating all kinds of things. The possibilities always seemed so endless, the promise so great. And all I could usually manage were walls and maybe the occasional boxy building. I wanted to make castles, villas, space docks and the like but what I got mostly looked like the more depressing fifties and sixties style industrial buildings. Not even my imagination could salvage them so I soon gave up.

I gave up too soon because I missed the era of the Lego building set. The plans help those of us who have problems creating in three dimensions. Every year for Christmas Adam gets a set. I've watched him build elaborate cars, ships, and so on. It was fun to watch him but I never felt the urge to participate...until we went to the Lego store in Chicago and I saw some of the town kits. I knew I had to have one.

I ordered the Green Grocer set and after things settled down after semester's end, Adam and I began construction. The initial unwrapping proved to be a bit daunting. I am glad that I had seasoned backup or I may have retreated. Three booklets and a bunch of little bags filled with lego pieces made quite a pile.



The keys seem to be organization and perseverance. Adam is more methodical than I am so he took the lead. He was also more familiar with the directions: a series of pictures. I handled most of them pretty well but there were times I got a bit stumped. Most problems were solved relatively quickly and the building started to take shape. It was really quite gratifying.

What I like the most are the little details. The first floor is the grocery store. It has bins with tiny carrots, croissants, and bananas. There are coolers, a cash register, a lovely tiled floor, and in the vestibule there are mailboxes complete with envelopes that you can put in the slots. What won my heart was this:



The picture isn't very good, but what it shows is a mousehole under the stairs, complete with mouse and wedge of cheese. Ridiculous! Later on we would build a little fireplace (with a nice little fire) for the first floor of the apartment, a grandfather clock and radiator for the second floor, a grill and patio furniture for the rooftop, and a lot of other little details. Adam really liked the curtains and the fire escape. I'm partial to the bay window and the awning.

It is ingenious how they use pieces for different things in different kits. Goblets and skeleton arms are used to create architectural features like railings. I liked seeing how these odd little bits would be put together to create something surprising.

The mini-figs are darling as well. I was very excited to see the little kitty. It should help keep the mouse population under control. We did discover that there is no baby mini-fig for the carriage so we decided to create one with some leftover pieces. It is a little ghetto but I think it is better than having a poor mini-fig push around an empty carriage. That just seems too tragic.

Over the course of a few evenings Adam and I completed the building. I had a great time. It was nice to sit down with my sweetheart for a few hours and do something out of the ordinary. It took many years but I finally got to make something cool out of legos!





Revisiting childhood can be a fine thing and I suspect that I will get another set. There is a Corner Cafe that I have my eye on. Maybe next year.

More Songs About Buildings and Food

So. First things first. The site has been moved. I had some issues with WordPress, mostly due to the ridiculous amount of spam and their weird way of (not) handling it. It took a lot of work but Adam has moved everything over here. Now all I have to do is to write. I'll begin with an update, just to shake the rust off.

Spring semester 2009 is done. Finally. I don't know what it was but I never got settled into it (despite the fact that I had some great students). I cannot claim that it was just drudgery; I have had my share of fun.

In March I attended CCCC for the first time in years. It was good to dip back in to academia (though it was sort of a quick dive in and out). It was better to see San Francisco again and to visit with friends.



This time we even made it to Pier 39, thanks to a tourist trap bus tour. Don't get me wrong, seeing the city by bus is a fine thing. And I've never been on a double-decker before (this one even had leftover British ads with the prices in pounds). It was a bit too windy for comfort and it was really cold when we drove across the Golden Gate. Still, the views were lovely. I didn't enjoy the guide's banter. It was weak and his attempts to flirt with some of the ladies was weaker. It probably threw the guy off when he forced Terry into admitting that she is a native San Franciscan. She probably knows the city better than he does. Snerk. I didn't really regret it when we got down by the water and had some time to kill before the return.

The wharf is as you would expect. I like the water and the sea lions but could do without all the junk shops and the crowds. I much preferred our time at the Farmer's Market. I would give a lot to have something even approaching that here. All we can seem to manage are a few booths. I blame the corn syrup and fuel manufacturers. Thankfully they don't seem to have the same grip on San Francisco. There are so many booths filled with gorgeous produce, cheeses, artisan breads...chocolates, tea, and so on, that I didn't know where to look. I did manage to snag some goodies for hotel snacking and for the trip home.

In April we headed north for a weekend in Chicago. We took the train from Lafayette to the city and I am pleased to say that it really went smoothly. Apparently the downturn in the economy is good for one thing. Less freight=fewer delays for Amtrak. Adam booked a hotel that was comfortable and had a great view. I took this photo from our room. It is hard to go wrong when you're that close to Tiffany's.



Since it was my birthday weekend I got to set the agenda. This trip was all about buildings and food (cue The Talking Heads here). We started with lunch at Lou Malnati's. We got some minestrone while we waited and it was very good...flavorful and yet light enough that we weren't destroyed by the time the pizza came. The pizza was good but I have to say it wasn't my favorite. Maybe getting the specialty butter crust wasn't the best move. The butter just sort of coated my palate, giving the pizza a greasy feel. The sauce is fresh...less like pizza sauce and more like a light sauté of tomatoes. I can see why it has its devotees but I can't count myself one of them.

We walked off some of the pizza by strolling back to Michigan Ave for some window shopping. I was pretty tired after that so we retired to the hotel. We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant, an English style pub called The Elephant and Castle. The food was okay but the beer was very welcome. We turned in early and were ready for the next day.

We started at the Shedd Aquarium. Unfortunately, my favorite exhibit (the beluga whales) was closed. There were no whales, dolphins, or penguins. Essentially, all of their big draws are shut down for renovations. It was actually kind of interesting to see how they tried to compensate for the loss. The first thing was they gave us tickets to a 4-D movie experience. We had two choices and I opted for the one that didn't feature SpongeBob. The film was 3-D and included "bonus" elements like squirting water, breezes, thumps in the back and so on. The wee ones did not enjoy the experience and there were some tears and quick exits. After the show Adam asked about it and it turns out that SpongeBob loses more kids. Go figure.

In addition to the film we got to see a feeding in one of the huge tanks and that was quite entertaining. There was some talk going on at the sharks with an expert...but my crowd issue kicked in and I just plowed right through. All in all, it was a good try but I recommend waiting for the full exhibits.

After the Shedd we took a long walk, following a path in a guidebook featuring architectural highlights. The first leg eventually took us to Millenium Park in Chicago. The second picture is of Buckingham fountain in Grant park. The first is a picture of a reflection in "the Bean" in Millenium park. (Why did I put them in backwards? I don't know! I'm just learning here).




We took a break and had lunch at The Gage, my favorite restaurant during this trip. It is right across from the park and serves what amounts to gourmet pub fare. I don't remember if it bills itself as a gastropub but I think the label fits. We ordered a glass of a lovely Pinot Grigio (perfect on a sunny day). And I insisted we try an appetizer: the poutine. Adam had no idea what to expect but I have been fascinated by it for awhile. It sounds a bit disgusting but so do many of our comfort food classics. This version was french fries with elk ragout and fresh cheese curds. Adam didn't care so much for the gaminess of the elk but found that the tang of the cheese and the starch in the potato worked together to smooth that out. I agree though I don't think I minded the elk as much as he did. I don't know that I would order it again (especially in warm weather) but my curiosity was satisfied. We didn't finish it so we did have room for the main course. Adam got a gourmet burger with camembert (I think) and I got a delightful sandwich: a shrimp BLT with avocado, microgreens and lemon aioli. I don't know what possessed me but I even ate the tomato. All in all it was a great meal and we left ready to make the rest of our journey.

Some of the buildings were difficult to get a good view of. We saw some examples of Chicago windows and some interesting details in stonework. Sadly, we couldn't get into The Rookery for the Frank Lloyd Wright entryway, but we saw the outside. We approached the Sears Tower, and a couple other buildings. Luckily we did get into the Chicago Cultural Center. I love stained glass and that Tiffany's ceiling does not disappoint. The whole interior of the building is just gorgeous. The literary themed mosaics were especially nice to see.



My feet started to blister up so we made our way back to the hotel for a break. On the way we saw the Wrigley building, the Bob Newhart apartment building, Tribune Tower (the one that was on CSI NY and has the pieces from other famous buildings) and this awesome sculpture. American Gothic isn't my favorite but for some reason I have always really enjoyed riffs on it. I remember I used to wear a button that had replaced their eyes with flashing red lights. Ah, high school/college. Good times.



After recovering, we went out for dinner at a Brazilian steak house. Basically, it is a meat orgy. You pay a fixed price and begin at the salad bar. The salad bar was quite nice and I think you could do well to just stick to it. It had a lot of fish dishes, grilled vegetables, and other salads in addition to the usual fare. My favorite was a cold shrimp salad in a lightly spicy tomato sauce. When you finish there the discs come into play. One side means go, the other is a pass. "Go" means that the men carrying around their skewers of grilled meat are welcome to come to the table to offer you a piece. There was lamb, various cuts of beef (ribeye, flank, prime rib, sirloin...you name it), sausages, pork, chicken, shrimp, and pineapple. Lobster is an extra fee. I liked most of what I tried but honestly that much meat is a bit overwhelming, especially as we were still pretty fresh out of our Lenten pescetarian diet. It is a whirlwind of activity. I guess I am happy that I had the experience. Adam was sorry he didn't get to get a really good look at the cocktail waitress in carnivale garb (read: very skimpy outfit with feathers). I am not so sorry he didn't. I wouldn't have wanted to have to pull out one of the only phrases I remember from Portuguese class: Eu tenho um d'or de cabeça. (I have a headache).

We needed to walk off some of dinner so we made our way through some shops. We had a great time at the Lego Store and I made a stop at Nordstrom. I bought myself a big birthday treat: a Marc Jacobs handbag (30% off!). Now my breakup with Coach can be official. We ended the evening with some apple crumble å la mode and a cognac at The Elephant and Castle. That definitely counts as a win.

Our last day in Chicago was rainy and a bit cold. We decided to end as we had begun with some Chicago Style pizza. This time we went to Gino's East. We hadn't been there in years. We began with what they called minestrone. It was not good. I think the base is cream of chicken soup. Possibly from a can. Yuck. The pizza, however, was quite good. I didn't have an issue with the crust and the sauce was thicker and spicier. I still don't know if I like this place or Giordano's better. And to be fair to Lou Malnati's we didn't get our usual pie with spinach and that may have been an unfair disadvantage. I guess we'll have to return for a more controlled experiment. Now that we know the train trip is doable there should be plenty more opportunities.

That just about brings me up to date. Derby was a fun time and I got through another mandatory graduation ceremony. My summer has begun and I am sinking into it in earnest.



This past weekend Adam and I walked along the canal in Indianapolis. It is an excellent walk (flat, along water, with lots of opportunities to people/pet watch and dream about high priced real estate ownership). There were bonus ducklings too!

It couldn't have been better weather either. It was sunny (after all the rain earlier in the day, I'm surprised) and cool with a nice breeze. We stopped at one end at a place called the Creation Cafe in Bugg's Temple and had beers and appetizers on the terrace. The apps were tasty. The stuffed mushroom had a nice cheese blend and weren't oily at all. The cheese quesadilla was good too. The beers were local and really hit the spot. I was surprised at how much I liked the Three Floyd's Alpha King Pale Ale. I don't generally go for those. In this case the light citrus flavor worked well with that bitter hit. It was refreshing and matched the food. It also didn't weigh me down as we walked back to the museum.

We finished the night at the IMAX theater with Monsters vs. Aliens in 3-D. We had some time to kill before the movie so we sat in part of the atrium at the museum. The other part was curtained off for a wedding and wedding reception. The highlight for us was when the recording of soft crap jazz stylings was interrupted by some music from Star Wars (though I do believe they cut off the Imperial March). I believe that the music was tied to the introduction of the bride and groom. Awesome and good for a laugh.

If the rest of my summer goes this well it will be a rousing success.

O Tannenbaum (or Scotch Pine if you nitpick)

For the first time in a couple of years, we decided to get a Christmas tree. I am really glad that we did. I tend to get overwhelmed by holiday stress: the big pile of grading and other end of the semester duties on top of all the rest just wears me down. I really don't like grinching out, so we made a plan.

Adam was in favor of trying for a more unified look with a color scheme. I agreed, checked our "stockpile" and then had fun supplementing the ornament and light collection. This year I went with blues, white, and silver. With the accoutrements ready to go, all we were missing was the tree itself.

On Friday we ventured out to a local tree farm: Cassen's trees. I got out the GPS, we went to the ATM and I settled myself in for a long drive...which turned out to last maybe five minutes. Seriously, I need to get a better sense of my surroundings. I thought that a tree farm would have to be out in the boondocks. Apparently I forgot that we basically live in them already.

Once we arrived we got down to business. After sizing up a couple of candidates, we went with a Scotch Pine. I wanted something full with relatively sturdy branches. According to the owner of the farm, we got a particularly good specimen. I believe he said that most of them don't turn out this way. I'd say it was grower's pride, but he gets the pines from a neighboring farm. All I really cared about was that the tree looked good to me.

The bonus part is that the tree was cheaper than the firs. That worked out in our favor because we ended up buying a tree stand from him too. That was an excellent purchase because he centered it and then bored a hole in the trunk. All we had to do after that was pound it on the stand's spike...instead of fiddling around with screws and all that nonsense. It made things much easier. Adam enjoyed the chainsaw, drill, the baler, and all the tools. I stayed well away from the action. I was perfectly happy to let them take care of all the tree wrangling.

Overall the experience couldn't have been much better for me. We were the only people there (love that!) and the owner was helpful, personable, and not pushy at all. I think that we got a lovely tree and got to support a local farmer too. I count it as a full win.

Once we got it home and Adam set it up, my job began. I strung the lights...and as usual I wish that I had a few more strings. I really like a lot of lights on my tree. I had some difficulty with the garlands, but finally embraced the imperfection. The ornaments weren't an issue and I am pleased with how they look. I had a good time decorating and listening to music. I just put the iTunes on shuffle and let it go. It started with R.E.M's "Radio Free Europe" and when I finished, The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" was playing. It may not be traditional holiday music, but it worked for me. All that needed to be done after that was the top ornament. I left it for Adam. I thought he should get to participate and I am not tall enough (nor did I want to be in charge of any pruning that needed to be done).

The tree has certainly helped me get into the holiday spirit. Getting a real tree is still a relatively novel experience for me. We always had a fake tree (allergies). My memories of Christmas trees are of seeing the big box getting hauled out and then waiting for the assembly. When I was older I could help sort through the branches and then fix them to the trunk. That was kind of fun and I guess you lose the puzzle game with a real tree. Decorating the tree was just as fun and I must admit that the absence of sap and needle pricks on my hands is a point for the artificial side.

Overall, I do like having a real tree. I am guessing that having to keep on top of shedding needles and watering may be a bit of a chore, but it is worth it. There really is something special about having the natural tree that I really take to. It doesn't hurt that the first snows have fallen and the greenery is very welcome. I think that Adam is enjoying it too, especially the scent..."smells like Christmas."

I keep going into the front room to just hang out by the tree. I am thinking that mulled wine or some hot chocolate will be next on the list. Happy holidays, here I come!

Driving

I have had my driver's license for almost three months now and it is nothing less than awesome. I guess it is too bad I wasted so many years without it, but apparently I had some issues to work through.

I know that I wouldn't have taken the plunge if it hadn't been for Adam. He gave me the push I needed and was an excellent teacher. I am glad to say that our marriage came through the process intact. I must admit that parallel parking was an interesting lesson, but it helped me to pass the test. I just had to visualize Adam sitting next to me telling me when to crank the wheel. It probably didn't hurt that the parallel parking portion took place on an isolated street with garbage cans instead of real vehicles. I am all about the controlled, relatively low pressure situation.

Now that I am licensed I have been able to drive to work. It is so much better than taking the bus. In theory I like the idea of public transportation, but Lafayette's isn't a perfect system. With the transfer it would often take me an hour or more to get back home. I do not miss the waiting and the weather.

Even better than going to work is the freedom to make grocery store runs. I think that the grocery errands were one of Adam's least favorite things. I am so pleased that he doesn't have to be destroyed every week. I am also happy that I can be as leisurely as I want to be. I can read all the labels and can poke through the produce all I want. The only downside is that I have to unload the groceries by myself these days. Adam has revealed an incredible ability to be unavailable even when he is home. Tricky.

I have not been the bravest of drivers. I have no innate sense of direction and have been guilty of being a relatively passive passenger for many years. I have some knowledge of certain areas and a vague sense of how they are connected, but the grey areas are pretty scary. My initial solution was to stick with my paths. I knew how to get to work and back. I could get to certain stores from work or home. I did not, however, ever deviate from the paths if I could help it. So I was certainly nervous about Adam's conference trip. Not only would I have to drive back from the old airport in Indianapolis alone, but I would need to drive to the new airport to pick him up. My anxiety levels were fairly high.

And then I bought a GPS. Specifically, I got a Garmin Nuvi 260W. I love this thing.



It is really easy to use and has been accurate for the most part. I like it that I can press the Home button and it will guide me back to the house. If I want to go somewhere that isn't in the pre-existing Point of Interest list, I can add it. Adam did have to program in the new airport because it was too new to make the map, but it didn't seem to be that much trouble for him.

I was worried that the voice would be annoying, but I set the voice to the "British" male and that has been amusing. I don't really think that the accent is authentic in any way, but there is a bit of variation in the pronunciation. The tone is polite and his "Recalculating" sounds more resigned than disgusted.

The nuvi wasn't exactly cheap, but I really believe that it has already paid for itself. I feel much more confident now. I have actually done some exploring...off the paths. Not much, but it is a big step for me. I have successfully made both of the airport trips. Kathy and I are going on an Indianapolis shopping adventure next week. I'll be combing the database and adding points as needed.

I don't know that I will ever be someone who takes a drive for relaxation or fun, but I have certainly been appreciating the freedom that comes with it. I almost feel like a grown-up.

Kansas City Adventure

This year we decided we wanted to take a trip by train. We looked at the routes and picked a destination that A) did not require an overnight trip and B) would not have come to mind otherwise. We chose Kansas City, Missouri. I am glad that we did.

The Area:
We stayed close to an area called Country Club Plaza. It is an area of shops and restaurants kind of like Michigan Ave. or Rodeo Drive: Coach, Tiffany's, clothing stores, Bang and Olufsen, an Apple Store, Williams Sonoma, and so on. The buildings are older and the whole place is modeled on Seville, Spain. I think it makes it more charming and unusual.




It was within walking distance of our hotel so we found ourselves walking around there quite often. There is a lot to see and explore. We had coffee at a local place a few times. We found a shop that sells really good gelato...so good that we went there three times. My favorite flavors were banana and caramel apple, but the wild berry was good too. I did some window shopping and some real shopping. We did some people watching too. There were quite a few street musicians and that was generally fun. We didn't see any jazz acts, but got a taste of it in various shops and restaurants.

Our hotel was close to two art museums. We walked around both of them one day. The Kemper museum wasn't awesome, but I did enjoy one exhibit: a sort of Choose Your Adventure installation that was witty. The larger museum had a good selection. I saw a couple of Impressionist paintings I hadn't seen before. I learned that I really enjoy the photo-realists.

The hotel was also close to the bus stops. That was handy because it made it relatively easy to get to the zoo. That trip was a bit rocky at first--the entrance off the highway is not set up for pedestrians. The zoo itself is a great experience and was one of the highlights of the trip. My favorite part was the kangaroo surprise. We were walking along and suddenly there were a lot of signs that directed us to stay on the path. We turned a corner and noticed a kangaroo sitting on the path. That led us to see that there were kangaroos all over the place, just hanging out. We got pretty close to a couple of them.




It was pretty awesome. I am glad that we were early enough to get to experience it before there were mobs of people around. Getting there early also helped us to make it through the day--it was pretty damned hot. And the A/C in our hotel room was not quite up to par.

The Food:

There were a couple of places I wanted to be sure to visit. Most of them were successful. I did not like the food at O'Dowd's Little Dublin pub, but the unfiltered wheat beer from a local brewery was fine. We had some very good Chinese food at Bo Ling's. We probably should have participated in the Dim Sum, but I had my heart set on the Sichuan Green Beans (my favorite!) and at first all I could see were a lot of carts of fried dumplings. Later we saw some cool looking veggie dishes and salads...ah well, maybe we'll get back some time.

We had a wonderful lunch at Brio, a Tuscan Grille. I had a Mixed Berry Lemonade (fresh lemons and berries) and ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and sweet gorgonzola with butternut squash and a browned butter sauce. It was so good that I am on a quest to replicate it. That evening we had our anniversary dinner at a classic steak house: The Plaza III. It was a success. We had Kansas City strip steaks, mushrooms, and potatoes. Hard to beat a day like that.

And we had barbecue. It wouldn't be right to go to Kansas City without having some barbecue. We skipped the down home style and went for a well regarded (though consciously more upscale) place: Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue. Adam got some beef soup (with burnt ends--brisket pieces, I think) and a prime rib sandwich. I got a ridiculously huge rib sample plate:




There were three kinds of ribs and all three were very good. The beef ribs were my least favorite, but I think that might be because when I think ribs I think pork. The pork ribs were definitely the best. The lamb ribs were really unusual, but in a good way. They are ultimately a bit too fatty for me and the lamb taste is strong (though not muttony). I don't know that I would order them again, but I am glad I tried them once. I must say that the fries were some of the best I've had. I only had a few of them because I wanted to try the other sides. The cole slaw was perfect---though I do admit to liking it sweeter than some do. The baked beans were in barbecue sauce so they were sweet too. I had heard about their cheesy corn bake so I ordered an additional side...but I must say that it was pretty gross. I was expecting something like a corn souffle, but this really was just corn in a cheese sauce. The waiter was awesome and took it off our bill after he found out we didn't like it. Otherwise, the meal was really tasty. My mouth wishes I could have finished more than a quarter or third of the meal, but the rest of me is happy with the relative restraint.

The Train:

Overall, I would say that I enjoyed our train travel. The key is to not be on a schedule because delays seem to be a regular occurrence. Luckily, our delays didn't really hurt. The train leaving Lafayette was late, but our layover in Chicago was a long one. We still had time to grab a pizza at Giordano's (spinach, mushroom, onion, and cheese=delicious) and some dessert before our connection.




The leg to Kansas City was my favorite. The staff was warm and helpful. The seats were comfortable with lots of legroom for Adam and a little footstool I could use. There are electrical outlets all over. The ride is mostly smooth. I could just kick back and take in the sights or read the Kindle (which was perfect, by the way). The landscape is pretty typical midwest (corn, cows, fields), but the Mississippi River was impressive as always. The barge traffic did delay us a bit...we almost missed the last bus of the night at the station in KC.

Our trip back to Chicago was good, but the vibe was definitely more harried. The route goes from Los Angeles to Chicago so these folks had probably been on for a couple of days. Still, there was a bit of the bum rush feel to it. This leg did make good time.

The worst, as always, is the return trip from Chicago to Lafayette. The Hoosier State service is, in a word, ass. The lack of leg room and a beverage/snack car would not be a big deal if the train ever kept on schedule. It does not. My experience with this trip has always been that you leave the station, go for a little bit and then get delayed by freight traffic. No one announces anything, unless you happen to get a conductor who walks by). You just sit and suck it up. I had always traveled in the winter so I had not yet experienced the next layer of joy which is that you get to bake during the wait. This time we had a 45 minute delay, traveled forward for maybe 3 minutes, and then had to sit for another session. But we eventually made it back to Lafayette.

I was glad to get home to the air conditioning, but we had a very good time on our vacation. I am glad to say that despite the Hoosier State run I enjoyed my experience with Amtrak. We may just do this kind of thing again next year...but this time we may try out the sleeper car. Maybe my territorial issues won't be triggered so often.

Though I won't bet on it.