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| Photo via AMC website |
Saturday, March 24, 2012
I.cannot.wait...
...For Sunday night at 9pm. Mad Men is back, and I am so excited to see it! Sean and I got caught up with the series in about January of last year, and I have been not-so-patiently waiting for the premiere of the fifth season. I just love all of the characters on this show... I don't even think I can pick a favorite!
We are laying low this weekend because Sean had his wisdom teeth removed yesterday. So we are staying close to home, watching some old episodes of Mad Men (to get back up to speed), and eating lots of jello and pudding. He's doing surprisingly well so far, so maybe a trip to the theatre for The Hunger Games is in the cards as well. I think we'll also have to get some Canadian Club (Don Draper's drink of choice) and make some cocktails to sip on while we watch the show tomorrow night!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
My Beard: An Odyssey (Part III)
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| The Brolin |
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| Josh Brolin (still from No Country for Old Men) |
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| It was St. Patrick's Day! |
Well, this concludes our adventure. I hope you were inspired by my journey.
I promise to update again soon!
(N.B. - I am clean shaven, for now...)
My Beard: An Odyssey (Part I)
*NOTE: I have been trying to post this blog for several days now... I think it has too many pictures! That is why I have broken it up into three parts... enjoy!
This past weekend, months of hard work were met with an impossible challenge: the outside temperature was becoming too warm for my beard. The unseasonably hot temperatures last week and now this week left me no choice but to tame my wild wild facial hair so as to prepare my face for repeated 80 and 90 degree temperatures. I decided that it was only fitting to share the stages of my hair removal with the world. So, here are the many stages of my beard in order that I wore them and a role-model beard to accompany each. (N.B. - I discovered as I wore these hair-incarnations around town that Aileen is the most patient wife on the planet. Bless her.)
This past weekend, months of hard work were met with an impossible challenge: the outside temperature was becoming too warm for my beard. The unseasonably hot temperatures last week and now this week left me no choice but to tame my wild wild facial hair so as to prepare my face for repeated 80 and 90 degree temperatures. I decided that it was only fitting to share the stages of my hair removal with the world. So, here are the many stages of my beard in order that I wore them and a role-model beard to accompany each. (N.B. - I discovered as I wore these hair-incarnations around town that Aileen is the most patient wife on the planet. Bless her.)
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| The Grizzly Adams |
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| James Capen "Grizzly" Adams |
Monday, March 12, 2012
American Red Cross Tornado Relief
First off, I'm sorry for not posting on here for a while now. I am going to try to post once a week... starting now!
On March 2 of this year, there was a widespread and powerful tornado outbreak. Several large tornadoes raked Indiana and Kentucky as part of this storm system, including an EF-4 in southern Indiana and an EF-3 in eastern Kentucky. Both of these tornadoes caused horrible damage, injuries, and even loss of life.
As an employee at the Louisville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, I experienced this disaster from a different point of view than most. For the first time since I started working for the Red Cross more than two years ago, Louisville became the center of a major disaster relief effort. Working in the Building and Grounds Department, I had to help the disaster effort by getting our building set up to handle an influx of disaster responders and volunteers from all over the country. It has been difficult to just do my daily work while everyone around me there is rushing around trying to provide disaster relief for our community. I have to remind myself that if I wasn't around to do my job, it would make the disaster responders' jobs a lot harder. Still, I have been feeling a little unhelpful at work knowing that there is so much that needs to be done to help the storm victims. So, Aileen and I decided to volunteer this past Saturday with the American Red Cross to help in whatever way they needed us to.
We arrived very early Saturday morning at an abandoned factory in southern Indiana that the Red Cross had transformed into a temporary disaster relief headquarters. Aileen was assigned to help take inventory of the relief supplies in the warehouse area while I was assigned to a much more exciting task: I rode in a 30 foot truck out to the disaster sites in southern Indiana to hand out relief supplies directly to storm victims.
While it was moving to see the total destruction that was dealt to parts of our region, it was truly amazing to be able to provide assistance to people who had just had their entire lives turned upside-down. The team I was with was able to talk to many of the people, including the New Pekin Fire Chief whose town had suffered a lot of damage and a homeowner who had been lucky enough to have been away from his home when the storm rolled through his rural neighborhood in Borden.
While the destruction I saw in Henryville was terrible and has been dominating the local news here, mostly due to the fact that the downtown took a direct hit, I was most touched by the damage in Daisy Hill. This very rural area north of Borden took a devastating direct hit. What had been a country road dotted with small farms and houses winding through a forest had become a flattened muddy field littered with twisted metal, broken trees, and the private contents of people's homes. I will never forget handing supplies from the back of the truck down to a young girl as I realized that her family most likely no longer had a home. I am honored not only to have been able to give the people in these communities supplies to help them rebuild their lives, but also to have been able to give them hope and to let them know that they are not facing this tragedy alone.
On March 2 of this year, there was a widespread and powerful tornado outbreak. Several large tornadoes raked Indiana and Kentucky as part of this storm system, including an EF-4 in southern Indiana and an EF-3 in eastern Kentucky. Both of these tornadoes caused horrible damage, injuries, and even loss of life.
| Damage near Borden, IN (image from WDRB weather blog) |
As an employee at the Louisville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, I experienced this disaster from a different point of view than most. For the first time since I started working for the Red Cross more than two years ago, Louisville became the center of a major disaster relief effort. Working in the Building and Grounds Department, I had to help the disaster effort by getting our building set up to handle an influx of disaster responders and volunteers from all over the country. It has been difficult to just do my daily work while everyone around me there is rushing around trying to provide disaster relief for our community. I have to remind myself that if I wasn't around to do my job, it would make the disaster responders' jobs a lot harder. Still, I have been feeling a little unhelpful at work knowing that there is so much that needs to be done to help the storm victims. So, Aileen and I decided to volunteer this past Saturday with the American Red Cross to help in whatever way they needed us to.
We arrived very early Saturday morning at an abandoned factory in southern Indiana that the Red Cross had transformed into a temporary disaster relief headquarters. Aileen was assigned to help take inventory of the relief supplies in the warehouse area while I was assigned to a much more exciting task: I rode in a 30 foot truck out to the disaster sites in southern Indiana to hand out relief supplies directly to storm victims.
While it was moving to see the total destruction that was dealt to parts of our region, it was truly amazing to be able to provide assistance to people who had just had their entire lives turned upside-down. The team I was with was able to talk to many of the people, including the New Pekin Fire Chief whose town had suffered a lot of damage and a homeowner who had been lucky enough to have been away from his home when the storm rolled through his rural neighborhood in Borden.
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| Damage near Henryville, IN |
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| Prisoner work crew in the heart of downtown Henryville, IN Note the lack of buildings. |
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| Besides the lack of roof, this home is relatively unscathed. This is amazingly right across the street from the previous image. |
| Tornado near Daisy Hill, IN (image from WDRB weather blog) |
While the destruction I saw in Henryville was terrible and has been dominating the local news here, mostly due to the fact that the downtown took a direct hit, I was most touched by the damage in Daisy Hill. This very rural area north of Borden took a devastating direct hit. What had been a country road dotted with small farms and houses winding through a forest had become a flattened muddy field littered with twisted metal, broken trees, and the private contents of people's homes. I will never forget handing supplies from the back of the truck down to a young girl as I realized that her family most likely no longer had a home. I am honored not only to have been able to give the people in these communities supplies to help them rebuild their lives, but also to have been able to give them hope and to let them know that they are not facing this tragedy alone.
Friday, March 9, 2012
It's the Weekend!
I'm having lunch today with my Momma and Aunt Susan and doing a little exploring of the city. We don't have any set plans for this weekend, so hopefully we'll find something fun to get into!
Cheers to the weekend!
P.S. Who wants Sean to make a blog post soon? I do! I do! Raise your hand if you do too (read: comment and give him the little push that he needs!) ;)
Cheers to the weekend!
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| Having some fun at Huber Winery a few weeks ago |
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Travel Tuesday: Nashville, TN
Keeping things fairly close to home this week, I thought we'd head to Nashville, TN. Sean and I have been wanting to plan a trip here, and I thought it would be a nice place for a spring weekend trip. Sean's never been to Nashville and I've only been for a quick day trip, so I'd say a visit south is in order!
To do:
Grand Ole Opry: No trip to Nashville would be complete without *at least seeing* the theater that has broadcast the best voices in country music since 1925. The theater has been through a lot in its lifetime, including several moves throughout the years and a major renovation after floods in 2010. Tours are offered daily, and performances are held on Friday and Saturday nights. (Allison Krauss will be there this weekend.)
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Located downtown, this museum features artifacts, photographs, and archival video of country music artists throughout history. I'm not really a country music fan, but I do love history and think there would be some interesting things to see here. (They are also showing a letterpress exhibit right now featuring historical and contemporary posters that sounds cool too!)
The Big Bang Bar is a dueling piano bar that some friends of ours frequent. ;) It's located on Broadway across from "Honky Tonk Row." Our friends always have a good time there, so we'd be sure to check it out!
The third annual Cherry Blossom Festival is being held on March 24, starting with the Cherry Blossom Walk at 9 a.m. at the Public Square. The goal of this festival is to plant 1,000 cherry trees in Nashville over 10 years (this being the third year) to beautify the landscape. This would be a fun event to attend to get in the mood for spring!
To stay:
The Gaylord Opryland is a hotel my mom has always wanted to visit. They have nine acres of indoor gardens (again with the spring theme) and an indoor river, and offer luxurious rooms, spa services and shopping. It's location along the Cumberland River puts it a short drive away from downtown Nashville.
For a room that's closer to the center of town, check out The Hermitage Hotel, an historic mansion that offers some of the largest hotel rooms in the city. Named after Andrew Jackson's Hermitage estate, The Hermitage Hotel is famous for being the first million-dollar hotel when it opened in 1910. The hotel has kept guest rooms updated, while at the same time remaining committed to preservation in its partnership with Land Trust for Tennessee and other similar organizations.
*A note on the hotels (and probably some restaurants): We probably won't be able to afford places like these... but it's fun to dream!
To eat:
I saw the Loveless Cafe featured on Breakfast Paradise on the Travel Channel, and I knew we'd have to go there someday. (They also feature Pancake Pantry on the show, another Nashville establishment.) Breakfast is Sean's and my favorite meal of the day, and this motel/cafe offers tons of southern, made-from-scratch breakfast foods that are making me hungry right now!
I found The Catbird Seat recommended on the Bon Appetit travel guide for Nashville and it has a very interesting concept. There are only 32 seats available (reservations are required) surrounding the kitchen and guests watch as the chef's prepare a meal that is determined right then and there! Sounds fun to me!
And I'll be sure to bring home some Olive and Sinclair Chocolate for dessert!
What are some of your favorite things to do and see in Nashville?
This photo of Nashville is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Grand Ole Opry: No trip to Nashville would be complete without *at least seeing* the theater that has broadcast the best voices in country music since 1925. The theater has been through a lot in its lifetime, including several moves throughout the years and a major renovation after floods in 2010. Tours are offered daily, and performances are held on Friday and Saturday nights. (Allison Krauss will be there this weekend.)
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| Photo via www.opry.com |
The Big Bang Bar is a dueling piano bar that some friends of ours frequent. ;) It's located on Broadway across from "Honky Tonk Row." Our friends always have a good time there, so we'd be sure to check it out!
The third annual Cherry Blossom Festival is being held on March 24, starting with the Cherry Blossom Walk at 9 a.m. at the Public Square. The goal of this festival is to plant 1,000 cherry trees in Nashville over 10 years (this being the third year) to beautify the landscape. This would be a fun event to attend to get in the mood for spring!
To stay:
The Gaylord Opryland is a hotel my mom has always wanted to visit. They have nine acres of indoor gardens (again with the spring theme) and an indoor river, and offer luxurious rooms, spa services and shopping. It's location along the Cumberland River puts it a short drive away from downtown Nashville.
 |
| Photo via www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-opryland/ |
*A note on the hotels (and probably some restaurants): We probably won't be able to afford places like these... but it's fun to dream!
To eat:
I saw the Loveless Cafe featured on Breakfast Paradise on the Travel Channel, and I knew we'd have to go there someday. (They also feature Pancake Pantry on the show, another Nashville establishment.) Breakfast is Sean's and my favorite meal of the day, and this motel/cafe offers tons of southern, made-from-scratch breakfast foods that are making me hungry right now!
 |
| Photo via http://www.lovelesscafe.com/ |
And I'll be sure to bring home some Olive and Sinclair Chocolate for dessert!
What are some of your favorite things to do and see in Nashville?
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