Beeeeer Fest weekend!!!!

Howdy!
Last couple of weeks have been busy but fun!  Last week we went to a Sigur Ros show in Birmingham.  We spent most of the Friday in the big city - a trip to Bailey Borthers Music Company where we got Dan a sweet guitar strap, a drink at World of Beer across the street, then some food and drink at Todd English's Public Urban Bar.

The last screen shot from the show:

Takk is thank you in Icelandic.  So cute.  It was quite an enjoyable show.  One of their more popular songs is from Wes Anderson's Life Aquatic movie (during this tiger shark scene!).  I love that song and I love that scene, one of my all time favorite movie scenes.  I also really enjoy this song.  Sigur Ros is mostly dreamy uplifting space music, but the recent album is a bit darker.  Our big boss man went as well with the wifey, one of their favorite bands so they got up close and personal in the 4th row.  Despite the big arena venue it felt nice and homey with the stage setup and and lighting.  I can't really remember the last show we went to, so it was nice to see some live music!!

Speaking of live music, a few days later Dan and I (and Hannah) walked down to the amphitheater to check out the r kelly show.  My sole purpose was to hear the Ignition remix which is AMAZING. ("doo doo, beep beep").  We didn't stick around too long in the rain, but it was pretty great to check it out for free.

This weekend was the first Alabama Brewfest in Tuscaloosa!  For $30 you get a souvenir glass and 4 hours of unlimited tastings from over 50 different breweries (20 of which are from Alabama!).  OR you could do what Dan, Jamie and I did and volunteer pouring beer for one session and get in for free the next day!  Friday night we poured beer for happy patrons and then got to come Saturday to try some great brews.  It was super fun to hang out, listen to a live cover band, and sip in the sun.  The event was well attended and I'm just so proud of Tuscaloosa for entering the craft brewing realm with this event!  Exposure to better beer is always a good thing and Alabama has come a long way.  Although I should have been concentrating on beer of the South, I really think at the top of my list for the day was Delirium Nocturnum.  I usually don't dig some Belgian ales, but maybe "Belgian Strong Dark Ales"will have to be added to my watch list. mmmm

After the event we walked down to a new(ish) downtown restaurant that we've been meaning to try - the Local Catch.  They tout fresh gulf seafood and certainly deliver!  We had some great fish tacos and got to watch some of the Alabama game (against Kentucky, so not much of a contest: 48 to 7 final score).

All in all a great weekend.  Now we get to spend Sunday getting some work done!  Dan and I both have our Coursera online classes.  I'm about to enter my fourth and last week of an R programming statistics class and Dan is starting his second week in pre calculus.  I'm super happy with the R course so far.  It's pretty challenging and I'm learning a lot.  I've taken a few R courses in the past and they've been shallow introductions into how to use R.  This one digs deeper with programming assignments and quizzes using real data sets and numerous weekly video lectures.  I love the idea of free online courses and hope I'll have enough enthusiasm to take some more classes in the near future!

Caroline comes in less than two weeks!  We are slowly accumulating a long list of places to show off while she's here...  They are mostly food places!!  Starting our fast now!  Roll Tide!!!

Here are some pics!

Our first Fall BIke Ride! and other miscellany

I woke up with this song in my head.  Now you get it too. (You're welcome.)
The hawaiian shirts, shots of Hollywood, fake rain on the phone booth.  Guy in shorts at 1:50..oh yeah. This video has it all.

Moving on..

Dan and I just biked part of the Chief Ladiga Bike Trail in Alabama!.  It's about 2.5 hours away from us, but was a total blast.  Can't wait to go back and check our more of the trail, and other rails to trails around the country!!

We biked from point A to B, then back to A.  You can see how far we had to drive, Tuscaloosa's int eh Lower left hand corner.  The bike trail starts in Weaver, AL just south of Jacksonville, then once it hits the GA border it turns into the Silver Comet Trail, which goes all the way into North Atlanta! 

Yeah!

Aside from biking news, we have some new pets in the household...Marvin, Leo, and Mortimer are the newest additions..  They are Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillars that we found on our parsley and we've brought them in, fed them more parsley, and awaiting for them to turn into beautiful flutterbyes...We can't wait!

We also Tito visiting.  He is a Mediterranean House Gecko.  He is cute but not native to AL.  I've killed so many of these guys by accident.  They really like door jambs it seems... Hopefully Tito lasts a bit longer.  He's been lurking around in the kitchen and living room mostly.

Lastly, we have a green anole we have named Son of Rambo (if you remember our previous experiences with our buddy Rambo, RIP).  We hope he overwinters with us...

We loved you Rambo...RIP
(Imagine Bette Midler's "The Wind Beneath my Wings" playing as you gaze upon this picture)

It's Homecoming week at the UA, so the town is abuzz in tissue paper floats and school spirit.  Also, we're now in Week 5 of Fantasy Football.  I'm determined to win at least one of the leagues we're in...Mark my words - W...I....N...

More pics!