Happy Thanksgiving folks! (And Happy Birthday to my Mom!!)

Gobble gobble!
Enjoy!!

the embedded video posted here before didn't work right...click on the link above to get the video to work!

hiyooooo

Hi dudes!!!

Another week closer to the end of the year..crazy!!!!! Well it's Dan's birthday week, he'll turn the big 3-4 on Wednesday! We've made plans to camp for two days at Desoto state park during Thanksgiving- let's hope the weather cooperates!! Yeah!! We'll hike into our campsite about a mile away from the trailhead.  Our campsite has a shelter that was recently built so it'll be a fun little homebase for a couple days!

Dan's already gotten some early birthday presents.. I got him a fly rod and we plan on making use of her during the trip!

We took out our rods for a test drive this past weekend.  We checked out Lake Payne state park on a quiet, overcast Saturday afternoon. We went for a short nature walk that tuckered Hannah out, then we spent a couple of hours casting off of the beach.  Dan's a natural, and though we didn't get any nibbles it was good casting practice along an empty shoreline.  After an hour or so Hannah finally laid down next to us after accepting the fly rods weren't out to get her. Prior to that acceptance she just ran to the car and sat....sigh

Other than that, we've had a low key week. I've been tutoring some undergrads in biology which has been fun (DNA refreshers yikes!!), and Dan's been working super hard on his samples in the lab and is on track to get a bulk of his samples done by February me thinks! 

Anyhow, enjoy some pics of our outing!

It's November!!!

Well Hot Dog!! It's Thanksgiving month already!!  Most of October flew by in a haze...

1) Dan's sister Caroline visited a couple of weeks ago.  We had a blast visiting Birmingham breweries (Good People, Cahaba, and Avondale), feasting on Alabama vittles (Cypress Inn, Rojo, Saw's Soul Kitchen, Jim n' Nick's, and The Alcove), and got to show off what an Alabama game day looks like vs the Tennessee Volunteers (which always begs for this video).  Super fantastic!

2) Dan and I (and Hannah) went to Tannehill State Park last week and went for a nice hike amongst some great Fall colors...It's a pretty neat state park, with Civil War history and some neat streams.  We had a blast hiking since it's been a while, and it whetted our appetite for more outdoor activities.  We're currently planning a camping trip to DeSoto State Park in NE Alabama during Thanksgiving!!  Yeah!

3) Guy Fawkes Day was last night, we went over the Benstead's to celebrate with a customary bonfire, and a not-so customary batch of pozole.  Mmmm...it was delicious.  It's a great kickoff to the weekend which is the big Alabama - LSU game tonight!!! ESPN's game day taped by the stadium this morning so everyone's been a buzz all week about that.  The game is at 7pm tonight and we'll be watching at a friends house.  In fact, today is Practice Thanksgiving, so we get to have turkey with all the fixin's while watching some football - yeeeeee-haaaawww ya'll!!!!

Here are pics from the last few weeks!

more soon (hopefully!!)
xo

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!

It gets my goat....

Let me start with a happy picture before I go into my rant (it turned into a big one, sorry):

During a rainy hike at Lake Lurleen on Saturday!

So..
The nuances of language can change the difference between a lackluster play to awe-inspiring, life changing speech. That's what makes language so magical.

On the flip side, the careful and strategic choice of specific words can be used to undercut a basic message.

Our University president, Dr. Judy Bonner, seems to be guilty of just that.  

What do I mean by this?  

Well, let me start of by saying, if you were not aware, the University of Alabama has been making headlines recently due to allegations of traditionally all white sororities discriminating against well qualified pledges due to their race.  This coming only days after allegations of the Greek system ("The Machine") committing voter fraud in the local school board election.  

Let me accentuate the fact that such actions of discrimination and segregation are not news to anyone remotely aware of the University here.  From Day One we've been aware of The Machine.  This website reprints a sad Esquire article about The Machine from 1992.  That is 1992 folks...Over 10 years ago the same information came out regarding election fraud and discrimination - different names, different years, but NOTHING came of it.  Now with national headlines once again upon the University of Alabama, I wonder if any real change will come of this...I'm getting ahead of myself..

Going back to my rant against Bonner...

As read here from today's Crimson White and in other articles, Bonner talks about the "barriers" that students face in integrating sororities and fraternities (to which in this article is the "progress" they refer):

Bonner said students were responsible for encouraging progress.

“The students wanted to make this happen. The students were saying that there were barriers that were preventing them from making it happen,” Bonner told WVUA-FM. “There were many barriers identified – one that was always discussed was media descending upon them.”

Bonner said the media might be a real or perceived barrier but that the students have cited media as a barrier. She did not specifically cite the CW’s “The Final Barrier.”

When asked how the administration would protect individuals who spoke out against segregation from threats or being ostracized from their sororities, Bonner said that might not be a valid fear.

“See, that would be an example of what I would call a perceived barrier,” Bonner told WVUA-FM. “But we certainly will work with all of our students to support them as they take the steps that are needed in order to make progress.” 

(my emphases)

You see, in the article, Bonner highlights the existence of real barriers and perceived barriers in this issue.

I wondered, what the heck is the difference between real and perceived barriers?  From a bit of Google searching I found this:

Perceived barriers are any element that can stand in one's way of performing the behavior, such as expense or social pressure (Hochbaum, 1958).

and, perceived barriers to be defined as this:

One's opinion of the tangible and psychological costs of the advised action

Which as the definition stands, by my interpretation, means a perceived barrier is in fact a REAL F-ING BARRIER.  It's not a physical barrier in front of the sorority, but it's still a BARRIER.  To Perhaps I'm being overly sensitive and cynical about this response.  Perhaps I'm perceiving(ahem) duplicity in her speech where there really is none.  But when I read  about our fair leader claiming to be leading the flag of change and improvement, whilst at the same time undermining the very cause by her choice of words on describing the problem, I get a bee in my proverbial bonnet.  It seems to call to question the students "thinking" there is a barrier when in fact, there is no barrier...no no, nothing to see here folks.  Just some confused students, but we'll help them along the right way...

I thought, well, perhaps she is using such vocabulary because the good doctor has a background in psychology, social issues, repressed peoples, and the like where these differences are important to highlight.  Nay...the good doctor instead has a PhD and Master's in Food and Nutrition...so...yeah.  My poor impression of the president was not at all improved after she sent out a hastily made video accentuating the fact that Dr. Judy Bonner indeed has a black friend (and it's Bill Cosby folks!). "Don't worry everyone, we'll fix this! But it'll take some time!" **head shakes...**

This rant of mine is not an exclusive in depth review of the seedy issues here at the University I call my employer.  Rather, it is a rant quickly and finally written on my soapbox fueled by disgust and sadness (and extreme irritability brought on by hunger..I should eat lunch).  I say finally because I've been writing this blog post in my mind and in several drafts the past few weeks.  I also note quickly because I spent some time googling things that make me made only to find more things that make me even madder, and upon rereading this rant in a week's time I may be flushed red with embarrassment.

 I just don't know what to do sometimes, or what to think.  I never want to live in a happy liberal bubble, and here I am, as far from a liberal county as you can think.  However, I'm falling (or perhaps already fallen) into my own bubble here where anyone representing the Greek system is automatically labeled as part of The Machine, who are unthinking drones following the traditions laid before them from years past.

I try not to get too down on the Deep South where we call home.  Overall, I'm happy to be here and look at it as an eye-opening view to a place which I previously had absolutely no experience.  I think the true value of living in such a place will be my reaction to all of this negativity.  For us to strive to look for the good people here who want change, who aren't represented by the poor publicity we see in the local newspaper.  I don't want these negative allegations and stories to color my view of strangers, but they do.  

Every time I see a group of boys around campus strutting and chatting together dressed in the usual uniform of pastel polo shirts, short shorts, visor and sunglasses fitted with Croakies, and boat shoes I cannot help but think - 

What reason are you congratulating each other?  Did you just come back from a smoke-filled, closed-door meeting where you were planning your ambitions at the mercy of those you you think less deserving and worthwhile?

grr..Such ideas are not healthy Chau! Nor do they promote positive change or progress!  So I suppose this rant is to not only allow me to vent, but also see if I can challenge myself to be more open-minded towards this sea of close-minded people around whom I live.  That comment itself was a bit judge-y perhaps.  Well, I suppose I must start somewhere...

Chau

End of rant

***************

Here are some happy pictures...

Happy Dog:

More news:

1)  Dan and I are in a Fantasy Football league (actually two!)  For reals!!  It's super fun!!  We would have never guessed it!!

2) I am learning to play the mandolin!  Dan is my teacher  He is great!

3) Dan's sister Caroline is coming to visit us at the end of October!!  We will be playing Tennessee!!  IT should be super fun!!

4) We are hoping to take a bike trip this Saturday on the Chief Ladiga Bike Trail, yeah!!

And then it was September...

Jimeny Crickets Batman!!

So yes, it's pretty obvious that we've been remiss in our blogging duties this past summer.  Reasons?  Well, no big time eaters really, just general day to day life that seems to get in the way of everything else you want/need to do.

I can't believe it's already September.  Someone please tell Alabama weather that it is Fall so she can start kicking into low gear when it comes to heat.  We've had a few amazing days where the low at night was in the mid sixties.  But still, we're getting 90 degree days here and there!

I guess to recap on the summer since coming back from Chicago, I worked a lot, the garden was a big fat BLAH, and Dan came home (wee!!).  Since Dan has returned from his last Iceland summer of field work for his phD we've been busy at work, but also a bit of play.  

Dan, Hannah and I drove to PA at the end of August to attend a wedding of Dan's childhood friend, Ryan.  It was in Philly so we got to stay with his folks for a week with a nice couple of days in the city as well.  The wedding was a nice excuse to use for a road trip to visit Dan's family in the summer time (although hot sticky rainy AL weather seemed to follow us up North).  Being able to play in Philly for a couple of days was also fun!  We went to a few fun new bars and had some tasty food to boot.  The wedding was fine and dandy as weddings go.  A bit of catching up with friends for Dan, a bit of dancing and drinking, and a lot of people watching.  Oh the people watching...

The visit with the family was nice and relaxing, delicious meatballs, couch lounging with TV time, quite a pleasant visit!  Here is a picture the day we left with Dan's parents and his nephew Willie:

During the trip back home we stopped in Asheville, NC as our midway point.  It was our first time visiting the area that we've heard was a fun town.  It's larger than I had pictured, but quite pretty.  The downtown was extensive and was exploding with eating and drinking options.  We ended up at the Lexington Avenue Brewery and had a couple of great sandwiches for dinner.  Dan tried a flight of beers and I had a pretty amazing pumpkin ale which got me SO excited for Fall.  After a quick night stay at the Red Roof Inn (they allow dogs to stay for free!) we drove around the UNC-Asheville campus (very pretty, small, but oh so quaint!) and headed back into downtown for a lunch outdoors at Bomba cafe, which was right in the smack center of the downtown area and had a fabulous little outdoor area to soak up the sun and enjoy our coffee and sammies.  It made us pine for something similar in Tuscaloosa ...someday...someday...

Since coming back from the trip, we've attended a Garden Party dinner that was a fundraiser for the Druid City Garden Project.  It was a fun event that was at the Rivermarket where they hold the weekly Farmer's Markets.  Local restaurants, brewers, and farmers contributed to the menu.  It was really nice and relaxed and they had a great little bluegrass band playing the whole night.   We wished there were regular events like this throughout the year!  It was a great use of the space...

Ugh, so recently I've been dropping the ball on not only the blog but also in my picture taking duties.  A handful of wedding pictures (of Dan in a suit! Me in a dress! opportunities lost), a smattering of Garden party pictures on Dan's phone, little to none of our crappy garden.  Clearly I need a mental reset.  Hopefully this will begin to turn the tide.  I think writing for the blog is a good way to center myself and take note of all the things that are happening at break-neck speed around us.  I'll try to be better!!

On other news, Bama football continues to be kicking some major behind.  This past Saturday was super fun to watch the Tide beat up on Johnny Football and his big fat ego.  HA!

Here are a few recipes we've tried recently that have totally ROCKED!

***Braised Coconut spinach and chickpea with lemon recipe from thekitchn blog!

In true Chau fashion, there were substitutes because I worked with what I had on hand.  No sun dried tomatoes so I threw in a can of diced tomatoes with juices as it simmered, didn't have spinach but subbed in a lot of collard greens and cooked them a bit longer so they got dark dull green which tell me that they are ready to be slurped up like noodles.  We had this with the baked sweet potatoes as the recipe suggested. OMG alabama sweet potatoes are amazing... spicy and sweet

***Roasted chickpeas ala Alton Brown...

Pretty addicting chickpeas, would be great to add some more spices to the vinaigrette..thyme, cayenne, cumin???  I didn't have red wine vinegar (of course) so I used apple cider vinegar instead.

As you can see, I'm on a chickpea kick.  Dried beans are so amazing, but I just need to invest the time and effort into actually soaking the dang things and cooking them in the crockpot (which is no time or effort at all, so I really have no excuses)..

***Butternut Squash and Black Bean burgers ala two recipes from thekitchn and cooking stoned...

We got some beautiful butternut squashes from Dan's Sis/Bro-in-law's garden.  They were so very delicious!  I steamed them in the microwave (cut squash in half, scraped out pulp, cut side down in the microwave for 14 minutes...easiest thing EVER!).  So I mashed the two recipes together.  Pulp from one butternut squash, the brown rice, black beans, onions, cilantro, smoked paprika, jalepeno, bread crumbs, coriander and cumin, and garlic.  Didn't add the egg, they were super tasty (and vegan!), and held together better than any veggie burger I've made to date.  Love this recipe...well, recipe idea...recipe mashup?  whatever..

Here are some pics! 

Will write more later and often!!

xo