Showing posts with label chattanooga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chattanooga. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Sunday is Nonnie FUNday!
Every weekend, usually on Sundays, Nonnie and I go for an epic walk together. It used to be that we'd just walk somewhere from the house -- around the neighborhood, to downtown Chattanooga, up onto Missionary Ridge, or over to the Southside -- but in these dog days (ha!) of summer, it's just too hot out to spend much time in the direct sun, so we've gone searching for shady pathways.
Today, we did almost six miles out at the new Enterprise South Park (thanks, Volkswagen!), but I haven't gotten those pics off the camera yet, so here's a photo of Nonnie from last week's adventure down at the Chickamauga Battlefield -- she loves those monuments! ;-)
Have a great week, everyone! Classes are starting up again here tomorrow (at least at the University -- the younger kids have been back at school for more than a week already!), so we're looking forward to getting back into a routine...
Today, we did almost six miles out at the new Enterprise South Park (thanks, Volkswagen!), but I haven't gotten those pics off the camera yet, so here's a photo of Nonnie from last week's adventure down at the Chickamauga Battlefield -- she loves those monuments! ;-)
Have a great week, everyone! Classes are starting up again here tomorrow (at least at the University -- the younger kids have been back at school for more than a week already!), so we're looking forward to getting back into a routine...
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Busy, Dizzy Weekend!
Wow. One moment, I'm eating my breakfast on a Saturday morning, and the next, it's late Sunday and my weekend is gone!!! Whoosh!!!!
Yesterday morning, G-Dog and I drove down to Atlanta and visited the Dekalb Farmers Market, Trader Joe's, and Ikea before heading over to the Chastain Park Ampitheater for a Steely Dan Concert. It's a great music venue; the sound was incredible -- even sitting in the grass, as we were, with two other couples, enjoying a lavish picnic of all sorts of food and wine. Steely Dan was amazing, showing up with a ten piece band (two guitars, two keyboards, bass, trombone, trumpet, tenor sax, alto sax, and an absolutely awesome drummer), with three women doing backup/occasional solos/jiggling. We drove back from Atlanta last night (arriving home in time to get to bed by 2am!).
This morning, we were up and at 'em in time to ride our bikes to the Chattanooga Market by 11-ish; back home for lunch; and then Nonnie and I head out to do some hiking at the Chickamauga Battlefield this afternoon. It wasn't until after we were home from our excursion(s) that we got notice that there was a heat advisory issued by the NWS for our area today and that people were supposed to avoid vigorous outdoor activity. Woof. I wish I'd known that before I biked to the market and back and then went on a two-hour, five-and-a-half-mile hike with my dog.
Oh, well. We picked the Battlefield because it was woodsy and out of the sun. We had a good time and didn't get too dehydrated.
By the time we got home, the hourglass was starting to wind down on Sunday. I ate some hydrating fruit, checked email, took a (really wonderful, very cool) shower, and it was already time to start in on some dinner plans (which ended up being an Israeli salad and fresh corn -- pretty much all from the market -- plus some naan and cheese from yesterday... yum!)
Whoosh! The weekend was gone in a *poof*!!!!
Hopefully, I'll have some pics soon. In the meantime, here's an artsy, grainy, camera phone photo of G-Dog and me in the dark at last night's show, which didn't allow pics of the band...
Yesterday morning, G-Dog and I drove down to Atlanta and visited the Dekalb Farmers Market, Trader Joe's, and Ikea before heading over to the Chastain Park Ampitheater for a Steely Dan Concert. It's a great music venue; the sound was incredible -- even sitting in the grass, as we were, with two other couples, enjoying a lavish picnic of all sorts of food and wine. Steely Dan was amazing, showing up with a ten piece band (two guitars, two keyboards, bass, trombone, trumpet, tenor sax, alto sax, and an absolutely awesome drummer), with three women doing backup/occasional solos/jiggling. We drove back from Atlanta last night (arriving home in time to get to bed by 2am!).
This morning, we were up and at 'em in time to ride our bikes to the Chattanooga Market by 11-ish; back home for lunch; and then Nonnie and I head out to do some hiking at the Chickamauga Battlefield this afternoon. It wasn't until after we were home from our excursion(s) that we got notice that there was a heat advisory issued by the NWS for our area today and that people were supposed to avoid vigorous outdoor activity. Woof. I wish I'd known that before I biked to the market and back and then went on a two-hour, five-and-a-half-mile hike with my dog.
Oh, well. We picked the Battlefield because it was woodsy and out of the sun. We had a good time and didn't get too dehydrated.
By the time we got home, the hourglass was starting to wind down on Sunday. I ate some hydrating fruit, checked email, took a (really wonderful, very cool) shower, and it was already time to start in on some dinner plans (which ended up being an Israeli salad and fresh corn -- pretty much all from the market -- plus some naan and cheese from yesterday... yum!)
Whoosh! The weekend was gone in a *poof*!!!!
Hopefully, I'll have some pics soon. In the meantime, here's an artsy, grainy, camera phone photo of G-Dog and me in the dark at last night's show, which didn't allow pics of the band...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
WHAT?!? Greenlife goes Whole Foods?!?
I'm finally getting around to slogging through my rss feed to see what I missed while I was distracted with graduation and Germany, and I ran across this: Whole Foods to Buy Greenlife Grocery -- and the transfer happens tomorrow!
I'm not sure how I feel about this. Whole Foods is a good store, but I have my concerns. Greenlife sells a lot of food that was grown here in the local food shed. They sell meat that was raised on a farm run by a guy I know. I'm not sure if the efficiencies of Whole Foods allows for that sort of local commitment. And when it comes to seafood, I've always been confident shopping at Greenlife. Whole Foods, on the other hand, has spent years digging in its heels when it comes to establishing a policy of selling only sustainably harvested fish without a lot of PCBs or methyl-mercury.
Bigger isn't necessarily better -- in fact when it comes to the production and distribution of food, I would argue that smaller is quite often better. There's free range chicken, and then there is chicken that is technically free range, but in spirit only. A factory farm is a factory farm, even if you slap the word "organic" in the mix.
We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow is the official date of transfer, but hopefully no one at Greenlife will notice. I'll keep shopping there, but I'll be watchful (and of course, the Main Street Farmers Market will continue to be my first stop when I shop!).
I'm not sure how I feel about this. Whole Foods is a good store, but I have my concerns. Greenlife sells a lot of food that was grown here in the local food shed. They sell meat that was raised on a farm run by a guy I know. I'm not sure if the efficiencies of Whole Foods allows for that sort of local commitment. And when it comes to seafood, I've always been confident shopping at Greenlife. Whole Foods, on the other hand, has spent years digging in its heels when it comes to establishing a policy of selling only sustainably harvested fish without a lot of PCBs or methyl-mercury.
Bigger isn't necessarily better -- in fact when it comes to the production and distribution of food, I would argue that smaller is quite often better. There's free range chicken, and then there is chicken that is technically free range, but in spirit only. A factory farm is a factory farm, even if you slap the word "organic" in the mix.
We'll see how it goes. Tomorrow is the official date of transfer, but hopefully no one at Greenlife will notice. I'll keep shopping there, but I'll be watchful (and of course, the Main Street Farmers Market will continue to be my first stop when I shop!).
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A rare night out...
G-Dog and I went out to eat tonight.* That's an uncommon occurrence, as we both are partial to our own home cooking, plus our schedules usually make going out a complicated affair. But G-Dog turned in grades for the semester and I got home late after running errands all day, so we popped over to Easy Bistro for a dinner downtown.
It was a really good meal. The lighting was too dim for me to attempt a photo, but the presentation was beautiful. We started with a pinot grigio and the artisan bread sampler (with pecan-garlic tapenade and a very spicy dijon mustard). Then G-Dog had the caesar salad (with grana parmesan) and the seared gulf yellowfin tuna (with grilled sourdough, onion confit, brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes) and I had the easy salad (bibb lettuce, asparagus, champagne-citrus vinaigrette) and the sautéed flounder (with leeks, carrots, crimini mushrooms, fresh herbs and vermouth).
The appetizer, salads and entrees were well-paced and beautifully prepared with generous, but not (this is key) over-filling portions. The service was attentive but not intrusive. And even though the restaurant was very busy, the atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. We had a very enjoyable evening. My cooking will be inspired (I'm such a big fan of fish!) and I'll look forward to going back again once things settle down after the holidays!
*(H.B. to T.B.)
It was a really good meal. The lighting was too dim for me to attempt a photo, but the presentation was beautiful. We started with a pinot grigio and the artisan bread sampler (with pecan-garlic tapenade and a very spicy dijon mustard). Then G-Dog had the caesar salad (with grana parmesan) and the seared gulf yellowfin tuna (with grilled sourdough, onion confit, brussels sprouts and fingerling potatoes) and I had the easy salad (bibb lettuce, asparagus, champagne-citrus vinaigrette) and the sautéed flounder (with leeks, carrots, crimini mushrooms, fresh herbs and vermouth).
The appetizer, salads and entrees were well-paced and beautifully prepared with generous, but not (this is key) over-filling portions. The service was attentive but not intrusive. And even though the restaurant was very busy, the atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. We had a very enjoyable evening. My cooking will be inspired (I'm such a big fan of fish!) and I'll look forward to going back again once things settle down after the holidays!
*(H.B. to T.B.)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday Creature
Toward the end of the summer (which wasn't all that long ago here in Tennessee!), my friend Jason and I took a walk through the grounds at the Tennessee Aquarium after having lunch downtown. I'm used to seeing butterflies inside (there's a great exhibit at the top of the Ocean Journey building), but I didn't know they also had some butterfly gardens outside, which is where we saw this lovely specimen. (Is it just me, or did it alight on what looks to be a lego flower?)
Have a great weekend, everyone! We're hoping to get the yard raked of all its leaves on Saturday before some rain moves into the area on Sunday. In the meantime, in addition to enjoying your regular weekly variety of creatures on the modulator's ark, check out Optus Whale Song, a very clever ad released last spring by a telecommunications company in Australia (if you've got broadband, make sure you opt for the larger format!).
Have a great weekend, everyone! We're hoping to get the yard raked of all its leaves on Saturday before some rain moves into the area on Sunday. In the meantime, in addition to enjoying your regular weekly variety of creatures on the modulator's ark, check out Optus Whale Song, a very clever ad released last spring by a telecommunications company in Australia (if you've got broadband, make sure you opt for the larger format!).
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
To the epb...
Dear MyFi,
I'm a blogger. I talk about stuff that's going on in my life. Instead of blogging for the past six months about how awesome Fi-Speed Internet, FiTV and FiPhone are, I've been quiet. And now I'm finally breaking my silence to wonder what the hell is going on at the epb.
I had lunch with a friend on Wednesday. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he got a flyer on his doorknob letting him know that the epb is now hooking up his neighborhood with fiber. Apparently, epb is expanding their service to new areas. But, they're not done with the first ones yet! I'm still waiting for my fiber, and I think I've been left behind.
I live across the street from the epb, in one of the three neighborhoods where fiber was tested before being offered to the public. I didn't test it because I "wasn't on the grid" at the time testing took place. But I was assured that I would be one of the first homes hooked up when fiber went public. One of the very first homes.
That was almost two months ago. Testing ended, and in anticipation of getting my fiber, I cut off my Comcast cable TV. Many, many weeks have passed, and I'm happy to report that I don't really miss the TV all that much when there's no big story in the news -- but is that really a lesson you wanted me to learn? That I can get along without the stuff you're trying to sell?
I dutifully went to the epb fiber web site and signed up to be notified when my home was finally added to the grid. More weeks have passed. Crickets are still chirping. Entire neighborhoods are being brought into the fold. But my house is still on an island in a big blue sea of "first with fiber" signs...
I've been waiting for this for over two years now. Can I get a "finally with fiber" sign?
I'm a blogger. I talk about stuff that's going on in my life. Instead of blogging for the past six months about how awesome Fi-Speed Internet, FiTV and FiPhone are, I've been quiet. And now I'm finally breaking my silence to wonder what the hell is going on at the epb.
I had lunch with a friend on Wednesday. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he got a flyer on his doorknob letting him know that the epb is now hooking up his neighborhood with fiber. Apparently, epb is expanding their service to new areas. But, they're not done with the first ones yet! I'm still waiting for my fiber, and I think I've been left behind.
I live across the street from the epb, in one of the three neighborhoods where fiber was tested before being offered to the public. I didn't test it because I "wasn't on the grid" at the time testing took place. But I was assured that I would be one of the first homes hooked up when fiber went public. One of the very first homes.
That was almost two months ago. Testing ended, and in anticipation of getting my fiber, I cut off my Comcast cable TV. Many, many weeks have passed, and I'm happy to report that I don't really miss the TV all that much when there's no big story in the news -- but is that really a lesson you wanted me to learn? That I can get along without the stuff you're trying to sell?
I dutifully went to the epb fiber web site and signed up to be notified when my home was finally added to the grid. More weeks have passed. Crickets are still chirping. Entire neighborhoods are being brought into the fold. But my house is still on an island in a big blue sea of "first with fiber" signs...
I've been waiting for this for over two years now. Can I get a "finally with fiber" sign?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Linkiddy doo dah
And here is yet another hodgepodge from the past week...
• Bottled water. How do you feel about it? Ripped off? Misled? You should. We got some stainless water bottles earlier this year and they are wonderful -- the openings are big enough to add ice, there are no BPAs in the water we drink, there is no waste for the landfill, and they fit in the bike drink holders. We took them with us on our road trip last month and had no trouble refilling them with ice and cold water at gas stations along the way, and, thanks to our cozies and the added ice, it was so nice to have water that stayed cold for hours after a rest stop.
• This may come as a shock to some, but not all low-income housing has to be ugly.
• Anonymous hugging!
• This remembrance from Pam Spaulding (apparently my brother's classmate at Stuyvesant!) is the best post I've seen since Frank McCourt died last week.
• Abraham & Issac retold.
• I admit that I haven't been consuming much media lately (comcast recently cut us down to just a few worthless channels), but I'm still surprised that since the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. story broke, I haven't heard a single person mention the movie Amos and Andrew.
• On health care: we could be doing a LOT better than we are -- certainly better than BCBS is doing (which is maybe the RNC chair's insurance company -- he's not sure, but he's still trying to kill any chance at reform). Why are some of our representatives dragging their feet? Other systems work. Lewis Black shares some thoughts. And so does Bill Maher (best one ever?).
• I've said it before many, many times, but it bears repeating over and over and over again: the only thing abstinence-only education produces is really freakin' stupid teenagers.
• For the record: calorie labeling is a positive thing. As with many things (including sex -- see above), ignorance can be toxic.
• Here's a shocker: the C-Street Cult (oh, Zach!) story shows no sign of slowing down! Why is disgraced Senator Ensign giving Zach Wamp money? Apparently, it's a secret! Unfortunately, in other marriage defender/marriage non-honorer news (AKA republican sexual hypocrites), Tennessee still picks the winners.
• Jimmy Carter is challenging the Southern Baptist Convention's sexism -- but is he making any sense?
• Pat Buchanan: Why do you keep talking? You're making Lou Dobbs look good. Even Rachel, who often refers to you as "Uncle Pat," thinks you're a misinformed douche.
• Today was Sarah Palin's last day. Top Ten observes the occasion.
• Lastly, this just leaves me gasping for air. And Jimmy Carter thought the Baptists were bad! Ha!
• And finally, I posted this on facebook about a week back, but if you missed it there, you might enjoy it here. I apologize to everyone who attended my wedding, because it wasn't this cool. Neither was any wedding I've ever attended. The bar has been raised.
UPDATE:
• Bottled water. How do you feel about it? Ripped off? Misled? You should. We got some stainless water bottles earlier this year and they are wonderful -- the openings are big enough to add ice, there are no BPAs in the water we drink, there is no waste for the landfill, and they fit in the bike drink holders. We took them with us on our road trip last month and had no trouble refilling them with ice and cold water at gas stations along the way, and, thanks to our cozies and the added ice, it was so nice to have water that stayed cold for hours after a rest stop.
• This may come as a shock to some, but not all low-income housing has to be ugly.
• Anonymous hugging!
• This remembrance from Pam Spaulding (apparently my brother's classmate at Stuyvesant!) is the best post I've seen since Frank McCourt died last week.
• Abraham & Issac retold.
• I admit that I haven't been consuming much media lately (comcast recently cut us down to just a few worthless channels), but I'm still surprised that since the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. story broke, I haven't heard a single person mention the movie Amos and Andrew.
• On health care: we could be doing a LOT better than we are -- certainly better than BCBS is doing (which is maybe the RNC chair's insurance company -- he's not sure, but he's still trying to kill any chance at reform). Why are some of our representatives dragging their feet? Other systems work. Lewis Black shares some thoughts. And so does Bill Maher (best one ever?).
• I've said it before many, many times, but it bears repeating over and over and over again: the only thing abstinence-only education produces is really freakin' stupid teenagers.
• For the record: calorie labeling is a positive thing. As with many things (including sex -- see above), ignorance can be toxic.
• Here's a shocker: the C-Street Cult (oh, Zach!) story shows no sign of slowing down! Why is disgraced Senator Ensign giving Zach Wamp money? Apparently, it's a secret! Unfortunately, in other marriage defender/marriage non-honorer news (AKA republican sexual hypocrites), Tennessee still picks the winners.
• Jimmy Carter is challenging the Southern Baptist Convention's sexism -- but is he making any sense?
• Pat Buchanan: Why do you keep talking? You're making Lou Dobbs look good. Even Rachel, who often refers to you as "Uncle Pat," thinks you're a misinformed douche.
• Today was Sarah Palin's last day. Top Ten observes the occasion.
• Lastly, this just leaves me gasping for air. And Jimmy Carter thought the Baptists were bad! Ha!
• And finally, I posted this on facebook about a week back, but if you missed it there, you might enjoy it here. I apologize to everyone who attended my wedding, because it wasn't this cool. Neither was any wedding I've ever attended. The bar has been raised.
UPDATE:
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Lots of links you might have missed!
It's been a while and these things do pile up...
• How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck -- this is an interesting chart. We're by no means average (we've never carried a car loan, for one thing, and we probably spend more on food and alcohol, even though we don't eat out much), but the proportions seem to be generally true.
• Have you tried goofram yet? It's a combination of google and wolfram|alpha.
• Think you're a geek? Have you mastered the essential skills?
• The Young Republicans have elected an Aryan as their leader.
• Barney Frank visited the Daily Show last week.
• Just how rich is Fitzwilliam Darcy? (Here's an interesting bit of trivia: Pride and Prejudice is not only my favorite novel, it's also the first book I ever read aloud to Emmie -- starting when she was about a week old.) And speaking of Jane Austen, today is the anniversary of her death.
• How's your sense of pitch? (I scored a 26 out of 26 -- which, if you've ever heard me sing, you know must mean that I hear pitch perfectly -- I just can't produce it that way.)
• White Men Can't Judge.
• Local coverage of Zach Wamp's psooper psekret christian adultery cult (read about yet another C Street philanderer here -- and here!).
• You Suck at Craig's List is pretty funny (via Joe. My. God.).
• Badass of the Week, featuring Blenda, the Viking Heroine!
• Rick Perry is apparently rethinking that whole Texas-as-a-country thing (seriously -- who voted for this guy?).
• If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef, you better go soon.
• Can someone find Glenn Beck a nice small room with soft walls and a good therapist?
• ... and speaking of health care (that's what set Beck off)... Glenn doesn't have it quite right when it comes to France's system. The current American system is fine until you get sick, but will the next one be any better?
• This can't be said enough times: the only thing abstinence-only "education" produces is unbelievably stupid kids.
• I loves me some Usain Bolt footage. He makes all the other best runners in the world look like my grandma.
• Understanding our economy.
• Drunk people doing yoga.
• And finally, Pat Buchanan: he really stepped in it this week -- even more than usual!
• How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck -- this is an interesting chart. We're by no means average (we've never carried a car loan, for one thing, and we probably spend more on food and alcohol, even though we don't eat out much), but the proportions seem to be generally true.
• Have you tried goofram yet? It's a combination of google and wolfram|alpha.
• Think you're a geek? Have you mastered the essential skills?
• The Young Republicans have elected an Aryan as their leader.
• Barney Frank visited the Daily Show last week.
• Just how rich is Fitzwilliam Darcy? (Here's an interesting bit of trivia: Pride and Prejudice is not only my favorite novel, it's also the first book I ever read aloud to Emmie -- starting when she was about a week old.) And speaking of Jane Austen, today is the anniversary of her death.
• How's your sense of pitch? (I scored a 26 out of 26 -- which, if you've ever heard me sing, you know must mean that I hear pitch perfectly -- I just can't produce it that way.)
• White Men Can't Judge.
• Local coverage of Zach Wamp's psooper psekret christian adultery cult (read about yet another C Street philanderer here -- and here!).
• You Suck at Craig's List is pretty funny (via Joe. My. God.).
• Badass of the Week, featuring Blenda, the Viking Heroine!
• Rick Perry is apparently rethinking that whole Texas-as-a-country thing (seriously -- who voted for this guy?).
• If you want to see the Great Barrier Reef, you better go soon.
• Can someone find Glenn Beck a nice small room with soft walls and a good therapist?
• ... and speaking of health care (that's what set Beck off)... Glenn doesn't have it quite right when it comes to France's system. The current American system is fine until you get sick, but will the next one be any better?
• This can't be said enough times: the only thing abstinence-only "education" produces is unbelievably stupid kids.
• I loves me some Usain Bolt footage. He makes all the other best runners in the world look like my grandma.
• Understanding our economy.
• Drunk people doing yoga.
• And finally, Pat Buchanan: he really stepped in it this week -- even more than usual!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Going once...
G-Dog and I went to our favorite auction last night (Emmie's posted about it before). It's a monthly event, with food, wine, and all sorts of treasures -- some that are quite unexpected. We go whenever we can. Sometimes we find something to bid on, but mostly we're just there to take it all in. Here are a few photos from this weekend's fun (this time around, we ended up with a set of Waverley novels and a chair/ottoman for the study)...
Saturday, April 18, 2009
4 Bridges
It was a big disappointment this year. $5 to park and $5 to get in (and with no warning, no less!)? That's $15 for a couple, before buying even the first thing. Boo. I didn't go in, since I didn't have much time to spend and it wasn't worth it to pay that kind of price for a 30-minute spin through the exhibits. If they're going to keep this on the busiest weekend of the year (i.e. planting weekend, the first one after the holiday, etc...), I'll be sad to miss it every year, but what can I do? There's just too much other stuff going on! I'll be sorry to see it go...
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