never go home

Go 'Canes

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:57:02 +0000

trying out the new skateboard
Originally uploaded by d&e.

I haven't been writing much in my blog the past week but I have good excuses, for real. We've been enjoying our week hosting Mainers and hanging with Middletowners. We've ice skated, skateboard shopped, pancaked, locopoped, and Scrabbled. I hope to get some more photos and descriptions posted but if you search around my links, you will likely find others doing a better job posting about the past week. Tomorrow we head to Baltimore for the weekend for a dog reunion!
Since Susie Cupcakes asked, here is a list for y'all:
What I am drinking: Unsweet Tea and water (it is in the 90s here). Oh, and a lot of coffee (going to work meetings also gets me hooked back on the more than 2 cups a day habit since it is sitting out there on those break tables, waiting to be consumed).
What I am watching: We (including the Mainers) are currently (re)addicted to Arrested Development. However, we were stymied in our quest to watch because none of the local VisArts had Disc 2, Season 1 yesterday. We also watched the History Detectives but I got lost somewhere on the Chisom Trail and the first episode of the season couldn't hold my interest.
What I am reading: A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving (passed along to me from a waspy New England friend), Fun Home by Alison Bechdel (a graphic novel memoir-- fascinating and a very quick, engrossing read), and--if you really want to know--The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni (I read this one for my work retreat...you may like it if you like books that have numbers in the title like 7 habits of, 8 ways for, 12 steps to, etc).

Mainers in C'hill

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:33:32 +0000

06-17-06_1918.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Zoe, Isaac, and Liz are in town visiting this week!

Flying

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 22:38:14 +0000

06-15-06_1816.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

I am flying home from a busy week in the 'boken and in a conference hotel north of the the 'boken. Have I mentioned my new job yet? In any case, if this is any sign of things to come, I think I may be traveling a wee bit more this next year. So, right now I am in Newark. My flight home is in the midst of a flight to Cologne, Germany (full of World Cup fans including a scrum of guys kicking a soccer ball around), a flight to Paris, and a flight to Shannon! I am not going to any of those places...

If I were in your shoes...

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:11:00 +0000

Just procrastinating another 10 minutes before I get to work... Here is my guide to what I might do if I was living in your city this weekend:

Baltimore, MD
Thursday 6/8 - Loose Caboose at The Waterfront, 9pm
This is Tony Waddy's band with Gavin Elder and I am sure they will play some excellent covers of songs you know and maybe some original songs. I once saw them perform an excellent version of Ebony and Ivory. For you newbies, The Waterfront is in Fells Point on Thames.
Saturday 6/10 - HonFest in Hampden on The Ave (where else could it be) from 11am-8pm

Cambridge, MA
If I wasn't getting ready for the Saturday Ball in Portland (see below), I might check out this reading:
Friday 6/9 Elijah Wald at Porter Square Books, 7 pm
Apparently (I learned this via the Phoneix) he has a book called, Riding with Strangers: A Hitchhiker’s Journey.
Saturday 6/10 - Initiative for the Renaming of Names in Cambridge at Winthrop Park, Harvard Square, 12pm
From their website: Members of the public are invited to RENAME places in Cambridge, MA, for the publication of a new map of The City Formerly Known as Cambridge.

Portland, ME
Saturday 6/10 - Craziness in the Old Port
I think I would likely end up hanging out at Casco Bay Books just to watch the folks heading off to the Heavy Metal Fetish Ball at Geno's and then eating some rock and roll sushi (new and improved with Kung Fu) but I would probably check out Bindlestiff Family Cirkus at SPACE @ 8pm.

San Francisco, CA
International Arts and Crafts exhibit at the De Young Musuem (through 6/18)
Looks like a great exhibit of objects mainly from the Victoria and Albert Museum.
It isn't happening yet, but I would also mark my calendar to go see the Mathew Barney exhibit at the SFMOMA which features his first colaboration with his wife, Bjork starting on June 23rd. His stuff is weird without Bjork, with her, I can only imagine...

Kansas City, MO
Friday 6/9 - Found Magazine Tour @ Record Bar in Westport, 9pm
Zoe and Isaac's friend, Davy (& David?) shows up in KC before heading to LA (to perform at a McSweeney's benefit on Saturday).

So what should I do this weekend?

Asheville Trip

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 02:05:34 +0000

Family Portrait
Originally uploaded by d&e.

We are back from our long weekend in Asheville! There are some photos up on flickr...more info to come later.

Mountains, waterfalls, and dogs

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 03:07:18 +0000

DSC_0109
Originally uploaded by d&e.

We are in Asheville! We spent our first day wandering around the Blue Ridge Parkway and doing some hiking with Miles. We did some hiking around some waterfalls and then stopped for lunch at the Pisgah Inn (great view, okay food). Our cottage is great (more photos and descriptions to follow) and we just got back from our first venture out to downtown where we ate at the Laughing Seed which was wonderful!

Dutchtub

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:06:00 +0000

dutchtub
Originally uploaded by d&e.

I want one of these tubs. They are portable and require no external power-- just light a fire and soak! Plus they look cool. Ellen, Miles, and I are off to Asheville today for our anniversary weekend in the mountains. Also, our cottage just happens to have a hot tub!

joyeux anniversaire jeannette!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 02:00:00 +0000

Originally uploaded by d&e.

Brad and Stef are leaving town

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 02:44:00 +0000

Brad at the last tee
Originally uploaded by d&e.

After saying goodbye to everyone (some, twice) Brad and Stef are heading out of town and moving to Baltimore tomorrow. This photo is of Brad at the last tee of the UNC disc golf course. Brad does have two feet but one is in motion...

Hang out with David Cramer and you'll end up singing Karaoke

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sat, 27 May 2006 02:21:00 +0000

05-26-06_2111.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Happy Birthday Isaac!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sat, 27 May 2006 19:28:00 +0000

Isaac as a pirate
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Why are these people smiling?

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Tue, 30 May 2006 15:09:00 +0000

Why are these people smiling?
Originally uploaded by d&e.

I am back from Kansas and feeling very tired. I had a fun, leisurely trip with lots of hanging out, pool playing, and dog scratching. I didn't end up taking very many photographs of people on this trip but I did take lots of Za and Squeaker (a couple more are posted on my flickr site). I also brought back a stomach full of Winstead's (grilled cheese on rye with pickles, well done french fries, fried egg sandwich, AND a strawberry malt) which will take more than one round of disc golf to work off.

Ribby at the second tee

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Mon, 29 May 2006 14:05:00 +0000

05-29-06_0904.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Chuck at the park

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sun, 28 May 2006 14:21:00 +0000

05-28-06_0920.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Ball dog

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Fri, 26 May 2006 03:42:30 +0000

Originally uploaded by d&e.

I am in Kansas City! I got to hang out with dogs... this one (Za) is more ball obsessed than Miles.

RDU-ATL-MCI

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 25 May 2006 17:07:00 +0000

ATL
Originally uploaded by d&e.

I am on my way to Kansas City! Right now, I am in the Atlanta airport for three hours... but I am doing okay since I found a wi-fi connection. I also have Howl's Moving Castle on my iPod to watch and I am well caffeinated (even though my first stop in KC is likely to be Broadway Cafe). More to come soon!

Happy Birthday Jonah!!!!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Tue, 23 May 2006 13:11:00 +0000

Silver Jonah
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Guinness Cake

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Mon, 22 May 2006 01:43:00 +0000

Guinness Cake
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Wow, my phone is taking really bad photos these days. In any case, I did want to blog part of our meal tonight. Brad grilled great teriyaki salmon steaks and I made sides of mashed sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli (to add a bit of green to our orange meal). For dessert, Ellen and I made a Guinness cake that I first sampled at Sarah & Shannon's house. It was yummmmy (although Sarah's version was better). In case you want to make it, here is the recipe (via Sarah from Nigella Lawson's book):

For the Cake:
1 cup Guinness (or other stout)
1 stick plus 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (Sarah likes Ghiradelli)
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

For the Topping:
8 oz. cream cheese
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9 inch
springform pan, and line the bottom of the pan with
waxed paper or parchment paper.

Pour the Guinness into a large wide saucepan, add the
butter in small chunks and heat until the butter is
melted, then whisk in the cocoa and sugar. Beat the
sour cream with the eggs and vanilla, and then pour
into the beer mixture. Then, whisk in the flour and
baking soda.

Pour the cake batter into the greased and lined pan
and bake for 45 min- 1 hour. Leave to cool completely.

When the cake is cold, sit it on a flat platter or
cake stand and make the frosting. Lightly whip the
cream cheese until smooth, sift over the
confectioners' sugar and then beat them together. This
can also be done in the food processor. Add the heavy
cream and beat until it is a spreadable consistency.
Ice the top of the cake only, so it looks like the
frothy top of a pint of Guinness.

State Of The Unions

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Mon, 22 May 2006 02:01:00 +0000

I was happy to read about a semi-famous couple I admire and their happy marriage in the New York Times.

Happy Birthday Chuck!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Fri, 19 May 2006 13:15:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Chuck!
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Something to do while you are waiting for Sufjan to get to your state

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Thu, 18 May 2006 21:57:00 +0000

If you are like me, you are waiting for Sufjan Stevens to hurry up and get to your state. While you are waiting (it may be a while), check out the collection of songs being compiled for each state on Trees Lounge. This guy is going through the states in alphabetical order and he's up to Minnestota ...which means he has already covered Kansas, Maine, and Maryland! He also has songs about all 50 states by Sufjan and They Might Be Giants.

Austin City Limits Festival 2006

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Wed, 17 May 2006 03:03:00 +0000

The Austin City Limits Festival is four months away but I am already making plans. The line up has been leaked and it may include: Willie Nelson, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Kasey Chambers, Cat Power, the Shins, Son Volt, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Van Morrison, the Flaming Lips, Kathleen Edwards, Iron & Wine, Aimee Mann, Calexico, the New Pornographers, KT Tunstall, and Asleep at the Wheel...among others. The full line up is 120+ bands so there is always something good. I am also looking forward to getting to Ginny's again to see a real honkytonk. I've got three tickets, now who's going with me!?

It's Carrboro!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Mon, 15 May 2006 16:24:00 +0000

The video of It's Carrboro has arrived! Shannon was visiting when this video was being shot on the lawn of the weave. Unfortunately, we didn't make it in the video (we may be there in the background). I think Portland, ME needs a theme song like this one! You can read the lyrics and download different versions to remix here!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sun, 14 May 2006 23:11:00 +0000

05-14-06_1901.jpg
Originally uploaded by d&e.

Happy Graduation Day Stef!

dnw@nevergohome.com (david) — Sun, 14 May 2006 03:02:00 +0000

We celebrated Stef's graduation with her co-workers and family today! Now we are stuffed after two days of eating celebratory food. One more day to go-- we are hosting a graduation day breakfast tomorrow with waffles, eggs, and fake meats!