Italian wines, Savory tapas, in Crozet?

 

Last night I had the pleasure of an invitation to attend the pre-opening of da Luca, the new wine bar and cafe over in Old Trail in the village square.  When you walk in this place, you enter a darkened, city atmosphere redolent with copper, deep soothing olive greens, and funky lighting–yet with the best view of the tallest mountain outside.  Additionally, they have cafe style tables outside, and on a nice day, they won’t be beatable for the views.

I hung with Heather and Brad and Sharon and Scott, who were on their way to another opening at the new art museum, and we enjoyed tapas that can compete with the best of Mas or Si, along with a more extensively Italian wine list.   We met Domenico, the owner, who’s rightly proud of his new place.   Sadly,  I had to skitter off to Back to School night at Crozet Elementary, so I couldn’t linger…..but I wanted to, definitely a compliment for da Luca!

I got to meet Tristan’s new teacher, who is a whirlwind of energy, and see now why he’s so excited that 5th grade will be the best ever.  Plus, he has essentially all but one of his closest friends in with him—very helpful indeed on those sleepy mornings.

Oslo Day Two

If you don’t like travelogues, don’t read further.  Of course, since it was my life, I think it’s interesting!

Those of you familiar with Oslo already know its charms–its waterfront setting, numerous parks, ease of getting around, etc.  Our second day was devoted to seeing the sights of the past–via museums.  I was most interested in the Viking Ships museum and the Kon Tiki museum, and we set off to the little peninsula that contains both of those, riding the bus!  (Yes,  I like to attempt EVERY type of public transport a town has to offer!)   After a good free breakfast in the hotel, Chris and I set off with a plan to avoid eating until dinner to save some kroners (note: Norway is extremely expensive!)   The bus stopped at the Viking ships museum, and we stopped and had a Coke Zero and a coffee before proceeding into the museum, enjoying some of the sunny weather as we enjoyed our respective caffeines of choice.

The Vikings were ship building, ocean-going explorers and conquerors.  The Viking Ships museum has three ships and their contents, all recovered from burial mounds where fancy folks were buried, goods and food and other items along with them, in these ships!  The clay preserved the wood and many of the items that had not been removed by grave robbers, giving us the chance to know their craft beyond legend.   Reminded me a bit of the Cadillac Ranch idea, or those guys who want to be buried in their cars….but on a bigger scale!  The Vikings were slave holders, so they probably didn’t care much how many person-hours it would take to bury the rich and all their stuff.

Next on the itinerary was the Kon Tiki museet, which should really be called the Thor Heyerdahl museum.  I knew a tiny bit about Kon Tiki, having ready some story of it during childhood, probably in a Reader’s Digest condensed book!  But I really didn’t know how interesting this anthropologist turned activist and peace crusader was, and the result of the museum was my purchase of two of his books and a newly lit desire to learn more (surely the mark of a successful museum!)

After Kon Tiki we chose to take the ferry back to the city center, but had a little time to wait and watch some swimmers and enjoy sitting on the shore.  We walked by the Fram, apparently the first ship to conquer the northern passage, several hundred years ago!  (These Norwegians were/are hardy people!)

The ferry ride was comfortable and got us back quickly and we then chose to go to a more traditional museum–the Munch museet.   Hilariously, Chris thought I was saying Monk Museum, and he couldn’t imagine what would be interesting….but we arrived quite late and did not get to spend enough time here.  Edvard Munch is of course the painter of the iconic Scream, (its Norse title looks more like Shriek) which I didn’t know was part of a series.  That painting is newly on display again after its recovery following the 2004 robbery.

The museum has incredible visible security, and one can only imagine all of the other security behind the scenes.  But back to the artist– He was much affected by love and loss over a 15 year period and the series, the Frieze of Life,  depicts all of the stages–early attraction, sexual obsession and satisfaction, disaffection and heartbreak, and attempts at reclaiming one’s life without the loved one.  All of the final paintings in this series are displayed in a large rectangular room, behind walls of glass.  Subsequent rooms display a number of versions and sketches on the pivotal series, as well as other subjects.  He had a long career and the museum should be savored–unfortunately, we were only in room 3 when a dominatrix of a docent shooed us out, scolding us that we had to be OUT of the museum by 6—-sigh.  We attempted to walk out SLOWLY while she herded us from the rear.

At that point, we were hungry, but decided first to visit a large botanical garden directly adjacent to the Munch Museet, but had a hard time finding our way IN—there is only one main entrance/exit and the rest of the park is surrounded by wrought iron tall walls including some areas with barbed wire!  (What could they be growin’ in there?)  After finding our way in, we meandered among the tree-lined path up then descended the zones of the Earth and looked at the different species from Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, etc., all arranged into related zones through a dramatic rock garden with streams and waterfalls.  It looks like they are digging a new section, adding new boulders that will probably host further diverse examples.  This was a lovely spot and again we wished we’d gotten there a bit earlier, if only to take better photos and linger longer.

Chris had read that the new ethnically diverse hip youthful area was Grunland, which turned out to be just a bit down the main street out of the botanical gardens.  We walked down and finally heard the clamor of life among peoples who are not the tall White Norwegians.  There we found a bounty of all kinds of food, from Italian to Greek to African etc., and walked in and among the restaurants, checking menus and noting that some places seemed not to serve food but drinks only—the previous night, we thought we were too late.  This night, were we too early?  Finally we decided on the hilariously named Ali Baba joint, where we had delicious Italian style pizza.

Oslo Day One

Thanks to friends and cherished colleagues Christina and Tom, Chris and I were invited to give a 3 day workshop in Stromstad Sweden.  What an opportunity to try out a new method for MI Groups training, and to get us jazzed to finish up the last bits of writing for the MI Groups book!

First, a stop for acclimating to the jet lag in surprising Oslo, Norway.  After landing and taking the train to the city central, we found the hotel easily.  We stayed up all day and saw most of what this small and charming city has to offer, including the changing of the guard at the Palace.

Next on to the city center and the waterfront areas.

Boat trip all around the Oslo bay

Best bud and co-trainer extraordinaire!

Oslo's New Opera House

We also visited the Nobel Peacc Prize Center when we were in the Aker Brygge area.  After that, a jump on the tram and bus took us over to Vigeland Park, which has an amazing set of sculptures in a garden setting.  Too many images to show on this page; here are just a few!

Karen copying statue (poorly!)

I think after the park we found some very expensive beer then a very expensive dinner after which we ran back to the hotel bar for one drink, soaked from rain.  A great day of adjusting to the time shift.  I fell asleep to BBC news and slept soundly until the next morning, when I met Chris in the restaurant for breakfast.  He was already caffeinating and I was feeling rough!  But on to day 2!

August Family Times

August came and continued to be relatively cool.  We’d mostly eaten in, feasting on local produce and learning about new cheeses (Jamie and James decided Muenster was their new favorite).  One night, we went out for the flaming Teppanyaki treats at Massaki over the mountain in Waynesboro.   All enjoyed this night out!  Some even dressed up for the occasion!

Hungry cousins

James, me, Tristan, and Mom

After Jamie and Tristan left to visit their paternal grandmother, Erica and James and I took my Mom for a first for her and a second for them–tubing on the James River.   No photos from on the River due to my avoiding getting my phone or camera wet!  But it was a glorious day, and we all enjoyed the clear water, lunch on the rocks, and floating our cares away on the mini-rapids….

Post-tubing Erica, Emilie, and James

My sweet niece and nephew with their happy Aunt Karen

I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to get in one more educational experience.  Mom and I took Erica and James up to Montpelier, the newly restored home of James Madison.  I’d been there in the 90s when it still housed Dupont era Art Deco items and changes to the interior and exterior.  It’s been completely changed, back to the Madison era…..we all enjoyed the trip, but it was a hot August day so we were glad we went late! 

Erica James and Emilie with Dolley and James Madison

James, Karen, and Erica at Montpelier

Mom and kids in front of the only surviving Madison era tree

The summer ended with a really exciting event for my boys–their first trip to New York City.  Their dad took them on a long weekend to the city, and they arrived home excited–perhaps as much by the merch as the experiences!

Tristan and Jamie, back from NYC and all smiles

Farewell Amy!

For three years, Amy has worked as the motor of my research team—keeping us all on track.  She started as a research assistant and it became clear very quickly that she was something special, so we promoted her to Project Coordinator.  At the peak, she was managing the daily operations of 3 NIH grants, a few pilot studies, and supervising Research Specialists and Tape Coders across 3 projects in 2 cities.  Alas, her talents did not go unnoticed by others who recently poached her away!  So, we had to say farewell in the usual fashion–with a party!  Here are some shots from that event in mid August. 

Some of our amazing team

Guest of honor flanked by Kendall and Shivi

Some of the beverages; Hey, I have to console myself somehow!

The spread

It was a hot night and unlike most previous parties, we did not hang out on the porch and patio so much—next time, we’ll have a party on a cooler night.   

Happy Birthday Tristan!

My youngest turned 10 in early August and had a sleepover party with a few of his friends, and his Texas cousins, who visited for nearly 6 weeks this summer.  Somehow his achievement of double digits seemed more significant to me than my own milestones, such as 30 or 40, neither of which bothered me at all. 

James, Erica, Jamie (back) and Will, Tristan, and Chase (on floor)

We grilled some food and had a DQ Ice Cream Cake at T’s request.  He was thrilled to have his buds to play with and also to receive several exceptionally nice gifts!

Birthday Bike for the growing Tike

Now….on to 5th grade!

July and East to the Coast

In late July, I had to do a training in Williamsburg for the annual Virginia Summer Institute on Addiction Studies.  Chris and I were slated to do a one day MI Groups seminar on a Monday, so I thought it might be a great time to take the weekend before for the family to check out Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown.  On Saturday, the evening of our arrival, we strolled around Williamsburg but no great interest was ignited among the cousins until we decided to have dinner at an unlikely joint called Retro’s—featuring 50s diner food.  Not exactly consistent with the colonial experience!   In any case, their favorite activity that day was playing at the pool.

In contrast, the next day we toured Jamestown Settlement along with the ships and glass blowing factory.  Now this was a cool experience, very hands on, and one of the better ways for the kids to get a sense of what it might have been like to live here in 1604…..

Still, the pool play was what they wanted most, so they spent most of my training day devising amazing new leaps and games in the pool.

That night, our intrepid crew set off for Ocracoke.  The boys have gone there on day trips, but I never had gotten the chance.  I knew it was  a long drive even just to Hatteras, but it was VERY long with our caravan and slower driving than I usually do…..

Ocracoke Village, on only one end of the 13 mile island.

We were starting to sweat whether we’d make the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke that night, with the last boat at midnight.  Then we hit a major storm, with rain coming in ferocious sheets that threatened to toss us off the road.  Luckily, we made it into the ferry line in time, and made the midnight crossing onto this small and nearly pristine island.

The happiest days are beach days!

The next five days were  a little bit of heaven.  While the house we rented was a little….rustic….we enjoyed its location close to the Ocracoke Lighthouse and just the perfect walking distance from the best little local ice cream shop, (The Slushy Stand and Bike Shop) where I took to having the best hot fudge sundae ever….EVERY night!!!!!

Days were filled with packing coolers and the cars to find the “best” uncrowded beach, followed by long hours of boogie boarding, body surfing, shell collecting, and bird attracting…. Each night we explored a different (small) restaurant and finally selected as our favorite a simple pizza joint!  The beaches are untouched, and you can really imagine that it has been this way for hundreds of years….I will cherish these memories for a LONG time.

The New Monticello

I took Mom and the kids to tour Monticello the other day; it was a cool July day–no kidding–overcast and only in the upper 70s!  The new Visitor’s Center is really stunning.  It has a cafe, gift shop, movie theatre, and best of all, an interactive area where one may touch and play  with items like those seen on the tour.  It’s set in the soft forest area near the nearly hidden parking lots…a thing of beauty.

This is a view of the cafe at the new entry.

Here are Erica, James, Jamie, and Tristan l-r sitting on a cistern on the grounds after our house tour.

Here are Erica and James posing by the grand house.

Here are Mom and the cousins.

Here’s my nephew James posing in the learning center.

The cousins enjoying an al fresco cafe lunch.

Here they were enjoying exploring the vegetable garden and grounds, fooling around of course and being silly.  That’s what summer is for, for kids!

Summer is here

done

I’m  experimenting with an old time family style vacation this year, hosting my niece and nephew along with my boys for a month.

I think I finally got a short video of some recent pool play to upload; videography skills (a la myself and my 1st born)not great, but hilarity abounds.   Check out the kids having a fun day!

Searching for great food, or, saving the earth by eating well

Alice Waters , author of The Art of Simple Food and famed chef and owner of Chez Panisse, might be considered the original food nazi.  However, I find I love her anyway, because while she exhorts us to spend more money on food, and to prepare it at its peak, and to spend a lot of time procuring, preparing, and cooking said food, the results are….delicious, and what’s more important to the earth, ecologically sound.

A couple of years ago, I assigned myself the task of reading Julia Child’s masterpiece, the tome Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

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For weeks, I read every recipe and instruction, and I prepared a few of them including classics like beef bourgignon and omelettes (surprisingly and eloquently described, including how to know when the butter is ready for the eggs!).

Similarly, when reading Waters’ book, I savored each recipe.  She uses a much simpler style, fewer ingredients, and yet, their philosophies wind up to be quite similar.  Know the food you’re eating.  Know its source.  Know whether it’s really food.

A decade ago, I read a book called Real Food, Fake Food.  It was not a critique of the food industry as much as a caveat emptor book that helped me to understand what those crazy labels really mean.   The author was the first person I’d noticed talking about the realities of modern food in the U.S.  Her ideas offered insight into why older folks complained that food didn’t taste as good as it once did.  Well, our food has been bred for plenty rather than flavor, so it’s not a problem with old folks’ taste buds.

More recently, Michael Pollan has built himself a cozy cottage industry with The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food.

Now there’s a hot documentary, Food Inc., which I believe will make some of the same points.  In an interview I saw with the filmmaker, some stunning numbers were reported:  Americans used to spend about 18% of our income on food and 5% on medical care.  Now it’s 9% spent on food, but 24% or more spent on medical care.  We’re spending more, but in different pots, and we are less healthy in many ways.

Simply put, the points are ones I’m trying to follow, certainly more than I used to before this decade of reading everything from ecological political essays to cookbooks.  Borrowed from Pollan and the opening story in Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, they are:

Eat Food.  Not Too Much.  Enjoy it with Others, and Make it a ritual of sharing.

All of this led me to join a Community Supported Agriculture Cooperative, in which I get a food “share” every week that includes all fresh local produce, eggs from pastured chickens (not cooped, grass ranging!) and then supplement this bounty with farmer’s market or grocery organic goods.  My food bill, however, has not increased, perhaps due to no longer purchasing food products that are not really food (see point 1 above: eat actual FOOD).  Here is an example of a CSA  share I got recently:

This summer, while caring for and feeding 4 hungry kids ages 9-13, plus myself, I’ll be challenging myself to make the most of this bounty, fresh and local, and to supplement it with really good, local, and real food.  Wish me luck!

It can’t really be nearly May?

OK, I know, the theme of me losing time is getting tiresome.  But really, after a chilly birthday and a mostly cold March, I was ready for a joyously Spring-y April. 

Instead, even in Miami from the 4th-8th for the IAPAC  HIV Adherence conference, we had cool days.  Luckily the first day I was there was awesome, sunny, breezy, but warm enough to sun and swim in Amy’s hotel’s rooftop bigger than Olympic size pool and hot tub that was a square at least 25X25 feet–I’ve NEVER seen such a tub. 

After getting some sun that day, we headed to the conference that night for the reception and to meet other friends and colleagues for dinner down in Miami Beach.  And so went our days and nights, with the addition of grantwriting well into the 2 a.m.’s each night—but the good news was reconnecting with the good people in the behavioral HIV treatment world, who are smart and funny and committed and who apparently loved our work.  My team was fantastic.  Kendall and I presented talks, while we also had 5 posters—8 presentations in all sponsored by the CART grant, which ended just before the conference.   It was great to get away and I actually got more work done than I would have at home!

Next up was finishing up the grant with several new colleagues who will come to be valued friends.  If we get these funds, we will test a cool technology intervention to reach rural patients with HIV.   My grant was the first prepared and submitted from UVA, and apparently set our department in a good enough light that my colleagues’ grants got bumped after they saw how easy it was to put mine in….After that, I deserved some time with attention to my love life but that time was sadly very short!  You can’t always get what you want….

I had a promised trip to Birmingham for a few meet and greets and to give Grand Rounds at  the psychiatry department there—all focusing on different aspects of MI.  My girlfriend Karen surprised me with the fancy dinner night being at Frank Stitt’s newest restaurant—she didn’t know I’d long been a fan and have his tome of a cookbook and have prepared some amazing dishes from his recipes….she and Adrienne and I had a gourmet delight of a dinner that night, and what a pleasure their company was!  The restaurant is in a historic old building and it’s beautiful inside, like a larger, finer Tuscan space.  The menu offered so many vegetarian and seafood options–I was in heaven!  In Birmingham I got to reconnect with an old friend, play with her babies, and see her new life, which is good.  Also,  I enjoyed everyone I met–smart and interesting people. 

 

Outside and inside of Bottega Favorita.

I got home and was almost too tired to go out and see Lucero, but I couldn’t miss it.  You gotta love the howlin’ Memphis rock.   Opening for them at the charming Outback Lodge here in Cville was a hilariously cliche’d (yet sadly unironic) post punk band, Titus Andronicus.  I stood in the sound board/tapers area, and the sound guy was literally dozing off during their set!   Lucero surprised me—I’d been a fan, had their records, but I really enjoyed seeing their Brad Pitt-styled white t shirt wearing lead singer belting it out with that old black man grizzly voice….still, because I’d driven and met friends there, I had to drive home, and was so exhausted that I had to leave when they still had 45 minutes left to play….really not at all like me to leave the rock show early, but I’d gotten a little sleep on the weekend and needed even more…

Two days later, we celebrated the end of the CART grant at Jenny’s new home in Richmond.  She threw a lovely party and we got to see some old friends like Tawana–I took some incriminating video but promised not to post it! 

At the end of the evening, I FINALLY got to see Family Force Five—they were playing at the National, a really great venue, and it was quite a scene—a long line of teens when we swung by to get the tickets, requiring me to beg the chubby lesbian girl for the last few tickets—yes!  

 

I knew I’d likely be among the older elements of the crowd, but the saddest part was that I wasn’t–I was just the only person within 10 years of my age who knew and loved this band and knew every word and wanted to dance–the rest were there as chaperones, bored, complaining, waiting for their kids to be ready to go home!   No worries–I had fun and was grateful to have been able to go, even on a work night!

Did March happen?

 Apparently it did, but not in the style of last year!  We went to the Tea Room, a not quite cozy but surprisingly freshly prepared Chinese food place right by the bank in Crozet.   That was the last “break” I remember, because after that, it was focusing on data analyses from the EARLY project and reviewing prior Balance and CHOICES project data, all to prepare for a big talk I was to give in Victoria, British Columbia, at the International FASD conference.  Partly in preparing for that, we discovered both random and systematic errors in one piece of our data entry so hired our prior intern Phil to clean it up and luckily he’s doing a great job and in the process, learning more about contraception and women’s errors about such than he EVER wanted to know….I agreed to go to the conference not wanting to face a birthday alone, especially after last year’s really great one.  I knew my main peeps were unavailable for making a fuss over me, so I thought, go somewhere I’ve never been.   That kind of thinking was mostly a mistake–one never wants to be truly alone on one’s birthday.  But I made the best of it, taking a great long walk around Victoria Harbor, as far as I could go, then going to the gym, riding the bike, then swimming and soaking in the hot tub and generally lolling around!  I ran into two of my girlfriends at the conference and we all caught up one of the nights over a tasty Italian dinner where they come out to those waiting in line and pour a glass of red!  Fantastic.  That was probably my favorite night.  My favorite morning though was hearing Susan Astley give a plenary showing new MRI data about the FASD brain and I kept thinking, Susan Astley, rock star of the FASD world.  It was one of the better talks ever and helped me to think really clearly about how I wanted to handle my talk 2 days later.  Our room was packed and the panel was excellent and I presented a synthesis of the way we’ve been working on alcohol-exposed pregnancy prevention, and people were still just getting their heads around the two paths to prevention…..most of the subsequent questions were to me, and I met several really committed folks who may even bring me up to Manitoba to help them implement up there…..Canada has it all over the U.S. in FASD services and are beginning more prevention, especially in B.C.  

I was happy to get back home and find that Heather and Brad bid on a house less than a mile away…..they came over one weekend before they closed and I took them on a bike ride through Crozet, though they laughed derisively when they saw my old bike—I actually like it; it’s a hybrid mountain bike/touring bike, but it got quite rusty in the shed at my old house and it took their industrial pump to re-inflate one of the tired tires…..according to their odometers, we rode more than 6 miles, which used to be a quotidien activity for me back in my teen years when I had a gold ten speed…..but not now!   The next two days, I felt like I’d been….never mind!

At the end of the month, I’d expected to run in the Monument Avenue 10K, but between food poisoning and a parental scheduling misunderstanding, it couldn’t happen….and after hearing the hype about that band from Liverpool and the new cool kids and fun retreads like Tinted Windows, I wished for sure I were at South by Southwest…..luckily as a DirecTV customer, I got to observe some of it on TV101’s recap….But really, March was a LOW music month and that never makes me very happy.

My happiest moments were when Heather and Brad conjured up a birthday celebration for me and made, from scratch, some of the best Indian food ever.   Tim and Posie came too and surprised me with thoughtful little gifts and the love I cherish.   Of course, Tim had to quiz me about my sexual preferences, but he likes to act out among friends!  It was fun and I loved the CD he made for me, the candles and great matches and card from him and Posie, and of course, in addition to the awesome dinner, my very own INDUSTRIAL strength bike pump from Heather and Brad!!!!!   Yes, a pretty great birthday party!  

Then, deeply into submitting those supplemental grants and getting ready for the HIV Adherence conference and running lots of data analyses that were slightly incomplete and missing my love on his birthday and preparing most of the skeleton for the challenge grant…..whew!

Don’t look back in anger; or, February is the coldest month…

Wow, it’s been a whirlwind.

In February, the boys and I went again to Summit County Colorado for skiing.  We had a great location right at the base of River Run Village in Keystone, and skiied Keystone, Breck, and Beaver Creek.  We had snow several of the days with some overcast conditions, so I got fewer spectacular photos than usual, but above you can see the boys riding the lift at Beaver Creek and next to that, their beautiful form skiing on a blue slope at Breck.

Heather had a conference that same week, so our time overlapped and we had a few joint skiing days.  Also, she taught my boys the wiles of Dice!   They REALLY developed a big crush on her when she escorted them on several black bump runs and some blue-black bumps for Jamie as well.  By next year, if I’m not careful, they really will be able to leave me in the snowdust and I’ll barely be able to catch them!  Jamie’s newfound height (by February, about 5′5″) made him more agile if not more skier-pretty….he lets it run and has little fear and can hockey stop with the best of them.  It was his first year with poles the whole time.  Of course, Tristan also wanted poles, which are useful if you get stuck POLING! 

But mostly, due to Keystone carving some way new paths and altering some well-known terrain, there was little poling needed.  We easily trundled all around Breck as well and the kids tortured me making me ride that darn Peak 8 Express Connect that twists and turns more ways than should be allowed! 

I got back very late after (of course) flight delays, but had promised myself to go see Jason Isbell one more time.  My darling best friend had tried to set me up with the trax but I bought the CD off the band and got Tristan the COOLEST tshirt.  

 

The band was rocking but after my long week working it out on the slopes, I was ready to hit the bourbon heavy and dance all night!  Sadly, that didn’t happenn quite the way it would if I were independently wealthy or otherwise a lady of leisure…. 

Next up was the start of the futbol season, which included having both boys now on Challenge teams, the level where they have to try out but their teams are still a very mixed bag in terms of talent and motivation.   Tristan’s team is purple while Jamie’s remains….Carolina blue.   As usual, Spring soccer has included freezing during practices and games, with too many scheduled early. 

Jamie winding up for a big pass

Tristan doing a practice drill before the game starts

There’s been naught to watch on TV except the endless news of recession, depression, etc. but for HBO….I was really into Big Love with really wild and compelling storylines.   Tristan’s favorites are either Iron Chef or Good Eats! (because of course only a preteen could be enthralled by Alton Brown, although you gotta love his volume of food knowledge).  

The major work news this month was that the stimulus package had big money to give back to NIH to restore some of what’s been lacking for the past decade…..what it stimulated for me, my department, and every research university in the land was a hastening of writing, or retooling, or amending, grant applications.   I wrote for a solid three weeks beginning in mid February to prepare a few proposals….My team put in two supplemental applications and began working on a major grant that could work as a challenge grant (taking the first 2 years of a 5 year plan) or a full 5 year grant.   Additionally, I’d already been planning a June application to extend our work on the prevention of Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy, so it’s all work all the time for the end of February into March and even into April…..though the chances of getting one of these grants is exceedingly slim.   But we’ve been told “it’s easy to get grants right now…..”  by the man who has the best hit rate I know of….

In other news, my Mom visited my brother and his family for about 6 weeks, and we were very glad to have her return!

At the end of February, there were birthdays for Erica and Jamie and my cousin’s son Sean, all who turned 13….all I can say is my patented…YIKES!

Coming Soon! New and Improved! Sale! This month only!

I know this space has been lacking, but SOON highlights will include:

February joints like a family ski trip, more Jason Isbell (new CD AND another show), a new soccer season, a new season of Big Love, the stimulus package and its stimulative effects, Mom’s return from 6 weeks in Texas, reconnecting with great old friends, and birthdays for Erica and Jamie and my cousin’s son Sean, all turning 13 (cue Psycho stabbing music!)

March highlights to include a new tasty Chinese restaurant in Crozet, winding down an NIH grant and heavy data work, preparing for conferences, a trip to British Columbia, another birthday for me, Crozet bike rides and other feats of exercise including the upcoming Monument Avenue 10K, getting ready for Heather and Brad’s upcoming move to their new home in Crozet (YAYYYYYYYY!!!)  and (knowing I will be) wishing I were at SXSW!!!!!

First ski trip of 2009

A year ago, I’d just met Heather, who over the last year has become my treasured newest real friend.  We are very different but she cracks me up and I occasionally scandalize her, so it works out! 

She and hubby Brad were heading to Park City and had others bag on a joint trip, and I had an unused ticket…so, voila, I had the pleasure of a brief adult ski trip last week. 

Upon my arrival, I was thrilled to see snow everywhere from the foothills upward.   The last two times I was in the area for skiing, there was little snow EXCEPT on the mountains, due to the lateness of the season.  Now, arriving Jan. 31, there was ample snow (although the locals eschew skiing on days other than powder days)—HA!  More for me.

I’d reminded these serious skiers (Heather from many years living in Utah and Colorado, Brad from growing up in Colorado) that I was a week-a-year intermediate skier, albeit one who likes to go fast.   Despite this, we ascended the mountain together and I trusted them to navigate.  Right after lunch on day 1, we were on a steep mogul hill where the bumps were “soft” not too icy, and I got down about 1/2 way before losing my balance and sitting down.  Due to the slope, I merely put out my arm and got back up.  Sadly, at the 2/3rds down area, I got my weight well behind my boots on an icy left turn around a bump and couldn’t recover—I had a spectacular, cartwheeling, head over heels, skis and poles flying FALL.   Sadly, nobody caught it on tape.  My breath was knocked out for a bit, just long enough for mountain goat-footed Brad to RUN up the hill to retrieve an errant ski—I was very grateful, because it would have taken me another 30 minutes!  I was ok, but all pride was gone…. once I found my footing, I was able to ski away just fine, and I had to hold the line more carefully for the rest of the trip–blue groomers, please!!!! 

Still, I somehow got off a green trail, on which I was flying, hit a jump I didn’t see, and took another, but less interesting fall the third day.  I got up fine, but was sweaty and out of breath, especially when I saw the cliff looming below.  Somehow we lost the actual trail and were skiing over bushes, trees, moderate sized bumps, and grass, with me in a panicky third, sure I could not, would not, should not take that jump.   I yelled down to my more skilled companions to find me a path, and they did–a tiny, narrow crevasse-crossing bridge of snow that would require impeccable turning.  I had to hike up to get the right line, but in the end, I did it, and I think Brad captured it on video, upload to follow soon I hope! 

You can see photos of the trip on the Flickr photostream on the side of the page.  Big fun was had, including the skiing (2 days at Park City, 1 at the Canyons) and nights out at the Deer Valley Seafood extravaganza–you can’t really call this gourmet level food a buffet–stops at several bars, and breakfast my last morning at the best diner in town, featuring a harrassed waitress whom we treated well.  Oh, and a fantastic “Spanish” (more like mexican) omelette for me….

I got back too late to make any evening plans then have jumped into a couple straight days of serious work.   All in time for one more week of work before your intrepid adventure girl lights out on her second ski trip–accompanied by two young men.  More to come, certainly!

Dancing the cold away

This weekend was originally slated for personal business or work but somehow when neither of those was forthcoming, and too much of both happened in the past few weeks, I decided to end Inauguration week with music I love and music that’s inherently fun and interesting.  Friday night was no show but plenty of fun, and Saturday held promise with a  trip to The National, Richmond, for Drive By Truckers.  Yes I’ve gone several times this year but there was a large group of friends gathering and their shows are best as a shared event.  We arrived and using texting found our friends and started in on the fun right away.  Here are some shots of the band members, who absolutely cooked.

 

 

After the show, I was so sweaty from dancing and moving that I was able to walk to the parking deck sans coat and not feel it.  Next we all headed to Chris’s for a late night impromptu breakfast and more fun conversation (well at least all the cool kids showed up!)

Sunday, after seriously awesome conversations, I did some housework  and met up with  Heather and Brad, who cooked, from scratch, one of the best Indian meals I’ve ever enjoyed.  There was home made red bean curry, perfect rice, home made Naan bread, and a spinach saag that made  me want endlessly more.  Next we met up with Posie and headed to the Gravity Lounge to see Kevin Kinney, formerly of drivin n cryin.  Last time I saw that band, they filled a 5000+ outdoor arena.  This Sunday night, he and his really  talented band pulled in a mere 60 patrons to the Gravity Lounge.

Kinney started with a classic, Scarred but Smarter from dnc.  He was in a talkative, joking mood, and the band was tight, although I didn’t know any of his newer songs (and not sure of any of the titles!)  Some of my favorites were What Jesus do you know?  (following a story about being confronted by evangelists in a Piggly Wiggly),  40 Miles of Mountain Road, Bring home the bacon and take out the trash (by request while he was struggling to get in tune), and Blues on top of blues/love on top of love, a real highlight.  He tuned his guitar a few times “because this is a good song” while ignoring tuning for others!!!!   Of course he ended the encore with Straight to Hell and a few other oldies, and my girlfriends and I enjoyed the humor-filled, down home rock show.

Last night there was yet more music, again back to the Gravity Lounge.  The opening act was an all acoustic local, Shannon Worrell, accompanied by Sam ??? of Sons of Bill, who made the set with an eerie lap steel guitar piece.  Shannon had a great voice and well crafted songs, but I was in a rocking mood, not up for the girl folkie approach–she even apologized knowing we were there for a burning down the house show.  And sorry Shannon, but who put that monstrosity of a bow in your hair?   I’ve got a stylist to send you to…..My favorite song was one that a local poet helped her write, but now I can’t recall the title.  It was clearly poetically superior! 

Last on the list was Alejandro Escoveda, of Mexico, California, New York, Chicago, etc…..his past is filled with an extensive, varied musical history including a punk period with a minor, successful  band.  He and his band tore it up and I even bought a tshirt!  

Alejandro played nearly all of the songs from his newest record, Real Animal, and during the encore did a broad range of covers from Lou Reed to the Rolling Stones–his Beast of Burden was excellent, and I usually hate that song done by anyone but the Stones!  

I danced enough to get warm and keep warm enough that I could dash back to the car in my tshirt….got home before the precipitation and stayed in out of the ice danger today….good thing too, with two fatal accidents nearby already.

Austin, January 2009

I hadn’t been to Austin since college, so I was very excited to plan our next investigators’ meeting there, and to throw in some fun as well.  We had a two day meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday, so we flew in Wednesday, got in early enough to take in some fun, worked the next two days, and then I stayed an extra day to spend time with one of my most cherished friends.

Wednesday we checked in with the busy hosts, and they were occupied prepping for the meeting, so Jenny, Amy, and I set out to explore downtown, walking distance from the riverfront/lakefront Hyatt right near the bat bridge.  We got a little pocket tour of some highlights from Jenny’s engagement, and had drinks at a couple of bars before lighting at the Iron Cactus for a rooftop dinner.  Then on to another bar, with an accidental stop at the sex shop.  These two MADE ME go in…..laughing at Jenny mistaking it for another bar….   

We ended up in some other bar when Linda and Mark called, ready to meet us for our planned evening seeing Dale Watson play at the Broken Spoke.  We met them there, and it was a fantastic dive.

Dale Watson was old school, cowboy dancing music with a Merle Haggard but smoother voice…he’d been in the midwest and was ecstatic to be back in Austin, pulling up a number of musician friends for some picking….

I was loving the vibe, but really didn’t realize until too late that if you weren’t sitting with your arms around your honey, you’d be picked off for dancing with all sorts of….gentlemen….and they really were gentlemen.  It was just like going back in time.  They plucked me off first, but Amy and Jenny both got their share of dancefloor twirls and turns…

The band kept going and we all had an early morning, so we had to call it quits before they did.

Thursday was a productive day at work, followed by lakefront drinks.  

We then headed out to Esther’s Follies, to hear Linda’s fantastic laugh.  Jerry surprised us with a horse drawn carriage ride to the Madison Club, a newly refurbished chic bar where Mary’s famous DJ son sometimes spins.

Friday night after a long day of hashing out data issues and plans, discussing possible approaches for publication, reviewing some of our plans for phase 2, and drafting some abstracts (deadline: today!) we all headed out for Indian food at the Clay Pit.  I enjoyed my small table with Kirk and Lynn and we devoured the spinach paneer bread and I ate nearly every drop of my Veggie Korma—delectable! 

Here was the tired  crew after several days of hard work!

 

Next a smaller group of us headed to UT and caught James McMurtry at the Cactus Cafe.  I knew James slightly in college and he’s changed physically and in guitar skill–but still has the same laconic wit.  He played songs from a number of his records, focusing on the last couple.  

After the first set, he brought out his son Curtis to play mandolin.  Curtis seems cut from the same cloth, joking that if you play mandolin, you will never make money, and you will never be in tune.

While we all enjoyed the show, it was so blazing hot (man am I glad I left my jacket in the car!) that we finally had to leave before the end of the second set.   It was good to get into bed just after 1 a.m. because Mary and I had a hard day at the spa scheduled for the next day!

Saturday I dragged myself out of the very comfortable B&B like guest room, threw on some workout clothes (not that I intended to work out–no!) and went downstairs.  After a little fruit and a diet coke, (Mary had a healthy oatmeal and rice milk breakfast!) we got into her luxurymobile and meandered over to the Lake Austin Spa, the “Conde Nast #1 Destination Spa”  and wow I could see why.  It’s tucked into the hills, a Frank Lloyd Wright style exterior with a view down to the lovely small section of the lake….

We arrived, were instructed to get into robes, got a brief tour, then had a delicious and lite lunch heavy on locally grown herbs. 

Then it was time to wait in the “blue room” for our treatments. 

My first was a ginger and lime sea salt scrub and infused oil treatment that was very like a massage except that all of your dry winter skin gets sloughed off then anointed with herbed and limed oil……I glowed afterwards. 

Then back to the blue room to await my real massage….a 50 minute extremely thorough one, second best in my life! 

Afterwards, we sat by the fire, drank tea, talked, then dragged ourselves to get our suits on for the hot tub and pool where we took some luxurious laps….

Finally, we rejoined the world and Jerry and had my last “Rex Mex” meal at Maudie’s before I had to prep for catching a plane the next day…..

A View Back on Election Day 2008

November 4, 2008, one of the happiest days of my life.

It started in Crozet VA where I went to vote and encountered lines at 6:30 a.m.! 

All kinds were there, and I was thrilled.  I talked to a friend who voted around 10 a.m., and at that point, nearly 80% of all eligible voters had already cast their ballots.

I spent the rest of the day on the phone with my friend who was driving folks in Richmond from the projects and poor areas to the polls in the rain, watching the news, and fighting back fear….

That night I met Pam for an election night party hosted by my internet savvy friend Lee.  He and his wife had organized a fun theme party, had multiple displays of the results as they came in, and themed food like Half Baked Alaska, Candy McCain Ice Cream, Left and Right Wings, etc….very festive.  Pam was running late so we got there only about 90 minutes before key states fell to Obama and my heart was racing….could this really happen?  

When they called the election, my best friend texted the world “We fucking win!”    

I couldn’t believe it—I graduated high school in the early 80s from a school in Jefferson Parish Louisiana, in which I was bussed 50 minutes away because of racism….while my brother attended the high school 5 minutes away.   Why?  Well, in Jefferson Parish, they didn’t fight desegregation, but they chose to separate by sex…..we don’t want black boys and white girls going to school together.  So until that late date, racism ruled and I went to a school I should never have attended, was restricted in class choices, and grew to believe that racism was so pervasive that I would never, in my lifetime, see an election result like this. 

Later in life, my best friend was a black woman who actually was biracial, but who was, like Obama, considered black.  She considered herself black.  I asked her in one of our many far-ranging discussions why she was following the outdated “one drop” rule and she stated the obvious: she looked black, so no matter what her heritage, she was treated as less than.    I learned a lot about her experiences of racism even within her own family.  She had to battle for everything, and had a constant awareness of the likelihood of racism at every turn, ready to limit her options.  She felt it when she undertook a genetics study, and in her professional societies that tolerated racism even despite knowing the minimal genetic basis for our social construction.   She felt it when she went to Africa and she was considered “colored,” not “black” and thus BETTER……I see racism alive still, even this past year, when I have  had my little four year old friend Maya with me.  She’s of mixed heritage, and people may assume I’m her mom when the two of us are out, and they look at her, then me, and you can tell they’re doing the calculations, and sometimes they make a variety of faces.   All of these things led me even until late October of 2008 to fear, to believe, that these barriers could not be overcome…..

And so, WE WON.  I say that not just because I’m liberal and campaigned for Obama.   But because in this instance, Americans voted for merit, and opportunity, and overlooked long held sterotypes, and showed themselves to be able to grow beyond old conceptions of things like race.   I can’t count the number of my Eur0pean friends who were cautious….and surprised….and joyful at our election.

When I got into work the next day, our administrative assistant, who happens to be the only black woman working in our building, caught me in the parking lot and gave me a huge hug and thanked me with tears in her eyes-she was open, she felt free, and her joy was palpable—–she never thought this day could come, either…..

I love the fact that my children, white boys with the relative privilege of that group, attended preschool with a huge range of children of different colors.  They as children described kids by “color” like pink, brown, beige, dark brown, etc…..using color not to describe race, but just as another descriptor.  To this day, my younger son describes things like “the tall boy….he sits next to me….he’s brown…..” instead of “the black kid” or many more negative things I heard as a child that diminished people into only one aspect that described them. 

I’m still so moved, and continue to be moved as we’ve come closer to inauguration day…..people are showing respect…..nobody’s been killed…..I’m grateful to be alive and to see that Americans can show their best selves even under stress.    I’ll stop now because words fail.

Going all in

The other night, wrapping Christmas presents, I caught most of one of my favorite movies, Adaptation.  It’s the one with awkward twins Charlie Kaufman, the screenwriter, and brother Donald, both played by a chubby and balding Nic Cage, in one of his actual acting turns (as opposed to the churn it out for money movies he often makes).   Kaufman is unnerved by writing an adaptation of a book about a Ghost Orchid and its central character, a very flawed minor criminal/horticultural expert in the Florida swamps.  Meryl Streep is the writer of the book, a real book called The Orchid Thief written by real New Yorker writer Susan Orlean, and as it turns out, in the movie, “Susan” is now John’s lover and fellow orchid-drug addict….anyway, I digress.  

   

There are several pivotal scenes and amazing themes in this film, but I was struck so hard the other night by one of the last brother-brother moments.  Donald is telling Charlie that he loved this girl in high school, and Charlie points out that she only made fun of Donald and never was his.   Donald replies that it doesn’t matter–that he loved her, and that none of her mocking behavior or adolescently cruel rejection could take his love away; it was his to give, and that made it his forever.  He could cherish it forever, and feel nourished by the experience.

That is real love, love that is generous, kind, and non-possessive.  I’ve written about my questions on the nature of love a lot on this site.  I have wondered why it’s so easy for a love that is freely given to get twisted and wither under the weight of expectations… but this one scene captures it all so much better than I ever could.

My life has changed in the last few years, and while there have been very obvious changes, one that is apparent to very few may be the most important.  I am less defended than I’ve ever been—- living more freely, breathing easily, finding it so revealing to be open and honest so much of the time.    Even though I’ve been an extravert since birth, I used to observe with a long cool eye and then show only parts of my truth.    (Used to, meaning, up until about 3 years ago.  Meaning, most of my life).  Now, I find myself speaking the truth nearly all of the time, often to strangers, but also to friends, colleagues, and family members.   Some could say I might should temper this a bit—as in, don’t scare all the grad students and other young folks in my circle when they are just entering their 30s, max, and shouldn’t be expected to hear the truth of the 40s.  

When I realized I was telling the truth to people I barely knew, I also realized some things about what’s been happening.   I’ve opened up so much, compared to even 5 years ago, that it’s caused a loosening of the death grip of my cultural lessons..  I’m from a deadly subculture that encouraged me to hide my real feelings (especially even from myself), translate them into mild questions of others, and show myself (the self of which I was truly aware) to very few.   And at the same time, as a girl from the South, to attempt to be appealing to all, offending none, again requiring HIDING.   And once I trusted someone, I should regard that trust as a blood pact that could never be violated and to EXPECT no violations, no weakness in myself or others….All of these ideas required me to close my eyes …..I couldn’t see so many things that should have been obvious, and worse, I developed a victim epistemology that led me to imagine I was enduring  tragedy as if it were happening TO me, rather than seeing what of it I influenced.   I was always an actor in my life, but had been well-trained to overlook that fact.   Sort of Southern girl—by way of Catholic rules and authority—-by way of Czech immigrants trying to assimilate quickly —all of these overlaid with my own secretive family dynamics from both maternal and paternal sides and the vastly unspoken realities of those families’  lives.  

So one part of me thinks that it might be a little dangerous to walk around so undefended, so open, often raw.   Yet this porousness allows joy, sunshine, passion, scents, sounds…in.   IN.   The possibility of some future wounding seems nearly irrelevant compared to what can get in now….and what is getting in.    So this year, I may be taking risks, but I’m not calcified….I’m porous and soaking all of it in.  IN.   I’m all in.

OASIS! And it’s not the 90s….

I had hoped to go to the Oasis show December 20th in Northern Virginia, because I missed them in their heyday despite being a fan.  (That record wasn’t really played in my old house).  I wasn’t sure they had anything new to offer, and I wanted to go in part to see Ryan Adams, finally.  

I’d missed 2 Ryan Adams shows last year when he cancelled and then the rescheduled dates were set for when I was travelling.   But I really didn’t want to go up to George Mason solo, and the last time I was there at the Patriot Center was a lifetime ago for a Smashing Pumpkins concert and I didn’t want to relive any part of that scene.  

Fortunately, a friend was game to go and I stocked the car with all the necessities of a pleasant road trip.   It was raining and cold most of the way up but we had good directions, great conversation, and the evening was shaping up to be big fun.  Our timing was impeccable but the parking was a little too exposed for some of our anticipated activities especially with a huge police presence on this continually rebuilding, construction zone of a  campus.  The arena is built for basketball and was smaller but steeper than I recalled, and our tickets were–yes these used to scare me—way up on the top nosebleed row!   However, we had a great view of the stage and the sound was really good.

So, Matt Costa.  I thought he was local because he’s been around Charlottesville a lot, but apparently he’s from Big Sur, a former skater boi pro, and just tours his ass off. 

He gave a fun acoustic set with one guy helping him out, and sounded great.  

Next I held my breath to see if Ryan would show up, and along with the Cardinals, he did.  They played a set drawing from Cardinology, Easy Tiger, Rock N Roll, and even some older stuff, and I was very impressed.  Again, the sound was great, Ryan was fun, the whole band seemed like the members were getting along and joking around, and I loved it!   They played for nearly an hour and really showed off their musicianship.

Here’s a short clip of Ryan Adams and the Cardinals doing Come Pick me Up:

 http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ryan-adams-come-pick-me-up-chorus-live/870875542/?icid=VIDURVMUS03

In a shockingly short time for a big set change, OASIS came on.  They were in high form, despite Noel Gallagher’s recent tussle with a fan in Canada that left him with shoulder and arm injuries and questions about his resultant guitar playing ability!   Liam seemed to be dressed up as a mash-up of John Lennon and grunge but it worked for this sarcastic singer.  They launched right in with What’s the Story Morning Glory? and covered most all of the songs on that record, plus some from their debut record.  In the backdrop, they had interesting angles of all 4 bandmates up on screens with monochrome effects.  It was low-tech compared to the stunning Radiohead show I’d seen in May, but the simpler camera work proved undistracting from really strong performances. 

In the one remaining local record store the other day, I found 4 U.K. music rags with Oasis covers—apparently over there it’s still hip to follow Liam’s constant bickering with Noel, who apparently was not invited to Liam’s recent wedding but “NOEL says I don’t care!”   I got quite a laugh, but not enough to pay 10 quid for any of them!  

The music was fun, and I absolutely loved their ending with I am the Walrus and Liam’s self-congratulatory thank yous!   (He said something like, you all are great…..but not as great as us!).  Rock star.

Our entry path was closed off for exiting the parking lot, of course, but we got out of there with a minimum of lostness and avoided any arrestedness.   We soon found ourselves starving and in need of something good and hot with nothing open down the 29 corridor.  Plus it started raining again and was bloody cold. 

Finally, we limped into Charlottesville famished and hit the Waffle House, always an adventure especially late night.  The same strange crew was there that I’ve seen before— young manager boy, older knowledgeable longtimer waitress, younger apparently very slow on the uptake new waitress, and assorted oddballs who are regulars there. 

The most interesting group (other than me and my friend!) was a guy who had to be 60, being licked and fondled by TWO skanky 20-somethings with way too much makeup, one of whom made it to the restroom just in time to hurl loudly—oooh not an appetite enhancer!  Finally we made it home and it was a long night well worth the price paid in travel, fatigue, and a late late night including moving furniture!