I've been back on the old urban homestead for about a month. I went right back to work and started on a few new projects. Specifically, I have planted 5 types of potatoes and with the help of my friend Molly am attempting to install a square foot garden. Today, we built 5 4'x4' boxes. All I have left to do is mix up the soil, and then build a grid, and then plant some stuff, and then weed it and then harvest...
Anyway, its a fun project.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
What we have been doing?
So we just recently got back from our Christmas vacation. I graduated from my Surface Warfare Command Class early on Thursday December 18th. They got us out early so the class could leave early due to the impending blizzard. I tried to change our flight on Delta but we were told we would have to pay change fees and difference. So we stayed here and sacked in for the snow.
Marian made smores over the stovetop. We ended up only losing a day, flying out Sunday morning. We were down in Mississippi with my brother and parents. We had our fair share of pork, Marian having her fill has sworn of the swine for the rest of the year.
Christmas with my family, Marian got some books, pajama pants, and some baggu bags. Wayne got a video game, some books and some slippers.
On Tuesday the 30th, we took the City of New Orleans Amtrak train down to New Orleans. Marian had some fun with Amtrak employees and swears she could fix Amtrak! We stayed in a great hotel in the Warehouse District, had lots of beignets, a lunch at Emerill's, a couple of tours (Ghosts and Gravestones in the French Quarter and New Orleans Cocktail tour), and generally had a few days to relax. We took the train back on the 2nd and flew back to Boston on the 4th.
Wayne started Command Leadership School Monday. Marian starts next Monday. Wayne will be going out to Chicago tommorrow to see Navy boot camp. Marian will be back in San Diego a week from Saturday. Wayne continues onto Norfolk for about 3-4 weeks.
Marian made smores over the stovetop. We ended up only losing a day, flying out Sunday morning. We were down in Mississippi with my brother and parents. We had our fair share of pork, Marian having her fill has sworn of the swine for the rest of the year.
Christmas with my family, Marian got some books, pajama pants, and some baggu bags. Wayne got a video game, some books and some slippers.
On Tuesday the 30th, we took the City of New Orleans Amtrak train down to New Orleans. Marian had some fun with Amtrak employees and swears she could fix Amtrak! We stayed in a great hotel in the Warehouse District, had lots of beignets, a lunch at Emerill's, a couple of tours (Ghosts and Gravestones in the French Quarter and New Orleans Cocktail tour), and generally had a few days to relax. We took the train back on the 2nd and flew back to Boston on the 4th.
Wayne started Command Leadership School Monday. Marian starts next Monday. Wayne will be going out to Chicago tommorrow to see Navy boot camp. Marian will be back in San Diego a week from Saturday. Wayne continues onto Norfolk for about 3-4 weeks.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
How many miles are we willing to travel for decent food?
So we admit it.. we are foodies, food tourists, food snobs, whatever you want to call us. Both of us grew up with somewhat lower quality food (Marian's mom egg and cold beet salad, Wayne's parents ham and cheese rollups) So over the years, we have both acquired tastes for better and higher end foods, wine, and beer.
So let me explain a few things about Rhode Island, especially Newport and surronding communities. Pretty much 60% of businessess shut their doors Nov 1st and do not reopen until Memorial Day weekend. Wayne has been cursed by the Navy to only be stationed here between mid October and mid May. Allegedly there is a summer which is nice but I think its a myth!
So a few times thus far, we have been hornswaggled by visiting a place that was highly recommended on the web and drive there (more on that in a sec) to find it closed for the season. Which is great when you are not hungry but not so bueno when you are considering gnawing off the arm of your significant other.
So to the driving part, Marian got me a Garmin NUVI 205W for my birthday. It is very handy and tells you all sorts of stuff, like not getting lost, nearest gas station (for our next trip through AZ or TX), nearest food, hotels, etc. Wayne added on a cable that receives a wireless signal that alerts you and routes you around traffic, allows you to download directions, show you gas prices, weather, movie times, news, stock prices, and local events. Anyway, NUVI told us that the distance from our room to the restaurant was 9.5 miles. Unfortunately, this is pure straight line, as a bird flies distance. Concepts which Rhode Islanders find distasteful and geographically implausible. When you select the destination, NUVI know tells you the route distance and time. Most of the time in the civilized world, mileage is 5% farther or less. In RI, count on 200%. So our 9.5 miles became 19.5 miles and 30 minutes. Some of this accounts for speed limits that were apparently set when Henry Ford was driving automobiles. When in doubt, the speed limit is 25mph. Dont care if it is a rural backround or state highway with no congestion, speed limit is 25, 40 if you are lucky.
So with that, Marian found a burger place, if you don't how Marian loves a good burger, you don't Marian very well. She has extensive time on her hands to do foodie research while I am at school. So she found Crazy Burger, and the first thing she did was call and see if they were open or closed for the season. They were open and we set off. Many "foodie" restaurants of great quality in RI also mean it might be necessary to mortgage your unborn children into white slavery for an appetizer let alone an entree. Also, price here does not necessarily imply quality. So we were pleasantly suprised to find we were wrong at crazy burger. Magic combination of outstanding quality, innovative cuisine, amazing service all in a beach bunglow run by tattooed hippies with zero snob factor.
Marian had the Wassuppy burger, Wayne built one with bacon and cheddar. Marian had the zucchini latkes and wayne had fries. All great! Some take home key lime pie. A couple of frozen beverages and all in all a good night.
Except for the 35 minute drive home!
So let me explain a few things about Rhode Island, especially Newport and surronding communities. Pretty much 60% of businessess shut their doors Nov 1st and do not reopen until Memorial Day weekend. Wayne has been cursed by the Navy to only be stationed here between mid October and mid May. Allegedly there is a summer which is nice but I think its a myth!
So a few times thus far, we have been hornswaggled by visiting a place that was highly recommended on the web and drive there (more on that in a sec) to find it closed for the season. Which is great when you are not hungry but not so bueno when you are considering gnawing off the arm of your significant other.
So to the driving part, Marian got me a Garmin NUVI 205W for my birthday. It is very handy and tells you all sorts of stuff, like not getting lost, nearest gas station (for our next trip through AZ or TX), nearest food, hotels, etc. Wayne added on a cable that receives a wireless signal that alerts you and routes you around traffic, allows you to download directions, show you gas prices, weather, movie times, news, stock prices, and local events. Anyway, NUVI told us that the distance from our room to the restaurant was 9.5 miles. Unfortunately, this is pure straight line, as a bird flies distance. Concepts which Rhode Islanders find distasteful and geographically implausible. When you select the destination, NUVI know tells you the route distance and time. Most of the time in the civilized world, mileage is 5% farther or less. In RI, count on 200%. So our 9.5 miles became 19.5 miles and 30 minutes. Some of this accounts for speed limits that were apparently set when Henry Ford was driving automobiles. When in doubt, the speed limit is 25mph. Dont care if it is a rural backround or state highway with no congestion, speed limit is 25, 40 if you are lucky.
So with that, Marian found a burger place, if you don't how Marian loves a good burger, you don't Marian very well. She has extensive time on her hands to do foodie research while I am at school. So she found Crazy Burger, and the first thing she did was call and see if they were open or closed for the season. They were open and we set off. Many "foodie" restaurants of great quality in RI also mean it might be necessary to mortgage your unborn children into white slavery for an appetizer let alone an entree. Also, price here does not necessarily imply quality. So we were pleasantly suprised to find we were wrong at crazy burger. Magic combination of outstanding quality, innovative cuisine, amazing service all in a beach bunglow run by tattooed hippies with zero snob factor.
Marian had the Wassuppy burger, Wayne built one with bacon and cheddar. Marian had the zucchini latkes and wayne had fries. All great! Some take home key lime pie. A couple of frozen beverages and all in all a good night.
Except for the 35 minute drive home!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Newport (again)
So, this is the third time we've lived in newport in the near decade that we have known each other. Although I rarely ever say, "oh Newport, how I love it there", I am surprized again by how much I have forgotten. The cold wind literally howls as it rushes past our third floor window. Grieving the loss of summer's bounty and the golden coat of autumn? Or maybe just the a whispered spell, or prayer of preparation "sleep, my pretty, spleep". In Rhode Island, we are hurtling towards the stark and chilly inertia of winter. I had forgotten how stangely beautiful it can be.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Montreal
We are just back from Montreal. Marian was suprised how French it was. Also how bilingual EVERYONE is.
We got in Friday night after getting lost in Montreal traffic. The hotel was awesome, we were up on the 29th floor across from the Bell Center. Later, we found out no building is permitted greater than 53 floors so that nothing is taller than Mont Royal. We had a drink at a local pub and the Canadian delicacy poudin. Fries, with gravy and cheese curds. Marian thinks all Quebeckers are reincarnated frat boys. After a snack, we walked around for a while and discovered why everyone in Montreal is so skinny, they walk everywhere and shiver a lot due to the cold. We ate dinner at a Korean BBQ and turned in for the night.
The next morning we got up to rain. We took a bus tour of the city and saw Notre Dame, St Joseph's basillica, Olympic Stadium, Old City, Mcgill University. The afternoon was spent shopping, Marian bought some clothes at her new favorite store, Pre-loved, which recycles clothes and makes new ones. Wayne bought a leather blazer. We navigated using the underground city and Metro. For dinner, we had the smoked meat sandwich. For dessert, we had incredible tiramisu and then went to the hotel bar for some cocktails while Marian played corner the canadian. Did I mention she is facinated by Quebecois culture and spent serious amounts of time trying to corner candians to talk to her.
This morning we had breakfast and went to the Biodome. It recreates 4 habitats, with animals. We then made our way back to the US, stopping for some duty free ice cider to use our canadian money.
All in all a great weekend.
We got in Friday night after getting lost in Montreal traffic. The hotel was awesome, we were up on the 29th floor across from the Bell Center. Later, we found out no building is permitted greater than 53 floors so that nothing is taller than Mont Royal. We had a drink at a local pub and the Canadian delicacy poudin. Fries, with gravy and cheese curds. Marian thinks all Quebeckers are reincarnated frat boys. After a snack, we walked around for a while and discovered why everyone in Montreal is so skinny, they walk everywhere and shiver a lot due to the cold. We ate dinner at a Korean BBQ and turned in for the night.
The next morning we got up to rain. We took a bus tour of the city and saw Notre Dame, St Joseph's basillica, Olympic Stadium, Old City, Mcgill University. The afternoon was spent shopping, Marian bought some clothes at her new favorite store, Pre-loved, which recycles clothes and makes new ones. Wayne bought a leather blazer. We navigated using the underground city and Metro. For dinner, we had the smoked meat sandwich. For dessert, we had incredible tiramisu and then went to the hotel bar for some cocktails while Marian played corner the canadian. Did I mention she is facinated by Quebecois culture and spent serious amounts of time trying to corner candians to talk to her.
This morning we had breakfast and went to the Biodome. It recreates 4 habitats, with animals. We then made our way back to the US, stopping for some duty free ice cider to use our canadian money.
All in all a great weekend.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Trip to Boston
So instead of a useful three day weekend that Marian and I could have used to go to Montreal and enjoy an extra day, we had to work Monday and have just 1 day off. So we decided to take a day trip to Boston.
We started at the Sam Adams brewery tour. Without GPS we would have never found it. Much of the neighborhoods looked like scenes out of The Departed, with occasional scenes from Good Will Hunting, not the Harvard parts. The tour itself, well, not so great, but at the end you get 3 7oz glasses of good beer. Marian generally is not a fan of beer, but even she was craving the opportunity to find more of the 31 flavors of Sam Adams, most noteably she wanted Cranberry Lambic, Marian loves all things LAMBIC! I successfully found some today and Marian found it tasty, not as much as she hoped. There are limits when your American beer is only 6% vice Belgian beer at 13-15%. But I digress. I even bought the "Perfect Pint" glass that Jim Koch developed, I will let you know if it lives up to the hype.
We then drove downtown to Boston Common and walked the Freedom Trail. It is a path that takes in almost all the historical spots in Boston. I saw the graves of Sam Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock. We also saw the State House, "Glory" Memorial, Fanuel Hall, USS CONSTITUTION, and Old North Church.
We ended up having a great dinner with friend Janne and her fiance' Ed.
Our next destination, Montreal.
We started at the Sam Adams brewery tour. Without GPS we would have never found it. Much of the neighborhoods looked like scenes out of The Departed, with occasional scenes from Good Will Hunting, not the Harvard parts. The tour itself, well, not so great, but at the end you get 3 7oz glasses of good beer. Marian generally is not a fan of beer, but even she was craving the opportunity to find more of the 31 flavors of Sam Adams, most noteably she wanted Cranberry Lambic, Marian loves all things LAMBIC! I successfully found some today and Marian found it tasty, not as much as she hoped. There are limits when your American beer is only 6% vice Belgian beer at 13-15%. But I digress. I even bought the "Perfect Pint" glass that Jim Koch developed, I will let you know if it lives up to the hype.
We then drove downtown to Boston Common and walked the Freedom Trail. It is a path that takes in almost all the historical spots in Boston. I saw the graves of Sam Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock. We also saw the State House, "Glory" Memorial, Fanuel Hall, USS CONSTITUTION, and Old North Church.
We ended up having a great dinner with friend Janne and her fiance' Ed.
Our next destination, Montreal.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Dormitory Hart Liebold
So we thought we would blog about where we are currently living. One of my concerns when Marian was going to come to Rhode Island with me was the fact that the average officer quarters' room is pretty small. Usually just a bed and a bathroom, a microwave fridge if you were lucky. I did have some hope before I got here because the school set up my room.
Turned out I was right, we have the best room as far as facilities that we have ever stayed in. It's not the biggest but it has a bedroom, living room, bathroom and efficiency kitchen.
The bed is either a full size or a double so slightly smaller than our normal queen. Mainly my feet just hang off the end. We have a walk in closet with plenty of space and a laundry hamper. There is a TV and VCR as well.
The living room has a loveseat, recliner, desk, wired internet, TV, DVD player.
The kitchen has a stovetop, coffeepot (Although we use our own Tassimo), microwave and mid size refrigertor. We added our crockpot and breadmaker. The kitchen has a small selection of pots, pans and dishes. (Had we known this we would not have to brought as much as we did.)
The building itself is dorm like but has free washer and dryer and plenty of parking. The building is about 10 minute walk from Wayne's current school. His January school is 2 minutes away.
As soon as we get a cable, we will post some pictures.
Turned out I was right, we have the best room as far as facilities that we have ever stayed in. It's not the biggest but it has a bedroom, living room, bathroom and efficiency kitchen.
The bed is either a full size or a double so slightly smaller than our normal queen. Mainly my feet just hang off the end. We have a walk in closet with plenty of space and a laundry hamper. There is a TV and VCR as well.
The living room has a loveseat, recliner, desk, wired internet, TV, DVD player.
The kitchen has a stovetop, coffeepot (Although we use our own Tassimo), microwave and mid size refrigertor. We added our crockpot and breadmaker. The kitchen has a small selection of pots, pans and dishes. (Had we known this we would not have to brought as much as we did.)
The building itself is dorm like but has free washer and dryer and plenty of parking. The building is about 10 minute walk from Wayne's current school. His January school is 2 minutes away.
As soon as we get a cable, we will post some pictures.
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