This last weekend I visited Becky Tim and Henry in Minn. for the world famous state fair, AKA "food on a stick fest". Here are the pictures, at some point I want to do a montage of all the food pictures. Don't worry we didn't sample all of it, although it was a splurge day, we divided it all by three :-)
Fair FOTOS. I downloaded a bunch of Becky's pics click here to see more.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Gramps is Back Home!!!
After six grueling weeks of rehab, Gramps is sleeping at home tonight! I have observed others on this journey and have seen what a struggle physically emotionally and mentally the task of relearning can be. Gramps has always been one of my heroes, but even more now. Climbing a mountain is an incredible feat but maintaining your determination to get better, relearning everything from how to eat to how to walk to how to preform the most basic biological functions, that is something to be proud of. Even more amazing is the fact that this is only the beginning, returning home is a big adjustment, there is so much more to re-learn. Now with Grams and Rascal to cheer him on I am certain his recovery potential is unlimited. Please keep them in your prayers as establishing new routines and juggling lots of home health therapy appointments provide new challenges and frustrations. I can't wait to get home in October and see Gramps, I have a felling he might just be ready to start hitting the trail.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Local flavor!
Not much appeared to be open here in Viropqua with the exception of the Viroqua Public Market; a Co-OP of stalls selling g all sorts of fair trade, used and handmade items. At the back of the market hidden away is a lovely cafe called Sibby's. the owner was working today. Everything is organic, whole foods. I felt transported back to CA this resturant would fit right in downtown Santa Barbara. This is the largest town associated with the area where I attended the organic sustainable farming festival two weekends ago. What a wonderful area the community is even doing work with bartering for services, as one of the closed restaurants had a sign in the window saying it accepts script. Someday I will land for good in one of these utopic communities but preferably one that does not spend a better part of the year covered in snow.
How does one explain a concept like butterscotch, Sweet yes but how does it differ from caramel say ... German tourists entered the shop while I was finishing my lunch, along with an English speaking woman who appeared to be a very demanding tour guide. I guess butterscotch doesn't translate, so the owner just gave them all tastes. Europeans love their espresso and cappuccino, a rarity in these parts, but ice cream sundaes...that was a different story. I realized something I have never really given organized words to before while observing the interaction between Sibby and the tourists, there were not many Thank Yous or Pleases. It is as if service , good service is just expected and nothing out of the ordinary hence we have this perception of snobbery European tourists. The snobby part I picked up on while waiting tables in one of the biggest tourist traps in the World Financial Center (they don't tip either) but I hadn't realized why until today. Culture is a funny thing, even for someone like myself who feels somewhat educated about intercultural communication, I so easily succumb to stereotyping based solely upon my own ethnocentriciy. Culture is so funny some of the nicest people I'm sure anyone would ever want to meet live on the European continent, but our own cultural bias must be subdued before we can be comfortable with the interaction: especially in the service sector.
Beans fresh from the local co-Op all sorts of , rice in a spicy tomato sauce fresh pizza and then cheese glorious cheese. Finnish Baked cheese I was thinking brie, but even better it was more of a curd, not fried (thankfully! it is everywhere here) it was squeaky just like good curds are supposed to be...so Ive been told. Fresh ingredients make all the difference, a dipping sauce fresh sour cream and herbs picked from the patio along with a tomato blended before my very eyes. Delicious! All this for less than $10.00 the 45 min drive was worth it just for lunch!
How does one explain a concept like butterscotch, Sweet yes but how does it differ from caramel say ... German tourists entered the shop while I was finishing my lunch, along with an English speaking woman who appeared to be a very demanding tour guide. I guess butterscotch doesn't translate, so the owner just gave them all tastes. Europeans love their espresso and cappuccino, a rarity in these parts, but ice cream sundaes...that was a different story. I realized something I have never really given organized words to before while observing the interaction between Sibby and the tourists, there were not many Thank Yous or Pleases. It is as if service , good service is just expected and nothing out of the ordinary hence we have this perception of snobbery European tourists. The snobby part I picked up on while waiting tables in one of the biggest tourist traps in the World Financial Center (they don't tip either) but I hadn't realized why until today. Culture is a funny thing, even for someone like myself who feels somewhat educated about intercultural communication, I so easily succumb to stereotyping based solely upon my own ethnocentriciy. Culture is so funny some of the nicest people I'm sure anyone would ever want to meet live on the European continent, but our own cultural bias must be subdued before we can be comfortable with the interaction: especially in the service sector.
Beans fresh from the local co-Op all sorts of , rice in a spicy tomato sauce fresh pizza and then cheese glorious cheese. Finnish Baked cheese I was thinking brie, but even better it was more of a curd, not fried (thankfully! it is everywhere here) it was squeaky just like good curds are supposed to be...so Ive been told. Fresh ingredients make all the difference, a dipping sauce fresh sour cream and herbs picked from the patio along with a tomato blended before my very eyes. Delicious! All this for less than $10.00 the 45 min drive was worth it just for lunch!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
quick photo update
Last few weekends in OH
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/LakeErieAndFourthOfJuly?authkey=m1AHf1yKASo
My side of the road trip
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/TheConrowSistersHitTheRoad?authkey=ZoZ_Omc2nho
Photos of WI anacdotes coming soon
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/ExploringWi?authkey=ZBNnSJMR1IU
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/LakeErieAndFourthOfJuly?authkey=m1AHf1yKASo
My side of the road trip
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/TheConrowSistersHitTheRoad?authkey=ZoZ_Omc2nho
Photos of WI anacdotes coming soon
http://picasaweb.google.com/talknmore/ExploringWi?authkey=ZBNnSJMR1IU
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Farewell dinner in Mansfield
I have never been so appalled, yes I am prone to taking a writer's license and stretching the truth for humorous effect, but truly I have never been so appalled. I remember being the only white person in a Nigerian restaurant, the way the patrons all stared and whispered, I thought then I knew what it was to be a minority, but to truly be a minority is to be ignored by one your own demographic as they focus on the person they perceive deserving of more respect.
May I take a moment to remind you the year is 2008, Gloria Stienham is in her dotage, resting on her laurels, Debroah Tannen has moved on to other sociological battlefields assuming this one conquered. However, at dinner tonight in the very nicest Mansfield establishment we ordered a bottle of wine. The waitress had no idea when asked to recommend, the manager had a bit of insight making excuses about a new wine list (8 types of Robert Mondovi...draw your own conclusions) 1/2 priced bottle night , we decided to go with his recommendation , the Arnold Palmer, no not lemonade and iced tea, he makes wine now or at least he lends his name. The waitress came back 10 mins later (the wine must have been in the sub-sub-sub basement) with a plastic corkscrew. She battled with the bottle, no time for the wine to breathe, no eye contact, no explanation, she poured a taste for the solitary male at the table. We had all been discussing the wine list with the manager, but if we thought we were getting a taste we were sorely mistaken. I sat patiently looking in her direction waiting to be acknowledged with my taste. Her gaze never left his face and so he caved and sipped. As soon as his Adams apple bobbed in a swallow she was pouring glasses all around. Ignoring the tastes buds of her gender soundly profoundly shut down. Chivalrously timid the male attempted to direct her to the female expert but the wine had already splashed, she was off and running no care for our response.
It wasn't bad in fact pretty good so Arnold knows how to pick 'um. The manager afraid I assume our palates would not agree and we would send the bottle back, has not been near the table...smart man! Can he sense my wrath???
May I take a moment to remind you the year is 2008, Gloria Stienham is in her dotage, resting on her laurels, Debroah Tannen has moved on to other sociological battlefields assuming this one conquered. However, at dinner tonight in the very nicest Mansfield establishment we ordered a bottle of wine. The waitress had no idea when asked to recommend, the manager had a bit of insight making excuses about a new wine list (8 types of Robert Mondovi...draw your own conclusions) 1/2 priced bottle night , we decided to go with his recommendation , the Arnold Palmer, no not lemonade and iced tea, he makes wine now or at least he lends his name. The waitress came back 10 mins later (the wine must have been in the sub-sub-sub basement) with a plastic corkscrew. She battled with the bottle, no time for the wine to breathe, no eye contact, no explanation, she poured a taste for the solitary male at the table. We had all been discussing the wine list with the manager, but if we thought we were getting a taste we were sorely mistaken. I sat patiently looking in her direction waiting to be acknowledged with my taste. Her gaze never left his face and so he caved and sipped. As soon as his Adams apple bobbed in a swallow she was pouring glasses all around. Ignoring the tastes buds of her gender soundly profoundly shut down. Chivalrously timid the male attempted to direct her to the female expert but the wine had already splashed, she was off and running no care for our response.
It wasn't bad in fact pretty good so Arnold knows how to pick 'um. The manager afraid I assume our palates would not agree and we would send the bottle back, has not been near the table...smart man! Can he sense my wrath???
A quick update...
Gramps has finally made it down to the Santa Barbara Rehabilitation Center. (I won't exert the negative energy ...insert diatribe about faulty HMO controlled American health care system and the fact every other industrialized nation has figured out how to do this better and in a much more cost effective way...enough said) He arrived on Thursday and the reception was a night and day improvement from the experience at French hospital. They even have tri-tip on the menu; of course for now Gramp's will be pureed. Today was a tougher day for him, it seems he might be fighting a little infection so he is feeling pretty crummy. Mom is there with him advocating and organizing his treatment. Please continue to pray for both of them, this is a physical and emotional challenge, however any of you who have hiked with Gramps know what he does when the trail gets challenging. For those of you who haven't been so lucky, he lengthens his stride, his head drops and he leaves you in the dust. On the off chance he hears you panting behind him his response is "sorry sweetie I just have to stretch out my legs". I have labeled this final push to the finish the "mountain goat". I have no doubt Gramps will attack his therapies with the "mountain goat" approach that has taken him to the top of Mt. Whitney 10 times and kept him going up Valencia peak every weekend for over 400 hikes.
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