Drool...

In my fantasy world I would rock these fabulous hand-painted boots on my first day to work:



Image lifted from www.falconhead.com.

Take me out to the (minor-league) ballgame...

This past Sunday we decided to check out the local minor-league team - the Cedar Rapids Kernals (as in corn kernals that is!)

The game was wholey entertaining. Between innings a local blond commentator would advertise Bud Light Beer then bring up a small child who had won a lottery for a $5 coupon to a nearby store. We sang Happy Birthday to two kids and watched three girls wearing inflatable Giant Eyeball costumes race from third base to home. During the 7th inning we watched high school girls in bright purple shirts try and move in-synch to the hamster dance song.

The game itself was also fantastic. Because the Kernals are a single-A team, you never know what might happen. Errors ran amuck and hilarity often ensued. I suppose it's wrong to laugh at people trying to make a living playing sports (it's not like I could ever hit an 80-mph ball), but it's all part of the game. When one of our companions started cheering wildly at the opposing team's homerun (the only homerun of the game), he turned to the flabbergasted fans and said, "What? That's exciting!"

Oddly enough one of the best players on the team was a little guy (5'8" or less) named Alexi Amarista from Venezuela - the kid got on base nearly every time he went to bat - and he could bunt!

After many fouls, errors and odd plays we just didn't understand (but we always applauded the effort), in the end, the Kernals took the day. And when beers, munchies and game tickets are all priced in the low single digits, the parking is free, and the kids get to run the bases and play catch in the outfield after the game - I call that a day worth spent!

~flutterbyblue (Kernals fan)

Iowa weather

They say in Iowa that if you don't like the weather, wait a minute...


The day started beautifully - overcast, not too hot or humid. However, while driving from Grinnell back to Iowa City later in the day we noticed some intriguing cloud formations:


Oddly enough we only got a smattering of rain - that thundercloud never quite made it to us.

Rain here seems to come and go without too much premonition. One early morning we had an intense thunder and lightening storm with pouring rain, followed by a late morning of bright sun, followed by an early afternoon shower, followed by a late afternoon of sun and clear skies, followed by an evening of thundershowers...even New England can't compare to such fickle ever-changing weather!

~flutterbyblue

Chefs Table (Iowa City)

For my birthday this year (the big three-o) we went out to one of Iowa City's finer dining establishments. After several days of burritos and noodle bowls I was ready for something a little more upscale, and Chefs Table in downtown Iowa City sounded like a great place to celebrate.

The restaurant is recently opened and proclaims a French bistro menu (though not yet available online.) While the restaurant front is clean and small, upon entering, a cavernous and elegantly decorated space draws you in. The high industrial ceiling is painted black, and the modern minimalist lighting adds a surprisingly pleasant aura. A winding path leads to the back of the restaurant, and is lined with neat tables and enormous fashion plate paintings.

I often think that a sign of a good restaurant is the quality of the bread they serve. At Chefs Table they make fresh rolls in a variety of delicious flavors (mushroom, rosemary, sage, and some outstanding cheese puffs.) We started with a nice glass of Moet champagne paired with a really impressive cheese course. The plate included a soft triple cream, a pecorino, and a fantastic sharp truffle cheese that I have not tasted before. Each cheese was paired with homemade sweet/savory chutney's.

The menu did not include a vegetarian entree. Instead the chef himself came out to talk with us and planned a dish around our interests and requests. The resulting dish was impressively plated - several fresh vegetables served over delicious squares of cheesy polenta. I (not being vegetarian) went with the scallops and mini short rib raviolis. The plate included numerous ingredients - wild mushrooms, asparagus, roasted parsnips and potatoes, and a sprinkling of fresh herbs. Every item came together very nicely and made for a very impressive meal. Each entree included a salad or the onion soup (served with a really really tasty cheesy toast.)

For dessert we had the rhubarb strawbery compote with genoise cake and creme fraiche ice cream with basil. This was one of the highlights of our meal. It was like strawberry shortcake done French style (really really delicious!)

All in all, the meal was excellent. Our only qualm may have been the slow kitchen. Service was great, but the place was packed. The kitchen may need some time to maximize its efficiency - especially considering every dish has an unusually large number of ingredients. Despite being one of the more upscale restaurants in town, our bill in the end was quite reasonable - certainly less than any nice restaurant back in Boston. Champagne, appetizers, entrees and dessert all came to slightly under $80 for two. We will certainly be back again!

~flutterbyblue

Chefs Table
223 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, Iowa

Packed and Loaded

After spending the last week sorting, tossing, wrapping and boxing, we are packed and ready to load. One of the miracles of getting a real job (or having a partner with a real job) is that you can pay people to move your stuff. After our last move across town we pretty much maxed out our friendship favors so it's just as well.

Everything I need to survive is now in a pile on the floor of my room - one big, messy pile of STUFF. To make things a little more complicated, we are going on a month-long backpacking trip through Ecuador before moving to the big corn state. This of course meant a trip to EMS (it really is too bad I'll be unemployed for the next two months - hiking supplies are so expensive!) Inevitably I re-bought a number of items I thought I had lost (headlamp, money belt, moisture wick shirts) so we are (doubly) good to go.

While I know shopping is entirely impractical given that we will be living out of packs and suitcases for the next two months, I am having a hard time resisting doing a little more etsy perusing. Bonzie just came out with a fresh line of summer tops!

Bill Gates

Ten more days until I defend my thesis...

Doga

This has got to be one of the more absurd things to come of American culture:

doga

As if yuppie suburbanites couldn't get enough "zen" stretching and faux-healthful cleansing at the normal over-priced yoga studio! Now the spoiled and over-protected dogs of said yuppie suburbanites can take part as well. Instructors demonstrate yoga poses with animal:

“A stuffed animal — but not even a dog-shaped stuffed animal — was used by the instructor,” she said. Owners struggled to get their very real dogs to replicate the stuffed-animal poses, she said, and bags of treats were used to get the dogs to change positions. “It was lunacy,” Ms. Apro recalled. “Peanuts, my retired racer greyhound, didn’t participate at all. Instead, I did downward-facing dog while he ate the most treats he’s ever had in a 60-minute period.”

According to Peanuts, doga may be the best thing that's ever happened to him - so don't knock it 'till you've tried it! Maybe this new fangled sport (do we even call it a "sport"?) isn't so bad after all?

~flutterbyblue

p.s. I must admit that I am one of the many who attend a "zen" faux-healthful cleansing over-priced yoga class once a week.

Image lifted from nytimes.com