It's True!

Last week Eron and I were on vacation. It's been lazy and wonderful. We left last Thursday and had two very uneventful flights. Up, down, up, down, done. No running from one terminal to another, no late, delayed or canceled flights - I think this is because I have a very positive traveling foo which cancels out Eron's solid negative traveling foo. Eron should travel more with me. ;)

We landed in Maine on Thursday, ate, and caffeinated, we had enough time to make a quick trip to L.L. Bean and then we were off to Eron's little brother's band concert. He plays the Oboe. I have never seen a boy's face turn such a shade of purple as I did watching Elija! It was an excellent concert. Friday was pretty lazy. I spent most of the day attempting to keep two fires going and waiting for Eron to get back from Elija's orthopedic appointment. Saturday was Elija's birthday party - hooray for 4 boys running around and playing video games. I hid in the kitchen with Eron's mom playing Sequence while Eron reverted to the age of 12 and played with the boys. Eron and I watched over Elija while their mom went to a concert in Boston.

This is Eron's mom's house. The porch off to the left has a jacuzzi and the red barn in the back is directly connected. I absolutely LOVE the way the entry way into the barn smells of hay and horses - it has a sweet smell of nostalgia for me. Have I mentioned that the house is heated entierly by wood? Thirteen cords of wood were delived earlier this year. By logging truck. Full tree trunks were unloaded... Yikes!

This is where Eron's mom puts her kayak in. Granted it is a small hike to get here from the house... and by that I mean less then a quarter mile. If it weren't for all the cold and hauling of wood I wouldn't mid living up there... but I kind of like North Carolina better and just go up for visits.

After a ridiculously poor night of sleep - consisting of a nonexistent mouse in a fireplace and a cramped couple hours trying to sleep on the couch - we woke at 7am to drive 2 hours to Sugarloaf for some skiing. I think I got less then 3 hours of sleep and there was absolutely zero chance of me sleeping in the car. Eron slept the entire way. Eron's mom, Janice, was diving - thankfully. We arrive at the mountain around 10 but didn't strap on skis around noon. We were all in need of some serious nourishment and caffeine.

I hadn't been on a set of skis for probably 10+ years and was pleasantly surprised at how fast it all came back to me! I only fell once (on Monday). Eron and Janice were very kind and patient with me... taking me down some very friendly green runs before graduating to some blue runs. We even made it to the top of the mountain. I was so concerned with not falling and making a fool of myself that I almost forgot to take in the view from the top! Simply AMAZING!

The top of the mountain was a bit "firm" (marketing language for icy) but we were able to get in a couple good runs before the lifts closed at 4. I was so exhausted at that point that all I wanted to do was shower, eat, and then go to bed. We were finished with dinner by 6:30 and I really wanted the lights out at 8. I couldn't even keep my eyes open to read. Brushing my teeth was an incredible chore. Lights were out a little after 9 and I had the most glorious 12 hours of sleep. We hit the slopes a little earlier on Tuesday - properly rested made a great difference. After a bit of a warm up Eron and I split - I stayed on the comfortable blue run that we did the day before and Eron went off to do some black diamonds. Thankfully my blue run and Eron's black runs were side by side and we'd met at the bottom to ride the lift back up. We really couldn't have asked for a better time up there. The weather was perfect and the lines for the lifts were never long - every one kept saying that Monday and Tuesday were the best days of the season. Not that I really know better, but I couldn't agree more! I can't wait to get back up there. Maybe next time I'll hazard a black diamond and then I won't feel so bad as I watch all the little children head off to the black diamonds as I head for a blue... seriously, 6 yr olds have no fear.

Our travels back to North Carolina were not as smooth - but still not bad. Our original flight out of Portland was canceled but Eron quickly got us re-booked on a later flight only to find out when we got to the airport that we didn't have guaranteed seats on our flight out of Philly. We landed in Philly with just enough time to check in and secure seats (yea!) and grab a bite to eat... had we realized that our flight was delayed we may not have rushed as much. Eh. We made it and we had seats so we can't complain. We did, however, have a rather cranky man on our flight... the flight attendants didn't help much in the situation but I tend to side with them - who more then likely know the regulations better than any passenger - than Mr. Cranky Pants who was sitting behind me and kicking my seat. There was some discussion about whether or not the man was allowed to have in (non-medically prescribed) high frequency noise cancelers that are apparently not FTA approved. All I really know was I was tired and wanted to get home.

Oh... so let me introduce you to Buster. Buster is a 18 yr old Maine Coon cat and he tried to take my hand off the first night I was in Maine. This is him sleeping on my pillow. I take this a mor of him saying "What? What is this smell? This smells like that girl. Oh no. This will not do." and so he puts his sent on the pillow. Not so much that "Hey, this smells nice and pretty and the sun feels sooo good. I want to sleep here."

Buster and I also clashed one night over the covers. He thought they were his and I knew he was wrong. But because I really was scared of him I didn't really want to take them back by force. I figured if I slid my feet under him enough to disturb him that he'd get of the bed - I was so, so, so wrong. I ended up getting so fed up that I just grabbed the covers and got away with my life - I imagine that he probably made a pretty good swipe at me but because it was dark I don't have a clue and he stayed put. Like a freaking rock on the bed... a purring rock. Weirdo.

Alright. I think that's all I got. Later kiddies!

I Got a Great Idea..

I know, I know... I owe a post about my trip to Maine, but this was too funny not to post first...

So, yesterday as Eron and I were coming back to my apartment we came across this in my parking lot. I especially appreciated that the hazard lights were flashing through the entire ordeal...

From what I can gather the guy in black (kinda hidden by the cops) decided it would be a GREAT idea to drive his SUV up the embankment to turn around rather then to back out of the parking spot. What resulted was a SUV on it's side, one bleeding boy, and two very angry girls yelling into their cell phones... Oh and then the fire department came...

A wrecker ended up dragging the SUV out a bit and then flipping it back on it tires. That's when we stopped watching. Good times :)

I'm Brighter

Where to begin... let me start off with: this time next week I'll be in Maine. Let's hope for some cold, snowy weather! I have been trying super hard to squeak in 3 trips to the gym each and actually got props from my trainer. It makes it easier to go when I can actually see and feel the results of my work - hello, arm muscles! And, while I've only been running twice this year I can already tell the difference in my endurance. I actually had a fantastic run last night and I can't wait for daylight savings to kick in so I can have more light.

Last night Eron tried his hand at a blue cheese stuffed tenderloin. I don't even know where to begin with this... my only wish was that there was more but also secretly glad that there wasn't. It started like this... Eron preps the meat - cut, salt, pepper, sear as I prep and cook the potatoes and then spilled my wine... twice. I apparently thought the counter should be more of a cab sav shade...

The roast resting

A nice layer of blue cheese

Ready to be cooked!

Mmm... cheesy, meaty goodness

My plate!

Tonight is pizza night! Though it is a shame since the weather is so nice today. Saturday is our first softball practice of the spring season. Sunday should be super nice too so I think I'll hit the trail running again and maybe slip in a little shopping. Hope you all have a great weekend! Get out and enjoy the pretty weather! Later kids!

Dinner last night was pretty amazing. Far better then the last dinner we went to at Jujube. Eron, Rob, and I shared a table with a nice group of four - Allison, Deb, Joe, and Brent, they were actually a Meetup group (see meetup.com - "a social networking site for social networking" - Robert J. Call III). They talked among themselves mostly but were friendly and engaging.

The beers... Hmm. I did not find my new favorite beer, but I might go so far as to say that I have gained an appreciation for proper parings of beer and food - just like wine - they compliment each other. I may or may not give the Founder's Pale Ale or Red's Rye a chance if I ever see it on a menu. Eron's favorite was the Double Trouble IPA.

Crispy calamari with warm arugula salad and polenta croutons -Pale Ale

So good, so salty. Not only was the calamari seasoned with salt and pepper but we think the arugula was tossed in an olive brine dressing. The best part were the polenta croutons - slightly crunchy but soft and warm. Mmmm. I might have to try my hand at those.

Mussels steamed in citrus curry with -Red's Rye

Hmm... also delicious and served with rice so we could sop up the delicious sauce. The curry sauce was creamy and smooth with a great little kick of heat. It was definitely an interesting paring of mussels and curry but the flavors melded well and washing it down with the beer finished off pretty well.

Honey cured chicken with vanilla brown butter -Double Trouble Ale
Lackluster. I was so disappointed. the general consensus at the table was that this dish needed something else. The woman sitting beside me and I thought it needed a crunchy or crispy aspect, Eron wanted something sour. Meh... buttery, sweet and soft. Served with wilted garlic spinach.

Braised pork cheek with bok choy, almonds, and garlic frites -Porter

OMG This was by far the best dish served last night. Seriously. The entire table raved and wished for more. The meat itself was pretty salty but so tender and when coupled with the bok choy it was a dream. I can't describe this well enough to do it justice. Yum.

French Toast with bacon-maple ice cream -Breakfast Stout

What can I say... french toast with ice cream. You really can't go wrong here. Okay, so there was a hint of bacon and just a smattering of bacon bits in the ice cream but not overwhelming. I almost kind of wish there was a little more bacon in it... or maybe I just got light scoop. I think I wished that my french toast was warmer - it was nothing compared to my Mother's (which I made this past weekend). Now that would have been truly unbelievable.

I'd like to tell you that I'll be eating canned soup for the next 3 weeks but I can't. Eron is making a stuffed tenderloin tomorrow. Eron bought an entire tenderlion over the weekend and spent part of Sunday playing butcher (I wasn't there) and got 12 filet minions, 1 roast and "other meat" out of it. Not bad. Eron's dinner on Sunday looked like exactly like the picture to the left.

I might be eating nothing but green things after tomorrow. I will be going to the gym tonight and squeezing in a run tomorrow before the sun goes down. Hope ya'll are having a good week and are staying warm. Later kiddies.

He Thinks I'm Awesome :)

Well, Eron's last day at the Mo was Friday. What a bitter sweet day. I'm going to miss him here, lunches, walking each other to our cars, being able to go to his desk/office and rant a little... but I know that he's looking forward to new challenges and a little time off. So he'll be sleeping in for a few days before he gets down and dirty with some things around his house. Lucky him. Have I mentioned that he's growing a rockin beard?


Tonight is the much anticipated Founders Beer Dinner at Jujube! The menu is as follows:

Crispy calamari with warm arugula salad and polenta croutons
-Pale Ale

Mussels steamed in citrus curry with
-Red's Rye

Honey cured chicken with vanilla brown butter
-Double Trouble Ale

Braised pork cheek with bok choy, almonds, and garlic frites
-Porter

French Toast with bacon-maple ice cream
-Breakfast Stout

I'm really looking forward to the honey cured chicken with vanilla brown butter... Mmm! Although if I remember correctly from last time, the course I thought I'd like the best wasn't as good as I hoped so we'll just have to see. Admittedly I'm not really looking forward to any of the beers imparticular but I am looking forward to giving them a shot. After all, I didn't know I liked wheat beers, cabernet sauvignon or red wines in general until we started going to tastings. I'll let you know how it goes. Later kiddies.