Chaos I in Columbus

November 21, 2013

Remember the best museum ever? You don't have to travel to France or Switzerland to see a Tinguely. If you're in the vicinity of Columbus, Indiana, you can see one of his moving sculptures, Chaos I, in the lobby of the Commons.

The entrance to the Commons is at Washington and 3rd Street. I'm telling you this so you don't confuse yourself with Google Maps and drag your friends through the rain looking for this place (it's NOT the Commons Mall, which appears to just be a Sears).

If you time your visit right, you may get to see more action than the usual three or four whirring, spinning parts (still cool). Apparently the large metal balls drop between noon and 1 and 5 and 6 p.m.

Chaos I is one of two Tinguely installations in the United States. The other is Cascade in the Carillion Building in Charlotte, North Carolina. After I watching this video, I will surely take a field trip to see this if I ever have an extended layover in Charlotte. Hopefully a cab driver can get me there better than Google Maps.

I Love the Fair, 2013 edition

August 31, 2013

I almost missed the state fair this year.

I was out of town the first weekend, and by Wednesday, when we had no definite fair plans, I started to a panic. I almost caused a fight trying to get my husband to commit to a day, fearing the ducklings and quilts would be packed up before I could get my yearly dose.

But this story ends well, with an impromptu, post-podcasting trip with Melissa. We only stayed four hours, but in that time, we made it through most of the exhibits. Tiny owl and bald eagle at the Kentucky Raptor Rehabilitation booth? Yes. Ducklings? Would I ever skip them? Cakes and enormous produce? But of course.

A bald eagle carved from elk horn

With only a few hours on the second weekend, we made some sacrifices. We skipped the quilts, saw no shows, and only checked in on a couple of pigs (for livestock, I prefer the first weekend's poultry and rabbits. Also the mold-free baked goods in the competitive entries).

The most beautiful chicken I've ever seen, at last year's state fair

Still, I love the fair. I am giddy within five minutes of arriving ("Miniature horses! I love the fair!") and exhausted by the time I leave. I miss it when it's over, and I firmly believe you need two days at the fair. Next year, I'll be sure to get at least a full one.

More photos here.

Kentucky, you have ruined me

August 22, 2013

I am not that well-versed in liquors, but since moving to Kentucky, I've learned about bourbon and have started taking it for granted. I expect a selection of bourbon behind the bar, and when I ask for bourbon on a plane, I don't expect the following:

Me: Do you have bourbon?

Flight Attendant: Is this bourbon? Shows me Jack Daniel's

Me: Um... no...

FA: I have bourbon, hang on. Goes to front of cabin, comes back and shows me Dewar's

Is this bourbon?

Me: No, that's Scotch

FA: Is this not bourbon? Shows me Jack Daniels again

Me: No, but it will do.

I have been that confused server ("What is 7&7?") -- and would probably still be confused if asked about brandy or Scotch. I just forget that outside of Kentucky, bourbon is not a given.

Just Exploring Lebowksi Fest

July 21, 2013

I have a confession to make.

A Walter (from St. Louis) with this year's Best Dude (from L.A.)

I have still only seen The Big Lebowski once. Even now, after attending my first Lebowski Fest, I've only seen the film one time. Does that make me a poser? Yes. Did I have fun anyway? Let's see...

I talked to visitors from Kansas, Missouri, California, and Michigan. I saw three new-to-me bands (and got to see the March Madness Marching Band, again). I saw awesome costumes, sat on some Michaganders' rug, had my picture taken with two giant bowling pins (one was Lebowski Fest founder, Will Russell), and spent half my weekend surrounded by happy nerds. Did I have fun? I don't think there's any other option.

You can see more photos here.

Yours truly with two giant bowling pins. It helps when the photographer doesn't cover the lens with his finger, but you know.

Just Exploring Crabbing

July 10, 2013

I feel like I got in more touch with my grandmother's side of the family last week.

I have vague memories of crabbing at a 1989 family reunion in Virginia Beach. I would have been five, almost six, and my memory of floating in a rubber dinghy, crab line in hand, is either real or derived from photos. But I know this part of family -- my grandmother and her siblings, their offspring, and their offspring -- crab.

Photos show a grinning cousin holding up a bushel basket filled with blue crabs; my father and uncle, waist-high in the water with lines; my grandmother and great aunts and uncles sitting around a table covered in newspaper and boiled crabs.

Apart from that family reunion, I have crabbed maybe once on the Outerbanks, out of shallow, reedy ditch. We threw back everything we caught. It was based on this little experience, emailed instructions, and some YouTube videos that I lead my husband and friends on their first crabbing experience.

I tweeted my concern about our expedition, to which my brother replied, "How hard can it be? Twine + fence post + ocean = crab."

Turns out he was right, although that equation is missing "raw chicken" and "fishing weight." We caught 14 crabs and cooked and ate six of them that night.

Here are a few things I learned from my first grown-up crabbing venture:

1. 7 Elevens do not sell twine. Walgreens does.

2. You can use kite string (on a handle or a spool) for your line.

3. Apparently, leaving your chicken necks outside over night increases the nibbles.

4. You can simply stand in the water with your net and line. A low dock would probably decrease the chance of a crab running across your feet.

5. You'll know when there's a crab on your line -- there is a definite tug.

6. Putting blue crabs in fresh water for 30 minutes doesn't drown them.

7. A crab can crawl out of a plastic colander

Islands of Spring

March 25, 2013

We're still stuck in winter here, but the last three Saturdays have been islands of spring. This last Saturday marked the return of the Douglass Loop farmers market, one I've never visited. I did a quick tour -- just long enough to hear this band play the Magnetic Fields' "The Book of Love," wave at my food truck friends, and buy some cheese.

I'm looking forward to farmers markets with more than meat, eggs, and cheese.

I Quit! Now What?

January 12, 2011

I gave (three weeks) notice at my job last Friday. I do not have another job lined up, nor do I know what I want next. It feels like the right decision, but since then, I’ve been waffling almost non-stop, from recurring moments of self-doubt — “What am I DOING?! The economy is terrible, bla bla bla,” to “Everything will be fine, now move along.” Here is a short list of fears:

1. How am I going to pay for my life?
Since the last job search, I’ve acquired higher rent and some new financial obligations (oh, hello physical therapy bill). I get nervous quickly when spending without earning, and thus far, I’m having a hard time believing I’m going to make rent off content writing and occasional substitute teaching.

2. Health insurance – I’m working on my options for this. The state of health insurance upsets me anyway (why am I paying so much a month when things like physical therapy still aren’t covered?!), but going without anything seems unwise, especially because I bike everywhere when it’s warm.

3. Making the same mistakes – I’m worried #1 and #2 will be enough to make me take the first job that comes along, and that I’ll stay for months after realizing I’m not happy.

4. Lacking self-discipline – I quit this job because I was frequently angry before I even got to work. I wasn’t angry at work, but at myself for still being there. I’m concerned that now I’ll just look at Facebook 87 times a day instead of doing what I should, which leads to concern #5, which is basically #1 reworded.

5. What do I do? I quit this job and, like I said, I’m not sure for what. I know why I quit, but I don’t know what I’m headed to. I want more than 40 hours a week in an office, two weeks vacation and a nice benefits package. Those things are great (although four weeks would be greater), but… more. I want more. But the list of interests is long, and I’m not sure where to start. Photography? Writing? Health work? Teaching? Social work?

I know these are decisions I have to make for myself, and in lieu of a counselor, I’ll take your comments. Encouragement, suggestions, admonishment – leave it below. Please and thanks.