Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Turkey Run
It's pouring down rain but I just got back from a hike through Turkey Run State Park. The park is located approximately an hour west of Indianapolis on the Wabash river.The river and all of the creeks flowing into it have cut amazing gorges into the landscape.
The hike started off crossing the river on a suspension bridges and then quickly got lost in the maze of creeks, gorges, valleys and hills in the park.It was raining so water, lots of water, was flowing every where. I ended up fording every creek multiple times.
The trail ran into a waterfall but a ladder was cleverly provided so that one could continue the hike.There was so much water that my initial choice of trail had to be changed. The way was blocked by a torrent of water racing down a narrow and slippery looking funnel.
I ended up at an abandoned coal mine before crossing the suspension bridge and returning home. I'll have to go back when there isn't so much water falling from the sky.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
My Goslings
I wake up each morning to some visitors in my backyard. Goslings now and ducklings very shortly.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Fogo de Chao
I've been ruined.
When we were up in Minneapolis this week one of my co-workers insisted that we go to Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steak house. My first reaction was to question just how good of a place this was going to be. I'd never heard of it before.
We walked in the door and were quickly ushered to our table. Fortunately we had reservations. They quickly brought out our drinks and then led us to the ample salad bar. It was full of good traditional American salad bar stuff but then it had loads of Brazilian dishes as well like cured meats, palm hearts, fresh farm cheese, green salsa and much more.
Time for the main course. We were each given a flip card - green for go, red for stop. A flood of chefs/waiters, maybe as many as twenty, poured out of the kitchen doors and stormed the restaurant. Each with his own wand of skewered meat. If they saw your meat card green side up, they would race to fill your plate. Every cut of meat imaginable from lamb chops and sausages to rib eye and fillet. Each morsel was perfectly cooked with meat at the top end of the fire roasted skewer well done and at the bottom rare. Just say what you like.
The attempt is to try every cut of meat offered but you quickly feel like you've gorged yourself on a whole bison. Just a flip of the card to the red side and the waiters will avoid you like the plague while you catch your breath and take a break. Flip the card back to green and once again they trip over each other to serve you.
This first rate service says nothing of the deliciousness of the meal. The meat was perfectly marinated, some in a brine, some with a dry rub and so each piece melted in your mouth. While the salad bar could easily be a meal in itself, this is a place for carnivores! The meat was so good that I have been ruined from all other meats. Nothing I've had before quite compares.
The restaurant apparently has a long history, and I can only be thankful that we will shortly have one of our own in Indianapolis. The service, the meal (delicious and all-you-can-eat), the experience could easily demand $80 or more a plate. It's that good. But, it is more moderately priced at $44 a plate. None of us felt the slightest bit of remorse at the price, especially since the man picked up the check.
Dinner concluded with a decadent dessert called Tres Leches - Three Milks cake. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. If you come visit me in Indy, remind me about Fogo de Chao and we'll go have dinner there. I'm always up for good food and good company.
When we were up in Minneapolis this week one of my co-workers insisted that we go to Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steak house. My first reaction was to question just how good of a place this was going to be. I'd never heard of it before.
We walked in the door and were quickly ushered to our table. Fortunately we had reservations. They quickly brought out our drinks and then led us to the ample salad bar. It was full of good traditional American salad bar stuff but then it had loads of Brazilian dishes as well like cured meats, palm hearts, fresh farm cheese, green salsa and much more.Time for the main course. We were each given a flip card - green for go, red for stop. A flood of chefs/waiters, maybe as many as twenty, poured out of the kitchen doors and stormed the restaurant. Each with his own wand of skewered meat. If they saw your meat card green side up, they would race to fill your plate. Every cut of meat imaginable from lamb chops and sausages to rib eye and fillet. Each morsel was perfectly cooked with meat at the top end of the fire roasted skewer well done and at the bottom rare. Just say what you like.
The attempt is to try every cut of meat offered but you quickly feel like you've gorged yourself on a whole bison. Just a flip of the card to the red side and the waiters will avoid you like the plague while you catch your breath and take a break. Flip the card back to green and once again they trip over each other to serve you.
This first rate service says nothing of the deliciousness of the meal. The meat was perfectly marinated, some in a brine, some with a dry rub and so each piece melted in your mouth. While the salad bar could easily be a meal in itself, this is a place for carnivores! The meat was so good that I have been ruined from all other meats. Nothing I've had before quite compares.
The restaurant apparently has a long history, and I can only be thankful that we will shortly have one of our own in Indianapolis. The service, the meal (delicious and all-you-can-eat), the experience could easily demand $80 or more a plate. It's that good. But, it is more moderately priced at $44 a plate. None of us felt the slightest bit of remorse at the price, especially since the man picked up the check.
Dinner concluded with a decadent dessert called Tres Leches - Three Milks cake. It definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. If you come visit me in Indy, remind me about Fogo de Chao and we'll go have dinner there. I'm always up for good food and good company.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Trekking Morgan-Monroe
I decided to explore one of Indiana's state forests and so I geared up for an 11 mile hike through the woods. Morgan-Monroe State Forest is located approximately 45 minutes south of Indianapolis and offers a number of hiking trails.
People taking advantages of the public lands can go hiking, hunting, mushrooming, gold panning, camping and a variety of other activities. Along the trail I found some wild garlic which gave me foul breath for the rest of the day.
Signs of spring were everywhere however faint.
About six miles into the hike my cell phone rang. It really startled me because I hadn't seen another person the whole time and I had forgotten that I was even carrying my phone. Amazing what kind of cell reception is possible when you are in a flat state like Indiana.
The person on the other end had some exciting news. One of my favorite FFA chapters had just won the state parliamentary procedure competition. I do miss teaching and the connection with students but at least I can live vicariously through others.
People taking advantages of the public lands can go hiking, hunting, mushrooming, gold panning, camping and a variety of other activities. Along the trail I found some wild garlic which gave me foul breath for the rest of the day.
Signs of spring were everywhere however faint.About six miles into the hike my cell phone rang. It really startled me because I hadn't seen another person the whole time and I had forgotten that I was even carrying my phone. Amazing what kind of cell reception is possible when you are in a flat state like Indiana.The person on the other end had some exciting news. One of my favorite FFA chapters had just won the state parliamentary procedure competition. I do miss teaching and the connection with students but at least I can live vicariously through others.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Shaking Things Up
I was awoken this morning thinking I had been transported to a very cheap hotel with a vibrating bed. Immediately, I new what was happening and judged it to be a quake not worthy of immediate action.
The epicenter registered 5.2 on the Richter scale but after traveling 170 miles through the ground the vibrations reached Indianapolis were noticeable and rather fun. Later that morning a four point something aftershock rocked then center and started a flurry of murmurings that rose above the cubicle walls.
Only last week I had the pleasure of sitting through an hour long briefing on the company emergency preparedness plan. Curiously, when the aftershock struck no action was taken. I guess that by the time the powers that be flipped through the sixteen page plan to find earthquake actions steps, the 12 second tremor was long since finished.
The epicenter registered 5.2 on the Richter scale but after traveling 170 miles through the ground the vibrations reached Indianapolis were noticeable and rather fun. Later that morning a four point something aftershock rocked then center and started a flurry of murmurings that rose above the cubicle walls.
Only last week I had the pleasure of sitting through an hour long briefing on the company emergency preparedness plan. Curiously, when the aftershock struck no action was taken. I guess that by the time the powers that be flipped through the sixteen page plan to find earthquake actions steps, the 12 second tremor was long since finished.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Papal Visit
D.C. was the place to visit this week. Business took me to our nation's capital on Wednesday, the same day on which Pope Benedict XVI arrived.
We were trying to get around downtown but they had completely closed off Pennsylvania Avenue along which the Popes motorcade was scheduled to ride. We walked forever trying to get across to our 11:30 appointment.
We followed the route for more than a half an hour and ended up missing seeing the Pope by only ten minutes. I'm not sure which I would have been more excited to see, the Pope of the Popemobile.
The crowd was enormous. I believe Catholicism is alive and well in the Spanish speaking world. The Latino community was out in full force to welcome his Holiness. They were singing and dancing up a storm.
We were late to our meeting but we did make it eventually. All of our meetings went well and it was a really nice day to be walking around D.C.
We were trying to get around downtown but they had completely closed off Pennsylvania Avenue along which the Popes motorcade was scheduled to ride. We walked forever trying to get across to our 11:30 appointment.We followed the route for more than a half an hour and ended up missing seeing the Pope by only ten minutes. I'm not sure which I would have been more excited to see, the Pope of the Popemobile.
The crowd was enormous. I believe Catholicism is alive and well in the Spanish speaking world. The Latino community was out in full force to welcome his Holiness. They were singing and dancing up a storm.We were late to our meeting but we did make it eventually. All of our meetings went well and it was a really nice day to be walking around D.C.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Aggies are everywhere!
I just landed in New Hampshire and who did I sit next on the plane? None other than Dennis Quaid. Either that or an incredible look-a-like. And what did he happen to be reading? The latest issue of Dairy Herd.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
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