Jack and Ted

I got to meet a couple local celebrities this past weekend; 

I met Ted "the Golden Voice" Williams first, not the baseball player but the homeless who became an overnight sensation for his voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cl_fMxQCTw);

Then later that night i had the chance to meet Jack Hanna (http://www.jackhanna.com/)

After waking up from the nap I took after reading my last post I realized that it was on the slightly boring side. So I decided to write another post this week. Actually it's pictures.

Have you ever seen something or witnessed an event that made you think, "Only here could you see this." Alabama is one of those places.

For instance, this is art in Alabama;

This is how the doctors office takes care of something that can't be cured with whiskey and beer.

A family reunion isn't a reunion without the family photo.

And you just might get more than you paid for at the petting zoo.

Wild Kingdom and Mushroom Rock

           Before I fill you in on my weekend down south, I just want to say congratulations to Mitch Seavey for winning the Iditarod last night. Seavey was the first to pull in to Nome, Alaska late last night with his team of sled dogs after completing the 987 mile race from Anchorage. This was Seavey’s second Iditarod win. The Iditarod is a very impressive race much like the Tour de France it is a test of endurance with the added bonus of harsh conditions and a team of dogs. So as I was walking to my car this morning through less than an inch of snow in 32°F weather complaining of it being cold, I tried to imagine what Seavey and the other competitors must feel like spending a week or more in much worse conditions racing. The race isn’t just for tough old men like Seavey who is only 53 but women and younger competitors. Travis Beals who is just 21 has been running sled dogs since he was four. Then there is Anna and Kristy Berington the 29 year old twins from Wisconsin and National Guard vets who ran this year as well. This was Anna’s first Iditarod and Kristy’s second. Rudy Demoski Sr. the 67 year old Alaskan native ran his first Iditarod back in 1974 competed this year also. It’s just awesome to see such a magnificent race being ran by such a variety of people all having to compete at the same level and endure the same conditions.

            Ok enough of the Alaskan adventure and back to my own adventures. We headed south early Friday morning and arrived at Kelly’s just shy of nine hours later. We ate out with some friends and family then headed to my god parents’ house for a visit before heading back to Kelly’s house for the night. The next day I woke up early, walked and fed Penny, grabbed my gear, and headed further up the mountain for a bit of climbing but when I got there I wasn’t feeling it. I was still tired from what little sleep I got and I wasn’t feeling 100% but I mustard through it and tooled around a few boulders for a little bit before deciding to be done. On my way back I spotted an “L” shaped rock in the middle of a field.  it looked like a fun and easy climb so I parked the car and headed down to it. Now the hike, although it was just a few hundred yards, was treacherous because the field was covered waist deep in thorns. When I finally made it Big L (my unofficial name) I was ripped up from the spiky field and I found that Big L was overgrown which made it not easily accessible without a machete or yard tools. I was discouraged, disappointed and any other “dis” words that has a similar meaning. That is until I saw Mushroom Rock (my unofficial name).  Behind Big L stands a patch of woods and about fifty yards in, far enough you can’t see from the road stood a rock shaped like a mushroom. This structure literally had a stem and cap just as if it was a massive giant fungus growing from the ground. It was if the sun was shining directly on it to make sure I didn’t miss it and it was all mine. Not a soul in sight or another climber to fight with for the best holds. I was immediately amped up and ready to climb.  It turned out to be a fun and easy climb and after an hour or so on Mushroom Rock, with my hands raw, I bid farewell and promised to visit it again someday. That night at the weenie roast I bragged to everyone about my find and showed off some pictures that I had taken.

            Now when people think of Alabama they don’t think of lions and tigers or even bears, oh my, and I admit neither do I. Aside from the elusive mountain lion that does inhabit northern Alabama and the growing black bear population that has recently been hitting the news, northern Alabama is mostly dominated by poisonous snakes, nasty spiders, and wild boar, a wild kingdom of its own kind. But I found that this weekend brought more exotic breeds. Like for instance when we went to the store to by some food for the weenie roast we found ourselves drawn in by a large tent and sign that said, “lions and tigers” so we stopped in and sure enough they had a lion, actually lion cub who couldn’t sit still, a tiger, kangaroo, llama, camel, monkeys, and a white tiger and black leopard that cost a dollar to see, which was worth it. Then on Sunday we visited Noccalula Falls Park that has its own llamas, goats, sheep, deer that I petted, and a large female lion who like to taunt little kids. They also had emus and a not-so-happy bobcat that sounded like a sick old woman. Earlier that day, before we went to Noccalula, I was awaken by the sound of Amber and Kelly yelling and carrying on outside. When I step out there to see what was going on they informed me of a goat that was following a pack of dogs and had chased them through the yard. A few minutes it came into sight. Sure enough this goat was running around with this group of dogs like it was a dog. It was very comical and we laughed probably for a good hour about it.

Monday morning we said our goodbyes and headed north. We travel eight and half hours in the rain and made it home safely. It was a great weekend.   

SPRING! Where are you?

            I know, I know, I know, I’ve been slackin’. What can I say, it was a lazy February. Fighting the weather and trying to make it to the spring is what I did. February is that dreadful month of winter that nobody looks forward to. December is the beginning and everyone is too pumped for the holidays to pay attention to the weather. After the holidays in January when we start watching the weather and we get some good snow storms it looks so nice and white and smooth outside. But then February comes and you’re sick of those wet, cold dreary days. It seems the sun shines less in February than any other month. Maybe because it’s only 28 days (29 every four years) or it’s just me. The days are short and the nights are long. Occasionally you’ll get a little sun and maybe, just maybe if your lucky like we were this year, have a few warmer days that gives you that boost to make it through the rest of the month with the thought that spring is coming. At the beginning of the month of February we get the news from an oversized rodent that there will either be more winter or an early spring. I realize it’s a bit of tradition and some people get into that and some even believe Ol’ Punxsutawney Phil can predict the coming of spring or lack there of, so I’ll leave that one alone. Today is the first day of March, technically not spring for another three weeks this morning reminded me that it is near. It was still a chili morning but not like it has been and the air kind of gave off the slightest hint of spring. The birds were chirping and there is no snow on the ground, although it is still saturated from the mixed weather of the past weeks. The same with every spring I start to plan my outdoor adventures hiking, biking, camping, climbing, and anything else I can find to get my self outside. Amber and I head south next week to the “Heart of Dixie” or Alabama if you didn’t know, to visit my sister. I plan to hit up the boulders on top of Lookout Mountain again this trip and since I got my new fancy camera I’m excited to get some good shots. I hope to beat the sun up there so I can try to get some descent pictures of the sunrise before I start climbing around. Maybe even make a trip over to Noccalula Falls (90 ft. waterfall down the road) and get some shots over there. Other than that I have no major plans, yet, to make it outside. If we get a nice weekend I might dust the wheels off and take my mountain bike for its first ride of the season or dust the paddles off and take my kayak out. It hasn’t hit the water in at least 2 years. Maybe I’ll just strap the back pack on and head into the woods for an overnighter hiking trip. Whatever I do, I’ll be getting outside more often this month, depending on the weather of course. So until next time, is it spring yet?

“I ain’t got nothin’ but the breeze on my face and that’d be all I need”      -Anonymous

Mother Nature doesn't like Dodge Neons

Valentine's Trip

Valentines Day, another hallmark holiday made up so businesses can make some extra cash. So I thought to myself, “why can’t I benefit from this holiday as well?” So I did. Since it was on Thursday Amber and I decided to hold off on doing anything until Saturday, so I parked cars for Valentines Day and did pretty well since I worked a high-end restaraunt in German Village here In Columbus. Then I did it again Friday night. So I had a pocket full of money and a hot lady to take out on the town for Saturday. After relaxing most of the day we were up and getting ready but before, I decided to run to the store to grab a pre-dinner beer. And on my walk home I thought to myself, “why not do a post where I give a little info on my drinks of the evening? Even better I’ll do a trip around the world with my drinks.” So with that statement let me reiterate the fact that I don’t condone drinking and I will stand by my statement that I am not an alcoholic.

            First we travel to Germany, Warstein, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany to be exact. Actually outside of there in Arnsberg Forest Nature Park sits the Warsteiner brewery, Germany’s largest privately owned brewery. It has been owned by the Cramer family since 1753. I picked Warsteiner for one main reason, the glass. Nick sent me this glass straight from the Warstein because Nick's company has their headquarters right next to the brewery. Could you imagine having to work next to a brewery and being able to smell that sweet nectar all day? Mmmmmm. Anyway I chose the lighter Warsteiner since it was a pre-dinner drink.

For dinner, at Nida’s Thai on High, I picked a ginger ale from Japan, a Hitachinio. Brewed by Kiuchi brewery in Naka, Japan where they mix European beer making techniques with traditional Japanese brewing techniques. Not sure it was the right choice for dinner especially paired with sushi but what is? It was a good beer and my first ginger beer as well. Owl you need is a beer.

After dinner we headed down the road to Barrel 44, a whiskey bar here in Columbus. I’ve been itching to try a scotch so I stepped out of my norm of beer and ask the bartender for a scotch drink for a beginner and she handed me a scotch and soda with a twist of lemon. She used Dewar’s White Label which is a littler “smoother” than regular Dewar’s. I’ve come to realize when a whiskey drinker says “smoother” it’s still going to burn when you drink it straight, but with the splash of soda and lemon it was actually pretty good for my first time. Dewar’s is obviously from Scotland up in the Highlands, started by john Dewar in 1846.

Next I head a little south to north Yorkshire, England and picked up a New Castle brown ale which is the most sold brown ale in the UK. I had gotten ale because we ordered a plate of fries and I didn’t think a scotch and soda was the right choice to wash down the hot potatoes strips.

After the fries and drinks we braved the cold and headed home. As old fashioned as this sounds we enjoyed our last drink of the evening, a night cap if you will, a port. For V Day, Amber got me a bottle of Noval Black. Noval Black is a port from Portugal which means it’s a real Port or Porto. A port is wine that has been fortified and left in a barrel in a cave or kahv (Portugal for cellar). The fortification leaves a little more sugar in the wine and boosts the alcohol content. And if you get a port that isn’t from Portugal it’s a generic or knockoff. The name Port comes from the seaport city of Porto at the mouth of the Douro River where it was first exported in the 17^th century.

So I didn’t necessarily go around the world and there are a ton more choices out there from all over but those were mine for the evening and I’ll admit they were all pretty good choices for my first trip. And I felt fine the next day because most of the drinks were spaced out pretty far and before bed I took two aspirin and a glass of water. So until the next trip, cheers.

“I cook with wine; sometimes I even add it to the food.”         -W.C. Fields

Jambalaya

Awe the coldness, it just keeps creepin’. Well actually it has been battling it out with the warmth. Some days its cold and others it’s warm. It literally snowed all day one day last week and was down around 20°F and the next day it topped out at 63°F and melted all the snow. Welcome to Ohio, where you never know what the weather will be like. If it’s cold in the morning you might as well wear some shorts under your pants because it may be hot by noon. If you live in a little more predictable climate or it actually is cold today in Ohio there is nothing better on those freezing days than a hot meal. One of my favorite hot meals is jambalaya. Oh you don’t know what jumbalaya is? Let me put it to you this way; the Cajuns said, “I’m gonna make some spicy rice and add some meat.” Not sure what the original dish contained but you can put anything you want in it. Whether it’s chicken, sausage, seafood, or alligator it’s a tasty hot meal on that cold winter day.

How do you make it? Easy. You buy a box of Zatarain’s Jambalaya Mix and follow the instructions on the back of the box. The box doesn’t come with meat so you add your own, again, your choice. I like mine with sausage. Andouille sausage is the way I go, or with smoked sausage or jalapeno chicken sausage. Now on the back of the box it instructs you to brown the meat (sausage) in one pan and drain. Then it goes on to boil so much water and add an amount of veggie oil as an option. When the water comes to a boil add the rice/spice from the box and the cooked meat. Then it goes on how to finish. The way I do it is I brown my sausage in a sauce pan, remove the sausage and there is a small amount of oil left from the sausage, some might call it grease, or fat juice, whatever you want to call it, that’s what I use instead of veggie oil. I leave that in the pot and add my water, bring it to a boil and add my rice/spice and sausage bring back to a boil and then let it simmer on low heat. Twenty minutes later you have a pot full of goodness. Now I don’t take credit for finding this recipe, me mum used to feed it to me when I was a little lad. Not sure why that sentence had a British tone to it. Oh you say you’re a vegetarian? Don’t add meat. The rice is tasty by itself as well. The best part of this whole meal, it’s cheap and easy as hell to make. So next time you in the sto’ go on and pick you up a box. Not sure how to write in a Cajun way.

 

If you are unfortunate and they don’t have Zatarain’s in your local grocer, you can make your own. There are a ton of recipes on the internet. And you are too lazy and don’t want to make your own or by the box and make that, some restaurants make their own so you can go get theirs. Around the Columbus area there is a restaurant called BJ’s Brewhouse by Polaris mall that serves a very tasty version loaded with a few different meats including chicken, shrimp, and sausage.