You can follow their journey around the country on their website. They have access to the net throughout their journey so they are updating their blog with photos and their location on the map.

Exhibit 1.

I was woken up by Jessie and handed a box. Inside the box was a bottle from my favorite whisky distillery, Laphroaig.

What a way to start the morning!

Exhibit 2.

After work, Jessie invited me to meet her down at the lakefront. Surprise! A crowd of friends from work and church were there to enjoy rhubarb pie, ice cream, and fine Wisconsin beverages as the sun set on my special day.

(Note: The above picture is not the actual pie consumed on my birthday. However, this pie was made by Jessie about a week prior.)

Read about it here.

Talk about being connected all over the world. Or something.

Try it! Do you like it?

how to have fun with food

Thanks to Robb for sharing!

Let me leave you with a chunk of text from a chapter called “A Can of Worms” about Mr. Sedaris sitting in a burger place called the Apple Pan in LA with his partner and another friend. Mr. Sedaris was listening to a conversation next to him about the can of nematodes discovered on the Texas plains that had survived the explosion of the space shuttle that was intended to bring them into space. Mr. Sedaris, having been told you are supposed to eat the pie backwards (ending with the tip) and make a wish on it ponders what he would wish:

… I stayed out of it, thinking of what might have been had I not wasted my wish. A laboratory filled with sensitive equipment. Men in white coats, trembling with hope and wonder as they lean forward, catching the sound of one small voice. ‘Come to think of it,’ the worm says, ‘I do remember seeing something suspicious.’”

(p. 210)

I can’t do the book justice, but there you go. A peek into Mr. Sedaris’ writings. You should really read the book. Robb, having read Me Talk Pretty One Day (another Sedaris’ book that Cathy loaned him for his trip) informed me that Sedaris reminds him a lot of me: his way of thinking, etc. I think that is a compliment, but I can only hope so be as witty as Mr. Sedaris. Oimoi…

Other news. Today is Robb’s birthday. He spent the day in Cambridge visiting historic sites and treated himself to a pint of cider at The Eagle Pub (formerly known as the Eagle and the Child) where Francis Crick and James Watson “discovered the secret of life” notably the structure of the DNA helix. They also visited Trinity College and saw an apple tree which descended from Sir Isaac Newton’s apple planted on the campus. Robb also enjoys stained glass, so their trip to King’s College made for a great treat. Hopefully he writes about it because he was really excited about its beauty, history and theology.

Also. Robb bought me 4 oz. of Earl Grey tea. He said that I will really enjoy it. Mmm I have the bestest friend.

I miss him.

‘The Swing’

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,	5
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—	10
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

 

  Robert Louis Stevenson

I decided to find out how much my blog is worth (I did this about 1 year and 7 months ago, according to Word Press, and I think it was worth only $0. Quite an improvement.):

My blog is worth $1,129.08.
How much is your blog worth?

I wonder if I can cash in my blog and get some money. It would be helpful for paying back loans.

I decided to help Robb figure out how much his is worth (maybe it will encourage him to start blogging again!):

Robb’s blog is worth $1,693.62.
How much is your blog worth?

Oh dear! Robb, wasn’t it worth a bit more?

And for you Apple geeks, they just released Safari 3 Public Beta for, not only OsX, but Windows too!

But let me catch you up on what is happening in my life since I returned from Europe and got engaged.

Robb and I have decided on moving to Madison, Wisconsin where we will both persue our higher degrees. For him, a PhD in Genetics and for me a MS in either Nutrition or Food Science (or perhaps even completing the Dietetic Internship!) Robb will move away in August and I will stay home where I will continue to work until our big day in January. If anyone has some grand advice for budget wedding planning, I would love to hear it. Or honeymoon advice. That would be nice. We are thinking of flying to the San Juans. I like that, although it will be chilly in January!

Robb and I have put together a website for our friends and family who want to read about the wedding. Granted, it will be a small wedding and not everyone will be invited. But at least I don’t have a lot of friends I will be disappointing.

Right now, wedding planning is consuming most of my life. But that is to be expected. Plus, with Robb going to Europe for 3 weeks (his turn now) and then leaving in August I am left on my own to plan. But I have the most lovely bridesmaids and maid of honour. We are going dress shopping soon to figure out how to meet my criteria for a perfect bridal party. I need my ladies to (1) love their dresses (2) be able to wear their dresses again (3) not spend too much. Anthropologie is probably our best bet. I think the ladies will like that.

Robb and I also have begun pre-marriage counseling. Which is awesome. We are to read some books, ones that Robb and I have already read, actually. I just re-read the book for women called “For Women Only” which is an insightful book for any woman about the inner workings of men. Not only did it help me understand Robb more, but my father and brother as well!

Other exciting things, Cathy and I went to the Chocolate & Zucchini cookbook signing in the U-District. The event coordinator when to town and baked several of Clotide’s recipes [delicious!]. Here is a photo Clotide took of the display and if you look closely, I am the girl in the back wearing a maroon t-shirt with some white writing on the top & Cathy is to my left, wearing black [of course!] I highly recommend picking up a copy of the cookbook for yourself! The cookbook is a great addition to her website as she includes all new material (besides a few favourites including the Cacao & Zucchini Absorption Pasta that Jamie and I loved to cook last year).

A funny story, the day before the book signing, I was in a massive bicycle accident. I was going down a steep Redmond hill on my way to the podiatrist to pick up my new insoles (how very responsible of me). Let me set the scene: it was mid-morning and raining (of course) but traffic was not too terrible. Now remember, I bike this hill every day for work: up and down. I know this hill and I honestly pray every single time that God will keep me safe and deliver me to where I need to go. I don’t remember if I didn’t pray or I was just not paying attention but that day was different. I was about to make a sharp turn onto another street (a street I don’t even like to go down when I am driving!) and I was braking and just about ready to turn when I realized that I wasn’t moving but I was falling to the ground. I ended up being really lucky. There were no cars behind me! A gentleman who is a trained first response person was first to my rescue and helped me to the sidewalk. 911 was called. An off duty firefighter also came to my aid to make sure i didn’t have a head injury. Then Robb’s dad happened to be driving by, saw me and pulled over. I was taken such good care of that day. I ended up getting six stitches above my left eye and was left with a badily bruised left arm and a black eye. I did go to work the next day, but I was in so much pain and looked terrible I went home early.

Oh boy! But I am quite thrilled that my scar is healing nicely and that the black eye finally fully went away after two weeks.

But enough about me… how are you?