Week 11

I am very excited to report that this week I got to finally meet my friend Jack Hooper's fiancé Linda!  They made us dinner, and we got to chat and what-not.  Heartfelt thanks to Jack and Linda for having us over and feeding us a delicious meal of hummus, salmon (Darrell had the salmon), eggs, broccoli, and beans + rice.  It was wonderful; I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Linda is quite a catch, Jack Hooper!  Congratulations to the happy couple.  :^)

I also got to meet Baxter, Linda's Shiba Inu.  I insisted he be in the picture above, because he's so darn cute, and he is Jack's furry little friend.

It's very cute.

In case you would like to see a Shiba Inu puppy's fuzzy little butt, click here.

Week 10

We tried out the new restaurant downtown, Taste of Italy.  It is an Italian bar.  I had salad and spaghetti, which were mostly unremarkable.  However, the breadsticks are something to write home about.



Afterward, we went to the bank, and I spotted a wall that beckoned me.  So, I climbed it.  I felt quite proud of myself.

The end.

Week 09

Feeling less than adventurous this week lead me to a nearby home store I've heard good things about, Southeastern Salvage.

We saw some "vanilla bean" hardwood that tickled our fancy, and I enjoyed the copper sinks.  It'll be a while before we can get that kind of stuff, though... still working on peeling the wallpaper.  Blegh.  But a girl can daydream, right?

I can't find a picture on the internet of vanilla bean hardwood flooring, but it looks a lot like tigerwood, only darker darks and blonder blondes.

More info on Southeastern Salvage here.

Week 08

This weekend was spent in Chattanooga.  First, we'd gone off in search of Stubbs Artificial Limbs.  However, Stubbs eluded us.  (We'll find it another time.)

So, I thought it over and realized that there is a monument right off the interstate entrance ramp in my hometown, Lookout Valley, that I've always wanted to explore.  We found it, and then discovered US Boundary NPS signs as well as an old, faded Cummings Bottom sign.  So, we explored on foot!



We walked a fair distance, and then headed back.  Later, we looked up more info, and there is an old cemetery further in, Fryar Cemetery.  Hopefully, we'll get to explore that on a day when the weather is more cooperative.

I couldn't find any links for more information about Cummings Bottom.  I found that it has Civil War historical relevance, but not much more than that.  If anyone has any more information about it, please send it my way. 

Week 07

Discussing new places to go with Jessica at work, she recommended a little joint called Hot Diggity Dogs off Ewing in Nashville.  It was a fun little place to eat.  I had two soy dogs with yellow mustard, and Darrell had two all-beef hot dogs with cheese.  We both had French fries, and they were mighty tasty as well.

My only qualm was the amount of waste our meal generated – 4 styrofoam hot dog containers and two styrofoam cups.  I'm thinking they should reevaulate their serving packaging there... it could save them some money and save a lot of waste.

However, it was still a very worthwhile venture.  My stomach was pleased!  Thanks, Jessica.  :^)

More info at www.hotdiggitydogstn.com.

Week 06

For this week, Darrell and I visited somewhere I've heard only good things about – Las Paletas.

I was a bad quasi-vegan, and I had a Mexican Caramel paleta.  Darrell had cantaloupe.

They were indeed mighty, mighty tasty.  What a treat!  More Las Paletas info here.

Week 05

This week brought me to Memphis to the Cook Convention Center for the AIGA Make|Think conference.  I was frightened to be alone in a "networking" atmosphere, but I found a good balance between some socialization, learning, and introspection.  Plus, I got to make a print with Jim Sherraden from Hatch Show Print and draw a monster with Stefan G. Bucher of 344 Design.

My feet hurt.  I have strange, asymmetrical cramps in my left foot, right shin, and left hip.  I'm tired.  But, I'm hopeful and re-energized about the work I do.

Click here for more pictures from the conference.