Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
epic battle
i don't want to give away any of the surprises in this video. i'll just say that you shouldn't stop watching just because you think you've seen the most amazing part. it's pretty incredible.
Monday, February 23, 2009
nica photos
more island splendor.
our sweet ride.
propeller over the caribbean sea, conveying us to corn island.
coral fragment on the beach.
beggar.
shrimp boats.
shipwreck.
crab crossing.
cautionary billboard.
alternative energy.
walking home from school.
our sweet ride.
propeller over the caribbean sea, conveying us to corn island.
coral fragment on the beach.
beggar.
shrimp boats.
shipwreck.
crab crossing.
cautionary billboard.
alternative energy.
walking home from school.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
corn islands
we spent last week sunning ourselves on nicaragua's lovely and remote corn islands. it is an incredible place. the corn islands consist of big and little corn islands, 4 and 1 square miles respectively, located 50 miles east of bluefields in the caribbean sea. each island is surrounded by turquoise water and coral reef, and is populated by a mix of islanders (creole people, laid back, speaking a difficult-to-understand island english) and mainland nicaraguans (referred to by the islanders as spainards).
look for the islas del maiz on the map below.
our activities on the island were few, and included eating, sleeping, reading, swimming, relaxing, and strolling. you'll notice those are the dominant themes of the pictures.
we first visited big corn island. our cabana at la princesa is exactly the sort of home one would want on a tropical paradise island: teak wood, big porch, shuttered windows 20 feet from the ocean.
the view from the porch, complete with dog.
the action in the front yard.
strolling.
eating ceviche.
a good place to enjoy a toña.
little corn island was a similar experience, but smaller, quieter and cleaner. we stayed at casa iguana, which is an incredible self-sustainable eco-lodge. everyone who ever goes to these islands should stay at casa iguana. it is a wonderful experience. our casita was pink, and sat at the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean.
our little house, casita number 50.
the back deck.
the view from the main lodge, where gourmet family-style dinner is served nightly at 7pm.
strolling around the front side of little corn island, waiting for the sunset.
beach.
lobster lunch.
snorkel preparation.
our last night on the islands was spent back on big corn in a cozy little hut at club paraiso.
this is a tropical destination that is everything big resorts aren't. you have to wear a lot of DEET, watch where you step, and try not to pet the dogs (too much), but the rewards are immeasurable.
look for the islas del maiz on the map below.
our activities on the island were few, and included eating, sleeping, reading, swimming, relaxing, and strolling. you'll notice those are the dominant themes of the pictures.
we first visited big corn island. our cabana at la princesa is exactly the sort of home one would want on a tropical paradise island: teak wood, big porch, shuttered windows 20 feet from the ocean.
the view from the porch, complete with dog.
the action in the front yard.
strolling.
eating ceviche.
a good place to enjoy a toña.
little corn island was a similar experience, but smaller, quieter and cleaner. we stayed at casa iguana, which is an incredible self-sustainable eco-lodge. everyone who ever goes to these islands should stay at casa iguana. it is a wonderful experience. our casita was pink, and sat at the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean.
our little house, casita number 50.
the back deck.
the view from the main lodge, where gourmet family-style dinner is served nightly at 7pm.
strolling around the front side of little corn island, waiting for the sunset.
beach.
lobster lunch.
snorkel preparation.
our last night on the islands was spent back on big corn in a cozy little hut at club paraiso.
this is a tropical destination that is everything big resorts aren't. you have to wear a lot of DEET, watch where you step, and try not to pet the dogs (too much), but the rewards are immeasurable.
Friday, February 13, 2009
jcs
we went to the beautiful overture center tonight to see the rock opera jesus christ superstar. on the way, we encountered a few big trucks full of snow. apparently madison is hosting a winter festival this weekend, and the capitol square is in need of a few feet of snow coating. big dump trucks will be delivering snow all night. we took a seat with some good friends at jerome's signature lounge (formerly jj's) to watch the snow delivery action.
after that, it was jesus christ superstar time. here's the lobby of the overture center at intermission.
ahh, king herod's song.
plus, king herod looks just like sean penn from carlito's way.
what's not to love?
after that, it was jesus christ superstar time. here's the lobby of the overture center at intermission.
ahh, king herod's song.
plus, king herod looks just like sean penn from carlito's way.
what's not to love?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
interesting dream
i had a dream last night that included president obama. i don't really remember the details of the dream, but i do remember that he had a mustache. it looked pretty good.
i think i prefer the spelling moustache to mustache.
i think i prefer the spelling moustache to mustache.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
pick a lane, any lane
we took this picture on our recent trip to santa cruz.
i'd be awfully careful if i was that pedestrian.
i'd be awfully careful if i was that pedestrian.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
recession beard
msnbc thinks the beard is back! they think that beards are recession-chic! at least one person i know has sported a beard in both boom and bust. for david, beards aren't a trend. they are a face warmer, a disguise, and a way of life.
behold the david beard in its many iterations:
the graduate-school-studying-for-my-prelim-no-time-for-grooming beard (note general lack of personal upkeep).
the creepy-uncle-dave beard, complete with bloody mary breath.
the dating beard, a useful screening tool to weed out all but the highest quality women.
the martin-van-buren beard.
the california-punk-rocker beard.
not technically a beard, the spring-shearing-mustache is an annual favorite in the staple house.
and, finally, the creepiest thing to ever raise money for children with cancer (and other terminal illnesses), behold the mustaches-for-kids-mustache, or charity-'stache for short.
behold the david beard in its many iterations:
the graduate-school-studying-for-my-prelim-no-time-for-grooming beard (note general lack of personal upkeep).
the creepy-uncle-dave beard, complete with bloody mary breath.
the dating beard, a useful screening tool to weed out all but the highest quality women.
the martin-van-buren beard.
the california-punk-rocker beard.
not technically a beard, the spring-shearing-mustache is an annual favorite in the staple house.
and, finally, the creepiest thing to ever raise money for children with cancer (and other terminal illnesses), behold the mustaches-for-kids-mustache, or charity-'stache for short.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
the upper peninsula's favorite meat pie
what do you do with a surplus of carrots, a bag of sprouting potatoes, aging rutabagas, a bag of yellow onions, and more ground pork and lamb than you can shake a stick at? make pasties! (that's pah-sties, not pay-sties). i made 50 pasties this past wednesday. it was hard work, especially the homemade pastry crust, but they are oh-so-good. now i know why miners in cornwall and michigan's upper peninsula had them for lunch every day.
it's the original hot pocket, but way better. for more on hot pockets, watch this.
it's the original hot pocket, but way better. for more on hot pockets, watch this.Friday, February 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
i lego n.y.
in today's n.y. times (online) there is a photo essay by christopher niemann, entitled i lego n.y. i thought it was very clever. the really spiffy thing it how simple the images are.
the whole thing can be viewed on the n.y. times website.
the whole thing can be viewed on the n.y. times website.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
1 weekend, 2 lakes
we decided to snowshoe out on the lakes of madison for a second day this weekend (see previous post for a description of yesterday's adventure). today we ventured out onto lake mendota to retrace the course of our ill-fated canoe outing this past summer.
the yahara river, which connects lakes mendota and monona. don't geese usually fly south for the winter?
thumbs up lake mendota. maple bluff and the wisconsin governor's mansion can be seen on the distant shore over my right shoulder.
marta emerges from a snow cave someone built on the ice. there is evidence that somebody has downed a whole lot of coors light in there. it wasn't marta and i, we promise.
three trumpeter swans glide past the capitol.
majestic red gym.
memorial union rathskeller.
lake wingra, you may be next...
the yahara river, which connects lakes mendota and monona. don't geese usually fly south for the winter?
thumbs up lake mendota. maple bluff and the wisconsin governor's mansion can be seen on the distant shore over my right shoulder.
marta emerges from a snow cave someone built on the ice. there is evidence that somebody has downed a whole lot of coors light in there. it wasn't marta and i, we promise.
three trumpeter swans glide past the capitol.
majestic red gym.
memorial union rathskeller.
lake wingra, you may be next...
lake monona showshoe
we had a showshoeing adventure on lake monona yesterday. there were many good friends and 3 good dogs trekking in the sun, over the ice, and through the snow.
tired dog.
david celebrated the beautiful winter day with a cartwheel (click to enlarge).
after the trek, andy and aggie hosted us at their beach house. we warmed ourselves with mead and a bonfire.
the power of the change of seasons in wisconsin is abundantly clear while out on a lake. these pictures are taken from the same spot in the same lake. same view, different season.
tired dog.
david celebrated the beautiful winter day with a cartwheel (click to enlarge).
after the trek, andy and aggie hosted us at their beach house. we warmed ourselves with mead and a bonfire.
the power of the change of seasons in wisconsin is abundantly clear while out on a lake. these pictures are taken from the same spot in the same lake. same view, different season.
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