Main course was just a "seafood bake" (really more of a "seafood steam"). Mussels, clams, shrimp, crab legs, onions, red potatoes, and fingerling potatoes steamed with white wine and fresh thyme.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Last Pre-Violet Party!
We decided to have a last party at home before Violet decided to show up. This was sort of our equivalent of a baby shower, but we wanted to have something that was both guy and gal friendly.
Main course was just a "seafood bake" (really more of a "seafood steam"). Mussels, clams, shrimp, crab legs, onions, red potatoes, and fingerling potatoes steamed with white wine and fresh thyme.
Main course was just a "seafood bake" (really more of a "seafood steam"). Mussels, clams, shrimp, crab legs, onions, red potatoes, and fingerling potatoes steamed with white wine and fresh thyme.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Savannah
It was kind of a cloudy, dreary, rainy day. We first wandered over to Paula Deen's restaurant, but the lines were crazy long, so we decided that we'd just have to survive our trip to Savannah without consuming three pounds of butter each.
Nearby kitchen shop with a murderous knife stand.
Pecan pie.
Nearby kitchen shop with a murderous knife stand.
Pecan pie.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Georgia State Fair and Savannah
This was the last road trip/vacation prior to the arrival of our munchkin. We wanted to keep it simple and local, so we spent the afternoon at the Georgia State Fair and then drove out to the sea.
Mandatory BBQ stop along the way.
Brunswick stew, pork sandwich, corn bread.
State fair had a neat rabbit show that we didn't see last year.
This rabbit is bigger than a lot of dogs.
Couldn't quite tell how large this one was.
The alpaca contest. In this section, they had fans blowing so you could more easily show off the coat on your alpaca.
Hooking up the milking machine.
This thing was sucking out milk at an impressive rate.
Mmm... meat.
Dole whip. Yum!
They always have these arts and crafts contests where they award blue ribbons for various categories. This entry was among other flower basket presentations, and I would have loved to have given this a blue ribbon! LOL!
No need to comment.
The south is well known for its frying skillz.
Various antique tractors and other farm equipment.
Peach cobbler a la mode.
Fresh squeeze lemonade, corn dog.
Youth livestock show.
Budweiser?
Then it was off to Savannah. It was raining pretty hard when we got in, so we just went to some restaurant/bar across the street from the hotel and got some dinner.
Sue's crabcakes.
My mussels.
Mandatory BBQ stop along the way.
Brunswick stew, pork sandwich, corn bread.
State fair had a neat rabbit show that we didn't see last year.
This rabbit is bigger than a lot of dogs.
Couldn't quite tell how large this one was.
The alpaca contest. In this section, they had fans blowing so you could more easily show off the coat on your alpaca.
Hooking up the milking machine.
This thing was sucking out milk at an impressive rate.
Mmm... meat.
Dole whip. Yum!
They always have these arts and crafts contests where they award blue ribbons for various categories. This entry was among other flower basket presentations, and I would have loved to have given this a blue ribbon! LOL!
No need to comment.
The south is well known for its frying skillz.
Various antique tractors and other farm equipment.
Peach cobbler a la mode.
Fresh squeeze lemonade, corn dog.
Youth livestock show.
Budweiser?
Then it was off to Savannah. It was raining pretty hard when we got in, so we just went to some restaurant/bar across the street from the hotel and got some dinner.
Sue's crabcakes.
My mussels.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Edinburgh back to Atlanta
Get up early, check out, catch the shuttle bus back to the airport.
Nice sunrise coming up over the North Bridge.
Front seat in the top of the double-decker bus.
Frenchie sandwich in CDG.
Nice sunrise coming up over the North Bridge.
Front seat in the top of the double-decker bus.
Frenchie sandwich in CDG.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Edinburgh (Day 3)
Another day of playing tourist. First order of business, hunt down the local farmer's market.
Hunted!
Produce.
Oh deer!
Double entrende.
Cheese.
Fresh breads.
Fresh quail? I don't know my game birds as well as I should.
Sausage.
Seacritters.
More produce.
Time to eat! I ordered myself a "bacon buttie." What's that you ask?
It's basically a bacon sandwich. Bread + bacon.
Add a little mustard and a little brown sauce, what's not to like? (Also, the bacon is cut differently than the usual strips us Yanks are used to.)
More breads.
Scotch eggs. (huh?)
Hard boiled egg, wrapped in meat, breaded and deep fried. Genius!
National museum of Scotland. Really nice free museum. Wandered around for some a while, but I wish I had more time to see all of the exhibits.
They don't like Scientologists o'er there, either.
Lunch time. Edinburgh is right on the water, and as such they have a good supply of fresh seafood. Oysters!
A half-kilo pot of mussels. Mustard and chive flavored. Yum.
Kids being kids and just playing in the park.
Walked over to the train station.
Taxi pickup/drop off round-about.
I thought that this was interesting. Basically a performance report showing percentage of time trains were on time, late within a certain margin, etc. Imagine how ludicrous this would look for any of the train/subway systems in the US? (0%, 0%, 2%, 0%, 1%, ...)
The city observatory. They used to drop a ball from the top of the tower at 1pm so that ships in the harbor could watch and set their clocks (important for old-school naval navigation... sextants and all that jazz). That's also why they fire the cannon at the same time each day in case the weather was too poor for the ships to see the tower. Perhaps this is also where we get the wacky "ball drop" traditions for New Years...
View from a top the observatory over toward Holyrood and Arthur's Seat.
The Romans were here.
View the other direction back toward the castle.
On my way to hike up to Arthur's Seat, the bicycle racks by the parliament building. Looks like random shapes perhaps...
Until you get them all lined up and then they form the shape of a bike.
Slightly muddy in places.
It was actually nice that it wasn't sunny otherwise it would've been too warm.
I don't always choose the wisest/easiest paths to hike.
Up on top!
Made it back down. Time for a refreshing drink. Irn Bru is a Scottish soda that actually rivals Coca Cola here in Scotland. I think this is one of the few non-global products to challenge Coke reasonably well anywhere in the world.
Back over to the castle where they had fire outside the gate now.
Why back to the castle?
This is why. (I was too hungover the previous day to have ice cream as the first thing in my stomach.)
Really good, creamy, old-skool ice cream. Well worth the walk back.
I then made a stop in the cheesy "Scotch Whisky Heritage Center". They had some funny quotes on this cloth. I liked: "Gentleman, I have just met with the most wonderful adventure that ever befell a human being. As I was walking along the Grassmarket, all of a sudden, the street rose up and struck me in the face." -- Lord Rockville, 1877.
Scotch samples included with price of admission.
Cheesy Mr. Rogers-looking model of a Scotch distillery.
Ok, time to eat again. I was hankerin' for some bangers and mash, so that's what I got.
Suds.
Bangers and mash.
There was something on the menu called "mushy peas." I was curious, so I ordered it, and lo-and-behold, it was a big ol' bowl of ... you guessed it, mushy peas. Unfortunately, it didn't have all that much flavor.
Why are potato chip flavors in the US so boring?
Hunted!
Produce.
Oh deer!
Double entrende.
Cheese.
Fresh breads.
Fresh quail? I don't know my game birds as well as I should.
Sausage.
Seacritters.
More produce.
Time to eat! I ordered myself a "bacon buttie." What's that you ask?
It's basically a bacon sandwich. Bread + bacon.
Add a little mustard and a little brown sauce, what's not to like? (Also, the bacon is cut differently than the usual strips us Yanks are used to.)
More breads.
Scotch eggs. (huh?)
Hard boiled egg, wrapped in meat, breaded and deep fried. Genius!
National museum of Scotland. Really nice free museum. Wandered around for some a while, but I wish I had more time to see all of the exhibits.
They don't like Scientologists o'er there, either.
Lunch time. Edinburgh is right on the water, and as such they have a good supply of fresh seafood. Oysters!
A half-kilo pot of mussels. Mustard and chive flavored. Yum.
Kids being kids and just playing in the park.
Walked over to the train station.
Taxi pickup/drop off round-about.
I thought that this was interesting. Basically a performance report showing percentage of time trains were on time, late within a certain margin, etc. Imagine how ludicrous this would look for any of the train/subway systems in the US? (0%, 0%, 2%, 0%, 1%, ...)
The city observatory. They used to drop a ball from the top of the tower at 1pm so that ships in the harbor could watch and set their clocks (important for old-school naval navigation... sextants and all that jazz). That's also why they fire the cannon at the same time each day in case the weather was too poor for the ships to see the tower. Perhaps this is also where we get the wacky "ball drop" traditions for New Years...
View from a top the observatory over toward Holyrood and Arthur's Seat.
The Romans were here.
View the other direction back toward the castle.
On my way to hike up to Arthur's Seat, the bicycle racks by the parliament building. Looks like random shapes perhaps...
Until you get them all lined up and then they form the shape of a bike.
Slightly muddy in places.
It was actually nice that it wasn't sunny otherwise it would've been too warm.
I don't always choose the wisest/easiest paths to hike.
Up on top!
Made it back down. Time for a refreshing drink. Irn Bru is a Scottish soda that actually rivals Coca Cola here in Scotland. I think this is one of the few non-global products to challenge Coke reasonably well anywhere in the world.
Back over to the castle where they had fire outside the gate now.
Why back to the castle?
This is why. (I was too hungover the previous day to have ice cream as the first thing in my stomach.)
Really good, creamy, old-skool ice cream. Well worth the walk back.
I then made a stop in the cheesy "Scotch Whisky Heritage Center". They had some funny quotes on this cloth. I liked: "Gentleman, I have just met with the most wonderful adventure that ever befell a human being. As I was walking along the Grassmarket, all of a sudden, the street rose up and struck me in the face." -- Lord Rockville, 1877.
Scotch samples included with price of admission.
Cheesy Mr. Rogers-looking model of a Scotch distillery.
Ok, time to eat again. I was hankerin' for some bangers and mash, so that's what I got.
Suds.
Bangers and mash.
There was something on the menu called "mushy peas." I was curious, so I ordered it, and lo-and-behold, it was a big ol' bowl of ... you guessed it, mushy peas. Unfortunately, it didn't have all that much flavor.
Why are potato chip flavors in the US so boring?
Friday, September 12, 2008
Edinburgh (Day 2)
Tourist day. Got to a late start due to the previous late night. First things first, off to Edinburgh Castle!
It's only a model. Ssh!
View of New Town from the castle.
The One O'Clock Gun.
Cool vaulted ceiling.
S-words. (Another Connery/SNL Reference.)
Had lunch in the castle restaurant, which was pretty nice for a tourist trap.
Tart version/interpretation of Cullen Skink (a traditional Scottish fish soup).
Haggis, neeps and tatties. (Haggis burried.)
Haggis exposed. (Neeps = turNIPS, tatties = potatoes)
Now that's what I call a cannon.
Where dogs get buried.
Inside a little chapel.
Old cannonballs.
Ok, back outside of the castle on the Royal Mile.
There are lots of parts of this town that are very vertical.
Mmm, local cheese shop.
Assorted vinegars, brines, and other soaked liquids.
Hmm, smells like pork.
This is the way pork should be served. Hello, Mr. Piggy!
Greyfriar's Bobby. Tribute to some dog that kept watch over his Master's grave. Seems similar in spirit to the Japanese dog Hachiko outside Shibuya station.
Singular of grits?
Inside Greyfriar's Kirk.
Greyfriar's Kirkyard. I'm guessing Kirk and Church are related/derivative words?
St. Gilles Cathedral
Heart of Midlothian (sounds like a name from Lord of the Rings). Said to bring good luck if you spit on the heart. Weird.
Inside the aforementioned cathedral.
I just took this photo because one of the computer clusters at school is called the Hebrides (it's a bunch of islands here), but we always remember it as "He-Brides" which sounds more like something sketchy from the darker corners of the Interwebs.
Him of "Wealth of Nations" fame.
There are lots of cool looking alley ways.
I think this was Cannongate Kirk.
The wacky Scottish Parliament building... interesting architecture.
Palace of Holyroodhouse across the street from Parliament.
There were lots of unicorns in the various crests and emblems.
Back to parliament.
Security entrance.
Each of those little windows has a different pattern around it.
Better view of the windows.
Looking through an alley at Calton Hill and the City Observatory.
Somehow I wandered back over to the hind-side of the castle. (I did a lot of walking today.)
Mmmm... Fleshmarket.
Random mug shot.
Ok, dinner. Another random selecton from Lonely Planet.
The real cullen skink.
Unremembered dead animal... might have been sheep/lamb again.
When presented with the option of a side of garlic, always order it.
It's only a model. Ssh!
View of New Town from the castle.
The One O'Clock Gun.
Cool vaulted ceiling.
S-words. (Another Connery/SNL Reference.)
Had lunch in the castle restaurant, which was pretty nice for a tourist trap.
Tart version/interpretation of Cullen Skink (a traditional Scottish fish soup).
Haggis, neeps and tatties. (Haggis burried.)
Haggis exposed. (Neeps = turNIPS, tatties = potatoes)
Now that's what I call a cannon.
Where dogs get buried.
Inside a little chapel.
Old cannonballs.
Ok, back outside of the castle on the Royal Mile.
There are lots of parts of this town that are very vertical.
Mmm, local cheese shop.
Assorted vinegars, brines, and other soaked liquids.
Hmm, smells like pork.
This is the way pork should be served. Hello, Mr. Piggy!
Greyfriar's Bobby. Tribute to some dog that kept watch over his Master's grave. Seems similar in spirit to the Japanese dog Hachiko outside Shibuya station.
Singular of grits?
Inside Greyfriar's Kirk.
Greyfriar's Kirkyard. I'm guessing Kirk and Church are related/derivative words?
St. Gilles Cathedral
Heart of Midlothian (sounds like a name from Lord of the Rings). Said to bring good luck if you spit on the heart. Weird.
Inside the aforementioned cathedral.
I just took this photo because one of the computer clusters at school is called the Hebrides (it's a bunch of islands here), but we always remember it as "He-Brides" which sounds more like something sketchy from the darker corners of the Interwebs.
Him of "Wealth of Nations" fame.
There are lots of cool looking alley ways.
I think this was Cannongate Kirk.
The wacky Scottish Parliament building... interesting architecture.
Palace of Holyroodhouse across the street from Parliament.
There were lots of unicorns in the various crests and emblems.
Back to parliament.
Security entrance.
Each of those little windows has a different pattern around it.
Better view of the windows.
Looking through an alley at Calton Hill and the City Observatory.
Somehow I wandered back over to the hind-side of the castle. (I did a lot of walking today.)
Mmmm... Fleshmarket.
Random mug shot.
Ok, dinner. Another random selecton from Lonely Planet.
The real cullen skink.
Unremembered dead animal... might have been sheep/lamb again.
When presented with the option of a side of garlic, always order it.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Edinburgh (Day 1)
This is the day of the program committee meeting, which is why I'm in Scotland in the first place.
Started the morning with a traditional British breakfast at the hotel, which is very similar to a traditional American breakfast but with some grilled tomatoes and some beans.
View of the castle from the hotel dining room.
Views on my walk from the hotel to the University of Edinburgh.
They've got a really nice building. I really liked the open feeling of it. You can see everyone working, having coffee, etc., which just made the building feel a lot more alive. The copious natural lighting was also a big plus.
Easy access from one floor to the next. I wish the architects for the Klaus building (where my office is at GT) had talked to the guys who designed this place a little more regarding usability and accessibility of work and communal spaces.
Pretty nice spread for lunch.
In between the PC meeting and the dinner for the PC, Rich V. and I got a recommendation for a local pub to swing by for a traditional hand-pulled pint.
Barkeep pulling a pint.
I don't remember the name of the restaurant where we had dinner, but it was pretty upscale. Good food on large white plates. :-)
Random smeared sauce on the side of the plate as is required these days of all top-end joints.
I got a cheese plate for dessert. Some nice local cheeses.
(other people's desserts)
Then we went out for more drinks afterwards.
Pint o' somethin'.
Gotta have some scotch while in Scotland.
Pit-stop at a "chippie" (that's what they call these shops where they pretty much deep-fry anything/everything).
My order of deep-fried haggis glopped with plenty of "brown sauce" (that's what they call it).
Some other place we swung by for some more drinks.
On the walk home, mostly drunk, somehow Sean Connery's mug was really funny to me because I can't look at the man without thinking about those SNL Jeopardy! skits ("Therapist"?).
Started the morning with a traditional British breakfast at the hotel, which is very similar to a traditional American breakfast but with some grilled tomatoes and some beans.
View of the castle from the hotel dining room.
Views on my walk from the hotel to the University of Edinburgh.
They've got a really nice building. I really liked the open feeling of it. You can see everyone working, having coffee, etc., which just made the building feel a lot more alive. The copious natural lighting was also a big plus.
Easy access from one floor to the next. I wish the architects for the Klaus building (where my office is at GT) had talked to the guys who designed this place a little more regarding usability and accessibility of work and communal spaces.
Pretty nice spread for lunch.
In between the PC meeting and the dinner for the PC, Rich V. and I got a recommendation for a local pub to swing by for a traditional hand-pulled pint.
Barkeep pulling a pint.
I don't remember the name of the restaurant where we had dinner, but it was pretty upscale. Good food on large white plates. :-)
Random smeared sauce on the side of the plate as is required these days of all top-end joints.
I got a cheese plate for dessert. Some nice local cheeses.
(other people's desserts)
Then we went out for more drinks afterwards.
Pint o' somethin'.
Gotta have some scotch while in Scotland.
Pit-stop at a "chippie" (that's what they call these shops where they pretty much deep-fry anything/everything).
My order of deep-fried haggis glopped with plenty of "brown sauce" (that's what they call it).
Some other place we swung by for some more drinks.
On the walk home, mostly drunk, somehow Sean Connery's mug was really funny to me because I can't look at the man without thinking about those SNL Jeopardy! skits ("Therapist"?).
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