Well, it's been a good weekend. Yesterday was the Rocheport Wine Stroll. This annual event offers folks the opportunity to pay a flat fee, get a wine glass, then wander around from store to store (mostly antique stores) trying wines from different wineries. It is The Event in town.
However, we have sort turned it into The Anti-Event at our house. Most locals choose to do one of two things during the weekend -- help local merchants sell things, pour wine and distribute snacks, or leave town altogether. Although it is just one Saturday evening, it gets VERY crowded. Tracy and I, however take a third option -- we sit on our balcony, have some drinks and watch everyone walking around town. People check in right next to our house, and folks in line will talk to us, or ask us where to go, and we try to be as charming as possible. This year, we were joined by our friends Candy and Alan, who were perhaps more charming yet.
The Stroll was interrupted this year by a lot of rain, but folks still seemed to have a really good time. A local friend stopped by as the evening was slowing down and we went inside the house for a bit. Then, after Alan and Candy had returned home to their kids, Tracy and I went down the the General Store which had more dancing than I had ever seen in that small place. The band was great, including a young man who played the electric violin beautifully, including plucked like a guitar. It was great fun.
If you're free next year, come join us.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday Letter - 9/14/10
Some quick thoughts:
\OMAHA
It was really great. Tracy and I had a wonderful time. The zoo was too crazycrazycrazy crowdedbusy to go on Sunday, so we postponed it for a day. We visited some other Omaha civic space on Sunday, including the pedestrian bridge across the Missouri. I'm sure Tracy will tell you about the otter. Sunday's zoo visit was terrific. We got there early, and saw lots of active animals, including Hoho, the world's neediest sun bear:
Thanks again to the very friendly people of Omaha.
FOOTBALL
Ah, the season is upon us, and it makes me very happy. Sam Bradford acquitted himself nicely. Oklahoma and Missouri won. Central Methodist lost. SOUNDLY. Marshfield High School is 1-2, but that just makes my iffy seasons look better. I'm just glad that we are back in the season!
ROOMBA
Tracy surprised me today with a Roomba robot vacuum and robot mop. I have wanted a Roomba since I saw my friend Dan's some years ago. And, we are in a really good house for it with all wood floors. So, she got some cheap and I am really excited. Mr. Cogswell would be so proud.
\OMAHA
It was really great. Tracy and I had a wonderful time. The zoo was too crazycrazycrazy crowdedbusy to go on Sunday, so we postponed it for a day. We visited some other Omaha civic space on Sunday, including the pedestrian bridge across the Missouri. I'm sure Tracy will tell you about the otter. Sunday's zoo visit was terrific. We got there early, and saw lots of active animals, including Hoho, the world's neediest sun bear:
FOOTBALL
Ah, the season is upon us, and it makes me very happy. Sam Bradford acquitted himself nicely. Oklahoma and Missouri won. Central Methodist lost. SOUNDLY. Marshfield High School is 1-2, but that just makes my iffy seasons look better. I'm just glad that we are back in the season!
ROOMBA
Tracy surprised me today with a Roomba robot vacuum and robot mop. I have wanted a Roomba since I saw my friend Dan's some years ago. And, we are in a really good house for it with all wood floors. So, she got some cheap and I am really excited. Mr. Cogswell would be so proud.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday Letter - Omaha Edition
Tracy and I are in Omaha this weekend. It was a trip we had planned to take for Memorial Day, but Mom's memorial service wound up being that weekend. So, now we have finally made it. I don't think either of us has ever been here (I know we haven't as adults) and we are really impressed. We are staying downtown, and have really enjoyed the area.
Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the "Old Market" area -- old downtown with lots of new shops and restaurants -- where there was a farmer's market. It was the sort of farmer's market with fewer people who brought produce they have grown, and more people who brought in jewelry they have made. It was crazy crowded, and my occasional claustrophobia kicked in, but I survived and I think Tracy had a nice time. Then we walked through some of the shops, and wound up having lunch at a nice brew pub.
In the afternoon, we visited the Durham Museum, which is the old Union Station from downtown. It was a little unfocused -- sort of a combination of train museum, science museum, local history museum, etc., -- but everything was really well crafted, and I was quite charm. There was an installation designed by the Field Museum in Chicago about naturna disasters that was really neat. But I think my favorite display was about the history of football in Omaha. It included one of the three Heisman trophies won by Omaha natives. Throughout the museum, the exhibits were clearly geared toward engaging the patron in different and effective ways. I highly recommend it if you get the chance.
Last night we had a whole lot of fancy sushi for a lot less than we expected to pay (always a nice surprise) and a crab-based appetizer that Tracy really enjoyed -- it has been a long time since I have seen her got so excited by a new taste. We followed that up with tasty ice cream. Today we plan on going to the zoo.
I think the real uniting theme for our time here so far has been the very friendly people. We have probably encountered two dozen-plus people in retail- or service- based exchanges, and each of them has been extremely friendly and gracious. Some you would expect -- the lady in the fancy art gallery gave us good suggestions for a lunch place, and the guy at the candy store in the museum threw in a couple of extra caramels. But others have been less likely -- our hotel is totally crazy with little kids here with their families running rampant, but the staff has been good-natured and welcoming. Even at the too-hip-to-be-cool sushi place (where one might expect good but quiet service) the waitress engaged us in a good football conversation. Nice job, Omaha.
On a side note, I had to replace my phone this week. It turns out my smart phone doesn't do well being totally submerged in water. So, through the insurance plan, I got the same model, an HTC Touch Pro. I have to say, I still like it -- it does what I want, and it has the slide-out keyboard which I prefer, and which the new HTC products are moving away from. And, I have been able to set it up as a wifi-router while we are in a hotel that charges for Internet access. Very nice.
Yesterday (Saturday) we went to the "Old Market" area -- old downtown with lots of new shops and restaurants -- where there was a farmer's market. It was the sort of farmer's market with fewer people who brought produce they have grown, and more people who brought in jewelry they have made. It was crazy crowded, and my occasional claustrophobia kicked in, but I survived and I think Tracy had a nice time. Then we walked through some of the shops, and wound up having lunch at a nice brew pub.
In the afternoon, we visited the Durham Museum, which is the old Union Station from downtown. It was a little unfocused -- sort of a combination of train museum, science museum, local history museum, etc., -- but everything was really well crafted, and I was quite charm. There was an installation designed by the Field Museum in Chicago about naturna disasters that was really neat. But I think my favorite display was about the history of football in Omaha. It included one of the three Heisman trophies won by Omaha natives. Throughout the museum, the exhibits were clearly geared toward engaging the patron in different and effective ways. I highly recommend it if you get the chance.
Last night we had a whole lot of fancy sushi for a lot less than we expected to pay (always a nice surprise) and a crab-based appetizer that Tracy really enjoyed -- it has been a long time since I have seen her got so excited by a new taste. We followed that up with tasty ice cream. Today we plan on going to the zoo.
I think the real uniting theme for our time here so far has been the very friendly people. We have probably encountered two dozen-plus people in retail- or service- based exchanges, and each of them has been extremely friendly and gracious. Some you would expect -- the lady in the fancy art gallery gave us good suggestions for a lunch place, and the guy at the candy store in the museum threw in a couple of extra caramels. But others have been less likely -- our hotel is totally crazy with little kids here with their families running rampant, but the staff has been good-natured and welcoming. Even at the too-hip-to-be-cool sushi place (where one might expect good but quiet service) the waitress engaged us in a good football conversation. Nice job, Omaha.
On a side note, I had to replace my phone this week. It turns out my smart phone doesn't do well being totally submerged in water. So, through the insurance plan, I got the same model, an HTC Touch Pro. I have to say, I still like it -- it does what I want, and it has the slide-out keyboard which I prefer, and which the new HTC products are moving away from. And, I have been able to set it up as a wifi-router while we are in a hotel that charges for Internet access. Very nice.
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