West Virginia Gets a Bad Rap

Last weekend Troy and I celebrated our anniversary. It's hard to believe it (and it makes me old when I say it) but we have now been together for 14 years!

Each year we try to take some time out to commemorate this accomplishment and to get away from it all. We've had some great trips over the years. Most notably, a couple of years in a row at a fantastic "Bed-n-Beach" on the Oregon coast which had a hot tub overlooking the ocean.

For the last two years in Virginia we've gone to Bear Mountain Farm. It's been great but I was looking for something a little less expensive since we have to save for Belgium now. I lucked out and found a Craigslist posting for a reasonably priced little cabin near Franklin, WV.

Unfortunately we had brake trouble on the mountain on the way down (about 15 miles from our destination). It was pretty scary. We pulled over after smelling burning rubber and there was smoke billowing out of the front tire. Having no cell reception, we ended up having to press on to the next town.

We were lucky enough to find a guy at the gas station (pretty much the only business in town) who knew a mechanic down the road. They couldn't reach the mechanic by phone so the guy offered to drive Troy over there. So I sat with the car at a gas station for a while, feeling a bit uncomfortable (kept thinking I was hearing banjos).

Eventually Troy came back and then the mechanic, Dan Pope, (who in the words of my dad ended up being a "helluva guy") drove up on his Harley and took a look at the car. He figured our caliper had seized up on the mountain and would need to be replaced. We set up a time to go to his house (he works out of his front yard) to have it fixed the next day and moved on to the cabin, using engine braking and the e-brake over the next mountain. Yikes.

We finally arrived safely at our destination. It was a really cute cabin with all the comforts of home and a big deck outside. We grilled some food and were thankful--we made it in one piece and some really good people salvaged our weekend.


After we got the car fixed on Saturday, we stopped at a nearby lake. It was hot so we thought about swimming but didn't end up actually going in, just drank a beer by the water.


Because there was some funny business going on...


Later that day I kicked back on the deck with a book and Troy went for a 10 mile bike ride where he had to navigate cattle guards and chicken coops. Each of us has a different way of relaxing I guess.

Troy planned a wonderful dinner on Saturday night. He made a delicious jerk marinade and grilled a pork tenderloin. And then we finished the night by staring up at the stars on the deck while sipping Oregon Pinot Noir.

Here's Troy preparing the grill.

And the final result. Mmmmmm.


I think the next time we're in West Virginny we'll have to check this place out.

Springtime Visitor

My dad recently drove down from Minnesota to visit us. He got here the Saturday before Easter and stayed for a little over a week. He made it here it what I would consider record time. He left late Thursday evening and was here by 11 a.m. on Saturday. Only Troy's dad has driven faster, one time making it all the way back to MN from C-Ville in one shot despite the fact that it is a 21 hour drive! Pretty hardcore.

On Saturday evening we went to Flint Hill to see Courtney. Her mom happened to be visiting too and our parents know each other so we thought it would be fun for all of us to get together. My dad used to date Courtney's mom back in the day. Courtney and I were 16 at the time and we were scheming to get them together because we thought it would be really cool if we could be sisters! It didn't quite work out as we had planned but our parents have remained friends and so we had a really nice visit. We all enjoyed the pretty drive through rural Virginia.

Courtney happened to be babysitting a little pug puppy for a relative. It was really cute to see the puppy interact with Paisley, Courtney's 9 year old pug. Both Troy and I were ready to take this adorable and ridiculously sweet and cuddly puppy home with us.


On Sunday we took a drive to the Blue Ridge and introduced dad to Turk Mountain. He thought it was a pretty steep hike but in the end agreed that the view was worth it.



And of course no trip to the Blue Ridge is complete without stopping for beer (and this time pizza with brats, caramelized onions and apples) at the Blue Mountain Brewery!



Dad didn't have the greatest weather most of the week while he was here but he walked around town a bunch and got to know some more of C-Ville's restaurants. His favorite breakfast joint still turns out to be the Nook. He also tightened up a few of our dining room chairs and helped Troy fix his bike. Nice to have dads around for things like this!

Dad also brought our Christmas present down, a custom-made cabinet to hold wine glasses and bottles and with a cabinet below for dishes. Since he retired 6 years ago he's really gotten into woodworking. It turned out really great.

Our friend Dave's mom was also visiting while my dad was here. They were nice enough to have us all over for dinner one night. We were treated to his mom's delicious Italian cooking -- yummy lasagna along with fresh roasted peppers and mozzarella.

It seems we did a lot of eating and drinking while my dad was here. One thing my dad can't get enough of is eating or drinking beer alfresco. Over the course of the week we did a lot of this. We sat outside at Blue Mtn Brewery, Beer Run, Escafe, and finally Horse & Hound.


On dad's last night we got to see our friend Joe play some music at Durty Nelly's. Joe especially likes to do Hank Williams tunes. My dad loves Hank Williams--and I grew up listening to him sing Hank songs so they have a special place in my heart too. Dad also gets a kick out of Joe, so we ended up having a really good time. All in all it was a really nice visit.

Belgium Bound!

For those of you who haven't heard our exciting news, Troy just found out he got a Fulbright fellowship to study in Gent, Belgium next school year with the Logos Foundation! We are still reeling from the news.

There are still lots of details to be ironed out. The biggest one--how exactly we'll live together on a meager stipend in an expensive European town. But I'm hopeful that we can figure something out. It's an incredible opportunity for Troy, who will continue his music robot-building with some real experts. I'm looking at it as a fabulous opportunity for both of us to experience a different culture for a while. And of course we are very much looking forward to the amazing beer and chocolate!

West Virginia Wimmin's Weekend

Our friend Catherine's mother owns a lovely B&B--in Davis, WV called the Bright Morning Inn. To celebrate her birthday this year, Catherine invited 6 girlfriends to stay there for a weekend. I was one of the lucky girls.

It's a long drive to Davis--about 3 1/2 hours on very windy, mountainous roads in the rain--but it was well worth it. Catherine's mom had wonderful food and hospitality waiting for us.

The Inn is a quaint and comfy place, with an impressive breakfast menu. I was really excited to try ramps for the first time in an omelet and with some fried potatoes too. Yum!

The Inn is situated in the gorgeous Canaan Valley. We ventured out for a long hike on Saturday in the Dolly Sods wilderness area which is unusual and beautiful in its abundance of pine trees. Interestingly, its vegetation resembles that of Canada more than that of the rest of W. VA. It was COLD and windy but we bundled up and had a blast.



We also went to Blackwater Falls State Park to see the gorge and the waterfall. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera when we were at the waterfall but there are some great pics online. It was pretty spectacular, really rushing with all the recent rain and melting snow.


Before heading back on Sunday, we stopped at a nearby wind farm to get a closer look at the windmills. It was pretty spectacular to see them up close.


One of the coolest parts of the trip was getting to meet a lot of new and interesting women. Catherine has assembled a pretty diverse group of great girlfriends and it was fun to meet and spend time with them. This was a good reminder for me of the importance of making time for my female friends and family members. I am very thankful for the connections that I have with the women in my life. These bonds are really significant--they truly help to nourish my soul.

Absurdity outlawed in VA

***with apologies to those who have already been subjected to my diatribe on this matter***

I am not a runner. Along with the fact that I don't like running, my flat feet and bad ankles have helped to ensure that I refrain from this activity. However, my new year's resolution to travel at least 2009 self-powered miles (by foot, by bike, by kayak, etc., (and when pressed for time by NordicTrack or treadmill)) this year has motivated me to run sometimes. My semi-nocturnal sleep schedule often puts me in a position where the other house inhabitants are sleeping and the NordicTrack is not an option. At such times, I most often opt for a walk or bike ride, but if I need a good calorie burn and some miles in a short time, I've come to the reluctant conclusion that running is the most efficient option.

But again, I am not a runner. So I must trick myself into this mode by coupling it with an absurdist act. And anyway, I lack proper running attire. Thus:


The HazMat suit was made in 1982 for use by the Dutch military. Three were acquired from American Science and Surplus for use as performance attire for EMMI, but Scott and Steve haven't enjoyed the heat, incovenience, discomfort, or odor of these uniforms, so they're seldom used. The teddy bear, Emmett, is Lissa's and seemed an appropriate prop with which to counterbalance the paramilitaristic connotations of the hazmat suit. The teddy bear is there to reassure everyone that it's okay--they are in the presence of a gentle guerrilla.

But the beauty of this suit is not merely cosmetic. As you might imagine if you've never tried it, this suit really ups the heat and sweat quotient of running. And the gas mask forces a kind of controlled breathing that is extremely difficult to maintain. Running in this suit, I feel like I'm in constant danger of drowning in my own sweat and suffocating in my own exhalations. So it's perfect. It makes a moderately unpleasant experience so ridiculously challenging and uncomfortable that I can't help but love it.

And so, on several occasions I've subjected neighbors and townsfolk to the spectacle of an out of shape maniac jogging around Charlottesville in this outfit. I took the costume along to Atlanta and did a post-midnight run around the campus of Georgia Tech. And I became hooked to the point that I recently went to a local running shop to have my gait analyzed and get a pair of proper running shoes.

Running in the wee hours minimizes my contact with other non-costumed humans. But I'm happy to report that among those I have encountered, the reactions have not been of fear or disgust, but of glee, laughter, and delight (or at the very least, a tentative smile). I believe our typical modes of interaction are needlessly constrained and mundane, to the point of being stifling, and that there is a serious need for at least mildly disruptive absurdity in our daily lives. I'm proud to be doing my civic duty toward this end.

While I had anticipated the possibility of being hassled by local law enforcement, a number of cops drove by me on my initial runs without so much as slowing down.

Until, outfitted with my new running shoes, and enjoying my best hazmat suit run to date, an officer of the University Police passed by me, turned on his cherries, whipped a U-ie, and pulled me over on the sidewalk of Roosevelt Brown Boulevard (right near our old place on Grove Street). He got out of the car cautiously, and told me to keep my hands where he could see them. He had me slowly remove my mask. Then he told me, "I'm going to need to look under your teddy bear, sir." For him, the teddy bear did not make it all okay, but was instead an ideal place for a perp to hide a weapon.

I asked if there was a problem; if I was violating the law in any way. Much to my surprise, he informed me that I was in violation of Virginia state law forbidding the wearing of masks in public on days other than Halloween. I questioned whether he was somehow joking, which he assured me he wasn't. I explained how this attire was absolutely essential to my training (how could I possibly run a marathon in this suit if I couldn't train in it?!?). He encouraged me to find a gym(!). We went back and forth a little longer, me trying to find some loophole that would make running in the gas mask legal, and him assuring me there wasn't. The officer was very civil and respectful, and seemed to have my safety in mind--he was convinced that some of his colleagues in the C'ville PD would react much more harshly should they encounter me. He didn't charge me with anything, and let me go on the condition that I promise not to put the mask back on. I complied, and walked home disheartened and no longer in the mood to run.

Returning home, I jumped online to do some research. Sure enough:

VIRGINIA Section 18.2-422:
Prohibition of wearing of masks in certain places; exceptions.
It shall be unlawful for any person over sixteen years of age while wearing any mask, hood or other device whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, to be or appear in any public place, or upon any private property in this Commonwealth without first having obtained from the owner or tenant thereof consent to do so in writing. However, the provisions of this section shall not apply to persons (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes; (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons; (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball; or (iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device. The violation of any provisions of this section shall constitute a Class 6 felony.

A Class 6 felony? As in, a crime worthy of prison time and the loss of voting rights?!? Wow. Turns out, VA and several other states adopted such laws decades back to help rid themselves of the KKK. While I'm all for getting rid of the klan, and this may have been an expedient means to that end, I'm appalled at the degree to which this law constrains free expression. Let me be clear--I may occasionally write letters to elected officials when I disagree with their actions or policies, and from time to time will join friends in taking to the streets to protest unjust, unnecessary wars. But when, in a supposedly free country, it is deemed unlawful to peaceably don a mask, the core of my being is offended, and I will act accordingly to fight this with all available means. As my mentor at the University of Oregon once said, everyone has to be a passionate activist for some cause. Jeff is anti-tofu. I'm pro-mask.

Now, had I been familiar with this law on the night of my run in with the man, I would have been able to defend my mask as lawful on several counts:

per exception (i) wearing traditional holiday costumes:

The officer in question can be forgiven for being unfamiliar with the customs of The Church of 82, the Most Exalted Arbitrarily Chosen Number of Cosmic Significance, of which I am founder, head, and ordained reverend. But let it be known that donning a gas mask, teddy bear, and associated accouterments and engaging in the act of running, "anywhere, anytime, and for no reason at all" (in tribute to Zappa) is a well established holiday tradition among our faithful.

as to exception (ii) engaged in professions, trades, employment or other activities and wearing protective masks which are deemed necessary for the physical safety of the wearer or other persons:

Robots are dangerous. That's why the members of EMMI are supposed to wear their hazmat suits at all times. While Scott and Steve may be cavalier about their personal well-being, "safety first" has always been my motto, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let our beloved but sinister machines launch a sneak attack on me while I'm out running.

perhaps most obviously, (iii) engaged in any bona fide theatrical production or masquerade ball:

How the officer failed to appreciate his unwitting participation in an act of street theater is beyond me. To make this clearer in the future, I've made some new business cards:

(it's difficult to capture well with my camera, but the engraved acrylic is designed to show up well under a maglight. I've added "street performer" to my list of specialties to clarify the theatrical nature and intent of my runs.)

and finally,(iv) wearing a mask, hood or other device for bona fide medical reasons upon the advice of a licensed physician or osteopath and carrying on his person an affidavit from the physician or osteopath specifying the medical necessity for wearing the device and the date on which the wearing of the device will no longer be necessary and providing a brief description of the device:

I'm looking for a licensed physician willing to write a note explaining how my poor physical fitness and unique psychological disposition necessitate the wearing of this apparatus indefinitely. Please get in touch with me if you can connect me with such a doctor.

And, should I be stopped again for this infraction, and my legitimate exceptions not be recognized, all the better. While the law has apparently already been unsuccessfully challenged in the Virginia Court of Appeals and US District Court, I can think of several local free expression advocates who would love to take it to the next level.

So on that note, I best get back to getting some of my degree requirements out of the way so I can clear my schedule a bit in preparation for this potentially lengthy court battle. And continue to spread love and joy to humans and kittens alike.

Birthday Pizza

Since we had already done some celebrating in Florida and Richmond for Troy's birthday this year, he decided that for his actual birthday dinner (the 24th) he wanted to stay home for dinner to grill up some pizza. It was another Cook's Illustrated recipe and it turned out really fantastic! And according to Troy, Mary and Jeff's old grill that they gave us when they moved was the perfect grill for the job. Thanks guys!

The pizza was loaded with fontina, parmesan, smoked mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil. The "sauce" is actually a spicy olive oil that you brush on. Mmmmmm.....


After dinner we met some friends for drinks at the 12th Street Tap House. Troy's new favorite place in town to hang out. Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate!

Is This Guy Doing Something Illegal?

It depends on what state you are in...

Some of you already know this story but here's a visual to go with it. I've been waiting for Troy to post the details on this one. He's better at rationalizing absurdity than I am.