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What an appropriate title to follow up my last post! I got the opportunity to cover the Obama event today. Pretty cool is all I can say! And the photos to are finally here!
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8 years ago
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Thursday, November 27, 2008
My Redneck Thanksgiving!
Mom kicked the bird out of the house this year because she didn't have enough room for it in the oven!
For those of you who might remember from last year...we had to call the Butterball Lady (Mitch's Mom) for advice as to why our bird wasn't cooking property. Basically it boiled down to too many fixings in the oven at the same time.
So this year Dad got full permission to breakout the Turkey Fryer.
For those of you who might remember from last year...we had to call the Butterball Lady (Mitch's Mom) for advice as to why our bird wasn't cooking property. Basically it boiled down to too many fixings in the oven at the same time.
So this year Dad got full permission to breakout the Turkey Fryer.
It's been bubbling at 350 since about 10:30am. After a marinade injection, we dropped it like it was hot around 11:15am.
Dad's been outside ever since because we're afraid we're going to catch the block on fire!
So far so, good! Be sure to watch the video! I apologize in advance...I shot the video the wrong way! Just tilt your head to the right and you'll be just fine!
So far so, good! Be sure to watch the video! I apologize in advance...I shot the video the wrong way! Just tilt your head to the right and you'll be just fine!
Our First Thanksgiving without Monk!
It's finally happened...Kimberly has stayed in the burbs for Thanksgiving!
What that means for us...A quiet house, but no one to wash or oil up 'Thomas the Turkey.'
Mom tried her best...but I think she fell short. Usually Kimberly puts on quite the show!
What that means for us...A quiet house, but no one to wash or oil up 'Thomas the Turkey.'
Mom tried her best...but I think she fell short. Usually Kimberly puts on quite the show!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Thursday, October 9: Chillin' in Nafilio
All travelers need one day where you do nothing...and enjoy every minute of it! For us, that day was today. After sleeping in and me hearing about how Ryan was thirsty because 'someone' drank all of our water...(Hmmm...wonder who that was?) We got ready and found a little cafe for some yummy breakfast.
We decided at breakfast we would stroll the town, shop and just see where the day took us. By lunch time we had seen almost every street in the old town, bought plenty of gifts for family back home and watched some fishermen unload their catch (one fish at a time) at the pier.
We decided at breakfast we would stroll the town, shop and just see where the day took us. By lunch time we had seen almost every street in the old town, bought plenty of gifts for family back home and watched some fishermen unload their catch (one fish at a time) at the pier.
Our guide book recommended a small 'appetizer' bar for lunch. We arrived and the place was packed. Just one lone table for us to snag on the street. Ryan ordered a beer, I a water and we shared a the famous sampler platter. Basically, every Greek small bite you'd ever want to try. We had olives, beans, meatballs, zucchini balls, cheese pie, TZATZIKI, etc...So yummy, even Big Bird agreed!
After lunch we walked the long, but scenic way to the rocky beach at the back of Nafilio. From the town you'd never know it was there because it's on the other side of the cliff face. It was late in the afternoon so we only stayed for a short time before driving up to the castle.
We could have walked some 900 steps to the top of the castle, but we were lazy and took the winding road to the top. I made a stupid mistake by keeping my flip flops on. The castle was very steep and polished rocks paved the sidewalks. It was rough, but I made it! And ended up with some great shots of the city.
We didn't drive back into town right away, we headed to a second beach outside of town to watch the sunset. Dirty beach, pretty sunset right over the mountains.
It was back to town and the 'Mansion' for dinner, a cafe for more barrel wine and to bed...
We head back to Athens tomorrow!
After lunch we walked the long, but scenic way to the rocky beach at the back of Nafilio. From the town you'd never know it was there because it's on the other side of the cliff face. It was late in the afternoon so we only stayed for a short time before driving up to the castle.
We could have walked some 900 steps to the top of the castle, but we were lazy and took the winding road to the top. I made a stupid mistake by keeping my flip flops on. The castle was very steep and polished rocks paved the sidewalks. It was rough, but I made it! And ended up with some great shots of the city.
We didn't drive back into town right away, we headed to a second beach outside of town to watch the sunset. Dirty beach, pretty sunset right over the mountains.
It was back to town and the 'Mansion' for dinner, a cafe for more barrel wine and to bed...
We head back to Athens tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 8: The Drive to Nafilio
We busted out of Olympia this morning and headed to the beach. Today it wasn't as windy as on Tuesday, so it was quite nice laying on an entire beach by ourselves! I love the off season!
After packing it up we hit the road for a drive through the mountains and back towards Athens. We needed gas so we stopped at a station and the Full Service Man came out. No one pumps their own gas in Greece. It's a flashback to the 70s and early 80s. They ask you how much and you just chill in the car. I decided to take a photo of the gas prices and a Grecian trucker was amazed that I would do such a thing. I tried to explain to him that while gas back home in the states was almost $4.00 a gallon we were paying close to $9.00 a gallon in Greece. He really didn't get it and he walked away thinking I was crazy. Oh well!
Back on the road, we took another wrong turn and ended up driving an hour and a half detour back to the main road through mountains and small towns. The terrain is so steep I still haven't a clue how most of these people managed to get their building supplies to these towns.
I was starting to get a bit car sick so we stopped for gas and I started driving to Nafilio. We were going to visit another mountain town, but decided against it since our detour put us a little behind schedule.
Rolling into Nafilio was an adventure. It's a small town situated at the end of a rocky cove. About 8 streets run parallel from the sea and one street is slightly more elevated than the next. We had no clue where our hotel was so we took the map, parked the car and headed into town. As we searched for our hotel, we happened to stumbled upon one of the 5 hotels that was also owned by the same hotel 'chain.' (I don't feel right calling it a chain, because it wasn't, but I think you get my point!)
The nice reception guy took us to another one of the properties for a room only to find out he took us to the wrong one. So, he then led us to the next property and a new guy took us up to the second floor, but really it felt like the fourth floor because we seriously climbed three staircases to get to our room. The room was huge. It ends up being in an old house that is well over 250 years old. The floor is at a slight angle, but we have an awesome street view.
Nafilio is a strolling town. We took several walks to the pier and around town. Our guide book said that we just had to find the 'Honey Man,' but once again Lonely Planet was wrong and we never did find the 'Honey Man.' (Paging Rick Steeves...Why don't you write a Greece book my friend? If you don't want to PLEASE call me. I'll do if for you for a 'small' price! I just want to let you know this is my FIRST trip to Europe without you and your lack of commitment to Greece really put a damper on my planning!)
Ryan and I made an awesome discovery at dinner tonight, Grecian barrel wine! In various small towns in Greece you can order a liter of barrel wine (red, white or rose) for as little as 3 euros. Well I forget, I think we had 2 1/2 liters tonight, but I can't really remember. By the time we made it back to the hotel, Ryan went to brush his teeth and I drank the rest of the water in our bottle and fell asleep. Little did I know when Ryan returned to the room he was a little upset about how I drank all the water and he was left with nothing...
Finders keepers baby!
After packing it up we hit the road for a drive through the mountains and back towards Athens. We needed gas so we stopped at a station and the Full Service Man came out. No one pumps their own gas in Greece. It's a flashback to the 70s and early 80s. They ask you how much and you just chill in the car. I decided to take a photo of the gas prices and a Grecian trucker was amazed that I would do such a thing. I tried to explain to him that while gas back home in the states was almost $4.00 a gallon we were paying close to $9.00 a gallon in Greece. He really didn't get it and he walked away thinking I was crazy. Oh well!
Back on the road, we took another wrong turn and ended up driving an hour and a half detour back to the main road through mountains and small towns. The terrain is so steep I still haven't a clue how most of these people managed to get their building supplies to these towns.
I was starting to get a bit car sick so we stopped for gas and I started driving to Nafilio. We were going to visit another mountain town, but decided against it since our detour put us a little behind schedule.
Rolling into Nafilio was an adventure. It's a small town situated at the end of a rocky cove. About 8 streets run parallel from the sea and one street is slightly more elevated than the next. We had no clue where our hotel was so we took the map, parked the car and headed into town. As we searched for our hotel, we happened to stumbled upon one of the 5 hotels that was also owned by the same hotel 'chain.' (I don't feel right calling it a chain, because it wasn't, but I think you get my point!)
The nice reception guy took us to another one of the properties for a room only to find out he took us to the wrong one. So, he then led us to the next property and a new guy took us up to the second floor, but really it felt like the fourth floor because we seriously climbed three staircases to get to our room. The room was huge. It ends up being in an old house that is well over 250 years old. The floor is at a slight angle, but we have an awesome street view.
Nafilio is a strolling town. We took several walks to the pier and around town. Our guide book said that we just had to find the 'Honey Man,' but once again Lonely Planet was wrong and we never did find the 'Honey Man.' (Paging Rick Steeves...Why don't you write a Greece book my friend? If you don't want to PLEASE call me. I'll do if for you for a 'small' price! I just want to let you know this is my FIRST trip to Europe without you and your lack of commitment to Greece really put a damper on my planning!)
Ryan and I made an awesome discovery at dinner tonight, Grecian barrel wine! In various small towns in Greece you can order a liter of barrel wine (red, white or rose) for as little as 3 euros. Well I forget, I think we had 2 1/2 liters tonight, but I can't really remember. By the time we made it back to the hotel, Ryan went to brush his teeth and I drank the rest of the water in our bottle and fell asleep. Little did I know when Ryan returned to the room he was a little upset about how I drank all the water and he was left with nothing...
Finders keepers baby!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
The Bridal Shower of the Century!
My sister's bridal shower was exactly 1 week after I returned from Greece & Turkey.
Talk about a lot of stuff to do in a short, sleep deprived time!
I decided to throw Kimberly a Wine Tasting Shower.
Talk about a lot of stuff to do in a short, sleep deprived time!
I decided to throw Kimberly a Wine Tasting Shower.
Us Dunton girls don't enjoy showers that go on for hours, have 20 games to play and only consist of cake and awkward conversation, so I decided to spice things up!
About 30 of Kimberly's friends and family members attended and were treated to a five course wine and hors d'oeuvre menu. Kimberly opened her gifts as we made our way through the parings.
Kimberly had a great time but is now racking her brain to try and figure out what she should do for my shower. She said that she was also going to throw a wine tasting shower, but now she's not quite for sure because I 'STOLE' her idea! (Tough cookies Chicken! You're getting married first so I got the upper hand on this one!)
Kimberly is also bummed because I got her the SAME gift she was going to get me. A frame that spells out her future married name by using architecture. :)
Kimberly had a great time but is now racking her brain to try and figure out what she should do for my shower. She said that she was also going to throw a wine tasting shower, but now she's not quite for sure because I 'STOLE' her idea! (Tough cookies Chicken! You're getting married first so I got the upper hand on this one!)
Kimberly is also bummed because I got her the SAME gift she was going to get me. A frame that spells out her future married name by using architecture. :)
Knowing Kimberly, she'll top me this summer when she throws me my shower, but for now I'm basking in the glow of success!
Tuesday, October 7: Ancient Olympia
No hot water this morning!
We woke up early to visit the ruins of the ancient Olympic games and after I ran the shower water for about 4 or 5 minutes I came to realize that I would have to ‘rough’ it this morning.
In Greece (as in many European counties along the Southern Mediterranean coast) homes, businesses, hotels, etc…have solar powered hot water heaters on the roof. Go Earth! But what that also means, is if you’re staying at a hotel and other people beat you to the shower, and the sun’s only been up for about an hour, hot water can be limited.
No worries…Once we figured that out, we took evening showers.
We woke up early to visit the ruins of the ancient Olympic games and after I ran the shower water for about 4 or 5 minutes I came to realize that I would have to ‘rough’ it this morning.
In Greece (as in many European counties along the Southern Mediterranean coast) homes, businesses, hotels, etc…have solar powered hot water heaters on the roof. Go Earth! But what that also means, is if you’re staying at a hotel and other people beat you to the shower, and the sun’s only been up for about an hour, hot water can be limited.
No worries…Once we figured that out, we took evening showers.
Ancient Olympia was an experience. We strolled along the gymnasiums, visited the spot where the Olympic torch is lit for each modern games and Ryan raced like a champ at the old Olympic Stadium.
After our visit we took to the back roads and made our way to the Ionian Sea and enjoyed a picnic lunch and some sun.
Later on, we drove into another beach town for dinner...
...and then chilled once again on our balcony with the ‘street bats.’
Opa, Oh Snap, Oh my!
My first volleyball game back from Greece...Unlike David Letterman’s Oprah-Uma Oscar joke, the Opa-Oh Snap showdown proved successful… especially for Dig This .
“We took the time to develop our strategy,” said Dig This captain Kevin Thomas. “With DTVS (Dig This Volleyball System) in place, we will execute our Season 2008 goals.”
Despite an overwhelming deficit throughout the match, one member of Big Dogs known only as “Oh Snap” insisted on talking smack. “Hey Superman! Didn’t I steal your lunch when we were kids,” Oh Snap yelled at Brad Bishop.
“At first I thought the guy was just kidding but then I saw Brad crying,” said Brandon Croegaert. “Brad told me they went to school together, but wouldn’t say anymore.”
Bishop had no comment.
This game marked the return of chin-bumper Melissa Dunton, who - by some reports - was in a rehabilitation facility in Greece.
“I love this team. I love gyros. I’m gonna…” Dunton slurred before running to the locker room.
Question marks now surround Dunton and her return to the team.
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