The Jesus Lizard SHOW @cat's cradle

Holy Boilermakers, y'all. I purchased tickets to last night's Jesus Lizard show at the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill as soon as they became available months ago. I waited patiently (boy, it was hard) for the moment to arrive. It came last night. I haven't rocked this hard since, well, maybe Mastodon or Drive-by Truckers a couple years back.

Not knowing what to expect (how can those guys still be alive?) we filled our bellies with some of the seasonal delights at Crook's Corner and pints of beer. Upon entering the Cradle (perfect timing, of course) I was greeted by some old Wilmywood friends (what up, Lesley, Tully and Scott) and was instantly thrown back into Jacob's Run-era rock zone. I made my way to the bar, purchased a few PBR's for me and the boys and by the time I turned around they had started playing. Again: Holy Crap, y'all.


My basic instank was to run for the front row. When I got there I was greeted by metal gates and Springsteen-esque security guards. I rocked. Held up my PBR's like a homing beacon for my friends (in case anyone was looking for me) and immediately began warding-off sweaty college boys who wanted to know was thrashing in a pit was like. I was 19 again. The picture above was taken after I removed myself from what I thought was lead singer David Yow's lugee-hucking zone. (Good luck with that one.) He's pictured here dangling from a fan bolted to the ceiling while being passed around singing, "I can swim."
Me and the boys at the Show. Hell yes. I'm the dork wearing the shirt from the concert AT the concert. I think I can wear this shirt in front of the kids: "Mickey is killing war and the Jesus Lizard is a nickname for a lizard that runs on water like the superhero Jesus." Convinced the boys to hit OCSC from here where Charlie and I tore the juke box a new arsehole.

Mouth breathing.Photo credits to a one-armed Dennis. Welcome to the broken clavicle club.

Okay, okay, so here's the review: See The Jesus Lizard live now. This show was amazing. It's like they remastered their live shows. David Yow is everything you expect and more. I was amazed at how clean and tight the sound was. They played all my favorites. It's hard to describe the show without the words "fucking" and "rock." 'Nuff said.

Lois O'Brien is Hermione Granger

Lois O'Brien Millard IS Hermione Granger.

Dress-up at school today was your favorite literary character. Luckily I was able to throw this ensemble together with items totaling $3 from the local thrift store and a cut-in-half Dracula cloak with pinned-on Hogwarts crest. Chop stick wand and book number 5 (unread: we're on #4) loaded with actual Hermione spells c/o Potter nerd sites.

fried green tomatoes over grit cakes with Carolina Treet buttermilk sauce

Tonight's supper was so delicious I had to take a picture of it. I walked around the garden today and picked some green tomatoes, ripe plum tomatoes and swiss chard. I decided to saute' the chard with the plum tomatoes and some garlic. Then I roasted some asparagus (if it's on sale and looks good, I'm buying). I made the fried green tomatoes using a combination of the Lee Bros. and Bill Smith's recipes and served them on top of some grit cakes. As if that wasn't enough, I made a buttermilk sauce (I bastardized this recipe) to put over them. I made a few modifications and used the following:

1 C apple cider vinegar

2 Tbsp organic raw demerara sugar (reg. is fine)

put over med heat and let dissolve and get turn almost to a syrup

then add:

3/4 C mayonnaise

3/4 C buttermilk

1/4 C Carolina Treet barbecue sauce

2 scallions or other green onions sliced thin

let simmer for a short time and serve over tomatoes or on the side.

bon appetit!

backseat photo shoot

Want to make the ride to the mall fly by? How about giving the kids your iPhone and let them have a photo shoot in the backseat? One minute, Charlie! I've got to fix my hair.

Cheeeeeeese

Upon seeing this service truck Charlie declares, "Ooh, look. It's Mister Fancypants!"

Picasso at the Nasher

the view from our lunch table at Parker and Otis after our visit to the Nasher

Last week we took our friends Bryan and Jenn to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University in Durham, NC. We took in the Picasso and the Allure of Language exhibit. If you're in the Central NC area I suggest you hit this. First, you get to see some Picassos. Second, you're at the Nasher, which has a great permanent collection, as well. Third, you get to hear Gertrude Stein read her poem, IF I TOLD HIM. I loved this. The whole time I was thinking, "She's not reading it at all as it's written," which fascinated me. You have to read poetry out loud to get it, and it's the best when you can get it straight from the author. Jenn and I listened and giggled and wondered:







Shutters shut and shutters and so shutters shut and shutters and so and so shutters and so shutters shut and so shutters shut and shutters and so. And so shutters shut and so and also. And also and so and so and also.







I've tried to read Gertrude Stein a couple times and haven't had luck in understanding much of it. Jenn revealed the same to me. This made me feel much better as we were leaving the museum en route to Parker and Otis for lunch. Bryan suggested we read PICASSO by Gertrude Stein. If I liked Gertrude Stein's book would he like it if I told him I liked it?

Snakes are out

Chip lifted the kids' tee-pee frame from the ground, set it back up and when he looked a little closer realized he'd pinned a juvenile Copperhead between the cedar posts and rope. Looks like you dodged one there, honey. Notice the green-tipped tail. That camo is amazing at this time of year. Watch out, y'all. Snakes are out.

Happy Birthday, Charlie Bear!

Today is our son Charlie's fifth birthday. I dare you to tell me he's not the cutest little boy EVER. Happy birthday, Charlie bear. We love you soooo much!

Being there (at the grocery store)

The past two times I've been shopping at my local grocery store, Lowes Foods, I've heard Wilco. Not just in my head (what's new) but actually playing through the muzak speakers. First it was You Never Know, off Wilco (the album) and then this gem today. What the heck is happening here? Am I wrong to question this? Have I really entered the realm of adult alternative, or is grocery store music actually getting better? Hmmm. I recorded my grocery experience so I could share it with you:

Download now or listen on posterous

being there (at the grocery store).m4a (2007 KB)

Posted via email from Krista's posterous

Carnie ride videos from Tweetsie Railroad

Here are some freaking awesome videos from our trip to Tweetsie Railroad. The first is O'Brien on the go-cart track and the second is from the infamous tilt-a-whirl.

Tweetsie Railroad funfest

Despite the look of horror, O'Brien loved the ferris wheel.

Charlie Bear a.k.a. the Red Baron

We got to Tweetsie Railroad at 9 am sharp and enjoyed the first train ride.

Tweetsie Railroad was an incredible experience for the whole family. We took in all they had to offer and had a blast. The day was gorgeous- 65 degrees and sunny. Tweetsie Railroad is nestled between Boone and Blowing Rock, NC. It's one of those places that everyone in NC has gone to at some point in their childhood. We were so excited to share the experience with our children. Here's a link to Tweetsie's history if you'd like to learn more.

Perhaps you'd like to share your Tweetsie experience? Just post a comment. C'mon, don't be scared! The Indians aren't gonna git ya.

Get your PBS on

me at the Grand Canyon in 1986

I hope you've been watching The National Parks: America's Best Idea on PBS this week. If you haven't, I hope it's because you've been taping it to watch later. Maybe you are holding out until your DVDs arrive in the mail. In any case, Chip and I have been hooked once again by Mr. Burns (Ken, that is) and his genius. One of my favorite contributors is Shelton Johnson, a park ranger in Yellowstone, whose descriptions of transcendent moments there will blow you away.



I love Ken Burns documentaries. I remember watching Baseball in college, which was quite a feat considering I had to convince the four ladies I was living with to let me hog all that TV time away from 90210 and Friends. My favorite part of this one, however, is snuggling up on the couch with my husband and watching it together. There are parts of this documentary where you think to yourself, "how on earth did they get away with flooding part of Yosemite?" or "damn, we are a terrible, terrible, species on this earth" but then the series brings you back to the people who lived and died to give us these parks.



I am deeply grateful I had to opportunity to see the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone on a cross-country trip when I was 13. I am still moved when I see those images in my mind. This documentary has brought all those memories back to me. I can't wait to travel one day with my husband and kids to Yosemite some day. I wonder what our kids will say when they see Crater Lake.



Sure, our Country is kinda fucked right now. We all have friends who have been laid off or are struggling to make ends meet. There are troops fighting and being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq today. I have lost almost all of my faith in our Congress. Yet, watching this documentary each night while seated next to my "babee" I am reminded that there are people out there who care about preserving beauty. There are good people everywhere. There are places we can go, if for only a moment, where you can forget about all the bad shit. (How's that for eloquence?)



Thanks, Ken Burns, for another work of art.

Ayden Collard Festival. Part two: parade pics

The USMC marching band

Gators 'n neck tats

NC State Senator Don Davis


The coolest dude in the parade