dbrycegh

Last night I tried to replicate a dish from my favorite casual Mexican restaurant in New York. They called it "budin poblano," which is a bit of a misnomer because it's not like a pudding at all. It did resemble a small cake, though, so maybe that's where they got the name.

Anyway it's a stack of tortillas layered with chicken, refried beans, sour cream, and mole. I served it with my ridiculously simple Ro-Tel and frozen corn combo. It turned out really well, I'm psyched because I have missed this dish so much over the years.

( Here's what I did. )

Mmm, just as good on day two. It's kinda rich though, more of an occasional craving killer than a regular menu staple. Oops, I forgot to take a picture again tonight. Tomorrow, if I remember, I'll add one.

Yesterday Laura suggested that we could come back home a day early, and that's what we did. She gets more time with the kids this way, and our own bed sounded quite a bit better than one more night and morning at Comfort Suites. So even though the trip was great fun and we enjoyed it, we headed on home yesterday.

But not before climbing to the top of Looking Glass Rock. My legs were still a little worn out from Tuesday's bike trek, so I was going kinda slow by the time we reached the summit. But it was worth it. The path opened up onto bare stone, sloping gradually to the cliff drop like a beach with sky instead of ocean. It may not have been the highest peak in sight, but standing on the brink, I was on the very edge of the planet. I felt the earth turning beneath me, scraping the sky as it went. It was exhilirating.

The four hour car ride home, while not exactly exhilirating, did give us a chance to sit still for a while, and by then I was quite appreciative of that. We made it home in time to tuck the kids into bed. They were happy to see us. Lydia seemed to have done way more than three days' worth of growing up. She's been bursting with Lydiacity today too, she treated us to a dance marathon. I'm so glad we didn't miss her this morning.

We started today with a ride on the trails at Bent Creek, in Pisgah National Forest. The trail we were on climbed up along a ridge and eventually circled Lake Powhatan. It was nice and shady, and the path itself was double-wide and gravel.

I have no idea how high it was or how much the elevation changed over our ride, but it was a lot more than we're used to. It was pretty challenging, but fun, we just walked the bikes when we had to. It was mostly just really long uphill stretches for the first half, and then of course much more downhill on the second half. My hand is actually a little sore from all the braking coming back down. It was great fun to do, the only drawback was that I was so focused on the road that I didn't see as much of the surrounding forest as I maybe would've liked. The air did me good anyway, though.

After that we headed back to Biltmore. We had a little snack, did the winery tour and sampled a few wines, and explored the old farm buildings out there. After a quick change of clothes, we dined at the inn. Oh man, what a meal. My brain quivered from the sensations my mouth was sending it. Sweet pea and wasabi soup. Crisp frog legs with goat cheese cake, apricot marmalade, and bell pepper tapenade. Prosciutto wrapped pheasant breast with smoked onion potato puree, broccolini, and carrot jus. NOM. Not quite ready for dessert, we took a brief constitutional around the grounds while the sun started toying with the idea of setting. Then coffee and a peanut butter bananas foster sundae.

We're missing the kids, but apparently they're having a great ol' time with their grandparents. Hopefully they're having as much fun as we are. Can't wait to hug 'em though.

Laura and I are in Asheville, NC for a few days, while her mom and stepdad watch the kids. Apparently that's going pretty well, the kids have reportedly been "little angels."

Today we went to the Biltmore and toured the house and gardens. As a residence, it's ludicrously opulent of course. It was cool seeing the servants' areas and imagining all the bustling it must've taken to operate everything. Resetting the bowling pins for the family and guests had to be one of the more humbling tasks, I imagine. And I can't imagine trying to cook for fifty or more people on a coal-burning stove.

Looking at all the luxury through modern eyes, it's easy to feel judgmental. I do think this level of indulgence is excessive and selfish. But back then it was admired and celebrated even more widely than it is today. Granted, the estate has certainly stimulated the local economy, and the family was charitable beyond that. But my admiration was tainted as I looked around. It would be harder to achieve this place today, I think. I wonder how long it'll be before we see a private residence to equal it. With the story of Michael Jackson's death all over the television right now, I found myself wondering if his Neverland Ranch will still exist a hundred years from now.

We shuffled through the house with a river of people, but the gardens were comparatively empty, in spite of the gorgeous weather. The place is really vast. We're going back tomorrow to see the winery and have dinner at the bistro there, after a morning of biking in the mountains. I would write more about today, but it's bedtime now.

This morning when Laura brought the kids in to wake me up, Riley said "Happy Fathers Day!" Lydia thought for a moment and said "Happy Birthday!" We all laughed. Laura assures me she had nailed it in rehearsal.

We had some yummy muffins to tide us over 'til brunch, then took the bikes to the shady park for a while. It was already nice and warm out, enough that the wind felt perfect. Lydia's getting brave with climbing, it can be a little nerve-wracking to watch.

Back to the house for brunch. Laura made me huevos rancheros. My brother-in-law came over and helped, and stayed to hang out with us all day. Lydia napped for a while, during which time I fiddled with bike accessories. Laura helped Riley with his own little bike, and he sweetly decided he wants to pull Lydia in the trailer behind him.

When the nap was over, we all went to the neighborhood pool here in our subdivision. We hadn't been yet. The kids had a ball and wore themselves out. Lydia indicated that she wanted to swim herself in the big pool, rather than being held, so I faced her away from me, held her up by her bottom and balanced her under the water. She is now 100% confident in her fictitious ability to swim. Her proud little smile is just impossibly endearing.

We had takeout barbecue for dinner. Riley was really tired, but super sweet to me. He rested his head on my hand for a bit, and melted my heart. (He's not like that often, and certainly not with me when he's got his Mommy right there.)

The day was one enormous gift. I wish I could box it up.

I'm having one of those times when I have more to say than I have time to type it up. But yes, I am still alive.

Which of these things did Bryce not do today?
(A) Got his eyelid lanced.
(B) Destroyed an ecosystem.
(C) Finished Christmas shopping.
(D) Repaired the minivan.

( Survey SAYS!.. )

( The menu )

My mom's here visiting for the weekend, she got here last night. Riley's been pretty open with her, right from the beginning, which is great to see. He's interacting with her on a level that he hasn't before, it gives me hope that his communication issues are on the way out. Lydia showed some predictable skepticism of Mom at first but is warming to her quickly.

Thanksgiving might be my favorite holiday. It's so laid back, free of expectations. It's about appreciating, sharing, and food, and nothing else. It's a pity that it's perpetually eclipsed by Christmas in terms of travelling home. Hmm, maybe I should stop letting it be.

Been meaning to post this for a few days, but only just got these photos online. Riley did a reprise of his bat costume from last year, since it still fits him just fine. Lydia went as a jack-o'lantern.

We kicked off the day with a party at Riley's school. Both kids were a little intimidated by the din when we got there, but got into the swing of things pretty quick. Riley and I ran hopped a sack race, and decorated little picture frames with foam stickers, but he was really all about the bounce house. (It's funny, all those times at Little Gym he never trusted the big air mat, he'd grow extra arms to hold onto me rather than bounce around on it with the other kids. But he could not get enough of this bounce house. Man, what a year will do.) Poor Lydia got pretty worn out exploring the party, she passed out almost as soon as I started the van.

We carved the pumpkins in the afternoon. I got a little round white one from Home Depot, with the idea of doing it as a skull. I drew the face with a sharpie, and it turned out pretty cool, then I couldn't bring myself to carve it out. I am curious how it would look carved, but it would be rather time consuming to try it with all the teeth.

Some of our neighbors had a cookout in their driveway, so that was our first stop trick-or-treating. The kids had a great time playing there. Eventually we visited all the lit houses on our block, by which time both kids were exhausted.

We had a few handfuls of trick-or-treaters come to our door over the course of the evening, most of whom were delightful. There were a few teens with no apparent costume, some of those weren't even accompanying little siblings or anything. I gave them candy anyway -- I mean at least they're out doing this instead of drugs or whatever -- but it always feels kinda like extortion. Which got me thinking that trick-or-treating really started out that way anyway, so there's no point resenting them for it.

Apparently I left the van on all night (i.e. the key in the ignition, turned to ACC, though the engine wasn't running of course), and so this morning it wouldn't turn over. I called AAA for a jump, and while I was waiting I put the kids in the two-seat stroller and walked them around our street. One of our neighbors was able to give us a jump on his way to work. Got Riley to school, albeit almost an hour late. Then Lydia and I went on a little drive to recharge the battery.

After that I went to my nearest polling place, and though I wasn't 100% sure I was assigned there, I knew my wife was, and I figured even if I wasn't they could help me find where to go. There was no significant line at all, which was great. But my registration never got processed, which was not. Apparently I wasn't the only new -- hmm, what would you call it, applicant? -- to fall through the cracks. I turned in my registration form at the DMV when I got my Georgia driver's license on October 3. Nobody at the polling place today could tell me whether that was past the deadline or not, but it didn't matter, they made many calls and eventually got me my voter card. I cast my ballot and was very grateful for all the assistance. Lydia was a big hit there while we were waiting, she charmed everybody. :)

I left feeling really good. It didn't hurt that it's a gorgeous day here today, sunny and clear. But given the trouble with the van this morning, and then the bureaucratic slog, I was a little surprised to find myself so at peace with the world.