Token post…

…just to appease Gruntski.  Done

Up from Downunder, ya’ll

Just over a week ago we had our first visitor from downunder. We were very excited when Dad first called to say that he may be stopping by at the tail-end of a business trip. The possibility turned into an itinerary and it worked out really well because he was here from Friday afternoon through Sunday night, giving us a full weekend to give him a taste of the American south.

Some preperation was required. For example, we had to expand on our “minimalist” life-style and expand our crockery from 2 plates to 4. Combined with our 4-person cutlery set, we are now set to hold some gala dinner parties…..as long as guests can cope with wine out of glasses that could survive a drop from our second storey apartment.

It was great to see him. At the airport, we had our camera ready for when he made an appearance, but so did he – I think each of us has a photo of the other taking a photo! After dropping off his luggage, we headed straight out for a pint in our favourite local beer garden.

Despite his insane jetlag (he’d been in the states for a grand total of like 6 days) he managed to survive as we dragged him from place to place forcing him to try local beers and iconically southern cuisine (a feat for any stomach and arteries to manage). Dad did really well for only 2 and a bit days in NC, trying grits, biscuits (like scones), hushpuppies, pulled-pork BBQ, brunswick stew and gumbo.

Fortunately, Dad got fantastic weather (which has only gotten worse since he left). It provided us a great afternoon exploring Chapel Hill / Carrboro topped off with dinner and drinks at the Carolina Brewery. On Sunday, a walk in the beautiful forest of Umsteadt Park lead to a canoe ride (last chance for the season) around one of the larger lakes.

It was fantastic to have a visitor from home. We packed in a lot in our short time, but eventually we had to do the sad sendoff (although I think Dad was looking forward to sleeping in a more familiar time zone). Saying goodbye at the airport was like a weird reversal of Tullamarine 8 months ago. At least he got to come though, and even better that worked payed for most of it!

The same, but different

Thanks to Seebs for showing me how…

Subculture in a spectator sport

Take girls in crazy outfits with crazier names going fast on old-skool roller skates. Throw in some strategy, showmanship and a good dose of violence and you have rollerderby.

Saw our first round on Saturday and we’re hooked. Once I had a handle on the rules, it was easy to see the skill through all the chaos. We saw an interstate league match between the Carolina Rollergirls and the Sin City Rollergirls (Las Vegas), otherwise called the “Inaugural Brawl”. Carolina clobbered the visiting team.

A punk band played between periods and “Cheerbleeders” got the crowd fired up. The rollergirls have names like Penelope Bruz, VanDamsel and Trudy Struction (my hairdresser & the whole reason we even know what rollerderby is). One of the referees was Colin Foul.
It was a great night with a cool (and redneck-free) crowd. Our first taste of Raleigh subculture.

Khakis at half mast

Got up and started making lunch for the work day. TV news on. Heard “Australia” in an American accent and of course they had my attention. Saw Steve Irwin and heard “…survived by wife and two children”.

Couldn’t help but feel sad every time it crossed my mind today. His ideaology has always been in the right place, but what used to be a cringe-worthy caricature, has been a taste of home while we’ve been in the US. It is so weird because he has always been larger than life

Presto! It’s Ernesto!

As we head deep into hurricane season, the weather reports have been quiet with much of the same: hot, hot and hotter and little sign of precipitation. Fairly helpful with keeping my field work on schedule, I suppose.

But Tropical Storm Ernesto is coming to visit. Thankfully, early reports that Ernesto would get hurricane status seem to have faded, but most of the rain is supposed to hit the Carolinas in the next 3 days. We have tins of soup and crackers ready anyway.

The forecast for Thursday says 100% chance of precipitation. Yep. I think it’s gonna get wet.

A much needed dose of topography

Although it has been quite difficult to even scratch myself throughout this crazy field season, Mrs Antman and I managed to schedule ourselves a day off on the flipside of a weekend. This provided a much sought after opportunity to visit the mountains of North Carolina. At over 4 hours away, we thought that 3 days would provide a nice intro.

Running along the western edge of the state are The Great Smokey Mountains (shared with Tennessee to the west) and the Appalachian mountains which continue north into Virginia. Through much of this is a scenic drive (496 miles) called the Blue Ridge Parkway (not unlike the Great Ocean Rd in Vic) and it is one of the most visited natural attractions in the US. (Hey, I sound like I could be in tourism!).

The city of Asheville is a central outpost for the BRP and also seems to be a safehaven for anybody who doesn’t fit into the cultural norm of the south. This kinda includes us, I guess. But, that is only part of the reason we fell in love with Asheville.

Although the mountains and forests are the main local attraction, Asheville itself is a gem and we stayed downtown so that we could experience some of the local flavour (and so that we could drink lots of the locally brewed cherry wheat, IPA, ESB and summer Porter without having to drive).

What’s to love about Asheville:

Beautiful art deco architecture (including an art deco bike shop)

Excellent food, beer and atmosphere

Veggie pakoras at The Laughing Seed

One of only two Yeti dealers in the whole of North Carolina

Subarus everywhere, and I mean everywhere.

Most Suby’s had bikes and / or kayaks sitting on the roof

The cooler mountain temperatures (~10 degrees C lower than the piedmont)

Southern brekkie at the Early Girl Eatery

The Mast General Store (which provided moose & bear shaped cookie cutters)

Good record shops

The views (from downtown) of the clouds resting between the layers of mountains

For those at home, I think I could best describe Asheville as elements of inner Melbourne fused with the Dandenongs. It also seems to attract many of the same people as the Dandenongs; a diverse mix of wealthy retirees, outdoorsy people, artists and general funksters.

We made a day trip out to Chimney Rock and did a loop out to some falls and walked back along the cliffline used in the film “The Last of the Mohicans”. Spectacular. Finished the day in the town of Chimney rock alongside a gorgeous river eating some western NC BBQ (which has an inherently different flavour to BBQ from Raleigh and the rest of the piedmont).

On the way back we took a diversionary drive along some of the Blue Ridge. Oh, man……wow. All it is cracked up to be and more. Watched the hardwood forests give way to patches of weather-beaten fir trees and endless views of the Appalachian mountains.

For any of ya’ll that come a visitin’, rest assured that we’ll take you to Asheville.

Just desserts

North Carolina has the infamous Red Imported Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta for those who care), so named because they are red, they are invasive and their sting feels like fire. Brisbane, Australia has them and all Australian states just spent a combined $185 million trying to get rid of them because they don’t want them to leave Brisbane.

These ants are everywhere here. I was really excited the first time I saw them. And I’m still fascinated by them even though I see them everyday.
They are also fun. They generate impressive mounds to utilise heat from the sun and these mounds are fun to knock the top off with your shoe. Not because I get joy out of senseles destruction, but because the ants react so aggressively that is quite a sight. They pour out of the broken mound like an eruption and they go as nuts as ants can go!

I know, I sound like a right bastard, but discussion among other ant researchers across two departments at uni reveals that this guilty pleasure is shared.

Throughout my unwarranted attacks on these ants, I have not yet been stung. Not only am I on guard, but I only unleash such “shock and awe” in closed shoes.

But, I let my guard down the second I decided to lie down on the ground to check something under the car. The first sting got me standing up. Those that followed had me jumping around like a lunatic trying to shake off a shit load of fire ants. Apparently I had disturbed them making a meal of a catepillar near the car’s front wheel.

I guess I had it coming. All’s fair in love and war.

Oh, yeah – it is like burning your flesh……..without the smell

Hold tight

The long-awaited 3rd album by The Shins is just around the corner

Lets hope the product deserves the anticipation