The slow process of unpacking...

We are still engaged in the slow process of unpacking and my guess is that it will be a while. Every once in a while I come across something that makes the process a little more fun though. Check out the label on this box. Pretty sure our friend Mark is responsible for this one.

Ludovico Einaudi - A Fuoco

Ludovico Einaudi's (an Italian pianist born in Turin, Italy) Una Mattina was the one Christmas gift that I repeated across multiple people - the music is just incredibly beautiful and relaxing. It's on the stereo this morning as I settle in for a day of reviewing design material and writing reviews/proposal material. Highly recommended.

The piece above is called A Fuoco and it is an excellent example of how beautiful his arrangements can be. One of my other favorite pieces off of this album is called Ora. I couldn't find a video online that would do it justice though. If you are interested in tracking it down via iTunes or another forum I promise that you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

Duck Sauce - Barbra Streisand

Not sure why I am listening to this song over and over today...feel free to hate away, but this one just struck a note and has been on repeat for a bit. Duck Sauce.

The Bar!

So while we were in Arkansas, our cherry bar got installed. We arrived home last night and I toasted the occasion with a nice glass of white wine (or a few glasses that is...). Check it out!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Arkansas!

Enjoying the Lake

Jozy has been enjoying some daily trips to Lake Balboa here in Hot Springs Village. It's a little cold but she still seems interesting in chasing sticks into the lake...either that or she just wants treats after wards.

Doggie Grandparents

Jozy is in for a one of her best long weekends in Arkansas ever - getting spoiled by her doggie grandparents left and right. Here she is waiting for my mother (left) and my wife's mother (right) while visiting the park yesterday. The excitement of their meeting / temptation for Jozy to run down that hill was almost too much for her to bear.

Medicine Show Recap

The Medicine Show this past weekend was awesome (photo from the balcony of the Acadiana Center for the Arts shown above). When we showed up, a surprise guest was on stage: Zachary Richard. His appearance was kept a secret and announced the afternoon of the show so I had no idea that we were in for this treat. If you don't know who Zach Richard (photo below) is and if you have any interest in Cajun or roots music, you definitely need to check him out. Click this link to go listen to read about and listen to samples of his recent song released to aid the gulf in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.


Zachary Richard was followed by BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet - another staple and amazing talent of cajun music. Prior to them taking stage, we made our way to the front which was surprisingly easy. Literally, this venue was so intimate that I was standing right in front of these guys during their whole set. People were just throwing their purses at the foot of the stage and two-stepping away. The UL Wind Ensemble joined them for several songs and the combination was unique, beautiful and something that I'm not sure will be replicated many times in the future. It was awesome.


Those were my two favorite acts. Feufollet followed and provided another great set of music but after a long day of cleaning the house, I had retired to the balcony (see photo at top of post) and was chilling in a comfy chair. All in all, the night was a fitting tribute to Tommy Comeaux, a former member of Beausoleil and long time supporter of cajun music.

Medicine Show 14 avec Beausoleil

Headed to the Medicine Show tonight and it looks like it has a great lineup! Check out the details here. I'm most excited about Beausoleil with the UL Lafayette Wind Ensemble as well as Feufollet.

in the spot

1. Even Cowgirls Get The Blues * The Gaslight Anthem
2. The King James Fakebook * Paleo
3. Opposite of Adults * Chiddy Bang
4. Block After Block * Matt & Kim
5. A New Day * Scouting for Girls
6. Never Love Again * Cherbourg
7. Bar and the Beer * The White Buffalo
8. Long Shadows * Josh Ritter
9. Down By The Water * The Decemberists
10. Love Song 1 * White Buffalo
11. The Quick & the Dead * Bedouin Soundclash
12. Hey Hey Hey * Michael Franti & Spearhead
13. Chinatown * Kitten
14. Let It Rain * Pat Anderson
15. Radioactive [feat. the West Angeles Mass Choir] * Kings of Leon
16. November Blue * The Avett Brothers
17. The Tree (feat. Alela Diane) * Blitzen Trapper
18. Every Night Is Friday Night (Without You) * Old 97's
19. Shadow People * Dr. Dog
20. Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks * The National
21. Harlem River Blues * Justin Townes Earle
22. Hægt, kemur ljósið * Ólafur Arnalds

Laundry in da Hood

Two major items of progress today. The hood is up! It still has a protective wrap around the trunk so that white piece will be stainless steel after it is hooked up to the electrical. After all the nerves about how this would look I have to say that I don't think it could have come out any better. It looks cool.

And the laundry room sink and hamper is complete!

The hamper is on the right. We stole this idea from an old friend's house. They are three hanging rods of canvass built into the unit on the right. The rods that hang the canvass come out so that you can dump the clothes or wash the canvas shelves themselves. Pretty neat.

It Works.

Running water, gas, ice cubes, fridge, water from the fridge, microwave, warming drawer, oven...it all works!

Still more to do though. The hood, pendant lights, dishwasher, etc...

First Meal

First food cooked in brand new oven: Bread Pudding. Love it.

2 Sheets Short

Oven and back splash went in today. And the oven works. It looks like we are 1-2 sheets short of the back splash tile that we picked out. Not sure how that is going to impact the Great Remodel Pool...as the lead time on getting those two sheets is two weeks. Minimum!

Jigsaw Puzzle

Like pieces of a puzzle, the appliances are appearing. Microwave, warming drawer and disposal all installed today. Faucet was mounted as well but that will probably be removed when the back splash goes in. None of this is functional yet...but I have been told that the end of the week is a virtual guarantee...

All Stars and Champions

Today was an historic day for the Lafayette Adult Coed League - we held our inaugural All Star game and I have to say that for a planning period of less than 2 weeks, it was a resounding success! Congrats to all of the players (and the league commissioner, my wife, for pulling it off). I felt somewhat involved in the success in that it was an idea that I came up with, and then handed off to the person who can make great things happen (also my wife). Here is a photo of the two all star teams after the game. It was a blast.

I wasn't able to play in the All Star game. Rather than play, I was the coach of the blue team which unfortunately did not come out on top. The reason I couldn't play is that immediately following the All Star game, our coed team (AFC) was playing in the finals. After having been unseated as reigning champion last year and after losing 3 games in the regular season this fall, we were seeded fourth in the playoffs. As a result, we had to claw our way through the quarters, semis and then finals, beating two of the three teams we lost to in the regular season in order to regain the title. We won the final today 2-0. Here's the team after the win!


All around, it was an awesome day for soccer despite a 20-30 mph wind and some rather cold weather. Now its time to look ahead to to look ahead to the spring season!

So close you can almost....

...taste it!

Yesterday was a groundbreaking day for the kitchen project. Our counter tops came in and were installed (finally!). And at the same time, the AV guys were here hooking up the sound system. So in one fell swoop we have the counter tops installed and a full surround sound system hooked up with 2 zones (inside/outside) and connected to our Mac. Pretty awesome! The trained "kitchen project" reader will also notice the installation of our hardware since the last official update, completion of the painting and ceiling fan install. Next week the appliances go in, plumber comes out, and the kitchen bar hopefully gets installed. So close!

The cook top is not functional yet but it fits!

If you look closely, you can see the 3 holes in the counter top on the right side of the island. That is where the 3 stell pillars will be inserted to mount the bar on top of the island. Holding my breath to see if that design works.

Tough to appreciate this one without hearing it but all of the AV equipment is in that corner cabinet and you can see the iTunes library cover flow on the chimney mounted TV. Extremely excited about this setup.

Thanksgiving 2010 Photos

Finally got around to uploading Thanksgiving holiday photos up to Flickr last night. Check out the family, football, lacrosse, new nieces and older nephews!

Cajun Signs: We Dat

Nothing like a little cajun sign crossed with some holiday cheer and some good old Saints pride. We Dat!

The Lumineers - Ho Hey

Found this over at I Am Fuel You Are Friends and was an instant fan. Can't help but bob the head and tap the toe and eventually sing along with the chorus on this one. Awesome!