Podcast love

I spend a lot of time on the road;  for work, Louisville for the weekends, roadtrips...
I love music but I don't have an insert for my iPod in my car, I'm not fond of trying to find radio stations and I get tired of the few CDs I have.  So, in the past year I've been getting into podcasts.  I suppose my love of talk radio started with Terry Gross and Fresh Air but here are a few of my other favorites.

Savage Lovecast

This was the first podcast I started listening to and now I'm a regular.  It's basically an advice column.  People call in with questions about love, sex, relationships, etc. and Dan Savage answers.  He's funny, articulate, thoughtful and open-minded.  He's changed my life, honestly.  My perceptions about relationships, monogamy, bi-sexuality, transgenders and more have been challenged and I've learned so much.  I really think that everyone should listen to this.

Dan Savage (on the right) with his husband, Terry.

Serial
This is a new podcast and I'm obsessed.  A true story unfolds week by week.  The first season is about a murder that took place in Baltimore, back in 1999.  A high school senior was strangled and her ex-boyfriend was found guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.  The way it unfolds reminds me of the documentary, Staircase. I flip back and forth.  He did it!  He's definitely innocent.  He's guilty!  There's no way!  It's riveting, well told and juicy.  I've listened to each episode twice through already.  It's so good.

The Dinner Party Download
This is a nice, fluffy podcast that I tend to listen to on long walks.  The podcast is played out like so.
Icebreaker - joke
History Lesson - something that happened around that date is history
Cocktails - a drink to accompany the history lesson
Playlists - music for the dinner party
Guest of Honor - special guest celebrity, writer, actor, etc.
Etiquette - questions answered usually by said guest of honor
Dinner time - some food related content like an emerging food trend
Anyway, I enjoy the tidbits of unconventional news and culture which provide excellent (you guessed it!) dinner party conversation starters.

Kevin Spacey was a guest on the show.

And a few more that I listen to:
The Moth
Death, Sex & Money

What are your favorites?  I'd love a recommendation!

What about me?!

I swiped this from mi amiga! I do love a good survey.
1. What’s a nickname only your family calls you? My dad calls me Rosie-Os.  The Rose.  Or simply, Laura Rose.

2. What’s a weird habit of yours? I swish drinks in my mouth before I swallow.

3. Do you have any weird phobias? My phobia of crickets and mice is often debilitating.  Otherwise, I'm quite fearless!

4. What’s a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you’re alone? Right now, It's all about the bass.  Florence and the Machine.  Or some old favorites from high school, like Blink182.

5. What’s one of your biggest pet peeves? I'm an aggressive driver so all other drives generally annoy me.  And noisy eaters.

6. What’s one of your nervous habits? When I'm nervous or anxious I can't sleep.

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Whatever side I want!  When I'm alone, I sleep in the middle.

8. What was your first stuffed animal & its name? I don't remember being big on stuffed animals.  I had a stuffed soccer ball I slept with for a long time but I didn't personify it.

9. What’s the drink you ALWAYS order at Starbucks? Grande non-fat chai tea latte.  Sometimes extra hot.

10. What’s the beauty rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice? I'm bad about moisturizing.

11. Which way do you face in the shower? Away from the water.  But if I'm feeling sick or cold I'll face the water and crank the temperature to super hot.
*Edited to note that I actually face towards the water!  After I answered this I thought about it every time I showered and was shocked to discover that I actually don't face away from the shower most of the time.  I learned something about myself!!

12. Do you have any ‘weird’ body ‘skills’? My elbows are double-jointed.  It's hard to explain but people often comment on it.

13. What’s your favorite ‘comfort food’/food that’s ‘bad’ but you love to eat it anyways? Pizza.  

14. What’s a phrase or exclamation you always say? Coolio.

15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing? Normally just underwear but I'll add sweats as it gets colder.

Cheers!

Milwaukee, a timeline!

Perhaps not as exotic as Mexico but another trip warrants another timeline!

Friday
10am - Depart Louisville and head to Milwaukee!

4:30pm 3:30pm - After 6.5 hours we arrive in MKE.  Learn that they are actually an hour behind.

6pm - Off to Lakefront Brewery with our hosts, Ryan and Ann!

7pm - Take a tour of the Brewery where I am crowned Queen of the Bung Hole.  Such an honor!

8:30pm - Stayed at Lakefront for their fried fish dinner and eat my very fist cheese curd.  I'm in love!

10pm - Drive by Mr. Louisville's former apartment and stop by Wonderbar for a night cap.  A total dive with a little charm.

Saturday
10:30am - Brunch at BelAir Cantina followed by a drive around to see the sites.

1pm - I break off from the group to go shopping while the rest watch football, take runs and naps and laze around.

7pm - Head to dinner at Pizza Man.  Have some more cheese curds and probably the best pizza I've had.  Cracker thin crust with delicious toppings.

10pm - After dinner we go to Leff's to meet up with more friends! 

Sunday
10:30am - Diner breakfast at Ted's before hitting the road home.

2pm - Quick detour to Mars Cheese Castle for curds to bring home.

What I learned in Milwaukee: I love cheese curds!!

Read, Watch, Eat: Volume 1

A new blog series.  Read, Watch, Eat!

Read
Although my Bitchin' Book Club is still alive (Divergent, The Book Theif, Someone Knows My Name and The Rosie Project were the latest reads) I definitely read more on my own.  Recently, I picked up Where'd You Go, Bernadette and I was so pleased!  I'd snagged it in the airport on my way home from Portland and nearly finished the whole thing save for the last few chapters. I couldn't put it down.  Light, funny, smart, cheeky. I highly recommend it!

Watch
I gave up cable a little over a year ago so I'm always looking for something good on Hulu, Netflix or Amazon Prime.  I'd heard a glowing review on NPR last week about a new show streaming on Amazon Prime.  Transparent. The show is about a 70 year old father of 3 grown children (with messy lives of their own) who comes out as trans. It was just so good.  I devoured all 10 episodes (only about 30 minutes a pop) in a few days. 

Eat
It's the season for all things pumpkin.  Personally, I'm a big fan!  I've made pumpkin muffins 3 times already.
1. A triple batch for co-workers.
2. A batch and a half for brunch at a friend's during MPMF weekend.
3. A batch to take to my favorite new moms(and see baby Shep!!) with a few leftover for Mr. Louisville.
You know it's a Smitten Kitchen recipe.  My favorite food blog, like, ever.
BAKING NOTE:  My bake time is more like 20-25 minutes. If they go too long, they'll dry out so I suggest checking them sooner rather than later.

Mid Point Music Festival

This past weekend was Mid Point Music Festival in Cincinnati!!  Easily one of my most favorite weekends of the year.

I actually kicked things off early by biking down to the Christian Moerlein beer hall downtown for the pre MPMF kick off party!  The Pass and Machines Are People Too played and it was fun to check out that venue since I didn't make it there for any shows during the actual festival.

Thursday night I was off on my bike and headed to Hillie's for a Chromeo pre-party.  She lives around the corner from Washington Park so it was perfect to hang out and drink before the show.

Then it was off to see Chromeo who put on a super fun and dancey show!  Afterwards, I had my only snafu of the weekend.  I got in a bike accident!  My front tire got caught on the street car track in the middle of the street and I bit it. Hard!  Luckily, my friend was right behind me to help me out!

Other bands I saw Thursday night:
River Whyless @ Arnold's 
Fathers @ the Know
Violent Mae @ the Know
The Almighty Get Down @ Mainstay

The Almighty Get Down... my MPMF favorite!!

Friday, I was back at it!  I biked again and had so much fun just bopping around.

Friday bands:
Real Estate @ Midway
Holy Ghost Tent Revival @ Arnold's
The Locals @ MOTR
Joshua Powell and the Great Train Robbery @ MOTR
Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands @ Pitifuls

Real Estate.

Crystal Bright and the Silver Hands.

I actually had every intention of making it out for night 3 but Josh and Ashley's wedding was too much fun!  Dancing all night long to the Turkeys made it worth missing a night.

Overall, so much fun wandering around and discovering new bands.  Can't wait until next year! 

Summer Weddings

Erik & Angie
They were married at Elk Creek Vineyards.  DJ Buttonz (Dave!) was the DJ and there was a light show!  Made for a most excellent dance party.

Studs!

Mara and Brian, best dressed couple!

Matthew and Lindsey
I was excited to spend a weekend in Lexington, KY for their wedding.  I haven't spent much time there since I graduated back in 2007 so it was terribly nostalgic.
Highlights:
Visitng Sara and baby Luna!
Going to Enoteca with Scott and Laura Hunt on Friday night.
Lunch at Pazzo's Saturday.
Buying a new red dress at Black Market for $40!

The cake topper Sara made for the bride and groom.

This cake topper.  So cute!!

Little West Sixth Brewing cans on the back!

The lovely ceremony and fun reception with music by the Turkeys.

Myself, Dave, Clay and Chase looking down at the reception.

With Mr. Louisville in front of the Round Barn.

Brett and Jessica
These two got hitched the weekend before in Jess' home state of California.

Tyler and Kevin at the California reception.

Because I was going to Portland that same month I couldn't swing two big trips but I was able to make the reception they hosted the weekend after.  We all showed up at The Grand a little disoriented because we didn't come from a ceremony.  But the open bar and appetizers helped us get acclimated.
I danced the night away thanks to DJ Buttonz!

Abbey and Mike
After the bachelorette and shower festivities I was ready for their big day!  I was asked to do a reading at their ceremony so I was a part of the rehearsal dinner and wedding day.
They got married at a barn in Dry Ridge, The Josephina.

At the rehearsal dinner.

Pre-ceremony selfie with the bride.

Josh and AshleyLast but not least the winner for best reception!  These two got hitched at a barn in Union, KY, Farmhaven. They Turkeys played their reception and then DJ Buttonz took care of the music during their break and after, late into the night!  The fog machine and light show put this reception over the top!  So so fun.

The boys gettin' that garter!

Turkeys in the fog.

Whew, it was quite a wedding season!  Cheers to all the newly betrothed! 

Carly got married!!

Carly & Adam

Back in May one of my best friends got married!!  I was honored to be a bridesmaid which meant I got to be a part of all of the wedding happenings!

The festivities started on Friday evening where we had the rehearsal at the church followed by dinner at the museum!
The bride got tipsy enough to convince to go out afterwards and I suggested Igby's as a place her Charleston crew would enjoy. And they did!  So much so that I had to cut Carly off after a few drinks and drag her home with me.  Wedding day started early the next day.

Ruthie, Jay, Me, Brian, Mara

Carly and I were up around 8 to start the day.  Pink Lou Lou arrived to start on hair a little after 8 and my friend, Leyla, came over to finish up with makeup a few hours after that.

It was funny to get a few professional photos at my house first.  Hi, bar cart!

My bike with the brides shoes.

After we were all ready we took a few pictures at my house then were off to Covington for some more formal shots.  It was funny because there were about 5 other wedding parties that came through the same park to get pictures.  I decided our bridesmaid dresses were the best and I felt bad for other brides having to see Carly.  She looked STUNNING!!

From there the limo scooped us up and we scurried into the waiting room at the back of the church while everyone arrived.  This is one of the only pictures I took that day.  The rest I took from the photographer.  It was nice to put my phone away and just enjoy the day.

The ceremony was perfect and then it was time to party!  The wedding party hung out and drank in the limo while Carly and Adam got some sunset pictures then it was off to the Reception.

Drinks!  Eats!  Dancing!  Drinks!  Cake!  Dancing!  So much fun!  The end of the night was a blur but I definitely went home and crashed.  Hard!

So lucky to have those Hickeys in my life.