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For the 12th year, Ithaca held the International Rutabaga Curling Championship. This was my second year as a participant, and I had high hopes for bringing the trophy home to my family after last year’s knockout in the championship round. I had a lot stacked against me this year. The dawn of fatherhood has completely thrown off my training and sleep schedule. I was down in NJ with the family on the morning of the curl and had to leave at daybreak just to make the registration booth in time. The temperatures were again in the single digits and I did not dress for the weather. But we made it to the curl in time for the opening ceremonies, the parade of nations and the turnip toss. (If you haven’t seen pictures of the event, see my post from last year)
The goal of the competition is to roll and stop your rutabaga as close to the target as possible. If you’re in the top 5 rolls of your round, you move on to the finals. For this year’s competition I was the 69th competitor in the field. When I stepped up to the line I felt good. I wanted to keep the rutabaga short of the target, as I was disqualified by rolling too hard last year (too much adrenaline, I think.) Well, the plan worked and my roll looked beautiful bouncing down the wood planks. But then like an act of god, the root took a heavy turn to the left. That turn cost me, as I ended up the 6th closest turnip of the round; missing the final by less than an inch. Oh, the drama.
Thanks to commissioner Steve for making this event happen every year. You really tap into the heart of something so ridiculous, so fun and so Ithaca.
My losing curl:
The Rutabaga Choir:
I’m typing this post with one hand. I have a very fussy two month old in the left arm. Month 1 to 2 saw a growth spurt (up to 10 pounds), a few nights with 6 hours of sleep, and a lot of nights without that. As parents, there are still moments where we feel completely over our heads, and wonder what we’re doing wrong. But those don’t last long. They are usually supplanted by a moment like the picture above from this morning. And what’s better than that?
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year to our friends and family.
We hope to see you in 2010.
Denise, Eileen, Greer, Jessica, Pam & Robyn- You win the award for most creative and thoughtful housewarming gift. Now anyone that visits Ithaca can stay in the ‘Piece of Ash Inn’. Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Thanks, ladies. See you up here soon.
And just to please the Eli fans out there…here’s a picture with his Aunt Nutmeg:
Food Inc. should be required viewing for anyone that eats food. We watched it tonight, and will never walk down our grocery store aisles the same way. The film takes a close look at where the majority of our food comes from and the dramatic changes that have taken place over the last 40 years. A few facts from the movie:
- In the 1970s there were thousands of slaugterhouses producing the majority of beef sold in the U.S. Today there are only 13.
- In the 1970s the top 5 beef packers controlled about 25% of the market. Today they control about 80% of the market
- The average chicken farmer is required to invest $500,000 in their business to meet demands. They make on average $18,000/year
- 70% of processed food have a genetically modified ingredient
- 1 in 3 Americans born after the year 2000 will contract early onset diabetes; among minorities the rate will be 1 in 2
These facts point to a central theme in the movie. That the consolidation and control of our food production by a handful of corporations has resulted in a deterioration of food quality, safety, farming, and environmental protection. While our food choices expand and prices drop, the health of our animals and our people are deteriorating.
As with most documentaries, the movie is fairly one-sided, missing a voice from a big food production company (they declined interview requests). But the movie makes a compelling argument to take a closer look at the food on your plate and the impact of your choices. It also delves into the issue of food prices and the need for large-scale change so that lower income families can actually afford to eat healthy. As with other social-action films, the movie leaves you with a list of steps you can take to help make a difference. If you have the ability to buy locally grown or organic foods, your actions create demand. And that demand is the best way to shift this business of food.
“I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” -Humphrey Bogart
Lots to catch up on. Eli slept through his first Thanksgiving, he smiled for the first time, he made his first trip to NJ, Obama is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan and Tiger Woods cheated. That sums up the last two weeks I think. At least that’s what I can remember from it.
Reflections on parenthood after 6 weeks? This isn’t easy. The sleep deprivation, the crying, the uncertainty over what he wants, the sleep deprivation. Wow. A newfound respect for single parents, as this would be hard to imagine without each other…let alone family and friends. But despite the exhaustion, one simple look in the eyes and it’s worth it.
The picture above was in Eli’s room. He was laying on his mat and Russ came in. I told Russ to lay down and he did…and then he snuck over to Eli and plopped his giant head right down on his little brother. I think they’re going to be alright together.
We got a Flip video from Uncle Bill, so we’ll post a few of those as well. Here’s one of Eli working on his head lift and even making a few non-crying noises.
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