TeamReedBlog.2020

It's easy to become numb to the prognostications of TV meteorologists. Drama sells, and if your life is tied to the Doppler radar, I can see how you'd get excited when you get to point to all the blobs of color and toss out your science-y weather jargon.  This weekend in Indianapolis, we were forecast to get a lot of snow in the midst of dangerously cold temps. A good formula to stay inside by the fire, right?  But  Angela was hosting  Christmas Bunco at her home in Brownsburg, and Jeff was hosting a bourbon gathering at our house. Much as I adore the Captain's drinking buddies, I can't drink bourbon or whiskey. So I was extra motivated to go to Bunco - despite the weather and potentially poor road conditions. My friend Jeph was coming to my house and we were going to pick up Annmarie on our way to Brownsburg, which is (normally) about 20-30 minutes away from Broad Ripple.  We set our plan and I went about the business of recovering from the delicious White Chri...

The genesis of our recent trip to California was the Captain thinking it would be a great birthday gift if he were to take advantage of a Southwest Airlines sale and jet off to Torrance, home of one of his all-time favorite breweries: Monkish. I agreed but suggested we also take advantage of our companion pass, that I go along, and we add Napa Valley to the trip.  It turned out to be one of my better ideas. Jeff has been known to travel with small suitcases folded into larger ones with hope to fill one with beer on return trips. This time, he planned to convert a large backpack for that use, while also shipping one box back. He had a budget that was a fraction of his desire, but planned to keep to it. Our trek began in Sacramento, and as we set off for Napa, I suggested we probably had time to drop into the Statehouse and thank Governor Gavin Newsom for all he's doing to save the nation. I wasn't really joking, but the Captain kept the car headed to Napa and away from the capit...

It's been a good week for Team Reed, and I'll tell you straight up that you should avoid Jeff Reed for the next several months if you don't want to hear about it. First, Alison successfully presented to a select committee of scientists with PhDs why she should have the opportunity to be among them, and we got to help her (a little) with the pretty parts of her presentation. She, of course, did the hard stuff.  Second, the Captain was crowned King of the annual Canterbury Neighborhood Chili Cookoff last night. He agreed, reluctantly to remove his crown and medal before he got into bed, but they're both back on today as we prepare for a day of football.  The cookoff is part of a block party that takes place on the street in front of our house. We drag out fire pits, tables and chairs, and Ricky and Kris set up a movie screen for the kids.  When we are in town for the event, our biggest contribution is a table of adult beverages for parents who bring their little ones thro...

First, let me say that we had a wonderful time in Oregon punctuated with laughter and wine and gorgeous scenery. But I do have to tell you that Lori Froese DID try to kill me by having us hike up what she (and the world) calls a Butte, but my thighs call a mountain.  Indiana's elevation is about 760 feet above sea level, which makes me a native flatlander. Oregon's elevation ranges from 0 (the Pacific Ocean) to 11,249. The summit of Spencer Butte aka Mountain is  2,058 feet. It is the highest point along Eugene’s 2,100-acre Ridgeline Park system, and there are two pathways up. Lori grew up as a flatlander in Colorado's non-mountainous region but has became an Oregonian many years ago. As a Goshen University grad, she is also an honorary Hoosier. Lori DID describe both access  points, and I DID agree that we should take the challenging one up the 755 winding feet to the summit.  I've been taking pilates and yoga. I have good hiking shoes. I felt ready. Plus, my scout ...

If you ever find yourself in Boston, you should do yourself a favor and take the ferry to Provincetown. It's a little bit like  Brigadoon . It doesn't only appear once every 100 years to random people, but it IS quite magical. I've said for years that Pride Day in Indy is the city's best day because everyone is friendly and fun and fabulous during the festivities.  Provincetown is Indy Pride on very happy steroids and with an ocean view. My dear friend Tina Noel and I found ourselves in this paradise because earlier in the year, we'd had the fortune to spend some time with our dear friend Jonathan Swain. We'd met thanks to being part of the Frank O'Bannon-Joe Kernan team, and we have thanked them both repeatedly through the years for bringing us together. Jon moved first to D.C. and then to Cambridge, Mass., while Tina and I stayed in Indy. Rather than just sigh and talk about how much we miss seeing Jonathan after that springtime visit, we actually put our ...

People have been asking me what we're doing for my birthday this year, and I gotta tell you, I'm exhausted already just thinking about what we have going on. Sneaking in specific birthday stuff is quite literally beyond me this year. Survival will be the best gift possible. I'm not complaining. We've already had record travel fun this year, including my first-ever cruise that I feel like I just left. Still to come are trips to Boston, Oregon, Florida, California and Maine.  My birthday falls the day before our annual Sleepover Book Club - which is always a huge, super fun day of excess. (And yes, we'll not only discuss the book, but we'll rate the year's books from best to worst. I have a reputation as a hard grader, but really, don't people need to know what to read and what to skip?) Before Book Club, we're having dinner with friends and the day after Book Club, we have tickets to see The Black Keys. I also just had four great days with Ali and Bea...