The Barbaric Yawp

feminist. year zero millennial.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Summer things, in no particular order. Herbs are oregano and oregano buds (for infusing oil). Note tongue-out Tabitha and the tiniest flower on my succulent!

Life is pretty good, but I’m missing Gavin who is traveling for a month to work a convention and then play some Schlong reunion shows. Work is wild with the current grant cycle ending as new applications are submitted. But it’s good. I’m going to judge a high school ag tech pitch competition tomorrow in the county with the most dirt roads in Alabama. Now that’s something!

[thebarbaricyawp]

Well, team… I found an old college notebook FILLED with writing. I’m gonna start a Substack and type everything up! How fun!!🤩

(Please note the way I keep track of by Bio Lab grades. Adorable!)

[thebarbaricyawp]

Midlife Hormone Stuff

I have been sleeping horribly and dragging myself through life for about a year. I stopped taking birth control pills (partner got snipped), and I cannot tell you how much better I feel!

For the record, this past weekend with @kabillieu and crew did wonders for my mental health.

But I saw my hormone doctor today to review some bloodwork, and things are mostly fine. She recommended that I try the Mediterranean diet and exercise more, which yeah, I need to. About to take one of the dogs for a walk and then do chores around the house because I now have energy and motivation.

I got a book club book in the mail today, so im gonna read that. Right now, I feel good, and I will take it.

[thebarbaricyawp]

I cried this morning before work. Y’all know how it is: everything is stressful. Work. Family. Money. And I have been in constant neck and shoulder pain for a few weeks.

Well, I can’t fix everything, but I went to the chiropractor and I have some hope. My body instantly felt better.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Flu House

The flu seems to have hit the house. We are doing fine but are lying around and groaning about body aches and congestion.

[thebarbaricyawp]

MARDI GRAS

My last Mardi Gras in New Orleans was 2020, and it was complicated. I didn’t go out on MG day, but I did get to see my favorite parade, Bacchus, on Sunday. Gavin and I, who were just good friends then, rode our bikes after to get burgers.

This year I was able to go back and close some cycles for myself. We got into town on Sunday, caught some of Bacchus and just soaked up the experience of Mardi Gras. Then we met new friends to see the Lundi Gras parades, Proteus and Orpheus. Proteus had an epic mythology theme, and Orpheus had lines from Shakespeare as themes for their floats. Just gorgeous, both of them. Gavin saw two of his best guy friends right beside us, and so he reconnected with them. One has a successful restaurant that Gavin helped get up-and-running, and the other is a developer who Gavin has done lots of different work for. Both of these men looked at Gavin like they had huge crushes on him, and got starry-eyed talking about how long they had been friends. I know it was what G needed.

Then the developer asked what we were doing right now: “I bought this recording studio… wanna meet me over there?” We did and it was amazing. I think G is gonna help him make sense of it. See the pics. I think it was owned by Donnie van Vandt.

Mardi Gras day was perfect. One of my grad school besties lives in NOLA now, so we picked him up and took him out to the walking parades. We organically ran into my parade director friends and rolled with them for the rest of the day. There were bathrooms and food and hydration when we needed them. We had a fine time and were home by 4:00. Then we went to a recovery crawfish boil yesterday and got home late.

It was what my soul needed.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Gavin had a cold on my actual birthday, so my special dinner was delayed until this evening. Chicken Roulade with Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I made Sazeracs with the fancy rye he got me for a birthday present. So good I could eat it all over again!

[thebarbaricyawp]

My subkrewe, Strong Female Lead, honored Dana Scully from the X Files in the Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus parade yesterday. The light rain cleared right before our roll time. We had a blast!

[thebarbaricyawp]

We have SNOW in South Alabama!

[thebarbaricyawp]

Gluten Update

Skipping gluten does seem to improve my life. My gut seems less inflamed in that I’m less bloated (which I didn’t even know was bloat).

My joint pain and muscle aches are minimal also.

I am not fanatic, and have just made simple swaps, like gluten free bread or corn tortillas for the wheat flour versions. I’m sure I have consumed some gluten with cross contamination or small amounts in some foods, but I do think I will limit gluten long-term.

As a life-long bread enthusiast, I am sad about it. But I’m making some GF shortbreads today to console myself.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Went to New Orleans for the weekend and had the best time. We ate at ChiChi’s a Korean place and had tho adorable “server,” since you’re not supposed to pour your own drink. Food was great. And the visit was *so* life-affirming.

Being apart from the social networks I built for years is tough, and I need to remember that those people care about me even when I feel like such an anomaly in Southeast Alabama.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Late post but the Ethridge New Year’s celebration was fun, as usual. My cousin Robby married a Filipino woman, and this was her cup. She is very sweet and funny, and she is the first one on the dance floor.

Gavin jokes that this gathering is the most diverse event in Henry county, but he’s probably right. They are so loving and accepting of all people. Really, if you show up, your family, and it’s the absolute best of Southern hospitality.

Join us on July 4th when we take chairs and sit in the creek!

[thebarbaricyawp]

Gluten Free Trial

My perimenopause symptoms have been out of control for a few months, so I’m quitting gluten for 90 days to see if it helps my (sometimes debilitating) aches and pains.

Fingers crossed!

[thebarbaricyawp]

Sister Superior Rolls

Dear Internet, Thanksgiving with @kabillieu and family inspired me to recreate Sisters Schubert’s famous sausage rolls. They turned out so well that Gavin dubbed them “superior.”

Rhoades frozen roll dough, cut in half and wrapped ‘round a lil smokie. Dipped in butter then placed in the pan to achieve “parker house” style.

K, one pan has your name on it!

[thebarbaricyawp]

My first Christmas by myself. Gavin’s in California, and I won’t see my mom/sister/niece/nephew until tomorrow afternoon. Feeling very neutral about it.

I baked another peanutty cake and an apple cake cheesecake for tomorrow. My aunt Sheila requested the layer cake today.

Hopefully, I will get some sleep tonight, get up and walk early tomorrow, then shower and get ready to go see family. For now I have a Tabitha cat on my lap, and in hydrating.

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all.

[thebarbaricyawp]

Loving the blooms on this Christmas cactus that was my maternal grandmother’s. This December, she has been gone six years, and it lovely to know that her plants are still going. And no lizards in sight (she hated those).

[thebarbaricyawp]

Peanutty Cream Cheese Cake for mom’s side Christmas. And the recipe, from what I call our family BIble, the “Down Home in High Style” cookbook.