Spending the entire day working on my masters project is a goooood feeling, but it's also a humbling feeling of not finishing something, like eating that first pickle out of the pickle jar, knowing that it's gonna sit around in the fridge for another year. So about a week ago when I was staring at my computer screen trying to come to terms with my Soils final, my mind wandered to what I wanted to do once it was all over. I figured I would spend a solid week of making progress on the masters project -- but I also wanted to see and do some new things in the Triangle. I came up with:

1. Go to eat at Allen and Son out in Hillsborough, rumored to be the best Carolina bbq in the area
2. Explore Raleigh, including checking out the new upscale sustainable bbq restaurant The Pit and investigating some of the bars and cafes I've been hearing about from friends for the past year and a half
3. Hike around Falls Lake and see the body of water that I've been hearing about and viewing from space since Fundamentals of GIS
4. Take a brewery tour of the brand new Triangle Brewing Company in downtown Durham
5. Brew a winter lager
   

The list ought to be longer -- please send me ideas!

I've completed 2 of the 5 goals with 4 days to go before my departure from Durham! So far I was NOT disappointed by Allen and Son and am confident in its superiority to Durham mainstay Bullocks. The Triangle Brewing Company is also not to be missed. Having just opened in the Fall, Triangle Brewing is offering both flavorful Belgian style brews and sessionable brews such as Pale Ale. Look for them on-tap around the Triangle. Here are a few pictures from the 2 activities -- myself at Allen & Son and Ian Varley and Carla Frisch at the Triangle Brewing Company: