Monday, December 22, 2008

Time off the road.

It's been a little while since I posted here... and there are reasons for that. It just came to me that perhaps I'd better share why.

Tie Dye Travels is exactly that -- my travels. Unfortunately, life circumstances have kept me off the road for a couple of months. I'm not complaining, though.

On December 2nd, after several weeks off my feet, my husband and I welcomed our daughter into this world. Hunter Elizabeth was born at 3:51pm on a chilly Tuesday -- nine pounds, three ounces, and 21 inches of perfect, alert, calm child. She's something else. And she's turned our world upside down.

What that's left me with, though, is what to do with this blog in the meantime. I have for months collected extra material to utilize here. But there's something about what's happened that's changed my perspective. And I find it more difficult to share my experiences of months past after viewing said memories through these new eyes.

So what to do with the blog? That's a good question.

For those who don't know, I am also writing now for Eat Arkansas, the Arkansas Times food blog. This website has been mentioned on that blog many times, and it seems a great pairing. So many of the restaurant reviews I once aired here first are going there instead.

There's also the matter of changes in other venues where Tie Dye Travels is published. Changes at the Arkansas Free Press have taken it off the newsstands and thrown it in all its glory onto the World Wide Web. Another publication, the brand new Emerald City of the South have stepped in, and I'm proud to say that this column appears there now. Of course, as always this column is available for publication just about anywhere.

In all, 2009 looks to begin a lot differently than 2008 did for me. And it's lead me to wonder where Tie Dye Travels should go. Does it remain my own traveler's view of the world? Or shall I also add in other aspects? Do I share the adventure of child rearing with you? Comments about the world at large? Opinions? Emotions?

Feedback is a lovely thing. Please add yours to this entry's comment section. It's much appreciated.

Food for Time Travelers at Vino's Brewpub in Little Rock.

The big buzz about the old haunts at 7th and Chester is in recalling the hallowed days of the old DMZ.  But for 18 years out of those past two decades since the locale shook with the sounds of punk and early alternative rock, the smell of dough and suds has permeated the music-soaked air.