Showing posts with label US st N Carolina Outer Banks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US st N Carolina Outer Banks. Show all posts

Monday, October 20, 2008

War driving in Nags Head NC – The Scream




War driving in Nags Head NC – The Scream
October 10 – 19, 2008
http://www.kevindayhoff.net/

I spent the week of October 10-19, 2008 in Nags Head on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in a unit that did not have internet access. To find wireless service, we had to go war driving. It was maddening.

I’m back home now – and I’m fine. Really I am. I’m told the twitching will stop soon…

20081019 War driving in Nags Head NC The Scream

Monday, July 21, 2008

20080721 Nags Head Outer Banks North Carolina The Three Lifeguards


Nags Head, Outer Banks North Carolina: "The Three Lifeguards"

© Kevin Dayhoff http://www.kevindayhoff.net/

20080721 Nags Head Outer Banks North Carolina The Three Lifeguards

Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

The Babylons at Nags Head, Outer Banks, North Carolina July 18-26, 2008

Grammy and Aunt Betty take a walk on the beach and keep an eye out for dolphins...

07/20/2008 © Kevin Dayhoff


20080720 Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

The Babylons at Nags Head, Outer Banks, North Carolina July 18-26, 2008

Grammy and Aunt Betty take a walk on the beach and keep an eye out for dolphins...

07/20/2008 © Kevin Dayhoff


20080720 Grammy and Aunt Betty patrol for dolphins

Thursday, September 6, 2007

20070905 Song of the South: No grits, no glory

Note: This column first appeared in the Westminster Eagle on August 1st, 2007. Since it ran I have had several requests for copies… This is a longer version of that column. It is cross posted on my Westminster Eagle blog. "The Winchester Report":

Winchester Report: Song of the South: No grits, no glory

(Also see: “20070802 Welcome to the Outer Banks Grits Grill”)

Please enjoy.

08/01/07 – September 5th, 2007 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

Recently, my family ventured on our annual sojourn south. It's a combination family reunion and vacation, as folks rendezvous from literally all over the world to a house with its very own ZIP code in Nags Head, N.C.

Many are aware of North Carolina's Outer Banks as a family values-oriented destination of sun, beach and unhurried afternoons reading a book -- not to mention the leisurely romantic walks on the beach at sunset.

But of course, the real reason I like to go is to watch the Tour de France and the readily-available access to the most northern reaches of the "Georgia Ice Cream" belt ... which runs from Louisiana to North Carolina.

What's that, you ask? What is "Georgia Ice Cream?" Honey child, I am so glad you asked. It's perhaps the most misunderstood of Southern delicacies: grits.

Many folks from Carroll County are not familiar with grits -- and that's a crying shame. The South is known for its gentile politeness and friendliness, and there's little doubt that there's direct cause and affect between being accommodating and friendly and the consumption of grits.

Indeed, the state of South Carolina decreed grits its "state food" in 1973. The reverential state declaration proclaimed, in part, that, "grits could very well play a vital role in the future of not only this state, but also the world."

You may very well consider standing, placing your hand on your heart, and re-reading the previous sentence.

In the past, northerners have come up with many well-documented ways of annoying southerners. Lengthy historic and economic dissertations will give the uninformed a certain insight that disagreements over the manufacture and distribution of grits could be considered one of the causes of the “War of Northern Aggression.”

But one of the best sure-fire ways of having “Fort Sumter moment” is to suggest, gasp, that grits is somewhat akin to cream of wheat. Not.

In 1952, the Charleston News and Courier proclaimed that grits, "an inexpensive, simple and thoroughly digestible food, should be made popular throughout the world. Given enough of it, the inhabitants of planet Earth would have nothing to fight about. A man full of (grits) is a man of peace."

The singular noun, "grits" has its roots from the Old English word, "grytta" meaning a coarse meal of any kind.

Native Americans introduced ground maize -- grits -- to the early English settlers many hundreds of years ago when the colonists were illegal aliens and did not speak the language of the land.

Outside the South, folks attempt to make the word "grits" plural. Not so. Consider the word, spaghetti, which is considered to be plural in form but takes a singular verb. (One does not, for example, write "spaghetti are.") Anytime you hear "grits are good," that is a sure-fire sign you're dealing with a Yankee who is not properly schooled in the fine art of grits.

According to one of my holiest Outer Banks destinations, the Grits Grill: "There are two basic types: corn grits and hominy grits. Corn grits (is) made from dried, milled corn kernels. Hominy grits (is) made by soaking corn in lye water for several days and then dried."

Of course, it's worth mentioning that the Grits Grill also serves another Southern delicacy, Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Many folks consider grits to be solely a breakfast food. Wrong. Grits is good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. In the traditional South, grits automatically comes with breakfast. Once while traveling in the South, I specifically asked for an order of grits. The waitress glanced at me sideways and chewed her gum at a faster pace as she decreed, "Honey, grits just comes."

Many folks simply eat grits with a touch of salt and butter. Of course the real grits aficionado eats 'em smothered with bacon grease with their pinkie finger extended. I like grits mixed lightly ... with steak and eggs over-light. Please consult your cardiologist for additional consumption instructions.

As you can now easily understand, in a world pre-occupied with conflict and environmental perils, if more grits were served at mealtime, this food of love and peace could very well save the planet.

The Carroll County commissioners should consider passing an ordinance requiring, at a minimum, grits be served in all county restaurants for six months prior to all elections. They should certainly be served at all public hearings.

The Maryland General Assembly might consider going one-step further than South Carolina and passing legislation requiring grits to be a mandatory menu item in all state restaurants.

No grits, no glory.

Have you ever heard of folks arguing while sharing a meal of grits? I rest my case. At the Westminster Eagle, all we are saying is:

Give grits a chance.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster, and welcomes recipe ideas for grits.

E-mail him at kdayhoff AT carr DOT org or kevindayhoff AT gmail DOT com

www.kevindayhoff.net

His columns appear in The Tentacle, www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.

Thursday, January 3, 2002

20020102 Wster Mayor Wishes Club Well in 2002


Westminster Mayor Wishes Club Well in 2002

Westminster Road Runners Club

http://ccpl.carr.org/~wrrc/news_MayorWishesClubWell.htm

by Kevin Spradlin January 2nd, 2002

WESTMINSTER, Jan. 02 -- City of Westminster Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff expressed his condolences for missing some of the recent Westminster Road Runners Club races, but promised he and his wife, Caroline, will be on the running scene soon.

"I guess one might say that I am taking a break from running that is not quite of my choosing," wrote a very busy Mayor on Tuesday in an email to the club. "It has just happened. I'm not necessarily happy about this turn of events -- but it is what it is and I'm going to make like a ball and roll with it."

Many remember the Mayor making an appearance last July at the Bell Road 5K/10K race. He was on hand to congratulate long-time club member Bob Leatherman for his participation in his 100th consecutive Twilight Series road race. Mayor Dayoff also volunteered at a water aid station at the Sullivan Road Four-Miler in August. Since then, however, the Mayor has rarely been seen.

"I've taken breaks from running and college before and managed to get back into the groove at a later time," said Mayor Dayhoff, who is close to earning his Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy Administration and Analysis from Western Maryland College. "I guess my attitude is that being the Mayor is something that has a four-year cycle and that this is no rehearsal - I must do it well now. I feel a lot of responsibility."

"My first love is running," he said. "Caroline and I always look forward to the WRRC events, even if we don't run in them and just help out in any way that we can contribute. I'm quite out of shape and to try and run a race these days would not be responsible. I'll run again and I will get my degree."

In the meantime, WRRC members and Westminster residents will just have to deal with the fact that their mayor is busy with various projects, including running-related issues.

"I'm working hard on such things as the Terry Burk Trail - which is happening," said Mayor Dayhoff, "and the Westminster [Main Street] Mile run and being the Mayor."

Copyright 2002 Westminster Road Runners Club. Webmasters Rich Beck and Kevin Spradlin.
For problems or questions regarding this web contact [WRRC].
Last updated: January 02, 2002.

NBH