Bits and pieces...

Forgot to mention our fabulous dinner in Aspen on our last night. We ate at Krabloonik Restaurant, which was absolutely amazing. Half of the group had the special of the night, grilled rack of lamb, and the other half of us (me included) had the

Wild Game Combination Plate

Venison Rack, Noisettes of Caribou, and Lamb

Cashew Brown Butter Sauce

The caribou was wrapped in applewood bacon. Yum. It was served with veggies (broccolini, I think) and roquefort mashed potatoes. Needless to say, it was WONDERFUL. If you're amazingly rich, you can take a 2-hour dogsled ride before a "complimentary" 4-course dinner, all for only $295. Needless to say, that did not happen.

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Yesterday, it became official: I am a Kentucky resident (for all intents and purposes EXCEPT tuition, that is). After delighting at the idea of walking around downtown to take care of my car-related errands, I walked two blocks before realizing I looked horrible and was about to go take a driver's license picture, so I walked back home. Then I realized that if I intended to get new license plates, I might need to actually have my car with me, so I ended up driving anyway. One hour and six quick stops later, I got my driver's license and new plates. Stop 1: Circuit court, for my driver's license. I've never had an easier time at any DMV ever, and my picture came out reasonably well. Stop 2: County Court, for my registration and plates. Stop 3: the Sheriff's inspection. Stop 4: ATM, because I didn't have $5 for the inspection (I had $4.25, argh!). Stop 5: Sheriff's inspection for real. Stop 6: Back to County Court for real. It sounds like a lot of work, but I promise it was the easiest such process I've ever experienced. Now I just need to take off my MD plates :(, add my new KY plates (actually, just plate, because they only use rear plates in KY), and wait for my new title to come in the mail.

Best news: No cheesy sunshine plate! (See picture #1 below) Instead, I got a nice, plain, "Unbridled Spirit" plate (picture #2), and the number sequence is the same as my anniversary, so I won't forget!

Old plate (oh my GOD was I dreading it!):







(beneath "Kentucky," it says, "It's that friendly." Gag. Lots of people put frown-face stickers over the smiling-sun face.)

New plate:





(update: found this funny story about the plate switch)