Things I enjoy outside of work

Kayaking

Like most of my family, I am nuts about kayaking.  I'm mostly a flat-water paddler but have used downtime on field research trips to explore some really exhilarating water, including the Zambezi and (White) Nile Rivers. On hot weekend days, you're like to find me with my family paddling on Percy Priest Lake, a 14,000 acre reservoir with dozens of launch sites across three counties and several islands suitable for kayak-camping,  Below, I'm paddling one of my boats (the "Green Mamba") in  Newnans lake in Gainesville, FL.

I also really enjoy Scuba diving.  In recent years, I've had wonderful experiences diving, including a live-aboard adventure in the Similian Islands in Thailand, some chilly (hooded 7mm wetsuit) and dives in New Zealand's Bay of Islands. I earned my AOW certification in May of 2018 in Hawaii.

Running

I started running with some regularity while I was finishing my PhD and haven't stopped since.

I ran my first marathon in 2013 and have since finished eight (of nine starts, I broke my foot in Chicago in 2014 and DNF'd). Highlights include the Paris Marathon in 2014, the Safaricom Marathon in Lewa, Kenya in 2018, and the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine in 2019.  My most recent marathon was California International Marathon (CIM) in December 2021. It was a joy to race again after two years of virtual/solo events.

I'm a member of the "Renegades Worldwide," team, a digitally-based group coached by Chris McClung and James Dodds of Rogue Running (Austin, TX).  The Rogue podcast has transformed the way I think about running and how approach physical and mental challenges and growth.  

I run locally with "East Nasty" a running club that had hosted a group run in East Nashville every Wednesday for about twelve years (until the COVID-19 pandemic),

Cooking

I cook in my down time.  I'm a long time user of Cooks Illustrated, a cooking magazine with a rigorous, "academic" approach towards recipes.  I'm a recent convert to Chris Kimball's new project "Milk Street," which offers recipes that are often as good but simpler than Cook's.  Here are a few recipes I've been elated with recently.  Cooks Illustrated recipes are linked to reprints since Cooks is gated and I don't want them to sue me (looking at you, Chris Kimball). 

Pearl Couscous and Zucchini Salad

Shrimp Fra Diavolo 

Thai Stir-Fried Spinach

Cauliflower Dengaku

Southeast Asian Chicken Salad

Single Dad Ninja (aka Benjamin Smith)'s Quinoa Risotto 

Hoison-Glazed Babyback Ribs


Also, this is a (no longer updated) cooking blog of a Tanzanian chef that features both East African and western dishes and techniques.  The page is in Swahili, so it's good practice for language-learners who like to cook!