I just took my "lunch break" and made a delicious salad. It was so colorful and fun I thought I would share a picture with you all!
Ingredients: Spinach Red cabbage, thinly sliced Peach (my current obsession) Lighted toasted almonds A few plump golden raisins Fresh mozzarella Salt and pepper, to taste
I topped it with some shredded soy chicken that isn't as photogenic but so so so tasty and a bit of my favorite dressing, papaya-poppy seed.
Hey dudes, uh yeah, so long time no typey. I got nothin'. I just didn't. Sorry. But, NOW I AM BACK. I went to the beach last week for a few days which is part of the reason I haven't been around. I was in vacation mode. Though tso much that I didn't do any running. I would have slacked off more had my dad not been asking me regularly if I had done it. Rascal. I had a bad run the first morning there. I felt a little sick when I woke up and foolishly thought "Hey, I will just run this off." Ehhh, wrong. I definitely had to side step and do a little yacking into a bush next to a hotel. Classy as Carolina Beach. I skipped running the next day in favor of lying in the sun and splashing in the waves. Picked up on Friday with an 8-miler.
Now, back in the Triangle, I am dog- and kitten-sitting in Carrboro having a swell time. It's nice to be in a new location to change up my running routes and this lil town is very pedestrian friendly with lots of sidewalks and bike lanes. Tonight I am going on a group run around the area and afterwards we get free house-made chips at Tyler's. I guess I will have to buy a beer. Shucks.
Finally, I bet you guys thought the title referenced that awesome Mylie Cyrus jam, and guess what? It does, but I am going to blow your mind and post a different jam that fits the bill too and it gets me to the other side.
What's better than dog poop in your yard? Oh, I don't know, maybe a wooden cut out of a pup in the midst of doing the deed permanently installed for everyone to see. Seems like an odd way to say you don't want people to let their dogs relieve themselves on your lawn.
I always think the anti-excrement signs are a little unfair because you can't really predict when the dog will want to go and then it feels really messed up to pull him/her away just so some one's stupid grass can remain untainted. Outty.
All right, I know. I have become one of those people that blogs all the time at the beginning and then starts slowing down and then it seems like I will never come back. Well boys and girls, this will not happen. Today I offer you some BULLETS (get it? get it? the title? oh me, so clever).
Been runnin'. Doing a 9/10-mile long run now. That puts me a bit behind my goal of being up to a half marathon at this point in my training, but I am keeping my head up. Except when I am keeled over trying to catch my breath. Just kidding. Sort of.
Been walkin'. Still hanging with dogs on the regular. Must love pups.
Been eatin'. Hooked on eggs over easy like an addict. I will put one on top of anything. Name it. Don't bother actually, I've already done it. Also got some amazing produce from my Grandpa's garden - cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, beans, greens and blackberries. He is 90 years old and works a garden that takes up most of his backyard! Incredible. The figs are coming in and I am so so so ready to grill those lil suckers.
Been readin'. My girl Amy got me into Lorrie Moore. I am reading her short stories now and wondering why the Durham Public Library doesn't carry Anagrams. I also picked up Reading Lolita in Terhan but I stopped a couple chapters in because I decided it was time I actually read all of Lolita.
Been watchin'. Finally saw Milk. It was good, but I definitely agree with people that said Paranoid Park was the far superior GVS movie to come out in 2008. Watching Freaks and Geeks with some first timers. What a thrill! That show is so darn good. I also caught the new Woody flick. This was the best line: You should never go in a tomb! It's hard to see Larry David in something other than Curb, but Patricia Clarkson is great.
Been hangin'. Lots of good times with friends and family lately and coming up. Last week included a great house show at Craig's including an insane smorgasbord at about midnight and an amazing taco/housewarming party at John and Lanae's the next day: homemade bbq seitan + pups + kitties + friends + jams + guac + vegan choco pb crunch treats = BEST. Right now I am in DC seeing my main man Z. This coming week I head to the beach with my family for some relaxing (and running, of course).
Been reachin'. And exceeding my fundraising goal! I have now passed my minimum, and with the latest batch of check donations that will process in the next couple weeks I will have met my personal goal. It doesn't end there for me though and I will be setting a new goal in the next week. I just want to send out a preliminary THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that has donated to the cause so far. I am blown away. I just can't wait to share this love and generosity with my mom.
That seems like a pretty good overview. I am gonna get better at updating regularly again. Until then, check out this cat I take care of sometimes:
Doesn't his face look like a lioness? Maybe it's hard to see, but I am telling you!
Today I used my free pass to the local YMCA (all I had to do was take a tour) and did some swimming! It was pretty great. I haven't done this in quite a while, but it's probably my favorite way to exercise. Though there were not many people there to swim laps, the "fun" pool was closed for some reason so they had to block off half the lap pool for the day campers to play in. It was pretty funny seeing like 100 kids in this small square of the pool. Maybe a little dangerous too? They were all in the shallow end. I guess most are not strong swimmers. Should kids be required to learn how to swim? I dunno.
Anyway, after they left it was super quiet, like only 3 other people. There were more lifeguards than people. Ah the perks of not having a 9-5 job. I swam a little over an hour and even did some "water running." It's a great low-impact work out. I would like to try their "extreme" deep-end water aerobics class. I have never done one, they seem wild with all the foam "weights." Good thing I have one more free visit!
Last night I attended my first group run, finally. Up to that point the dates and times never worked out for me. Also, for no good reason, I was nervous to go on one because I was afraid everyone would be a better runner therefore causing me great anxiety which would ultimately give me a cramp forcing me to quit after one mile, thus experiencing total humiliation. Obviously, that is a little crazy. Turns out running with other people is pretty fun. There were only three of us, so it wasn't too overwhelming. We were able to carry on a conversation the whole time thanks to a relatively easy pace. This definitely makes the run go by a lot faster. It did for me anyway, though I am pretty sure I talked more than my share. My bad.
I ended up doing about 4.5 miles looping around the streets of Carrboro. The day before I did some strength training, so lots of lunges and whatnot. It actually hurt to sit down yesterday and things have slightly improved today, but I guess that means something is working.
Please visit my Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training page and make a donation (link is below in pink). The money goes towards blood cancer research and patient services. I have to raise at least $1500 and with your help I know can amass far more for this cause so close to my heart.
Also, don't mention this to my mom (Marty) if you see her! I am planning to surprise her on her birthday, October 8, with the total amount I have raised up to that point. Thanks!!!
Why would I do this?
In August 2008 my mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Looking like a pregnant woman with her melon-sized tumor, she started chemotherapy. It was rough. She basically lived in the hospital over the next several months.
The good news: Because of the wonderful people at UNC hospital, support from friends and family and most of all, my mom's uncanny strength, the cancer was eliminated. She has completed radiation and is now in remission. I am so in awe of her and as a tribute to her triumph I am running a marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Not everyone is as lucky as my family, and that is why this is so important to me. I will not only be running for my mom, but for all those whose lives have been turned upside down by this disease.
This blog will document my progress in preparing for the run over the next five months. I will post about my training – how far I am running, what I am eating, listening to, what motivates me/distracts me (see following topic), what body parts feel like they are falling off, etc. And because I have a tendency to get side-tracked I will probably blog about unrelated topics from time to time. Thanks for your support!!!
I am an almost 24yo dogwalker/pet sitter/whatever-er in the fine city of Durham NC. The only running event I have ever participated in was a 5k near Asheville as part of the Outward Bound program when I was about 15 and in much better shape. I have five months to prepare. This should be interesting...
Ingredients:
