Don't Quit

I found a letter my friend Kristen wrote to me years ago. She sent it with a care package to cheer me up (this is while I was living far from her). She's a wonderful friend

She explained that she found a gift and thought of me, but on the way home she dropped it. Because she wanted to keep with it's theme, she glued it back together and sent it to me anyway. She really is a wonderful friend.

I can't remember now what was happening that prompted Kristin to send this gift, and she doesn't say expressly in the letter. Maybe that's the upside of a poor memory, the bad things are wiped away too.

But I think the message is still so applicable today - and I wanted to share because I suspect some of you would like a visual reminder too.... it is only wednesday after all - and sometimes these days can be rough.

Kristin, thank you for your care packages and your super glue - they still work on me

Hardcore Decor

I already mentioned yesterday how much we love The Wire... so when we saw an oil painting of Omar Little by our (very talented) friend Nick, our reaction was naturally super hyped. We were so enamored of the work, he ended up giving it to us. We felt guilty about this for a few minutes, then we took our picture and ran before he could change his mind!

by Nick McCormick

*note: if you're a fan of the wire and you disagree that Omar's the greatest, you can work that out here.

We hope to someday become home owners and to add to our art collection, but I found myself wondering - how do I add to Omar? THE stick up boy? What could possibly dare to hold wall space along with this painting?

Then I found the "The Magnificent Map of Rap Names." Its a scientific, categorical, and comprehensive breakdown of all rap groups and emcees. It's pretty impressive - enough to hold its own with our other bad ass pieces.

plus it looks very classy hanging over a couch.

It's oh so useful too. In case you were wondering which is the best group to ever use of  a "K" in place of a "C", now you can just reference the right hand side of the chart, under "Improper use of K" and find that Outkast just krushes the kompetition.

Aside from commissioning someone to make a bronze statue of Jamie Dixon in his famous squat and think position, I would say we're just about done here!

perfect

Happy Birthday my Husband!

We decided in this calender year not to buy each other a single gift, so instead I will electronically display the things I think might put a smile on his face. (I went all out for you my dear, fake money was no object)

First, a card, because you listen to This American Life at work, then message me to do the same so we can talk about it later....

source

An icelandic bearded hat for the man who walks across bridges in the frigid winter, because its cheaper than parking in the city (you don't have to do that, you know. but if you insist - please be warm)...

We had the discussion about GPS watch vs. iphone because of the music capabilities. Problem solved. Since you're the kind of guy that will wake up before 5 am, just to go running - I got this watch. It has BOTH music and GPS and wireless headphones

say what?!?

Our buddy Fabio, from Top Chef, has a cookbook now! So of course I bought it. And I'm working on having him fly here to make us something fancy... maybe pea puree. (he's checking his work schedule, I"ll let you know.)

There's an episode of the Simpsons when it was Marge's birthday, so Homer got Marge a bowling ball with his name engraved on it? Well this is that kind of gift for me you. Because I love that you would block off whole evenings so we could watch together (despite the fact that you were working and going to grad school) and you didn't hesitate to hang an oil painting of Omar in our living room - I know I will you'll love this.

indeed

And this book for my curious, experimental husband that just can't wait to make more batches of home brew. You can do the heavy reading and just tell me the difference between making an amber and an ipa.

Then finally, because I love you so much, I decided to really splurge. This is for the guy that should have an all expense paid trip to that little corner of the world he's always wanted to visit. I booked us for one month.... nope two months. Just relax and enjoy the wonders of Greece!

source

Okay, maybe I've gone a bit overboard for your 28th. 

Maybe we'll just vacation for six weeks. 

Anyway, you deserve and this and then some! Happy Birthday Orbin! 

HAPPY WEEKEND! hope you go in like a lion

ITS OFFICIALLY MARCH!

Goodbye cold dredges of February, things were just not working out between us (it's not me. it's you.)

Hello warming weather, budding flowers, and basketball - so much basketball!

Here is a list of the things I'm looking forward to this month, stream of consciousness style:

Neil's Birthday

no presents, just cooking his favorite dinner and telling him he's the bees nees

Making this recipe 

its from Smitten Kitchen so it must be amazing. plus, I've never cooked with parsnips

Conference Basketball Tournaments 

followed by Selection Sunday 

followed by NCAA Tournament!! 

(This is the highlight of my year. I may go on hiatus from posting.
I may make 'yo mama' jokes about Duke. It may get ugly)

Shamrock Shake

a guilty pleasure I have once a year

Dog Sitting

this month I get to watch the best dog that ever was... twice!

get ready for me to become even more consumed by a desire for things I can't have

oh the sad life of apartment dwellers that long to be pet owners!

Seeing Mondo win Project Runway

Its a bold prediction, I know, but I'm banking on a win.
My faith in the fashion world depends on this.

Lent

I haven't 'given up' anything, but I've added some reading,

and some praying and some volunteering. 

So far I'm liking addition more than subtraction

Running this race 

Its on March 10th, a whole gang is going, and its not too late to sign up!

Reading the Hunger Games

 This will be our March book club book. 

Once again, I'm the last one to find out about and jump onto some trend, 

(but at least I know in advance that it will be good)

 St Patrick's Day! 

This year our church is spending the day as the Saint might well have done
- serving alongside the needy, then maybe having just one pint.


Are you looking forward to anything special in March?
(other than the fact that it's no longer February)

50 in 50 by 50: #6 LOUISIANA

Sometimes our race selection has very little to do with how wonderful the race might be - and it has a lot to do with convenience. We have picked most of our races because they happen to co-inside with a vacation (some day we hope to pick a vacation based on an awesome race, but there's still plenty of time for that). We've lucked out though, because they've all ended up being great - and Louisiana was no exception.

We traveled to New Orleans for a friend's wedding in September of 2011. This long weekend away ended up being one of my favorite vacations ever. It was my first time in the city and it just blew me away. I had the perfect mix of time alone (with jazz music, galleries, and cafes), time with Neil (dates, museums, and football) and time with friends (Bourbon St. and an authentic New Orleans Wedding!)

proof I'm not lying about all those good things:

The Treme Brass Band

cafe au lait and beignet

happy nuptials

Bourbon St. below us

The small saturday morning race was called "Black Tie 5K", just outside the hustle and bustle of the city on a little park path. Similar races were being held in cities across America on the same day to raise money for cancer research, but being the first year they ever had this race - we didn't know what to expect.

We were told there would be a prize for dressing up - it was black tie after all. We arrived to find less than 100 people, and about 4% of those people went with the high fashion attire. Needless to say, we were among the 4%...

looking like this, maybe we're the 1%

We had hoped to run the race with our friend Ian, but New Orleans happened and Ian didn't wake up in time. Its a shame too because his cut off dress pants would have given us a run for our money...

nope. changed my mind. this is the 1% 

The course was flat and easy and I got my best time ever! I would have faired much better if I didn't have to overcome a bachelorette party (that always gets in the way of productivity), lack of sleep, running in a skirt, bouncing fake pearls, and evening glove elbow sweat (yes, that's a thing. and it's itchy). 

We loved how small the race was and how friendly the people were. When we registered - they said, "You're the ones from Pennsylvania! Welcome!" And when we won the $100 prize for best dressed, everyone snapped our picture like we were famous. That's a big deal when you turn heads in NOLA - because the locals are used to seeing things like this, everyday...

oh just a mid afternoon discussion about pedal bikes (with the devil)

Like ALL food in New Orleans, the post-race food was the best food I've seen. They had local chefs come in and make healthy versions of some of the city's most popular dishes. They had nutritionalists there to talk about diet and even a special area for children and health! For anyone that's been to the races that have doughnuts and ice cream at the finish - you can appreciate how happy we were.

this is me with my mini pecan pie 

(made from Grape Nuts cereal, honey, and whole wheat crust)

I'm also pretending its a normal sized pie and I'm a giant.

If we were doing 51 in 50 by 50, I would repeat LA in a heartbeat

The Breakdown

date: 9/17/11

race: Black Tie 5K

location: New Orleans, LA

charity: cancer research 

time: 28:20

50 in 50 in 50: #5 WISCONSIN

When Pearl Jam was celebrating 20 years by playing it's only US tour date - a two day festival - somewhere between Madison and Milwaukee, my husband (and some buddies) had to be there.

When I learned that a small town outside of Madison has an annual Cow Chip Festival* with a 10K on the SAME weekend, I had to join them.  *you read that right, a whole festival for dried cow dung.


We drove the abrasive 10 plus hours to get to Madison and stayed with some wonderful friends of mine. After enjoying what that city has to offer (and it has to offer a lot - anyone contemplating a visit should go right away), we hit the hay for the next day's race.

Madison's Capitol Building

Madison's spicy cheesy bread. 

There were other highlights but I will stop after this bread.

The race was on a cool, drizzling morning. We woke up early to drive twenty minutes to little town of Prairie Du Sac, and we quickly learned an important runner's lesson: 10 hour car ride + local microbrews + double order cheese curds = less than ideal running preparation. In fact, your lower GI tract will yell at you. (and that may seem like an over share but its important that no one repeats my mistakes)

There was a sizable crowd at the start, but not to worry, the one mile of straight up-hill did a lot to thin us out. The scenery was incredible and I'm so sad I didn't have my camera. We ran past bright rolling hillsides, over bridges with expansive lakes, through back country roads of wheat fields. I kept wanting to belt out parts of America the Beautiful - 'FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN!!!" But the locals seemed unimpressed by their surroundings, so I played it cool.

After a brief race recovery (curled up on the curb, seriously enjoying some orange slices) - the festival was just beginning. Pig rotisserie was being assembled. The pie stands were setting out their competitive greatness. The local crafters were displaying every possible use of wool imaginable. A man, the spitting image of Willie Nelson, was playing Elvis on the acoustic guitar. Then a giant, stuffed, cow pie mascot waved a white gloved hand at me as it moved along the grounds, and I was in heaven.

oh yes, they also have a cow chip throwing contest!

That evening we moved along to Milwaukee. The boys went to the concert for two consecutive nights while I saved money and brain ache by staying back near the hotel. Milwaukee is also pretty fantastic, by the way. 

tons of water walkways and great little restaurants

And remember that lesson I told you about beer and cheese - clearly my memory is very poor - or my will power - or both.

dinner in Milwaukee

what's that on the race shirt, you ask... 

a cow pie - wearing a cheese hat - kicking a football

thank you Wisconsin!

The Breakdown

date: 10/3/11

race: Cow Chip Classic 10K

location: Praire Du Sac, WI

charity: I don't know, I was too distracted by the cow dung mascot. 

time: 1:04:20 (the girls) 50:09 (the boy)

Pre-run Breakfast

My least favorite thing is running early in the morning. I'm annoyed by the race start times and offended by the people that can chat and bounce and jog around merrily at that time of day... its still dark people! (When can I get coffee?!)

So a pre-race breakfast is key. IF (big if), I'm lucky enough to make it out of bed with a bit of time on my hands (so I end up with more than a cliff bar or a piece of fruit) this is what I like to treat myself to:

I'm a big fan of Ezekiel Bread with some bananas and honey. Ezekiel bread can sound strange - with ingredients like millet and spelt - but it's hearty and healthy. Unfortunately, I can tell just how hearty and healthy it is by the taste so I load up on the bananas and honey.

Or I'll have a bowl of oatmeal with any number of fruit options thrown in. I am the biggest fan of the this breakfast in the winter. With oatmeal, I have to eat just a little so it doesn't feel like a brick one mile into the run.

I also love to eat a whole wheat waffle with peanut butter and cinnamon. It feels like dessert.

But I just read a book called Vegan for Life (I'm not vegan but it gives a lot of good information on nutrition) and the author suggests eating salad before a big running day. 

Salad for breakfast? whaaat? 

He swears by it. He claims its not heavy, you can eat a lot of it, its refreshing, it wakes him up a bit, and always makes him feel good on a race day.

He usually goes for spinach, fruits, walnuts, and a bit of vinnegrette. 

Does this sound crazy to anyone else? I'll admit. I was skeptical but the idea is growing on me. I have yet to try it, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has.

What is your race day breakfast? Let me know - especially if you are one of those happy jumping people I can't stand see out and about. 

50 in 50 by 50: #4 VIRGINIA

Since dating Neil, I've been lucky enough to accompany him on some trips to Virginia Beach with his Dad's family. (more than lucky, friends, they get a house on the beach! on the beach!)

There's nothing like driving eight hours to see friends that live twenty minutes from you. It feels extraordinary in the most ordinary kind of way.

With that in mind, in June of 2011, some wonderful Pittsburgh friends of ours were staying for the summer in Lynchburg Virginia because he had work there. While we could see them anytime back home, we decided to take a couple hours detour from our family beach trip to have a day with them in the middle of VA.

We met for a friday evening pasta dinner (wine, laughter, and ice cream followed). We woke up early saturday for a race, then experienced the finer side of Lynchburg (local brewery, pizza, farmer's market) before heading onto Virginia Beach.

the good life: a post run sampler to share

But about the race: it was a 5K with just a couple hundred people to raise money for a local retirement home. We picked the race based on a very scientific process of - what is in Lynchburg when we are in Lynchburg? We struck gold because we landed in what I believe to be the quintessential Virginia setting.

first, a lesson: the south in the summer is hot, it is oppressively hot, and this is true even at 9 am. 

We stood at the start line swatting away two billion gnats. To our right was a wooden fence with horses grazing and to our left was a swampy field filled with parked cars. Lining our path were large southern country homes, complete with the large porches, white rocking chairs, and lush green lawns. We had stepped into Gone With the Wind (if someone melted the set in a microwave).

The girls ran together and our victory was not our time but the amount of water weight we lost. And the boys ran together, beating us by a large enough margin to walk back a ways and cat call us into the home stretch. At the finish line was - get this - a large white building with white pillars on the porch and a line of pristine adirondack chairs. I half expected sweet tea and tobacco as refreshments. I love that in Virginia, we got to really see some Virginia (and our local buddies as well)!

The Breakdown

date: 6/18/11

race: Presbyterian Homes & Family Services 5K

location: Lynchburg, VA

charity: PHFS 

time: 37:55 (the girls) 27:16 (the boys)