My first day of vacation and my first day between jobs! And I was insanely busy all day, running last-minute errands, preparing road food, packing and staging things we’re taking, and cleaning the house so we don’t look like total slobs to our friend who will be feeding the cat while we’re away.
Tid will be boarding with her vet while we’re gone. I know it’s going to be very confusing to her and I feel bad because she’s almost 100% again. I think it will be for the best though, and they do like her over there. Tidbit is a very sweet and friendly girl. Pixel will miss her, especially since he’ll be stuck here all alone, but he’ll enjoy watching birds out the windows and taking long naps, or whatever it is he does all day.
I hope to be able to blog from the road. We want to do more camping this year, so that would cut into my blogging time. During my absence, I’ll be posting my adventures to my Vacation Blog. Updates will be nightly when I’m at a place where I can log on. And since our first stop is San Angelo, where we’ll be staying at a hotel, the first vacation blog post will be Saturday night!
Have a great two weeks, friends. Thanks for all the support during our Tidbit Trials, and I look forward to catching up with everyone upon my return.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Updates
Tidbit is slowly coming around. She still doesn’t come to my bedroom door in the morning if I’m too slow with her breakfast, but she eats on her own and tonight she settled beside my chair in loaf position—something she hasn’t done since becoming ill.
I’ve found a way to get her antibiotics in her. They’re supposed to be administered orally via syringe and I found that if I rub the tip of the syringe with the inside of a raisin, I can get the antibiotic into her before she realizes I’ve tricked her.
We’ve decided to board her at the vet while we’re on vacation. I hate to do that to the poor girl, but she’s still on twice-daily meds and I have more confidence that the vet techs can administer them than a petsitter. Also, the vet is cheaper and if she relapses, she’ll get the care she needs right away. She won’t be too happy about the arrangement, but no other solutions make much sense.
Earlier this week I saw a duck and ten itty-bitty striped ducklings paddling around the university’s big fountains (the jets were turned off for cleaning). I took pictures and I’ll try to post them tomorrow.
Finally, today (Thursday) is my last work day in my current department. They’re going to have a party for me, which I don’t really want but since they’re using one of my favorite caterers I’m not complaining. There’s a lot that I’m going to miss, but if I have even ten percent less stress in my new job, it will have been so worth it.
I’ve found a way to get her antibiotics in her. They’re supposed to be administered orally via syringe and I found that if I rub the tip of the syringe with the inside of a raisin, I can get the antibiotic into her before she realizes I’ve tricked her.
We’ve decided to board her at the vet while we’re on vacation. I hate to do that to the poor girl, but she’s still on twice-daily meds and I have more confidence that the vet techs can administer them than a petsitter. Also, the vet is cheaper and if she relapses, she’ll get the care she needs right away. She won’t be too happy about the arrangement, but no other solutions make much sense.
Earlier this week I saw a duck and ten itty-bitty striped ducklings paddling around the university’s big fountains (the jets were turned off for cleaning). I took pictures and I’ll try to post them tomorrow.
Finally, today (Thursday) is my last work day in my current department. They’re going to have a party for me, which I don’t really want but since they’re using one of my favorite caterers I’m not complaining. There’s a lot that I’m going to miss, but if I have even ten percent less stress in my new job, it will have been so worth it.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Tidbit Update
Thanks again to all who have stopped by to wish my bunny well!
I brought her home today and she was certainly much more alert than before. She had to "tour" her room and check that everything was in its proper place, and then she settled in for a little alone-time, which is typical behavior when she returns home from a vet visit.
Since coming home she has yet to use her litter box, which has me concerned, although they said at the vet she was generating a lot of "output," so perhaps there just isn't much in there right now.
She's still off her feed. Normally she would spend most of the evening with her face buried in her hay, but instead she only nibbles the occasional little bit and does her best eating when Dan is on the floor with her, feeding her strand by strand. She did drink a lot of water, though, which is encouraging. And although she grunted and ran away from me when I tried to give her the mineral oil, I was able to dip her favorite greens in it and fed it to her that way.
Salad dressing and hand-feeding. Someone thinks she's royalty!
We'll be monitoring the situation closely. We were hoping to leave town on Friday but if she's not aggressively eating on her own, we'll just have to find other things to do with our vacation. We're willing to vacation locally if we must.
As Tid's health improves, she'll be hopping by to visit all the kind humans, felines, bunnies, and other folks who have wished her well. But for tonight, no computer for Princess. Next thing you know, she'll expect us to peel her a grape!
I brought her home today and she was certainly much more alert than before. She had to "tour" her room and check that everything was in its proper place, and then she settled in for a little alone-time, which is typical behavior when she returns home from a vet visit.
Since coming home she has yet to use her litter box, which has me concerned, although they said at the vet she was generating a lot of "output," so perhaps there just isn't much in there right now.
She's still off her feed. Normally she would spend most of the evening with her face buried in her hay, but instead she only nibbles the occasional little bit and does her best eating when Dan is on the floor with her, feeding her strand by strand. She did drink a lot of water, though, which is encouraging. And although she grunted and ran away from me when I tried to give her the mineral oil, I was able to dip her favorite greens in it and fed it to her that way.
Salad dressing and hand-feeding. Someone thinks she's royalty!
We'll be monitoring the situation closely. We were hoping to leave town on Friday but if she's not aggressively eating on her own, we'll just have to find other things to do with our vacation. We're willing to vacation locally if we must.
As Tid's health improves, she'll be hopping by to visit all the kind humans, felines, bunnies, and other folks who have wished her well. But for tonight, no computer for Princess. Next thing you know, she'll expect us to peel her a grape!
At Home
Whew! What an ordeal! I'm home and resting now and my biped will be back later with the details. Thanks for all your love and support!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Sunday Round-Up
Since we still hope to go out of town at the end of the coming week, today was a Big Shopping and Baking Day.
I started my morning by doing a little writing while sipping Sumatran coffee. I suspect I’ll be going down to the wire on my draft, but I do think I can make my target of finishing before Thursday.
Then I went out and ran a few errands, came home and started cooking:
For anyone curious, the humza bread was at one time touted as some sort of miracle diet food. I don’t believe in “miracle foods” and my weight is just fine, thank you. But any sort of food that travels well and packs a lot of hunger-reduction in a small package is good road trip food, especially for the long stretches of West Texas, where you can drive all day without finding anything better than a gas station convenience store selling hours-old fried chicken from under a heat lamp. So rather than take a chance of starving, I’m giving the humza bread a try. It’s quite tasty in its own right, so I may make this a regular thing.
I now have a refrigerator packed to the gills! Later this week I’ll be making some more cornbread and some carrot or zucchini bread. I also want to try my hand at spinach frittatas. I saw a recipe for some that are quite small and I think they would make good road trip food. One of the great things about hours and hours of driving in the western sun is that if you wrap a food item in foil and set it on the dashboard for a couple hours, it gets nice and hot. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me! You’ll never think of travel food the same way again.
So I’m envisioning stopping for picnics that consist of frittatas and grape tomatoes or curry chickpeas and zucchini. And in between stops, well, there’s that humza bread.
After I did all that cooking, there wasn't much time left in the afternoon and since this is my last week on the job, I did the performance appraisals on my staff instead of a bike workout. I'm running out of time to do all the projects that need doing and it doesn't help that I've got short-timer syndrome pretty bad. But not in regard to my staff. I'm trying to do everything I can for them before I go.
I’ll be getting an update on Tidbit tomorrow. For those who have asked, Tidbit is about five years old. She was a shelter rabbit, so I don’t know much about her history before I got her four years ago. She’s under the care of a vet who specializes in exotics. She has been checked for issues with her teeth and she’s had an x-ray. The diagnosis is hypomotility, likely due to hair ingestion (although we suspect her love of chewing on sheets is also a factor). She has been alert and responsive throughout her ordeal, so hopefully this is just a simple hairball situation and not symptomatic of some obscure and expensive rabbit disease.
Her situation as of last week was considered urgent but not immediately life-threatening, but going without an update all weekend is nerve-wracking. She went from doing binkies on the bed and begging for food to refusing all food within twenty-four hours, so my mind comes up with awful scenarios of what could be happening over the weekend! I hope they call with good news on Monday!
And finally, tonight we mourn the passing of one of our dear little blog-bunnies, Archi Ann. I will so miss “your” posts and visits, sweetie.
I started my morning by doing a little writing while sipping Sumatran coffee. I suspect I’ll be going down to the wire on my draft, but I do think I can make my target of finishing before Thursday.
Then I went out and ran a few errands, came home and started cooking:
- cornbread with cheese and black pepper
- pumpkin bread (2 loaves)
- hard-boiled eggs
- curry zucchini
- curry chickpeas and potatoes (using remainder of pumpkin from the pumpkin bread)
- fried rice
- steamed rice (mix of brown and jasmine rice)
- humza bread
For anyone curious, the humza bread was at one time touted as some sort of miracle diet food. I don’t believe in “miracle foods” and my weight is just fine, thank you. But any sort of food that travels well and packs a lot of hunger-reduction in a small package is good road trip food, especially for the long stretches of West Texas, where you can drive all day without finding anything better than a gas station convenience store selling hours-old fried chicken from under a heat lamp. So rather than take a chance of starving, I’m giving the humza bread a try. It’s quite tasty in its own right, so I may make this a regular thing.
I now have a refrigerator packed to the gills! Later this week I’ll be making some more cornbread and some carrot or zucchini bread. I also want to try my hand at spinach frittatas. I saw a recipe for some that are quite small and I think they would make good road trip food. One of the great things about hours and hours of driving in the western sun is that if you wrap a food item in foil and set it on the dashboard for a couple hours, it gets nice and hot. Try it yourself if you don’t believe me! You’ll never think of travel food the same way again.
So I’m envisioning stopping for picnics that consist of frittatas and grape tomatoes or curry chickpeas and zucchini. And in between stops, well, there’s that humza bread.
After I did all that cooking, there wasn't much time left in the afternoon and since this is my last week on the job, I did the performance appraisals on my staff instead of a bike workout. I'm running out of time to do all the projects that need doing and it doesn't help that I've got short-timer syndrome pretty bad. But not in regard to my staff. I'm trying to do everything I can for them before I go.
I’ll be getting an update on Tidbit tomorrow. For those who have asked, Tidbit is about five years old. She was a shelter rabbit, so I don’t know much about her history before I got her four years ago. She’s under the care of a vet who specializes in exotics. She has been checked for issues with her teeth and she’s had an x-ray. The diagnosis is hypomotility, likely due to hair ingestion (although we suspect her love of chewing on sheets is also a factor). She has been alert and responsive throughout her ordeal, so hopefully this is just a simple hairball situation and not symptomatic of some obscure and expensive rabbit disease.
Her situation as of last week was considered urgent but not immediately life-threatening, but going without an update all weekend is nerve-wracking. She went from doing binkies on the bed and begging for food to refusing all food within twenty-four hours, so my mind comes up with awful scenarios of what could be happening over the weekend! I hope they call with good news on Monday!
And finally, tonight we mourn the passing of one of our dear little blog-bunnies, Archi Ann. I will so miss “your” posts and visits, sweetie.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Zoo of Their Own
This morning I took my camera on my run. I need more pictures for the not-yet-released blog associated with my new novel in progress. What better way to get moody urban pics than by running through urban areas on an overcast morning?
When I was almost home, running up my street, I came upon something really cool-- a mini petting zoo in someone's front yard!
The zoo was for a children's birthday party and was provided by Marsha's Zoo. They provided animals, an awning for them, and they gave pony rides up and down the street to the children. The workers were very friendly and told me that their operation is a family business providing animals all over the city. I was ready to hire them to set up in my back yard, but instead, I contented myself with petting a friendly fawn.
In other news of the day, Dan and I had lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant and since it was raining when we were done and we hadn't brought umbrellas, I suggested we cut through the Pier One store to get a little time out of the rain. Dan said we should at least pretend like we're looking at merchandise, so I obliged.
And dammit, I bought.
Getting wet would've been cheaper.
I miss my Tid.
When I was almost home, running up my street, I came upon something really cool-- a mini petting zoo in someone's front yard!
The zoo was for a children's birthday party and was provided by Marsha's Zoo. They provided animals, an awning for them, and they gave pony rides up and down the street to the children. The workers were very friendly and told me that their operation is a family business providing animals all over the city. I was ready to hire them to set up in my back yard, but instead, I contented myself with petting a friendly fawn.
In other news of the day, Dan and I had lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant and since it was raining when we were done and we hadn't brought umbrellas, I suggested we cut through the Pier One store to get a little time out of the rain. Dan said we should at least pretend like we're looking at merchandise, so I obliged.
And dammit, I bought.
Getting wet would've been cheaper.
I miss my Tid.
No News
No change with Tidbit. She went back to the vet this morning and although they said she was "active," she wasn't eating or drinking on her own, so they're keeping her through the weekend.
It's starting to scare me that this hasn't resolved itself yet. Tid has always been a good eater, almost never without a mouthful of timothy hay. It's hard to imagine what could've caused this, except that rabbits are rabbits and it happens.
Pixel misses his friend. He keeps wandering into her room and checking all the spots she should be. Funny boy, he's always too busy being a cool cat when Tid wants to snuggle and we're in the vicinity, but at times like this, his true colors show.
Thanks again to all who have posted their kind thoughts for Tidbit's recovery.
It's starting to scare me that this hasn't resolved itself yet. Tid has always been a good eater, almost never without a mouthful of timothy hay. It's hard to imagine what could've caused this, except that rabbits are rabbits and it happens.
Pixel misses his friend. He keeps wandering into her room and checking all the spots she should be. Funny boy, he's always too busy being a cool cat when Tid wants to snuggle and we're in the vicinity, but at times like this, his true colors show.
Thanks again to all who have posted their kind thoughts for Tidbit's recovery.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Tidbit Update
Well, we were told she was eating hay and throwing fits about being cooped up, so I went to pick Tidbit up today. Upon arriving home, she went into a corner and has refused to eat, drink, or use her litterbox since.
It looks like she pulled a fast one at the vet's in order to get sprung. She's not fooling us, though. Unless she makes some progress with either input, output, or both, it's back to the vet for her in the morning.
With our vacation starting in just one week, we're starting to have to think about contingency plans. Once I start my new job, I can't take vacation for six months, and Dan won't have another opportunity until December. If this rabbit doesn't start eating, we are so screwed.
It looks like she pulled a fast one at the vet's in order to get sprung. She's not fooling us, though. Unless she makes some progress with either input, output, or both, it's back to the vet for her in the morning.
With our vacation starting in just one week, we're starting to have to think about contingency plans. Once I start my new job, I can't take vacation for six months, and Dan won't have another opportunity until December. If this rabbit doesn't start eating, we are so screwed.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
On the Mend
Tidbit is still at the bunny hospital, but as of this afternoon she was doing much better and was even starting to cop an attitude about having to be in a cage. Go, Tid!
Her friend Pixel misses her and we catch him looking for her and meowing, but he's trying to be cool and not look too concerned.
We hope Tidbit will be sprung on Thursday, but we haven't been promised anything yet.
Thanks, everyone, for your good wishes. It's great to see so much support for one little bunny!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
In Hospital
The Tid is sick, but she is under the very excellent care of her pal, Dan Jordan, at Animal Avian Hospital of the Village and will likely make a full recovery.
The kind thoughts and good wishes of her friends in the blogsphere are appreciated.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Under the Weather?
The Tid is antisocial today. We leave a pet carrier in the room with the door off so she can go in and out and play in it without associating it with the V.E.T. She's spent all day in there, which is totally not like her.
She's also been ignoring her hay, but she used her litterbox and comes out for treats and greens, so maybe she's just spooked by something. I hope it's nothing more than that. Dan is going to try to take her to the vet in the morning if she's not more like herself.
Be well, Tidbit!
She's also been ignoring her hay, but she used her litterbox and comes out for treats and greens, so maybe she's just spooked by something. I hope it's nothing more than that. Dan is going to try to take her to the vet in the morning if she's not more like herself.
Be well, Tidbit!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Art Cars and Other Cool Things
Part of today's run took me up Allen Parkway where I got to see the art cars lining up for the annual Art Car Parade. We have one of the best art car parades in the country, and people bring entries from all over.
I tried to find a permalink for the Houston Chronicle's coverage of the parade, but no luck. Anyone who goes to the Chronicle's website this weekend can pick up some of the photo galleries and videos. It's pretty amazing how elaborate some of the cars are.
I once had a "retired" car that I wanted to convert into an art car. I was going to make it into a giant rabbit. Seriously. But I lacked the time and resources for it, so I never got into that particular project.
One of the things I'm looking forward to in my new job is having a little more time for myself. From all appearances, I'll be working forty-hour weeks most of the time instead of fifty. And what's probably even more significant is that it won't be such a pressure cooker environment. Oh, sure, there will be crunch times like in any line of work, but the whole stupid year won't be a crunch time.
The head of my new department is very into her Myers-Briggs. She said when she interviewed me that she knew I was an introvert (we knew each other before she began recruiting me) and she's big on respecting the work styles of both introverts and extroverts. I so hope it's true! I've always tried to do that with my own staff because when a person has to spend half the work day fighting their own personality, it has a negative impact on attitude, work quality, and even personal life (which bleeds back into work performance).
Maybe soon I'll have evenings and weekends where I won't have to turn into a hermit just to keep from going crazy. There are a lot of things I'd like to do with my life that get put on hold when I need every free moment as down time so I can re-charge and be "on" again for everyone the next day. People, even when I love them, bleed me dry. Here's a good explanation of Extroversion vs Introversion, for anyone who is unclear on what the terms really mean, and not just the pop culture meaning.
Recent Baking
Friday: banana bread
Saturday: carrot-apple bread (2 loaves)
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minute elliptical
Tuesday: worked late - no workout
Wednesday: 40 minute spin
Thursday: worked late - no workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Note: My job interviews and resignation really took a toll on my workday and ate into my workout time. I had thought to carve out a little workout time on Friday, but that got nixed by all the people calling and dropping by to congratulate me, further impacting my ability to actually work. If this sort of thing keeps up I'm going to have to stay home to get anything done!
I tried to find a permalink for the Houston Chronicle's coverage of the parade, but no luck. Anyone who goes to the Chronicle's website this weekend can pick up some of the photo galleries and videos. It's pretty amazing how elaborate some of the cars are.
I once had a "retired" car that I wanted to convert into an art car. I was going to make it into a giant rabbit. Seriously. But I lacked the time and resources for it, so I never got into that particular project.
One of the things I'm looking forward to in my new job is having a little more time for myself. From all appearances, I'll be working forty-hour weeks most of the time instead of fifty. And what's probably even more significant is that it won't be such a pressure cooker environment. Oh, sure, there will be crunch times like in any line of work, but the whole stupid year won't be a crunch time.
The head of my new department is very into her Myers-Briggs. She said when she interviewed me that she knew I was an introvert (we knew each other before she began recruiting me) and she's big on respecting the work styles of both introverts and extroverts. I so hope it's true! I've always tried to do that with my own staff because when a person has to spend half the work day fighting their own personality, it has a negative impact on attitude, work quality, and even personal life (which bleeds back into work performance).
Maybe soon I'll have evenings and weekends where I won't have to turn into a hermit just to keep from going crazy. There are a lot of things I'd like to do with my life that get put on hold when I need every free moment as down time so I can re-charge and be "on" again for everyone the next day. People, even when I love them, bleed me dry. Here's a good explanation of Extroversion vs Introversion, for anyone who is unclear on what the terms really mean, and not just the pop culture meaning.
Recent Baking
Friday: banana bread
Saturday: carrot-apple bread (2 loaves)
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minute elliptical
Tuesday: worked late - no workout
Wednesday: 40 minute spin
Thursday: worked late - no workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Note: My job interviews and resignation really took a toll on my workday and ate into my workout time. I had thought to carve out a little workout time on Friday, but that got nixed by all the people calling and dropping by to congratulate me, further impacting my ability to actually work. If this sort of thing keeps up I'm going to have to stay home to get anything done!
Friday, May 09, 2008
Neato!
I haven't even started my new job and already they've registered me for a conference.
It's been ten years since my last paid professional development and they're sending me to a two-day function in Galveston on my very first day on the job.
How cool is that?
It's been ten years since my last paid professional development and they're sending me to a two-day function in Galveston on my very first day on the job.
How cool is that?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
New Horizons
I quit my job today.
Two weeks where I am now, two weeks vacation, then return and start my new job.
I'm very sad about this. I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down. But I've made some other people very happy and I have reason to believe that in the end it will be good for everyone concerned. Even my old department will benefit because I'll be in a position to do a lot of things for them that university administration has always blocked.
It's just hard to move on when you've been someplace for so long. I cried. My boss cried. She tried to counter-offer but I refused. Because in the end, it wasn't the money (although the internal equity was always a pisser), and it was certainly never about grade or title (I've never given a damn about such things). In the end, it was about what I needed for me, and after nearly twelve years moving up the ranks in the same university department, I was way overdue for a change.
So here's to new horizons, once I quit grieving over leaving my safe harbor.
Two weeks where I am now, two weeks vacation, then return and start my new job.
I'm very sad about this. I feel like I'm letting a lot of people down. But I've made some other people very happy and I have reason to believe that in the end it will be good for everyone concerned. Even my old department will benefit because I'll be in a position to do a lot of things for them that university administration has always blocked.
It's just hard to move on when you've been someplace for so long. I cried. My boss cried. She tried to counter-offer but I refused. Because in the end, it wasn't the money (although the internal equity was always a pisser), and it was certainly never about grade or title (I've never given a damn about such things). In the end, it was about what I needed for me, and after nearly twelve years moving up the ranks in the same university department, I was way overdue for a change.
So here's to new horizons, once I quit grieving over leaving my safe harbor.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Warning!
Do not make this extremely dangerous bread!
If you feel compelled to make it, don't use whole wheat flour, pecan meal, and organic butter. And for the love of God, don't eat it!
Eating this bread, especially warm from the oven, has been known to create strong urges to keep on eating, regardless of one’s actual state of hunger, to the exclusion of needful daily activities, such as exercise and housework.
This bread is a hazard to waistlines and balanced diets everywhere. If you must make some, it is strongly recommended that you give it away immediately!
In fact, just send it here.
If you feel compelled to make it, don't use whole wheat flour, pecan meal, and organic butter. And for the love of God, don't eat it!
Eating this bread, especially warm from the oven, has been known to create strong urges to keep on eating, regardless of one’s actual state of hunger, to the exclusion of needful daily activities, such as exercise and housework.
This bread is a hazard to waistlines and balanced diets everywhere. If you must make some, it is strongly recommended that you give it away immediately!
In fact, just send it here.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Perspective
I had a nice run this morning that included stopping by the vet’s office to get flea medicine for the pets. As I was leaving the vet’s office, some fast-moving dark clouds moved in. They were dramatic and scary-looking but I suspected they were moving too quickly to drop any rain and I was correct. They did cool the morning temps, though, and added a nice breeze to the stuffy air as I ran to my favorite cemetery. I needed a dose of perspective.
I’ve been aggressively courted by another department for a couple of months now and recently had an interview that went very well. I suspect I’ll have a firm offer this week and will have to make a decision. I love the department I’m currently with, I’ve worked hard to build my team and I feel like I’ve finally gotten things to a stage where I can start focusing on the want-to-dos instead of just the have-tos. I want to move to things to the next level in my current role and would rather not leave.
But I’m getting tired of the promises never fulfilled. I’m underpaid and under-graded for what I do. I have co-workers right in the same office who are not managers, have less responsibility, work fewer hours, and make within $1,000 of what I do. For nearly two years my boss has talked a good game about how she’s going to do right by me, while doing nothing. She can fix the problem with a signature on a piece of paper, but she’s always got an excuse. This saddens me because we go back a long way together and when she first came to our department, it was I who welcomed her and made myself her right-hand gal. I championed her causes for years and thought we were friends.
Yeah, I feel betrayed. Screwed. This other department could never tempt me away otherwise with what little they’ll be able to offer. What they are offering me instead is a very clear message that they want me and value me. Hell, they restructured the position just for me, after talking to me in informal interviews. They value me even if my current boss does not. So why am I so sad about all this?
So I needed perspective today and of course I got it. Cemeteries do that for me. They remind me that life is short and most of what we think are really big and important problems, aren’t. Not by a long shot. I need to be reminded of that sometimes. It’s so easy to get caught up in minutiae and lose sight of the fact that most of what we do just isn’t going to have that big an impact on where we end up. We need to follow our bliss in the here and now, not only for our own peace of mind but because we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do so and there are many who came before us and never had the chance to choose a wedding dress, much less between two jobs that will lead to the same retirement package in the end.
I’m making raisin bread tonight— I’m letting the dough rise overnight and I’ll finish it in the morning. I’ll post the results here tomorrow!
Recent Baking
1 loaf banana bread
2 loaves carrot-apple bread
2 loaves raisin bread (in progress)
Recent Workouts
Monday: 2 mile run, 10 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: too damn tired
Wednesday: 4 mile run
Thursday: 45 minute spin, weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
I’ve been aggressively courted by another department for a couple of months now and recently had an interview that went very well. I suspect I’ll have a firm offer this week and will have to make a decision. I love the department I’m currently with, I’ve worked hard to build my team and I feel like I’ve finally gotten things to a stage where I can start focusing on the want-to-dos instead of just the have-tos. I want to move to things to the next level in my current role and would rather not leave.
But I’m getting tired of the promises never fulfilled. I’m underpaid and under-graded for what I do. I have co-workers right in the same office who are not managers, have less responsibility, work fewer hours, and make within $1,000 of what I do. For nearly two years my boss has talked a good game about how she’s going to do right by me, while doing nothing. She can fix the problem with a signature on a piece of paper, but she’s always got an excuse. This saddens me because we go back a long way together and when she first came to our department, it was I who welcomed her and made myself her right-hand gal. I championed her causes for years and thought we were friends.
Yeah, I feel betrayed. Screwed. This other department could never tempt me away otherwise with what little they’ll be able to offer. What they are offering me instead is a very clear message that they want me and value me. Hell, they restructured the position just for me, after talking to me in informal interviews. They value me even if my current boss does not. So why am I so sad about all this?
So I needed perspective today and of course I got it. Cemeteries do that for me. They remind me that life is short and most of what we think are really big and important problems, aren’t. Not by a long shot. I need to be reminded of that sometimes. It’s so easy to get caught up in minutiae and lose sight of the fact that most of what we do just isn’t going to have that big an impact on where we end up. We need to follow our bliss in the here and now, not only for our own peace of mind but because we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do so and there are many who came before us and never had the chance to choose a wedding dress, much less between two jobs that will lead to the same retirement package in the end.
I’m making raisin bread tonight— I’m letting the dough rise overnight and I’ll finish it in the morning. I’ll post the results here tomorrow!
Recent Baking
1 loaf banana bread
2 loaves carrot-apple bread
2 loaves raisin bread (in progress)
Recent Workouts
Monday: 2 mile run, 10 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: too damn tired
Wednesday: 4 mile run
Thursday: 45 minute spin, weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Friday, May 02, 2008
Recipe Share
Take a slice of the spinach bread we made last week (you did make some, right?), spread pesto on it and sprinkle grated parmesan or romano. Toast in the toaster oven (or microwave for one minute if you're lazy). Top with a poached egg, freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
You Never Know...
So here I was sitting in my office feeling grumpy. I had a headache, I was short-staffed, over-tasked, and even the temp didn't show up. Grrr....
And then an ex-employee of mine walked in the door. I fought hard to keep her job for her while she struggled with personal issues and although she ultimately chose to move on, I always believed I had done the right thing.
She's much improved now and brought me flowers, little gifts and a card.
Totally not necessary, but damn-- here I was thinking my day sucked and I ended up with a very nice surprise.
You just never know.
And then an ex-employee of mine walked in the door. I fought hard to keep her job for her while she struggled with personal issues and although she ultimately chose to move on, I always believed I had done the right thing.
She's much improved now and brought me flowers, little gifts and a card.
Totally not necessary, but damn-- here I was thinking my day sucked and I ended up with a very nice surprise.
You just never know.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Another Basic Sunday
Well, somehow 80% chance of rain turned into no rain at all for today. Not that I’m complaining, and I’m sure everyone doing the March of Dimes walk this morning was relieved. It’s a big event on my campus and draws walkers from all over the city. From our new digs we were able to see the walkers out our back windows. Why did we not walk? Speaking for myself, it’s only six miles, so what’s the point after running twenty yesterday?
I promised a spinach bread update, and it came out pretty good, although if I make it again I’ll probably double the amount of pepper in the recipe and maybe try parmesan instead of cheddar cheese. I just can’t leave well enough alone!
Here’s the basic recipe.
And if you don’t have a bread machine, it’s still pretty simple to make.
1. Heat the water to about 110 degrees or so and mix with the yeast and sugar.
2. Go do something else for about 10-15 minutes so the yeast can get bubbly.
3. Add in all the other ingredients except the spinach and cheese. Be sure to add the flour slowly, by half-cups or so. This makes it easier to blend everything together.
4. Cover and set aside, preferably in a warm place. Let the dough rise at least a few hours. I recommend letting it rise overnight so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it doubled in size or whatever.
5. Punch down the dough and mix in the spinach and cheese. Once everything is blended nicely, form a loaf and put it in an oiled bread pan.
6. Go find something else to do for at least half an hour. I took this opportunity to go run some errands.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes at 375, or until done.
This bread is very tasty toasted and with butter. Yum!
Today’s Cooking
Spinach-Cheese Bread
Pumpkin Bread (recipe makes 2 loaves)
Rice
Pumpkin-Chickpea Curry (using the pumpkin left over from the pumpkin bread)
Curry Zucchini and Onions
Fried Rice (using last week’s leftover rice)
Zucchini Chips (dehydrated zucchini with salt and spices—road snacks for upcoming vacation)
Today’s Workout
2 hour spin
Abs and weights
Today’s Link
Mine is the Featured Story in the May issue of Word Catalyst Magazine! It's flash fiction, less than 1,000 words. Go read!
I promised a spinach bread update, and it came out pretty good, although if I make it again I’ll probably double the amount of pepper in the recipe and maybe try parmesan instead of cheddar cheese. I just can’t leave well enough alone!
Here’s the basic recipe.
And if you don’t have a bread machine, it’s still pretty simple to make.
1. Heat the water to about 110 degrees or so and mix with the yeast and sugar.
2. Go do something else for about 10-15 minutes so the yeast can get bubbly.
3. Add in all the other ingredients except the spinach and cheese. Be sure to add the flour slowly, by half-cups or so. This makes it easier to blend everything together.
4. Cover and set aside, preferably in a warm place. Let the dough rise at least a few hours. I recommend letting it rise overnight so you don’t have to worry about whether or not it doubled in size or whatever.
5. Punch down the dough and mix in the spinach and cheese. Once everything is blended nicely, form a loaf and put it in an oiled bread pan.
6. Go find something else to do for at least half an hour. I took this opportunity to go run some errands.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes at 375, or until done.
This bread is very tasty toasted and with butter. Yum!
Today’s Cooking
Spinach-Cheese Bread
Pumpkin Bread (recipe makes 2 loaves)
Rice
Pumpkin-Chickpea Curry (using the pumpkin left over from the pumpkin bread)
Curry Zucchini and Onions
Fried Rice (using last week’s leftover rice)
Zucchini Chips (dehydrated zucchini with salt and spices—road snacks for upcoming vacation)
Today’s Workout
2 hour spin
Abs and weights
Today’s Link
Mine is the Featured Story in the May issue of Word Catalyst Magazine! It's flash fiction, less than 1,000 words. Go read!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Runnin’ in the Rain
It wasn’t my plan to run in the rain this morning, but since it was only a light shower and worse was predicted for Sunday, I put on one of my fancy vented running jackets and headed out. I stayed close to home, doing campus loops. After six miles I was hot and the rain had become a sprinkle, so I went home and dropped off the jacket. The rest of the run went okay but was painful at the end. I run on harder surfaces with less variety when I stay on campus, and many of the sidewalks have smooth pebbles embedded in their surface which makes them slippery in the rain. I have to alter my stride, which I think contributes to the sore muscles at the end.
Or maybe it was just one of those days. It happens.
I’ve got a new recipe I’m trying, for spinach-cheese bread. The recipe only gives bread machine instructions, and I don’t have a bread machine. But (scary realization) I do know how to make bread without a machine, so I’ve got the dough rising overnight and in the morning I can add the spinach and cheese, set it for a final rise in the bread pan, and bake. I’ll be sure to post the results, along with instructions, if it turns out well.
I also made carrot-apple loaves tonight and will do pumpkin bread tomorrow. No banana bread this week because Dan ate all the bananas.
Speaking of Dan, he’s finally going to graduate this December. It feels like he’s been on the fifty-year degree plan, so at this point I’m more relieved than excited for him. It's going to be great to be able to go on vacation sometime other than late May. And even better, I won’t get emails from him at 11:00 at night asking me to proof his paper that’s due in the morning. (Yeah, he’s lucky he’s still alive, forget graduating.)
For Dan, graduating will be quite an accomplishment, since he was one of those barrio boys tracked into woodshop and told to learn a trade. His stepfather told him college was only for “rich white kids” and it took Dan until his thirties to realize his stepfather was full of it. For me, college was a given. My father has a doctorate and I used to tag along to campus with him when he was a professor. A college campus felt as welcoming as a shopping mall to me, and far more interesting. But for Dan, this has been a big journey and a chance to prove to himself that he’s good enough, and always was. Now he’s even making noises about grad school. All I have to say is he better not expect me to proof his papers at 11:00 at night!
This Week's Workouts
Monday: no workout-stuck in late meeting at work
Tuesday: 8 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Or maybe it was just one of those days. It happens.
I’ve got a new recipe I’m trying, for spinach-cheese bread. The recipe only gives bread machine instructions, and I don’t have a bread machine. But (scary realization) I do know how to make bread without a machine, so I’ve got the dough rising overnight and in the morning I can add the spinach and cheese, set it for a final rise in the bread pan, and bake. I’ll be sure to post the results, along with instructions, if it turns out well.
I also made carrot-apple loaves tonight and will do pumpkin bread tomorrow. No banana bread this week because Dan ate all the bananas.
Speaking of Dan, he’s finally going to graduate this December. It feels like he’s been on the fifty-year degree plan, so at this point I’m more relieved than excited for him. It's going to be great to be able to go on vacation sometime other than late May. And even better, I won’t get emails from him at 11:00 at night asking me to proof his paper that’s due in the morning. (Yeah, he’s lucky he’s still alive, forget graduating.)
For Dan, graduating will be quite an accomplishment, since he was one of those barrio boys tracked into woodshop and told to learn a trade. His stepfather told him college was only for “rich white kids” and it took Dan until his thirties to realize his stepfather was full of it. For me, college was a given. My father has a doctorate and I used to tag along to campus with him when he was a professor. A college campus felt as welcoming as a shopping mall to me, and far more interesting. But for Dan, this has been a big journey and a chance to prove to himself that he’s good enough, and always was. Now he’s even making noises about grad school. All I have to say is he better not expect me to proof his papers at 11:00 at night!
This Week's Workouts
Monday: no workout-stuck in late meeting at work
Tuesday: 8 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Just Ducky
For today's run, I repeated last week's run to Hermann Park to see the ducks, taking my camera this time.
It was a warm day, but it's never too early to start building my summer heat tolerance. Of course, these guys had the perfect solution for staying cool.
Nothing like a duck run on a spring afternoon!
It was a warm day, but it's never too early to start building my summer heat tolerance. Of course, these guys had the perfect solution for staying cool.
Nothing like a duck run on a spring afternoon!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Book Meme - Tidbit
Tidbit has always loved to read, either alone:
Or with a friend:
So it was no surprise when Lola tagged Tidbit for the ever-popular book meme, to which the rules are as follows:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
Unfortunately, the book she was reading, Bunnicula had less than 123 pages, so she was forced to select from the bookcase in her room. At bunny-eye level, the pickings were grim: mostly stuff about computers, strategic planning and the like. But then her gaze fell upon Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants, which sounded like a very fine book-- so good she took a nibble off the spine just to be sure.
All seemed well, so without further ado, she chewed to page 123, where she found the following about cherry leaves:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration opposed this alternative therapy, claiming it didn't work and that there was a risk of cyanide poisoning. They took it off the market and took legal action against any doctors using it.
Yikes! Tid will not be eating cherry leaves anytime soon and strongly recommends her bunny buddies exercise similar caution!
Since so many have done this meme already, Tidbit tags whoever hasn't played yet and says to stay far away from cherry leaves!
Or with a friend:
So it was no surprise when Lola tagged Tidbit for the ever-popular book meme, to which the rules are as follows:
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
Unfortunately, the book she was reading, Bunnicula had less than 123 pages, so she was forced to select from the bookcase in her room. At bunny-eye level, the pickings were grim: mostly stuff about computers, strategic planning and the like. But then her gaze fell upon Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants, which sounded like a very fine book-- so good she took a nibble off the spine just to be sure.
All seemed well, so without further ado, she chewed to page 123, where she found the following about cherry leaves:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration opposed this alternative therapy, claiming it didn't work and that there was a risk of cyanide poisoning. They took it off the market and took legal action against any doctors using it.
Yikes! Tid will not be eating cherry leaves anytime soon and strongly recommends her bunny buddies exercise similar caution!
Since so many have done this meme already, Tidbit tags whoever hasn't played yet and says to stay far away from cherry leaves!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Sunday Check-In
Well, the stress of the last three weeks must’ve caught up to me. I have a very nasty crick in my neck. It's so bad that it was hard to back the car out of my long, narrow driveway today because I couldn't turn my head.
The funny thing is that I haven’t felt particularly stressed during this year’s budget cycle—it’s just been a constant daily overload of things that needed doing. But now I’ve got a backlog both at the office and at home, and I’m not looking forward to digging out. I carry my stress in my neck and shoulders, which is probably why I’ve got this problem now.
Since it’s Administrative Professionals week, I picked up some potted flowers, candy, and cool little pocket notepads for my staff. I took everything to the office today, since it would be a hassle to walk to work with it in the morning, along with everything else I carry. I’m always wary of doing anything for this particular holiday, since it evolved out of Secretary’s Day and some professionals are a little offended by it, not wanting to be seen as mere secretaries. But it was the efforts of my staff that enabled me to put in my three weeks in the budget trenches and I would’ve done something nice for them even if there wasn’t a Hallmark holiday this week. So there.
Not much else is happening here. I'm just trying not to worry too much about all the things I need to get done before we go on vacation in a few weeks. Vacation is so stressful that I swear if it was up to me I'd probably spend most of my vacations right here at home getting caught up on things and then getting deliciously bored so that returning to work would be a relief!
I'm all ready for the week now, though. I spent a couple hours in the kitchen today, so at least I won't be worrying about what to eat!
Today’s Cooking
• Carrot Bread
• Carrot Cookies (again)
• Penne Casserole (using pasta from a previous meal)
• Fried Rice (using leftover rice from the week)
• Black Beans with Garlic and Tomato
• Curried Zucchini
• Steamed Rice
• Hard Boiled Eggs
Today’s Workout
2 hour spin
The funny thing is that I haven’t felt particularly stressed during this year’s budget cycle—it’s just been a constant daily overload of things that needed doing. But now I’ve got a backlog both at the office and at home, and I’m not looking forward to digging out. I carry my stress in my neck and shoulders, which is probably why I’ve got this problem now.
Since it’s Administrative Professionals week, I picked up some potted flowers, candy, and cool little pocket notepads for my staff. I took everything to the office today, since it would be a hassle to walk to work with it in the morning, along with everything else I carry. I’m always wary of doing anything for this particular holiday, since it evolved out of Secretary’s Day and some professionals are a little offended by it, not wanting to be seen as mere secretaries. But it was the efforts of my staff that enabled me to put in my three weeks in the budget trenches and I would’ve done something nice for them even if there wasn’t a Hallmark holiday this week. So there.
Not much else is happening here. I'm just trying not to worry too much about all the things I need to get done before we go on vacation in a few weeks. Vacation is so stressful that I swear if it was up to me I'd probably spend most of my vacations right here at home getting caught up on things and then getting deliciously bored so that returning to work would be a relief!
I'm all ready for the week now, though. I spent a couple hours in the kitchen today, so at least I won't be worrying about what to eat!
Today’s Cooking
• Carrot Bread
• Carrot Cookies (again)
• Penne Casserole (using pasta from a previous meal)
• Fried Rice (using leftover rice from the week)
• Black Beans with Garlic and Tomato
• Curried Zucchini
• Steamed Rice
• Hard Boiled Eggs
Today’s Workout
2 hour spin
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Running and Yogurt
The budget cycle at work is nearly over—yay! Friday evening was the first time since the start of the month that I didn’t have to bring work home and although I made myself available for this weekend’s final push to closure, I haven’t been needed. Thank goodness! I’ve done my part and the final tradeoffs are in our budget goddess’s hands, which suits me fine.
I celebrated another lovely Saturday by running to Memorial Park today. It’s a little scary how easy these twenty mile runs are getting to be, but that’s the range I need in order to enjoy some of my old running routes from before I moved last August. I don’t like driving somewhere so I can run. It makes no sense to me and adds anywhere from 30-60 minutes to my time budget, cutting into the time I could be doing some actual running. So in general, if I can’t get there on my own two feet, I don’t go.
But now Memorial Park and the Buffalo Bayou trails are doable again, and that makes me happy.
I’m managing so well in spite of my chronic hip pain that I’m even beginning to think about ultras and getting back into long course triathlons. I need to consider the time commitment, though, in addition to the possibility of making my hip worse and ruining a good thing. I’ll probably stew about it over vacation, along with some other matters I haven’t been able to ponder deeply due to the constant busy-ness of my daily life.
And now for a rhetorical question: Am I the last person on the planet to have discovered Greek yogurt?
I’ve never thought myself a yogurt philistine, and have tried runny yogurts, creamy yogurts, sour yogurts, mild yogurts, some from cows, some from goats, some from tiny Hill Country organic farms and some from far-flung places I don’t even know if I can pronounce correctly. I even went through a phase where I made my own. But I somehow missed out on firm Greek yogurt, so when I had some left over after using it in a recipe, I tried eating it plain. OMG! This is the first plain yogurt I can truly say I love! Of course, it’s even better with a little honey mixed in, but now I’m hooked, which is a shame, since it’s four times the price of my current favorite. I may be getting back into yogurt-making if I can find a good recipe for this stuff, price of milk be damned!
Friday’s Cooking
Banana Bread
Carrot Cookies
This Week’s Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run (went to Hermann Park to see the ducks)
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
I celebrated another lovely Saturday by running to Memorial Park today. It’s a little scary how easy these twenty mile runs are getting to be, but that’s the range I need in order to enjoy some of my old running routes from before I moved last August. I don’t like driving somewhere so I can run. It makes no sense to me and adds anywhere from 30-60 minutes to my time budget, cutting into the time I could be doing some actual running. So in general, if I can’t get there on my own two feet, I don’t go.
But now Memorial Park and the Buffalo Bayou trails are doable again, and that makes me happy.
I’m managing so well in spite of my chronic hip pain that I’m even beginning to think about ultras and getting back into long course triathlons. I need to consider the time commitment, though, in addition to the possibility of making my hip worse and ruining a good thing. I’ll probably stew about it over vacation, along with some other matters I haven’t been able to ponder deeply due to the constant busy-ness of my daily life.
And now for a rhetorical question: Am I the last person on the planet to have discovered Greek yogurt?
I’ve never thought myself a yogurt philistine, and have tried runny yogurts, creamy yogurts, sour yogurts, mild yogurts, some from cows, some from goats, some from tiny Hill Country organic farms and some from far-flung places I don’t even know if I can pronounce correctly. I even went through a phase where I made my own. But I somehow missed out on firm Greek yogurt, so when I had some left over after using it in a recipe, I tried eating it plain. OMG! This is the first plain yogurt I can truly say I love! Of course, it’s even better with a little honey mixed in, but now I’m hooked, which is a shame, since it’s four times the price of my current favorite. I may be getting back into yogurt-making if I can find a good recipe for this stuff, price of milk be damned!
Friday’s Cooking
Banana Bread
Carrot Cookies
This Week’s Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run (went to Hermann Park to see the ducks)
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Aren't You Done Yet?
Every night you work on that stupid office stuff, biped. You should work for me. Bunnies don't need budgets. ~ The Tid
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Invasion!
Dan found four of those disgusting tree roaches in our house tonight. WTF? There's no way to avoid them altogether in Houston unless you live in a high-rise, but four in one evening is just way ridiculous.
I can't stand them and won't even go near the repulsive things. That's what I have a husband for. In fact, insect control was one of the main criteria I had for a spouse, since sex and money are pretty easily acquired. And to give him credit, Dan does a very fine job of insect control. Years ago, I knew he was the man for me when he removed a bee from my apartment by picking it up by its wings and setting it free outside.
Tonight he dispatched all four cockroaches entirely without assistance from the cat, who is supposed to be his assistant and backup roach-manager. I must think about replacing the cat.
The bunny, of course, has no insect-management duties. Nor do I. I do enough around here already.
Today's cooking
* Rice
* Black beans with tomato and garlic
* Curry zucchini
* Fried rice
* Carrot-apple ginger bread (2 loaves)
Today's Workout
2 hour spin
I can't stand them and won't even go near the repulsive things. That's what I have a husband for. In fact, insect control was one of the main criteria I had for a spouse, since sex and money are pretty easily acquired. And to give him credit, Dan does a very fine job of insect control. Years ago, I knew he was the man for me when he removed a bee from my apartment by picking it up by its wings and setting it free outside.
Tonight he dispatched all four cockroaches entirely without assistance from the cat, who is supposed to be his assistant and backup roach-manager. I must think about replacing the cat.
The bunny, of course, has no insect-management duties. Nor do I. I do enough around here already.
Today's cooking
* Rice
* Black beans with tomato and garlic
* Curry zucchini
* Fried rice
* Carrot-apple ginger bread (2 loaves)
Today's Workout
2 hour spin
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Bright Sunshiny Day
Fantastic weather here, after a lot of overcast days!
I had a good run this morning—nothing like heading out at dawn with the morning sun creating patterns of gold and shadow along the trails, birds singing in the trees, robins and squirrels going about their business, mulberries ripening and the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle in the air!
I followed Brays Bayou to Hermann Park and the zoo where I ran among the trees, then into Montrose and through some of my old neighborhoods to Buffalo Bayou where I enjoyed the company of other runners hitting the hills and trails. Then I ran through River Oaks (rich neighborhood) and into one of the business areas where I stopped at my bank to deposit a check. (Nothing like a run that adds a little money to your bank account, is there?) And from there I ran home, through another nice neighborhood where the trees meet overhead, past Rice University, back around the park and zoo, then home.
Near my house I noticed the bayou was running fairly clear and I could see a lot of fish in the water. They were bigger than I had thought bayou fish would be and explains why I’m always seeing cormorants and ospreys around.
Now that we have our vacation dates somewhat decided for the latter half of May, I’m scouting for fun things to do in New Mexico. The 10K I had thought I’d like to do in Santa Fe has been moved from late May to early June, so that’s out. And although I’m intrigued by “The World’s Toughest 10K,” the date is too soon for me to train to run up a 12% grade and I won’t be acclimated even a tiny bit to the altitude. So I think I had better pass on that one. I’ll keep looking and if nothing presents itself, it’s not like it will be the first time.
I made two loaves of banana bread yesterday, adding chopped dates to the recipe. Dan says this is the best version yet and has already gone through most of one of the loaves. I suspect the second one won’t last long, either.
Oh, and in case anyone is paying attention to these sorts of things, my favorite organic wheat flour went up 80 cents in the past week, from $3.69 to $4.49 for five pounds, and I noticed that conventional flour is up, too. It’s still cheaper than buying pre-made items (which I didn’t price, but probably went up, as well), but I’m regretting now that I didn’t buy more flour at the lower price. That’s’ what you get when you put fear of looking like a wild-eyed wacko survivalist ahead of the good old common sense that got humans out of the caves and into centrally-cooled homes. Oh well.
And finally, Ironman Arizona is Sunday! Good luck to all participants!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs
Thursday: too much work to do—missed workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
I had a good run this morning—nothing like heading out at dawn with the morning sun creating patterns of gold and shadow along the trails, birds singing in the trees, robins and squirrels going about their business, mulberries ripening and the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle in the air!
I followed Brays Bayou to Hermann Park and the zoo where I ran among the trees, then into Montrose and through some of my old neighborhoods to Buffalo Bayou where I enjoyed the company of other runners hitting the hills and trails. Then I ran through River Oaks (rich neighborhood) and into one of the business areas where I stopped at my bank to deposit a check. (Nothing like a run that adds a little money to your bank account, is there?) And from there I ran home, through another nice neighborhood where the trees meet overhead, past Rice University, back around the park and zoo, then home.
Near my house I noticed the bayou was running fairly clear and I could see a lot of fish in the water. They were bigger than I had thought bayou fish would be and explains why I’m always seeing cormorants and ospreys around.
Now that we have our vacation dates somewhat decided for the latter half of May, I’m scouting for fun things to do in New Mexico. The 10K I had thought I’d like to do in Santa Fe has been moved from late May to early June, so that’s out. And although I’m intrigued by “The World’s Toughest 10K,” the date is too soon for me to train to run up a 12% grade and I won’t be acclimated even a tiny bit to the altitude. So I think I had better pass on that one. I’ll keep looking and if nothing presents itself, it’s not like it will be the first time.
I made two loaves of banana bread yesterday, adding chopped dates to the recipe. Dan says this is the best version yet and has already gone through most of one of the loaves. I suspect the second one won’t last long, either.
Oh, and in case anyone is paying attention to these sorts of things, my favorite organic wheat flour went up 80 cents in the past week, from $3.69 to $4.49 for five pounds, and I noticed that conventional flour is up, too. It’s still cheaper than buying pre-made items (which I didn’t price, but probably went up, as well), but I’m regretting now that I didn’t buy more flour at the lower price. That’s’ what you get when you put fear of looking like a wild-eyed wacko survivalist ahead of the good old common sense that got humans out of the caves and into centrally-cooled homes. Oh well.
And finally, Ironman Arizona is Sunday! Good luck to all participants!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs
Thursday: too much work to do—missed workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Recipe Share
I made this pumpkin bread for the second time today and since it was just as good as the first time, I thought I’d share. What I like about this recipe is that it doesn’t come out too pumpkiny. Not that it would be bad if it did, but this time of year just seems wrong to be eating something that tastes like Thanksgiving.
When I make this pumpkin bread, I substitute one cup of unsweetened applesauce for the oil and six packets of stevia for half of the sugar. For the optional goodies, I use pecans and golden raisins, as recommended, and dried cranberries. The result is a moist, fruity bread that’s yummy for breakfast or anytime I want a snack.
There’s another reason I like this recipe. Once I’ve got the pumpkin bread in the oven, I make a curry with the remainder of the can of pumpkin. I just sort of throw it together, so I can’t give exact measurements (spice is a very individual thing, anyway), but the basic recipe is:
• whatever is left in can after making pumpkin bread
• half the pumpkin can of water (chicken or vegetable broth would also work)
• one can of garbanzo beans, drained
• sautéed yellow onions (or onion flakes to taste, if you’re lazy)
• salt, white pepper, coriander, cumin and lots of curry, to taste
This makes a very nice dish served over rice.
And finally, I tried these carrot cookies this weekend:
This isn’t the recipe that’s given me fits for the last two weeks. The resulting cookies are very tasty but quite different from the crumbly shortbread-like carrot cookies I’ve been trying to get right. These cookies are more like little carrot-cakes, which can be good or bad depending on how tempting you find a cookie jar full of mini-carrot cakes.
I did a lot of cooking this weekend, but I’m set for the week now with home-cooked meals and snacks for every day. From here ‘til Friday, it’s me and the microwave!
Have a tasty week, friends!
When I make this pumpkin bread, I substitute one cup of unsweetened applesauce for the oil and six packets of stevia for half of the sugar. For the optional goodies, I use pecans and golden raisins, as recommended, and dried cranberries. The result is a moist, fruity bread that’s yummy for breakfast or anytime I want a snack.
There’s another reason I like this recipe. Once I’ve got the pumpkin bread in the oven, I make a curry with the remainder of the can of pumpkin. I just sort of throw it together, so I can’t give exact measurements (spice is a very individual thing, anyway), but the basic recipe is:
• whatever is left in can after making pumpkin bread
• half the pumpkin can of water (chicken or vegetable broth would also work)
• one can of garbanzo beans, drained
• sautéed yellow onions (or onion flakes to taste, if you’re lazy)
• salt, white pepper, coriander, cumin and lots of curry, to taste
This makes a very nice dish served over rice.
And finally, I tried these carrot cookies this weekend:
This isn’t the recipe that’s given me fits for the last two weeks. The resulting cookies are very tasty but quite different from the crumbly shortbread-like carrot cookies I’ve been trying to get right. These cookies are more like little carrot-cakes, which can be good or bad depending on how tempting you find a cookie jar full of mini-carrot cakes.
I did a lot of cooking this weekend, but I’m set for the week now with home-cooked meals and snacks for every day. From here ‘til Friday, it’s me and the microwave!
Have a tasty week, friends!
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Weekend Update
I got an interesting start to my weekend when my toilet stopped flushing on Thursday night. The water swirled around but wouldn't actually go anywhere. I had already been thinking about taking Friday as a work-from-home day, so that pretty much nailed my decision. We do have the studio apartment we can use in a bathroom emergency, but this is not Little House on the Prairie. Traipsing across the yard to answer the call of nature is not acceptable as a long-term solution.
Friday ended up being super-productive. I started working at 6 am and finished the salary/benefits portion of next fiscal year’s budget just before 5 pm. I took about an hour in the middle of the day to wash the dishes, make banana bread and start the laundry, but other than that and opening the door so someone could come in and fix the toilet, I was head-down the whole day and by 5 pm I was hungry and brain-dead. But my portion of the budget is now done, I have clean clothes, tasty banana bread, AND my toilet is flushing normally—the problem was a partially clogged line. Apparently this isn’t an unusual problem in these older houses, where buildup accumulates in the pipes over the decades.
This morning I was up early and went for a run on approximately the same route as last week, starting with a loop around campus while waiting for the sun to come up before heading out toward Hermann Park, Rice University, and eventually Buffalo Bayou. At one point I encountered a group of runners, one of whom was running on one of those curved-blade prostheses that runners use. I’ve seen these in the running and triathlon magazines and of course there was the recent fuss over whether double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius was getting an unfair advantage from his prosthetic legs.
I had never seen anyone IRL with one of these, so my first instinct was to go chasing after the guy so I could tell him how cool his leg was and ask how it worked. Of course, I did no such thing. He might feel self-conscious about it. But it did get me thinking how far we’ve come in technology and as a society when the reaction to a prosthesis is: OMG! Cool alert! Lemme see, pleeeeez???
Oh, and did I mention the guy was nice to look at, too? Buff and blond, about half my age, but none of us is getting any younger, right? Right.
Moving right along, now.
My next-door neighbor, for reasons known only to her unemployed self, has decided to engage in home improvement projects. This would be good, except that they seem to always involve noisy power tools. I was very suspicious when we got back from having Indian food and there was a backhoe in front of her house and an assortment of lesser noisemakers in the yard. Nice. I was up at 6 am, ran 20 miles, and now I was going to be deprived of an afternoon nap? Luckily the noise didn’t start up right away and I was able to sleep for a couple hours, but if she’s fixing up the house to sell, I hope it gets purchased by Orthodox Jews. Then I can count on quiet Saturdays.
Just now, Tidbit managed to fall out of her litterbox. I have no idea how she accomplished this, since it’s a high-wall box and she fell out of the side. She lay on the floor for a few seconds with a surprised look on her face, until I put her back on her feet, watched her hop around, then gave her a treat and rubbed her ears. I love you, Tid. Even if you are a klutz.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minute elliptical, abs
Tuesday: 6 mile run
Wednesday: 40 minute spin, abs
Thursday: 30 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Friday ended up being super-productive. I started working at 6 am and finished the salary/benefits portion of next fiscal year’s budget just before 5 pm. I took about an hour in the middle of the day to wash the dishes, make banana bread and start the laundry, but other than that and opening the door so someone could come in and fix the toilet, I was head-down the whole day and by 5 pm I was hungry and brain-dead. But my portion of the budget is now done, I have clean clothes, tasty banana bread, AND my toilet is flushing normally—the problem was a partially clogged line. Apparently this isn’t an unusual problem in these older houses, where buildup accumulates in the pipes over the decades.
This morning I was up early and went for a run on approximately the same route as last week, starting with a loop around campus while waiting for the sun to come up before heading out toward Hermann Park, Rice University, and eventually Buffalo Bayou. At one point I encountered a group of runners, one of whom was running on one of those curved-blade prostheses that runners use. I’ve seen these in the running and triathlon magazines and of course there was the recent fuss over whether double-amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius was getting an unfair advantage from his prosthetic legs.
I had never seen anyone IRL with one of these, so my first instinct was to go chasing after the guy so I could tell him how cool his leg was and ask how it worked. Of course, I did no such thing. He might feel self-conscious about it. But it did get me thinking how far we’ve come in technology and as a society when the reaction to a prosthesis is: OMG! Cool alert! Lemme see, pleeeeez???
Oh, and did I mention the guy was nice to look at, too? Buff and blond, about half my age, but none of us is getting any younger, right? Right.
Moving right along, now.
My next-door neighbor, for reasons known only to her unemployed self, has decided to engage in home improvement projects. This would be good, except that they seem to always involve noisy power tools. I was very suspicious when we got back from having Indian food and there was a backhoe in front of her house and an assortment of lesser noisemakers in the yard. Nice. I was up at 6 am, ran 20 miles, and now I was going to be deprived of an afternoon nap? Luckily the noise didn’t start up right away and I was able to sleep for a couple hours, but if she’s fixing up the house to sell, I hope it gets purchased by Orthodox Jews. Then I can count on quiet Saturdays.
Just now, Tidbit managed to fall out of her litterbox. I have no idea how she accomplished this, since it’s a high-wall box and she fell out of the side. She lay on the floor for a few seconds with a surprised look on her face, until I put her back on her feet, watched her hop around, then gave her a treat and rubbed her ears. I love you, Tid. Even if you are a klutz.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minute elliptical, abs
Tuesday: 6 mile run
Wednesday: 40 minute spin, abs
Thursday: 30 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 20 mile run
Monday, March 31, 2008
A Book for Tid
One of Tidbit's friends gave her a copy of Bunnicula today. This will be her first read in the horror genre. She's still trying to understand why the humans think this book is funny.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Dumb Rabbit Update
I send all the way to Nebraska for special hay for this creature and instead she hops up on the bed and eats holes in the sheet.
Ingrate.
Ingrate.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Saturday Check-In
When I stepped outside the door for my long run, it was overcast and had obviously rained during the night. The prediction was only 30% chance of rain, but it looked like more than that. Using the logic that if I left my sunglasses at home the sun would surely come out, I did just that. And it did. I got sprinkled on a little, but toward the end of my run, the sun did come out and it ended up being a very nice day to be running around town.
As an experiment this week I decided to see what would happen if I didn’t bring any work home from the office. Dumb idea. By Thursday I was behind on things and felt awful about it. I made significant progress catching up on Friday afternoon, working from home where I wouldn’t be interrupted all the time, but I’m still going to have to do some weekend work to be on track by Monday morning. It’s frustrating, although at least I work with people who seem okay on the concept that if someone has to work extra hours, they should at least be allowed to choose the venue and time of day for those hours. Especially when it’s all unpaid. You can bet if these management jobs were hourly and paid extra for everything after 40 hours a week, we’d suddenly have much saner workloads!
I finished my alteration project on the $2.50 capri pants I bought last week. They’re black with three bands of ribbon trim at the cuffs, and oh-so-cute! And now they don't balloon out at my hips. Joy! I wore them to go have Indian food today and I have a feeling these are going to become this summer’s favorite pants.
I have another alteration project going on, but it’s much more complicated and I don’t know how long it will take me, especially since I don’t have a sewing machine and have to do everything by hand. In addition, I have decided I should have an apron if I’m going to keep on with all my recent baking projects. The easiest thing (which I’ve seen on the Wardrobe Refashion website) is to convert an old sundress. I was pretty excited about that idea until I realized that: a) most of my summer clothes are still buried at the bottom of a huge wicker chest, and b) I think I gave all my unwanted sundresses to charity when I moved. So there’s a potential dilemma here. We’ll see what I find once I start changing out my closet for spring.
I baked some carrot cookies tonight. I tried adding a little molasses to see if that would make the end result a little less crumbly. It helped a little, but I’m going to have to keep tweaking this particular recipe. I used craisins (dried cranberries) instead of golden raisins and it added a nice little flavor punch. Highly recommended! Now if I can just get the moistness right, I’ll be in business.
Not much else is happening. The week went by unbelievably fast, even with me not working from home in the evenings. I hit all my workouts though, and things are coming along well with my new novel, so I’m happy.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical (intervals), weights and abs
Tuesday: 7 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
As an experiment this week I decided to see what would happen if I didn’t bring any work home from the office. Dumb idea. By Thursday I was behind on things and felt awful about it. I made significant progress catching up on Friday afternoon, working from home where I wouldn’t be interrupted all the time, but I’m still going to have to do some weekend work to be on track by Monday morning. It’s frustrating, although at least I work with people who seem okay on the concept that if someone has to work extra hours, they should at least be allowed to choose the venue and time of day for those hours. Especially when it’s all unpaid. You can bet if these management jobs were hourly and paid extra for everything after 40 hours a week, we’d suddenly have much saner workloads!
I finished my alteration project on the $2.50 capri pants I bought last week. They’re black with three bands of ribbon trim at the cuffs, and oh-so-cute! And now they don't balloon out at my hips. Joy! I wore them to go have Indian food today and I have a feeling these are going to become this summer’s favorite pants.
I have another alteration project going on, but it’s much more complicated and I don’t know how long it will take me, especially since I don’t have a sewing machine and have to do everything by hand. In addition, I have decided I should have an apron if I’m going to keep on with all my recent baking projects. The easiest thing (which I’ve seen on the Wardrobe Refashion website) is to convert an old sundress. I was pretty excited about that idea until I realized that: a) most of my summer clothes are still buried at the bottom of a huge wicker chest, and b) I think I gave all my unwanted sundresses to charity when I moved. So there’s a potential dilemma here. We’ll see what I find once I start changing out my closet for spring.
I baked some carrot cookies tonight. I tried adding a little molasses to see if that would make the end result a little less crumbly. It helped a little, but I’m going to have to keep tweaking this particular recipe. I used craisins (dried cranberries) instead of golden raisins and it added a nice little flavor punch. Highly recommended! Now if I can just get the moistness right, I’ll be in business.
Not much else is happening. The week went by unbelievably fast, even with me not working from home in the evenings. I hit all my workouts though, and things are coming along well with my new novel, so I’m happy.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical (intervals), weights and abs
Tuesday: 7 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
Sunday, March 23, 2008
My Not-So-Restful Weekend
What a weekend! Here’s the lowdown:
Errands:
- Got watch fixed
- Got hair cut (hate it, but that’s a separate issue)
- Donated a big ol’ stack of old magazines
- Bought new cookbook
- Went to cheap store to stock up on baking supplies
- Went to my usual organic stores for weekly groceries
- Went thrifting—bought cute capris for $2.50
Miscellaneous Projects:
- Colored my hair (nothing fancy, just covering the gray)
- Started altering the $2.50 capris (needed to be taken in at the hips; for $2.50 I don’t mind doing a small alteration)
- Tidbit’s Easter photo shoot
Baking:
- Banana-walnut bread
- Carrot-Apple bread
- Carrot cookies (came out dry, although I followed recipe exactly)
Other Cooking:
- Black beans with garlic
- Brown rice
- Wilted spinach with garlic
- Curry zucchini
- Curry rice
- Hard-boiled eggs (not for the Easter Bunny but for my lunches this week)
Other Food:
- Saturday lunch (Indian restaurant!) with Dan
Workouts:
- 17 mile run (including first-ever encounter with hostile canine)
- 90-minute spin
- Weights and abs
Writing:
- Posted Spring Flash Fiction Carnival
- 4,000 words on current WIP, bringing total word count to 31K+
- Flash fiction accepted for Word Catalyst Magazine’s May issue
- Nice review of my book on The Lulu Book Review site
- Five blog posts (including this one)
- Numerous comments on other blogs
I think that’s it. I’m tired now and I still have to feed the critters and iron some clothes for tomorrow. I swear sometimes I need a vacation from both my job and my weekends!
Hoppy Easter!
Tidbit apologizes for the late post, but she was exhausted after hiding all those eggs!
For those who celebrated, she hopes you had a happy one! For those who didn't, I hear there's lots of half-price chocolate in the stores starting tomorrow!
Friday, March 21, 2008
This Just In!
The fossilized remains of an ancient lagomorph have been found! (That's a bunny to you ordinary folks.)
Tidbit is impressed.
Tidbit is impressed.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Tidbit's Thoughts
All this blog blather about food is making me hungry. Hurry up with the greens, biped!
Food for Thought
I cooked up a storm this weekend! From Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, I made the following:
Baking:
1 loaf banana bread
1 loaf honey-wheat bread
2 loaves carrot-apple bread
Just Regular Eats (food for the coming week):
couscous with feta and diced grape tomatoes
wilted spinach with garlic
curry zucchini and onions
black beans with garlic
brown rice
curry fried rice (I always do a rice dish with the previous week’s leftover rice)
I also dehydrated some spinach. Central Market has been selling locally-grown triple-washed spinach for several weeks now and it occurred to me that I’m going to really miss it when the season for it is over. So I broke out the dehydrator and now have lots of dry, crunchy spinach leaves sealed in a freezer bag and residing in my freezer for some summer day when I want cheap spinach. Because it’s dehydrated and crumbles easily in this state, it would also be good for any sort of pasta Florentine dish—no chopping required, just crumble before rehydrating.
I don’t know how many of you out there have been paying attention to the value of the dollar, the state of the American (and by extension, the world’s) banking system, and oil/gas prices, but it looks like we're in a situation that’s going to get worse before it gets better. And if you haven’t read up on what’s happening in the grain markets, the short answer is that prices of most grains, especially wheat, are also going up due to a number of factors including drought and wheat rust. Add in the higher cost of shipping now that diesel is at $4/gallon in a lot of places, and you’d have to be blind not to see where all this is trending for summer.
If you don’t know how to cook cheap, now is a great time to start. With a rice cooker and a crock pot, you can have tasty meals for pennies, with about 5-10 minutes of actual time spent working in the kitchen. (Yeah, food takes longer than that to cook, but you don’t have to actually be present.) For the same amount of time a lot of folks spend at the drive-through breathing exhaust fumes, one can cook a cheap, healthy meal at home!
I hope all the economic indicators are wrong or that a deus ex machina is about to swoop down and save us from the crazy confluence of problems driving the dollar down and the cost of everything up. But I’m not betting on it. Right now, $2.54 buys me a 5-pound bag of organic wheat flour. How many loaves of wheat bread can you buy for that price? If our economy doesn't get straightened out fast, how many do you think you'll be able to buy this summer?
Food for thought, indeed.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minutes elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical, abs and weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 18 mile run
Sunday: 2 hour spin, weights and abs
Baking:
Just Regular Eats (food for the coming week):
I also dehydrated some spinach. Central Market has been selling locally-grown triple-washed spinach for several weeks now and it occurred to me that I’m going to really miss it when the season for it is over. So I broke out the dehydrator and now have lots of dry, crunchy spinach leaves sealed in a freezer bag and residing in my freezer for some summer day when I want cheap spinach. Because it’s dehydrated and crumbles easily in this state, it would also be good for any sort of pasta Florentine dish—no chopping required, just crumble before rehydrating.
I don’t know how many of you out there have been paying attention to the value of the dollar, the state of the American (and by extension, the world’s) banking system, and oil/gas prices, but it looks like we're in a situation that’s going to get worse before it gets better. And if you haven’t read up on what’s happening in the grain markets, the short answer is that prices of most grains, especially wheat, are also going up due to a number of factors including drought and wheat rust. Add in the higher cost of shipping now that diesel is at $4/gallon in a lot of places, and you’d have to be blind not to see where all this is trending for summer.
If you don’t know how to cook cheap, now is a great time to start. With a rice cooker and a crock pot, you can have tasty meals for pennies, with about 5-10 minutes of actual time spent working in the kitchen. (Yeah, food takes longer than that to cook, but you don’t have to actually be present.) For the same amount of time a lot of folks spend at the drive-through breathing exhaust fumes, one can cook a cheap, healthy meal at home!
I hope all the economic indicators are wrong or that a deus ex machina is about to swoop down and save us from the crazy confluence of problems driving the dollar down and the cost of everything up. But I’m not betting on it. Right now, $2.54 buys me a 5-pound bag of organic wheat flour. How many loaves of wheat bread can you buy for that price? If our economy doesn't get straightened out fast, how many do you think you'll be able to buy this summer?
Food for thought, indeed.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 35 minutes elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: 6.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Thursday: 35 minute elliptical, abs and weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 18 mile run
Sunday: 2 hour spin, weights and abs
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Recipe Share: Carrot-Apple Bread
This is the recipe I modified last week from a zucchini bread recipe. Other than the time spent chopping carrots for the food processor, this takes very little time to make and will produce two yummy loaves. Freeze one for later or bake them in disposable foil pans and take one to work.
BTW, your house will smell heavenly while this is baking!
Enjoy!
CARROT-APPLE BREAD
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Some notes on my ingredients. These are personal preferences and not required for this recipe to work:
BTW, your house will smell heavenly while this is baking!
Enjoy!
CARROT-APPLE BREAD
INGREDIENTS
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil (may substitute applesauce for oil)
- 2 cups white sugar (or 4 packets stevia and 1 cup sugar)
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup diced dried apples
- 3 cups flour
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour two 8x4 inch loaf pans.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs until light and frothy. Mix in oil (or applesauce) and sugar. Stir in carrots and apples. In separate bowl, combine flour, spices, soda, baking powder, salt and nuts; stir into the egg mixture. Divide batter into prepared pans.
- Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until done.
Some notes on my ingredients. These are personal preferences and not required for this recipe to work:
- I use organic ingredients
- I substitute 1 cup organic applesauce for the 1 cup oil, but one could also do ½ cup oil and ½ cup applesauce
- I usually use 4 packets of stevia and one cup of brown sugar instead of all that white sugar. If you decide to reduce the sugar, you may want to add more of the spices.
- I use whole wheat flour, but white or a combination of white and wheat would also work
- When I have it, I use a little hazelnut or pecan flour in all my breads. These are very finely ground nuts that one can get in the bulk bins at an organic foods store.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Physics for Rabbits
Attention Small White Creature:
Two things cannot be in the same place at the same time.
This is a mandate from God/Nature/Science, not me. I obey the laws but I do not create them. Physics is not a democracy. I was given no vote.
What this means for you is that if you shove your face in the food bowl, I cannot put your morning kibble in. Really. This is why you sometimes end up with kibble on your head, and this is why you have no business looking at me like that when you do.
Read up on basic principles of physics and you'll understand. And check out Pauli's Exclusion Principle while you're at it.
We'll try this again tomorrow.
That is all.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Carrot Bread Update
The carrot bread came out pretty good! It's a little dense, so I may want to tweak the recipe for next time. I got a little too happy with adding stuff to the batter, like an extra cup of shredded carrots, hazelnut flour, and some dried apples and cranberries. It's all good, but I think the bread would've been lighter with not so much stuff in it. It could've used more nutmeg too, and maybe some ginger.
I love experimenting in the kitchen!
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Lackluster Run and New Adventures in Cooking
Sometimes I go out for a run and I’m just not feeling it. Today was one of those days.
I’m always sleepy in the morning and the feeling usually passes, so I didn’t worry about that. And although I’m having a lot of asthma troubles with all the ash pollen these days, my lungs usually figure things out after about half an hour, so I didn’t worry too much about that, either. It was a little colder out than I would’ve liked—I had to wear my fleece headband to keep my ears warm and my hands got cold and stiff. I wasn’t happy about that at all. But I figured those things would resolve themselves with time and I’d end up enjoying my run.
Nope.
But since I hadn’t been able to work out for two days and had been doing a lot of eating, I forced myself through it. I had mapped out a route that would take me on the newly-refurbished part of the bayou trail, to the zoo, to Rice University, and eventually to my bank before coming home. The bank was kind of a priority since my father sent me a check to help with my student loan repayments.
It was a clear sunny day with bright blue skies, perfect for running. Flowers were in bloom, robins bopping around in the grass, ospreys soaring over the bayou looking for fish. Nice. There was some kind of event going on at my university and there was a run going on at the Rice campus—race bibs, timing mat and everything. In all, it was a really nice morning to be out seeing people and other wildlife, but I just wasn’t feeling it for some reason.
Oh well. I got my check deposited. And I earned lots of yummy Indian food for lunch.
I got a package today from my father. He has always been one to give random little gifts that aren’t necessarily very expensive or significant of themselves, but always carry a warm “thinking of you” message. Today’s box contained dried chiles, pecans from his tree, some Easter candy, and an over-engineered water bottle that tracks your hydration throughout the day. I offered Dan the bottle, telling him maybe it would help him keep from getting kidney stones again!
Tonight I’m working on a new culinary experiment. See, I have a carrot problem. Tidbit loves carrot tops but she can’t have a lot of carrots because of the sugar content. And although I like carrots just fine, I get tired of them. How many ways can you cook a carrot? So tonight I’m making carrot bread, using a zucchini bread recipe and substituting grated carrots. Results should be available for tasting in about half an hour!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, weights
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run
Wednesday: 35 minute spin (intervals)
Thursday: no workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
I’m always sleepy in the morning and the feeling usually passes, so I didn’t worry about that. And although I’m having a lot of asthma troubles with all the ash pollen these days, my lungs usually figure things out after about half an hour, so I didn’t worry too much about that, either. It was a little colder out than I would’ve liked—I had to wear my fleece headband to keep my ears warm and my hands got cold and stiff. I wasn’t happy about that at all. But I figured those things would resolve themselves with time and I’d end up enjoying my run.
Nope.
But since I hadn’t been able to work out for two days and had been doing a lot of eating, I forced myself through it. I had mapped out a route that would take me on the newly-refurbished part of the bayou trail, to the zoo, to Rice University, and eventually to my bank before coming home. The bank was kind of a priority since my father sent me a check to help with my student loan repayments.
It was a clear sunny day with bright blue skies, perfect for running. Flowers were in bloom, robins bopping around in the grass, ospreys soaring over the bayou looking for fish. Nice. There was some kind of event going on at my university and there was a run going on at the Rice campus—race bibs, timing mat and everything. In all, it was a really nice morning to be out seeing people and other wildlife, but I just wasn’t feeling it for some reason.
Oh well. I got my check deposited. And I earned lots of yummy Indian food for lunch.
I got a package today from my father. He has always been one to give random little gifts that aren’t necessarily very expensive or significant of themselves, but always carry a warm “thinking of you” message. Today’s box contained dried chiles, pecans from his tree, some Easter candy, and an over-engineered water bottle that tracks your hydration throughout the day. I offered Dan the bottle, telling him maybe it would help him keep from getting kidney stones again!
Tonight I’m working on a new culinary experiment. See, I have a carrot problem. Tidbit loves carrot tops but she can’t have a lot of carrots because of the sugar content. And although I like carrots just fine, I get tired of them. How many ways can you cook a carrot? So tonight I’m making carrot bread, using a zucchini bread recipe and substituting grated carrots. Results should be available for tasting in about half an hour!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, weights
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run
Wednesday: 35 minute spin (intervals)
Thursday: no workout
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
Friday, March 07, 2008
Bread
Yes, peeps, I made bread. Whole wheat bread. With yeast. And I did it not with a fancy bread maker but by mixing things, letting the dough rise and putting the whole thing in the oven. I even put a honey glaze on top.
It turned out all right. Tasted like...bread.
I'm starting to scare myself.
It turned out all right. Tasted like...bread.
I'm starting to scare myself.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
My New Love
Couscous.
Boil a little water, dump in the couscous, cover, remove from heat, walk away. Five minutes later, dinner! It’s almost as easy as microwaving a frozen dinner, but much cheaper and with none of the nasty plastics and preservatives! I added herbs, sliced grape tomatoes and crumbled feta to my couscous and it was filling and delicious! How on earth did I not make this discovery years ago?
I hope to have a fun Tidpic soon. Dan has been coming home for lunch lately and took some pictures of Pixel and Tidbit napping on the bed in the study. I need him to send me the pics so I can post them. It’s funny to see them hanging out together because whenever we’re around, Pix makes a big deal of being too cool to hang out with a rabbit. But when we catch him unawares, it’s clear that the real story is quite different!
Speaking of cats, there’s a new one hanging around—a tortoiseshell. There was already a black cat, who often sleeps on our front porch, but now there’s this other cat who hangs out on our back deck. I haven’t fed any of these cats, since they already look well-fed. It’s fun to see them around, even though sometimes they get to looking in the windows and then Pixel gets upset.
I ran about 17.5 miles this morning and wanted to do more but got a late start. Somehow I managed to re-set my alarm clock in my sleep! There was a lot going on around campus today, so I had to change my route almost from the beginning. I was going to do the “diminishing loops” route I tried last weekend, where each loop was shorter than the last. Good psychology! But instead I was stuck with same-distance loops. Lucky for me, my brain was up for it and I didn’t try to talk myself out of it. It’s funny how often it’s the mind that sabotages the body and not the other way around.
In other running news, it looks like the south-side trail along the bayou is essentially done, which means I’ll feel more confident about leaving the neighborhood and going up to Hermann Park. Since moving here in August, the south side where the mansions are has been under renovation, leaving only the north side open. The north side abuts some highly questionable apartments and although I’ve only twice seen people who gave me cause for worry, that’s been enough for me to not feel comfortable running that trail with regularity. The other side is much safer and I’m excited that it’s open again. I might even go check it out this week.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Tuesday: 6 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin
Thursday: no workout; got stuck late at the office
Friday: 30 minute elliptical
Saturday: 17.5 mile run
Monday, February 25, 2008
Tidbit Tagged!
Tidbit taking over here! It seems I've been tagged!
My friend Lola has asked me to answer the following question:
What three things would you do that you have never done before, if you knew you wouldn’t get caught, get in trouble, or suffer any consequences?
I don't know what to say. This question implies I have a secret desire to get up to some kind of trouble, which I can assure my friends I do not!
Nevertheless, if in theory I were to behave in an uncharacteristic way, I might do one of the following:
So there you have it. Three things I would never, ever do, except hypothetically, of course. I'm a good bunny. Just check out this classic picture of me!
Innocent and adorable, aren't I?
I'm supposed to tag someone who hasn't played yet, but I think all my furbuddies are tagged by now. Maybe the buns at A Houseful of Rabbits haven't done this yet and would like to play? Otherwise, here's the obligatory link back to petspics and anyone who wants to play can hop on in!
My friend Lola has asked me to answer the following question:
What three things would you do that you have never done before, if you knew you wouldn’t get caught, get in trouble, or suffer any consequences?
I don't know what to say. This question implies I have a secret desire to get up to some kind of trouble, which I can assure my friends I do not!
Nevertheless, if in theory I were to behave in an uncharacteristic way, I might do one of the following:
- Eat the male human's tortilla chips. I tried this once long ago when he left the bag on the sofa. He thought I didn't know what they were. Boy, did I prove him wrong!
- Find where the humans are keeping my hay and help myself. I know the nice man from UPS brings a big box every month or so, stuffed full of sweet green timmy hay from the Oxbow company. But my dumb humans hide it from me and only dole it out in little bits. Unacceptable.
- Finish tunneling under the bed, either through the storage boxes they keep under there or via the mattress, which I was making a very nice hole in before the humans made me stop. I don't know why under-bed is off-limits, but I think it would make a fantastic bunny hideout, if only I could gain access.
So there you have it. Three things I would never, ever do, except hypothetically, of course. I'm a good bunny. Just check out this classic picture of me!
Innocent and adorable, aren't I?
I'm supposed to tag someone who hasn't played yet, but I think all my furbuddies are tagged by now. Maybe the buns at A Houseful of Rabbits haven't done this yet and would like to play? Otherwise, here's the obligatory link back to petspics and anyone who wants to play can hop on in!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Office Space
This week’s theme at my office was how to juggle people around to accommodate the space needs of an interim director and his secretary. Space is always at a premium at our university and even though the people moving into our area are from a different part of IT and we won’t report to them, they’re still going to be housed with us, for lack of other options.
Fortuitously (for the space issue, not for the employee who left us) we had a resignation that freed up an office. For at least Round One of the office moves, this made everything work out. It’s been a big job, though, getting offices cleaned out, furniture moved and phones moved and installed on short notice. The director moves in Monday!
The employee who resigned had been out for medical reasons and was unable to return, leaving my staff to pack her personal belongings, go through her files, etc. That left me handling things I might have otherwise delegated, and I had one day where it seemed everyone was determined to keep tasking me things without ever giving me a chance to work on them. I finally got frustrated and told my boss she couldn’t give me anything else to do unless she took something else away. She laughed, but left me alone after that. I got caught up. Funny how that works.
On today’s run I stopped at my office to get water and because I saw a co-worker’s car outside and wanted to see how the office moves were going. My co-worker was busily going through files, and when I went to my own office I noticed that a lateral file had been moved in there, so I can only assume our space management guy showed up in the wee hours as promised to do a little heavy lifting. In addition to the lateral file, I also acquired a printer out of this deal, so I’m happy. I work on a lot of confidential documents and it’s a pain to have to run down the hall and wait for stuff to print so I can grab it before anyone else does. Now if only I could get a proper desk chair, I think I’d be set!
I’m hoping that having the interim director and his secretary in our suite will set a more serious tone for our business office. My own team are usually quiet and professional, but there’s another group that seem to spend a lot of time ordering take-out and giggling over popcorn shrimp or whatever it is they buy. As far as I know they do good work, but appearances mean something and they don’t always give the people we serve a good impression. I have a feeling things are about to change.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, weights
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, weights
Thursday: 45 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
Fortuitously (for the space issue, not for the employee who left us) we had a resignation that freed up an office. For at least Round One of the office moves, this made everything work out. It’s been a big job, though, getting offices cleaned out, furniture moved and phones moved and installed on short notice. The director moves in Monday!
The employee who resigned had been out for medical reasons and was unable to return, leaving my staff to pack her personal belongings, go through her files, etc. That left me handling things I might have otherwise delegated, and I had one day where it seemed everyone was determined to keep tasking me things without ever giving me a chance to work on them. I finally got frustrated and told my boss she couldn’t give me anything else to do unless she took something else away. She laughed, but left me alone after that. I got caught up. Funny how that works.
On today’s run I stopped at my office to get water and because I saw a co-worker’s car outside and wanted to see how the office moves were going. My co-worker was busily going through files, and when I went to my own office I noticed that a lateral file had been moved in there, so I can only assume our space management guy showed up in the wee hours as promised to do a little heavy lifting. In addition to the lateral file, I also acquired a printer out of this deal, so I’m happy. I work on a lot of confidential documents and it’s a pain to have to run down the hall and wait for stuff to print so I can grab it before anyone else does. Now if only I could get a proper desk chair, I think I’d be set!
I’m hoping that having the interim director and his secretary in our suite will set a more serious tone for our business office. My own team are usually quiet and professional, but there’s another group that seem to spend a lot of time ordering take-out and giggling over popcorn shrimp or whatever it is they buy. As far as I know they do good work, but appearances mean something and they don’t always give the people we serve a good impression. I have a feeling things are about to change.
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical, weights
Tuesday: 5.5 mile run
Wednesday: 45 minute spin, weights
Thursday: 45 minute elliptical, 10 minute row
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 19 mile run
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Fun Links!
Since I have nothing interesting of my own to share tonight, how about some links?
My Strange New Mexico: Not updated nearly as often as I would like, but just what it says. If you think the imagined New Mexico of my speculative fiction is weird, just take a look at what the real New Mexico of today is like!
Paleo-Future: Hilarious and fascinating look at what we thought the future would be like.
The Victorian Peeper: Fun historical tidbits from Victorian England.
Scandalous Women: Great little articles about women who broke boundaries and got people talking in their day!
Enjoy!
My Strange New Mexico: Not updated nearly as often as I would like, but just what it says. If you think the imagined New Mexico of my speculative fiction is weird, just take a look at what the real New Mexico of today is like!
Paleo-Future: Hilarious and fascinating look at what we thought the future would be like.
The Victorian Peeper: Fun historical tidbits from Victorian England.
Scandalous Women: Great little articles about women who broke boundaries and got people talking in their day!
Enjoy!
Saturday Post
It was supposed to be a rainy morning, so I did a three-hour spin, only for the morning to remain clear. I was a little annoyed, but the weather was so warm and soup-like that I probably did myself a favor by not running. And the rain finally did move in this evening with some brief but gusty storms.
My plan for tomorrow is to go to Memorial Park and run about twelve miles, then hit Central Market for a few items (and food samples), and spend the afternoon cooking and resting up for the week ahead. We don't have any old bananas for banana bread this weekend, but we do have all the fixin's for bread pudding, so there won't be a shortage of treats around here!
It's been a quiet weekend so far and I'm happy about it.
Recent Workouts
Tuesday: 35 minute elliptical, abs and weights
Wednesday: 5 mile run
Thursday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 3 hour spin (Lake Placid Spinerval video)
My plan for tomorrow is to go to Memorial Park and run about twelve miles, then hit Central Market for a few items (and food samples), and spend the afternoon cooking and resting up for the week ahead. We don't have any old bananas for banana bread this weekend, but we do have all the fixin's for bread pudding, so there won't be a shortage of treats around here!
It's been a quiet weekend so far and I'm happy about it.
Recent Workouts
Tuesday: 35 minute elliptical, abs and weights
Wednesday: 5 mile run
Thursday: 45 minute spin, abs and weights
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 3 hour spin (Lake Placid Spinerval video)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day!
If you're in the mood for a little romantic (or not-so-romantic) reading, drop by the Flash Fiction Carnival website for links to short stories and outtakes, all around 1,000 words or less-- perfect for some light reading on your lunch break!
And since getting the Carnival post put together tonight precludes my writing a new post here for the occasion, here's an oldie but a goodie from a few years ago: Roses. True story. Strange things sometimes happen, even to me.
Have a wonderful day, friends!
If you're in the mood for a little romantic (or not-so-romantic) reading, drop by the Flash Fiction Carnival website for links to short stories and outtakes, all around 1,000 words or less-- perfect for some light reading on your lunch break!
And since getting the Carnival post put together tonight precludes my writing a new post here for the occasion, here's an oldie but a goodie from a few years ago: Roses. True story. Strange things sometimes happen, even to me.
Have a wonderful day, friends!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Recruited!
After dropping hints for several weeks, the good folks in our HR department finally came right out and said it today: they want to make me an offer.
This is interesting on a lot of different levels. They can’t offer me much more money than I make now, but they can offer a lot less stress. They might be able to offer a better career path too, since I’m very close to being as high as I would ever want to go on my current trajectory. There's one more level up from here, and after that I'd be looking at responsibility for an entire college or division and I don’t think the extra hours and headaches would be worth the money.
But (there’s always a “but”) I'm overdue for that next bump up on my current path and I’ve been busily arranging matters so that my case won’t be denied. Having a competing offer from HR would pretty much nail my next promotion with my current department and the pay would be better than anything HR could offer.
Thankfully, no action is needed at this time. I’m having lunch with one of my HR contacts on Friday and we’ll see how that goes. I have a lot of questions and a lot of thinking to do. No matter which way this thing goes, though, I have a feeling I’ll be making more money very soon.*
*Note: In university administration, “very soon” means sometime in the next six months. It's not time to hit the mall just yet, as if I ever would.
This is interesting on a lot of different levels. They can’t offer me much more money than I make now, but they can offer a lot less stress. They might be able to offer a better career path too, since I’m very close to being as high as I would ever want to go on my current trajectory. There's one more level up from here, and after that I'd be looking at responsibility for an entire college or division and I don’t think the extra hours and headaches would be worth the money.
But (there’s always a “but”) I'm overdue for that next bump up on my current path and I’ve been busily arranging matters so that my case won’t be denied. Having a competing offer from HR would pretty much nail my next promotion with my current department and the pay would be better than anything HR could offer.
Thankfully, no action is needed at this time. I’m having lunch with one of my HR contacts on Friday and we’ll see how that goes. I have a lot of questions and a lot of thinking to do. No matter which way this thing goes, though, I have a feeling I’ll be making more money very soon.*
*Note: In university administration, “very soon” means sometime in the next six months. It's not time to hit the mall just yet, as if I ever would.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Tidbit Escapes!
I've figured out how to get out of my room!
I like it out here in the hall. The better to check up on the humans!
Chocolate!
Ha! Got your attention, didn't I?
Central Market was a regular House o' Chocolate today and boy did I have a great time sampling the wares! Truffles, chocolate bar samples, cookies, chocolate fountain with goodies for dipping-- they had the works! Of course the crowds were horrendous at times. What is it with people who park their huge shopping carts in such a way that no one can get past and then dawdle over the samples, trying several of each kind, oblivious to the fact that twenty people on each side are waiting to get by?
I suggest a new rule: No chocolate for inconsiderate idiots!
After coming home, I did some cooking: sauteed spinach with garlic, steamed carrots with dill, brown rice, spicy black beans, and fried rice (made with last week's leftover rice). An hour in the kitchen; a week's worth of meals!
Next it was time for a spin workout. I did two hours on the bike followed by some abs and weights. I can barely raise my arms enough to type now, but I'm hoping a nap will fix that. A nap at 6:00 pm? Uh...yeah. I'm weird that way.
There will probably be bunny pics later if the ones I took of Tid posing in the hall this afternoon turn out. But for now, it's time to catch some Z's.
Central Market was a regular House o' Chocolate today and boy did I have a great time sampling the wares! Truffles, chocolate bar samples, cookies, chocolate fountain with goodies for dipping-- they had the works! Of course the crowds were horrendous at times. What is it with people who park their huge shopping carts in such a way that no one can get past and then dawdle over the samples, trying several of each kind, oblivious to the fact that twenty people on each side are waiting to get by?
I suggest a new rule: No chocolate for inconsiderate idiots!
After coming home, I did some cooking: sauteed spinach with garlic, steamed carrots with dill, brown rice, spicy black beans, and fried rice (made with last week's leftover rice). An hour in the kitchen; a week's worth of meals!
Next it was time for a spin workout. I did two hours on the bike followed by some abs and weights. I can barely raise my arms enough to type now, but I'm hoping a nap will fix that. A nap at 6:00 pm? Uh...yeah. I'm weird that way.
There will probably be bunny pics later if the ones I took of Tid posing in the hall this afternoon turn out. But for now, it's time to catch some Z's.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
De Regieur Saturday Post
I’ve been tired again this week, I’m not sure why. Maybe my metabolism has shifted and my body wants more sleep. Maybe it’s the kava-kava I’m taking to ward off a case of monthly bitchiness. Maybe it’s my body adjusting to my shift toward more interval and weight training work now that the marathon is over. Whatever it is, I hope I get back on track soon. I don’t like feeling this way.
I never realized how busy my campus was until I moved a block away. Today the rec center was open early for a regional swim meet and there were swimwear hawkers and proud parents everywhere. There was also something soccer-related going on because while I was using the new jogging trail outside the rec center, a bus pulled up and a bunch of young Asian men in matching warmup suits piled out and were directed by their coaches to the soccer field in the bowl encircled by the track. And there were other things happening on campus too, that I wasn’t entirely clear about. There were children in karate uniforms, little girls in track suits but with their hair in buns like ballerinas, and of course there were the usual campus tours and Saturday classes happening.
A busy day for them, but for me it was just an ordinary Saturday: running, Indian food, and a nice long nap.
Wildlife Update: Dan found an owl in our backyard a couple nights ago. We had heard it for awhile, but this was the first time either of us had seen it. He said it swooped right past him and landed on the ground underneath our ginormous oak tree. He watched it for awhile, then came to get me. Although I went outside immediately in bathrobe and slippers, the owl was gone. I did get to see a raccoon on my run this morning, though. It slipped out of a neighbor’s back fence, wearing its mask and thinking it was incognito. Then it saw me and ran away. Am I that scary? And finally, there are some new water birds hanging around the bayou. I’m not sure what they are, so if I have time I’ll go out there with the binoculars and take a look.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is cooking day. I’ve already made banana bread and bowtie pasta casserole, and I have some old naan for bread pudding when the banana bread is gone. Tomorrow I’ll be cooking spinach, potatoes, rice, and either a bean or lentil dish. In spite of my culinary frugality, though, Friday’s grocery bill was a hefty one. I was low on some of my more expensive ingredients, like hazelnut flour and almonds, and those kinds of things really add up fast! Luckily they also last quite awhile.
And that’s about it for the week, except for writerly stuff which I’ll post on my other blog tonight or tomorrow. I hope to have a new Tid Pic sometime this weekend, too. These days it’s hard to get her to stay still for the camera because photos so often feature bribes that she wiggles all around, sniffing for raisins!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical (intervals), weights and abs
Tuesday: 45 minute spin + weights and abs
Wednesday: 5 mile run, with fartlek intervals
Thursday: 45 minute elliptical (steady pace), weights and abs
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 16.5 mile run (campus and bayou)
I never realized how busy my campus was until I moved a block away. Today the rec center was open early for a regional swim meet and there were swimwear hawkers and proud parents everywhere. There was also something soccer-related going on because while I was using the new jogging trail outside the rec center, a bus pulled up and a bunch of young Asian men in matching warmup suits piled out and were directed by their coaches to the soccer field in the bowl encircled by the track. And there were other things happening on campus too, that I wasn’t entirely clear about. There were children in karate uniforms, little girls in track suits but with their hair in buns like ballerinas, and of course there were the usual campus tours and Saturday classes happening.
A busy day for them, but for me it was just an ordinary Saturday: running, Indian food, and a nice long nap.
Wildlife Update: Dan found an owl in our backyard a couple nights ago. We had heard it for awhile, but this was the first time either of us had seen it. He said it swooped right past him and landed on the ground underneath our ginormous oak tree. He watched it for awhile, then came to get me. Although I went outside immediately in bathrobe and slippers, the owl was gone. I did get to see a raccoon on my run this morning, though. It slipped out of a neighbor’s back fence, wearing its mask and thinking it was incognito. Then it saw me and ran away. Am I that scary? And finally, there are some new water birds hanging around the bayou. I’m not sure what they are, so if I have time I’ll go out there with the binoculars and take a look.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is cooking day. I’ve already made banana bread and bowtie pasta casserole, and I have some old naan for bread pudding when the banana bread is gone. Tomorrow I’ll be cooking spinach, potatoes, rice, and either a bean or lentil dish. In spite of my culinary frugality, though, Friday’s grocery bill was a hefty one. I was low on some of my more expensive ingredients, like hazelnut flour and almonds, and those kinds of things really add up fast! Luckily they also last quite awhile.
And that’s about it for the week, except for writerly stuff which I’ll post on my other blog tonight or tomorrow. I hope to have a new Tid Pic sometime this weekend, too. These days it’s hard to get her to stay still for the camera because photos so often feature bribes that she wiggles all around, sniffing for raisins!
Recent Workouts
Monday: 30 minute elliptical (intervals), weights and abs
Tuesday: 45 minute spin + weights and abs
Wednesday: 5 mile run, with fartlek intervals
Thursday: 45 minute elliptical (steady pace), weights and abs
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 16.5 mile run (campus and bayou)
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Gravity and Weekend Update
I had a little trouble with gravity this past week. No, I didn’t fall or anything like that. Thankfully, my klutzy moves are rare (thanks for putting me in ballet class, Mom and Dad!). But by the latter part of the week I really found myself dragging, as if I had somehow become much more susceptible to gravity than usual. Several of my co-workers felt the same way, so maybe it really was a gravity problem. It’s as good an excuse as any, I suppose.
I was worried that my gravity problem would affect this morning’s long run so I was careful to plot a route that would take me through some areas I hadn’t been in awhile, to keep my focus on something other than being tired. This trick worked and I had a very pleasant run that went mostly through Montrose with a stop at my favorite cemetery to visit the grave of the girls killed in the hurricane of 1900.
There’s another grave at this cemetery that I find interesting. It looks like a tallish tree stump, and in addition to the name and dates of the deceased, it bears the seal of the International Woodmen of the World. But what I found more thought-provoking was the plaque added much later by the Houston Police Department. It stated that the deceased, who was 31 at the time of his death, was a police officer killed in the line of duty. We tend to think of our own time as the only one filled with random social violence, so it was an interesting reminder that there’s really no such thing as a more innocent time. Here’s a little info on Officer Cain, if anyone is interested.
This evening I’m still feeling full after all the Indian food I ate for lunch. I’m being tempted by the banana bread I made last night, though, and I might succumb pretty soon. I’ve been perfecting my recipe and this time I added ground hazelnuts, which was a good move.
I don’t have much planned for Sunday, other than the usual round of cooking, errands and working out. I hope I don’t have to contend with a lot of pre-Superbowl crowds at Central Market, stocking up on deli food and such.
And finally, in other weekly wrap-up news, I have a story published in the February issue of Flash Fiction Online. Go check it out if you have the time, and read the other fine stories there, too!
That’s all for now. The husband is home and destroying my concentration. Is it any wonder I have trouble writing until after he’s gone to bed?
This Week's Workouts
Monday: none; too much going on at work
Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: 30 minute elliptical followed by weights and abs
Thursday: 60 minute spin followed by weights and abs
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 15.5 mile run
I was worried that my gravity problem would affect this morning’s long run so I was careful to plot a route that would take me through some areas I hadn’t been in awhile, to keep my focus on something other than being tired. This trick worked and I had a very pleasant run that went mostly through Montrose with a stop at my favorite cemetery to visit the grave of the girls killed in the hurricane of 1900.
There’s another grave at this cemetery that I find interesting. It looks like a tallish tree stump, and in addition to the name and dates of the deceased, it bears the seal of the International Woodmen of the World. But what I found more thought-provoking was the plaque added much later by the Houston Police Department. It stated that the deceased, who was 31 at the time of his death, was a police officer killed in the line of duty. We tend to think of our own time as the only one filled with random social violence, so it was an interesting reminder that there’s really no such thing as a more innocent time. Here’s a little info on Officer Cain, if anyone is interested.
This evening I’m still feeling full after all the Indian food I ate for lunch. I’m being tempted by the banana bread I made last night, though, and I might succumb pretty soon. I’ve been perfecting my recipe and this time I added ground hazelnuts, which was a good move.
I don’t have much planned for Sunday, other than the usual round of cooking, errands and working out. I hope I don’t have to contend with a lot of pre-Superbowl crowds at Central Market, stocking up on deli food and such.
And finally, in other weekly wrap-up news, I have a story published in the February issue of Flash Fiction Online. Go check it out if you have the time, and read the other fine stories there, too!
That’s all for now. The husband is home and destroying my concentration. Is it any wonder I have trouble writing until after he’s gone to bed?
This Week's Workouts
Monday: none; too much going on at work
Tuesday: 5 mile run
Wednesday: 30 minute elliptical followed by weights and abs
Thursday: 60 minute spin followed by weights and abs
Friday: scheduled rest day
Saturday: 15.5 mile run
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
