That first burst of spring

Warm weather is coming my way, in fits and spurts. The first of the crocus flowers and the daffodils are greeting us and I too feel like I am making my way out of the cold and the haze. If slowly and with trepidation.

My running is going well! The 4x/week program is good and I'm slowing creeping back up the mileage. Now I complain. Whyyyyy? Because it's my blog and I'll whine if I want to...
anyhoo....
My right hamstring feels like a rubber band, after being left out in the dead of winter, that is now being stretched to its limit. It feels tight and crackly and I almost screamed in yoga class today getting into a downward-facing dog. That posture used to be one of my favorites, now it is painful!? One harbinger of old age, I understand, is that my body will start to complain and whine and sometimes just break down (a la the "hamstring incident" of 2008).
But, I also know that giving up is also a sign of aging. So, I'll be stretching more often. Spending more time doin' those yoga poses that make my muscles ache.

Momentous moments have occurred, and I feel settled for now. If not slightly overwhelmed because I just (I think) offered to write a grant application ON TOP OF my thesis served with a side plate of post-doc job application. Oh yes, I did just say THESIS.

I'm writing up baby. YEAH!!

:) LJS

I'm training

"Let's face it, most of us are scoffers. But moments before zero hour, it did not pay to take chances." -Ralphie

It is time to train. It is time to deny, push, and push some more. I have set some hard goals for the spring! Four races in three months, maybe two half-marathons. From April 'til June, I'll be lacing up in the wee hours of the morning and hitting the road in a test of my will and my physical self. The long runs are getting longer.

Some quick changes here in the Den: I changed the "photos" links to all of the races I plan to run. And I'll be posting more about my training, mostly to keep up my energy. I need all the help I can give myself...so I can beat myself. Existential huh?

So this year, I have made peace with my 4 runs/week training schedule. I just can't push myself to do 5. So, I am trying a variation on the moderate-consistent plan (see Episode 76) in which I have less days to run, but I run longer during those runs. I think it'll be good.

:) LJS

A new series

I've heard many stupid things relating to the economy lately. Things like bonuses, posh retreats and what-haves for bankers bailed out by our previous administration. Kudos to Obama for putting the smackdown on bonuses, BTW.

So I'm starting a new series called "Stop Whining". It's a populist-style rant for all the well-heeled people who think that these economic times mean things like buying a $2000 dress instead of a $5000 dress, less vacationing in Aspen, no private jets and driving themselves around. Basically, people who don't know what it feels like to be on the cusp of losing everything.

Ironically, I've heard the MOST bitching from these sorts of people. Mostly in the New York Times. Both entertaining and infuriating.

Segment 1: Gee, how can I possibly live on 500k a year? And, the Consumerist responds.

Scientific Malaise

For some reason, I'm feeling really rotten today. To paraphrase Jimmy Carter, a feeling of malaise has washed over me.

Instead of sleeping it off, genius me is here at work instead because I want to go for a run later this afternoon. And I'd feel bad if I did stay at home and felt well enough to go out for a run. So I figured I'd suffer for the cause and at least be a warm body. A warm body that wants to pass out over my laptop and take a nice long snooze.

I'm taking this opportunity to catch up on reading journal articles. I have about 20 journals that I like to cruise through. On rare occasions, I find very good articles. Most of them time, I'm neither impressed or disappointed. Then, I find articles that makes me want to go kick some butt.

Take this one for example:
"Application of multi-factorial design of experiments to successfully optimize immunoassays for robust measurements of therapeutic proteins"

So DOE is a fancy way of saying "planning our experiments beforehand so we know we'll get good results". Standard fare, IMHO. So why do they get to publish THAT? It'll be practical,sure. But it does not advance scientific knowledge when someone says "I did the scientific method". I saw alot of presentations like this at Photonics West-stuff that's either 20 years old or presented LAST year at the same conference (same slides, almost same order=new presentation! Who knew?)Pretty disappointing, actually.

Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

Vet, an old pro

I hope that someone reminds me to pay my taxes and properly vet staff members before I run for Senate.

kthks

Inaugural mishaps

What a fantastic moment-yesterday-when I had both President Obama and Chief Justice Roberts in the same frame of my computer monitor. My geek-crush-o-meter was through the roof! I noted that Roberts did not wear an overcoat. Take THAT Chuck Norris! Chief Justice Roberts is so tough that he looks at frostbite in the eye and says "Bite me".

Unfortunately, he wasn't so suave during the oath adminstration. But then again, neither was Obama.

For this very human moment, and the fact that it now meant we're no longer under the thumb of Bush and his evil henchmen, it was my favorite moment of the inauguration.

Hey...that's a good name for a rock band "Bush and His Evil Henchmen". Too soon?

It's all mental

It would seem that I am on track to meet this week's food and fitness goals, provided I don't get lazy on Saturday. Well, except for having two extra coffee drinks this week. But hey! It's very cold outside and I'm probably needing those extra calories just to survive.

I am always impressed at how good music can improve my mental state, especially during my runs. Last night, I breezed through two miles at a nice pace. I was listening to some of my favorite running tunes from Moby, Radiohead and Jane's Addiction. I felt like Deena Kastor, the American marathon record holder (at 5:19 minute-miles!):

How I looked in reality?
Hahahaha!

Idea for recipe!

I owe Hyperion some home-baked goodness and I have been thinking that I'd send him something sweet and unusual. I have a neat idea and I need feedback please! First, some background.

1) This morning I read an article about the latest food craze-salted caramel. Apparently, even Starbucks has a salted caramel hot chocolate. Mostly, these salted caramels are served with chocolate or covered with chocolate.

2) Next item! Another recent trend is the spicy chocolate. Chocolate kicked up a notch (sorry, had to use that) with the addition of some smoky ancho chili flavoring, cinnamon or cayenne.

I think that a spicy chocolate coated salted caramel would be really yummy and adventurous. The details, I am still working out. But I think that either a spicy chocolate brownie with salted caramel topping (a new twist on the turtle brownie) or a chocolate-coated caramel OR a spicy chocolate truffle with bits of the caramel inside the truffle. What do you think?

:) LJS

Recipe: Spinach salad

Lorraine is a wonderful, creative chef and one of my main culinary inspirations. (along with
Dragon!)

This salad recipe is adapted from her "Popeye salad". Fennel is in season now and a wonderful vegetable!

4 cups fresh, clean spinach
One bulb fennel, sliced thinly
1/4 small red onion, sliced thinly
1-2 oranges, peeled, and sliced
Some mint leaves (optional)

Optional step: The night before you prepare the salad, slice fennel bulb and store in fridge with some water and mint leaves.

Prepare your salad by adding all of the ingredients. Try adding some mint leaves to the salad too! Dress the salad with olive oil, freshly cracked pepper and sea salt and some balsamic vinegar.

Enjoy!
:) LJS


PS: I highly recommend "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan

PPS: Diplomacy through wine? I love it!

Updated 1/17/09 with photos!

More tunes!

Because I mostly refuse to buy into the whole entertainment-industrial complex, I have to wait until new music comes to the local library before I can listen to the bands I really like.

Just borrowed from the library is "Narrow Stairs" by Death Cab for Cutie and "Michigan" from Sufjan Stevens. I am enjoying very much!

Recipe: Broiled Grapefruit

Hurray for citrus season! I love winter because fresh oranges are available for salads, limes for mojitos, and grapefruit for breakfast. If you are bored with cold grapefruit in the mornings, try this delicious variation.
NB: Grapefruit should be at room temperature to ensure even baking.

1 fresh pink grapefruit
brown sugar
cinnamon

1. Set oven to 350C
2. Cut grapefruit in half, remove seeds and section
3. Spread an even, thin, layer of brown sugar over the top. Use the back of a spoon to squeeze the sugar into the fruit. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Bake at 350 for 4-5 minutes
5. Turn the oven up to broil and broil 3-4 minutes, or until the top is browned.
6. Remove from oven and enjoy!

A mint garnish is a delightful addition.

Oh the places we'll go!

First and foremost, I'd like to encourage everyone to read "American Gods" by Neil Gaimon. It's an interesting treatise on how certain places resonate strongly with a person, or a people. For example, why is Wall Drug so darn popular? I had thought that this idea of resonate places is expressed through music, so I did a little experiment with my meager iTUNES library. Check out all the good places!
Leave in the comments your iTUNES places and I'll summarize them next week.
Travel well, :) LJS

Amsterdam	Coldplay
Angel Of Harlem	U2
Avalon	Roxy Music
Back In The U.S.S.R.	The Beatles
Belleville Jungle	Ben Charest
Breakfast In America	Supertramp
Chicago	Sufjan Stevens
Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois	Sufjan Stevens
Dear Chicago	Ryan Adams
Dracula From Houston	Butthole Surfers
El Salvador	Athlete
Galapogos	Smashing Pumpkins
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66	Nat King Cole
Going To California	Led Zeppelin
Gone Hollywood	Supertramp
India	Roxy Music
Jacksonville	Sufjan Stevens
La Llorona	DeVotchKa
Last Boat To America	David Gray
Laughing River	Greg Brown
Marching Bands Of Manhattan	Death Cab For Cutie
Memphis	Ryan Adams
Mercy Street	Peter Gabriel
Mexicali Blues	Grateful Dead
Montego Bay Spleen	St. Germain
My Blue Manhattan	Ryan Adams
N.Y.	Doves
New Amsterdam	Travis
New York, New York	Ryan Adams
Off Broadway	Ryan Adams
Oh My Sweet Carolina	Ryan Adams
The Only Living Boy In New York	Simon & Garfunkel
Portland Oregon	Loretta Lynn/Jack White
Radio Free Europe	R.E.M.
Savoy Truffle	The Beatles
Streets Of Philadelphia	Bruce Springsteen
Texarkana	R.E.M.
Theme From New York, New York	Frank Sinatra
Via Chicago	Wilco
Viva Las Vegas	Elvis Presley
The White Cliffs Of Dover	The Righteous Brothers

2009 Spring goals

I was feeling quite ambitious a couple of posts ago about my spring running schedule. Then I remembered what got me into so much trouble and pain last year-ambition. So I decided to modify my goals. They're still challenging (4 races in 3 months), but not over the top. It's more important to be healthy and I want to give my left leg a chance to get better. But, if I had wanted to run the Martian half, I would need to start increasing mileage at the end of January and I don't think that it's ready quite yet. January will be booring...slogging through being consistent.
The first two weeks will be no more than 3 miles, 5x/week. The last two weeks, I'll increase to 3 miles, 5x/week.

Here is my modified Spring schedule.

April 7th: A 10K Meteor race in the Martian series of races
April 25th: Road ends 5 mile trail race
May 17th: A half-marathon in Cleveland
June 1st: Dexter-Ann Arbor 10K

Medicinally Modified

{yawn}
I'm waiting for the Sudafed to kick in. Ever since I've been afflicted with the Toddler Germ of Doom, my sinuses have been wrecking havoc on my tender little head. But I hate taking medicine. Hence the conundrum of waiting way too long to take Sudafed and now suffering until my nose is clear and the pill knocks me out. Hopefully soon.

Speaking of 'hopefully soon'-new running shoes are supposed to be here this very week. I am getting a pair of Mizuno Wave Alchemy shoes. The shoes just look bad ass, I love the green! I figure that my current shoes, while not yet quite at the point of completely falling apart, are a source of my chronic weirdo-knee problem. So...new shoes. And, yes! This does mean a contest for best shoe name. I'm thinking of invoking some of the Goonies for this one.

Tomorrow marks the first working day of 2009 and I am...woefully unprepared for it. Heck, I'm not even getting a good night's sleep. During holidays, I tend to get nocturnal...going to bed at 1 or even 2 am. So it's tough to get out of that habit, mostly because it's probablly my natural schedule.

And, tomorrow begins my foray into the Shrinking Piggies. My goal is to lose 10 pounds, but that is really beside the point. I want to critically examine my eating and exercise choices and see what is not healthy and what I can do to making things more healthy and more fun. I did have fun during the holidays though-making cheesecakes, candy and cookies. But I didn't really eat too much of that-it was nice to have it in the house as a treat.

Arrrrgh! :) LJS

Yay for Christmas Redux!

Christmas Redux is going well so far! :)

Merry Christmas, redux

I hereby announce that Christmas will be held (again) in 2 days' time. Some days just really should be done over. Like from scratch.

So, here is my plan for Merry Christmas 2. MC2 for short, or E. Because they ARE equal after all. (heh. nerd humor)

Wake up at a leisurely hour. Take a nice warm shower and put on my favorite comfy clothes. Prepare lattes and crepes. Go out shopping with the MAN for a new pair of running shoes and inserts. Test drive the new shoes for a few miles and relax at the gym. Come home in the late afternoon and make a simple dinner. Enjoy a funny movie with a glass of my favorite sparkling wine. Fall asleep thankful for perfect days, lovely friends, and a wonderful husband.

So, keep up the merry cheer for two more days for your biological sibling-challenged pirate. I'm now accepting applications for the role of LJS sibling. Your primary mission, should you choose to accept it, is to not break my heart with everything you say and do. That, and eat all of my yummy cooking creations. If no applications are received, I'll be drafting people.

The Empress Returns

My favorite feline empress, Kukka Maria, has been back online for a full 9 months and I have only now noticed?? That means I have 9 months' of funny-as-heck blogging to catch up on. So check her out, and she's back on the Blog Roll.

What a fortuitous turn of events! Now I'll have something to actually DO this holiday season. Maybe I can start my thesis. {giggle}

Not that watching someone play video games is boring or anything. And we'll soon be having a visitor who loves video games even more. Thank Ceiling Cat that I didn't look for a Wii.

Oh yeah. Merry Christmas!

Winter symbiosis

What goes better than peanut butter with pancakes, hot cocoa with whipped cream, macaroni with cheese?

Heavy snowfall and a day of baking, in comfy clothes and a Santa hat.

We are in for a Winter BONANZA! Yippee!! Starting tonight after the peoples are nestled all snug in their beds, mother nature will bestow upon us mortals 11 inches of snow in less than 24 hours. Now if the weather people actually have their predictions right, this is looking to be a prime opportunity to "work from home". (forgetting the fact that, yeah, I probably could walk to work)

And by "work from home", I mean finally getting my Christmas baking on. I plan to be making all sorts of delicious goodies that include some cookies, candy, cheesecakes (yes, that's a plural!), and lasagna.

It's a perfect storm of a semi-legit reason to stay at home, procrastination, and a gigantic sweet tooth.

:) LJS

It's the end of an era!

I am less than 12 hours from my last class that I will ever *have to* take. After 11 years of on again/off again classwork, this is a most-welcome conclusion. It's the end of an era folks! And, now I am one step closer to the point where my mom can't pick on me for being a professional student.

I'm also working on a paper for a conference proceeding. It is very tempting to make the whole thing a beta version, because I don't think anyone reads them. But said paper has to be vetted by The Chief, and beta versions simply will not do. I have a reputation to maintain (I think). I just wish I could work in the word "awesome" into one paper..just once.

Watched "Step Brothers" last night. That was one funny, but foul, movie. But I love me some Will Farrell. Seriously, I'd watch that guy read the newspaper.

Stop on over at the Monkey Barn. Hyperion has gift suggestions and a video that is guaranteed to make you smile.

Mostly Tepid Person

David Gregory!?!? {sigh}
_________________________________________________________
I decided to join up with the Shrinking Piggies-a nice group of fellow bloggers who are trying to lose some poundage. Marital bliss and I are getting along very well and, as a result, 15 pounds of happiness have found their way to my...everywhere.

It's never too late or too early to start changing life habits, setting goals and making choices that will make my life better. Me? I enjoy seeing the amazing battle of will power and the couch of doom. Of course, the couch of doom will LOSE. Hahahaha.

My ambitious 2009 goals? Well here we go:
1. 3 half-marathons in the spring (Martian, Cleveland, Ann Arbor-Dexter).
1a. 15-20 miles running/week with consistency, by the end of Jan.
2. Working out 6 days/week. Even if it's *just* a 2 mile walk to the library and back.
3. No desserts except on the weekends.
4. Eat out only 1x/week. 1 mid-afternoon latte/week.

Of course 1 and 1a is all predicated on healthy knees. But, that's what PT is for right?
:) LJS