So busy

You know what sucks? My part-time job taking up so much of my time. I barely have time to get in a game of solitaire, let alone write on my blog!

Here, let me distract you with a picture of the dog and the S.O.

The cuteness has made you forget there is no true substance to this post.

That's not my name

I've been listening to the Ting Tings, and they have me be-bopping in the car:



Thanks, Kate!

Hail! Hail!

This is my backyard after the storm today:

This is my dog during the storm:

Who doesn't love a pillow fort?

More kitchen fun

We got a new refrigerator yesterday. It's shiny and black and 6 cubic feet larger than the old one. It actually fits in the space allotted for a fridge in our kitchen (the old one kind of floated in the spot). The freezer in the old fridge was pretty much packed to the gills, while this one is mostly empty. Time to stock up on chicken breasts, frozen pizzas and gelato.

And it has ice and water in the door! I know not everyone is a fan of the ice/water-in-the-door feature (and yes, I know it makes them less efficient), but I've wanted that since I was a kid. It was my first major sin -- I coveted my friend's refrigerator because it had chilled water and ice. Right. In. The. Door!

I tried to take some pictures, but it's so reflective, they didn't really turn out. The pic to the right is from BestBuy.com.

The S.O. said he was going to leave me and marry the new refrigerator, but I think he got the idea of marrying ourselves off to inanimate objects from me. And there's no way he's getting rid of me that easily. Especially not after having this fridge installed.

It's so nice to be able to get so much in it and to be able to find things without pulling everything out. And it's clean. Wouldn't it be nice if I could keep it that way forever?

I didn't die

As I mentioned last week, the S.O. and I rode our bicycles 25-miles Sunday as part of the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival. It was a great day for a ride (we finished well before any tornadoes spun through the area). Cool in the morning, warming to a sunny day.

I'm not going to say it was easy. It wasn't. It was 25 miles, and I swear at least 90 percent of it was uphill. It was tough. But I never had to get off and push the bike up a hill. I made it the whole way. I'm pretty proud of that accomplishment. Sure, there were people who rode 34, 62 and 100 miles, but I can't compare myself to those folks. This is the longest bike ride I've ever done, and that's cool. I honestly don't think I could have made it if I wasn't doing the boot camp workouts. My endurance has definitely improved.

The route passes through Castlewood Canyon. There was some very pretty scenery along the way.

We had a rest and aid stop at 12.3 miles. They gave us plenty of carb-loaded snacks and refills for our water bottles. Plus, they had port-a-potties. Here we are at half-way, after refueling.

Because this stop was at about the halfway point, I thought the second half would be a breeze. I was sorely mistaken. The second half was more on-road, and my little mountain bike just isn't built for such climbs on the road -- neither are my knees, apparently.

Here I am at the top of one of many climbs. This one was just after the second aid and rest station -- about 19 miles from the start.

As I said, I made it -- and with hardly any complaints.

An interesting read

This article from Newsweek is quite enlightening (if a bit long). It talks about how Oprah is promoting some misleading -- and maybe even dangerous -- health practices on her show.

An excerpt that made me laugh:

But (Dr. Christiane) Northrup believes thyroid problems can also be the result of something else. As she explains in her book, "in many women, thyroid dysfunction develops because of an energy blockage in the throat region, the result of a lifetime of 'swallowing' words one is aching to say."

I have thyroid problems, and as the S.O. will attest, and most of you reading this already know, I don't really hold back when I want to say something. As the article's writer says, "An interesting theory—but is there anyone who believes that what Oprah suffers from is an inability to express herself?"

Another funny little bit:

On one of the Secret shows, Oprah gave an example of the scientific power of the concept. She said that once, while she was hosting an episode about a man who could blow really big soap bubbles, she was thinking to herself, "Gee, that looks fun. I would like to blow some bubbles." When she returned to her office after the show, there, on her desk, was a silver Tiffany bubble blower. "So I call my assistant," Oprah told the audience. "I say, 'Did you just run out and get me some bubbles? 'Cause I got bubbles by my desk.' And she says, 'No, the bubbles were always there. I bought you bubbles for your birthday and you didn't notice them until today'."

There are many lessons that might be drawn from this anecdote. One is that if you give Oprah a thoughtful gift, she may not bother to notice it or thank you for it. This is not the lesson Oprah took away from her story. Because the way she sees it, her assistant hadn't really given her the gift at all. She gave it to herself. Using the power of The Secret, she said, "I had called in some bubbles."

As I said, it's a fairly long article, but worth the read. I admire Oprah and -- as the article points out -- she worked hard to get where she is. But it just goes to show you can't believe everything you see on TV.

[crosses self and prays for Oprah's mercy]

The Elephant in the room

The S.O. and I are going to ride the 25-mile off-road ride at the Elephant Rock Cycling Festival this Sunday. To prepare (perhaps a bit belatedly) we took our bicycles out this morning for the first time in many, many moons.
We rode about 7 1/2 miles, with plenty of climbs thrown in. It felt pretty good. (Thanks, Boot Camp!) The shortest ride you can do at Elephant Rock is the 7-mile ride. I'm pretty sure that would be way too easy for us. The 25-mile ride will probably be a bit of a challenge, but I'm confident I'll do fine.

This morning was perfect for a bike ride. It was a little cool but not chilly. The sun was shining, and all the people we passed who were riding or jogging were smiling. That's a good ride.

I'm looking forward to this Sunday. There will be refreshment stations along the way, so I won't have to worry about crashing -- figuratively or literally. And there will be a great crowd of people, all enthusiastic about getting out on their bikes. All, that is, except the ones who who rather be sipping lattes and watching "Meet the Press" but were dragged there by a spouse, parent or significant other all gung ho about a long bike ride.

Goodbye, Earl

So, another show bites the dust. NBC has canceled "My Name is Earl." Ok, sure the show didn't live up to its first-season greatness (I blame the bleeping writers' strike that put a kink in most scripted shows) but it was still better than the reality-show dreck we're being fed. Wasn't Stephen Baldwin on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here" before? Do we really need to see more of Stephen Baldwin or they-who-shall-not-be-named from The Hills?

And it's true that I had to take Jason Lee off "the list" for his parts in "Underdog" and "Alvin and the (effing) Chipmunks," but I still had a soft spot in my heart for his portrayal of Earl -- so cute, so sweet, so dumb.

I guess I'm just tired of reading about all the scripted shows (my love for "Pushing Daisies" is well documented) that have been canceled and all the new reality shows. I get enough reality every day. Television is my escape. Thank goodness for USA Network. Although I don't want to say anything too loudly. If they find out how much I love "Burn Notice" and "Psych," they may cancel those shows, too.

Here's a nice little tribute to "Earl" from Gael Fashingbauer Cooper of Pop Culture Junk Mail.

Overwhelmed

I'm not sure why but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. Maybe it's something in the water. Maybe it's trying to keep a food journal and becoming a bit obsessive about that. Maybe it's that I have to train tutors this week (standing up in front of a group!). Maybe it's the dreary, rainy weather. Whatever it is it's got me suffering angst and I don't like it.

It's quite the vicious circle. I'm feeling anxious. Then I feel anxious about why I'm feeling anxious. Then I think maybe I'm crazy for feeling this way and I get down on myself for being so down on myself. You get the idea.

Whatever the reason, my heart or my shoes, I'm just sitting here, hating the blues.*


*With apologies to Dr. Seuss

What I watched: "Star Trek"

After hearing really good things about the new Star Trek movie, from some reliable sources, the S.O. and I slipped out of "work" early to catch a matinee today. This isn't a review of the movie. I enjoyed it -- a lot, but not nearly as much as the guy who sat to my left (the S.O. was on my right). In fact, I'm not sure if anyone has ever enjoyed a movie quite as much as this late-40-something fanboy.

He was giggling like a schoolgirl from the moment Kirk appeared on screen until the credits rolled -- possibly beyond, but we left at that point.


This guy bounced in his seat. He pumped his fist and said, "Yesssss" whenever a line from the original series was spoken or something mildly cool happened. The only way he could have been geekier is if he'd come in costume and shouted, "I love you, Captain Kirk!" Seriously, he was like a pre-teen girl at a Jonas Brothers concert.

I could also hear him whispering to his friend -- which is normally annoying, but I was so fascinated by the geekitude, it didn't really bother me too much. I have to wonder if the friend was as giddy as my neighbor.

We probably should have waited for the end of the credits. Now that I'm thinking about it, I bet they gave each other the Vulcan sign and said, "Live long and prosper." That would have been awesome.

My T-Shirt Love

My dear friend turned me on to this T-shirt site and a sale code that got me 15 percent off my order. Today, my T-shirt came, and I love it.

Cute cuddly panda bear with crossbones. Love! I have wanted this shirt ever since I saw John Sheppard sporting one (in a men's version naturally).

I bought this one for the S.O. He didn't get as excited as I did about the shirts. (I think he has his own little crush on John Sheppard and wanted the panda shirt so he could be like his hero. Shhh.) But I'm pretty sure he likes it, and if he doesn't wear it, it's a great night shirt for me. Bonus.

Yeah, I'm not as trim as the model here, but the shirt is pretty damn flattering on me anyway -- and will be more so as I continue my boot camp fitness.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to wear this four days out of the week when tutoring starts back up. It not offensive or anything. We're just not supposed to wear T-shirts. Bummer.

He knows more than you do!*

The S.O. received his Masters of Electrical Engineering today. Our seats weren't very close to the stage. But they projected everything on to the big screen. Here he is accepting his diploma ...

cover. The actual degree is sent by mail late this summer.

I'm quite proud of him. He's the only one in his immediate family to attend college, let alone receive an advanced degree. I think he's allowed to be smug* for a while.

*Just ask Dr. Science!

More healthy, yummy food

Because I'm still a lazy cook, but trying to actually be a cook and to also eat and serve good, healthful meals, here's another kitchen-tested recipe from "Healthy in a Hurry." Or you can find the recipe at the Eating Well Web site (they include all the nutrition info over there).

Adobo Pork & Potato Packets

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red-wine vinegar
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 small sweet potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
1 medium yellow-fleshed potato, peeled and very thinly sliced
1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
4 bone-in pork loin chops (1 1/2-1 3/4 pounds), trimmed of fat
Preparation

1. Preheat grill to high.

2. Combine oil, vinegar, paprika, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender; process until creamy, scraping down the sides as needed. Place sweet potato, potato and onion in a medium bowl. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 3 tablespoons of the sauce; toss well to coat. Rub both sides of pork chops with the remaining sauce.

3. To make a packet, lay two 24-inch sheets of foil on top of each other (the double layers will help protect the contents from burning); generously coat the top piece with cooking spray. Spread half the potato mixture in the center of the foil in a thin layer. Bring the short ends of foil together, fold over and pinch to seal. Pinch the seams together along the sides to seal the packet. Make a second packet in the same fashion with the remaining potato mixture.

4. Place the packets on the hottest part of the grill and the pork chops in the front or back. Cook the pork for 3 to 4 minutes per side and the packets for 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to plates and let rest while the packets finish cooking. Open the packets (be careful of steam) and serve the pork chops with the vegetables.

Makes 4 servings

I don't consider potatoes to be a vegetable, so I served this with candied carrots -- which probably aren't all that healthy, what with the 4 tablespoons of butter, but are delicious and, I'm told, can be made with less butter -- but I think a tossed green salad would go well with this dish.

In with the new

We took out the old ceiling fan in our living room. It was shiny brass and very ornate. It also hung only about 6 feet off the floor.

I think this room was meant to be a dining room. But it's carpeted and sits at the front of the house. It's weird. Instead, we use it as our "music room." The piano is there, and my guitar rests there when I'm not jamming out.

The picture to the right -- action shot! -- is the new fan. It sports a more modern design and finish. I like it so much I want to totally redecorate the room around this one piece.

Here's the S.O. working away. He reads instructions! He installs fans! And yes, his hand is still partially immobilized.













Here's the old fan, already removed. You can see how shiny it is. But, as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. So we're planning to donate it. Just because I think it's hideous, someone else may love it.

Still here

Hello! I'm still here. Don't worry. I didn't keel over from my Boot Camp workouts. In fact, I've been blogging for my "drill sergeant."

So, I'm working out and still trying some new recipes. Last night's dinner was Chili-rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus and Lemon from "Healthy in a Hurry." You can also find the recipe at EatingWell.com. It was quite yummy and good for you -- but you don't have to tell anyone that. Serve brown rice or couscous with it to make it a little more filling or if you have an S.O. that must have a side dish besides veg.

I recommend this dish because it's quick and easy, as well as healthy. And it is quite tasty. Tilapia doesn't taste too strong, so it's a great way to add fish to your weekly menu without a lot of work.

Melting the muffin top

I'm sticking with the Boot Camp training and completed my fourth day this morning.

Summer is just around the corner, and I really want to be ready for it. Although I have no plans to put on a bikini this summer, I know it's impossible to keep completely covered up. With the heat come shorts, skirts and sleeveless tops. Plus, the significant other and I are planning to ride in the Elephant Rock Bike Festival, as well as try some backpacking this summer. So, I need to build my endurance, as well as try to look good in bike shorts (although very few people look good in Spandex!).

It isn't just vanity that gets me out to the park at 7 a.m. on a foggy Monday morning. I'm fighting genetics, in the form of heart disease, high blood pressure and an under-active thyroid. So far, I have been lucky and have kept my blood pressure low. I credit working out. Unfortunately, at a certain age, I began struggling with allergies, asthma and a lagging metabolism, worsened by my thyroid. And now, I find myself with a bit of a "muffin top."

So when Joe asked me this morning what I'd like to focus on, I told him I want to increase my endurance and whittle away at the love handles. I haven't really gained weight, but it seems to have redistributed itself around my waistline. I guess that's age for you. But like my dad always says, "It's better than the alternative."

Still, I have no intention of settling for a slow metabolism and a jiggly middle. Today, we did lots of exercises for the obliques, including side planks and V-sit tosses with a partner. We also did plenty of cardio exercises and work for our arms and legs, lest you think we only focus on one body part each day.

There's no boredom at boot camp. Friday, as I was running, pulling a tire behind me (nope, not a euphemism for my butt) a couple of women walked by with their dogs. "Were you bad?" they called out to me. "Nope," I answered, "This is the fun part!"

Remembering the Cake Lady

Mom was always "the cake lady." Whether she was making cakes for her own kids' birthdays, graduations or weddings or creating elaborate cake concoctions for the celebrations of friends, neighbors and friends of friends, for several years there, it seemed like she was baking and decorating cakes 24 hours a day, seven days a week (she probably was!).

Sometimes the cakes were a source of fun and creativity. A lot of times, they were a source of headaches and annoyance. But everyone who knew Mom knew she was "the cake lady." And everyone always commented on how beautiful her cakes were.

This was long before Ace of Cakes and the dearth of fondant on cakes. Mom created scenes -- from roses to critters -- for the most part using buttercream frosting. Sometimes she would use royal icing, chocolate molds or marzipan when it was absolutely necessary.

Like so many of her talents, I didn't inherit the cake gene. I can bake a cake, but I can't make it look the way she did. She once made a cake that looked like a huge basket of strawberries -- the basket was "woven" with buttercream frosting, the handle was royal icing over wire, and the berries were made of marzipan. It was amazing.

Another day of torture... I mean training

Today was day two of my Boot Camp training. As someone who is easily amused, I am equally easily bored. After slogging away at the gym on cardio machines and free weights for years, I had hit a major burnout in my exercise routine. I dug out some old fitness DVDs I have. They're fine for once in awhile. But I can only hear the same tired jokes so many times before I can't stand it.

Recently, I started working out with kettlebells, and they're great. But I'm not always able to motivate myself enough to really see results. I tried a DVD and an MP3 download. Both are good, but I run into the same problem as other fitness videos -- they are the same every time you do them.

Boot Camp offers motivation -- in the form of Joe, our "drill sergeant" -- variety, camaraderie and fun. Yes, I said fun. "Our bodies want to have fun*," Joe says.

And for all the jokes about it being torture, this workout really is fun. Think about it. Would you rather:

• Spend 30 minutes running on a treadmill or spend 30 minutes running around the yard with your kids (or spouse or dog)?
• Spend 30 minutes "climbing" a StairMaster or spend an afternoon climbing an actual mountain?
• Go to the gym or go out dancing?
• Workout alone in your living room (or a gym) or workout with a great group of women in a sunny park?

I think it's safe to say most of us would chose the second option in each of those scenarios. Exercise doesn't have to feel like a chore. This Boot Camp isn't easy -- but neither are chasing kids or climbing a mountain -- but it is fun and it can make those other activities easier. Because working out really should prepare us for real life challenges.

A great added benefit to working out at 7 a.m. (there are even earlier classes!) is how much more I accomplish throughout my day.

*I wanted to include Cyndi Lauper here, but I can't embed the video. Go here to enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVwFeQpy_Us&feature=channel_page

Oh deer!

Today, I had an interview at Mount St. Francis. Tucked away in the foothills, it must make the deer feel safe there. St. Francis is the patron saint of animals, after all.

This photo was taken through the windshield of my car, but only because it was starting to rain. I was able to walk pretty close to them before pulling out the camera. There were more of them off to the right, out of frame.

Deer are a common occurrence here. But I still think it's cool to see them and to get so close.

On a -- somewhat -- related note, I saw a fox jump to the top of 6-foot fence, not far from where this picture was taken. I guess they're more cat-like than I realized. I wish I'd had time to get a picture of that.

I poach halibut

No. Not in the illegal-hunting way, in the basically-boiling-fish-in-wine sort of way. And even though that sounds kind of disgusting, it was actually very tasty. I impressed myself with how yummy this dish was.

Once again, it's a recipe from Real Simple: Meals Made Easy. I'm waiting for my personal copy to arrive from Amazon. So far, I've manage to keep the library's copy neat and clean, despite the fact that I am so in love with this cookbook I want to marry it and have little half-human/half-cookbook babies with it.

The recipe is quite simple: halibut, white wine, chive, salt, pepper, with boiled red potatoes and green beans on the side (although I could make a full meal out of just the fresh green beans and red potatoes in a heartbeat).

Once you have the potatoes boiling away, you start heating the fish and wine to a simmer. I used a Pinot Grigio, because it's what we had on hand. (It's called Birdman and it has a screw top. Gasp! Cool label though, right?)

Once the potatoes are "fork tender," you add the beans to the water. I don't normally boil beans, but the recipe called for it, and it saves washing another pan.

If you want the exact recipe, I can type it up for you. But as I said, it really is easy. And comes out making the cook -- me! -- look like an expert. Thanks Meals Made Easy!