Tuesday Night Run Club

I test-ran this beautiful and colorful top last night...

...another Athleta top that fits great and stays in place.  Loved it!  Thank you Dad for the backordered Christmas gift. It's kinda fun getting unexpected things in the mail like that.  :)

Michelle and I laced up our big girl running shoes and joined the 6 mile group last night.  Totally unplanned and unexpected.  Good for us!  That group scares me they are fast, and I have heard they don't wait for the slower runners.  So, if you don't know the route you are SOL, and we don't know the route and we are slower than the group! 

Thankfully last night Matt was running clean-up and making sure everyone made it back.  He also let us know there was a 5 mile short cut, so we agreed we would do that since this was totally spur of the moment.  We took the 5 mile short cut and the 6 milers still finished before us...go turtles!  :) 

Matt was great, he is one of those runners that can talk no matter the wind in your face, rain and hills.  He got us through the 5.08 miles no problem.  I actually felt much better than expected.  Most of my runs have been 3 to 4 miles and unmotivated, so I was surprised at how good I felt.  Next week we are doing the whole thing! 

Hello 10K training! 

Now, to get myself ready and out the door for Stroller Group.  I have a feeling my legs are going to hate me today! 

SUN!

That is right...there is sun outside right this very moment!  Wish I were running this morning, but we have Play to Learn and that is just as important. 

Hoping to get some grocery shopping in during nap time, since Mark is home today.  I have learned that being a Mom means kiddo free grocery shopping is such a luxury! 

Registered for a road 10K in March, so now I have the needed motivation to get my running in gear!  Money paid makes it real! 

Run club tonight, it's short, but focusing on speed and arm form. 

Also will be test-running a new top.  Love back ordered Christmas gifts!  :)  Will post pics later.

I really hope we get to play in the sun after lunch today...please stick around sun, please!  

Super Bowl Wrap Up

My thoughts (because people care what I think)...

-Hands down best commercial of the SB (in my opinion best commercial ever) the Ram Farmer commercial.

-All the hype about the "Geek Kissing" commercial is offensive to me.  The negative and derogatory reaction borders on bullying.  It's brilliant because it's all people are talking about, but some of the comments I have heard are just inappropriate and mean.

-Fans need to understand that every football game has "bad" or "missed" calls, things like the power going out happen etc.  Stop bitching about it!  Yep, it sucks, but it's a game being run and called by imperfect people therefor mistakes are going to happen.  Every team has one job and one job only, play well enough and score enough points that none of that "looses" the game for you.  Bottom line is every team wins or looses based on how well or bad they played. 

-Steelers still have the most SB wins!  Thank you Ravens for that. 

-While I think all the musical performers have beautiful voices and sounded good I didn't care for any of them.  Jennifer Hudson is a Diva with a bad attitude and it bothered me she was who was singing with the children's choir.  Alicia did a good job, but it was WAY TO SLOW, and she added her own twist at the end...the National Anthem isn't a song you should change at all.  Beyoncé, it was just too long.  She sounded good, there were no wardrobe issues, the stage show was flashy, she looked beautiful, but all that aside I am so sick of her and Jay-Z both.  They think they run the world, but they don't. 

-It was really fun watching the game with Gentry and Jan, and the Louisiana Red Beans and Andouille sausage turned out really well.  Not sure I love it over rice, but I can play with that. 

Before the game Sky helped Daddy outside...

 

 

...and she was nice enough to share her chair with Grampy...

 



 

 

All in all it was a good day of football.  I'm excited for Kaep...yeah they lost, but I think he has a bright future ahead of him.  I just hope the Steelers get a SB win before the 49'ers get their next one!  :)

Drank

Last night was Michelle's birthday dinner at the Girl From Ipanema in Seattle.  A steak  meat house that brings hunks/sides/whole animals on a spit and slices off pieces of it onto your plate to try.  All different cuts of beef, wild bore, pork, turkey, shrimp, grilled pineapple with cinnamon, cuts of meat wrapped in yummy bacon, and on and on. 

I did a great job of limiting what I tried, because as someone who loves grilled meat it is way, way too easy to overeat and be sick to your stomach.  I was actually hungry at 3 this morning because I ate so little. 

All the great food aside here is what impressed me the most!  Aside from the birthday girl that is.  :) 

I must find this wine, or find how to order it.  Amazing!  So good I would like to take a bath in it!!! 

On tap for today...

Voo Doo beer to go with my authentic Louisiana Red Beans and Andouille sausage for the big game! 

Contrary to popular belief we/I don't drink non-stop, and are very rarely ever drunk. 

And, I have not been paid and did not reliever any free samples for mentioning the above beverages.  While I wish my blog led to free samples and paid endorsements, it doesn't.  I share what I like out of the goodness of my heart.  :) 

A Few Things

Cute pic alert...

I so wish I knew what Reagan was pointing at and saying, but Sky sure was paying attention to her whatever it was. 

- Does anyone really care of the singing is live or not at SB?  Who even watches the half time show?  The last time I watched one was when Aerosmith performed. 

-I totally get the winning a ring for the player that is retiring thing...hello Steelers and The Bus!  So why is it so f'ing annoying with Ray Lewis and the Ravens?  I'm so SICK of RL and so over it! 

-Kaep is a visual quandary.  He has the components to be good looking (beautiful skin tone, good bone structure, fit etc) yet things are put together in a way that makes him not as good looking as he should be, or as I want him to be. 

Cute Pic alert...

She was just keeping it warm for Harrison!

-Registered for a 10K in March.  It will be my first "road" (it's the Orting trail, but it's a paved trail) 10K, so is an auto PR.  That is always a bonus!  I'm running this one with Elya and we seem to know how to get the best out of each other, so I'm anticipating a decent time on this one. 

-Looking forward to getting dressed up and going out to dinner tomorrow night, Sky free.  I love her, but sometimes you just need a break.  Plus, we get to celebrate Michelle's B-day.

Cute Pic alert...

I love this pic of Reagan...I'm not sure what that face means, but it cracked me up.  There are way more pics from today that Jodi took with her camera...I just haven't had a chance to upload them yet.  I will do that in the next few days. 

 

-Unplugged day is tomorrow, and it has me seriously considering turning FB off for good.  I have to say I kinda love not checking in and not seeing every random thought/activity/opinion that is posted.  The less I check FB the more I actually have to talk about with people when I see them in person. 

 

-After last nights Relay team meeting I'm actually excited for the event! 

 

-My efforts at being a better cross trainer are paying off!  I'm sore in places I haven't been sore in a long time, and my running clothes are starting to feel big.  That's good, and bad...there is a lot of $$$ in my current running wardrobe! 

 

-I use ... a lot!

 

-So looking forward to enjoying the last Football Sunday of the season.  Can't wait to cook some traditional Louisiana style food and enjoy some beer!  And, all the commercials.  SB may be the only football game all season that I wait for the game to take potty breaks! 

 

Who do you want to win the big game?  Me...my crush on Kaep (despite the looks issue stated earlier) and Mark's brother Brian being a BIG 49'ers fan dictate we are 49'ers all the way.  Even though I will be watching the game in my Steelers stuff.  :) 

 

Happy running to those running this weekend and enjoy the big game!     

From the Kitchen

Grilled Pork Chops with Basil-Garlic Rub

YUMMY!!!  Mark and Sky both liked it as did I.  This is going to be part of my regular rotation! 

 

Ingredients

4 pork bone-in rib chops, 3/4-inch thick (our chops were much thinner, and still tasted great!  Mark adjusted the heat and time for the thinner chops.)

Basil-Garlic Rub:

2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup fresh basil, packed
2 tablespoons lemon juice , fresh (used bottled)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Directions

With machine running, drop garlic through feed tube of food processor to mince.  (I used my mini 1 1/2 cup food chopper and it worked great!) Stop, add fresh basil, and process until chopped. Add lemon juice, oil, salt, and pepper and process to make thin wet rub. Spread both sides of pork chops with basil mixture. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes.

Prepare a medium-hot fire in grill. Brush the grate clean and oil the grate. Grill chops, over direct heat, turning once, to medium rare doneness, 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time.

Makes 4 servings

Recipe is from: http://www.porkbeinspired.com