Thursday, January 24th, 2013

Good morning!  Another icy, cold day!  I was cranky this morning and didn't want to get up, but did anyway because Brian had to be up early (what's the point of trying to sleep in when someone is ironing in the bedroom?)  It was good to be forced up, though, because once I was up, I was glad. 

I had yoga last night, and it was a night I was missing my Philly days of hot yoga.  Even though I was moving a lot, I just couldn't seem to get warm.  I was craving the old days when I used to walk into a hot, sweaty, sauna of a room at Dana Hot Yoga to be greeted and challenged by one of Lisa & Dorian's wonderfully talented instructors.  It always used to feel like a spa-treatment or something. 

Tuesday night I had a run on the agenda and it was surprisingly pleasant after the first 2 miles were gone.  The solitude was actually quite nice.  Brian and I have committed to doing the NYRR (New York Road Runners Club) 9+1 this year - which means you run 9 NYRR races and volunteer at 1 and then you get automatic entry into the subsequent years (for us 2014) NYC Marathon. 

The marathon has been a distance I've been dancing with for years now.  I would consider myself a committed runner since I quit playing basketball in college, however, I am glad I didn't give into the temptation of training for a marathon.  In hindsight, I was unprepared for what it would take in terms of commitment to proper nutrition/hydration, sleep, and a well-thought out training plan.  I probably would have trained without enough discipline or knowledge, definitely wouldn't have abstained from alcohol or late nights, and while I ate "healthy-ish," I was known to mow down on cheesesteaks, wings, cheese fries and various other things I would never eat now.  I probably would have run the marathon and been disappointed - dissuaded from attempting again. 

Now it's different.  I'm a tougher runner and much more educated about this sport.  My diet is better than ever.   I'm ready for a new challenge to find out what I'm made of.  With the 2014 NYC marathon on my mind (Marine Corps, too??), it's been much easier to be committed to getting all my miles in.  It's also been nice having a partner in crime to do it, too :) 

Carpe diem!

J

ps.  I promise in the next few days I'll have more pictures from the Park.  It's just been too cold to bother with taking my hand out of my glove to take the picture!! :)

Hi friends,

Do you see the above?  It is 11 degrees fahrenheit.  Do you know where else in the world it's 11 degrees today? 

1.  Moscow
2.  Toronto
3.  Novosibirsk
4.  Stockholm

No seriously, you can look it up. 

So, I don't have a picture because I was too cold to take my hand out of my glove to snap one. 

I had on 3 layers + a heavy down coat, lined boots, mittens, a neck and chin warmer, a hat, and had my hood up and was still cold.  My dogs, on the other hand?  They were fine.  They're so tough!  They can romp around in 100 degree weather (albeit a bit hot), and romp around in 11 degree weather.  I'm miserable in both - dressed appropriately - and with the ability to sweat!  Dogs - they're tough cookies. 

Carpe diem,

J

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013

Good morning, folks!  I can't believe how sparsely I've been populating this blog lately!  Sorry about that - it's because my sis has been here and I have been spending many mornings hanging out with her rather than on my computer. 

Last night I let Bear & Sofie sleep in the bed with us....(just this once).... ;)   because it was cold. 

This cold:

So last night they gladly hop up into bed with us and immediately come over to snuggle me (they don't snuggle Brian - probably because he's always hot - never cold - sweaty even).  Bear came and put his little face near my face and Sofie put her chin on my shin.  I don't even care how dog-nutty this post sounds because I only live once and the dogs only live once.  So I was feeling little Bear's peaceful sleepy breaths on me and I just felt immediately relaxed and completely at peace.  There's some kind of magical medicinal power that dogs have on your soul.  I don't care that they carry little pieces of twigs and leaves in the bed with them - I don't care that they shed, or stink a little, or that I have to pay for their food or vaccinations - my heart and my house would be empty without them. 

Carpe diem,

J

Thursday, January 17th, 2013

Good morning!  I can't believe I haven't posted in 3 days!  Tuesday morning my sister woke up to have coffee with me, so the blog needed to take a back-seat.  Then on Wednesday morning it was pouring a mixture of sleet and rain when I woke up at 6am, so the doggies didn't get to go to the Park until evening. 

Things have been happening!  I had to go in to lab at 10:30pm last night, and on my way home I stopped and picked up some chocolate bars for us to enjoy as a late night dessert.  When I got home, I found that Brian had gone to bed but Sarah was still up.  We ended up having a chocolate party until about midnight, when we went to bed.  We got this brand new, crazy good bar called Coconut Rendezvous and I think Ghirardelli or maybe Lindt makes it.  It was FREAKING incredible.  Tonight we have a friend from Philly coming in late to stay for the weekend.  Brian also took tomorrow off so he, Sarah, and Wolt can go do fun things. 

Can't wait for the weekend!

Carpe diem,

J

Monday, January 14th, 2013

Good morning!  WHEW I REALLY did not want to wake up this morning.  In fact, I had gone back to bed - claimed an excuse "It's raining too hard."  In fact it was not raining at all - the sound of the "rain" was someone showering in a nearby apartment.  Every part of my body was sore this morning from a workout I did yesterday.  Normally I like soreness because it makes me feel like I did something, but this morning was an exception - I just wanted to lie in bed and not move and sleep until 11.

So, I got back into bed and immediately my brain starts talking to itself.  "You've tried this before."  You'll just feel guilty in an hour when you feel rushed and the dogs don't get the walk they deserve."  My brain was right (it's always right).  I got up 2 minutes later and forced myself out the door.  It was extremely dark this morning (and misty but not raining), so I couldn't take a picture - there just wasn't enough light.

Then I came home and made myself this recover-from-soreness breakfast that I'll count as 1/2 towards my goal of learning 15 new vegetarian recipes.  I normally make oats for breakfast, however, I don't really vary from the basics.  I did a little research and added the stuff I knew would fill me up until noon and do my aching muscles good with the good fats and protein they need.

Vegeterian recipe #3.5 -Nutty oatmeal

1 cup water
1/2 cup dried rolled oats (don't use quick cook - it's only 4 extra minutes on the stove and the regular are a lot tastier)

Top cooked oats with:
1 tablespoon wheat germ
1 tablespoon raw sunflower seeds
5-7 raw pumpkin seeds (they're expensive so I only use a few - lots of flavor - you don't need more)
5-10 almonds
3-5 pecans

The oats are low in calories but a good source of fiber - they are a better choice than bread in terms of carbs/gluten.  Wheat germ is the only nutritious part of the wheat and - funny enough - it's removed during the process of bread making.  It's quite nutritious and also a good source of fiber - toasted Kretschmer wheat germ has a nutty/crunchy pleasant taste.  The nuts provide fats - but good fats and oils, tons of protein, and they taste amazing.

You can also add some additional spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves.  I do that sometimes, but when adding this many nuts it's a bit overkill - I want to taste all the flavors of the sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and pepitas. 

Carpe diem,

J

Friday, January 11th, 2013
Central Park East - 6:48am

Good morning & happy Friday!  Another stunning sunrise. My camera just couldn't do it justice. 

Carpe diem

J

Thursday, January 10th, 2012

bottom 2: 6:47 and 6:59am

Good morning!  My sister has arrived - she sleeps on the couch as we speak! My computer loses battery also as we speak so I'll keep it short. 

I've been treated to beautiful sunrises the past few days. 

Carpe diem,

J