Run Eat Read

Summer Readin' had me a blast

2011-09-27T22:31:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to write a book report since January...then bang, nine months later I still haven't done it. So here we go, my best reads for the year (this is mostly for my cousin Lisa who is hounding me to find her next book).

Talking To Girls About Duran Duran
Loved loved loved. I'm a few years too young to have experienced exactly what the author reminisces about, but he does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the early to mid eighties and what it meant to be a horny teenager during that time. A+

The Sisters Brothers
Reason for my endorsement - my husband read it in a week.
It gets quite violent but is a gritty story that'll suck you in.

Enough About Love
Occasionally you can tell that this story was translated from French - and not just because of the loose marital bonds. This is one of those books with multiple stories that weave their way together as the story advances. Left me feeling like it wasn't exactly tied up in the end, but I still really enjoyed the characters and their fuckupedness.

Let the Great World Spin
Enough About Love could learn from this title. The same concept of characters slowly introduced with each chapter - only to reappear in other future chapters as background characters. One word - Amazing. Two words - Fucking amazing. Read it. Immediately.

A Visit from the Goon Squad
In a word - weird. But good weird. So many characters that I could have used a family tree of sorts.
Spans from the early 70s to some strange futuristic time where people are constantly connected to a small mobile device that seems to run their lives - too strange to relate to, right? Obviously.

Craigslist Murders
If Gossip Girl gets old and then starts taking revenge "Heathers" style - she would write this book. xoxo

Freedom
One of two things will happen when you read this book: 1. you'll detest every single character and want to tear the book into shreds. 2. you'll devour it and cloister yourself away from all human contact until you reach the end. Also, your arms will get really buff just holding this sucker. Get the eBook version if you can.

Sugar In My Bowl
Ladies write about sex. Some of the stories are hot, some of them are sad and a few them are ick. Edited by the Lady Erica Jong so you know this thing is going to have some umph. Does not disappoint, not for the faint of heart. Or the faint of vagina.

Summer Without Men
I seem to be on a bender of books dealing with marriage - in all its states and forms. This one deals with a marriage post mid-life crisis affair. Characters include everything from an elderly lady hiding erotic scenes in her cross-stitch patterns; a young preteen tortured by her mean girl classmates; a young mother bullied by her boozer husband and an author writing poems about her unfaithful husband and his nubile young research assistant. Quite a mouthful, but worth the bite.

Lady Marmalade (minus Xtina)

2011-09-21T16:31:00.000-04:00

Because today is "Work from home Wednesday" I decided to destroy the stereotype of wandering around in ones undershorts smelling vaguely of Cheetos and bed - I decided to get up, wash and drag my ass out for breakfast at 8am.

There aren't too many places in the city that offer a decent brunch on a weekday - but luckily such a place is in close vicinity to my digs. Lady Marmalade can be found at Queen & Logan and is an absolute delight. They have a crapload of veg options, a savory waffle (!!) and they serve mounds of ripe avocado with most dishes. HEAVEN IS MADE OUT OF RIPE AVOCADOS. Hell is made out of green ones.

So yah, Lady Marmalade - go to there. It's worth crossing the river.
Full disclosure: I ate all of my avocado before I remembered to take a picture. Sue me.

Vacation Redux

2011-09-11T22:22:00.000-04:00

Due to the fact that I have both a Type A personality and a penchant for to-do lists, you knew that I'd have a series of things to do over my two week vacation. Thankfully, I got through a bunch of those things - but I'm equally thankful for those times where the list took a backseat to lying around watching trashy tv...oh wait a minute...that was on the list too.

1. ~~Purchase new living room furniture~~
2. ~~Re-organize home office furniture~~
3. ~~Re-organize book shelves from dumbass colour coordination to more reasonable genre/alpha order~~
4. ~~Book contractors for hardwood floor repair~~
5. Weed garden
6. ~~Brunch at Lady Marmalade~~
7. ~~Daily happy hour~~
8. ~~Sell printer~~
9. ~~Sell TV~~
10. Sell guitar
11. ~~Naked time at Body Blitz~~
12. Visit the dentist
13. ~~Visit Todie and her babies in Newfoundland~~
14. Eat the donut burger at the CNE
15. Regular afternoon naps

An ode to a fabulous friendship

2011-08-10T17:21:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago today I became friends with my very best friend. We didn't meet on this day, actually we had already been enrolled in our master's program together for several months. We had passed each other in the halls, sat around the same table at the pub and laughed at each others jokes - but it wasn't until we took a road trip to Toronto to see a band together that we pretty much knew we were in love with each other.

I still remember that ride quite vividly. I had a rental car after having my car burglarized - and the rental was a pretty sweet ride with a pretty sweet CD player. We were riding in style with the AC blasting and a soundtrack that proved we liked exactly the same music and (more importantly) we both liked to sing along loudly while driving. We told stories, sang, laughed and played the "who else is going to the concert" game - which consisted mostly of identifying hot guys in other cars wearing long sleeved t-shirts under short sleeved t-shirts (dead giveaway).

We were inseparable all through grad school and it didn't even occur to me that once we moved to different cities we'd lose touch - because we didn't. We sent emails or called each other several times a week (or day, depending on the drama). We watched tennis championships over the phone and sent each other outfit pics over email. We edited each others online dating profiles (okay that part was mostly me) and just last year we both stood in each others weddings.

It's not hard for me to imagine being friends with someone for ten years, in fact I'm still close with one of my good friends from over twenty years ago - what makes it different is the level of friendship that we've maintained. We're still really involved in each others lives and loves. Even though she's now a twice over mommy and lives two time zones away we still touch base at least every other day. We still talk about clothes that we bought, music that makes us dance, stories that make us laugh and things that piss us off. She's also one of the only people that can calmly call me out for being an asshole.

There are many reasons why I love my good friend, but here's a list (just in case she's keeping score):
- she introduced me to running (kicking and screaming)
- she laughs louder than me at the movies
- she's got real perdy hair
- she's the perfect person to split the Fran's Big Breakfast with
- she's kind and loving and knows when to hug and when to back off
- she's even worse at remembering names than I am
- she dances like she's from the West Indies
- she's performed the classic best friend "holding back the hair while puking" move
- she knows everything there is to know about me and still answers my calls.

I love you lady, thanks for being my bestest friend :)

Adventures in Sewing

2011-07-20T22:40:00.001-04:00

Earlier this year a caught an amazing Groupon deal giving me 50% off the beginner's course at The Sewing Studio. It's been something that I've been wanting to do since about 2007 when they opened up their studio on Jarvis. My mom even bought me a sewing machine for my birthday - which I promptly left in its original box for four years. Y'know, as you do.

So I was totally psyched to get going with this course. Their new studio space on Summerhill was bigger and now they had permanent in-studio sewing machines, so you didn't need to bring your own. Hauling my old Singer halfway across town was not a selling point for me. The studio turned out to be a lovely little spot. Adorable surroundings, very bright, cute decorating, music playing, bathroom stocked full with lady products - all things that I love!

The goal of the class was to sew a skirt at the end of eight weeks. There were a few mini projects that we had to finish that taught us some of the basics around sewing. First we made a drawstring bag - teaching us how to find the grain of the fabric, a few different stitches, hemming and also inserting a drawstring. Next was the zippered pouch - installing a zipper and sewing corners. By the second class 3/8 ladies dropped out. Yikes! I put this down to the fact that we had a replacement teacher the second week, and she was a tit. Didn't explain things very well and didn't come to the help of those that forgot how to thread their machines. And if you don't catch on to that part - you're pretty much lost.

Once I chose my skirt pattern (a challenge unto itself!) we got into the business of pattern cutting. I found my fabric at Mac Fab on Queen Street, totally gorgeous and worth splurging a bit. After a few failed attempts at laying out the pieces I realized that I didn't buy enough fabric for the skirt pattern and had to switch things up. Thanks to the help of a good friends new girlfriend - who just happens to be a fashion designer - I managed to get some professional help in all of this. And I had no shame in inviting them over for dinner only to find myself down on the kitchen floor with her by the end of the night. Together we sweat over dress making pins and pattern notches. Big ups to her for not running from the house screaming.

Once I got past the pleats....and the pockets...and the waistband I was feeling much more confident in the process and like I was actually going to sew something that I might one day wear (and not just on Halloween).

It was really an amazing and uplifting thing to go back to the studio every Saturday and see how all my fellow seamstresses had progressed with their skirts. I don't remember any of their names - but I seriously enjoyed all of their company during the class. Together we swore over stabbing ourselves with pins, relived school dance memories through the retro radio station that constantly played, helped each other with stuck machines and oohh'd and ahhh's at appropriate times of show & tell. The vibe of the old school ladies sewing circle was definitely a good one and something that I think I'll miss as I continue to sew on my own.

Unfortunately as I got closer to the last class it became evident that my skirt was too big. I'd lost a few inches in my waist and the skirt just fell too low. I tried to ignore the problem as long as I could - "It'll be fine!" - until I got to the very last class and my instructor confirmed that I was nowhere near finished. I had to take the skirt apart, putting me back at least three weeks and take in the seams, pleats and waistband & facing. I was pretty pissed at myself. Even the graduation day candy tray didn't cheer me up. I had to jimmy my shit together just to pose for our "Final Reveal" photo. When I got home from that class I was in the dumps. The serious Eeyore's. There was only one thing to do - sit down and redo the entire skirt. I started at 4pm that day. And by 9:30pm I was dancing around the house like a jerk twirling my pretty new skirt. It felt great - and IT FIT!

Big thanks to my amazing instructor Clara - she was pretty much the best teacher I've ever had! So sweet and patient and full of good advice and seemed to really take an interest in each of our projects. Also, she didn't judge us when we sang along to the radio out of tune. Or when I ran my potty mouth off when my machine was acting up.

Thanks Clara, you're the bomb.

School's Out!

2011-06-30T19:14:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was the last day of school for most of the chidge around these parts (as evidenced by the population in Yorkdale Mall this afternoon) and it got me thinking back to my elementary days of yore. Everyone had their countdown until the last day – the teachers especially. But not me. My most favorite time of the year was the day AFTER school ended.
And where did I go you might ask?
The beach? Too dirty.
The movies? Didn’t exist in our small town.
The mall? You mean the Miracle Mart Plaza?
No. On the day after school ended I went back to school. Because SOMEONE had to go back and help the teachers clean up the classroom. No joke, I was that jerk kid that refused to leave the school until the janitor forcibly walked me out. “But who will watch over all the books Mr. Janitor!? Surely not you!?”

I have an amazing photo that I took in our school library the day after school ended of all of my best friends – I dragged them there to help me inventory the collection you see. And they were sweet enough to ignore the call of backyard swimming pools and homemade popsicles. Because we nerds united like that.
The last memory that I have of elementary school is the morning after graduation. I went back with my three best friends and our teacher let us eat the remnants of the graduation cake while lying on the floor of the gymnasium – probably because he knew I wouldn’t stand for icing in the library.

Good times, I think I’m gonna go bang some chalk board erasers together just for old times sake.

42 minutes

2010-12-10T23:30:00.000-05:00

Yah, it's been awhile. I've been busy. Ya know, running marathons (okay, one), buying a new house, planning a wedding - it takes its toll on a girl!

So here's the sitch - in 42 minutes it's my wedding day.
Holy effing Christ. (apologies to the holies)

I kind of can't believe it's here already. When I read back over the early days and remember all of the things that I was SO adamant about, I realize that all of those things have gone down the shitter.
My dress - I wanted long sleeves, lace with an old-school vibe. When the wedding is done I'll show you a pic, but suffice it to say, it ain't any of that.
Something old - was really hoping to wear a mink that belonged to my grandmother. Apparently it was destroyed in a freak flood several years ago and I had no idea. Zoinks.
Champagne - I know this is weird, but I've always had this image of drinking champagne from those old-timey wide champagne glasses. Like the kind that people use in champagne towers? Ya know? Well anyway, it's not happening.

All things being considered though - NONE of this matters. Because you know what hasn't changed? The fact that I'm marrying probably the most wonderful man that I've ever had the pleasure of knowing (it's okay to say that, my Dad doesn't read this). So I could wake up tomorrow drinking swill from a paper cup, wearing a hideous marshmallow dress and all would be right with the world.

But for serious - my dress is stinking gorgeous.

Kicking Alzheimer's in the Armpit

2010-05-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

I'm not certain why but lately my brain seems to be leaking from my ears. Okay, not literally. But I've been scattered, forgetful, misplacing things and losing everyday items. Sometimes it's the cats fault (that bastard) but usually it just seems to be the slow disintegration of my grey matter - which leads me to the Big A.

Alzheimer's.

It's a pretty big fear of mine and not just because my great grandmother started eating the peels of bananas and throwing away the fruit (an image burned on my brain). I mean c'mon HAVE YOU SEEN THE NOTEBOOK? That shit is serious and it makes you forget about making out with Ryan Gosling!

Action must be taken. I started doing the usual things like eating more salmon and bumping up my Omega 3s. Then I started looking for alternatives to my antiperspirant - hailed for years as the poisonous brain balm that I wipe on my 'pits. Something something too much aluminum. Apparently the Whole Foods versions smell like dirty hippies and do very little to contain ones natural stank.

Then lo and behold I was introduced to the following: Deodorant Cream. It was reviewed by a cooking blogger that I follow and she claimed that her armpits had never smelled better. I was intrigued and ordered up a container. The cream is made by a woman in Brooklyn who runs a shop named Soapwalla. She has quite a story, read her blog if you're interested. .
When the cream arrived I was excited, it smelled like my idea of heaven - lavendar, mint and tea tree heaven. I have to admit that rubbing it on is a bit weird to me, but probably just as weird as rubbing something on my arsehole would be. It's not a place that I've often rubbed a product and so it's a little strange. Not in a "aww sick, I gotta wash my finger" kind of way, just a "huh, so that's the texture of my armpit" type of thing. No biggie, I'm over it.

Anyhoo, I've been wearing it for about a month and have put it through every test possible. Biking to and from work, working all day, spin class, booty camp, pilates, wedding planning, in-law relations - nothing has broken through this puppy yet.

Suffice it to say, if you're near me and you smell B.O. - it's the guy next to me, my pits are golden.

Wedding Wednesday: The Dress!

2010-04-28T17:32:00.001-04:00

There have been very few stressful decisions so far into our wedding planning. The time, place, wedding party and budget all fell into place rather quickly and painlessly. So I was due for a little nail biting and suffering when it came time to choose my dress. Let's be clear here - I love to shop. I am merciless, objective, efficient and realistic about my body. I can usually make it through the entire Eaton's Centre hitting five shops and one department store. I know what I like, I know what looks good on me and I know what I can afford. Unfortunately Banana Republic hasn't started making bridal gowns yet...or maybe I should say fortunately.

It's not that I wanted a simple and cheap dress, I just wanted something that was ME. And the ME that I know is none of the following: sequins, tiny pearls, ruffles, hoop skirts, crinoline, puffy sleeves or snow white satin. Nope, not me. Which is not to say that I won't like those things on YOU. But it takes a special gal to make some of those things work, and frankly I am not that special .

It took a total of five trips to four shops which included Beckers Bridal on the Danforth, Ritche on Avenue, Le-Ann Belter on Queen East, The Room at The Bay and then back to Beckers for the final reveal :) Thankfully my three best friends, Aunt and Mother are all still speaking to me after all of this bruhaha. It's a very surreal experience to put on a wedding dress and it kind of fucks with your mind. I swear that dupioni silk has hallucinogenic properties. Suddenly you start thinking that an eight foot train isn't that unreasonable, or that a belt of rhinestones is totally worth $350 or that the swan wrapped around your midsection is rather flattering. no, No and NO!

In the end I chose four dresses and took my mother and friend to see them. They chose the wrong one. Which was great because then I realized how much I wanted the one they didn't choose! They saw it my way eventually, we all shed tears and now it's all done. It's being made in Paris (ooh la la!) and will be here in five months! It's like waiting for a beautiful, silky, very premature baby! And I'm gonna love that baby sick.

Read it - Flow (the cultural history of menstruation)

2010-04-27T16:49:00.000-04:00

I've always had a strange fascination with books that document old-timey contraptions, especially when it comes to women's health. I think this partly stems from a desire to feel good about the age I live in - a sort of "hey, we don't have it so bad!" pat on the back. But also I like to shake my head and tsk tsk all the stupid medical and religious decisions that basically shit on us gals. Oh you silly men, using vibrating belts to help cure us of hysteria and pouring lysol in our vagina's to make us more desirable to our husbands.
Yah - you heard me right. [ugh...shiver]

This book was absolutely 100% fascinating and I recommend it to anyone. You might think that as a lady who has been experiencing her "lady times" for over 20 years that there would be nothing left to learn. Sadly, you would be wrong. In grade five they pulled all the boys out of class (to go have the boner discussion presumably) and played all the girls a movie made by Tampax. Well I was sick that day (probably faking), so I got to take the movie home and watch it with my mother and her best friend. They just happened to be having a ladies cocktail hour after school that day - which made the experience of the menstruation video even more enjoyable...for them. There was much chatter about the old days when they had to strap on "the belt" during their "curse". I was totally lost and began to think that if a belt was involved perhaps the belly button was too? Even more worrisome - how was I going to go to the bathroom when I was all plugged up by a tampon? Anatomy was not my strongest point.

So even after years of experiencing a period I still really had no idea what was going on inside my body. Where were these alleged eggs? Did it really look like the beginning of the movie "Look who's talking" in there? Why on the Thursday before my period did it feel like someone had taken the beats to my boobs?
No idea.
And even if I did have an idea the author of the book claims that any female on contraceptives only has a "phony baloney period". Screw you lady. Walks and talks like a period and that's enough for me.

There's plenty of cool, amusing and downright scary vintage ads throughout the book demonstrating all the various ways that women have been encouraged to hide or deal with the embarrassment of their bodies.

Most of the ads from the 1950's seem to be aimed at shaming young wives into believing that their husbands believe they are filthy and therefore they cannot be loved. That shit is GRIM. Where's Peggy Olsen when you need her!?

What's amazing about most of the ads is the way that they address the topic - they never actually use the word period. In fact, it wasn't until 1985 when Courtney Cox was the very first person to use that word in a television commercial. Way to go Monica!!

All in all a really great book on what most would consider to be a rather gruesome topic. Read it, love it, then strap a belt on it.

Sky (Ani)Mall!

2010-03-28T23:18:00.000-04:00

In this months edition of "I'm bored on a plane and sitting next to an obese person and can't wedge my laptop out of it's crevice" - I got lost in the Sky Mall mag. Not familiar with this Pulitzer Prize winner of the sky? Well it's kind of like a mix between the Sears Christmas catalogue and Mad magazine. It's every single bad idea ever thought up by your uncle who thinks he can invent amazing things (usually after five or six beers). Now I get a kick out of vibrating socks and voice activated golf balls as much as the next gal - but what I REALLY love about Sky Mall is the shit they do with animals.

Exhibit A: Bad animals with adorable faces.

Clearly these animals have used their powers of cuteness to seduce a small child and then mercilessly rip his/her face to shreds. Either that or they've been caught stealing sips from their mothers blueberry schnapps. IMPRISONMENT!

Exhibit B: Dead animals make the best models

This theory was posed by my bf and has ruined several years of Classic Cats calendars for me. But c'mon, you've got to admit - there is no way that anyone managed to get a collie to lay still long enough to capture this shot. Therefore - dead collie.

Exhibit C: Sweet faced puppies can sell anything

I don't want to conceive of the day where I will live with dogs so small that they can't climb onto a goddamn couch - but these puppies can make a woman do unthinkable things. In my mind I've already starting writing an elaborate story along the theme of the cinematic classic "Stepmom". In this scenario the dog lying down is Susan Sarandon and the bitch climbing the stairs is Julia Roberts. There will be snuggling, there will be a heart-wrenching duet of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and there will be ass licking.

Exhibit D: Cats will always make you look like the asshole

These cats are WAY too cool for school. Not only do they make the inventor look like an asshole for coming up with these ideas but they SHAME you for even considering their purchase. SHAME!! I mean really - that cat on the toilet is giving you some serious smack talk right now. Turn the page, just look away.

Exhibit E: Fake animals judge no one

In the end it seems more reasonable to turn to fake animals for solace. And who wouldn't be warmed by the site of Harry Henderson's sasquatch or our favorite family of anthropomorphized meerkats?

Exhibit F: Although....

This little bitch just stole my soul.

"You're too late - I already killed her"

2010-03-20T10:17:00.000-04:00

Last night I went to a strangers house to try on wedding dresses. Random, I know. I found these two gorgeous Vera Wang dresses on Craigslist and they were cheap cheap cheap! So, I couldn't resist.

I told the bf that if I were to be killed on this mission that at least he'd have a really good story to tell at his next wedding.

He wasn't amused.

yadda yadda yadda, the dresses didn't fit. blah blah blah i didn't die.
good story.

The Cult of Cutrone

2010-03-16T16:50:00.003-04:00

Last night I dragged my tired post-daylight savings time butt over to the Eaton's Centre to catch a glimpse and hear the spastic wisdom of Kelly Cutrone. For those of you blinded to the lure of such trash tv as The Hills and The City - you may not know who she is. Fortunately throngs of stiletto-heeled women and well-dressed gay men do and hence her book signing and interview were very well attended.

It is my belief that the character played by Margaret Cho in Sex and the City is based on Cutrone. Discuss.

She was shilling her new ~~pamphlet~~ book instructing young women and gays (her words) in the ways of life and business. The book outlines some rules for success which I have to say - are brilliant if not a little common sensical. Her first rule and book title - If you have to cry, go outside.
Young women of the world - WRITE THIS DOWN! And no, not on your hands.
The most uncomfortable of work situations occur when someone has done something wrong, is chastised and then starts to cry. Ugh, so manipulative! I have cried at work exactly three times (yes, I remember them each distinctly). All hidden within the walls of my office or private bathroom stall. No one needs to see a swollen, crying face and being comforted for not doing your job isn't in anyone's job description. Way harsh? Maybe, but for anyone who works with students or young women this advice is TOTALLY, COMPLETELY and UTTERLY necessary.

She also has some pretty salient advice on "giving good phone". Basically when to use the phone instead of using virtual communication. This one is going to be lost on most ears and I think is the most difficult to impart. Hell, even my own bf is a telephone rejector and usually REFUSES to answer a ring tone at home. Only an IM or TM ping gets his attention. But for people in the workforce it is often much easier to pick up a phone than to send multiple passive-aggressive messages consisting of "Did you read my email yet?". C'mon people, can't we all just communicate?

It was a very entertaining evening and while I think Jeannie is best suited to the fast-paced, quick, backstage interviews - she did manage to keep things flowing along. Kelly had many stories about her fabulous life but tended to fall into glamorizing her past drug habits and promiscuous activities, perhaps not the best stories for a predominantly underage audience.

She wrapped up with some excellent Oprah-esque advice - that everyone needs to take the time to figure out who they are and that using celebrities (herself included) as inspiration is much healthier than trying to replicate anyone. She advises using your inner voice to guide you, to never listen to people trying to keep you down and to go balls out on intuition. That's right - balls out.
My favorite soundbite: You shouldn't give birth to a child until you've given birth to yourself.
Let's take a minute to soak in that wisdom.

Alright, time to shake off the after-birth and get back to work.

Wedding Wednesday: How to bag him

2010-03-10T12:22:00.003-05:00

Given the message of this ad - I don't HOW it's possible that I'm getting married. In fact just this morning I said to my beloved "Has my morning breath ever made you wanna throw up?". Because in fact it has made ME wanna throw up. He responded appropriately indicating that lilies and roses sprout up from my oral cavity whilst I sleep.

No wonder I love him - because he LIES so well.

READ IT: Born to Run

2010-03-09T17:49:00.000-05:00

I read this book by Christopher McDougall in January when I was starting to plan out my race schedule for the year - and I picked it up not a minute too soon. I have to admit that following my October marathon I was feeling a bit burned out. I wasn't injured or anything, I just couldn't seem to force myself outside for a run. All the things that I'd been missing out on while training (sleeping, drinking, Sunday window shopping trips) were now consuming my life in abundance.
It took this book to kick my ass back to the road.
And it didn't do it in a preachy, "if you don't run you'll be a fat lard and no one will like you" kind of way. Rather, it kind of made me fall back in love with running for fun. Cheese, but whatever. During my training I was a slave to my stopwatch. I ran with long, involved audio books to take my mind of the arduous hours of running by myself. Like a good librarian I recorded every single detail about my run into an elaborate spreadsheet. It was all too much! Since reading this book I really have focused more on the act of running - my posture, my foot strike, the feeling in my legs, the exhilaration of going really fast - just tuning into my body and turning off my iPod have made a huge difference to how much I like running. Not that I still don't have off days, because I do. But now I don't let them ground me for weeks at a time.

McDougall writes about running like a poet. The story focuses on the running traditions of a Mexican tribe known as the Tarahumara. An isolated tribe known for running barefoot or with very rudimentary footwear, they are superfantastic ultra-runners with a running style that somehow makes them impervious to injury. He goes pretty indepth into their nutrition and in particular into their consumption of the miraculous chia seed. I of course, was sold immediately and ran out to Noah's to buy a pack. But that's a story for another day.

He also has a rather lengthy and interesting conspiracy theory about the running shoe industry. In particular the evil Nike. He's rather convincing in his arguments for barefoot running and while I still love my Brooks I am willing to concede that sometimes running on a cloud of cushioning isn't necessarily the best thing for the body. One of the ultra runners in the book runs wearing a pair of Vibram Five Fingers (shown here) - they look freaking weird but people that wear them swear by them. I just saw a guy wearing them this past weekend in a half-marathon I ran. He passed me. Quickly. They may warrant more investigating.

This book was an excellent story, I tore through it within a few days and would highly recommend it as a motivational read. McDougall introduces several hilarious characters of ultra running. He tours us through ultra races around the country and to the (sometimes filthy) habits of their participants. But let's just face facts here - among stories of long distance running there is always going to be graphic discussion of inopportune bowel explosions. Not your bag? Yah, then put this book back on the shelf.

February's child gets a rodent shaped birthday cake

2010-03-08T21:32:00.000-05:00

Yes - I'm aware, I've been absent from this space of the internets. Forgive me and call off the dogs. I attribute this absence to a few things:
1. February sucks. I was uninspired and lacking in anything of interest to say. I can hear you now saying "What else is new?'. And to that I say - Shut your mouth.
2. Mild depression. Nothing involving pretty little pills or spiraling into a bottle. No no, this was more of a TLC, homemade cupcakes and really comfy couch type of situation.
3. Absence of the bf. He had a big work project out west...you may have heard of it...a little project known as THE OLYMPICS? ring any bells? Anyway, yes I was very proud. And also very, very, extremely, absolutely and devastatingly lonely for exactly 39 days. The cat was no substitute for conversation or snuggling.

This is not to say that the entire month was a waste of a calendar page - I did manage to celebrate my 33rd birthday in style. And in this case style consisted of champagnesque beverages, karaoke, friends and red velvet cake!

Here's a cross-section photo of the cake so that you can see the delicious detail of layer after luscious red-velvet layer and the massive amounts of finger-licking buttercream icing. Oh gawd, I could die. It was SO good. And the best part was that someone else made it.

Big ups to my Bridesman Derek for creating this masterpiece for me. I had originally requested a cake resembling the grooms cake in the movie "Steel Magnolias". Some of you may recall that this was also of the red-velvet variety but was cut into the shape of an armadillo - of the roadkill variety. I thought this was appropriate given that I was born on a day dedicated to the nation-wide stalking of a rodent known as a groundhog. Damn that dastardly dweller of the dirt!

All in all, I'm glad those 28 days of darkness are over. Time to enter the month of lions and lambs.

Update: A woman's right to shoes

2010-01-15T15:52:00.001-05:00

Update on the purging front: took 25 pairs of shoes to the Ron White Shoe Drive. As hard as it was (and trust me, it was like taking smarties off a fat kid) I am now purged of excess shoes. Okay okay, I kept a few of the more expensive pairs but only so that I can hopefully sell them on eBay and make a few bucks off my sloth and excess.

I added it up and all these shoes cost just over $1000, the majority of which have been worn fewer than 5 times. [Shaking my head in shame] So the next time you see a homeless woman in calf-skin red leather pumps with a beige silk bow, say hello to them for me - and tell them that they were my favorite.

Wedding Wednesday: Tradition, schmadition

2010-01-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

Shortly after becoming betrothed and hence announcing my betrothedness on The Twitter, one of my twitterites suggested that I read a book called "One Perfect Day: the selling of the American Wedding". The angle of the book was to shed a light on the evils of the $160 billion wedding industry and help to uncover where many of our alleged "traditions" actually come from - so naturally I was all over it, I love a good expose. Not to mention that the cover is pretty fab, I'm always drawn in by good cover art.
Rebecca Mead writes about the absence of any genuine traditions (in the traditional sense of the word) in our lives and more specifically in our weddings. The strapless gown, the candied almonds, the monogrammed matchbook, the tossing of lingerie - does anyone really believe that relatives even as distant as our grandparents did these things? The truth is that most families (mine included) wouldn't have been able to afford these luxuries. That however seems like a distant concern to the modern bride - apparently we are planning weddings and celebrations that are far beyond our budgets and in some cases even beyond our annual incomes. One wedding industry expert says "If a woman is told repeatedly that a wedding costs $30,000 - then she'll think that she's doing really well by coming in closer to $20,000." Yes, that was Satan speaking.

In an era of the Bridezilla it has become almost expected that every woman will turn into a taffeta-hungry spend whore when it comes to her wedding. New brides are thrust into this Wedding Industry Complex and told that without the perfect dress, perfect ring, perfect flowers and perfect personalized table favors that she is basically a failure - as a bride and as a woman. Yes, it's a money bonanza and every retailer in Weddingville is looking to get their hands on the Grade A meat of a newly engaged woman. The book goes into great detail on the topic of registries, how they were invented by flagging department stores in the 1950's and how modern brides in their 30's are encouraged to engage in buying habits similar to that old-timey 19 year old fresh out of her parents house and naive about the ways of marriage and cohabitation. Apparently wanting a new stand mixer is the epitome of evil.

The chapter on the wedding dress was fascinating, I had no idea about the factory farms that put out these dresses. Mead goes to China where she sees first hand the mass assembly of dresses headed to David's Bridal - apparently the Dress Barn for brides. Don't get me wrong - I GET the whole dress thing. I got up at 4am with my mother to watch the Diana & Charles wedding and distinctly remember the sharp intake of breath when we got to see to full expanse of her dress. Clothes are important and make us feel special and we use them to celebrate an occasion - but my question is this, why does EVERY wedding celebration have to involve a full length, sparkly, white, strapless gown? Why is everyone else wearing the same costume no matter their size or skin tone? Why are the alternatives so few and far between goddammit?

The book was a really good read and opened my eyes to just how much cash retailers will be trying to pull from our pockets over the next year. It made me think about what was important to me for our wedding and what was just a "tradition". It makes me a bit sad when people say "just make it a really good party" because it isn't. It isn't just a party - it's about starting a new life and making a real and serious commitment to that life. It's about thanking our families and friends for standing with us....and yah, about eating really delicious cake.

So the final verdict - I shit on the traditions I hate and welcome the ones that result in new kitchen appliances and buttercream icing. I make no apologies for that.

Binging & Purging & Watching Hoarders

2010-01-12T16:34:00.001-05:00

I tried to watch Hoarders. I really did. But by the time I got to the 24th pile of cat shit found in the bottom of the refrigerator I had to give it up. I could not take it any longer which really makes me sad because there's nothing I enjoy more than sitting on my couch, eating popcorn and judging people. Especially if they're Americans ;)

I read that Peter Walsh book earlier last year about cleaning your house and reviewing your emotional attachments to your stuff. Upon finishing it I immediately bought a copy and sent it to my parents. Each blames the other for the clutter of their lives but all I know is that I instantly turn into my neat-freak German Grandmother whenever I go home now. At Christmas I was all "Does this three foot reindeer pulling Jesus really need to be in the middle of the coffee table?". Apparently it did and I should go back to the fancy city where we don't have reindeer's pulling baby Jesus's. Or is it Jesai?
So yah, there are some clutter issues going on in suburban Grimsby.
And my mouth doesn't help the problem.

This past week I've taken on cleaning and re-organizing projects with a vengeance. That's right - Cleaning: John McClane style.Yippee ki-yay motherclutters. I cleaned out my kitchen cupboards, weeded through my random and never used toiletries, pulled apart the bedroom closet and tonight I start in on the THE SHOES. The bf has been nagging me ALL OF MY LIFE about the shoes. ie. you have too many. why do you need these? when will you wear those? how much did these cost? ugh. So many inane questions. The Ron White store started a shoe donation drive for local shelters and back to work programs - so there's my kick in the pumps. No, YOU'RE lame.

Despite all my lamenting and tearful goodbyes I really am happy to say goodbye to most of this stuff and am amazed by the power that a clutter-filled house can have. Not to get all Oprah on you or anything - but my soul feels lighter. No, YOU shut up. Seriously, I feel like I've lost weight or something. Carrying those bags of useless and unused (or at least not recently used) crap down the stairs feels like kicking an abusive relationship to the curb. And stay out! I'm kicking ass like Nancy McKeon in A Cry For Help (yes, I watched a lot of inappropriate tv as a child).

Wedding Wednesday: Step One, cut a hole in a box

2010-01-06T21:33:00.003-05:00

You knew it was coming - take a deep breath - because I'm about to start talking about the wedding. You can relax a little because as you can see from the title, I'm restricting myself to only talking about it on Wednesday's :) I got this idea from Have Shoes, Will Run - she got engaged at the same marathon as us and is much further along in her planning.

Anyway, first things first. We set the date - December 11, 2010.
I've been contemplating a winter wedding for quite some time now, mostly because I hate getting dressed up and then getting sweaty. It's a pet peeve of mine.
Also, I hate the outdoors and when you get married in the summer there is ALWAYS an outdoor element. I hate eating outside, I hate bees and bugs landing on my food, I hate being sweaty in photographs and I have a very limited threshold of what I would call "Ideal Summer Temperatures". What I do love is the winter. Albeit mostly from a view behind double-paned glass with a hiked-up heater in the background and an eggnog cocktail in my head. And guess what - winter weddings are fine with that! Ahhhh winter. If it's good enough for Winter Wedding Barbie then it's good enough for me.

When we headed out looking for locations most of them were offering discounts based upon our preference for the colder months - seems that the Southern Ontario brides have a strong preference for everything that I loathe. Fine with us. We scoured every square inch of Niagara-on-the-Lake, a city close enough to my hometown to appease my mothers concerns that "Well the wedding ALWAYS takes place in the bride's hometown!" but with enough character to not resemble a factory wedding. I toured three vineyards and two hotels. All nice enough and all with delicious wine and food...but just not quite right.

The real problem was that the very first place we looked at was all that we could think about - it ruined us for all other locations. The Art Gallery of Ontario is right next to our condo....literally, we could spit on it. We were already in love with their new restaurant FRANK which opened last year so we thought we'd take a look at the event space. WE. DIED. It is so freaking gorgeous that I could barely speak. Yah, that's right. Me. Not speaking. Ring the alarm.
The AGO wedding planner is a total dream and she walked us through all the options of different areas where we could hold a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, food and of course the ceremony. And the photography - Jesus, the options are endless. This picture is of the rather infamous (at least if you live in Toronto) front of the building, overlooking Dundas Street. I like to call it the Whale Belly. It's pretty fucking fantastic.

So that was that - we signed the papers, handed over a cheque and the place is ours.
At least for one night with our friends and family :)

2009: A Year in Pictures

2010-01-05T18:05:00.000-05:00

JANUARY

The month was capped off by my most FAVOURITE TIME OF THE YEAR :) Library conference time. Yes, I seek refuge in expo booths filled with my drug of choice - free books.

FEBRUARY

My birth month - kind of shitty this year mostly because we were mid-move and everything was in chaos. Made better by this card sent to me by my little brother. What are the green letters you ask? TMNT - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What any 32 year old woman would want, right?

MARCH

Came home one night to find my squirrely-ass cat had torn open his tail. Recommendations: put him on Prozac or cut off the tail. We went with amputation - mostly because he's a Scientologist.

APRIL

kipped Easter and went to visit my BFF in St. John's. Snuggled with the new baby and sat in awe of how her maternal instincts had kicked in - the realization that we're old enough to actually give birth to these things kicks in for me. Yikes.

MAY

Eschewing all signs of impending adulthood - the ultimate karaoke session and the most EPIC performance of Phantom of the Opera ever to have hit a transgendered karaoke stage.

JUNE

And speaking of transgendered stages - the most EPIC event of my year took place. The Pride RUN! Being one of the minions required to actually work at the event means that I miss all of the fun on the course. Luckily I had friends taking snaps on the field or I would have missed Team Gay Watch altogether, not to mention their bursting pubes.

JULY

The culinary event to rock my 2009 - the breakfast pizza. Never have runny eggs, basil and cheese ever had it so good.

AUGUST

Ran Midsummer Night's 30km Race. Saw Erica M. Got a medal. Ate my face off. The end.

SEPTEMBER

Headed back to Newfoundland to spend some time with Team Baby and discovered much pleasure in taking pictures of drunk babies. Okay okay, he wasn't drunk. I was. He was mocking me.

OCTOBER

Traveled to San Fran. Ran my first marathon. Got a medal from Tiffany & Co. Got an engagement ring from Tiffany & Co. So ya know...a slow month.

NOVEMBER

Traveled to New York for the bf's 7th marathon. Enjoyed the fact that I DIDN'T have to run anymore! Also, enjoyed proving my mother wrong by not getting raped or dying in New York. So there.

DECEMBER

Any stress of the year or the season or various forms of family can always be rectified by one thing - champagne.

Okay two things - champagne and FRIENDS! Happy New Year and hugs and kisses xo.

Eat it: Holiday Edition

2009-12-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

Holiday eating tips for those in the holiday spirit.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they’re serving rum balls. Or in our case Screech Balls!

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It’s rare. You can’t find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It’s not as if you’re going to turn
into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It’s later than you think. It’s Christmas!

3 . If something comes with gravy, use it. That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat. Feel free to sop up remnants with any absorbing food at hand - bread, turkey skin, your hand.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they’re made with skim milk or whole milk. If it’s skim, pass. Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. It's bullshit.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for free. Lots of it. Hello? Also - no control tops. Elasticized waist is the name of the game.

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year’s. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you’ll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don’t budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They’re like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you’re never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don’t like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it’s loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost.. I mean c'mon, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven’t been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

One final tip - wine. It's not just for breakfast anymore.

EAT IT: The Cat Edition

2009-12-10T10:56:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, realizing that the cat was down to his last few kernels of food I set out to make a mad dash to Canadian Tire for what I like to call the cat's "McDonald's treat". Aka shitty, cheap (and probably delicious) cat food. When I'm being a good cat mother I get his food from the Vet's office - it's double the price of the McDonald's version but it does have the benefit of actually listing a meat (in this case - duck) as the first ingrediant which will apparently save him from kidney disease in the future. It makes me feel like a good pet owner and he eats it - although lets face facts, if it came down to it he'd eat his own shit.

As I was about to head out to Canadian Tire I was reminded that a new pet store had opened in the "Spare Some Change" variety store at Queen & John. I don't know it's real name, I only know that the guy who holds the door open for me always says these words as I enter and exit the store. Good marketing.
Anyhoo, they've installed a pet store in the shitty, far side of the store that had previously housed some bullshit house plants and what can only be equated to nik naks. This pet store is going to be a freaking gold mine. It's stocked with every insane toy and gadget known to man's best friend AND it's parked in the midst of condo central. And you know what condo central means? Childless singles and couples looking for meaning and companionship through cats & dogs. GOLD.

I browed around the pet store and low and behold they actually had the upscale brand of food that I would normally get from the vet as well as an entire aisle of shiny, pretty packages of every kind of food imaginable. They even have a freezer in the dog section with freshly butchered bones and cuts of meat. Imagine the lucky bitch that gets a sirloin slab for her snack! Jealous.

And because I am like a bird and easily attracted to all things pretty I came across this new brand of food called Before Grain. I have to admit - it was the font and colour that did it for me. Look how stylized these bags are!Not to be mistaken as just a pretty bag, they also listed meat as the first ingredient! In fact the salmon version has three different meats in the first four! It's a meat extravaganza!
Needless to say - the cat loves it. More than his shit.

At a loss this Christmas?

2009-12-09T10:39:00.000-05:00

I can't quite wrap my mind around this one - perhaps it's the perfect companion to the Snuggy? The Hood Thong?? Could possibly go down as THE WORST clothing idea EVER.
Nipple streamers on the other hand? Pure magic.

EAT IT: Crispy Gnocchi & Lemony Greens

2009-11-30T22:33:00.000-05:00

Having recently mastered the relatively indestructible dish of gnocchi - not to mention the fact that it pretty much goes with anything in the fridge - we've been eating it on a fairly regular basis. But I've grown weary of the "boil 'til it floats" variety of gnocchi and was looking for something different. So combined with the fact that I had a whack of kale taking up my crisper, this recipe for Crispy Gnocchi and Lemony Greens turned out to be a dream.

Frying the gnocchi kept the insides creamy but the crispy outsides turned it into a completely different dish. The lemony greens and the bite of the parmesan balanced the richness of the gnocchi and the spice kicked everything up a few gnotches. I'm lame, I gnow.
I forgot to add the basil - it was still good. Also, I didn't have any serrano peppers in the house so I used Rooster Sauce instead. The rooster makes everything better :)

Crisp Gnocchi with Lemon & Garlic Greens
2 – 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
About 40 fresh or frozen gnocchi
1/2 cup (loosely packed) basil leaves, thinly sliced
2 cups chopped kale
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced
juice of 1 lemon
Parmesan cheese for grating
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add about 1 – 2 tbsp. olive oil. Once it’s hot, place half the gnocchi in the pan. Leave them undisturbed for 5 – 7 minutes on each side, Checking the bottom of a gnocchi occasionally until they’re deeply golden, then flip. You want to make sure not to move them around too much or they won’t develop their golden crust.
Once they’re done, remove them to a plate, then add more oil and make the remaining gnocchi. When all the gnocchi is done, add the kale, basil, garlic, serrano and lemon juice to the hot pan. Sautee for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and the garlic begins to brown.
Divide the gnocchi among 2 plates and top with the kale mixture. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Makes 2 servings.

Thanks to Bitchincamero for the recipe.

Things I Wish I Had Known Before Spinning

2009-11-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

This week I branched out and joined a spinning class. Usually I hate group exercise - the instructors screech, the music is annoying, people smell... and I'm a cranky old lady SO GET OFF MY LAWN.
It must be said though that I actually had a good time. The class was lead by a non-gym bunny and she turned the lights down low for a sweaty, romantic vibe. It worked.

Two things I wish someone had told me:
1. Run shorts are entirely too short for spinning. Your excess lady parts will rub in a most unpleasant manner.
2. You will lose your own body weight in sweat. Seriously, I have never been this soaked.
Also, I forgot to bring a water bottle, leaving me with the rankest of pasty mouths. Apologies to the guy beside me for my unforgiveable mouth breathing.

Eating - not just an exercise in chewing

2009-11-12T17:06:00.000-05:00

Over the past few years (or let's face it - since I started blogging in 2005) I have taken to photographing and discussing at length the food that we eat in restaurants. The bf used to be quite reticent about the taking of flash photography in public spaces, so now I only snap when light allows. You see - I can compromise.

The majority of the time I'm snapping images of food that I love. Food that makes me want to cry and sing and never stop eating. Unfortunately there are those occasional times when the crying and singing turns into pouting and shouting. As I get older and evolve into more of a "foodie" of sorts I have increased expectations of my food outings - and my demands go beyond the ingredients on the plate to the cleanliness of the bathroom, the knowledge of the servers and the noise level of the dining room. Call me a Dining Room Diva. I can take it.

The worst and most legendary of our food outings occurred in Dublin a few years ago. We went to a pizzeria called Mustard's which was highly rated in our travel guide. We ended up being served cardboard box pizza with raw ingredients and pizza sauce that seemed to be infused with the oils of stale cigarette buts. On top of it all we had the nastiest 17 year old Dolores O'Riordan lookalike waitress and were charged over 60 euro's for this gastric disaster. Ugh, I still shake with rage remembering that unfortunate event.

In October we were lucky enough to travel to both San Francisco and New York City and - as tends to happen with us - we arrived our first night with an empty belly and no reservations. I hate it when this happens because we end up desperate, looking for whatever is palatable and close.
In New York this translated into a diner. The first one that we chose we ended up walking out of because in the words of my bf "there are too many organ meats on the menu for my liking". I concurred. Alas, we stayed on 7th Avenue and thus were destined to a menu that specialized in taking tourists hostage thus resulting in a $19 pastrami sandwich. Ugh, I still can't believe I engaged in such behavior. I had a hankering for pastrami (hence the diner obsession) but as soon as we ordered I said "this is going to be one of those meals that I regret forever". I was half right. My sandwich ended up being fairly delicious and immense, but for nineteen diner dollars I expect more than a plate lined with a pickle slice and half a teaspoon of coleslaw. Yes, in this case quantity counts. The bf was not so lucky with overcooked and under-seasoned veggie lasagna. He suffered in silence.

The issue at hand is not simply a matter of getting what I pay for - it's of not wanting to waste my time on awful or "good enough" food. If I'm out (especially if I'm traveling) I want to spend my time discovering hidden treats and enjoying every last bite and sip of every plate and cup on my table. My friend over at Bon Vivant said it best recently "... this gets back to the argument that we all work too hard for our money, and our time on this blue-green orb is too short to waste time with mediocrity like this."

Three cheers Bon Vivant, I knew I liked your dinner table for a reason.

Dear Toronto; New York has something to teach you

2009-11-04T22:32:00.001-05:00

Sunday while the bf was having a post-race lie down I went to wander Fifth Avenue. Examining some jewelry at the Met gift shop the saleslady asked me if I'd like to become a member of the Met. I explained that I was from out of town and only there for the marathon.
She got very excited.
I explained how refreshing it was to see so many locals actually excited about and supporting such a HUGE race.
I asked her - don't people get pissed off about being so inconvenienced?
She says "Honey, if you don't want to be inconvenienced than you've got to move OUT of the city".

Snap Toronto. You've been served.
Now quit your damn whining.

10 things I've learned along the way

2009-10-28T16:10:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking about writing this post for quite some time now - but figured that I needed to actually complete my goal before entertaining thoughts of "what worked?". Seeing as I'm now 10 days out I think that it's time to figure out what worked and didn't work in the days - nay, months - leading up to my race.

1. DO leave enough time. I planned a 21 week training schedule. Gave me enough time to anticipate any injuries of which thankfully there were none after week 6. Technically this is three weeks longer than most training schedules - but it worked for me.

2. DO join a group. I know I know, this is ME the GROUP HATER saying this but I can't stress enough how helpful it was. I do wish that I had made it out to more long runs with the full group - but I can't imagine doing hills or track without them. It's not like we were constantly cheering and smacking each others asses, but just having someone out there slogging away with me was really, really, really encouraging.

3. DO drink Gatorade BEFORE you leave the house. Can't remember who suggested this but it was great advice. I found that if I sipped a cup with my breakfast it would help keep me hydrated on the run. Also - Blue Gatorade all the way.

4. DO watch your form. After our first hill training session I thought my back was going to snap in two - so when my coaches suggested that my Beyonce Butt was to blame I made the adjustment. Pushing my hips forward kept me in alignment and now it's something I always check on a hill. Thanks Beyonce.

5. DO turn your socks inside out. It seems like no matter what sock I wear there are always mad seams in the toe area. After a few ill-placed blisters I turned my socks inside out and haven't turned back since.

6. DO nod to your fellow runners. Bus drivers do it and so can we. If you're out on the road and you're slogging through your miles and another lone soul comes towards you - ACKNOWLEDGE them! We're on the same team here! Unless of course Paula Radcliffe and Kara Goucher are reading this - in which case go ahead and trip each other ladies. But for the rest of us weekend warriors a little smirk goes a long way.

7. DO ice. Controversial and hard for many to even consider - but ice is your friend. And yes I may have scarred the cat for life by the amount of screaming that I did from my frozen bathtub, but it was worth it. And hey after a few minutes you don't even feel it anymore - and by "it" I mean your soul and your lady/man parts.

8. DO distract yourself on long runs. My distraction of choice - audiobooks. The trashier the better. In fact I made it through the entire Twilight series while training for this race. The simple teen dialogue and lack of multi syllabic words is all the better for your starved brain. Also recommended: Dan Brown and Ken Follett.

and a few DON'Ts for good measure :)

9. DON'T forget to sleep. Not to say that you should spend your training hours in the sack - but don't underestimate the value of a good, solid rest. I had a nap after nearly every long run this summer and it was brilliant.

10. DON'T poop your pants. There is a certain natural incontinence that comes on race day - can barely be avoided. And hopefully it doesn't happen on the course. I did my best by always taking a Tums before runs longer than an hour. Helped to settle my stomach with the added bonus of upping my calcium intake :) Also, if you do have to use a portapotty on the race course for God's sake - please don't shit on the seat. It's just rude.

Cheesecake Factory gets on my happy

2009-10-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

As any self-respecting Canadian will tell you - when we go to America, we like to eat our faces off.
I like to eat all of the things that we can't get here. In the olden days I used to go hog wild on all of the "Fat Free" products that were made for the massive diabetic contingent of American society, but these days it's all about the restaurant chains. And my chain of choice - Cheesecake Factory.
I LUUUURRRRVVVVEEEEE the Cheesecake Factory cheesecakes. So creamy, so fresh, so teeth-achingly sweet - what's not to love? I go there maybe three times a year and no matter how much my gut is threatening to break through all the layers of my clothing, I will always order the cheesecake.

So imagine my surprise last weekend when we arrived at the San Fran Cheesecake Factory only to discover that they had taken the unprecedented move of indicating the calorie content on EVERY SINGLE cake in the display case. The horror!!!
I had to take a snap of the piece of cheesecake that could do the most damage, and as was expected it was not only a cheesecake, but also a brownie....covered in chocolate sauce...covered in icing.....topped with additional chocolate shavings. Mother of God.
And it didn't end there! When we were seated for dinner our menu was accompanied by a separate book containing the nutritional information for every item on the menu. Clearly this did not affect my glycogen starved brain, as we immediately ordered up a serving of deep-fried mac & cheese balls. You heard me right.

The damage: 1 serving = 2000 calories. 65 grams of fat.

The next time someone asks me why I ran a marathon I'm gonna show them this picture and say - for two servings of the most magical dish on earth.

EAT IT: Creamy Polenta with Sauteed Greens

2009-10-27T10:26:00.000-04:00

Last week on Mark Bitten's NYT Blog he discussed polenta. I have a weird fear of polenta - mostly because I hate corn bread and consider them to come from the same gross family. After reading all the rave reviews of this little number though, I had to give it a try. Some of the other foodie blogs that I read were suggesting a topping of sauteed greens and fried egg. One word, three syllables: DELICIOUS.
My polenta turned out to be instant (not stone-ground) so it got a bit stickier than I hoped. But the oil from the greens and the creamy yolk from the egg turned the whole thing into a dish-licking dinner. I might even try this for breakfast one day. "EGGS FOR BREAKFAST" you say? That's right - I'm just THAT crazy.

Here is his recipe:

Polenta Without Fear

Yield 4 servings

Time 25 minutes

Summary

For creamy, soft, mouth-filling polenta, stir in butter and Parmesan -- the more the better. If you want something more flavorful but still a little austere, add herbs, like marjoram or thyme, along with a handful of parsley or basil, and a couple of tablespoons of good extra virgin olive oil. For polenta firm enough to grill, broil or sauté, cook it until the creaminess is gone and it starts to pull away from the sides of the pot, then turn it out onto a plate or a board and let it cool until firm.

Ingredients

1 cup milk (preferably whole milk)
Salt
1 cup coarse cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 to 4 tablespoons butter or extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup or more freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to taste, optional

Method

1. Bring milk to a boil with 2 cups water in a medium saucepan and add a large pinch of salt. Adjust heat so liquid simmers. Add cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking as you do to prevent lumps. When it has all been added, let mixture return to a boil, then turn heat to low. Polenta should be just barely simmering.
2. Cook, stirring occasionally and being sure to scrape sides and bottom of pan, for 15 to 20 minutes, until mixture is creamy and cornmeal tastes cooked. If mixture becomes too thick, whisk in some water, about 1/2 cup at a time.
3. Taste and season polenta as necessary with salt and pepper. Take pan off stove, stir in the butter or oil and the cheese if you are using it, and serve, passing more cheese at the table if you like.

What's next?

2009-10-26T23:44:00.000-04:00

Sooo yah, here I am. Just sitting on the couch. Belly full of blue-cheese stuffed olives. In the middle of a full-night line-up consisting of Dexter, Gossip Girl, a re-run of House and a sincerely revolting Oprah episode on the subject of southern Fall fairs. If I hear the words "deep fried butter" again - it will be too soon.

I am completely bored.
I'm one of those total assholes that needs to have an answer to the question - What's next? And truthfully I have no idea. I was considering participating in a local 5km run before the end of the year - but it turns out that Toronto isn't organizing a Resolution Run on New Year's Eve this year. Instead they're doing it on December 27th. What the eff Toronto!? Last I checked there were no cultural groups celebrating a new year on December 28th.

As of right now it looks like there's nothing on the race schedule until the end of March - that is TOO LONG! I need a quick goal, one that won't take me 20 weeks to achieve.

Please. Don't make me run the Santa Shuffle.

And now for a musical interlude

2009-10-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

For the past few weeks I've had a serious addiction. It consumes me at least once a day.
I sit in my office, put on my headphones, lean back in my chair and laugh until I cry - all while tapping my feet and chair dancing.Yes - I'm addicted to watching Backstreet Boys videos on Youtube. Not even those of the original boyband - but of lip syncing strangers with alot of time on their hands.
I can't stop. Also, it's a really good song.

I love everyone in this office. Even the douche-y lady.

These boys are also pretty hilarious - and dedicated to their craft, if not to basketball.

Thank you America: The Frying Cheese edition

2009-10-23T12:59:00.001-04:00

Whenever we cross the border into America I am always quick to establish the presence of a Trader Joe's.
I love TJ's.
Like LOVE it. When I learned that my soon-to-be in-law's in Atlanta had lived there for 10 years and had never even heard of it I had to rethink whether or not this is the type of family that I wanted to be a part of. Excuse me? You don't know that you live within minutes of the MOST MAGICAL GROCER ON EARTH? I tried to remain calm.

So naturally we had to visit the closest TJ's last weekend in San Francisco. Usually the bf (yes, I'm going to continue calling him that until I find a suitable short-form for the foreign sounding FIANCE) is very blase about my obsession with grocery stores. He'll wander the aisles and remind me that we don't actually need to purchase every new flavour of potato chip that we meet. To which I respond - oh really, and when are we going to find lamb & mint chips again!? WHEN? (ps. thank you England)

Anyhoo, so I'm perusing their magnificent selection of packaged candies when the bf comes down the aisle with eyes as wide as saucers. I consider briefly that he's found a package of hummus resembling a Star Trek fighter jet. As if in a haze he mumbles the words "frying cheese" and shakes his head in the direction of the sample lady. Yah that's right - Trader Joe's is selling a product called "Frying Cheese". As in cheese that you can put in a greasy pan, top with sauces and then cram quickly into your mouth. I reckon that the bf might even agree - it's WAY better than a Star Trek fighter jet.
Unless that fighter jet could be fried like cheese.

UPDATE: Thanks to Jolene for being smart enough to take a photo!

Race Report: Nike Women's Marathon

2009-10-22T22:11:00.000-04:00

I'm not even quite sure where to start - engagement story aside it was still a pretty insane weekend.
We landed in San Fran on Friday morning and after checking in I made a mad dash for the "Expotique" (their word, not mine). It was pretty girltastic and everything was painted pink and covered in "girl affirming" language. I must admit that I'm not a fan of the slogan "Run Like A Girl". I understand that it's supposed to be a re-claiming of the word girl, but it still kind of irks me. I much prefer the local Toronto race slogan of "Women Set the Pace". But that's just me.
Expotique was off the hook but at the same time it was strangely small and contained, very unlike every other large-scale race expo I've been too. Lots of cool samples though and if you could make it through the lines there were offers of manicures, oxygen treatments and iPod engraving. I skipped it all and went straight to Nike Town to purchase my gear - and I didn't go crazy. I bought a race jacket, bag, half-zip sweater and commemorative print. Altogether I'm very happy with my purchases, not to mention the fact that I actually finished the race and am therefore allowed to wear it all!

But back to the actual RUNNING part.
Pre-race:
Sunday morning I was awoken by room service at 4:50am with the smallest bagel ever known to American society. Seriously - where is my gluttonous, double-serving size America when I need it? Ate the bagel and promptly held down the urge to toss it back up - I was crazy with nausea and anxiety. I was pacing, psyching myself out, fidgeting and overall being insanely annoying.
Thank god that my closest friend called at 6am - just before I headed out to the start line. She has no idea how much she talked me down. She was calm, reminded me of all my training and how I shouldn't think of this any differently than my long runs. She did good.
By the time I got outside there were many Lulu'd bodies hanging around. I made my way to my corral and then the bf hugged me goodbye - commence crying jag #1. I couldn't stop but it felt really good.

0-9km:
Felt pretty shitty. Legs were tired and heavy. Stomach wasn't all that better, plus I had to stop and pee at 3km. The tall buildings threw off my Garmin so I couldn't get a lock on my pace, but it didn't matter since there were SO many ladies up ahead. At 5km the bf met me and ran with me for a bit, warning me of the murderous hills coming up. I was ready.
[Soundtrack: 80's/90's mix]

10-15km:
I wasn't ready. Holy shit. The hills. Or as I saw them in my mind "Da Hillz" - cause let me tell you, these hills were gangsta. I totally kicked ass up the first bit of the hill without realizing that the top was just the bottom of the next one...and then the next one. It seemed like it would never end!! At one point we were actually running in the fog and the trees were dripping all around. I had to really focus to keep my form up and by the end I was completely exhausted. Finally the big downhill came.
[Soundtrack: hits of Michael Jackson]

16-26km:

And we kept running DOWNHILL for 16 minutes. I'm not joking. No wonder my quads were beyond repair this week because I totally gunned it down the hill. We were running downhill beside the most gorgeous view of the ocean that I've ever seen.
I was running a full minute under pace just to try and make up some time - this is how DUMB the race made me. I've heard all the stories about not going out too fast and leaving some gas in the tank - but I threw it all out the window.
Entering the park was pretty fantastic and there were SO many people cheering (take note Toronto!). Golden Gate Park was gorgeous - amazing grounds, amazing trail, even a waterfall!! I hardly noticed the gradual hills because everything was so freaking pretty.

26-32km:

After we left the park the marathoners finally split away from the half-marathoners. No offense, but I was so happy to have the number of runners dwindle away. It was much easier to run and keep pace without having to duck around people every few minutes. I get so irritated with runners that don't run by the rules (I know, I'm anal that way). Let it be known that walkers ALWAYS move to the side! And look behind you before you start walking!
This part of the race sucked goats. At 30km I took a walk break and huffed loudly enough for the lady in front to turn around. We walked together and commisserated for a bit. It was great to articulate our hatred of running at the moment. And still, we kept going.
The BIG MOMENT came at 32km ;)
[Soundtrack: Madonna Celebration album]

33-42km:
After the BIG MOMENT all the girls around me were in a flurry - I was still crying while running and they all wanted to see the ring and call my bf a jerk for not waiting until the end! I was glad to provide a distraction at that point in the race, I think we all needed that. From that point on every time I looked down at my Garmin I saw my ring - and I started smiling and giggling. It was crazy. I wasn't exactly picking out dresses but it definitely got my mind off the road. At 36km they had "The Chocolate Mile" where they gave out small bars of chocolate. I couldn't even think about it, but I pocketed one for my bf fiance later ;)
The last four kilometres are a blur. There were so many people at the sidelines, and so many coaches that were running back from the finish line to help people cross - it was a total circus. I couldn't see the finish line but I could hear that we were getting closer.
At this point I knew that I was WAY past my goal but there was absolutely nothing I could do to possibly make my legs go faster. NOTHING. I tried bribing them with promises of money, a pet monkey, illicit drugs, sex - they wouldn't budge. But thankfully they never gave up on me, they kept going right until the bitter end and when that tuxedo'd firefighter presented the Tiffany's box containing my medal I nearly tore his hand off.
[Soundtrack: Lady Gaga - got turned off before the finish]

Post-race:
Nike had quite a good spread of post-race nosh including bananas, bagels and chocolate milk! And thank god because in his pre-engagement haze my bf fiance completely forgot my finishing bag at the hotel.
We didn't stick around the finish line too long, I knew I wasn't ready for a massage and all I wanted to do was fall into an ice bath and call all my friends with the news! Oh, and kiss the bf fiance :)

So yah, it was a really, really, really tough race. I take comfort in the fact that even Boston Marathoners consider it one of the toughest courses. And I'm okay with being 18 minutes slower than my goal - because it can only get better from there, right?
Yes, that's right - I'll do this again. I have to now! I love the Toronto course and I really can't wait to run it next year. Well...actually...I can wait. Time for a little rest and socializing now and maybe in a couple of months I'll revisit that training schedule :)

Thanks to all for your cheers, happy words and thoughts this past weekend, you really have absolutely no idea how many times I read and re-read them before the race. In the loneliest parts of the road they were the best things to keep me going :)

Another reason to take walk breaks

2009-10-21T17:30:00.000-04:00

To set the scene:
Mile 20 (32km) of the marathon. It's tough. It's awful. If I wasn't trying to conserve energy I'd burst into tears. It's notoriously the WORST part of the marathon - which is why the bf planned to meet and cheer me on there.
He starts running beside me (as he had earlier in the race) and I'm completely depleted.
Can't look at him. Can hardly speak. Can only give him the "thumbs down" signal.

Cue script:

Bf: maybe you should take a walk break

Me: no way. this is a downhill. can't walk now.

Bf: no really, I think you should walk.

Me: [thinking he's saying this because another really awful hill is coming up] no way! why?

Bf: because if you don't stop then I can't put this ring on your finger.

And that's how I got engaged at Mile 20 of my first marathon :)

Back to life, back to reality

2009-10-20T21:32:00.000-04:00

Soooooo, yah. I didn't make my goal :(
4:24 was just out of my reach. Apparently I finished with a time of 4:42. Not AWFUL. But I must admit that I was disappointed - which, I know, right? Is insane. My body managed to KEEP RUNNING for four goddamn hours and 42 bleeding minutes. What more can I ask of it?
To be clear, I never really hit the proverbial "wall".
My body never said "You shall not run anymore today".
It just clearly enunciated that I would not be running very fast.

I took a look back at my pacing today and I must admit that I kicked ass on the hills, which took up most of the first 15 kilometres of the course and climbed nearly 400 feet. It was after that when things started to wind down a bit.

I have much more to say on the topic, and a full race report is imminent :)

The Magic Number is 4:24

2009-10-15T00:31:00.000-04:00

This is it - Marathon Week. Nothing I can do now can change any of the effort that I've put in over these past 5 months. All I can do is rest, take care of myself and send good thoughts out into the universe.

So here it is universe - I will finish this marathon within four hours and twenty four minutes.

A seemingly bizarre number, I realize. Unless of course you are an avid fan/reader/stalker of Kathrine Switzer. Of which I clearly am. You see when Kathrine Switzer first ran the Boston Marathon in 1967 (and made history as the first woman ever to do so as a registered runner) her finishing time was 4:24. It was her first marathon - the first time she proved to herself and others that she could do the distance.
Of course she then went on to demolish the time and concentrate her efforts on a sub 3 hour race (something I probably won't be attempting) but I say pishposh to that - a first time is a first time.

I've had a pretty great week of taper runs that included a great Yasso 800 workout last week. Now it's all rest and bon bons until Saturday when I'll do a very short run along the opening stretch of the race course before doing up my shoelaces for the big event on Sunday.

Without mincing words - I'm completely terrified. And make no mistake, I have a long list of things that could go wrong pre/during/post race. I just have to keep faith that these past 20 weeks have prepared me for whatever this mofo course can throw at me.

Sidenote - I'm also really excited that our hotel is within crawling distance of both a Cheesecake Factory and a Shoe Pavilion. Because if a girl can't have banana cream cheesecake AND buy pretty shoes - then what the hell is this all about?

Side-Sidenote - please send me and the all-mighties your good thoughts and bedazzled prayers on Sunday. I'm gonna need every ounce of all things good that I can muster :)

The Bestest Banana Bread Ever

2009-10-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

My baking career has not been all that extensive - I'm much more of a casserole and soup kind of girl. I like things where you can just throw together a bunch of ingrediants, stir and heat. Which is exactly what you do when making this recipe for banana bread.
Banana bread is one of my countertop staples - I MUST have it and could eat slice after slice until I have a banana bread baby. I've done a lot of experimenting with different recipes and have come to the conclusion that every recipe comes down to the bananas. They must be perfectly overripe -they need to have large, dark spots on the flesh (this means they're full of sugary goodness). I've taken to freezing a few bananas once they hit this perfect moment, always making sure to slice them up before placing them in the ziplock baggie.

Another staple of mine, and I know this will be slightly controversial - flavoured dessert tofu. So far I've used the almond and banana flavours. Both are delish and make the bread super moist. I use this instead of the milk, yogurt, coffee or applesauce recommended in other recipes.

So here it is, give it a whirl.

2 cups AP flour
1/2 cup WW flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
Mix all of these together, make sure they're mixed well.

3/4 cup sugar
1 tbs honey
2 eggs
Blend these together until creamy
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup walnut oil (or just do 1/2 cup oil if you don't have walnut, trust me though - invest in the walnut)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Blend until mixed
1 package dessert tofu
Texture will be a bit clumpy, stir until smooth

Add wet ingrediants to the dry. Mix until blended.
In separate bowl mash up three ripe bananas.
Swirl the bananas into the mix. This is also the time to add chocolate chips if you're into that.
ps - I just wrote this recipe from memory - THAT'S how much of an addict I am.

I like to line my pans with butter and parchment paper (NOT WAX!) this makes it easy to lift it out of the pan once done. This also makes for a much quicker transition from cooling on the counter to being shoveled into my mouth.

Pour into bread pan - bake for 60 mins at 350 degrees.

Smear with butter. You're welcome.

Three words - Chocolate Covered Peeps

2009-10-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

You heard me correctly! CHOCOLATE COVERED PEEPS!

If I have to travel across the border for these - I will.
Original Peeps always seemed to be lacking a certain something for me, one was delicious but two had my mouth crawling with a sugary cement.
I think that chocolate is the perfect addition to the Peep world.
And now I can't wait for April.

Horseradish + cheddar = a party in my mouth

2009-10-05T22:11:00.000-04:00

Um, have you seen these in the store?
They're Herr's Chips - which I particularly love because of their association with that episode of The Office where Jim helps Karen find a bag after the vending machine and all stores in the vicinity run dry thereby kick-starting their doomed relationship and elevating Jim from loser/newbie employee status. But that's besides the point.

These. Chips. Will. Blow. Your. Mind.

I tried to have them as a "snack" when I got home from work tonight and ended up eating fistful, after fistful, after fistful. My mouth was on fire in the most pleasing and delicious way.
Let me be clear though - the horseradish is NOT a subtle a flavour. There's certainly no mistaking its presence. It beats you over the head and leaves you lying in the snack aisle with cheddar coloured drool on your face - again, in a delicious way.
Side benefit: totally clears out your sinuses as you snack.

Week 18: 75 hours 23 minutes and 57 seconds

2009-10-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

As I type this the countdown clock on my desktop tells me that in 12 days and 21 hours I will be running my marathon. gasp. gasp. Can't breathe. I seriously can't believe that the time is almost here and I must admit that a large part of me never thought I'd make it. I thought for sure that over four months injury or just plain old "I can't do this!!" would take me down. It was one of those lofty goals that I set and then just kind of gave in to - I planned my training, joined the group, read the literature, bought some pretty gear and oh yah, put in the miles.

To be exact, over the past four months I have covered 730 kilometres for 75 hours 23 minutes and 57 seconds and burned 39, 413 calories.

Oh lordy. My feet hurt just thinking about it - and also, I think I deserve a few fistfuls of gummy bears. On top of pancakes. With whipped cream.

This week kicked off the beginning of the end. I'm slowly settling into taper mode - which means that while I'm still getting in quality runs my overall distance is getting shorter and I'm supposed to be preparing my body for the big day with lots of sleep, lots of good (nutritious) food, cutting down on the alcohol and caffeine and healing all the cracks and kinks in my legs. I'm so ready for this part.

Wednesday: 6km tempo. Went out on my own for this one. It was so cold that I started running before my GPS had a chance to find satellites - once I got going my body warmed up okay but the wind was wicked and I was glad to get home. Good pace, legs felt really good.

Thursday: Track repeats. Ran from the Nike Runner's Lounge with my group. You could tell that training season was winding down - aside from the guys smoking pot in the middle of the field the track was practically a deadzone. We ran a pyramid repeats - 400m x 800m x 1200m x 1600m x 1200m x 800m x 400m. Felt good and hit my mark at every repeat. Finished up the night with a Starbucks Hot Chocolate :)

Saturday: I deluded myself into thinking that all my Nuit Blanche walking made up for the 6km I SHOULD have run that day. C'mon, it was a ton of walking.

Sunday: 23km LSD. The bf joined me on this run which was really fun because we NEVER run together. People always say when they find out that we run "Oh, it must be so nice to run together as a couple!?". I wish I could live that fantasy where we run hand in hand and gaze lovingly into each others eyes at stoplights and water breaks - but I can't. He runs too fast and I get too competitive. Match made in heaven.
Anyway the bf has been battling an achilles injury and claimed that running with me would prevent him from running too fast. I ignored the blatant insult and just enjoyed the company :) I must admit that it was nice having a partner on a long distance - especially one that knows my low tolerance for chit chat.

Marathon countdown: 12 days.
Up next: I'm definitely losing two toenails. Thank god sandal season is over.

If only Angelina were a runner

2009-10-01T12:13:00.002-04:00

The night before Sunday's Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon I had one of those running dreams - thankfully not the kind where I'm late for the starting gun, can't find my bib or have legs made of jello. No, this was a celebrity running dream - a first for me.
In this dream Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise (strange pairing for my liking) came over to my place to check out my Dyson vacuum. This didn't really seem all that strange because who doesn't love a Dyson vac? Am I right?
So I'm tooling around the living room demonstrating the famous suckage of this handy appliance and eventually I just have to ask Tom - how is Katie's marathon training going?! I'm deeply interested in the distances she's running, her time goal at NYC this year and whether she's got around to picking up a new sports bra? We're deep into our running talk when I realize that Brad is bored - he's playing absentmindedly with the Dyson and not participating in our convo AT ALL. And that's when it hits me - I have nothing to say to Brad because ANGELINA DOESN'T RUN.

Yes - apparently I'm just as snobby in my dreams as real life.

Side note - in my dream Tom told me that Katie had to slow down her training because she's pregnant and didn't want to push it. If this comes to fruition after the race I am most certainly buying a neon sign and opening up shop.

Running with (or like) the wolves?

2009-10-01T00:42:00.000-04:00

While I understand the desire to have the stealth agility and power of an animal - I must admit that I do not get these shoes. Apparently these are a prototype shoe designed by artist Bob Basset.
The fashion supplement of the New York Times described them as "leather paw shoes that make it easier for you to free your wild side." Apparently the artist is all set to start making custom designs and colours for clients.
As for me, I think I'll stick to get my wolf fix from Wolverine and Team Jacob.

Please mister dj, find me a good song!

2009-09-29T16:35:00.000-04:00

Only 19 days to go yet there is still one issue pressing deeply on my brain - what song will I play while I'm crossing the finish line!?
When I finished my first half-marathon I played Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson - definitely in the ass-kicking genre of songs on my iPod. Lately I've been running to audiobooks and haven't really been creating playlists or considering the beats per minute of my song list, so I'm a little out of the loop. Lots of people have written lists of their favorite power ballads but I'd like my song to reflect something of the times or even the place where I'm running.
While I was running on Sunday (to music) my shuffle mode delivered "We Built This City" by Starship to my earbuds - and I must say that it's got potential. The song mentions San Francisco, it makes me sing out loud and it has that cool part where the guy comes on and does the weather report - I know, weird, but I like it okay!

Here are my criteria for an inspiring marathon-finishing song:
- a good, but not insane tempo (120bpm-ish)
- preferably lyrics that have something to do with strength or perserverance or even running
- nothing techno, should include drums and guitar
- preferably female singer(s), although I'll make exceptions for some
- bonus for thematic links to San Francisco

Suggestions please - Aaand Go! :)

Week 17: The Dress Rehearsal

2009-09-28T16:28:00.000-04:00

Last week the majority of people in my run clinic started tapering in preparation for Sunday's Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon - and in a strong show of solidarity I did the same ;) Okay, I was lazy and tired and just wanted to slow things down for a bit. The presence of Joan Benoit at the Nike lounge did serve to light a fire under me though and I was able to slog through my VERY LONGEST long slow distance run on Sunday - boy was she a doozy.

Monday and Tuesday: Off. I did some weights and yoga on Tuesday just for kicks.

Wednesday: 6km group run. I have no idea if this was meant to be a tempo run but it was kind of a "slow tempo", more of a rumba run if you will. Good times, the run ended in the dark giving us another taste of Fall.

Thursday: 5km Running-In-The-Basking-Warmth-Of-Joan-Benoit's-Wisdom. This was a Nike Runner's Lounge run. They were giving out personalized shirts that night so most of the RR clinic was there. My shirt was going to say "I eat hills for breakfast" - but the lineup was crazy and after the run the Nike girls seemed frazzled and tired, so I left with a non-personalized shirt. Whatever, it was still free.
Friday I woke up with a wicked sore throat - I attributed it to standing around outside in shorts and t-shirt for quite some time before heading out to run Thursday night. It was chilly! Anyhoo, spent the day alternating between hot baths, under the covers and making tea. It worked - felt much better on Saturday.

Sunday: 36km long slow distance. So I bandited the Waterfront Marathon you guys. Shhhh! Yes, I ran the route without paying the fee. I didn't get a bib, a shirt, a timing chip, or a medal, or drink the Gatorade or use the toilets. Okay, okay I did use a toilet at 27km but there were no runners waiting! Gah. Anyway it was a great dress rehearsal before my big day. Tried to go to bed early on Saturday but was way too wired, woke up at 6am to pound in a bagel and tea, did some stretching, readied my iPod, sorted my gels, poured my Gatorade, stashed some cash and I was off and running at 7:30am - my earliest LSD run in 17 weeks. The crowd was massive and it took me 8 minutes to cross the START line. Madness.

The first 16km of the route are shared by the half-marathoners so it was amazing how quiet things got after that - no offense, but the half-marathoners are a CHATTY lot. I saw quite a few runners starting to shut down around 23km, lots of walking, lots of bending over and massaging legs, lots of inappropriate shirt removal. I split off from the marathon group at 30km and started to run back, I only needed to go 36km and running towards the Beaches would have taken me further away from home. All things considered it was a really great run. I never felt like I NEEDED a walk break but I made sure to take them on schedule. I had to remind myself to keep my pace slower than race pace which was hard given the energy of the crowd, they just make you want to run faster. I still had energy left when I got to 36km and I ran just a little bit further to get me closer to home. Given all this I think that I'm pretty well prepared for my own marathon :)

As for the Waterfront Marathon, I'm not sure that I'll ever pay to run this race. As much as I admire the work of the Canada Running Series I can't say that I loved the course. It wasn't as "Waterfront" as I thought it would be - I saw way more of the Gardener than I did of the lake. I really like the routes that the Toronto International Marathon has had for the past few years - it's a good mix of hills through the downtown and quieter areas of the city. I wish these two races could get their shit together and either merge or cooperate so that Toronto has a Spring AND a Fall marathon. And would a nice race shirt kill anyone? I mean really you guys?

Marathon countdown: 19 days

Up next: Slow ride, take it easy.

After that line was crossed, it was never the same again.

2009-09-26T12:41:00.000-04:00

This past Thursday evening, a group of 40 runners stood behind the Nike Runner's Lounge listening to the one and only Joan Benoit Samuelson. It had been announced earlier in the day that she might join us that evening but once we all arrived and there was no sign of her we started to lose hope. Her Nike handler was nowhere in sight and there didn't seem to be the official "celebrity station" that they usually erect for such appearances.
Suddenly and quietly a tiny woman in jeans, t-shirt and Nike Lunarglides appeared in the back of the store. She seemed to be shopping and not to notice or care about the giant wall poster bearing her image from 25 years earlier. With little hoopla or ceremony she joined us outside before our run and gave a few words of wisdom.
She recommended NOT checking out the course beforehand - it will only make you more nervous and not knowing what to expect makes it easier to keep going.
She also advised NOT running with your running partners - they'll only slow you down or make you feel bad for speeding up.
She said to run your own race. Don't worry about those around you, run for you and run your best.
Did I mention that I love this woman?

Apparently she's on a fall marathon tour and after this will also be making stops in Chicago, San Francisco and finally New York. Which means we get to hang out in two other cities include MY MARATHON!
Yes, I'm excited.

I'm glad that I was able to snag a pic on Thursday even if I was all sweaty post-run and even though I had to interrupt her shopping spree in the Nike store, it was worth it.
Next time we meet I'd like her to sign either my shirt or my bib or my person. We'll see. How cool would it be to finish my first marathon with Joan Benoit's signature on my back?
This is probably one of my most favorite video's about the 1984 Olympic Women's Marathon. The soundtrack could have something to do with it, whatever it is I always end up in a ball of tears by the end. It finishes with the statement "After that line was crossed, it was never the same again". And it's true. I won't get into the history of women's running (many others have done that more eloquently than I could), but the very idea that the first women's marathon took place during my lifetime is very hard to fathom. Prior to that some sports officials believed a long distance female runner would lose her uterus - insanity. It's not that I EVER imagine myself in the class of elite female athletes, but the very idea that I am allowed to run and can run my own race is in very large part due to this lady and those ladies that helped push for a race of our own.

The one question I wish I had asked her the other night - does she still have that wicked cap?

Lentil & Egg bake

2009-09-24T20:14:00.000-04:00

In an effort to max out on healthy proteins last week (did I mention that my legs have been sore lately?) I found this easy peezy recipe for baked lentils and eggs.
I've been experimenting with a few different types of lentils lately and the one that seems most stable and suitable for this recipe is the french green lentil. It doesn't get mushy like the red lentil and it doesn't stain my pots like the black beluga lentil.
The garam masala adds a really nice spice to the dish and I ate it for breakfast the next day on top of an english muffin - delish!
It was quick, cheap, it kept well and it filled me up real good. What more do you want?

The summer we tried to kill ourselves with food

2009-09-24T10:42:00.000-04:00

Yah that's right, the bf and I occasionally ate like we were trying to off ourselves these past few months. It's what happens isn't it? The hot weather combined with traveling food trucks and fall fairs = death foods. Foods that should require you to sign a waiver or pass a cholesterol test before biting into.

Exhibit A: Tiny Toms Donuts [photo credit rbraeken]

A must-eat when it comes to the CNE but I have very specific requests when it comes to these donuts - I like them to be more crispy than cakey and covered in cinnamon sugar. The bf got plain old powdered sugar this year, and fine I wouldn't kick the donuts out of bed or anything but it still felt like something was lacking.
Years of life lost - 9 years for every dozen.

Exhibit B: The Corn Dog - or Meat on a Stick

I should clarify and extend this exhibit to include any "on a stick" variety of food. I also ate several butter-dipped cobs of corn on a stick this summer- I failed to get a photo because both my fingers and face were covered in said butter.
But back to the corn dog - it was like heaven. For serious. The batter had a bit of a spice to it and the dog itself was a delight. I slathered it with mustard and ate it as slowly as I possibly could just to savour Every Single Bite. The bf and I sat outside the "Food Pavilion" (always my favorite of pavilions) and watched how quickly those around us could demolish their food. I saw a guy eat his corn dog in five bites. FIVE. BITES. His wife (whom and I can only assume is now his widow) sat mortified beside him. We sat in slack-jawed awe.
Years of Life Lost: 2 for the dog, 1 for the coating.

Exhibit C: Deep Fried Mars Bar - or Dessert on a Stick

Okay, so we didn't actually eat this but I did get a snap of the unfortunate lady in charge of creating these death sticks. We did WATCH a guy eat it and let me tell you - that was enough. The same guy in fact that ate his corn dog in five bites ate this - so he's doubly dead. This was the first time I had seen DFMB in real life, I guess I'm sheltered. It's the most hideous, horrifying thing I've ever seen and I can't believe I didn't put it in my mouth [that's what she said].
Years of Life Lost: 27 if you eat it. 5 just for standing next to someone eating it.

Exhibit D: The most glorious peanut butter cup known to man

We bought this while on our mini-break to Blue Mountain Resort which meant that we were well into our weekend of sloth and excess while simultaneously being surrounded by a group of fit mountain dwellers - awkward.
This is the kind of thing that I would dream of every Easter when I dipping my Mr. Solid into the tub of Kraft peanut butter - except that this isn't crappy chocolate and unsweetened PB. This. Is. Heaven - if heaven were made of peanut butter and chocolate. You'll noticed that I actually cut the cup into quarters like a pie, it was really the only way to be done. The bf and I were splitting it and I insisted on seeing the cross-section. See, we aren't SAVAGES.
Years of Life Lost: 4 per quarter.

Book Report: The Children's Book / A.S. Byatt

2009-09-23T11:14:00.004-04:00

As someone who readily admits to being lured in by cover art let me just say that as soon as I saw this book I desired it desperately. C'mon, it's gorgeous right? Something about the colours and fonts brings me back to the old fairy tale editions that I had as a child - which, I guess is the point.

"The Children's Book" - or as one reviewer called it "Possession - the next generation" is a novel spanning 25 years in England and Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. It's a massive and exhausting read, in fact it took me several months to get through. Mind you, I was simultaneously reading three non-fiction titles.

The first half of the book immerses you in the daily life of the Silver Age of England. Everything seems tinged with magic, loveliness and tea time. The children of the central family have idyllic yet independent lives running through the fields and play rooms of the countryside; and the adults have passionate, intellectual and creative relationships with large groups of artists and thinkers. Their stories made me want to don a heavy velvet dress with intricate brocade and host a backyard staging of Shakespearean drama. Alas, velvet makes me itch and I don't have a balcony let alone a back yard.

This is one of those books that tells stories within the story. Olive Wellwood, the main female character, is a writer of children's fairy tales and she maintains a tale based on each of her children, adding to it as they grow. Brief chapters from each of these tales help to introduce us to the children and also to highlight her relationship and expectations of them. They're fascinating and dark stories with adult twists that make Harry Potter look like a nursery rhyme. In fact Byatt has made no secret of the fact that she was disappointed by JK Rowling's lack of imagination and pedestrian narrative - Byatt is clearly more a fan of the slow-burning, insidious brand of evil.

I liked this book very much although I must admit to being bored and frustrated when Byatt wandered away from the drama at hand only to introduce a history lesson - ensuring that the reader understood every minute historical reference was distracting and diminished the impact of some highly emotional story lines. This was particularly disruptive in the last quarter of the book as we enter the era of WWI. I don't think I'm giving much away by saying that alot of people die in these last chapters and I found the treatment of some of them to be very quick and dismissive. There was a lack of closure and the suddenly stoic and unemotional voice felt foreign to me. Perhaps this had more to do with evoking the tone of war and front-line response than I was prepared for.

All in all this was a very engaging, engrossing, amusing and distressing read. The style of her writing is very high-brow and reflects the time period of the characters. This would be a great story to read over the winter, definitely one where I could curl up with a cuppa tea and get lost for a few hours.

Week 16: No time to slow down

2009-09-22T14:07:00.004-04:00

This was a pretty great week. I ran my FASTEST EVER 6km tempo run on Tuesday and had a really fab long run. Overall a week of little pain, so that's always a plus.

Tuesday: 6km tempo. Our coaches sent us out in waves so that the slower runners (ie. me) weren't overwhelmed by the rush of speed demons - I very much appreciated this. Sure, in the end we were still passed but it took a good 4km for that to happen. It was a great run and I kept pace with a group of ladies that ran only slightly faster than me. Ended up being my fastest 6km on record :)

Wednesday: Yasso 800's. This was my first time attempting the Yasso's and naturally I was terrified. It wasn't until I arrived at the track that I found out we were doing them, so I had no time to freak out or escape. Essentially a Yasso 800 is this: you run 800 meters around the track (that's 2x around usually) then you take a break, then you repeat 10 times. Apparently if I could keep up a pace of 4 mins 24 seconds for every repeat then I am highly likely to run a 4 hour 24 mins marathon. I know, sounds like witch doctor-y to me but apparently it works. Turns out I averaged a 4 min 10 second pace. We'll see how this all plays out in the end.

Friday: Quick 5km on treadmill. Felt fine, good morning wake-up.

Sunday: 23km LSD. The bf and I went away for the weekend and didn't get back until the afternoon, so I waited until 5:30 to head out. The sun was going down and the streets were pretty empty - it was glorious. I had probably one of the best long runs that I've had in weeks. Conditions were perfect and all my joints and muscles seemed to be getting along together quite well. I did start to feel a heavy, dull ache in my knees and quads around 19km. Could this be the effects of lactic acid that I've been hearing so much about?

I really enjoy running at night so I'm actually looking forward to the onset of fall and daylight savings time. The only downside - the freaks. A guy on the Danforth started running along beside me and yells "How about this - if I can run faster than you, you have to go on a date with me?". Not that I wasn't impressed by his bohemian-inspired stubble or his delicate Eau du Labatt's fragrance - but I asked him nicely to leave me alone. And he did.

Marathon countdown - 26 days.

Up next: I bandit a popular Toronto road race.

Week 15: Need to lie down

2009-09-16T13:22:00.000-04:00

Despite the fact that I only got in three runs this week (shhhhh) I felt totally drained and lifeless. Not sure if something was up with my immune system or what, but allz I know is that all week I was moaning that I NEEDED TO LIE DOWN. Yah, I'm a baby. I know.

Tuesday: Missed my clinic and had to head out on a tempo run by myself. This resulted in a less than tempo-esque run. Went for 6km instead of 8km (see baby comment, above).

Wednesday: The day I nearly died on the track. Unbeknownst to me track training is very different from hills - apparently adding another lap every week isn't enough - no, we need to do these strange pyramid structured distances. I had never heard anything like it before in my life. And it made me want to lie down. After a 3km warmup we did the following track repeats: 400 m x 800 m x 1200m x 1600m x 1600m x 1200m x 800m x 400m. Get it? Yah, it's mental. But I managed and even ran a pretty decent time at the low end of my permissible time range. Unfortunately I didn't bring enough G-juice with me and ended up nearly crawling back to the Running Room.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday: I mostly did nothing, with a little something in between.

Sunday: 32.3 mofo km. That's right, my LONGEST distance EVER. Do you hear that? EVER! I found a cool route using the Garmin website that pretty much took me out towards Ossington and then up and across Danforth and back through the Beaches. Quite beautiful and it was a lovely day - thank god for sunscreen. Let me be clear, it took me a long time. Enough time to watch four episodes of True Blood, or eight of Weeds or the entirety of Gone with the Wind - including potty and popcorn breaks. Yes - I worked all of that out while I was running.

And after my run - I didn't lie down :)

Countdown to marathon: 32 days.

What's in a runner's kitchen?

2009-09-09T13:21:00.000-04:00

Runner's World posted this little article by the brilliant Mark Bittman. He is the man responsible for my most favorite cookbook right now - or at least the one in highest rotation in my kitchen "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian". I love that it isn't one of those cookbooks showing you how to swap out meat in traditional recipes, but that it gives genuine and delicious veggie-based meals. And it isn't one of those glossy reads with shimmering, porno shots of impossibly baked creations, it reads more like an encyclopedia. But a really GOOD encyclopedia. You want food porn? Go pick up a Nigella book and be gone with you.

Anyhoo back to that list. Mark Bittman suggests the following items for a runner's pantry:

Grains
Beans
Olive Oil
Long-Keeping Vegetables and Fruits
Fresh Herbs
Spices
Vinegar
Soy Sauce
Parmesan
Dried Fruit and Nuts
Eggs
Bacon
Canned Tomatoes
Sweeteners
Dried Mushrooms

I'm going to add a few (seemingly obvious) suggestions of my own:

Chocolate milk - fellow blogger Running Shorts gave the lowdown on the deliciousness and suitability of this drink. I concur. My personal favorite - Neilson's Ultimate Chocolate Milk. Oh god, it's amazing, like liquid chocolate pudding. And I love that I can buy a bunch at a time and it doesn't need to be refridgerated until it's opened! Love love love.

Bananas - probably the only thing I can keep down when I return home all queezy and exhausted. Plus it tastes really good with the choco milk.

Nutella - do I sense a theme here? My friend Derek swears by this stuff. High in protein and more luxurious than peanut butter. And really, really decadent on fluffy, white bread (the crack of bread).

Sesame oil - I've been in a bit of a soup phase lately and this stuff takes soup to a whole new dimension without making it too salty. Just a wee teaspoon gets you all the rich, nutty flavour you need.

Ice cubes - okay, technically NOT a food but still really useful. Whether for cooling down my homemade Gatorade or for piling in the bathtub for post-run torture, the stuff is going out of style in my house.

So runner, what's in your pantry? (sidenote - who says pantry anymore?)

Week 14: Travels and travails

2009-09-08T13:20:00.000-04:00

This week I traveled to the Far East known as Newfoundland to visit my bestest of friends "Modie" and her new beautiful baby. Somehow, despite my instant deep need to lay down, start nesting and cuddle that baby until it was old enough to protest - I still made it out to run.

Running while traveling has never really worked out for me. My first trip after I started running was for a work conference in North Carolina. Since I had absolutely no knowledge of the area and I was terrified of any type of hilly terrain (plus the fact that there was a female-hunting psycho on the loose - when isn't there?) I made due by running around the parking lot of the big box stores next to the hotel. One loop turned out to be about a kilometre - so a few loops later and I had all my window shopping done. Unfortunately something went terribly wrong with my Saucony sneakers and I ended up with the WORST and most PAINFUL heel blister of all time in all of humanity. Yes, that's right - I suffered more than any human has ever suffered from a blister. No doubt about it. I compressed it with hot cloths and soaks every chance I got - praying that the poisonous venom would escape from it's fleshy bubble and allow me at least pretent to wear shoes like a normal woman. It took days. Since then I have diligently packed my shoes with the promise "If there's time..." and then kept them hidden in the hotel closet until checkout time. But given that I am in training week 14/20 I thought that it might be helpful to keep up the pace and try to keep to schedule. I did fairly well, considering.

Monday was my rest day and Tuesday was my travel day - so no running.

Wednesday: 8km. Modie drove me out to the flatest area of the most mountainous towns - which meant running along this gorgeous river and mountains. Jeebs, aside from the fact that it was also along a "Service Road" (aka a road where big trucks speed through to the highway) it was a gorgeous view and the breeze (okay, wind) helped to cool down the sundrenched area. Oh yah, here's the view. Proper, right?

Friday: 6 X 800 metre repeats. Prior to this trip I emailed the Corner Brook Running Club to ask if they could recommend anywhere in the city for running repeats - a track? or a flat stretch of road? A guy named Steve wrote me back the most AMAZING instructional email ever. A long, detailed list of where to run in the city and pro/cons for each. Unfortunately there is no running track in CB - a fact highly lamented by Steve. There is a track in the college gym but it specifically states NO RUNNING. Hmm I guess the run/walker animosity has reared its ugly head out here.

Anyway, back to the repeats. They were fine. Great in fact. I chose my stretch of road and simply ran it six times. Not sure if it has to do with the fact that I wasn't circling around a track but I was able to go about 10 second fast for each repeat. I ran 4:00 repeats this week while last week I was around 4:10. Strange. I didn't feel like I was going any harder but I was certainly tired when it was all said and done.

Saturday: Planned on getting in a few km's when I got home, but flight was delayed and didn't get in until way late.

Sunday: 24km LSD. Something that I digested along the way on Saturday did not sit well. I was up most of the night with a strange stomach bug and by the morning I still felt a little queazy and alot dehydrated. Headed out on the Martin Goodman Trail - worst. decision. ever. Two words - Air Show. Ugh. Not only was the trail packed with people but it was also loud as F#*@. How's a girl supposed to listen to her audiobook in these conditions? By the end I was spent. In fact, by midway I was spent. Long, slow, deathly pace for the last 10km. Recovery was good but I was mostly in a prone position for the rest of the day.

Six weeks left.

The elusive fast food lobster

2009-09-03T13:17:00.001-04:00

A few years ago I was in Rhode Island for a conference and after an exhausting first day I collapsed in my room cradling the room service menu. And what to my wondering eye should appear? But a soft butter roll stuffed with lobster meat! It was the most delicious, decadent and satisfying meal - every bite made me sad that I came closer to the end. Sadly - I can't find the picture which I of course took before diving in. The lobster roll is usually best during the late summer season and is served on a soft white roll with very minimal interference. The lobster is usually mixed with a small amount of mayo and occasionally with some chopped celery or green onion. My RI version also came with a plate of delightfully crispy french fries. Oh god, I'm drooling with the thought.

I was reminded of that moment today - in the middle of my Newfoundland vacation - when my best friend and I entered a Subway Sub shop. Yah, ok - not exactly an executive chef type of situation. But lo and behold they had a lobster meat sub! Stomach issues be damned - I ordered it up. 6-inch (to be safe) with onions, tomato, cucumber and mayo. Keep it simple was my thought. It was satisfyingly salty and definitely had that distinctive lobster flavour. Not exactly the same punch as the Rhode Island Dreamwich - but what do you expect for $6. I left the store satisfied and several hours later I still have my digestive system in check. Lunch well done.

And while we didn't get to enjoy a Guinness with our lunch (c'mon, Newfoundland isn't THAT liberal!), I did think this was an apropos time to pull out this old gem ;)

The twitch. The fix. The re-up.

2009-09-01T13:17:00.000-04:00

Despite a sketchy past littered with empty Diet Coke cans and even a brief stint with those little pink Wake-Ups in high school (yes, it was my Jessie Spano moment) I have consistently tried to downplay or limit the role of caffeine in my life. It's an endless battle. My best friend in high school drank Pepsi for breakfast. In university my roommate worked for an upscale coffee joint and we would eat chocolate covered espresso beans for dinner. In later years I would come to respect the delicate balance of my stomach lining and find comfort and solace in a cuppa tea - but I would always turn back to coffee when looking for a little jolt, a little fix, a little kick in the pants. I've never been the hardcore type that could drink it black - no, I'm a coffee pansy that is for certain. In grad school I was frequently asked if I wanted some "coffee with my sugar?". So I distinctly remember the very first time that a cafe latte touched my lips. It was Fall 2000 and a good friend had just moved to downtown Toronto - so swanky! He lived near the Starbucks at College & Euclid and that is the spot where I first fell in love with the delightful mixture of syrup, frothed milk and espresso. It was love at first sip.

Over the years I tried to make my own. I used a crappy Salton machine, a pretty Italian Moka, various Bodum accessories - but it never tasted the same. I was never the Barista of my dreams. And so it passed that in the Fall of 2008 during a trip to Spain my bf and I were introduced to the miracle of Nespresso. At first I mistook it for the powdered Nescafe coffee shite - but after being brought into the mecca that is a Nespresso store in Valencia I was shown the error of my ways. It had all the elements that made it attractive to a coffee snob - exclusive club, quality espresso beans, shiny coffee toys and smart, pretty people to man the counters (not to mention Clooney as the spokesperson). But don't be mistaken - there is no purchasing a cup of joe in these stores. Oh no. They'll certainly brew you a shot or a drink, but it's free and meant to entice your taste buds and open you up to a much bigger purchase. The store is there only to sell the beans (or pods if you will), the machines, and the various elements for drinking (cups, sugar, spoons).

I bought a machine for the bf for Christmas this year and I swear that I saw a tear in his eye - unheard of for a hard-hearted Englishman, trust me. I knew once I saw him documenting the entire experience on film that he was hooked. And so was I. The machine came with a small frothing machine that makes the most perfect quality steamed, frothed milk EVER. That's right, I said it IN CAPS. Last week I experimented for the first time with an iced latte and Nespresso didn't let me down. It frothed the milk cold! COLD!

So good - once it hits your lips....

Unlucky 13?

2009-08-31T13:16:00.000-04:00

The fact that I was born to a family with strong Irish, Scottish and German heritage seems to increase my ability to find superstition in the smallest of things (not to mention being a lush, pack-rat and bossy) - so it was with some trepidation that I began my thirteenth week of training.

I took two days off after my race last weekend. I slept alot, I went to get a massage, I soaked my bones in bubbles and in general I was a suck. All of which paid off for my triumphant Tuesday run!

Tuesday: 8km. Same loop as last week which gave me some insight into how much my energy levels change from week to week. Last week I just wanted to lay down and cry in the middle of the Mt. Pleasant Cemetary - this week I smoked those gravestones (too far?). I had a great pace, only had one walk break and tried my hardest to sprint past my fellow runners at the end. Yah, my heart almost assploded at the end but it was all good. My ample relaxation may have come into play here - may also have something to do with my hydration levels and the fact that I ran with water this time around. Note to self: don't be dumb and you'll be fine.

Wednesday: Track work. I'll admit it - I was terrified of starting track work. In the past I've consistently skipped out on the track and haven't really spent any quality time there since my very first 5km clinic some four years ago. This could also be why I still run at a snails pace. But my coaches did a great job selling the track workout and using the McMillan calculator gave my inner control freak some satisfaction. I figured out my goal tempo for 800 metre repeats and I was off. I really had no idea if there was anything funky that I could do with my Garmin at the track (please tell me if there is) - the bf goes old school with just a stopwatch - so I did the same. My goal was to lap in the range of 4:08 - 4:20 and I was able to consistently run at 4:10. I was amazed. It took alot not to feel intimidated by the multitude of compression-sock wearing hardcore RUNNERS speeding past me at full throttle - but like the smug tortoise that I am, I just kept going until I was done.

Post-track workout I did have some pain. My old shin pain made a return appearance and my quads were doing something rather uncomfortable - but after an ice bath and a few days of ibuprofen I seemed good as new.

Friday and Saturday I did some cross-training in the gym and on my bike.

Sunday: 31km long run. Planned a new route to shake things up and start incorporating more hills into my Sunday's - lest I forget that San Francisco is not known for it's long stretches of flat road. First half wasn't bad and I did have to remind myself a few times to slow it down and keep hydrating - the winds were cool and the sun was hidden so I wasn't as parched as usual. By 20km I was giving myself pep talks out loud. "C'mon, here we go, just a little bit farther girl, here's a nice pretty downhill stretch" - that kind of thing. At 28km a woman of dubious sanity allowed her large, horselike, drooling dog to lunge and snap at my shorts - so that gave me a brief adrenaline surge and got me through the last 3km - not to mention the boost from my internal stewing and rage over why I refrained from screaming at her. The answer - because I'm a lady ;)

I was completely dead by the end of the run and after a grilled cheese sandwich, chocolate milk and 30 mins of intense stretching - I collapsed for a long afternoon's nap. It's my belief that the Indian food we had for dinner bathed my joints in clarified butter and helped to induce all sorts of healing.

And thus brings Week 13 to a close. Maybe not such an unlucky number? After all I wasn't actually BITTEN by the horse/dog.

Pudding for dinner

2009-08-28T13:15:00.000-04:00

A few months back I came across a recipe for a fabulous SAVOURY bread pudding. Yes, you heard me right- savoury. As in - not including chocolate chips. I swooned. I baked. I devoured.

Since then I've tampered with the recipe only slightly - including different cheeses, using different types of breads, increasing the rosemary etc. And trust me - nothing can ruin this recipe. It's absolutely freaking delicious. Up until this point my basic bread pudding has consisted of any or all of the following: asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, sourdough bread, potato bread, rosemary, sage and cracked pepper. As for cheeses I've basically been sticking to a mixture of fontina and gruyere - both creamy and slightly stinky. Delish.

Last week while cleaning out the freezer I came across the vegetarian chipotle sausage that I smuggled across the border from Trader Joe's (Oh Joe, when will you come visit your friends to the north!!??) and I was hit by a culinary lightening bolt - SPICY BREAD PUDDING! Try this my friends and you will be hooked.

1 loaf stale bread - I bought the day olds from the Market Bakery for $1!, consisted of an old olive bread, some multigrain buns and a small sourdough bun. Chop up the bread into bite size cubes. Should measure about 3 cups.
3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk (2% or homo works best)
1/2 cup veggie or chicken stock, cooled
1 cup grated fontina (you could mix up different cheeses if you like, and trust me increasing the cheese has never hurt this recipe)
1 tbs fresh oregano (half if it's dried)
10 cremini mushrooms, diced
2 veggie sausages, remove casings
1 shallot, thinly sliced and 1 red pepper, thinly sliced

So here's how I do it:
1. cube the bread and lay it out to dry for at least an hour, sometimes overnight if it's too fresh. this is where stale bread comes in handy.
2. fry up your hot stuff - sausage, shallots, red pepper and mushrooms. leave this to cool slightly, you don't want it to melt the cheese.
3. whisk up the eggs and milk.
4. in a large bowl combine the bread, grated cheese and the sausage mixture - i do this with my hands. then move this to a large dutch oven or covered casserole dish.
5. pour the egg/milk mixture and the stock over the bread.
6. let to sit overnight - at least 8 hours for the bread to soak up all the goodness.
7. i like to sprinkle a little extra cheese and grated pepper on top right before it goes in the oven.
8. casserole dish will need to sit inside a water bath in the oven - i do this by placing the dish into a 9x9 glass brownie pan and surrounding it with hot water. this is important. do not roll your eyes and skip this step.
9. place the whole thing into a 350 degree oven.
10. the pudding will need to bake for at least 55 minutes then take the lid off for another 10.
Eat Your Face Off.

The egg mixture keeps the bread ultra moist and reminds me of my mom's turkey stuffing. I'm sure there are a million amazing variations that can be made on savoury bread pudding. But this was definitely a fave - I ate it all week with some adzuki bean stew.

Further evidence of its deliciousness - the bf cleaned out the leftovers and the bf NEVER cleans out the leftovers. Let me know how it goes!

Race Report: Midsummer Night's 30km

2009-08-26T13:15:00.000-04:00

As part of my marathon training our coaches have encouraged us to participate in what is known as a "Tune-Up Race". Otherwise known as the "let's get real and see if you can get shit done out there" race. I was glad that they had chosen the Midsummer Night's Run because a) I had already registered for it (early birds can win prizes!) and b) for many reasons I actually really like this race (as opposed to the many that I don't).

The MNR offers two running distances - a 15km or a 30km and also a 15km walk. I ran the 15km last year and despite the intense exhaustion and the fact that I was running at NIGHT in AUGUST I had a great time. Last time I ran alone - didn't know a soul, no one to cheer me on except for my doting bf at the finish line. This time I had several new running friends, both from the clinic and also from the Pride RUN so it was great to cheer and be cheered on whilst in the thick of it all.

First things first: pre-race. Picking up the race kit was smooth as silk and the easiest pickup that I have ever made. Not only that but the race shirts are ADORABLE! SO much better than last year. AND they're purple! It couldn't get any better. Oh but wait - there was also a 45km pin recognizing the total distance that I had run with MNR. LOVE IT!

Race day: Unlike last year (which was delayed because of lengthy lines at bag check and the toilets) everything at the start line seemed to go off without a hitch. There were plenty of pre-race fluids available and dropping off my bag was easy breezy. All the road closures seemed secure and the announcements at the start line could be heard even in the back.

The actual race: At this point most of the race is a warm, fuzzy haze and from what I can recall there were no real moments of losing my shit. Figuratively or literally (thank you Tums). At the Around the Bay race in March I totally psyched myself out before I got to the start line - I wasn't kidding about the crying. This time around I was pretty confident, at least that I could finish. I gave myself tons of leeway just in case I couldn't hit my marathon race pace but I ended up needing to slow myself down every once in awhile and by the end I had so much energy that I was cheering on the people I was passing (I know, how smug and annoying am I?) and I was amazed that I could actually speed up in the last kilometre.

I made sure to continuously hydrate with Gatorade throughout the race and probably downed around 36 ounces of fluid and two energy gels from start to finish. On the advice of a runners nutrition book that I'm currently reading I also sipped Gatorade in the hours leading up to the race. I think that the combination of all this hydration was enough to keep me going for 3 hours and 8 minutes - a whole 4 minutes faster than my time five months ago!

Because we were meeting a friend for dinner we had to flee the scene pretty much as soon as I crossed the finish - but I'm hoping that next year I'll be able to partake in the beer gardens scene. It looked like a runner's version of the prom in there - all pimped out in intimidating race jackets. Who knows, if things keep going this well maybe I'll have my own pimped out race gear next year ;)

On the twelfth week of training my coaches gave to me...

2009-08-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

FORM! Okay, maybe not as exciting as a partridge in a pear tree but definitely more useful when it comes to hill training.

This week in our marathon clinic we discussed running form and it couldn't have come at a better time. After last week's lower back debacle I knew that something was seriously off with my form and that I was getting sloppy as the hills got more difficult. The problem - bubble butt. Apparently I stick my butt out when I get lazy, throwing my hips out of whack and placing a crazy amount of pressure on my lower back. Yes that's right, I'm the Beyonce of hills. So I made an extra effort to focus on my form and to push my hips forward as I maneuvered through my last week of hill training - Oh, did I forget to mention that? NO MORE HILL TRAINING!! Hallelujah and praise Jebus.

So yah, the whole form thing - totally changed my running, not to mention the ease with which I was able to jump out of bed the next morning. Thank you coaches :)

Tuesday: Headed out for 8km with the group. Really lovely route that kept us in the shade and mostly away from scary traffic - but I was ill-prepared without my juice and had a few bouts of cotton mouth. Thank goodness for a few well positioned public water fountains. Definitely ran slower than planned.

Wednesday: The end of hills. Finished up our last week with 10 hills and I have to say - it wasn't bad at all. The hill was not so scary and we were all able to spread out and run side by side - very much appreciated after weeks of being forced to run Army-style in single file. Kept a good pace and HR wasn't out of control. I am still completely annoyed and dumb-founded by girls that can chat whilst running UP a hill!? Seriously?? RUN FASTER!

Saturday: Tune-up race - Midsummer Night's 30km. Unlike my previous 30km this year I was much more confident and prepared going in - I didn't even cry at the start line this time ;) Seriously. I didn't. The run was absolutely fantastic. After Tuesday's dismal pace I wasn't so sure that I could maintain my goal race pace so I set my virtual trainer a few clicks slower than expected. And I totally kicked the computer's ass! In the end I ran 1 second faster per kilometre than expected and had enough wind in me to start sprinting at 29km. I stayed loose and hydrated and had a really great time out there.

Up next: we start speed.

West African Ginger Drink

2009-08-19T13:14:00.000-04:00

Last year when I noticed the edges of my teeth becoming disturbingly dark I gave up my daily brew of green tea. It was tough but I found that I was mostly addicted just to the sensation of warm liquids in the morning. So I moved over to the more tooth-friendly lemon & hot water - providing even more conclusive evidence that there is an old British lady living inside of me (not that the Coronation Street addiction was enough). I loved my lemon and water and despite the fact that sometimes it felt as if I was brewing a pot of water and pesticides I kept it up.

A few months ago I was battling some digestive issues and started adding ginger slices to my morning brew - mmm ginger, me likey. So when I came across this recipe last month on Food Safari I knew that I had to give it a whirl. It's a West African Ginger Drink that essentially involves pulverizing a whack load of ginger and limes with some peppercorn and sugar thrown in for kicks. Lemme tell you - it's bloody brilliant. Watch the video at the link until the very end just to see the look on their faces after the first sip - it's at that point that the ginger reaches out, grabs your tongue and stabs it with a million tiny flavour darts. That's right - FLAVOUR DARTS (copyright me).

I like to make this a really strong mixture, so I only add about 3 cups of water and then strain the whole thing at least four times through the sieve. It's amazing the amount of fibrous pulp that comes out of the mix!

Once it's strained and contained it's ready to go. I like to add about 1/4 cup to my mug of hot water and I've also been adding it to tonic water (apparently good for sore muscles) as a nice chilly cocktail. I added some Pimm's to it this week but I found it to be kind of a waste, the liquid is so overpowering that any additional flavour is lost. That being said - it would make a brilliant vodka cocktail. It's got punch like a sonofoabitch and a ton of healthy antioxidants to boot.

Delish. A++

2009-08-17T13:12:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I came across this recipe for breakfast pizza and pretty much haven't stopped making it since. Soft dough with creamy cheese and runny eggs - um, yes please. Here's a step by step evolution of my most favorite breakfast/lunch/dinner treat.

Step 1: The DoughI like a rectangular shaped pizza as opposed to circular - but that's just me. Do whatever you want. I start with a pre-made pizza dough, pound it into shape and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Then I like to smear some creamy cheese from edge to edge, in this case I used garlic Boursin. Mmmmm.But we've done it with plain old mozzerella as well.

Step 2: The stuff on topOnce the cheese is adequately smeared I cover it with fresh basil, thyme, oregano and whatever leafy green I have - like spinach, kale or arugula.

Step 3: Top it off

Add some onions or garlic if you like and then drizzle olive oil all over the toppings. You should also smudge the olive oil around the edge of the crust, this increases the level of deliciousness (that's an official chef term). And then AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - drizzle the entire pizza with some truffle oil. I'm telling you, if you don't have truffle oil go BUY SOME. They sell it pretty much anywhere these days and a good small bottle will only cost around $12.00. You won't regret it.

Step 4: The cooking part

Put into the oven (preheated to 500 degrees) for 5 minutes - hopefully you have a pizza stone otherwise just use a baking sheet (well oiled and sprinkled with cornmeal). After 5 minutes slide a few eggs onto the pizza - I like to do this from a small cup instead of directly from the shell. If there are any air bubbles forming it might help to press down on the pizza with your spatula. Cook for another five minutes or until eggs are set.

Step 5: Insert into mouth

This is what happens when you don't press down on the air bubbles - egg suicide. Still delicious just not as pretty.

This pizza is one of my most favorite foods right now and I keep adjusting the ingredients as the summer progresses and new veggies come into season. I can even imagine a goat cheese and grilled peaches version towards the end of the month. The best part of it all is that the bf considers pizza creation to be man's work - so I get to kick back and wait for the pizza delivery man :)

Eleven.

2009-08-17T13:10:00.000-04:00

Fairly uneventful eleventh week of training.

Highlight of the week: nearly puking my guts out on the appropriately named "Horror Hill".Never before have I felt so nauseous, exhausted and covered in sweat and bugs than I was during hill training this week. Let's get straight to it:

Tuesday: Had a late meeting so couldn't join the group, only managed to get in a 4km tempo run. Felt pretty good though, especially after two days of rest.

Wednesday: Hill Training Horror. Could have been a snuff film title, for sure. When word got out that our leaders were taking us to a "shady hill" we all breathed a sigh of relief - the sun was scorching. Our sighs turned to screams when we arrived at our ravine-like destination and were forced to pick up the pace in order to escape from the ravenous mosquitoes that swarmed our sticky bodies. Ugh. Probably the toughest hill that I have EVER trained on. Did something nasty to my back and couldn't stand up straight for the rest of the evening, felt better after some TLC (read: wine).

Saturday: 6km steady run. Treadmill. Yes, I'm a wuss and yes I was catching up on some Food Network TV.

Sunday: 23km long run. I'll say it straight up - I was terrified of this run and was convinced that I was going to collapse in a pile of sweat and lululemon gear on the side of the road. But I made it! I headed out early and managed to stay on the shady side of the street, I even gave myself the option to cut the route short if I needed to - but I didn't! Don't get me wrong - I ran SLLLLLOOOOOOOWWWWW and I had to stop for a Gatorade refill around 17km, but it was all good. Aside from a little bit of armpit chafing (what's with me and my tissue paper flesh!?) and losing approximately 3 litres of sweat I was fine. Didn't even have any gut rot or swishy waterlogged stomach :) Yay me.

Coming up next: Midsummer Night's 30km Run on Saturday. Please pray to the weather gods that the humidex has evacuated the city by then!

Book Report: My life on the run / Bart Yasso

2009-08-14T13:08:00.000-04:00

First things first, I must confess that I love Bart Yasso. When I see him at races I scream his name like he's a rock start. I've even had him sign my training guides and race bibs like some kind of teenage fangirl. He pretty much has the COOLEST job in the world and the few times that I've heard him speak his self-deprecating humour and Yankee accent make me swoon. So I know that it was imperative I read his autobiography "My Life on the Run: the wit, wisdom and insights of a road racing icon". Hoping for a little motivation I waited until I was mid-training schedule to open my copy. And say what you will about his writing abilities, the man knows how to tell a good story. And his life is full of them, so much so that it blew my mind.

I'm the kind of runner who puts off runs when the wind is too strong or if there isn't enough cloud cover - this man has run in conditions that make me doubt his sanity. Up and up mountains for days, on roads so hot that his shoes melt, away from gnashing wild animals and even in his birthday suit - the man is definitely a rock star of the running world.

Yet aside from all his bravado (look at how badass I can run!) he definitely shows a softer and more emotional side when it comes to discussing his family and how they helped him find his calling. I found it fascinating to learn that he's a former alcoholic and that he didn't start running until he was well into his twenties - there's hope for me after all!

I was glad that he ended the book with a series of different training programs and was really interested in his 10-day training plans. He very much endorses the types of plans that give you plenty of recovery time and allow you to get in your mileage without overtaxing your body. And he's definitely a guy who knows overtaxing up close. It was sad to hear about how his own running career was slowing down due to an advanced and chronic case of lyme disease - although it seems like lately he's been tweeting about being out and running several races, so hopefully he's gone into another period of remission.

I just learned that he'll be attending the Toronto International Marathon again this year (he thanks Jay Glassman in the intro, so I guess they're buds?) but I'm hoping to rub elbows with him at the New York City Marathon in November.

And yes, I'll still be the one screaming like a teenager.

Beet it

2009-08-12T13:08:00.000-04:00

I've had a severe love affair with one particular farmers market stand this summer - and it's all because of one dirty little root vegetable. THE BEET. As a kid I could down a jar of pickled beets like nobody's business (really anything pickled for that matter - carrots, onions, eggs...yah, I was born a salt addict). I loved the firm, smooth texture of the cooked beet and the crisp acidity of a raw beet. And above all I loved that it turned my lips and fingers a stubborn red.

Unfortunately the bf does not enjoy the beet. Initally this meant that I would cook only a small portion for myself but lately I've grown lazy. I throw the entire haul into a pot with plans of portioning them off for future lunches and dinners that week - this doesn't happen. Once dinner has ended and we've lounged around digesting for a bit I will end up back in the kitchen, hunched over the sink eating the rest of the beets directly from the pot. Sometimes I'll even take them out individually with my fingers, salting and buttering each cold piece before popping it in my mouth. Savage, I know. I can't help it.

A word of warning for the uninitiated - if you go out and buy beets this weekend don't be shocked when you poop beet for the next few days.

You're welcome.

Julie & Julia. The fury and fantasy of a foodie.

2009-08-11T13:02:00.000-04:00

Made the trek to see Julie & Julia this weekend. It has been a film much anticipated by my circle of peeps. I read the book, read the blog, tried some recipes, couldn't wait to see it on the big screen. The still photography that came out months ago showing the styling of the food and characters looked amazing and was pretty enough to make any food blogger (or food blog reader) weep. I was excited, yes.

My film going experience started by sitting next to a man who has clearly won prizes for his skill at loud decibel popcorn eating. For his ability to rip his way through a buttery bag of kernels without stopping for a quiet breath. For his talent of chomping through even the toughest of unpopped kernels. For readily disgusting all of those within earshot by his lip-smacking, mouth-breathing, finger-licking soundtrack. I was livid, yes.

Fast forward 10 minutes into the film when Julie (the quarter life crisis, mullet wearing food blogger) serves a delish looking bruschetta. Perfectly grilled bread! Ripe and juicy looking tomatoes! I could smell the garlic from the screen! And what does her oaf of a husband do? He shoves the entire piece into his face like a wild dog protecting his find from the pack. Now, if Cesar Milan was in that dining room he would have pinched the back of neck, made a shushing noise and allowed him to eat only when he had calmed down.

Oh how I wish Cesar had been there.

My point in all this - the unspoken word in the Julia Child part of the story is SAVOR. The look of ecstasy on her face when she first bites into the Dover Sole or when she licks the vanilla meringue off her whisk - it's perfection. You know exactly how she's feeling. You also know that in the next take she won't be stuffing her face or smearing meringue all over her face in an effort to digest it more quickly.

All that being said I really enjoyed the movie. Part of me wishes that it has just focused on the Julia Child side of the story and is kind of disappointed by the fact that she has to share her screen time with the rather annoying and dull Julia Powell. And I HATE to say that considering how much I enjoyed her blog. But there you have it.

The movie made me hungry. It made me want to go to France. It made me want to go grocery shopping. It made me want to invest in new pots & pans. And it made me want to smack the asshole next to me.

Bon appetit :)

The halfway point

2009-08-11T13:00:00.000-04:00

This week officially brings me to the halfway point of my marathon training. Frightening, yes. Yesterday I whined to the bf "I just want race day to be here already!". Mostly because I'm getting really excited about being in San Francisco and also because I want to buy some pretty marathon race gear (don't judge me).

His flat response "No you don't. Your body is ready for it yet". Predictably my initial response was a "Screw You!" With a side of "So you're saying I'm weak!?"

He's right of course. One 30km run does not a marathoner make. Despite all that I was feeling quite good about my training this week. I'm definitely feeling stronger and my injuries are fading away nicely. I've been trying to pamper my body lately so I think that has alot to do with it - lots of baths, massage, wearing the right shoes, loads of sleep etc. Following the advice of my clinic instructors I've been adding core strength to my workouts and am now up to holding my planks for 1:45. Not bad considering that eleven weeks ago I looked like I was having a stroke after 30 seconds.

Here's my roundup for the week:

Sunday: 19km long run. Bf suggested that instead of my usual route I try out the Martin Goodman trail. Once again my hatred for that route prevailed and I had an awful, energy-sapping, sun-drenched run. The smell of garbage, the crowds of Caribana and the bone melting rays from the fireball in the sky did nothing to improve the situation. Did I mention that it was sunny? It was.

Wednesday: 8 hills. I skipped my Tuesday run because my legs were still feeling sore and tired and my stomach was giving me grief - so this was my first post-long run run. It wasn't good. The warmup seemed to take forever and was mostly uphill [I hate you run leaders]. The hill itself was in Forest Hill and was actually quite pleasant. Aside from the cobblestone-like rode I was able to keep a fairly consistent pace and my HR didn't skyrocket (probably meant I could have worked harder). But I was comatose by the cooldown. I was obviously dehydrated and my legs felt like stone appendages. No good.

Thursday: 10km tempo run. Went out on my own for once and quite enjoyed it. Took an old route that I haven't run in awhile. Definitely needed some time to feel properly warmed-up and get my legs moving, but after 15 minutes or so everything seemed to start working more efficiently. Wasn't my fastest tempo run but I definitely put in some solid effort on speeding up my turnover.

Saturday: 29.5km long run. I moved up my long run this week because I heard that Sunday was supposed to have terrible, terrible, no good weather. And am I ever glad that I did! Took a long route west and then back along the Danforth to Victoria Park then back along the Beaches. Was lovely. Perfect conditions of 18 degrees and overcast sky - very San Franciscoesque. Drained every ounce of liquid and gels on my person and then stopped for more along the way. Had a bit of gut rot around 22km but at the end I actually felt like I could keep on going. For the first time 42km didn't seem that elusive! Had some wicked chafing from the back pocket of my shorts but other than that my legs and hips feel great!

And so beings the second half...

Where I've been, where I'm going

2009-08-05T12:18:00.002-04:00

Over the past nine months I've gone progressively from training for a half-marathon, to a 30km to a full marathon. The half was the Toronto International Half-Marathon which I completed in October 2008. I had been using the Nike+ system in my training and the week before the race the battery blew on my sensor - causing my calibration to be slightly off and therefore making it appear that I ran further than my required 21km. Regardless, it was still a thrill to hear Paula Radcliffe's chipper British voice cheer me on through my iPod "Congratulations! You've just run your farthest distance yet!". Thanks Paula :)

With my momentum high I immediately signed up for the 30km Around the Bay Race in Hamilton, Ontario. Aside from being the oldest road race in North America (with the coolest shirts!) the race was also held in a town from my childhood and is one that my mother herself completed when she was 16 years old - walking, of course.

I followed a new training plan for this race, for the first time straying from the John Stanton regimen. This time I was only running 4 days a week - three runs of 5-10km and one long run. I think that it really helped me to stay injury free (or as free as possible) and prevented me from burning out towards the end. The bf paced me on the run which really saved my ass and got me through some tough points. Unfortunately it also meant that I went out way too fast and didn't walk early enough - as you can see from the mountainous peaks in the latter half of my Garmin report.

And yes that's right - I said GARMIN. The bf got me the Forerunner 405 model for Christmas - many kisses all around for that one. I was thrilled to the gills but had no idea how much it would change my running or my training - in one word it's BRILLIANT.

The day after the Around the Bay race I received confirmation that I won the lottery into the San Francisco Nike Women's Marathon. Within minutes bf had the race hotel booked and I was already mapping out my training plan. To say I was excited is an understatement. We have a thing about San Fran, and I have a thing about medals made by Tiffany's. Funny that.

I quickly realized that the marathon might be the end of me physically so I decided to break down and re-join the Running Room training clinic. A friend of mine was running in it and I figured that I could use the mental support during long runs. I'm at week 10 now and I've yet to join the group on a long run. I have to say that I find the solitude of a long run enjoyable, I kind of get lost in my audio book and my pace and just go. I have definitely found the clinic instruction sessions helpful though - especially when it comes to pacing and injury prevention. And I must say that I have never been more committed to my hill training than now. In the past I've slacked when it came to hills and would never make it to the final goal number (usually 7 or 8). But this time around running with a group of 50-70 other runners helps to keep the motivation up and the pace moving - you don't wanna slow down when there's a huge, heavy-breathing pack coming up from the rear!

So despite the fact that I like to think of myself as an independent, lone, strong, willful runner - being surrounded by a crowd of short-short wearing, sweaty, sassy, gel-packing misfit runners is helping to get me through. We'll see how the next 10 weeks go :)

Week 16/16: The End

2008-10-22T22:30:00.005-04:00

Thank freaking God, it's over!
Started the week by eating as much pumpkin pie as my mouth could fit. After all there must be some healing properties to gourds...right? Especially the ones covered in whipped cream.

Tuesday: 1km. I attempted to get a 6km run in, but after the first 4 minutes I got some of the worst cramps in my stomach and had to turn around. This did not bode well. Terror begins to set in.
Wednesday: 10km. Before I headed out the bf said "You better make sure you finish this one!". Thanks alot for the support bf. But I was determined not to psych myself out. I had a lovely route, it was chilly but not too windy and my legs were well rested. And it was great. An amazing run. I give most of the credit to the podcase I was listening to. Phedippidations had this amazing episode where runners called in and gave inspirational stories, told jokes and gave race reports from around the world. The best part (and I realize what a geek this makes me) occurred when each of them one by one said the phrase "I am a runner". I got chills and a little bit teary just listening. It was brilliant. Because I am a runner too. And I was ready to prove it.

RACE DAY!: 21 km. Despite the fact that Royal Cab was 30 minutes late and I nearly made our driver cry - we got there. The morning was beautiful - cold and sunny. My legs felt great and I was keeping up a great pace. My goal was 2:10 and when the 2:15 pace bunny began darting in and out of my path I started to lose my mind. I gave up a few walk breaks, ran hard on the downhills and downed both my gels. I've been told that I'm not allowed to be sad about my time - 2:11. After all, it is 11 minutes faster than last year. All in all it was an amazing morning and I'm never happier than when I'm hearing the thunder of running feet all around me. My friend Erin said that finishing a long run is the closest she'll get to a legal high - she's definitely right, minus the patchouli stank.

Week 15/16: Rounding the bend

2008-10-22T22:13:00.002-04:00

Last week before the big event and once again I'm battling a cold and sore legs. I didn't feel so bad about slowing down since technically I was supposed to be tapering, but still it was a pretty limited week.
Sunday: 20km. I didn't get out until midday despite my best efforts to simulate race morning. Took a gel out with me to give it a go before the big day and thank god for that, because I nearly collapsed about half way through. Pretty much had to haul my ass across University Ave just to get home, but I managed to make it alive. The next few days however were killer on my legs.
Wednesday: 4km. Treadmill run. Wanted to stop the entire time.
Thursday: 6km. Last track session. There were high school kids drinking on the bleachers - I was intimidated. Ran three laps, pulled a hamstring muscle on the last round and then came home defeated. Felt like I needed to marinate myself in an epsom bath for approx. 2 weeks.

Forbidden books for children

2008-10-07T15:08:00.002-04:00

I found this list today while I was doing some genuine libeery work and found it inappropriately hilarious. Could be the early Christmas shopping that I did for a certain 5 year old today, or the fact that a close member of my urban family is about to squeeze a screaming, slimy head from between her legs...either way, my mind has been on kid lit lately. So here you go:

Index Liberis Prohibitorum - Index of Forbidden Books for Children
The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables
Curious George and the High-Voltage Fence
Daddy Drinks Because You Cry
Dad's New Wife Robert
Eggs, Toilet Paper, and Your School
Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share
The Kids' Guide to Hitchhiking
The Little Sissy Who Snitched
The Magic World Inside the Abandoned Refrigerator
The Man in the Moon Is Actually Satan
Places Where Mommy and Daddy Hide Neat Things
Pop! Goes The Hamster...And Other Great Microwave Games
The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy
Some Kittens Can Fly
Strangers Have the Best Candy
Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will
Whining, Kicking, and Crying to Get Your Way
Why Can't Mr. Fork and Ms. Electrical Outlet Be Friends?
You Were an Accident
Your Nightmares Are Real
You're Different, and That's Bad

(source: Steven Olderr, Webmaster, Anglican Library Society)

Week 14/16: Dragging my ass out the door

2008-10-06T23:40:00.003-04:00

This week was my first week back at after extended illness and then vacation. It was tough, and right now I can barely walk down the stairs without groaning...but dammit I did it.

Sunday: 10km. Didn't dare attempt the 15km that I was scheduled for. Barely made it to 3km before I started getting stitches. Continued for the rest of the run. Felt like crying by the time I got home, but at least I got my ass out the door. That's what mattered.
Monday: 5km. Morning run. Legs still felt heavy and sluggish, but no stitches today. Cold morning air felt really good.
Wednesday: 4km. Ran on treadmill, tried to focus on a quick turnover to wake my legs up. Still feeling a bit heavy but pace was good and breathing steady.
Friday: 3km quick run in the morning + 7km at the track in the evening. Ran 6 quick laps and felt really good. Legs feeling much more responsive and light.
Ended up leaving the track a bit early because a gaggle of teenagers showed up readying themselves for Beer Mile. Aw, these kids today with their drinking and their track & field.

I definitely need to start stretching more as my distances start to add up, but race day is coming up fast. I can hardly believe that it's time to start tapering!

Week 12&13/16: Fartleks in France and Sloth in Spain

2008-09-28T20:55:00.002-04:00

Well sloth isn't entirely true. I did spend alot of energy searching for baguettes and cheese. My Sunday run was supposed to be upped to Saturday before our flight to Paris, unfortunately I was being a little generous with my schedule and wasn't able to fit it in. I did manage one run for the week.
Tuesday: 4km on the treadmill in our hotel. I ran while overlooking the Montparnasse cemetary where Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre are buried. Good run. Nothing like an acre of tombstones to get your motor running.
I did give myself permission to slow down on the training while we spent a week in France and a week in Spain. Good thing too, because this was my only run for the whole vacation.

Week 11/16: the week that wasn't.

2008-09-28T20:53:00.001-04:00

This week I didn't run.
My immune system went on strike and I was banished to the couch.
The end.

Week 10/15: When my food baby went to heaven

2008-09-09T11:37:00.002-04:00

Hallelujah my stomach woes have finally kicked the curb and I've been able to run without the fear of shit trailing behind me. Savor that image for a moment, won't you?
After the rather hilly and taxing long run on Sunday I had a good day of recovery on Monday. Lots of lying around watching Gossip Girl always does the trick.

Tuesday: 5km on the treadmill. Joints all felt fine but I had some strange pains in my lower back, this happens sometimes on the treadmill, throws my stance off I think. I was also running sprints that day, so there's that.
Thursday: 7 hills + 6km. Really, really good run. Hills felt good, practiced my downhill sprints using a technique I just read about in Runners World. Seemed to help with my knees. Only one week left of hills!
Friday: 5km. This was supposed to be a 6km morning run. Woke up to humidex of 30 degrees at 7am. This should be illegal. My British genes recoil from these temperatures and long for the fog and wind. Needless to say, it was not a good run. This was one of those days where I feared for my bowels. Lots of walking.
Sunday: 17 km. Ran a flat route across the Danforth this time, felt much better. The fact that it was approximately 20 degrees cooler than last week also helped. Felt really great. The bf caught up to me at the end of his 32 km run (show off) and forced my ass to pick up the pace and practically sprint home. Good times. I love those rare opportunities when we get to be one of those smug couples that runs together.

Week 9/15: Where the rhinestones come off

2008-09-01T20:22:00.003-04:00

Upset tummy continued this week - and no, I do not blame Maple Leaf products for that upset.
I'm not sure what to blame. Allz I know is that there was a whole lot of pepto, ginger ale and gravol going on this week.

Aside from that loveliness, I also bought my first pair of running glasses! You may have noticed in my pic from the Midsummer Nights Run that I was sporting my pair of Nine West big, round, rhinestone-rimmed style. This has been my go-to pair for the better part of my running habit. Saddzies, I know.

Anyhoo, I got myself hooked up with a sweet little tortoise shell pair that I found at MEC. And I heart them real hard. No more pinching at the temples, no sweat pooling up on the bridge of my nose, no fellow runners laughing at my rhinestones.....

So here's how the week went:
Tuesday: 5km. Morning run. Felt good. Tried to add 10km in the evening, instead curled up with a bottle of Canada Dry on the couch. Thanks BF!
Thursday: 6 hills + 6km. Was feeling a little sick when I left the house and after 3 hills felt alot like rolfing. But I kept at it, 'cause that's what you do. Last 3 went great and really good run back.
Friday: 5km. HOT outside. Muggy as all get out. Was a suck = ran on treadmill.
Saturday: 6km. Hot again but a nice breeze. Made a game out of dodging students and crying mothers at UofT.
Sunday: 16km. Longest long run so far. Up to Eglinton, across and back. Loaded up on the sunscreen, grabbed a midrun Gatorade and felt really, really good...until I got to Bloor Street and then my stomach had something really important to say. Something that it just couldn't keep to itself. Something that needed to come up real fast. Managed to ignore it until I got back, but forced me to slow way down and practically walk the last 10 mins.

Here's hoping for a smoother week...

Week 8/16: The one with an upset tummy

2008-08-25T12:44:00.005-04:00

I think I ate some bad feta somewhere along the way this week and I've been down and out ever since with fatigue and waves of nausea, no good for running. So aside from the belly aches here's how the week went:
Sunday and Monday were spent recovering from the race on Saturday. Legs felt really good though so I did some cross-training on the elliptical and climbing machines at the gym.
Tuesday: 4km. Good evening run.
Wednesday: 5 hills + 6km. Hills felt really great this week and I was up and down in no time. The cool weather that morning really helped with keeping me up and alert I think. I scheduled a massage for later that day as well, which was an excellent idea on my part.
Thursday: Cross-trained on bike.
Friday: Headed out to do a 6km but only managed 5.2. High humidity in the morning and a poopy stomach didn't help the situation. Ended up taking a sick day and lying on the bathroom floor for awhile.
Saturday: 4km. Good run. Effing hot. Got to see all the students unloading their parents vans, always enjoyable to see university students with Hello Kitty stuffed animals.
Sunday: Scheduled to run 15km but didn't wake up early enough to beat the heat. Ended up swapping for a shorter run of 4km, will have to make that up tomorrow when the heat goes away. Ran on the treadmill, 'cause I'm a baby la la.

I also went back to the Running Room yesterday because of some pains in the arch of my right foot. I just got new shoes in May so I figured maybe I needed an insert. The manager (who also sold me those shoes, tsk tsk) watched me run and shook his head like I was the sorriest runner he'd ever seen. Then he brought me out two other pairs of shoes, which I tried and he was much more pleased. He did a straight exchange for the new pair which are Brooks Adrenaline GTS8 - apparently very good for girls with high arches and rubber ankles. Three cheers for the Running Room, I love that place.
We'll see how the Brooks make it through the week.

True story: REM madness

2008-08-22T10:28:00.004-04:00

Somewhere during my REM cycle last night I had this very realistic, boring and plodding dream that I was running. Just running, on my usual morning route.
I passed the smoking Chinese guy surrounded by his white cloud of cancer; I smelled the rotting green bins that were put out too late; I got caught at the College Street light and had to bounce around for 30 seconds, my right ankle twitched on the inclines and I got a little stitch on the declines.
And when I woke up it took me at least a solid minute to determine if I still needed to run or not.
What the eff?
So the question is - can I put that run in my training log?
And when exactly is a shirtless Michael Phelps going to return to his REM duties? Seriously. That boy is slacking.

Dear The Hills; we're so done.

2008-08-19T12:01:00.004-04:00

Dear The Hills,
I'm gonna say this straight up because I don't want to mess you around. We're officially through.

We've had some really good times - lots of laughs, tears and fashion mishaps. And that's how I choose to remember you. As the good Hills that I once I knew. Sadly, you are now merely a shell of your former self.

I say this because I care about you. You need to kill Heidi & Spencer and then you need to put an end to all of this insipidness - turning the gun on yourself is the only way to save us all.

Please don't cry and resort to theatrics, we've all seen enough of that. And don't bring out threats of another sex tape, it only makes you appear needy. I know that this season you're trying to pull out all the stops with some young, hip music, a fresh lipgloss and a few shots of Restylane ... but it's just not going to work. I'm just not that into you anymore.

I'm sorry if I sound way harsh, but I don't want to confuse your small, feeble brain.
The Hills - you're dead to me.

Sincerely,
Me

Week 7/16: The one where I wore short shorts

2008-08-17T23:10:00.004-04:00

Yes, I said it - short shorts. With the humidity climbing, my mileage increasing and the hill training never-ending, I decided to go with apparel that had decidedly less chance of chafing my lady parts.
Overall it was a good week, despite the fact that my body increasingly felt fatigued and sore. I can't decide if the running book that I've been reading is causing me to be more analytical, or if I'm actual experiencing symptoms of exhaustion. Either way I cut back a bit this week and focused more on relaxing and recovering before and after my long run.
Here's a look at the week:
Sunday: 12km across the Danforth. Made the stupid move of running during Taste of the Danforth. Dodged smells of roasting meats the entire first half. Great run though, cloudy and cool.
Tuesday: 4km. Out and back in the early morning.
Wednesday: 4 hills + 6 km. Once again I dodged the running clinics on the hill. This time there was just a cute, married couple. They cheered me on during my last hill. I love runners.
Thursday: Supposed to do 5km. Too sore. Too tired.
Friday: 3km makeup run. On the treadmill. Felt sluggish and tired. Slowed down to get through.
Saturday: 15km race - Midsummer Night's Run. I was nervous all day leading up to this one. An evening run throws off my entire eating and preparation schedule. Aside from some mild dehydration it was a great run. Great crowd and some really nice runners that helped keep me on pace. I was happy with a 1:34 time, still slightly slower than my half-marathon goal time....but I still have 11 weeks to go.

That boy is a running fool!

2008-08-14T10:47:00.003-04:00

So I'm about five weeks into my training for the Toronto half-marathon and as many of my "running colleagues" have been publicly tracking their progress and challenges as a way of keeping on track, I thought that I would do the same.
And if this in any way causes you to think "hey, that chick has absolutely no coordination and enough thigh cellulite to choke a horse - if she can do it so can i" then I am happy to be of assistance.

Here we go then, last week I ran the following days and distances:
Sunday - 10 km through Rosedale. Was hell. Was hot. Wanted to die. But didn't.
Tuesday - 4km
Wednesday - 3 hills / 7.5 km. First day of hills, which I did in the morning to avoid the evening running clinics. Wasn't as bad as I thought. Did not puke.
Thursday - 5km. Great time, no walks.
Saturday - 3km. Ran at a sprinting pace (5:10km) after a little warm-up. Felt really good.

I'm still nine weeks away from the race so anything could happen. But I'm stretching a lot and trying to stay relaxed - plus I just invested in some new running shorts that I need to run the hell out of in order to justify the cost.
That's how I roll.

The Perfect Simcoe Day

2008-08-04T22:13:00.002-04:00

Dutch-oven Pancake, originally uploaded by Librarian In The City.

This morning the bf and I went for brunch a delightful little out-of-the-way joint and I had what might possibly be one of the most amazing breakfast experiences EVER. Caps are necessary here.
I ordered this Dutch-Oven Pancake, which, to my delight did not involve farting and pulling a blanket over my head. Quite the opposite actually.

This is a pancake, made very much like a real cake. With delicious crispy edges and amazing fluffy yet dense inards. And then they have the balls to smother it with blueberries and serve it with warm syrup and fresh whipped cream on the side.

I almost started to weep in the restaurant. But I knew that the hipster crowd would sense my weakness, stare me down over their oversized Golden Girl sunglasses and judge me silently. The worst of hipster punishments.

I got 96 problems but a crayon ain't one

2008-08-04T22:04:00.002-04:00

Crayola Crayons 96 pack, originally uploaded by Librarian In The City.

A few weeks ago I bought this pack of Crayola Crayons because they were on sale. Yes, I have a problem with sales at Staples...but that's another story.

So I took them home and smelled them for awhile and then went out and bought some colouring books to play around with. For those of you without children let me alert you to something. Kids don't colour anymore.
That's right. The racks that traditionally held the large books filled with cheap newsprint and Disney princesses are now being used for, wait for it...STICKER BOOKS.

Can you believe this shit? Alls of a sudden it's too much to ask a kid to choose between Burnt Sienna and Bittersweet. Now they just have to pull of some stickers and smack them down willy-nilly.

I weep for the future.

I always wanted to be Jessie's Girl

2008-07-29T12:04:00.002-04:00

I've heard this song twice already today. And both times I totally rocked out. No jokes. In the middle of the library. Don't ask why Rick Springfield was on in my office. It has to do with an ill-advised NPR cancellation and the desperate search for a morning replacement.

For now, enjoy Rick. Rick! Rick! Rick!

Now if only I could remember the routine that I created for this song when I was seven...

America tries to kill us with sweet, sweet death

2008-07-11T07:53:00.003-04:00

Ahhh American, probably the only country with the ability to invent such a monstrosity of sugar and fat. Apparently this is known as the Luther Burger and it involves a massive amount of beef, American cheddar, bacon and the piece de resistance...a glazed Krispy Kreme donut in place of a bun.
My gall bladder just threw it's hand in the air and stormed out of the room, muttering something along of the lines of "Go Fuck Yourself".
This morning I'm off to the land of the luther in search of cheap clothes, chicken wings and cheesecake. If border security starts monitoring blood sugar levels we are so screwed.

Before Cat Deeley there was DTV

2008-07-09T22:30:00.002-04:00

Whenever I sit down with Cat on a Wednesday night I'm always reminded of sleepovers in my friend Catherine's basement, listening to INXS, prank calling boys, playing with my new spiral perm and getting ready to watch Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.
Now I have to say that to this day this movie is still one of my ultimate favorites. I was in love with Janey Glenn way before Carrie Bradshaw got drunk at Tunnel and made out with the waiter. Way. Before.
And how stinking hot is Lee Montgomery in this movie? Jebus.
My little sister has now worn my copy of the VHS tape down to a nub, so I'll be looking to get a DVD copy asap. Especially now that my appetite for DTV has been revived.
Watch, enjoy.

Another reason I love Torontonians

2008-07-07T14:30:00.002-04:00

They're willing to call a spade a spade - in an intelligent manner.

Spam Soup

2008-06-20T12:59:00.005-04:00

Over the past month or so I've been collecting those items in my spam box that have peaked my interest, or caused me to laugh out loud.

Since they've given me such joy, wonderment and curiosity over who the hell writes these things and what they're supposed to mean - I thought that I would share the lot with you.

Please feel free to share your own delicious spam samples.

1. More meat is never excessive.
This was one of those spams that caused me to initially think about one of those mammoth burgers from Wendy's. You know, the kind with 18 beef patties, a pound of bacon, dipped in a child's tears and deep fried in the soul of Satan? Yah, that kind.
Then it just got dirty.

2. I am sorry I banged her.
I bet you aren't. But I bet she is.

3. Glamourous glitters on your wrist.
I actually just like to say this one out loud. And I will admit that I only say it with a British accent. Or like Mrs. Howell. Now there's a classy lady with glamourous glitters on her wrist.

4. Whores get attracted easily.
I initially misread this one as "Whores get distracted easily" which I found strangely hilarious. And also - I bet not. I bet that it takes a lot to excite a whore at the end of the day. Because really, she (or he) has seen it all at that point. And to come home to yet another dick, probably not all that attractive. I'm just sayin'.

5. Small cucumber that's why your woman couldn't come.
I think that this would be a great line in a movie. Especially if it was a character like Mickey Rooney in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" yelling it down a stairwell.

6. Massive even when flaccid.
Are you gagging? (that's what she said) Because this one just made me go ugh with a little shiver. Because I can just see it. Lying there, on a leg, all wrinkly and flaccid and massive. Like something out of the back pages of Playgirl only not in a good way.

7. Your mom will love this.
Really? You really think my mom will love this? Because if I open this email and it's anything other than a foot bath or a commemorative Princess Di plate I'm betting high on the fact that Linda will in fact NOT love this. But rather that she would scream at her computer monitor, douse it in Lysol and call the police.

8. Make your trouser mouse a monster.
Ok, it's juvenile I know. But Trouser Mouse! C'mon, that's hilarious! This one could actually be used for some kind of legitimate sexual enhancement product, good work spam writer. Pat yourself on the back for that one.

Just when I was about to get all Proud on your ass...

2008-06-18T20:11:00.004-04:00

I come across articles like this. And it makes me realize how much work is left to do. I must admit that my own trans education only came about this year when the Pride Run Board made the decision to allow our runners to choose between male, female and trans when they register.
Until that conversation I never realized the importance of such an issue. It all came down to genitals for me. Not that I've morphed into the resident trans expert or anything - far from it - but I am starting to understand the issues around sexuality and identity a little bit more.

Tuesday night I was fortunate enough to hear Mr. David Rayside speak at our Pride Run reception. He's now a professor at UofT and has been an out gay man since the late 70's. He mentioned that back in the day you were warned not to fall to the back of the crowd at the Pride parade, because you would often be followed and beat up.
I know that I'm being naive and simplistic, but that idea just blows my mind.

I'm participating in the pride parade this year. Proudly. And I'm not gay.

Not to sound like a self-righteous crusader or anything but I am someone who won't - who physically CAN'T - sit in my seat and keep quiet while I have friends that are looked down upon, treated differently, hurt, degraded or made to feel like a lesser person than anyone else.

I don't care if it's a child, a woman, a gay man, a dog or a pigeon. That's right, a pigeon. I said it.

The long walk through KW

2008-05-09T22:36:00.004-04:00

Tonight I'm spending the night in KW for the first time in at least seven years, and in some ways it's like I never left. Tooling around the university and its various university hangouts has certainly roused many memorable moments. And so, when I saw this little clip just now I had to laugh out loud at its appropriateness and timeliness.
Enjoy.
And be happy that this walk has now ended....godwilling.

Tim Gunn could be my 14th husband

2008-05-08T15:10:00.002-04:00

Love love love this.
Tim Gunn chimes in on the fashion crimes being perpetrated in the polygamist ranches of Texas.
Will someone please think of the fashion? Please?

Wednesday's Wisdom: Tomato soup = less beatings

2008-04-23T12:00:00.003-04:00

It's old-timey, so it must be true.

"Most husbands, nowadays, have stopped beating their wives, but what can be more agonizing to a sensitive soul than a man's boredom at meals?"

"There's something about Sunday night that, like, makes you wanna kill yourself"

2008-04-15T22:15:00.004-04:00

Angela Chase could totally kick Juno McGuff's ass.

But Michael Sera would have made a wicked Brian Krakow.

Yet another reason I love my job...

2008-04-14T13:19:00.004-04:00

Last year I was cataloguing books with titles like "Your colorectal surgery options" and "What to say when you don't know what to say: a guide to death and grief".

But today, today I got to catalogue a score called "Morris Mouse inspects the haunted attic".
I laughed out loud as I was entering it into the database.

I love this gig.

Raise a Ruckus Dammit!

2008-04-09T12:58:00.002-04:00

Here's the info that was sent out today regarding the demonstration at the CBC on Friday.
Tune in, turn up!
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, pick up a newspaper.
And then read it.

April 8, 2008

We are expecting a large and vocal turnout at CBC installations across Canada, in every province where Radio Two is heard and loved. These demonstrations will occur simultaneously at 1200hrs Eastern Time (9am in Vancouver, 1:30pm in St. John’s, etc.). We are inviting all lovers of classical music and public support for the non-commercial arts scene in this country to join with us in calling for the restoration of Radio Two’s vital classical music programming and the reversal of the decision to axe the CBC Radio Orchestra. Let our voices ring out and be heard! We welcome and encourage all members of the print, radio, electronic and television media to cover this important story and join us on this important day for Canada’s classical music community.

**********************************

The following is a list of local CBC installation addresses across Canada where demonstrations are being planned, including local times and local contact information:

9am Pacific: Victoria: 1025 Pandora Avenue

Contact: Cecilia Porter - ceciliap@uvic.ca

9am Pacific: Vancouver: 775 Cambie Street

Contacts: David Taylor Gill - dtg1@sfu.ca
Jocelyn Morlock – jocelynmorlock@yahoo.ca
John Oliver – joliver1@earsay.com
Michael Vincent – info@michaelvincent.ca
Tanya Battaglia - savecbc@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Calgary: 1724 Westmount Blvd. NW

Contact - Andrew Nowry Andrewnowry@gmail.com
Darren Young - silentearth66@hotmail.com

10am Mountain: Edmonton: 23 Edmonton City Centre, 10062-102nd Avenue

Contacts - Scott Bursey - scottbursey@gmail.com
John Brough – jsbrough@shaw.ca
Peter McGillivray radio2@petermcgillivray.com

10am Sask: Saskatoon: CBC 144 2nd Ave South
Contacts: Karen Mak hop_rocks@hotmail.com
Lorraine McGrath Khachtourians
Brendan McLean - bjm384@mail.usask.ca

10am Sask: Regina: 2440 Broad Street

11am Central: Winnipeg: 541 Portage Avenue

Contact: Jonathan Klassen - jklasse@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Toronto: 250 Front Street West

Contacts: James Baldwin jamesmichaelbaldwin@rogers.com
Chris Foley chris@collaborativepiano.com
Kathleen Rudolph Jkrudolph5@aol.com
Julia Mah - fairside61@hotmail.com

12pm Eastern: London, ON: 208 Piccadilly Street
Contact: Forrest Pass - fpass@uwo.ca
Durval Cesetti - durval.cesetti.cbcprotestlondon@gmail.com

12pm Eastern: Ottawa: 181 Queen Street, Ottawa - Meeting at Sparks Street entrance
Contact: James Wooten - cbcradiotwoandme@hotmail.com
Gary Hayes - cansona@rogers.com

12pm Eastern: Montreal: 1400 Rene Levesque East
Contact-Alexandra Fol - alexandra.fol@mail.mcgill.ca
Emily Gray - contra_alto@hotmail.com
Michael Shannon - michael.shannon@mail.mcgill.ca

1pm Atlantic: Saint John: 560 Main Street

1pm Atlantic: Halifax: 1601 South Park
Contact: Christian Stalley - cspstudio@yahoo.ca
Stephanie Moore - st886157@dal.ca
Janet Brush - thunderbug22003@yahoo.ca

1pm Atlantic: Charlottetown: 430 University Avenue
Contact Kate Huston - drummingdiva@hotmail.com

1:30pm Newfoundland: St John's: 25 Henry Street
Contact: Heather Joyce - livingabundance@hotmail.com

Links and Web Resources:
Save Classical Music at the CBC

Save the CBC Radio Orchestra

Vancouver composer, John Oliver's Ad Campaign Site

La Scena Musicale's list of web articles:

Save the CBC Orchestra

Save the CBC

For more general information, please contact Peter McGillivray – radio2@petermcgillivray.com

Even Cats Have Disasters

2008-03-27T17:18:00.002-04:00

This fascinating article was waiting in my Bloglines this morning, you should read it.

Apparently there are documented steps to help your pets live through a natural disaster! Finally! Do you know how many nightmares I've had that involve a fire/flood/rodent infestation/crazy gun-toting,SVU-inspired psycho and the immense feeling of dread that comes over me when I realize that Molly is trapped inside the house! Too many to count frankly.
Don't judge my dreams.
So while I find it slightly unreasonable to have an extra litter box, litter and food bowl on hand - I do find that some of these tips will help me sleep a little more soundly at night. Or at least allow me to deal with the SVU psycho without having to worry about my little muffin.

Oh, and if you don't want to read the article you at least have to see this pic.
That's right, the author has her cats leashed and in the bathtub during a tornado warning. She definitely deserves a mother of the year award. At least for remembering to bring the camera into the bathroom.

Wednesday's Wisdom (better late than never): Respect thy neighbors ...even when they are jerks.

2008-03-20T11:33:00.002-04:00

respect., originally uploaded by justbadpot.
There's been quite an interesting debate/rant/argument/bare-knuckle fight taking place on my condo's Facebook group as of late dealing with the issue of respect. It all started with a rather innocent comment where a resident asked where the sound of drilling had been coming from that morning. This led to a response where it was suggested that living in a downtown condo meant dealing with some noise, like it or lump it. Fast forward to comments about residents party/music noise levels and the suggestion that those complaining were old fogey's who should move to the suburbs and shut the hell and up and well...it was on.

And there's nothing I love more than a true throw-down.

I'm sure that the conversation will be ongoing and given the fact that the building is a pretty good mix of Ryerson students, young singlites, settled down 30-somethings and old Chinese ladies I'm pretty sure that there will never be a consensus as to what constitutes the ideal decibel level. That being said, there is something to this argument of downtown living. There is a certain amount of tolerance that needs to be reserved for early morning city workers and late night homeless drunks. I'm over it, I'll deal. It took me several months to build up this tolerance but I'm proud to say that I'm there.

What I do NOT have tolerance for is the 4am brain-rattling, homicide-inducing bass thumps of the asshole in the unit above me who's decided that being alive is enough reason for a late night celebration. Don't get me wrong, I respect your right to celebrate and let loose ...but perhaps you (I'm lookin' at you Mr. Asshole of the Bass Thumps) could respect the fact that the rest of us need to haul our sorry alive selves to work... in, oh...let's say...two hours. One of the benefits of living in The Big Smoke is that should you feel the need to get your rocks off at such an ungodly hour there are a number of ungodly places open and available to serve you. So please, I beg of you, go and explore beyond the wall of your living room.

I hear there are some really good acoustics on the far lane of the DVP. Just a suggestion.

St. Patrick's Day: Sponsored by Guinness

2008-03-17T11:36:00.003-04:00

Today is the day when all of your liquids will be replaced by that dark, frothy and biting fluid known as Guinness. Or at least that's what the beer maker would have us think.
So in order to celebrate here's a fun Guinness commercial that I bookmarked long ago.

Happy St.Pat's day everyone!

Wednesday's Wisdom: Keep Calm and Carry On

2008-03-12T22:49:00.003-04:00

wise words to live by.
from sfgirlbybay etsy shop

Free to be you and me

2008-03-12T10:19:00.003-04:00

Clearly I'm a bit behind the times because only now (a week later) am I hearing about this speech from Ellen. I heard about it through one of my weekly podcasts The Daily Purge - hilariously hosted by two gays from Chicago - and it was referenced to during a discussion of the Ben Affleck / Jimmy Kimmel video that came out recently. Admittedly, I projectile laughed at that video and have watched it several times since but I get where Ellen is coming from. I find the whole issue a little difficult to process and I don't know if being straight has anything to do with it.

I know that as a woman I get queasy watching the rape and violence storyline's of Law & Order SUV, I had to leave the room during "Boys Don't Cry" and I didn't get a full nights sleep for weeks after seeing that Farrah Fawcett movie The Burning Bed - don't even get me started on the book.

But I also know that I laugh during the terribly politically incorrect moments of Family Guy and South Park. I have the ability - or at least I hope I do - to have a sense of humour about some of these issues without diminishing their importance or seriousness. And while I might not be able to articulate it, I know when my throat starts to close and my stomach drops that something has crossed the line.

I'm not sure if laughing at Ben Affleck and Jimmy Kimmel is an offense to the gay community but I do know that a kid getting killed for a valentine should be an offense to the whole world.
I don't think Jimmy Kimmel is the one that made an 8th grade boy so afraid of a gay person that he felt he needed to kill. So maybe we should ask his parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and siblings what they think.