Monday Miles 1

Remember this post?

Well, here is the follow-through; but first, some additional background:  To break 2,000 miles (or run an additional 1,000 miles) before the end of this year, I will need to average 22 miles per week from now through early September.  At that point, I will ratchet up to 25 miles per week for 4 weeks leading into a 12-week program that culminates in a Half Marathon right after New Years.

That is the lay of the land.  For right now, however, I am focusing on building my base back up and getting in some longer runs before the weather turns HOT.

3/11-3/17 [actual runs]
Sunday:  4 miles @ 8:43 average
Monday:  3 miles @ 8:35 average
Tuesday:  4 miles @ 8:49 average
Wednesday:  Off
Thursday:  6 miles @ 8:32 average
Friday:  Off
Saturday:  8 miles @ 8:52 average
Weekly Total: 25 miles (average pace:  8:43)

Plan for Week of 3/18-3/25
Sunday:  Off
Monday:  5 miles
Tuesday:  3 miles Easy AM + 3 miles 5K pace PM
Wednesday:  6 miles
Friday:  3 miles
Saturday:  8 miles [possibly run Azalea Trial 10K]
Sunday:  Off

March 19, 2012

The word "meme" means "an idea, behavior or style that spreads from person to person within a culture."

A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena.  Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate and respond to selective pressures.

Thank you, Wikipedia.

While this may be stretching the concept slightly, I think randomness--especially in the form of kings (and sometimes their queens) and pirates--is a Mobile meme.  For example, while we are well outside of the season for royalty in Mobile (which is, of course, Mardi Gras), this is what we captured on our walk today (coming out of a hotel lobby on Government Street):

And, if you look closely, trailing behind His Majesty is a group of scurvy wenches.  Avast!

But why??

March 18, 2012

We have been in the habit of getting out and taking walks to enjoy the Spring weather while it last, before it turns to 100 degrees and 100% humidity--which I am sure is any day now.

Sometimes the best part of those walks can be the random randomness that you would otherwise miss . . . like Mobile's collection of "Bob Ross graffiti" . . . yep, "Happy Little Trees" immortalized on Dauphin Street:

Supper Sunday (11/52)

2012 Week #10
Sunday— Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole

This was interesting as we didn't really know what to expect.  Getting straight to the point-we liked it better than regular spaghetti, the cream cheese really did add some creaminess to the noodles, leftovers weren't steller but still good.

Monday—Leftovers
Tuesday— Leftovers
Wednesday—Sobremesa
Thursday—Hot Chile Grilled Cheese

This is basically a deconstructed chile relleno.  With that being said, of course, we liked it.  It was a good weeknight sandwich, but I don't know that I would call it a grilled cheese though.  It's more of a panini.
BTW-T totally gets points for sticking to the meal plan on this one because I was out eating Mexican food with the girls.  He still cooked, enjoyed it, and we had the ingredients already prepped for leftovers the next night.  Way to have some discipline T!

Friday—Leftovers
Saturday breakfast—Reuben Roll Ups, Rainbow Fruit Kabobs, Rolo Pretzel Bites

These recipes were for our potluck brunch we hosted.  I tried to stick to a strict St. Patrick's Day theme...of course I did because that's just how my mind works.

We've made these before around Christmas but used pecans to top the rolos.  Going with our theme, we decided to top them with green M & Ms this time.  T found a bag of just green ones at the store, and unknown to him they were mint flavored.  We weren't too sure about this flavor combination but it worked.  Some of our guests even asked us how we got the mint flavor into them.

I got this idea from Pinterest and loved it! Once again going with the St. Patrick's Day theme, rainbow fruit kabobs just seemed better than a fruit platter.  Unfortunately, not one person realized they were rainbows on a stick until I mentioned it.  Oh well, I still thought they were fun.  Plus, everyone seemed to like being able to pick up a stick and walk around eating their fruit. I would consider putting fruit on a stick for other parties just for that novelty/convenience.

Okay, this one doesn't just scream our theme of the day but it has corned beef in it.  And even though corned beef is not a national dish of Ireland, it is often included in many St. Patrick's Day celebrations in North America, thanks to the Irish-American culture (trust me wikipedia says it's true-skip down to the St. Patricks' Day portion).

We doubled the recipe and cut the sandwiches in half so we would have good amount for the brunch.  We worried about the size but I think it turned out pretty good.  Some of the reviews said the filling was bland so we added some horseradish to the sauerkraut and thousand island dressing.  I think this did help and would not leave it out.  We liked them and I'm assuming our guests (except Evan, who went running to the bathroom to spit it out.  She didn't realize it had sauerkraut in it and she hates that stuff)) did too considering there was only one left at the end of the day.

Vinho Verde-translated as Green Wine.  

The color of the wine is actually white but I still felt it fit the theme close enough.  This is one of our favorite types of spring/summer wines and we'll always be thankful to Jenny and Jay for introducing us to it.

Pitcher of Green Beer
What St. Patrick's Day celebration is complete without it?
See the chips and salsa?  I seriously could not get to sleep the night before because I only had red salsa and not green salsa.  I was so anxious because it didn't fit the theme.  Remember that's how my brain works?  Well, I should not have fretted.  I forgot to get plates and napkins so I had to use leftover New Year's Eve ones.  Yeah, red salsa didn't ruin my theme at all.
All the rest of the food (not pictured) was provided by guests since it was POTluck-Get it?  POT as in "pot-of-gold".  See no matter what they brought it would fit the theme...it was just the napkins/plates/salsa that messed me up.  I'll get it right next time.

Weekly cocktail—Green Beer (it counts)

So yeah, we cheated a little this week with this drink choice.  In our defense, we had never actually made these before and we did have to play around with the green food coloring to beer ratio to get it right.  Plus, our German friend, who had never celebrated St. Patrick's Day in the states, was completely intrigued by the process.   It brought back many college and "our early dating years" memories for us so I'm glad we did it.  Just for St. Patrick's Day though, this will never be a regular cocktail of choice around our place.  We have grown up a little bit.

2012 Week #11
Sunday— Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Pizza
Monday—Leftovers
Tuesday— Spinach Salad w/Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette
Wednesday—Greek Antipasto Pita
Thursday—Leftovers
Friday—Dinner out/Grocery shopping
Saturday—Supper Club
Saturday/Sunday breakfast—Peanut Butter and Banana Muffins
Weekly cocktail—Margatinis

March 17, 2012--Happy St. Patrick's Day!

With St. Patrick's Day falling on a Saturday this year, we really had no choice but to celebrate with a brunch (pot luck of course) and green beer and vino verde (in lieu of Bloody Marys and Mimosas) [more on that in Supper Sunday].

And while the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick did not walk/stumble/whatever down our street this year, the other St. Patrick's Day parade (yes, of course, Mobile would have more than one parade to celebrate ANYTHING) did . . . and, really--in the words of one of our good friend's--it WAS too soon for another bead, etc.-throwing parade.  But, like I said, we really had no choice . . . so neither do you:

And, in the spirit of Joe Cain Day, we had to make our way out to see what madness was going on, down Dauphin Street:

 And at the annual Callaghan Block Party:

But St. Patrick's Day in Mobile is really all about . . . the Crichton Leprechaun (see here and here, for example).  Below is the original news story, which of course "went viral" as well as the pretty catchy remix and--most importantly--the South Park reference (yes, you know you've made it when South Park picks you up!); enjoy:

March 16, 2012

Friday night, Todd sent us this picture of G enjoying her beads from her Mardi Gras package (after WWW untangled all of them-bet she hopes G and B don't get a package next year).

Then they sent us this picture of Todd and G wearing the beads together-we sent some long strands.

Of course WWW had to join in the fun.  I was surprised all three of them could wear some the same beads at the same time.

We really enjoyed texting back and forth and receiving these pics.  Technology is great.  It makes the distance from friends/family not so bad.

We received these pics the day before but I just could not leave Baby B out.  Look at how cute she is!!!

Todd told us she was Mr. T in training.

March 15, 2012

Girls Night Out!

Dinner at Agave with my friends Gaylan, Lindsay, Amber*, and Allison*.  It was fun to catch-up, sip on margaritas, eat some Mexican food, and just have some good old-fashioned girl time.

*Amber and Allison not pictured-they were on the other side of the booth.  Sorry girls!