Source: wall of Geisha Sushi, downtown Austin, TX
Friendly critter startled me as it scurried across my bedroom floor this evening. This is the tail end of it, after John trapped it under a glass.
Moved to the kitchen tabble, crazy looking.
Trying to escape, this little guy could climb almost completely up the side of the glass. The photo does not capture his acrobatic style very well. There is a quareter for size comparison, but I couldn’t get an accurate top-down view. The little guy was probably 6 inches long.
While I shrieked from the bed for John to come here, and watched this thing burrow under a pile of dirty clothes, I recalled several other encounters with unusual insects during my stay at the Gables.
First there was the scorpion, in my bed, which stung my leg. Several other scorpions have been discovered, captured, and flushed, since we moved into this apartment three years ago. This was my first. I took him to the Apartment office inside a tupperware container. hehe
We also recently found a tarantula outside. The pics are not great, taken from a cell phone, but they do show the spider shape and size pretty well.
By the way, it’s been over 100 degrees here for like a month. Anyone itching to move to Texas? Don’t put your bed on the floor, and always check your shoes before you put them on.
It’s Saturday and I think I’m falling a bit under the weather. 😦 Boo! I felt the beginnings of mild congestion and achiness about 2 days ago but thought I could probably shake it. Yesterday was a little better, then by last night… I could tell I was beginning to succumb to the unavoidable result of too much work and stress (as well as direct contact with flu bugs due to hubby arriving home from New York with a cold). So this morning, I was feeling a bit blah.
My alarm went off at 8, but I turned it off and chose not to go for a run. I am convinced that a good sweat helps kill off the sick stuff, as long as it is accompanied by enough sleep afterwards, but my body disagreed with my brain and went back to sleep. By 10, I got out of bed and had some Chai Yerba Mate, and a tiny slice of the Hazelnut Shortbread (Nourishing Traditions recipe) I made last week. I’ll post pics and recipe soon. Well, around noon I got to feeling a little hungry but was feeling the ick of being sick. I was trying to decide what would be the best thing to eat to help myself feel better and get well! I thought: I need healthy fats (lots) and chicken stock. It just seems like the right thing to eat. I probably need vitamin C as well, but I don’t have any pills.
I settled on a big bowl of Cream of Veg soup (also from NT) with a generous dollop of sour cream, and one of those delicious mounds candies full of nutritious coconut oil. I also took 2 Cod Liver Oil pills and got a glass of water to start pushing the fluids. The soup needed a lot of salt and pepper so I could taste it, but it was warm and yummy. I don’t really feel like chewing much with my sinuses feeling tender (woe is me… I hate sounding so dramatic and miserable!).
So now it’s 2:30. I’m tired and want to nap. My lower back is feeling sore. I am drinking a cup of coffee to give me a boost so when I go out tonight with a friend I can cheer her up instead of dragging her down! Having a second mounds with this coffee. I got a Kombucha out of the fridge, but can’t seem to open it! My hands must be a little weak, or maybe it’s just a sign I shouldn’t drink it yet. Save the detox for when I’m feeling better? I also have some beet kvass (recipe from NT) in the fridge, but honestly it’s hard to make myself drink it as I’m not fond of the flavor. Maybe a shot would be helpful though.
I’m not hungry again yet, but I am seeking foods to make me feel better. One that comes to mind is a superfood smoothie. I made smoothies a bit ago, and have been way too busy lately to keep up with them. The recipe combination I use seems like it has plenty of goodness in it to promote health and healing. I am planning to make one with the following yummy ingredients to get me pepped up and ready to go.
Get Well Smoothie
2 large pineapple chunks, frozen – vitamin C, adds sweetness
1/2 C frozen raspberries – vitamin C,adds delish-ness 🙂
1 ‘cupcake’ frozen steamed kale –
3/4 C yogurt – healthy bacteria, a bit of protein
2 T+ coconut oil –
2t flax seed oil –
2 egg yolks –
1T+ maple syrup –
Other thoughts… will I toss in a few ounces of beet kvass? I have a banana and some peaches – those could taste good.
So my get well plan:
A. Go for a medium paced run indoors on the treadmill to avoid dehydration and overheating.
B. Walk to and from the apt gym, to spend about 15 minutes total outside, just to get some sun which always feels fantastic.
C. Come home, make a smoothie and drink it
D. Take a shower
E. Take a nap (my favorite!)
Then I’ll be ready to get up and go have some fun! Going to try the run now… will come back later and post photos!
Oh, how I LOVE Saturdays!! Sleeping in, staying in pajamas, cooking, cleaning, and having the house to myself. John left for his weekly movie and I immediately turned off the tv, turned on Deva Premal, and turned up the temp in the house a few degrees! (shh, don’t tell him.) I’m drinking Aveda tea and have a chicken roasting in the oven, and brown rice soaking for dinner. I’ve also put the drumsticks in their lemony marinade for cooking later today or tomorrow. It’s been a good day so far!
Here is my chicken, the first one I’ve ever roasted whole like this. I went for the ‘flip method’, where the first half of roasting is breast-down, then you flip the bird, and the second half is roast breast-up. This is supposed to help the breast be juicier, so we’ll see how it turns out. It smells so good, I might have to sample it before John gets home!
Last night I made Lemon curd bars and the curd that tops them, but it was really late when I pulled the bars out of the oven. So I left the bars out on the counter to cool, and put the warm curd in the fridge. This morning I spread the lemon curd on top and the bars are now in my fridge waiting for me to eat them!
I made meringues earlier this week, so I kept a little of the lemon curd to spread on meringues. I use Sally Fallon’s meringue recipe from Nourishing Traditions, with maple syrup and arrowroot. I just had one and it was so good! There are always plenty of eggwhites around here because I use the yolks in my smoothies.
So speaking of smoothies, I actually made the Kale ice cubes this week! I didn’t squeeze out any liquid as the mixture was very dry, but hopefullly the rest of the smoothie will still mask most of the flavor. There they are in my freezer, in silicon muffin cups.
I haven’t had the opportunity to try the green smoothie recipe yet as I was out of berries and also needed to get some pineapple, but I finally got both last night and put the pineapple in the freezer, so I think I’m ready to give it a go! I’ll update with pics if they come out as great as Sarah’s did.
The timer for the chicken just went off!
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Ok, so I admit, this being my first whole roasted chicken, I had no idea how to tell if it was done. A quick search led me WonderHowTo.com with a 1.5 minute video tutorial entitle “How to check a roast chicken for doneness“. Exactly what I needed. The video is great! I wish I had seen the video before I cut into the meat of the thigh trying to determine where to look for the pink color. The chicken is back in for a bit longer.
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Update: Made the smoothie! I used raspberries and pineapple. The color is a very light pink with *obvious* green bits in it. I think blueberries or blackberries would be required to cover the green color. The flavor is very similar to the same smoothie made without the green stuff added in. In fact, the only time I really taste anything green is when it gets stuck in my teeth and I find myself chewing it. I actually ‘chew’ my smoothies quite a bit because I like the taste of the raspberry bits and the little tiny lumps of coconut oil that will melt if you hold them in your mouth for a few seconds. The kale is not quite as delicious to find myself chewing on, but it’s not unpleasant. I can’t believe I am currently eating an entire serving of kale. We’ll see if the collards turn out to be as neutral.
In the last week, I’ve been able to try several new uber-healthy recipes and move forward with my new, more nourishing lifestyle. I like the word “nourishing” a lot. It really sums up what I am trying to do in my life, not just in my diet. For example, last week a was able to join the Ladies Ride with the Austin Flyers. They head out every Wednesday. It was SO fun, riding with other women, getting in a good workout, and breaking up a difficult week of work with an evening of heart-pumping exercise. I’m hooked and planning to do it again this week. Since Wednesday, however, I have not pulled out my bike, hopped in the pool, nor set foot on a treadmill. I felt that my body needed a rest, and I didn’t want to do too much too soon. So, I didn’t! Today I’m itching to get on the treadmill again, just sort of feeling like running. I may not have time, needing to drive to visit my mother-in-law for Mama’s day. And really needing a pedi…these toes have seen better days!
So on to the cooking news! Yesterday I made ‘almond joy’ candy bars using coconut oil, borrowing the recipe from Kimi Harris at The Nourishing Gourmet. They are SO GOOD. I read all of the reader comments and decided to use mini muffin tins so they would be more bite-sized. They are the most delicious thing ever. My husband is constantly saying “are these really good for me?”! I did not use raw almonds, but instead used crispy almonds I had made according to NT. Next time I make these, I’m going to use even more almonds as they are a great semi-salty treat in the middle of this sweet cup.
Another thing I tried this weekend were Kimi’s Fluffy Whole Wheat Biscuits, made with soaked flour. These were also DIVINE! I followed her instructions exactly and cooked them up for breakfast this morning. John had about 6 of them!
We split them and topped with Organic Valley’s Pasture Butter and St. Dalfour Red Raspberry fruit spread. John preferred to top his with some local Austin raw honey. We also had bacon and fried eggs. It was a great breakfast!
This week I’m planning a few fun things related to food and training. Here are my high hopes!
Meals and other food ideas:
All Day Beef Stew – NT
Beet Kvass – NT
Lemon Garlic Drumsticks – The Nourishing Gourmet
Fast homemade spaghetti sauce (where did I find that recipe?)
Roast Chicken
Chicken Broth
Kale Ice Cubes for Green Smoothies – Sarah’s Musings
Goals for workouts this week:
Monday: Run at the Gym in the morning
Tuesday: Go to Pure Austin with the girls from work to check out membership options and classes. I would *love* to find a Tuesday night yoga class.
Wendesday: Ladies Ride!
Thursday: Run after work @ the Lake
Friday: Swim with John after work
Ok, that’s enough for today! Now what is for Lunch?
What an awesome weekend! Saturday morning I went for the beginner’s ride and loved it. It was a nice slow pace, not much pedaling, plenty of stops for drinking water or waiting for the rest of the crew to catch up, and a nice 15 min rest at the halfway point. What fun! I met a great new friend who is definitely a better rider than I am, and we had plenty to talk about. From traditional nutrition to natural childbirth, she instantly became the sounding board I am not alllowed at the office and cannot get at home. Time on the ride just flew by! To my surprise, she invited me to go on a “real” ride on Sunday, and I accepted without any hesistation.
Turns out, Sunday’s ride was an ACA Classic hosted ride, which was also a hilly workout, and was 37 miles long. The longest ride I’ve done so far was a difficult 20 miler where I thought I was going to die, and decided the group was way too advanced for the “intermediate” ride I was seeking. I was a little nervous but we took off for Bastrop with our Starbucks in hand. Wow, what a ride… I often found myself going up a hill in my lowest gear, out of the saddle, only to realize I was traveling a mere 3.6 mph. It was tough, exhilirating, hilarious, and down right FUN. My new girlfriend and I were cracking up, telling stories and sharing bits of knowledge as we huffed and puffed up the hills. “So… (huff, huff, inhale deeply) did I tell you about (huff, huff, huff) my sister’s (huff) baby?” It was a riot trying to talk up those hills, and then yelling against the wind in our ears as we flew down the other sides.
I’m still quite the chicken, braking if I hit 30 mph. The downhills got more and more fun as the workout went on, and I started to feel more in control of my bike while getting less fearful of hitting a rock and flying over the handlebars. A
Eventually we got out of the hilly forest and started down the straightaway. About halfway around the 37 mile path, I got my first flat tire. Thank goodness it was in the front, though we may have been able to figure it out had it been in the back. Neither of us had ever changed a flat before, but we were equipped with our iPhones and “I can do this!” girl power. Turns out we had everything we needed: spare innertubes, plastic tire levers (hot pink, of course), CO2 and nozzle, and a mild panic imagining being stuck out on this country road by ourselves for several hours. Two broken fingernails later, I had a new tire in place with only one major lesson learned: Put the tire on the bike BEFORE inflating it, otherwise it’s tough to get past the brake calipers. Learned the hard way!
The ride back was smooth. We stopped at a little country church so my friend could make a little pit stop and I saw a guy with the longest dreads I’ve ever seen. They probably hit his knees, and they were about as big around as my wrist. They were fantastic! I would guess he doesn’t cut his hair for spiritual reasons, though it’s a difficult thing to make a guess about. I guess I should have just asked him!
After the ride, we had awesome barbeque sandwiches at Billy’s Pit BBQ. I was starving and chowed down on that chopped beef like nobody’s business. After we made it back to Austin, I grabbed another cup of coffee (well hey, my car was parked at Starbucks!) and headed home.
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Today I’m starting to get sore and may need a little salt soak tonight. Overall, the biggest thing I’ve noticed is how I am STARVING! I cannot stop eating. Every time I turn around, I’m thinking of what I can eat next to satiate my grumbling belly. By some estimates, I could have burned a full 1700 calories yesterday, which would lead me to think I’m replenishing supplies. Then I recall that sandwhich, likely a full 1500 calories on it’s own (*completely kidding!).
My next ride is scheduled for Wednesday, an all ladies ride with Austin Flyers, leaving out of Bike Sport Shop central. Hoping to fit in a swim between now and then. Right now I’m just thinking about dinner!
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Updated July 11: I thought this post could use some pics, so I’m adding a few that John took of me riding around the parking lot last month. Somehow I don’t end up looking quite as athletic as I had imagined!
This week I’ve had two awesome workouts so far. On Monday morning, John and I hit the pool a little after 6:00 AM. I pulled off an unimpressive 800 yards of swimming before being completely worn out and heading for the hot tub. I need to swim a lot more often! My arms and back were not even sore from the workout, as I don’t have enough endurance to actually cause them to work that hard. I’m aiming for another swim this weekend.
The star workout for the week was a treadmill run on Wednesday night. I did a .25 mile walking warmup, ran 4 miles, and followed with a .25 mile cooldown. I was pretty excited – even took a photo of the treadmill! The total workout was over 40 minutes, with an average heart rate of 155. I kept the speed at 5.8 mph and watched my heartrate climb slowly from 150 to 175.
Tomorrow I’m going on a 16-mile ride with a group leaving from Spin City Cycling. It says, “True beginner level ride – mostly flat with few short hills. We will ride at about 12mph on roads that either have bike lanes or roads with little traffic.” This sounds right up my alley. I just need to be there around 8:15 and everything will be great! I’m really excited to have found a ‘true’ beginner ride that isn’t planning to go 20 mph. Time to gather the gear and make sure the alarm is set!
The triathlon I am really excited about now is called the Sweet & Twisted Tri, being hosted by Red Licorice Events. It’s not until August, so I can certainly be ready for it by then, even if I haven’t done any other tri’s in between. I’m excited that Sweet & Twisted is women only, but even more… I’m excited about the Jersey!!
The logo is super cute, and retro like an old drive in or ice cream shop. I can’t wait!
Last night I spent some time reading up on training plans available (for free) on Beginner Triathlete. I read two plans, the Original Sprint 13-Week and also the Olympic 2x Balanced 16-Week. (note: You have to register and login to access the links to the training plans, even though they are free.) With the Sweet & Twisted Tri 16 weeks out, I am comfortable that I will be ready for a Sprint distance by then.
There is another Red Licorice women’s tri in September – the Olympic distance Dude Girl. It is 5 weeks after the Sweet & Twisted, putting it 21 weeks from now. I actually have time to follow the more relaxed 20-Week program for the Olympic distance if I wanted to do that. It all seems very safe.
What my over-acheiving brain really wants to do is choose a huge goal, like a half-iron at the end of the season, and push myself like a maniac to get trained in time to actually finish it. I know I would either abandon ship halfway through the summer when my workaholic lifestyle can no longer accommodate the 18 hours per week training schedule, or injure myself through over-training and be out of commission until next year. So, while I am planning to jump in “with both feet”, I am choosing a safe and deliberately ‘do-able’ training plan and schedule. ho-hum!
All I need now is a training pal. Where do I find one?
When I came across Katya Meyers’ site, I thought of the line from Austin Powers, “women love him, and men want to BE him.” She is my current inspiration to get off my butt and get on my bike. Go, Katie, Go!
More searching brought me to this inspiring story of Chrissie Wellington, almost one year older than myself. An amazing and surprising story, I’m considering making it my home page for a few weeks. I added Chrissie as my iphone background:
It’s been about 10 years since I did my first Triathlon. It was in college, shorter than a Sprint distance. I actually took a class call “triathlon training” and the prof helped us get ready to swim, bike, and run our way to the finish line. The swim was in a pool, the run was second, and the bike was 3 loops. But I finished it, and possibly felt the best I have ever felt in my life. I felt great all the time back then, before I started worrying about getting married, turning thirty, helping to run my husband’s business, making payroll, and finding age spots on my face. My life has changed a lot in the past decade, and I am not anywhere near where I thought I would be in terms of personal accomplishments and professional success. I am happy, in the contented and compromised way that women often find their happiness, putting other priorities first, accepting reality and adulthood responsibilities, choosing to not “have it all” because it takes too much damned energy to make sure I get it all. I watch 5 to 7 hours of TV every week and I never thought I would be that person. I choose to watch it because it is easier than putting on my running shoes. It is easier than explaining to my husband and to myself why I want to get off the couch and go to the gym. It is easier than thinking about all of the things I need to think about and I know it’s lazy.
I’ve been dreaming of doing my next triathlon since the moment I completed the first one. I didn’t think time would get away from me like it has. I always thought I would start back up with the training and things would fall into place. One thing I did not realize was how much effort it would take to start the momentum, and how much effort is required to keep that momentum going. It’s exhausting! Last fall I wanted to do the Galveston Tri, which was eventually postponed to this year due to the hurricane damage. Somehow I talked 2 girlfriends into training with me, and we managed to get in about 20 runs and 5 swims of practice. Then I did nothing for approximately 6 months.
In the back of my mind, there is memory of myself as a younger girl, when I cut out a picture from a magazine and hung it on my bedroom wall. I swam for ODAC in junior high, and had a subscription to what I think was Swimming World. Each issue had a full page color picture inside the back cover, which was usually an inspirational photo of an athlete in action or someone famous deep in concentration. The picture I saved was of a female professional triathlete, standing in a bathing suit, with a gold ring on her thumb. I don’t remember her name, but I may still have the torn out page in my box of memorabilia.
So what’s my point? My point is, I am going to do another triathlon. I’m a little afraid of it, but I can do it. I am not afraid of the work, and I am not afraid of the race. My obstacles making training a priority and still keep on top of work. Another challenge is embracing the focused lifestyle and likely new acquiantances without causing turbulance in my newly married home life. I am also afraid to find out that I might not be very good at triathlons. I always believed I could be very good at this sport, and wondered “what it takes” to become a professional. Any pro reading this should laugh at me. Let me just get my second tri in a decade under my belt, and then I can talk about whether I even like this sport as an adult.
New inspiration for today:
a life she loves! 