Heceta Lighthouse

 Today we drove to the coast to see whales.  (Apparently you need binoculars for this to happen.)  Gray whales were heading down to Mexico for the New Year.

Look at that blue sky!  Usually when the forecast says sunny in Oregon, it actually means not rainy.  It was a great kickoff to staycation. 

I made this awesome Lemony Olive Oil Banana Bread for the drive.  It's so lovely! I'm slightly obsessed with Heidi Swanson's recipes lately.  And Willie Nelson, but that's another story. 

The rest of our staycation agenda includes: see The Hobbit, eat the rest of Jim's split pea soup, ring in the New Year with friends, watch our our friend's doggie, host our wonderful friends from Seattle next weekend and their dog, celebrate my 32nd rotation around the sun with food and a bowling party, and start to get clean out our belongings. 

Marathon Training Week 1

First week: almost done.  Seventeen more to go.  This morning was my first long run: 7 miles.  The good news is that it felt great.  An hour before my run I ate a half of a whole wheat English Muffin with peanut butter and drank a half a cup of coffee.  Once a run exceeds an hour it's not a smart decision to do it on an empty stomach.  Seven miles took me exactly an hour and ten minutes, which is a ten minute mile.  I've decided that I will not wear my watch the day of the run.  I'm trying to take a Buddhist attitude about my time.  Or a Beach Boys attitude.  (You get there faster if you take it slow.)  After the run I ate the other half of the English Muffin with peanut butter and honey.  As the runs get longer, I'll start using a gel pack about an hour into the run.
In more exciting news: Staycation is upon us!!

Merry Christmas!

 Check out my new Florida hoodie from a sweet guy!  I have wanted a zip up one for awhile and my wish was granted.  PS I do not blow dry my hair on holidays at home.  I also wear leggings (not pictured.)

I made Jim and I matching stockings!  I took a class at a local fabric store and loved the vintage fabric they had there.  I was pretty impressed with myself.  (If I do say so.)

We are wrapping up a lovely Christmas at the Manor.  Yesterday started day 1 of my 18 week marathon training.  (Yikes.)  It actually started very easy, with a 3 mile run.  I woke up early and did it on the treadmill on our apartment complex workout room.  Luckily I've been trying to around 45-60 minutes of cardio lately, so it was an easy start. 

After work, Jim swooped me and we had a Christmas Eve beer at 16 Tons, one of our favorite local watering holes.  We then came home and made BBQ shrimp and I fell asleep on the couch.  This morning we woke up and opened all of our presents (thank you everyone!) and I put a strata in that I'd made last night.  (Pancetta, onion, and fontina cheese.) 

We've been taking it easy all day, talking to friends and family and relaxing.  Right now I have a ham and cheesy potatoes in the oven.  I also made a sweet potato mash with chipotle powder, cumin, and cinnamon.  Back to work tomorrow and then only three work days until Staycation 2013.

As usual, the best present is my wonderful family and friends.  I hope you have a happy healthy holiday and are getting ready for a great 2013! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Holiday

We are in full holiday spirit at Zika/ DiVerde Manor.  My wonderful hubby picked me up for lunch today with a doggie in reindeer antlers in the backseat, holiday music playing, and a peppermint mocha in hand.  Right now he is making me holiday nachos (that's a thing, right?) and we are getting ready to watch National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.  I have to work a normal day on Monday, but have Tuesday off.  During which I will prepare a feast fit for ten for two.  Happy Holidays!

Christmas

Marathon 2013

It's official; I have registered for the Eugene 2013 Marathon!  If something out of the ordinary happens, I will run the half marathon again, but the goal is the FULL marathon.  26.2 miles.  Training starts on January 1st.  I need to stock up on running clothes, almonds, greek yogurt, and cushiony socks.  The race is the last Sunday of April.  I do not have a time goal; my goal is to run the whole time at a safe pace and finish.  Also, did you know Runner's World recently named the Eugene Marathon one of the best in the country?

Beef and Tempeh

As most of you know, I fancy myself a lover of all good foods.  I finally tried Ina's Beef Bourguignon.  What has been taking me so long??  It was amazing!  I did not include the Cognac (we are the 47%) or the frozen onions.  It was still wonderful.  Make it.  Make it now.
The next night, I made Heidi Swanson's Orange Glazed Tempeh.  I really enjoyed it.  I love tempeh in general.  A much lighter recipe after the beef adventure. 
You should all meet Holiday Jim.  He's filled his social calendar to the max.  No law school for one month.  Woot!  But plenty of work, as always. 
Also, I am still trying to figure out how to add pictures to the blog.  I deleted some old ones, but it seems they are still out there in the blogosphere.  Blech.
In more exciting news, I am definitely signing up for the half marathon again in 2013 and potentially the full marathon.  (Yikes??) 
And finally, we are taking a staycation week the first week of January.  On January 1st I will be given 88 hours from my company that will need to be used or lost in 2013, so why not stay home.  And try to find my zen. 

Portlandia

Things you may overhear in Portland, Oregon:

"I was in an improv show where every time we heard something funny, we yelled SURREALISM!"

"Some guy wants to pay me to do a portrait, but he doesn't have a phone, so I have to mail him a postcard."

"I went to a home birth today.  I missed the baby by three minutes but saw the placenta."

"Did you take care of that thing you had to do down in California?"  (By thing, he obviously meant drug deal or kill a man.)

My girlfriend and I had an overnight adventure in Portland.  If you've ever seen Portlandia, it's pretty spot on.  Nothing but hipsters.  We actually shopped at every corporate chain possible (first stop Whole Foods) and ate at her sister's restaurant. 

Legal Beagle updates: bowling championship tonight!  And one and only final on Wednesday.  Yay!

What Should You Do When Your Husband Is Out of Town?

-Stay home from Book Club just because you don't want your dog to be alone.  And to have your own alone time.  And make a cheeseburger.  (Officially crazy dog lady.)
-Take your LS to see the last Twilight movie at her step mom's insistence.   Realize it's not only inappropriate for a 12 year old, it's also one of the worst movies ever made.
-Invite your friend over to bake, eat Thai take out, and spritz away a few bottles of wine. 
-Disinfect every surface of your kitchen with vinegar. 
-Craft until your dog runs laps around your apartment with a slipper in his mouth, trying to get you to play, then play with him only reinforcing his bad behavior.
-Experiment with plant based protein recipes.