Happiest Race on Earth

Yesterday my good friend Catharyn and I ran the Disneyland Half Marathon in Anaheim. It was wonderful! The path took us through the actual park, where we were greeted by Pinocchio, Buzz Lightyear, Belle and the Beast, Alice and the Mad Hatter and many more.

The medals are awesome, too. Golden Disney castles. I plan on wearing mine for the next month.

The only disappointment was the time. I finished my last half marathon, PF Chang's, in 2:25 (two hours 25 minutes). This one was 2:47, due to the several times we actually had to come to a dead stop during the race because the running path was too narrow and we had to wait to get through.

But aside from that small setback, we had a great time and I would definitely do it again!

So what, did they use real moles?

Last Saturday I ran 9 miles in anticipation of the Disneyland half marathon on Aug. 31. I've spent the past two days nursing three blisters and two sore shoulders.

Today I bought insoles, moleskin and $25 socks. These accessories are in addition to the $80 shoes, $100 GPS tracker and $249 iPod.

I can't help but wonder...why do I NEED all of this crap? And I really do need it, unfortunately. My feet blister at the very mention of cotton socks. And I can't go 5 minutes if I don't have some overly peppy song blasting.

But the cavemen didn't need Adidas or moleskin to chase sabre tooth tigers and wooly mammoths. All they needed was an empty stomach and a spear.

I would have made a terrible cavewoman. I would have been forced to be a vegetarian, because carrots don't run that fast.

Halloween spirit

This week I walked in Michael's to see they had put out all of their Halloween decorations. Fall-colored leaves, pumpkins and spooky characters were on display. It made me so cheerful, because I love Halloween! Of course, it's the beginning of August so it seems a little premature, but it made me want to decorate and start planning my costume.

Tony and I have pulled together some pretty sweet duos in the past, but sometimes it can be hard to come up with an interesting couple costume. Any ideas out there?

Ricky and Lucy Ricardo





Poison Ivy and Two Face











Illegal Immigrant and Border Patrol Agent

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

This recipe was compiled by a New York Times Writer after interviewing several top chefs. Turns out, the secret recipe is letting the dough sit for 24-36 hours. Maybe that's why store bought dough is always SOOO delicious.

Time: 45 minutes (for 1 6-cookie batch), plus at least 24 hours’ chilling

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
Sea salt.

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

Note: Disks are sold at Jacques Torres Chocolate; Valrhona fèves, oval-shaped chocolate pieces, are at Whole Foods.

Scrub

I observed my first surgery today!

It was very cool. Got to see the appendix, liver, uterus and ovaries thanks to a laproscopic camera. It was pretty short, but I was very impressed with the stuff I did get to see, which was all broadcast on a screen.

I just kept saying "Wow" under my breath.

Technology!

Victoria's Secret shame

Look, I am the last person to criticize how someone looks at the gym. That would be due to my usual getup: 80s scrunchie, high school band Tshirt, Wal-didas pants and sweaty, lobster-red face.

But there is a certain look I just can't stand. And this one goes to all the ladies. It begins with the hair. Leaving your hair down, perfectly placed? That means you're probably going level 1 on the elliptical. For 18 minutes. Just enough to avoid breathing hard. Then comes the jewelry. Big hoop earrings? Hope they don't get stuck in your luxurious hair.

The rest has to do with the outfit. Victoria's Secret tank top with matching "exercise" pants? Or the halter top sports bra? Listen, folks. This is Pure Fitness, one of the cheapest gyms in the Valley of the Sun. The only thing you're going to attract is some sweaty riff raff. And this is some of the riffiest raff you've ever seen. This is not LA Fitness, or even the gym at Arizona State. Put on a freakin T-shirt! Please! Show off your Bud Lite abs at Martini Ranch, why don't cha?

I'm not saying everyone should look like me. I probably shouldn't even look like me. But if you aren't there to run until you're coughing, you don't even deserve to beep your card at the door.

The quarter life crisis

Well, it happened. I turned 25 on Monday. Quarter of a century. The Arizona quarter was released on my birthday. How appropo.

I've had two parties - both were raging successes. And, as usual, everyone was way too generous with the gifts and just made it an absolute blast. I am truly blessed to have such friends and family as this.

As usual on my birthday, I like to reflect on the past year and what I've accomplished. Or not. I was looking at what I posted last year, which was a list of things I wanted to do. Of all the things - getting closer to being debt free, publish three freelance articles, win an award, get a passport, run another half marathon - I only did one or two.

Since this time last year:
- Visited Boston and Washington, DC for the first time
- ran my second half marathon
- quit my job and got a better one
- remodeled my bathroom
- did NOT publish three freelance articles, win a journalism award or get a passport. I guess the new job will help me get debt-free, so that counts.

By next year, I want to:
- remodel my kitchen
- run a full marathon
- get a passport and make plans for international travel
- get involved in charity work
- take a web design class
- hire a Spanish tutor

Anyone else have some good life goal ideas? I'm taking suggestions.

Summer 2008 superlatives

Lindsay's best ____ of the summer:

song: "A-punk" by Vampire Weekend
blockbuster movie: "The Dark Knight"
non-blockbuster movie: "Sex and the City"
book: "Bonk" by Mary Roach
food: bacon-wrapped hotdog
drink: cantaloupe juice
activity: lounging by friend's pool
hangout: Cheeburger Cheeburger for the chocolate malt
phrase: "It happened!" (to be used when the inevitable occurs, such as getting paint on your new tile shower)
vacation spot: local hotels offering sizzling deals for AZ residents
reunion spot: Austin, TX

worst summer experience so far: pool at Fernwood Manor found CHAINED with a padlock at 10:30 p.m. first swim of the summer ruined! lame, Fernwood. LAME.

The moment of triumph!

My bathroom is finally done! It went from fiberglass countertop and bathtub held together by stains to tile and walk-in shower. In short, I feel very fancy. Next stop: kitchen. Here come the cabinets.

See below for the bathroom transformation from when I moved in September '06:

Food at the Tempe Marketplace

While some might say Tempe Marketplace is just another power center, I can't help but find myself hanging out there almost once a week. Usually for dinner or happy hour. If you haven't been there, here's a few highlights:

Maria Maria: Carlos Santana's restaurant has a lot going for it, but one of the top qualities is the atmosphere. The patio is big, the music is live on the weekends and the crowds tell you it's a pretty popular place right now. The food is also good, but not really the reason you go.

Cheeburger Cheeburger: Any place that has 80 different kinds of shakes or malts has my vote. I recommend the chocolate malt or the birthday cake shake. The burgers are also pretty tasty, with nearly limitless toppings.

Kabuki: If you're not a sushi purist, but enjoy rolls and cheap happy hour appetizers, this place is for you. A good place to introduce someone to sushi.

Other assorted chains: Chipotle, California Pizza Kitchen, Paradise Bakery, Cold Stone Creamery, etc.

new tastes!

Today I tasted cantaloupe juice and a bacon-wrapped hotdog.

Cantaloupe juice was cold and sweet. I'm in love.

Bacon-wrapped hotdog? Kind of a disappointment. But I think if I were running the grill it could be improved.

Had both of these during a trip to Rocky Point, which was fabulous. Got a nice toasty tan, spent some time with the gals and haggled to get some Coach-knockoff sunglasss down from $12 to $9.

That's what I call a successful vacation!

PB, J, and C

Here's an idea for a snack that is both cute and delicious.

Peanut butter and jelly crackers. I prefer wheat thins, creamy peanut butter and strawberry preserves.

The benefit? no bread crust

A Bathroom Obsessed

I am having my bathroom redone this month. The look I'm going for is on the top. But given the fact that my bathroom is the size of a postage stamp (see bottom pic), it will have to be a little abbreviated.

I am extremely excited about the remodel, however I am really bad at making these kinds of decisions. I'm wracked by the numerous options in tile, glass, cabinets. I just want to give someone an idea and let them make it wonderful.

Are there people you can hire who already know what you want?

got tagged!

OK this was a little more personal than I planned, but oh well...

10 Years Ago...
I was finishing my freshman year in high school

5 Things on my To-Do list today...
* find out what breakfast cookies are
* work on a memoir for my business, Your Legacy in Print
* make pizzas with Tony
* watch the Suns

Snacks I enjoy...
• Wheat thins
• peanut butter MMs
• cheese with said wheat thins
• almonds

Things I would do if I were suddenly a billionaire...
* buy a house
* fix car
* new wardrobe
* TRAVEL: italy first, then france, England, japan, brazil

3 of my bad habits...
* Bossing people around
* eating too much, exercising too little
* swearing

Jobs I've had...
• ABCO grocery store associate
• Dancing monkey at Zoolights
• Take-away girl at Outback Steakhouse
• Tour guide at Zoo
• News reporter


5 Things people don't know about me...
* I love karaoke
* I want to get married
* I wish I were thinner
* Driving my car makes me feel sassy
* I would do my job for free if it were possible

DUH

Breaking news from New York Times story about texting:

"Children increasingly rely on personal technological devices like cellphones to define themselves and create social circles apart from their families, changing the way they communicate with their parents."

New York Times: Reporting news from the 90s for your busy schedule

blast ye tiny peddlers of sweets!

Ahhh.....Girl Scout cookies. So good. Yet so short-lived.

The question: Would they be as good if they were available year-round? Methinks not. It makes them more valuable and delicious.

My problem is choosing between my two favorites - Tagalongs (chocolate and peanut butter) and of course Thin Mints. So I don't actually choose. I just hand over 8 bucks to some sports writer's adorable 8-year-old daughter.

What are your picks for the best Girl Scout cookies?

I'm all, like, cultured and junk

Last night Loc took me to see the Phoenix Symphony. Loved it! The music was amazing. I'd forgotten how much of a difference a live performance can make.

This is another in our series of seeing live shows: We saw a taping of Wait, Wait, went to a discussion with actress Cloris Leachman, and, well, saw The Shins a while back, but that was more of a rock concert.

I would still like to see Ballet Arizona, another opera, a play and a jazz orchestra.

Wait Wait......WAIT!

Thursday we got to attend a taping of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me! The NPR News Quiz. It was awesome! I got to meet the host, Peter Sagal, who incidentally looks exactly like his voice sounds, if that's possible. We also got to learn some of the secrets of the show:
- The callers leave a message at NPR. They are chosen by wit and conversation skills. Then they are told to wait by the phone Thursday nights, when the show tapes.
- To get Karl Kassell's voice on your home answering machine, winners write out the message they want, he records it and a CD is sent to your home.
- After the taping, they retape certain parts that didn't go well or got flubbed.

Overall it was freakin awesome! Listen on Saturday to see how much AZ Governor Janet Napolitano knows about college basketball coach Bobby Knight.

The future of the Suns?

I hope he has some kind of magic power to stay off the injured list.

one thing I HATE SO MUCH

Tonight I ran into someone I see from time to time. Someone I met in high school. We worked at the zoo together. We went to a Blink 182 concert together. He criticized me for driving my mom's van too fast. I have seen him at other events. So in other words, he's an acquaintance, right?

Well apparently that's wrong. He had no idea who I was. Didn't know my name, barely showed recognition that we'd met before.

And it kills me. Because, you see, this is something that happens ALL THE TIME. People I have met before completely forgetting me. Tell me the truth - is it my face? Do I just have a forgettable face?

Ruined my night. I could barely enjoy my overpriced tiramisu.