Pumpkin Torte aka The Best Stuff on Earth

Ah. Pumpkin Torte. I can't express my love for this dessert. Eating this means it's finally time for the holidays and time to get nice and cozy. The perfect amount of cinnamon, pumpkin, whipped cream and the crunchy crust is so perfectly proportioned that it kicks a pumpkin pies butt!

I made it on my own for the first time a couple days ago - woohoo!!! I'm gonna make it again for Chris's work on Friday and then for Kenny when I see him for Thanksgiving. I'm going to be a Pumpkin Torte baking fool!

MMmmmmm. If any of you haven't tried this yet, you're missing out. And if you have tried it you're a very special person!

not my cup o' tea

I went to Satellite this morning to get my regular London Fog with English Breakfast and Sugar Free Vanilla. I should've known from the minute I walked in the door that they'd get it wrong. My usual morning crew wasn't there. They actually haven't been there for awhile (sad times) but the people this morning have probably never made a cup of tea in their lives. I said what I wanted and the guy just stared at me. Then he punched it into his computer. I also noticed that he put in SKIM milk. I did not ask for skim milk. I realize that by asking for sugar-free I'm asking to save a few calories, but drink just taste better with whole milk and I'm not willing to skimp on that. I should've said something, but I didn't. Now I regret it. It doesn't taste right. Something's just kinda...off. I'm pretty sure it's vanilla, but I don't know. :( I get so sad when my tea isn't my tea. When I buy it - maybe once a week - it's like a special treat to myself. I'm just sad it's not how it should be.

Ok. Enough whining. Sorry. Maybe next week my people will be back and will get it right.

All clean

I guess I liked about me not having IBS - I do, according to my doctor at least. My colonoscopy came out clean. Clean bill of health. She was checking to see if I had two different diseases and I don't - which is good. So now I have to be like an old lady and take a fiber pill everyday and another pill twice a day. Hopefully it'll make me feel better all the time.

I went into the colonoscopy feeling very, very anxious. I found out that I would, in fact, be awake during the procedure. I was not OK with this. But, after they stuck an IV in me, whatever I wanted was out of the question. I went into the procedure and they kept pumping me with medicine. Enough so that I remember staring at the clock and the TV screen, but not being able to really move or talk. It was weird. Kinda like having WAY too much to drink, but I couldn't just pass out. I wanted to sleep, but I still had that anxious feeling and was forcing myself to stay awake. If my doctor was going to see or find anything I wanted to hear it. They kept wanting me to move to one side or the other and I physically couldn't do it, they had to move me. I felt it cramp a little, but for the most part I was just ridiculously sleepy and lethargic. That's pretty much it. Nothing really came of it except for a prescription and a few days of realizing I could never, ever be anorexic.

In other news, I'm watching Alias DVDs right now and all I want to do is be Sydney Bristow. Seriously. How cool would it be to BE a character? It'd be seriously cool.

Why anorexia isn't for me

I've been taking laxatives for the past couple days. Not because I'm trying to fit into a prom dress, but because in about two hours I'm having a colonoscopy. Yup. 23 years old and I'm having a colonoscopy. I've been having tummy problems (and by 'tummy problems' I mean it's a little lower than there and the doctor kinda ruled out IBS) and maybe this'll shine some light onto the problem. I've already had a lactose test awhile ago that came out negative. I think the step after this colonoscopy would be a food allergy test, which is supposed to be expensive and the results would mean i'd have to eliminate certain foods. I'll go there if I have to.

The process of leading up to this has been a pain in the butt (pun intended). Starting on Sunday I had to cut out ALL fruits, vegetables and anything with seeds in it. Do you know what that means? That basically means, egg, meat, fish, cheese and bread. Granted that's not THAT bad, but you can't dress it up any. Anyway, it's just sucked. All i want is a salad. Mmmm. Ok, so then yesterday I had to only drink liquids. I'm hungry. I would have gone for a piece of crust last night, or piece of popcorn or goldfish, or lettuce. Anything basically.

Eh. Anyway. In just a little bit I'll go to the hospital and they'll do their thing and then I'll get to have food again and go my merry way. In a way I kinda hope they find something just so that I can know what's been bothering me the last couple years.

Well...time for me to go do my thing! Wish me luck :)

Quack Quack

I just read something that has deterred me from ever eating Foie gras or pate again.

"In modern foie gras production, force feeding takes place 12−18 days before slaughter. The duck or goose is typically fed a controlled amount of corn mash through a tube inserted in the animal's esophagus. Due to this force feeding procedure, and the possible health consequences of an enlarged liver, animal rights and welfare organizations and activists regard foie gras production methods as cruel to animals. Foie gras producers maintain that force feeding ducks and geese is not uncomfortable for the animals nor is it hazardous to their health. Scientific evidence regarding the animal welfare aspects of foie gras production is limited[4] and inconclusive.[5] A number of countries and other jurisdictions have laws against force feeding or the sale of foie gras due to how it is produced."

HOW TERRIBLE. I feel awful for eating it. YUCK.

The Day After Halloween

These are my thoughts from the day after Halloween:

1. Fall has finally arrived in the form of wind and very cold conditions.
2. Walking around outside for candy in conditions mentioned above is silly.
3. Waling around door-to-door for candy anyway is a silly idea.
4. I don't really like candy, so this holiday has always been silly to me.
5. Halloween is silly. And scary. Scilly.
6. Carving pumpkins and getting all the guts, goo and seeds out from inside is fun.
7. Pumpkin seeds are delicious. When cooked right. (I forgive you, mom, for the first batch.)
8. I made a fun pumpkin and will put pictures up sometime before next year.
9. My Nanny (great-grandma on my mom's side) died a year ago yesterday.
10. Last night was actually a little bit spooky with how windy it was and with all the leaves blowing around.
11. I don't like spooky.
12. Halloween means it's time for Carmel Apple Ciders from Starbuck.
13. MMMmmmm....

PICTURES!

I've spent the last few days trying to find an outlet for my pictures without giving in and paying money to upgrade accounts. The only think I could come up with was my facebook account because they give a link to my album there.

During the course of my trip I took 250 pictures. All the albums I could only allow 60 pictures, so needless to say, I had to pick and choose. They're also not in order, due to the fact that I used both my camera and my brothers, so I'm sorry for that too!

So, without further ado, here are my pictures:

I'm not in this picture - click to see more!

Sorry...

....for being MIA.

I'm really busy at work. I haven't even had time to look at the pictures I took from my race.

Ah. The Race! I DID IT!!!! SO much to talk about...I promise to give a full update as soon as I can!

Dark and early.

I'm awake long before my alarm is supposed to go off. It's only 4:30 am and I'm still sleepy, but I've slept as much as my body's going to let me...for now. My Grandma will be here in an hour to pick me up and take me to the airport - YAY! Is it strange that I'm excited to go on the plane so I can read Southwest's new in flight magazine?!

I'm hungry right now too, but I know I'll have to wait till I get past security. Not only am I hungry, but I'm sad because I can't stop and get my London Fog from Satellite because I can't take it with me past security. :( Now I'll have to settle for overpriced coffee and a not-so-good burrito. Sad times.

On a happier note: I'M GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO TODAY!!!!!

On a completely unrelated note: I think it's official that I like foam soap more than liquid soap. Yup. I used to be completely anti foam soap because I liked making my liquid soap foam. There was a joy in seeing the little bubbles after rubbing your hands together long enough. Now, compared to the soap that is over foaming in my hands, I feel as though the liquid soap really isn't doing much. And, in true American fashion, I think I'm overworking for the soap.

WOW. It's 4:38 on a Friday morning and I'm talking about soap...

I may write from the airport when I get there after my $5 cup o' Joe and $7 greasy, not spicy, thing they call a burrito.

Adios!

The Time Has Come

Well, folks, this is it! All the months of waking up early and going to sleep before my friends have even decided what bar they're going to has come down to this weekend. I just did my last morning run (I say last because I honestly don't know if I can see myself running this early in the dark during the winter) and now the only thing left to do is pack (AHH I still need to pack, and Grey's Anatomy is on tonight...no time left!!)

I'm waiting to check in online - five minutes to go. I know I've said it before, but I really am so excited about this! I've been reading other peoples tales of their TNT marathon and I think I should prepare myself to be emotional while running. Apparently people have up signs saying things like "Thank you for saving my life," or "You're running for my dad." THings like that. I'm taking kleenix with me just for that reason.

OOOO and I can't wait to see how this 'sea level' running is different from here. My lungs have adapted to being a mile high. No more huffing and puffing during my runs!! If you're reading this and would still like to donate, feel free! Click the link on the right and donate your heart out. :)

Ok. Time to go check in!!!

da Balloons

Have I mentioned my love for the Balloon Fiesta? I think I have, but let me just say it again: I love the balloon fiesta! Where else in the world can you be driving to work and see Puff the Magic Dragon hovering above you? Ok, maybe if you live in Amsterdam and had a little too much fun the night before. Seriously though. It's awesome. I actually took some pictures of Puff while I was driving (it's amazing more people don't get in accidents during the Fiesta), but I don't have the little upload-adapter thing with me. I'll put them up when I get home.

I also love running in the mornings during the fiesta. Today I went four miles and it was pitch black outside except for five balloons illuminated from their burners far away in the distance. I was said they were just the dawn patrol balloons because today is the first day of the Special Shapes Rodeo (hence Puff sailing over the Big-I).

Running this morning was really good for me. It felt great. Well, the first mile or so SUCKED because there's some muscle around my Achilles tendon that's really painful, but after I got past that I felt fantastic. I actually felt strong and somewhat speedy. Despite walking and stopping more at the beginning to stretch I finished earlier than I intended. YEA!!!!

I'm kinda sad this training is almost over. I know me and I know that it'll be nearly impossible to continue running in the mornings once it starts getting colder and darker. I also know it's hard for me to go work out after work. Boo. I'll figure something out.

T-minus 9 days and 22 hours :)

I'm giving up

I think one of my biggest pet peeves is the misuse of the words "Chile" and "Chile." I realize it shouldn't annoy me as much as it does, but for some reason or another it drives me up a wall.

I think I'm making myself more angry the more I keep looking at this Simply Recipes Web Site.

Take this recipe I found after digging around for Mexican Red Chili Sauce. AHHHH. Just spell it with an "E" already!!!

Check out
A Guide to Southern New Mexico Chile for a comprehensive guide to all things chile.

....I promise to not get so irked on the chile situation in the future. Ah, who am I kidding, it'll always annoy me!

I'm too protective

I think I'm too protective and way too opinionated when it comes to New Mexican cuisine (among other things).

This recipe was on my google home page. It annoyed me, therefor I need to share it and pass along my annoyance:
Chile Verde
oh yeah. Read the comments listed below the recipe.
gggrrrrr

It's that time again!

It's Balloon Fiesta time!!!! Yesterday I got to see the balloons without waiting in a car line for an hour, and without paying an entrance fee AND without freezing. Well, there was some freezing.

Our long run yesterday started at Paseo and Coors. We ran towards the mountains, a run that gave us a perfect view of the balloons. Besides the fact that it was ridiculously cold that early in the morning, it was a good run. My running partner and I were able to hold a conversation the entire time (something we couldn’t even fathom at the beginning of the season).

I know I’ve said this before, but I am so excited for San Fran! It’s now less than two weeks till I run and I can’t wait. YEA!!!!

We start tapering this week, so that means the mileage I run goes way down! It’ll be nice to sleep in an extra half hour the next two weeks.

In sad news, a woman died today from a balloon-related cause. So sad. I’m going up in a balloon this Saturday, so hopefully there won’t be any wind and it’ll be perfect ballooning weather.

On the road again...

I got back into my daily routine this morning – sorry for not writing at all last week, I caught a cold and slept in – and running felt good. I think I caught my cold from the last run I did (which I also didn’t talk about – sorry!) up in Red River. It was a hellova run to say the least. Not only was it raining the whole time (beautiful), but I was also running up in the mountains. Uphill both ways. In the rain. With NO shoes on. Kidding about the no shoes, but it was raining and it was ridiculously hilly. My calves and bum felt the burn of the hills the next two days.

After I ran Red River I knew I would be absolutely fine for San Francisco a month later. Not only did I run at a higher altitude than I’ve been training here in town, but I won’t have any of the hills like I did in the mountains. Piece. Of. Cake. (Cupcake preferably!)

I was mad that I missed my long run on Sunday, but I still wasn’t feeling up to the *challenge. Coughing up both of my lungs would have looked really bad while running 12 miles. I still kinda feel guilty about missing it though.

So…my race/run is in 19 days. That means I leave in 17 days and I’m SO excited!!! I’m looking into getting a camera phone so I can take pictures of different parts of my race. My goal is to run my half marathon in 3 hours. Yes, I know that’s still a seriously slow pace, but whatever. I’m doing it. Heh. Actually, if I run the pace I’ve been running I’d come in at 3:25. Now I’m anxious to see how I’ll do. I’m still not doing this for a time though. I’m doing it for the cause.

…One of my dad’s cousins just got diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma. She starts chemo this week I believe. My dad is actually going in to meet with his oncologist today for his 2 ½ year check up. In an hour and a half (more like 2 or 2 ½ hours because of how late doctors usually are) we’ll find out if his cancer is back. * JUST BREATHE* – note for me.

So. That’s what’s been going on over here. Enough from me for today!