Summer Reading Review

Summer Reading Review (My time definition - Memorial Day to Labor Day)


The Women by T.C. Boyle - historical fiction about the women in Frank Llyod Wright's life. Well written, but read Loving Frank by Nancy Horan first otherwise the book will be spoiled. Recommended!

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Free book on my Kindle. Plus I wanted to refresh my memory after seeing the new Tim Burton movie.


Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders by William Drennan

Do you see a theme/obsession. His life is fanasting.


The Tinkers by Paul Harding - 2010 Pultizer Prize in Fiction. Very short book, not that interesting.


The Plague of Doves by Louise Erdrich - 2009 Pultizer Prize in Fiction runner-up. I listen to this book from audible.com It was interesting, but the transistions between characters and how they were related was a bit of a stretch. It was a good book. Recommended!


The Comforts of a Muddy Saturday: SPC #5 by Alexander McCall Smith - 5th book in the series. I am a sucker for serier of books. This is a good series, but like most of his writing, you are reintroduced to the characters in each book. One would thing that by book #5 you know who the characters are?! Recommended!


Swimsuit by James Patterson - easy reading. Not his best novel. It seems like his novels are rushed, except for the Alex Cross books. Thoes are fantastic. Recommended for fast, easy reading!

House Rules by Jodi Picoult - I have read all of her books and it is intersting to see her progress as a writer. This was a good book, but I did get frustrated with the characters and the ending was a disappointment. If you are going to read only one of her books, stick with My Sister's Keeper.


Scarlet by Alexandria Ripley - Written in the 90's as a continuation of Gone With The Wind. It focuses on Scarlet and Rhett's relationship. It is ~800pgs and could have been shorter. I love the relationship between Scarlet and Rhett, but this book doesn't do it justice. It is a great book and if you are a GWTW fan, I highly recommend this book!


A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley - 1992 Pultizer Prize Fiction winner. I enjoyed this book and the development of the three sisters. Unlike most Pultizer Prize winners, this book has a beginning, middle, and end. I like that! Recommended!

Rabbit, Redux by John Updike - This was book #2 in a series of 4 books. Books #3 and 4 are Pultizer Prize Fiction winners, and since I am trying to read all the Pultizer Prize Fiction winning books, I thought it was a good idea to first read books #1 and #2. #1 I hated. #2 not much better. It took me ~2years to finish book #2! I have started #3, but it is slow going. I wonder how long it will take me...



Enjoy!

-ELT

Annapolis 10miler 2010

So, it has been awhile since I posted...


Wedding planning has been coming along. We are pretty much done, besides paying the vendors :(
We did get some press on another blog. Yes, we are totally nerdy!


Yesterday was my "last" race of the year. With all the wedding stuff, mini-moon, GAH's famous cousin's wedding, and our honeymoon, my running will be sporadic at best. So I haven't signed up for anything offical. I might do a Turkey Trot 10k....

I am seriouly considering a full marathon in San Diego with my friend Amanda, next June! Scary!!


On to the results....
Mile splits:
1 - 8:08
2 - 7:54
3 - 7:21 - I believe this, since my best 1 mile sprint is 7:17 and this part was downhill.
4 - 8:16
5 - 8:21
6 - 8:34 - 48:36
7 - missed this marker
8 - 1:05:45
9 - 8:45
10 - 9:11
Unofficial time - 1:23:47!!

The last 2 miles were difficult mentally. Physically, I was ready, but I have been training with other runners who help push me. My splits are inconsistent - something I need to work on as I progress as a runner. I did walk for a minute or so after passing mile marker 9. I was ready to stop and had little motivation. I kept thinking about a repeat of my last after race experience and didn't want to push myself. Regardless, it was a best time. I did have an overall good time - going to sign up again. And I have decided that I need to get a GPS, mile split running watch to help me train alone.

-Enjoy!
ELT

Migraines

I get migraines. I was a freshmen in high school when I got my first one.

Probably on the scale of migraine sufferers, I would be in the low risk category since they are not daily, I get one every few months.

But I do get them with an aura which on the Dr. worrisome scale, takes me to the top of the list. Lovely!

My aura usually manifests itself in blindspots in my vision. I can be looking directly at you and not see a thing. It sucks. I have also been known to get nauseous - fun story of getting one of those migraines on an airplane and using multiple of the throw-up bags! I had eaten ice cream at the airport. Never again! Yes, I am superstitious:)

I have tried lots of drugs, but basically feel awful from the meds after the headache is done. You basically have to take a ton of the stuff to have any effect. I hated it, so I didn't refill my Rx and stick with the over-the-counter Excedrin Mirgraine, caffeine, and a nap with ice on my head! It works most of the time and I can function the next day.

In grad school, I was dealing with dull pain almost everyday. Sort of a stress related migraine. The Dr I went to see noticed that I am a fan of homeopathic medicine and suggested I try Migravent - a natural supplement that contains butterbur.

I started taking 3 a day as recommended for a few months and then stepped down to 2 a day, then 1 a day, then none. The daily pain disappeared after a few months of treatment!

It definitely is a wonder drug and I highly recommend it to all migraine sufferers as a way to eliminate migraines from your life!



Enjoy!

ELT

Baltimore 10miler

Yesterday, I completed my 2nd 10 mile race - The Baltimore 10 Miler. The course was hilly which is why the last 2 miles were slow!
It was hot and I was tired after the race. I drank a bottle of water, 3 glasses of gatorade, and ate an apple. ~15min after the race I started not feeling well, very nauseous. My friend and I were meeting more friends for brunch at Golden West Cafe, so we headed over to put our name on the list. The nausea wasn't getting any better. My friends ordered breakfast and I ordered a Sprite and a plain biscuit. Before the food came the nausea peaked and I tossed up the apple and gatorade in a bush around the corner from the restaurant! Ahh I felt so much better :) I guess an apple on an empty stomach wasn't the best idea. The food at Golden West Cafe looked great and my friends gave it great reviews. I guess GAH and I will have to check it out...

Mile splits:
1 - 8:52 - thick crowds, weaving in and out of people
2 - 7:57 - downhill
3 - 8:12
4 - 8:21
5 - 8:33
6 - 8:33
7 - 8:32
8 - 7:20 - I think the mile marker was off, my best straight out sprint mile is 7:27!
9 - 9:07
10 - 9:28 - 1:24:59!!

~12min faster than the Annapolis 10miler in August 2009.
133rd woman out of 1795 women
38th out of 397 in the 30-34 age group!


Enjoy!
-ELT

Sick Kitty

Artichoke (AKA - Chokie or Arti) is my 4year old adventurous tailed cat! (Gus - is my other 9 year old Manx)

Arti likes to get into things - she likes to drink the shower water; she dips her paws in the water bowl after using the litter box - sanitary reasons??; she loves kitty treats and will do tricks to get one; she loves to eat and play; she likes to eat rubber things - Lance Armstrong bracelets will be eaten in a matter of minutes!; she likes to look outside but runs away when you open the door; she runs to the door when I come home; she is up and at the food bowl as soon as I am up; she likes to sleep under the blankets; she is terrified of the vacuum cleaner; she likes to lick paper especially with fresh ink; and I just love this kitty.

A few weeks ago I came home to a lovely hairball - eww! I have dealt with Gussy's before so I didn't think much of it. Both cats eat Hairball prevention cat food and get the nasty malt-like toothpaste prevention stuff to limit the amount of hairballs I have to clean up. I knew it was Arti's hairball because there was a rubber band in the hairball, I mentioned she likes to eat rubber stuff?!

I cleaned it up and didn't think much about it.

I guess the hairball and some other toxin (the Vet thinks she licked something bad or ate something unsettling) cause Arti to get sick. She was vomiting clear liquids and not eating for a few days.

I took her to the vet and they kept her overnight (I did miss my kitty, but Gussy had a ball being an only-child for the night!). She got IV fluids (she is sporting cute shaved arms - the latest in Kitty Fashion!) and her blood work came back normal - thank-goodness she didn't have serious disease. We have special bland Rx cat food that both cats will be enjoying for the next month!

The apartment has been kitty proofed and she is not allowed to lick the bathtub water and paper!

-Enjoy!

ELT

Chile Brownies

I like to bake. One day I would like to open a bakery. I even have the name already picked out - Favorite Choice! I'll tell you the story behind the name later....


Last fall at work, there was a chili and brownie cook off - perfect!I love to cook chili and brownies, but I don't eat red meat or pork, so I knew my turkey chili wouldn't win, so I decided to make NM chile brownies!
In case you didn't know, red and green chile are a staple to any New Mexican's diet.
You can get green chile cheeseburgers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Sonic etc. The official answer to the question - Red or Green? is Christmas!
I prefer green over red, mainly because red chile is usually cooked in a pork broth or has some pork in it.

My brownies won for Most Original Ingredient! and now I am going to share the secret recipe...

NM Chile Brownies -
Find your favorite brownie recipe - homemade or out of a box.
Diced frozen NM green chile - defrosted
Dry crushed NM red chile


Follow the recipe as directed with a few modifications -
Usually the recipe calls for water, replace the water with "green chile" water from the defrosted green chile.
Add 1 tablespoon of the defrosted green chiles to the batter.
Add 1 tablespoon of red chile to the batter.

Continue to follow the directions for making your favorite brownies and once you have the brownies in the pan, sprinkle the dry crushed red chile on top for decorations.
Bake as the recipe suggests and enjoy!

I would definitely have an extra glass of milk when enjoying these brownies!
-Enjoy!

Baking

I decided to make a cake for my Aunt's birthday!

Chocolate-Raspberry Layer Cake from Bon Appetit June 2010.
Professional pics -

My cake -

It was very tasty.

I guess opening the bakery might be sooner rather than later.