thanksgiving of champions oh nine!

Hello, Thanksgiving!

Because Nathan's parents live in Illinois and mine call New York home, we are effectively given a free pass to stay home for Thanksgiving and spend our holiday break however we see fit. While I love our families, I must admit that this is a very good deal. This year, we chose to spend Tofurkey Day with the MRTs, who were hosting their bi-annual Thanksgiving Extravaganza. As usual, the celebration did not disappoint.

As part of the solid vegan contingent attending dinner, I may have gone a little overboard. But what is Thanksgiving, if not the perfect chance to go overboard in every way one can? We could, and we did. First, the food.

My second attempt at a tofurkey was just as dissappointing as my first. Not bad. Just not... turkey-like. Mostly it tasted like a giant block of tofu, which is what it essentially is. Next year, I'm either going to go with a good old fashioned pot pie, or with the recipe that Lindy Loo raved about today. If that's not a convincing blog post, I don't know what is.

Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving without a sweet potato casserole. A few years ago, I asked Nathan's mom for his recipe, and when she sent it to me I nearly had a heart attack. This version, from Fat Free Vegan, is a lot more healthy and no less delicious.

Vegan Fudge Pecan Pie from La Dolce Vegan. Always a hit!

Not pictured: my glorious Fruit and Toasted Almond Stuffing, from the holiday issue of Vegetarian Times. It was warming in the oven while I was snapping everything else, and then it was in my stomach. Trust me though - it was good. You can see it on my plate, which I diligently carried over to a window and photographed with one hand while balancing it precariously in the other. Nobody ever said I wasn't dedicated. Or crazy. Mostly though, I'm just thankful, not least of all for a great dinner, great friends, and a great many bottles of wine around the fire late into the night. But enough sappy stuff, and on to the food.

 

I hope you had as happy a Thanksgiving as we did! Now: bring on the Christmas!

wednesday weekly

While it is, of course, terrible and sad that my Christmas present is no longer a surprise, it's pretty awesome that I get to use it for my Thanksgiving contributions! Tomorrow, I'm attending the Thanksgiving of Champions, hosted by my favorite pair of people with the initials MRT. I'm planning on bringing Sweet Potato Casserole with a Pecan topping, Fruit and Toasted Almond stuffing, homemade tofurkey with mushroom gravy, and a fudge pecan pie - all vegan, of course! Photos and recipes will be up on Friday, after I've emerged from my food coma.

Happy Thanksgiving!

merry early christmas to me!

Last Thursday, Nathan informed me that he had ordered me a Christmas present and requested that I avoid closely examining any boxes that might arrive in the mail. I rolled my eyes because we'd decided not to do presents this year, but secretly I was glad. Who doesn't like presents?

Later that day we drove around for an hour with some friends in the Davy Crockett National Forest, searching for the Earthship a New York friend was helping to build, but to no avail. (Nathan found it the next day, and it sounds like we won't have to live in one after all.) When we arrived home, disappointed and tired, I hopped out of the car and walked to the front door. And what should I see on the stoop but a package that had been delivered by FedEx, unwrapped and plainly visible for anyone to see.

(This photo is an approximation, obviously, as it's wrapped and clearly not in a box. But you get the idea.)

When I saw the box sitting there, I turned to Nathan, my mouth hanging open in shock. He took one look at the package, and said "Fuck." Now, I understand his disappointment - he's a broke graduate student, he saved up for months to buy me the appliance of my dreams, and he couldn't wait to see the look on my face when I opened it on Christmas day. All those plans, ruined by one lazy FedEx employee. On the other hand - I HAVE A KITCHEN AID MIXER! And we all know how I feel about Kitchen Aid mixers. (Also, I can put off marriage for a while longer. While I'm sure that wasn't Nathan's intention with this gift, one must wonder...)

I have already used my mixer once - I made pizza dough on Sunday night and it was awesome. And while the surprise may have been ruined, my excitement, glee and unadulterated joy have not been dampened one bit. This is officially the best present I have ever received in all my life - even better than the water cooler Nathan gave me for my birthday three years ago! - and I am so glad to have a nice, caring and generous boyfriend. Not to mention a Kitchen Aid mixer.

Merry Christmas!

weekend recap - busy with bdays

My weekend was filled with many birthday celebrations and lots of time spent with friends. Good for the soul, not so good for the apartment. I'm dreading lunch break, because it will mean catching up on dishes and laundry. (I have a hard time relaxing when the house is in a state of disrepair.) But enough about the casualties of a good time, and on to the good time!

On Thursday, we celebrated Eralda's birthday. I organized a small dinner party at my apartment, and served Vegan Yum Yum's Eggplant and Pine Nut Rolled Lasagna (always a hit!) and garlic bread. Amy brought an awesome green salad with a homemade dressing, and we had Veganomicon's Lemon Coconut Bundt cake for dessert. It was a very nice evening, and Eralda seemed both surprised and touched. (She had a feeling we were up to something. I think when her husband told her that he was taking her to the rodeo that night, suspicions set in.)

Friday was devoted to Sonnie's birthday. After work, seven of us loaded into the Momo's brand new minivan and headed to Lufkin, where we used our pre-purchased tickets to bypass the long lines of impatient tweens and settled in for New Moon, the latest film in the Twilight saga. The film was just as bad as I had hoped, but it was still better than the book.We had a great time giggling at all the wrong moments and listening to the gasps and cheers of the girls around us. Also: Team Jacob. Seriously.

Saturday we went to yet another birthday party, this one for our friend Lisa who was celebrating her 30th. It was a low key party at her house. We had dinner, drank wine, played dominoes and watched funny videos on the Internet. Very fun and a great way to end the string of birthday parties.

After such a busy weekend, I'm extra glad for the short work week and the Thanksgiving holiday. I've been steadily working on a secret project, which I may or may not reveal here. I hope to be finished with it by next week, mostly for my own sanity. Until then, I'll be writing policies and dodging library drama as best I can. Wish me luck!

wednesday weekly

I can't ever get enough of breakfast photos. Or enough of breakfast!

marathon update - week four

This week marks my fourth of marathon training. Marathon training, I have found, is a lot harder than half marathon training. My short turns are getting longer and my long runs are really long - I'm planning for a 13 miler this weekend, and my first 20 mile run is less than a month away! That seems terribly soon.

As for following my training plan to a T - not so much. I don't feel like I've gotten faster in a while, and this is partly because I haven't really been doing the recommended speedwork and tempo runs. I just don't like running fast - it's uncomfortable. Which is, of course, the point, not mention a vicious cycle - I would be more comfortable with speed if I ran fast more often, but because it's uncomfortable I don't run fast. On and on we go, at a slow but steady pace.

I've also been skipping some of the long runs, which is about the worst thing you can do when training for a marathon. One weekend we were in New Orleans, competing in the Adventure Race, which was a pretty good excuse. This past weekend, I had a lot of school work and writing to catch up on, and I also may or may not have had a hangover. Not such good excuses.

Overall, I'm doing okay with my training, but I need to start doing better before this unrepentant slacking catches up with me. Here's my plan to get back on track and kick the marathon's ass:

1. Stop skipping long runs.
2. Limit alcohol for the next few weeks, especially on nights before a run.
3. Commit to cross training - yoga and weight dates at the rec center, twice a week for each.
4. Watch my fuel - make sure I eat right after a long run, make sure I'm getting enough protein, and make sure I switch to water in the afternoon, instead of drinking coffee straight up until beer time (which will be henceforth known as herbal tea time).

If I follow these simple guidelines, I'm sure I can get over the plateau I've been sitting on for the last few weeks. Until the next marathon update!

round and round we go

Earlier in the week, I posted a link to an article about the Stupek-Pitts Amendment to health care reform, which was passed in the House. The amendment essentially prevents women from purchasing insurance that would cover abortions, and extends not only to the public insurance option but to private options as well. Obviously, I think this amendment is a terrible idea, as it takes a right - the right to have an abortion - and makes it completely inaccessible for so many people. While I believe abortion should be legal, I also believe that all citizens should have access to their rights, and that this access should not be dependent on whether or not you can afford them.

My goal in posting the link was simply to alert some friends to what was going on with reform. I don't know how many people actually read the article, but I do know that the ensuing debate - spanning over 40 comments and covering abortion, gay marriage and religion - took up way too much of my time. I finally ended the conversation and moved on.

Then I came across an amazing post on Feministing that says more than I could express in a Facebook thread, covers compromises and options of which I hadn't even been aware, and perfectly explains the unease I feel when arguing about anything, including the very things I feel most passionate about (such as reproductive rights and universal health care).

As Rose Afriyie writes, "How do you talk to gender skeptics about feminism? Is abortion the place to start? Is there a feminist warm-up issue that is domestic in nature that the general public would agree is a clear manifestation of sexism? Is conversion the ultimate goal? How do you talk about these issues while also acknowledging that even though you are a feminist, you may not have the full truth on feminism, and that your feminism grows, evolves and even adapts?"

How indeed? I feel qualified to speak on the subject of abortion. I feel compassion for humans in tough situations, and I want to ensure that everyone - including myself - has the full range of options available to them. I know that abortion is a tough and emotional subject, and that some people will always think women who have abortions are lazy baby killers who refuse to take responsibility for their actions. But I also know that some women are raped, and that rape can be very hard to prove. Some women are in abusive relationships. Some women already have three kids and couldn't possibly provide for a fourth. Some women are children themselves. Some women are still in school, working towards a better life. Some women do not want to be mothers. Some women have health problems that would prevent them from being capable mothers. While I am some of these women, I am not all of them, and I cannot make decisions for any of them. Yes, my feminism may evolve and adapt. Yes, the decision I make about my body now will be different from the ones I make ten years from now. But this? The idea that there are truths I will never know, situations I could never imagine, beliefs I might never understand - this will never change. And this is why I'll always be pro-choice.

The main point of this post, however, is that you should go read the article. Also, do not post political things on Facebook unless you have a day or two to devote to moderating and responding to comments ranging from thoughtful and shrill. And thank you for getting to the end of this post. I appreciate your patience and understanding.

wednesday weekly

Since I obviously can't post a photo without some kind of wordy nonsense, I'm changing this from "wordless wednesday" to "wednesday weekly." I hope you approve.

This is an old photo, taken a year ago when Nathan and I went to Fredericksburg to celebrate our sixth anniversary. I'm posting it today in honor of lucky seven. Happy anniversary, my love! I think this year is going to be the best yet. <3

new orleans, race recap, and lots of photos

Our home away from home during our stay in New Orleans. 

This past weekend Nathan, our friend Amy, and I traveled to Louisiana for the New Orleans Urban Adventure Race. I'll do my best to break down our adventure without making your eyes bleed from reading. :)

Thursday! We left Nacogdoches at about 3pm and started the six hour drive to our destination - New Orleans! The drive went by quickly and was fairly uneventful - just the way a long drive should be. Amy used to live in New Orleans and got back in touch with an old friend of hers, who very kindly allowed us to sleep on his floor. We couldn't have been happier or more comfortable! He lived a short bike ride from the French Quarter, which was perfect. Since we got in to town pretty late, we went to a neighborhood bar and had a few drinks while listening to live blues. A very good introduction to a very cool city.

Coffee, New Orleans style.

Friday! Our race wasn't until Saturday morning, and we knew we wanted to get a good night's sleep beforehand. Therefore, we decided to spend all day on Friday sightseeing, hanging out in the French Quarter, and having a drink at any bar that struck our fancy. Our fancies were struck often. I had my first ever Bloody Mary, checked out a variety of shops (records! voodoo! jewelry! coffee!), biked up and down every street that looked inviting, and watched an amazing group of street performers, dressed like 1920's musicians and going to town on their trumpets, washboards, and fiddles. I love New Orleans!

 

A vegan po'boy and sweet potato fries from Cafe Bamboo.

Amy and I playing dress-up. (Photo compliments of Amy.)

Super cool street performers. I gave them many dollars.

Saturday! Race day! This was my and Amy's first Adventure Race, urban and otherwise. Nathan had done races in the woods and parks before, but never in a city. We were all nervous and didn't know what exactly to expect. The race started at 9am, and at 8:30 each team received a map with instructions and locations to which we'd have to bike, run or canoe. At each location, we would find a hole puncher, and we would punch our passport. At the end of the race, we'd have to hand in our passports with all holes punched. Tricky business!

Team Pink Whiskey, ready to race!
(Photo compliments of Amy's self-timer.)

There were 18 checkpoints in all. I won't go into two much detail, because it mostly involved a lot of moving. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot - 7 miles of running, 13 miles of biking, and 4 miles of canoeing, total. The coolest aspect of the race were the mystery challenges. At some of the checkpoints, we would have to complete a challenge before we could get our card punched. One challenge involved running through a dark wax museum looking for Frankenstein. Another had us run up 13 flights of stairs at the Shell building. My favorite challenge was in the French Quarter - we had to find the Crescent City Brew House. Once there, we were each given a tray holding two full drinks. We then had to carry our drinks to two other bars in the Quarter, where we had to pick up yet more drinks, and then finally make our way back to the first bar with all the drinks intact. If any of us spilled any of our drinks, we would have to start over. I thought for sure I would spill something, but somehow I made it back in one piece. Super fun and challenging.

All in all, the race took our team five hours and 45 minute to complete. Not bad, for two first timers! We celebrated by going out to dinner at Cafe Bamboo again (hey, it was the only vegetarian restaurant in all of New Orleans, AND it was delicious. What more can a vegan ask for?). We had grand dreams of partying the night away, but all that racing took it's toll. After a huge dinner and a few drinks, we were beat. New Orleans wins again!

Post-race and pre-dinner posing at the fountain in City Park.
Thanks for the photo, Amy!

Sunday! Coffee and breakfast at a neighborhood cafe, and then the long drive home. I wished for a moment that I had neighborhood bars and coffeeshops, and then I remembered who my neighbors are. Nevermind.

To summarize: New Orleans is amazing and beautiful and brimming with interesting characters; Urban Adventure Racing is an ideal way to explore a unique city; and drinking for 7 hours straight is not as easy as you'd think. I give NOLA five our of five stars, and cannot wait to go back!

wordless wednesday

The title of this post should be self-explanatory, but just in case -
I'm trying out a new feature, in which I post a photo each Wednesday with no explanation. All photos will be my own, unless otherwise noted. Let me know what you think!

things fall apart

Over the last few weeks, an alarming number of things have gone wrong in our apartment.While I had placed my bets on the dryer, which will only stay on for 19 minutes at a time, it was dishwasher that was first to go. When we realized everything was emerging caked with dried dish detergent, denial was no longer possible. The dishwasher is currently serving us as an over-sized drying rack until we can afford a replacement.

The next thing to die was the washing machine. About two weeks ago, after throwing in a load and hitting start, I heard a strange sound coming for the kitchen. I investigated, and found water pouring from the washer and pooling across the kitchen floor. I was able to turn off the machine (while standing on a wooden chair, so as not to be electrocuted) and mop up the mess. We called Fix-It-Mike (oh, the joys of owning your own condo!) and he ordered a part, then replaced it. This took about a week. After replacing the part, he realized why it had broken in the first place - a second part that would also need to be ordered and replaced. We are currently waiting for that part to arrive, and on Sunday brought a load of laundry along with an entree to a potluck at a friends' house. We have very nice friends.

The kitchen floor is still a mess due to that time I exploded a glass plate. The bathroom ceiling is sporting a large square hole, which Nathan created in order to fix the leak in the upstairs neighbors' toilet. The upstairs neighbors host nightly sing-alongs that last for hours and feature poorly played guitar and the off-key howling of 15 of their closest friends. Last night, the city mixed up some paperwork and accidentally turned off our water. They turned it back on after I called them and explained that we did, in fact, still desire access to water, but it was an uncanny mistake, especially when set beside all the other things plaguing my poor, defenseless home.

A few of my friends have raved about the book Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui. I'm thinking it's time I gave this book a read and see if moving some furniture around might improve the energy in my apartment. I don't usually resort to these kinds of new age-y things, but at this point I'm desperate. Also, if my washing machine is not fixed this week, don't be surprised if I show up at your house with a basket of ill smelling garments. You've been warned.

i'm back!

It appears that I have not updated my blog (for real) in nearly ten days. That might be a record for me. I'll try to catch y'all up as shortly and sweetly as possible. Ready? Set? Let's go!

The weekend of October 24th, I traveled to Austin with Mary T. to help celebrate Jo's baby shower. It was a very classy affair with tons of food, lots of presents, and an abundance of lady times. I know Jo (and Jen, our perfect hostess, and Anne) through Mary, and I'm so glad to have gained the friendship of these amazing ladies.

Shower in progress. Fun times, food and presents!

 

Vegan cupcake from Austin's Hey Cupcake!

 

The ladies - Anne, Jo, Mary and Jen. 

Last week I started my marathon training plan. I'm excited to be training for something again - while my post-race running break was necessary, I was ready to be back in the game, following a schedule and watching the miles pile up. Yesterday I ran 10  miles on the trail and slipped and slid in the muddy spots. It was exciting, exhilarating, and super fun. I love running!

On Thursday and Friday, I was in Dallas for a conference. We gave a presentation Friday afternoon and then headed back to town. I wasn't really in the mood to travel, but the fact that our hotel was a mere two miles away from the all-vegan Spiral Diner and Bakery made the trip worth it.

Vegan tiramisu. Be still my heart! 

And we can't forget Halloween. This year's festivities rank in my top five Halloweens ever. We started the night at a kick ass dance party and ended it at Merci and Tracy's annual bash. Between the costumes (I was Amelia Earhart), the music (live bands! dance parties!), and the swarm of friends (in costume, no less!) Halloween is a holiday that can't be beat.

Me as Amelia Earhart, and Nathan as the Human Cannonball. (Thanks to Kreg for snapping a great photo!)

And I think that brings us up to date. I hope y'all had a happy Halloween and everything in between!