It goes without saying.

Left without comment, here is how I feel today.

Unnatural Creatures

Odgen Nash once said "Where there is a monster, there is a miracle."

We love believing in the unbelievable.  Unnatural Creatures, a book of short stories collected by Neil Gaiman, is a lovely book I've recently read.  This book, in part, helps to fund the Museum of Unnatural History, a writing center for school-aged children in DC.  This just happens to be right around the corner from one of my favorite Vegan Bakeries, which is how I stumbled on it.

Neil Gaiman is one of the founders.  His introduction to the book was fantastic.  The collection of stories ranged from old to new, and featured some favorites (including Mr. Gaiman's Sunbird), and some new classics.

Other books recently read & currently reading:

Neil Gaiman's Instructions
Neil Gaiman's Make Good Art
Uwem Akpan's Say you're one of them (I'm hoping to finish this before this weekend, I think my Mom would really enjoy it.  If she's already read it, I'm going to pass it on to my daughter's boyfriend's mom.  That's a mouthful)
Tara French's Faithful Place (has a similar vibe to In the Woods.)

Streaking and other things to do.

Runners World periodically hosts a Running Streak, wherein those who are participating attempt to run every day for the duration of the streak.  The last one I tried was from Thanksgiving to New Years (2012).  It started off well, but then I went out to visit my folks in Nebraska and go skiing in Colorado, and it was bloody cold.  The next streak starts Monday (Memorial Day) and lasts through July 4 (Independence Day).

My Dad used to sing this song, and anytime I think of the word "Streak" it pops in my head.

Anyway, I'll be attempting this one, and I think I'll do better during this time frame than with the weather in December.  This is also a great way for me to jump start my new goal for 2014... I want to run a half marathon. Before I'm 40.  So that gives me about a year and a half to train for and do it.

I've ordered the training program from No Meat Athlete which I'm excited to take a crack at.  In addition to the running schedule, it also gives food recommendations specifically for vegan and vegetarian athletes.  Not meal plans (because really, who can follow those??) but suggestions.  Guidelines.

In preparation for that, I've been attempting a few longer runs each week.  Yesterday I ran 5 miles in 54 minutes, and felt STRONG.  (Today, on the other hand, I ran a little less than 2 miles, and felt yesterday's run!)

Vegan & Running weekend adventures in the DMV

Busy busy, this past weekend.  We had more on our schedule than was humanly possible, I think.

Saturday started off in Arlington, VA, at the 5k Turtle Trot.  This was a fun little trail run to benefit Long Branch Nature Center to rescue and rehabilitate turtles!  I just love turtles- I'm a turtle saver (one of those crazy people who stops their car to move turtles out of the roadway), and couldn't pass this one up.

My time wasn't great, but I think it was okay considering the terrain, and the fact that I had to tie shoes on the way.

It was cute- there were a number of elementary school aged children running this one.  I was just behind a group of three boys (age 8 or so) and one had two untied shoes with laces flopping all over.  He kept trying to stop to tie them, but his friends kept running, and I guess he was worried about being left behind.  Finally, I asked him to please tie his shoes before he fell and hurt himself (or the slow runner behind him- me!).  He stopped, and was really struggling, so I stopped, too, and tied both of his shoes. As I was tying the second one, one of his friends came over and asked me to tie his shoes as well.  I figure there went a minute or two.

After a race, I like to treat myself to good vegan food.  Rob and I went to Khepra's Raw Food Juice Bar in NE DC.  A tiny little room in the back of a wellness shop, this food looked and smelled delicious and was worth the trip.  Rob and I were each looking at the menu, when we realized that the girl in front of us in line was getting a little of everything.  So we did that, too!  A large (one entree, and a sample of each of ~10 sides) was $15, but fed each of us for 3 meals, so I think it was fairly priced.

Here's what all I got: Avacado Plantain Pie (my entree), spinach seaweed salad, garlic kale, creamy kale, wild rice, jerk eggplant, okra, plantains, cauliflower, broccoli.  I might be missing something.  Anyway, all very raw, very tasty.  The nice thing about eating raw foods like these is you don't worry about portion size.  This is all good stuff.

Sunday I was signed up to run another race.  I know- it seems crazy to run two races in a weekend, but I didn't allow myself to run ANY races while I was writing my comps, and I went a little kooky signing up.  This one was the Capitol Hill Classic, and I ran the 3k.  This was a pretty exciting race for me, because I was able to RUN the whole thing.  Generally when I run longer distances, I run intervals of 8 minutes, with 1 minute walks.  Rob signed up to do it with me at the last minute, and although he hasn't been training, he kept pace with me the whole way- he was so supportive and great, I know part of the reason I was motivated to run the whole time is because he was with me.  Anyway, finished the 3k in 23:48.

 

After the race, we were walking to the metro, and I could hear music coming from an open window of a church.  I stopped and said to Rob, "That's Mozart! That's The Requiem!"  As I walked up the front steps of the church, another woman came from around the corner and said "Is that Requiem in D minor?  The three of us went inside to find that a college choir was visiting and giving a concert.  Sweaty and stinky, we stood just outside the nave doors and listened.  They were phenomenal.  Mozart's Requiem is one of my favorite pieces of music ever.  I feel it in my soul.

I actually missed going to some scheduled events on Sunday because of this impromptu concert.  I'm sorry- friends, but it was worth it!

After that unexpected surprise, Rob and I (now STARVING) hopped the Metro up to Sticky Fingers Bakery.  This is one of the best vegan establishments in the city, most people visit because Doran Peterson was a winner of one of those Food TV Cupcake competitions.  I love the sweets, but my favorite thing to order there is the Reuben.

To tell you how good it is, let me explain.  Generally when Rob and I go to a vegan restaurant, we always make sure to order different things, then we go "halvsies" and split our meals with eachother so we can taste more things.  But when we go to Sticky Fingers- we both order our own Reubens.  They are very tasty, marinated tempeh with sauerkraut and daiya on rye bread.  (At home, I use pumpernickel).  Yum.

I picked up a Margarita cupcake for later, and Rob got a chocolate chip cookie.  It ended up getting crumbly, so after getting off the Metro, we sat down and had a sidewalk picnic with the bits.

On Graduations and Accomplishments and the dreaded waiting process.

As a professor at a small college, I am required by my contract to attend each Spring's Commencement ceremonies (Winter Commencement is listed as optional, but recommended).

While in part I dread these ceremonies (the uncomfortable chairs, the keynote speeches that rarely vary on topic, the evening commitment), I do love seeing my students walk across that stage.

There were over 250 graduates in attendance, and while I had only taught a handful of them, seeing them reach their goals was fantastic.  I got to meet a few parents, girlfriends, and other family members, and it tickles me when students want to introduce me to people.

My daughter, Mia, will be graduating from High School in a few weeks.  She seemed surprised when family members wanted to come from out of town to attend- saying that it wasn't difficult to graduate from High School, so she didn't know why it was a big deal.  These types of ceremonies are a rite of passage, like senior prom (which I forgot to attend), or your first job, or your first kiss.  These are things you'll remember. For a long time.  These are stories you'll tell to your future partner and possibly your children.

Sometimes accomplishments are not recognized by ceremonies- sometimes we just need to take a moment and recognize ourselves or our loved ones.  Life goes pretty fast...

On the other hand, though, I submitted my comps last Monday, and was told it would take about a week to get my results.  Now, in my world, about a week is approximately 4-5 days.  If it were to be 7-8 days, I'd say "A little over a week" and if it were to be 10 days or so, I might call that a "week and a half."  I don't know what my advisor's definition of "about a week" is, but I am going crazy.  I keep checking my email (all of my emails, because what if they send word via the college email, and I thought it would go to my work/default email??).  I am not worried- I am 98% sure I passed, but I just want that validation so that I can stop, take a moment, and recognize my own accomplishments!

Anniversary

3 years ago today, I married my Soul Mate, my Love, and my Best Friend.

I am the luckiest girl to have found someone so perfect for me.

He makes every day an adventure.

He's taught me to smell the flowers, and to savor each moment.

He makes me feel like I can do anything.

We have fun together, what ever we do.

Every moment since I met him has been better because he was in my life.

I love you, Lover!

Some pictures for a Tuesday afternoon

Thought I'd share a few pictures with you on this beautiful Tuesday!

Now, I know it's Tuesday, but in my head it's not.  It's Winesday.  Each week, my BFF Annie and I get together and drink a little wine and hang out.  Generally this happens on Wednesdays, but this week I have to attend Honors Convocation tomorrow night, so Winesday has been rescheduled.  Now, Annie and I take turns hosting Winesday, and this week it's my turn.  

Big Bowl of Chopped Veggies:

Very often we have hummus, carrots, and pita chips.  As a vegan, I'm required by law to love hummus, which I do, but I thought we'd try something different this week.

This is a veggie dip I made with soft tofu, veganaise, cilantro, parsley, chives, some black pepper, and lemon juice.

For dessert we'll have some fresh strawberries and a blueberry coconut yogurt dip (vegan) I made with some vanilla coconut yogurt, some blueberry preserves, and a little brown sugar.  Yum.

I'm ready!  We've been on a Cupcake Winery kick lately.  Annie prefers the Chianti, and I love the Malbec.

Annie (and her hubby, Bart) aren't here yet, so I took a step outside to admire my flowers.  These Irises are gorgeous!  

I love that different flowers grow at different times here, the colors are great.  I can take NO responsibility for these beauties, though.  The previous owner of the house planted bulbs all around the yard- it's obvious that they took a lot of care to plant things that would bloom at different times.  This little raised garden is pretty weedy, but it's still beautiful.  I keep telling Rob I'd like to dig up this entire yard and have a huge garden (I'd love to be self-sustaining!) but that would mean I had to dig up these pretty things.

This ivy growing up the side of the house is new this year.  Probably not good for the integrity of the house, but it sure is pretty.  This window is the one in my office that I am now sitting next to at my computer.  I love that hint of pink right outside the window.

The dogs were helping me look at the flowers.  Copper was interested in me being interested in the Irises.

Little Jack wasn't interested in the flowers at all.  He wanted to dig a hole.  He's got one that he and Lily have been working on all year.  Rob keeps telling them "China's a lot further than you think it is!"  Lily didn't come out to look at the flowers.  Our run this morning tired her out, and she is taking a nap on the bed.

Have a beautiful day, friends!