Accessories

I finally bought a belt for that half marathon medal that was actually a belt buckle! I opened the package and wrapped it around my waist while still wearing four layers of clothing, one of them my thick wool jacket, and was disappointed at how small it was. Thankfully, it fits fine when I wear it under my coat. If you're in the market for a buckle-less belt, I suggest this Etsy seller.

Also on display in this picture is the ring made me for me by the lovely and talented Becca. I call it my Big Rock.

"Could It Be The Weather?"

I'm a bit uninspired recently.

And cold. I'm so over Minnesota winter.

Weekend

If you haven't read Ellen's latest post, go and do so. It is well worth your time.

Last weekend, as I've already mentioned, was rather epic. On Sunday, David and I did even more winter adventuring, visiting Lake of the Isles (around which I frequently run in warmer weather) to fulfill my long-held goal of walking out to the islands. We did so, and it was great! Then we went to Pancho Villa to watch the Vikings win.

We're headed over there in a few minutes to watch them play the Saints. I'm even wearing purple (thanks to a lovely Christmas gift from my sister--though it's admittedly a Gap T-shirt and not a Minnesota jersey).

Over all, this weekend has been slightly less epic, though it did involve homemade cinnamon rolls, the espresso machine that had been languishing in my closet for many months, Tater Tots, and a fair amount of Rome on DVD. (We're having our January Thaw, which means temps near 40, but lots of drippy grayness.)

The weekend also involved a trip to the 'burbs to a fantastic fabric outlet warehouse, about which I intend to write more later.

For now, off to root, root, root for the home team!

Winter Adventuring

Today ended up being kind of fabulous. It was sunny and hit 36°!

Here are a few snaps of the highlights: Belgian waffles; hanging my new coatrack shelf;* frozen, slippery Minnehaha Falls (including crazy kids); sunset city skyline; and Washburn water tower and the Tanglewood neighborhood.

And two more, shots taken earlier of Christmas gifts: the scarf my sister gave me, and the balaclava my mom gave me (just before a Winter Ninja Run).

*Which required buying a bit to drill the missing pilot holes, two drywall anchors and long screws to mount it to the wall (since the two tiny included hooks weren't going to cut it), and insane amounts of patience. But not all that much money! David reminds me that you get what you pay for--and for $10.99 plus shipping, it's not terrible (and, incidentally, not as red as it looks in the picture).

H1N1

I just returned from being vaccinated against Swine Flu. I generally get a seasonal flu vaccine; the U gives them out free and encourages all of us to "Do it for the Herd!" Especially when I was TAing and interacting with hundreds of undergrads a week, it just made sense. (And last year I got to help set a Guinness World Record!)

This year, they ran out of seasonal flu vaccine very early on, and let us know they wouldn't be getting any more. They also had low supplies of H1N1 and were only vaccinating high-risk groups. They've apparently come into quite a large quantity of the vaccine recently, however, and are now encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.

Several months ago, I had been hesitant about receiving the vaccine. Wasn't the whole H1N1 thing just another big scare, inflated by the media? Sure, it was a little daunting that it was the young and healthy who seemed to get the sickest, but did we really all need to freak out?

And then I heard this on NPR, the title of which pretty much sums it up: "Debate Over H1N1 Vaccine? There Shouldn't be One." Physician Douglas Kamerow, former Assistant Surgeon General and research scientist, explains concisely and clearly why the vaccine is safe, an effective defense against a dangerous disease, and the responsible option for public health. He convinced me--as, I'd like to think, scientific evidence and respected authority generally do. Unfortunately, due to the aforementioned low supplies, getting the vaccine earlier wasn't an option for me. Now it is, but I probably wouldn't have thought about it if I hadn't heard, again on public radio, public health officials encouraging people to get the now-widely-available vaccine.

I booked an online appointment at the student health center, where I was told I could get either the standard injection or the nasal spray. Not having a particular fear of needles (though I do if they contain a tetanus booster), I was happy to leave the spray for those who do. However, I was assured that there was plenty of each and that I was free to choose either. Figuring it was a no-brainer, I chose the nasal spray and was directed to a friendly nurse who had me blow my nose before she stuck a little wand up each nostril and dispensed a puff of vaccine. I got to remain fully dressed, sustained no puncture wound, and won't have any bruising.

What blows my mind, though, is that at least half of the people around me seemed to be opting for the injected vaccine! I think these nasal vaccines are the future; I'll take that option any time.

Anyway. This is National Influenza Vaccination Week, and I think it makes sense to be vaccinated, whether you opt to be poked or to inhale. The most intelligent and trustworthy sources I know are encouraging it, after all--and who wants to get sick, anyway?

Foxy!

Last night, David and I went with friends to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox at the Riverview. I LOVED it. I'm a pretty big Wes Anderson fan anyway, and had really enjoyed others of his recent films, like the Darjeeling Limited, but this was particularly delightful. There were a lot of kids in the audience--it was a matinee on a dreadfully cold weekend--but it really wasn't a kids' movie. Certainly there were things for them to enjoy, and aspects of the film definitely awed and inspired my inner kid, like the sheer joy of the tiny sets, and goofy little visual touches like the beagles' eyes after they ate the blueberries, but most of the themes were, predictably I suppose, targeted to an adult audience.

Anyway, like I said, I loved it. I loved Clooney as Foxy, and Schwarzmann as his son Ash, and Bill Murray as Badger. It was beautifully executed, surprisingly touching, and full of wonderfully quotable lines (which, sadly, I can't remember, and with which IMDB is not helping much. I do remember that their avoidance of cussing was pure genius, though I'll let you discover that for yourself if you haven't already).

This afternoon, I saw a film about which I have more mixed feelings: Avatar. I was going to blog about it tonight, but find that I'm too tired; it will have to wait.

In the meantime, I whole-heartedly recommend Mr. Fox, and suggest seeing it on the big screen if possible (especially if you have an adorable second-run theater like mine!).

Driving

David sent me a link to this image, rightly guessing that I would appreciate it. I present it here so that we can all share the joy (as always, click for larger version):

Home, Cold Home

So, I'm back in Mpls. My flight in yesterday ended up being delayed an hour at the gate and then another 40 minutes on the runway, but I did make it. Today I managed to get my Christmas tree taken down, buy groceries, go to the chiropractor, get my hair cut, and cook a nice dinner, but the house is still a disaster. I guess I'll take tomorrow off, too.

I went to the chiropractor because my toe is still hurting. I haven't run since Vegas, and the toe still hurts. It has also taken to popping. Plus, I love my chiropractor's office. I'd forgotten how much until I was there this afternoon, the EMS, heat blanket, and massage finally calming the twitching I'd been doing all morning.

I was sheepish about my foot still hurting, but my chiropractor was reassuring and suggested we take an X-ray to see what we might find. As it turned out, the problem was readily visible, right there on the screen. Four of my toe joints are lovely and smooth, and the fifth, my first metatarsal head, has a little branch coming off it toward my second toe--a piece of bone that isn't supposed to be there. What has apparently probably happened is that the tendon has pulled little bits of the bone away, like a stress fracture, and started to heal over. Ugh.

So, they did a little bit of underwater ultrasound, some cool laser, some Graston stripping (a new experience for me), and taped me up. I'm going back in on Friday morning for some more work. Dr. Steve was very encouraging that since the toe business seems to be chronic, and not acute, I should be able to go back to running soon.

I hope so, because I'm already wondering about making it through this winter with my mental health firmly in place.

2009 in Review

This little questionnaire has become sort of a year-end tradition here in the Kitchen, so I present now 2009:

1) Where did you begin 2009?
In Seattle with good friends and family! Highlights were Abraham's CD release party, Casuelita's Caribbean Cafe, fireworks at the Space Needle, and a kiss.

2) What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Officially dating my sweetie, who flew to Mpls that weekend.

3) Did you travel?
Ohmygoodness, yes. I drove from Palm Springs to Phoenix with my parents for the marathon in January and then flew back to Mpls. I drove to a conference in Milwauke, flew to one in New Orleans, and then flew to a third in Portland in May. The latter launched the first of two epic roadtrips across the country. In November, David and I flew to Portland and drove to Hermiston for Thanksgiving. In December, I flew to Vegas to run a half marathon, and then to Seattle for the holidays. Phew!

4) Did you lose someone or something you love?
Not that I can recall. I feel very fortunate in that.

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?
Nope!

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?
Nope!

7) Did you start dating someone new?
Yes, I did, and he has been one of the most excellent parts of 2009!

8) What did you purchase that was over $1000?
Not a single object--but the usual school fees, rent, and travel.

9) Did you know anybody who got married?
My neighbor got married; that was the only wedding I attended this year, and the only one I can think of.

10) Did you get in any car accidents?
Not a one. Here's to a year and a half of car-less living!

11) Did you attend any sporting events?
Two marathons and three half marathons, if those count. Oh, also, the rodeo!

12) Did you move anywhere?
I moved to Walla Walla for the summer, and then back to Mpls.

13) Did you keep your new year's resolution?
It was another year in which I didn't make any.

14) What concerts/shows did you go to?
The Nutracker, Rodrigo y Gabriela, The Santaland Diaries, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Importance of Being Earnest (Bros Before Hos Remix), Abraham, Andrew Bird (x2), the Decemberists, U2(!!)...

15) What movies did you go see in the theater?
Including ones at my beloved second-run theater: Up in the Air, Up, King Corn and Big River, Revolutionary Road, The Soloist, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Angels and Demons, Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (it was with my little cousin! Also, somehow, despite its extreme loudness, I managed to fall asleep...), Public Enemies, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, (500) Days of Summer, The Informant!, The Men Who Stare at Goats, Valkyrie, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Milk (this time with help from this site)

16) Did your hair color change?
Only from the disappointing Feria permanent back to my natural colors.

17) Did you get any taller?
At the doctor's office, they told me I was a little over 5'7", which would mean I had grown--but I think it was just the thick socks.

18) Describe your birthday?
I spent it in the desert with David and my parents. We ate a lot of delicious food, and enjoyed the sunshine and some antiquing. Later, David and I celebrated again when we saw U2 in Chicago--his big birthday gift to me!

19) Did you get any new pets?
None.

20) What has been your favorite moment?
Favorite moment, in a year this epic? I seriously couldn't begin to choose.

21) What's something you learned about yourself?
I can much more easily survive a Mpls winter with good company.

22) What has been your biggest worry?
That I might not finish this accursed dissertation, and my degree, and thus disappoint myself, my advisor, and everyone around me.

23) What was your best month?
Oh boy. May was pretty fantastic... but so were June, July, August... and January... and September, October, November, December...

24) What music will you remember 2009 by?
Abraham, Andrew Bird, the Decemberists, U2 and weirdly, maybe even Lady Gaga.

25) Who has been your best drinking buddy?
E&A, L, and D.

26) Have you had to call the police on anyone?
Nope!

27) Have you gone skiing?
Sadly, it was another slopeless year.

28) Did you miss work due to illness?
Not work, as far as I can recall.

29) Any like/love interests?
I know this comes as a huge surprise to Alert Readers, but I'm pretty taken with my current beau.

30) Get anything new?
Shiny red electronics! A phone, lappy, and Nano. Oh, and that beau!