are you a model?

One time during a match.com email exchange, I mentioned to a guy that I had a photoshoot the next day and I imagine he got all excited because he wrote back, are you a model? I explained that I am definitely BEHIND the camera. Sorry, dude. Well I was reviewing shots from my most recent shoot today and turns out I snuck on to a frame or two. Check it out! And I want that fuzzy blanket.

recipes to share

I tried to get adventurous in the the kitchen this weekend and had some yummy results. Thought I'd share! Sorry, no pics. I am not quite as Martha as Leah.

Artichoke Stuffed Chicken (from Real Simple, but I added some left over olives)
I can artichoke hearts
half cup Kalamata olives
cup grated parmesan cheese
4 bonless chicken breasts (free range ;)

Drain artichoke hearts REALLY well. Like squeeze them out. Chop fairly fine. Finely chop olives. Mix with artichokes and cheese. Cut a large slit in the chicken and suff generously with the mixture. Grill. Delish and easy. I served with grilled asparagus and roasted onions and potatoes. Oh, and sauvignon blanc.

I also made an awesome Indian version of the potato pancake with mint relish. But can I find la recette? Non. When I find, I'll post. A superb dinner when served with ordinary grilled chicken and mango salad.

One last yummy idea from the weekend, curry chicken salad made with leftover grilled chicken. Chicken + granny smith apples + pecans + raisins (key) + onion + little mayo + curry powder + cumin + sugar = delish and a wonderful sight to behold in your Monday afternoon lunch sac.

mon anniversaire

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! I usually like to ignore it, but this year was lovely. Some highlights:

Trail run race - not a highlight DURING the race, but definitely a highlight immediately after.
Looking at my received calls on my cell phone and seeing that three of my best friends had called in a row.
Coconut cake from Metro Bakery - 'nuf saif.
Adorable card featuring pics of me through the ages, made by my grandfather, complete with matching envelope.
First edition Shel Silverstein poetry book - too sweet.
Many birthday wishes and gifts from the gals at work - I am lucky to have such nice coworkers!

Maybe 29 won't be so bad after all! Next year I am going straight to 35. Then people can tell me I look great for my age. Heh.

effin...

Another fun weekend, gone. Boo. Too fast. Friday night we went to Martinis and Imax at the Fernbank Museum and I learned probably more than I needed to know about dolphins, not to mention seeing their very brief, albeit perfunctory mating rituals on a 100 foot, 3D screen. Yeah... Saturday, kind of bummed around until I finally got my act together for a 10 mile run. I told myself I want to do 30 miles a week til the marathon training starts, since I'm not as good running in the heat and need all the practice I can get. Run went well, I had a t shirt on over a long bra top, and it felt like I stayed cooler than usual. I love running in the city; when I needed water I just ducked into Publix or Borders. I actually went almost 11, since I don't fully trust Nike+ yet...

Then Brett and I made yummy chicken, avocado, cilantro and smoke gouda sandwiches and sweet potato fries, and he watched Charlie Wilson's War while I tried and failed to stay awake. I am officially the world's worst home-movie watcher.

Sunday, we did a morning yoga class at a new yoga studio we're probably going to join, farewell, LA Fitness! It was an amazing class and the place is immaculate and beautiful, every detail designed and considered. Lox and bagels, nap and then went for a bike ride in Piedmont Park. I was told I needed to focus on wheelies and going real slow today. I did both. Then we were working on going real fast down steep hills and I had a magnificent crash, wherein I managed to completely dismount the careening bike, launch myself high in the air, and land on my feet unharmed. This next part, I feel bad about. During this magnificent crash, I yelled an expletive starting with F and ending with K. Geez, when did I become soooo crass? I mean, swear and shit, but usually more to be funny. I just feel bad that that was the first thing that came to my mind! And that I absolutely shouted it in a park full of families. Nice, T. Then I had a wicked craving for Morgan's ice cream (kiddie twist in a dish with rainbow sprinkles) so we did the next best thing and walked to Zesto in Little 5. I wouldn't normally tell you that minute detail of my day, but when we were walking back, we wanted to see the end of the Celtics game, so we took our cones and stared into the window of a bar to catch the game. Like, faces pressed against the glass except when we needed to take a lick staring. Real bar patrons must have thought we were nuts. F them! Hee hee, just kidding.

Ugh, I hate Sunday night! But love you all.

fast (apparently) and furious (definitely)

My good friend and fellow runner Jeff recently gave me an awesome present: the Nike+ iPod system. He uses it for training and thought it would be a great tool for me as I attempt my first marathon. I have used it twice and like it, but I think it is trying to ensure that I would buy another or recommend to a friend by boosting my ego. It's telling me I am way faster than I think I am. Today for example, it was telling me I was doing around 7'20" miles during my 5 mile run. Very flattering, thanks, iPod, but I'm pretty sure my training mile times are more like 8'20". Hmmm, guess I need to do a little internet sleuthing to get to the bottom of this. Don't get me wrong, I would love to believe I run that fast. But, I don't.

In other news, I got a notice in the mail from a COLLECTIONS AGENCY today! wtf. It was from Macy's saying I owed $116 on my Macy's charge. So pissed. I have not even gotten a bill from them in months and then they go behind my back and let me experience the joy of being sent to collections. I thought we were friends.

good times

Check me out this weekend! We had a really good time biking and hiking. I only fell off the bike 4 times instead of 6, so progress was made. Not much else to say about that...

Jerry and Kanye

It's been a fun weekend. Friday night we saw Jerry Seinfeld at the Fox. Saturday, not so fun, included a 4 hour wait for an oil change and then a yummy salmon dinner with an experimental buckwheat side dish. Sunday was my inaugural trail ride! I wiped out about 6 times in an hour and my shins are probably now permanently scarred, but what fun! It's weird to just be doing this all of a sudden but I am proud of that. Tonight I am going to see Kanye West. Not my absolute favorite, but he is on my running mix, so I can get into it. Hey, free ticket... Ugh, how is it Sunday night already?