We’re in Tennessee. We’re sitting comfy at a B&B with dogs at our feet and wine by our side. Both of us know we should go to bed and get some sleep so that we can run, eat breakfast and shower in time for the family festivities at 1pm. But just hanging out in the space right now is nice (me on the computer, James watching food TV) and neither of us are ready to call it day.

Things I’m thankful for this year?
(1) A new gig at a cushy location in downtown Minneapolis — if you told me a year ago today I’d be here in 2006, I would have never believed you
(2) The most amazing husband. He should really have the #1 spot here. What more can I say?
(3) A fancy carbon bike that I still have yet to see in real life — next year I will be FAST
(4) LOVELY keeshonds. My girls are the awesomest — even if Tryna is snoring like an old man right now
(5) Family. On both sides. James and I are lucky kids.

Happy Turkey Day to all my American friends. Enjoy the day. You earned it. And count your blessings.

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Gah. Tonight would have been a hilarious site had you been sneaking around in my neighborhood and peaking in my windows.

Yesterday, in a pathetic attempt at a cheer-up, James took me to Savers. My neighbor (and buddy) loves this place and, to me, she’s the queen of consignment, so I trust her. After all, it is because of her that I managed to find a pair of Seven jeans for $29. It’s also because of her that I managed to score some other amazing, designer finds. So when she told me that she loves the new Savers that went up in a nearby suburb, I was intrigued. Moreso because she claims to have found one of those soup puree-er things that allows one to make smooth soups without transferring the mess to a food processor or blender.

I walked into the place expecting treasures and discounts. What I wasn’t expecting what a glorified Good Will. I went in not even thinking the goods would be used — so boy was I surprised.

This place was full of JUNK. I’ve found better deals at the Disabled Veteren’s shop in Midway. It kind of smelled and they sold old touch-tone phones and VCRs that didn’t work. Old mattresses. Nasty blankets. Nightgowns! Even a used training potty. It was crazy.

Crazier still was the video selection. I found a “Working Out with Mary Hart” — Yes, that Mary Hart — of Entertainment Tonight.

And amongst the junk, I found a Billy Blanks Tae Bo workout. It was only $1. And, truth be told, I’ve never done a Tae Bo workout in my life. I always heard they were decent. I just never had the motivation to put the phat cash down on the workouts when I belonged to a gym.

But for $1? I figured I’d give it a go. Besides, sometimes it’s nice not to have to drive to the gym.

And today when I got to busy to hit Spin class over lunch, I figured I could try out the 45 minutes of Mr. Blanks after work.

Ha.

What a joke?!

I barely got my heart rate up. The guy can’t cue. It was a sad, sad excuse.

And if you’d peaked in the windows, I’m sure you would have cracked up.

Chock it up to $1 wasted. Thank god I never plunked down the $45….

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or you do something really, really stupid…

It’s been a tough, tough weekend here for me. I can’t really get into the specifics in a public forum (nor do I want to) and I know this is yet another one of those cryptic “something happened — but I’m not going to tell you what it is” posts — but it’s also what’s going on with me right now. And when your thoughts are consumed with something, it’s hard to pretend it’s not there.

At any rate, it’s times like these that I’m thankful that I train. That I enjoy a run. That getting out in the cool, brisk air allows me to clear my thoughts and just interact with the pavement, one footfall at a time. Breathe in, breathe out. Heart beat, heart beat, heart beat. Breathe….

Things will be okay. In fact, I’m feeling much better today. And at the very most, I am so appreciative of all the great, great friends that I have. Yesterday afternoon, at a stop to a Sugio clothing sale, a surprise run-in with cycling buddies was a respite. Last night, drinks with friends a comforting place. I’m constantly amazed at the social network that we’ve created for ourselves in this urban area that we have yet to call “home.”

It’s funny sometimes how the real lows in life show you just how lucky you have it.

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Now there is nothing to do but sit here and watch the returns come in. Hopefully, the change I sense in the air will reveal itself in some true form. And I’ll continue to log onto Michael Moore’s site just to see all those people at their polling places with brooms in hand.

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. up

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So, not only did I bake homemade blueberry struesel muffins for Sunday breakfast, I made this cake:

Pear Upside-Down Spice Cake
From Cooking Light

This attractive cake is a good choice to round out a fall menu. Use Bartlett or Anjou pears, if you prefer.

Cake:
3 cups sliced peeled Bosc pears (about 3 pears)
Cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon instant coffee granules
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk

Glaze:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cake, arrange pear slices spokelike in bottom of a 9-inch cake pan coated with cooking spray, working from the center of the pan to the edge.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 7 ingredients (through cinnamon) in a bowl.

Combine granulated sugar and 5 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg; beat well. Add flour mixture and 3/4 cup buttermilk alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spoon batter over pears; spread evenly.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Loosen cake from sides of pan using a narrow metal spatula; invert cake onto plate. Let rest 2 minutes; remove pan.

To prepare glaze, combine 2 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon water, and juice in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Stir in brown sugar; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons buttermilk. Let stand 2 minutes; pour glaze evenly over cake.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 295(25% from fat); FAT 8.1g (sat 4.7g,mono 1.9g,poly 0.4g); PROTEIN 3.6g; CHOLESTEROL 38mg; CALCIUM 37mg; SODIUM 198mg; FIBER 1.6g; IRON 1.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 53.4g

Are the WW police going to come and get me?

Really, though. That’s all I have to say. That and:
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- We got to ride our bikes in 50 degree weather. In November. That’s always a good thing.
- I missed The Amazing Race last night. I hate that when it happens.
- I like my job. It keeps me busy.
- Thanksgiving is this month!
- Yoga made me sore. I should go to Yoga more often. Then I wouldn’t feel so sore.
- I swam for the first time since September
- Tomorrow is Election Day! VOTE, DAMMIT!

I told you I was boring…

I just logged on and it looks like Bolder Fighting Tommy Riley dvd completed himself a sub-12 hour Ironman. In fact, how sweet is 11:53:17. How sweet is that?

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finish. Good stuff. Almost makes me wish I was doing such a crazy, insane race.

Instead? I’m, ummm, drinking wine. I have a pear upside-down spice cake baking in the oven. James is cooking a dijon chicken stew. There will be Morroccan carrots. Birchwood

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-baked bread, too.

In fact, this gluttonous evening tops out a day of housekeeping (my house looks great and Sienna has had a bath). My morning was spent at my first Jan-yoga class (the most amazing instructor EVER) since, like, April. (I’m going to be soooo sore.) I capped out yoga w/a short swim — my first since September. Everything today has been relaxed and at its own pace. In fact, I (we) haven’t stuck to a schedule well enough to even catch the movie we wanted to see at the cheap seats. But, oh well. That’s the beauty of today. We can see the movie another day. Tonight, it’s just about being in the moment and enjoying the simple things.

So while my fellow tri-bloggers are digging it out for those final miles towards Ironman, I’m thinking of them in spirit. While I appreciate nights like tonight. I’m also very envious of nights like they are enjoying. Hard fought miles. Awesome results.

For some reason I thought the race was on Sunday — then I log on and see all the action already starting this morning. Good luck, tri-bloggers. I’ll be checking in throughout the day. And probably feeling a little guilty that my all strenuous agenda today consists of yoga, housework and maybe a bike ride…

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