Reconnecting with Friends: Lauren & New Things

To continue getting back in touch with friends, I met up with Lauren too. I have seen her much more recently than the other two, but it's still been too long - maybe two years? So it was really great seeing her again and doing not one, but two new things!

First we met up at the Tivoli, where we saw Melancholia. I was a bit worried about this movie after looking at the reviews on Netflix. It was an either you love it or hate it movie. Luckily I did not regret spending my money - it was a good movie! It's an end of the world type movie, where a planet that has been hiding behind the Sun is now hurtling towards Earth. Maybe people saw the summary and thought it would be an action movie - if that was the case they were in for a boring surprise (in comparison). Since it was made by the director of Dancer In the Dark I pretty much knew what to expect, so wasn't disappointed. My rating would be 4 out of 5 stars. It was also nice being in the Tivoli again, I forget how pretty it is!

Then we walked down the street in the blistery winter wind to Cheesology to get some Mac & Cheese. I got the bacon bacon with added breadcrumbs. They also managed to talk me into buying a rice crispie treat. Delicious, I tell you!

- Megan Leigh

Read More: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Update: Now I've finished the book! I agree with Megan--very fun read. The photos alone make this book worthwhile. After looking at them, I wanted to sift through old photos myself, in order to start putting together my own eery collection. Doesn't that sound like a great hobby?

Young adult book or not (was this really a young adult book?), all the elements of an enjoyable, suspense-laden adventure were there. The cushy suburban-wasteland childhood into which the supernatural creeps, an isolated, craggy island off the coast of Wales, mysterious last words from a mysterious old man... It wasn't a deep book, but the story hurtles forward and it's so much fun it's hard to put down.

-Kristin

I had to wait quite a while for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs to finally arrive at the library. I think the long wait was justified. It was a pretty fun read.

The story follows a young man who journeys to an island where the home for peculiar children is located - a place his grandfather used to tell him stories about. When his grandfather dies he goes on a journey to understand his grandfather's past and finds that his stories were perhaps not the fairy tales he and his family wrote them off as.

A fun thing about this book is that it has a lot of photos throughout, which are real vintage photographs that various photo enthusiasts have collected. It's a very neat idea to throw in old pictures and bring them back to life.

I've been reading a lot of young adult fantasy fiction lately! It's funny it's a genre I've ignored, even when I was a young adult, for the most part. But there's some entertaining stuff out there. Now, this was no Harry Potter by any means, but it was still quite good!

- Megan Leigh

Read More: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

I was very surprised that I had no idea what the book The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson was about. Well, of course, I knew it was about a doctor who had his good persona and bad persona. But how the book itself was written was a great surprise. I assumed that it would be from the point of view as Jekyll - Him battling his naughty side, documenting the awful deeds of Hyde (I imagined he was a bit of a Jack the Ripper type). But it was nothing like that. Instead it was from the view of Dr. Jekyll's lawyer who feels that something is amiss, but doesn't really know what until the very end when he reads Dr. Jekyll's written confession after his death. There really wasn't much about the goings on of Jekyll and Hyde at all (which, I must say, I would have preferred)! 

- Megan Leigh

Reconnecting With Friends: Caitlin and Heather

Since one of my goals for this project is to get back in touch with old friends I decided to make sure this Thanksgiving vacation I did just that. Luckily Caitlin was in town as well, so I met up with her and Heather at Pin Up Bowl. Heather I haven't seen since her high school graduation party (and that was only for about two seconds). Caitlin I last saw for a very short visit over winter break of our freshman year of college. So ten years for both, which is just amazingly sad since they are two of my favorite people!

Seeing them was great. They look exactly the same and still have the same personalities! It was almost like no time had passed, except for the all grown up thing. One is married. One owns a house.

In addition to getting back in touch with these girls, I also (hopefully) made a new friend that also lives in New York. (Another Cor Jesu girl.)

The night couldn't keep going well forever though. The universe saw that there was too much happiness in my life and needed to put the positive and negative back in balance - so it sent a drunken Heather my way, who knocked my brand new phone out of my hand onto the concrete where the back glass shattered. It was a terrible thing, but a sacrifice I am willing to make.

- Megan Leigh

Good Food: Hot Chocolate

This is my attempt at recreating the hot chocolate from Wafels and Dinges. It's surprisingly easy to make your own--almost as easy as using a mix--and I think the result is really nice. Deep and rich without being sickeningly sweet!

*Milk
*Good chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli dark chocolate)
*Cinnamon

Heat up as much milk as you want in a saucepan over low heat. Then drop in as many chocolate chips as you want, whisking them around until they melt. For four cups of milk, I use about four handfuls of chocolate, but you can taste as you go and stop when it tastes right. After the chips melt sprinkle in some cinnamon, then keep heating it up and whisking now and then (without letting the milk boil), until the hot chocolate is a uniform color, all the graininess has gone away, and it is nice and hot. Simple, right?

Do you like the cup? It was a gift from Madison. Thanks Maddie!

-Kristin

No Meat Meal: Pumpkin Oatmeal

I'm not actually a big oatmeal fan, but I do get excited about this kind of oatmeal. Steel cut oats are kind of a pain to make since they take longer, but they are so much more satisfying than rolled oats, in my opinion.

4 c. water
1 c. uncooked steel cut oats
milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 heaping tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/8 tsp ground allspice or cloves, 1/8 tsp nutmeg)
2-3 tbsp brown sugar
1 c. fresh or canned pumpkin
toppings (dried fruit, nuts, etc.)

Bring the 4 c of water to boil over highish heat. Stir in the oats and keep boiling on high until the water starts to get a little murky and it looks like the oats are starting to soften. Then turn the heat down low, and simmer for about half an hour, or until the consistency is right and the oats are soft. Stir in milk to add extra liquid as needed. Once the oats are getting pretty near to done, add the vanilla, spices, and pumpkin, and stir in. That's it! I like to top mine with dried cranberries and walnut pieces.

You can also make this recipe in the slow cooker if you want. It's a little easier in that you don't have to keep stirring it. A few stirs is fine. But it does take hours, and I don't typically think ahead that far!

-Kristin

Read More: Born to Run

I had my doubts about Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. I guess a lot of runners are super enthusiastic about it, and I knew that it had helped kick off the barefoot running craze. I also knew it had something to do with a Native American tribe that were famous for being great long distance runners. I was a little suspicious that it would be some flaky, pseudo-anthropology, new-agey book that would try to convince me to wear those awful five-toe shoes.

Well, my doubts were quickly put to rest. This book was so much fun to read that I finished it in two days. McDougall is a reporter, and it reads like great reporting--its stuffed with characters so zany that a fiction-writer would have trouble creating them, it's taut with suspense throughout, and there are all the makings of a great story: a reclusive Native American tribe, murderous drug dealers, a mysterious hermit, a race in treacherous terrain in the middle of nowhere. The book is just generally really well written. The author must have done tons of research interviews, because whenever he describes major events, there are perspectives from all of the principal actors throughout, and it's peppered with fun, historical tidbits. I learned a lot!

This is a quick and easy read, and it's also inspiring--reading about so many fascinating and dedicated people makes you take a second look at your own life. Maybe my life is a little boring, and I could benefit from becoming a tad crazier, you may think! I think almost anybody would enjoy this book. So, so fun. Two thumbs up!

-Kristin

Read More: The Island of Dr. Moreau

In three different states I now have stashes of books I need to get around to reading. One of these places, of course, is St. Louis. So whenever I go home I stomp down the steps into the basement and find a few books to read so that one day I can catch up. My first St. Louis read was The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. One of my reasons for choosing this book was that it was so skinny! What an easy way to try and make it to my 60 books this year goal (not gonna happen - but I'll keep trying until the end!). Also, it is a classic so I can hopefully mark it off on my reading list book.

I had seen a terrible movie adaptation back in the day. I only watched it because it had the beautiful Fairuza Balk. So my expectations weren't extremely high for this book. I probably don't need to go into the plot since I'm sure everyone has seen one of the movies or heard about it, but crazy scientist + animal experiments + lonely island. It was an okay read. Quick and painless, but I never felt for the main character. I didn't really root for him to get off the island, in fact I kept thinking I hope an animal kills this little cry baby soon! Maybe because I love animals more than people I found his looking down on these humany animal creatures a bit offensive. You think you're so great you goddamn hairless ape!?

It's a classic so I guess I'd recommend reading it, but not really.

- Megan Leigh

One Hour Runner: In a Funk

For a few runs, I was doing so well! Ten minute miles effortlessly. Now I am back to twelve minute miles. Longer than twelve minutes today, even. Why?! I hope that I leave this funk behind soon. Today I also had to run in the cold wind and rain, which didn't help.

Happily, I've gotten the chance to test out my new interval jacket from Athleta. And I love it! It is super light, but it keeps me toasty warm once I'm running. Somehow it seems to wick the sweat off of my body, so I stay dry and warm. At first I thought the sleeves were too long, but I figured out that the length is great for cold days because you can sort of retract your hands into the sleeves to keep them warm. I also love the pockets! Instead of having to lug my iphone around in my hands, I can stick it in the chest pocket. Keys in a side pocket. So much easier than before! I am a happy camper.

For the last couple weeks, I have also been trying to keep up my enthusiasm by looking at some of the bloggers who ran in the NYC marathon. It's pretty amazing that all of these people found the time to train in their busy lives, and their stories are inspiring to read. So far, I especially like the Carrots N Cake one, Lauren Fleshman's blog, and the Healthy, Happier Bear recap.

I think Kim and I are going to skip the 5K we had been planning on running tomorrow. So much going on with all the cooking! But I am looking forward to hearing about the half-marathon that some of our friends are running in Atlanta tomorrow... so proud of them!

-Kristin

Good Food: Red, Gold, Black and Green Chili

I adapted this from a recipe in the Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home. Elliot requested that I add meat, so I did, and then we had to do some last minute adjustments when we were cooking. I think this is a pretty good chili! And it is really easy and pretty quick to make. Here is our recipe:

1/2 c. rice (the original recipe calls for bulghur, which is also good, but if you don't have it on hand rice is fine)
1/2 c. hot water
3 c. undrained canned tomatoes (28 oz can)

3 tbsp olive oil
3 c. chopped onions
1 lb ground turkey
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne

2 green bell peppers, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
2 cups frozen corn
1 14 oz. can black beans
1 14 oz. can red beans
salt

grated cheddar cheese
sour cream
chopped fresh cilantro

Place the rice, hot water, and a cup of juice from the canned tomatoes in a small saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil on high heat, then lower the heat and simmer gently. (Note: if you want to save a pan, Ben thinks that you can just throw the rice and tomato juice in with the tomatoes and simmer the chili for longer.)

While the rice cooks, sauté the onions, turkey, cumin, chili powder, and cayenne in the olive oil. Once the onions are soft, stir in the bell peppers and garlic and sauté for a few more minutes. Chop the tomatoes in the can and add them (juice and all) to the pan. Stir in the corn and beans and heat everything thoroughly at low heat. Add the rice when it is a little undercooked, then cover and simmer until the rice is done and the flavors meld. Add salt to taste.

Serve with garnish of cheddar cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.

I tried a cornbread recipe from How To Cook Everything, but it was not a hit.

-Kristin

I really liked this chili. Of course, I would have NOT added the meat!

- Megan Leigh

One New Thing: Goddard Book Fair

Update:

I went back to the fair to help with clean up tonight and overheard that books were to be marked down to 2 and 3 dollars. So I raced downstairs and bought more books! I promised myself when I went in: no more books. But how could I resist?? Here is an updated picture of my beauties lined up in a row. And I finally brought home Krugs her bag of books too.

- Megan Leigh

Most. Awesome. Thing. Ever.

Every year Goddard has this big pre-holiday book fair that benefits its charitable activities. Ever since I heard about it (around this time last year), I have been dying to go. They have tons of books from major publishers, all 50% or more off. When Megan started working at Goddard, I had even more reason to go. And at least I knew that I wouldn't miss the book fair because I forgot to check the dates.

So the book fair opened today, and Poppy and I headed down there bright and early. We got there at about 10:30, half an hour after it opened. By the time we got there, it was already packed. Evidently people stand in line long before the doors open, so they can rush in and scoop up their favorite books! Even though we got there late, though, there were great deals to be had! Megan came down and met us, and we scoured the tables for gems. I got a lot of holiday shopping done, and I got to pick up a book I've had my eye on for a while: Anthropology of an American Girl. Will it be good? Who knows, but I only paid half price, so even if it's not I won't feel very bad about it!

Poppy didn't find any books she was enthused about, but she did love the music that was playing (80s themed--Madonna, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson). She bopped around in her carrier the entire time we were there. I will have to make her an 80s playlist to dance to at home!

-Kristin

I, unfortunately, have had two nights worth of shopping. Friday night we had the big fundraising Book Bash and I picked up a few books. Then today I browsed around some more and found even more books that looked interesting. Two I didn't know if they'd be good or not and the lady said, "I'll give you a good deal. Two dollars!" Wowzers! Who cares if they are good at two dollars!? 

Bash night we put out the best stuff first so I went right away to find the David Bowie biography. I thought we would have it because I put in a request list to the publishers that clearly stated, 'yes, please!'. I asked around Friday night and no one knew anything about it. I quickly gave up hope, but luckily I got stuck in a traffic jam and saw that it was out today! I scooped it up and held it to my heart. I rocked it like a baby and whimpered soft sounds of joy.

Above is a picture of my books (David Bowie bio beautiful and purple in the center). Kristin couldn't take a picture of her books. I told her I'd bring them home, but instead hid them under my desk. Ha ha!

- Megan Leigh

Good Food: Brownie Madness

Today Elliot had his first sleepover at the new place. So I decided it would be nice to make some brownies... and since I was making brownies, I thought why not try a new recipe? I found this site called Brownie Power that has tons of brownie recipes. Krispie Kreme Brownies, Beer Brownies, Pumpkin Brownies, Thin Mint Brownies... some exciting stuff. To start with, though, I just tried their basic brownie recipe. I figured I could get more exotic from there.

It was good! Usually when I make brownies I stick with Betty Crocker or, if I'm feeling really ambitious, I use Mark Bittman's brownie recipe. This recipe was less sweet than either of those, and a bit less rich (much less butter than the Bittman recipe). However, all the chocolate chips gave it a nice, deep flavor too. Pretty yummy. The recipe was also really easy. Whenever I make brownies from scratch, I'm surprised at just how quick and simple it is to do. It really doesn't take much longer than using a mix!

OK, I know one pan of brownies looks pretty much the same as any other brownie, but a blog without pictures is pretty horrible, right? So I'm putting one up.

-Kristin

I really liked these brownies. They were rich, but not overwhelmingly so like the Bittman ones can be. Next I want Kristin to have a go at the thin mint ones!

- Megan

One Hour Runner: Slow Run

After my last two runs, in which I glided over the sidewalk, today's run was distinctly blah. I don't know why, but I was slow. I didn't get very far at all compared to last time, and my legs felt heavy--it was a real effort. And to top it all off, when I was done, one of the tendons on the back of my left leg hurt. Which never happens! It's strange how you can try your best, and some days are great and some days are not. I told myself the important thing was just to finish, and I did do that, so I'm happy. Hope to get back to my glory days though!

-Kristin

Read More: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

As I read What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, I thought about who would find it interesting. It seems like it might have kind of a narrow niche: Haruki Murakami fans who also enjoy running. I mean how many of us are there? Is this a book with broader appeal? I'm not sure. But I thought it was pretty interesting.

It's written in his usual simple, direct style. We accompany him as he prepares for the New York City Marathon, training in Hawaii and then Boston, and we read his reflections on the big role that running has played in his life. For him, it seems that disciplining his body in order to run these long distances has paralleled the discipline he has needed to remain such a prolific writer over the years. Is this an exciting book? No. He is pretty frank about the fact that much of the content would probably be left on the cutting room floor if his life were a movie. But it is fun to read his musings and to realize that a famous author, someone who can create such fantastic imaginary worlds, does something that you do, feels just like you do while doing it, etc. It's nice to feel a connection with someone you respect so much.

He also points out that we have all kind of come to take for granted that great writers must lead unhealthy, morally dissolute lives--that self-destruction is part of the creative process. It does seem like great author 101. If you want to write a work of art, you'd better get tuberculosis, become addicted to absinthe, court tragedy, that kind of thing. I guess a lot of that is just pure romance, though. Writing a novel does take incredible discipline. It would be interesting to see how many great writers lead boring, healthy lives.

-Kristin

One New Thing: Maracuja

Last night I met up with Cat and a couple other people at a bar in Williamsburg called Maracuja. It had a very nice outside area that we hung out in the whole night. You would think, 'Megan hates cold weather! How could she stay outside?' Super heaters is the answer. Usually those stand up heaters are only good when you are very close to them, but these worked really well. I felt like I was basking in the sun.

The night was going well until the waiter came to deliver us our drinks. One drink on to the table. Then the next. Then red wine went a flying all over me and Cat. Then it stopped. Then it somehow started again. Who knew a wine glass could hold sooo much wine?

He's very lucky that we were the ones he spilled on. He would have gotten a good scolding from most other patrons, but instead he got asked on a date by Cat. He's taking her to an Italian restaurant in Manhattan. Go Cat!

-Megan

One Hour Runner: End of Week One

Well I finished week one of One Hour Runner on Saturday. I just ran for thirty minutes every day, no big deal. It's what I have been doing for a month or so now. But my last run, the one on Saturday, was my best ever! Usually, when I start running, it's kind of a struggle to get into the zone. It feels hard, and it takes time to get warmed up. This time, I felt great from the first moment, and I was able to run three whole miles in thirty minutes. Usually it takes me more like thirty-five minutes to go that far.

What was the difference? I suspect it may have been the yoga class I went to on Friday. My body felt brand new! I liked that feeling so much I went back for another yoga class this morning. I am going to try and fit in as much yoga as possible in this one month trial membership... and if it keeps feeling so worthwhile, then I am going to try and stick with it.

Another great thing about running lately is that it's cool, but not too cold. Perfect for working hard outside. And the fall colors on the trees are gorgeous. Running along the river path and seeing all the trees across the Hudson is pretty glorious. I wonder if my new found appreciation for the seasons is a sign I am growing old? Soon I will be oohing and ahhing over Canada geese, like somebody's parents I know.

-Kristin

No Meat Meal: Veggie Stir Fry with Peanut Curry Sauce

I have been trying to get a good peanut sauce down for a while now. So far I have not had great success. Today I tried a new recipe, from the Blazing Hot Wok website. It has turned out better than anything else! It is still not exactly what I'm after though... which is recreating the peanut curry sauce they used to serve at one of my favorite restaurants, Bangkok Kitchen, in Portland, Oregon. So rich, so curry-tastic, so perfect. I can't remember the first time I ate at that restaurant, but their peanut curry chicken accounted for like 50% of what I ate the last couple years of college. You might be wondering what the other 50% was. That would be Pepperidge Farm Nantucket Cookies and milk! Anyway, I heard that this restaurant closed it doors a few years ago, and that breaks my heart. You can never go home again. But I will labor away at recreating their peanut curry sauce.

Basically, in the recipe I tried today, you heat up curry paste, the thick part of the coconut milk, and peanut butter.... then you add the thin part of the coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, and sugar. We drizzled over stirfried veggies and rice. Not too hard, pretty fast, and I thought it was tasty but nothing standout. Ben thought it was delicious but wanted to add a little soy sauce and vinegar next time. Megan thought it was just OK and said she couldn't get her veggies saucy enough. I might try to make it a little tangier next time, but I'm not sure how.

-Kristin

One New Thing: Yogaworks

All this running has made my leg muscles sore a lot of the time. I've been playing around with the thought of signing up for yoga classes for quite a while now. And yesterday a Groupon for a month of unlimited yoga classes at yogaworks arrived in my inbox. I figured it was meant to be!

I went for my first class today. It was perfectly timed--the end of the day, the end of the week. Just when I needed to relax. And the class WAS very relaxing. I realized I haven't been in a yoga class for almost ten years. It was great to feel that serenity that always comes at the very end of the session.

Yogaworks was very nice too. The lobby is really warm and colorful inviting, the locker room was small but nice and had electronic locks, and the class wasn't too crowded. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the month! I've only really tried Hatha yoga, so I think it would be exciting to try some other types. Also, I get unlimited pilates classes... which might be fun to try. Guess I need to invest in a yoga mat!

-Kristin

One New Thing: Check Out a Book From the Library... On My Kindle

Today, my request for a kindle book from the library was finally ready! I'm embarrassed to say what the book was, because I have become so one-dimensional and boring. But I just downloaded it and opened it up on my kindle, and I have it for 21 days! And this happened without me having to drag myself to the library. Woohoo! I hope in the land of the future I can get all of my books on the kindle. Then I wouldn't have to worry about picking things up and turning them in on time... it would be truly wonderful.

Speaking of kindles, a certain very small person sort of broke mine somehow. The plastic near the screen is bubbling up in one part, where the hinge joins the kindle to its case. I can't figure out how to get the dumb thing out of its case, so I can try to fix it! It seems to still be working though. Fingers crossed!

-Kristin

Read More: The Time Traveler's Wife

When I first heard the title The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, I thought woah I like this title a lot and I put it on my 'to read' list. Time passed and I never got around to reading it. Then the movie came out and I saw the trailer. I thought 'Oh, Geez. That looks way too corny." I erased it from the list. But somewhere along the way it made it back on to the list and I caved and read it.

Within the first ten pages I found myself thinking, "What a fun book!" And it was fun the whole time. I couldn't guess too much what was coming next or how it would end. The story was very original, like nothing I've read before, so that was very refreshing - kind of hard to do after reading so many books!

So this book I definitely recommend. I especially think it would be a great summer read.

- Megan Leigh

I think it is funny that the title appealed to Megan, because before I read the book it kind of needled me. It makes it seem as though a woman is the protagonist (OK, great). But then why is Claire's identity that of "wife"? Why should she be defined in terms of her dumb, time traveling husband? It reminded me of how Madame Bovary starts with the life story of the husband--the role of the female main character mostly being that of "life ruiner". Was this going to be another book like that one? After reading The Time Traveler's Wife, though, I think the title does make sense. Since so much of Claire's life was defined by her husband's time traveling--she was always waiting, unsure, worrying--it seemed like an artistic decision and I approve!

-Kristin

One New Thing: A Gala!

Every year my work puts on a big book fair to raise funds for all of our programs. It's the biggest fundraising event of the year. One of the things involved is a gala where all of the bigwigs from the publishing community come and eat food. This year the honoree was the CEO of Simon & Schuster. Mary Higgins Clark gave a speech. I've never read one of her books, but she seemed like a funny lady, so I may just give her a go.

The food was pretty good. Three hundred dollars a plate good, I'm not so sure of.... but free food good (for me at least!) it was, indeed! Salad, short ribs (which were not ribs, but a roast, phew!), some veggies and a gross dessert.

At first I was under the impression that a gala was going to be more like a ball. But it was just regular dress up attire, which was a little disappointing because who doesn't want to wear a ball gown??? But also a relief because I don't own any ball gowns...

- Megan Leigh

One Hour Runner: Day One

With my Couch to 5K days over and the exhilaration of race weekend still fresh, I decided I needed a new running challenge. There were a lot of choices, so it was difficult to decide what to do next! Bridge to 10K, which would have me running a 10K in a matter of weeks? Ease into 8K? One Hour Runner? I decided to opt for One Hour Runner, which very gradually gets you from running for 30 minutes to running for 60 minutes. I liked it because it seems tailored to people with real lives--shorter, manageable runs twice a week, and a long run once a week that you can save for weekends. By the end I should be able to run about 10K at a time, which is my next distance goal!

The beginning of One Hour Runner is not terribly exciting, so I might not do daily updates... It looks like I'll be getting used to 30 minute runs by doing only those for the first three weeks. Today I got to do my first 30 minute run of the program on a beautiful autumn morning. I ran on the greenway, and it was glorious!


Also, in order to reward myself for finishing my 5K race and get myself psyched about the new program, I decided to splurge a little on running gear from Athleta. With the help of my wonderful mother, I got a new running jacket that should keep me toasty through the winter months. I also picked out two running shirts, for layering. I posted the things I got here. Hopefully they fit! And I got two running books I have had my eye on for a while: Marathon, by Hal Higdon, and Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. I figure these should be inspiring!

                                                      -Kristin

One New Thing: New York City Marathon

Today Elliot's cub scout troop was handing out water to the marathon runners, so we got to head over to East Harlem to give out cups of water at mile 19. We didn't get there until 2:30, so I was afraid that all the action might be over. But that turned out to be a silly worry because when we got to first avenue there was a steady parade of runners. It was so exciting to see everyone going by! By mile 19, lots of people were walking or jogging slowly... I couldn't believe how happy most of them still looked. I saw lots of fun costumes (Mexican wrestlers, Sumo wrestlers, etc.), people wearing team shirts from all over, someone on crutches, old people, young people... it was great. And people (especially kids) on the sidelines were all competing for the chance to give cups of water to the runners!


This river of runners boggled my mind, so when I got home I looked up how many people participated. Before I had gotten there, I thought maybe 1,000. Elliot guessed 83. Apparently it is something like 50,000--so we were both way off.

Unfortunately, Elliot, the killjoy, wasn't particularly excited about the marathon, or giving water. He did think it was a little exciting to push the little boys standing around him, to see who could get out in front to give out the most water. But after ten minutes, he said his arms hurt and he wanted to go home. So we didn't stay long. But I did think the energy and goodwill I saw was pretty amazing!

Also, on the way home we found a garden supply store underneath a bridge, with a pen full of chickens. I thought this was very exciting. Of course, you know who wasn't phased. As if we see chickens running around under subway bridges everyday.

-Kristin

I also watched the marathon, but in Brooklyn at the eight mile mark. Up the block from Cat's house there was a marathon block party. One man has been putting on this party for 25 or so years with a DJ, so it was very exciting. The runners seemed to really enjoy it too. Many stopped to dance. My favorite runner was one of the very last ones, all alone, who danced all down the block. When she got to the end where most of the people were congregated the spectators formed two lines, one on each side of her, and applauded as she danced down the center. When the last runners had passed we got to take over the block and have a fifteen minute dance party before the streets opened back up. It was super fun! And I had my first hot chocolate of the season. Many more to come.

- Megan Leigh

One New Thing: Dash To the Finish Line

Well, I ran my first race today! Dash to the Finish Line, a 5K that started at the UN and wound it's way up to central park, to end at Tavern on the Green. It was so much fun! Basically, my goal was to jog the whole way... and I did. So I was a happy girl.

The excitement started yesterday, when I went to the Javitz Convention Center to pick up our t-shirts and numbers. This race kind of kicks off the New York marathon, which happens tomorrow, so all of us were picking up our numbers at the same time. This huge convention center was packed with marathoners from all over the world. Tall and short, skinny and pudgy, tons of different languages... and everybody was so excited, it was really infectious!

Then, Kim and I woke up super early and headed out into the dark, cold morning to run our first race. I think we were both nervous. What if I couldn't run the whole time? Should I bring my coat and try to run with it somehow? How does it all work? It ended up being really straightforward and fun though. They had these staggered starts, where they herd you into groups with similar running speeds. Kim and I got grouped with the slowpokes in the last group, which was fine with me! By the time we started running, I think the fasties in the first group were pretty much finishing the race. We patiently waited for our turn, and started jogging.

It was so strange and exciting to get to run on the blocked-off New York streets.  The 5,000+ of us ran up Avenue of the Americas, and it was lined with people cheering and clapping. What a strange and fun feeling--it made New York feel like a friendly place for once! I can't even imagine how many people will be there for the marathon tomorrow. Lots of the marathon runners came out for the race today dressed in fantastic costumes--we saw sumo wrestlers, geishas, lots of people draped in the flags of their countries, people in duck hats, a very happy man carrying signs about being happy--people really had fun. Lots of kids were running with their parents, too, which was really cute to see.

I think we sped up at the end--I was running really hard when I crossed the finish line. Kim said the announcer yelled her name as she was finishing! Our numbers had tags inside of them that time when you start and finish, and I guess they transmit information like your name and stuff too. And after the race you can look up your number to see what time you got. Very high tech! I finished in 35 minutes and 24 seconds, which I am very happy with. Then we celebrated with some hot chocolate from Wafels and Dinges. Mmmm.

We had so much fun that I think we are going to do another run on Thanksgiving. And we are thinking about training for a 10K now. All that marathon energy is really infectious! Tomorrow Elliot's cub scout troop is handing out water to the marathoners, so I am really looking forward to that.

-Kristin

Read More: Wide Sargasso Sea

Update: I reread Wide Sargasso Sea. It's part of my goal to reread all the great books I read when I was probably way too young to actually appreciate them. It's the first one I've done so far! It's always so hard to reread a book you've already read, even when you know it's good, when there is a whole universe of books that you haven't read yet. Anyhow, first on the list!

I still thought it was a very good book. I think it casts a spell from the first page--trapped in a decaying paradise, a smothering sense of dread. It reminded me of the time that we took a family vacation to New Orleans, and dad insisted we spend the night at an awful motel under the highway and next to the superdome, and I spent the entire night wondering when we would be murdered. The book was so vivid and interesting that it really made me wonder about that time in history. And I like how Rhys depicted both the female and male protagonists descending into madness in parallel--the difference being that when the man goes mad, he picks up and leaves, getting away from all the madness-inducing things in his life so he can get better and start a new life. And when the women in the story go mad, they are shut away like prisoners and abused. Ben had better never try to shut me away in an attic!

It did make me think that our treatment of people with psychiatric disorders hasn't changed much. Even if somebody wasn't having psychiatric trouble, if you consign them to permanent isolation or stick them in a place far from loved ones with other people that have major problems, all while drugging them, they are going to develop those troubles quickly. It makes you wonder how much things have really changed since the 1830s.

-Kristin

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys was an incredibly quick read - a very good thing since the end of the year is fast approaching and I've still got 20 books to go towards my yearly goal!

I remember hearing my mom talk about the book in the past. A prequel to Jane Eyre where you find out the story of the crazy wife locked away. Despite everyone else seeming to love it, I just thought it was okay. Definitely an interesting take on her past, though. I think it was hard for me to read a prequel to a book that wasn't written in the same manner and vernacular.

For those of you out there who read it, do you think the fever Rochester got ruined his brain permanently and that's why he went so crazy? Did Jane end up marrying a lunatic? Serves her right for being such a lame-oid!

- Megan Leigh

Read More: The Corrections

I have been meaning to read this book forever. Whenever somebody finds out I am from the Midwest (and Webster Groves in particular), they tell me I have to read The Corrections, by Jonathan Franzen. I think Madison K. was the first person to tell me to read this book, though. After all that buildup, my expectations were pretty high and it would have been easy for me to be disappointed. But I ended up liking the book a lot.

It was a little uncomfortable to read. Looking back at growing up in St Louis, so much of it rang true. But reading it was like looking at my hometown and relationships with my loved ones with yellow-colored glasses. If Jonathan Franzen were to observe my marriage, would he paint it as one of muted despair--even though I am very happy in it? If he were to see the house I grew up in and loved, would he only see the signs of disrepair? Reading this book, I felt as though I was peering out at the world with jaundiced eyes.

But still, it was a good book. There was compassion there, and you gradually ended up feeling for all the characters--or I did, anyway. I also appreciated how all the stories intertwined in small and large ways. I would recommend it, especially to any St Louis natives.

I wonder--is it odd that I have been reading so many books lately about parents growing old in far away places and difficult situations? Mom and dad, you'd better keep the burden light when you start getting on in years! You hear me?

-Kristin

Pursuing Passions: Writing

November is National Novel Writing Month. It is a challenge to write 50,000 words by the end of the month, which is about 1700 words a day. The goal is not to have a perfect, polished novel at the end, but to write for quantity rather than quality. If at the end you have absolutely no workable material, that's fine because you just wrote a piece of work the same length as a novel, which helps make the process less daunting and you can get back to it again without fear.

So this year I am going to take the challenge to help get back to writing. It will be interesting because I haven't written any fiction since maybe my play about a monkey my freshman year in college. (It was pretty great because our class had to recite the play and one lucky person got to be the monkey.) It will be a double challenge - getting myself to write in the first place and learning how to use my imagination again!

Today was my first day of writing and success! 1700 words down! 48300 to go!

- Megan Leigh

Get Healthy: Hydrate!

I've known for a long time that I drink a woefully inadequate amount of water a day, so I finally decided to buy a special water bottle that holds all I need to drink a day. This way I can monitor my water levels without having to use my memory. I drink even less than I thought! I thought maybe I would drink half of the suggested amount, but it seems to be something more along the lines of 1/5 (I've been drinking down to about that first line). I wonder if this could explain my chapped lips, dry eyes, dry ears, dry nose and spare tire. I wonder if I may be slowly mummifying myself.

- Megan Leigh