the world of animation

So,
In the last couple weeks, I have watched quite a few movies. I already told you about Aladdin, after that was the Jungle Book. Wow- that Rudyard Kipling. I can only imagine the types of conversation that he and Walt Disney might have had. I have to say though, that I enjoyed the music. This was followed by Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Mary Poppins. I have to say, They both brought back so many memories, and I still would think of them as Family Favorites. If I had kids, I would force them to watch them (but they would also have to watch the Apple Dumpling Game. Oh Don Knotts, the world is a little sadder without you in it)

Yesterday, I finally got around to watching Kung Fu Panda. The animation was nothing special, but it was a cute story. I would watch it again.

Sorry that there is not much detail in the reviews, I have to work

Not Again.

So, I recently had a former classmate join facebook. I have no Idea who he is, and he does not have a name or a good picture. Someone help me out- has this happened to you?

Also- congrats to a certain Ironman, or IronLady.

A Disney Resurgence

I watched Aladdin the other night. In my mind, this is where disney flicks went down hill, yet, I have liked a few others (Lion King, Wall-E, Nemo, Bugs Life) but they were different. To me, Disney is all about classic animation, and racial profiling- I jest, not really. Aladdin was the first animated feature to employ computer animation which allows for some great things, but also pulls disney from its roots. I feel that I will be delving in to the Disney and Pixar flicks again ( I love Pixar), and I might even revisit non-animated Disney Classics. I will see if my opinion has changed over the years.

sorry for the disjunct thinking.

A New Hope, (not starring Carrie Fisher)

I want you to want me, I need you to need me... You all know that song. My sermon today is not about love or begging, it is about a new life. I want, I need, I love. I want to enjoy more of my day. I need to leave my work problems, or work life, at work when I leave. I love- I love many things and I just need to remember to love them in moderation. For example, I love ice cream. This is not a fling, or a short affair- this is a committed relationship. Yet, I don't want the butter pecan to be driven away by my over-zealous attachment to it, nor do I want it to become any more comfortable hanging around when it is unneeded (hanging around my love handles I mean.).

I am also having the same feeling with running/biking. I love them, yet I do not wish to over do it and injure myself.

Other non-profound thoughts.
I baked sourdough bread this weekend. It is delicious, and no, I won't bake you any. Pickled beets and cheese make a great sandwich. Perkin's is an awful restaurant, and they make bad muffins. I watched the Godfather this weekend...again. I went for a couple mid length runs this week (5-10 miles). They no longer feel like 3-5 miles and once again feel like 5-10 miles. That is all.

Vocation Vacation.

Ugh, It is Friday afternoon, and I just want to leave. I want to take a vacation from work, from my cat, who is very hungry these days, and feels the need to tell me about it, and I want to take a vacation from being an adult. Having said all of that, tonight, after my run, and the weights/core workout at the gym, I have to go get some cat food, because a hungry kitty needs it.

I have been thinking about the whole Julie/Julia movie (which I haven't seen). I think it would be great fun to cook my way through an entire cookbook, but which one? I have "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" but that has been done. My most frequently used cookbook is "The Joy of Cooking" and that is not really attainable. I have a Vegan cookbook that I like, but the thought of making everything in that turns my stomach, and even though I love Indian food, cooking every recipe in "Classic Indian Cooking" by Julie Sahni is too much. So, what should I do? Should I purchase a new cookbook? should I cook everything in one of the Weight Watchers cookbooks I have? Should I break down and by a new cookbook? I have always wanted to get the Marcella Hazan Italian book, or the "Enchanted Broccoli Forest" by Mollie Katzen.

Does Anyone own Mad Men?
I really want to watch it, and I am too cheap to rent each disc from blockbuster. I guess the real answer is to rejoin Netflix, but as I have mentioned earlier, I am sick of commitments, adult, or juvenile.

Have a Happy Weekend. I promise to blog next week!

Biking is Dangerous

So last night I went for a bike ride with Ben after a short speed workout with a quick meal in between. Good thing that I shoved food down my throat before I left, because I was hungry when I got home, almost 3 hours later. If I hadn't eaten, I wouldn't have gotten home.

So, I rode to Ben's house and then we did the rest of Gateway Trail from N St Paul towards Stillwater. When we got to the end, I decided to ride up this sand hill, and fell over, it was kind of funny. If you ever ride to the end of the trail, here is a warning. There is nothing at the end- There is a parking lot, with a bathroom and a drinking fountain.

Anyway, On the way bike I saw these crab apple trees. I bit open one of the larger apples, and it was was the most beautiful color. A dark purpley red all of the way through. I am tempted in a week or too, to ride down the trail with a bucket, and to do a little harvesting.

But on to the dangerous part. It was around 9:05 pm, and I was just coming up to Gervais Lake, on my bicycle. The Sun has set. All of the sudden, this giant buck jumps out in front of me. I squeezed my brakes so hard I nearly flipped over my bike. The deer just stood there and stared at me; he was sprting some pretty wicked furry antlers. Finally I shut of my light and rang the Cheeseburger bell on my bike a few times, and he ran away. I turned my light back on, and rang my Cheeseburger bell around the remainder of the lake, just to be carefull. Deer are scary in a car, they are even scarier when they almost hit you on a bicycle!

Ragnar Relay

I am always scheming things- always. Today the ridiculous plan is the Ragnar Relay 2010 (assuming that they have it). I think it would be loads of fun. I actually think that it would be more fun doing it with a team of 6 instead of a team of 12, that might be a bit ridiculous, but who knows. If you are too lazy to look at the link, the Ragnar Relays, are series of running relays of about 200 miles around the US. Teams of 4-12 people are assigned lengths of route, and the rest of the team drive around in vans and cheer each other on, eat, sleep, be silly. The Midwest one is from LaCrosse WI, to Minneapolis, MN. I am hoping that the boys are interested next year, and maybe a certain irongirl will want on, I mean, want in.

ALSO, each team has to find 3 volunteers to help at a rest point for some of the day. Non-running types beware, I know who you are. I know where you live.

I hung up a Ramadan Prayer Schedule outside my cube yesterday (received gratis with the falafel combination sandwich at Holy Land Deli), and have now moved it to the inside wall of the cubicle. At first, I thought the odd looks from people were funny, then, after talking to certain bitter coworker about how he thinks that Islam is a bunch of BS, and he had no idea so many millions of people bought in to that terrorism, I got angry. Mind you, I am not a Muslim, in fact, I no longer know what my beliefs are, but ranting about something you know nothing about is not cool, and I support people in their spiritual beliefs- be they Judeo-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, a follower of Ceiling Cat or whether they have a belief in candles and crystals- we all need something. I recognize we all have a spiritual need, but violence or ignorance in the name of something, or for no reason is idiocy.

Let me know if y'all are interested in Ragnar. It is way early but I thought I would throw it out there.

hiatus

I have been on hiatus for a while, and sadly, I have little to report.

I think I am having a nervous breakdown dealing with fall singing and scheduling.

I am out of shape, and running 5 miles seems like running 5 miles. It should feel like 3 miles.

I checked Terry Laughlin's Total Immersion from the Library on my 40 mile ride yesterday.

I ate ice cream twice yesterday, hence I am out of shape.

I finished watching Twin Peaks. WTF.

Stupid coworkers are having their stupid conversations and I wish for bad things to happen to them.

I ate more meat this weekend than I have in a long time. I imagine that when I sweat, I smell like a gyro.

Late afternoon

Another afternoon at work and I am taking a break. Here is the recap of the last 24hours.

Bolder Options Mentee and I got together, and represented Bolder Options in the Aquatennial Torchlight Parade. He was super excited, as he had never been in a parade before, and I was excited, having never been at an Aquatennial event before. It was a good time, but nothing special, and I didn't eat dinner, and so I was very hungry. This might have been why I was so snarky towards some of the kids, saying things like, "Pick up your garbage. Do you litter in your yard?" "Don't touch that!" "Don't run over your sister on that bicycle." At the end of the parade, there was the dilemma on how to get back to the car. Some people got on a van, and I was the only one without a bike, so I ran along with the bikers- it was only 1.5 -2 miles, and it was pain free. Nice.

I dropped my buddy off and headed home where I made some Udon chicken soup (read:overpriced Ramen) and watched an episode of Twin Peaks- Clearly I was born in the wrong decade.

This morning was Le Tour time trial stage. I was listening while cataloging, but more listening than cataloging. Perhaps I will be Alberto Contador for Halloween. The man is a machine!

This evening, I plan to launder the clothes and make something exciting with the beets I roasted the other day. I am thinking, garlic, olives, peppers and thyme. Ill let you know how that all works out

Randoms: Maillot Jaune, Loud talkers, Apple fritter, "Canadian Days", too many clowns.

Le Tour

Damn, I am the worst employee ever.

I cannot help but watch Le Tour for the first 2+ hours of the work day. Sure, I am cataloging at the same time, but not as productive as I could/should be. Go Alberto Contador!

Let me tell you about the foods I made last night.

Roasted Beets. These would be the beets that I purchased a week ago at the Farmer's market. I haven't decided what I will do with them yet, but now they are cooked I can use them (probably in a salad).

I steamed some chinese broccoli and then shocked it in some ice water. This will be for lunch.

Lentil/rice thing. I made some basmati rice. I also started some green lentils (boiled them) and while they were cooking, I sauteed onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. I added some curry powder, salt and pepper, and mustard. Added the green lentils, and some uncooked brown lentils and simmered it in some veggie stock I had. After it cooked and reduced, I added it to the cooled rice with some Thai Basil. I will eat it as a cold salad. It is an odd mismatch of things, but delicious.

Lance Armstrong just made a break! So Exciting. Must Work

SAD

I might post later today, right now I am busy.

HBP TdF 14dJuillet.

So much going on, can't concentrate.

Lets start at the very beginning. Le Tour. The more and more I become interested in it, the less and less I understand. How can you be the leader and NEVER win a stage. Teams-team politics? grr. i am voting for Contador, Although hats off to Cavendish, who, being named after a banana, is quite solid. I guess I have a handful of favorites- Cancelara, Cavendish, Contador, and yes- Armstrong. (don't Judge)

Le quatorze juillet.
Ever since Bastille day, I have been craving bread-cheese-meet-wine type meals, and quiche. what the hell is wrong with me. I am not French. I went to the Farmer's Market yesterday and bought beets, which personally, is a very French thing to do. Those people love their beets!

Last night, Mom and I saw Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I still am processing it- they left out some of my favorite parts ( which I understand is necessary), but I was really surprised they didn't say much about the "Half Blood Prince" at all. Also, I was surprised at the lack of information about the inferi. It was still enjoyable

So much, so little.

What a weekend. Cycling, Cycling then more Cycling. In the last week, I have had a 32 ounce Soda, an empty pop bottle, and bag of Mcdonald's garbage thrown at me while riding my cycle. I also have been sprayed with a water gun, and had girls speed pass me in their car and slam on their brakes in front of me. I bought groceries, went to the library, to my parents' house, to dinner, to breakfast all on my cycle. Saturday, a cycled 50 miles with friends, and tackled some giant hills- embracing one of them with my right side- if I didn't have body image issues, I would post a pick of the epic bruise. So I guess the question is What's Next?

I dunno. I miss running. I can go a little over 2 miles now until my knee starts to hurt. Tonight I am going to the gym. I am reading yet another book on nutrition, and I plan to continue cycling, yet it is not enough. I miss having a goal, something to train for, to focus on. I am planning on running the Monster Half on Halloween, but it is still far away, and I need to restrict my running. UGGGHH.

My niece is having open heart surgery on Monday. So-the two people who read this, keep her in your thoughts.

On a side note, if you like granola, go to the Birchwood Cafe and order their granola, or maybe don't- you might end up living there spending all of your money on yogurt, granola, and coffee...not that that's a bad thing.

Random. Journal of Fluid Mechanics-why can't you arrive in order, Union Ballot, Monkey Smoothie, no more banana bread for a while Scotcheroo, Pinecone, Random Capitalization, want soba noodles, need to eat vegetables, peanut butter strike- because I am out of bread and have no toast, Muesli experiment starting soon.

Running again

Good lord, what is wrong with me? Last night after I left the evil dungeon that is my desk, I decided to go straight home. or did I? Actually, I stopped at the lake and had my running shoes in the car- I couldn't help myself. I changed clothes, and pulled them on, carefully lacing them up-as if it was a guilty pleasure that I didn't want anyone to see- all the while savouring every naughty bit of it. The first mile, was very slow, a warm up. I picked up the pace for the second mile, not wearing a watch I had no idea how fast it was-Undoubtedly slow yet exhausting (how could I lose so much ground in two weeks?) I thought I was out of the water until...a twinge, a cringe, and then a yelp. I pulled over and started to stretch, but I knew that was the end. The end of my first run back after all of that stretching ended with me walking slowly with a defeated expression on my face around Bennet Lake to my car.

When I got home, I said, "No More Gloominess!" I pumped up Gigantor's tires and headed out. Sadly, about 3 miles in, I could feel my knee, yet I soldiered on. 15.2 miles, in the wind- Take that depression!

I headed home where I did my laundry, did some stretching and about 10 minutes on the foam roller, and then I made the banana bread. If you have a copy of The Joy of Cooking look up the recipe, it is bizarre (or maybe it isn't and I am nuts) I ended up adding some Ghiradelli 72% cocoa chips in it, which seemed to over-power the banana goodness. Fickers!

Randoms: Blog neglect, Nalgene, Ikea Crap, Overdue fines already, cuddly cat, Burger for Justice.

Joe Mama.

UGGGH!

Right now I am rehearsing in the Choir for AIDA with the Chorale/Orchestra. I have decided that it is just insufferable and I will never do a summer chorale project again. Picture 100 people who all have their own ideas how Italian is supposed to be pronounced. Half of the people are practically yelling because they want you to know how big their voices are. Top that off with about 10 Diva types who survive on the Idol worship from their peon fan-club, and the guy in front of me who is super nice, but has ADD, and is obnoxious and can't sit still.

I almost finished, The Small Rain last night. Wow, it is heart wrenching. Whereas I can't say that the character Katherine and I are one in the same, I really empathize with her, and pity her at the same time. L'Engle's writing is so easy to read- yet there is something wonky with the Narrator voice. Perhaps it is not consistent- Who knows. After I finish that I think I am going to read, The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. That will be a bit of a change

I am meeting with Mentee tonight. I wonder what we will do??? Reading for sure, but maybe we will check out the Minnehaha Rec Center.

Randoms of the day: White bouncing Ferret, UFC...really, excellent french press, opaque, dead snapping turtle, kitteh rejection due to fan, more furniture rearranging.

A long weekend is Short.

WTF happened to the weekend? It just seemed so short, due to the bicycling and the eating. No running yet, but If you have to stop after a mile, it really isn't worth it. Lets recap:

There was walking. One night I walked around Como 4 times. There was this Jazz/blues band playing at the pavilion, and they were good! I kept walking so I could hear them- then I went and got some Ice Cream. Sunday morning I got up and walked to Central Park and back -ca. 6 miles. Then I went and had a bagel sandwich with my mom. Then I went home and finished cleaning my carpets, and had some tacos.

There was biking. On Friday, Alyssa, the puzzlemaster, and I rode around cedar lake and then to the depot. (I drove to Minneapolis-what a tool.) After that we went to Jimmy John's and had a beer. Saturday, I rode the gateway trail, and then made a detour to Stillwater. After some coffee, I started back, and the skies opened up and poured on me. On the way to Mom and Dad's for a patriotic BBQ, I stopped and got a cone at the DQ. (don't judge). Sunday, after finishing my carpet, I headed out towards N. Oaks, then down Hwy 96 to Lexington, to Cty Rd E, then around Lake Johanna in to some park. This is where I ended up getting lost-thinking that I was going to Long lake park, I ended up in Mounds View. Then I made my way to North East Minneapolis, to Como, to the State Fair, and then home. I got cleaned up, went to Ben and Rochelle's house, as B and I were going to see the fireworks at the Taste of Minnesota. Well, B and I went to Subway, a bike ride (me on Rochelle's bike), then I watched Ben do the 30 minute Shred. - then to the lame ass fireworks, but they were better than no fireworks at all.

So much going on, no wittyness. sorry folks.

Randoms: Tina got a workout, Coffee, hairy arms, bad hair color, the UN seems to be meeting more often than ever, I don't care about Michael Jackson's estate, Ewok Magnets, Furniture rearranging.

Average Baked Goods

How can something called "oatmeal fudge bar" not be delicious? Sadly, it was slightly sub-par, yet I ate the whole thing. This just leads me to think though, that any thing with chocolate and oatmeal should have nuts and peanut butter in it- or Nuts, Peanut Butter AND Peanuts (Peanuts are a legume, not a nut). On the topic of Legumes, I have been craving them for the last few weeks, black beans, lentils, Kidney beans!!!! WTF. Perhaps, since my Baconator is broken, I have replaced it with a Leguminator.

I cleaned Gigantor last night after my rehearsal. I wiped her down and lubricated her chain, and her cogs. I need to learn how to adjust my brakes, or I will have to take her in- her brake shoes are pretty worn. Sad to say though, after all of that late-night bike love, I fell back asleep this morning and had to drive. Tomorrow I will have to drive too, as I have an appt in the morning to get my knee checked out, and then Mentee and I are hanging out.

Better get back to work- Stay Random.

Randomness: Gnomemobile, Baconator (this would be a persons inner mechanism that craves the bacon, not that greasy sandwich from the restaurant with the red hair), Orange bag, vomit smell outside, Joe who? Joe momma. that is all

Weekend exercise excess, of sorts.

Well, where to start.  I guess we will just jump in to this weekend's activities.  Friday when I left work, I just felt awful- sad and exhausted.  I got home and sat in front of the boob tube, and at crackers and cheese-healthy, it really rounded out the Banana bread, and cereal that I had for breakfast, and the chipotle burrito that I had for lunch. I felt guilty, and hopped on my bike and did the Gateway trail. My right knee started to twinge a bit towards the end but it was a nice solid ride. Saturday I woke to rain, which worried me, as I was running a 5k with my Bolder Options buddy. Luckily, the rain subsided while we were running, and we finished our first 5k together in around 35 minutes. It might night sound like an accomplishment, but it was his first running event ever, and it he was tired out by the end.

Later in the afternoon, I met Ryan, and others for a bike ride.  I left little canada, and met at R's place in Falcon Heights.  We rode over to the Midtown Greenway and followed it to Hopkins, home of the Bundt pan, and the Depot, where we stopped for coffee and baked goods.  My knee was quite angry by now, but what else do  I have to do but soldier on?  We decided to make a detour on the way home and rode our cycles around Calhoun and Harriet.  Did I mention that Ryan's friend, Jeff, did all of this on a fixed gear cycle-CRAZY.  My knee was shaking every time we went up a hill.  When I finally got home, I had biked about 50 miles.  

Today, I got up early and watched my nieces and nephew for a few hours.  That tired me out more than anything I did the night before, but it was a good time.  After a turkey sandwich, I went for a walk, about 5 miles, and then looked at Facebook. This is also when I noticed that the death of Michael Jackson was no longer the head story on CNN, at least not today.  I stopped off at the Library and borrowed "Murder on the Orient Express", and I checked out a Madeline L'Engle book.

I know this is all pretty dull, but 'tis my life.  This week I have Chorale, and I plan on making an appt. with the sports medicine doctor to deal with my knee. 

Bananas

"Bananas" is a great word. Filled with potassium or used as an adjective, I feel it describes me and my lifestyle, much like the word "nuts". I could say many things about this, but I won't-except, I have bananas that are over ripe again, I don't know if I can try to make banana bread again, maybe I will just eat the brown bananas on toast with peanut butter.

As I mentioned yesterday, I rode Gigantor to work yesterday. It was very bizarre, on the way home I ran in to Tim from Bicycle Chain, riding home from work. Small world. We had a little chat, then I stopped by my parent's house where my brother was making them dinner. "Strange", I thought to myself. Not wanting to invite my self to dinner, even though I am sure that I would have been welcome, I biked home and at a salad and some wheat thin chips (they are like crack). It was then that I realized that is was my Dad's 71st birthday. I called and wished him a happy 76th birthday. Nice.

We got a decent storm last night. I woke around 4:30 to loud noises and rain blowing in my window, and this morning I had to wander around for a while outside to find my patio furniture. I wish storms like that would happen when I am awake.

Random thoughts of the day- Why do kittehs only want to cuddle when you are leaving? Why are word verrification words never words. Craving black beans, brown rice; speed workout, out of coffee again, hate driving car.

PS- I am going to "taste of rosefest" with mom tonight. it should be interesting

Run 'n' Fun

I think everyone should make RnF their running shoe store. I took the mentee there yesterday, and they were great trying over a dozen pairs of shoes on the little guy who probably only said three or four words the whole time. Very helpful, very kind- AND they have a larger selection than many places in town.

After we got our shoes, we went for a short run- once around Como. At least, it was nice and short for me. We are going to go run a 5k on friday morning, and it might take a while, but I am sure we will both finish.

When we finished our loop around the lake, he looked tired and hot- I told him that we could go to DQ, or the Subway. He chose Subway, which was nice because he finally started to talk a bit while he was eating. On the way back home, we talked about maybe going to the humane society next week and walking a dog. Awesome.

I rode Gigantor to work this morning, and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the door. It was cool, and not nearly as humid as it was yesterday. Hopefully, when I go riding with Ryan Jeff and Kara on Saturday it won't be hot and humid, or thunderstorming.

Daily complaint-
I had a beer at the Bad Waitress last night, and I didn't like it to much. It was a smoked Stout, and it made me think of Lapsang Souchong. Glad I tried it but once is enough.

Randoms-
last granola bar, kermit lunch pail, balogna sandwich again, we are the champions, core workout, squirrel.

Thriller

Oh, so last night I had a beer with Marita and we were talking about MTV, and she brought up thriller which she had remembered watching. I brought up that we had wanted to learn it for R and B's wedding. So I got up in Ol Mexico and started to do the thriller moves and explained how at the cabin we started dancing and people got injured, and these two older ladies next to me just started to talk to us. I think they thought I was nuts, as I was dancing in Ol' Mexico.

I wish there was a regular broadcast channel that played music videos, new and old. (although, its not like MTV and VH1 ever play videos anymore, and I am too cheap for cable anyway)

More Randomness: The UN is in session yet again, Giant Burger picture, Ewok Magnets, Zhena's Gypsy Tea, I want an Iced Caramel Macchiato.

First Blog

This is my first blog on the new blog. I did fairly well for a while on the old one, and then let it fall by the wayside.

The thought of the day- "Snap out of it"

It is hot, and humid in the twin cities, and I don't want to be at work. I woke up late so I didn't get a run in, and I have to take my mentee to go get his new running shoes after work, so I couldn't cycle. I guess I just really need to focus and get my ass in gear, and out of the dark place that was Grandma's Marathon. I wasn't ready, having not done any long runs since the Stillwater Marathon 5 weeks earlier. I have certainly been in better shape before. I had not been running in the heat, and somehow I let myself get dehydrated, and there is something wrong with my right knee.

Plan of attack-
Put off marathoning until next season, and stick to shorter races that I want to run. Incorporate more strengthening exercises, and speed workouts in to my training. Ride my bike more, because it makes me happy. Harden the fuck up. Take more time to enjoy the sun.

Randomness of the day:
Bologna sandwich for lunch. A Rueben is pulling in to the Harbor. I need to clean my chacos. Don't sprain your vagina. I guess that means he flipped me the bird. Squirrel.