City of Lakes Loppet

I saw the coolest thing today and can't wait for next year to take part again. The City of Lakes Loppet began in 2003 and I actually volunteered that first year as well but haven't since then for one reason or another. It's a cross country race that takes place entirely in Minneapolis and has turned into a full weekend of events. Tonight was the Luminary event which is a nighttime skiing, snowshoeing or walking event for all sorts of people to take part in on the Mall in Uptown and out onto Lake of the Isles. It was gorgeous out there with lots of candles and areas where bonfires, hot cocoa stops, entertainment, etc. were taking place. One of the organizers said they estimated that nearly 4000 people were taking part in just the luminary tonight and who knows how many more were part of the overall weekend of activities. I was bummed that I didn't have my camera here but included a photo here from last year which looked pretty cool.
In both bad and good news, this weekend has included a massive thawing as temperatures were well into the 40s today. Pleasant for being out but the ski trails were being destroyed and have turned into ice. Aah, there is no such thing as perfect conditions...

25 Random Things About Me

So I'm wondering if this whole blogging thing is really worth it being that my life has been so lame lately. I spend a lot of time on facebook though so I'm recycling here and publishing a list of random things about me that I posted there in response to a forwarded request. Here is more info about me than you ever needed to know. Enjoy!

1. Is currently unemployed and is using that as an excuse to spend my time doing this. (But doesn't expect others to have the same sort of time to waste regardless of the directions above.)

2. Has 13 nieces and nephews and thus do not need any children of my own.

3. Grew up 20 miles north of Bemidji, MN on a small farm but moved into Bemidji and rented an apartment (with my cousin who is a year older) when I was a senior in high school before moving to Washington, D.C. for college.

4. Wanted to run a marathon by age 30, never got around to it but when I hit 30 I started running. The furthest official race so far is 10 miles but I plan on doing some halves this year and have come to believe that 13 miles is a more fun distance.

5. Loves the Minnesota Twins, especially Pat Neshek and Justin Morneau.

6. Hates feet and thinks open toed shoes in public is a trend that never should have started.

7. Went an entire 2 1/2 years without using the oven or stovetop at her apartment but finally gave in recently.

8. Loves travelling and would love to go to Africa again. Kenya is my favorite destination thus far.

9. One of my proudest accomplishments is that after only 3 years I needed to have new pages added to my passport but I'm sad that I've used it hardly at all since then (almost 3 years ago.)

10. Is obsessed with New Orleans especially post-Katrina.

11. Has a thing for Brian Williams. Seriously, I read his blog and usually download NBC Nightly News unless he's on vacation.

12. Met Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and Tipper Gore (among other politicians including working as an intern for Ted Kennedy) while an undergrad at American University in D.C. In fact, I knew that Ted Kennedy was going to be a grandfather before he did as I overheard his daughter inform her cousin and say she hadn't told her Dad yet. Several months later it was in the Post but I could have sold it way earlier.

13. Loves Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. I just received my ESPN game ending text update with his stats for the night. I get them after every game.

14. Can waste more time on the internet than anybody I know.

15. Believes M*A*S*H is and always will be the best TV show ever made. The combination of humor and drama and political commentary in a half hour show has never been better. West Wing was the only one that came close.

16. Secretly wonders if the whole MBA thing was really worth it. (See the unemployed comment in #1) But when I remember the friends that I made in the program I can't imagine not doing it as I can't imagine life without them. They are the best.

17. Lived in Tokyo for 1 1/2 years but still only speaks sukoshi Nihon-go and doesn't like sushi.

18. Hates the suburbs and has never lived in one. If I'm going to be in a metro area I'm going to be in the city proper.

19. Has a best friend that I have known since I was probably 11 or 12 but we didn't become friends until I was 23 or so. Since then we have rarely lived in the same location but I can always count on her for a good phone chat or to distract me from work with frequent emails. I always happily return the favor.

20. Recently read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and has been trying even harder to eat locally, organically, etc. (I've discovered the food is waaay better anyway.)

21. Is known for not liking vegetables but likes some of the uncommon ones and dislikes common varieties. No to tomatoes and onions. Yes to broccoli, spinach, peas.

22. Is a liberal Democrat although I'm definitely more liberal socially than fiscally and I'm pretty conservative in my own lifestyle if that makes any sense.

23. Is a freak for Propel in almost all of its flavors. On any given day I typically have orange juice, water and Propel.

24. Adores AVEDA and spends way more money there than any person (especially one who doesn't wear makeup) should.

25. Believes strongly in the institution of adoption and if I were ever so inclined to have children, would adopt a few (kids need siblings) from the foster system.

America

With the inauguration festivities going on I was reminded of what I think is the most beautiful version of America the Beautiful ever by Ray Charles. Here's a video:
Somebody once said that they thought this was made even more poignant by the fact that with Ray Charles being blind, he always figured he was really singing about the true beauty of the country which can't be seen, the ideals and spirit of the nation.

I don't really have much to write about these days which is probably why you're getting youtube links! I swear I think they're good though. I did do a 5K run today which was fun but bitterly cold. The Frozen Half Marathon turned into a 10K but I didn't even feel like running that far so the 3 miles or so that we did was good. Afterwards we had lunch at Cafe Latte which is always good. I have been trying to be a "locavore" and eat local foods rather than use the energy to transport goods many miles when there is food harvested locally which could meet our needs. However, I think I need to move to a place closer to the ocean though when I like seafood as much as I do. Trout and walleye just don't cut it unfortunately. Bummer. I have cut out bananas at least...

Videos

I was browsing on youtube and found a couple videos that I think are pretty cool. The first is Johnny Cash doing "Man in Black" from the Mike Douglas Show in 71. In somewhat the same theme but a bit more optimistic, the second one is Garth Brooks "We Shall Be Free" which he did at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. Happy Inauguration Day!


On a completely different note, I am now Facebook friends with Pat Neshek! How cool is that?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A friend and I went to the MLK tribute last night which was really good. Sounds of Blackness did the music and Paul Rusesabagina spoke about his experiences in Rwanda. His story inspired Hotel Rwanda which is an excellent movie if you haven't seen it. In honor of the holiday, here are a few pictures from last year when I was en route from New Orleans to Minneapolis over the King weekend and stopped at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. It is the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968. Overall, a really good museum although there is a wing about the assassination which I don't like because I feel it doesn't honor King in any way but rather glorifies James Earl Ray and is a little too CSI style.






In other news, it's been COLD. They say it's been the coldest that it's been in five years but I feel like it's not that insane. I think that's due to the fact that I don't need to walk much and can stay home quite a bit. I have been going to the gym but on Wednesday I officially became one of those crazy people that goes for a run when it's below freezing. We had run club and our coach Cory ran with me and it wasn't half bad. We only did two miles because of the cold but it was definitely tolerable. Everybody looked a bit crazy when they came back with frozen eyelashes and such but overall, a good night. I'm still debating doing the Frozen Half Marathon next weekend and I probably won't decide until a day or two in advance based on the weather and other outside factors.

Cooking

I'm guessing that you're sitting down but if not you should do so now because after a lot of pushing from friends and lots of consideration by me, I used my stove! I know it's a novel concept for me but one I've been considering for months and finally did. For Christmas I received a baking dish that I could use and a Target card so I went grocery shopping the other day. I have been reading Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver so I couldn't bring myself to purchase meat from the grocery store so I went to Local Dlish which sells farm fresh meat, produce and other locally made items. I purchased chicken on Thursday which is when it is delivered so I know it was walking around just a day or two before on a farm which is much better than having shared a 6x8 room with 1000 other chickens. I used a recipe I found online and it turned out pretty well. I did have to run upstairs to steal some pepper from Mandy after I realized that I had two containers of salt and zero of pepper so that will be an item to add to my list of future purchases. At long last, after almost 2 1/2 years in my apartment, the oven has finally been used! i was even on a roll and made some muffins afterwards that I had a mix for. Fiber One Apple Cinnamon and they turned out too (although baking hasn't ever been a real problem for me anyway, I just never do it).
I know that for most people this stuff isn't blog worthy but for anybody that knows me, it's earth shattering! Have a great day!

2009

Oh my gosh, I didn't realize it had been so long since I had updated the blog. I called this "notquitedaily" for a reason but not quite monthly is ridiculous. I guess it was right before New Orleans that I last posted and then I just got a little crazy with work and now without work. I had been doing contract work and due to the economy, the company I was working at had to let all the contractors go so as of December 19, I am without an income. With the holidays it wasn't the worst timing but now I'll be getting probably a bit stir crazy as the rest of the world gets back into the routine and I am without one. Well, I can't say I'm without a routine as I have the gym and television. I'm definitely addicted to both.
New Orleans was great as usual. The food is unreal there. Luckily we did a lot of walking so we didn't gain too much weight. We also worked with St. Bernard Project for two days which was a lot of fun and very rewarding.
Yes, I know I need pictures. I'll get some New Orleans photos loaded up and post them soon hopefully.
Oh, a recommendation for a book and author: I got a Barnes and Noble gift card for my birthday (thanks Erika)and picked up Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Vegetable Miracle" and (like everything she writes) it is awesome. Definitely makes a person appreciate the farmer's markets even more. I also gained some kitchen items (thanks Amanda) and am going to try to take up a bit of cooking. I need some ingredients first so I'll be heading to Target sometime in the next few days after I look at a few recipes. I'll definitely keep you posted on that as that's a whole new adventure for me.
Happy 2009!