Ready for the Weekend

Poor Terry. Yesterday was a rough one. He sprained or strained his ankle on Monday evening, so he decided to stay home yesterday to be able to ice it and avoid walking too much at the office. Unfortunately, his work laptop went on the fritz, so he had to go into work anyway--except he drove in way later than usual and hit tons of traffic.

Sometimes, though, the universe is looking out for me. When Terry decided to stay home yesterday morning, I grabbed two loads of laundry and ran downstairs to get them started. All four washers were busy (at 7:45 in the morning?!). Good thing, though, because Terry left soon after and I would have been in a real pickle trying to run up and down three flights of stairs to do laundry with a ten-month-old! Thanks, Universe.

Backing up a bit, we met Daddy for lunch this week!

After lunch, Marshall and I stopped at the park for some swings, a walk, and to look at the ducks. These guys were fearless; they waddled right up to us! I assume they're used to getting food.

On his way home from work, my brother called while I was making dinner. He didn't agree that my meal qualified as a burger salad, but I don't know what else you'd call it. Lettuce, burger patty, avocado, cheese (added after the photo), and dressing. The dressing was from the restaurant where we went to lunch that day, a cilantro-lime something that I am pretty sure I need more of now.

The rest of this week seemed to move rather slowly, but at the same time it's a bit of a blur. I know there was a lot of hanging out with my little sidekick.

Don't try to tell him how to use a walker. He knows exactly what he's doing.

This photo requested by my dad, who wanted to see Marshall's new car seat.

This photo was not commissioned, but I think it could be worth something one day.

Today we went to the library! I borrowed two books a few weeks ago, enjoyed one (Goodnight June by Sarah Jio) and really couldn't get into the other (Le Divorce by Diane Johnson), even after ten chapters. So I returned both today and borrowed J.K. Rowling's The Cuckoo's Calling (written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith). I don't normally read crime novels, but I think Rowling is a fantastic writer, so I'm eager to see how this one goes. Terry is reading A Casual Vacancy by Rowling. 

The library has a little pay area for "young readers"--Marshall was more interested in the fun toys than the books!

In other adventures...

I found Trumer Pils at Costco! I was thrilled, and Scout felt pretty happy about it, too.

It's a million degrees here (well, high 80s), and Scout is miserable. He's not even running away (as fast) when Marshall crawls over to terrorize pet him. We will all be close behind him. Time to haul out the portable air conditioner again...

Tomorrow evening, after a swim lesson for a certain little boy and a basketball game for the Bruins, we're heading down to San Diego for a quick trip. Terry has to work early Saturday morning down there, so we figured we'd make it a little family trip.

Wild and Five Miles

The last day of July has felt extremely peaceful around here. Scout cuddled under the covers with me while Terry got ready for work, and when I finally forced myself to get up, make breakfast, and hit the gym, I felt inspired to tackle a tougher-than-usual five miles.

Since I'm combining my half marathon training with Tina's boot camp workouts, I have to rearrange some of the cardio so I don't injure myself or burn out before the big race. We're supposed to do intervals tomorrow and HIIT yesterday, so I combined the two to reach five miles today--and it was crazy hard! I warmed up, completed four intervals of running/recovery, then did five rounds of HIIT for the last mile. I wouldn't normally push this hard, and I probably won't do it again, but I did like the interval + HIIT combo and would try a toned-down version in the future.

Yowza. Just writing it all down was exhausting! This workout actually got me to a little over five miles,   but I didn't want to cut corners on the warm up or cool down.

After a shower and some overnight oats, I finished the last few chapters of Wild, this month's PB Fingers book club selection. My review is below!

For lunch, I was excited for French toast. Don't ask me why; when a craving strikes, I must answer! But I pumped up the protein by adding peanut butter and almonds and threw in some strawberries for a little berry boost.

Peanut Butter and "Jelly" French Toast

Serves 2

• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 slices whole wheat bread
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1 1/2 cups strawberries
• Pure maple syrup

Heat a large pan sprayed with cooking spray over medium heat. In a shallow, wide bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla, milk, and cinnamon. Dunk each slice of bread into the egg mixture, absorbing a little of the liquid (be careful not to over-soak--you don't want mushy French toast!). Grill the toast about 4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

To assemble, spread one tablespoon of peanut butter on one piece of bread, then top with another piece of bread. Garnish with sliced strawberries, sliced almonds, and some maple syrup. Repeat with the other two pieces of bread, and enjoy!

I was starving, and this meal satisfied my tummy and my taste buds! It tastes like peanut butter and jelly, but just a little sweeter and fresher!

Okay, on to the review...

Wild by Cheryl Strayed
To check out other reviews, check out Julie's blog; you can also participate in the virtual book club. Keep up with PB Fingers over the next several days to vote on the next book!

The book is about a young woman who, in the wake of her mother's death and her own painful divorce, decides to hike approximately 1,100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail--solo. With absolutely no hiking experience and basically one guidebook, Cheryl encounters blistering heat, dangerous snow, other hikers, adventures in hitchhiking, hunger, dehydration, and, eventually, her own real self.

Overall, I really liked the book and found it compelling; I didn't want to stop reading. The majority of the book describes her trials and victories along the trail, including losing most of her toenails and--spoiler alert--just surviving the damn thing. I enjoyed reading about how difficult it was for her. That sounds weird, but it was awesome to read about a woman exactly my age undertaking this grueling journey completely on her own. I found myself rooting for her to finish. Also, I thought the imagery was fantastic; I felt I was able to envision most of the sights she described, though I'm sure they're even more breathtaking in person.

I actually found myself not liking Cheryl as a person for most of the book; she seemed weak and whiny. Yes, her mother died, and obviously it affected her deeply, but she acted out so irrationally and irresponsibly that I had little pity for her. Her divorce was her fault, which she admits throughout the book, but it frustrated me to watch her hurt the person who cared most for her. As I learned more about Cheryl's past, I grew slightly more sympathetic toward her.

Regardless, the book as a whole was inspiring and humbling. I was worried that it would come off as too dramatic (hiking such a distance is certainly an accomplishment, but I wasn't about to believe that she was suddenly a whole new person), but it didn't. She slowly came to realizations about herself and her life, but she still had questions at the end. She felt proud of herself when she finished, but she wasn't throwing a parade. I thought she ended the journey as a far more humble person than she began it, and I appreciated that humility.

(Source)

Questions for those who have read Wild

1. What did you think of Cheryl's relationships with her siblings and stepfather after her mom's death? 
2. What do you think changed the most about Cheryl as she hiked the PCT?
3. What frustrated you most about Cheryl throughout the book?
4. How did you feel about Cheryl's choice of her last name?
5. Books are common motifs throughout the book; how do you feel these motifs influenced Cheryl and the path of the novel?

My thoughts:

1. I felt that Cheryl played the victim a lot with her family. She acted as though they had changed and they didn't contact her, but family is a two-way street. Given her behavior, I couldn't fault the family for distancing themselves from her.
2. I think Cheryl gained humility, as I mentioned above, and she gained some perspective that life is not out to get her. Yes, bad things happen, but you can push through them.
3. I could not stand Cheryl's irresponsible money-spending on the trail. It seems so petty, and certainly she survived on what she had, but I got angry the second and third times she ran out of money. Why are you buying all these crazy snacks if you only have $6 left?! Get them at the next stop and eat what you have! It showed she still had more growing up to do.
4. I thought the name was fitting, but it seemed strange to me that she was so proud of being lost and that she wanted that idea of being lost to stay with her for the rest of her life. I'm surprised to see that she kept the name (the novel is by Cheryl Strayed) even after she found her way again.
5. I haven't read most of the books Cheryl mentions on her path, but I found them very symbolic. The fact that she was willing to bear their weight and that they were like her friends along the way made me feel like she was returning back to her old self, the one who was earning her literature degree. 

I would love to hear your thoughts on the novel, and I recommend it if you haven't read it yet.

Drop Dead Healthy

Happy Sunday, and Happy July! It's a gorgeous day in LA, and while I miss waking up to the sound of waves in Cabo, I'm not complaining. We woke up this morning with a three-mile run in our neighborhood, which was extremely difficult for me. We took it easy in Cabo, so perhaps I just need to get back into a routine again. Struggling through three miles wasn't easy, but it was a good start to that routine.

Luckily, we came back to one of the most delicious batches of overnight oats I've ever made. 

The secret ingredient? Mexican Vanilla! I had heard about it from Courtney, so I made sure to pick up a small bottle at the airport before we left Cabo yesterday. 

Now on to the book review! The most recent Peanut Butter Fingers book club selection is Drop Dead Healthy by A.J. Jacobs. This book follows the author on his two-year journey to become the healthiest human possible, whatever the cost. 

5 Reasons You Should Read Drop Dead Healthy

1. It’s funny. Actually, it’s laugh-out-loud funny, as demonstrated by my three separate outbursts on my plane to Denver. Jacobs makes the business of learning about health hilarious. Of course, he goes to more extremes in two years than most of us ever will, such as going two weeks on raw food, installing a treadmill desk in his home office, and joining a barefoot running group. But ultimately, Jacobs made me laugh through his observations, honest opinions, and interactions with others.
   
2. We can all relate. Jacobs is an average dad, living in New York, who wants to be healthier. I think we can all relate to such a down-to-earth guy. Sure, he’s a little nutty and more willing to venture out of his comfort zone than I am (he wears noise-canceling headphones everywhere to protect his ears), but he’s normal. He acknowledges that there are some things he learned that seem valid but impractical, but he also incorporates new foods, techniques, and routines into his daily life that we could all certainly try.
   
3. It’s informative. I feel that I have learned a lot about health this past year, and I had a decent base of knowledge before that, but I still learned tons while reading Drop Dead Healthy. Jacobs doesn’t just read about health; he makes appointments with world-renowned leaders in various fields. From psychologists to urologists, Jacobs receives expert advice about his entire body for all of us to become more knowledgeable.
   
4. It’s motivational. Jacobs tracks his progress, providing various updates about his health, including:
   
   “Trips to Whole Foods this month: 8” (163)
   
   “New vocabulary words learned to keep brain in shape: 301” (210)
   “Times unsuccessfully attempted to switch to green tea: 7” (277)
   
   He shares his struggles (snacking) and his triumphs (I really want a walking treadmill), and he shows that we can’t do it all (who has time for hand workouts?), but that we can certainly do a lot to improve our health. He even includes a few lists in the back of the book that I would call his conclusions, including “Five Toxins I Now Avoid” and “The Ten Best Pieces of Food Advice I’ve Gotten All Year” (ßMichael Pollan is mentioned…)
   
5. It’s thought-provoking. Between reading this book and others and attending the Fitness & Health Bloggers Conference last week, my mind is muddled with what to think about diet, fitness, and health. It’s baffling how many different opinions are out there and how two experts can recommend the exact opposite of each other. But I believe that reading about health and learning what we can makes us healthier in general, no matter how confusing. And Jacobs makes an overwhelming subject quite fun to read.

I absolutely recommend Drop Dead Healthy for a light, fun read that teaches you more than you expect without making you feel like you’re doing everything wrong. He doesn’t just explore diet and exercise; he looks at stress, hearing, breathing, the brain, and more. Enjoy!

Questions for Drop Dead Healthy for those who read it:

What did you think of Jacobs’s approach to holistic health?

I thought he attacked too much, even over two years. The safety expert, for example, seemed a bit excessive and didn’t really fit in with the rest of his goals. But I liked that he thought outside of the box and didn’t just limit himself to diet and exercise. His goal wasn’t to lose weight, after all, it was to become the healthiest he could. I thought the laughter club and focus on eliminating stress were both fun and great reminders.

How did you feel about the inclusion of tales of his grandfather and aunt?

The visits to his grandfather and stories about his “eccentric” aunt made me like Jacobs even more, as did reading about his relationships with his sons and wife. He made himself extremely relatable and showed that family came first. I thought it was touching to see his respect for them and his openness to Marti’s beliefs.

What one “quirky” thing would you want to incorporate into your life, or at least try for a while: the walking treadmill, noise-canceling headphones, laughter clubs, or barefoot running?

Walking treadmill for me. Hands down. I would only use it at home, though, because teaching is a stand-all-day-don't-sit-down-even-for-lunch kind of job.

As always, consider joining the next book club selection fun. Keep up to date with Julie's blog so you can vote on the next book!

Still Missing and Chocolate Milkshakes

Yesterday, I was craving burgers. Today I wanted a chocolate milkshake. Apparently I'm from the fifties.

To make my milkshake healthier, I subbed bananas for ice cream and ended up with a sugar-free chocolate delight!

Chocolate Milkshake
Serves 2

• 1 1/2 bananas (frozen)
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup milk
• Handful of chocolate chips (optional but awesome)

Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend. Pour into two glasses. Add straws. Enjoy.

Scout was just mad we wouldn't give him a straw.

We loved it! You can taste the banana, but it's subtle and works perfectly with the cocoa. A delicious summer treat to help beat the heat!

[Insert clever transition here.] <--Sometimes I write notes like this to myself in hopes that when I revise I'll come up with something awesome. You can see that this tactic works extremely well.

I once again participated in Julie's online book club on Peanut Butter Fingers. Well, sorta. Okay, not really at all. See, this month's book selection was Still Missing, a novel about a kidnapping that was far too disturbing for me to read. I read the first chapter, knowing that it would be a rough book, and I couldn't get through it. But my awesome husband, an avid reader himself, agreed to take one for the team. He read the book while in Belize last week and decided that it was a very good idea for me not to read it. Especially while he was away from home and my only guardian was this guy:

Where's the trouble? Lemme at 'em!

The answers below are summaries of Terry's responses, written from his point of view. I came up with the questions based on Terry's description of the novel and the points he thought were most interesting.

[Warning: Spoilers!]

(Source)

What were your first impressions of the two main characters, Annie and the kidnapper, and how did those impressions change throughout the novel, if at all? Annie didn't come off well, but we meet her in her present-time therapy session after she's been through so much. In the flashbacks she seemed pretty nice. For the kidnapper, it's pretty obvious who he is since you know it's a kidnapping book, and you suspect him immediately.

He does a good job of making you intrigued about his character, and he gets under your skin. He doesn't grow much, but Annie does learn more about him. She sees his human side but not enough to change our view of him. The scenes where Annie reads to him are conflicting because it's hard to see how she could possibly enjoy the conversations, but obviously Stockholm syndrome is a real thing that many victims experience.

Annie changes a lot throughout the novel, and some changes are for the worse, but her development is understandable given the circumstances and she remains a likable character. You always root for her and give her the benefit of the doubt, despite her foul mouth and unsettling actions.

Everyone said this book is disturbing, graphic, and difficult to read. Do you agree? If so, what was so horrible about the descriptions? I agree, especially regarding the first half when she is in captivity. The rape scenes and not knowing the kidnapper's next move were always graphic and unsettling. I never had to stop reading, but I'm glad you didn't read it.

What did you think about the way the plot turned into more of solving a mystery about who set up the kidnapping?
I thought the fact that the time lines (therapy and outside experiences) met up was particularly interesting. It kept me invested in the story to see the investigation unfold in present time.

What were your thoughts about the frame of the novel (the psychiatrist sessions)? How did it improve or detract from the book?
I thought it was frustrating to never meet the therapist. I suspect that the reader was intended to be the therapist, which broke the barrier. I also felt that the way Annie spoke to the therapist was unrealistic--no one speaks in narrative that way.

Would you recommend the novel, and why or why not?
I would recommend it for a thriller/suspense fan because it certainly kept me intrigued, but the reader should be prepared for the disturbing nature of the novel.


Stay tuned for Julie's next book club selection! She'll be posting the choices in the next couple of days, and you can be part of the vote! Visit her blog here.

WIAW and The Book Thief

Welcome to another installment of BLWB book reviews! As you may know, I try to participate in a monthly book club that Julie runs on her blog, Peanut Butter Fingers. This month's book was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; my comments and questions are below in case you have read it, are thinking about it, or need a good book to read. Also, special hello and welcome to PBF fans - thanks for stopping by!

First up, let's do a fun round of today's eats. Today felt super strange, mostly because of the weather: the news predicted rain, we got sun and warmth most of the day. (Then, of course, when I headed outside for a workout, guess what happened? I ran for cover and hope to finish up my cardio tonight after my meeting, especially since yesterday was an unintentional rest day.) Plus my classroom is freeeeezing, so that added to the weird weather. On top of all that, we finished with standardized testing for the students today, so classes only lasted 30 minutes. Odd day, indeed.

So here's my What I Ate Wednesday, which turned out fairly normal given the strange vibes I had.





7:30 Breakfast + Tea

Leftver quiche from Monday night

10:15 Snack - Banana (You don't really need to see a picture of a banana, right? You do? Okay, fine.)

That's what you get!

12:15 Lunch

HUGE salad

Avocado, bell pepper, tomato, corn, 1/2 whole wheat tortilla, cucumber, spinach,  BBQ sauce

4:15 Snack

Unripe and almost tasteless pear

5:40 Dinner

Since I had a meeting after work today, I had to pack up dinner to bring with me. Unfortunately, I always neglect to bring the toppings for my chili - sour cream and cheese. Granted, it's still delicious without it, but not quite as good as it was yesterday. (Perhaps not having my Fat Tire with it caused the problem...)

Leftover chili from last night

But the corn bread needed no toppings and was therefore equally delicious.

One piece tonight :-) 

9:30 pm - Late night baking snack
Last night, I made cupcakes for some coworkers who have birthdays today and tomorrow. But the first batch got claimed before the second coworker got any, so I came home late tonight and baked up another batch. So my baking snack was about 17 finger dips into the frosting (had to test it out, right?) plus a beer and an actual cupcake. Delicious way to end the day!


The Book Thief

Source

We all know I'm a sucker for historical fiction, so I was super excited that this month's selection was set in Germany during World War II. But this book had a few other extremely interesting details, like the fact that it focuses on a little girl and her foster family. The girl, Liesel, her foster family, and most of the people she knows are not Jewish. Very often I've read books from the opposite perspective, and I found it extremely thought-provoking to view the war from the eyes of non-Jewish families.

The most interesting aspect of the book was the narration: The story is told from the omniscient viewpoint of Death. I thought this narration choice was brilliant! Who better to describe a war than Death himself, who has to take the souls of the war's casualties? Even better, the character of Death was at times hilarious, sarcastic, poignant, touching, depressing, and extremely wise.

My favorite quote from Death is when he is describing a bonfire/book burning. He mentions that the enthusiasm of the crowd invited a lot of heil Hitlers, to which he says:

You know, it actually makes me wonder if anyone ever lost an eye or injured a hand or wrist with all of that. You'd only need to be facing the wrong way at the wrong time or stand marginally too close to another person. Perhaps people did get injured. Personally, I can only tell you that no one died from it, or at least, not physically. There was, of course, the matter of forty million people I picked up by the time the whole thing was finished, but that's getting all metaphoric (93).

Honestly, once I had determined the narrator, I expected a grim (ha), unforgiving voice, but this paragraph illustrates that his tone was anything but. Certainly, given that it's a book set during WWII, there are tough moments - I won't spoil it for you! - but Death's voice gave the entire novel a matter-of-fact kind of spunk that really made me think.

If you're considering this book or are looking for a fantastic read, I highly recommend The Book Thief. Yikes, I'm realizing that my reviews are all positive - trust me, I don't love all books (hey, Faulkner, I'm talking to you). For those who have already read it, here are my questions:

• What were your thoughts on Death's frequent observations of the color of the sky?
• What did this book make you think about the role of fate in determining someone's death? (Not to give anything away, I'm thinking about those who died because they took someone's place or because they thought they were saving someone.) 
• What did you think of the fact that Death constantly foreshadowed (or blatantly announced) who was going to die and when? 
• What did you think of Ilsa Hermann?
• Who was your favorite character?

Quotes to Consider:

• (About Papa) "Perhaps Liesel was the one thing he was a true expert at." (200)
• (Death) "...I am constantly overestimating and underestimating the human race." (419)
• (Death) "I am haunted by humans." (419)

Thoughts on Theme:

• Words are a source of power, for good or bad, and how they are used creates a huge domino effect.
• Fate overrules good intentions.

Why We Chose a Nook

While we’re off traveling this week, Terry and I are planning to fight over share the Nook. We bought it in November using a fantastic teacher discount. Ours is the most basic version, but Nook Color and Nook Tablet are also available. I thought I’d offer a little insight into this little device for anyone who might be thinking of going electronic.

(Source)

Let me start off by saying that I struggled immensely with the decision to shift to e-books. I love to read and majored in English literature, so obviously the feel of a book in my hand has always been dear to me. I love smell of an old book, the crinkle of a page, the crack of a book’s spine when you first open it. More importantly, I destroy my books—in a good way. I highlight, underline, write notes, dog-ear pages. I don’t care if books get wet or sit in the sun too long or fade in color or have food all over them (known to happen with me), because it all shows how much I loved them.

Okay, moving on from my ode to books, I also had to get realistic. Terry and I travel—a lot! It was becoming difficult to pack so many books on our trips, and I would get frustrated when I brought a book on a trip with only 50 pages left to read (and then it just took up space) or when I couldn’t bring a book because it was so bulky. A Nook allows you to load up as many books as you’d like without adding weight or taking up space in your luggage.

Honestly, our decision to buy a Nook had nothing to do with cost. As my husband says, “A book is always a good investment.” I love that attitude, but it also meant that a trip to Barnes and Noble or any used bookstore meant we bought at least one book to add to our collection. The problem? We live in a tiny apartment! We have one giant bookshelf, one small one, and a few nooks and crannies where we stuff the leftovers. At least three times a year, I go through our stash and purge the shelves of anything we won’t read again or probably won’t ever read, and I haul it all to Good Will. Still, we were accumulating more than we could store, and it was beginning to be a problem. Once again, a Nook was a space saver.

So why the Nook and not the Kindle? Mainly, I wanted to jump on board with the fact that Barnes and Noble was jumping on board with e-books. As I said, I love going to bookstores, and Terry and I have spent hours upon hours perusing shelves in happy silence. I want to make sure bookstores still exist when we have kids so that we can take them to the children’s section and let them choose whatever they want. By choosing a Nook, we are forced (happily) to purchase all of our e-books through Barnes andNoble’s website, so we’re supporting them.

Other benefits of a Nook (some of these features may also be available on the Kindle):

• The screen truly looks like a real book, and you can read it in any light you could read a real book (on the same note, you can’t read it in the dark, the way you can an iPad).
• If you have an iPad or smartphone, you can download your books between devices. So I can read on my iPad while Terry reads on the Nook, or I can read from my phone if I’ve left my Nook at home. Bonus: The devices can sync so that you pick up on your iPad where you left off on the Nook without having to remember the page number.
• You can still highlight, make notes, and bookmark (virtual dog-ear) pages. It’s just that these notes are neater, more organized, and easily accessed compared to handwritten notes scribbled in margins.
• You can look up the definition of most words without needing to access the Internet (a dictionary is built in).
• As long as you turn off the Nook when you aren’t using it, the battery will last for weeks.
• There are several cute cover options (obviously a priority). We chose the ampersand/question mark cover. 

We still buy real books, especially reference books, health/fitness/food books, and anything we think we might read again. All my classics are the real deal, and I’m a big fan of buying beautiful, old, used versions of my favorites.

Not exactly my favorites, but okay. (Source)

 

We also still love bookstores. Old ones, new ones, big ones, small ones. My favorite in the world so far is Shakespeare & Company in Paris; its tiny, crowded spaces and historical significance gave it a charm unmatched by any store I’ve seen. I have every intention of loading our future house with dozens of bookshelves and thousands of books (a la Beauty and the Beast, perhaps?), but while we live in LA in a tiny, one bedroom apartment, the Nook satisfies our desire to read without imposing on our quality of life.

(Source)

Do you have a strong opinion about e-books?

What’s your favorite bookstore?

The Paris Wife and WIAW for Leap Day

Happy Leap Day! All day, I heard (on the radio) and saw (on Facebook) ways to take advantage of this "extra day" and felt more and more depressed that I wasn't going to be doing something special like that. I stumbled upon an awesome blog post that lists 24 suggestions for ways to fill your 24 hours (check it out here). My favorite is 9 pm - create a time capsule!

Sadly, our Leap Day couldn't be spent celebrating, but we did go for a short walk (neither of us was up for anything intense after yesterday's run from hell) and then headed up to campus for another volunteer meeting for the alumni group we're a part of at UCLA. As always, it was a blast to be in a room filled with Bruin spirit, even after Sports Illustrated published a less than flattering article about our basketball program today. Even better: Our guest speaker tonight was Jim Mora, UCLA's new head football coach! More on that tomorrow, but he was a phenomenal speaker. I included the dinner for tonight's meeting in my What I Ate Wednesday.

Recipe for Spinach-Feta Scrambled Eggs

Also, my friend Sarah gave the okay for me to post her awesome Thai Pork with Peanut Sauce recipe, so get excited for that tomorrow!

To be honest, I may eat a little something after this post, too, but we'll see if sleep wins out.


The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (Book Review)

Just like last month, Julie from PB Fingers hosted a book club and is linking up book reviews all over the web. This month's book was The Paris Wife, an historical fiction piece written from the perspective of Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadley, about their marriage.

Source

Questions:

1. Do you feel that Ernest and Hadley truly loved each other?
2. What do you think of Hadley's character throughout the book?
3. Hemingway actually married four times before finally committing suicide in 1961. Knowing what we "know" about his first marriage, what do you think of him as a husband, father, and person?
4. Do you enjoy historical fiction?
5. Would you recommend this book?

My Thoughts:

1. It was odd for me to see their relationship unfold. It seemed blatantly obvious that she loved him more than he loved her, despite her frequent attempts to declare that they were perfect for each other and truly loved one another. Even when he said he loved her, it felt untrue and halfhearted. The book's overall tone made me feel as though Hadley was consistently depressed or lonely, even when she claimed to be having fun.
   
2. Hadley is a born follower and admittedly becomes "desperate" for Ernest. Throughout their marriage, I was reminded of romantic comedies where I want to shout at the screen because the woman (usually) won't speak her mind. But by the end of the novel, I had grown to like Hadley's new confidence and willingness to be by herself.
   
3. I wanted so badly to believe that Ernest really loved Hadley in their tender moments when he would comfort her and call her sweet nicknames, but ultimately, he was a terrible husband. His flirting, the affair, his oscillating emotions - Ernest didn't deserve such a sweet wife.
   
   I also never sensed any sort of connection between Ernest and Bumby, so I had to conclude that he was a detached and indifferent father at best. Perhaps more detail on the father-son relationship would have shown a different perspective.
   
   As a person, Ernest seemed exactly like the rest of their friends, the other expatriates. They all drank too much, wore their emotions on their sleeves, experimented with unconventional relationships, and wrote some really great novels. Compared to the others, Ernest wasn't horrible, but he wasn't exactly a hero.
   
4. I love reading historical fiction, but I often find myself distracted by questioning what really happened and what didn't. In this case, the scene where Ernest goes to bed with the "dark girl" confused me. Was it simply foreshadowing, or did the author include it for historical significance? I can't let go of the little details.
   
5. I would really recommend this book to someone who is genuinely interested in the Lost Generation and any of its key players. I loved that aspect: reading about the authors who enchanted me in eleventh grade English. I also loved all the travel and imagining the romance of the age in such exotic locations. I wanted to jump on a plane back to Europe! (By the way, did anyone else wonder how on earth they were able to travel so much?!) 

If you check out this book or already read it, I'd love to know what you think! It was a quick read, but not really one that grips you. The story reminded me of both The Catcher in the Rye (because Ernest reminded me a lot of Holden Caulfield) and The Great Gatsby (because these writers and their spouses mostly just hang around, party, drink, and travel), so check it out if you liked those ones. The plot isn't exactly a page-turner, but it was fun to read and certainly illustrates the back story of The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway's first novel.

Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Leap Day!

The Night Circus

Hi everyone! I'm hoping there will be some visitors here participating in Julie Fagan's PB Fingers book review link up, so thanks for stopping by! I'm excited to read all the other reviews, too!

My friend Jesse recommended this book to me, and, as always, he was right on target. Here's a little history of Jesse's recommendations:

• "Julie, you would love Harry Potter. Just read the books." "No, I'm not into fantasy stuff." Fast forward to a few months later, when I had read all the books, seen all the movies, and had a huge crush on Ronald Weasley. 
• "Julie, you should check out How I Met Your Mother. It's hilarious." "I don't know, I already love so many shows." Now we own all the seasons, quote the show daily - at least - and used the theme song in our wedding.
• "Hey Julie, you and Terry would make a totally cute couple." "Yeah, right, I'm not really interested in dating anyone right now." Fast forward to about a week later, when Terry and I fell head over heels. Five years later, Jesse was a groomsman in our wedding.

Terry and Jesse at our wedding. Look at those stud muffins!

So when Jesse suggested The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, I didn't argue or give an excuse. He knows me too well. And when Julie posted a book review link up opportunity (Julie's blog, Peanut Butter Fingers, hosts a virtual book club every month!), I figured it must be fate. And so I downloaded the novel and got to it.

The Night Circus is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I cannot compliment the writing style enough. The author's descriptions of the circus pulled me in and made me feel as though I was in the tents, experiencing the magic with the other circus-goers. 

The characters in the novel, while fascinating and (for the most part) extremely likable, got me a bit confused for the first half of the book. I kept mixing up their names, but the descriptions often set me straight. I found the characters, especially Poppet and Bailey, to be normal people that perhaps I might befriend. The others intrigued me, each in their own way, but I have to say that my favorite was Herr Thiessen because of his passion for clock-making and for the circus.  

The other aspect of the book that I found confusing was the timing. Each chapter always stated the date, but I still managed to lose track, which I think was the point. In the circus, people lost track of time and of what is reality and what isn't, so the fact that I was lost in the pages simply mirrored the circus experience. The idea of time, either slowing or slipping away, struck me as one of the most prominent motifs in the book; all the clocks certainly called my attention to the time of day or the year.

Questions for those who read The Night Circus:

Feel free to leave your comments below or e-mail me! I'd love to hear your thoughts on any or all of the questions!

1. We see trees throughout the novel - Bailey's tree from his childhood, Marco's notebook drawings, the Wishing Tree, the story of the wizard. What significance do trees hold, and why do you think they were they chosen as such a prominent symbol?
2. The colors - or lack of colors - in the novel provide an important backdrop for the circus and the story. What color did you find most significant, and why?
3. I noticed a lot of references to paper, ink, books, and notes throughout the novel. Why do you think the author chose to use these instruments, and how are they crucial to the different characters in different ways?
4. I mentioned above that I felt time (the passage of time, aging, clocks ticking, etc.) was especially significant. What did you notice about time, and what did you think of Bailey's contact information at the end?
5. What did you think of Celia and Marco's fate? What would you have done in their position? [If you read The Hunger Games, did you draw some parallels to Peeta and Katniss?]
6. Who was your favorite character and why?

I hope you enjoyed this book as much as I did. I hope to read it again to catch all the little nuances I missed the first time around. I highly recommend it and hope to find more works by Erin Morgenstern. Special thanks to Julie for the book club idea (you can check other reviews on her site!), and to Jesse for the original recommendation!

Road Runner Shoes

What a wonderful Sunday! After church, Terry and I headed up to Road Runner in Thousand Oaks to buy our new half-marathon training shoes. We chose Road Runner because they analyze your foot and your running style in order to help you choose the best shoes. I'm sure there are other stores that perform similar assessments if you're interested, but we had a great experience at this particular store!

Terry learned he has very high arches.

I learned that my feet are completely different from each other, likely due to my surgery.

They create custom insoles for your new shoes to provide ideal arch support.

Our new running gear!

I ended up with Asics stabilizers, running socks, and a water bottle belt.

Terry also got Asics, running socks, and a water bottle with a hand strap.

The whole experience made me feel really comfortable with the shoes I purchased, and I loved learning more about my run. I knew a lot about my foot structure because of my bunions, but this analysis provided a lot more running-specific information. I want to ensure that I'm being smart about the right gear as we start to increase our mileage, and now I know that we are! While the total cost was quite hefty, I feel it's worth preventing injury and knowing we have the right shoes for our feet.

After the big purchase, we met our friends Katie and Corey for lunch at a delicious Mexican restaurant in Thousand Oaks, 3 Amigos. I had enchiladas, and I swear I took a picture, but it disappeared on my phone. It was delicious! Everyone loved their food, and it was awesome catching up with our buddies. It's funny how living just 40 minutes away from each other means you have to really plan for a get together.

Back at home, we spent a good chunk of our afternoon reading - The Night Circus for me and Sacre Bleu for Terry. So far, we both highly recommend our books! I'll actually be participating in a book review link up with Julie's PBF Book Club, where I'll share my thoughts on the book and post a few questions for those who have read it or plan to read it. Get excited for that post on Wednesday!

iPad reading + tea makes for a terrific Sunday afternoon

 Of course, by 5:00, I was aching to try out my new shoes, but I wasn't up for a run. I completed the following:

*With your ankles on a stability ball and your hands/arms in plank position,
pull your knees into your chest, then extend your legs back out to plank
position. Repeat.

Afterward, I completed 15 minutes on the elliptical and ran one 8-minute mile on the treadmill. The strength workout was much harder than I expected, and I'm already sore! But it went by quickly and challenged my muscles, so I loved it.

Other highlights from the night:

Scout passed out on my lap

Leftover meatloaf sandwiches from last night

Dinner: leftover meatloaf sandwiches, sliced pear, carrots, and spinach salad.

A walk to Diddy Riese for ice cream to finish the evening.

Hope you enjoyed a great weekend! The three of us are curled up in bed and getting ready for a busy week. I have some exciting (for me) news to share with you tomorrow!