City of Angels

Posted on December 15, 2013 by chatty

It’s 9AM on Wednesday. Why is no one hanging by the pool? Could it be that it’s, like 50 degrees?

I found myself in Los Angeles earlier this month. I say that as if it’s a surprise. In fact it wasn’t, just another business trip for work. In my new job I get to meet with publicists and such. One such meeting took place at CBS Studios. Kind of fun to see these big sound stages and all. And, like, the below:

Gal at the security gate told me to park on New York Street and this is what they meant.

Does this precinct look familiar? I’ll be on the look out for it in the future

Parallel parking was embarassing. The grips on their union break, watching me and laughing

I had a free night and made a date with my parents. They chose a place in Chinatown (just a couple of miles from my hotel, yet it still took almost 30 minutes to drive there due to crazy traffic). Ocean Seafood, on Hill Street.

In the same way some parents cook their kids their favorite meals when they return home for a visit, so my mom decided to order the Peking Duck at this restaurant. I also suggested lobster, since it was a seafood restaurant. Wow. I am one spoiled child. I’m okay with that.

Peking Duck, with a shrimp chip on top. Fancy.

I also suggested lobster, since it was a seafood restaurant. Wow. I am one spoiled child. I’m okay with that.

They even brought it out (alive) to let us take a look first. How thoughtful.

It was a quick trip, where I had spent as much time in a car as in any of my meetings, or so it seemed. I certainly racked up more mileage in my 2ish days than I have in Seattle over the past two months. I was glad to be home, where I can sleep in a familiar bed.

Although, I could have skipped this weather:

Meanwhile, back in the PNW, any icy fountain at U-Village

Man, I looove Thanksgiving

Posted on November 28, 2013 by chatty

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Yesterday was devoted to baking. Today was about friends and family. It started with what has become the annual “More Pie Please” thanksgiving morning workout. Back at the boathouse, which is looking good these days. After the warm up, there was a 5×5 lifting portion where I did Push-ups and Bulgarian Split Squats. Next was the following:

The “length” was pushing the the prowler sled the length of the boathouse with 50# loaded on it. The prowler, always a part of this thanksgiving workout. The 10-1 means 10-9-8-7 etc. a classic Thanksgiving special, if you ask me.

At home to keep the kiddo busy we practiced a little baseball with the kids bat & ball set she got her dad for his birthday (yes, you read that right). After that, we did some races up and down the block. Let me just say, for a nearly five year old, this kid can run. I hope I did enough exercise to justify the overindulgence I planned to partake in.

Finally… Time to head for the the husband’s fam for the great gorge that never get old, year after year.

Have I ever tried persimmon? Well now I have.

First helping. Of all things, I forgot to take a pic of dessert, and it was plated so nicely, with fresh whipped cream and everything. There’s always a leftovers pic.

I’m not going to lie. A little part of me is grateful to not have to clean up after such a fantastic feast.

This year, I find myself thankful that I’m in a position to have a day like today, spent with friends and family. That I have co-workers that make it bearable on the hard days, and make it a joy on the good days. That my friends and family are healthy, getting healthier, that my daughter has an amazing school that cares for her, that friends, old and new are creating a great support system. My parents and sibling are far in distance but not far from my thoughts. And now the gushy part is done with. Happy.

Chattycha 2, Pie crust 0

Posted on November 28, 2013 by chatty

I’m bringing the pumpkin pie to this year’s Thanksgiving feast. In addition to that, also made little mini sweet potato pies using mini muffin tins. That would be two crusts I made this week. The second was better than the first. My pie crust disaster days seem to be over. Phew!

For the minis, I rolled out the crust and used a biscuit cutter to make the tiny crusts.

I heartily recommend baking two desserts for this holiday. One to share (the big one) and one to enjoy right away (those little cuties). I’m going to keep experimenting with that pumpkin. I have two more big cans in the pantry.

WODs of November

Posted on November 27, 2013 by chatty

Wendler continues. I feel some PRs coming soon. Comments listed below pic.

No time recorded. This is the third time I’ve done this one. It’s challenging, especially a counting challenge.

Ugh, doubleunders. I find I have a limited number of successful DUs I can do on any given morning. Once I pass that number I’m just flailing. This looked like a flailing opportunity, though to be honest I have zero memory of this day.

Wall Climbs were new (did them in NY but better instruction here). I like new.

Mega-lower body workout. Key here is to go strong and long in the row, don’t give it all away as you’ll need something for the wall balls and KBs

Cleans are not my cup of tea. Liked that this was just three at a time.

Bear complex, I think it was called. Coach’s favorite. Not mine. You get a “star” by your name if you hold the bar the entire time. I need more than a star to motivate me to do that.

I chose front squat. Hard on my wrists. Working on quicker burpees.

Cindy. Great body weight workout. 15+ something.

Doubleunders suck. I finished last.

I wore my running shoes, which is always weird as I’ve really gotten used to the NB Minimus shoes at CF. Good one. Cold but good.

I did a decent job taking a pic each day. Except today, probably my last day for the month. Today was 5 min AMRAP 10 chin-ups, 10 wall balls. Rest 3 min, the 5 min AMRAP 10 walking lunges w 15# plate overhead, 10 mountain climbers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Race 11.16

Posted on November 16, 2013 by chatty

Mustache dache at Magnuson Park. 5K with some gym mates. Glad to get my poor(er) performance from my last race out of my system.

A fun race. Everyone wore a mustache, people dressed crazy, just lived in the moment. I’m in the below pic, not obvious, but in like the group shot here:

I do well at Magnuson Park races. Flat and familiar.

Mile 1: 8:54
Mile 2: 8:48
Mile 3: 8:55

Run 11.9

Posted on November 15, 2013 by chatty

I had a rare opportunity to run around Green Lake last weekend. By myself, with no pressing appointments, deadlines, meetings, etc. an enjoyable mid-morning run. No rain, lots of Seattleites enjoying the weather.

Music: an old playlist from a few years ago. A little Taylor Swift, a little Vampire Weekend, some Foo Fighters, and more.

Shake it up.

Slow cooker diaries: Curry chicken (again?)

Posted on November 1, 2013 by chatty

I thought I’d try a coconut curry, bought the coconut milk, all was well. But, not enough room in the SC for the milk. Oops. The chicken was fine, but both the husband and I was visualizing something more creamy. More coconutty. And instead we got plain ol’ tomatoey curry. Oh well.

For leftovers, I added in the milk and was somewhat appeased. Somewhat.

Run 10.23 – 25

Posted on November 1, 2013 by chatty

When I was growing up I thought I would end up living in New York, maybe L.A. I applied to NYU and Barnard, was accepted into both. Accepted a spot at Barnard. Went to an orientation at Barnard. Then I was accepted off the wait list at University of Chicago and never looked back. Yadda yadda yadda, ended up in Seattle. I say all of this because of how much of a poser I feel like when I visit New York. I marvel at the small spaces most of my friends accept as a way of life. I wonder how the women walk everywhere in their cool shoes. I exit the subway and am completely out of sorts, not knowing what is north, east, south, west. I always walk the wrong way, and thank goodness for that little blue dot on bing maps that tells me where I am on my phone app. I have figured out up is uptown. Down is downtown. Fifth ave is where east meets west, but it doesn’t seem like you need to tell anyone whether to meet them at ninth and w 58th or e 58th. It’s just 58th (believe me, it makes a difference in Seattle. NE 15th and NW 15th? So not the same thing).

ANYWAY. This is a post about running. Usually when I travel for business I am a frequent patron of the hotel gym. Last time I even did a drop in at a local CF box. This time I was just two blocks from Central Park, so I thought a run would be fun. I tried to prepare by studying maps and learning landmarks, but ultimately found it easier to follow a few joggers and soon I was on the path with tons of runners. I veered off and circled the reservoir, then ran back, trying to take the same path, not always succeeding. I enjoyed it so much I added it to my agenda for all 3 mornings I was in the city.

By the way. Central Park may be the only route where the you’ll experience both a buttery breakfast pastry aroma and the stink horse manure. At the same time. Mmmmmm.

Each day, I ran between 5 – 6 miles, depending on how lost I got coming out of the park (see first paragraph for reference).
Music: Foo fighters, Killers, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

The pic above was taken at the reservoir on my last run.

More WODs of October

Posted on October 30, 2013 by chatty

I thought I took more pics this month but didn’t see them on the phone. Let’s see what we’ve got here…
Tabata, so 8 rounds, one of each exercise was one round.

Liz shaved time off of my score because I found myself waiting for the erg.

Every minute on the minute, stop what you’re doing and do 4 burpees. This was thought because if you took too long with the burpees you can’t catch up with the lifts.

A fun Saturday workout that relied on body weight movements. I stopped going to CF on weekends, when team workouts are scheduled. This was a fun change of pace.

My first time at a 6:00 AM class, with Danielle. Gotta keep practicing my lifts.

This was this morning. New time, new trainer. Change is good. The burpees keep you out of breath. Even though I thought I did these pretty well, I got some tips for even more efficiency. I can dig This was this morning. New time, new trainer. Change is good. The burpees keep you out of breath. Even though I thought I did these pretty well, I got some tips for even more efficiency. I can dig it.

Rope climbing is fun.

Posted on October 21, 2013 by chatty

I wasn’t what you would call an athletic kid. I’m in much better shape, at 38, than I was at 18. Every now and then, usually when jump rope is involved, I find myself thinking back to grade school gym class and how dreadful it could be. On ‘special’ days we’d have to climb over some wall. Swing across this imaginary hole using a rope. For most kids, it’s a piece of cake. Not so for a self- conscious kid like me.
I’m saying all this because sometimes we get to rope climb at CF and I quite like it. This is when I like telling the husband, “Today? In gym class? We climbed a rope.” Woohoo.
Here’s a pic.

Via SoundCrossfit.