All Quiet On The Southern Front

I've been quiet lately. Out of sorts may be a better term for it. The Aussie has finally gotten home after his trip to visit the family overseas. It was sooo quiet in the house. I missed him, the dogs missed him. The parrot, maybe not. I'm sure she thought about it though.

While he was in the Sydney airport on the first leg of his trip, he bought me a snowglobe. On the return, the security personnel confiscated it. He was seriously P.O.d. Well, wouldn't you know that there was a gift shop on the other side of the security checkpoint that had the same snowglobe, so he bought me another one. Hah! He said he'd have to remember to put it in his checked baggage once he reached the U.S. It's really difficult to remember things when you've been travelling for over 20 hours. Needless to say, he forgot to put it in his suitcase before it was re-checked. Thankfully, they had a storefront in the airport where you could mail things rather than have them confiscated, so he had it packaged up and mailed home. So, thousands of miles later, my snowglobe!

Today's Fortune Cookie

A true friend is someone who is there for you when they'd rather be anywhere else.

Chicken Divan

Well, I lost a follower this week. I don't know if it was because I blogged about my race last Sunday or if it was because I hadn't posted a chicken recipe in a while. An IRL friend, one who's actually known me since 6th grade, said it was the chicken issue. Oh well. Enjoy the interwebs without me, unknown former follower.

So, The Aussie's never been a casserole person, which I think is a crying shame. I grew up with "weird" casseroles (aka stir fries before they were cool) so I love real, honest to goodness, casseroles. I picked up a rotisserie chicken at Costco last night, so I had leftover chicken to cook with. Here's what I cooked up tonight:

Chicken Divan (and then some)
2 cups cooked chicken, cut into cubes
2 cups cooked broccoli
1 cup cooked spinach (I had leftover from last night, sauteed with garlic)
2 cans low fat cream of mushroom soup mixed herbs
1/4 c white wine
panko bread crumbs
parmesan
salt/pepper to taste

Heat the oven to 375. In a sauce pan, combine the 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup with the white wine. Add in some herbs and stir. When warmed up, remove from heat. Dice your cooked chicken. If you need, cook your vegetables. I had a few asparagus spears from the garden that I steamed in a bag for 45 seconds, then I steamed the broccoli. I had left over spinach from last night, so I added it in the dish. Spread the vegetables in a casserole dish. Add in the diced, cooked chicken. Pour over the cream of mushroom soup and stir until the soup is settled in with the vegetables and chicken. Cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove from the oven and top with some parmesan and panko crumbs. I, do humbly admit, use parmesan from the large green container I get at Costco. Last time I bought the real stuff it went moldy, so I use the "fake" stuff. Bake for 10 more minutes.

If you need to run it under the broiler to get it browned, like I did, feel free.

I have to say, this was really good, and I think, not that bad for you. I just wish The Aussie liked casseroles...

Today's Fortune Cookie

Through greater effort and hard work a precious dream comes true.

I Am Stronger

Yes, I am stronger. I am stronger than some others are petty. Maybe not at first, but I am working on it. You see, I have toyed with the idea of getting a 13.1 tattoo. During lunch today I entered "13.1 tattoo" into a search engine. Silly me thought that the search results would be of people talking about their own tattoos. As it turns out, the first two results were far different. It seems there are some people in the running community who think that getting 13.1 tattoos, Iron Man tattoos, 26.2 tattoos, 13.1 stickers for their cars and such are people to be laughed at and scorned. Somehow, our accomplishments are less, that what I take pride in completing is their mid-week run. That my putting a sticker on my car or wanting a tattoo celebrating an accomplishment makes me lame.

At first I felt hurt and ashamed. Maybe they're right, maybe I am just a silly jogger. Maybe wanting a tattoo or sticker for my car is stupid. There are so many out there who are much better than me, what right do I have boasting about what I've accomplished. Yeah. At first I felt that. Then I got pissed. Who the hell are they belittling others who are pushing themselves. Who the hell are they to berate others for stepping outside of their comfort zone and striving to make themselves more. Who the hell are they for calling us hobby joggers and lame triathletes with blogs who just don't f***ing get it.

I'll tell you who am I. I'm a badass hobby jogger with a blog who stepped out of her comfort zone and got off the effing couch and just finished her second half marathon. That's who I am. And if you don't like it, you can shut the eff up.

Why I Do This

I asked my husband yesterday morning, as he dropped me off near City Hall in Dallas, "remind me again why I do this?" We both laughed. He, in amusement. Me, with a nervous lump in my stomach. You see, he's not exactly sure why I do this, and by "this" I mean run. But he's proud of me for doing it. A year ago, I wasn't even a runner. Yesterday I ran my second half marathon.

So why do I do this? I run because I am stronger and tougher than I thought I was. I run because it gives me goals I can accomplish. I run because it gives me freedom. I run because of how I feel when I'm done. I run because I have a new-found sense of determination. I run because it makes me feel strong. I run because I can.

I'm thrilled that this race was a PR. My chip time (I forgot to turn off my Garmin when I finished) was 2:46:43. I improved over my White Rock time by almost 12 minutes. I am beyond happy with how much I've improved. I hope to finish my next one around 2:30.

Thank you to the crew that put on the RnR Dallas Half Marathon. It was a great course, a fantastic cause, lots of awesome people running, fun costumes, and even an Elvis! And thank you to the people who came out on a chilly and dreary Sunday morning to cheer us on. Families, babies, dogs, cheer teams from area high schools. Thank you to the bands that played along the course. You guys, literally, rocked! Thank you to the woman sitting near Campisi's on Mockingbird, just before mile 7, with the sign "Embrace the suck." So true. I needed that!

Thank you to my trainer, EJ. My mileage has not been good this winter due to injury and weather, but the strength training was a major part of my finishing the race this strong. All in all, it was a good day. A lot cooler than I expected, but a good day. When we got home at noon, I fired up the oven. I earned my treat. I had three of these bad boys. They were soooo good!

My 13.1 flowers from my husband. :)

ABCs

There's a fun thing spreading through the bloggers called The ABCs of Me. So, I'm hopping on the bandwagon!

Age: 40s
Bed size: Queen. Not quite enough room for 2 people and lots of dogs
Chore you hate: cleaning the bathroom
Dogs: 3
Essential start of your day: puppy kisses!
Favorite color: cobalt blue
Gold or silver: yes, please
Height: 5'5"
Instruments I play (or have played): flute, piccolo, oboe (badly), recorder, piano
Job title: consultant
Kids: none of the human variety
Live: Texas
Mom's name: Mom ;)
Nickname: Kyra
Overnight hospital stays: none
Pet peeve: too many to list, but not picking up after your dog when they poop in my front yard is right up there these days
Quote from a movie: "Auutttooowwaaaashh" - Leeloo in The Fifth Element
Right or left handed: Right
Siblings: 1 sister, multiple dogs
Time you wake up: 6.30, if the dogs let me sleep in or I'm not doing long runs
Underwear: yes
Vegetable you dislike: eggplant (dislike is a mild term for my feelings about this vegetable)
What makes you run late: the dogs or my husband
X-rays you have had done: elbow, knee, dental
Yummy food you make: curry
Zoo animal: Bears. If I'm at Seaworld, the dolphins, rays, and beluga whales.