Duly Noted

Doling out presents acquired from weeks for perusing African markets, Christmas in Milwaukee was as gray as a shock to the system can be gray. My stomach still can't handle my mother's fiber filled menu, nor the buttery cookies that my dad, sister, and I secretly stock up on to counter brusselsprouts, root vegetable casserole, and fish. I love my mom's cooking, don't get me wrong, but my white bread and wine diet in south western Africa didn't prepare me for a quick reunion with mom's food pyramid. Enough about food, I feel sick thinking about it. I guess I should mention I'm lightly hung-over as I write this; well worth it, still... I knew, flying home from Jo-burg, adjusting would be tough and I certainly didn't want to sink back into the miserable routine of waking up at four in the morning to open up City Market Bakery and then the day sort of teetered away after that... I still haven't figured out how exactly I'm going to make it to San...

At negative numbers, my running buddy and I were worried about nostril frostbite and reynaud's fingers, so we decided to relocate our scheduled Saturday long run to the local YWCA. How does one crank out 12 miles at the gym? Here's a play by play: 8 am: Text message exchange ensues.  After much deliberation, we decide 12 miles of treadmill running is pretty hardcore and slipping on the ice is not worth it. 8:30 am: Meet in the lobby.  Remove copious outer layers. 8:35 am: Sign out our two favorite treadmills and get started. 8:40 am: Decide to switch up speed and/or incline every mile. 8:45 am: Catch up on the latest personal goings on.  Hopes for a warm vacation.  Getting stir crazy due to extreme temperatures.  Coziness of motherhood in the winter.  Diaper rash.  Colds.  Cross country skiing adventures. 8:50 am: Crank it up!  Speed + Incline 9:15 am: About 5 miles in.  Water break.  Bathrooms. 9:20 am: Back on treadmills.  Di...

Today's run was with BRB (Best Running Buddy), Rebecca.  We met up at Summit and River Road and ran 10 leisurely miles along the Mississippi River (turning around at the Stone Arch Bridge).  The temperature was a (balmy!) thirty degrees with little wind.  In fact, heading south, we noticed that the wind was helping us with an incline.  Surprised, we exclaimed, "Wait!  Was the wind actually in our faces before?!"  Despite some slushy spots (especially Lake Street Bridge!), it felt wonderful to stretch out the muscles and engage in our usual joyful long run conversation! As a side note, during the run, I pondered whether there was a specific running group out on river road today with the goal to say a warm hello to every runner, or if it was just the welcome shift in weather.  Truly, I don't believe I've ever got more happy greetings from joggers!

Waiting for the start.  All the photos in this post are credit of my running buddy, Rose. Pre-race smiles in the middle of the pack. Morning sunlight pouring down Summit Ave. Another late race report following another satisfying race!  To my good fortune, I was selected to run in the TC 10 mile, the little sister race to the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon.  Runners are chosen through a lottery system for the TC 10 mile so I always feel pretty lucky when my number gets pulled! This year, I started the race with a speedy running buddy of mine (and talented photographer as you can see from this photos!).  After a summer of hardcore hiking and training, Rose was ready to PR.  I didn't know what to expect although I hoped to beat my time from Women Run The Cities 10 mile race without overdoing it.  (I still had a half marathon trail race and the Monster Dash Half marathon ahead of me!) Some of the most memorable moments of this race were before we even arrived a...

Saturday I planned to run somewhere around 12 miles for Saturday's long run, but due to the steamy temps and my tired legs, I ended somewhere in the 11 mile range including a few walking intervals.  Saturday's saving grace was a running buddy who kept me entertained with explanations of cultural theory and a goal setting session for our thirties.  We wondered...how to be glamorous thirty year-olds on a budget? We passed a family placing a red wagon and cute blue chair out on the curb.  We confirmed that the goods were free and convinced the family to put the goods in their backyard so we could grab them post-run.  If only folks were leaving little black dresses and kate spade bags curbside... Sunday Sunday was an easy five mile run to stretch out my legs after Saturday's slog.  I like to go out with Misha on Sunday am's since we often aren't together anymore in the mornings.  Misha likes to be my coach, smile at me, and look around as w...

-Backyard happy hour with old friends (including two pairs of soon-to-be parents (one of which just moved to Minneapolis much to our pleasure!) and two pairs of parents with newborns!) -Long run with a favorite running buddy (Highlights included free lemonade from a rummage sale!  It was advertised on a sign and we could not resist.  I felt a little bad for indulging since it was very clear we were not about to leave with slow cooker!) -Afternoon work/hangout date with a fun English colleague!  I really love helping teachers build websites...I should seriously get paid for this (google?  district?  who wants to pay me???!) -Sunday morning easy run with Misha and another favorite running buddy. -A lovely backyard dinner (basically a deconstructed lasagna with ricotta and sautéed zucchini, garlic, and tomatoes) -A morning visit to the State Fair with my boys.  Misha's first fair!  We had a great time.  I am a big big fan of the morning fai...

A handmade hat by Hannah.  Also- note the pretty leather earrings and Misha's star trek tee!  Both treasured gifts. A knit hat I began ages ago...finally completed.  I improvised the finish as Rachel The Dog shredded my pattern.

Just a handful of shots from our cabin weekend on Spider Lake with a group of old friends (and four new ones!)

McCarthy 4th of July tradition lives on...DONUTS! Hipster baby.  Bringing brooklyn to MN. New picnic table arrived on the 4th!  Perfect for a potluck. Bruchetta Sleepy Misha We need new landscaping but we are rocking the American flags.

This past weekend was of the toodling variety.  What's toodling, you ask?  Toodling involves doing this and that, following one's whims. Friday was a fairly lazy day.  Mike and I declared Fridays as "M-Cubed Day," a day of adventures with little Misha. We were talking about going to the Landscape Arboretum (our wedding locale) this past Friday, but Misha fell asleep and, consequently, I fell asleep and then motivation drifted along with us to dreamland.  Lucky for us, the day ended on an effortless high note when our dear friends came over and made dinner Nicaraguan style, complete with our favorite tostones (fried plantains!). Saturday morning, I headed out for a longish run with another old friend along river road.  Often, I take Rachel the dog or Misha with me when I run, so running solo feels like a treat.  I love my little home team, but I feel so light with my hands free.  Post run, Misha and I checked out our local farmer's market.  Not...

This post marks the last weekly update of the Misha Man series.  From here on out, we are rolling at a month to month basis. Yet again, Misha's fourth week of life was an eventful one!  The family train continued as Mike's parents arrived on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.  They were ecstatic as they missed an earlier opportunity to drive northwards due to a bad cold.  Misha took to his grandparents instantly. Before the grandparents arrived, I had a couple days alone with Misha while Mike was working.  We went on several long walks to local coffee shops and parks.  I am absolutely in love with my BOB stroller- as is Misha.  It is heaven on wheels.  As Mother's Day weekend approached, a rumor spread that another Vasich might make his way up to the Twin Cities.  All were doubtful that Mike's youngest brother and his girlfriend would actually make the 12 hour drive from Bloomington, Indiana...all except Mike who knows t...

 It's certainly beginning to feel like springtime here.  Although the temperatures remain blustery, the brilliant sun is melting the snow and if one really looks closely, you can find a few green buds poking up beneath the dead leaves. Today is Misha's "expected" due date, but we are waiting and wondering patiently over here.  Both Mike and I are officially on "spring break" from school so it is actually pretty nice to spend time relaxing together and enjoying ourselves before Misha decides to kick it into high gear and make an appearance. That said, our friends are keeping us busy with dinner gatherings, brunch outings, walks, and holiday festivities.  I am grateful for this as a totally empty calendar always makes me a little antsy. Soon, we will join a handful of close friends on the parenthood train.  It's been helpful to observe them in action as we prepare for Misha.  We can begin to imagine ourselves as parents!  It's exciting to have ...

I'm really having too much fun with picmonkey .  Anywho, the snow is coming down after some initial sleet.  Gotta love the wintry mix.  Luckily, I just got back from a neighborhood stroll with Rachel the Dog so she is peacefully contemplating the snowfall from her perch on our very vintage living room coach.  The sofa is three generations at this point and I can't seem to find one that I like more. I mean, check this puppy out: Her 60's floral print actually matches our leather west elm chairs perfectly.  She can fit four plus adults (and multiple dogs). And, she is really comfortable!  I have napped here on many an occasion. Before I head out the door to work up a sweat at the Macalester gym, here's a run down of this weekend's highlights: Vinyasa + Restorative Yoga with my friend Julia.  It wasn't a pre-natal yoga class, but I've known the instructor for many years so she was sensitive to altering some poses for me.  I was surpri...

Reunions with longtime running buddies Homemade Pizza and Bezzerwizzer Getting my fill of  talk radio Run To Unite  A new book Meeting little Leo! Preparing for Summit For Courageous Conversations Double feature:  Argo  (100% recommendation) and  Looper  (I disagree with this review...it's forgettable) A pretty make-up line Dreaming about making my own shadow box of keepsakes