Tuesday Night Review ... Time for A Running Coach?

Note: As I'm writing this, I'm eating Zataraine's jambalaya mix. Do I like it? Eh, not so much. The red beans and rice package is good though ...

Here's an update: for Tuesday (Wednesday) night, Brian and I went to a long-standing "English" pub, The Grafton, not to be confused with an Irish pub (no gaelic, less green, etc.). I give it 2 of 5 Zs.

Ouch! I know, I know. Why the low rating? The food really wasn't that good. My burger was blah, and the cole slaw proved that it is possible to have a dish that uses mayonaise and tastes just as bland as ... cold, chopped cabbage. Brian's cajun chicken sandwich seemed to comprise schnitzel-esque chicken (pounded meat). My mashed potatoes were good, but it's pretty hard to screw up mashed potatoes.

Here's where The Grafton wins: The atmosphere. The staff. Both are charming. If I were judging it by a pint and a good time, it'd be 4 of 5 Zs. But if you go there hungry, you might be taking your chances (after all, my experience was one night, right?).

Ideas for next Tuesday (Wednesday): The Fantastic Crepe (so new I couldn't find a Web site) or a Korean place.  Stay tuned.

***

So this running thing, yeah ... I've gotta get into a rhythm, and I'm scared. I'm scared of making my knees worse, and I'm scared of being in pain from the more frequent runs and then having my other workouts suffer. But I don't want to say "I can't," and I do want to continue to build strength and push myself.

That's why Brian is pushing for me to see Bill Leach, a well-known running coach (at least on the Northside) in Chicago who analyzes gait  along with training runners. I'm interested in finding out if how I run is the correct way. Believe it or not, you really can have a messed up stride or technique, and that can aggravate current problems or trigger new ones. Brian, for example, has completed several 1/2 Ironmans and a ton of Olympic distance triathlons to find, after nine months off a lot of pain once he resumed his workouts, that all these years he's been compensating for poor running technique and thus has more knee and leg pain than he should.

I'm also considering returning to PT, but I want to see "Coach Leach" first. I've actually watched him work with people while I took PT at Accelarated in Lincoln Park. He was focused and definitely coach-like. But that's what I need.

Yeah, I'm in pain. It's not a lot and definitelly something I can deal with, but I don't want it to escalate and genuinely want to understand how my body performs -- and what I can do to help it. Some people are natural athletes and can crank out ultramarathons (please excuse the Wikipedia reference there) without woes. I am not one of those people. But that doesn't mean I'll sit on the sidelines.

I GOT A 'GOOD JOB' IN MY AD CLASS

HEAR YE, HEAR YE: I GOT A 'GOOD JOB' IN MY AD CLASS!

Make no mistake: it was followed with an urge to "take it to the next level" and came with a reminder that "it wouldn't get into Archive [magazine]," but my instructors -- uber tough critics -- said, "Good job." Well, one of 'em said it, and the other one didn't have nearly as many bad things to say about it compared to my other ad campaigns or ideas.  This one, the complimentary instructor said, could run in Good Housekeeping magazine (hold your judgement on the type of magazine and work with me) -- a major publication!

I'd like to credit the subject matter -- food -- for my success. Specifically, junk food, comfort food. I can relate to food and no doubt that relationship helped me. They said food campaigns are the toughest, alongside fashion. Thankfully, I had my love of food on my side.

The ad had to be for Ruffles potato chips. I designed a campaign (three ads around the same concept) featuring a healthy person -- in workout gear or standing in an organic food aisle with a basket of fresh vegetables -- stuffing Ruffles potato chips in her/his face, crumbs everywhere, with the words, "Ruffles missed you, too." The third ad featured a long hallway-esque persepctive of a health club. No people, just a crumpled bag of Ruffles on the floor surrounded by crumbs.  Yeah, someone indulged, and it's OK.

Would this concept need a little oomph, particularly with the copy? Yes, among other tweaks. But I still declare last week's class a success, and I may or may not have had a twinkle in my eye when one of the students who "gets it" in class (and whose opinion I respect) said he liked it, too.

We will not talk about our group project -- why dwell on the "challenges?" (By the way, can I tell you how sick and tired I am of interviewing sources and having to ask what "challenges" they faced instead of using the word "problems?" I digress.)

Despite my success, I am leaning toward not continuing the class. I'll finish this trimester, but there are two others left at $1,360 each. I'm not learning takeaways that are applicable to any type of marketing materials I might have to prepare (this class is specifically geared toward people who want to be a creative in advertising and preparing a portfolio for that), and $1,360 is a lot to spend on fun. Even the "fun" part is debatable sometimes. If I were getting reimbursed, I would definitely continue. But after paying off my car and debt, and a reduction in rent, I'm supposed to be saving money. Hence, I'm waivering.

I have a few weeks to decide. In the meantime, I have a new campaign and a new partner to focus on. And a little hope to boot.

I HEART RUFFLES. And food, I heart you, too.

Tac Quick: 4 of 5 Zs

Here are two amazing sides from Tac Quick, a local Thai restaurant: fermented pork sausage and papaya salad. I've been there three times and love it. It truly is authentic Thai -- we always eat off the "traditional Thai menu," which you have to ask for -- which is great to try if you haven't. The preparations and ingredients are different than the typical American Thai restaurants, and it reminds me of the Thai food I had in Sydney, which is incredibly close to that of Thailand, I'm told, b/c of the number of Thai immigrants and proximitity to the motherland.

Dishes I'd recommend from Tac Quick: the Thai beef jerky; Tom Kha soup; pad thai with shrimp in an omelet; green curry with chicken, egglplant and egg; and the pork sausage. I'm sure I'd recommend more if I had samples the entire menu.

Bonus: clean atmosphere, incredibly friendly staff and cheap! Lots of bang for you buck.

It's Random Meal Week!

I just got back from the grocery store and have the makings for many individual side dishes but not a main meal:

• Sweet potatoes for mashed sweet potatoes
• Brussels sprouts for some type of dish (olive oil, a little butter and some brown sugar? no sugar and just salted?)
• Collards
• Chicken breast and green pepper to throw in with jambalaya mix from a box

I've recruited Brian to make the collards at some point, and I have to whip together the potatoes and collards on my own. Sometimes I start the week with set menus in mind. This time it's all over the place. Randomness is good sometimes.

I'm really excited for Fiber One's version of Pop Tarts in strawberry, two slices of carrot cake forwhenever and Fudgcicles, which are on sale at Jewel for those who might be interested. (Can you tell I have a sweet tooth this week?)

We'll see where this food leads!

The Concert High

Members of Airborne Toxic Event join The Henry Clay Band, the opener, on stage -- one of the many joint songs throughout the night

I'm currently on a concert high, which is what I use to describe the first 24 hours after seeing an amazing concert. They're the concerts where you find yourself sticking around after the show in hopes the excitement keeps going or you catch a glimpse of the singer. The ones you find yourself wanting to stare at the band. The ones you know you'll remember and immediately force you to shift around your list of the best concerts.

Brian and I went to Airborne Toxic Event at Metro. They're they band from L.A. that sings "Sometime Around Midnight," and we both love the CD and the band themselves. In interviews, they always seems super down-to-Earth, which is refreshing. Also shocking is we love their songwriting (how often can you say that?) and their musical talent, too. So we were pumped going into the show -- we even got there early to make sure we could see the stage clearly -- and situated ourselves center balconl.

The show kicked ass! They put so much energy into what the were doing, had just the right amount of talking with the audience, and on top of it, invited the openers to do "People Who Die" by the guy who wrote "The Basketball Diaries" (and unfortunately just died). All three groups (Matt Gomez, The Henry Clay Band and Airborne Toxic Event) were jumping up and down, jamming out, throwing water and beer on themselves and the audience and joking around with eachother -- and the audience was involved. We couldn't stop cheering and clapping! The right elements were at play.

That doesn't happen often, but when it does, it makes for a great concert experience. I got to thinking about other great concerts I've scene and how they shift around. Here are some highlights of my favorites, in no particular order:

• Airborne Toxic Event, Metro, Chicago, as I just described
• The Editors, July 2006, 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. Being the third person back from front row in a small venue is awesome, especially when the band throws themselves into the show as they did, you're listening to one of your favorite albums with a Yeungling in hand, and you're with one of your coolest friends. It all comes back to the energy of the band, and this one had it. I lost contact of how many times I made eye contact with the lead guitarist (knowing he was a flirt) -- totally added to the show!
  
• Radiohead, Grant Park, Chicago, 2002 or something? Perfect quality, perfect scene: a warm summer night with the Chicago skyline in the background (and good friends with you to boot!)
• Coldplay, Riverbend (?), Cincinnatti, 2005. I was with one of my favorite friends, Cynthia, front row at one of my favorite bands. Need I say more?
• Coldplay, The Rave, Milwaukee, 2001. Small venue (about 3,000 people) before the band turned huge. Everyone there knew their songs and sang along; Chris Martin made the most of it and was probably one of the most interactive, personal concerts I've ever been to. I can't remember if it was before or September 11, but I do remember him teaching the audience the lyrics (for those who didn't know it) to "Everything's Not Lost" for the closing song of the encore. Dare I say it was sprirtual? My friends Jen and Justin felt like it too. 
• Peter Yorn, August 2009, Park West. A more mature Pete Yorn decides to sing one of my favorite songs. He's one of my favorite artists. Just an overall good night.
• U2, United Center, May 2005. Laurie and I were about 50 feet away from the stage, knew all the lyrics and just had some moments. Classic moment: At the start of "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" blurting out, "Ah! The song of my life!" to spur Laurie to say, "But that's the song of MY life!" We still joke about it.
• Cari Clara, 2005, Cincinnati. So there's this guy in Cincinnati who used to record individual parts of songs and put them together himself, then have his friends learn the parts so he can do acoustic sets in Allyn's Cafe. He goes by Cari Clara and also wears red pants a lot (or used to) and exudes "rock star." I love the CD, so hearing it live was definitely a moment. Having him dedicate a song to the Chicagoan in the audience may or may night have been a highlight. :)
  

There are so many more concert memories that should be on the list -- The Twilight Singers with Cynthia, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah with Brian, my first concert ever (REM). I'm sure as the years go on they'll creep their way back up depending on what I'm remembering the most. Here's to the artists that make the memories for us!

Food of Late! (Restaurant Edition)

Sushi at Green Tea, Lincoln Park. Some of the freshest, best-prepared and reasonably priced sushi in town (4.5 out of 5 Zs)

I never knew about Vaccaro's Italian Pastries while I went to the University of Maryland, but apparently they're famous. After a visit, I could see why. Mounds of custard, eclairs, cakes and more beam from the refrigerated cases. Thanks to my friend Mindy, I experienced the rum cake (above) -- layers of yellow cake soaked in rum with vanilla and chocolate custart -- and cream puff.

Black bean frittata (I hate that word) at Great Sage in Maryland. Great Sage is the first stylish, clean vegetarian and vegan place I've been to whose atmosphere was more in line with mainstream people who aren't hippies, although clearly the people there and zen vibe came through. No fruit flies buzzing around. Very clean.

Oh, heavenly Chik-Fil-A chicken 'n' biscuit, how I wish thee were in Chicago (locations nationwide. Except within 35 miles of Chicago, of course).

Amish Chicken with herbs (can't remember details. sorry) at Feast in Wicker Park. I think Feast is a tasty, reliable restaurant. I'm never wowed there, but it's thoughtful, the menu has variety, and people always like it. Great for parents or people with varied tastes.

My New Favorite Stroke

Hear ye, hear ye: I have a new favorite stroke. For the past four swims I've incorporated about 10 min. of backstroke, and it's fun and also very efficient. I'm good at it, too (unlike writing ads, but that's a different blog).

The best part is my heart rate stays up. I was hesitate to do backstroke because the people I generally see doing it are lazying around. They're usually overweight and not committed to their workout at the time I'm watching them. That's fine, but the image doesn't make me want to jump into it. I've also been afraid -- for the past two years -- to not do freestyle, which is what 99 percent or so of triathletes do in the water. Why wouldn't I try to perfect it?

I've had it all wrong. I did learn proper backstroke technique in college but only jumped back into it when I read a sentence in a swim column in Triathlete magazine: Doing the backstroke makes you stand taller, and you develop leaner muscles. Here's to the power of the written word, because that image of a tall, thin swimmer stuck with me. (Note how much images influence me? Or is it ignorance?) The article dove into detail (no pun intended) about  all the benefits. I was convinced. And I appreciate the variety to my workout, too.

That's actually what the off-season is about: variety. Trying new things without the pressure of going hard each time. Going slow so you can focus on technique. What will next week bring?

Ad Class Recovery

My self-imposed 24-hour ad class recovery officially ended last night, so I was back at it today brainstorming for my next assignments. Twenty-four hours is what I allow myself to feel like a loser (it's about 22 hours if you count the last two hours of class).

It's been about five weeks since class started -- this week was a version of "mid-terms" -- and I can tell you the following: I am not destined for advertising. I'm a firm believer in the "either you got it or you don't" philosophy, and I don't got it.

I don't say that b/c my ads are getting ripped to shreds, which they are; the kids who "get it" get their fair share of criticism, too, but you can tell they know how to improve and what to improve on. I hear the advice, and I've read a great book that really taught me a lot, too, and it just ain't clickin'. That's what kills me. Of course, my instructors critique based on standards of major ad agencies, while at this point I'd like to be critiqued on an average agency level. Perhaps shitty agency level. Either would help me at this point.


Although I didn't sign up for the class with the intent to go into advertising, I admit I'm crushed. I have never, ever struggled so much with anything visual or involving words before. That's my schtick! And I'm failing at it.  It's so bad, that when we were randomly paired up, it dawned on me that it's extremely likely I might be the one who no one wants to be with, not because they don't like me, but because it's not a smart business move. (You know what I'm talking about; pairing up with the smart kids!) I have never been that person that's avoided. I graduated Phi Beta Kappa, damn it! I'm smart! 

Another confession: Deep down inside, I was hoping I'd turn out to be a hidden talent and therefore have a new, bright, shiney career aspiration in front of me. Um, next?.

Next week will be hilarious. My partner is this really cool Japanese woman who you can tell is smart and very creative. Her weakness is making the cultural translations, and the language gets in the way sometimes, too. My weakness is I'm just not getting it! (Truth: I was hoping to have a mid-term review that looked at my work, spotted a trend and told me how to review, but that's not quite what happened). The good news is we're both positive people, already brainstorming ideas, and her presentations kick ass. Woot!

In my defense, this is almost like signing up for a senior-year advertising portfolio class, although our lasts three quarters and you're expected to start from scratch. And I definitely wonder what it would be like if this were an actual, in-depth advertising class rather than a critque session that meats for three hours each week. (Can't get a lot more done than that).

Wish me luck. Our group project is for Zipcar and our individual assignment is for Ruffles potato chips. The assignment sheet instructs us to eat a bag of Ruffles and then do a campagin of three ads.

At least there's comfort food involved.

My Gym, My Community: Time for a Change?

I spent my flight home from Baltimore (great trip, btw!) catching up on all the articles I clipped from Brian's Triathlete magazine reference library we recently pitched (correction: I made him pitch). As you can see in the photo on the left, we had a few set aside as permanent reading material in the master bathroom. They dated back to 2005, which makes me laugh but really did allow me to go have my choice of articles to save to read now that I'm a more serious triathlete.

Note the words "more serious," as in "more serious than I was before." Newbies and sprint distance triathletes can definitely take away a lot of good information from the magazine on everything from sample workouts to exercise physiology. But make no mistake that the core audience is die-hard triathletes, many who do 70.3s and Ironmans.

A normal sentence in Triathlete might read, "After your morning workout, make sure to eat plenty of protein to help your body recover. That way, by the time you get to your evening set, you'll still have energy left to burn." Another favorite sentiment: "After an intense hour and a half of working out, it's good to stretch before jumping into your final run."

Hah! 1) I only have one formal workout a day, thank you very much, and 2) Who has enough time to spend hours at the gym? I'm there for 1 hr. 15 min. during the week (all my sched and gym's opening time allows) and about 2 hours when I can be on the weekends. I could go longer on the weekends but usually am happy with that amount and have stuff to do!

So I glean what I can from the magazine, and it is a good one. I got through about 10 articles on my flight home, and I walked off the plane pumped to take my training to the next level. I really hate keeping tabs on sets, so "stepping it up" for me, Sara, who has a life and doesn't want triathlon to eat up all my free time, would be to increase the time I spend at the gym. And that would mean switching gyms.

Horrors! I heart my gym. I know the people there, and they know me. By name. Sometimes we smile and nod. Sometimes we chat about an exercise class, or an injury, or a race. Regardless, they're all nice people, and it's my third community (work and friends/family being the other two). I've built up a relationship over the three years with it and the thought of letting it go troubles me. And not just b/c of the people, but the facilities. The building's old -- the locker rooms are spotless but have permanent dirt marks that don't impress -- but exercise equipment is new. The spin bikes are nicer than most gyms'. The core workout equipment is awesome. And the vibe is down-to-earth; we do not have a problem with cell phones or people who wear makeup to workout. 

If you belong to my gym, you're nice, you appreciate diversity and you're there to workout. The sense of community is a major bonus.

But the truth is, it's holding me back on my training, and every time I get a surge of energy from a Triathlete article, I struggle to fit the tips into my routine: Because of the limited lap swim time in the pool, I can't swim whenever I want. Because it only opens at 5:30 a.m., I can't tack on an extra 20 min. to add something new -- I do have to make it to work on time, after all. My evening availability is limited and doesn't allow me to commit to a workout routine, so I pretty much have to keep it to mornings.

The other gym I'm considering -- Brian's gym -- is more expensive. The people tend to be a snottier. It's all well-off white people and a ton of kids. And while there def. are some nice people there, the overall vibe isn't one I like. It would however accommodate my schedule, including swim and cycle flexibilities. That's huge when you're trying to excel at three sports while incorporating others.

Is it time to give up my gym? Brian's told me to give him the word to tack me on to his plan. It's up to me to make the call.

Off to Maryland!

I'm off to Maryland today! And as of 3:15 p.m., all's a go. That's different than what I saw at 8 this morning when I went to check in for my flight. The Web site said the flight was canceled. The agent on the phone said it's not -- and I did get to check in. Crossing fingers.

I can't wait to introduce Brian to some of my closest friends in college and have him see my amazing alma mater. (Many of my college friends are guy friends; in their words, they can't wait to see him -- and "make sure he's worthy." Brian has nothing to worry about! But that said, I like the big brotherly feeling from my friends' looking out for me.)

I can't wait to walk campus and see what it looks like now that it's double in size. (This will likely cause shock.)

I can't wait for Maryland crab cakes.(And Old Bay!)

I can't wait to just get there!

I've been trying to organize how to see the most people in my short three day trip while not planning every group get together to be one of 15 people. Slight exaggeration, but not by that much; it's been years since I've seen many of the people I lived and breathed college with, and we're all pumped to see each other.

I won't get to see everyone, but I've built in some quality visits, as well as some downtime. Forecasts calls for rain all day, so let's hope it delays. A rainy homecoming is NOT fun.

Marathon Spirit

The Chicago Marathon's a beautiful thing, especially when it's not 85 degrees a la 2007. I watched my first one in 2006 near the finish line and was blown away at how uplifting it was. This year, Brian and I trekked nearby to try to get a glimpse of our neighbor Marty en route to complete his first. We never saw him, but when you're watching thousands of runners fly by -- they were still flying at mile 7.5 -- spanning a wide street (Addison), it's difficult. We didn't plan as we should have either; telling him where we'd be and finding out what he'd wear would've helped.

That said, I got psyched. I'm gonna sign up for an Olympic distance triathlon for end of season -- likely the Chicago Triathlon instead of an earlier race to give me plenty of time to get my milelage up. Congrats to the marathoners out there. I have no desire to run that far, but that doesn't mean I have the ultimate respect for the accomplishment.

Food We Eat at Home: To Drain or Not to Drain the Sausage Fat?

Here's last night's dinner: hash. We had leftover boiled potatoes from the heavenly mashed potatoes Brian made the other night and decided to throw it together with some green pepper, onions, tomatoes, cumin and salt and pepper. Oh, and chicken andouille sausage (how can I forget the sausage? I love sausage.). We had leftover roasted corn and forgot to include it, but it was mighty tasty as is.

The idea for the meal was mine, but Brian ended up doing most of the chopping and sauteeing. Cumin was his idea. Here's where the disagreement came in: to drain or not to drain the sausage fat? He heated the sausage up first and was geared up to dump the rest of the ingredients in the pan. I make a panicky gross face. The sight of all that grease -- even if they are relatively lean links at 4 grams! -- was nasty. Why add weight to your food?

I knew why. Because it would be amazing. I acquiesced, but he drained it anyway. And you know what? It was awesome.

I knew the fattier version would taste great, too, but sometimes you're in the mood for a lot of grease, and other times you're not. When we cook at home, I'm usually not.

Some couples argue about things like the toilet seat or cleaning. Us? We'll debate sausage fat. I love it.

The Song Title "Help, I'm Alive" Kinda Makes Sense!

I'm exhausted. I worked until 6 today but immediately switched over to homework for class. It's 7, and I'm not done with that but need to get home to eat and have a change of scenery. Last night I couldn't do as much homework as I needed because I was judging digital awards for the American Society of Business Publication Editors and totally underestimated how much time it would take; I spent 8 hours yesterday alone, and that was my working efficiently. The day before I was at my parents' place from 8 to 6:30 helping them with a garage sale of our family friend Lorraine's belongings (she passed away late July).

I have so much to do (homework, work for work, working out) and so much I want to do (hang out with Brian, watch Gossip Girl for the past two weeks, , blog, upload photos) and so much I need to do (write overdue thank yous for my birthday presents, get my car title changed to my name, shop for presents for my mom's b-day and friend's baby shower, write friends I've been meaning to for ages) that I don't even know where to start. Good thing I have most of the logistics of my trip to Maryland this weekend sorted out! (I'm not even close to worrying about packing.)

Some people would immediately give up training or working out, but I can't do it. I need exercise to keep me sane. But I also need to get shit done to stay sane, and I really want to see Brian more than I do.

I'm amazed at how much one class -- that really isn't that time-consuming, btw! -- can affect my schedule. Or is it just tempting fate so that everything happens all at once?

Food We Eat at Home

We made these dinners at home recently:

Almost-homemade pizzas: Ricotta, garlic, onion and spinach with olive oil on the left, and veggies (green pepper, tomato, zucchini and onion) with crumbled turkey sausage and mozzarella on the right

I was psyched about making the pizzas -- I'd been craving the ricotta one since I had it at Piece in Wicker Park a year ago -- but when I made it, it just didn't cut it. I'd never worked with ricotta before, and that might have been part of it; I used way too much, and I didn't invest in the good stuff. I really liked the deluxe pizza though, and the Italian-style turkey sausage was great! But for the time investment and the mediocre taste (my doing, but still ...), I can assure you I will not be making pizzas again soon.

 

Baked Amish chicken w/ paprika, thyme and salt n pepper; spinach with garlic and olive oil; and his own recipe mashed potatoes. Not pictured: corn chipotle chowder.

Brian made the above comfort dinner after I had a long, hard day. The Amish chicken was tasty, but nothing topped it off like his own-recipe mashed potatoes. He uses New potatoes and doesn't mash them entirely; he also leaves some skin on. Then he adds butter, a touch of cream and lots of garlic. Amazing.

Swimming As It Should Be

Good news! I had to tear myself away from the pool this morning. This is huge, because although I enjoy swimming, I ended the season tired of it. Tired of the sore muscles, tired of trying to go faster, tired of my inefficienty stroke.

I mentioned how when I jumped back into my routine I first swam super slow so I could concentrate on my stroke. Today I got in the pool (perfect temperature for me!) and began slow, making sure I could feel efficient in the water. Then, when I got the rhythm going, I picked up a little speed. The result: a perfectly elevated heart rate (about 80 percent), more calories than I'm used to burning (453 in 40 min.) and swimming as fast or faster than the "fast swimmers" in the pool (I'm sure I'll detail character sketches at some point). It was awesome.

I know I'm swimming efficiently when I can actually feel the glide of the water, as opposed to just feeling the slap of the water and burn in my chest. When my stroke is solid, I can tell the water's slipping past quite strongly; I'm rotating my hip in line with my stroke (but not overreaching) and finishing the stroke underwater, as opposed to pulling my arm out too quick. I can feel myself being propelled by a kick that's in sync with my hip and arm; usually, even though it's fun, I tire more easily without elevating my heart rate and am uncomfortable.

That's it: I was comfortable in the water today, even while I got a solid cardio workout in. I'm a strong swimmer when I race, performing slightly above average to better than most, depending on the race. But I'm not always enjoying it, and I'm sure as hell not always efficient. I hope I can keep this up!

Btw, I also mixed in some backstroke and found that to be a lot more efficient -- while providing a good cardio workout -- too. I've been keen on working the backstroke in after reading an article in Triathlete magazine about how swimmers who incorporate backstroke balance out their muscle development and stand taller.Sounds like a plan to me.

***

I just got off the phone with Cynthia, my good friend. She's in the UP of Michigan right now, but she's mentally in Chicago, here hometown. We were on the phone for almost 3 hours! Hey, it's what you gotta do when you can't meet in person.

Work was kinda crappy today, but the day started on a good note and ended on a good note. What more could I want?

Post-Ad Class Recovery

It's been 24 hours hours since my ad class ended, and I've almost recovered. I feel bad about myself each time I leave that class for two big reasons:

1)  Our class is always held downtown, where I long to work. It's energetic, it's cool, it's convenient. It's everything my workplace lacks -- and I'm not just talking about the fountains, the marble, the escalators, the elevators. Comparatively, the bathrooms in our section of the building have toilets that barely flush and faucets that you can't count on. I leave class feeling mediocre, boring. Suburban. (Sorry to my suburbanite friends, but you can't make an argument that suburban offices have energy surrounding them like downtown offices.)

2) My ads get shredded. I'm definitely not the only one, and I hear that any creative class (design, drawing, etc.) is brutal, but it doesn't matter. I'm used to succeeding! Or failing and at least "getting it." Consequently, my ego is roasted during and after class. Each time.

So, it's become a trend to feel shitty afterward. I wish it were as "easy" as icing my knee or taking some Advil, but until I get a thumbs up, I'll continue to feel this way. Or rather at least until the next day. Like I said, it's 24 hours, and I'm finally getting excited about creating something again (even if it will likely be ripped apart).

I still love this class. I get to day dream about different ad ideas while I head to work and look for cool art to illustrate it. Or draw it myself! It kinda bums me out I'm not a natural creating ads, b/c working as a creative is pretty romantic (just forget about the late nights at the office for a minute and work with me). It would also be wonderful to have a new Next Step in my career happen to click without my expecting it.

But, I didn't sign up with the goal to work in an ad agency, and I'm taking this class for fun. Thank God. It makes the rejection of my ad ideas much easier to brush off.

On to the next campaign! Bring it on.

90% Decided on the Olympic Distance Tri

It's been a week since I resumed my workout routine, and I'm already sore. I'm also almost done convincing myself to commit to an Olympic-distance triathlon, which is double the distance I usually race.  Considering my bad knees, it would be a huge accomplishment for me.

Here's my reasoning: I've already done an aquabike (Olympic distance swim and bike) and just need to nail down the 6-mile run. That's it! I can do a 5k (3.1 miles) now, but here's the catch: I have great days and really sucky days. Some days I'm flying and feel great afterward; other days, I have to stop 10 min. into it b/c of the pain. And if I do get solid run in, the recovery is iffy, too: sometimes I'm totally fine and can do a heavy lower-body workout again after a day of rest without problems. Other times, I might be able to continue to work out but will have significant knee pain for several days -- or a week -- after.

That's where I'm at after this past weekend. Because of my Olympic distance dreams, I jumped back into working out by incorporating a run into my week, so I can see how it feels to regularly jog (the past two seasons I basically winged it on race days). I've figured out that I'm much more successful and pain-free if I run when my legs are well-warmed up, either after biking or swimming or at the end of the day, so that's what I did on Sunday. (Icing, taking Aleve and massaging/stretching my muscles well is a given.) But lo and behold, pain. I squeaked out 3.2 miles in 32 min., which I'm really appreciative of being able to do, but I was in pain and basically kept going until the adrenaline covered up the pain. That's how I got to where I'm at now, so it's not a practice I want to keep up. (For the concerned friends out there, just know that if the pain doesn't go away, I do stop. It ain't worth ruining my knees entirely).

So that's where I'm at: the test-phase. Perhaps I should see a running or tri coach...

***

By the way, being back at the gym is great. I really like seeing the people I've come to look forward to in the mornings, and it feels good to slowly build up to where I was at the end of August. That said, I'm not breaking any records. I swam much more slowly today, barely getting up to 70 percent of my heart rate, and really tried to focus on my stroke. I did a few laps of the breast stroke and backstroke -- I stick to freestyle normally -- to shake things up and didn't worry about my calories (300 burned during the same time I'd normally do 400). I'll kick it into higher gear in November or maybe the coming weeks, but for now, this is good.

No More Inflatable Mattresses for My Drunk-Ass Friends

I had the girls' night this weekend and am proud to say that I can still host a party so good someone will puke. Of course, it happens earlier than it used to (before midnight as opposed to 4 a.m.) and is generally prompted by a lot less alcohol (read: low tolerance levels!), but it still indicates a good night.

My poor friend who was sick reminisced as she attempted to shake the nausea about all the nights we had spent drinking, dealing with crazy guys at the bars and just being crazy 25-year-olds. A sign that we're old (besides the throwing up part): in addition to setting her up on a couch -- a significant upgrade to the inflatable mattresses we used to crash on! -- I sent a text to her husband to let him know she'd be staying over. Back in the day, we didn't have anyone to answer to except maybe concerned friends. I debated at contacting him -- I didn't want him to think I needed him to pick her up or that she wasn't welcome -- but realized that she was part of a pair, and I would want the same done for me.

Yup, times have changed. And it's all for the better.

***
About the food! It was a success. I had so many dips and appetizers we decided to skip the pizza and saved room for dessert: a giant chocolate chip cookie cake and amazing Paula Dean red velvet cupcakes from a friend.

The portion of the meal I made myself shrunk dramatically than what I planned, but it was for the best: I got to enjoy myself! The point of the night was to hang out with some of my favorite chicas, not run around the kitchen. And it's not like they didn't have plenty of food ... it just wasn't homemade.

I call it a win-win.

New Restaurant: Fianco (3 of 5 Zs)

Brian and I headed to Fianco last night for a nice dinner before he headed to Vegas with his friends. Fianco's gotten solid reviews in TimeOut Chicago, Chicago Magazine and Metromix, and the menu -- would it be called rustic Italian? -- seemed appealing and not too expensive.

Also of note: Fianco's in the space of the former Winston's Market, whose owner didn't really know how to pull the place together. Brian and I liked the concept of Winston's -- a place to pick up a fresh sandwich or salad, or takeaway something pre-prepared for dinner -- but were always finding it missed the mark, including in atmosphere,which should have been a home run given the exposed brick walls and high ceilings. It seemed empty, awkward, half-way upscale (the exposed brick, nice wood, art) and half-way done on-the-cheap (wobbly formica tables, awkwardly placed; a semi-coffee shop feel with one type of coffee that came out of a pump: regular). I don't need perfection, but every time we went, I was uncomfortable. And that's no fun.

We were uber curious to see what Fianco would be like. And it was good -- 3 of 5 Zs -- including the atmosphere, which is warm, comfortable, perfect for a first-date (they know this, given the number of two-seaters) yet still easy for a small group. So you can imagine our surprise to learn it's the same owner! I mean, I literally sat there during dinner and, looking around the room at the full house, said, "I feel bad for the past owner. He'd probably drive by and see it so successful and feel bad."

It's true, on a cold, rainy night, there were more people in the restaurant than we saw in all our combined visits to Winstons -- people are receptive. The critics were right that it's worth a try. I had "Gigli," horn-shaped pasta with mushrooms, a little ricotta, tomatoes and lamb sausage. Overall, the dish was tasty but standard. Brian's was really tasty: bison ravioli with a corn-butter-parmesan sauce. The sauce was definitely buttery but lovely: there were corn kernals, which I thought was unique. Our apps were good: he had simple but flavorful green beans, and I had the octopus (cooked well but almost too heavy of a grilled, salty taste).

If you go, above all, GET THE GELATO AND SORBET. There's a large assortment, and in one dessert you can choose three. We had pistachio, hazelnut and apple cider sorbet. Each were wonderful! Not overpowering, light, and sprikled with crumbled biscotti and mint -- a perfect ending.

There was a mixup when we sat down of some sort; after 15 min. of no sign of a waiter we had to ask for one, and it was another few minutes before our server came -- who we later found out had just arrived when she wasn't able to answer our question about the daily farmer's salad. (She later noted they added 7 tables that day; maybe bad staff planning?). Although it was a little annoying, she was nice, and everything else went on without a hitch. Not sure if it was for the wait or being locals, but we did get a 15% off card for Tuesday or Wednesday nights. Perfect for our date night; we'll be back.

Note: As of this posting, the Web site says it doesn't except reservations for parties under six people, but it's incorrect and needs to be updated. We ended up being seated without a reservation, luckily, and I'm happy they do accept reservations. Restaurants that don't are my pet peeve, but that's another topic for another day. :)

Girls' Night Menu, Revised

I had to revise  my girls' night menu.

When I planned it two weeks ago, I didn't count on it's being cold and sprinkly -- bad for grilling and not fun, which is the point of the whole evening. I have very few dishes at this point in my repetoire that I'd feel comfortable cooking for a small group, so I decided I'll order my favorite pizza -- grilled chicken with fresh vegetables -- and a plain pizza from Zig Zags. People always like it, and it's still unique and fresh, which what I want.

Pulling back on grilling bummed me out because I wanted the main to be my own cooking. But I went ahead -- after all, I'd be able to do the tomato mozarella salad and homemade guacamole, right? When I got to the store, avocados were $2 each AND overripe -- like in the brown way. So I bought that too.

I'm down to having the tomato salad be my own creation! That's so lame! Thankfully, I'm the only one of my friends who would care. They're the type of people who just enjoy getting together and do not expect a huge home-cooked meal. It just woulda been nice.

Next time!

Take That! My Own New Box of Crayons

I had my second advertising class this week, the first one that included critiques of our work and opinions. I had some winning comments and ideas and some losers, but the best part of all came from preparing for class. I got colored pencils. And crayons. Brand new.


Who doesn't love a box of freshly bought, never-used crayons? I distinctly remember owning oodles of crayons in every color -- burnt sienna, sea foam green ... you know the names -- that still had a lot of life left in them, yet I begged my mom for new ones, just so I could break them in. I was a goody goody and didn't steal when I was a kid, except for one thing: a brand, new bourdeaux-color crayon from our family friend's supply. Being the good child I was, I confessed even though I could have gotten away with it. Giving up the crayon was hard and embarrassing.

I can't remember the last box I bought, likely for 7th grade art. But at age 29, I've got a brand new set, no permission needed. And if I so choose, I can buy another box. It's not like the gently used ones would go to waste; I'd donate them to a program for the disadvantaged.

But it's been more than just owning a new box though, which is sweet but has its limits in excitement. Breaking open that box along the perforation made me excited to create things again. Draw. Color outside the lines. And not just the typical flower, balloon or barn I seemed to fall back on when I couldn't create anything masterful. This class is pushing me to draw out big ideas for new -- adult -- challenges.

So, might I suggest you buy a box of crayons, too? If you don't do it for the rush of breaking out the ol' cornflower or raw umber alone, I promise you'll have fun doodling.

(Note: If you look at the list of crayons I linked to, you'll see some of the color names I listed here were from editions beyond my birth year. But I swear I had those crayons in my box of Crayola! Perhaps they weren't discontinued. Or maybe I never had "new" crayons. Hmmmm.)

Give Indian Food A Chance (Specifically Chicago Curry House)

I came to work today excited to share my story about another successful Tuesday Night  at Chicago Curry House. But I didn't really get anywhere because I was immediately greeted with  the typical "I don't like spicey food" reply I hear when Indian food comes up.

Bor-ing. And frustrating, because half the time when I hear a comment like that, it's usually because people are equating using spice with being spicey, as in super hot on your tongue. Changes are, they ate a Hot Tamale, realized they didn't like their tongue to feel as if it were on fire, then swore off "spicey" food. Or maybe they did try a curry, but instead of its being a yellow curry or a dish simply made with curry spice, it was green curry, which I'm convinced could raise the dead.

The truth is I don't like foods that are so spicy they burn my tongue either. But I do like spice, and Chicago Curry House has got it. I wish I could convince these "spice haters" to try it! Pictured above is the delectable and oh-so-scrumptious Curry House Special Vegetable Dinner, with (and I'm going to cut-and-paste here)  Dal Makhunu, Palak Paneer, Aloo Ghobi, Navaratan Korma Served with Basmati Rice, Naan and kheer. That translates to spinach and cheese; lentils; chick peas; cauliflowr; raita (sp?); a vegetable jaipur thingy; and cold slices of tomato, lemon and cucumber. At right is the yummy chicken korma.

I can't talk about Indian food worth shit; I'm not an expert by any means and can barely pronounce the name, yet list the ingredients. But Brian is! And so is my friend Paula. And surely all the Indians we see eating there are experts as well. I can't speak for the strangers, but reviews so far are stellar from people who have taken my recommendation.

It's a winning place -- I give it 4 of 5 Zs -- because the food's great, the service is top (the manager personally has come around each time we've been there, on top the wait staff being on their game) and the atmosphere is still nice -- you won't find questionable floors or tables that don't look clean.

I hope people make a visit. They opened this year (bad economy!) and the location is a little off beat (South Loop, 1/2 block west of State street), which all spells trouble. But if the reviews and steady crowd in the dining room is any indication, they should be fine. Crossing fingers! I don't want to only have Devon as a solid Indian option.

***
I just realized I never explained Tuesday Nights. When Brian and I first started dating, we discovered Tuesday Night to be a perfect mid-week date night for both of us. When we'd make plans, we always wanted to a try a new restaurant, and that's our goal. Sure, there have been many repeats, but above all, it's our night out, so much so that we've scheduled anniversary or birthday dinners specifically on Tuesday nights. Another bonus: restaurants are better mid-week -- but that's merely icing on the cake.

Of note: Through June -- or at least until I'm in class -- Tuesday Nights are actually Wednesday nights because my class meets Tuesdays. Regardless, it's Tuesday Night to us, and that's how I'll refer to it here.