Thanks

To everyone for helping me test out the new comment system.  It looks like the only "feature" I need to work through is that you can't see the "Leave a comment" button unless you click through the main page to the actual post.  At Sarah's suggestion, I'm going to uninstall IntenseDebate (Why couldn't they have called it NiceConversation?) and re-install it a different way.

A special "Hi" to TurboNurse.  I saved your blog in my GoogleReader and look forward to catching up on your NICU nursing and Tae Kwon Do adventures!

This is the first day since I began my everyday posting resolution that I haven't had much to say.  I started writing a paper at work yesterday, which turned into a exercise in how many times I could go to the bathroom to procrastinate on writing a paper at work yesterday.  Actually, I think it's starting to come together in my head, and I have some ideas of some reading I can do to help me think about how the paper should be organized.  I have a "Get out of vessel measurement jail free" card this morning to give blood, so from 10:45- noon or so I will be pondering the mysteries of the cataract surgery-refraction-axial length relationship universe while squeezing the squeezy ball and feeling my ears sweat.

Workout:
Planning on 8mi on the treadmill.  Exciting stuff.  I didn't have to watch the State of the Union speech last night because I'm going to get 1:12 to 1:13 of it this morning.  The forecast is looking good for a warm (high 20's- woot!) run outside on Saturday morning.

Tomorrow I'm going to take a yoga flow class at a local studio.  They offered a Groupon last week for 5 classes for $20, plus your first class there is free so it's a pretty good deal.  I have to leave early to get there so look for another guest post courtesy of Daniel tomorrow.    

Veggie-tastic

After punting last week and pretending that I'd never eaten frozen spinach in a frittata before, this week I give myself an A for New Year's Resolution #1 - try one new veggie or preparation each week- because I actually tried 3.

#1 - Trader Joe's roasted turnips and carrots (served with sauteed chicken with sage browned butter from this month's Cooking Light).  TJ's has a great frozen vegetable section, but you never know what will be there from one week to the next.  These were nice and firm out of the oven and had a lightly sweet sauce.  Good stuff.

2. TJ's healthy 8 chopped veggie mix - I eat a salad almost every day for lunch, and I wanted a way to add extra veggies without having to buy (and chop and store) a zillion whole vegetables.  I'm not sure if this was a new item, but it was the first time I'd seen it, and it was exactly what I was looking for.  8 veggies, chopped and ready to be added to a salad by the handful.  The only thing this mix contained that I don't like was celery, and it was the last ingredient on the list and easy to pick out.

3. Chicken fried "rice" with leeks and cranberries - This was another CL recipe but instead of brown rice I used cauliflower.  I steamed the cauliflower the day before and stuck it in the fridge overnight.  When it was time to make dinner, I chopped it up into little pieces and cooked it just like the instructions called for "frying" the rice.  This actually worked really well.  Both of us decided the recipe needed some soy sauce and rice vinegar, but the cauliflower was a perfect veggie stand it for the rice.  With all the other flavors in the dish, it didn't taste cauliflower-ey or vegetable-y at all.

Workout:
I debated on running outside vs going back to the gym this morning and decided on the gym.  It just takes so darn long to get ready to run outside when it's cold, and I'm definitely planning on going tomorrow.  Only 6-7 more weeks of winter- le sigh.

Christmas vacation show and tell part 1

Manatees
When it gets cold enough in FL, Manatees that normally live in the Indian River move into Blue Springs, where the water stays a constant- warmer- temperature.

Manatee Hot Tub Time Machine?

Because the water is clear (and the area is probably smaller), Blue Springs is the perfect place to see them.

The best picture I got was Lindsay Lohan Manatee with her tracking device:

We did this once before when I was in the 8th grade, and back then you could actually walk down to the water and pet the manatees (Manatees as a rule have type B personalities.), but someone probably tried to ride on one and you can't get down to the water to touch them anymore.

One thing that hasn't changed is a huge tree that got hit by lightning.

Note the little kid posing in the background.

Same tree, 15 years ago:

Which answers the question, "Do I look the same as I did at 13?"  Yes.  I do.

Workout
I love UW when the undergrads aren't around!  The gym has been dead every morning.  I will be sad when the New Year's Resolution-ers get back in a few weeks.

Yesterday I ran 7mi on the treadmill doing treadmill track workout #2 from Training Plans for Multisport Athletes.  I started the intervals at 8.0 and worked up to 8.5.  I really like these workouts.  They make the time fly by, and are definitely tough enough to satisfy resolution #4.

Right before vacation I had a reader ask about running outside during the winter.  I definitely do it, but I've found that it doesn't work well for any kind of quality workout.  It's just too hard to get going when it's really cold and there's ice and snow on the ground.  As for what to wear- I'd say the closer you get to 0 (or below) and the longer you plan to be out- you should try to wear as much as possible.  Up to a down jacket, if you've got it, put it on.  Here's a post where I mention what I wear when it's really cold.  For me, the hand and toe warmers are the thing that make the biggest difference in my comfort.  Dr. TriRunner also has some excellent posts on winter running.  

But I'll be warm and toasty inside today because it's a strength training day with maybe a little elliptical depending on the time.

I'm on a lake!

I'm on a lake.  I'm on a big frozen lake.

I got the lake pictures (taken Monday) off my camera*

It's amazing how clear the ice was.  If you looked down through the cracks (which were frozen back together) you could see that it was about 6in-1ft thick.  See coworker Dan walking on water:

A picture looking back on campus from out on the ice:

Taking all the fear out of walking out on the lake- it was actually really shallow where we were walking.  If the ice did crack the worst that would happen is wet feet.  There's a piece of lake weed suspended in the ice:

Crazy ice fisherman:

 Picture of downtown.  If you squint, you can see the capital right in the middle:

For all the times I've toted my camera around and not taken any pictures, this was the first time I'd really wished I'd had it.  I'm sure I'll have some crazy extra charge for sending these pictures, but I think it was worth it.

Resolution update

I was on such a role with accomplishment yesterday I also checked off two resolution goals for the week.

The first was a little bit of a punt.  I have cooked spinach before- and probably with eggs for dinner- but I didn't have a chance to do any real meal planning before we went to the store on Sunday, so my new veggie for the week is cooked spinach in a coconut curry frittata:

This was a little bland, but you can't really taste test the raw egg so we covered it in ketchup, and it wasn't too bad.

I also sent a Christmas letter electronically to a friend who let me know I accidentally sent her card without a letter or even signing it.  Oops.  I think I remember thinking I might not have filled up her card before I sent it, but I was so tired of doing cards at that point that I didn't worry about it.  Anyway, she got to be my first "reach out and touch someone" of 2011.

Workout

I'm headed back to the gym this morning to do a treadmill track workout.  It's gotten cold again- boo- but fortunately no snow buildup.

Stay warm out there!

*Thanks, Dr. T. for the suggestion.  I was able to send a Pix Message to my e-mail account.  Hopefully I will not have to un-thank you when I see my phone bill ;).