baguettes…and logan echolls

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There’s this bakery off of State Street as your heading up the hill (500 West) from Provo into Orem. I have no idea what it’s called, but I went there today (all I know is that the sign read “boulangerie” and “patisserie” and anyone who has spent anytime in France knows and loves these two words). My stomach hadn’t been very happy and plain bread tends to be a good, safe bet.

Well, let me tell you. Never did I think I would find such a tasty baguette in Utah, but it was divine. One bite and I was back in Lyon, stepping into the boulangerie just outside of the Saxe-Gambetta metro stop. I tell you what, those 35 lbs that I gained on the mission (and can’t seem to keep off of me) were all worth it.

Somehow (probably because I wasn’t feeling well) I managed to resist the napoleons, palmiers, and pain au chocolat, but I don’t think I will be so lucky next time. This is one indulgence that will have to be reserved for special occasions, like after I run on Saturdays.

Oh, and digressing, I am in love with Logan Echolls (a fictitious character played by Jason Dohring on VM). He’s the total dreamy, bad boy…why do I like those types?

Joshua Radin…

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Okay, the truth is I love all of his songs that I have downloaded off of iTunes. He’s dreamy!

And I hate Leilei Sobieski…or however you spell her name. I was clicking through channels and there’s some cheesehead movie on ABC Family with her in it. She’s the female lead opposite Chris Klein (I think that’s his name). She is so not a good actress and she’s not very cute and she has kind of a wierd body…And while he can’t act either, at least he’s fun to look at, although I would have picked Josh Hartnett, but I’m not Leilei.

And, in case you were wondering about the authority with which I stated that: Yes, I am a supermodel who can dance, act, sing, run marathons and bake cheesecake.

2007 edition of "Getting to Know Your Friends"

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1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30…I slept in.

2. What are you listening to right now? Joshua Radin…my new favorite (“The Fear You Won’t Fall” and “What if You” in particular). I’m going to see him in concert on Thursday at the Urban Lounge in SLC with Sarah. My life is pretty fun!

3. What’s the next trip you have planned? I’m heading to Cali for President’s Day weekend to visit my sister, Erika, run through the California hills, walk on the beach (if I’m lucky) and visit Berkeley and Stanford…not that I have a hope of getting in to either one or that I necessarily want to go to either of them, but I do want to visit.

4. Who’s the friend you’ve had the longest? Besides my sisters, Ashley. Although, I didn’t really become friends with my sisters until a bit later, so Ashley wins hands down.

5. When was the last time you cried? Sunday, while reading my sister’s answer to this question…and then again while watching “Because I Said So” which I don’t recommend, but I’m a sap, so any mother daughter seen gets me. And I almost cried when I ate it running on Saturday, which is pretty big, because I rarely cry from physical pain.

6. What are you most thankful for right now? That life’s events brought me back to P-town. It’s where I’m supposed to be right now.

7. Chocolate or Vanilla? If you know me, you know the answer to this question…chocolate!!!

8. What color are your eyes? Green with cerulean rims…isn’t cerulean a fabulous word?

9. What color is your hair? Bottle blond…naturally, dark blond/light brown now.

10. How tall are you? 5’8″ to 5’9″…I’m not positive.

11. What’s your favorite fruit? Today, I think it’s a peach…but I also love strawberries, nectarines, blueberries, raspberries and pineapple.

12. What did you do this weekend? Ran 11 miles (that’s right-11), homework, dinner and a movie, Superbowl party, C.E.S. Fireside. That about covers it.

13. What’s your favorite place that you’ve ever been? My backyard growing up…there’s something so magical about those memories…oh, and Puerto Rico was pretty cool, too. I’ve been lots of amazing places, but my happiest memories are in my own backyard.

14. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone? Some woman at the New York City CVB…research for a class…my life is so exciting.

15. What’s your current relationship status? Single and happy…and always content to window shop the eye-candy. 🙂

16. What’s the last movie you watched at home? The new version of Pride and Prejudice. While I love the old version, I must have loaned it to someone, so I settled for the new…and truthfully, the music makes it almost as good as the old.

17. Plans for the weekend? Indian food and High School Musical. Sungti leaves for Taiwan tomorrow, so Sarah, Jennifer and I finally get to have our High School Musical screening. I’ve never seen it, but apparently it’s both amazingly cheezy and amazingly good.

18. What size shoe do you wear? 8 – 9, depends on the shoe.

19. Favorite beverage? Diet coke…Sonic.

20. Summer plans? Study for the GMAT and play on the lake (well, reservoir…I’m taking advantage of my dad’s wave runners and the fact that I live at home…and I’m no longer in skin care, so I can get some kind of tan this summer…although I don’t want to get too many wrinkles).

21. How many towns have you lived in? 12, six in the U.S. (including Hawaii) and six in Europe…I’m pretty spoiled.

22. Most memorable birthday…sixteen. Not because of the typical sixteen-year-old stuff, but because I remember perfectly what my mom got me…an Anne Klein watch and a navy blue dress that I loved. More than anything, though, I loved walking into my bedroom when I got home from school and seeing the gifts on my bed because she remember my birthday. It will be fun, someday, to have someone in my life who buys me “surprise” gifts…that hasn’t really happened since my mom died. Well, that’s not entirely true, but someone who loves me as much as my mom does.

Okay…I think that’s all for tonight. Time for me to go to bed.

Winter Saturdays…

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Today, being Saturday and being that I am still in training for this half-marathon, I headed down to the track to meet Dianne and Ruth, my running partners on the days that I feel I can keep up. Well, the track and I had a bit of a disagreement. I think that running should be enjoyable…the track does not. So, after running a mile with Ruth and Dianne, I had to go. I would rather run on a treadmill for two hours than around a track 77 times (11 miles on the short track…the long track was closed). It’s a beautiful day here in Provo, so rather than heading to the gym, I decided to head to the Provo River Trail and see how it went.

There’s something that feels so hard-core about running outside when it’s 25 degrees and your feet are crunching over snow on the trail. The run was great (well, the first 8 miles). The river was beautiful. The air was clear. The sun was shining. The trail wasn’t crowded. I loved it. It reminded me of a perfect day I spent in Spokane, Washington about two years ago. If you ever have a reason to go to Spokane, do it. It’s a beautiful city with a great river.

Anyway, as I was saying, my run was great, except for the part where I forgot that there wouldn’t be a drinking fountain and didn’t bring water with me. And the part where, at the end of the run, as I was cooling down, I ate it on black ice. Good times! And yes, there were witnesses. Thankfully, most people out on a trail in the winter time have fallen at least once, or at least that’s what they told me to make me feel better.

I haven’t run outside for about two months. And, having lived in Provo 5+ years during college, I was glad to have finally made it down the south end of the Provo River. It’s amazing. There are big trees and there was a section where the stripped brush was coated in ice. And in someone’s backyard, there was a little hose spraying a small stream of water, and this little bit of water, over time, has turned into this amazing sort of ice sculpture. I wish that I had a camera with me, but I’m sure the picture (given my skills) would not have done justice to it. There was a small sign posted asking people not to break of icicles becaue the sculpture was not stable, but I broke one off anyway (a small one) and ate it–hey, I was thirsty. Whether running or walking or biking, being outside is amazing. There are so many things we don’t see when we are driving around and there are so many places that cars won’t go.

And to top off my great morning, when I finally finished my run and headed home (hand throbbing, knees hurting, completely dehydrate – yes it’s worth it), I was driving up the hill to my house and I passed my cute grandma coming down the hill with her neighbor. He’s almost blind and very old and she takes him shopping every Saturday. My 82-year-old grandma (her birthday’s next week) taking her neighbor shopping because he can’t do it on his own. If that isn’t enough to make you smile, I’m sad for you. You must be a very depressed person.

And now, my morning is over and it’s time to take a shower, clean and do some homework. And life rolls on…

running…

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First of all, I think you should all be impressed because I ran nine miles today. That’s right, nine! Okay, well, to be totally honest I ran 7.5 and walked 1.5. Last week I ran the full eight, but this week I didn’t quite do that, although even with walking, my average pace was pretty good…I love my iPod and Nike+…fabulous purchases. In any case, it felt good.

So, I love this new running thing. Who knew it would be so great? (Actually, I did run for a while in college, but it was all about losing weight and I hated it.) I went to lunch with my friend, Allison, today and she happens to be quite the runner. When I met her as a new roommate around seven years ago, she wasn’t a runner. I don’t remember when it started, but I do remember that it started with her training for the St. George Marathon and a runner was born. When she came to visit me in Hawaii, she got up early on Saturday to run the 14 miles she needed to run as part of training (for her fourth or fifth marathon). I remember thinking that she was crazy. But now, as I am training for the Canyonlands Half-Marathon, I’m starting to understand. It is totally addictive and I am loving it. I love that, because of this goal, I workout everyday and rather than being super concerned about what I look like, I’m more concerned about training results. I lift weights because I know that stronger muscles mean better, faster runs. I love that I’m motivated to eat healthy food because I know that shedding some weight will help my knees.

I’m starting to understand people who don’t feel like their day is complete without a run…granted, in training, running every day is not the ideal, so I’m following a training schedule…but I’m starting to feel that way. There’s something very therapeutic about it. And the best part is all I need to do it are a pair of running shoes and workout clothes…and an iPod. Apple should be paying me for the marketing I do for them. 🙂

And next week, I’m up to ten miles…hopefully this week will be a great training week and I’ll be able to run all ten miles. I’m already looking forward to it!