Nearly 7 Years of Rabbit Ears

You guessed correctly: I've finally cracked and tomorrow, between the hours of 9 and 11, the Comcast technician should arrive, and when he/she leaves, I'll not only have faster Internet, but a full complement of cable channels. Hello Sports Center, Top Chef and the Daily Show. Goodbye crappy digital terrestrial signal, which despite the propaganda, was so much less dependable than the analog signal. I'd been considering the change for a while, and after missing a few choice football games because of a bad signal, decided that I could stop being so cheap.

In other news, after wrestling with the boot for over three weeks, my foot is not better. My next doctor's appointment will most assuredly result in a surgery recommendation. And yes, I have an appointment for a second opinion lined up a few days later.

Two Gifts

From opposite sides of the world, two gifts arrived on my (figurative) doorstep in the past few days.

First, a bar of Cadbury chocolate from our friends in the UK. Cadbury sold in the UK is not at all like the low quality chocolate produced for the U.S. market. It's better quality, doesn't have the same level of processed chemicals that much of the mainstream chocolate has in it, and is really, what a good quality chocolate should be. Delicious and flavorful.

And second, from our friends in Japan, dried stingray fins. When I was in Japan for business last April, among many memorable meals was one in which my colleague ordered several small plates of delicious food. I remember fresh tofu (rich and creamy), beef tendon (tasty but too chewey of a consistency for my taste), savory eggplant, and most memorably, dried sting ray fins. Served warm and with mayonnaise on the side, the slightly chewy pieces were similar to jerky in consistency, only with more of a collagen undertone. They tasted like the ocean. I fell in love, and have a feeling that I ate more than my share. According to my host, I was the first westerner he'd been with who relished the dish as much as I did. He's very kind, and brought me a package this week.

I love it when good food arrives unexpectedly.

Capitol Hill Red

Vino Verite, the very excellent wine shop just a few blocks from my house, released their own wine, aptly named Capitol Hill Red. It turns out that the powers that be at the wine name approval place (some bureau or board or something like that) took their time with approvals, because they were concerned about the Communist-type connotations of the brand. Jokes on them, because obviously, the bureau had no idea about the neighborhood that lent it's name to the wine.

I tasted, the red table wine is still a bit young but very drinkable. I think I'll let it age and crack it open at a dinner party.

Biggest Loser - tonight

I have the patience for only one reality TV show in my life at a time, and right now, it happens to be the Biggest Loser. I'm not sure it's a coincidence that I started watching around the same time I was starting or finishing or something to do with 20/20.

The show does a few things not so well, but I like the basic premise: if you want to lose weight, you need to work hard and make some decisions that are somewhat uncomfortable. And the work isn't just on exercise and/or nutrition, but those two things, plus a lot of mental stuff. I wish that the show spent a bit more time on nutrition and workout tips, but it is a contest, and the drama and entertainment value (beyond the incredible weight losses) is what keeps us coming back.

Besides, Jillian is hot. I wonder how much she charges per hour of her time?

235ish

Officially, I checked into the Pro Club 235 times in 2010. This includes all locations – Seattle, Bellevue and my favorite, the Performance Center.

I say "235ish" because the system doesn't differentiate from the times I've checked in for random 20/20 appointments or to pick up lunch or run some other errand. I figure that's maybe 20 or so times, so really, my total workout check-ins is likely closer to 200.

But that isn't the whole picture. I traveled a lot between February and June, plus from mid-February until mid-May, spent every Saturday I was home with my marathon training group. My real workout number is higher, closer to around 300. It really doesn't matter where I am, at home, halfway around the world, a hotel or friends' house - the reality is that I spend 6 days a week working out in some capacity.

Am I addicted? Nah…

This is a test.

Because it's Christmas Day, and I care, I thought that I'd leave you with a few foodie pics.

First, from Momfuku when I was in New York in November: apple pie cake truffles. These don't look like much, but were insanely delicious. It was like a ball of cheesecake and apple pie and cake all rolled into two bites. I loved these much, I emailed the restaurant for the recipe. No dice. "Maybe when our new cookbook comes out next year."

And second, day 1 of the two-month limoncello making process. Fairly simple, steep vodka and lemon zest in a cool, dark place for several weeks. Strain, add simple syrup and let mature in the freezer for a few more weeks. It turned into limoncello slushy (all about proportions), but was still very, very drinkable. A week ago, I brought the finished product into work for a holiday party, where disaster struck. The cheap Rubbermaid container slipped out of my hand while I was carrying it into the kitchen, hit the floor, the top came off and part of the container busted off…limoncello was all over the carpet, splashed on the wall. I managed to save about a cup, which we enjoyed. The hallway still smells like limoncello. And no, I didn't call facilities; the building is going to be gutted in a few weeks, so I figured it was my farewell gift to the spirit of the building 4.

Dear Santa -

All I really want for Christmas is some healing magic for that torn tendon in my right foot. I have some runs on my calendar - Vancouver half in May, Seattle Rock & Roll full in June, Ragnar in July, maybe the Medoc full in September, plus boot camp and a running club to join - and really, really want to be healthy.

The cortisone shots aren't working (and yes, I know, those box jumps and one legged hops in sports conditioning may not be optimal healing-promoting exercises), so maybe the acupuncture will help? I'd really like to avoid the boot, and even more than that, really, really want to avoid going under the knife.

So Santa, can you help? I promise to leave cookies and a spritz out for you.

thanks,
schelley