Recreational running. I could never see the point of it. Why on Earth would someone want to run, just to run?!
Now, running to catch a Frisbee, running in a soccer game, running to get away from someone; these I understood, but running for... running?
Seven weeks ago, I made a spontaneous and out of character decision to start a nine week running program called Couch to 5k. I don't know what possessed me. Perhaps it was the fact that many of my friends were, or were becoming, avid runners, or that my sister kept triumphantly boasting about successful 10+ mile runs on Facebook. Whatever the reason, I had resolved that it was time for me to overcome my distaste for running, and over the past seven weeks, something miraculous has happened. I have become a runner. Adam still can't believe it.
I actually look forward to our run days. I enjoy greeting various neighborhood animals, waving back to friendly drivers and, as our distance increases, discovering roads and homes in Waterville that we haven't seen before (even after 3+ years!)
It is funny that it only takes about 25 minutes for me to lap the entire town. It won't be long before we'll need to venture outside of the city limits in order to get a change of scenery.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Spring!
Spring has sprung at last, although it seemed as if it took a little longer this year for the plateau to get the message. I'm always amazed at the difference in climate between Waterville and Wenatchee, despite the fact that the towns are so close together.
In March, as I waited for the final patches of snow to melt away from my garden, my friends in Wenatchee were already tilling and preparing to plant. In early May, Wenatchee's trees were leafy and green and the Spring flowers had fully bloomed but in Waterville the trees and gardens were still relatively bare. The delayed transition makes for a fascinating drive through Pine Canyon, where you can experience a virtual season change in a matter of minutes.
I'm happy to finally be able to kiss Winter goodbye. My vegetable garden is planted and has begun to sprout. My lilies have spread, my roses are growing and most of my lilacs actually survived the snow! (and the snowmobiles!)
In March, as I waited for the final patches of snow to melt away from my garden, my friends in Wenatchee were already tilling and preparing to plant. In early May, Wenatchee's trees were leafy and green and the Spring flowers had fully bloomed but in Waterville the trees and gardens were still relatively bare. The delayed transition makes for a fascinating drive through Pine Canyon, where you can experience a virtual season change in a matter of minutes.
I'm happy to finally be able to kiss Winter goodbye. My vegetable garden is planted and has begun to sprout. My lilies have spread, my roses are growing and most of my lilacs actually survived the snow! (and the snowmobiles!)
The Blue Rooster Bakery
Last month, Adam and I took a lazy Saturday walk to the Blue Rooster Bakery to get some coffee and try out their breakfast. When we arrived there were no other customers in the building so everything was very quiet except for some very nice finger style guitar music playing in the background.
I entered tentatively, hoping that they were, indeed, open and failed miserably in trying to act like I knew what I was doing. I was worrying about silly things like, "Do we sit down or order first?" and "Do we pay when we order or wait until we're done eating?" so I'm sure I came across as a real dufus. Nevertheless, we managed to order coffee and a couple of Country Breakfast Panini from Cathy before we awkwardly retreated to the west wall to view the fantastic artwork which was on display.
The panini were so yummy! They came to us so hot that we could barely handle them and they were made with light, fluffy homemade bread that melted in our mouths. The coffee was fantastic too! I can honestly say that it is the best cup of coffee I've had since I switched to decaf two years ago. Bruce told me that he makes all of the decaf with something called an Aeropress, which according to him can make even ordinary coffee taste great.
As we were leaving, for some reason, I felt compelled to try one of their 'famous' maple bars. (Not that I needed one after the huge sandwich I had just inhaled.)
Now, before I continue I should make something clear: I have never liked maple bars. They're the only item in a doughnut box that I won't touch unless they're all that's left and I'm feeling particularly desperate. I think in this particular instance I must have been inspired by another customer who came in and quickly bought out all of the maple bars in the display case. Cathy had just begun frosting a new batch as we were finishing our coffee and I couldn't resist.
I planned to save the bar for later, but as we walked down the street, I made the mistake of tasting just a little corner of the frosting. The next thing I knew, the entire bar was gone and I was licking my fingers, wishing I had another! It was nothing like any maple bar I'd had before. The doughnut itself was not greasy at all! The frosting had a smooth, buttery texture and a light, vanilla-like flavor which was quite different from the hard, fake-o maple flavored frosting I was used to choking down.
I tell you what, Adam's going to have to hold me back next time we visit so I don't make a complete pig of myself.
I entered tentatively, hoping that they were, indeed, open and failed miserably in trying to act like I knew what I was doing. I was worrying about silly things like, "Do we sit down or order first?" and "Do we pay when we order or wait until we're done eating?" so I'm sure I came across as a real dufus. Nevertheless, we managed to order coffee and a couple of Country Breakfast Panini from Cathy before we awkwardly retreated to the west wall to view the fantastic artwork which was on display.
The panini were so yummy! They came to us so hot that we could barely handle them and they were made with light, fluffy homemade bread that melted in our mouths. The coffee was fantastic too! I can honestly say that it is the best cup of coffee I've had since I switched to decaf two years ago. Bruce told me that he makes all of the decaf with something called an Aeropress, which according to him can make even ordinary coffee taste great.
As we were leaving, for some reason, I felt compelled to try one of their 'famous' maple bars. (Not that I needed one after the huge sandwich I had just inhaled.)
Now, before I continue I should make something clear: I have never liked maple bars. They're the only item in a doughnut box that I won't touch unless they're all that's left and I'm feeling particularly desperate. I think in this particular instance I must have been inspired by another customer who came in and quickly bought out all of the maple bars in the display case. Cathy had just begun frosting a new batch as we were finishing our coffee and I couldn't resist.
I planned to save the bar for later, but as we walked down the street, I made the mistake of tasting just a little corner of the frosting. The next thing I knew, the entire bar was gone and I was licking my fingers, wishing I had another! It was nothing like any maple bar I'd had before. The doughnut itself was not greasy at all! The frosting had a smooth, buttery texture and a light, vanilla-like flavor which was quite different from the hard, fake-o maple flavored frosting I was used to choking down.
I tell you what, Adam's going to have to hold me back next time we visit so I don't make a complete pig of myself.
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