Broken

File this under self-indulgent.

Ever since the Cooper-Young 4-miler, I started getting a little more serious about running. Some friends and I decided to sign up for Wade's Big Adventure, which is an 8 mile trail race at Shelby Farms. We spent several weeks running the trails on the weekends and on race day we totally kicked ass. I mean we did't win or anything, but we had fun and we felt strong. We'd all signed up for Sylamore in February and planned to once again double our distance (4->8->16.).



Since the race was on a Sunday, I also had a soccer game that day. I didn't feel tired, but my brain was not communicating with my body in the way that it normally does. I had a total freak accident that resulted in me crushing my own foot. After several X-rays and finally an MRI, it was determined that I broke my first metatarsal.

Yep, broken again. It's actually been a good 9 years since I broke my leg in three, and 25 (!) since my ACL surgery. And compared to those two injuries, this is nothing. (I hope.)

When I moved into the Pie Factory, I kinda had a feeling I'd be tackling these stairs on crutches some day.



Thankfully the crutches only lasted about ten days.

Also, please note I got a pedicure ASAP. Even better, Kristy crocheted me some toe covers for my cast.



Being in a cast has severely cramped my style. I was running three times a week, doing yoga twice a week, and playing soccer. Now I can't even stand at my desk. It's frustrating as hell. But I haven't let it totally ruin me. I still made it to New Orleans for Thanksgiving weekend (more on that later. maybe!) and I am trying to look on the bright side.

The Bright Side

1. At least it's my left foot, so I can still drive.
2. I got to take three days off to convalesce which resulted in getting to watch every episode of "The Master of None."
3. The kids have learned to carry their own shit.
4. When I met the Mayor-elect, I got to make a joke about Chuck Brady running me over.
5. According to the pedicure dude, I have a cool story. "At least you didn't fall in a hole," he said.
6. Strangers talk to me, a lot. "I told you not to kick the dog," they say. "We aren't getting any younger," they remind me. "You were watching soccer or playing soccer?" they ask. (Ok maybe this one belongs on a different list!)

I'm four weeks in, and hopefully transitioning to a boot soon. I so want to scratch my ankle.

Wish me luck. I haven't given up on Sylamore yet.

Hello Fresh

Everyone on Facebook is always talking about Blue Apron. It's a meal delivery service. Or a grocery delivery. Well, they send you recipes and all of the ingredients in a box and then you cook the meals yourself. My soccer buddy, Lauren, uses it. (I've been invited over for "I need to cook three Blue Apron meals before everything goes bad" dinner parties on a couple of occasions!) Another friend, Paul, told me that his girls have learned to cook using the boxes.

After nearly a year of cooking the same things, I thought maybe Blue Apron, or something like it could help teach me (and the kids) a few things. At the very least it would add some variety to our dinners.

Several friends were giving away free codes and such on Facebook, but when I looked at the meal options for Blue Apron, it didn't really get me excited. Thanks to the magic of the Facebook algorithm, I started getting other ads for similar services. Enter Hello Fresh. Their recipe options all looked yummy, so I decided to sign up for three meals a week designed to feed two people. (I figured the 4 person option was too much, but if the recipes were a hit, I might bump it up later.)

The box was due to arrive Wednesday, but because of the holiday (Memorial Day), it came Thursday. It was heavy as shit! Haha. (There were several bricks of ice in it keeping everything fresh.)

I had invited my mom to dinner, so we decided to go ahead and make two recipes so we'd have enough for four people. Jiro was super excited to help, which was much appreciated.

Our first recipe was flank steak with bean salad. (The directions are on the left in the pic, and the picture is of the shrimp sandwiches that we did not make.)



We followed the directions very closely, and I was so glad that Jiro knew how to mince. (Thanks, cooking camp!)



We didn't care too much about the bean salad. It was all about the flank steak. I haven't attempted to cook meat in years. Maybe decades? So, I was so pleasantly surprised to learn how easy it was to cook the steak!

This is Jiro waiting for it to stop resting so he could eat it.



He agreed to put beans on his plate for a photo, but refused to eat them.



After he and I ate, we worked on the chicken tacos with mango slaw for my mom and Satchel. (I wasn't up for coordinating two meals at once quite yet!)



Jiro was a big help again, and I was once more amazed at how easy it was to cook chicken on the stovetop.



The tacos were a total hit.




I basically had all of the ingredients to make more tacos, so I did a week later. Only I may have been slightly overconfident as I almost set off the smoke detector. Which if you live in a house is no big deal. In an apartment building, everyone gets evacuated! Thankfully the windows open and we avoided any embarrassment!

I never made the shrimp sandwiches--we just ate the shrimp! And when I redid the tacos, I left out a few ingredients the kids weren't crazy about, like onions.

I don't know if we'll do this forever, but we'll definitely do it a little longer. It's been great learning new recipes, cooking together, and gaining some much needed confidence!

If you want to try it, this code (D4XYGC) will get you $40 off your first box. Woot!

43

This is my blog and you'll just have to excuse the self-indulgence. This is what I want to remember when I can't remember anymore.

There was lots of celebrating to ring in my 43rd year. It started with a lovely lunch on Felicia Suzanne's patio with my Brantley teh day before.



It was a little chilly, but I love a good patio! I tried the chicken and biscuits.



They were tasty, but I'll probably go back to my usual shrimp po-boy on my next visit. However, I'm going to eat ice cream sandwiches everytime regardless of whether it is my birthday. Yum!



My actual birthday coincided with the first Rock-n-Romp of the season at Mud Island. Both monkeys tried to get out of going--Jiro because of his first soccer game and Satchel because of his general dislike for everything--but in the end they were both there and they both had fun.


(Photo by Chip.)

Satchel actually said, "I had a really great time today. I'm glad I came." That was all I could ask for!



Another benefit of having my birthday at Rock-n-Romp was seeing all of my friends. Well, some of them anyway!



(Photos by Chip.)

I even got a cupcake. (Thanks Kristin W-C!)



After Rock-n-Romp, Ross took me to Jasmine for dinner. Even though I love around the corner now, I haven't been in forever. It's still awesome. And we sat on the patio!



Then we went to the Rec Room where I got the high score on Ms. Pac Man on my first try! It really was super exciting and Ross was the best cheerleader ever!



Then it was on to the Cove for drinks on the patio, of course. Lots of people came by and Launa and I ended the night at CKs! It felt like Christmas! Ha!

The next day was family Sunday brunch at El Toro Loco.




My birthday isn't truly over until I play hooky from work and hang out with my other birthday twin, Colleen.



We started the day with yummy coffee at City & State, then yummy breakfast at Porcellino's.




Mmmm dutch baby pancakes and bruleed grapefruit!

We shopped for a few hours and then found ourselves on the rooftop patio at Aldo's.



It was a party!



Willie Cheech & Bob is the best pizza there. Midtown makes fresh mango chutney.



We waited til noon to start drinking!

Then we went to visit Caleb in his studio...



Popped into Hoot & Louise for some more shopping, then went to see Seamus at the Brass Door and had another beer on the street.



We'd hoped to end the day on a high note by riding the bull at the newly opened Red Zone, but it only goes on Friday & Saturday nights.



Probably for the best!

Launa met up with us and then I had my cabal celebration at the Cove with Aimee & Mary too.




I thought that was it, but then Tracey and I had to wait all the way until today to have our birthday lunch with just the two of us. We had Fuel tacos at the Tenneessee Brewery.



I feel very loved and excited for this year.

Final Wishes

Excuse me while I get a little morbid...just for a minute.

One of my coworkers died suddenly last week, and I attended her funeral this week. She wasn't sick and she wasn't much older than me. Seeing how my dad also died suddenly, it got me thinking about my own funeral.

I have some small requests:

Please, please, please do not embalm me. Under no circumstances! I would like to be disposed of in the least expensive, fastest manner possible. A pine box, cremation, fire in the backyard--I really don't care. If you'd like to turn me into a tree, that'd be fine too.

Can we leave religion out of it? And don't have someone who never even met me lead the service (if there is one). If everyone could just gather round, have a few beers, and put Joni Mitchell's "Blue" on repeat, that'd be plenty. Should anyone like to say a few words, I'd suggest telling a story about a time when I was right about something, anything.

Thank you!

p.s. The kids probably know all of my passwords.

Party Crasher

Last Tuesday, my best friend, Marlinee, sent me a simple text: "What's the name of that pho place in New Orleans?" My response? "Who is going to New Orleans!" She was, and not only that, she was following it up with a weekend trip to the beach. It was her unofficial 25th high school reunion with her Murphy High pals from Mobile.

In true best friend fashion, she was sending me "Come join us" texts by Wednesday. By Friday, I was out of excuses for why I couldn't possibly go. On Saturday, I hit the road.

I arrived in Gulf Shores around 2:00pm in the afternoon and kicked my shoes off on the back deck.



Then I walked down to the beach and joined in on the fun.




Over the years, I had either met or heard tales of most of the people at the reunion, so I felt right at home. After chit chatting for a bit, I went to unload my car and see what was happening inside.

Max and Tally were making gumbo!



I washed my hands, and started peeling shrimp. Eventually everyone else came in from the beach, or the store, and we had ourselves a little party.




Tally's husband, Carl, made salad, and Stephanie doctored up the French bread, and we sat down to one of the best meals of my life.






Seriously, I am going to dream about Tally's gumbo for the rest of my life.

After dinner, we moved outside to play Cards Against Humanity.



Not to brag or anything, but I totally won.

We stayed up late talking and I went to bed so, so happy I'd made the drive. When I woke up, I was informed that Marlinee's parents were on their way. Even better, Chow was joining forces with Tally, who lived in Thailand for a few years, to make us all a Thai lunch.

I'm pretty sure this is what mornings are like in heaven.

Marlinee was concerned that Tally might take too long preparing his dish, but Chow came with hers all ready to go.



We snacked on Thai poppers and spring rolls while Tally worked his magic.



I'm telling you, he is magic.



Then, once again, we all gathered around the table to enjoy an amazing meal.



Once lunch was over and the dishes were done, we went out to the beach. The waves were amazing and we alternated between playing in them and admiring them.




There are no words for how happy I felt.



The best part? I still feel it.

Thanks to Marlinee for inviting me, all of the Murphy Panthers for making me feel so welcome, and to Warren for keeping an eye on our babies so I could go and not worry.