Gentlemen, Start Your Horses

This week's entry is in honor of my sister, who when I asked what I should write about, responded "bourbon". Not my favorite liquor, although I do enjoy a Jack and Coke occasionally, but it does make for a delicious ham glaze. She has bourbon on the brain right now because she gets to go to the Kentucky Derby with Manfriend Pat. So jealous. There is nothing like a five second horse race surrounded by hundreds of drunk women wearing gigantic hats. I love that the tradition of the big hat remains. I wish more women wore hats on a daily basis. I remember watching the Kentucky Derby that one time and thinking "huh, this seems...like it could be a fun time..." I'd rather be riding a horse than watching it run around in a circle, but to each their own I guess. Besides, at least at this event, I would be taller than all of the jockeys, which would make me feel superior for at least an entire day. So have fun Melissa and Manfriend Pat. I'll stay behind in Minnesota and drink a mint julep in your honor. "Gentlemen, start your horses!"

The Bucket List Grows

And the list grows...

*Go sky diving

*Ride a mechanical bull

*Run a marathon

*Go to Alaska

*Write a novel

*Go on an epic road trip

*Get a tattoo (but not a very big one)

*Make the perfect martini

RIP Julia Sugarbaker

Julia Sugarbaker AKA Dixie Carter was a heck of a woman, and if any TV character can be a role model, she was it. She was sassy, spoke her mind, stood up for her friends and could put an ignorant and disrespectful person in their place faster than you can say “Have you all just completely lost your minds?” I loved and still love Designing Women. Personally, I always related more to Jean Smart’s character, Charlene, (and let’s be honest…a little bit of Alice Ghostley’s Bernice…) but everyone has to love Julia.

Two years ago, a group of friends and I went on Billgrimage ’08, a winter vacation to celebrate all that is Memphis, Tennessee and the fabulousness that was and is President Bill Clinton. We even had shirts made. We spent a long weekend in Memphis and then road-tripped to Little Rock, AR to visit the Clinton Presidential Library (which is AMAZING by the way-highlights the good, the bad and the ugly of the Clinton Administration). Also in Little Rock? THE HOUSE that is used as Julia Sugarbaker’s house in the opening credits. So of course, we found it. And of course, we took our picture in front of it.

A role model for women? You bet:
“Yes, as a matter-of-fact I am. In the end it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about you. You have to be exactly who and what you want to be. Most everyone is floating along on phony public relations. People who say being beautiful, or rich or thin makes them happy -- people who are trying to make their marriages and their children seem better than they actually are.... and for what?! Appearances. Appearances don't count for diddly! In the end, all the really matter is what was true, and truly felt, and how we treated one another. And that's it”

On The Road Again

Running isn’t something I ever thought I would enjoy. I did track one year…in 7th grade, and while my coach told me I had one of the best baton hand-offs he had ever seen, I was not known for my speed…

Fast forward fifteen years (woah…) and here I am training for a marathon. I have completed several races already, including the Des Moines Half Marathon, and while I am definitely not going to win any races (nor is that my goal) there is something about tying on a pair of running shoes and going outside for a long run. You totally lose track of everything around you and just go forward. I’m not super fast, and have so far managed to not get passed by pedestrians, but other runners often run around me. Who cares! And while I don’t plan on needing to use my mad baton hand-off skills anytime in the near future, you just never know.

Arch-Nemesis

I have two arch-nemesises…nemesii? And one of them is Type-2 Diabetes. I don’t have it, and one of my goals is never getting it. Genetically, I’m screwed…both of my parents have it and both of my grandfathers died of complications to type-2 diabetes, but I will not go down without a fight! One thing working in my favor is the fact that I have Celiac Disease, which some people freak out about when they get diagnosed, but actually, I think this is what will help me in my battle of good vs. evil more than anything else. I can’t eat most of the processed crap out there and get (not have, get) to make my own food, which means that when I am craving something that isn’t necessarily good for me, I get to tweak it. Take, for example, beef stroganoff. I flipping love my mom’s recipe. It is all about sour cream, cream of mushroom soup and thick as your pinky noodles. However, two out of three of those things I can’t eat and the other one isn’t super great for me…so I tweak. I found a recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook (flipping love that thing) but had to tweak even more as it called for beef bullion and I couldn’t find any at the grocery store that were gluten-free. I used southwestern beef seasoning instead…tasted a little differently, but it worked! Sour cream? Try low-fat sour cream. Check! Thick noodles? Try Tinkynada fettuccine noodles. Check! Side of peas (delicious!). Check! Delightful. Kim: 1, Type-2 Diabetes: 0.

US Census

So...did my civic duty by checking white female. I wanted to check the box for 'awesome' but it seemed to have been omitted from my census page. Roommate and I seriously discussed checking that we were fourteen and Filipino, but decided against it as the 20-something white women in St. Paul really need to make sure that their numbers remain strong. As I pushed the envelope into the dirty blue USPS box on the corner by the apartment, I rejoiced in the fact that no Census worker will have to harrass me in May or June. Here's to 2020. Oh...I wonder if ABC will be the official sponsor of the 2020 Census...

Running Outside Again!

I've been running at our local YWCA since the end of January because, let's face it, I live in Minnesota and there were two inches of ice on all sidewalks until literally Saturday...WHEN IT FINALLY GOT ABOVE FREEZING!!! For the first time since last October :) However, I forgot how much I love running outside. Espeically in my neighborhood because I have the advantage of running along the River on one of the many great bike/running paths OR I can run along Summit Avenue and drool over all of the amazing houses. I got home last night after my 3 mile run and had mud on my legs. And it was like a battle scar. I was so proud of that mud! It's raining today, but as long as it isn't lightning, I'm out there again until the snow flies (which may in fact be Sunday, but I'm holding my breath). T minus 28.5 weeks until TC Marathon!