pear + brie + ham sandwiches

How perfect do these look? Cannot wait to try. Much thanks, again, to JenLovesKev for the awesome recipe!

Brie and Pear Sandwiches:
Brie
Thinly sliced pear
Thinly sliced Ham (optional)
Fresh bakery Loaf (I used a Cranberry Pecan multi grain loaf)

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Slice brie, pear and bread
3. Layer brie, ham and pair onto bread to make a little sandwich
4. Place sandwiches on a baking sheet and place in oven for 4-5 mins or until brie is melted. If you have a Panini press that would work awesome!

bathroom rule

When you go into a bathroom:

A) …and someone is in there, make cordial conversation, WHICH ABSOLUTELY MUST END ONCE THE STALL DOOR IS CLOSED. Do you seriously want to have this conversation over that particular sound?

B) Do not, under any circumstances, EVER feel like it’s okay to talk on your CELL PHONE WHILST GOING TO THE BATHROOM. There are few things more absolutely mind-blowingly not okay in the manners world, and this is probably number 1, 2, 3. Doesn’t the person on the other end mind?! Like, what’s the noise? Is that flushing??

C) Please, for the love of god, watch your kids. If they crawl under the stall and surprise me, I will scream. LOUDLY. And your child will REMEMBER this scream well into her adult life. I don’t care if they don’t know what’s what, they’re getting yelled SCREECHED at if they crawl into stalls.

UPDATE: Just after writing this (not before, weirdly enough) I saw this post. I’m glad I’m not alone! Read for more totally-understandable rules.

this week

It’s already Thursday. How did that happen? I’ll tell you how. I’ve barely been home long enough this week to feed my cat or do dishes or wash my clothes or get groceries, that’s how. I’m grateful for the busyness – idle hands are the devil’s tools, according to Momma H – but I’m looking forward to a night of a long run, and then plopping my butt on the couch and reading and then falling asleep at 9. I seem to be fighting off some weird head congestion, too. My throat’s gotten very sore and my head feels all…. woozy?? Just sorta lightheaded and achey.

So, with that first paragraph combined with that one post about death, this blog is quickly turning into the most depressing blog ever. So let’s hit on a high note: the Ben Folds concert on Monday.

It was GREAT. I think that everyone should see him play live to see what a proper musician is – someone who is genuinely interested in music, and not the byproducts (the fame, the money, the way he looks, etc). He is so talented it’s retarded. And he played for like…2 whole hours? STRAIGHT?

ben + kate perform "you don't know me"

Another great thing about the concert? The opening act: aussie singer Kate Miller-Heidke.

kate

SO FANTASTIC. Such a gorgeous voice, and I really dug her act and her music – she’s mixed pop with opera, and it somehow works. Apparently she’s HUGE NEWS back in Aus, so I’m sure it’s just a matter of time in the States. I went home and downloaded most of her stuff, and one of my personal favorites is Caught in the Crowd (listen here).

By the end of the concert though, I was in an exhausted stupor and my feet hurt pretty badly and I was literally wanting to find a corner to curl up in and nap. Getting old, I suppose.

ENOUGH ALREADY

My Top 5 Overplayed Artists on Pandora:

5. The Hush Sound

4. Regina Spektor

3. Jack Johnson

2. Dirt Poor Robins

1. Tie between: Colbie Callait and Marie Digby

I really cannot stress how much and often Pandora’s like, oh hey Colbie Callait? No? How about now? Okay fine. *minutes later* How about now? No? How about Jack Johnson with Colbie Callait?

This is an Arcade Fire station. DO NOT WANT.

Do I talk about Pandora enough? Well, while we’re on the topic, free Pandora really bites. I used to be okay with dealing with the skipping limits, but now they’re making the free listeners really suffer. Listening limits – 40 hours a month??? Do they not realize most people work 40 hours a week? And the ads. Good heavens, the ads. They have gotten so bad and so persistent. Cheers to Pandora for being a once-good thing, selling out and now totally sucking. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR YOU.  REFUSE.

that one post about death

This is a particularly bleak Friday Five, so my apologies. It’s quite suiting for this weather – drab, drippy and dragging us kicking and screaming into winter. Also? This post reminds me of that part from High Fidelity where he goes to the funeral for Laura’s dad and makes his Top 5 list for songs to play at his funeral.

So,

1. What way would you want to go out?
Hmmm. Not sure, other than the cliche “in my sleep” sorta thing.  I also think it’d be nice to have a goodbye to anyone, someone, before you go, so you could at least part with a few nice words.  I think I know more about how I don’t want to die (see next).

2. In what way would you not want to die?
In a car wreck. Also, in any other way where I would be in intense physical pain and just be waiting for it to end.  If it’s going to be painful, let it be quick and over with as soon as possible (well, duh) and not let me sit there wondering where my arm is or something.

3. If you died tomorrow, is there anything you’d regret you hadn’t done?
Traveled more, and been more honest with myself and others.

4. If you died tomorrow, what you be happiest about in your life?
That I had tried to do things a bit differently. And that I had so many people I loved who loved me back. Oh, and I have good hair.

5. What song(s) would you want played at your funeral?
“Spirit in the Sky”, by Norman Greenbaum and almost anything by Dido.

paying $250 to type on air

virtual keyboard

Some tech geeks clearly have too much money. What a silly idea. If I walked into someone’s apartment, and they had a laser keyboard, I’d probably laugh at them. There might even be pointing involved.

I’ve got an idea. If you are really looking to burn some extra cash, just send it to me. I’ll even set up a Paypal and name it “KC Parking Tickets” or “Car Registration”. It’ll be like giving to charity, where the cause is preventing someone having to work at a part-time bookstore job the rest of their days.

cowshed

I love this packaging by Cowshed. Beautiful use of typography and pattern.

Click here for more.

the big run: the details

If you’re tired of hearing about the 1/2 marathon, this isn’t the post for you.

The 1/2 marathon – I did it!! I can’t believe it’s come and gone. I do have to admit I probably made a bigger fuss about it then most people I know would, but this was such a landmark in my mind.

First off, I made my goal time – even beat it! I wanted to do the whole thing in 2:30, and I rocked in at 2:28. Gotta say though – hot damn, it was HARD. But nothing rewarding happens without a little hard work, right?

So it was freezing at 7am (when it started) but I was so anxious and buzzed and ready to do it then I hardly noticed. I didn’t even have time to pin on my bib, so finding the pro pics might prove to be a little hard. Anyway. Could not believe the # of people at the start line, it was so claustrophobic. Was glad when crowd thinned out. I made it through downtown without any problem at all, other than the typical warming-up aches and pains. Everyone was super chatty and singing and excited, but wnce we hit Kessler Hill, it’s  like the sh*t hit home, and everyone stopped talking and remembered how painful this would be.

Feeling good at the Plaza ... for now

I took it easy over Wyandotte Hill – the worst hill EVER – and picked up the pace going down Main Street, and managed to bypass a lot of people. My dad met me down at the Plaza, and was just this beaming, frazzle-haired head at the end of the plaza – was so happy to see me!! Such a good dad.

Once I hit the hit Gilham – about mile 9 – things started to really hurt and my legs felt like they were made out of rocks. I did some walking and shuffling, but I was cold and achey and really hurting. It’s at these time where you start to question if you will, in fact, finish.

Anguishing

I FINALLY made it to the top of Gilham and Armour, and it was time for some East KC action. I got a second wind, and all of a sudden, felt fantastic and was able to bypass all those fools who had squeaked past me on Gilham. I was probably running at an 8-minute mile pace.

I cramped up briefly, but seriously ROCKED IT into the 18th and Vine district. I think doing the course beforehand really helped – I knew exactly what was coming up and where I could afford to run a bit faster. I felt fantastic in the last 2 miles – just was full out running my quickest, and got bypassed by the winner of the MARATHON. WHO FINISHED BEFORE I DID. (Yes, totally insane, right?!) My Dad, my brother and lovely Mike (who biked the whole course and cheered me on throughout it) were all there to cheer my on as I cruised to the finish.

almost there!! (dad on right)

I put every last bit of energy into running at full tilt into the finish line, and was nauseatingly tired. But I did it!! I ran in before 2:30! And yes, cupcakes were had (After Dinner Mint and Raspberry Lemonade) and a GIGANTIC nap was taken.

I finished! Alright, get me to bed.

Weirdly enough – can’t wait to do it again.

a seriously girly post

Paris Je T’Aime by ModCloth on Polyvore.com

So holy sh*t. Totally love this outfit. I can’t even wander onto modcloth.com lately because I am physically unable to not wishlist half the site and then figure out what I can sell or do to afford all the clothes I want.

Speaking of which, coats. This weather has taken a sharp left-hand turn for totally freezing, and everywhere I go it’s awesome coats, scarves, tights and boots. So in honor, my coat fantasy wishlist:

#3

grey-t coat

#2:

metroparks coat

#1

Persuasion coat. What do I own that I can sell and get $140 for?

a post not about running

I hate anything having to do with this celebrity and the show she’s on, but I dig this look.

Kristen Calva...who cares