Ones and Zeros

Conversation with the hubs after Thursday supper club tonight.  (Note: today was a major technology day for us... T deployed a portal that he managed tonight (I have no idea what any of that means) and I sat through a work day's worth of training on how to use the new EMR system for our office.) 

T: So I you wanna see what SharePoint looks like?
A: Is that what you made?
T: Yeah.
A: No, wait, that's the program that makes the thing you made?
T: Yeah (opens up website thingy... better known as The Portal)
A: Ohhh, so when you make it... is it all, like, ones and zeros?
T: What?  No.
A: Oh is that what it was like at first, before *The Portals* (air quotes)?
T:  At first?
A:  Like in the beginning... of... programming?
T:  Everything was like that in the beginning.
A:  Is it is till ones and zeros?
T:  Not to you.  You don't see them.
A: What?
T: You're not the One.
A:  What?
T:  Neo.
[PAUSE]
A:  Did he see the ones and zeros?


P.S. for those normal people out there and those who didn't marry a computer nerd, this is a Matrix reference.
P.P.S. yes, I am well aware that our first initials repeated spell TATAs- which means we have to be super careful with monograms- we don't want any "T&A" pillows.  Also- did you know our marriage was "Manda-Tory."  We've heard it all.... 

Fun, Family, and Dancing at the Budding Wedding

On September 22, 2011 my dear cousin Nickie married her love, Johnny, at a gorgeous beach ceremony in PCB, Florida.  Following days of rain and 100% humidity- it was truly a gift from God that by 4:00 on Thursday evening, the clouds had cleared and the temps had lowered making for a truly beautiful wedding followed by a hilariously fun and exciting reception.  So hilarious, in fact, that it really can only be described in pictures.  So without further ado...

WEDDING DAY PART 1:  GET READY!

Maids' and flower girl's (works in progress)

Fun BM project: bling out your beachy wedding shoes!

She heeded my warnings to have a good meal beforehand!

How gorgeous is this bride?

take some time to admire the dress!

WEDDING DAY PART 2: TIE THE KNOT!

Vows!

You make me wanna say "I do, I do, I do do do do do do dooo doooo!"

WEDDING DAY PART 3: DANCE!

Aunt Deb learned how to Push It

I learned how to RUMBA!

Look what was hiding in the garter?

Oma learned how to Superman... or is it crank that soulja boi?

annnnnnd how to Dougie

Who brought the Dancing Queen?  Oh wait, that would be my husband!

 

 So if you couldn't tell, Tory had a great time.  Just kidding, everyone had an awesome time... but especially Tory.   

Best wishes to you, Nickie and Johnny.  You have a beautiful life ahead of you with each other and your incredible family.  Cherish each other always!  Love you!

P.S.  After Tory taught my age-less Oma how to Superman and Dougie, the groom thought she might wanna learn the Stanky Leg.  She did, but I didn't manage to catch that one on camera due to uncontrollable laughter.  I have the coolest Oma ever!

Fun Falling Off The Wagon

Well, friends, I have officially fallen off the proverbial wagon.  I mean this in nearly every way possible.  In the last few weeks I have somehow managed to fall behind in lots of very very important aspects of life; namely completing work documents in a timely fashion, maintaining the 10-miler training schedule, and keeping our crib in decent shape.

In my own defense- I managed to get myself into a bit of a pickle by volunteering for some extra work requiring LOTS of extra paperwork at the office.  I seriously over estimated myself, as did our scheduling staff because in a matter of 10 working days I did 7 different evaluations all requiring reports.  Translation: weekly notes are seriously suffering.  Whoooops.

As for the 10 miler training- as you recall, I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago, blah blah blah.  I gave myself a week off-setting T and I another week behind (making the total 2).  I ran 4 miles last weekend- the 6 mile week- and had an amaziiing run.  Tory mapped a new route through Crystal City and Pentagon City so there was lots of new scenery and mostly flat road.  I really had every intention of catching up a week this weekend by running 5 (this week is a light 4 mile week), really I DID!  But we spent Saturday night at the in-laws' and ended up going down to Mount Vernon to see my little sister-in-law play soccer this evening.  We binged on some McDonalds in the car and by the time we got home running was the farthest thing from our minds.  Junk food might be good for your soul every once in a while but it is terrible for your motivation and fitness.  So as 8:30 rolled around T and I pinky swore that we would DEFINITELY run our 5 tomorrow night after mani/pedi's with my fav spring bride-to-be, LMT(E).  Let's hope the pinky swear holds true because we are going to be in big trouble in a few weeks if we don't get our butts in gear!

I don't even know what to say about the state of my apartment this evening.  I don't know how we got to this point with 2 hampers full of laundry, 2 loads of clean laundry on the dresser, a half-full dishwasher and half-full sink basin of dirty dishes, nothing to wear to work tomorrow, and remnants of halfway unpacked duffles from weekend/weekday trips the last few weeks.  I guess we'd better spend the time we aren't spending running tonight working on this situation.  A picture is really required for anyone to truly understand the disarray but I am far too embarrassed to expose my inner slob to the blogosphere so, you'll have to use your imagination.

So what HAVE I been doing the last few weeks when I haven't been taking care of my grown-up responsibilities?

Well, there was wine.  Lots and lots of wine.  First, the Great Grapes! Wine festival in Reston last weekend with some of my favorite wine tasting girls!  Beautiful sunny and warm weather after a week of nonstop rain made this such a fun day of quality-girl time with some JMU alumni I seriously enjoy!  Exactly 1 week after this event, I went to an end of summer Wine-Tasting work party where I had the distinct honor of winning the prize for MOST WRONG ANSWERS in a blind wine tasting.  I am thinking I should have tasted more... and of course, this must mean I need more practice... i.e. more wine festivals?!  YES!

CAGR enjoying a sunny fall girls day out!

 There were also   some of my favorite fall recipes- inspired by all of the rain and cool weather.  This one makes lots of effort to be healthy.  No butter, no cream, 2% milk cheddar cheese, 98% Fat Free, healthy choice Campbell's Cream of Chicken, roasted chicken breast, and mixed veggies make a tasty Chicken Pot Pie.  The crescent roll pie crust is the one indulgence!

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

Invite Guests!

I also started reading (and nearly finished) an incredible book that I happened upon in Target one afternoon.  Heaven Is For Real is the quick, easily read, true story of one tot's trip to heaven (and back)!  This little boy's simply-stated descriptions of heaven, angels, and Jesus match what we know to be bibical-ly (is that a word?) accurate. His dad's narrative explains these consistencies in a way that is both friendly to a nonbeliever and descriptive enough for those who believe and are familiar with the Bible.  So far, this book has put to rest many of the human, naive fears that I sometimes experience when thinking about eternity.  What little Colton Burpo has to tell the world is simple:  Heaven is beautiful perfection, it is the REAL dwelling place of God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit, and death is nothing to fear for those who are prepared to enter heaven's gates.  I love this book, so far.  Read.it.   Also, you can consider this my unofficial, first-ever, for real, book review.  :)

So while the state of my affairs these days leaves a lot to be desired, I must say that I have had quite a bit of fun falling off the wagon.  I am going to try to regain a little bit of control in the next 48 hours- including running my 5, submitting some important paperwork, and cleaning up the surface of this pigsty.  The only reason I am really feeling the urgency to do any of this is because....

THURSDAY IS THE SEATON-BUDDING WEDDING IN PCB!!!

Translation: celebration of love with my wonderful Peppers family, warm sunny beach weather, and 2-day work week for me!  Also- MommaH is staying over Tuesday night to catch the flight out Wednesday morning with us and I should probably spare her the horror of knowing that her newly wedded daughter and son-in-law can barely maintain the tiniest of households.  

Cheers to the Budding's, ya'll!

Foodie at Heart

Today was a blustery, rainy, 65 degree September day.  And.I.Loved.Every.Second.Of.It.   Tory gets so annoyed with me when it comes to the changing of the seasons.  The first warm day of spring and I am ready to get into my bikini and sit on any patch of grass for a little bit of sunshine, but 2 days into the hot hot heat of summer I am complaining and ready to celebrate Christmas and unpack my coats and sweaters.  Come December and the ice and snow, I am just begging for the 98 degree summer days. The truth is, I am a fickle lover of the seasons.  I love them all and revel in the first days of every single one of them until the sweating or chapped lips get old and then I am ready for the next change.

But fall..... oh, fall.  Every year, I say fall is my FAVORITE season.  I love all things purple and orange.  Pumpkin is the only flavor of dessert or coffee that piques my interest (except pie... blech).  And boots.  Can we talk about the ultimate most uber favorite accessory of them all.  A solid pair of leather boots can get you through at least 25 outfits and most of your girls nights out of the season.  I really don't think I ever get tired of fall. The changing of the leaves, yellow, orange, and red.   Cool, crisp, dry air.  Spaten Oktoberfest.  A DAILY EXCUSE TO WEAR SCARVES.  As much as I adore boots.  I absolutely couldn't live without scarves.  Even in the summer, I searching for the slightest hint of a breeze as an excuse to wear a light and airy piece of cotton around my neck.  Wool, knit, cotton, crochet, or pashmina, you name it... I will work in into my wardrobe.  I have contemplated agreeing to Tory's multiple requests to move to Monterey because I know the weather there is EXACTLY conducive to wearing a scarf nearly 365 days a year.

I love fall.  I love it.  And in an unofficial celebration of it's coming upon us... Tory cracked open his first 6-pack of Spaten Oktoberfest and I cooked up my first batch of Chilli and Cornbread of the season!

first ever cast iron corn bread!

7 ingredient, 2-bean, HEALTHY chilli.

Enjoy!

As much as love the changing of the seasons, especially those that bring crisp, comfortable, pleasant weather,  the truth is....I love food... year ROUND.  I have been to some amazing restaurants living in this fabulous city but T and I have both decided that comfort food (known to some as soul food) is where our hearts lie.  I 'd say that I appreciate a really nice cut of meat more than your average girl... Ray's The Steaks/Mortons was my restaurant of choice for my bday...I have been ordering filet since I was in elementary school.  But seriously, I swear I am not a food snob... because I LOVE comfort food.  Please serve me something made in a casserole dish with cheese and potatoes at our next dinner party.  The truth is, I think food brings people together.  4 months married and I am already becoming domesticated.   Don't be offended if I insist on you coming to our place for dinner time after time, its not that I think you're a bad cook.  It's that I have just realized that I love to cook. And I really love to feed people.  Nothing is more fun to me than cooking family recipes (or creating new ones!) for my friends and seeing them enjoy and demolish them.  I am really starting to appreciate the joy of feeding others.  It really is an unmatched feeling, when someone appreciates something that you concocted from recipe or to taste.  It is a compliment to my talents as a cook and host.   can only imagine how much of a problem this could become as the holidays come around and there are many many many mouths needing feeding.  Am I going to live to regret these words?  Anywho-for now, this chilly fall weather gives me just the excuse I need to COOK and eat a whole bunch of the comfort food that I love and add another inch or two to my waistline.


Subtext: I am pretending that tomorrow's weather won't return to 80 degrees because, of course,  I know the truth that here in the good old Virgin-i-a.... the nice cool weather doesn't hit until somewhere between Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I am ok with pretending for now though. 

Can't wait for homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. :)


PS Side note: but as we all know; food, wine, and music go hand in hand, so next time you're cooking Chilli.  Try a glass of Malbec and Norah Jones or Amos Lee playlists on Pandora.  You won't be disappointed.  Food.  Music.  Wine.  These three things (plus the grace of God) make the world go round and round.

ATM Time, Hooah!

Well friends, it's about that time of year again- time for the 27th Annual Army 10 Miler.  The starting line of this race is less than a mile from my crib and  is the largest 10-mile race in the US!  This year will be my 2nd year running and I am so excited- for so many reasons!

1.  This my first race running as a DeLong.  I registered 2 weeks after we were married- before my name change even became official.  This was the first time I used my new last name and it was so exciting!

2.  The race is in October- which means a nice cool, crisp morning for running.  No smoldering humidity, no freezing rain.  I am counting on a beautiful fall morning this year, just like last.

3.  This is the most inspirational race I have ever taken part in.  It is impossible to quit and give up when wounded warriors are running past you.  There are no bands or performers on the course, but you don't need them.  The soldiers sing cadence to keep you moving.  Amazing.

I am also a little nervous for a few reasons.
1.  I have been training using Hal' Higdon's 15-k training schedule, the same schedule I used last year and have used successfully in the past.  But this year, motivation has been a little bit of a challenge for me.  I used to look forward to the long weekend runs, knowing I'd feel awesome afterwards.  This time, I dread them and rearrange the schedule in order to do them at the last possible moment.  I think I am dreading these runs because I am not nearly as conditioned as I was this time last year.  Which brings me to reason #2 that I am nervous:

2.  My last road race was last December.  Since running became a hobby of mine I have done a decent job of keeping a race on my calendar every couple of months.  The distance wasn't as important as just having something to hold me accountable.  I would keep running to stay in shape all to avoid whimping out on a race I'd already paid for.  My method worked, and I managed to maintain or improve my time until of course last year's ATM (see reason #3 to be nervous).  I haven't run since December.  I'd love to blame this on planning a wedding but there really is no reason other than maybe just being burned out.  Truth is, running used to be a huge stress reliever for me.  I probably should have done more running during wedding planning.  When I run in October it will be almost exactly 10 months since my last race.  I am definitely not in my best shape.  Not feeling super confident.

3.  Last year I was in the midst of a serious stomach situation on ATM Race Day.  I won't go into details- but the morning of the race the situation was under control enough that I decided to run.  I felt miserable through each of those 10 miles and was in bed for the rest of the day waiting for my insides to flee my body.  My time suffered a little bit and I vowed that I would beat my 2010 time in 2011.  I am a little worried that my lack of conditioning until about 6 weeks ago is really going to impact my ability to achieve that goal I set for myself.  Nothing makes me angrier than falling short of my own goals.

4.  Last week at work I took a nasty spill off the front porch of a client's home and sprained my ankle.  Nothing too serious but swelling, pain, and road rash had me in the urgent care clinic that evening.  A few x-rays and an ankle-splint later (I decided to risk it and pass on the rather expensive crutches) I was sent home with orders to stay off of it for 10 days (I WISH!)  After much protesting, Tory has convinced me not to run on it since then.  I think he has been right about this so far- it feels ok during the day but is usually pretty sore, stiff, and swollen in the evenings.  I'd like to do some low-impact cardio, but so far all I have gotten away with is walking the dog.  This week should have been the 5-mile week... the halfway point.  I haven't done the 5 mile run and the OCD maniac inside of me is terrified that I will completely fall off the wagon if I don't maintain my schedule and routine.  I am eager to get going again, just to prove to myself that a few days off hasn't ruined any progress I made in getting myself back into running shape.

Happy Ankle

Unhappy Ankle

REALLY Unhappy Ankle

So the long and short of it is basically that I am so excited for this race to come around again, but I am really worried that I am going to fall short of my goal of a better time than last year's.  Most of the reasons for possibly falling short are my own fault and the result of lacking motivation and discipline.  When race day comes, if I am not ready to run, I'll have no one to blame but myself... and that stinks big time.  I am going to try to get moving again this week and remind myself that even a short run is better than no run at this point.  In the mean time- I will be doing some serious ab ripper-x and praying for the best.