Fabulous Friday: Random Fabulousness

Oh you thought I was finished being fabulous on Fridays... well, I'm not. So there. :)

I ran 12 miles for the first time on Memorial Day. I thought it was more like 9, but lo and behold, the map told me differently. I guess I was running for about 2 hours, so that would make sense. Every time I push it a little, my right ankle starts causing some shin splits, so I have to take it easier than I'd like for a couple of days afterwards. At least I know I'll finish a half marathon in 2 weeks! Woo!

Organic eating is still fun. I even tried to make my own pasta sauce tonight. It wasn't great, but it was an attempt at cooking, which is a huge feat for me.

A work fundraiser proved to be a good time, and I feel inspired to keep schmoozing for a living. I like people. People like me.

The next two weeks will be filled with thesis writing. I'm having some problems putting all of the information together. (Problem, I hear, most people have when going through this process.) After that - summer is here! I'm trying to convince a girlfriend that we need to go to Mexico in August. I need a vaca.

:)

Maybe men ARE more selective...

Thank you to the San Jose Mercury News, and their annual "Best of Silicon Valley" reviews for providing a list of SV favorite restaurants, bars, and other hang outs.

Their survey included the "Best Place to Meet Men" and "Best Place to Meet Women" categories. Apparently the best place to meet men is Santana Row. Well, yes, there are a lot of men to meet there. Quality men? Hmmmm, not sure. Stripe shirts - definintely, but quality...An evening at SR definitely reflects the gender demographics of San Jose singles pretty well - 70% men. Unfortunately, Frys Electronics did not win, debunking some theories that say perhaps women want smart/geeky men. Apparently not so much. Supposedly we like the striped shirt. I'm going to nominate Frys next year, just for fun.

Who was the big winner for "Best Place to Meet Women." Get this!

Apparently it has gone out of business! "Winner has since closed; no clear runner-up" says the Merc.

Where is this mysterious place? AND, really? No close second? Perhaps it means men really DO have personalities and want to meet a variety of female-types. Perhaps they want to meet women at really unpopular establishments? But, do women really want to meet men at Santana Row? If you are a good-quality man, you'd better get there, because that's where women want to meet you! HURRY! Run. Don't walk. Don't not pass Go. Do not collect $200 dollars... although it might be useful if you're going to Santana Row.

Place to meet men

Readers' choice

Santana Row

400 S. Winchester Blvd., San Jose

http://www.santanarow.com/

Place to meet women

Readers' choice

Winner has since closed; no clear runner-up

May (in pictures)

I ran Pat's Run again this year, albeit not as quickly as last year. My mojo is lacking right now, and I can't quite figure out why. My mileage is good, but I'm having issues with speed. (I can just hear Maverick right now "I feel the need, the need for speed." )Anyway, it was a lovely morning, and a very well-organized event. They found a high school anthem singer who actually sang in tune instead of hiring some "American Idol" wannabe. Very nice. It was a good day to wake up at 6:00 and exercise with friends, followed by the eating of a massively caloric breakfast. :)









I also ran the 15th Annual Human Race of Silicon Valley to raise $$ for Choral Project. Also, time was a little slower than last year, but I can't let that get me down. I somehow raised more money this year than last year, probably by guilt-tripping my friends into saving arts organizations. What can I say? They need saving!









Finally, I went to a 10 year college reunion, but it wasn't mine. I'm still proud to have gone to a state school for my undergrad. Although I don't think my university would have the cash for such an event, at least not with an open bar. Dang, I must have graduated with 10,000 other people! Anyway, I DID give to my department this year and attended their annual alumni and friends event where I was the youngest person there by at LEAST 30 years. Next year, I'm guilt-tripping my artist friends into going. :)

Don't be a (organic) hater!

I know I've been a hater in the past. I've said thing like "A green pepper is a green pepper whether you buy it at Whole Foods or Smart and Final." I grew up in the Midwest where apples are the size of ping pong balls, there is only one kind of lettuce at the grocery store. Not a lot of produce going on there, except, of course, for corn, often sold out of a truck on the side of the road for $2 a dozen. (It might be more since the rise of corn-related-product use... i.e. corn syrup, ethanol.)

Anyhoo, after three weeks of eating (mostly) organic, I've realized that I am doing something good for myself. A few myths about organic eating have been busted since I decided to try it on for size. It might fit. Partially. Read on.

Preconceived notion #1: Organic eating is expensive.
Organic GROCERY SHOPPING is expensive. My grocery bills have grown substantially from about $40 a week to perhaps $80. Today a gallon of organic milk was $5.99, and two chicken breasts over $10. I'm buying a lot more fresh produce now, which means extra trips to the grocery store. Because I'm paying more, I'm wasting less - I'm eating dinner at home and taking leftovers to work for lunch. Eating out has decreased SUBSTANTIALLY. No more $4.99 Togos sandwiches or munching on mozzarella sticks at the pub.

Preconceived notion #2: Organic food rots faster.
Well, yes. Organic produce takes longer to get to the grocery store so it can be rather, um, ripe, when it gets there. But, there is a fun and fabulous way around this. FARMERS MARKET. A fresh head of lettuce picked on Sunday morning will last through Thursday. Woo! AND it's cheaper at the Farmer's Market. Woo Woo!

Preconceived notion #3: There is no organic frozen or boxed foods.
Lo and behold, I can still buy frozen peas, dried pasta, and canned sauces. This makes the busy lady very happy because there is STILL no way I'm going to find the time to let a homemade pasta sauce saute for five hours on the stove. I'm still buying that - premade.

Preconceived notion #4: It all tastes the same.
I still tend to think that organic food tastes the same as non-organic. You could fool me in a blind taste test. Perhaps it's acquired? Dunno.

Preconceived notion #5: I'm going to starve to death.
My life is still in tact, as I'm sure you've guessed. I've definitely been eating less because I think I spend so much time preparing what I'm going to eat, and only buy exactly what I need. I'm not buying snack foods. Organic snack food still kind of freaks me out. Maybe I'll give it a whirl at some point.

Preconceived notion #6: Eating organic is ALL THE TIME.
This is so false, at least for me. I have to go out to eat without being picky, or people would stop hanging out with me. Can you imagine asking the bartender for "Organic Martini, straight up with two organic olives." I think he would die laughing. I'm not going to give up social occassions, like a BBQs, and I'm going to eat hotdogs at a ballgame. I like my friends. I'd like to keep them around. I'd also like to keep my local taqueria and Papa Johns in business, because I like them too. My manfriend likes to cook, and he should be able to cook what he wants. So, when he invites me over, it's on non-organic terms. :)

So, my opinions of organic eating have changed somewhat. Deep down I realize that putting chemicals in the soil is not a good idea, and that pumping animals full of steroids is eventually going to come back to haunt us. I don't support that animals are equal to human beings. (I'm definitely not interested in being a vegetarian.) But, I do believe that, when we treat our food well, we are also treating ourselves well in the long run. Good karma feels pretty good.