We'll miss you Grandpa...

Say hi to B-Tunia for me!

love,

Stefansneezer

(Who woulda thought, Grandpa Bob in a blog... that and $2 subway fares - how the world has changed!)

And start training... NOW!

Right - for the 4th time, I've signed up for the Nike RUN LONDON 10k... and have roped a gang into running with me (thanks Margot, Kim, Cat, Emily, and possibly Sally too!)... SO - am determined to actually train for once (thanks Hal Higdon, and sister-in-law Amy for introducing him).

According to the 'novice' plan (ok, I know I've entered races before, but for the good it does, I might as well still be a novice) - 8 weeks is enough. Which is good, because it's really really hot. SO - I'll see what I can do in the next few weeks, then start in earnest early August. Sounds like a plan... Started with a little 'stretching & strength training' tonight. SO that's something...

my favourite london

I would happily commute if I could end my journey into work with a view like this:

I had a meeting Wednesday morning in central London, so walked over the Hungerford Bridge (I think my favourite - just for the views either side)... ahh - Thames, Westminster, all the other sites in the sunshine - makes me remember how much I love London!

Quiz bust

So we were all excited to finally return to the quiz night at our lovely local, the Greyhound - after last time's 3rd place finish, we were determined to place first. So, got home, rushed through dinner, and over to the pub we went, random bits of unnecessary information floating in my head, just waiting for the right question...

And, well, I suppose you could say we came in first. Or we would have, if any questions had been asked. Sadly, this week, we were the only team to show. Sigh. And considering the main prize is made up of the entry fees... At least we didn't lose!

Saturday fun

Busy weekend (or rather, busy Saturday; recovery Sunday)... We hosted a little cocktail party, and spent much of Saturday shopping for, preparing, and then consuming the food & drink - I think an equal amount of time was spent on prep compared to consumption, so a fair trade off...
GOOD THING: making miniature frittatas; thanks Martha
LESS GOOD THING: making said frittatas without enough grease on the side of the muffin pan... i think that piece of kitchenware has baked its last

GOOD THING: using my lovely handblender (thanks Kara) to make all sorts of spreads and fillings (white bean+sage; tomato basil; tapenade)
LESS GOOD THING: using said handblender to blitz mozzarella with balsamic vinegar, to make the innards of Caprese bites (hollowed out cherry tomato with the cheese) - blending it all made the cheese a quite unappealing brown-gray colour. Oh well - they still tasted good!

GOOD THING: Having the party at all - it's always fun having people over, and I love an excuse to cook new things
EVEN GOODER THING: Ashley cleaning up everything today, while I slept off the effects of my newly created signature cocktail: gin, limoncino, and fizzy lemonade... what a wonderful sight to come downstairs after a nap to see a shiny clean kitchen...

Stitch-n-pitch

Oh my gosh - so the Mariners may be absolutely tanking at the moment, but how much do I want to go to this game on the 25th?! Do they provide extra handy-wipes though? Or a hot-dog free zone? Wouldn't you hate to be 90% through a project and then SPLAT - someone drops their beer on you?

Amazing headline - where was my camera

Saw the best headline yesterday in the Sun... paper was on the train, casually folded open to this visual delight:

"CANNIBAL EATS OAP ALIVE"

(for you non-brits - that's Old Age Pensioner, btw)

and for those of you now getting nightmares about cannibals on the rampage - it's ok, it was just a nibble... fortunately the 75-year-old was able to fend off the "laughing maniac" with only his thumb munched and a few other bites...

achy, tired, hot, but met my goal!

Phew - despite saying "well of course I'll be able to finish", a tiny percentage of me wondered if that would definitely be the case. I've not dropped out of a race yet, however, so am happy to report I did indeed finish, and, with a time of 69:35, squeaked in just under my goal time of 70 minutes. Thankfully I was *not* one of the 8 people taken to hospital with heat exhaustion!

Maybe next year I'll train properly... yeah, right - in the run up to the wedding and then through the honeymoon? Maybe not!

Thanks to Verity, who, though unable to run the race, cheered me (and her husband & friends Lucy & Seth) along through route. Pix from her to come soon!

Now I think it's naptime.

Sport-o-blog

Team sport news: Well, England is out of the World Cup. SO - with US, Australia, and England out, I'm having a hard time finding a team left to cheer for... I suppose I have a soft spot for Italy, having seen an Italy match in the actual country. But, then again, they *did* have quite a bloody match against the US... Will have to see which way my inner spectator pulls when I watch the next game...

Individual sports news: Go Andy Murray! And maybe one day I'll make it to Wimbledon and see a game in person - better enter that lottery now... And who didn't get teary seeing Andre Agassi bid farewell to Wimbledon & all the supporters who've cheered for him over the years. I remember going to the Pro Ebel Indoor Tournament in Philly in about 1989 I think, and thinking "who is this Agassi guy anyway? arrogant long-haired pin-up; these fans are only here because he's in Glamour magazine!" I guess I learned my lesson...

Personal sports news: Soooooo, I'm running in the British 10k tomorrow - my 3rd time in this race. Given

1. I've done almost no training
2. I twisted my ankle last month and am still not 100%
3. It's supposed to be about 1000 degrees tomorrow and humid

I'm not expecting great results... but watch this space... I keep telling myself this is the kick off to bridal fitness. Only 10 months to go! Hmm...