Anything but Normal

This month has been crazy, to say the least. Last month I set a goal to lose 10 lbs in May and I'm only halfway there with one week to go. So, for June my goal is 5 more lbs, and maybe by the end of August I'll have 5 more after that. :) I only have the freshman 15 to go, anyway!

I finished reading "Atonement" by Ian McEwan about a week ago. McEwan is an artist when it comes to writing novels. I'll admit that it did take me a while to get into the story and get used to his writing style. However, with that said, no one but McEwan could tell this story and have it be as beautiful as it is in his form. Every detail that he mentioned need to be in the story for it to have the intense impact that it does, even to the very end. I have yet to see the film, but I will try to get Theresa to put it on her Netflix line up.

I've been obsessive about buying plays lately. I bought a few of Wendy Wasserstein's plays and read "The Heidi Chronicles" the other night and loved it! I didn't have time in grad school to actually read the play. Instead another student did a presentation on it, which, to me, is definitely not the same. I also read "How I Learned to Drive" by Paula Vogel when I got home from work this morning and loved that one, too. I have more Sarah Ruhl plays to read and "In the Blood" by Susan Lori-Parks. All fabulous women!

Theresa and I are getting ready for Zumba at the gym; I'm excited because I've never taken a zumba class before! It should be fun! :)

On a Mission: Lose 10 lbs in May!

Recently I've felt a major running slump and noticed a nosedive in my diet. I've been really stressed, sick with allergies, and just afraid of the warm/hot weather. I've also been working a lot, and with the two new employees I'm sure my hours will do down, too, leaving me broke but with more time to workout.

So here's my plan: May is National Runner's Month, so I'm going to make the most of it and add strength training into the mix. I have two valuable resources already when it comes to strength training. I have the Wii Active game, as well as Wii Fit. However, I feel the Wii Active will provide the continuous workout that I need. I also have Jillian Micheal's "30 Day Shred" DVD and let me tell you, it is a KILLER. So far I know that I will not need to spend any money on workouts because I already have those, and some awesome new running kicks and clothes. With regards to the workouts, I've made a plan based on my work schedule (which can change on a weekly basis and I have no control over it). Basically it's 2 days of strength training and 3 days of cardio.


Monday: Strength training on the Wii or Jillian DVD after work (usually 8 hour work shift)
Tuesday: Cardio day: run 3 miles easy before work (usually an evening shift)
Wednesday: Cardio day: 3 miles easy, finish with a loop of hills in the neighborhood
Thursday: (day off) Strength training with Wii or Jillian DVD. Supplemental cardio: run 3 miles easy.
Friday: (day off) Cardio: Run 4.5 miles easy.


Throughout the month I will gradually increase the intensity of the workouts so that by the last Friday in May I will be back to running 6.3 miles and hopefully be at Level 3 in Jillian's DVD.

Also, one last goal: TO CONQUER THE PUSH-UP! I will have awesome arms and no longer fear the push-up by the end of the month!!

So, after posting this, I'm asking anyone who reads this to join in if you need motivation to feel great, and to also hold me accountable for this! I know I really need the motivation to get back into a routine (and I'm excited to see how my bikini fits this year!).

In January I pledged to lose 18 pounds in the Pound for Pound Challenge. I know that I won't make it, but if I lose 10 this month, I'll be at 12, which is amazing! Please join me if you need the motivation!

Oscar Wao

I recently finished "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz. Two of my friends suggested this book and I am so glad they did. From the very first page I knew this was going to be a great experience in literature. Diaz's writing style is so refreshing from the generic fiction writers and he actually had me laughing out loud, which I rarely do when I read. Diaz really paints the picture of life in the Dominican Republic in the 40s to the present day and evokes sympathy for his main character. One of the things that impressed me was the way he captured the female experience of his characters living in the "DR". Another great thing is Diaz's use of footnotes throughout the novel. Not only are they helpful for those of us who do not know the history and politics of the DR (which is the majority of us), but they provide comic relief, as well. Diaz tells a great story about love and the sacrifices people will endure for that love.

I watched "An Education" a while ago and forgot to write about it. This film was great and had me really into it the entire time. Peter Sarsgaard puts on a fantastic performance. You never know if his character is a good guy or bad guy. I spent the entire film waiting for him to be bad, but I'm not sure if that is my prior experience with the male species of humans or if the script was written this way. I enjoyed it.

"Sherlock Holmes" is also a great film with wonderful acting by Robert Downing, Jr. and Jude Law. I also love Rachel McAdams and she never fails to deliver a great performance. I'm thinking about buying this one at Blockbuster when they sell their previously viewed DVDs for cheap.

I also read "The Last Child" by John Hart, but it's not worth blogging about. It was depressing.

Kasey vs. Running In the Heat

I've never really been a warm/hot weather person. Except, of course, floating the river on a 100+ degree day. Other than that, I'd much rather be cold than hot. I started running at night in August while living in Arizona. It was still close to 90 degrees outside, but I was so out of shape that the heat didn't matter. As the weather got cooler, I got better at running. In fact, I LOVE when it's cold outside. I think it makes me run faster. My perfect running temperature is 45-50 degrees: I can wear my light gray sweater and unzip as needed and still feel warm but not overheated or cold.

I don't know what to do with all this sunshine and heat. I bought new clothes, and I love all the tops I bought. I bought bright colors so I can be seen at sunset and possibly complete darkness. I know that later in the summer I will not be running when the sun is out. HELL NO. The shorts I bought on sale are really great and comfortable to run in. Those were a good choice. I also bought a running skirt because I think they are cute. I tested it out today and it was an epic fail. The little shorts under the skirt wouldn't stay put. I'm just not a running skirt kind of girl. So, with the right combination of clothes I think I can beat this heat. Now to find the right time of day...

I've been running in the early afternoon lately due to working evenings and things happening in the evenings. The afternoon is all I have. So for now, I struggle to complete a good run in the heat. I know when summer comes, I will have to muster up the energy to run after a 7 or 8 hour shift on my feet work (that is, when I get home around 7 or 8 at night. I will not be running after I close at night). I'm hoping the new Runner's World magazine will have some summer running tips.

My new shoes are great! I just wish I could give them a good run instead of walking so much.

I'll be doing the Muddy Trails 10k in The Woodlands this weekend. I think the last time I ran 6 miles was the Rodeo Run 10k. We'll see how it goes.

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

I've been waiting to read this one for a few years. I thought it might be interesting because I'm a theatre historian, however, this novel has a different twist. It's a vampire tale. It's not your average "emo vampire" love story that is rampant today, but a more carefully crafted story based on an actual historical character, Vlad Tepes from Wallachia (in Romania). I was intrigued, and I'm glad I chose this book. I know it will probably be my last vampire novel because vampires are CREEPY. I have no idea how vampires turned into a romantic figure, and I don't want to know. If I see a vampire in my life time, I'm running the other way. I do recommend this book because it is suspenseful, but can also be slow. It's the story of tracking down the vampire through historical research, which is interesting to me and I know it's not interesting to some people.

On another vampire note, I had to work the midnight DVD release party for New Moon. Ugh. Lots of screaming girls and grumpy mothers at midnight to buy a stupid movie.

Theresa rented "Whip It" the other day and we finally watched it tonight. I approve of this film! It was really cute, and to top it off, it takes place in Austin! A lot of known actors are in the film, and it has great laughing moments as well as great mother-daughter scenes. I will probably buy this one from Blockbuster when it goes on sale next year.

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This was another make title at the store but it looked interesting so I picked it up. Just like "Reliable Wife", I read this one in a matter of days. It's a story about two women from very different parts of the globe. One is a young girl escaping death in Nigeria and seeking sanctuary in England. It's a gripping tale, and I encourage anyone who wants to laugh and cry while reading the same book to definitely check this one out. It makes you think about what the price of a human life is and how some people can forget that we are all invaluable.

I saw "Inglourious Basterds" the other night and LOVED it. Tarentino has been one of my favorite directors and this one has to be my favorite, surpassing both Kill Bill films. The ending was amazing, and Brad Pitt's character offered the perfect comic relief in such a horrible time. Justice is served in so many ways and I literally clapped my hands and cheered at the way things played out. Excellent!

I'm still on the prowl for summer running clothes, although I found a bright colored tank for cheap at Walmart! I'm thinking about getting a running skirt, too. Hey, I may sweat like a pig, but I'm still a lady! :)

Roasted Veggies and Couscous!

Sorry for two posts in one day, but I made a really great dinner tonight. I got the idea from Bobby Flay and got the recipe online at FoodNetwork.com. Here it is!

Toasted Israeli Couscous with Vegetables and Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Serves 4

1/2 pound Israeli couscous
salt
12 spears asparagus, grilled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 zucchini, halved, grilled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 yellow squash " "
2 large red peppers, grilled, peeled and diced into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
2 tbspn chopped fresh basil
freshly ground black pepper
Lemon-vinaigrette: recipe follows

Heat large saute pan on grates of the grill over medium heat. Add couscous and toast until lightly golden brown.

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over high heat, add 1 tablespoon salt and toasted couscous and cook until al dente. Drain well and place in a large bowl. Add grilled vegetables, olives, basil, and vinaigrette and toss until combined; season with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving or cover and refrigerate.

Lemon-Balsamic Vinaigrette:
1 small shallot, minced
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Whisk shallot, juice, zest, vinegars, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil until emulsified.

[I just used Newman's Own Lime Vinaigrette instead of making my own, and I added roma tomatoes and a yellow pepper]

YUM!