No more secrets - I'm pregnant!!!

The word is finally out (thank goodness because it was hard to hide much longer) I'm pregnant! 4-months along with twin boys. I'm sure they'll provide plenty of isms for the blog world.

You can check out my new blog at:
http://mommiesontherun.blogspot.com/

Running in circles

Because I didn't get off work until it was dark out today, and I don't want to forge a new path in the dark and rain, I went to the gym for a treadmill run instead. Consensus? I don't love the treadmill. The pounding on a semi-solid surface didn't help my ongoing knee problems. Also, the indoor running in circles made me realize even more why I like to run - I like to be outside where I can get fresh air, where I have to think about my world (not that of the gym or what's on TV), and where there's dirt and branches to duck.

Treadmills aside, I do like the elliptical every now and then - it's a nice way to turn body and mind off and just gooooooooooo.

I fall to pieces

This morning walking to work I dodged rain and roof water slides as I wove through Broadway's remnants from the weekend. Rounding a tight corner (and just missing a man walking out of a cheap hotel) I came to a grate where I ATE IT so hard. Ouch!!! Another man was walking by and he turned - in what I thought was a random act of kindness - to blow smoke in my face and then keep on walking. Nice.

Side-note: "I fall to pieces" is from an old country song. My mom's cousin once told us a story of when he was dancing with the Austin ballet and did a performance on a unicycle to this song. When cheered on for an encore, instead of wheeling perfection, he spun around and promptly fell into the orchestra pit.

The physics of running

Yesterday during our Sunday run we started talking about form - there are many pointers for runners:

• Knees up
• Chi run
• Move arms like you're beating a drum
• Breath like your tummy is a balloon
• A million more

Running Times has a good run-down (heh) on what you're body should be doing:

Running through the rain

I love the rain - I love listening to it as it beats on the windows and being curled up with a good book. I also love running in the rain and this weekend was perfect for that! Saturday I met up with the GGRC'ers for a good muddy hilly run - the best kind.

The route:

• Started at the Warming Hut
• Up to the bridge
• Along the water
• Across the planks and into the park
• Up along side the golf course
• Down through Presidio
• Back to the Warming Hut along the water

Tonight we met up for the Lulu run and the rain stopped just long enough to give us a clear skied run - we must have good running karma because we haven't been rained on once since we started the group.

Skunked

Running to Queen - great
Getting on the road early enough to have the whole thing for myself - rad
Tiny raindrops falling just as I was getting too hot - awesome
A skunk running in front of me as I crest the Ft. Mason hill - not cool

I've got a lot of work to do

7x7 Magazine recently published "The Big Eat SF: 100 Things to Try Before you Die."

I've had the highlighted - still have a looooooong way to go.

Photo by Stefanie Michejda, Joe Budd, Sandra Silbereisen, courtesy of Piperade, Ed Anderson, Aubrie Pick

1. Roast chicken and bread salad at Zuni

2. Coffee-rubbed pork shoulder at Range

3. Carnitas taco at La Taqueria

4. Spicy crab and grits at the Front Porch

5. Chasu ramen at Katana-Ya

6. Burger with fries at Slow Club

7. Shaking beef at the Slanted Door

8. Morning bun at Tartine Bakery

9. Tofu soup with kimchi at My Tofu House

10. Baja-style fish tacos at Nick’s Crispy Tacos

11. Pork sugo with pappardelle at Delfina

12. Salt-and-pepper squid at Yuet Lee

13. Soup dumplings at Shanghai House

14. Beef brisket at Memphis Minnie’s

15. Oysters on the half shell at Swan Oyster Depot

16. Katsu curry from Muracci’s Japanese Curry & Grill

17. Tea-leaf salad at Burma Superstar

18. Salumi misti plate at Perbacco

19. Tuna tartare at Michael Mina

20. Chicken pot pie at Liberty Café

21. Pizza margherita at Pizzeria Delfina

22. Vietnamese roasted pork sandwich at Saigon Sandwich

23. Beer sausage with sauerkraut and grilled onions at Rosamunde Sausage Grill

24. Blue Bell Bitter from the cask at Magnolia Pub

25. Loaf of bread straight out of the oven at Tartine (bonus: sliced while still warm and slathered with Brillat- Savarin cheese from Bi-Rite, down the block)

26. A classic gin martini at Bourbon & Branch

27. Papaya salad with salty crab at Sai Jai Thai

28. A Gibraltar at Blue Bottle Café

29. Spaetzle at Suppenküche

30. Laughing Buddha cocktail at Cantina

31. Pan con chocolate with sea salt and olive oil at Laïola

32. Pupusas at Balompie Café #3

33. Prime rib at House of Prime Rib

34. Yellowtail collar at Oyaji

35. Salted-caramel ice cream at Bi-Rite Creamery

36. Dry-fried chicken wings at San Tung

37. Rotisserie chicken at Limón Rotisserie

38. French fries at Hayes Street Grill

39. Pierna Enchilada torta at La Torta Gorda

40. Cheeseburger at Taylor’s Automatic Refresher

41. Pho ga at Turtle Tower

42. Fried-shrimp po’boy at Brenda’s French Soul Food

43. Mint julep at Alembic

44. Cannelé at Boulangerie Bay Bread

45. Galapagos cocktail at Absinthe

46. Chips and salsa at Papalote

47. Ceviche at La Mar Cebichería Peruana

48. Angels on horseback at Anchor & Hope

49. Ginger snaps at Miette

50. Giant pretzel with mustard at The Monk’s Kettle

51. Maccaronara with ricotta salata at A16

52. Fried brussels sprouts at SPQR

53. Garlic soup at Piperade

54. Spiced-chocolate doughnut at Dynamo Donut with a Four Barrel coffee

55. Milk-roasted pork at L’Osteria del Forno

56. Caponatina with burrata at Beretta

57. Goat stew at Kokkari Estiatorio

58. Absinthe daiquiri at Jardinière

59. Huarache with cactus salad at El Huarache Loco

60. The Brass Monkey at Little Star Pizza

61. Crab soufflé at Café Jacqueline

62. Shrimp-and-chive dumplings at Ton Kiang

63. Meatballs with grapes at Aziza

64. Paper masala dosa at Dosa

65. Crispy eggplant at Jai Yun

66. Pig parts at Incanto

67. Sand dabs at Tadich Grill

68. Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Cafe

69. Licorice parfait at South

70. Omakase menu at Sebo

71. A Fernet at R Bar

72. Arancini at Ducca

73. Popovers with strawberry butterat the Rotunda

74. Corned-beef sandwich with Gruyère at the Sentinel

75. Fried green beans at Coco500

76. Chicken hash at Ella’s

77. Eggs benedict on the back patio at Zazie

78. Chilaquiles with a fried egg at Pastores

79. Onion strings at Alfred’s Steakhouse

80. Apple fritter at Bob’s Donuts

81. Chicken curry at Punjab Kabab House

82. Fried chickpeas at Piqueo’s

83. Sweet-potato fries with banana catsup at Poleng Lounge

84. A margarita at Tommy’s Mexican Restaurant

85. Pulled-pork sandwich at Roadside BBQ

86. A cheese slice at Arinell Pizza

87. Fresh spring rolls at Out the Door

88. Buckwheat crepe and a French cider at Ti Couz

89. Lamb schawerma at Truly Mediterranean

90. Slow-cooked egg at Coi

91. Albondigas soup at Mijita

92. Bacon-wrapped hot dog from a cart in the Mission (preferably when you’re drunk)

93. Seven courses of beef at Pagolac

94. Mango with chile, lemon and salt at Doña Tere’s cart

95. 3 a.m. bowl of caldo verde soup at Grubstake

96. Baby-coconut ice cream from Mitchell’s

97. Sesame balls at Yank Sing

98. Basil gimlet at Rye

99. Clam chowder at Hog Island Oyster Co.

100. Cheese course at Gary Danko