Item: Pizza Hut's PANormous pizza.
Advertising tagline: "PANormous is the biggest pan pizza we've ever created — over 40% bigger than our large pan pizza!"
Observation: IT'S TWO PIZZAS PUT TOGETHER.
5.29.2009
Random Observation: Pizza
Item: Pizza Hut's PANormous pizza.
Advertising tagline: "PANormous is the biggest pan pizza we've ever created — over 40% bigger than our large pan pizza!"
Observation: IT'S TWO PIZZAS PUT TOGETHER.
5.26.2009
Purgatory
It's the only word I can think to use in describing this current point in time. We're moving to Ohio - in August. We're here in Durham - for now. I've given the date of my last day of work, but it's about 60 days away. I know what we're leaving and have no idea what we are going to. There is no job for me on the horizon, nor do we have a place to live. We want to buy soon after arriving, but that will be 3-6 months after our arrival. Did I also mention that I have no job?
I'm sad to leave Durham, but I am ready to get on with the rest of my life. I'll be leaving a sweet gig at Self-Help and going to who knows what, but I am sure I will find something. Right? Will I? I'm ready to be a homeowner and maybe even have a kiddo. But we can't do that until we go and get settled. It's so close yet so far.
I love Durham, and it still seems strange that in two months, I won't live here anymore. But I feel like each day is ripping off the band-aid slowly. It has to come off, but all I'm doing is pulling out one hair at a time. One. painful. hair. at. a. time.
It's purgatory. I'm ready to move on but don't want to leave. How do I make it through the next two months?
I'm sad to leave Durham, but I am ready to get on with the rest of my life. I'll be leaving a sweet gig at Self-Help and going to who knows what, but I am sure I will find something. Right? Will I? I'm ready to be a homeowner and maybe even have a kiddo. But we can't do that until we go and get settled. It's so close yet so far.
I love Durham, and it still seems strange that in two months, I won't live here anymore. But I feel like each day is ripping off the band-aid slowly. It has to come off, but all I'm doing is pulling out one hair at a time. One. painful. hair. at. a. time.
It's purgatory. I'm ready to move on but don't want to leave. How do I make it through the next two months?
5.24.2009
Doughman 2009
It's over - whew. We did not come in last place :-) I haven't seen the official line up, but I *think* we came in 46th....out of 51 teams. It's an improvement from last year! Our finish time was 2 hours 5 minutes - 35 minutes faster than last year. ROCK ON. Enjoy the pics!
I am also thrilled to say that the banquet went fantastic - awesome food, lots of great local beer, and an awesome turn out. We actually had some folks at the banquet who tried out Taste of Durham earlier in the day. Their assesment: "Now THIS is the taste of Durham!!" There was a lot of encouragement to hold the banquet again next year. So keep your eyes peeled - hopefully the Doughman hEArTS Durham banquet will be back and bigger and better next year!!! (I totally forgot my camera at home, so I have no pics from the banquet!)
I am also thrilled to say that the banquet went fantastic - awesome food, lots of great local beer, and an awesome turn out. We actually had some folks at the banquet who tried out Taste of Durham earlier in the day. Their assesment: "Now THIS is the taste of Durham!!" There was a lot of encouragement to hold the banquet again next year. So keep your eyes peeled - hopefully the Doughman hEArTS Durham banquet will be back and bigger and better next year!!! (I totally forgot my camera at home, so I have no pics from the banquet!)
5.22.2009
DOUGHMAN 2009 - GAME ON.
Tomorrow is THE day. It's Doughman time!
The race is a great spectator event, so feel free to come by and cheer on the 51 teams participating in this year's race. Start time is 8am, Blu Seafood off Ninth Street. The finish line is at the Durham Farmer's Market. The awards ceremony begins at 10:45am, and racers will start crossing the finish line between 9 and 9:30am. Come check it out!
You may also end up on TV! The Travel Channel's "Man vs Food" will be filming the event for an upcoming episode that focuses on Durham.
See today's article in the N&O here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/1535918.htmlThere will also be an interview with one of Doughman's planners, Emily Egge, tonight on NBC17. The Spot will run on the 6 and 7pm shows!
Lastly, if you are looking for something to do Saturday night, I believe there are still a few tickets left to the banquet. GET YOURS NOW! Just click HERE.
Team "I hEArT Durham" 2008. Stay tuned for the 2009 team pic!Trivia: The "Doughman hEArTS Durham" banquet gets its name from last year's best costume winners and last place finishers, team "I hEArT Durham." That is my team!!!!! The organizers asked me if they could use the name this year, and I was super pumped to be able to contribute. I've been working with a few of the organizers to help plan the banquet, so I hope you all enjoy it! Hopefully it will grow each year - it would be an awesome present to leave behind in Durham :-)
5.21.2009
Restaurant Review: Shaba Shabu (Durham location)
Saturday night, after my return from Orlando, Mike and I decided to try out Shaba Shabu, the new Thai/Japanese restaurant on Durham-Chapel Hill Road in the old Macaroni Grill location. Someone told me that the Raleigh location was awesome, and we thought it would be great to discover a new Asian place close to the house.
We went over there around 8pm. It was pretty empty when we arrived. We walked in to the front desk, and the woman behind the desk didn't even acknowledge our presence. She was doing something on the computer, and our arrival was not going to stop her from whatever she was doing. I stood there for a minute, looked at Mike, looked back at the woman and finally said, "Excuse me - may we have a table for two?" She then looked up, smiled, and said, "Sure." She came out from the desk and walked us over to a booth.
I must say that the interior of the building looks great. It has the same Macaroni Grill stone walls, but it works for the ambiance of a Thai/Japanese place. The colors were great - blacks, golds, reds, and the huge Buddha statue at the back of the room is striking. We were able to admire the decor for quite a while, as we didn't get any service for about 5 minutes or so. Several folks passed our table, but no one ever stopped. Eventually, a guy came out from the back and asked if we would like something to drink.
Mike asked what was in the "Shabatini", which I assume is the restaurant's signature drink. The waiter had no clue. He had to go ask the bartender. When he came back, his response was something like, "It can be made with rum or vodka and it has some pineapple and cranberry juice." Wow. Sounds awesome. Mike decided to pass and ordered a "Saketini" instead. I got a glass of plum wine. They brought us some water while we waited on our drinks, and the water came in some trendy rectangular shaped glasses. We finally got our drinks, and the saketini had a really nice presentation - great glassware and some shaved ginger in the glass. The drink was fine, but not WOW. My plum wine was, well, plum wine.
Mike and I decided to order fairly light, so we each got a salad (he a house salad with the ginger dressing and me a seaweed salad), and we both ordered a couple of sushi rolls. The salads came out quickly and had beautiful presentation. We also received our sushi shortly after, and that too was fairly good. Nothing was awesome, but it also wasn't bad.
The part that was bad was the check. For the price we paid, we easily could have gone to Kanki (a Brady favorite), done the fix priced menu at Vin Rouge or even Rue Cler - yet the food wasn't nearly as exciting. Would I go back to Shaba Shabu? Maybe. As the folks at Carpe Durham put it, "we’d go back if someone else was paying." (click on the Carpe Durham link to read their review and see some pics)
I'm on the fence about this place. I would like to meet the ladies out for some drinks and get one of the cool traditional seating tables in the middle of the restaurant sometime, but that's about it. Saturday may have been my first and last trip to Shaba Shabu! The service kinks will hopefully get worked out - but the pricing just isn't worth what you get. I'll take Mt Fuji over Shaba.
We went over there around 8pm. It was pretty empty when we arrived. We walked in to the front desk, and the woman behind the desk didn't even acknowledge our presence. She was doing something on the computer, and our arrival was not going to stop her from whatever she was doing. I stood there for a minute, looked at Mike, looked back at the woman and finally said, "Excuse me - may we have a table for two?" She then looked up, smiled, and said, "Sure." She came out from the desk and walked us over to a booth.
I must say that the interior of the building looks great. It has the same Macaroni Grill stone walls, but it works for the ambiance of a Thai/Japanese place. The colors were great - blacks, golds, reds, and the huge Buddha statue at the back of the room is striking. We were able to admire the decor for quite a while, as we didn't get any service for about 5 minutes or so. Several folks passed our table, but no one ever stopped. Eventually, a guy came out from the back and asked if we would like something to drink.
Mike asked what was in the "Shabatini", which I assume is the restaurant's signature drink. The waiter had no clue. He had to go ask the bartender. When he came back, his response was something like, "It can be made with rum or vodka and it has some pineapple and cranberry juice." Wow. Sounds awesome. Mike decided to pass and ordered a "Saketini" instead. I got a glass of plum wine. They brought us some water while we waited on our drinks, and the water came in some trendy rectangular shaped glasses. We finally got our drinks, and the saketini had a really nice presentation - great glassware and some shaved ginger in the glass. The drink was fine, but not WOW. My plum wine was, well, plum wine.
Mike and I decided to order fairly light, so we each got a salad (he a house salad with the ginger dressing and me a seaweed salad), and we both ordered a couple of sushi rolls. The salads came out quickly and had beautiful presentation. We also received our sushi shortly after, and that too was fairly good. Nothing was awesome, but it also wasn't bad.
The part that was bad was the check. For the price we paid, we easily could have gone to Kanki (a Brady favorite), done the fix priced menu at Vin Rouge or even Rue Cler - yet the food wasn't nearly as exciting. Would I go back to Shaba Shabu? Maybe. As the folks at Carpe Durham put it, "we’d go back if someone else was paying." (click on the Carpe Durham link to read their review and see some pics)
I'm on the fence about this place. I would like to meet the ladies out for some drinks and get one of the cool traditional seating tables in the middle of the restaurant sometime, but that's about it. Saturday may have been my first and last trip to Shaba Shabu! The service kinks will hopefully get worked out - but the pricing just isn't worth what you get. I'll take Mt Fuji over Shaba.
5.19.2009
5.12.2009
VACATION
I am signing off for a few days, fellow readers. My Mom's birthday is this week, and it is time to celebrate. She's turning 60, and I wanted to treat her to something extra special. That means tomorrow I will be meeting Mom in Orlando to take her to Disney World on her birthday. The day after, we will be heading off to Cocoa Beach. It is a whirlwind trip, but I hope she has a lovely birthday.
Will be back soon with photos!
Doughman hEArTS Durham!
eat local, drink local, be local.
THE foodie festival of Durham!!! Buy your tickets at www.doughman.org NOW. There are only a few left. Some amazing restaurants and breweries will be present with their best foods and brews. $20 covers your food, your drink, and entertainment at the banquet. 6-10pm, Durham Farmers Market. BE THERE.
Vendors include:
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5.08.2009
What I learned from my first Half-Marathon
Running on Race Day - I think this was around Mile 6??1) Hard work pays off. (I really needed to learn this lesson.)
2) Rest days are just as important as the days where you push yourself. We need rest to nurse injuries and just to give ourselves a break.
3) Running with a friend (or two!) is a million times better than running alone. They push you, you push them, and you have someone to share the pain with.
4) Have a plan and follow it. It takes out all the guess work, and you know exactly what you need to do each day.
5) Having the proper equipment to succeed is absolutely necessary! (getting the right shoes made my pain go away and stay away.)
6) When someone asks you to do something crazy, say YES. (I never would have attempted this on my own - but thanks to Mer asking me to participate, I accomplished something truly awesome!)
7) We have the potential to do so much more than we think we can. (I thought this was a crazy quest - turns out I am fully capable of running 13.1 miles!)
8) Spandex, when used in the correct setting, can be your best friend. No thigh chafing here!
9) Morning workouts suck. (I have confirmed that working out in the morning does not work well for me.)
10) Regular exercise improves your mood, your health and your psyche. (Although I never lost much weight, I definitely reshaped my body. I was also in a great mood more often than not.)
11) Advil is a miracle drug.
12) Runners come in all shapes and sizes - there are plenty of us out there pounding the pavement that are not shaped like upright gazelles. Don't let your size stop you from running.
13) If you plan on running to lose weight, you need to change your diet, too. On average, you burn 100 calories for every mile you run. So, while you are toning your body and getting muscle definition, you aren't shedding calories at a crazy rate. Running alone will probably not shed much weight off you.
14) Running in the rain is pretty awesome.
15) You perform a lot better in a race than you do on a normal run at home. Running with others is fun and exciting!
That's all I got for now.......
But truly, race day was awesome. The Grandover Resort was lovely - the indoor pool and hot tub were a fantastic distraction the afternoon before the race. Olive Garden did not disappoint for our carbtastic dinner the night before. The race itself was great. The course was rolling, but not crazy hilly. It was a fantastic first experience for a half marathon. I can't believe I did it, but I did. Huge thanks to Lauren and Meredith for being awesome training partners. I am so proud of us!
5.04.2009
WE DID IT
WE DID IT
2 hours, 30 minutes and 33 seconds
2 hours, 30 minutes and 33 seconds
More to come once I am able to fully process the awesomeness that was Saturday!!
5.01.2009
Running Log: RACE DAY
Tomorrow is race day, folks. It has been a long four months getting here. Please send good vibes towards High Point tomorrow. We start at 7am. By this time tomorrow, I will be in the Red Oak Beer tent celebrating my first ever half marathon!!!!
HOLY CRAP!
PS - Yesterday I went out to Duke's East Campus for a quick run. I checked my training log, and back in January when I started running, it took me about 11:30 per mile. Yesterday I decided to gun it and run it fast - not so fast I couldn't finish, but I ran fast enough to really push myself. 9:19 per mile. Not too shabby.
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