ummm

Very civilized, having a very nice glass of vino. Pause. Slurp... hmmm listening to some random tunes (toones). Pink I think... I just vacuumed the whole house with my i-pod plugged in. Gave me incredible energy. Still vibrating I think (get your mind out of the gutter). Who vacuums on a sunday?? me... that's a whole other topic. Day of rest and all. Oh yes, POSITIVELY VIBRATING. Really must try running with this little beast in my head. Usually I plug in the ear buds and leave it off. Like to keep the wind out, but the sounds of predators behind me at a decent level. Or I turn on the tunes once I run out of (no pun intended) self motivation.

I almost forgot!

Due to the overwhelming response... COFFEE CAKE

Cinnamon coffee cake

Makes 12 slices

Serve this easy-to-make, extra-moist cake with fresh fruit for any meal at any time of day.

Ingredients

250 mL (1 cup) low-fat plain yogurt
5 mL (1 tsp) baking soda
50 mL (1⁄4 cup) soft margarine
250 mL (1 cup) lightly packed brown sugar
1 egg
5 mL 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
375 mL (1 1⁄2 cups) all-purpose flour
10 mL (2 tsp) baking powder
Topping

125 mL (1⁄2 cup) lightly packed brown sugar
15 mL (1 tbsp) cinnamon
Directions

In small bowl, combine yogurt and baking soda, mixing well; set aside. (Mixture will increase in volume.)
In large mixing bowl, beat margarine with sugar until well mixed.
Add egg and vanilla; beat well, about 2 minutes.
Mix flour and baking powder; add to margarine mixture alternately with yogurt mixture, making 3 additions of dry and 2 of wet.
Spread half the batter in greased and floured 2.5L (9-inch) square cake pan.
Topping: Combine sugar and cinnamon, mixing well. Sprinkle half over batter in pan. Cover with remaining batter. Sprinkle with remaining topping.
Bake in 180°C (350°F) oven for 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.
Let cool for 10 to 15 minutes in pan.
Cut into squares.
MAKE AHEAD: Wrap in foil or plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 1 month.

Nutrition information per serving
(1 slice)

Calories: 198
Protein: 3 g
Total fat: 5 g
Saturated fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 16 mg
Carbohydrate: 36 g
Fibre: 1 g
Sodium: 236 mg
Potassium: 156 mg
From Anne Lindsay’s Lighthearted at Home ©2010

And just like that. Party Over...

As Tim and I sat on the tarmac waiting to leave Chicago airport I realized how I desperately need to win the lottery. Don't get me wrong I don't mind working. I actually quite like my job. It's just really fun to do things you don't usually do, see places and just get away from it all. Even for a long weekend.

We had such a good time this weekend. I really don't know why Tim wanted to spoil it with such a long run on Sunday. but whatever. JUST KIDDING!! He did great and WOW what an amazing sport it is to be a spectator along with the other 1million people lining the streets to cheer on 40thousand runners!!! What an utter madhouse! Its not like any event I've every been to before. As a spectator you can't get anywhere near the start or finish line. The only option is to hop a train and go to various stops on the marathon route to cheer on your runner. And that we did. Five us were along as spectators. Four Women - and Bill. Bill - you are my hero (and Tim's running mentor no less). You should have seen the look on Bill's face when Tim showed up in the hotel lobby with a racer's bib that said "my motivation is. Bill." he was very touched. You see Bill broke his foot doing a race in August. But he earned it - it was an overtraining exercise. Nothing like a 900mile relay run from Headingley to Calgary (to raise money for Haiti) to put just a little strain on the bones in motion! Not that it has stopped him mind you. Bill on crutches is faster than most people on two good legs. Apparently he entertained the idea of doing the marathon on crutches, but thought better of it in the end!

Tim finished the race - I must admit I was a little sceptical. My little energizer bunny certainly has the ability - but the Achilles tendon strain he's been dealing with has side lined him from months of training. Sheer determination brought him across the finish line - WOW! Too bad his thighs hurt more than his tendon now. You should see him do stairs, I wonder if he'd let me video tape it? Just for fun LOL?? Poor guy could have used a wheelchair in the airport. He says the tendon actually doesn't hurt that much since he did the marathon. What?? Ya, personally I think all the swelling together with the reduced range of motion and all the pain in his thighs is masking the pain he should be feeling.

The atmosphere this weekend had me really choked up. Watching people reunite with loved ones after the race, hearing all the race chatter and just being a part of it was awesome. Ever since I started skating I've loved coming across the line. The couple of 5 or 10km runs I've done are the same. Always a great sense of accomplishment - just me against me. I was talking to one of the guys wives this weekend, repeated the old "yup, before I'm 50, I'd like to do a marathon" speach. I don't know how many times I've said it. watching Tim work up to the distance has been very educational. Its not something you just fall into. It has to be intentional. Well, yesterday, with the greatest of intentions I signed up for the Winnipeg Police Service ½ Marathon on May 1st.

Wish me luck. Tim has already asked what my goal time is? I don't know. When am I going to start training? I don't know. What I do know is this marathon is put on by members of the Winnipeg Police Service - "Cops for Cancer". A cause near to my heart. At the end of the race you are handed your medal by a cancer survivor. That is one finish line I want to cross.

o my word!

I made the best coffee cake ever! Ok, truly i've never made coffee cake before, but if I had, I would have made it again. YKWIM??? It is so moist and delicious I could scarf the left overs right now! But that would be fine, cause not only is it amazing, it is heart smart, oh yeah, got the recipe off the Heart & Stroke Foundation website - plus I made it gluten free. How amazing am I? Truly, do you have to ask?? The girls loved it, Tim ate it and i, well you already know how i feel about it. MMMM, that and my amazing diet coke with something... in it. Life is truly good. LOL

Got so much done today, yet there is still more. Guess I'll miss out on thanks giving lunch at church tomorrow, still have stuff to do at home. Good thing for Samantha... she's gone vegan for a week - a "kingdom experiment" with youth. to see what its like to lose something you take for granted. Quite proud of her really - she's been sleeping on the floor with just a blanket, no pillow and hasn't eaten meat since Tuesday. That is quite a big deal for this meat-eatin family. Giving up on turkey right in front of her would be a little tough... maybe that's the point? Hmmm, something to think about.

You know Mandy is thinking of joining a sorority at Uni. I wasn't sure how i felt about it, you know, would she have time, could she afford it and all that. actually, it might be alright. Wow, aren't I mature, letting her make her own decisions.

And did I mention I ran 10km this am? Yup, I did, not too sore... something about being over 40, i've started stretching - every morning!!! Whatever - seems to help. What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. And then Tim... he's gearing up to run his marathon in Chi town next weekend. Too bad his achilles tendon is still making its presence felt, and felt and felt... I know he can finish the race - more power to him! I'll see him at the finish line!!