Do you know where your sitz bones are? Or technically the ischial tuberosity?

 

Today was our first bike ride of the season! It was a fabulous day! Original plan was a 5 mile hike at 7000 feet, but hubby wasn’t feeling good (according to WedMD he either has a urinary tract infection, hepatitis, kidney failure, fat cells or thyroid cancer). So we decided to stick at the 5000 level and do a 9 mile bike ride on level ground!

 

We arrive at the Barr Lake State Park, pay our $6 dollar entrance fee and then notice the sigh…

 

“Bikers: You will get a flat tire. Be Prepared unless you have puncture proof tires or the “goo” don’t ride."

 

Sigh…

 

We didn’t have any of that.

 

So we asked the nice lady where the closest location to get some “goo” was.

She said Walmart. Ugh. Middle of not where is bad enough but going into a scary Walmart…  It was all I envisioned and more. Had the teenager with the black eye, the hoochie with her belly shirt – but she was wearing a bra, but the back was too low to cover the strap, the obligatory no teeth crowd, and the losers that don’t know that aisles are used by more then just them and their family of 8. We found our “goo”. 2 kinds and skedaddle out of there!

 

We finally started our ride around 11am. It was really nice!The description in the book talked about something different, and it was!

You could see the snow on the mountains, the wide expanse of the lake, and tons of birds.

We did the loop counter clock wise, probably not the right way, but the way we chose!

We crossed the dam – tons of really really big fire ants! I pedaled my little heart out!

Next we rode next by the tracks – luckily no trains decided to come by!

At places it felt as if we were right at eye level with the water level – it was really neat!

We got off our bikes at around mile 8 to check out a board walk. It was all crooked and turned alot and ended at a gazebo! Great views! Getting back on the bikes was a might painful.

 

It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday! Not too crowded, not too far from home!

 

So far this evening I can feel my sitz bones if my pants slide over my butt the wrong way. Ooofa! I might have to take a ride tomorrow just to get my calluses in place for the summer to come! We did run to REI for the last 20 minutes of their annual sale with our dividend check in hand! We each got a new pair of biking shorts! Very stylish and wicking!

 

I also spent most of the evening cooking and prepping. I am having some friends over Monday night and I said do you want dinner or appetizers…  They said appetizers – that should be easier on you… Bah! I love to cook, so I have 6 things in the hopper for tomorrow. 2 of the dips are made, the frittata is cooling in the fridge, the other 2 have their dry ingredients measured and ready for mixing..  Recipes later in the week – along with the winners!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appetizer

When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

Definitely- unless they look like an axe murderer

Soup

Describe the flooring in your home.  Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

All wood on the first flood, big blocks for the stairs, and carpert from then on out.

Salad

Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Never neglect needlessly nifty noodles

Nine negative Nellies need nothing

Main Course

Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Yup! Old friends of the ex got a china baby, my realtor in Denver got a kasikstan baby, and my friends back in CA are expecting a Korean baby. All are thrilled to be able to have a  baby and make the world a better place for these children.

Dessert

Name 2 blue things.

My Kleenex box, and my shirt

 

This past weekend was a little something for him and a little something for me!

We sent to see Iron Man (that would be the him part) and it was really good! Robert Downy Junior was really good! The movie was good! Lots of action, not too much oh my goodness is he going to die, and not very much gooshy love stuff!

 

 

I really enjoyed it!

 

Then Sunday we went to the VIP evening of Chorus Line at the DCPA.

We arrived early to get our free drinks! Gotta love openbar! The dinner was not so bad! Although I think they use real cream and real butter cause my tummy decided to boycott half way thru the show (I know, TMI!) But I survived!

All in all the show was fabulous! I love Chorus Line and it was a joy to share it with hubby! He was surprised at how good it actually was! No intermission, but neat! He liked how it wasn’t about just 1 character. There is no main character, everyone gets a chance to “be the star”. So again, it’s a short run, but worth the time and money!

 

 

These 2 newest adventrues didn't rate moving along to the Make Again Recipe Binder, but the Cake was loved by everyone at work, so figured someone out there might also like it too!

Apple-Oat Upside Down Cake

Ingredients

3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup warm apple juice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup egg substitute or 2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, melted
 Cooking spray
1 cup packed brown sugar, divided
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Nutritional Information

CALORIES278(18% from fat); FAT 5.7g (sat 1.7g,mono 1.6g,poly 2g); PROTEIN 4.1g;CHOLESTEROL 4mg; CALCIUM 39mg; SODIUM 342mg; FIBER 1.8g; IRON 2.1mg;CARBOHYDRATE 53.1g

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Lamb Burgers

 

Serve with microwave-roasted potatoes: Toss quartered red-skinned potatoes with minced garlic, salt, and butter, and microwave on HIGH, covered, for 15 minutes or until tender.

Ingredients

1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound lean ground lamb
 Cooking spray
4 (2-ounce) hamburger buns, toasted
4 red leaf lettuce leaves
4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato

Nutritional Information

CALORIES 336(26% from fat); FAT 9.7g (sat 3.6g,mono 2.9g,poly 2g); PROTEIN 29.6g; CHOLESTEROL 79mg; CALCIUM 134mg; SODIUM 617mg; FIBER 2.3g; IRON 4.3mg; CARBOHYDRATE 30.9g

Appetizer

What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?

Captain Kangaroo and Casper the Friendly Ghost

Soup

Pretend you are about to get a new pet.  Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?

A French Bulldog – white, female! Hubby wants to name her Paco – get the pun?

I am thinking princess, tapas, rosa,  chianti – something that is not French!

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?

10 –I enjoy looking nice and feeling good about it

Main Course

What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?

If I remember – my ipod…  so every thing I’ve bought in the last year. Other than that  every day pop

Dessert

When was the last time you bought a clock?  And in which room did you put it?

1-2 years ago. Put it down in the studio! Have to know how long I’ve been playing in the mud!

It is official - I still live in Denver!

Yesterday I enjoyed a lovely happy hour on the deck of a local drinking establishment. I was in carpi's, a cute top, and little shoes.

Today I woke up to rain, which turned to snow during my walk to work, blowing, icky, snow!

So in case I was in doubt, I still live in Denver!

Saw this Saturday 9 meme at BlogGem

1. Who called you most recently?

Hubby - he just arrived in Vegas - called to say he loved me and missed me - ain't i a lucky gal?  :)

2. What was the most recent sports game you watched?
ick. none

3. Who is your most recent friend?
Leslie.

4. What was the most recent TV show you watched?
Law and Order – and it just jumped the shark – they let Ed Green leave… sigh. Replaced him with the annoying fella they tried out on SVU…  grrrrr…. .

5. What was the most recent music that you purchased?
Paradise – Ana Serrano… I Love it!

6. What were the most recent clothes that you purchased?
Bunch of stuff from J.Jill my new favorite store! Really good petite section!

7. Who most recently did you say “I love you” to?
Hubby.

8. Who did you most recently text?
I don’t text…  I know, I’m old!.

9. Who did you most recently kiss?
Hubby before he left for his trip to Vegas to work a convention. .

 

 

I tried this on Saturday night and basically cannibalized it into something super!

I cut the chicken before cooking into bite size pieces, didn't make it into a wrap, skipped the cucumber, cooked up the red pepper prior to the chicken and poured the sauce over the pepper and chicken and served it with rice! I was super yummy and received a once per week rating

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Ginger-Peanut Chicken-Salad Wraps

 

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
6 (4-ounce) skinned, boned chicken breast halves
1 cup chopped seeded peeled cucumber
3/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
8 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce

Tried another new din din on Sunday. Thought it might be similar to hubby's pasta arabiata from Italy.

It was not.  Too bad so sad.

I replaced spaghetti with rigatoni, did 1/2 pound of shrimp and doubled the garlic chili paste.

It was tasty but did not make it into our 1/month standard for staying in rotation.

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Crushed red pepper and chili paste with garlic add heat to the saucy shrimp.

Ingredients

8 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon bottled minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons chile paste with garlic
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

13 Weird Things about   (plus some extras)

1. Bide  (need i say more?)
   
2. TP Protector – in all hotels that had a little metal cover over the top of the tp holder
3. No peep holes in hotel doors
4. No plain jeans – all jeans have some large design on them
5. Prego means everything – it’s the universal word, hello, ok, come here, come on in, sit down, are you ready to order, thanks for paying…
6. No screens on the windows – we got eaten alive by misquitos in Florence and Venice
7. Nylons are like another pair of pants – everyone wears ones with patters, colors etc. Never bare legs
8. Hoochie skirts are ok – since they wear nylons!
9. Hi-heels on the cobble stones – I have no idea how they do it
10. They wouldn’t dream of drinking tap water, but will drink from public water fountains on the street
11. Restaurants basically open for 1 sitting.
12. Cappuccino prices – 1.50 – 4 euros…
13. Turn down usually includes setting out slippers
14. No alarm clocks – all rooms had a TV and that had the time on it
15. No secure locks on the hotel doors. No way to lock out everyone, maids, etc could get in at will
16. Vespas - again, need i say more?
    
17. Parking – why use the street when the sidewalk is right there!
18. Ch,ch,ch, caio  - they said goodbye at least 3, sometimes 7-10 times
19. The 24 hour clock. I never know what time things close.
    

 

13 Best Things about

1. Gelato
2. Great Wines
3. Gnocchi
4. Cabonara
5. Salami
6. Buffalo Mozzarella
7. English at upper crust hotels
8. Old Fashioned Stair Climbers
9. History comes to life
10. Cappuccino
11. Panini
12. It’s not
13. Public Transportation