Thank You Universal Sports

The Universal Sports network, home of what most consider fringe sports (Downhill skiing, XC Skiing, running) all of which I love, actually aired the Crossvegas race on Sunday evening. The station also mentioned in a commercial that they will be airing the World Cyclocross Championships. So if you get a chance drop them a thank you email so we can hopefully get more of cross racing on the television in the future.

http://www.universalsports.com/CreateTicket.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23000

La Bocca della Verità (The Mouth of Truth)

This is pretty fun. Someone created a group on Flickr for people that had their picture take at the Mouth of Truth in Rome. It took Kelly and I a couple of days of searching, but we finally found it. http://www.flickr.com/groups/la_bocca_della_verit_/pool/

Belgian Frites!!

Kelly spent all afternoon cutting potatoes into 1 cm x 1 cm sticks for these Belgian Frites, and it took us about 3 minutes to eat them all!!

French Bread

Made some french bread this week. I used this recipe Still need to tweak the taste a bit, but they came out nice a crunchy. Still not as holey as you find in a bakery, but from what I read this is more due to limitations of baking in a residential kitchen than me following directions. At least that is what I am telling myself.

Annual Video of Bernie in the Snow

Snow Running

Went out for a run today in the snow. Not as nimble as this snow leapord, but trying to act like one. I think if I had the big tail like it does I might have a shot. My route took me through Riverside and with all the snow on the ground and the trees it made for a really beautuful backdrop. Running through some of the deep snow really is a full body workout, as you are always correcting to stay upright. I really enjoy the snow when I am using it for recreational pursuits, but trying to get anywhere becomes a big hassle.

Long time, no post

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. With the Holiday season it feels like yesterday that I was writing thawing out from Montrose writing my race report. So this is what I have been doing since then, in no particular order:

• Thankfully had an uneventful drive down to Louisville for Christmas (no snow or deer)
• Spent Christmas with my family in Louisville and learned I am not very good at Texas Hold em
• Kelly and I had our annual Holiday Thursday in the City and ate at Frontera Grill. May is that place good.
• Went to a couple of Christmas Parties with the in laws and Kelly's family
• Went to the Map Room a couple of times. Their beer menu is amazing!!
• Added peanut butter and cranberries to my banana bread recipe which I think are nice additions to the recipe
• Had a really fun New Years Eve, actually too much fun and was regretting it the next day
• I have been running 3-4 times a week, and signed up to run the Shamrock Shuffle in March
• Signed up to take the AICP exam to become a certified urban planner. Fortunately or Unfortunately depending on how you look at it I have the time to devote to studying for the exam right now.
• Made a bread with Semolina Flour
• Pickled Jalapenos (super hot) and Sweet and Spicy Pickles, and do have to say they are really good
• Tried to make fudge twice but couldn't get it to firm up correctly. I guess I just don't have my dad's touch for making fudge.
• And I also still have this going through me head. I think I may tape a copy of this photo to my handlebars to keep me motivated for next year. It is perfect that Nevada Dave can be seen in the foreground.

Photo by: Venicen

Even with my unemployment Kelly and I had a great 2008; spending a lot of time with family and friends, meeting some great new friends, visiting some really cool places, seeing some really great concerts, and I hope that 2009 brings more of the same, and of course a job for me :)