While we were eating, I had a vegetarian chili simmering away.  We didn’t dig into it, so the reviews are to come . . .

the new kicks

I haven’t told many people that I’m in the Wacky 5K Run on Sunday.  I’m sure everyone would be tired hearing about another race. Since my 1st run in the hugely popular Shamrock Shuffle last year,  I’ve trained for an 8k, a 10k, a half-marathon and two 5ks. For someone that started running less than a year ago, that is a lot of races! And Sparky has been to every single one of them. He has waited in heat, rain, and snow at the finish line. I dream of the day where I’m the first to finish, so that he doesn’t have to wait in those extreme weather conditions. Alas, at the last race (a 5k) the first thing he said to me as I crossed the finish line was, “The first guy came in at 15 minutes! The guy next me was like, ‘No fucking way.’” My 9-9:30 minute mile clearly has room for improvement. And it definitely isn’t happening on Sunday, as my goal is to finish in 26 minutes – much faster than my tempo pace. But why not?

After that, I have a choice to make: register for another race or run just to run. I worry that I won’t continue running if I don’t have another race to train for. Otherwise, I plan on running the Chicago Spring Half Marathon in May with a training schedule for which I’m already behind.

But enough of that. I’m keeping my focus on Sunday. With a goal of 26 minutes, this is the better scenario of when it’s okay to be ahead of myself.

for a yummy southern-style brunch . . . in the Windy City

If Chicago were the home to the Oscars, I gather that most nominees would want to start their day at Wishbone. That was my thought this morning as I found myself sifting through their “Hair of the Poodle” drink menu. There were plenty of delicious options to help take the edge off or to keep the effects of the previous night away and at bay. I, myself, was in the latter group but definitely was not interested in any additional weekend alcohol. A Bloody Mary never sounded so wrong. I instead went with my Wishbone favorite Mississippi Mud - a tall glass of hot coffee sweetened with condensed milk. Before my breakfast came, I was plenty wired with a suppressed appetite to boot. Of course, like a good corn fed Midwesterner, I still ate.

With a brunch menu with traditional favorites – eggs, pancakes, etc – there is also a page filled with selections that fits in the WB’s  “Southern Reconstruction Cooking” theme. I chose the Crawfish Cakes with a roasted bell pepper hollandaise, home fry potatoes (I will never say no to a breakfast potato), eggs (over easy please!) and corn muffin. I brought home leftovers to Sparky, who smiled after a quick chomp.  He only faulted Wishbone with the fact that he wasn’t there to order his own brunch. I didn’t argue with him. Having Wishbone made me a lucky girl today.