Holiday Weekend Edition.

Thanksgiving was lovely. We had a glorious time cooking and ushering in the warmth and glow of the collective Holiday season that is now upon us. We brined a 20 pound Turkey over night, which produced succulent meat indeed. We cooked stuffing, and sweet potatoes, gravy, and pies. We had a house full of guests. It was lots of time together in the kitchen and at home as a family and with friends. Just as a holiday should be. And naturally, the only picture we have to show from it, is the one I took of the stuffing as I was posting the recipe to In Our Mix. Go figure.



The day after Thanksgiving while I was dreaming of my people back in the States doing Black Friday shopping, I took a bit of consolation in a Skyped phone call with my mother in Egypt while we cyber shopped together. It was a lovely way to spend two hours. Let's do it again next year mom!



But we did get to carry out one favorite after-Thanksgiving tradition as the Boys Scouts on base spared us the agony of a fake Christmas tree by importing 90 fresh trees from Oregon. We headed over to their sale Friday morning, and walked ourselves home a mini version of Christmas delight. Friday night was once again spent ushering in the joys of the new season.


(Is it okay that we don't require pants while decorating for Christmas?!)

Saturday I braved an incredible face wind (sort of like a head wind, only this one describes the situation when the wind blows directly and primarily in your face) and a rain/snow combo to complete my 10-mile run as promised. My foot went along with the program, and I am indebted to it indeed. I really wanted to run, so I'm glad my foot didn't stop me. But I was also really glad when it was over and I was back inside.

But the children needed an outing and it was a day ending in 9 (as in Nov. 29th), which meant right outside of the gates it was a "Market Day". The girls and I have gone several times, but the boys had never come with us. We ventured out into the cold to see what kind of Korean delights we might stumble across.

George scored this hat. Major Earnest is not entirely convinced that it was a good purchase. He is our ever vigilant fashion police, and this one barely scraped by.

But the girls' strawberry hats and scarves were completely endorsed and even bargained for by their loving father. When I walked up to the table and saw them, I knew I really wanted to buy them, but I said to Major Earnest I just wasn't sure I had enough fight in me to get them for a reasonable price. He just said to me, "How much do you want them for? I'm in the mood for a fight." And he totally got us a bargain indeed. (At which point I totally got a crush on him all over again.)

Of course, I think we are much stronger bargainers when we have our token blondes with us.

The next set of pictures we like to call: "Where Did Baby Jesus Go?"

So, as we brace ourselves for the realities of a Monday morning, we will treasure the time we were able to spend together for Thanksgiving. And as I may at times express a lack of enthusiasm for Korea, don't ever misunderstand that I am infinitely grateful to be together with Major Earnest and all of our children in the warmth and comfort of our home. Because one lesson I have sufficiently learned is, home is where your family is. And I am grateful indeed.

17 more days!!

Until I get to eat lunch of chocolate chip cookies, or peanut butter cup cookies. Whichever! I can hardly wait. And I can see that it has served as an added training incentive. Each run is dedicated to getting myself one day closer to a treat. I don't know if that's the right attitude or not, but I'm totally excited nonetheless.

It's just Henry is really loving the fact that he can have treats, and I can't. Like tonight, it was $1 scoop night at Baskin Robbins. We let everyone get their favorite flav, then we all sat around chatting at the food court. Henry casually says, "Hey mom, isn't this your favorite flavor? " And I said, "yeah, it's one of my favorite." And then he says, "I'll let you have a bite....  Oh yeah, just kidding, you can't eat any treats!"

And he thinks he's totally funny.

Today's run was less than inspiring except for the fact that it was tropical by comparison to Thursday's run. Thursday's run was during a snow storm, but I didn't let it stop me from completing 8.1 miles. The snow didn't stick to anything except my body, so I was pretty cold and wet by the end. And yet, it was still an inspiring run.

I have learned that sometimes adversity makes me bring out my A-game.

One thing I believe is universal about dedicated runners, and that is, we are all expert running- injury-diagnosers. My run today was mostly spent confirming a diagnosis I gave to myself about two weeks ago.

Two weeks ago I diagnosed myself with Plantar Fasciitis. It has something to do with nerve damage in the heel of your foot. Darin has been suffering from it for about 3 years, so I had him to validate my suspicions. I think I said something like, "I would rather turn into a cow than have Plantar Fasciitis." At which point I may, or may not have been guilty of being a drama queen.

So I scaled back my running over a few days, and had Darin teach me some physical therapy tricks, and I really thought I had been healed.

But today was a bit of a set back. So that's mostly what I have to say about today's run. But, I did it, and that's all that counts right now. And I will be running 10 miles on Saturday. So my foot better get better.

And while it was winter last Thursday, today was a glorious fall day. One that reminded me of the lovely pumpkin soup terrine that Darin carried back in his luggage from Florida (if that isn't true love, I don't know what is!):



And the delicious dinner of pumpkin soup and spinach salad that it prompted me to make last week.



And the lovely fall weather reminded me that I never mentioned our Veteran's Day trip to Nami Island where our friend Travis captured some beautiful snippets of fall:

Travis took no less than 700 pictures that day!  I should just make a post about Nami Island all of it's own...  

So, there you have it.  A running update, a treat update, and images of fall here in the Republic.  

Now it's time to focus on Thanksgiving! 

Rachel in all her humility...

Dubbed it "Unofficial World Race Day". But I'm just wondering, who's in charge of saying if something is official versus unofficial. Because if nobody's in charge of that, I think it should be called "Official World Race Day".

(Henry and George with best friend Cole and Jack getting their first race experience back in 2006)



My sister Rachel is going to run the Rose Bowl 1/2 Marathon on December 13th. My brother Zack is going to join her, and I can't.

Finish line, LA Marathon March 2006

Christine Z., Annee, Zack Z., Rachel Z.

Just how a finish line should be.

So, I will be having a satellite race here in Korea on December 13th. Perhaps an event switches from unofficial to official once there are more than three participants?! In that case, I'm happy to report that I have racer #2 looking to pre-register here in Korea (consider yourself registered Sariah. There is no backing out now!). My friend Liz will be racing in Northern California. Sara B., will you be running with us still?

My friend Diana, in support of the event, has already mailed me my finish line mylar blanket to be wrapped up in when the 1/2 is over. And there is even some speculation about a t-shirt. So things are really shaping up.

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are my biggest training days. Those are the days that I hit the pavement outside. The rest of the time I hit the treadmill with Jane and Ruby bubbling in and out of the room as I run. But you do what you got to do when there is a race to prepare for.

The treats remain off limits until then. But let me tell you, the after race lunch is going to consist of: Peanut M&M, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and hot fudge sundaes for dessert. So if that interests you locally, you better start your training as well.

Three things about Tuesday's training run:

1. It was 32 degrees and windy. So that counts as my official first winter run. It's hard to get used to, but invigorating once you thaw out.

The always freezing Pueblo 1/2 Marathon

1st Saturday in December, 2006.



2. I ran past bullet shells. I wondered why, and I almost collected a whole handful, but then I just decided, some mysteries are best left unsolved.

3. I ran right past some jets landing on the runway. I would mention what type of Air Force jet, but I would hate to expose my lack of Air Force knowledge. And while I'm usually oblivious to jet excitement, I have to say there was something very thrilling about running, literally right next to those jets as they were landing.

So 26 more days until the big event. I will be trying to post training reports on a weekly basis. My intent is to stir up the enthusiasm. Perhaps with enough encouragement I will have my whole family at least running "with" me that day.

St. George Marathon Finish Line

October 2007

Mom, Annee, Rachel, and Dad.


So the question is, will anyone else join me?

To blog more often.

Because I do believe there is value in it.

Before Darin came home, when it was Saturday, which felt like mile 22 of a 26.2 mile race. As in, so close, but clearly not close enough to be done, we were needing some distraction and fresh air. I had heard of a hiking trail not far from our house, so we decided to find it.

We were actually on our way home from the fabric store, so we were in fact not dressed for a hike. But sometimes you must simply pull the car over and hike for goodness sake, prepared or not. It was just what the children needed (and maybe their mother too).





Some funny things about the hike...The girls got photographed again. Because Koreans like blonde hair. The hiking trail was laced with designated exercise spots with built in equipment. Koreans love to hike and exercise. The combination of the two, a dreamy idea for them. We found a little pagoda hut at the top of a hill. Koreans love little pagodas scattered about their hiking trails, we've seen it other places as well. At the top, I was slightly shocked to look out and see the scene. I had never realized before how metropolitan my neighborhood is. It doesn't really feel that way to me, but from the sight of it from above, it looks rather city-like.









In other news, I called my sister today in crisis. A plate of homemade chocolate chunk cookies was staring me in the face as I cleaned the kitchen this morning. It seemed as if they had been left there with the specific task to make me eat one. I came very close, but before eating one decided to call Rachel and ask her permission.

I said, "Hi, it's me. What are you doing?"

She said, "Eating dinner."

I said, "Is it dinner of chocolate chip cookies?"

And she said "No, it is not."

And I said, "Because I think I should eat a chocolate chip cookie."

And she said, "No, you really shouldn't. What good would come of it?"


And just like that, the crisis was averted.



Also, today, I have learned two things.




1. All the summer dresses must be put away NOW. As long as they remain in the closet, I will fight the same fight every.single.morning. That fight about how they want to wear a spaghetti strapped sundress, and how I think it is no longer appropriate. So after lunch today we bought a bin, and after I finish this post, all inappropriate dresses will be removed from the closet.



2. I discovered another reason I don't like Barbie stuff. All day long Jane has been Lacey, and Ruby has been Courtney. So named because we recently purchased the Barbie Diamond Castle movie. I'm sorry if it offends anyone, but honestly, the names Lacey and Courtney ruin my day. Especially hearing my cutely named daughters Jane and Ruby, substituting their names for such. Perhaps I should write a letter to Matel requesting a new naming strategy in the upcoming movies? When we thought we had lost Ruby this afternoon at the BX Jane went running about yelling "Courtney!!" and then she said to me, "Mom, we can not leave without Courtney." And I'm like, "Oh yes we can, we don't have anyone named Courtney in our family. Now if Ruby wants to come home with us, I would like that."


We came home with Ruby, but somehow Courtney is back too.



Oh well, I'm off to hide a whole bin full of clothes. I hope it helps me win more fights tomorrow!

After 40 days and 40 nights...

He came home!

And I am beside myself with joy. To celebrate, the boys insisted upon a party (as if that was a hard sell.). So we partied tonight. The treat fast came to an end. Our dreamy Fudgy Cake was baked. Oh, and fresh whipped cream was whipped up. Fudgy Cake never tasted so good, and that's hard to imagine because under normal circumstances it melts in your mouth.

Here is the recipe:

Mix #1:
1 c. flour
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
3 T. butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

Mix #2:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. white sugar
3 T. cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/4 c. boiling water

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a 9" square baking dish. Combine dry ingredients from Mix #1. Add liquid ingredients & blend well. Pour into baking dish. Combine Mix #2 ingredients except water. Sprinkle evenly over top of Mix #1 in dish. Pour boiling water over evenly (don't mix). Bake 40 minutes. Serve hot with ice cream or whipped cream.


But while you are busy baking yourself some Fudgy Cake, the treat fast resumes. From my second 1/2 marathon in Boise, which prompted me to run my first full marathon in Salt Lake City, my sister Rachel has been my ever faithful companion. She has been at all of my races, except for the Durango marathon (I'm sure she wanted to be). Anyway, we are going to race together again. She will run the Pasadena Rose Bowl 1/2 Marathon in December. With my whole body and soul I want to be with her, but circumstances will prevent that. To show solidarity, I will be running a solo race here on Osan Air Base on the same day. The details are being worked out, but it's sure to be a great event. I'll be wearing race number 1, so it will be hard to miss me. Rachel is the one who inspired me to go this long without treats, and she is going to continue on until race day. So I will too. (However, if Darin bakes a pie from scratch on Thanksgiving, which is highly likely, I will eat a piece).

Good bye to our 40 lonely days and nights. Hello to celebrating family togetherness and the joy of being in love. It's never easy to sail the ship alone, but we do tend to come away from these experiences a little bit stronger and more humble.

Enjoy the Fudgy Cake. I've got Major Earnest now to distract me from eating treats! Good night.

Those were the days...

I had to steel this photo from my sister's blog. (I left all of our vintage family photos in storage.) Please enjoy this glimpse of Halloween circa 1989.