Chili Blanco and on my new Tripod Status...Booyeah I'm a Nerd

This should be every indication that I have too much time on my hands. But then again you already knew that and maybe judged me for it. It’s been a great week in which I celebrated my 26^th Birthday on every possible occasion. Homemade sushi, sparkle cupcakes (no really) and also I floated down the river with 17 strangers and several good friends. All of whom were great sports in that they told me it was all in celebration of me and sang me Happy Birthday. Who could be so lucky. Floating the river, as it always is, was messy. Lost sunglasses, wet food and more than a few flipped inner tubes. Just the way it should be. Today I detoxed from it all with laundry and also I cooked, because that’s what you do when you watch the foodnetwork 4 to 5 hours per day. I started to make chili blanco, but half way in realized I didn’t have green chili’s, so abandoned it temporarily and started to make homemade caramel sauce for my Granny Smith’s and then realized I didn’t have brown sugar. So basically total success in that I completely failed. Abandoned all effort at productivity and settled in for my first experience of Jersey Shore. The marathon. And for that I have only three words. Tan. Gym. Laundry. Jersey was just put on my long list of places to visit. Mainly I want to experience a place where fist punching and over groomed men is the typical not the acception. I also feel dumber for watching it. Go Snooki go.

The chili blanco has been made as has the carmel sauce but its too late for me to eat it now. Also I took my Birthday present, my grandfather’s tripod, out to the park by our house and shot the moon. It was difficult getting the focus right, my composition might be muddled because I was like twisted in a knot trying to see into the viewfinder and by the time I finished I was dirty and out of breath but that’s just the altitude people. It was magical and worth every second of frustration. Also I think I need a filter to get the moon right. See Click for the results.

Chili Blanco is delicious, healthy and will feed 5/6 people as a main which means single me will be eating it all week. Or as long as I can make it last anyway! Thanks Murchisons for the recipe!

Chili Blanco Recipe

1 large white onion

3 cloves garlic

1 can each cannelloni beans & white beans

2 cans diced green chili’s

1 can chicken broth

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Salt, Pepper, Red Chili Flakes and Cumin to taste

Garnish with sour cream and cilantro

Optional Jack Cheese for added yum factor

Poach the chicken in a large pot while you chop then sautee the onion and garlic in olive oil in a separate pot. Add the beans, green chili, chicken broth and spices to the sautéed mixture and bring it to simmer for 30 minutes. While that simmers shred or chop the chicken and finally add it to the simmering mixture. The chili is thick with chicken so I suppose you could use less if you wanted. Garnish with cilantro, sour cream and cheese or add it in while it’s still cooking.

In other news I am volunteering at Wanderlust this coming weekend in Squaw Valley. So stay tuned for stories of yogic breakthroughs, and lulu lust. I’ll be wearing my “Spiritual Gangster” tank. I plan on it being a big hit.

13.1 Miles, Live it, Love it then take a cold bath in ice and get back on the horse!

Way back when, 2 years ago or so, some random weekend when I was probably residual drunk from the night before and KM was staying over for the weekend at my old apartment on the Embarcadero (living with Caro and Rusty the evil flesh tearing purse puppy…may he rest in peace. Actually I don’t know if he died yet but there are a few people with enough physical and emotional scars to hope he is. But that’s for another day) Kate was all do you want to do the Nike Women’s half marathon with me… she said “it’s supposed to be good and at the end they give you a TIFFANY NECKLACE.” – sold - . And I was like sure without even stopping to remind myself that while I had run a mile here and a mile there on the treadmill, road running 13 miles is really another ball game. So she entered us into the raffle which I pretended to be excited about meanwhile the whole time I was praying to sweet baby Jesus that we wouldn’t make it and then of course we made it. So we started training long distance together. We had a motivational excel spreadsheet with the miles we ran through the week and a pump song to go with it and every Friday Kate would drive down from Sacramento for the weekend and we would do a run together on the Embarcadero. One time we went for a really long run in Golden Gate Park (9 miles maybe?) and then within 45 minutes of finishing went to go drinking on a sailboat on the bay for the day. I would council against this – long runs make you a lightweight and also a little bit nauseous – Anyway those runs on the Embarcadero are some of my favorite memories. The happy hour crowds we would pass longingly at the ferry building and Americano, the water on our right the city scape on our left. When we moved into Casa Hot Mess in Nob Hill we trained at the Lyron street steps which is probably the most stunning place to inflict physical pain upon yourself. I miss them and the opportunity we had to catch up on our week while walking that mofo of a hill on Pacific. But enough of the nostalgia. Kate has apparently recovered from it and is doing it again with CS, LM and LG and I am pretty sure they've stepped up the training for this one.

I can't be there to cheer them on even though they try every time I see them to sell it as a great way to celebrate my Birthday. The truth is I have been on the road for over two weeks now and I have laundry to do for days, plus I miss Tahoe a little bit. Can you imagine! Anyway doesn't mean I won't be cheering you on from up North ladies! In fact I might even do a short run in solidarity since I intend to take it up again. Just stay on the look out for the news story "Girl passes out from running 3.1 miles at altitude along the Truckee river in Tahoe city... is rescued by gorgeous fireman who happened to be mountain biking by after just receiving news of substantial inheritance from very wealthy previously unknown deceased Great Uncle. The soon to be married couple fell instantly in love after she awoke to him sitting at her bedside in the hospital. When asked where the couple will live he said "We will be sharing our time between the half dozen estates that my Great Uncle kept all over the world until we decide on a more permanent home, but I will continue to work on a volunteer basis where-ever they need me."

So good luck ladies, have fun! Drink the water when they have it and if they offer you chocolate at mile 12, it seems like a good idea but trust me...it's not.

*Image from Lululemon

Roadtrip: Adventures from the road, Journey to Mexico and Back

So the title of this blog was only to lure you in. There haven't been adventures per-say so much as my car hasn't broken down in the middle of nowhere, I haven't gotten lost, not even so much as a road rage incident to report. The 8 hour drive from Tahoe to Pasadena did get good after I bought a liter size "Starbucks something or other lite" somewhere on highway 5 sometime between hours 3 and 4 and despite it tasting worse than anything ever - like a frappucino laced with red-bull (my worst nightmare in a can) - I polished the thing off and less than 30 minutes later I was driving high on caffeine and what may have contained large or small traces of amphetamines singing along to Usher's "OMG" it's as good as on repeat on the radio so that's nice. I could have driven to Mexico if I had had another one. I love getting the caffeine shakes, so many good ideas come and go quicker than you can write them down to remember what they were and also it makes Highway 5 and all it's not beautiful scenery seem downright fascinating. Then hour 7 struck and I came down from my high. Twice I got tricked into listening to Christian music stations, in my defense some of their songs are really cleverly disguised as good rock and once I woke up from my sugar and caffeine induced hangover daze only to find I was mumbling along to words of a song that was in spanish. True I usually mumble along to songs in English that I know the words to but spanish radios getting really catchy!

It's been a whirlwind of cousins and long overdue visits to friends. "If it's Tuesday this must be San Clemente" (that is a clever reference to an amazing movie made in the 60's. I'll buy you a Starbucks frappe-amphetamine if you figure it out)

I'm off to bed only to wake up sore tomorrow from the kick ass yoga class I did this morning at The Yoga Loft in Manhattan Beach....we started with abs so you can only imagine how much the perfect non-hot mess of a teacher tortured us. Namaste people. Namaste.

*Image = Hint to above riddle

Okay so I really love grocery shopping. Does this make me a freak?

I mean I really really love it. Whole foods makes my heart beat faster and Trader Joes makes me smile. The Golden Nugget in Davis, well it makes me want to relocate there so it can be my neighborhood store. I mean this is not normal. I suffered terribly in 2008, living without a car on the Embarcadero when it was a regular thing for me to enter the gorgeous Safeway on King St. only to exit with way too much stuff to carry on the mile walk home. Tragedies of a first world girl I had to start taking only a hand basket in with me to ensure I wouldn't end up cabbing it 3.5 blocks. Sometimes I tricked my Dad into giving me a lift home after work but incidentally he never wanted to allow me the 2 hours I would, if I could have, chosen to spend going up and down each aisle. Squinting at the per measure costs, comparing prices and picking the perfectly ripe avocado. Enjoying the beautiful produce displays, talking up a storm with the butcher and after every aisles been visited doing a quick second round through just to fill in any late in the game grocery decisions. I told you...I seriously love it. Which is why I drove to the Safeway in Truckee when I was already in Tahoe City just to do the grocery shopping for this weekends 4th of July hostessing extravaganza I am doing. It's a shiny new Safeway and I've been looking forward to it all week long. Please don't judge. Thanks.

Anyway I'm off as my heart goes pitter patter - this maybe now for several reasons A. the impending grocery shopping trip B. The gorgeous firefighter that just walked into the internet cafe...in uniform C. The large coffee I drank - either way it's safe to say I am way overstimulated right now-

Signature Hot Mess…The Sunglass Tan and Other Adventures from this weekend

It’s going to take a little bronzer to even out my raccoon face and sunburnt nose but I’ve definitely had it worse. It’s been a busy week up here in Tahoe. When in doubt my line is “it’s the altitude people.” For example, I use this when breathing heavily after walking not that far on flat ground, during a hike, in defense of my after yoga nap, and more than a few times during what was one epic Saturday where LK and I rented bikes and made the roundtrip from Squaw Valley into Tahoe city for Bloody Mary’s and a lakeside lunch in the sun which turned into a mini pub crawl. We stopped at Fat Cat’s and Front Street Pizza on the Truckee river. Here’s a story maybe not funny I don’t know. Later that night while out on the Tahoe City Town! Playing a wild game of shuffle board a girl comes up to me and LK and is all “hey it’s Mojito and Dog Chase!” let me explain she was the bartender at one of our stops on the way home and those were the drinks she served us. I love being remembered as “Dog Chase.” Could I not have just ordered a Bloody Mary or like a Dirty Martini because I think I would rather be called either of those. Or Sex on the Beach or Shandy (Drink of the summer!!) So you get the point. Anyway LK and I pulled the Mana Loa hustle except instead of hoop shooting at Mana Loa we managed to win tequila shots at the shuffle board table in Pete N Peter’s. Truly a one off accident and made really good friends with a cab driver who took us into Tahoe City and home again at 4:30 in the morning. The short story we stopped by the Chevron to pick up snacks and we cruised around Tahoe City looking for the next scene. Special night whoa.

Also, if you haven’t yet, check out my new blog “Mya Clicks.” As soon as I get through my Australian back log I’ll get some photos of Tahoe up. A shout out to Mike, graphic designer and photographer extraordinaire, who helped me with the web design. I shouldn’t really do this because it makes me look all amateur and shit but take a look at his site, MPKelley.com it’s worth a gander. Also the snowboarding shots are actually him snowboarding and taking the photo at the same time. A little bit of amazing right there!

Peace people (that’s Tahoe talking) see you soon for the first in a series of “homework assignments” in which I make use of my unemployed time up here.

*Sign above is posted in Squaw Village. Is it just me?

Syd's is the new Nook: In which I eat an Everything Bagel w/ cream cheese 3 days in a row...as a second breakfast

It's just even when I go in determined not to do it someone else orders one and the delicious smell of toasted sesame and garlic wafts through the place and I am a goner. So I have been spending a little time here. I don't think they have noticed me lurking yet but I am not sure how much longer I can go unnoticed. The place is comfy, they play jazzy elevator music and through the back door I have a view of the parking lot and then the lake. Not too shabby. And it is still cold enough up here to justify this indoor, internet fiend behavior. Speaking of cold last night I went out with a new friend to take lake photos. The best part is my sad little Canon totally got to try on a new outfit. Check out the size of that lens. It's so big I am tilting forward while holding it. Also my hands are numb and toes too but it was worth it to get to play with all the awesome photography gear that I might be able to afford sometime in the next 16 years depending on how well I marry and how little I shop for clothing. I think I am finally ready to take the next step and start using a tripod. I realize this means some of you might not want to be seen with me in public but oh the things you can take with the a slow shutter speed!! Sorry I'll stop now. Anyway I have to remember not to smile till I can floss...I have seeds in my teeth. The really little tricky kind that you don't know are there until some gives you the awkward look where they can't help but stare and aren't sure whether to tell you that you have food fangs. I am just saying I would always tell you if you had food in your teeth, that's how you know I am a good friend. I'm off to do I don't really know what but I'll be back pretty soon, especially as long as I remain jobless.

This should take you back but if it doesn't please just reflect on the days when bell bottoms were in. Either decade is fine. Just do it.

So among other things that I have seen in the last 48 hours I just saw a "tan tattoo" on the mid-drift of a 16 year old girl. A heart shape. Remember the days of fake and baking with a heart shaped sticker on your hip bone. Well it's been years since I've done that. My little bro and I used to go together. Two middle eastern babies whose catch phrase used to be "we don't burn, we're middle eastern" and proceeded to NEVER wear sunscreen going to the tanning beds. Kurt under the guise of it was for some show or another. Me because we all know it makes your skin look better and also you look skinnier. No intervention needed we both hit rock bottom some years back. Me from a blister inducing sunburn (6 hours spring skiing Squaw with no sunscreen will get anyone) Kurt just gets blotchy these days. Well there I didn't mean to get off track. I also saw 16 year old legs with writing all over them. Signatures of friends. Messages that will go down the shower drain and be forgotten the way we forget a high-school crush or the tormenting days when getting asked to slow dance in Junior high (in the middle of the afternoon in the school cafeteria) was the most important thing in the world. School yearbooks and the moment of asking that soon to be forgotten crush if he would sign yours. Popular girls and the way we resented our parents but relied on them totally. Made their lives hell, snuck out of the house, missed curfew and got drunk on one and a half beers. These girls have it all before them but right now it's a tan tattoo and rereading crushes messages written in the yearbook. And I am going all high-school nostalgia on you which is so much worse than college nostalgia - don't you think so? - Anyway LK and I went stag to our Senior Prom. Why do I remember this particularly, because photos from this event just surfaced (along with the my highschool graduation photos that I had never seen till last week) We drove into the city together, vague remembrance of two Cal guys offering to take us on the way - LK do you remember this? - We danced and then stole our friends dates and took our photo, the two of us with 8 guys pretending to fawn over us. A better prom photo there is not. We joined the festivities back at the hotel with everyone else and in true high-school fashion everyone dropped like flies till it was LK and I drinking bud lights and smoking cigarettes on the hotel fire-escape, reflecting on the possibility that the world is bigger than we knew at the moment. At least I know we were hoping it was.

Anyway here I completely change the subject or I might literally write a book in which I go down memory lane. So twice in the last week I have been asked if I have a photography blog, this not because I was taking photos but because I was commenting on someone taking photos and it got me thinking, maybe my sidebar click could be it's own page. So I have done it. The link is at the top of the page and as soon and I figure out what is wrong with my photo formatting it will have some of my photos for your viewing pleasure or not. Also please note while laughing is encouraged while reading this blog my photos are not meant to induce laughter... usually. You know just in case. I take this stuff really seriously. Thanks. Bye.