the whole crazy thing

The world lost a great man this morning. Allison’s grandfather, Ronald Roth passed away peacefully in his sleep early this morning.Grandpa, as he was known to just about everyone except his two children was the perennial grandfather, discretely passing out cookies, and other sweets to all the grandchildren, and occasionally, lucky son-in-laws. He helped raise two children that are the most generous and caring people I know, a trait only surpassed by their own children. A man of few words, most of them wisecracks, Ron had a quick biting wit and a huge heart. He was always genuinely interested in what everyone had to say whether he agreed with it or not. Even in his last days, Ron was still in good spirits, dishing out wisecracks like someone a quarter his age. He spent his last days with his wife and children by his side, at home, predicting his peaceful overnight passing in an obituary that, in classic Ron fashion, he wrote himself. I can only hope that in my lifetime I am able to achieve the level of caring and love that Ron exhibited almost effortlessly. He will of course, be missed.

As the last daylight of 2011 fades away, I figured it was a good time to sit down and think back on the year. Turns out it was kinda busy. Luckily, I started the year taking pictures, and while that defintely tailed off towards the end of the year, I think I did a much better job of having the camera when it counted this year. So what happened this year? Read more »

I saw this article in the New York Times the other day and completely agreed with the author for once. Running advice has become too complicated. Everyone has an opinion these days on what you should wear on your body and feet, how your feet should hit the ground, and even how you should train. The bottom line is that everyone is different and part of any sport is listening to your body and learning what works for you. So what follows is the completely uncomplicated guide for new runners. I’ve distilled all the advice for you into non-BS straight talk. There is only one number in the entire guide, so remember it and remember to have fun. I didn’t link to podcasts because you won’t enjoy your run if you’re listening to music. Experience the place you live on foot, including all the sounds.

Clothing: Wear whatever is most comfortable for you. If you like your middle school gym shorts and they still fit, go for it. If you prefer capris, or a shirt and tie. That’s fine too. Once you start running, just remember you’ll get warm, so if you start cold, make sure you have layers underneath your outer clothing so you can strip down without becoming a streaker. Streaking is a completely different sport/pastime.

Footwear: Get fit at a reputable running store. You’ll know they are reputable if they put you on a treadmill and ask lots of questions about what you’ll be doing in them. They’ll also likely have a good return/exchange policy. Don’t get caught up in a philosophical debate about minimalist vs traditionalist shoes. Your shoes should feel like the home your feet never had. Describe what you are feeling to the person fitting you and ALWAYS try at least 3 models on so you can compare them. Your feet will tell you what philosophy you should follow.

Form: Run however feels most natural to you and only you. Your neuromuscular system is designed to optimize your movements for maximum efficiency. Some of the fastest elite runners have “bad” running form, but it’s efficient for their bodies. Your body will work these things out over time. I promise you won’t look like these guys.

Training: Start slow and run how you feel. Again, your body is good at letting you know when you’re tired. Turn around at the first sign of tiredness or before. Remember, most of the time that turn around will be your halfway point. Increase your distances and weekly mileage slowly. The 10% rule is somehow real and the only number in this post. Only increase weekly mileage or time by 10% and you’ll be fine. Varying run distances is a nice change up, but not required unless you are training for something specific.

Pain: Running can hurt, but it shouldn’t. Again, run how you feel. If you have sharp pain, take some time off, RICE , and if it keeps up see a doctor. In my experience if you get fit for shoes and build up slowly, running can be pain-free until you decide to race or start doing more serious speed work.

Other: Don’t read the internet, it’s a great source, but a book will help you get started way better than the depths of the internet. They’ve been better vetted that most folks on the internet (that includes me) and if nothing else, books end, unlike the internet, which will give you more time to run once you’ve read it. I started with this one, but if you get super into it The Lore of Running is effectively the running bible. Out of my entire shelf of running books, those are the two I keep referring back to when I have questions.

It’s hard to believe it has been almost a year since our wedding. So much and so little has happened since that sunny day in September. Our kitten is even considered a cat now. I will have more on this in a month, but i thought I’d at least share a photo sent by one of Allison’s sisters. It’s a good day we are a little more durable than dishtowels.

As we approach our 1 year anniversary, I’ve been looking at and thinking about our wedding a little less than 11 months ago. It’s amazing that it’s already been that long; in a lot of ways it feels like it’s only been a few weeks, maybe a month. One of these days maybe I’ll even order our wedding album (I made one as soon as we got the pictures but have yet to order it).

Any gift is nice to get, but I’ve been slowly realizing that wedding gifts are a little different. I definitely remember what items we own that were wedding gifts (most of them), but I also surprisingly remember who gave them to us. It’s sort of a funny phenomena, but whenever I go to use one of our wedding gifts in daily life, I almost always think of the person that gave that gift to us. In my mind I silently thank them again for giving us something that we are able to use often. Part of that is probably that we didn’t have very much stuff prior to our wedding, but it’s also just kind of nice to me at least, to think of all these people that celebrated our wedding in person or just in spirit.

I almost want to start a photo project of us using our wedding gifts, and maybe take polaroids (ok, Instax). I guess we could then do somethign with them — maybe even send them to the people that gave the to us. I’m sure folks might think it’s a little wierd, but when I give a gift, I give it with the intention that it will be used until it is worn out, broken, or otherwise unusable. It might even be cool to write a little haiku or something to go along with it. Anyways, now I’m wandering off topic.

The point I was trying to convey here was that it’s nice to use something and remember the person that gave it to you and it’s also nice to be remembered. So thanks anyone that sent wedding gifts, I can assure you they are all being well cared for, but also heavily used. But, even if you are not in that group, know you are being thought of, and even if we’re not in touch often enough I likely have not forgotten about you.

It’s been a while since I’ve used this space for more than pictures, and you know when it’s been a while since you’ve posted to your blog if your wife is telling you that she misses reading your blog. Apparently Allison likes to see how our exploits look through my grumpy, slightly sleep-deprived eyes.

So what’s new?

Oh, nothing and everything all at the same time. Work is the same and I choose not to discuss it here for various reasons, you can talk to me in person for an update on how work is going. The kitten has continued growing, as kittens should be expected to, although she has mostly filled out and not so much lengthened. It looks like we’ll have a kitten-sized cat for at least a little while longer.

I finally was able to find my GRE scores from oh so long ago and apparently it was a long time ago that I took that doggone test. My scores expire in early September, so now I need to study for a new test (it is revised as of next week) and frankly, I really don’t want to study right now. Maybe I’m afraid I won’t do well, maybe I’m just lazy, and maybe I enjoy watching *Star Trek Enterprise* and *Dollhouse* more than I enjoy remembering how bad I am at special right triangles and calculating percentages of inconsequential numbers.

The 365 project is stalled and I’ve finally decided to shelf it for now. It is an ambitious project, and I could finish it, but I’m been growing more and more dissatisfied with my photographs for the project. There have just been too many nights where I come home and take a picture of whatever I see around the apartment rather than taking a picture of something pertaining to my day. I see the project as a storytelling project, where each image tells a story about that day and I just don’t have any stories to tell right now. Between work and the gym, I we just don’t have a whole lot going on. The status quo does not make for a good story. Would you watch a movie where you someone just goes to work and goes to the gym on their way home? I didn’t think so. A story needs to be compelling, at least for a little while and my little photo stories were just not cutting it.

My current plan is to wait a little while and then begin the project from the beginning. We’ll be having some major changes to the status quo next year and that could be a good time to revisit and complete a 365 project. In the meantime, I’m keeping a list of other photography projects I’d like to do, so maybe I’ll start something different and more conducive to where I am right now.

Running-wise I’ve had a tough time of it. First I sprained my knee and then once I had finally started running, I sprained my ankle doing field work. It’s been three weeks and I’m guessing it’ll be at least one more before things are healed enough to start running again. I’m signed up for a half marathon in November, so I’m going to do everything in my power to stay healthy once my ankle recovers. Not being able to be even half as active as I usually am makes me extremely grumpy and being grumpy makes me grumpier, so this dang ankle thing better clear up fast before I start comtemplating sawing the thing off.

Well, I guess that’s all for now. I think I’ll be frequenting this space more often as I sit on my ass and feel sorry for myself, so look for updates at least more than once every few months.

That is homemade hamburger patties with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini with garlic and lime, and mixed greens with heirloom tomatoes.

The Zucchini is adapted from a Cook’s Illustrated recipe.

Allison was in Boston for the weekend, and arrived late monday night. I had planned to have something comforting and sweet for her after a long flight and realized that I hadn’t many gluten-free dessert-type items aside from muffins.

A quick virtual trip to several websites had me on my way to success. My ultimate goal was to create something akin to the famous and super delicious Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies. These cookies are amazing, but nowhere near gluten-free. I turned to my current standby for all things baking and checked King Arthur Flour. They of course have a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe, so using that as my base, away I went.

For a flour base, I decided to use the KAF version because it typically gives a nice smooth non-gritty final product.
Deviations: It seems like you can never have enough chocolate chips, so I used double the recommended amount (I halved the recipe aside from the chocolate chips). To provide some additional structure and add a little texture, I added some flaxseed meal. The lignin in flaxseeds provides a nice lattice that isn’t usually there in the absence of gluten. As a final deviation, I added some instant espresso powder (well it was a dark italian roast, but same difference), as that is one of the items that gives the Neiman Marcus recipe a nice whole flavor.

These cookies turned out soft, chewy, and full of chocolate chips. I swear you could sell them and nobody would notice the absence of gluten. We’re going to end up giving some of these cookies away to save ourselves from eating about a dozen each in 24 hours.

Recipe

I use a baking scale as I am a scientist at heart and that’s the only way to get consistent results. You can use google to convert to other measurements if you like.

Ingredients
4 oz soft unsalted butter
3 3/4 oz brown sugar
1 1/4 oz granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt (I used kosher)
1 large egg
5 1/4 oz Custom Flour Blend or use the KAF one
1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
12 oz chocolate chips (semi-sweet or bittersweet).
1 tsp flaxseed meal
1 1/2 tsp instant espresso powder (like starbucks via)
1 tsp gluten-free vanilla extract

1) Whisk together the Flour Blend, Flaxseed Meal, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, and and Xanthan Gum. [I always mix the dry ingredients first in a separate bowl, but this could also be step 3, after beating the butter/sugars and adding the egg.]

2) Beat in a stand mixer [or by hand if you like] the sugars, vanilla extract, salt and butter until fluffy.

2a) Beat in the egg, scraping the sides and bottom of the mixer bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is well mixed.

3) Beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, then add the espresso and the chocolate chips.

4) Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least an hour.

5) Preheat the oven to 350 F and using a cookie scoop, scoop the dough onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

6) Bake the cookies for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown.

7) Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to sit on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack.

Enjoy (hopefully) delicious cookies.