NBC Airs 2008 Ironman World Championships, Saturday

This Saturday (Dec. 13) from 2–4pm (Eastern), NBC will air coverage of the 2008 Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which recently took place in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 11th. I’m pretty excited to check out the coverage and get a glimpse of the race I’ll be competing in next October.

Speaking of which, plans are coming together nicely for the big trip. My parents have committed to making the trip with me, and we’ve already secured accommodations for the duration of our stay on the big island. Afterwards, we plan to travel to a few of the other islands. I’ve never been to Hawaii, so I’m excited to check it out. Of course I’m excited for the race, and the perhaps once in a lifetime chance to compete in the World Championships, but I’m most excited to swim in the ocean, lay on the beach and explore after the race.

My Christmas List

Following is my much-anticipated :) Christmas list. I put together my list last week, and then everything changed over the weekend. I went skate skiing for the first time, and pretty much fell in love with the sport. It was fast-paced, technique-driven, incredibly challenging, and a phenomenal cross-training workout. So now, all I really want is skate skies. I can just picture myself cruising around the groomed trails all winter long, taking occasional breaks in the warming hut to fuel up with hot chocolate and cookies. It's all about the hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Skate Skies

Depeche Mode, Music for the Masses (vinyl)
Eddie Bauer down comforter


Craft Thermal Split Finger Glove

North Face Ultra 104 GTX XCR trail running shoes

The Shock Doctrine, by Naomi Klein

North face booties

Title Nine Metro Sweater

Nick Drake, Pink Moon (vinyl)

Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides

Frivolous, Furry, and Faux: Meet My New Throw

This is, perhaps, the most frivolous item I’ve ever purchased. Last weekend, during one of the many after-Thanksgiving sales, I bought an Espresso “Faux-Fur Throw” from Pottery Barn. Just had to have it. Here are the details:

Soft and plush, our faux-fur throws are irresistible. The espresso, ivory and gray fog throws have a channel cut reminiscent of vintage mink coats; the frosted taupe has variegated coloring and a uniform plush hand. Dry-clean. 50 x 60". Imported.

It might be frivolous, but you can’t tell me it’s not practical. This thing is keeping me snuggly and warm in these quickly-approaching-below-zero temperatures. Plus it just feels so furry and luxurious, but in a faux, animal-friendly sort of way.

Plus I got an awesome discount on it. I couldn't resist. And I figure it will last a lifetime.

Vetting of the "First" Puppy

I love the cover of this week's New Yorker, entitled "Vetting," by Barry Blitt. Interestingly, Blitt is also the infamous cartoonist behind the previous controversial terrorist fist-jabbing cover ("The Politics of Fear" from the July 21 issue).

For this week's piece, Blitt drew Barack Obama "vetting" various dogs as he attempts to select the "first" puppy. Interesting, vetting also means to "submit an animal to examination by a veterinarian." Quite clever.

Legend of the Pickle

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to the tradition of hanging a glass pickle ornament from the Christmas Tree. Apparently, my friend's grandmother had always insisted on the custom. Although the origins of this supposedly German custom remain a bit sketchy, the widely practiced custom is as follows:

In old-world Germany, the last decoration placed on the tree was always a pickle, carefully hidden deep in the boughs. Legend has it that the observant child who found it on Christmas Day was blessed with a year of good fortune and a special gift.

When I explained the custom to my family last year, my mom and grandma just shook their heads and told me they had never heard of such a thing. This seems to only further imply sketchiness since my mom’s side of the family is very German, and there’s a huge contingency of German descendants in the Milwaukee area, which is where my ancestors immigrated. It seems that with all of that German ancestory around, my grandma would have picked up on something.

Sketchy origins aside, I like the idea behind the custom and must say I enjoy admiring a glass pickle hanging from the tree. It may not be an old-world German custom, but it’s mine now.

Oh, Christmas Tree

A Thankful Weekend

Over the past few years, I’ve gotten into the routine of spending the Thanksgiving holiday with Karen and her family, who have generously welcomed and introduced me to their family and traditions as I’ve been left family less by my nomadic brother and winter-bird parents! Although my parents were in Wisconsin this year for Thanksgiving Day, I decided to again spend the holiday with Karen and her family in Elmhurst.

I had a very nice time and definitely enjoyed the long weekend. On Wednesday evening, we arrived in Elmhurst, which is my favorite Chicago suburb (it has such small-town charm and character, great proximity to the city, and a wonderful sense of community) and also where my dad was born. We did the Annual Dan Gibbons 5k Turkey Trot on Thursday morning, which was huge event with thousands of runners pouring through the streets of Elmhurst (think: walkers and baby strollers lined up at the 6-minute/mile pace start). Weaving through the masses, Karen and I eventually caught up to and finished with her speedy 8-year-old niece Megan, and brother in law Brian.

Later in the day, we drove to Karen’s aunt and uncle’s house in Janesville, where we celebrated Thanksgiving with her extended family. I am not generally fan of Thanksgiving foods (turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, you name it), but the meal was pretty tasty. I particularly liked the mashed potatoes and pecan pie. And of course the items I brought along—spinach artichoke dip and chewy gingerbread cookies, both of which were solid hits. I received several requests for my recipes that night, and obviously left proud as a peacock.

Other weekend highlights included running each morning with Karen and her friend Jeni on the Prairie Path (including a 16-mile marathon training run on Friday with plenty of uncomfortable stomach turkey jiggle), repeat shopping trips to Oakbrook (I took advantage of several good sales for myself. I always appreciate my own thoughtfulness), babysitting Karen’s nieces on Friday night (complete with a dance contest), and making ginger bread houses with Karen’s nieces at a family friend’s house (Allie and I pictured hard at work, above...I'm gonna be a damn good mom some day). All in all, a good weekend with great people. And lots to be thankful for.