In the world of Lysh

Who wakes up extra early and pays $30 to run over 5 miles on a holiday Thanksgiving morning? ME! Let's just say I made my goal and ran the entire thing without stopping in under an hour. Come to find out, the run was actually 5.5 miles and on part trail, part grass through the Golden Gate Park by the Polo Field. Although the weather was perfect, this will probably be my first and last Turkey Trot in SF if the trail remains the same.

I'm going to be pretty generic but I honestly am thankful for the following things:

• My health
• Amazing & supportive family & friends
• Loving boyfriend, Gary
• Roof over my head in San Rafael, CA
• Job at Kantola Productions & tutoring position at NHI
• Massage therapy education from NHI
• Clothes that I wear
• Food that I eat

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm grateful that my parents & step sister are coming up to see me tomorrow morning :)

video by Jason Hakala: 

When something I eat tastes really good, it sticks with me for a very long time and I rave about it to everyone. So, my co-worker brings in a bag of these Parmesan crackers a few weeks ago that she got from the Sausalito Farmers Market. (I actually like to call it a cookie since it has kind of like a shortbread cookie consistancy, but more lighter & airier). Anyway, ever since then, I could not stop thinking about & craving it! A week later she surprises me with Sweetface Bakery's business card, in which I email Lena right away asking how I can get ahold of this goodness. Unfortunately, she was done participating in farmers markets for this year, however, her company is so amazing that they deliver free in most areas in the Bay Area, including where I work in Mill Valley! So, yesterday she hand delivered a few bags of her infamous Parmesan crackers to me & my co-workers. Sooo good! I love it :)

I can't believe it's October already! Every year since we've been together, Gary & I have been something together for Halloween, where we make and put our own costumes together, rather than buying a pre-made one. We take turns picking out the ideas. Last year it was Gary's idea to be the movie Saw's Jigsaw & his victim, which we won Kate's house party's "best couple" costume contest. The year before, we were Mr. & Mrs. Claus. And the year before that, Curious George & the (wo)man in the yellow hat, which we won 3rd place in Element's costume contest. So, this year is my year & it's got to be good. Here are some ideas I have so far...

Jon & Kate Plus 8 (the children would be stuffed dolls/animals with printed pictures of the kids' faces that we lug around)

Sonic & Knuckles

Roger Rabbit & Jessica Rabbit

Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head

Toy Story's Woody & girlfriend

Toy Story's Woody & Buzz Lightyear

Feedback? Any other suggestions?

headache

busy

enough

sacrifice

fulfilling

stress

tension

tired

physical

mental

personal

work

school

tutor

sleep

independent

life

student

teacher

giver

help

love

relationship

Ever since I had the amazing pea soup with dungenous crab at Postrio, Venetian in Las Vegas, I've been crazing it more and more everyday! So, I took it in my own hands to make my own (It was actually Gary's idea since I've been nagging for it for 2 weeks)! We've successfully made soup before...cream of mushroom (in an earlier blog for the Iron Chef party), so we thought we could conquer another type. For our first time ever making pea soup, it came out pretty good, however, maybe just a tad bit too salty. Next time we need to use either less chicken broth or less peas (from being too thick).

Pea Soup garnished with Parmesan cheese & grilled cheese sandwich

Ingredients (4 servings)

3 cups peas (I just used frozen ones)

1/2 cup carrot

1 cup onion

1 minced garlic clove

4 cups chicken broth

salt

1 tbsp olive oil

Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a large pot, sautee onions, carrot, & garlic in olive oil. When onions are clear, add peas, chicken broth, & salt for taste. Bring to a boil & simmer for 1 1/2 hours (the longer, the better). Puree ingridients in a blender. Bring back to pot to heat & serve. Garnish with Parmesan cheese & enjoy with grilled cheese sandwich.

Surround yourself with people that make you a better person.

I am thankful for the people I have in my life. I also realize each one of them makes me a better person in some way or another. When I meet someone new, especially now since I'm in school & have been trying to network for future references, this is what I look for. How they can make me a better person, and hopefully even vice versa. Just something to think about...

I just pulled out my last 2 upper wisdom teeth on Monday. And boy, do I miss food. As everyone knows, 'I live to eat & not eat to live'. For the past 3 days I've been on a tofu, soft boiled egg, noodle, pasta, bread, soup diet & this I must say, has been one tough ride for me. The pain isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but Gary informed me I won't be able to eat "normal" for at least a week. I miss you, food. Mouth, please heal as fast as you can!