What goes with grilled cheese?

When I was a little kid, I hated tomato soup. Not the Andy Warhol version (which I happen to loooove, by the way), but real, actual, tomato soup. Even when I was a teenager, and then on to becoming an adult, I still hated it. In fact, I hated tomatoes, green onions, squash, green peppers, and milk.

I have very few memories of my childhood, but one of the most vivid memories I have is sitting at Miss Linda's Preschool with her daughter Amber, refusing to eat the tomato soup Miss Linda has so lovingly poured from a can, into a pan, and then my bowl. Tomato soup was nasty. Tomato soup just tasted like watery ketchup.

So, you ask, how can I be sitting at my table eating tomato soup right now WHEN I HATE, HATE, HATE IT?

I think the turning point might have been a couple years ago when I visited Chedd's. Chedd's specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, and they claim to have the best tomato basil bisque. Well...when you're eating a grilled cheese sandwich, you need something to dunk it in, and I knew that my free cup of water wouldn't do. So I ordered up myself a teeny tiny cup of tomato basil bisque (it was that or some sausage chowder something - gross!) and dipped one corner of my sandwich into the creamy redness. Holy taste explosion! It was awesome. That was a whole new bowl of soup for me, and I was hooked.

And ever since then, I eat tomato soup - even the boring out-of-a-can Campbell's variety when I don't have anything else handy. But only with a grilled cheese sandwich. Of course.

Help! I'm addicted!

I bought these last night at Whole Foods (yikes! look at all those calories!), and I can't stop eating them. I think you might have to come over to my house and pry them from my cold, dead hands. Or not - I doubt I'll die while eating them, but as Andy says, anything's possible.

I bought them because I wanted a snack to eat while I watched Mama Mia!, and the movie theater happened to be across from Whole Foods. I also happened to have to go there to buy Pero for Andy (a post for another day). I knew I liked these, but had forgotten how much I like them. Kind of like gummy Coke bottles. Man, I love those, but for some reason I always forget until I eat one, which isn't often because I don't buy them since I don't remember I like them. But with these, I eat and eat and eat until my jaw hurts and I'm all hopped up on the sugar. Oh, the sugary goodness...

By the way, I do NOT recommend Mama Mia!. Boo. Double-boo and two thumbs down. I have to say: Pierce Brosnan should just avoid singing. At all costs. The one good outcome of the movie: it did make me think back to my youth, when I'm pretty sure I had an album of Erasure singing ABBA songs. I seem to remember hearing them sing, "If you change your mind, I'm the first in line - honey I'm still free! Take a chance on me!" AnJ: am I right? I know you'll know...and if I'm right, do you still have the CD? I want it!

Good news

How appropriate that I hear this news from my Swedish friend Anna. I was beginning to think this day would never come. Oh happy day! Now if only it were here tomorrow...

Run Forrest, run!

A while back I wrote a post about how my mom had inspired me to start running. I tried to be like my mom and run for 20 minutes every day, but once my knees started hurting on the second day, I pretty much quit. So much for that inspiration; it lasted all of three days, and I decided maybe I'm not cut out to be a runner.

Despite the fact that I have bad knees and quit easily, I have always wanted to be a runner. And for a while now, I've wanted to to complete a 5K. I thought about signing up for a couple of them, and even started training using the Couch Potato to 5K training program. For lots of reasons (most of them quite lame), I never completed the training program, and never actually ran a 5K. In fact, the closest I've ever come was a couple of years ago, when Andy filmed a 5K and I rode next to him in the truck so he could film the runners. Now I'm not 100% clear on 5K rules, but I think that's considered cheating. I probably shouldn't have eaten the bagel and banana they provided to all the runners. And I probably didn't deserve the T-shirt. So I pushed the goal of actually running (or let's be honest - I'd settle for walking) a 5K way, way, far back into the nether regions of my mind, where it has sat dormant for several years now.

Then, a few weeks ago, Anna mentioned that she was training to run a 5K at the end of October. Hmmm...should I actually go for it this time? So I loaded up on some Glucosamine HCl (for optimum joint health and mobility), and pulled out the Couch Potato to 5K program. Last week, I officially started the program again. In fact, I specifically drove into work to use the "free" treadmill at the gym there. I say "free" because that's only if you don't count the gas I'm wasting driving 20 miles to use a treadmill.

This morning, Andy had the car, and I couldn't drive into work. So I figured, it was a beautiful fall day, I might as well run outside. Let's just say that was a little rough - running outside is nothing like running inside on a treadmill!

For starters, my watch was broken, so I carried my cell phone to keep time, so I would know that I was running for for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. Running for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. I guess the tight feeling in my chest and thoughts of dying a slow death being better than running for 1.5 minutes weren't enough of a clue to tell me I was running for 1.5 minutes/walking for 2 minutes. Not to mention the strange looks I got from all the skinny moms pushing their three children in one stroller, wondering why I was holding my phone open while running and panting like some crazed madwoman.

That phone really put a damper on my run; I couldn't carry my water bottle and my phone. I think people thought I was weird, leaning over a big puddle, gulping water for fear of dehydration. It was a little awkward. Those darn judgemental skinny moms.

Without a treadmill, I'm not very good at keeping the same pace, even if it's only for 1.5 minutes. Now that I think about it, maybe the low-hanging tree branch that whipped me in the face while I was looking down to check the time on my cell phone was what slowed me down. Or maybe it was the group of guys playing baseball, watching me run into a tree was what made me slow down. I can't really say for sure.

At any rate, I completed Week 2, Day 1 of training and I am writing this post to put it out there: I will be running/walking into tree branches, I mean in a 5K in October. I wish you could be there to yell "Run, Alicia, run!" on the sidelines.

PS: No, I did not really drink water from a puddle. I was so thirsty, I thought about it though.
PSS: I really have nothing against skinny moms; only when I'm running past them and they look so chipper and carefree, while I am dying a slow death running for 1.5 minutes.

Man on Wire

Because Andy's been so busy lately, we haven't had a chance to really see any movies. After things calmed down a bit, we decided we needed to fit in a couple of movies. Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything out there that we wanted to see that wasn't rated R. What to do? Thanks go Andy so diligently reading reviews for all movies in existence, we learned about a little documentary that was a PG-13 movie with the highest ratings - 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.


Since I was in charge of planning our date night, I decided we'd go see it. Man on Wire tells the story of Philippe Petit, a completely crazy Frenchman who decided to tightrope walk between the Twin Towers in the early 1970's. It was inspiring to watch him and his co-horts prepare and plan for this event, of course only to get arrested when it was all over.


I laughed, I cried, I gasped in terror, and stared in amazement as the incredible tightrope walker executed his lifelong dream. What a wonderful story of following your passion. If you're into documentaries (and French subtitles), I highly recommend this film.

My collection

Yesterday I posted about how I don't really have a collection. Yes, Stephanie, I am collecting the letter A - I'm glad you reminded me. Right now it only has three items, so it's a pretty sorry collection.

But when I looked in the fridge last night to decide what to make for dinner, I realized that I have started a collection of sorts. Apparently, I love and am currently collecting cheese. I have 11 different kinds of cheese in my fridge at the moment. They are, in alphabetical order:

• Babybel mini wheels
• Blue cheese
• Feta
• Laughing Cow light creamy swiss
• Laughing Cow light garlic & herb
• Mild cheddar
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan
• Sharp cheddar
• String cheese
• Swiss

Holy cheese wheel Batman! That is a heckuva lot of cheese. Andy has told me on several occasions that if I drank alcohol, I'd be a wine drinker. When I asked him why, he said because all I need to be happy is some bread, some good cheese, and some chocolate, and wine goes with those things. He's probably right. I don't know that this collection will keep too long - maybe I better look for something else to collect?

44 ODD things about Alicia

I got this in an email, and decided not to spam anyone with it. Anyone who cares reads my blog, so here you go. Feel free to do your own on your blog!

1. Do you like blue cheese? Love it and eat it sometimes, even though it gives me major headaches.
2. Have you ever smoked? No, but does it count if I wanted to at one point in time? Just once, to try it.
3. Do you own a gun? No, but I shot a few guns once and really liked it
4. What flavor Kool Aid is your favorite? I despise Kool-Aid. But back when I drank it, I think I loved grape. It was like liquid Jolly Ranchers!
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Not anymore, but I used to get so nervous that my blood pressure was always sky-high. So many doctors told me to go to the pharmacy and take my blood pressure in one of those machines when I was calm, and call them back with the reading so they would know I'm okay - I always was.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? I love hot dogs at baseball games, and that's pretty much it. Although I did buy a hot dog from the guy at the cart in front of Home Depot a couple of weeks ago - it was delicious!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Elf and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning? Water - an ice cold glass of water always tastes to good. I guess it's because I haven't had any to drink for the last 8 hours.
9. Can you do push ups? Yes, the girly kind on my knees. I can actually do about 25 in a row, I think.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My engagement ring - it's beautiful.
11. Favorite hobby? Hobbies? I love to read, love to be outdoors, love too cook, and I watch a little too much TV, although I hardly call that a hobby.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? No.
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? Like my sister, I tend to have a glass-is-half-empty outlook. That's a tough one to change.
14. Middle name? S. I wasn't given a middle name when I was born, and instead of using my maiden name as my middle name, I just use the initial.
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment.1) My stomach hurts. 2) I have so much to do today! 3) I can't wait to get my hair cut this afternoon - I hope it turns out the way I want it.
16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? I pretty much drink water, all day, every day. I have the occasional Fresca or Ginger Ale.
17. Current worry? I have too many to list.
18. Current hate right now? Having too much to do.
19. Favorite place to be? In my bed.
20. How did you bring in the New Year? I honestly don't even remember.
21. Where would you like to go? Everywhere - there are so many countries I still want to see.
22. Name three people who will complete this: Karlenn (if she's reading) and maybe Addie.
23. Do you own slippers? Yes, three pairs, although I rarely wear them.
24. What shirt are you wearing? A green short-sleeve sweater. Yay for sweater weather!
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? I don't know - I've never slept on them.
26. Can you whistle? Kind of, but not very well. I think my five-year-old nephew can out-whistle me. How sad is that?
27. Favorite color? It used to be red, but I think it's changing to orange. It's just such a cheerful color.
28. Would you be a pirate? I am a pirate every year for one day on September 19th - National Talk Like a Pirate Day. Argh matey!
30. Favorite Girl's Name? I have no idea.
31. Favorite boy's name? Once again, no idea.
32. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing - I never put anything in my pockets. I'm bulky enough down there without making it worse!
33. Last thing that made you laugh? I don't remember what it was, but when we were playing cards last night with our friends, I laughed a lot. It felt great.
34. What vehicle do you drive? Saab 93. Everybody comments on it.
35. Worst injury you've ever had? I haven't really had a bad injury. I had a fantastically injured heart a few years ago - that was worse than any physical pain I've ever experienced. But maybe I'm a sissy-la la, as Clinter would say.
36. Do you love where you live? Sort of. I love Colorado, but I'm excited to live in a new house in a new part of Colorado.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? We have three, but I only really use one. We have one in our family room, Andy has one in his office, and we have one in our workout room that's not even working right now.
38. Who is your loudest friend? Definitely Dottie. I don't think she'd disagree.
39. Do you have any pets? Nope.
40. Does someone have a crush on you? I certainly hope so.
41. Your favorite book(s): Dandelion Wine is always a favorite, The Little Prince, and too many children's books to even name.
42. Do you collect anything? No, but I am currently looking to start a collection of something. Any suggestions?
43. Favorite Sports Team? I don't really watch sports.
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? Seriously? I don't know that I even care what's played at my funeral - it's for all the people left behind, so let them choose something that makes them feel good.