Not the stupidest thing I've ever done, but certainly very close

I'm actually not entirely sure what event I would label as the stupidest thing I've ever done. Seems to me that something only becomes stupid when the consequences are too negative to make it worthwhile.

So while I include many things on the list of stupid stuff I've done, the negative consequences have never really been that bad (or if they were, I've repressed them). I just tell myself that they make great (albeit embarrassing), stories.

This one, however, will stay with me for a while. There's a surprising amount of stiff joints and much more muscle pain than I was anticipating (although, if I'm honest, I clearly wasn't thinking this decision through). AND, I'm further proof that pop lyrics are true, on the basis of the fact that, just like in Party Rock, every day (for the next month), I'll be shufflin'. I'm like a 90 year old woman right now, minus her cane (though, in all fairness, a 90 year old woman probably moves faster than I do at the moment).

So what was this ridiculously stupid endeavor which is leaving me hobbling around like the creepy old dude in Aladdin?

A half marathon. With no training. Completed in 2:45. Stupid, stupid, stupid (Although, surprisingly, there are no blisters).

It's not like I signed up for the 3M Half with no time to train... just more that when it came time to train, I didn't do it. No real reason. And then race week came and I decided I could still complete the course if I didn't push myself to finish at a certain time, and then race day came, and when I hit the halfway point at about an hour, I got all excited thinking that I could finish around 2:30. And then I hit a wall at mile 9. It took me twice as long to finish the last five miles as it did to finish the first 8. That's what happens when you don't train...

So the moral of the story is: the next time I run a half-marathon (which I will at some point), I will only sign up after I have already started training (and proven to myself that I will train consistently).

Even so, the hardware is pretty sweet. And the 3M post-its, Scotch tape, glue and various Nexcare running products that they give you with the race packet are some awesome swag.

polenta

I only had my first taste of polenta a few weeks ago in Wichita. This little Italian restaurant, Bocconcini, makes a phenomenal polenta with a simple tomato sauce that is TO DIE FOR!

And then just a few weeks later, I went to KC to visit K&M and helped M cook what is only the BEST POLENTA RECIPE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH. (I'm apparently into capslock right now. it's cool).

And then I made that same recipe again just today and will be eating it for the next four days straight and it will be wonderful. The end.

OK not really. Roomie L helped me cook it, and then raved about it. As did roomie H.

L took lots of picture of the process, but basically, you whip up some polenta (I used the corn meal substitute because I had it on hand).

It looks delicious and creamy and a bit like yellow mashed potatoes. Mine probably came out a bit lumpier than it should, but if you carefully add the polenta while whisking, then you should avoid the lumps (My sous-chef was busy, making the maple-mascarpone topping).

Add some milk, butter and parmesan (and a bit of freshly ground black pepper to spice things up).

Bake the bacon, (and using the handy trick of covering a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, clean-up afterward is a breeze!), and then chop into pieces.

Spoon up some polenta into a bowl, top with bacon, dried cranberries and the maple-mascarpone topping, and serve.

Seriously the best thing ever, after chocolate chip cookies.