Author Archives: Emily

Grog Not Groggy

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After my run this morning I joined my parents for an hour and a half bike ride.  I burnt the crap out of my forearms yesterday so I ended up biking in 85* weather in this –

Worth it.  We rode all around the path and over some gorgeous bridges.  I so wish I’d had my camera but I couldn’t figure out a place to put it.

We came home for a refreshing breakfast.

0% Plain Greek Gods Yogurt with a strawberry honey straw, blueberries, peach, and Great Harvest granola.

I have maybe a half serving of granola left and my heart is breaking.

Getting lunch was not my strong suit today and I will admit that I was a little cranky this afternoon.  We did do some fun things though, like explore a neat farmer’s market.

I grabbed an iced coffee from a stand at the market.

But traded iced in for hot as soon as I saw this –

Grog style coffee?!  With a little skim milk.

I swear it did taste like buttered rum!

We also traveled to the mecca.

I bought sushi (spicy and regular brown rice California rolls) for lunch but I only ate three pieces.

Yucky City, way too much (mushy) rice.  If I had been closer to the store I would have returned it but I was eating on the car ride home.

I split these Sunkist gems with my dad for dessert.

Yum City.

My grumbling tummy was very happy when dinner was served.

Side salad with peas, radishes, spicy ranch, and dill cheese curds.

Corn on the cob so tasty it blew the corn I bought in Buffalo out of the water.

And quesadilla with sautéed onions and peppers, turkey sausage, shredded chicken, and colby and sharp cheddar cheese.

With a small turtle blizzard for dessert.

I’ve been pretty well fed this vacation.  Nonetheless, I can’t wait to go home to my husband tomorrow and hear about his first week back at school!

My Abusive Relationship

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Get ready for the tabloid post guys, because I’m about to talk about my abusive relationship with running.

Running makes my lungs feel like they’re on fire and my legs feel like jello.  Running has me questioning my sanity.  Running can make me feel lazy and worthless.  But I can’t give it up.

Sometimes I stray.  I can’t resist the call of the warm, safe couch.  I get complacent and forget about running for a while.

But running is so exciting, it always pulls me back in.  I think “this time, things will be different.”  They never are.  Running always punishes me for my lack of loyalty.  It’s my fault; think if I was faithful, running would stop hurting me.

Even during the bad times, I still love running.  There are good times.  Running can be my rock during stressful periods.  Running doesn’t ask for much, just my sneakers and a bit of time. 

When I stick with it, running makes me feel like I can do anything.  Running helps me feel the breeze against my face.  Running helps me clear my head and think.  Running makes me feel strong. 

I ran 1 mile in 9:15 this morning.  It sucked.  And I can’t wait to do it again.

My Aching Ischium

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Ow!

I wish I could blog more about today but it’s after midnight and I am just so tired!  Time to keep things cursory.

I started my morning with a version of my new favorite breakfast.

Great Harvest granola (essential!) with berries, 0% Plain Greek Gods Yogurt, and a blue raspberry honey stick.

Delicious, and totally fun looking.

Then my parents and I headed out for a 3 hour bike ride.  Hence the aching sit-bones!  My plan was to run but my leg is sore (from accelerating of all things) and I think I ended up getting a better workout anyways.

After our three hour ride a big lunch was key.

It doesn’t look like much but that’s a vegetarian rice bowl from the burrito place down the street.  Rice, black beans, creamy hot sauce, tomatoes, corn salsa, guacamole, lettuce, cheese and pineapple.

It was a totally ridiculously delicious combination of flavors.

I also had this light Arnold Palmer.

We ran some fun errands this afternoon including a little farmers’ market,

and then headed to dinner at Beppo Uno.

I started with a side Cesar salad,

and ordered the baked zitti for dinner.

I can’t believe my nacho-obsessed self can even say this but it was a little too cheesy for me!

I only took a few bites but gulped down my shockingly good garlic bread,

and a slice of my mom’s shrimp and pesto pizza.

I guess I’m carbo-loading for tomorrow’s bike ride?!

I’m blogging so late because my parents and I went to see a 9:20 showing of “Bad Teacher.”  <– Cameron Diaz meh, Jason Segel hubba hubba!

Off The Road

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I made it!  I was a little nervous about driving 7 hours by myself but it ended up being ok.  Of course I’d rather drive with Adam, but it’s nice to know that I can do it by myself.  Caffeine helped.  A sugar-free Red Bull was brought from home.

I also brought lunch so I wouldn’t have to stop.  Cheese and jam sandwich.

That’s 2 slices of Dakota topped with 2 oz of 50% reduced fat white cheddar and Crofters Concord Grape Spread.

And a baggie of carrots.

I did stop once to pee and I grabbed a half sweet coffee for the 2nd half of the trip.

And then I was there!  My dad took me to rent a bike as soon as I arrived (there’s a path near my grandparents’ house that we’re going to use this weekend) and we went out for a short ride.

Soon enough it was time for dinner.

Baked asparagus,

breaded baked chicken,

a rice mixture,

caprese salad,

and fruit on the side.

After dinner I took my grandpa to a local baseball game and then the whole family ended up meeting for ice cream.

That’s a small twist with marshmallow.

And now it’s bed time.

Confessions Post IV

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Click here to read Confessions part I, II, and III.

Confession #1 – This is what I wore to the mall yesterday:

In my mind, ruffled purse + pretty necklace = no one realizes I’m wearing my husband’s t-shirt.  That’s right, right?

Confession #2 – My family’s dog stopped a presidential motorcade once.  When President Clinton visited St. Thomas he ate at restaurant near our house so we stood at the top of our driveway to get a peek when he drove by.  We got more than the glimpse we’d planned for when our dachshund, Lilly, ran into the road and nearly got hit by a car full of secret servicemen!  Lilly was unharmed, but the motorcade did have to stop for a minute.

Confession #3 – I don’t have a single plain paperclip.  Adam needed one for his resume and all I could offer him was this:

He got mad.  Madder when I started to make a joke about how Frank carries his work papers to the office in his trunk.  Office ‘fonts are not amusing the night before your resume is due.

Confession #4 – I have a file on my computer that contains the rough outline for my memoir (about my years as a teacher).  I’d like to write it before I forget too many details, but when I think about my life as a teacher I get really, really angry.

Confession #5 – The TV couple Adam and I most resemble is Jordan and Dr. Cox from “Scrubs.”

On The Road Again

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This time I’m heading to Ohio.

I’m sorry for blog bailing yesterday, I forgot about how much getting new retainers hurts.  All of my appointments went well though; I should only need retainers for 6 more weeks (fingers crossed!), I got medical clearance to participate in the study, and I have no skin cancer.

Before I hit the road today I wanted to fuel up with a good breakfast.

Chobani Champions Honey-Nana yogurt, a sliced banana, and GH granola.

I’m seriously going to cry when this granola runs out!  Anyone from Charlottesville want to ship me a box??

As soon as breakfast is done (and I finish packing, ahem) I’m getting in the car.  See you from Ohio!

Just The Tip

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I’ve worked in the food service industry since I was 17 years old.  I was an employee at Cold Stone Creamery during high school, I was a server at the on-campus bar at UMiami, and I was a server at a tourist restaurant/popular bar on my summers back home during college.  Just for funsies, here is my staff profile from Duffy’s –

I’m a big believer in karma so I always tip at least 20%.  My father (who is a 2nd grade teacher) worked as a waiter when I was a little kid so I grew up with parents who knew how to tip, and how to treat the wait staff with respect!  I realize that not everyone has worked in the service industry, or even knows someone who has, so I wanted to compile a quick post on an important part of the dining out process: tipping.

  • In most states, serves do not make minimum wage.  According to the US Department of Labor the minimum wage in New York is $7.25/hour.  The minimum wage for food service workers is $4.65/hour.  Restaurant owners are supposed to make up the difference if tips don’t bring workers up to minimum wage, but if that was actually happening restaurants would also have to raise their prices which affects you as a consumer.
  • The standard % for tipping on food and drinks is 18% (I typical get more than 20%).  I don’t believe that you should tip 15% unless your service is pretty bad.  10% is for service that is terrible. 
  • Servers do not control your entire dining experience – don’t stiff them because you are unhappy about things outside of their control.  Servers cannot control: how quickly your order comes, how strong your drink is, whether or not your food tastes good, if the restaurant is too cold, too hot, or too loud… 
  • …However, it is the server’s responsibility to be helpful if you are unhappy about any of those things.  Servers can control their attitudes.
  • If your server actually is awful, talk to the manager.  Managers and owners can only fix problems that they know about!
  • If you can’t afford the tip, you can’t afford the meal.
  • If you are using a gift certificate or Groupon you tip on the original amount before the credit.
  • Servers often tip out bus boys, the bar, etc based on their sales and not their actual tips; if you stiff a server in this situation then your meal may actually cost them money.
  • If you are in a party of 6 or larger, check the bill to make sure gratuity wasn’t added automatically.  If it was you can just pay the bill and leave, although it’s always nice to tip a little extra.
  • If you order drinks at the bar before you are seated it’s good practice to close out your tab with the bar before you move.  You drinks bill can be transferred to your server, but the bartender may end up not receiving a tip for serving you.

Have you ever worked in the food service industry?  Do you have anything to add to my list?

Just A Few Tweaks

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Today’s morning resembled yesterday’s, with just a few tweaks.

Instead of ellipticizing for my workout, I sat on the couch and watched “Food Network Star.”  What?  I’m planning on squeezing some activity in later.

Instead of sliced bananas with my Chobani Champions Honey-Nana and GH granola, I used plucots.

In my new Anthropolgie bowl, love!

And instead of one health-care appointment, I’ve got three.  My day will be spent at the orthodontist’s office, and then the student health center (I need medical clearance to participate in a study one of my professors is running), and then the dermatologist for a skin check.

I won’t be home until late this afternoon, but YOU should stop by the blog around 1 for a how-to post on tipping.