jesse and the marathon

I had a great time watching the LA marathon last week. I went to see Jesse run by at miles 11, 18, and at the finish line, but I was a very good cheerer for the other runners as well. :) I am NOT a runner by any means, but between the ambition of the runners and the support of the spectators, watching races always makes me feel so happy.

This was one was especially fun, despite the CRAZY rain that did not let up the entire time. I was soaked through by mile 18. I stopped briefly at home to change before heading to the finish line, and got soaked through again. Jesse, of course, was soaked for 26.2 miles, plus the nearly two miles we walked home. Just as he crossed the finish line, the rain intensity increased (which I would not have believed possible). It felt like I was standing under a waterfall.

Jesse did amazing. He finished really strong and his recovery went smoothly. I am already looking forward to next year! (I'm not sure he is yet...)

Mile 11.5 - Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Jesse at mile 18.

Jesse at the finish line.

typography + maps + los angeles

Love typography. Love maps. Love Los Angeles. So I think these are pretty great.

This one is by Ork Posters, and they also have maps of two other cities I've called home - Portland and Chicago - amongst lots of other fun ones: Minneapolis (not St. Paul though!), New York City, Philadelphia, DC, etc.

These are done by These Are Things. They also have world maps and other cities and neighborhoods.

colin

For the second year in a row, Jesse and I got to see a movie at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre as part of the AFI Film Fest in November. And for the second year in a row, it was an LA premier starring Colin Firth. This time, however, we actually got to see Colin Firth - first as part of a panel discussion before the movie and second in the burger bar across the street. AND this time the movie went on to receive four Academy Awards: best picture, actor in a leading role (Colin Firth), directing (Tom Hooper), and writing for an original screenplay (David Seidler). Firth and Hooper are pictured below, as is Geoffrey Rush, who was nominated for best actor in a supporting role. Seidler came on stage later to talk a little about the writing experience.

This shot was taken during the panel discussion which occurred prior to the movie. Our seats were in one of the front rows, which was not great for watching the movie (giant screen = sore necks), but excellent for a great view of the panel discussion.

This is outside of Grauman's just before the movie started.

Director Tom Hooper talking while Colin Firth listens pensively.

palos verdes excursion

Jesse and I took a drive down the coast today with our new MINI. Our final destination was Palos Verdes Drive and the Wayfarers' Chapel (about 45 minutes to an hour south), but we enjoyed a lot of the other coastal towns and sites along the way.

This is Malaga Cove - a nice, quiet, secluded beach.

This is at Point Vicente Fishing Access (although I didn't see any fishing going on).

This is Abalone Cove, where we went tidepooling. Of the coastal spots we stopped at, this was definitely my favorite.

I was so excited to check out the tidepools. I've been wanting to do this for a long time - long before we moved to California.

Sea anemones!

More!

Jesse looking for sea creatures.

Waves crashing at Abalone Cove.

View of Portuguese Point from Wayfarers' Chapel.

This is Wayfarers' Chapel, which was designed by Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright) and built in 1951.

The interior of Wayfarers' Chapel.

Wayfarers' Chapel tower.

top recipes of 2010

While I am on the recipe theme, I thought I would share links to some of my favorite dishes that I made this past year. I honestly do not cook that much, but I love to do it when I have the time and I really love to try new recipes. Now that we have an amazing year-round farmers' market within walking distance, it has really made cooking vegetarian-type meals even more fun. Some of these I make regularly, and some I've only made once. If you come for a visit, chances are I'll make one of them...or something completely new and untested (always an adventure)!

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas
We make these all the time! They make great leftovers.

Macaroons
These weren't as hard to make as I expected, and they transported well to the Midwest for the holidays.

Blueberry Peach Cobbler
Best when peaches are in season - I made mine with fruit from the farmers' market.

Scalloped Tomatoes
Also another one for when the tomatoes are in season.

Green Beans with Bacon Vinaigrette
This is my pick for turning something perfectly healthy into something incredibly unhealthy. Yum! (And I don't even like bacon! Or green beans, for that matter.)

Butternut Squash Lasagna

This one takes some time, but I looooove it.

Moroccan-Style Stuffed Acorn Squash
Just made these once, but I thought they were fun to make (and eat).

20-Minute Black Bean Soup
Healthy, easy and tasty...what could be better?

My New Favorite Chili
It's the cumin! And a lot of chili powder.

Several of these are from my two favorite food blogs:
Fresh 365
Smitten Kitchen

A new one I just started following:
Sassy Radish

natural history museum

Last Thursday, I went to the Natural History Museum of LA for a one-day workshop on grant-writing for archives. The workshop was great, as was the opportunity to meet other librarians and archivists from the area. After the workshop was finished, I stepped into the museum for a few minutes before it closed. It was extremely quiet, being a weekday and so late in the afternoon. I'd love to go back another day when I have more time to explore, but having opportunities like these is one of the things I like best about living in LA.

Dinos in the entrance - pretty impressive sight when you step in for the first time. (This space felt familiar - it must be a set on a movie. Probably a few movies actually.)

It struck me as a little odd to be surrounded by so many dead animals. Why do we think this is okay? How do people explain this to children? Maybe it was just the fact that the place was totally empty that made this feel a little creepier than in my other museum experiences.

Skeletons! Yay! (??)

The ceiling in the rotunda - beautiful architectural details.

Afterwards, I drove across the city to meet Jesse at a car dealer's. I don't know why I thought I could do that unscathed. The traffic was awful, and made me cranky. But still - the entire drive was very pretty: skyline, palm tree silhouettes against the sunset, Spanish-style architecture, mountains. Love it all!

recipes from the past

I've always enjoyed organizing other people's stuff. As a kid, I remember organizing the linen closet and kitchen cabinets. Not too long ago, I organized all of my mom's beads into plastic cases by color. Heck, as an librarian/archivist, I basically organize for a living! Unfortunately, this interest does not translate very well to my own home - but we're working on that one. :)

On a lazy afternoon this past week while we were hanging around my parents' new home, I sorted through my mom's recipe cards and categorized them. I loved the retro recipe card designs, recognizing the handwriting of many family members and old family friends, the evidence of use (the card for mom's favorite cranberry cake is barely legible - see below), and the quirky names (i.e., "mighty muffins"). There is a lot of family history in those cards - Grandma Diehn's German potato salad, Grandpa Croker's baked beans, and so on. In some ways, it's unfortunate that most shared recipes these days are e-mailed links, but it's still great that we share favorite foods with each other.

A selection of my favorites.

Mom has made this cranberry cake a time or two, as you can see.

This is one I wrote out as a kid.

My dad's pancake recipe.

Grandpa Croker's recipe for baked beans, written out on a piece of notebook paper.

This one is in my mom's handwriting and is written on my favorite recipe card design. Love those retro strawberries!

A recipe for rhubarb jam from my Aunt Jan.

Organizing piles.