A Visit to the Museum...

This past Sunday, we made a visit to the Carnegie Museums. Here are some shots from our 2 favorite exhibits, The Hall of Architecture and the Dinosaurs....

The Great (Wet) Race...

If ever there was a perfect Sunday morning to sleep in, it was this one. I awoke at about 6:30 to the sound of steady rain hitting the roof. The bed was very comfortable and the last thing that a sane person would want to do would be to get up and run a 10K, but I dragged myself out of bed and Carrie chauffeured me off to the starting line for the 32nd annual Great Race.

***Before the race (still dry)...***
It's the largest 10K in the state and in the top 20 largest in the country. I've never run a 10K, so I've been trying to train for it for a couple of months. My hope was to be able to run the whole race without stopping/throwing up. The scenic course starts out in Frick Park and winds it's way through Squirrel Hill, down Forbes to 5th Avenue in Oakland, then to Boulevard of the Allies, finishing up at Point State Park. There were cheering supporters along the way, as well as a couple of marching bands, and of course, a guy playing accordion (it's Pittsburgh.)

***Supporters along the course***

I was glad to see the rain taper off by the time the race started, but it resumed a steady drizzle about half way in Oakland and didn't stop for the remainder of the race. I actually felt good during the whole race and was excited that I was a little over 30 minutes at the halfway point. I've been hoping to do the race in under 1 hour and 15 minutes and now thought that I may have a chance to finish under one hour (a longshot.)

***Coming in the home stretch***
There are a couple of hills on the course and some slight but long inclines, but once you get toward town, it's all downhill. At that point, I was able to pick up the pace and finished strong at 1 hour and 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Much better than expected.

***Crossing the finish line... my chip time (actual time) was a couple minutes quicker than what's reflected on the timer here...***
After the race- all wet....
For my reward, we headed off to Big Dog Coffee for a Chocolate Newf and then to Steak n' Shake for a cheeseburger meal. No need to count calories today.
Thanks to Carrie for getting up early and waiting in the rain to meet me at the finish line!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Today is Bailey's birthday... Actually, the 1 year anniversary of when she came into our home (that's how we figure pet birthdays around here). That probably makes her 4 years old, since they told us she was around 3 when we got her last September.

Here she is in her birthday hat...

And here's what she had for her special birthday dinner. Real wild caught pink salmon (from Whole Foods nonetheless!) She even shared with Bear... They were both in heaven.

I hope she likes living here as much as we enjoy having her around... she's such a sweet kitty. We are lucky to have her.

Jim's Favorite Frozen Beverages...

It is widely known that I am a connoisseur of frappuccinos. If all the money that I have spent on these drinks was in my 401K, I could retire in five years.

My favorite is the Panera Bread Frozen Mocha (formerly known as the I.C. Mocha, a much better name.) It's goes great with one (or two) of their oatmeal cookies. Heads up: Throw your diet out the window when you order one of those.

Starbucks makes a fine Frappi in the Mocha Frappuccino. Not as many calories, but quite tasty.

Locally, you should really try the iced mocha at Fortune's in the Strip. It's just called a Cappucino Freeze, but just ask for a Mocha Cappucino Freeze and you won't be disappointed. And then there's the Chocolate Newf, found at Big Dog Coffee on the Southside. That one's made with real ice cream.

I've recently discovered a new contender at an unexpected place: Wendy's. The have a great iced mocha beverage in the Frosty-cino. It has a great coffee/ice cream flavor. It comes standard with vanilla ice cream, but if you ask, they'll make it with chocolate (my preference). I'm not a big fan of their whipped cream, but it's a great economical alternative if your out and about and craving a frosty treat. In fact, it's the cheapest of all the drinks I've mentioned.

And on the soft drink front, Carrie discovered a great diet soda - Coke Cherry Zero. I think Coke Zero is the least diet-tasting diet soda out there, and the cherry flavor version is just as good.

Hopefully you will find this essential information helpful:)

Something Great You Can Do...

Several years ago, I joined the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry, also known as "Be the Match." I decided that if I might be able to save someone's life through a fairly simple medical procedure, I'd definitely want to. There are thousands of adults and children with leukemia who are looking for a bone marrow donor to save their life.

The process to join the registry is simple, and can be either done at your local blood bank through a regular blood donation or via mail with a cheek swab kit. An option for pregnant women (who are not able to donate bone marrow), is to donate umbilical cord blood.

There is no cost to you at any point during the process and you are under no obligation to donate, even if it is determined that you are a match for someone. So far, I have not matched anyone, but it could happen at any time and I hope I'll be able to help when the time comes!

Click below to join the registry or get more info, and please let me know if you decide to join!

Set Your Tivo...

If you have DVR and get the AMC Network, set it for this Wednesday, 9/16 at 10:30 to record 'The Game' with Michael Douglas. It is the best movie you've probably never heard of. I could watch this one again and again. You'll like it, trust me.

Warning: This is rated R, but since it is on TV it should be edited somewhat.

Jim's "Go or Don't Go" - (500) Days of Summer

Last week, I was informed by Carrie that she wanted to see a movie over Labor Day weekend. My heart sank when she told me it was a chick flick. However, when I found out that it starred Zooey Deschanel, AND that Roger Ebert gave it 4 stars, I started to actually look forward to it.

(500) Days of Summer is a very unique telling of a relationship between two greeting card company employees, Tom and Summer. Deschanel (you may know her as Buddy's love interest from Elf) plays Summer, the new girl at the office. Tom, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (you may know him as the kid from Third Rock From the Sun) is smitten at first sight. Each of them has a different view of love stemming from their childhood and family life. Tom is a hopeless romantic; Summer is a stubborn pessimist who refuses to believe in soulmates and 'true love'. The film tells their story through a suprisingly easy-to-follow series of zig-zagging flashbacks.

Calling this a chick flick is not totally accurate. It's sort of a chick flick, but clearly told from a guy's perspective. This is obvious in the first 30 seconds of the film. Guys will relate to Summer's mixed signals and refusal to be more than "friends," as well as Tom's frustration at trying to figure this girl out. I think most of us guys have been in his shoes at least one time in our lives.

Zooey Deschanel is making a fine living at playing the quirky, free spirit that average guys think they have a shot at, and here she does better than ever. She is always frustratingly honest with Tom, and, as he eventually learns, she "just does what she wants."

I was really impressed with all of the little details the movie- how it captures the magic and newness of a blooming romance, as well as when that newness starts to fade. Not like the superficial stuff in most romantic comedies. There's also a real wisdom here about the value of all relationships, and things that are meant to be are, well, meant to be.

As with most contemporary romantic comedies, this movie has it's share of adult humor and situations (although with a PG-13 rating, it is not over the top). You may want to avoid it if you are sensitive to the former.

This was an unexpected gem for me, and guys, do not fear this movie. I think that you will be pleasantly suprised. I say "Go".

Go or Don't Go- Restaurant Edition

The one time of the week we can pretty much be guaranteed to be eating out is Sunday afternoon after church. For a while there, we had gotten in a slump of always hitting up McDonald's or Chic-fil-a or the like, and frankly, it was getting old. I told Jim he was missing a world of culinary possibilities, and despite his skeptcism, promised to find some new places for us to eat. Here's a brief rundown of the venues we've tried so far...

Kelly O's Diner - 1130 Perry Highway - North Hills
We saw this one on Food Network's 'Diners, Drive Ins and Dives' and stopped in for their recommended dish, the Haluski. It did not disappoint. It was deliciously flavored with a perfect balance of ingredients, a slight crunch and crispy bacon. Yes, this place is in a strip mall, but it has a great diner vibe. Family-run and a friendly staff. I say 'Go'

Double Wide Grill - 2339 E Carson St - Southside
I'd seen this place while strolling the Southside and was intrigued by the gas station conversion concept. When we visited, we were treated to fun atmosphere, but the enjoyment ended there. The menu features gimmicky food names, but the food itself was sub-par. I ordered a flame-grilled cheeseburger which should be hard to mess up, but it was really dry and burned. I will mention that they did have good Potato Patch style fries, which were the highlight of the meal. Even though it looks cool- the food just isn't worth it. I say 'Don't Go'.

Point Brugge Cafe - 401 Hastings Street - Point Breeze
This gem is nestled in the tiny business district of Point Breeze. Don't blink or you'll miss it. On a Sunday afternoon we had a 20 minute wait, which ended up being worth it. It was the best brunch I've had in a long time. The Mimosas were flowing and the atmosphere and patrons were upscale. I ordered the Crab Cake Eggs Benedict which was to die for. During nice weather, enjoy al fresco dining on the front terrace. This place is a keeper. I say 'Go'.

Bagel Factory - 5825 Ellsworth Ave - Shadyside
We ended up here by accident when the place we were trying to go to wasn't showing up in my GPS. Lucikly, I was not disapointed by the Lox & Cream Cheese on a bagel, which was one of the best of this entree in my memory. The lox were thick sliced, fresh, and served generously on a fresh baked bagel. There are lots of choices of cream cheese and a variety of bagel flavors, along with fresh made sandwiches and salads. Not too expensive, a good spot of a quick bite. I say 'Go'.

Square Cafe - 1137 S Braddock Ave - Regent Square
We visited this popular spot on a Saturday morning. During good weather, they set up a lot of tables out front on the sidewalk, which makes for a nice atmosphere. Jim and I both ordered breakfasts, and it's hard to note anything memorable about them except for the price. They charged Jim $2.50 to add cheese to his omlet, and my eggs/bacon/toast type plate was nothing more spectacular than you would see at Denny's with a price 3 times as high. We were not impressed, particularly once the bill came, and noted to each other that we won't be going back. I say 'Don't Go'.

Big Dog Coffee - 2717 Sarah St - Southside
You may rememeber I've talked about this place before, but I felt it was worth mentioning again. Jim and Matt played a gig here a few months ago, and we have been back multiple times since. The owners are extremely nice (their family lives upstairs from the shop). The store is really cute and offers free wi-fi. Go for a Raspberry-filled scone and the Chocolate Newf (Jim's favorite, a frappucino-like beverage made with ice cream). We'll be back. I say 'Go'.