Source: possibly my new favorite running meme
I love running, and running was so much better this weeek since it cooled the hell off, but still always true.
NYRR, I think I <3 you
Finally looked in the swag bag from Saturday. Well worth the race fee, never mind the medal and the tee shirt. In case you missed it, I actually made it into a weekday linkup and shared my thoughts on the 2021 Women’s Mini.
a Brandy Alexander for grandma on Friday night
“With her children in school, Anna sewed high-end women’s clothing in factories that paid by the piece. She gave no quarter to dishonest bosses – who, if they didn’t like it, could “go scratch what itches them” – and relished the role of translator for and guardian of the other Italian-speaking women.”
Grandma would have turned 100 on June 21, 2021. If anyone is having a beverage today or this week, have a toast to Anna. You’d all have loved her. Here’s what my brother wrote for her obituary when she died on January 23, 2017.
Weekly Run Down with Kim and Deborah:
Puddle Duck princess
- never miss a Monday: I wasn’t sure how this run would go. When I met a friend Sunday for a run/walk or “whatever our legs felt like”, the answer was not a run. Knee was tender from Saturday’s race so we walked about six miles. All good. I tested the knee Monday and it felt good and the run was EXCELLENT. Not one bit of sarcasm, I love running in the rain.
turtle power
don’t they last forever
- Tuesday: “joined” Kim to mark her 200th run. I can’t do live classes without a data plan, so I stretched and warmed up while logged into the class and then headed out for some Turtle time. While I plan to walk most mornings when we return to the office, I’m going to miss my turtle rendezvous. Spotted the Twinkies at 7/11 after work – isn’t the joke that they last forever? How can they ever be limited edition? I foodfess that I never tried a Twinkie until college, and I’m not a fan. Give me Yodells or Ring Dings any day as a kid. As an adult? Entenmann’s crumb cake and cinnamon powdered donuts.
what did the promenade do to get sent to jail?
- Wednesday: a total 180 from Wednesday, and the fenced off section is growing. There is funding allocated and a project planned, but I think it will be a long time before we have full access. As a runner, it’s OK as there’s a grass berm to the left, but it’s getting dangerous for cyclists. I met one of the City Council candidates a few weeks ago at the Ferry terminal and this was the issue we discussed. She’s a long shot, but it’s good to know someone important sees it as an issue.
chasing sunsets forever
- Thursday: office run group was a schedule casualty due to an amazing/crazy week. I can’t complain as a later run allowed me to go north and chase a sunset (and get chased by a duck).
peekaboo. Some of the architecture of the former Church Missions House is still visible.
dinner on the Hudson
- Friday: our office was closed in observance of Juneteenth, which was true even before it became a state holiday last year and federal holiday this week. It was great to see museums so busy with people taking advantage of a day off for some education (and probably also the air conditioning!) A friend was in town and we planned to meet at Fotografiska, which opened since she was last here. The exhibits were stunning and the idea of a former chapel, now bar, whose VIP room was the former confessional is bizarrely wonderful. After our museum-ing, I headed up to mom’s for the night to toast Grandma. We had a lovely dinner on the River and mom had her Brandy Alexander. I was happy with my other grandma tradition: ice cream soup assisted by Mother Nature.
GOOD morning
happy place
- Saturday: the weather said it would be overcast, so I did not get up for sunrise. The app lied! When I walked out around 7:30 it was mid 60s and 87% humidity. I fully intended to call it good at the turnaround that would make it 5K, but then I found my groove and the shade helped. Needless to say I did not run down to the pier as I’d either have had to climb Ash Street (no thanks) or run back along the river in full sun (ditto). So I swallowed some bugs and came home a sweaty mess. After a shower and brunch at Stateline Dinner, I was as above until late afternoon when the heat index was utterly oppressive and I moved into the central air. 70/90/70 is zero acclimation.
Dad, rocking the curlhawk, because he never said no to his childrens silliness
- Sunday: last day to early vote, and just realized my polling place (different to last year’s early voting) is the Met. Guess I’m voting early, because how could I say no to that. Maybe some other errands, maybe just reading outside since the weather isn’t terrible. Miss you Dad!
Lovely sunset pics and some good runs! I hate it when the weather app lies, though – ours predicted thunderstorms all week which never arrived!
We have that for this week, I’m curious how it shakes out or if it’s just summer storms
I never liked Twinkies, even as a kid, but Hohos and Ding Dongs were a-ok! Fun fact, my BFF in middle school’s dad worked for Hostess and she gave me all kinds of swag. I’ve seen deep fried Twinkies on some menus around but I’ve never been tempted, lol.
Brandy Alexanders always remind me of The Big Lebowski. Have you seen it? I love that your mom has her commemorative drink to celebrate her mom. Now I want one!
I haven’t seen the Big Lebowski – now I might have to. It’s funny how much grandma loved that drink and glad we were able to find a restaurant that would make it
Yeah, deep fried sweets don’t appeal to me. Fried foods are good, desserts are good but I don’t think the idea of the two together works for me
Cheers to your grandma! I miss mine so much. I know it’s a hard day for you today. When we miss people so much that it hurts, it just means that they were so impactful in our lives and loved so much. That’s what I tell myself
<3 Thank you. Major hugs in agreement on that. We were very lucky to have known such amazing people
I was never a fan of Twinkies either as a kid – much preferred HoHos.
Your Grandma Anna sounds like a very special lady! I’ll be raising a glass to her later and am sending hugs to you now.
thank you! She was one of those amazing people that I truly think everyone would have loved
Cheers to your grandmother, she sounds like an amazing woman! Brandy Alexanders are delicious.
I’m not much of a twinkie person; they have deep friend ones at our state fair, but I have never had one! Not because they’re unhealthy, just not my type of snack!
Oh state fairs — deep fried shit on a stick. I need my zeppoles there, but I’d be with you on skipping the Twinkies. Unhealthy isn’t worth it if they’re also not appealing
Hugs on your Dad. Sounds like a great week, Cari!
Even thought I’m usually #teamchocolate, I do love twinkies! Couldn’t tell you the last time I actually had one, though.
Team chocolate, I never would have guessed. LOL! 😀
Your grandma sounds like an amazing woman! I don’t remember too much about my dad’s mom and my mom’s mom died when I was 19. She lived in Mexico so I rarely saw her. I love seeing grandmas with their grandkids. Grandma will never say no. 🙂 I do like Twinkies but haven’t had one in a long time. Fried? Now I am tempted to have one
mom has a fun mug that says, essentially, promoted to grandma and leveled up her spoiling game. Dad’s mom died when I was two so all I have are random fleeting memories that I think were fueled more by stories. Was lucky to have mom’s mom until I was 37 (and her mother until I was 12 or 13!
I had to laugh at your Twinkies commentary 😉 They were not my favorites either, but HoHo’s were my jam. Your tribute to your dear grandmother made me think of mine…her birthday was June 26th, and she would have been 112 this next week (we lost her in 2001, right after 9/11).
wow, another long lived grandmother. That generation had some amazing genes.
Glad the Twinkies made you laugh — I’m still thinking about them two weeks later
My husband is a fan of Twinkies. I even got a Twinkie cookbook a few years ago — don’t ask! I was a HoHo girl myself. 🙂
Your grandmother sounds like a fascinating and fun woman. I’m glad you got to reminisce with your Mom too.
We didn’t have Friday off, but we did have a presentation from a descendant of Dred Scott who talk about his history, his family’s history, and his life after the Supreme Court decision that upheld his enslavement – fascinating.
oh wow, what a way to make the day meaningful.
Have you made anything from the Twinkie cookbook?
Funny how much people are responding to the twinkies! I guess Hostess products were a big part of our childhoods. For whatever reason, I had a twinkie in my lunch every single day of middle school.
Sounds like you had a great week, and very cool that your office was closed for Juneteenth!
Wow, did you ever get tired of Twinkies daily?
Thanks for running with me virtually earlier this week! I was never a huge twinkie fan (I loved the Oatmeal Pies) but I would try that flavor of Twinkies.
Wow the NYRR swag has gotten better over the past year – Biofreeze is amazing.
I will have a toast tomorrow for Anna in honor of her 100th.
Cheers to grandma.
Great week for activity. Living virtually in NYC with your pics.
When I go to NYC annually we stop off at the Stateline diner on our way home. I wonder if it’s the same one?
What a beautiful tribute to your granny. Sounds like an amazing lady.
Yeah I’d be voting early too if the polling place was the Met!
Hope the knee continues to behave.
Your grandmother sounds like a remarkable lady! My grandmother passed in 2011 and it still makes me sad when the anniversary of her death comes around. It’s hard to live without someone who was very close to you. Hugs.
I’m having my 35th birthday at a local speakeasy, Ciro’s, I’m so excited! I wanted to do this last year to celebrate the 20s, but we all know what happened last year haha.
I’ve never heard of that flavor Twinkies! I liked all the snack cakes, and still do. My favorite are the HoHo’s.