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November 27, 2007
Five-Minute Mark
I've written a couple grumpy entries and then deleted them the morning after.
I had been figuring to myself, well, it's OK to be grumpy for a while after you've been dumped, it's natural, right?
But tonight, on the treadmill (small miracle), I realized, I am a MONTH into dumpee status. This has got to stop!
And you know, I am a believer in the Sex in the City half-time rule -- you remember? Basically, it takes you half the length of your relationship to get over a breakup?
Looking over my previous relationships, I have to say this rings true.
Also, math makes everything better.
Relationship = 1 year-ish
Recovery time = 6 months-ish
So I figure I am at the 5-minute mark of a 30-minute treadmill run. You know that point where you're like, crap?! I am only 1/6 of the way through? Can I stop yet?
But then, you know? Five minutes later, you're at the 10-minute mark and holy crap, you're a third of the way through! So I figure by December 21st, I'm GOLDEN. I'm warmed up, I'm starting to sweat, I've worked off some pecan brittle, and Devtochka is telling me I'm the Queen of the Surface Streets, and hello? I've got a Duraflame in my new FIREPLACE in my new apartment and I'm in the home stretch.
That's what I'm hoping for, in any case.
In the interim, here are the photos from my Fun! Old-Fashioned Family Thanksgiving in Ann Arbor, home to my brother and his wonderful wife, Jen.
We toured the Google facilities and saw the infamous Google snacks:
We visited the hallowed Zingermans (holy crap, highly recommend their food baskets for Christmas gifts), where babies are half off.
And I saw Laurie's 
What I loved the most is that a Borders worker helped me find the Crafts & Collectibles section, and when I sheepishly admitted that I was only there to take a picture of my best friend's book, he was like, "Oh, would you like me to be in the picture reading it?"
Midwesterners are kind. And they wear fanny packs. OK, not all of them.
Also, for everyone who asked about the ridiculously easy pecan brittle recipe:
Nut Brittle
- Unsalted butter, softened, for baking sheet
- 1 1/2 cups butter
- 1/2 cup light corn syrup
- Pinch of salt
- 2 1/2 cups nuts, such as dry-roasted peanuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts or pecans, or toasted pumpkin seeds
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Vegetable oil, for spatula
1. Brush a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with butter, and oil an offset spatula*; set aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, and salt in a medium saucepan with 1/4 cup cold water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Wash down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until the mixture registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer (soft-ball stage). Stir in nuts, and continue to cook, stirring often so that the nuts do not burn, until the mixture is medium amber in color.
2. Carefully stir in vanilla and baking soda (the mixture will foam up)***.
3. Pour onto prepared baking sheet, and using oiled offset spatula, quickly spread into a 1/2-inch-thick layer**. Let cool completely.
4. Break brittle into pieces if desired. Store in an airtight container at room temperature up to one month.
It doesn't take five minutes, but it's insanely easy.
* What the heck is that? I used one with a slanted edge and hoped for the best, worked fine.
** Yeah, I just spread it out and figured why would a recipe create more than the depth is calls for? Turned out fine!
*** Totally does, SCIENCE!!
Posted by jen at November 27, 2007 10:10 PM
Comments
Try replacing "should" with "could" and assuming you have good reasons for what you do!
Posted by: Anne at November 28, 2007 12:14 AM
It's hilarious that you mention it, because I keep coming here and thinking, "I thought she had some other post up here?" And then, "Man, I am really losing my mind."
Good to hear you're not losing yours. And you can be grumpy if you want. I'm grumpy almost all of the time, which is a damned shame if you think about it too long.
Posted by: Christine at November 29, 2007 01:20 PM
i always figure i'd rather show my grumpiness to make my joy more genuine when i've got it. if you were all cheerful when life sucked, that would just be wrong. be grumpy until you've used it all up, or it'll lurk in your heart.
that treadmill comparison is good - our mindsets really affect how the time passes and if the workout's totally miserable. speaking of workouts, i'll need one after i make some of that brittle! thanks for the recipe.
Posted by: the boogeyman's wife at November 29, 2007 02:53 PM
I do like that exercise metaphor. But what I like more is that for some reason, Borders employees are generally more fun, friendly and smarter than Barnes & Noble employees. I'm not 100% sure why. They're kind of weirder and nerdier than B&N employees so maybe I'm just weirder and nerdier and like that. I do not know. I do like that guy with his fanny pack in the picture.
Posted by: Daphne at November 29, 2007 10:32 PM
I love the five-minute mark analogy, and I am also a big believer in the SATC rule.
Posted by: marty at December 19, 2007 11:07 AM