National Cookie Day

As it turns out, next Thursday is national cookie day, which is a holiday I plan to celebrate in a big way.  Namely by making these brown sugar cookies.  (These are the same ones that Bexie made me for my birthday, and which I devoured in an embarrassingly short amount of time.)'

I may make some of these soft and chewy almond cookies.  

Next Thursday is going to be a good day.

gone girl

I read this book at the recommendation of a coworker.  She insisted that it was amazing.  (She failed to mention that it is about a psychopath, and I didn't bother to ask if her favorite book also happened to be about completely psychotic, sociopathic, crazy people.  It was.)  So needless to say, when I started reading it, I had no idea what it was about.  I finished it about a month ago, and when I put it down I couldn't decide if I loved it or hated it.  It's a story about a girl named Amy who goes missing on the afternoon of her fifth wedding anniversary.  Her husband is the prime suspect.  (Dun, dun, dun....)

The first half of the book is just kind of "meh".  I kept reading just because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about, and because I had nothing else to read at the time.  I thought it was just an okay story about a weird dude, and then BAM!  I turned one page, and suddenly I was completely hooked.  The first half of the book took me about 2 weeks to get through; then I read the last half in one night.

This is not the kind of book I typically read, but a month later, I still can't stop thinking about it, so I guess that's a good sign.

another race

Erica, Brandie, and I ran in the Marine Corps Turkey Trot 10k this morning.  (while wearing turkey hats, obviously)

Before the race, looking all cheerful and excited.  This was one of the most fun races I've ever done.  And being a turkey made us feel pretty much like celebrities.  Everybody wanted to take our picture.  

Ben should start a career as race photographer.  My two most flattering race pictures of all time were taken by him.  (This one, and the Cherry Blossom 5k from a few years ago.)  After looking at the race pictures from the marathon, I have been doing drills to try to improve my form.  Everybody please admire the forefoot strike right here.

After the race, with my arms full of post-race snacks.  To be honest, for me the quality of a race is based solely on the snacks provided.  This race didn't let me down.  (Although I really would have liked some bananas.)

We most certainly couldn't leave without getting a picture with the turkeys.

for your viewing pleasure

Since I know you all really wish you could have been there in person.  Just pretend it doesn't say PROOF in big orange letters across my chest, and it's almost like you were actually there.