Welcome to 2006
The transition from 2005 to 2006 has been extremely hectic around here.
On New Year’s Eve we had a couple friends over for dinner and wine. We had a thinly sliced marinated flank steak with my soy sauce and wine based marinade. The potatoes were mashed with garlic and a healthy dose of fresh ginger and pepper. Add some veggies on the side and a couple bottles of cellar aged wine, and it was quite satisfying.
After dinner we went to the Casablanca, and our friend’s apartment, for the real New Year’s festivities. It was like a flashback to the first couple of years after college. Lots of friends hanging out in a relatively small apartment. Food on a table in the kitchen. A bar set up around the sink. A couple of martinis made from Bombay Saphire and then Hendrick’s gin pretty much makes it all a blur past midnight. I don’t remember premium liquor in my first couple years out of college. I guess we grew up at some point.
We walked home around 1:30 and set the alarm for 6:45.
I sprang out of bed at around 7:00 (two snoozes). In reality there wasn’t much spring in my step. I quickly gathered my running clothes, printed directions from my computer, and got picked up at 7:45 for the first Fort Steilacoom Running Club Resolution Run Series race for 2006.
The run series is a total of four races. Each race has a km and mile category. The first race is 5 (km or mile), the next race is 10, then 15, and finally 20. We signed up for the mile series. Ignoring the fact that I felt completely ill and unstable, 5 miles shouldn’t be much of a problem. The event was extremely well organized and well attended. I felt fine during the run and my time was good enough given my previous evening, but I reverted back to a post-party sloth once my bum hit the passenger seat for the ride home. The ten miler should be easier.
Once home I took a shower and fell asleep. An hour later I was awake and getting back into a car. This time we were heading north to Seattle for dim-sum at House of Hong. Oatmeal was sounding pretty good at this point. I can normally eat dim sum any day of the week. Mmm… hum bow. This particular day, it was going to be more of a challenge. Mmm… oatmeal with frozen blueberries. I survived. The dim sum I did eat was quite marvelous. Mmm… shrimp balls. By the way, none of you have ever told me where I can find good dim sum in Tacoma.
Today is January 2nd. We set the alarm for 6:25 this morning. After four snoozes (wow) we grabbed our snowshoes and jackets, packed the car, and drove over Snoqualmie Pass with Baci to play in the snow.
I’m making a big pot of soup tonight. The holiday season appears to be over. If we had a fireplace, today would be a good day to fire it up and toss a few more logs on the hearth.
Welcome to 2006. I don’t think I’ll do it exactly like this next year.