Misadventures in 2009

I am too uncool to come up with my own way to reflect on 2009, so I'm going to copy my good friend Mark Remy at Runner's World (Oops, did I say good friend? He doesn't know me or my work, but I know his well!)

2009 was a big fat year of change for me and my family. And you can read all about it in the following recap, organized by month. Enjoy!

January
I kicked off the new year with two resolutions -- to run two marathons and journal once a week. Did I achieve them? Neither one. But I did run at least one full marathon in 2009. Although I didn't journal weekly, I took a writing class. I made apple crisp for the first time. My car, which I have since sold, continued to give me a financial headache in 2009 after an expensive 2008. And this recap wouldn't be complete without a mention of the creatures of the night.

February
I was a lame blogger and attempted to try a new recipe -- or at least write about one -- every Monday. I think I can count on one hand how many times I accomplished this.

March
Despite the cold and snow, training for the Fargo Marathon was in full swing. Taking a break from winter, Ben and I spent a week in Honduras. My car was still good company for bad luck. And I cooked but I warn you ahead of time that I did a shoddy job writing about it.

April
I was an awful blogger, so this month isn't worth recapping. I did cool things, though, like watch Twilight for the first time. And I ran a 20-mile race in St. Cloud in preparation for the Fargo Marathon. After the race, I drove to Rochester for a bachelorette party and discovered that I would make the most uncoordinated stripper. If only I had written about those things...

May
Again, why the heck didn't I blog? Oh yeah, I was busy running the Fargo Marathon in personal record time and working. Sorry.

June
I went public with the news that I would be moving to Evanston so Ben could attend business school at Northwestern University. I loved my job, my city, my friends and my family and didn't want to leave all behind. The only day I ever dreaded going into work was the day I had to tell my editor that I was moving.

July
My darling sister married her high school sweetheart on July 11. I enjoyed some small-town running while spending time with my mom after I left my job and before I went to Italy to finally practice my much-forgotten Italian.

August
We abandoned our Minneapolis digs, and we moved to Evanston.

September
I complained about or mentioned being unemployed here, here and here. I embraced being frugal and writing about it. Having a sick dog really really sucked. And of course, I did a little cooking. Yay for sweet corn!

October
I ran a lot and even got pooped on during one outing. It did not bring me good luck, at least in terms of employment. Indie got to drink hydrogen peroxide for the first and, I hope, last time. I made for the first time what has become my signature dessert. And I experimented...

November
If you are ever interested in a middle-distance race, you should do the Hot Chocolate 15k. I did, and I loved it. I made the most amazing pork chops (If you haven't tried this recipe, I urge you to do so in 2010. Make it a resolution!). I turned 26!!! and failed to write about it with any depth.

December
The bulk of my posts were about baking, and my waist shows it. I have since stocked my fridge with the green stuff. My creative non-fiction writing class ended. And despite those additional inches of fat around my waist, I was still a beef magnet.

My dear friends and family, Happy New Year! May 2010 be a good one...for all of us.

The Cookie Exchange.

***I hope Indie has a forgiving heart. Poor guy is very sensitive to sound and hated, if you couldn't tell by the photo, wearing the antlers.

Happy holidays!

I am going over the list of holiday goodies I plan to bake this week while listening to Christmas music -- how appropriate -- and this is what I have come up with:

--almond bark dipped pretzels
--ginger snaps
--sugar cutouts
--another batch of caramels (maybe next week)

A normal person might think this is plenty of baking. But I have significant free time being unemployed, and I'd like to take advantage of my sorry state. I might not get such precious free time for baking again in the near future.

I've signed up for various cookie countdowns for inspiration. If you'd like to be similarly inspired, go here and here.

Happy anniversary, Indie!

Today is adoption day in our household.

One year ago, Ben surprised me with Indie, who at the time was just a scared little thing who had piddled on my rug. He is still timid, but he has transformed into a smart, adorable, charming and, most of all, loving pooch.

He has made our lives better. He cuddles and kisses. He protects us (he's a big dog in a little body). He keeps us warm on cold nights. He is our therapy dog. He is our baby.

Happy adoption day, Indie!

Giving thanks.

Today I was jogging along Lake Michigan, snot forming and tears running (because of the wind), when I considered how thankful I am for my current state.

I may not have a job, but I have my health; the freedom to run at 1 p.m. on a weekday (along Lake Michigan!); an adoring husband and loving dog; a writing class where I'm learning a ton thanks to a smart, thoughtful writing instructor; supportive friends and family.

This week alone, I will have the good fortune to have a birthday lunch with my friends, attend National Public Radio's "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" and see "Twilight: New Moon" with my husband, who will just have to endure my swooning over Robert Pattinson.

Life is good.

Hydrogen Peroxide.

I willfully made my dog vomit today.

Before you call me a lousy dog mom -- a characterization I would agree with -- let me explain.

I was preparing a double batch of potato soup when the unthinkable happened. Indie, who tails me, was lying on the rug while I sliced and diced a dozen cups of vegetables. I was finishing up when I noticed a garlic clove on the rug. I must have dropped it when I carried the cloves over to the crock pot. Though Indie had not eaten it, he had chewed it.

We give him people food like carrots and apples. But some foods -- such as garlic, onions and grapes -- are toxic and can be lethal when dogs consume them.

I sniffed Indie's mouth for the garlic smell. It was faintly apparent. So I went into crisis mode. I went online to read about garlic and dogs, though I knew before my search what I would find: garlic is BAD for dogs. If eaten in large quantities, it can kill.

I called our vet, who had to do some of her own research before rendering advice. She thought Indie would be fine -- the amount was small -- but that if I wanted, I could induce vomit. And if I was still concerned, I could take him in for a blood test to check for anemia.

Off I went to the grocery store for hydrogen peroxide, which until today I didn't know is a must for your doggie medicine cabinet. I also got an oral syringe.

When I returned home, I grabbed Indie and hunkered down for a fight. Dogs do not like hydrogen peroxide. Big surprise.

Although it was hugely traumatic, I pried his teeth apart, inserted the syringe and forced a few teaspoons of the awful stuff down his mouth. He gave chase a few times, and I followed every time. I didn't want to do it, but I had to, you know?

He foamed at the mouth and spit out some clear liquid. Nothing resembling vomit. I thought the hydrogen peroxide trick had been a failure. Until....

I was online -- preparing for a meeting with a co-director of a graduate program -- when I saw that the hydrogen peroxide was working wonders on Indie.

He threw up. All over the couch. The amount was the size of a football. I won't go into detail but I'm fairly certain that the garlic is now in the garbage.

Despite our battle this morning and forcing the most lovable 18-pound puggle in the world to vomit, he still loves me. He's curled up next to me as I type. And I'm so, so thankful.

Opera in the bedroom

I need a recording device. Wait, I have one. So what I need is to actually use it.

Ben and Indie competed last night for loudest snorer. Usually Ben would win. But I think Indie took home the prize last night. I had to nudge and shush him more than once.

corndog, but not in that order

The dog
Some of you have expressed concern over Indie.

The good news is that he has been the same Indie all week: full of spirit, very loving and active. He even chased after his girlfriend, a three-month-old puggle, Tuesday evening at top speed.

The bad news is that he's had diarrhea flare-ups. I don't think anything is seriously wrong with him. I blame the flare-ups on me. I stopped giving him medicine late last week a day or two after his diarrhea had ceased. I was under the impression from the doctor to stop giving him the medicines after he had a full day or two of normal poop (sorry, too much information?). I should have continued giving him the medicine and prescription dog food until the meds ran out. So now he's taking medicine with his meals, and he seems to be doing better (or should I say, I'm not cleaning up around the house?).

The corn
I've never had corn chowder, but after reading a blog post about it, that's going to change.

While I'm running the Chicago Beachathlon on Saturday, Ben will be on a mission at the Evanston Farmer's Market to pick up ingredients for this. I love corn, and I love potatoes, so I'm pretty sure I will love this. The recipe calls for bacon, so I think Ben will love it, too.

I plan to make it for dinner Sunday. And if I do, I will make sure you get to read all about it.

Are you a corn chowder fan? Have you ever made it? If you have tips, a recipe or want to weigh in, please leave a comment.