Home.

I'm home. Will post photos and an update on the trip this weekend.

Couldn't blog in Roatan. Internet was spotty.

Twenty hours to paradise

Greetings from Chicago.

Ben and I are spending a quick two days here before we leave for Roatan, Honduras. We're here for admit weekend at the University of Chicago. It's meant for prospective students who've been admitted but have yet to make a decision whether to attend the school.

I wish we had more time here to explore. But it's been raining today. I only ventured out to a crepe shop to meet a friend I haven't seen in four years.

We fly out in 12 hours to Honduras. Twenty hours from now, we'll be on the beach. Two words: Can't Wait.

If we have a good Internet connection, I'll try posting from there.

Only in Minnesota

Training for the Fargo Marathon hasn't gone as well as planned. And I'm making a mental note of not running a spring marathon as long as I live in a cold-climate state.

This morning, though, I had a good day. even in sub-zero weather.

My diehard friend Naomi and I went out at 8 a.m. to run 15.5 miles. Our average pace was 9:42 per mile, which isn't bad when you're dealing with ice and snow, and no liquids. The water fountains weren't operating, and the Powerade I brought froze.

New Recipe Monday

I haven't written in a long time. I've been busy at work and busy training for the marathon, which is just over two months away. We've also been out of town. Two weeks ago we were visiting Northwestern University for admit weekend. Last weekend we were in New Ulm to see my sister's new pad.

And life is about to get busier. We're going to Chicago in two weeks for admit weekend at the University of Chicago. Then we're off to Honduras for a much-needed, seven-day vacay.

So I should have plenty to write about in the next few weeks if I find the time.

This week, I start working the Tuesday-Saturday schedule. It kind of blows having only one weekend day to hang out with Ben. But it's temporary -- I should be done in early May -- and we'll adjust. I'm taking the opportunity to cook on Mondays. So I'm going to try something new -- every Monday that I'm home I'll cook something different and post the recipe here.

Tonight, we're starting with heart-healthy chicken. The recipe comes from a colleague. A few women at work have already made it and have raved about it. It's simple to make (I'm in the middle of cooking it as I write this). I'll let you know in the next day or two if the recipe is worthy of the high marks my colleagues have given it. Stay tuned.

Heart Healthy Chicken Recipe

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Seasoning for the chicken:

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 tsp pepper

Mix seasoning and coat the chicken. Fry chicken in olive oil. When chicken is fully cooked add:

1-14 oz can black beans

1 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup salsa

2-T fresh cilantro

1-14 oz can chopped tomatoes

Heat thoroughly and serve.

Read after eating.

Indie turned 7 months yesterday.

He's come a long way since we got him. He's no longer afraid of us. He understands commands to sit, lay down, roll over and leave his treat (thanks to Ben's fine training skills). He also understands his name. He regularly poops and pees outside.

But there are days when Indie's inner demon comes out and says hello.

On Thursday, he wanted to hump. I had trouble folding blankets because he latched on to them and humped like he had just run into a poodle in heat prancing down the sidewalk.

Ben came home Friday to find Indie had gone potty in his exercise pen. Later that night, he bit me -- and broke skin -- when I tried to pull my sock from his chomps.

And then this morning, minutes after I had confined him after eating, he pooped. And he got rid of the evidence -- for the most part. The stank gave him away.

It's hard to be mad at my little poop eater. Just look at his face.

They're baaack

I heard them tonight. The scurrying back and forth in the wall behind our bed.

Don't bats hibernate? Don't they have a season when they leave humans alone?

Seriously. I thought when our landlord forked out plenty of cash to remove our friends this summer, we'd never hear them fluttering around again. I was so wrong.

Now, I'm not only worried for Ben's safety and mine. I have a puppy -- my baby -- to protect. When I heard the sound of the bats -- or maybe a new creature? -- all I could think of was whether my editor would mind Indiana joining me at work for a few days.

I don't want to leave the little guy exposed to an infected bat. I'm certain he has his rabies vaccinations, and I will check his records tonight to be sure.

Damn those bats. And why did they have to return while I'm reading a fictional book about vampires and love and danger?

Creepy.

I loathe my car

It appears that my car cannot go more than two months without having something go wrong with it.

On Election Day, it had a flat tire. Today, it's a window that went off track. And I don't need to re-hash what else happened in 2008.

I've been a good girl about not using my power window (the passenger window is questionable, hence, I can only use the one window) during the frigid weather we've had. I just got a new motor and window this fall, and I don't want to risk anything happening to them.

But today I used the window for two reasons: 1.) it was warm (20 degrees) and 2.) I was pissed off because I couldn't find my key card -- which I swear I never remove from my car -- and had to pay $7 to get out of the ramp where I already pay $110/month to park every day.

In almost any other car, its windows would work perfectly. Not mine. So I got to look forward to a 45-minute drive home -- in the middle of winter -- with my window stuck open.

I went to my mechanic, who doesn't do body work but who I hoped would have a heart and store my car overnight. I don't have a garage. He had a heart. And he's going to fix the car tomorrow. And he can tell the body shop, which is located next door to his shop, that just a few months after fixing my window, it's broken, again.

When I sell* my car, I'm going to have a party to celebrate its absence. I will invite friends, and the champagne will flow.



*I'd give it away, but I need the coffee money.