Straight from the Scullery

a blog about life, love, and the pursuit of food and happiness...

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Inspiring Doesn't Describe It

The world's oldest marathon runner has decided to hang up his shoes today, after completing a 10K in Hong Kong in 1 hour and 32 minutes. He is 101 years old.

That, in itself, gives a person reason to pause and do some serious inner reflection. However, there is even more to it than that.

Fauja Singh, the Indian born runner who now lives in London, has not been a runner his whole life. He spent the majority of his life as a farmer, and took up running at 89 years old in the face of tragedy. He'd lost his wife and his son, and says that running gave him purpose and a sense of peace.

Who couldn't use a large dose of that?

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Top Ten Things I Learned in New Orleans

10) That the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau, viewed Voodoo as an extension of Catholicism. I've never followed up with fact-checking from the Vatican, but I am thinking they are in disagreement.

9) That my favorite bar in the world is on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Philip, and was built around 1722. It was used as a base for Jean Lafitte's Barataria smuggling ring, and he is still hanging around haunting the place (The governor posted a $500 reward for the capture of Lafitte. Lafitte, in turn, posted a $1500 reward for the capture of the governor). The bartender pours strong drinks, and my date asked me out for another after finishing the very first one...

8) It has been said that the key ingredient to "The Best Sandwich in America" is the olive mix used in making the Muffaletta, but I beg to differ. The key ingredient to ANY sandwich is the bread, and with the wrong bread, even "The Best Sandwich in America" is not yummy.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I'll Miss the Dragon

February 9, 2013 marks the last day of the year according to the Chinese zodiac. When we wake up on the 10th, the Year of the Snake will commence. Focus. Discipline. Slow, continuous improvement. Attention to detail. That is what the Snake asks of us in the upcoming year.

And that's all good and well, I'm sure it will serve good purpose (Really? A whole YEAR of that??) Perhaps my blogs will truly begin to show a regular pattern of writing. My training runs might actually be able to IMPROVE my trail running times rather than being put off to bake a cheesecake. Achieving the nine goals that I wrote down for myself on January 1...those all have the potential of coming to fruition. I suppose there is potential here.

But ohhh how I will miss the Dragon that we are leaving behind. Dramatic events, full of unpredictability and fun. Dragon years are fantastically lucky ones with regard to new relationships. The advice for the past year had Dragon telling us to relax and enjoy ourselves. The Dragon Year was also full of generosity, good will, and extravagant food in front of us.