My secret vice. I'm always a bit worried that reality will never live up to the ideas that have been engrained in my head since my teen years. I don't ask for anything so fantastical as these stories, but I do believe in fiery passion, enduring love and happily ever after.
I went to the beach today. It's was warm, breezy and deserted. The sands weren't combed since it wasn't swimming season, and the waterline was caked with drying froth. Freshly harvested clam shells littered the beach as well. Beautiful, peaceful and I was nearly alone for my walk.
That's right. Double peanut butter! As in, the top is peanut butter too!
Except that it was a huge disappointment. The peanut better on top was made smooth so that it would set properly and tastes more like Reese's pieces than the delicious PB filling. I felt like the smooth PB also detracted from the filling, overwhelmed the flavor, and thus ruined the magic of peanut butter on peanut butter.
Every few weeks I visit the Brigham to pick up samples. Usually I take the train in, rather than opting for the shuttle. But the shuttles returns me safe and sound to work when its over. This is the view from the shuttle stop - a walkway linking buildings, outdated architecture towering above more recent renovations.
I always indulge at Au Bon Pain on these occasions. I grab some coffee and a pastry or oatmeal. I lean towards the oatmeal now that they have begun labeling pastries with calorie counts. There is only one item below 300 calories, just barely. The majority are between 450-800 calories per baked good. It's terrifying and guilt-inducing. Given that the ABP is in the hospital lobby itself, I'm rather grateful that someone finally demanded they disclose the truth of the massively unhealthy pastries being hawked to guests and workers. I rather suspect that business is down on those items too. The spinach and cheese croissant is the healthier pastry at 290 calories - however, I still cringe to imagine how much of that comes from fat.
Returning to the gym after a long absence has proven that nothing has changed. My usual day locker still sits empty when I'm not there. The same guys still show up to pump iron at 7pm each night. A couple of new trainers were added, but the old ones still remain and still remember my name.
It's like coming home.
In a poor comparison of healthy foot (right) and swollen foot (left), I show off my latest running injury. This one is called Extensor Tendinitis.
From Go Barefooting:
The typical runner making the switch will usually complain of sore and tight calves after the initial barefoot runs. This is because the calf muscles are now being tightened and flexed. After that initial shock is gone and the calves begin to adapt, the same runners typically complain of pains in the tops of their feet. These pains are usually coming from two muscles and/or three tendons that run the length of the top of the foot, one of which actually starts along the tibia.
All of you who started out with calf pain transitioned to top-of-the-foot pain for that very reason. Your calves got extremely tight and sore. A lack of proper stretching and relaxing caused a counter balance problem, which manifested itself in the connective tissues in the top of the foot.
