Big Shoes To Fill

I could never run 1500 m in under four minutes.  Oh, I can walk it in under fifteen minutes but I could never run it in under four.

My cousin who, let's face it, I have been pimping on here, ran in the semi-finals at the world champs this morning (last night in Korea o'clock) and for a while he was right in there, keeping up.

Alas, in this race, it was not meant to be.

Geoff does not regard this as a failure but an opportunity to run with the absolute best in the world.  For him, it has been an opportunity to set the gauge for Calgary and then London in 2012; he has seen all this as a learning experience.

For Geoff, it was not a race lost but a dream come true.

I think Geoff said it best on his blog: "As I was walking up the backstretch towards the line, prior to the starting of tonight's 1500m, I looked around and tried to take in the moment. I can't put in words what it was like, I couldn't take a picture for it, no silly blog video would capture it. To walk the track among the best 1500m runners in the world, to be in a big, packed stadium, and to be wearing the Canadian singlet; it was literally a dream come true."
So the question I ask myself tonight is this: do I have the ability to turn my losses into victories?

It really is about perspective, isn't it?

Am Proud

Am also sick at home today.  It has been nearly two weeks with this chest infection and I believe I am relapsing.

I called in dead this morning.

My cousin Geoff ran his ass off  last night.. today... what time is it in Korea again? and has made it to the men's 1500 metre semifinal at the 2011 IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

You can read about his qualifying heat at CBC's site.

You can watch him run on September 01.  If I have done the conversion right (Daegu is 15 hours ahead), he will be running at 4.55 am Mountain time or 7.55 pm, local time.  If I've done the conversion wrong, complain to Lord Google that you want your money back.

(totally ripped off the Internets)

If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard. ~ Jesse Owens

Shameless Plug

My cousin Geoff is here running his arse off, with hopes of competing next year at the 2012 Olympics in London.

You can check Geoff's blog out as he chronicles his training and races.

I ran and ran and ran every day, and I acquired this sense of determination, this sense of spirit that I would never, never give up, no matter what else happened. ~ Wilma Rudolph

Huuuuurrrryyyyyy Haaaaaarrrrrrdddd

(Originally posted on my old blog "The Domestication of a Punk Rock Foodie" on February 27, 2010.)

No, I'm not talking all sexy and stuff. I'm talking curling. I'm talking about Kevin Martin and the boys going undefeated to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Now that's hardcore.

MAKE
Menu (these recipes each serve four):
Herbed Bread Sticks
Chicken Tikka Masala With Jasmine Rice
Cosmopolitan Ice Cups

HERBED BREAD STICKS
I used a prepared pizza crust here because I suck at making pizza crusts… they always look like crackers or soufflés when I’m done. Also, this can be served as a roll instead of a stick.

1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tbsp. dried basil
½ tsp. fennel seeds
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ tsp. rock salt
1 tin prepared pizza crust

-preheat oven to temperature listed on pizza crust tin
-lightly oil a baking sheet
-combine oregano, basil, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and salt in a bowl and then divide in half
-sprinkle half of the spice mixture evenly on the lightly oiled baking sheet
-roll out the pizza crust and then transfer to the baking sheet; press the crust down in order to have the crust pick up the herbs on the baking sheet
-roll up the pizza crust and cut in halves until you have 16 pieces (8 pieces if you are making rolls)
-roll these pieces out into bread stick shape with a ½ diameter (if you are making rolls, form the dough into pieces about the size of erasers); do not overwork the dough or it will be tough when finished cooking
-arrange on the baking sheet, about 1 inch apart
-cook on one side for about 5 and then turn and continue to cook for another 3 – 5 minutes, depending on how brown you want them to be coloured

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA WITH JASMINE RICE
While I don’t generally use bottled sauces, using a bottle sauce for this recipe reduces the preparation time and uses fewer ingredients.

 4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
½ onion, finely chopped
1 tbsp. ginger, finely chopped
1tbsp. garlic, finely chopped
2 lbs. chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into 1 inch pieces
¼ tsp. salt
1 can tomato paste
1 tsp. red curry paste
1 can tomatoes, crushed, with juice
1 c. Tikka Masala cooking sauce
½ c. plain yogurt
½ c. water
4 c. cooked jasmine rice (cook according to manufacturer’s directions)

-in a large saucepan, heat olive oil
-add onion, ginger, and garlic and cook on medium heat, stirring for about 3 minutes; sprinkle the salt over the mixture so it will sweat rather than brown and burn
-add chicken to the pan and cook on medium high heat, stirring constantly for about 5-7 minutes -stir in tomato paste, red curry paste, crushed tomatoes, and tikka masala sauce and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally
-add yogurt and water reduce heat to low, and simmer until the chicken is done, about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally
-serve hot over rice

COSMOPOLITAN ICE CUPS
1 pkg. strawberry jelly powder
1c. boiling water
1 c. orange sorbet or sherbet
4 strawberries
Whipping cream (optional)

-stir in the sorbet until it is completely melted
-pour 4 martini or wine glasses (about 10 oz. per glass)
-refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm
-top each with sliced strawberry and a dollop of whipping cream, if desired

THINK
Don't yield to the temptation of believing that the world can be fixed. Above all, don't yield to the hubris that you can fix it. Realize that your actions can, at best, make some conditions in the world a little more bearable, make suffering a little less painful. But just because this is all you can do, does not mean that you should not do it... do it in the face of all hopelessness. And why? Because to help, to be compassionate, is your highest calling... if you can't do this, if you won't do this, then you are hopeless. -- Dr. Stephan Hoeller

LISTEN
Jay Z Featuring Swizz Beatz - On To The Next One
Pink - Glitter In The Air
Sham 69 - If The Kids Are United

READ
So I haven't been able to keep up with my scheduled book a week pace. Mostly because Cosmic Jackpot required a lot of re-reading and going back to review (I'm not a physics geek but I'm a geek for the cosmos). I've put that aside and started Don Miguel Ruiz's Four Agreements: A Practical Guide To Personal Freedom

WATCH
In June 2008, J. K. Rowling gave the speech "The Fringe Benefits Of Failure And The Importance Of Imagination". You can find it here.  Even if you aren't a Harry Potter fan, its worth a listen. The speech is transcribed below the video.

VISIT
Architecture and photography are two of my favorite things.  Check out the The Kings Of Architectural Photography page here.

GO GREEN
To remove coffee and mineral stains from the pot on your coffee maker, add 3 cups ice cubes or crushed ice 1/3 cup water, and 1/2 cup salt to the pot. Swirl the pot for about 2 minutes, rinse, and then wash. To remove coffee or tea stains from a coffee mug, rub the stained areas with salt and then rinse with water. Repeat until stains are gone. Wash mug before using again.