Of Hockey and Zucchini Bread…

Good weekend, for sure.  The Missus and I got free Pens tickets for Friday night, and what I thought would be a ho-hum pre-season game was a chippy, intense, fast paced game that included three fights (so you know my Missus was stoked).  Plus, these were the best seats I’ve ever had at the Igloo…11 rows back from the glass.  It was REALLY fun, even though the Pens can’t score on power plays and we lost 4-3. 

I worked Saturday morning, but got to the pub in time to watch a barn burner of West Ham v. Liverpool.   Fortune’s Always Hiding.  We lost to the Liverpulians 3-2.  I had a lovely evening with the family where I got some produce from my in-laws CSA stash.  Part of it included a nice zucchini, which I parlayed into a great loaf of zucchini bread.  I did a slight variation of the recipe from The Compassionate Cook. 

Sunday was maxin’ and relaxin’ until my footy match at 6pm.  Good times there.  I only played one shift in the first half, but I’m still feeling it…between getting blasted in the face with ball (it looked like I was going to have a black eye, but it’s subsided nicely), my right leg feels like I either took a knock I don’t remember, or I ran a bit hard and extended something a little much.  Otherwise, brilliant…especially the win!

Now, a one day work week, and prep for an in-law house guest!

The Bachelor…

No, not the insipid TV show.  My wife is out of town for the week, so I’m flying solo.  I know lots of folks for whom this kind of arrangement is no big deal.  In fact, some like it (separate vacations, a week or two out of town, etc.) but I’ve always disliked it.  Indeed, it made going on tour a royal pain for me. 

At any rate, I was alone today.  I woke up late (for, you see, when my lovely missus is out of town I don’t sleep so well and I didn’t end up getting to bed till about 4am) had two bowls of cereal and watched one of my all time favorite movies War Games.  (As a brief aside, I remember seeing that in the theater.  It was amazing then and is amazing now.) 

I did a ton of work around the house (in the stifling humidity) and late in the day I ended up going to drop some things off at the thrift store.  I did a little grocery shopping, came home and went for a run.  I only wanted to do a short one, but two things made an otherwise great time a bit rough.  #1 The Stitch.  It’s that sharp pain in the side.  I got it early on and it stayed with me for the duration of the short run I did.  that’s odd.  It’s never happened to me before.  I just tried to control my breathing and relax.  that always works best.  I like to think of it as “making friends with my lungs.”  #2 The insane wind storm that was occurring.  It was really intense and kind of odd to be out taking a run during it.  I’ve experienced some interesting weather while running this past 6 months.  I’m loving watching the birds flocking and moving south.  Likewise, I got to see the moon for a good deal of my evening run and I was taken (both last night late, and during my run tonight) how the moonlight is silver, and how when it’s humid and hazy, or foggy and misty the light is that much more beautiful. 

Aside from the run, my dinner tonight was stellar.  Vegan Hot Sausages in Buns:
Saute 3 cloves of garlic in some olive oil.
Add 3 Banana Peppers, sliced.
Take a can of tomato sauce, add to the pan.
Season with salt, pepper, oregano, basil and crushed red pepper flakes.
Bring the sauce to a boil.  Turn down and let simmer for anywhere from 5-10 minutes.
Get some vegan sausages (I like the Tofurkey Italian Sausages for this).
Slice them in half and add to the sauce.  Cook until the sausages are heated through.

Serve on rolls or buns of your choice.  (If using store bought, I dig Cellone’s.  It’s a good local bread that doesn’t fool around with lard or any of that other nonsense.)

Give it a go.