The stove only looks like this because the hash was too rambunctious for my small skillet. I promise.

What you’ll need:

• 1 onion, chopped (recipe calls for two cups, I guestimated)
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 Tbs olive oil
• 3 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into small-ish chunks (or six cups if that’s how you roll)
• 1 jalapeño, minced
• 1 Tbs coriander (I didn’t actually have this, so I skipped it and added extra cumin and some cayenne)
• 1 Tbs cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 15 oz. can black beans
• hot sauce (SRIRACHA!)

What you’ll do (if you’re not me and do it right):

1. Boil the sweet potatoes chunks until they are nearly cooked, this shouldn’t take more than a few minutes once the water boils.
2. In the meantime, heat up the olive oil in a large pan/skillet, and saute the onions, adding the garlic at the end. (Seriously, large skillet is key; I just barely squeezed everything into my 9 inch cast iron skillet)
3. When the onion is translucent and the potatoes are done, drain the potatoes and put them in the pan with the onions and garlic and kind of mix everything up a little and let it sit for a couple minutes.
4. Add the jalapeño, cumin and coriander, then mix it up again.
5. Finally, add the frozen corn and black beans, mixing, then letting it sit so the corn can melt.
6. Throw some sriracha or other hot sauce in because it is delicious, mix it up, make sure none of the corn is frozen and done!
7. Serve as a side, or as a burrito filling, or as a main dish with lots of cheese, maybe some sour cream, salsa, or anything else you think might be delicious. Bringing it to a potluck (and therefore having to share) totally optional.

–M

Jeffrey was working again, so I asked him if he would leave me his MP3 Player so that I could have some music while I was jogging. In addition, I decided to take a bottle of water (filled only half way-a full 16 oz is just obnoxious) to quench my thirst. No, it isn’t a necessity. But it helps me -psychologically- to have something to keep my mouth from drying out.

Jeff’s taste in music differs quite a lot from my taste. So instead of rocking out to my usual run music, (read: Rolling Stones for the first part, then Cyndi Lauper, Katy Perry, etc to keep up the pace toward the end), I listened to a seemingly random mix of The Pajama Club, Otis Redding, and a pretty catchy remix of Party in the USA  and Since You’ve Been Gone by The Tokyo Police Club. I normally wouldn’t understand Jeff’s appreciation for a Miley Cyrus or Kelly Clarkson song, but these are kind of catchy tunes and TTPC sounds a lot cooler than Miley Cyrus.

I have a very hard time listening to new music. My sister says I never made it past the 90s. It’s really a miracle that I know who Katy Perry is and actually listen to some of her songs.

Other than that, there’s nothing really to write about. I got to one km fairly quickly, and stopped to pick up a penny. No, I am not above picking spare change from the street.

I made my way around the neighborhood park, across Vance Jackson, then over to West Ave. I forgot that several of the neighborhood streets dead end before reaching West Ave, so I had to jog further down than I had intended to. Damn Endomondo and my independent running. It was hot, and my measly 8 oz was gone when I reached 4.8 km. That’s right. Three miles!

I had to find my way back to a familiar street, which landed me at the neighborhood dive. You should be listening to Party in the USA again, if it’s not already stuck in your head.

I seriously considered going inside to wait out my sun-stroke.

I also considered cutting a block off of my walk home, which was over a half mile, by walking down our alley. I know there aren’t any large dogs down it.

But our block has more shade than my entire jog route, so I opted to stay on track.

After a shower and a couple of hours of rest, I noticed that the lack of shade had taken its toll on my skin. I guess I will have to start putting sunscreen on my shoulders instead of just on my face.

So I put my hands up, playing my song, and the butterflies fly away…Anyone else? No? Okay.

I headed toward the neighborhood park, keeping to the streets, and away from the alleys and their inhabitants.

Nothing screams “Saturday in San Antonio” like a party at the park with a bouncy castle. I wondered if I could burn enough calories while jumping in the castle to just skip the rest of my run. Hey, it’s cardio, right?

I decided to avoid squashing the children and any lawsuits which would ensue. I was quite happy that the first km had passed so quickly. I was aiming for 4 km, or 2.5 miles, at least. Maybe 4.8 km, or 3 miles. I jogged across Vance Jackson, which I have never done before. I’m not sure why. I love the freedom Endomondo gives me. (Jeff’s at work, so I was running solo today.)

I was jogging up and down streets, enjoying myself. Before I knew it I had run 2.5 km. My phone only alerts me every km. Of course, I check it periodically to make sure I haven’t accidentally hit Pause or Stop.

We have had an unusual amount of rain, so the yards are verdant fields, some with more weeds than others. Irises are in bloom-something that always reminds me that Easter is quickly approaching.

The sun was beating down on me, and I was in a full sweat. I’m dreading the next few months when today’s temperatures will seem chilly in comparison. I continued to weave up and down the blocks, basing my route on the amount of shade and downhill gradient.

After I hit 3 km, the shade seemed to disappear. This is another benefit of running in alleys. There is usually more respite from the sun.

As I was creeping up on 4 km, I was thirsty, and I am pretty sure some of my brain cells were frying. I was also getting bored. I will be very happy to receive my MP3 Player in the mail this week. I need something to distract me from the heat.

When my phone said, “Four Kilometers,” I was happy with myself. Sure, I probably should have pressed on for the remaining .8km, but I really just didn’t want to. I stopped to look at the ditch which I like to call “The San Antonio River,” because it reminds me of the LA River. If you haven’t seen it in person, you’ve seen it in the movies. This just isn’t as wide. Or long.  And there may actually be more water in it right now. That will change soon, though. (There is a San Antonio River, and this isn’t it.  I don’t know where the real one is.)

As I have off on Fridays, I was able to choose any time during the day as my running time. So around 2 pm, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to take my distance up a notch. A small notch. I put on some clean running clothes and grabbed my phone. Using Endomondo really is the easiest way for me to run farther. If I run my regular loop, I tend to be done once I’ve finished the loop.

I turned right when I reached the corner, and began running up the first alley. I know that you are wondering, Why are you still running through alleys after you have been nearly mauled by alley dogs during at least two runs? It is just so much easier to go up and down alleys and streets. I mean, I can run longer distances without feeling like I have actually gone that far. Maybe I’m crazy.

I was feeling good. After the first kilometer, I noticed my pace was slower than usual. I didn’t mind though, because I was more concerned with running farther.

I turned down another alley. This one was paved.

It was basically a small street, and I stopped to snap a picture of this sweet hound who was hanging around the alley.

So far during my run, I hadn’t seen any scary dogs. Most of the canines I encountered were small terriers and chihuahuas, all behind fences. I was still smiling over the hound when I noticed two big wolves dogs in the yard ahead. I saw that the chain-link gate was not completely closed, but I doubted either dog could get through. Turns out, they didn’t need to. The larger one just hopped right over. “No, no,” I said in an unfortunately whiny voice.

He was barking, jumping up and down, following me. I could feel his hot nose on my left elbow. A speeding train of thoughts pumped through my head. Don’t stop. Dogs smell fear. Get it together. Don’t let him bite you. Unless it’s on your left arm. Don’t be afraid. Maybe he will sense my attitude change. But that might anger him. The left arm is the best place for him to bite. Not the upper arm though. Did I just pee myself?

Then he turned around. I don’t know if he went back to his yard. I did not turn around. I also did not run down anymore alleys. Instead, I had to do some block circling and retracing of steps.

I jogged 2.5 miles. I had initially thought I could maybe do three, but it felt hotter than it actually was, and I miss running with music. I finally ordered another MP3 player yesterday. I can’t take it anymore.

I have been told that I am disgusting. I don’t think so, but my sister and boyfriend have said so on several different occasions. I wore the same running clothes that I wore yesterday. Yep, dirty. Come on. I spent about an hour in them yesterday, and it wasn’t like anybody was going to be smelling me while I was out running today. I hate doing laundry, but more importantly I’m saving water and energy. I do shower daily. Besides, everyone wears jeans more than once. You know you do.

So here it is. My favorite ventilated running shirt on Day Two. (That’s my armpit.)

I really didn’t feel like running. I blame my activities this weekend. It was a very exceptional situation. Hockey game Friday night fueled by dollar beers in deceptively sized plastic cups. Hence, no run on Saturday. Saturday night, out with friends and then back to our house after everyone realized that when I said, “It is never a good idea to go to a bar on St. Patrick’s Day, especially one named McFinnigan’s,” I was absolutely correct. Long after midnight, after I was sound asleep, someone decided it would be fun to have a BBQ on Sunday. At our house. No run Sunday. And an all day BBQ implies that I was still detoxing yesterday, and have yet to be able to run. At least that’s my theory. Besides any run is a good run. That’s my motto. Unless said run dips below two miles. Then it’s all moot.

Back to today’s excursion. I decided beforehand to do my usual loop. Two miles and done. After nearly being mauled by alleyway dogs yesterday, I should have learned my lesson. But something about running down alleys is just so appealing. It’s like being in a jungle. With a lot of trash.  And mangy dogs. Today, I picked an alley that I was sure-ish was home to no large dogs.

Alas, I was wrong; there was one large dog. But (s)he was behind a sturdy fence, and didn’t seem exceptionally aggressive. I easily snapped a picture without worrying about the dog busting through the fence.

Around two kilometers in, there’s a hill. Not a San Francisco style hill, but it’s enough to burn my calves and lungs. I kept going for about a block after I reached the top, then stopped briefly to take this gem of a picture. Mostly, I just wanted a second to catch my breath.

I pushed myself for the last kilometer, making it home in average time. Hopefully, I can add at least a half mile to my run this week. My sister, the ultra-marathoner, thinks that’s silly. I should add a mile, she says. I’m okay with adding a half mile at a time. If I feel like it, I can always run farther.