Halloween 2012

Our first Christmas together, Em and I received an unique gift...Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts from my parents.  So, as we planned for the arrival of our little one (by the way...the baby came...her name is Annie...she's the little one in the middle of the picture...I'll write more about her later), we decided that there was only one logical Halloween costume for her...

...introducing our little Thing 3!

A Happy (Belated) Halloween!

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal: Weeks 9 through 12 and Race Day

I have been remiss in writing about my running experiences.  For weeks 9 through 11, this was because of my absence from home (Em and I visited New Jersey/New York, Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands...I'll write about that later).  For week 12..well, I don't have a good reason. 

I found that training overseas was considerably more difficult than anticipated, largely due to my allergies.  It's truly spring in Germany right now, which made breathing difficult on its own, never mind trying to breath while exerting myself physically!  I did make it through the trip, and put in a few miles after getting back into the country.

The Meet Me Downtown Tucson 5K was last Saturday.  The race has been run and I have survived.  Here's a quick chronicling of the running that has taken place over the past month.

Week 9-12 Totals: 5 Runs, 10.90 Miles, 2:34:37

Week 9:
Thursday, 10 May - 2.00 Miles, 21:29

Week 10: 
No Running Took Place

Week 11:
Monday, 21 May - 2.92 Miles, 1:06:51

Friday, 25 May - 2.00 Miles, 22:40

Week 12:
Tuesday, 29 May - 2.12 Miles, 21:20

Wednesday, 30 May - 1.86 Miles, 21:17


Overall Training Totals: 35 Runs, 63.48 Miles, 13:40:26

Race Day:
Saturday, 2 June - 3.10 Miles, 35:37.6 (Average Pace - 11:28/mile)
998/1734 Overall, 65/81 in Male 25-29 Division

The race went fairly well.  It was hot (right around 90 degrees at the 7pm start time), and there were a number of local residents that were kind enough to turn their hoses on us as we ran by their homes.  There were also three watering stations, which was also a good thing.  While I didn't run the route as quickly as I would have really liked, I did considerably better than I would have if I hadn't put in those 35 training runs.

I've decided that I'm going to re-do the same 12 week training program, and see if my time improves.  I'm considering running a 5K on Labor Day to test my improvement.  We'll see how that ends up working out with the impending arrival of our first-born child in September.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal: Week 8

This was a week of ups and downs.  I had one of my best runs ever early in the week, and by the end of the week I was limping once again.  Luckily for me, the limping is coming right before a week where I will have to dial back the running, as there's not a lot of room to run on an airplane.

I also began using a new toy this week.  As I've brought up before, I use Nike+ to help record my runs.  Briefly, it works by placing a sensor in the sole of your shoe (I happen to wear Nike shoes, and they conveniently create a place for this sensor, but if you don't wear Nike shoes there are companies that make holders for this sensor that connect via the shoe's laces), and the sensor transmits a signal that is picked up by a receiver on/in an iPod (the receiver is an external unit on my Nano and is built in to my Touch).  Through the miracle of technology, the sensor can tell how far I've gone and send that information to the iPod, and I can then upload the information to the Nike+ Running website.  Now, the new toy for this week happens to be another gadget that will transmit data to the iPod, and will then upload to the website...a heart rate transmitter!  I had been wearing a different heart rate monitor previously, but there was no way to keep track of the data.  Now I can not only keep track of my heart rate while I run, but I can access the data again later and it's all contained in a single website.  These are good things, in my opinion.

The next couple weeks of running will be taking place in New Jersey and Europe (I'll become an International Runner!), and that means that I won't be writing consistently while I'm away (if at all).  But, I'll try to take a few pictures and write about something here that isn't just me running.

Here's how the week turned out for me:

Week 8 Totals: 5 Runs, 9.40 Miles, 1:53:53

Monday - 2.00 Miles, 20:47
Wednesday - 3.10 Miles, 33:00
Thursday - 1.43 Miles, 29:56
Friday - 2.00 Miles, 22:42
Saturday - 0.87 Miles, 7:48

Running Journal: Week 7

I am quickly learning that running requires finding a balance between following the training schedule and listening to your body, between figuring out when to push yourself and when you're doing too much too quickly.  But, in finding that balance, I'm also finding improved times and that makes me happy.  I still have more improvement to go before 2 June, but I'm confident that I'll be able to get there.

I also started using a new piece of equipment this week: a 6th generation iPod nano.  A few years ago, I purchased a 1st generation nano, and had enjoyed using it for some time.  It was with this 1st gen nano that I was introduced to the Nike+ Running concept.  Earlier this year, I found out that Apple issued a recall for the 1st generation nano due to reports of batteries overheating.  So, I sent mine in and a week or so later I received a replacement, 6th generation nano.  Since it also works with Nike+, and it's small, I decided to start using it instead of strapping my iPod touch to my arm.  This will sound a bit geek-ish, but the 6th gen nano is the one that you can actually wear as a watch, so I bought a wristband for it and turned it into a running watch.  My headphone cable is a bit long for this setup, so I'm figuring out how to work around that still, but I've enjoyed using this new toy.  I did run into an issue of actually wearing two watches (as I use a heart rate monitor), but I've figured out a way around this, and will write about it in the future.

The more I'm sticking with this, the more I'm actually enjoying running.  Now, if only the weather would cool down just a tad bit when I get home from work, I'd enjoy running just that much more.  But, after this week I'll be running for the next three weeks in the temperate German weather instead of the Arizona heat (well, I'll have a couple days in New Jersey before I get to Germany, but that's still running in a place other than Arizona).

Here's this week's breakdown:

Week 7 Totals: 6 Runs, 11.81 Miles, 2:25:53

Monday: 3.00 Miles, 36:32
I actually don't remember much about this run.  It was getting dark when I left to run, so I was more focused on not tripping on potholes than anything else.

Tuesday: 1.31 Miles, 26:06
As the time might indicate, this was a walk.  My wife and I decided to take a stroll through the neighborhood, as it was getting dark and my legs were very tired after returning to regular training last week.

Thursday: 2.48 Miles, 28:04
This was the first time I had gone to a park to use a jogging path.  It wasn't a bad experience, but it wasn't my favorite.  That could be because I had issues figuring out how far I had actually run.  This park has two paths, so running path 1 is .5 Miles/lap, path 2 is .62 Miles/lap, and path 3 (which is a combination of 1 and 2) is .8 Miles/lap.  I had thought I was on path 1, and I was upset after running 2 miles in 28 minutes.  I then took a second look, and realized I was on path 2 and had run almost a half mile further than I had planned, and had actually run it at an acceptable pace (11:20-ish/Mile).

Friday: 1.01 Miles, 9:39
This was a run of a known distance in order to calibrate my new iPod nano.  Once I finished pushing all of the buttons I had to push, I continued on with the run below.

Friday: 2.00 Miles, 23:50
I had a three mile run on the schedule, so I figured that breaking it up wouldn't be a bad thing.  Of course, when I thought this, I didn't realize that I'd run my first mile a lot faster than I typically run the first mile of a multi-mile run, and I was hurting before I even finished the first half mile of this second run.  But, the combined total of these two runs put me at just over 34 minutes for 3 miles, which means that I'm getting closer and closer to finding/maintaining the pace that would help me reach the goal of completing a 5K in under 30 minutes.

Saturday: 2.01 Miles, 22:02
A nice late-afternoon run was a good way to relieve a little stress.  Not that the weekends are all that stressful, but there was a situation that arose during the day that had me a bit unhappy.  When I got in, I was surprised to see a time that suggested a sub-11 minute pace was actually attainable.  Progress, wherever it can be found, is a good thing.

Week 8 Schedule: 5 Runs, 16 Miles


Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal - Week 6

This was my first week getting back into a semblance of a training pattern.  My legs felt pretty good.  I also began to break in new running shoes, a pair of Nike Free Run+ 3 LAF's.  They feel very good so far, and I'm excited about using them.  My health is well, so it's now a matter of re-acquiring stamina and getting in a full week of running.  I have a good idea of how I'll get through this week's schedule, so that's a good thing.  My only real distraction from running this week will be Wednesday night's Bruins/Capitals Game 7, but I'll make sure I either get out during an intermission or right after the game is over.

Anyway, here's my rundown for the past week:

Week 6 Totals: 3 Runs, 4.89 Miles, 56:16

Tuesday: 2.01 Miles, 24:49
This was a tough run, as I could feel the affects of not running consistently for two weeks.  I had to stop and walk a couple times, but I made my way though the run.


Thursday: 1.01 Miles, 10:09
A short run to feel how my new shoes felt.  I enjoyed it, and I managed to keep a good pace throughout the run.  It was also a late run, so it was dark and I didn't want to be out there for too long.

Friday: 1.87 Miles (3 Kilometers), 21:28
I decided to change things up a little bit and measure my run by kilometers, since I'll be running a 5k afterall.  It was another night run for me, so I made sure to take care of where I was running and made sure I wasn't going to fall in a pothole and break my ankle.  But, I only had to slow to a walk twice, and I managed to keep those stints fairly short.

Week 7 Schedule: 5 Runs, 15 Miles

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal - Week 4 and Week 5

The past two weeks have been absolutely awful for my running.  First, I was hampered by the shin splints.  That kept me off my feet for 2 of my scheduled training runs (the golf really didn't help my shins all that much, but at the time it didn't feel like it was hurting them either).  Then I came down with a sinus infection, which kept me in bed for most of the week.  I missed another 4 runs.  As you'll see by my run breakdown, I wasn't able to get out much at all.  I am, thankfully, feeling considerably better.  Here's hoping for a more productive Week 6.

Week 4 Totals: 2 Runs, 1:10:37 + 2,311 Yards, 3.5 hours and 92 strokes

Monday - 1.98 Miles, 39:47
This was, obviously, a walk.  I wanted to keep my legs moving, and I took the wife on a two-mile stroll.  It was a little chilly, but it wasn't too bad.

Wednesday - 2,311 Yards, 3.5 hours
I took a vacation day and played a round of golf.  Obviously, from the yardage, it was a Par-3 course, but it was a full 18 holes.  Also, I shot a 92, breaking 100 for the first time in my life!

Saturday - 2.41 Miles, 30:50
After taking a few extra days off, I decided to test out my legs once again.  Knowing that I was supposed to start doing 3-milers during week 4, I tried my first on this evening.  Of course, I wasn't able to run the entire way, and I found that my shin area was tightening up as I walked.  I didn't want to risk re-injury, so I cut the run short and headed in.  It felt good to get back out there, but I was disappointed that my legs didn't feel as good as I would have liked.  My head also felt a bit out of sorts.  Little did I know, that was just a precursor of what was to come the following week.

Week 5 Totals: 1 Run, 21:15

Friday - 1.1 Miles, 21:15
A walk after having been sick all week.  I still felt terrible, but I knew I needed to move around a little bit.

Week 6 Schedule: 5 Runs, 12 Miles


Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal - Week 3

...And the injury bug strikes in Week 3.  Posterior Shin Splints started coming on Wednesday, I ran through them on Friday, but they hurt too much for me to be able  to even finish my run on Saturday.  For those wondering, Posterior Shin Splints is pain on the inside of the leg, where the shin bone and the calf muscle meet.  It's caused by straining a muscle that supports the arch of the foot.  It's treated with ice, rest, maybe some aspirin, and dialing back the training a notch or two (the research I did stresses not to run through the pain...I should have done the research on Wednesday instead of Sunday).  I did not meet the scheduled distance, but I did still get out five times this week, so that's a good thing.  This upcoming week will be a challenge, as I'm supposed to introduce 3 milers into the mix, but I'm going to need to take care of this injury to ensure I don't make things worse for myself.

Here's this week's breakdown:

Week 3 Totals: 5 Runs, 7.72 Miles, 1:35:33

Monday: 1.00 Miles, 10:17
I ran a different mile course, full of hilly roads.  Lots of ups and downs, so I had a slightly slower pace than my previous miles, but I made it all the way through without walking, so that's a good thing.

Wednesday: 2.00 Miles, 21:45
My fastest 2-mile run to date.  I felt like I kept a really good pace throughout the entire run, and only had to walk for about 200 total yards (split over two walking stints, both in the 2nd mile).  The first time I had an average pace under 11:00/mile!

Friday: 2.00 Miles, 22:12
This was an actual night run.  I didn't get out the door to run until after 7pm, so I had to be extra careful about where I stepped (as I didn't want to twist my ankle in an unnoticed pothole).  But, running at night means it's a bit cooler, which helps.  The race in June will also be a night run, but hopefully better lit than my neighborhood.

Saturday: 1.87 Miles, 24:19
I didn't even make it through the first mile before the pain became too much.  I tried to keep jogging as much as I could, but I had to cut the run short because this was an injury-type pain, not muscle burn.  I tried to stay off my feet as much as I could for the rest of the day.

Sunday: 0.85 Miles, 17:00
A short walk on Sunday, just to keep the muscles moving.

Week 4 Schedule: 5 Runs, 13 Miles

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal - Week 2

A second week of running is over, and I'm another week closer to the end of this program, and to actually running a 5K. The idea of actually running in a race isn't bothering me as much as it originally did, and I think that is in large part to how well my initial runs have gone. I've also started looking to upgrade two pieces of 'equipment' that I use for my runs...my shoes and my headphones. I'm realizing that if I end up getting new running shoes, I'll need to do this before I go on vacation in May, so I have time to break them in before the race. As for headphones, I'm a bit of a technology snob, so I've been focusing on the headphones out there that will allow me to control my iPod from the cord, instead of having to fumble with the actual device (which is strapped to my arm). Anyway, the search continues, as does the running.

As promised, here's a breakdown of this week's runs:

Week 2 Totals - 5 Runs, 9.04 Miles, 1:55:37

Monday - 2.01 Miles, 23:04
This was a cold, damp run. It was miserable. I didn't quite make it through the first mile before I had to slow down to walk for a hundred yards or so, but I still ran more than I walked.

Tuesday - 2.00 Miles, 23:02
Another cold day, but at least it was sunny. I made it through the first mile, and I realized that taking the route in the opposite direction I had previously taken it would actually be a good thing for me. Get the hills out of the way first. Then focus on just keeping going for the second mile. Easily a 3:1 run/walk ratio.

Thursday - 1.01 Miles, 9:09
Another fast run. It had been a rough day at work, so a quick run was a good way to let off some steam. I was gassed by the end of the run. The weather was nice, though.

Friday - 2.01 Miles, 22:02
A pace at 11 minutes/mile. This is progress. I figure achieving a pace like this at this point in my training schedule will allow me to be able to progress to the point where I'll be able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes by the time June rolls around, which is the sub-goal I've set for myself (with the overall goal of actually finishing the thing). I did have to slow down a couple times to walk, but I was able to keep those to a minimum. Building endurance is definitely going to be important if I'm going to do as well as I would like in June.

Sunday - 2.01 Miles, 38:20
I was supposed to run on Saturday, but we were in Mesa all day and didn't get home until after dark. So, instead of running on Saturday, my wife and I went for a Sunday Walk, and I'm counting it. I took her on the route that I usually run so she can gain an appreciation for how far 2 miles actually is in our neighborhood. It was cloudy, but there was a nice breeze and it was cool. Time wasn't a factor in my mind, but I just wanted to ensure that I moved my legs today. My legs have been tired (which I think is better than sore), but they seemed to enjoy the slower pace today.

Week 3 Schedule - 5 Runs, 9 Miles

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Running Journal - Week 1

Recently, my wife and I found a primary care physician and went in for a physical. Guess what the doctor told me? No...he didn't call me 'fat'. Well, not in those terms. He did set a goal for me to lose some weight, told me to go on a low-carb diet, and exhorted me to exercise five times a week. He then set an appointment for three months for me to come back and see him.

Since our visit, I've thought 'How can I get accomplish the weight loss goal?' The thought came to me: run a 5K. Now, running is not something I've done a lot of since my junior year in college. And, even then, I hated running in college. But, I was in pretty good condition when I was in college. I'm not in terrible condition now (Em and I have made it a point to continue to be active), but I'm definitely not in great shape, and I'm not in running shape. So, I found the two things I would need to get this running thing down:
1) A 12-week beginner's 5K training program (I have a pair of Nike+ ready shoes and use a Nike+ sensor, so I figured I'd use the 5K Training (Beginner) Nike+ Coach program).
2) A local 5K that was 12 weeks away (TMC Meet Me Downtown Night 5K Run/Walk - 2 June 2012).

I then mapped out some routes in our neighborhood and found a few that meet the distances I'm looking for, and I know of a local park with a running path.

As of Tuesday, the training has begun. I'll take a few minutes each Sunday to write a little bit about how the week's runs went. This is the easiest way I know of to keep myself honest about my progress...so here goes.

Week 1 Totals - 3 Runs, 4.23 miles, 46:45

Tuesday - 1.16 miles, 12:08
I started this program on a Tuesday, so this was the first run. I made it about 2/3 of a mile before my lungs were telling me to take it a little easier for a minute, so I walked about half a block before trying to set an easier pace the rest of the way. Of course, I didn't realize how close I was to being finished. A lesson learned for the next time. I also ended up running a little farther than I needed to, as my sensor wasn't calibrated for my running stride.

Thursday - 2.06 miles, 25:36
I despise the wind, especially when it is blowing in your face. It didn't help that I knew that this was going to be a longer run than I had done two days earlier. But, I managed to make it through mile 1 without stopping for a walk, and still jogged most of mile 2. I did find out that my route had a nice hill at the end of it. I may need to re-examine my routes, or the direction in which I run them.

Saturday - 1.01 miles, 9:01
As the time might indicate, this was the first run where I managed not to walk. Not bad for the third time out. I ran the same route as Monday, but didn't tack on the extra .15 mile, as I started and stopped at known points so I could calibrate my sensor. Now, hopefully, I won't be running any extra distance (unless I'm just feeling like mixing up the route a little bit). I also realized that I need to re-examine the first couple songs on my running playlists, as I started off the run a little faster than I would have liked. I was feeling it by the end of that run.

Week 2 Schedule: 5 runs, 9 miles

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Haus' iPod Touch - Revisited

It's been a little while since I've written at all, and I haven't written about what I'm listening to since May 2010, so I thought I'd give you all another taste of what flows into my ears on any given day. You'll notice that I'm listening to a lot of upbeat music, and to a lot of the same artists. This is in large part to a newer workout routine, but also because I just haven't written in so long and there's a lot of good stuff I've listening to lately. I've added a few links this time...they're all YouTube links to either the music itself or to a related video.

Broken Hymns - Dropkick Murphys
I've grown attached to cool banjo riffs lately. This song starts with one, and it continues throughout the song. But...then you listen to the lyrics and comprehend the story, and it can't help but reach out to the heartstrings.

Snake Charmer - Blink 182
Blink's first album in 6 years, and I get hooked onto the song in the middle of the album...the one that will probably never become the hit single or have a video made for it. But, it's the one that I like, and that's really what matters anyway.

The song is about Adam's going "in search of the great unknown"...women.

You are a hero and survivor
Your eyes are getting tired
There's claw marks up your spine
It happens all the time
The silent, evil daughters
Like sirens on the water
You've been the perfect crime
It happens all the time.

Hit the Ground and Run - Great Big Sea
Em and I saw these guys back in March at the Rialto here in Tucson. They performed this song, and it was even better live than it was on the album. It was good on the album...don't get me wrong. The song revolves around a shotgun wedding, and instead of the woman running from the alter, it's about the guy running from the shotgun (and the alter). Kinda different, but it's a combination of a story of the concept of the shotgun wedding and the fact that the groom has an IQ that you could count on one hand. Anyway, it's funny.

Rattle and Roll - Street Dogs
I should point out one thing real quick. The lead singer of Street Dogs (Mike McColgan) is the former frontman for Dropkick Murphys, so I've listened to his music for a while.

Anyway, this is a good upbeat punk song...good in a workout mix. It's a little fast to really understand many of the lyrics, if you're not used to the pace of punk music, but it's all about his hometown (in case you wanted to know).

Climbing a Chair to Bed - Dropkick Murphys
What are you afraid of in life?

Are you too afraid of living to make a man's mistakes?
Too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?
Too sad to see the truth, never knowing what it takes?
Are you too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?

Machine Gun Blues - Social Distortion
I like songs that tell a story. This is one of them. And, even better, it's an old-timey gangster story. This song is about a man who realizes that he's beyond saving but is addicted to his life as a gangster. The driving beat and guitar work help carry the story throughout the song. The video was a mini-movie, and was well done (in my opinion). This is also in the workout mix nowadays.

Make You Smile - +44
I like duets. They're fun to listen to, and just imagine two people having a musical conversation. (Him/Her)

The first time I saw you, you turned away/I couldn't see with the smoke getting in my eyes
I said hello, but you kept on walking/I'm going deaf from the sound of the DJ
The first time I saw you, you turned away/ I couldn't hear with the noise ringing in my ears
Do you remember where we used to sleep at night/ I couldn't feel you, you're always so far away

Road Zombie - Social Distortion
There are no words to this song. It's basically a 2:21 guitar solo. But it keeps the blood pumping, and it's hard to not get amped when hearing it. If you have a workout mix that you use, consider this my recommendation when you are looking to add a new song. If you have a guitar, it's fun to play, too (you can find the tab at Ultimate Guitar Tabs Archive).

Wild Mountain Thyme (Live) - The Real McKenzies
Old Irish folk songs are always fun. When they're sung by drunken Scotsmen, they're even better.

Fighter - Street Dogs
A tribute to an old friend...in an upbeat kinda way:

This an ode to a man who spent his whole life in the fight
Never getting counted out at all or ducking from our sight
Our eulogy for him is clear, we know just what to say
Kenny Walls, he was a fighter, right up to his passing day

The Galway Girl - Steve Earle
From time to time, you have to break up all of the upbeat, rock music with something lively, but less harsh.

Going Out In Style - Dropkick Murphys
Think for a moment what it would be like to throw your own wake...what kind of event would you want that to be? This song is written from the perspective of someone who does just that.

I've seen a lot of sights and traveled many miles. Shook a thousand hands and seen my share of smiles.
I've caused some great concerns and told one too many lies. And now I see the world through the sad, old jaded eyes.
So what if I threw a party and all my friends were there? Acquaintances, relatives, the girls who never cared?
You'll have a host of rowdy hooligans and a big line at the door. Side by side with Sister Barbara, Chief Wells, and Bobby Orr.
I'd invite the Flanigans who replaced the window you smashed out. I'd apologize to Sluggo for [urinating] on his couch.
I'll see Mrs. McGollock and so many others soon. I'll say I'm sorry for what I did, sleepwalking in her room.

I can't imagine how cool it would be to actually plan my own funeral festivities, but this guy had the idea that his wake would be a pretty rowdy party. The video has cameos from a number of people who are relevant in Boston (Lenny Clarke, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Kevin Youkilis, and the great Bobby Orr). Despite the lyrics, Van Morrison does not appear in the video.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

The Culinary Creativity at the Sperlein's

I like to eat. Most of you who actually know me (there could be some loyal reader out there who's never actually met me...you never know) probably have no problem believing that. What many may not know is that I also like to cook. Now, yes, I will stick with safe, tried and true recipes from your large, in-every-kitchen cookbook, but I will branch out from time to time.

I've decided to share a few of my culinary explorations and give you all another avenue into my deeply twisted mind. Where possible, I'll also share a link, in case you either want to make it yourself or if you want to know what websites to block on your computers so your spouses never see these creations and get the idea to attempt them themselves (or ask you to attempt them, if they are tragically inept in the kitchen).

I'm getting hungry already!

Death Star Meatball (yes...eating this entire meatball will kill you):

I was turned on to Epic Meal Time by my brother-in-law a couple thanksgivings ago, and I've been hooked ever since. I made a scaled down version of this for us once, but decided to make a larger version for the missionaries another time. Here's how it looked:
As the video shows, this is a meatball stuffed with tortellini and meat sauce, covered in sauce and cheese, and placed on top of garlic bread. This one happens to be about 2 pounds of meat, and it fed 4 people with plenty of food left over, plus some pasta left over as well. Epic!

Christmas Beef Wellington:

My parents came to visit us for Christmas this year. As such, we decided to pull out the good china and have a nice, formal dinner on Christmas Eve. The main dish? A Christmas Beef Wellington. Also, not beyond the ability of a person to make, but it definitely takes time and patience. My biggest challenge has always been getting the meat to be properly cooked without over-browning the pastry.

Bacon Explosion

This recipe is definitely a 'man' dish. It's ground sausage rolled up with bacon pieces, BBQ sauce, and dry rub, covered in dry rub, and wrapped in a bacon weave, then cooked slowly for a few hours (they recommend smoking it, but there's also a baking option for those of us without smokers [yet]), covered in more BBQ sauce and dry rub.

The permission to make this meat monstrosity was part of my birthday present from Em. Now, I should note that this dish is not a good idea for those who are trying to lose weight, keep a figure, or who are two french fries from keeling over from a massive heart attack. But, it tasted soooooo good.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

Books I Read in 2011 - What I'm Targeting in 2012

So, now, at the end of the past year and the beginning of the new year, I decided that it might be a good idea to look back at what I actually read this year, and what I think I'll read in 2012.

Now, when I say 'read', I include audiobooks. I learned as a child that audiobooks are a good way to make car trips more tolerable. It also helps for long days in the office.

Anyway, I read 15 books in 2011 (as chronicled on my Goodreads page). I will point out that I did not include the scriptures, which my wife and I have been reading throughout the year (we bounce back and forth between the New Testament and Book of Mormon Sunday School lessons, as we both have callings that keep us from attending Sunday School).

So, on to the list (and some of my thoughts) for the books read in 2011:

Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down: A Survival Guide to the Apocalypse
Forrest Griffin
If you're looking for advice on how to survive the Apocalypse from one who is so manly that he gets punched in the face for a living...this is the book for you! If you are in the mood for a 'manly' kind of book you can laugh at...this is the book for you! If you're a little more the dainty type, you might like some of the other books on my list instead. Let's see what else made the list...

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll
A classic story that I had never read until this year. I enjoyed it. And, even more important, it's free to download through the iBookstore or Kindle Store.

Atlas Shrugged
Ayn Rand
Thoughts on this book could take up an entire blog post. I will say, there is only one other book that compares in size to this book that I've read twice (this was my second time reading Atlas Shrugged), and that is Talmadge's Jesus the Christ. So...take that for what it's worth.

If You Ask Me: And of Course You Won't
Betty White
This was an audiobook...and it was read by Betty White herself! She's an interesting lady with a number of interesting stories. The most memorable was her building a relationship with a signing gorilla. Oh...plus hosting SNL. She relates a lot of the stories that surrounded her 'return' to the pop-culture limelight recently. It didn't take long to listen to...just a couple hours...but it made our drive to San Diego that much more entertaining.

The Downhill Lie: A Hacker's Return to a Ruinous Sport
Carl Hiaasen
This was another audiobook, and I listened to this one while I was working from my in-laws' guest/play room for a week in June. The author had picked up the game of golf while a younger man, but then stopped playing the game, so as to focus on other things in life. But, when approaching his mid-life-type years, he decided that picking the clubs back up might not be the worst of ideas. The book chronicles the ups and downs of playing the torturous game we all know (and some of us love) known as golf.

Two Years in St. Andrews: At Home on the 18th Hole
George Peper
Yes...another golf book. This one was a physical, ink and paper, book. As the title may hint at, it is about a man (and his wife) who live on the 18th hole of the Old Course at St. Andrews.

For those of you not familiar with the world of golf, the Old Course at St. Andrews is widely considered the 'Home of Golf'. It is the first documented instance of a golf course having 18 holes (there were some previous courses, including St. Andrews, that had 14 holes). It is home to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which is the governing body of golf outside the US, and collaborates with the US Golf Association in drafting and maintaining the Rules of Golf.

Now that the background is out of the way, this is a story about George Peper, former editor of Golf Magazine, who had purchased a flat on the 18th hole of the Old Course many years previous, and decided to move he and his wife to that flat upon his pseudo-retirement. It documents the process of renovating the flat (they had rented it out to college kids in the years they didn't live there), getting acclimated to their new surroundings, and George's quest to shoot par on the Old Course. Their original plan had been to live in the flat for two years, and then sell the place in conjunction with the 2005 Open Championship. Needless to say, their plans changed, and they continue to live in St. Andrews to this day.

Candide
Voltaire
I saw this done as a play while I was in college, but had never thought to read this piece of classic literature. The resonating theme is 'all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds', but what occurs is a series of events that causes the protagonist to take a long, hard view of this philosophy that was taught to him as a young man.

When I Grow Up
Al Yankovic
Yes...a children's book. Yes...the author is 'that' Al Yankovic (really, how many 'Al Yankovic's are there). Yes...it was an audiobook (it took all of six minutes). Yes...it was read by the author. And it's that last piece of information that makes this one totally worth it!

Anthem
Ayn Rand
Imagine living in a world where the word 'I' doesn't exist. All is done for the collective good, but all are kept within their castes, less they reek havoc upon the structure of society. Imagine a world without a concept of the individual or self. Now...be the one to break the mold.

Boom! The Aftershocks on the Sixties
Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw interviews public figures that played important roles in, or were shaped by, the events that occurred in the US during the 1960's. He also looks at how the events of the 1960's shaped the world that we live in today.

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History
Ben Mezrich
How many guys have promised their girlfriends the moon? This guy came through.

A true story relating an actual theft of moon rocks from a NASA laboratory, this book shows how one can start falling down a slippery slope before it's even realized that the ground is moving beneath your feet.

In the Dark Streets Shineth
David McCullough
A short story about Churchill's Christmastime visit to Washington, D.C. in 1941...a mere three weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US' entry into World War II. This story was a part of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert, and the included DVD is a recording of Mr. McCullough relating that story during the performance.

Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor And a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity
Preston Jones and Greg Graffin
This isn't so much of a book, as it is a collection of emails exchanged between Preston Jones (a history professor, Christian, and fan of the band Bad Religion) and Greg Graffin (who holds a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, an atheist, and lead singer of the bad Bad Religion). They have a lively discussion over a period of years over the concept of the place of religion in the world. While neither side is convinced by the other, it's good to see how two people can civilly disagree with each other on a topic that is considered to be so controversial.

All My Friends are Dead
Avery Monsen
A short, illustrated, humorous story about objects, animals, and people who find themselves in lonely positions.

House and Philosophy: Everybody Lies
Editor: Henry Jacoby
A group of philosophers breaking down the actions of a pop-culture reference (in this case, Dr. Gregory House of the TV show House), finding the philosophical categories that can explain his behavior, and then writing papers about it and putting them together in a book. If you studies philosophy in college (like I did), you may find this both a good philosophy refresher and an interesting read. If you didn't...I'd recommend checking it out from the library instead of heading to the bookstore (try it before you buy it).


Here's what is on the Reading List for 2012:

• In the Garden of Beasts - Erik Larson
• The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1 - Mark Twain
• The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man - Brett and Kate McKay
• The Garden Tomb - Andrew C. Skinner
• Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN - James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
• Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? - Steven Tyler
• Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman - Jon Krakauer
• Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut
• John Adams - David McCullough
• The Ancient State: The Rulers & the Ruled (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Volume 10) - Hugh Nibley

Now you know a little bit more about the my literary preferences...erratic as they are.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus