Blenders, Cheesecake, and Sneakers . . . Oh my!

Some people hop out of bed ready to greet the day (like that man in the McDonald's coffee commercials who takes the stairs), but if you're like me it's more likely that you crawl out of bed, shielding your eyes from any light source and stumble to the nearest caffeine source. One unfortunate morning I deviated and attempted to make a smoothie in place of my beloved coffee. Big mistake! It soon became apparent that appliances and I do not mix well before noon. The blender had been used the day before so my first obstacle was to find all the necessary pieces which were hidden among the other clean dishes drying in the sink. After several forays into the pots and pans I emerged triumphant with the necessary pieces. After fitting them together as best I could I added my chocolate milk to the blender only to have it come pouring out of the bottom seconds later. Apparently, I greatly overestimated my blender construction skills. So instead of a refreshing smoothie to start my morning I had spilled milk on a clean counter, spilled milk on clean dishes and then spilled milk on a clean stovetop once I moved the leaking blender to the stove in order to clean the counter. Chocolate, chocolate everywhere . . . I never thought chocolate milk would cause such sadness and disappointment. I had to succumb to boring breakfast of toast and a banana, while the ruined blender mocked me from across the room.

Later in the day however, chocolate came to the resuce in the form of Adam's Chocolate Peanut Butter Ripple Cheesecake at that nirvana of restaurants, Cheesecake Factory. O the savory goodness of peanut butter, chocolate, and copious amounts of whipped topping! Forget the meal, just have dessert. After all, cheesecake gives you calcium, chocolate has antioxidants and peanut butter provides protein, so your daily nutritional needs are no longer a burden.

I love shoes, I mean what woman doesn't? However, sneakers don't usually interest me; being merely functional, not fashionable. However, a recent sojourn to Finish Line and Lady Foot Locker changed my mind. The neon rubber of Nike shocks and metallic finishes of the higher end sneakers called to me the way a pair of stilleto heels usually does. There's something about new sneakers that gives you a feeling of strength and power, as if you could go to the gym faithfully every day for a month, running the dreaded treadmill and lifting the weights with no complaints whatsoever. These gym shoes have not witnessed your sorry attempts at cycling, and the occasional stretches where they sit in the closet unused. Unfortunatley, this trip to Lady Foot Locker was inspired by a very functional desire for sturdy running shoes, so the metallic Nikes remained on the shelf. Maybe next time.