Okay, the food got eaten before I remembered to get out my camera. I'll venture to say the chops were a success, though - there is no ego-boost like having your mother tell you that your version of her comfort food was really tasty. (My mom is not one of those who lies kindly about disgusting results.)

Tomorrow: Kuliou'ou II. Why am I hiking the same trail obsessively and not yet out pounding the pre-marathon pavement? I'm "achieving a base fitness level" as advised by Marathon Training for Non-Running Dummies sites - committing myself to five days a week of aerobic exercise, a minimum of 30 minutes at a time. Since I'm working my way up to this, I might as well achieve my summer goal along with it - conquering this trail. Again, I cite as my inspiration the verging-on-elderly ladies who routinely fly up and down the mountain in the time it takes me to finish tightening my second shoelace and have a sip of Vitamin water. I'm so addicted to the fruit punch flavored "Revive" - and yes, I know these gimmicky drinks are all bullshit (just call them all Three Percent Juice) but I'm already unable to finish what used to be a normal-sized Pepsi for me, so I say go with whatever works.

Establishment of a base fitness level is followed by a reasonable mileage buildup schedule, which will then be followed by implementation of a bonafide marathon training wrunning/wralking schedule. Basically my fitness goal for the next two weeks is to break a sweat for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Sounds ... fun.

Also on tomorrow's TDL: More laundry, spending some time with The Story, making chicken soup. I need a surefire recipe (preferably with some Chinese ingredients, and no doubt to include ginger and whiskey) to help Scott kick the bug he's got.

Ooh, purchase orders need to be spent, too. Ordinarily I'd balk at doing worky things before it's absolutely necessary, but since this involves shopping, it should be fun. Yay for shopping.