(To skip past all the food mumbo jumbo, click here.)
You know what sucks? Waking up to this:
But you know what’s lovely? Looking out my window and seeing this:
You know what’s delicious? Starting my day with this:
Because it is…
Sadly, the flavor of the banana completely blocked the flavor of the PB. Wah. Tomorrow, I will just eat two tablespoons of PB for breakfast. Winning!
Chelsey’s recent post inspired me to enjoy a huge honkin’ salad for lunch.
There’s a lot of green on there, so it’s tough to distinuish the awesomeness from the awesomeness. Let me give you a tour. In this corner, we have asparagus, Laughing Cow cheese, cherry tomatoes, and an orange bell pepper…
Over here we have sugar snap peas and baby bellas…
And a big ol’ scoop of Sabra Supremely Spicy Hummus (!) all atop baby spinach. For dressing, I mixed honey, salt, olive oil and lemon juice. I still struggle with how to dress my salad. (in clothes, duhhh)
This kept me full for 3.5 hours, and I didn’t even finish it!
In other exciting news, I signed up for a 5k today. Now, before you get all excited for me and start advising me on my training plan, let me clarify. I will be walking the course, and I estimate it will take about 1.5 hours. Why so long, you ask? Because I’ll be walking with my dad!!!
You see, this 5k is the “Race to Donate Life,” and it supports the Washington Regional Transplant Community. Two years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a mysterious, untreatable lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. What this means is that his lungs started to harden, and he was unable to breathe well. The disease took over his body so fast. In January of 2009, he was having shortness of breath. In February, he was given an oxygen tank. In March, he was told he had less than a year to live and was put on the organ transplant list.
Only ten days after going on the transplant list, my dad received a new lung in April 2009. Someone lost their life, but since they were an organ donor, they passed the gift of life on to my dad. Without a lung transplant, my dad wouldn’t be with me still today. He has fought an uphill battle since first getting sick, a battle that didn’t end with the transplant. But he has faced it all with determination, drive, and dedication that is inspiring to everyone around.
On May 7, 2011, just over two years since my dad’s lung transplant, we are going to walk the “Race to Donate Life” 5k. My dad estimates it will take us 1.5 hours, since he currently walks 2 kilometers in 30 minutes on the treadmill. I don’t care how long it takes. I’m so proud of my dad, so thankful for every day with him, and so grateful to everyone who is an organ donor. I can’t wait to walk this race as an expression of all of that.
About Merf
One last thing before I go. Kath noticed my new “About Merf” page, and I realized I hadn’t announced that I added it. So, if you are curious to know any more about me, who I am, and why I blog, please take a look!
Merf In Progress 
That’s always been my favourite PB&Co!! I was so depressed about not having access to it in Australia, but an import company has just started stocking it. Super expensive, but I’ll justify it eventually 🙂
Kudos to you and your Dad for the 5 km walk! My dad suffered from ARDS and unfortuantely he never had the oppourtunity to recover…I know it was very hard for my dad to stop doing the things he loved and depending on an oxygen tank.
It makes me very happy to hear your Dad was able to recover and is planning on this walk! It is an amazing way to show that you can still live life to the fullest. I wish you and your dad the best on this 5km walk!
Oh wow, I’m sorry to hear that. It breaks my heart. Thank you for your support. xo
That’s so amazing that you’re going to run it with your dad. 🙂
Your salad looks delicious. My favorite dressing is a honey vinegar. So good!
How do you make honey vinegar dressing?
I actually just buy the Alessie honey vinegar. I’m a lazy bum!
Isn’t that peanut butter amazing?! I’m addicted.
That is so cool that you’re doing the race with your dad! I would love to do a race with my family. My grandfather passed away two years ago from fibrosis, and we are looking for a race that benefits research to do with my whole family- aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother!
Thanks, Kate! I’m sorry to hear about your grandfather. I hope you are able to find a race. It will feel so good to get out there and represent the cause.
Bleh, dishes are no bueno, but that peanut butter on the other hand is fantastic!
That’s awesome you did the race with your dad-I would pay to get my dad to do something like that, he’d donate, but thats as far as it would go!
G’luck on those dishes!
Thanks, I’m so excited!
Yum!! Your salad looks delicious, those are my most favorite kinds of meals, just lots of colorful veggies thrown in a bowl topped with hummus!!
LOL at the peanut butter and banana thing. I have yet to try that kind, I think I’m afraid I might get totally addicted and be hovering over the jar with a spoon unable to stop shoveling it into my mouth.
I haven’t tried it with a spoon, because I’m kinda sure I’d do the same thing. 🙂
I am drooling over that big salad of yours right now! I feel soooo over indulged after the last few weekends and that big plate of veggies looks so appealing!
I definitely want to try that dressing. I always use balsamic vinegar, oil or water and maple syrup, but I’m getting sick of it!
How cool to run that 5k with your dad! That will be a proud moment for both of you! 🙂
That salad looks amazing and the 5k sounds like it’ll be an amazing experience. So neat that your father was able to benefit from an amazing organization and walk in the 5k!
Tell your dad we are all proud of him and rooting for him to finish this 5k with power. And you are a phenomenal daughter!