Middle East Night

Rob and I like to experiment with various cuisines with some friends of ours, Geoff and Jessica Bokish (and their new baby Abigail). So far we've had Greek Night and Mexican Night. It is super fun to attempt a new recipe with ingredients you aren't even sure you can get here in Kansas. So far we've always had success and everything has tasted so yummy.

Last night we had Middle East Night. It was by far my favorite of all the cuisines tried so far. Geoff and Jessica made Afghan flatbread, curry rice, and a Middle Eastern salad. We made kefta kebabs and baklava. Everything was so delicious. My favorites were the salad (with a fabulous dressing made of olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic) and the baklava.

Here is all the food (keeping in mind I am NO food photographer), from Left to Right

Kefta Kebabs (made with lamb), salad, curry rice, baklava, Afghan flatbread



Here I am grilling the kebabs!


And my proud creation - homemade baklava! It certainly wasn't the easiest thing to make, but so worth it. Especially since they don't sell baklava here in Manhattan.





Is it bad that I ate some for breakfast?

Tough Mudder!!

Yesterday Rob participated in Tough Mudder in Colorado. Tough Mudder is a 10 mile challenge course that is not for the faint or weak of heart. This isn't your average run, it is no Warrior Dash - it is worse.

Starting at 8,100 feet and climbing to 11,440 feet, if the high altitude doesn't stop you, the 25 obstacles might.



It was quite the experience. Over 6,000 people competed and for those competing and watching it was a party the whole day. They were offering free mohawks which Rob jumped on.



Here are a few of the 25 obstacles:

Braveheart Challenge: This was the starting line and first and easiest of the challenges (giving participants a false sense of what was to come). They charged down a 50 degree decline, and then it was all uphill from there.






Underwater Tunnels: according to Rob, the moment you put your head under the 36 degree water it robs you of your breath and you feel like you are drowning. Rumors were abound that a woman was medevac'd on life support after attempting this challenge.

Kiss of Mud: This was one of many muddy obstacles. For this the participants had to crawl on their bellies with their face in the mud as razor wire hung 8 inches off the ground.

Mount Everest: A 15 foot high quarter pipe greased with oil. This is the event I watched the most - and most needed help getting up. Rob got up on his first try, without any help.



It was entertaining to watch everyone attempt to get up - and also great that participants were so willing to help each other out. Great sportsmanship!


Though there were tons more events, I only was able to see a few of them, (you can view them all here) but this next one was the last challenge and another really entertaining one.

Electroshock Therapy: Rob had to run through a field of live wires, some that carried a 10,000 volt charge. Many contestants were shocked so hard they were thrown into the mud, struggling to get up again while continuing to get shocked from the ground.



Here he is towards the end, waving at me


Rob finished with a great time 2 hours 3 minutes and was able to complete every obstacle without assistance. "Tough Mudder" he says, "was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done. Nothing has ever compared to this. I can't wait for the next one."