Negative Splits + Negative Circumstances

So we had a church dinner today and I ate way too many heavy, garlicky carbs, and then decided it would be a good idea to run! I started running (slowly) as the pasta and potatoes sloshed around in my gut and made me wish I'd just had a fruit smoothie and called it good!

At least I had negative splits on my five-mile run (which means each mile got faster). However, Charter called during mile 4 to say they were on their way to fix our internet (THANK GOODNESS) and because the wind was blowing, the automated system kept thinking I was trying to say something and then it would start the message over! So that mile looked pretty slow, but since I stopped in the shelter of a church, I think I can safely shave about two minutes off for the call! 

And then, as I was running the last half mile, finally feeling good about myself and my stomach situation, this happened:

Yes, a bird POOPED ON MY ARM. I was completely disgusted and tried to wipe it off, but it just got worse. I'd like to say I ran faster so I could come wash it off, but in reality, I was shaking it and kind of freaking out, so I think I slowed down! 

Someone told me it's good luck...I guess since they fixed our internet quickly, gave us a new modem and router, and aren't charging us, it worked. 

Anyway, I got home, and as you can see from the second picture, a bird has built its nest in our light fixture outside our door. So either they don't communicate or they're systematically trying to destroy me.

For dinner we had pulled pork (it was SO tender I had trouble pulling it out of the crock pot), roasted carrots, apple-pear sauce, and fried plantains. 

To fry plantains:

1. Buy plantains. They're next to the bananas, but slightly bigger.
2. Wait a crazy long amount of time. For them to be good, they have to be BLACK. Like, unfit for human consumption color (this means they're probably finally ALMOST ready).
3. Don't think you're going to peel them like a banana. Oh, no. These suckers do NOT want to be eaten. I cut them into thirds, cut those pieces in half, and then peel the "rind" off the half-moon shape.
4. Melt coconut oil in a pan.
5. Put the plantain pieces in the pan, sprinkle with cinnamon. 
6. Cook until they're hot and soft and awesome. (I cooked them a long time today, first about 5 minutes a side on medium, then 5 minutes a side on low, because I was waiting for other things to be done)
7. Enjoy! 

Plantains are AWESOME. If you have the chance to get them in a Cuban restaurant, DO IT! They're so good they'll make you want to try at home...good luck! If they aren't ripe, they taste like wood chips, so be patient!