Christian's Blog

The Village Meals that You Need to Try     First comes first. While I try to stay on the meal plan during the week, nothing hits better than a Dulce sandwich on the weekend. The breakfast sandwich and spicy chicken club knock it out of the park, but the apple tuna sandwich takes the crown. I know, I'm saying that the tuna sandwich is the best in the village! All my friends groaned with disgust, rolled their eyes, and made some snarky comments the first time they saw me order this delicacy. Then, they took a bite. And every time, they examined the crispy ciabatta topped with fresh tuna, apple slices, melted cheese, and avocado with a guilty look of wonder. For those of you who haven't ordered the apple tuna at Dulce, drop whatever you are doing and get one. May I add that the brick toast (heated up) and an iced matcha latte are perfect compliments.      Let's turn up the heat! HoneyBird has been a Village staple since its inception, yet it doesn't get the traffic...

    As Brian Cox moves on from his early life to his early career, the scars of a tumultuous childhood continue to affect his perspective on life. After his father died in a car accident when Cox was eight, he was left without a monumental figure in his life. His mother’s mental illness prevented her from filling the void that his father left. Thus, uncertainty was a certainty through Cox’s young life. The lack of strong parenting allowed Cox to bend the rules and creatively approach problems. As he got started finding minor roles in the industry, the comfortability with uncertainty kept Cox level-headed and persistent. Part of the reason for his success can be attributed to his self-sufficiency and will to persevere through tough times.       Throughout the 19 80’s, Cox took on many supporting roles in film. In big budget cinema, Cox found his niche as the supporting man. Here, he was comfortable playing in the background. I look forward to seeing how...

From Couch Potato to Ultra Hero: Conquering the World’s Toughest Races A guide for the curious and the driven.  Why would you ever run an ultra? It seems ludicrous. For many, running around the block is a momentous task. While the rest of us reside in normalcy, a select few can tolerate the pain, and fewer still embrace it.  First, let’s set some guidelines about what ultra running is:  The technical definition of an ultra is any race longer than 26 miles and 385 yards. In other words, longer than a marathon.  Running, walking, and stopping are all acceptable as long as the racer finishes the course in the designated time. Ultras are mostly trail courses, given their extreme length and the added challenge of staying vigilant on uneven terrain. Most races permit runners to have a crew of support staff helping feed, clothe, and tend to the racer’s needs. With the basics out of the way, let’s dive into it.  The Classic 6633 Arctic Ultra Distance: 380 miles Elevatio...

  For my first book, I chose Brian Cox’s autobiography, Putting the Rabbit in the Hat. I am an avid succession fan and have also enjoyed the actor’s performances in the Jason Bourne series as well as Red. In many of his works, a dry sense of humor pervades his character, and this is what I hoped to get from reading his autobiography. Also, when we were discussing the options for Book I, the rags to riches story really appealed to me. I enjoy this kind of narrative and was surprised to find out where Brian Cox is from and what he has come through.  From the moment I started reading, I sensed some of that blunt, dry humor that is oftentimes reflected in the box office. The perspective of a seventy-year-old man also provides some clarity on a long life. Cox doesn’t wait to get intimate with his reader either. Chapter one begins with a fury of emotion, blood, and tears. He describes his birth in a gory fashion, a metaphor for how dirty, troublesome, and raw the early parts of ...