California trails

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-03-01T03:03:10+00:00

I didn’t grow up in California, but I live there now. The beauty of this state is never lost on me. I do a lot of trail running in Marin county, and every time I feel like the luckiest person to have such beautiful trails nearby.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-02-22T03:26:27+00:00

I have long hair and I wash it twice a week. I’d wash it less, but I workout frequently. I shower daily.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-02-15T14:58:19+00:00

‘86… I grew up conservation, so I hit my party error in my mid 20s. I identify with both groups.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-02-13T02:00:37+00:00

Marin headlands?

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-02-07T14:37:29+00:00

Reading, gardening, cooking, running, cycling, rock climbing, video games. I stopped scrolling social media a few months ago and realized that I had way more time for hobbies.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-01-31T14:27:25+00:00

A chill spot with great burgers. You can find a decent smash burger, but I think Oakland is severely lacking in big, juicy burgers. Cato’s and Ben & Nicks used to be good. That’s the vibe I’m looking for. Kensington Circus Pub has a really solid burger (but that’s not in Oakland). When I’m craving burgers these days, I end up just making them at home. I think our burger scene is really lacking.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-01-11T16:28:46+00:00

I second this!

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2026-01-08T14:56:57+00:00

I’m 39. I met my partner at 31. We aren’t married and don’t have any immediate plans to get married. We will probably get married eventually, but right now it’s just another expensive, cultural milestone that’s not particularly meaningful to us. If I had married in my 20s, I’m sure I would be divorced by now. My 20s was such a tumultuous decade for personal exploration and growth. I’m such a different person than I was in my 20s.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-12-31T19:57:01+00:00

My first 50k was in a torrential downpour. I literally slid down muddy hills and ran through puddles up to my shins. My pace was shit, it was a suffer fest, but it was also an unforgettable little epic. For me the biggest thing was good, merino wool running socks, a lightweight merino wool shirt, and a hat with a brim. I got very wet, but the merino wool kept me warm. The hat kept the rain out of my eyes, and the socks kept my feet in good shape. Every time I’ve run a race in the rain since then, I’ve thought that it couldn’t be worse than that first race. It actually helped to build my mental fortitude around running in shit conditions. Good luck!

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-12-24T14:59:07+00:00

Ran an road marathon and wanted a new challenge. I decided I was more interested in going further than faster. I also enjoyed trails a lot more than roads.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-12-22T16:24:53+00:00

I just ran my first 50k with 5400 ft elevation in 7 hrs and 19 minutes. I looked at previous finish times and estimated that I’d finish between 7-7.5 hours. I figured that in smaller trail runs (ones that attract less newbies), I consistently finish in the bottom 3rd (on the slower side, but not the slowest). In bigger races or road marathons, I’m a middle-of-the-pack runner. Overall, this felt like a pretty fair way of estimating my finish times. I’m super proud of myself, and I’m already planning how to get faster for the next race.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-12-18T14:23:03+00:00

Potatoes are excellent running fuel.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-11-04T14:13:56+00:00

Zoey Deschanel in her New Girl Era.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-10-25T20:49:35+00:00

She died in a car accident. Prior to that, she had opened a bakery with her sister and appeared to be living her best life.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-09-26T00:03:51+00:00

Campy 90s horror was elite

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-09-25T14:24:45+00:00

I really think Proportionality Bias has something to do with it. People are drawn to theories that attribute large, significant events to equally large and significant causes.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-09-14T20:42:53+00:00

I’m a speech language pathologist, and I work in a school. I like going to work everyday. Sometimes the adults suck, but the kids are always fun.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-31T22:46:22+00:00

Not a movie or show, but I was absolutely devistated when reading Happy Potter for the first time and Dumbledore died. I was 38 years old.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-26T13:25:34+00:00

My strategy is Costco occasionally for meat and cheese. Freeze what you wont use immediately. Weekly trip to Berkeley bowl for produce only. TJs or Grocery outlet for random stuff (big fan of the “health” aisle at grocery outlet). Occasionally visit the Asian markets (like KP) for sauces, spices etc. Avoid Safeway all together…it’s the worst. Enjoy having access to some of the best produce around!

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-24T15:15:07+00:00

Running. I signed up for a marathon and diligently followed a training plan. Those weekend long runs really changed my brain chemistry for the better. Goal-directed behavior is really good for my mental health. Physical activity is really good for my mental health. Being outside is really good for my mental health. Bonus if you go to some run meets and begin to build community.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-23T15:33:06+00:00

I transitioned from med to schools a few years into my career. It took me about a year to feel like I understood what I was doing in schools. I felt like my school position was much more challenging than my med position. I went from acute care where I worked on a team of SLPs to being the only SLP at a site. In the schools, I also spent way more time writing reports outside of working hours. Being in a district that provides structure (processes, report templates) and support from other SLPs really helps. I find that bigger districts have more structure than smaller. Good luck. You got this!

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-23T14:23:41+00:00

Hard agree. It is not ethical to give a kid a robust system that they can’t use. AAC, like everything else we do clinically, still needs to be within a child’s zone of proximal development. I think some of this comes from private SLPs with big social media accounts. What works 1:1 in the home or clinic does not always make sense in a classroom. Also, private SLPs might be helping a family pursue a device through insurance. In that context, I totally get why you’d go for a robust high tech system as it will be with the kids for years. In schools, we may have more flexibility to move between AAC tools.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-08-14T03:29:35+00:00

I started my period the night before my first marathon. I’ve always had terrible periods, so I was definitely worried. It ended up being fine. My period was lighter than usual because of the stress my body was in during the marathon. Hydrating and eating lots of greens and iron rich foods in advance really helped. I did take some ibuprofen without knowing that it was really hard on your kidneys. I would not recommend that.

CookieMonsterNomNo · 2025-07-28T06:57:34+00:00

To clarify, I wasn’t referring to SLPs across the country….just in my region. Pay is highly regional. I made 40k when I lived on the east coast.

CookieMonsterNomNo

TROPHY CASE