CHI-TOWN!

So this last weekend I met up with my two sisters Emily and Rebecca in Chicago. This was a tradition started last year in DC and this year we thought we would work the Chi-town angle and it was some kind stuff. We were able to take advantage of Rebecca's work hotel, even if that meant that I had to sleep on the 18th floor concrete slab! I met up with Rebecca on Thursday night and Emily cruised in the next afternoon straight from C-ville.

NERD ALERT!! (Matching sweatshirts)

One of the highlights was all the kind food we ate over the weekend. We had some good pasta from Rosebuds and then on Saturday night we went to this newer restaurant in town that was off the food chain! We took it as a good sign the we could only get a reservation at 10:00 at night. Little tough for Emily because that's what time she goes to bed but for Rebecca and I, the single folk, night's just get underway!

Another highlight was going on an architectural boat tour along the Chicago River. This was something I have been wanting to do for quite some time and finally was able to do it. Another extreme highlight was my divine deseret at my introduction to Grand Lux Cafe. This thing was the bomb.com! It was two slices of rich fudge cake filled with chocolate chips with two scoops of ice cream and top ped with chocolate sauce. It basically changed my life and gave Linda a run for her money! On Friday night we all went to a karaoke bar to tear it up. This was a lot of fun as you can see on the video as I tried to bring the house down...Sweet Caroline style.

Yeah, I know I''m tone deaf but it's all about having fun! Emily's first time was nothing but butta as she duet'ed with Rebecca to Madonna. Don't believe me, just watch the video!

The only downside was taggin along with them while they got their shop on all weekend long along the Mag. Mile working the Anthro and Diesel angle. At these times I would just go take photos of the great architecture of Chicago.

All in all, it was a lot of fun and we already got plans for '08...bean town style!

New York state of mind - Marathon style!!!

4:24!!!!!

These numbers will stick with me for quite some time. Many moons ago Rebecca talked me into signing up for the NYC marathon. Yes, it was in a moment of weakness and I don't know what I was thinking. But after following to the training schedule, almost to a "T" it was time to ready to ROCK and ROLL! I hopped on the Greyhound bus and cruised up to the Big Apple on Friday night. I got into town and checked into my hotel. The rents were already there but were staying at different locales. Rebecca got in late that night and thought it would be fun to talk my ear off at three in the morning. Finally she got the net and I was able to fall asleep. We woke up Saturday morning and cruised over to the Javitts Center to meet up with my mom and Marc and my dad. We got our bibs and it became official... we were really going to do this. So a few hunny later (on lame photos, videos and apparel) we were out of there before I could drop more money. We then met up with Emily who flew in last minute for the festivities. So there we were, the whole crew chillin in the Big Apple. We went to Carmine's to carb up for the big race. After that, we transferred hotels. This will be a recurring theme to take advantage of the employee rate that is offered now that I am gainfully employed by Marriott. So after that, we chilled a bit and then went to dinner at a fun Thai place out of Times Square. After mapping out the points where the family was going to be, then changing it two times over, we were ready to say goodbye, knowing that the next time we see them would be while running in the greatest marathon in the world. So we got to our hotel and got everything ready. We all finally crashed about 11:30. We set our clocks accordingly for the time change and we were off. In the morning we started to prepare by pounding some fruit, bread and a lot of water. We hopped on the subway down to the Staten Island Ferry and to the start. Things were getting tight! After hearing the starting gun, we waited 35 minutes for us to cross the starting line and we were off! It was a great day for running. At the four mile mark we saw my mom and Marc which gave us a huge boost. Then at mile 8 we saw Emily and my dad as they took this photo: Then at mile 12 we saw my mom and Marc again. We were supposed to see Emily and my dad at mile 15 but a Subway sandwich got in the way of that and so we missed them as we crossed the 59th Street bridge. We ended up not seeing our family until the finish line which was a BUST. We cruised up First Avenue with all the tall buildings lined up the roads and thousands of others. It was truly a sight to see. After a quick dip in the Bronx we were headed towards the finish line in Central Park. I broke away from Rebecca as the crowd picked up their intensity. I had to dig down deep but spuratic chants of "T-Love" kept me going to the finish line. (I taped "T-Love" with athletic tape on my shirt right before the starting line and it was the best thing I ever did!) I finally approached the mile to go mark and the crowd was louder and louder. They really made me feel like a world=class athlete, which I most certainly am not but it was such a great feeling coming up that stretch of Central Park and seeing the finish line. As I crossed the line, I couldn't help but think of the 2500 bones which I helped raise, all the aches and pains, doctor's visits, losing the seven pounds that I don't have to lose, the nipple bleeding, the early morning runs, the 100 dollar new shoes and everything else....IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT! Check out my results here by punching in my name:

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/results/index.php

I was happy with my time but now I have something to shoot for the next one! It is up there with some of the happier moments in my life and was truly an incredible experience. It was so great to have my whole family there to share it with me. This has gone on for too long so I will wrap it up. For a better recap, check Rebecca's blog at:

http://www.ruby30.blogspot.com/

Halloween!!!

Princess Jasmine!

Old Man Rivers still lives!!

I have heard a lot about spending Halloween night down in Georgetown along M street and I figured this was the night to put it to the test. Let me just say that I was not disappointed! The scene had a feel that was similar to Times Square on New's Year Eve and a somewhat Mardi Gras (although I have never been to Mardi Gras). I met up with some friends and after pounding some grub we hung out on the street and just "people watched". It was the coolest thing I had seen in a while. I could not believe some of the costumes that people put on. It felt like I was on the set of a horror film in Hollywood. Some of these were not able to be captured on film but I did my best so take a gander at some of these costumes!

Big Pimpin!!