Today I am voting for:
Senate:
***Barbara Mikulski (D) because she is all about protecting Maryland jobs, she supports school loan forgiveness for people who go into service work, she increased breast cancer research by 700% since 1990, she created Office of Women's Health at NIH, she is pro-choice, she co-sponsored original Violence Against Women Act, she advocates for the safety of our military (including better equipment)...
Eric Wargotz (R) did get points because he received $4,800 from Burger King for the campaign (love Whoppers)
Governor:
***Martin O'Malley (D) because his work with the job market lead Maryland to be ranked #2 in the country this year by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, he increased school funding by $1.2 billion and minority test scores are up since 2004 and Education Week ranked Maryland's public schools the best in the nation for the second year in a row, he signed the law to increase mandatory minimum sentencing for sex offenders...
Robert Ehrlich (R) did get points because his website pages loaded faster than O'Malley's, but lost major points because none of his highlighted issues had anything to do with women (so not vogue)
Representative:
***Steny Hoyer (D) because he provided $2 billion to strengthen MD's community colleges, he has secured millions of federal dollars to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, he helped establish the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which helps equip and train local fire and EMS departments throughout the country, he has worked to strengthen the Medicare program and help ensure seniors can see their doctors, he fought to pass the historic GI Bill for the 21st Century, which will provide the 2.1 million members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001 with up to four years of education benefits...
Charles Lollar (R) did get points for saying that as a nation of immigrants we are strengthened by the diversity of peoples, cultures and religions, but lost major points for being against gay marriage (trying to piss me off)
I hope everyone got out there and voted! Let your voice be heard!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Avon Walk 2010 - NYC
My journey began back in February...
when I decided to participate in my 2nd Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - this time in New York City! After the feeling I had crossing that finish line in 2009, I knew this was an experience destined to be a part of my life for as many years as possible. So, I contacted the 2009 members of Team Tit-Tastic and asked who was interested in doing another year, another $1800, another 40 miles. I'm happy to say that two veterans were interested in signing-up and kicking butt for yet another year - my dear friends of 5+ years - Erin Patterson & Courtney Simmons. While I was sad to say goodbye to the other 4 teammates, I understood their reasons for taking a year off.
So the search was on for new members...
I emailed all the women I thought may be interested and enthusiastically welcomed new members to Team Tit-Tastic - my friend of 10+ years Monica Tarzy, my colleague and good friend Chelsea Bowers, and my two dear friends Katie Stephenson and Melissa Tipton. Our team of 7 was complete, and I had a really great feeling about the drive, passion and friendship heading into this journey. After an initial meeting so everyone could get to know each other, we set forth with big plans and big hearts - so excited about the opportunity to raise a large amount of money for the Avon Foundation. We decided that for the first few months, we would each individually see what we could raise (the minimum to Walk is $1800). By sending out emails, letters and social networking posts, we were well on our way to reaching our goals, but by June, only 1 of us had successfully raised the full $1800. So, we needed another plan of attack.
It was time to start our group fundraising efforts...
The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland) is quite the hot spot for delicious cook-it-yourself meals and relaxing atmosphere. Luckily for us, we had a few contacts in Management who helped us organize Team Tit-Tastic's Fondue-raiser! From 5-10pm on a Monday night in July, supporters could come enjoy Ladies' Night specials, including pink cocktails and a discounted 4-course meal. The Melting Pot, a most generous business, offered our team 50% of the profit that evening, which sent us away with $1600, split evenly among the teammates to raise each of our individual totals thus far.
To reach a different crowd, our 2nd group fundraiser was held at The Greene Turtle, a local and very well-known sports bar that many of us frequent on the weekends. Team Tit-Tastic's Burgers, Boobs & Beer Night featured $10 wristbands for happy hour specials, $1 and $5 pink accessories, and free live entertainment. Thanks to our many friends who attended the evening, we successfully left with over $1500, again split evenly among the teammates to raise each of our individual totals.
At this point, it was time to start thinking about training...
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer prepares their Walkers to the fullest - with bi-weekly emails, newsletters, phone calls from "Walker Buddies," packets filled with suggestions and an entire community to converse with. In the main Avon Walk packet, Walkers are provided with healthy ways to prepare for the demanding Walk Weekend, including training modules for up to 12 weeks prior to the Walk. You are instructed to begin training with walks as short as 15 mins, and by the peak of your training, you should be able to walk 22+ miles without feeling like a wretched mess. While our entire team had good intentions and wanted to be top notch by Walk Weekend, we couldn't escape the busy lives and hectic schedules we so lovingly call our own. Most of us being athletic by nature trained by doing what we thought would work best / what we were already comfortable doing. I can only speak for myself when I say that I tried to workout each day (which ended up being about 2-3 days a week), eat healthier meals (although my portions didn't change), and stay off my butt as much as possible (rather hard to do when you sit at a desk for 9 hours each day). Nonetheless, I felt confident going into this Walk Weekend because I had completed the 40 miles once before (last year).
As Walk Weekend approached, we had much to figure out...
First, our team of 7 would become a team of 6 for the actual Walk Weekend - Melissa was 4 months pregnant and chose not to Walk (which we all understood). True to her word, she raised the $1800 she committed to, and continued to attend team meetings and participate in team email chains until Walk Weekend.
Second, we needed cars and drivers to get us to New York City and back (we could easily drive there on our own but our concern was driving back exhausted after the long weekend). Two wonderful men stepped up to the plate: Driver #1 = my boyfriend, Tim, in his parents' large van; driver #2 = Monica's boyfriend, Schyler, in Monica's parents' SUV. These men were our saviors, giving us a chance to relax on the drive up and sleep on the ride back. Not to mention agreeing to sleep on couches and park on crowded streets, just for us!
Third, we needed a place to stay in NYC on the Friday night before the Walk. We booked a hotel (expensive, but necessary) and split the team (and 2 men) up between the hotel room and my sister, Maggie's, NYC apartment. Now, if you're at all familiar with NYC, you'll know that apartments are not luxurious spaces, but my sister and her two roommates generously gave up their small space for a great cause!
Fourth, we obviously needed to complete our individual goals of raising $1800 each. After the group fundraisers, everyone was close, but not everyone was done. So a last minute effort of emails and letters and phone calls went out, and finally, every teammate had raised the required amount - and most surpassed it!
And fifth, we needed to pack everything on the Suggested Packing List (provided by the Avon Walk) to keep our bags efficiently stuffed with gear. We were each allowed 1 bag weighing up to 30 lbs, with an attached sleeping bag. If you think about it - you don't need much for Walk Weekend because all you're doing is walking and then sleeping, so packing was not difficult. Some important things we each purchased before the Walk: excellent sneakers, non-cotton socks, workout pants, under armour shirts, hats, Camelbacks, Glide and bandaids.
Finally, Walk Weekend had arrived...
As we had all taken off work on the Friday, we left Maryland around 2:00pm (a little later than planned), in order to make it to Event Eve before it closed at 8:00pm. Event Eve is essentially the check-in for the Avon Walk - you turn in any outstanding donations, receive your tenting assignment, purchase buttons and pins and Avon gear, and start getting excited for the weekend upon you. {Because I raised over $2200, I received a Top Fundraiser hat (which I wore all weekend); because I raised over $3600, I received a Top Fundraiser Jersey shirt (which I now wear to the gym).} After Event Eve (which was a madhouse), we walked around the corner and had a carbfest - pizza and pasta! Bedtime was quite early that night, as we were about to embark on one of the most challenging physical activities of our lives.
One team - the Wellness Warriors, a team of about 20 women - had a 7-year total of over $100,000 raised! (Yes, I teared up.) A great thing about participating in the Avon Walk for multiple years is getting ideas from other Walkers and other Teams. A _-year total is definitely something I'd be interested in keeping track of for Team Tit-Tastic! (FYI: Team Tit-Tastic's 2-year total is $32,713.)
Another fantastic feature this year was Alumni buttons! At Event Eve, if you had participated in multiple Avon Walks, you received a button to disclose how many years you've Walked. Erin, Courtney and I received 2-year buttons, while this man (a truly dedicated citizen) wore his 8-year button proudly, as one of NYC's esteemed crossing guards.
So, we started getting sore after a few miles, but nothing was too much to handle. Lunch came at the exact right time for us, at mile 9 (we enjoyed turkey sandwiches, chips, apples, cookies) and we ate quickly so we could continue on the correct pace for completing the 26.2 miles on Day 1. I can say this - walking on the streets of NYC was very different from the streets of DC. As DC is more of a busy-weekday city, NYC is a busy-everyday city, so the streets were crowded, taxis were everywhere, and crowds kept us from walking at a constant pace. At mile 13 (half way through Day 1), we were greeted by family & friends at a cheering station along the path! It was so overwhelming to see our loved ones (complete with an incredible banner made by my talented mother) yelling loudly and showering us with hugs & gloves! Although we were only able to stop and say hello for a few minutes (as to keep on pace schedule), we took pictures and admired the banner (which we later learned was a HUGE success - capturing the eyes of all Walkers, many of whom stopped to take photos).
At mile 17, I started feeling some major pain in my hip flexor area. It was difficult to take steps with my right leg, especially on the Brooklyn Bridge which kept us at an incline for about a mile. I was thankful for the rest stops every 2.5 miles to rest, stretch and fill-up on water or Gatorade. During Day 1, there were a few other amazing things to note: (1) there was a male volunteer who posted himself about every 5 miles with a boombox, shaking his groove-thing, making us smile, (2) there was an elderly woman whose sign said "walking for my daughter" whom she lost to breast cancer a few years earlier, (3) while walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, Erin's glove - that she had received from my father a few miles back - flew over the side, so she walked the rest of the weekend with only one glove, (4) the Youth Crew - made up of those too young to walk just yet - posted themselves every few miles and chanted words of encouragement as we walked by.
We finally arrived at the Wellness Village around 5:30pm. After such an intense and demanding day, it took all our strength to set up our sleeping tents, grab dinner, and visit the bathrooms. While most of the team passed out early, I was still suffering from severe pain in my hip flexor area, so I visited the physical therapy tent, where I signed in as #274 (good gracious). I waited and waited, and finally received some painful stretching-therapy which lasted about 20 minutes. Because it was causing me to cry and they had tried all they could think of, they sent me back to my tent to sleep (with legs raised) and asked that I come back on Day 2 to check up. After a restless night, I arrived back at the physical therapy tent at 5:00am, hoping that things would look more promising. Unfortunately for me, the physical therapists expressed that there was nothing further they could do, and recommended that I not participate on Day 2, another 13.1 miles. I absolutely could not believe that my body was doing this to me - I was furious, overcome by a feeling of failure, and so sad to send my team off on Day 2 while I waited for the shuttle. {I must take this time to say Thank You to the Crew member who sat and consoled me as I broke down in tears, embarrassment and frustration that I could not start Day 2.} The 2 injury shuttles took us to the lunch stop, where I decided to hail a cab, go to my sister's apartment, shower and sit with ice. I kept in good touch with my teammates, and after two hours of "rest," I asked Tim to drive me to the 10.5 mile cheering station (where my parents would loyally be holding the banner as my team passed). As soon as I saw Team Tit-Tastic coming toward me, I had this rush of energy, and knew that with their strength and support, I could finish the last 3 miles, no matter how much pain I was in. We packed up the banner and my parents walked along with us! Then at mile 12, after her GMAT class had ended, my sister joined us as well! (This entire time, Tim was looking for parking near the Finish Line.) My parents unfolded the banner once more, and walked with it in front of our team. Team Tit-Tastic crossed that finish line holding hands, after 40 miles of cold weather, sore muscles, laughter, tears and extreme emotions we'd never felt before.
BIG THANK YOUS:
when I decided to participate in my 2nd Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - this time in New York City! After the feeling I had crossing that finish line in 2009, I knew this was an experience destined to be a part of my life for as many years as possible. So, I contacted the 2009 members of Team Tit-Tastic and asked who was interested in doing another year, another $1800, another 40 miles. I'm happy to say that two veterans were interested in signing-up and kicking butt for yet another year - my dear friends of 5+ years - Erin Patterson & Courtney Simmons. While I was sad to say goodbye to the other 4 teammates, I understood their reasons for taking a year off.
So the search was on for new members...
I emailed all the women I thought may be interested and enthusiastically welcomed new members to Team Tit-Tastic - my friend of 10+ years Monica Tarzy, my colleague and good friend Chelsea Bowers, and my two dear friends Katie Stephenson and Melissa Tipton. Our team of 7 was complete, and I had a really great feeling about the drive, passion and friendship heading into this journey. After an initial meeting so everyone could get to know each other, we set forth with big plans and big hearts - so excited about the opportunity to raise a large amount of money for the Avon Foundation. We decided that for the first few months, we would each individually see what we could raise (the minimum to Walk is $1800). By sending out emails, letters and social networking posts, we were well on our way to reaching our goals, but by June, only 1 of us had successfully raised the full $1800. So, we needed another plan of attack.
It was time to start our group fundraising efforts...
The Melting Pot (a fondue restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland) is quite the hot spot for delicious cook-it-yourself meals and relaxing atmosphere. Luckily for us, we had a few contacts in Management who helped us organize Team Tit-Tastic's Fondue-raiser! From 5-10pm on a Monday night in July, supporters could come enjoy Ladies' Night specials, including pink cocktails and a discounted 4-course meal. The Melting Pot, a most generous business, offered our team 50% of the profit that evening, which sent us away with $1600, split evenly among the teammates to raise each of our individual totals thus far.
To reach a different crowd, our 2nd group fundraiser was held at The Greene Turtle, a local and very well-known sports bar that many of us frequent on the weekends. Team Tit-Tastic's Burgers, Boobs & Beer Night featured $10 wristbands for happy hour specials, $1 and $5 pink accessories, and free live entertainment. Thanks to our many friends who attended the evening, we successfully left with over $1500, again split evenly among the teammates to raise each of our individual totals.
At this point, it was time to start thinking about training...
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer prepares their Walkers to the fullest - with bi-weekly emails, newsletters, phone calls from "Walker Buddies," packets filled with suggestions and an entire community to converse with. In the main Avon Walk packet, Walkers are provided with healthy ways to prepare for the demanding Walk Weekend, including training modules for up to 12 weeks prior to the Walk. You are instructed to begin training with walks as short as 15 mins, and by the peak of your training, you should be able to walk 22+ miles without feeling like a wretched mess. While our entire team had good intentions and wanted to be top notch by Walk Weekend, we couldn't escape the busy lives and hectic schedules we so lovingly call our own. Most of us being athletic by nature trained by doing what we thought would work best / what we were already comfortable doing. I can only speak for myself when I say that I tried to workout each day (which ended up being about 2-3 days a week), eat healthier meals (although my portions didn't change), and stay off my butt as much as possible (rather hard to do when you sit at a desk for 9 hours each day). Nonetheless, I felt confident going into this Walk Weekend because I had completed the 40 miles once before (last year).
As Walk Weekend approached, we had much to figure out...
First, our team of 7 would become a team of 6 for the actual Walk Weekend - Melissa was 4 months pregnant and chose not to Walk (which we all understood). True to her word, she raised the $1800 she committed to, and continued to attend team meetings and participate in team email chains until Walk Weekend.
Second, we needed cars and drivers to get us to New York City and back (we could easily drive there on our own but our concern was driving back exhausted after the long weekend). Two wonderful men stepped up to the plate: Driver #1 = my boyfriend, Tim, in his parents' large van; driver #2 = Monica's boyfriend, Schyler, in Monica's parents' SUV. These men were our saviors, giving us a chance to relax on the drive up and sleep on the ride back. Not to mention agreeing to sleep on couches and park on crowded streets, just for us!
Third, we needed a place to stay in NYC on the Friday night before the Walk. We booked a hotel (expensive, but necessary) and split the team (and 2 men) up between the hotel room and my sister, Maggie's, NYC apartment. Now, if you're at all familiar with NYC, you'll know that apartments are not luxurious spaces, but my sister and her two roommates generously gave up their small space for a great cause!
Fourth, we obviously needed to complete our individual goals of raising $1800 each. After the group fundraisers, everyone was close, but not everyone was done. So a last minute effort of emails and letters and phone calls went out, and finally, every teammate had raised the required amount - and most surpassed it!
And fifth, we needed to pack everything on the Suggested Packing List (provided by the Avon Walk) to keep our bags efficiently stuffed with gear. We were each allowed 1 bag weighing up to 30 lbs, with an attached sleeping bag. If you think about it - you don't need much for Walk Weekend because all you're doing is walking and then sleeping, so packing was not difficult. Some important things we each purchased before the Walk: excellent sneakers, non-cotton socks, workout pants, under armour shirts, hats, Camelbacks, Glide and bandaids.
Finally, Walk Weekend had arrived...
As we had all taken off work on the Friday, we left Maryland around 2:00pm (a little later than planned), in order to make it to Event Eve before it closed at 8:00pm. Event Eve is essentially the check-in for the Avon Walk - you turn in any outstanding donations, receive your tenting assignment, purchase buttons and pins and Avon gear, and start getting excited for the weekend upon you. {Because I raised over $2200, I received a Top Fundraiser hat (which I wore all weekend); because I raised over $3600, I received a Top Fundraiser Jersey shirt (which I now wear to the gym).} After Event Eve (which was a madhouse), we walked around the corner and had a carbfest - pizza and pasta! Bedtime was quite early that night, as we were about to embark on one of the most challenging physical activities of our lives.
Wake up on Saturday morning was 4:00am! Some of us wanted to shower, and all of us needed to check our bags one last time (putting everything unnecessary in the cars). We put stickers on our faces, adjusted our hats, made sure all our buttons could be seen, and tied Monica-made ribbons in our hair. We looked very pink and ready to rock and roll!
Opening ceremonies was held at Pier 84...
which was absolutely freezing at 5:00am in NYC during the month of October! We huddled together for warmth as the Director of the Avon Walk spoke to us about just how far we'd all come that year - 2300 Walkers + hundreds of Crew members, medical staff, volunteers = $9.4 million raised for the Avon Foundation (in NYC alone)! As per usual, I was extremely emotional during Opening Ceremonies - listening to survivors tell their tales, listening to teenagers recall the battles fought by their parents or grandparents. I felt so honored to be part of this group of philanthropists - showing New York City that we are In It To End It! After a few light stretches, the Walk opened promptly at 7:00am, and we were off! In an interesting move, they had us walking on the paths right near the water, which was utterly freezing. Being the intelligent team that we are, no one except Monica brought gloves, so we had to make an emergency call to my parents asking that they bring 5 pairs of black gloves to us at the first cheer station. As we walked, I was not only checking out the scenic route through NYC, but also the outfits and signs of other Walking teams. 
One team - the Wellness Warriors, a team of about 20 women - had a 7-year total of over $100,000 raised! (Yes, I teared up.) A great thing about participating in the Avon Walk for multiple years is getting ideas from other Walkers and other Teams. A _-year total is definitely something I'd be interested in keeping track of for Team Tit-Tastic! (FYI: Team Tit-Tastic's 2-year total is $32,713.)
So, we started getting sore after a few miles, but nothing was too much to handle. Lunch came at the exact right time for us, at mile 9 (we enjoyed turkey sandwiches, chips, apples, cookies) and we ate quickly so we could continue on the correct pace for completing the 26.2 miles on Day 1. I can say this - walking on the streets of NYC was very different from the streets of DC. As DC is more of a busy-weekday city, NYC is a busy-everyday city, so the streets were crowded, taxis were everywhere, and crowds kept us from walking at a constant pace. At mile 13 (half way through Day 1), we were greeted by family & friends at a cheering station along the path! It was so overwhelming to see our loved ones (complete with an incredible banner made by my talented mother) yelling loudly and showering us with hugs & gloves! Although we were only able to stop and say hello for a few minutes (as to keep on pace schedule), we took pictures and admired the banner (which we later learned was a HUGE success - capturing the eyes of all Walkers, many of whom stopped to take photos).
At mile 17, I started feeling some major pain in my hip flexor area. It was difficult to take steps with my right leg, especially on the Brooklyn Bridge which kept us at an incline for about a mile. I was thankful for the rest stops every 2.5 miles to rest, stretch and fill-up on water or Gatorade. During Day 1, there were a few other amazing things to note: (1) there was a male volunteer who posted himself about every 5 miles with a boombox, shaking his groove-thing, making us smile, (2) there was an elderly woman whose sign said "walking for my daughter" whom she lost to breast cancer a few years earlier, (3) while walking over the Brooklyn Bridge, Erin's glove - that she had received from my father a few miles back - flew over the side, so she walked the rest of the weekend with only one glove, (4) the Youth Crew - made up of those too young to walk just yet - posted themselves every few miles and chanted words of encouragement as we walked by.
We finally arrived at the Wellness Village around 5:30pm. After such an intense and demanding day, it took all our strength to set up our sleeping tents, grab dinner, and visit the bathrooms. While most of the team passed out early, I was still suffering from severe pain in my hip flexor area, so I visited the physical therapy tent, where I signed in as #274 (good gracious). I waited and waited, and finally received some painful stretching-therapy which lasted about 20 minutes. Because it was causing me to cry and they had tried all they could think of, they sent me back to my tent to sleep (with legs raised) and asked that I come back on Day 2 to check up. After a restless night, I arrived back at the physical therapy tent at 5:00am, hoping that things would look more promising. Unfortunately for me, the physical therapists expressed that there was nothing further they could do, and recommended that I not participate on Day 2, another 13.1 miles. I absolutely could not believe that my body was doing this to me - I was furious, overcome by a feeling of failure, and so sad to send my team off on Day 2 while I waited for the shuttle. {I must take this time to say Thank You to the Crew member who sat and consoled me as I broke down in tears, embarrassment and frustration that I could not start Day 2.} The 2 injury shuttles took us to the lunch stop, where I decided to hail a cab, go to my sister's apartment, shower and sit with ice. I kept in good touch with my teammates, and after two hours of "rest," I asked Tim to drive me to the 10.5 mile cheering station (where my parents would loyally be holding the banner as my team passed). As soon as I saw Team Tit-Tastic coming toward me, I had this rush of energy, and knew that with their strength and support, I could finish the last 3 miles, no matter how much pain I was in. We packed up the banner and my parents walked along with us! Then at mile 12, after her GMAT class had ended, my sister joined us as well! (This entire time, Tim was looking for parking near the Finish Line.) My parents unfolded the banner once more, and walked with it in front of our team. Team Tit-Tastic crossed that finish line holding hands, after 40 miles of cold weather, sore muscles, laughter, tears and extreme emotions we'd never felt before.
BIG THANK YOUS:
- To my generous donors, for making this year so successful, you've left imprints on my heart forever: Sophia Franklin... Marj & Jerry Sparer... Ann Senger... Angella Rogers... Hussein Amin & SherriJoyce King... Rebecca & Dick King... Sam McDonald... Marion, Steve & Beth Pardes... Lou King & Harriet Langlois... Aaron Foster... Pam & Rich Finstein... Julian & Sandra Schraibman... Susan Sandler & Howard Eisenberg... Becky Christie... Danielle & Ben Cupido... Jen Mino... Chris & Mike Wenzel... Alan Tupek... Richard Abrams... Allan Newstadt... Normal Wallis... Cecil Mallon... Diane & Fred Tamayo... Mary Moczula... Barry Shrut... Dung Nguyen... Franklin Davis... David Sandler... Joseph Beller... Roberto Almelor... Anita Russell... Harris Stern... Mame Templeton... Trudi, Dave & Sarah Bloom... Edwin Smith... Rob Derubeis... Karl Kozarsky... Giampiero Di Guardo... Len, Carol & Shoshana Eisenberg... Alan Roecklin... George Goldstone... Phillip McKee... Barun & Usasi Chatterjee... Philip Price... Howard Rudnick... David & Ruthie Eisenberg... Yael Sandler... John Csaklos... Eduardo Widmar... Wiliam Bracken... Ralph & Elizabeth Von Dem Hagen... Hock-Chye Ong... Corrie Roberts... Estelle Kluft... Donald Roberts... Esther Sobel... Peter Adams... Maggie Amin... Omar & Karen Helal... Hosni Berzi... Ron Frezzo... Erika Conner... Hugh Mealy... Donald & Billie Orenbuch... David McCue... Frank & Lorraine Lopresto... Kelly Wilmoth... Becca Halperin... Lee Baklarz... Ricardo Mena... Eve Finstein... Lauren Summers... Amr Pertew... Gabrielle Carlson... CustomInk.com... Scott & Jenny Midgley... Lauren & Rich Kimmel... Amy & Bill Ratcliffe... Nikkee Porcaro... Emily Garfinkel... Steffi Wallis... Laurie & Ibby Burch... Tony Weeg... Mary Hall!
- To my parents, sister and best friend Stevie - thank you for being at the cheering stations, texting me throughout the day with words of encouragement, buying gloves for the whole team when we underestimated the cold, holding up that incredible momi-made banner, and being the greatest support system a girl could ask for!
- To my incredible boyfriend, Tim - you supported me throughout the journey by running emergency errands, leaving the house to us girls during Avon meetings, excusing the nights when I was too busy writing donation emails to hang out, driving the team to and from NYC, wearing a button that said "I'm a Boob Man" throughout the weekend, waiting at the cheering stations with a smile on your face even though you had work to do, giving me strength (and ice) when I thought I wasn't going to make it, pleasantly standing for multiple pictures at the finish line, and taking care of me the following week (with hurt muscles, fever and exhaustion).
- To the members of Team Tit-Tastic - I admire you for taking part in a cause as important as the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer; I applaud you for surpassing your fundraising goals, whether it was through individual or group efforts; I appreciate you taking off work for a few days to truly give your all to this experience; I am blown away by your determination to finish the 40 miles with powerful strides; I am proud of you for setting up tents and sleeping in the cold; I am grateful to you for the laughs, the companionship, the positive attitude, and the celebration at the end of our long journey. You are forever a part of me; I love you!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Family Housewarming
As Tim & I moved into our new condo at the end of July, mid-September was finally time to have a Housewarming, to celebrate with our family this new life we've so happily begun. We decided to keep it really small - just immediate family and a few uncles - the perfect size for our 1300 sq ft condo and the beautiful gazebo in our neighborhood.
I organized my pants off for several days - planning the menu, cleaning the condo, filling in the moms on how they could help, orchestrating pick-up and drop-off for those coming from out of town, etc. Luckily I had the help of my parents (who came down from Philly early) and Tim (who came home from NY early) - and I immediately began assigning tasks to make sure we were totally prepared.
I am quite proud of our menu:
There was football watching, cornhole playing, constant eating, story-telling, and laughing. As I looked around the condo (when I wasn't frantically hosting a gathering), I couldn't help but smile. Smile at the 3 small dogs running around... smile at my boyfriend standing by the grill overlooking our first hosting meal... smile at our families engaging in deep and fun conversations with people they met just an hour ago... smile at my sister re-living the suburban life she left 3 years ago... smile at 2-year old Maddie giggling and loving the center-of-attention feel... smile at this home that Tim & I created from scratch, a real gem in the eyes of our parents, who smile back from across the room.
I organized my pants off for several days - planning the menu, cleaning the condo, filling in the moms on how they could help, orchestrating pick-up and drop-off for those coming from out of town, etc. Luckily I had the help of my parents (who came down from Philly early) and Tim (who came home from NY early) - and I immediately began assigning tasks to make sure we were totally prepared.
I am quite proud of our menu:
- Appetizers - 7-layer dip, spinach baklava, salmon dip, strawberry-mango smoothies
- Entrees - chicken/steak/veggie kabobs, fruit salad, corn on the cob, garlic bread, grilled potatoes, rice
- Desserts - chocolate chip cookies, chocolate cake, baklava, brownies
There was football watching, cornhole playing, constant eating, story-telling, and laughing. As I looked around the condo (when I wasn't frantically hosting a gathering), I couldn't help but smile. Smile at the 3 small dogs running around... smile at my boyfriend standing by the grill overlooking our first hosting meal... smile at our families engaging in deep and fun conversations with people they met just an hour ago... smile at my sister re-living the suburban life she left 3 years ago... smile at 2-year old Maddie giggling and loving the center-of-attention feel... smile at this home that Tim & I created from scratch, a real gem in the eyes of our parents, who smile back from across the room.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Summer Vacation 2010
This summer my big vacation was with Tim's family, in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. I was super excited for months, knowing that we'd get away from the daily grind and relax in the beautiful summer sun, surrounded by wonderful people and delicious activities. I could barely sleep on Friday night, too excited to pack up and finally get a week away from work (although I did work each day, because goodness knows projects don't wait for us while we sit on the beach)...
Sat. Aug. 14
The alarm sounded at 6am and it was but 2 hours later that we set off on a 9-hour drive with our tail-wagging puppy, Jasmine. Due to a demanding work schedule the week before, Tim was super tired, so I grabbed the wheel and drove through traffic for the first several hours of our journey. All in all it was a fun ride, with Jasmine sticking almost her entire body out the window of the truck to feel the wind in her hair... err... fur, jammin' songs on the radio, Sonic milkshakes, Bojangles chicken & biscuits, and country dirt roads. We finally arrived at our beautiful beachfront property for the week - 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, large pool, direct view of the ocean... for 14 adults, 1 baby, 2 small dogs. After settling into our rooms and changing our travel-clothes, the bride & groom (whose wedding directed us to South Carolina in the first place) set up a wonderful meet-and-greet at an Asian-inspired restaurant called Bambu. The food was delicious, the company was full of laughter.
Sun. Aug 15
Early to bed, early to rise... for a day on the beach with the whole family. With the wedding scheduled for 6pm, we had the entire day to relax by the pool, sit on the beach, and catch-up on life since the last time we were all together. Unfortunately the rain showers came and went throughout the daylight hours, but smiles were not lost. Tim's mom made an incredible chicken salad (and I'm talkin' a LOT of chicken salad) for lunch, the beach was beautiful, and the dogs were having a blast running around. I love Isle of Palms for the texture of the beach. Instead of being soft, flimsy, and hot to the touch, it is packed firm and flat - you can ride your bike, take part in an intense game of Ultimate Frisbee, have a picnic, or just lay in the sun. I can tell you right now - I have been spoiled by that sand, and Ocean City will never compete.
Later that evening, the wedding took place on Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, SC., just a 20-minute drive from our beachhouse. We arrived on the property a bit early (as it rained cats & dogs) to check out the old house, the guest quarters, the slave quarters, and all the land surrounding. Luckily Tim's truck can handle any kind of weather, so we saw everything from the comfort of a dry seat. After a while of searching for alligators (with no luck), we head over to the guest house for a short and beautiful ceremony. The bride wore a simple gown, with a smile to light up the dreary day. To her - the wedding was about bringing her closest family & friends to witness her commitment to this wonderful man, who accepted her for who she was - a vegan dance-machine! A short ceremony (15 minutes tops), a 3-part buffet (I very much enjoyed the make-your-own-baked-potato section), a photo shoot with the boys on the dock (no, they did not complain), a bridal costume change (into a short navy halter dress), a song selection direct from the bride's ipod (each song was like a blast from the past dance party), and a night full of laughter, amounted to one of the best weddings I've ever been to. No cake cutting, no assigned seating, no garter tossing, short speeches. All about love.
*Shoutout to my generous ex-roommate who offered me her summer-casual-birthday dress for the occasion. Compliments were received.
Mon. Aug 16
Today consisted of what would become the "normal activity" for the week. Waking up between 7-9am, eating breakfast, doing a bit of work, laying on the beach for a few hours, a dip in the pool, lounging around the gorgeous house, and spending time with family. Couldn't ask for a more pleasant, relaxing day.
Tues. Aug 17
Finally we were going to visit Charleston! I was super excited because I've wanted to see this historical southern city ever since my first Gone With the Wind experience. What could give me more intense goosebumps than walking the same streets as Scarlett O'Hara, learning about the entrance of Union troops in 1865 that had her racing by carriage to escape the flames? Needless to say - I was pumped! When we arrived, we took our own tour of the city, walking up and down streets that looked interesting, taking pictures of landmarks, and generally looking like a large group of tourists from a different country. Highlight: the "market" - as one Charlestonian said - filled with all the things we want but don't need. Naturally, I purchased a shot glass (an extravagant one at that) and a deck of cards. Later that night I was surprised with a gorgeous chocolate-colored purse that I'd been eying (to replace the one I've had since 2007) by my sweet boyfriend.
As Tim & Mat left Charleston early to catch their golf tee-time, the rest of us went on a 15-person carriage-ride tour of the city, led by a humorous guide and Larry the horse (who knew when to turn, when to stop, and when to neigh proudly). I will now bullet-point the history I deem most interesting/important:
Wed. Aug 18
Another day of "normal activity" - 9am wake-up, a Kurt-made egg breakfast, responding to work emails, a dip in the pool, and a rousing game of Taboo with the whole family. Later in the evening, the younger generation decided to check out this bar closeby called The Boathouse. While most went to the rooftop for a few drinks, Tim and I had a wonderful "date night" dinner in the fine dining room downstairs. We enjoyed a meal of Caesar salad, soup, chicken fettucini alfredo and steak. It was a delicious and romantic evening.
Thurs. Aug 19
Another glorious day of "normal activity" - 9am wake-up, a consideration of a run but instead a breakfast of bean dip (yea whatever, don't hate), a dip in the pool with the boys who thought a breath-holding contest was of utter importance, then preparation for our "nice" family outting. We got all dressed up and went to dinner at R&B's (a popular seafood restaurant in town). The atmosphere was serene, the service attentive, and the food scrumptious. I realized during that meal how much I adore this family... how special they are... how much they care about each other... how incredible it is to feel the love of a truly happy clan.
Fri. Aug 20
Sad to say this was our last day. Last day awoken by a delightful 2-year old (who just wants to repeat over and over again what color the pink nail polish is and the fact that the clear has "no color")... last day for an egg + bacon + pancake + grit + hash brown breakfast... last day packing up towels & chairs & sandwiches & books for a few beachfront hours... last day throwing Jasmine in the pool to convince her swimming is fun... last day with a most charming and amusing family, whose soul purpose is to keep everyone else happy and healthy. Tim, Mat and I set off on the 9-hour drive home around 3pm (after an annoying flat tire and rain storm). Sad to see the week end... excited for the next countdown to family fun!
Sat. Aug. 14
The alarm sounded at 6am and it was but 2 hours later that we set off on a 9-hour drive with our tail-wagging puppy, Jasmine. Due to a demanding work schedule the week before, Tim was super tired, so I grabbed the wheel and drove through traffic for the first several hours of our journey. All in all it was a fun ride, with Jasmine sticking almost her entire body out the window of the truck to feel the wind in her hair... err... fur, jammin' songs on the radio, Sonic milkshakes, Bojangles chicken & biscuits, and country dirt roads. We finally arrived at our beautiful beachfront property for the week - 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, large pool, direct view of the ocean... for 14 adults, 1 baby, 2 small dogs. After settling into our rooms and changing our travel-clothes, the bride & groom (whose wedding directed us to South Carolina in the first place) set up a wonderful meet-and-greet at an Asian-inspired restaurant called Bambu. The food was delicious, the company was full of laughter.
Sun. Aug 15
Early to bed, early to rise... for a day on the beach with the whole family. With the wedding scheduled for 6pm, we had the entire day to relax by the pool, sit on the beach, and catch-up on life since the last time we were all together. Unfortunately the rain showers came and went throughout the daylight hours, but smiles were not lost. Tim's mom made an incredible chicken salad (and I'm talkin' a LOT of chicken salad) for lunch, the beach was beautiful, and the dogs were having a blast running around. I love Isle of Palms for the texture of the beach. Instead of being soft, flimsy, and hot to the touch, it is packed firm and flat - you can ride your bike, take part in an intense game of Ultimate Frisbee, have a picnic, or just lay in the sun. I can tell you right now - I have been spoiled by that sand, and Ocean City will never compete.
Later that evening, the wedding took place on Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, SC., just a 20-minute drive from our beachhouse. We arrived on the property a bit early (as it rained cats & dogs) to check out the old house, the guest quarters, the slave quarters, and all the land surrounding. Luckily Tim's truck can handle any kind of weather, so we saw everything from the comfort of a dry seat. After a while of searching for alligators (with no luck), we head over to the guest house for a short and beautiful ceremony. The bride wore a simple gown, with a smile to light up the dreary day. To her - the wedding was about bringing her closest family & friends to witness her commitment to this wonderful man, who accepted her for who she was - a vegan dance-machine! A short ceremony (15 minutes tops), a 3-part buffet (I very much enjoyed the make-your-own-baked-potato section), a photo shoot with the boys on the dock (no, they did not complain), a bridal costume change (into a short navy halter dress), a song selection direct from the bride's ipod (each song was like a blast from the past dance party), and a night full of laughter, amounted to one of the best weddings I've ever been to. No cake cutting, no assigned seating, no garter tossing, short speeches. All about love.
*Shoutout to my generous ex-roommate who offered me her summer-casual-birthday dress for the occasion. Compliments were received.
Mon. Aug 16
Today consisted of what would become the "normal activity" for the week. Waking up between 7-9am, eating breakfast, doing a bit of work, laying on the beach for a few hours, a dip in the pool, lounging around the gorgeous house, and spending time with family. Couldn't ask for a more pleasant, relaxing day.
Tues. Aug 17
Finally we were going to visit Charleston! I was super excited because I've wanted to see this historical southern city ever since my first Gone With the Wind experience. What could give me more intense goosebumps than walking the same streets as Scarlett O'Hara, learning about the entrance of Union troops in 1865 that had her racing by carriage to escape the flames? Needless to say - I was pumped! When we arrived, we took our own tour of the city, walking up and down streets that looked interesting, taking pictures of landmarks, and generally looking like a large group of tourists from a different country. Highlight: the "market" - as one Charlestonian said - filled with all the things we want but don't need. Naturally, I purchased a shot glass (an extravagant one at that) and a deck of cards. Later that night I was surprised with a gorgeous chocolate-colored purse that I'd been eying (to replace the one I've had since 2007) by my sweet boyfriend.
As Tim & Mat left Charleston early to catch their golf tee-time, the rest of us went on a 15-person carriage-ride tour of the city, led by a humorous guide and Larry the horse (who knew when to turn, when to stop, and when to neigh proudly). I will now bullet-point the history I deem most interesting/important:
- Charleston is known as the Holy City, due to the religious freedom not often found in the South. If you congregated 13 people together, you could start or practice any religion you so desired. In fact, Charleston is home to the oldest Orthodox Jewish synagogue in the South.
- The East Coast is actually home to the 2nd largest fault line in North America, and Summerville (20 miles from Charleston) is the center of that fault line. In 1886, a major earthquake destroyed 2,000 buildings, and convinced citizens to put steel "bolts" through homes to keep future structure. Some homes that didn't even need it put little plagues on the outside of their homes that looked like the "bolts" in order to seem more bad-ass.
- Rice was the major cash crop of Charleston, and slaves who had knowledge of rice farming were actually worth 3 times more than slaves who did not.
- In old Charleston, pineapples were a symbol of "welcoming." When men came home from oversees, their wives would put pineapples on top of columns to show the neighbors and community that they were welcoming guests into their homes again. (It was improper to be seen without your husband, or even receive guests while he was away.)
- When the war began, citizens of Charleston were asked to donate their iron (fences, gates) to the Confederacy. They were promised better fences after a Southern victory, which obviously did not occur. Instead of top of the line iron fences, the Confederacy offered wooden fences painted black. This became a symbol of honor - notoriety of contributing to the cause.
- Most homes in Charleston were built with the porch on the side of the house, instead of in front (space issues). They served as "additions" to the living space inside, and frequently became the spot to sit and relax, sometimes even to "let loose" with your pettycoat showing. Because of this, there were doors built facing the street that women (or men) could close when hoping for privacy. To state the obvious - doors facing the street wouldn't block a sideway porch, but people knew that when a door was closed, they should avert their eyes altogehter. Legend has it a man named Tom didn't understand the privacy doors (he was from out of town) and one day, when knocking wasn't working, he peeked around the corner and was later charged with a crime. Hence the phrase- "Peeping Tom"
- The major jail of Charleston homed the city's criminals, most notably the two first-known serial killers. A husband and wife poisoned 24 people, and were set to hang to death. However, because law states you cannot hang a married woman, the government found a way around it - they hung the husband first. Then the woman was no longer married. The major jail also housed free black merchants who came to town on business. They were forced to sleep in the jail for fear they would talk to black slaves and suggest ideas such as freedom and uprising.
- The first slaughter house in Charleston is now the Daughters of the Confederacy museum.
- Because kitchens were usually a separate building from the main house, slaves had to carry dinner to and from, sometimes in the dark. In order to make sure they didn't stop to hand off food to other slaves, they were forced to whistle the entire time. Legend has it the whistling caused dogs from the area to come and try for the food. So the slaves carried rolled up balls of dough to throw and distract the dogs - also known as "hush puppies."
Wed. Aug 18
Another day of "normal activity" - 9am wake-up, a Kurt-made egg breakfast, responding to work emails, a dip in the pool, and a rousing game of Taboo with the whole family. Later in the evening, the younger generation decided to check out this bar closeby called The Boathouse. While most went to the rooftop for a few drinks, Tim and I had a wonderful "date night" dinner in the fine dining room downstairs. We enjoyed a meal of Caesar salad, soup, chicken fettucini alfredo and steak. It was a delicious and romantic evening.
Thurs. Aug 19
Another glorious day of "normal activity" - 9am wake-up, a consideration of a run but instead a breakfast of bean dip (yea whatever, don't hate), a dip in the pool with the boys who thought a breath-holding contest was of utter importance, then preparation for our "nice" family outting. We got all dressed up and went to dinner at R&B's (a popular seafood restaurant in town). The atmosphere was serene, the service attentive, and the food scrumptious. I realized during that meal how much I adore this family... how special they are... how much they care about each other... how incredible it is to feel the love of a truly happy clan.
Fri. Aug 20
Sad to say this was our last day. Last day awoken by a delightful 2-year old (who just wants to repeat over and over again what color the pink nail polish is and the fact that the clear has "no color")... last day for an egg + bacon + pancake + grit + hash brown breakfast... last day packing up towels & chairs & sandwiches & books for a few beachfront hours... last day throwing Jasmine in the pool to convince her swimming is fun... last day with a most charming and amusing family, whose soul purpose is to keep everyone else happy and healthy. Tim, Mat and I set off on the 9-hour drive home around 3pm (after an annoying flat tire and rain storm). Sad to see the week end... excited for the next countdown to family fun!
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