A Connecticut Recap

Connecticut 2013 was a fun trip.  

It started fast with a flight out Saturday night and an early morning phone call asking if I could go to a Louis Vuitton meeting on Monday morning.  Sunday was also the day to get up and going early with Mom and Dad to get to see Megan's baptism.  That was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. 

Sunday afternoon I went to NYC and wandered the city for a few hours before checking in at the hotel before the meeting Monday morning.  

Monday, I spent in the city at LV training and learned all about how we're going to use our new work phones to clientele and learn how to train the rest of the store.  After the meeting I went shopping for a couple hours on 5th Avenue and eventually met up with Mom, Dad, Rick & Beth and Alena.  

Tuesday, Mom and I met up with Megan, Mattingly and Myla at the outlets in Clinton.  I enjoyed a hot dog and shopping with Mattingly.  Mom and I also went to New Haven and went to Gant, J.Press and a couple other places before heading home.  Tuesday night we also went to the Rock Cats game.  I saw Miguel Sano play; maybe we'll see him up here with the Twins next year.  

Wednesday, M3 and I went to the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington for a couple hours with lunch after at Red Robin and a trip to Westfarms.  We also grilled out Wednesday night and mom made my favorite vegetable and cheese dish! 

I was off to NYC again Thursday.  I spent the whole day there, taking the train in at 7am and getting back to Union Station in New Haven at 12:15am.  I got into NYC early and walked down Broadway on my way to SoHo where I spent most of the day before eating dinner with Adam and Alana at Edo Sushi near the Flatiron Building.  After dinner I wandered back up Broadway and 5th before hitting a late train back to New Haven.  

Friday was a relaxing day that we just spent at home with a quick trip to New Haven to stop at J. Press again for an awesome shawl collar sweater.  

And another visit by family & friends

Last weekend, the 5-7th of October was a fun one!  

Mom & Dad came in for Bethel Alumni events and for homecoming and a 40 year reunion.  We were able to enjoy Old Chicago with them on Thursday night before they were off and running with their plans.  

Friday night Katy and I went to Bethel for her own five year college reunion.  It was a night of small food, snacking and chatting with some of her classmates.  They also organized a small program which took up a little bit of the evening but it was mostly chatting, socializing in smaller groups.  

I appreciated that it was more informal and more chances to mingle with more people than mine was, as it was a more formal table style meal, but she didn't nearly have as many people turn out as my five year reunion.  Nonetheless it was nice for Katy to catch up with a few friends.  

Saturday was a very nice day to get things done around the house.  Katy and I went to Ace Hardware in the morning for their second fall festival.  That's where I won the leaf blower last year.  This year I think we registered to win a yard treatment package.  But we bought a couple things to help me trim some branches away from the driveway so they don't fall down a few a day for the whole fall and winter.  It was annoying last year to pick up all of the weak, dead and dying branches during a rainstorm or snowstorm.  

However, the highlight of the morning at Ace Hardware might have been the petting zoo!  It was quite the attraction.  They had a camel, donkey, goat, bunnies, snakes, small alligators and probably a couple other things but the highlight was the kangaroo and the nine month old bear!  As we were walking there I was looking at the animals and as we got closer I was like, "is that a black bear!?"  It was awesome watching it.  We talked with Mike, the owner, for a few minutes before heading in and finding a few things to pick up.  I only hope that his event has been a success not only from a community aspect but from a business perspective as well.  I know I appreciate seeing him drive in and out of work as he's always one to wave and smile on the way by.  

Saturday afternoon we got together with Paul and Lance.  We then met up with Kristine and Liz who came in from Michigan and Texas (and the world), as well as Laura and Abby.  We thoroughly enjoyed a night at Brasa as it was a first for everyone except me, Katy and Paul.  

After Brasa we went to Old Chicago for dessert and a couple drinks and another place to hang out and catch up.  We unofficially and officially made plans to take a trip to Las Vegas next spring to hang out and have fun.  I think that would be a blast to hit Las Vegas with college friends!  We'll see if it happens!

We met up with Kristine and Liz again on Sunday morning (with Lance and Paul) to enjoy a few more minutes and some Breuggers and Caribou before they both took off for home.  It was great to see them.  

After that-Katy and I hit the Twin Cities Marathon and watched the marathon finishers for a few hours. Unfortunately, we missed the TC 10 Mile though.  

Later on Sunday, we watched football and then welcomed Mom and Dad in for the night.  We went to eat at Granite City and hung out at home for a little bit before Monday morning work arrived.  

It's nice having an extra room available and it's proven to be very useful this summer.  I feel like we've had a steady stream of visitors since July and it's been fun!  

Trying New Food-For Ella & Mattingly

Ella and Mattingly,

Check out Uncle Joel and Grandpa Ron try and tell you about trying new food!  I see all kinds of new food out there for you to try!

I hope you're up to the challenge, like I was, of trying new food!

Love you guys!

Twin Cities 1 Mile

The Twin Cities 1 Mile came and went quickly last Thursday night.  

I have been running a few times a week for a couple months which I thought put me in a good place to run a little faster.  However, I still have not gotten any speed work in so I just wasn't ready for a fast pace.  

I worked until 6pm and picked Mom up before arriving to Nicollet Avenue with about an hour before the race.  I warmed up with 1.75 miles and stretched and off I went.  However, I didn't get as close to the front of the line as I wanted to, the corral packed in early I think.  

After getting going I did my best to stay strong and consistent with effort, though soon my mouth was so dry my spit solidified, I'm pretty sure, because I spit out once and it felt like I was spitting out a piece of sand.  About half way through I kept running strong and maybe for a close to two tenths of a mile I really thought hard about going hard to the finish but I just couldn't pull it off.  I just maintained as best as I could and finished up.  

Also, previously to running I asked people to tell me how they thought I'd do.  

I finished in 5:11.2 making Katy and Paul the winner because their guesses of 5:12.00 and 5:13.50 were the closest.  Megan guessed 5:07 and Eric 5:18.  Amanda guessed 5:15 and Lance said "best ever."  

It looks as if I owe Katy and Paul dinner.  

More Las Vegas, Palm Springs & Lake Arrowhead

The Bellagio ceiling as you enter the hotel.























The Conservatory at the Bellagio


















Katy's favorite piece of Dale Chihuly.

















Dad at dinner at Lavo.

















Mom at Lavo.

















Katy at Lavo.

















Me at Lavo.































































This was dessert at Lavo. In the background, I ordered fried oreos with a side of ice cream in the glass. It was delicious. However, I think the strawberry shortcake was better because it was alot lighter, just as fresh and tasty. I think it would have gone better with my Ahi Tuna that I split with Mom. I'll try and get a picture in once I load the pictures from my iPhone.

























On this particular afternoon we wandered through the new City Center, Aria and Crystals Shopping Center. This was in front of the Aria, a whole wall of waterfall with bird chairs.























It also had another Dale Chihuly gallery.
























Anyone like this outfit? I do.

















Mom and Dad before or after The Lion King at Mandalay Bay. Note Dad's new threads.




Palm Springs, California

















Grant and Chris' House in Cathedral City
















This is the view from the front of their house.
















This was in Palm Springs, more of their downtown area.


Lake Arrowhead, CA
















On the way up to Lake Arrowhead, CA

















On one of the turnouts almost to the turnoff for Lake Arrowhead.

















Tony's Mexican!

















In the village, on Lake Arrowhead.
































This is the village, over looks the lake.

















Anyone like this picture?

















Katy in front of the house, after our walk to the local beach.


















Just before we spent a couple hours at the Ontario Airport.



And finally a video on the way down the mountain from Lake Arrowhead.

Mike and Jori's Wedding

The whole point of the trip was to head to Mike and Jori's wedding on Saturday, July 9th. It was a short drive to Mount Charleston and as we drove out of the Las Vegas strip and downtown area you saw lots of sand, rocks and mountains. But as you kept driving you started to see small bushes, cacti and trees. It was a nice wedding in the mountains at 8,500 feet and I'm glad we were able to go.