Packers v. Giants NYC

Well, last weekend was the weekend.

Saturday PM
Paul, Lance and I took off from snowy Minnesota and landed in warm New England.  We were delayed a little bit getting out of Minnesota due to de-icing but soon enough we were in tree-branch fallen Connecticut.

We got to bed and took a four hour nap, 1am to 5am.  We hit the NYC bound train from Union Station to Grand Central Station.  By about 8:30 am we were in NYC ready to tackle the pavement until 3pm or so before the Packers-Giants game.

We jumped off the southbound train from New Haven and Dad got us on a tour bus and started our trek south.

We rode down to Battery Park and  took a view from afar of the Statue of Liberty before walking back up to the World Trade Center and taking a look at the progress of Freedom Tower.  We also walked by the fire station just next door to the World Trade Center.

We saw where the Occupy Wall Streeters were...

We did miss out on seeing the new 9/11 Memorial however.  We could have but you had to be early or get tickets online.

After this we did alot of walking.  Paul, Lance and Dad let me see the J.Crew Liquor Store.

After this we walked up towards the Pop Up Flea, walking by all kinds of shopping though SoHo and NoHo!

So we hit the Pop Up Flea and I was able to say hello to Kat McMillian, of Pierrepont Hicks.  It was fun to say hi and see her because she and a number of other local businesses had a pop up shop before Christmas where I said I was going to try and come to the Pop Up Flea and see her.  It was fun to hear her encourage me to stop by and say hi to her in NYC.  I appreciated that.  So, I said hello and Dad talked to her for a bit before my time was up, we had to keep moving.

Also, while at the Pop Up Flea, I saw Ty Pennington dart in and make his way to Dehen 1920 https://www.dehen1920.com/collection.  Crazy nice vintage wool sweaters and outerwear.

Sometime after that we kind of got side tracked and delayed waiting for our bus in Chinatown or there abouts.  But we made it back to Rockefeller Center before heading on the train to the Meadowlands.

And it was gametime!  It was great weather-high 40's to low 50's and blue sky.  For the first weekend of December we couldn't have asked for much better weather.

It was a great game.  The Packers didn't play really well but well enough to win and have control late in the game.  However, the Packers D let the Giants tie the game up at 35 with :58 left.  However, Aaron Rodgers shredded the Giants D in the final minute and Mason Crosby hit the game winning field goal, seen above.

After jumping back on the train to NYC we walked through Rockefeller Center and Times Square.

So, we were in NYC from early morning to late evening.  There's so much to see and do that you can't possibly get it all done, you can only hope to get back before you forget what you have to do.

The rest of the trip in CT on Monday was nice too.  We hung out at home, went to Yale in New Haven and saw Meg, Mattingly and Myla.

Chicken Coop

Christmas is over.  New Year's is over.  I have alot of blogging to do.  I have yet to finish the Packers-Giants, NYC experience too.  

But right now I feel like a chicken in a coop.  I've left the house two times in four days.  Saturday I went to work and Sunday I went to the ER.  Monday nowhere.  Tuesday same.    

It was quite the New Year's Eve for me and Katy.  I shut down Herb's and we ordered pizza from Old Chicago, which I grabbed on my way home.  We ate watched some tv and the Lincoln Lawyer.  I had to work at 7am Sunday so we were in bed a little later than planned at 11pm or so.  

Unfortunately, the flu got me.  BAD.  I woke up at 1:30 am with my stomach not feeling very good and from that point on until about 7 or 7:30am I vomited about every 20-30 minutes.  It made for a long, long night.  

Do you ever wonder why you don't get sick during the day?  I mean, the last time I remember vomiting during the day was in front of everyone in class in elementary school.  This time?  Middle of the night.  Last time from the bad calamari at Matty B's in Minneapolis?  Paul found me in the hall after I threw up in the middle of the night.  Countless more times in my memory did I throw up at night, the middle of the night.  Why is it that I always get really sick and vomit in the middle of the night?  Just curious.  

So, after my stomach had been cleared three times over I slept for a couple hours before trying some gatorade and water and a popsicle.  Well, that took its' time but that came out as well.  Sunday afternoon we finally decided that I couldn't hold anything down, I wanted to get this thing figured out and get hydrated so we went to the ER.  I got stuck with an IV for almost four hours, slept for a couple and took in some nausea medicine and morphine in the mix.  I also drank some Maalox and something "cocktail." Well, that was also nasty.  Good thing I didn't throw that up.  

I spend all day yesterday in bed or on the couch and I have yet to step foot outside today either.  That's why this is called "chicken coop."  I suppose it could have been called "squirrel trap" too or something similar but I'm wanting to get out of here.  But I still haven't eaten much and the shower I just took was a chore.  So, back on the couch is my behind.  Luckily I haven't vomited in a day or two and I can still feel it in my abs.  Ever want to get some good ab ripping exercises in, just get the flu and vomit for 6 straight hours.  

Anyhow, I hope this wasn't in the air since you guys were all here.  I hope you didn't get it and that Katy avoids it at all costs.  

Merry Christmas.

Happy New Year.  

Avoid the flu.  Wash your hands.  Drink water.

One Year Ago...Right Now

This was the scene...

Happy New Year!

Thankful

Being Thankful 2011

I am thankful for Switchfoot playing on my iPhone while I shower.

I am thankful for their lyrics.

I am thankful for the heat kicking in on a frost bitten November morning.

I am thankful for friends.

I am thankful for family.

I am thankful for a daytrip to Chicago with a friend and family.

I am thankful for meals that are already made.

I am thankful for mornings where I can make coffee, sit down and drink it.

I am thankful for a home.

I am thankful for Katy.

I am thankful that I can come to Dunn Bros., drink coffee, eat a muffin and blog.

I am thankful for work.

I am thankful for Mom & Dad.

I am thankful for a car that works and works well.

I am thankful for the money that I make.

I am thankful for Paul and his friendship.

I am thankful for the ability to speak, read and write.

I am thankful for entertainment.

I am thankful for the ability to work out and exercise.

I am thankful for my health, for Katy's health and the health of my family.

I am thankful for creativity.

I am thankful for Emily & Eric; Eleanor and Edith.

I am thankful for Megan & Mark; Mattingly and Myla.

I am thankful for the Sunday's I can relax and be entertained.

I am thankful for music that energizes and calms.

I am thankful for freedom.

I am thankful for God's provision.

I am thankful for Birthday Dinner's with Bob & Deb, Josh & Laura, Joe & Christen.

I am thankful for my education.

I am thankful that you don't ever have to stop learning.

I am thankful for the discipline that I've seen modeled in my dad.

I am thankful that I have a touch of it.

I am thankful that I can improve.

I am thankful for Twitter so I can read and learn and interact.

I am thankful for technology that makes my life easier.

I am thankful for the work experience I have gained.

I am thankful for change.

I am thankful for Calvary.

I am thankful for peace and quiet.

I am thankful for style.

I am thankful for the people who pray for me & Katy.

I am thankful for parents who care.

I am thankful for Emily's questions.

I am thankful for sports.

I am thankful for motivation.

I am thankful for the change of season.

I am thankful for energetic Coldplay music.

I am thankful for calming classical music.

I am thankful for that sip of coffee.

I am thankful for people who care.

I am thankful for people who motivate.

I am thankful for people who think about me.

I am thankful for extended family.

I am thankful for Aunt Naomi; Grandma & Grandpa Kletzin.

I am thankful for Jim and Karen.  Chris and Grant.  Josh and Laura.  Bob and Deb.

I am thankful for Mom & Dad, Jim & Karen that they come and visit.

I am thankful for Grandma Dischinger.  I am thankful for Grandpa Dischinger.

I am thankful for my childhood.

I am thankful for the lessons that were taught to me.

I am thankful for meaningful co-workers.

I am thankful for photography.

I am thankful for video.

I am thankful for Christmas with family at 1064 Roselawn.

What I Wore To Work

Tallia Orange double pinstripe suit.

Obsessed

*Materialistic Blog*

This is the most amazing shirt of all time.  Classically American because of the oxford cloth.  European style with the cutaway collar.

Perfect for me.  And a Christmas idea.

Bonobos

*Eric, you should try their pants.  Free shipping and free return shipping.  You'll have to read more to find out why.

Bonobos, an online retailer that originally got into the market to get men some pants that fit.  But really, many people can do that so how did they really get in?  If memory serves me correct their niche is pants that fit guys with big butts and thick thighs or in their words, "real" men.  It seems that they got in, made their mark and expanded to be, in my opinion, one of the better men's online retailers out there.  (In terms of products, quality, style, fashion etc.)

So, I follow them on twitter and facebook and found they had an open, casual webcast with some guy who we'll call "Sandwith Ventures LLC" and the CEO Andy Dunn.  I watched and listened to the conversation and even jumped in a little bit.

It was interesting that he actually answered my question as well.  I mean, directly, answered my question.  Used my name, reminisced a little bit about the question and answered it.  

My first question was whether there was any plan for an actual store, since last April Fool's Day they sent out an email saying they were opening tons of new stores.  He said that maybe there was a time and a place.  He said they used some google data and plugged them into google maps, which probably had you put in your zip code to find it and it located "fake" stores.  He also said he'd like to model themselves after Apple in the sense that they're "awesome" and give them the same customer service they provide.  He also went into experimenting with their FitNinja's and pop up stores and possibly selling their products in existing stores. 

Anyway, he did a great job interacting with whoever was watching this webcast.  It just seemed interesting how well he answered questions and gave out information.  Maybe I'm just used to certain leaders closer to me where it's more difficult to get information from.  He even gave sales information   

They're bringing in Moseley Tribe, Sierra fall jackets, Eastland boots.  They're making a pair of pants that go for $100 and $40 worth goes to feed two kids for a year abroad.  They're thinking of doing a Made in the USA shop.

Anyhow, that's what I'm interested in and what I do on an occasional day off.  A chat with a CEO of an online retailer.  Business.  Clothing/Fashion/Style.  Information.