Hi All,Thank you again to everyone that supported Team Twisted Blister and our efforts to help a student in need. Keep your eyes peeled, for we may be doing it all again in January 2011. This time -- running from Miami to Key West!!!
Just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know that I just received word that the funds we raised for the Kenya Education Fund will be used to sponsor Miss Eunice Wangari through 4 years of school at Ndururumo High School. Through our fundraising, Eunice will have all 4 years of school fees covered, books, supplies, exams, room, board, and incidental expenses paid for.
Throughout the 4 years I'll be receiving letters from Eunice and I promise to send them along to you all. In the meantime, I hope you are as proud as I am of both our team and of Eunice as she embarks on this new journey. Thanks for all you support and please pass on the good news and a huge thank you from KEF (and me) for the support.
Hope you are all well!
Daphne
www.kenyaeducationfund.org
-
Intrastate Running -- The Update
Friday, March 19, 2010
As you know, if you've been faithfully reading my blog AT ALL (of course you have, right?!?), I ran a crazy-ass team relay across the State of Florida this past November 2009. Many of you kind readers generously donated to our cause -- The Kenya Education Fund. Well, the final tally is in, and below are the results of all our fundraising efforts. I will let Daphne's email do the talking:
Labels: my life, running | 0 comments | |
-
This post is a little overdue, but I'm sure you all know by now I'm not very timely with my posts. At the end of February I flew North to visit my friend Amanda. You met her in this post, and you know where she lives from this post. Because I only had 24 hours to experience Chicago during my last trip in August, I went back for the full treatment!
As soon as I landed, Amanda and I were on the go -- straight downtown to the Willis (Sears) Tower. I've been to the top of the Empire State Building, and now this. How exciting!! The Willis Tower is awesome because recently, the SkyDeck was revamped to include clear glass retractable ledges that allow you to step out over the streets of downtown Chicago. Take a look at what I mean:
Depending on how windy The Windy City gets, "The Ledge" is pulled back closer to the building. I found that out of the information posted on the walls, too, I appreciated the information geared toward elementary kids more! I totally wanted to know what people ate for lunch in the 1940s more than I wanted to read about famous Chicagoans. Sorry, but it's true!! Here are some fun facts for your own learning enjoyment:- The Willis Tower is 1,450 feet (443 meters) high - 1,730 feet (520 meters) including twin antenna towers.
- The Skydeck is 1,353 feet (412 meters) above the ground.
- On a clear day, you can see four states - Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan. Visibility from the Skydeck is approximately 40-50 miles (65 - 80 kilometers).
- The average sway of the building is approximately 6 inches (152 millimeters) from true center.
Then, we headed back to Chez Amanda, which is fabulous, for some down time and settling in before we headed out to Second City for the evening. Second City is an improv theater company, which has generated so much funny over the years. Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Eugene Levy, Bonnie Hunt, Chris Farley, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey -- all alumni of Second City. We saw Studs Terkel's Not Working and we laughed our little tuckus' off!! Audience participation + funny improv comedians/ens = one funny night. I really didn't want the show to end, but maybe that was the Irish coffee and the vodka cranberry talking?
After the show, the girls split off so we could go "dance it out" at The Apartment. And boy did we dance it out, especially after these bad boys:
Mmmmm....Lemon drops!! Warms you up on a cold winter night...and gives you energy to dance, dance all night long!! Which then comes crashing down when you get home at 3 am, and don't wake up until noon? It was snowing when we left the club, and boy, did I miss snow. Florida hasn't been all that Florida-like this winter with temperatures in the low 50s for most of each day, and lows in the high 30s. So, Chicago was not much of a leap, and hey, at least y'all get pretty snowflakes!! Don't mind the whipping, bone-chilling wind, though. Who needs smooth lips and soft hands??
Anyway, I digress. Saturday morning, after a night of debauchery, dancing, and dodging dodgy characters, Amanda and I made breakfast, then headed out to for some classic, clean wintertime fun -- ICE SKATING!!!!OMG! Good thing I practiced (roller) skating at my birthday party this past summer!! It was great to be outside, and you can't beat $5 for all-day skating. Going in one direction, like a school of fish, gets a little old, but you won't catch me complaining.
After ice skating, we warmed up with a couple of burgers and some fries at a local dive in Hyde Park -- Woodlawn Tap. Because our night out and ice skating took so much out of us, and the Olympics were on TV, Amanda and I couched for the rest of the day. We wanted to rest up for my last day in town.
On my last day in town, Amanda and I checked out the Unitarian Universalist "church" in Hyde Park. Amanda attends Lutheran seminary, which encourages experiencing other types of worship. I attend life, which encourages experiencing, well, life. So in we went.....AND an hour later, out we came feeling uninspired and slightly disappointed. We had lots to discuss. Is worship supposed to consist of reciting ones accomplishments, curriculum vitae, or resume?? Perhaps not. Both of us were left desiring more from the experience.
We spent the rest of the day exploring Wicker Park, where we discovered the healing powers of HOT PUDDING. I kid you not. This place, iCream Cafe, is AMAZING. The deal is like this: first you select whether you want ice cream, frozen yogurt, hot pudding, or rice pudding. THEN you decide what flavor you want your base to be. THEN, you decide if you want a COLOR to be added. You could have green vanilla pudding! Then, like Cold Stone, you decide what extras you want to mix in -- Nutella? Raspberries? Graham crackers? I chose raspberry HOT pudding with nutella. OMG. I thought I had made a mistake because I actually wanted chocolate hot pudding with raspberries and nutella, but NO. It was I who was mistaken. Raspberry hot pudding is AMAZING!! And when the Chicago wind is whipping through the streets, hot pudding is the ticket. If you don't burn the inside of your mouth with it's hotness!
Before I departed for Midway, Amanda and I caught some super delicious, super cheap, superhuge pizza at Piece Brewery & Pizzaria where we watched the first two periods of the hot action gold medal hockey game between the US and Canada. I learned of our unfortunate loss, and Canada's glorious win while waiting in the security checkpoint line at the airport terminal.
I had an awesome weekend tooling around town with Amanda and staying at Amanda's fantastic urban pad. Thank you, darling, for showing this gal a great time and for being such a generous hostess. There were no towel animals, but clearly, that did not detract from my enjoyment of the weekend. You did such a great job, I will abuse you for another weekend visit before you leave seminary!!!
Labels: Chicago, my life, travels | 0 comments | |
-
Inspired
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
I'm sitting in my office today and I am in a funk, with a capital "F". My job has got me down. I'm uninspired. I have writer's block. The task is too much. It's too hard. I'm not interested in my project.
B. S. Excuses! I am procrastinating and my attitude about things that I have no power to change is piss poor. During my struggle to find the wherewithal to get back on track in the office despite internet distractions, I see this blog posting on the Vancouver Olympics Facebook fan page. A-MAZING.
Please take a look, and spend a moment to read the entry. It puts not only sport in perspective, but life. In particular, it put my life in perspective. I am failing at showing up and doing the work I am so capable of doing. I am quitting because I am not winning (like most battles for the environment and in the regulatory realm). Ultimately, I am losing because I am not committing to try, and try again. Admitting this, I realize I can, and will, do more. Be more. Because giving up is not an option. Lowering my standards is not an option. Having a shitty attitude, which becomes an easy scapegoat for all my work habit vices, is not an option."I made the commitment to excellence and to having the best races I could, no matter how I felt, how hard it was, or how far behind I might be."
Labels: my life, work | 0 comments | |
-
The 'Son -- Part Quatros (Desert Dessert)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Y'all, we done saved the best for our last day of freedom before work began for the week. Kelly and I headed down to The Cup Cafe at The Hotel Congress for the breakfast we missed out on over the weekend. The floor is made of pennies, and there are empty wine bottle chandeliers decorating the ceiling. Breakfast was good, but I have to say, rather unremarkable. Maybe I needed a good hike in before eating, like the Tohono Chul Tea Room.
Regardless, breakfast geared us up for an amazing day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Even the drive out there is beautiful. We passed over the Tucson Mountains on the West side of the city to get to the remarkable museum/zoo. Everything you see at this place is native, in native habitat. We saw everything from coyotes, to fish, to birds of prey, to javelinas. Javelinas became Kelly's personal obsession -- she had to see one before we left Tucson. Javelinas look a lot like a cross between a rat and a pig, but they are known as peccaries. Similar, yet different. They are very cute, but they can smell a little skunk-like. Always a plus, right? ;-)
So, not only were the animals and plants very cool to see, but so were the friggin' landscape views from the museum grounds.
Coyote statue
Heeey, Javelinas! I see two, do you?
In the evening, when we arrived back at the Westward Look Resort, the work week began with workshop registration and an evening reception. The rest of my co-workers arrived somewhere between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon. Thus began 4 days of discussing how U.S. Fish & Wildlife and NOAA Fisheries Service could better serve endangered and threatened species through the tools and partnerships available. There were many ups and downs during the week, with some portions of the week more informative than others. It all illustrated what a bureaucracy I work for, but also what amazingly passionate people work for our federal conservation agencies, as well. There are many good people out there, doing good work for our shared natural resources.
On Friday, Kelly and I had one last meal in the Gold Room of the Westward Look Resort, before grabbing the shuttle to the airport for our afternoon flight. I finally experienced the relaxing comfort of the uber-massage chair available in the resort lobby. The thing pounds all your body's muscles into submission -- including the ones in your booty -- and it feels so good!!
Too bad the relaxation did not get us home. At our intended departure time, the gate agent for American Airlines informed us that our plane was broken. We would not be going home Friday. Fortunately, our rooms at The Holiday Inn Palo Verde were comped by the airline, and we were given $10 vouchers for food. C'est la vie, non? Kelly, fellow co-worker Kyle, and I passed a rather enjoyable evening at the bar in the hotel, including a conversation with a gem dealer in town for the largest gem show. He had a body guard because he was carrying some rather valuable raw black opal. He also was hyping tungsten, bionic bands (for strength and balance), and Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior (JCOLAS). His jewelry designs are all based on JSOLAS -- very beautiful, but maybe not in need of so much explanation through preaching and scripture from the designer/salesman. He tried to get Kelly to buy into his bionic band pyramid scheme, as well. Interesting night...that led to a thankfully anticlimactic morning at the Tucson Airport. Our flight took off on time and without a hitch. I even got moved from the last row in the last seat (right next to the jet engine) to a window seat forward of the wing. Thank goodness for small blessings. And thank goodness I am home. It was time to get back to my own bed and familiar haunts.No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel
until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.
~Lin Yutang
Labels: my life, travels, Tucson | 0 comments | |
-
The 'Son -- Part Tres (Earthy Extravaganza)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sunday. By far the best day in The 'Son. Even with an early AM wake-up call from Gaston, the volunteer guide at Catalina State Park...
Gaston warned me the evening before that the guided hike he leads was tentative, and subject to change because of participation, weather, etc. As of Saturday, there were enough participants, but the road leading into the park had washed out because of all the rain (in the DESERT). Gaston would let me know in the morning if the hike was on. "I call you, we hike. No call, no hike" (said in a French-Canadian accent).
Thankfully, Gaston called. The hike was on, but the road still had yet to be cleared completely. We would find out on arrival whether we could park at the ultimate parking lot and do a great hike, or park by de booth, and go on a less interesting hike. So, we rallied, dressed, and fueled up with protein bars
At 8:30 AM, Kelly and I arrived at de booth at the entrance to the park and met up with Gaston, and fellow hiker, Debbie. We said our hellos, then climbed back in our cars to check out the road leading to the ultimate parking lot. The dude in the bulldozer that was clearing the entrance road told us that other passenger cars were getting through the HUGE puddle/lake covering the road, as long as they went slowly and without stopping. When Gaston, Debbie, Kelly, and I reached the ultimate parking, we all agreed that the HUGE puddle-lake was a bit deeper than any of us was truly comfortable. We made it though, and we got to go on one heck of a GREAT hike through the cacti to a waterfall that only appears every 3 or 4 years when the rainfall conditions are just right. Below are just some of the pics I snapped on our 2 and half hour trek on and off designated trails in the park.
Aren't the saguaro (sa-gwar-oh) cacti so neat? I heard that they don't grow their first "arm" until they are about 50 years old. Crazy! And the holes are from birds that burrow in with their beaks, and make a nest in the holes. Gaston was pretty funny throughout the hike, too. He seemed very concerned about making any sort of water crossings. [He also made a comment about crossing town that made it seem as if that sort of crossing was nearly unbearable, too.] He had a couple of small streams of runoff to cross, but nothing that would cause too much trauma if you fell in. At least, no raging rapids would carry you off downstream -- you would just get wet. GASP!
Our hike took us on a 6-7 miles long loop through the park, and left us quite hungry. Just a short drive away was brunch salvation at the Tohono Chul Park and Tea Room. I don't know if our omlettes tasted so good because we were so hungry and in need of a rest after our hike, or if they really were that out of control amazing. We followed up our omlettes with apple pistachio strudel. It was not as amazing because it was not heated (and the a la mode was not on the side). HA! Really, it should have been heated. It was still pretty good, though.
The gardens at Tohono Chul left a little to be desired, simply because we just hiked through the amazing vistas of Catalina State Park. There was no comparison.
Kelly, succumbing to the desert.
The Tohono Chul Park was a waypoint before our afternoon horseback ride at Pusch Ridge Stables. I'll be honest; I was little nervous for my first horseback ride...EVER. Who cares if these are trail horses? They are bored, and could go rogue at any point!
Fortunately, my sunset ride through the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains was not marred by Sugar galloping off with me, a novice rider, clinging for dear life to my saddle. I did have to be wary of Sugar trying to sneak eats on the trail -- we were warned not to let our horses eat. Sugar was a sneaky little thang, though, and got away with snagging some grass snacks quite a few times during our loping ride through the foothills. It was a little difficult snapping pics while on horseback, but I managed a few. And when I dismounted, I was surprised by how sore my knees were from my feet being locked into the stirrups.
What a day!!! Beautiful vistas, new experiences, and perfect weather. What better, and more appropriate way to wrap up the day than with baby back ribs at the rapid fire western grill -- Hifalutin!?! And man, did those ribs taste good!! I slept like a freakin' baby, and there was still 3/4 of another day of freedom to go before work responsibilities would begin. This...was a good day.
Labels: my life, travels, Tucson | 0 comments | |
-
The 'Son -- Part Dos
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Morning. Mountain time. Saturday. Kelly and I are ready to hit the town. Find out what this place is all about. I was in Phoenix last January ('09) for a more athletic diversion, and here I am in Tucson -- ready to gallivant, without the sweat.
We hit a local farmer's market, and score a couple of yummy finds. Kelly gets some spiced up teas from a vendor, and we both take advantage of a 4 for 15 deal on dried fruits and spiced pecans from Locally Arizona. The dried apples taste like pie, and the Kentucky Bourbon BBQ Pecans are smoky and spicy and freakin' delicious. These items keep me sustained through the work portion of my time in Tucson.
Tins of tea available at the St. Philip's Plaza Farmer's Market
The farmer's market at St. Philip's Plaza was a pretty quick in-and-out affair, so we head to downtown Tucson in search of breakfast. We figure we'll check out Dillinger Days Festival at The Hotel Congress -- the infamous hotel where Public Enemy No. 1, John Dillinger, was finally captured.
The Hotel Congress has a great restaurant called The Cup Cafe, where we intended on noshing. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea. Kelly and I traveled on, in a quest to find nourishment in the form of eggs, bacon, and coffee. The only way to start the day off right.
Downtown Tucson is...how to say?...D-E-A-D. I surprisingly did not see one tumbleweed roll down a single one of the empty streets. A center of banking and corporate offices, the downtown area has nothing much to offer even an intrepid visitor. An oasis among the lonely streets was Scooter's Cafe -- which markets itself with caffeine, protein, and sugar. Perfect! It is adjacent to the Downtown Visitor's Center on S Church Avenue. Yummy coffee, and even yummier bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwiches after 10 AM!
After fueling up, we walked through the courtyard plaza of the historic courthouse, past the Tucson Museum of Art, and over to the galleries of the Old Town Artisans.
The shops of The Old Town Artisans have a lot of great offerings from local ceramics, glass, and jewelry artists. Kelly and I spent quite a bit of time (and maybe even cash) at the shops here before heading up to the 4th Avenue Shopping District, which has a funkier vibe to it. We cruised around here a bit, and there are lots of dining options, and some interesting shops. Maybe we were tired from our morning about town. Maybe the shops really were uninspiring. Who knows? But were we still in Tucson when we saw The Hut?
Can you feel the Polynesian drums beating??
Kelly and I returned to 4th Avenue later in the day for dinner at La Indita. Authentic Mexican food at its finest, even though they ran out of their signature flan. By 8 PM. Whatevs, people. We had a drag show to get to by 9 PM. At the scary, non-descript, windowless building right. next. door.
Viva La Divas is hosted by "The Tallest White Drag Queen in Captivity" -- Janee Starr. She, and her supporting castmate, China, were fantastic. Botoxed upperlip queen, Tori Steele, not so much. Especially when she walked out in a feather-skirted ice-skating costume. I tell ya, she freaked me sh*t out. For serious. The show was so much fun, though. Something that made me feel more like a local, and less like a tourist. I had not even scratched the surface of what Tucson has to offer, though. Check out Part Tres y Part Quatro, which are up next, for more about the beauty and wonder of the Catalina Mountains and desert surrounding Tuscon....
Labels: my life, travels, Tucson | 0 comments | |
-
So there we were, Kelly and I. Out West early before a work-sanctioned workshop. In the Tucson airport via Dallas-Ft. Worth. A seemless cross-country flight. No babies crying. No real turbulence. No aggressive seatmates hogging the armrest. And rain. In the desert. RAIN. Where are we? Apparently, we missed the hurricane-force gusts of wind the previous night -- with threats of tornadoes touching down. And according to our car rental agent, with the freakish weather, there's no telling what the next day would bring.
Fortunately, our GPS brought us safely to our accomodations -- The Westward Look Resort -- on the North side of the 'Son. It is the self-touted "Soul of the Southwest". I fear for the soul of the SW. I think it may have traded itself to the Devil -- the resort is surrounded by subdivisions and strip malls. It is also surrounded by this:
The Catalina Mountains overlook the firepit at the resort.
When Kelly and I arrived at the resort it was, of course, dark out, so we didn't see the mountain vistas or the powerlines or the houses right next to the property. Regardless of these small details, the resort is absolutely lovely. The lobby has a fireplace and an old adobe mission feel to it.
After we settled into our room, Kelly and I headed to Wildflower, which provided us with a frickin' amazing taste experience. We split the asparagus goat cheese bruschetta appetizer, and washed it down with some delicioso cocktails. Try the Blood Orange Margarita or the Black Rose. You won't be disappointed. For dinner I had the perfectly-portioned Sweet Potato Marscarpone Tortelli. Writing the name of the entree has me jonesing for more! It was so fantastic!! And because we simply could not resist -- Kelly and I split the uber-scrumptious Chocolate Sin Bars. The bars tasted exactly as they sound -- sinful, chocolaty, and decadent. What more could my sweet tooth ask for?! Absolutely nothing.
Labels: my life, travels, Tucson | 0 comments | |
Posts
