Moving Day - Part I

I know it's a big surprise but the movers will be here between 4:30PM - 5:30PM and I am ready now (2:00PM)!!! My Nana says that I am progressing with my moves! Since 2001 I have moved 10 times.

I started packing on Thursday and with the help of Sara on Sunday and yesterday I was able to get done quicker. I took a different approach on packing this time. Large black utility bags. And for my garments on hangers I laid them on painters tarp and rolled them up. I think it will be like Christmas unpacking b/c most of my stuff is in trash bags so it will be a surprise every time I unpack! - Trying to look at the positive.
The last move when my friends came to get me in Detroit I wasn't all the way packed and that has been the case for all of my moves! However, I am posting this picture - proof that everything is packed! I don't think the movers are lieniant than my family and friends.

Goodbye 428 W Belden...

Packing again....yuck!

It's Sunday night and I don't have to fly anywhere tomorrow! I am in Chicago this week b/c I am moving into my new apartment on Wednesday. Thank God, I listed to my mom and got movers...it will make life much easier.. I was excited to go to the grocery store today because I never get to do that. I only bought cereal and sandwich stuff b/c I am moving; however, I realized that my bowls and silverware are packed! Opps, I will be purchasin plastic stuff to get me by. Believe it or not, I have most of my stuff packed. I did the trash bag thing. Also, I purchased painters tarp laid my clothes on hangers and wrapped then in those (clever idea I stole from a friend). I only have about 3 or 4 more hours of packing and cleaning so I think I am ahead of schedule. One of my friends came and packed up the kitchen stuff so I totally am thankful for that! My room is finally clean; however, that is because everything is in boxes.

Overall it was a good weekend. I went to a birthday for my friend John. We have been good friends since our Lasalle Michigan days. We went to sushi for dinner (about 15 of us) and then went out afterwards. I hung out with the girls on Saturday. We went to our favorite brunch spot and had some mimosas. To finish up the weekend I just went to a friends to watch the Tigers game b/c I don't have a tv at this point (room mate already moved out and she had the tv) and unfortunately the Tigers lost. The Pistons won though, so I guess one can not have everything.

I also signed up for another 5K, so I will be running for that. It is called Run for the Zoo and we will be running to the Lincoln Park Zoo. I have friends in the race so it will be a good time.

I am off to bed, finally I will get a good nights sleep on a Sunday night.....

MIichigan Weekend Re-Cap

On Friday my weekend started with my dad coming to Detroit to pick me up. It was nice to spend some time with him. However, on the way home, I did hear about how much he hates the driving in Detroit! He is def not a city guy - he seemed to calm down once we got to Howell and things went back to two lanes:-) Friday night my family and I grilled out and watched the Tigers. It was nice to sit on the deck and hang out with my family (my aunt and uncle were over as well).

Sat morning my mom, sis and I went to get our nails done and pedicures! It was relaxing and well deserved.

Saturday afternoon my sister, dad and I went fishing ($15 later I had a fishing license in the morning) It was great to be out in the boat on the lake. It is nice to get outside of the city sometimes. Thank god my sister went. She had to back up the boat into the launch while my dad took care of unloading it. I don't think that I could do that at all! She is good about stuff like that. We are soo opposite!


The first hour I caught nothing! (My sis and I decided to try out the 80's polarized sunglasses that my dad keeps in his boat for his guests) We were fishing for bass so there was no worm and no bobber so I had to do some work! My dad gave me what I call a "crap" bait. He and my sister were using a "jerk" bait (which has two hooks) I finally got him to put one of those on my pole and I got my first fish within 15 minutes of that. Come to find out, he didn't give me that bait b/c it has two hooks which he thought I may cause an accident and hook someone:-)


On Saturday night I took my grandparents out to dinner. It was so nice to spend time with them. I wish I could see them more. I took them out to dinner and then we went to see my cousin. Saturday night I hung out with the girls which is always nice to catch up.

I can't believe how fast the weekend went. On Sunday I went to church and saw my mom and sister performer in their singing group. They are so blessed with music. ( My dad and I drew the short end of the stick with that talent) Sometimes I think God would even appreciate me lip syncing:-) Davin picked me up at my parents and we went back to the "D" b/c I was flying out of there Monday morning.

Sunday came and went to fast! Before I knew it I was at the airport on Monday (greeted by a delayed flight)! That's how things go I guess. I miss home alot and still question myself on the decision I made to move home. But, I am really excited to go back to Chicago. This weekend I have to pack b/c I moved into my new apartment next week (I have not packed at all and if you know me - you know I should have really started a month ago) However, I am prepared with movers (Thanks to my mother) so they can figure out the big stuff.

Now, I just hope the week goes by fast so I can actually get stuff done and home!!

Run to Wrigley

I decided to run in my first 5-K (3.1 miles) about 5 weeks ago. Today was the race and it went really well. The race was called "Run to Wrigely". The course started in Wrigleyville (Home of the Chicago Cubs) and went through out the streets of Lakeview. It ended at Wrigley Field's ground level concourse, finishing under the famed Wrigley Field marquee.

I made sure I got some good sleep since this was my first race. The race started at 8AM. I went and picked up my friend Chuck around 645 so we could get our registration packets. Luckily he has done these things before so he was able to answer my questions and help me get situated with my chip. (The chip goes on your shoe and tracks your time.) It was soooo cold this morning, so I layered up. I ended up taking off my jacket around a mile in a half b/c I guess it wasn't as cold as I thought. The forecast called for snow and rain which there was none so that was in our favor!

My goal was to 1) not walk and 2) finish with a pace of under 10min/mile. So, I made my goal, I didn't walk and I had a 9:44mile pace. Overall, the race was really fun. Running through a different neighborhood was great. (I am not able to download photos from my camera but when I do I will be posting them)

I am now looking for another race to run in May or June. I have been told that this can be addicting and I am excited about another race.

The rest of the weekend was fun. I went to the Tigers game (they played the White Sox in Chicago). The game was fun, but it was cold and rainy! (Not baseball weather)

This week is back to Detroit for me. Flight is at 7AM. Hooray...

One Bronco plus one Chip plus AMS and LHR = Trouble

My tickets are booked! I will be traveling to Amsterdam and England in August with Sara. We will be flying into Amsterdam and staying there for 3 days, then we will be flying to London and staying there for 3 days, and then we will end the trip spending the last 3 days in a suburb of London with her family (suburb is similar to Cape Cod). We will be staying at hostels, with her family, and I will be using my free Marriott stays!

I have never been to Europe so I am getting really excited. I haven’t been on a week vacation trip since October 2006, so I am due. I was able to use my airline miles with some additional cost, but I saved $600 by using my points, so I am happy about that!

Opening Day!

Yesterday marked the opening day for the 2008 baseball season! It was a sad day at Comerica Park as the Tigers started off the season with a loss to the KC Royals. Can’t say much for the cubbies either because they also lost yesterday to the Brewers.

It should be a good season for the Tigers so hopefully I will make it to a few games. I also need to attend a Cubs game this year.

Braves Game - ATL
My company held an outing for the Braves opener. It was a little chilly in ATL but I was still pumped to go to a game on opening day (even if it was a National League team). We tailgated in the parking lot. The stadium is nice and the it has a great view of the city.

Some of my co-workers from a different project decided to come along b/c we had some extra tickets. They drove their rental car and were a little late to the game but they found a spot in a what was a shady area. They parked on someone’s lawn for $10 and finally made it by the 3rd inning. About the bottom of the 7th we were ready to go home. I decided to hitch a ride back with them. We walked to the place where the car was parked and it was gone! We saw the tracks. So we thought well the car was stolen. Then this lady came from across the street and told us she saw the car get towed and she would give us a ride to the towing company for $10. (wow how nice of her…lol) By the grace of god (and to my belief that everything happens for a reason) there was one of my co-workers on my team who was walking behind us (she lives around the area) and she took us to the towing company. So, once we got to the towing company (at this time its about 10:00PM we waited an additional hour to have Avis Rental fax a release. It turned into a big mess and well we couldn’t get the car back. (Additional manager approval was needed from AVIS) So, we had to call my co-worker AGAIN to have her come and pick us up to take us downtown. The car was eventually picked up today at 3PM. By the way, during the wait time at the towing company Andrew managed to get a free sign from the towing company as seen in the pictures.

Side note: The co-worker with the rented car is from Ireland. This was his first baseball game. He said by the end of the night that he would rather watch hockey.

So based on the situation we realized it was a scam that involved 3 parties. 1) owner of the house where the car was parked on the lawn, 2) lady across the street who “happened” to see the car getting towed and 3) the tow company. Based on the economics this was a good scam 1) $10 to park 2) $10 to get a ride from random lady (btw, she gave 3 other people rides that night) and 2) $125 to get the car back.

The night definitely made for a story:
o Tickets to the Braves game: $0
o Parking on random lawn: $10
o Sign from the towing company: $10
o Getting the car out of the towing lot: $125
o The look on our faces when we realized the car was gone and we had to wait at this random place in a shady area: Priceless!