Chirp

Tonight my house was full of chirping noises. No, it wasn't full of birds, and thank God because due to Alfred Hitchcock's movie, The Birds, that is my ultimate nightmare. My entire family spent 20 minutes trying to follow the chirps all throughout the house to locate every last smoke detector with a dying battery. Our landlord is very safety conscious so we have what seemed like 50.

After we located them all, changed all the batteries and reinstalled all of them the chirping began again. One by one all of the "fixed" smoke detectors started singing to us one more time. Instead of messing with it tonight, we pulled them all out and ripped out all the new batteries so we could actually get some sleep because it wasn't just the batteries, the entire unit failed on all of the smoke detectors in the house...at the same time.

So after some online research (courtesy of the Seattle Fire Department) here is my public service announcement: don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detector every year and replace the entire thing every 10 years or sooner.

I guess I know what I will be buying tomorrow!

Holiday Party

Friday night I was invited to a neighbors house warming/holiday party. I was really excited to get to know our new neighbors better and maybe meet more people on our street, but I was also a little nervous becaue I would have to go by myself as JJ was in New England for the game. No one likes to go to parties alone, but I planned on just staying for an hour or so to make an appearance and be polite. That didn't happen.

Luckily, our new neighbors are our age and ironically went to Arizona State so we had plenty to talk about. They also invited a lot of their coworkers (also around our age) so it wasn't as awkward as I had previously thought.

During a conversation with a guy (who may or may not play for the other team, not that there's anything wrong with that, but it might explain what happened next) the topic of how I ended up in Charlotte came up. I don't normally tell people about JJ's job unless asked directly what he does for a living. I don't want to lie or be awkward or anything so I feel like I have to share at that point. As soon as I tell him, he squeals so loudly that the entire party stops chatting and looks at him. He then takes that opportunity to make a group announcement about what my husband does for a living. So I have 50 people staring at me waiting to see what happens next. At this point I am bright red and starting to sweat because of all the people staring at me. No one wants to be the center of attention in a room full of strangers. Luckily another girl (who is probably quite comfortable being the center of attention in all situations) uses the silence as her chance to announce that she will be doing shots with whoever would like to join, so the focus shifted back off me, Good job drunk girl!

Other than that, the party was fun. Even though I intended to only stay or an hour I ended up staying till midnight talking with our across the street neighbors and their realtor. They gave me tons of information and recommendations on what to do in the area. I am most excited about going to The Dog Bar. Its a combination dog park and bar. Barney will love it and we can meet all the other crazy dog people in the area.

Cutest Dog in the World

Not to brag or anything, but we have the most adorable dog ever. And I have the evidence to prove it. Just take a look...

Just another walk in the park

Afternoon nap on the couch

Catching up on "The Dog Whisperer", his favorite show

Circus dog begging for food

Nap time for both my boys

Couldn't quite make it all the way up on the bed

Don't worry, there will be plenty more photo opportunities coming up.

Party in the NYC

I just got back from a FABULOUS trip to NYC with my sister. We were there for 6 days and had just the right combination of cheesy touristy activities and "real" New Yorker activities. I spent quite a bit of time before we left researching and planning our trip and it really paid off. We fit in so many things and enjoyed every last one. So for anyone who plans on taking a trip to the city anytime soon, let me share our perfect (if I do say so myself) itinerary for getting the ultimate New York experience.

**A special thanks to Phil for letting us use his midtown apartment and making this all possible and affordable!!

Day 1

We got to NYC late afternoon the Friday after Thanksgiving. Black Friday. I hadn't really put two and two together when we decided to wander around midtown and the Times Square area (which is a huge shopping area). We went to Macy's to enjoy all the Christmas decorations and window displays. It was wall to wall people with a line to even go up the escalator. That was a bit too much to handle, so we continued on an wandered up Broadway enjoy the sights and sounds. After we had our fill of the Black Friday crowds we met up with Bethany one of my good friends from college at La Paella, an awesome tapas bar on 9th Street. After catching up and enjoying a pitcher of sangria we headed out to a wine bar and then to a Texas style bar, Rodeo.

Day 2

During the course of my research I spent a lot of time on Trip Advisor and the number one recommended NYC activity was a walking tour with Real New York Tours. The tour was amazing! We must have walked like 10 miles all over the city. Keep in mind, I was in a boot for our whole trip because of my stress fracture. But that didn't stop us! We started out in midtown and then took the subway up to Central Park and explored The Dakota and Strawberry Fields (where John Lennon was killed and the memorial dedicated to him in the Park). We took the subway back down to Greenwich Village had lunch at Famous Joe's Pizza (where they filmed Spiderman), and wandered around SoHo. Next we headed over to the best smelling part of the city, Little Italy. You could smell the garlic as soon as we turned the corner. Heavenly. One more turn and we entered one of the worst smelling parts of the city, Chinatown. It smelled like dirty feet mixed with fish. Next, we headed to the World Trade Center site and visited St. Peter's Church, where the recovery efforts were based during 9/11. It was incredibly moving to see the memorials and pictures from that time. If you go to NYC, it is a must see. We also went to Wall Street which in all honesty looks a bit Disneyish. We were there at night so there wasn't the normal business crowds and the way they were lit made it look a little fake. The tour ended at the South Street Seaport and Carolyn and I ate at The Paris Tavern. The tour guide was great at mixing historical sites with pop culture sites and had lots of stories to share. If you were only in NYC for one day, I would highly recommend doing this tour because you see everything and really get a sense of the city.

Day 3

Game Day! The Panthers' game was the original reason for this trip so we hopped the train and headed out to New Jersey. We met JJ's Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Short Hills and had a fabulous breakfast and tour of their neighborhood to admire the beautiful, historic houses. Next in true game day fashion, we left for the stadium and had the ultimate gourmet tailgate where we were joined by Bethany (she wrote a much better account of our day and included pictures so I'm going to cheat and link to her blog). Unfortunately the Jets and the Panthers played what might the most boring game in NFL history. Just to prove my point, the man in front of us fell asleep for the majority of the third quarter. At one point I actually considered poking him to make sure he was still alive. A fan trying to get out of his row saved me the trouble and woke him up on her way to grab her 4th or 5th beer. Regardless of the game, we still enjoyed the experience at the Meadowlands.

Day 4

Because it was a rainy day and we were still recovering from the non-stop action of the past few days, we took it easy on Monday. A little light shopping at Macy's, getting my phone fixed at Verizon, and lunch at Pret a Manger. Next a visit to the New York Public Library to admire the beautiful architecture and...visit the site of the wedding from Sex and the City! We also got tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the ultimate New York City holiday experience! I was feeling pretty fancy, so I had a glass of champagne while we waited for it to start. The show was a blast and I am so glad I talked Carolyn into seeing it! She was only hesitant because she didn't really know what it was all about. (Interesting side note, our tour guide from Saturday is married to a Rockette!) After the show, we met up with Bethany and Cori in Little Italy at a restaurant our tour guide had recommended. Da Nico was a great place for dinner, but apparently we were there a little too long because the waiter came over and told us they were ready to close and were just waiting on us to leave, haha! Wait...this is NYC! I thought everything was open late! We continued our evening at Ferrara, also in Little Italy, and enjoyed amazing Italian desserts and coffees. I wish I could go back for another cannoli! Great food and catching up with old friends is a fantastic was to spend an evening.

Day 5

Our friend from high school Kat, who is finishing up at Fordham University, joined us for the day. We met downtown and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to explore one of the other. boroughs. According to my research you can't go to Brooklyn without eating at Grimaldi's, the best pizza in New York, and then getting ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, right on the water. Both were quite good and worth the 25 minute walk across the bridge. While we were there, we also wandered around The River Cafe, wich had a beautiful garden and amazing views of the Manhattan skyline if you aren't in the mood for pizza when you go. After walking back across the bridge, we went to the home of the Food Network, Chelsea Market! Being a foodie and huge fan of all cooking shows, I was really excited and it did not disappoint! I probably could have spent the entire day there, eating my way through all the different gourmet food stores. After some window shopping, we stopped for wine and cheese at The Green Table. Next up for the evening was a true New York experience on Broadway. We saw In the Heights, winner of many awards, at Richard Rodgers theatre. I have seen a few Broadway shows and this might be my new favorite. It was really fun and had great music, I would highly recommend it!

Day 6

What would a trip to New York be without a day at a museum? We spent the morning at The Met enjoying the more art than I knew what to do with. My favorite part was the European decorative arts displays, which were basically rooms from houses or hotels set up to look just like they did hundreds of years ago. It made you feel like you were transported back in time to see how they lived. Amazing! Carolyn really enjoyed the 19th century Italian paintings section, because she has spent a lot of time studying them in her art history classes. We worked up quite an appetite wandering the museum and headed to Alice's Tea Cup for a late lunch/afternoon tea. What a blast! I wish they had one in Charlotte because afternoon tea is now my favorite meal of the day. That night we met up with Bethany one last time to celebrate her birthday with her coworkers at The Wharf. A good time was had by all.

So blessed to be fortunate enough to see old friends, spend quality time with my sis, and explore one of the greatest cities in the world. Can't wait to go back!

Pictures to come!!

In All Things Give Thanks

There was an interesting editorial in the New York Times today. It was a Thanksgiving toast about being thankful for the unpredictability in our lives, appreciating the fact that we cannot plan out every detail.

For all the control freaks out there, that is a tough pill to swallow. We often think that we know best, and our way is the only way. But I have found that some of the best moments in my life are things that couldn't have gone better than if I had orchestrated every last detail. Sometimes we just have to trust in the process and trust that there is someone else who knows better. Who knows all things and all people. Who loves us and wants what is best for us.

I feel that this especially true for us with JJ's job. We often feel like the uncertainty is unbearable, but it is the uncertainty that makes our lives so exciting. We have lived in places that we would have never even visited otherwise (i mean really, who would have thought we would end up in the Frozen Tundra for 6 months??). Been able to explore different parts of the country and learn new cultures (yes, even though it is part of the US, the South has its own culture). Meet new friends and keep in touch with old friends (because it seems that everyone ends up on the east coast).

Thanksgiving can be seen as a benchmark in our lives. We can see where we've come from, where we are and where we're going just by looking around the table at Thanksgiving dinner. I know this first hand by just looking back at my recent Thanksgiving dinners.

This year we are in Charlotte, NC far away from family and close friends celebrating our first Thanksgiving as newlyweds with new friends. Last year, we were in Green Bay, WI celebrating our engagement with good friends that felt more like family. The years before that we celebrated apart, me in Phoenix, AZ with family and lifelong friends and JJ wherever the football season took him, usually South Bend, IN.

We have come a long way and ended up in a place that we never could have predicted. And as scary and stressful as the changes were at times, I wouldn't change anything. We are happy, healthy, and loved. We have wonderful families, faithful friends, and the best puppy in the world. Who could ask for more?

I just wonder what state we will celebrate in next year...

Gimp

I have been having a hard time writing over the last week. Even though we've been busy nothing seems to come to mind when I sit down to write. So frustrating, until I figured out what the problem is. I usually "pre-write" my blog in my head as I'm running and I haven't gone running since the half marathon.

I don't run with an ipod, or friends or even Barney. It's too distracting. I really love having that time to clear my head and gather my thoughts. It is really the best part of my day because I feel so much better after I run, even when my body is hurting. I think JJ has started to notice how much easier I am to get along with I am on days I get in a good workout.

Originally I had planned to take a break from running after the race to let my body recover fully. I was really excited about 2 weeks of yoga and the elliptical machine at the YMCA. Well, I will be getting my 2 week break, but I won't be at the Y or the yoga studio. I will be hobbling around the house on crutches due to a self-diagnosed stress fracture. Yes, self diagnosed. Why would I go to all the hassle of visiting the doctor when I have WebMD at my finger tips and JJ's access to the Panther's medical equipment?

According to my research, stress fractures are quite common in female athletes (mainly distance runners, due to the repetitive motion over extended periods of time) who have recently had a sudden, significant increase in their activity level. I'd say a half marathon counts as a sudden significant increase in my activity level. It also said that most stress fractures are not detected on x-rays and are usually diagnosed based on patient exercise history. Like I said...who needs a doctor??

I made the mistake of sharing my self diagnosis with my father who was not impressed. Silly dad, he just doesn't understand. I did reassure him that I was going to use the crutches for a week and then if it was still hurting I would go to the doctor for a real diagnosis.

Well, this is day 6...

Winner

After almost 8 weeks of training, Saturday was finally race day. I had been excited/anxious all week, so I was ready to go. Allison came into town the night before and we had fun carbo loading with a pasta dinner. Saturday morning we were up at 6 and on the road at 6:45. The weather had been beautiful all week so we were hoping that it would continue for the race. It did!

Excited and smiling before the race!

I don't think I ever realized how hilly Charlotte is. I found out the hard way once the race started. I swear we ran uphill for the first 6 miles. After that, it seemed to get better and I got a second wind around mile 7. Maybe it was the Powerade at the last water station, or the fact that we had passed the half way mark.

JJ came out to support us at Mile 3 and took a few action shots so we would have proof that we actually did this. It was really nice to have him see what I had been spending so much time training for. And it was also nice to switch roles and have him in the cheering section for a change!

Other things I liked about the race: running with a buddy, beautiful weather, scenic course, feeling like a rockstar. Things I did not like about the race: spitters, never ending hills, roadkill, the annoying peppy girls we ended up running with most of the time (but finally beat).

Around Mile 12 I decided to slow down a bit, enjoy the scenery and take it all in. FALSE. I had no choice but to slow down because I thought I was going to die. All those hills finally got to me. But, even with the slow down at the end, I finished right around my goal of 10 minute mile pace. In all honesty, the goal was just to finish, but about half way through the training I figured out a pace I thought I could keep up.

Proud finishers with our medals

As hard as it was during the last bit, I started thinking about doing another one about 20 minutes after I finished. Maybe the Rock and Roll Half in Phoenix this January??? I'll see if I can convince someone to run with me, even if its just for a few miles.

More pictures to come!!

Home Sweet Home

I have been lucky enough to take advantage of many of JJ's awesome away game locations this season. This trip to Phoenix was the third away game I have been able to attend, and I took full advantage of the opportunity. I got to Phoenix on Wednesday to spend time with the fam.

When my parents picked me up from the airport I learned that Carolyn had the flu and unfortunately would not be joining us until she got better. Actually, my dad banned her from the house. It sounds a little harsh, but with my mom's upcoming surgery no one wanted to take any chances. So she had to miss out on our Wednesday night cooking class at Sur la Table.

Thursday I went for a 6 mile run along the canal, escorted my my father on a bike. Not only did he carry my water, he was full of monologues (stories) to keep me entertained and helpful tips on running...gee thanks Dad! We also hiked North Mountain that day. One of my favorite Phoenix activities. We also had a wine and cheese evening at JJ's parents house.

Friday we had a dinner party at JJ's parents house with JJ, because the team came in day early to adjust to the time change. We got to see one of JJ's best friends, Mike, and Carolyn because she was feeling better. Saturday was full of shopping with my mom and then another family dinner with the Jansens and the Blisses. Lots of family time.

The best part of the weekend was game day and an awesome win over the Cardinals. What an impressive stadium too. I had never seen it and although I mentioned previously how impressive Cowboys Stadium was, I think University of Phoenix is a little better. Don't tell Jerry I said so.

This post is a little late, but better late than never!

Halloween: Part 2

One of JJ's teammates threw a Halloween party for the team at a bowling alley downtown and we had so much fun. I was really impressed with the costumes the everyone came up with! My favorites included Dog the Bounty Hunter and wife Beth, Captain Jack Sparrow (seriously, he looked exactly like Johnny Depp, eye liner and all), and a cheesy American tourist (complete with a Hawaiian shirt, visor, huge camera, and socks with sandals). Loved it!

JJ and I went as Dwight and Angela from The Office. Unfortunately, a lot of the guys on the team don't watch the show because we were asked if we were A) Mormons, B) Nerds, or C) Jehovah's Witnesses. The correct answer was D) None of the Above. Maybe next year we will pick something more widely known!

Daily Dose of Crazy

It was a weird morning.

Before I headed out to the game, I took Barney for a walk to the dog park. I wanted to make sure he got plenty of exercise because he was going to be inside most of the day while we were at the stadium. There were about 20 other dogs and owners when we got there. Barney is a bit of a baby sometimes when it comes to new situations so it took him a while to make new friends. He kind of looked like the new kid on the first day of school.

I am minding my own business, petting the dogs that come up to me and watching Barney play. This woman wanders over and asks where I got my sunglasses. I honestly didn't know where they are from because I stole them from my mom when we moved. So I told her they were from Target, which is where I buy everything else I own. The rest of the conversation goes something like this:

Crazy lady: "Those are my glasses!"

Me: "Umm...what?"

Crazy lady: "Did you find those glasses on the trail? I lost mine last week. Those are mine. I have to wear polarized sunglasses or else I squint." (as she squints her eyes at me)

Me: "No, sorry. These are mine."

Crazy lady: "Yes they are, let me see them!" (As she comes next to me to get a closer look)

Me: "No, I got these in Phoenix and I wouldn't wear something I found on the trail."

Crazy lady: (after close scrutiny) "Oh now I know they are yours because mine were missing a crystal on the side."

Me: "Umm...yea. I need to go get my dog now. Its time to leave."

Just when I thought I was done dealing with weirdos, I came across a man on the nature trail. The nature trail looks just like it sounds. It is a path through the woods, with thousands of trees all around. You would think that, if you happened to need to use the bathroom while on the trail, there would be plenty of options in the woods that offer privacy and convenience. But, no. As I turn a corner I notice a man with his back to me and a small dog at his feet. With all the trees available, this man has chosen to pee on the trail marker sign right next to the path. Awesome. Either he finished or heard us coming, but he zipped up and turned around right as we were trying to scoot past him. Of course Barney decides he needs to say hi to the little dog and tries to pull me in the direction. As I'm struggling with the leash, this man tries to strike up a conversation with me about how big Barney is. Seriously buddy?! Who would want to talk to you after you got done peeing on the trail?! Gross. I quickly moved past them and headed home.

Who would have thought that such a beautiful Sunday morning would bring out the crazies? I guess all the normal people were in church...

Halloween: Part 1

Our Halloween celebrations started off with a bang. On Friday night we went to a costume party hosted by one of the Panthers video guys and his wife. The party was at an awesome 80's bar called The Breakfast Club and both the music and decor were authentic.

As for costumes...JJ went as Dwight Schrute from the NBC show The Office. For anyone who watches the show, you will appreciate how funny this is. Originally I was going to go as Angela, Dwight's on again off again girlfriend, but had a last minute change of heart while shopping at TJ Maxx for the costumes. I found my inspiration in a synthetic fabric, low cut, leopard print dress. The second I saw it I knew I had to use it. The cougar costume was born. For those who don't know, a cougar is an older woman (typically a divorcee), who dresses up to the nines to go clubbing with the intent of landing a younger man.

I think my favorite part of the night was JJ introducing me to all of the guys who work for the Panthers. He introduced me as, "This is my wife, Laura. She's a cougar." I explained to him that no one else was introducing their date by their costumes, so maybe he should stop so people don't get the wrong idea about me.

I think I will retire the leopard dress for now.

Return of the Barnacle

Finally! We have our puppy in Charlotte with us!

Rick and JJ's aunt Kathy drove him out and arrived on Tuesday. Barney is now a very well traveled pup. After leaving Phoenix with Rick, they stopped in Santa Fe, NM to pick up Kathy and then headed to Amarillo, TX. They also made stops in Little Rock, AR and Nashville, TN before arriving at our house in Charrlotte. Quite a road trip for the little guy! I hope he gets used to it because we might be doing that same cross country drive twice a year for the next few years.

We told Rick to let Barney go straight to the back yard when they arrived, knowing that he often pees out of excitement. Well, unfortunately that plan failed and he ended up rolling over onto his back and peeing all over JJ. Luckily for me, I was a few seconds behind JJ and missed Barney's house warming gift.

Barney is settling in nicely to his new environment, and enjoying the neighborhoods trails with me. Today on our walk I discovered Barney is terrified of upsidedown wheel barrows, fake tombstone Halloween decorations, and lawn mowers. OK, so maybe he isn't totally comfortable with his new surroundings, but at least he looks happy in the picture!

In addition to walks, Barney has enjoyed several naps. JJ has also decided to join in on some of these naps.

Barney made friends with the dog across the street. She is a a little Puganese (Pug mixed with a Pekingese) who thinks that Barney is the best thing ever. She originally ran over to check out Barney and they raced back forth on opposite side of the fence and then her owner asked if we could put her in the yard with Barney. It is hilarious to see them play because she is no more than 12 pounds and Barney is about 80. He could eat her for a snack, but he just loves her and is so gentle playing with her. Precious!

I am so happy to have both of my boys here!

The Sign of True Friendship

Obviously since we are new in town and new to the team, one of our first goals was to make new friends. We have been so lucky in all the other places we have lived to make lifelong friends, and hope that it is no different here.

Sunday night after leaving a post game party at a new friends' house, we had an interesting conversation. We were talking about how you know when you cross the line of being acquaintances to being friends. JJ and I have different ways to measure the levels of friendship.

JJ bases his level of friendship on whether or not you are comfortable helping yourself to their refrigerator. Check! It all comes down to food and beer.

Apparently, I judge the friendship by whether or not I am comfortable enough to nap on your couch after an evening of celebrating. Check! Keep in mind I said nap, not pass out. That is a whole different ball game.

I know these are reliable measuring sticks because they have been proven in the past, most recently Green Bay. We knew we were friends with the Crosbys after the first episode of a group nap took place. We all fell asleep on the couches after a prime time tv marathon one night. The best part was, we were all comfortable enough to continue this tradition on several different occasions. And, I think JJ was helping himself to their fridge after the second or third time he visited.

So here's to new friends in Charlotte, yay!

Taste of the Panthers

Last night we were lucky enough to be part of the Taste of the Panthers event benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank. There were about 15 different restaurants who brought their signature dishes for everyone to sample along with wine to pair with the dish. All the food was amazing, and the wine was plentiful.

There were current and former Panthers players at each booth to mix and mingle with the guests, sign autographs and take pictures. I still get a kick out of people wanting JJ's autograph so I spent the evening taking pictures of him with the fans. I think I was creeping out the chef at JJ's booth with my obsessive picture taking until JJ introduced me as his wife. No sir, I swear I'm not just a deranged fan obsessed with the long snapper.

They also had a silent auction which was way more fun than I thought it would be. We ended up winning two golf packages and a yoga package for super cheap. The first thing JJ said after I told him we won..."Awesome, we can write this off as a charitable contribution!" Ah, still an accountant at heart.

Funny story, before all of the guys were assigned to their booth they were walking around and talking to each other and the VIP guests who paid extra to get there early. All the guests brought footballs and jerseys to get signed and take pictures. The players weren't wearing anything special to let people know who they were, but for the most part you could tell. Most people figured out JJ was a player, but there was one woman who I saw multiple time throughout the night who just couldn't decide. Instead of just coming up and asking, she would study him from afar and flip through the program trying to figure it out. Then she would disappear for a bit and return only to continue the awkward game of "who's who". You could tell she was trying hard not to miss a single player, but I just had to laugh.

Anyway, here are a few pictures of JJ and his fans from the evening!

Other highlights were meeting people in the organization that I hear about all the time. It's nice to put a face to the names I hear JJ talking about. I also got to meet the new team president, who was the athletic director at TCU while I was there. So glad we got to be part of this, and can't wait to do it again next year!

The Main Attraction

Day 2 of our Asheville getaway was visiting The Biltmore Estate, I felt like we were in a different world. The house was unreal, the property was gorgeous, the leaves were changing and the weather was perfect.

We toured the house and surrounding gardens, drove out to the farm and played at the petting zoo, visited the winery for a tasting, and then finished up the day having a fabulous meal made from food grown on the estate. I don't think I can do it justice by describing how beautiful it was so I will just share a few of the MANY pictures we took while there.

Overlooking the house, ready to begin our adventure

The Biltmore House

The Italian Gardens, just off the house

Fall colors in the gardens

The farm

The petting zoo and JJ's new bff

Classy grey t-shirt at the wine tasting

Sipping our new favorite bubbly, the Biltmore Blanc de Noir

Fall colors on the estate

Views from the estate

View from the balcony of house

We had so much fun that we ended up buying the yearlong pass so we can go back and see it during different seasons. I can't wait for my family to come visit so I can take them out there to enjoy all the decorations at Christmas time!

Southern Living

I bought my first issue of Southern Living on Saturday night. I saw it while standing in the checkout line at the grocery store (yes, I spent Saturday night at the grocery store). I figured it would be another great way to embrace my surroundings and pick up some fun new ideas about living in the South.

One full page ad caught my attention: The Biltmore, America's Largest Home. I had heard about the estate from my mom and sister, who are architecture/interior design experts and was already planning on going closer to Christmas when they came to visit. But, apparently I am a sucker for good advertising and got online right away. I was blown away by the pictures on the website and all of the information about visiting in the fall to see the leaves change color. It made me want to visit immediately.

Well, that was Saturday night at 11pm and by Sunday evening after the game, I had convinced JJ to take advantage of their "Victory Monday" (thank you God for a victory finally!) schedule and take me to Asheville which is about 2 hours from Charlotte, up in the mountains. They always have Tuesdays off, but the low-stress schedule for Monday allowed us to leave early.

So we hit the road, with little to planning. I mean, we didn't even have a hotel booked. This is a big deal for us (mainly me), we (again, me) are definitely not the most spontaneous. I am the type that researches vacations months in advance. I want to maximize our time in new places because in my mind, we may never again get to come back! I think of it as being efficient and economical, JJ thinks of it as me being a bit of a control freak. Maybe its a little of both?

Anyway, we got to Asheville despite a consistent downpour and enjoyed the beautiful fall colors and mountain scenery on the drive. The mountains here are very different from the mountains I am used to in Colorado, but beautiful regardless. We easily found a hotel for the night and then headed downtown to explore.

I love mountain towns and the laid back, hippie-ish attitude of the locals. We wandered around downtown, enjoying the typical boutique stores you would expect and found an amazing tapas and wine bar called Zambra. It featured lots of local ingredients, really great Spanish wine and a fantastic atmosphere due to the interior design. We had local trout, seared NC scallops, a Spanish cheese plate, smoked lamb tacos, and a Spanish sausage chimi. Yummm!

Next, at the suggestion of our waitress, we wandered over to the French Broad Chocolate Lounge, and yes, it was as good as it sounds. Their signature item is a liquid truffle and it was as rich as some of JJ's teammates. We got the Buddha, which is a bittersweet chocolate and coconut milk mixture and also got a lavender chocolate truffle.

Tomorrow we are spending the day at the Biltmore, enjoying a tour of the house, gardens, winery and farm. I am charging the camera in anticipation of BEAUTIFUL pictures to share.

Double Digits

Today I ran 10 miles. 10 miles!

Holy cow that is a lot of miles. The whole time I was running I just kept thinking about the totally awesome blog post I could write after such an accomplishment.

Not to take away from this personal achievement, but I have to share an interesting story from my run. I was coming up on the 9.5 mile marker and only had .5 left. I knew I could choose to turn right in a bit and go down onto the nature trail or I could stay on the path and keep running straight. There are really no advantages to either one, but I decided I would rather just keep running straight. About the same time I made this decision I looked up and noticed a small obstacle between me and finishing my 10 mile goal. A young buck. No, not a strong young man. A male deer. With antlers. Standing in the middle of the path.

I have seen plenty of deer on my runs before, but always the females and they always run away the second they see me. OK, well I guess this guy is a little bolder than the others I have seen before. So I decided to wave my arms and make noise with my water bottle while I kept running to get him to move. No such luck. I was still about 150 yards away from this guy and he isn't budging after all of my efforts. I didn't want to stop running so close to my goal so I kept going, hoping he would move as I got closer. Well, the good news is he did move. The bad news is, he was moving towards me. Uhhhhh...this can't be good.

I had no interest in taking on those antlers so I quickly made the decision to turn around and head back to the nature trail to finish up. Not without glancing behind me a few time just to be sure my new friend wasn't following me. The rest of the run was uneventful and I finished feeling so proud of myself and so excited about what I had just done.

I have just under a month left until my first ever half marathon. The excitment is building!

Pimp My Stadium

I didn’t fully understand the merit of all the hype until I saw IT. IT is the stadium of all stadiums, Cowboys Stadium. I hear you can see it from space. Unfortunately, we failed to see it from our parking pace a mile away. In the midst of our wandering we stumbled upon the recently opened Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Arlington (we had one near TCU and I ate there more often than I care to admit publicly). So, instead of deal with the stress of locating the stadium immediately, we stopped in for a beer and some fish tacos (best I’ve ever had). The beer gods were shining down on us as the Coors Light Girls spotted us and rewarded us for choosing Blue Moon (a Coors product) with a free round. What a great start to the evening.

Next, we started out on our one mile journey towards the stadium (Brian led the way, because I still couldn’t see it). But once we turned the corner, there it was in all its glory. It is tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty and the exterior looks like it belongs in the movie Independence Day, slightly spaceship-esque. It was a bit of a walk, but worth it to avoid the $75 parking fee.

We got there with 15 minutes till kick off and we still had to pick up our post-game passes to see JJ at will call. Too bad for me, we were at the South Side will call, and needed to be at the North Side will call. I sent everyone else in to enjoy kick off and Stosh and I ran off to to get the passes. It was a frantic few minutes to say the least. After, lots of bad directions, huge crowds and long lines we got the passes and ran to find our seats. In all the confusion, we failed to notice the escalators to the top of the stadium. Instead, we took the stairs. I lost count after the 8th flight of stairs. I just want to point out that we were in the second to last row at the top of the stadium. Just a reminder, this is the same stadium that is tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty inside. Needless to say, I was glowing (aka dripping with sweat) by the time we found our seats. But, the good news is we made just in time for kick off! Good thing they were running late.

Now that we were in our seats I had a chance to look around and admire the House that Jerry Built. The video screen at the top (well, from where we were sitting it seemed to be at eye level) was the biggest thing I have ever seen. It is 160 feet long and the world's largest HD video display. The next thing to catch my eye was the section behind the end zone specifically set up for caged pole dancers. Sweet. Talk about necessary entertainment at a pro-football game.

The game didn't go as I had hoped, but I still had a blast watching the fans around us. We almost witnessed a brawl between two really scary Panthers fans and a group of drunk frat boy Cowboy fans (who were later escorted out for their comments to surrounding Panthers fans). I tried to make friends with the scariest Panther fan, because obviously, if things went down I would want him on my team. I think it worked. Maybe we can be pen pals when he undoubtedly ends up in prison.

We were all able to meet up with JJ after the game in what was basically a holding pen. We were supposed to stay inside the pen and the players were allowed to come up and talk to us. It felt a bit like a petting zoo so JJ snuck over to our side. Unfortunately, he has a hard time convincing security that he was a player when he tried to get out to go to the buses later.

I am looking forward to the next away game trip, which will be back to Phoenix Oct. 28. Until then, I am relaxing in Charlotte getting ready for more visitors.

God Bless Texas

I love going back to Texas, it just has so many good memories and so many good friends (and Central Market). This past weekend I was able to catch up Carolyn, Katie and Brian, Geoff and Bobby, Stosh and lots of sorority sisters at a wedding.

I will start with my sister. This was a combination bonding/birthday/football weekend for us and we took advantage of every possible opportunity for fun. We went shopping, celebrated her 21-ness at a tapas/sangria bar, toured SMU and the Kappa house, and just enjoyed being in the same state again. There is never a dull moment with Carolyn and she manages to make new friends everywhere we go. Especially male friends, who like to buy her drinks, and then take her on dates. I am always amazed and impressed. So glad I was able to witness it first hand, haha!

Another highlight of my trip was seeing an old roommate/sorority sister, Katie, and her BF Brian. I hadn’t seen them since the wedding and there was so much going on that weekend, I didn’t get nearly enough time with them. Every time I see Katie, it makes me wish I still lived with her. Don’t get me wrong, I love living with JJ but I sure miss the Family Dinners and Project Runway marathons we had at the “House of Champions”. Plus, Katie is one of the cleanest people I know, and it was wonderful to come home from work every Friday to a spotless house (sorry JJ, I will never live up to that). It was a nice transition from college and could really be called Theta: The Post-College Years. Anyway, it made me immensely happy to sit in her living room, eating cookies and talking all evening.


Geoff and Bobby are two of JJ’s best friends from college and I really have adopted them as my own too. Sometimes I forget I didn’t actually go to school with them. I love being around these two and JJ because the stories that get told are ridiculous, and it just makes me that much more impressed that they all survived college and are now productive members of society (I am specifically referring to the "Drunk Olympics" that involved, among other events, a swim across the pond at the apartment complex).

Fortunately the scheduling worked out well and the Cowboys game coincided with Courtney Casey’s wedding in Dallas. It was really fun to go to a friend’s wedding (even though I had to go solo because JJ was still In Charlotte for practice, rude) so close to ours because I was still totally in wedding mode. I was good to see lots of girls, both younger and older, that I hadn’t seen since graduation.

JJ got into town on Sunday and we were all able to meet up with him for dinner. Well, I don’t know if you can really call it dinner because we got there at 4:30…early bird special. It made me so happy to see all of our friends from different stages of our lives all together having a good time.

The culmination of the trip, the first Monday Night Football game in the new Cowboys Stadium, deserves a post of its own so I will save it for later.

Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better trip or better friends. Hopefully JJ continues to play away games in cities that I love.

Happy Trails to You

I am officially one month away from my first half marathon and the training is getting intense. Luckily, I have a beautiful trail system right by our house that makes the long runs go by a little faster. Just thought I would share some of the views from the trails!

Cottonwood Nature Trail

McAlpine Creek Greenway

McAlpine Cross Country Course

Love Thee Notre Dame

The second part of our bye week trip was going to South Bend for the Notre Dame v. Washington game. It had been almost a year since we had been back on the beautiful campus for a game and we were both really looking forward to it.

On the drive from Green Bay the clouds were getting darker and the temperature was dropping. After a quick check of weather.com on my phone, JJ and I realized that neither one of us had packed appropriately for Midwest weather. You would think I would have learned by now after four years of visiting JJ and then living in Green Bay for a bit. But no.

We ran in and scanned the condo for additional layers of clothing before heading to the game. On my treasure hunt I found a green jacket (XL) and an old pair of tennis shoes (2 sizes too small) and a ND hat. So as you can imagine, I looked really put together and fashion forward. Oh well, its just a football game after all.

JJ had talked to the Letterman's Association beforehand and had secured us sideline passes for pre=game warm-ups (it's nice to feel like a high roller, especially when you are dressed like a homeless person). After running around the stadium and trying 3 different entrances, we finally found the media entrance and made our way down to the field. The sun started to peek out and I was feeling pretty good about maybe being able to ditch a few layers. We saw some of JJ's former teammates and enjoyed the pre-game festivities. JJ knew one of the security guards on the field o we walked over to talk to him and see if we could stay on the field for the rest of the game. He didn't seem to mind, and told us to just hang around until someone told us to leave. So we did. About the same time the game started, the clouds came back and the temperature dropped. I was thankful for my extra layers.

We stayed near the ND bench and continued to talk to Brandon Walker and Ryan Burkhart throughout the entire game. They were telling JJ about all the operation times of special teams and pretty much making us feel like part of the coaching staff. Way fun.

The first half was really exciting with lots of lead changes and big plays, and we were right there to see and hear every thing. Half-time rolled around and the skies opened up and poured down rain. We couldn't leave the field to hide out underneath the stadium because we didn't have passes to get back down to the sideline. I was soaked within 5 minutes. Cold and wet are not my favorite combination. I promised JJ I could suck it up for the rest of the game. Well, that attitude lasted for about 10 minutes into the third quarter before I bailed. I told JJ I would meet him back at the condo and promised I would be in a much better mood. On my way out I stopped to get something to eat at the concession stand and JJ walked up about 30 seconds later. He decided that it wouldn't be nearly as much fun without me there. So sweet, right? Well, actually he decided that his wet, long sleeve t-shirt was not going to keep him warm enough for the next 2 hours. We got back to the condo, put our wet clothes in the dryer and enjoyed the rest of the game from the comfort of a warm couch.

After the game, we hosted an impromptu party at the condo. We ordered way too much pizza and Mrs. Walker brought over the rest of their tailgate dishes (including the most amazing cupcakes) and we had a great (warm) time. I think we crammed about 20 people into that condo comfortably. It was so great to see Brandon, Ryan and Haley (Ryan's fiancee) and their families. We had great intentions of going out for a few drinks, but were just too tired. We didn't feel too much like the old married couple because even the young college kids were ready to call it a night.

We enjoyed sleeping in the next morning and then hopped back on the road to get back to Chicago to fly home. Even though our 3 day trip included and additional 10 hours of drive trip in addition to all the flight time, we had a blast and got to see some very important people. A good time was had by all.

After 3 straight weekends of travel, I will be enjoying the next few weekends at home, getting ready for visitors.

Brats, Beers and Cheese Heads

JJ and I took advantage of his 3 days off for the bye week and headed up north. After a minor delay we flew to Chicago and then drove up to Green Bay, getting in around midnight. The Crosby's were nice enough to open up their house for a "big kid sleepover". We knew that Mason had practice early the next morning so we planned on heading straight to bed after giving their black lab a little love. We were quite surprised when a golden little fuzz ball appeared at the top of the stairs to greet us! Little did we know Mason bought Molly a golden retriever puppy two days before we got there. What a great way to start our vacation!

The next morning was rainy and cold so we all (minus Mason) slept in a bit and relaxed in the living room letting the puppy run all over us. She was full of energy and their black lab was just starting to get used to playing with this new toy. It was so cute to watch. Molly made us breakfast and we got caught up on everything that has been going on since we last talked.

After a relaxing morning, Molly and I left JJ behind to puppy-sit and met up With Emily Nelson for lunch at one of my favorite Green Bay lunch places. Last year we lived in historic downtown De Pere and every time we had guests in town, I would walk them down to this adorable bakery/cafe for lunch. What a treat to be "ladies who lunch" with such great friends. It was especially fun to see Emily because I got to see her little baby bump! She is still so tiny and the bump is just adorable.

After lunch we spent time hanging out with the puppies at their house and watch JJ and Mason catch up on making fun of each other. Its almost like watching a sit-com the way they go back and forth. We got ready for the one thing JJ had been looking forward to the most on this trip, dinner at Koko's. Now, JJ and I have both blessed enough to travel quite a bit and enjoy fine dining all over, but we have never had better sushi than Koko's in Green Bay, WI. Who would have thought sushi in Wisconsin?! Maybe its the atmosphere, the fun drink list, the great conversations we shared over numerous dinners there (often multiple times in a week) or maybe the sushi is just that good. Whatever it is, we haven't found better sushi. Needless to say, we were both very excited.

Sushi was followed by another Green Bay tradition, game night! The Nelson's joined up with us back at the house for an evening of Imagine If. The game poses questions like "Imagine if JJ was a tv channel, which one would he be? A. The Food Network, B. Animal Planet, C. ESPN, D. BET E. Comedy Central. Obviously the correct answer was D. BET. The point of the game is to pick the same answer as the majority of the players to get points. It was very funny and very entertaining, especially after all of the beverages off of the fun drink list at Koko's.

We were sad to leave the next morning, but we had to hit the road to get to South Bend in time for the Notre Dame game. Can't wait to see the Crosbys and the Nelsons again soon!

Ants In My Pants

Before I post about my amazingly awesome adventures in Dallas this weekend, I have to share a quick story about what I found upon my return to Charlotte.

My flight arrived at the Charlotte airport about 20 minutes early so I was in a great mood. My bag arrived right as I walked up to the carousel and then the shuttle to the parking garage was waiting out front as I walked out. Perfect timing! I was in a great mood and called JJ to meet up for dinner. What a great way to wrap up a wonderful weekend trip.

I hopped in my car and headed towards the restaurant. As I am trying to navigate on to the freeway I notice what appears to be an ant crawling on the steering wheel. Weird. Then, I see one on the dashboard. Oh wait, there are 3 more on the center console. They are all over the inside of my car. Next an extremely large one crawls across the dashboard. Oh. My. God. Was that a spider?!? My car is full of tiny spiders. This is my worst nightmare. This is how I am going to die.

Meanwhile, I am merging on the the freeway, trying to fix my GPS that has of mysteriously failed, repeatedly trying to call JJ (who apparently did not have his phone with him) and at the same time smashing the creepy crawlers that dare to come towards me. After lots of yelling and screaming when I finally get a hold of J, I pull into a gas station and jump out of the car. By this time I realize the spiders are, in fact, ants and will probably not try to kill me. But still, there are hundreds of them crawling all over the inside of my car.

Luckily, JJ came to my rescue within minutes and used the gas station vacuum to suck them all out. Then he drove my car to the car wash to get it detailed. The car wash guys had never seen anything like it. We think we got most of them, but I have to go to buy ant traps for my car tomorrow just to be sure.

I can still feel them crawling all over me. Welcome home.

Southern Exposure

Even though I have technically lived in the southern half of the U.S. for my entire life (minus 6 months in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin), I have never experienced true southern living. Arizona has more Southern California influences than I care to admit, and well, Texas is it's own country.

On my trip to Atlanta last weekend I was introduced to 2 uniquely southern culinary delights: grits and boiled peanuts. Grits I had heard of before and kind of new what to expect, but Boiled peanuts?? Really? What's wrong with roasted peanuts?

We went to visit JJ's cousin, Courtney, at her new townhouse and as we were walking up to her front door we were greeted by her neighbor. Well to be more specific, it was her neighbor's kind-of boyfriend. Kind-of boyfriend? I had to ask. Apparently he is her boyfriend depending on how much he has had to drink...too much information, sir. Other than this little bit of over-sharing, he was your typical 30 year old former frat boy, sweet Georgia drawl and all. He was hanging out in the garage boiling peanuts for his college game day party going on upstairs. He invited us over and started explaining the intricacies of peanut boiling. He also explained that he did this for a living...I'm still not sure if he meant he boiled peanuts or educated people about boiling peanuts. He was 2 beers past the point of having that intelligent conversation. He was, however, thrilled to be able to introduce me, a non-native Southerner, to this great tradition. Now for the peanuts...they tasted more like bland potatoes than anything else. A bit of a let down after the build up from Mr. Fratty Peanut. Regardless, I enjoyed the snippet of Southern education.

I'm sure there will be plenty more distinctly Southern things to discover, but for now, that is all.

Just Keep Running

2 weeks down, 6 to go. I am training for my first ever half marathon. I have always wanted to try a half marathon, but never got around to it. I recently reconnected with a friend from high school who had already signed up for one in Charlotte on November 7. She is going to law school in NC and has been running on and off for the past few years. We both agreed that our only goal was to finish. No pressure there, haha!

While I have always tried to keep myself in decent shape, I have never attempted anything like this. It is 13.1 miles and prior to starting training, the longest run I had done recently was 3 miles. That is a difference of 10.1 miles...ouch. So far the running is going well. I have one long run per week, three moderate runs of 3-5 miles, and one easy recovery run. Each week the long run increases by 1 mile. I had a 7 mile run on Friday and felt surprisingly good.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not built like a distance runner which makes this even more of a challenge. I was reminded of this on my Saturday run as I was passed by a pack of high school cross country runners. These girls breezed by in their tank tops and 0 percent body fat. Nothing like a bunch of stick-thin 16 year olds to keep you motivated!

My race is 6 weeks from Saturday and I have lots of miles to cover before then. With all the traveling I have coming up in the next few weeks, it should be an interesting time. Keep your fingers crossed that I can stay on track! Yes, pun intended.