Family

Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Published November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving 2014! Always so much to be thankful for – good health, good friends, new life adventures. Additionally, spent the past year with Ash & Tom as they saved for their first home – for this I’m most thankful.

Received more than a sideways glance when Ash & Tom moved in late last year from Jersey. How long will they be living with you? Do they have jobs?

Hold tight neighsayers — give it time. Recipe for disaster? Heck no!

Ro inherited a brother & I filled my sterile home with cable TV, fantasy football, NatGeo & a fully stocked fridge.

Tom knows Giants, Nets & Beer – and can spot-on imitate most every overplayed TV commercial.
Ash donates to a lotta wildlife charities – birds, wolves, ducks, farm animals, stray pets, ocean creatures. Huge heart!
Additionally, neither are not afraid to try something new – inks n drinks (painting), glassblowing, geo caching, skiing, high altitude hiking (14er Mt Bierstadt), ice fishing & weekly trivia at more than a few local breweries 🙂

lotta happy positive vibes – crazy impressed with these 2!

get your kicks on Route 66

Published November 22, 2014

Sure I just ran Vegas last Sunday but that was 6 days ago – time for my 2^nd BONUS marathon of the year, Oklahoma’s Route 66 Marathon. Nope, not crazy – just focused on the prize…all 50 states by 2016 year-end 🙂

[small world moment] Met fellow Maniac, Stacy at DIA Saturday morning & boarded a plane to Tulsa – short 2 hour ride.

Another flight, another marathon – nope. Meeting family on the other end of today’s Southwest flight. FAAAANNNNTASTIC!

20 minute drive to the Runner’s Expo at Cox Business Center (downtown Tulsa) for bib pickup AND a quick walk-by of some sexy post-War America rides…vintage Route 66. Nice job Tulsa – super classy.

From there [we] hit the highway. My brother scored box seats to a college football game, Arkansas vs. Mississippi. Ole Miss might be Top 10 but today’s game was dominated by the home team 31-0! Woo pig sooie, go Razorbacks!

Ended pre-race activities back in Tulsa – dinner with Mom, bro, sis-in-law & niece.

3 marathons in a single month (Indy, Vegas & Tulsa) – a new K* record. Friends & family at all 3 – SPECTACULAR!

7:30 picture time tomorrow morning. My first run dressed in Maniac yellow, marathon #16.

: more friends, more family, more running – off to Tulsa for marathon 16!

: bib pickup & vintage rides

: box seats on a rainy day – yeah, that’s how we roll 🙂

: LOVIN’ me some family time — Woo Pig Sooie!

Posted in Family, Heartland | Tagged football | Leave a comment

Grand Canyon Heli Tour

Published November 15, 2014

Late Friday night flight to Vegas with Ash & Tom, where we met up with Stephen (in from New Hampshire). Luxor Hotel check-in, sleep, breakfast, van pickup at 8am. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas…

Heck NO — who takes a helicopter tour over the Grand Canyon & keeps that a secret? LOL>

The most spectacular Grand Canyon helicopter floor landing experience with an exclusive landing on the canyon floor and extended canyon viewing time! Embark on an unforgettable narrated flight from fabulous Las Vegas area, see majestic views of Lake Mead, the magnificent Hoover Dam, Grapevine Mesa, Grand Wash Cliffs, Fortification Hill and Extinct Volcanoes. View rugged southwest desert wilderness en route to America’s most spectacular natural wonder, the Grand Canyon.

Safety talk (check), belted in (check), headset on (check) & we’re up fast – hovering over the Nevadan desert. I LOVE geology & rock formations so the volcanic landscape in route to Hoover Dam was right up my alley. Hoover Dam, which holds back the waters of Lake Mead, is crazy massive. Seeing this man-made structure by air is pretty spectacular. Just the sheer size — WOW!

Soon the landscape opened & we dipped over the Rim of the Grand Canyon — used my WOW early. Double WOW!

Nothing like seeing this Wonder of the World via ‘copter, maneuvering around massive rock walls — dropping down, landing 4,000ft below on the floor of the Grand Canyon. Shot 100 near identical pics & a short video — couldn’t capture the experience.

Just an hour earlier we were in Vegas — now surrounded by cacti, red rock cliffs & the iconic Colorado River.

If you wanna create magic, treat family & friends to a heli trip – an experience you’ll never forget. SPECTACULAR!

Back in Vegas, took in a show (Olivia Newton John – ok I admitted it), casinos, roulette & some sports betting.

Ash & Tom treated with tickets Sunday morning to Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay. Sharks, rays, lizards, snakes, piranha — well done, Vegas. Living B-I-G, crazy FULL 36 hours – friendly warning: Vegas can be hard on the wallet 🙂

Lunch, an hour down time, then BAM — marathoning down the Las Vegas Strip.

Grand Canyon Heli Adventure