Waterloo

I traveled from Atlanta directly to Iowa to spend time with my brother and his family. I flew into Cedar Rapids where my brother picked me up and we drove to Waterloo. I ran when I was in Waterloo Iowa. I went to chain restaurants in Waterloo. I played with my nephew in Waterloo. I watched TV in Waterloo. I went to a Walgreens in Waterloo. I rode in a car in Waterloo. The highlight was most def drivin by the bingo hall that was being held up. Yes, in Waterloo, IA someone decided it was a good idea to hold up a bingo hall.... yeah... that really happened. All in all My trip to Waterloo was about as exciting as this blog entry. but seeing my bros fam was real coo

More Iowa anyone?

Romeo and Julietish

Today, I found a good writing groove and I feel like... HEY why let it go to waste. So continuing on to important things... The one true trip I have had in the summer traveling season of 2010 was a joint trip... you know I like to do it big... I went from Atlanta to Iowa and it was grrrrreat.

For this blog entry I'll focus on my trip to Atlanta for the wedding of Connor O'Brien and Leah Mitchum. Now this was a WONDERFUL affair. A truly onion cutting affair. I'm still mad at Leah's dad for cutting onions the entire wedding... Why didn't he just STOP!!!!

So the wedding was at Chateau Elon outside of Atlanta. Now Connor will always hold a special place in my heart. As sophomores at O'Dea high school we were given the privilege of being on scout team together. I was the only halfback so I had no one to rotate, so i had the joy of getting smacked on every play. Now Connor was one of at least 3 fullbacks, all of which would normally go to the back of the line. Connor would be the only one who would consistently and without being asked step to the front and take the licks with me only to be rewarded by standing on the sidelines when it was FREEZING!!!

So on to the wedding:

It was at a winery and the night before we had traditional southern cuisine along with crawfish which I learned is kinda good. I also met some really interesting people like the "Godfather" and the "superstar" and "law and order" as well as "Sarah Palin's adopted son" and the "living beaver legend"

The day of the wedding was HOT! it was outside and it was HOT! Gotta love the south in the summer! I just feel bad for all the groomsmen in their tuxedos who had to sit there fully clothed like that. During the ceremony, Leah's dad proceeded to do his usual thing of making pepper spray although to be fair he did inform us that he was going to do that.

The reception: the food was WOW! I definitely ate my share and someone else's plate and i wish I could have gotten another one. It was a beef dish that was to die for. The sweet tea flowed like water and the night was danced away. After the reception was the usual process of trying to stay up as late as possible and although I almost ended up in the hospital it was well worth it!

Now me being a sociologist/psychologist type, I was able to see somethign great. That love and partying has the ability to bring the most random and opposite groups together for the sake of celebrating a most beautiful union. And these people can co-exist. Also, main wedding regrets is always that you have to share the bride and groom with all of the other people at the wedding. When the selfish part 4 year old wants them all to yourself. Ahhhhhhh well... guess this means I'll have to schedule a trip to see them and have them all to myself!!!! until then....

Summer travels of 2010

I decided that the skills that I obtained from blogging in 08 and 09 should not go to waste. I apologize in advance if these blogs are not as interesting or as well written as previous years. Ticket prices are up and my funds are down so the option of traveling outside of North America was just not there this year... Another life development somewhat hindered my schedule of international travel... i got a JOB! I'll leave the trials, tribulations and triumphs of working at Nashville Big Picture for another time.

Seattle:

Obviously this is my hometown and while normally Seattle summers are absolutely amazing, this summer has been slightly wack. Now I still stand behind my assertion that this is one of the most amazing cities in the world, however the weather this summer has not been very cooperative. The weather normally in the low 70s with primarily sunshine and varying levels of cloudiness has been filled with nothing but mid 50s and fall/winter like gloom. BUT, that being said the people are genuinely friendly, the Asian food is especially tasty, the water is constantly visible and the deceptively clean.

The structure of my life in the summer of 2010 is somewhat boring and predictable, however I'm having way too much fun with my daily schedule:

I. Get picked up and go to the track and workout.

II. Come home and try to find food, maybe nap.

III. Get picked up and go to the track and coach.

If you know me at all.. you can probably see how this summer is amazingly enjoyable for 3 primary reasons...

1. I finally have time to run and workout and I'm kinda sorta startin to get into a little bit of shape.

2. I spend the majority of my time on a track coaching kids and learning about track and field. Sometimes for as much as 4 hours in a day.

3. I don't have to drive

For me and my summer in Seattle, that's all I've got. In the next blog entry. I'll fill the world in on the rest of my summer travels...