SNUGGIE-TASTIC!!

I am currently in Bethesda, continuing my cross country tour. It all started because I have to be in San Fran this Saturday-next Wednesday for a conference. Last weekend happened to be the weekend of the Tunnel To Towers Run () that was started in honor of my friend's uncle that died in September 11th. I have done it every year for the past so many years. Because my friend and her brother both went to my college, its essentially a giant college reunion for a great cause. I convinced my boss that he should fly me out the week before the conference so I could do some client visits (staying with friends so no need for a hotel), and I would arrive at the conference in Cali bright eyed and bushy tailed, and not with the 8 hour time difference jet lag. While I'm not REGRETTING my decision to go on this cross country journey, I'm getting a bit tired!

Friday I flew in and make one client visit, then headed to queens to stay with my old room and best friend from college. We hit the liquor store, caught up over a few glasses of wine, and then headed into the city to meet a big group of my friends who I haven't seen in (for some of them) almost a year! And my brother and his girlfriend came as well. My brother is essentially the brother of all of my friends, and we all always have a good time together. He did have to warn his gf about us. We tend to get a bit crazy when we are all together. So we hung out at a few bars and then Mike and Lauren headed back, and the rest of the girls continued on. We ended up at a bar called hook and ladder. They have outdoor beer pong. You can imagine how this ended. Margy and I dominated the table, more friends came and visited, it was awesome. Some highlights include: Molly getting us all Miller Chill (its only $2 you guys!), me falling after the excitement of winning the first game, Maura's gummibears at the bar, and Sarah and Mike being perfect for each other because they both wear hats.

Saturday was a BIG day of recovery since we didn't get to bed til about 5 am. My body isn't cut out for this anymore. But we relaxed, watched some TBS, had pizza, and then dragged our sorry butts out again. This time it was to meet up with Mark who I haven't seen in a year. This same weekend last year actually. He lives in Florida so its really hard for us to get together. We headed to Maura's for some drinks, and then went out to 3rd and Long. It was a good time, but I think we were all hurting from the night before. At the end of the night it was Molly, Maura, Bdan, and his roommate. A bit of a random mix because I haven't seen Bdan in several years, and I've never met his roommate. We ended up having a very educational time though, as Maura decided that it was time for someone to answer all the questions she's had in life that she never got to ask. Before we knew it, it was 4 am and the bartenders were kicking us out. Molly, Maura and I headed back to her place, talked to Molly's boyfriend (who I'm SOO mad I missed out on meeting!), and then crashed. Molly and I got up the next morning to head down to the run. Oops, we missed it. So instead we grabbed lunch (with hot George, our bartender who knows Eli Manning) and then headed back to Queens to shower and send me on my way to Hoboken for dinner with the parents, Lauren and Mike.

Dinner with the fam was lovely. Then Mom, Dad and myself headed home. That's when I got to open Mike and Liz's bday present for me. Mike had already let the cat out of the bag, or rather I conned it out of him - I'm really good at getting people to tell me things. They got me a SNUGGIE!!! I've wanted one for ages. I love anything comfy. Oversized sweaters, sweatshirts, slippers, sweatpants. I live for them. This snuggie is awesome. Between that and the Bose headphones, I will never travel the same again.


Mine is leopard print!

So two days of working in Jersey, I'm now in DC until Saturday. I'm excited to see a bunch of people, but happy that it will be a much more chill visit than last time I was here.