San Francisco

Mel & I spent a weekend in San Francisco and it was awesome. We went out to support my Ma while she was running a half marathon to benefit St. Jude's Childrens Hosipital. We flew in on Thursday night and spent all day and night Friday discovering a beautiful city. We went to walking along Fisherman's Wharf, for a tour of a retired navy ship, on a tour of Alcatraz, for burgers at Joe's Cable Car Restaurant (They were frickin' awesome!!!), on a cable car ride back to Fisherman's Wharf, on a Ghost Hunt around an older neighborhood of Sanny Franny, then back to the hotel to make awesome posters for the Marathon. On Saturday we took a segway tour of the city, walked on the Golden Gate Bridge, ate some fantastic Ciopinno, Took a look at Lombard Street, and then Mel & I went on the Halloween Bus. On Sunday Ma ran the Marathon and after we went to Chinatown for lunch and then on a plane back to Chicago.








We look like nerds but it was really fun!!!

A Sanny Franny Halloween

This year Mel & I were in San Francisco for Halloween and it was awesome. This is the holiday that San Francisco really goes all out for. We went to four different bars on a party bus with a great group of people. Mel & I were devils, her friend Michelle (whom she traveled all over Thailand with) wore a modest costume as Beyonce from All the Single Ladies video, and there were various other people including Teen Wolf (surfing on top of the bus), and the Hangover guy to name a few. We really had a lot of fun!

Halloween Traditions: The Old & The New

Every year my family gets together and carves pumpkins, and this year was no different. We all went over to Uncle Joe's and Aunt Geri's house, including Buzz Lightyear and the rest of the Toy Story gang. Mel made a ghost pumpkin while I carved the grim reaper. We had a great time and again, can't wait for next year.


This year we experienced the begining of a great Halloween tradition. We went to three Haunted Houses in Wisconsin with Mr. & Mrs. Spain. It was fantastic. We went to the Fuzzy Pig, which the ride set the perfect mood for the evenings events, Dr. Scary's Horror House, which did not live up to the hype but Mr. Spain did get scared getting out of the car, and The Fright Factory, which was awesome. Mel and I can't wait for the Fright Van to leave Camp Delavan next year.

The Boys Are Back in Town!!!

Saturday night was the Home Opener for the 2009-2010 Hockey Season and it was fantastic. Mike, Dan, Mikey and I went to the game (While my better half was up to some pumpkin shennagans). The game ended up going to a shootout that lasted a franchise record 9 rounds, ending when Ladd scored the game winner. It was fantastic.

On Monday night, for an extra challange, the Hawks decided they needed to spot the other team 5 goals. In the first 12 minutes of the game, off of 6 shots, they accomplished this goal, being down 5-0. Instead of laying down and giving up, the Hawks took over and ended up winning the game 6-5 (26 seconds into overtime). It was one of the best games that I was ever at, and Mel had a great time too.

The Hawks are back and as long as they keep playing like this a deep playoff run is in the making for the second year in a row!!!

LETS GO HAWKS!

Sumer Fun

So we have had a busy summer. Mel was in school and crazy busy with her classes and her internship, but we did find a little time to have some fun. We took some great pictures at one of our (or at least my) favorite Chicago cites. We also found some time to spend with our favorite nephew in North Carolina. It was a good summer, busy, but good. Now I think we should all observe a moment of silence for the 2009 Cubs season.... And remember it could be worse, we could all be Detroit Fans (then we would not even have football to look forward to)!

Baseball Trip 2009 (Texas)

This year Dan & I went down south to Texas and saw the Astros get shutout by the Rangers, and then the Rangers get destroyed by the Yankees. Minute Maid park was our first destination and it was fantastic. The ballpark was beautiful, even though the dome was closed it still felt like a baseball park, unlike Toronto which felt like indoor soccer. In addition to the park, the food was fantastic, ultimate nachos with 10 different things on them (Not like in Detroit were the salsa made them ultimate), BBQ everything, and Hot Wings the size of Buster's leg. The fans were a good time too, some in rodeo get ups, and others in their cowboy hats. All in all, this was probably the best park that we have been to thus far.

The second stop on the trip was the Ballpark in Arlington. This park was great except on little thing, to get from center field to our seats we had to funnel through a single person doorway with 10,000 other fans, needless to say this was a cluster f***. Other than this Major inconvience the ballpark was nice. Luckily we were just under the overhang behind home plate, out of the blazing Dallas sun. The game was also fun, the Yankees jumped on the Rangers early and never let up. A-Roid went 5 for 5 and Jeter also had a great game. The fans in this stadium were awesome, especially the 85 year old woman banging on a drum everytime a Ranger batter came up, leading the crowd in "Let's go Rangers".

On the way out of the stadium we saw the new home of Dallas Cowboys.

Game 6 Hawks v. Cunucks

Game 6 against the Cunucks was perhaps the greatest hockey/sporting event that I have ever attended. The Hawks were trailing with 8 minutes remaining, and then Kane stepped up BIG TIME. He scored twice in the final eight minutes, completing his first hat trick and the Hawks won 7-5 Advancing on to the Western Conference Finals.

At the game Mikey, Mel, Tim and I lost our damn minds. In addition to losing his mind Tim also threw his hat in celebration of the Hat Trick. It was frickin awesome.

Now it is on the Detroit where we may just pull off the upset.