NBTR: Out!

I've got Big Plans for next week people.

First, I rented a car, because I don't trust my car as far as I can throw it. Renting a car involved finding the cheapest one, and checking 20,000 web sites and the whole thing was hair raising.

Next: On Sunday I will load up the car with bike, wetsuit, various electronic gizmos and chargers, yoga mat, running shoes, bike shoes, bathing suit, workout clothes, (and maybe some other stuff to wear...do people actually take all this crap on a PLANE when they travel??) and drive to my hometown, New Haven, for a reunion with an old high school friend, plus visit all my old haunts, maybe go back to my high school and terrorize the nuns, and visit my brother for the first time ever.

Tuesday night: Drive to .... CAPE COD!!! Vacation starts!! I'll be visiting partying with my college roommate, she of Boston Marathon photography fame. I found Cape Cod Athletic Club, and I hope I can join them for track, open water swim, maybe a run or two. Lots of laying around doing nothing. Possibly a trip to Martha's vineyard. Let's see how much I can pack into four days. Be afraid Renee, be very afraid.

Saturday: Drive to NYC! Meet friends, tool around town, hopefully find some place to stay Saturday night, the chairs on Times Square if all else fails,

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/twinxamot/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0))

and on

Sunday: Cheer friends on at NYC Triathlon!

Whee.

Oh, and also? Fall in love and lose 10 lbs.

Drive home Sunday night.

Return to work renewed and rejuvenated!

That, or move to Maine.

Happy Birthday, Renée!

A birthday dinner!

I met Renée the first week of college at Boston University, September 1975. We lived in the same dorm, Rich Hall, but she lived two floors above me, and I lived on the "experimental floor," called "Middle Earth." You had to write an essay to get accepted to Middle Earth. God, I'd give anything to see that essay now. I'm sure it's cringeworthy.

Rich Hall, scenic third building on the right

We met because we both volunteered to help put together a "coffeehouse" in the lobby of Rich Hall, which would meet on Saturday nights.

So quaint!

Anywho, Renée went on to become a famous photojournalist for the Boston Herald, and I ... learned to blog.

Sigh.

Renée is now starting her own business. Need a photographer? Stop looking NOW and click here.

The best thing about Renee is she laughs at all (most) of my jokes, (as do I), so when we're together we spend a lot of time laughing.

The worst thing about her is she looks EXACTLY the same as when she was 18.

So, Renée was in town and stopped by for girl's night and a birthday dinner. (Technically her birthday was December 2007, but let's not be sticklers.)

Though it may look like slop on a plate,(we're not on "Top Chef" here people), I can assure you it was wholly gourmet fare:
1. Swordfish marinated in some Thai seasonings, simmer on the stovetop for 10 minutes (all they have to do to get me to buy something at Whole Foods is to give me a sample. I'm the ultimate consumer),
2. the famous brussels sprouts,
3. baked potato, and
4. apple and manchego cheese salad (sort of this recipe).

All this after
On Sunday:
1. Bell-ringing in the a.m. (no one was hurt, always a plus),
2. another one-hour ride (12.5 miles) followed by a 10 min run (this is called a brick. A mini-brick) and
On Saturday:
3. Possibly the crappiest run of my life with my tri-group. There was a run clinic at Pacers, followed by a 45-min run up the Custis trail, another trail that seemingly defies the laws of nature by going up in both directions. It was hot on Saturday and I finished. That's all I'll say about that.
4. Also on Saturday, the famous personal shopper appointment. But that deserves its own post.

Stay tuned.