Maid in America...

My life on the road is coming to an end sooner than later.
It's been two years that I have been living place to place and out of a suit case.
I have to admit though that it has been one hell of a journey!

I was going to start a Travel Tips with random number postings, but since my travels will begin to slow I probably shouldn't do it now.
I am not saying that I will NOT travel, I just will not be traveling for work anymore, or maybe I will? I have not decided yet, and am still confused on my next chapter. Just how the seasons have obviously changed, it's that time for me also.

Anyway, I have wondered off from what i was originally going to post.
It's a WHY DO MAIDS/housekeepers:


ALWAYS COME IN YOUR ROOM when you are naked?

TIRED AS HELL!

After you yell for them to come back later?

Sometimes not even knock!

and when they do knock, it sounds like
they are POUNDING THE DOOR IN!

I've had maids come in and do their thing
and not say a word to me, while I am in my
bed on my laptop probably half naked...

Others pretend to be scared even after
I have screamed my lungs out that I am STILL here!

and my biggest pet peeve!

Come in before it's check out time!?
WTF!?

I paid until 12! Give me that peace!!!

My Beloved Marine Corps Marathon

First, Congrats to Nate for running the Full Marathon.
I know that I just started running the past 11 months, and never thought that I would want to run another FULL marathon since I ran Honolulu and San Diego.  There hasn't been a full marathon that has given me the itch or urge to participate in, but after this weekend I think maybe next year (maybe with training this time) that I might consider running the Marine Corps Marathon.

Embedded Video

For the majority of my child hood I grew up living the life of a military brat.  I basically spent 17 years involuntarily.  I know that my parents, my brother and sister have no regrets and that living that life style made us grow together without choice.  I think that if I did run this marathon, I would run it for my father and my family and not for myself, since I have already had that accomplishment.

I am here now in Baltimore, MD going to NYC on Wednesday for one of the most attractive international races in the world.

NOTE!:

Watch the video at a HUGE HUGE DISCRETION!!!!!  There is EXTREMELY FOUL LANGUAGE  NOT suitable for some and not suitable for work!

Pictures of Taking Pictures

Adam who's link is hosted on the right side of my blog took this picture while I was capturing another picture.  I thought it came out pretty cool and pretty decent quality considering that his camera is an iPhone.

This was the photo that I was taking.

While taking pictures at night DO NOT use the flash, this is like the number one no no that I see a lot of people doing!
The flash is for when it is basically pitch black and you are peaking over a wall of a very famous memorial.

You can read some of the tombstones.
 
Above Flash and no Flash, I was in the darker area so it was needed, Adam had enough light to let it filter the phone and still come out nice.  I personally prefer the effects of the second photo with no photoshopping.
This last photo does have photoshop plus some photography involved.

I recommend clicking this picture and enlarging it to see it in better quality!

Worker Queen Bee

While sitting at the airport in Detroit, I couldn't help to over hear a gentlemen speaking VERY loudly.  I wasn't the only one at the airport who's attention he grabbed.  As we all know airports are very loud.
Well, it was also easy to notice that the girl was doing all of the work, and the guy was just pacing around back and forth not accomplishing anything while having a personal conversation.
So I tried my hardest to get a picture without them noticing!

WOL

I find myself while I am typing this ;) that I actually "Wink Out Loud" weird huh?

Wink on Flickr - Photo Sharing!



Anyway, we are done with the Detroit Freepress Marathon. The weather was pretty good overall and really really cold on race day. I like this event for the only reason that you get to run through two countries in one day. I think last year I felt that it was only the full marathoners, but it's not. The half marathons get to enjoy this marathon niche also!
Next stop Washington D.C. for the Marine Corps Marathon!

Put Your Hands Up!

For Detroit:

It's a song "techno" google it if you want :)

Anyway, I left Chicago on Tuesday and got into Texas.  I was there for one day to pick up winter gear.  It's probably been two months since I was home and needed to switch out my one suit case that I have been living out of!

Anyway, last year I remember Detroit being preeetty cold!  D.C. and NYC were not that forgiving either.  I probably will not be home again for another 2 months, it's not like that I was really "home" but I did show face, so I guess that counts ?  Piojo will probably say no since we didn't get a chance to hang out!

Harder Better Faster Stronger

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LETS FINISH!

What We STARTED.

This was a saying and a phrase that I saw a lot of on (custom) t-shirts around town the last couple of days.

I am in Chicago for one of the greatest races that I have ever been able to participate and or be part of in the last two years.

One of the reasons that it is so great, is that my girlfriend probably loves the city of Chicago more than she loves me, and then last year the race was cancelled midway through due to health issues.

Marathons are not easy, they are meant to be hard, I forget that for some reason, and every time I step on the course I am easily reminded.  There are health risks and death can happen as we saw last year.  It is a test of endurance, pride, and physical strength.  Some will finish strong, others will meet goals, and yes, there are those that will not finish the event.  If it was easy, then everyone would be doing it, and the challenge would lose its magnetism.

My girlfriend, My Fiancé, did not relinquish, and finished her first marathon today in the city that she loves the most!

I have to admit, it is not hard to love this town.  As I am not completely excited about the winters, the people, atmosphere, and all of the ambiance does draw you in.  I have been to a lot of places, and Chicago is on my top five hands down.

This year as I ran around the course on the famous CTA, I did notice some differences that were added this year to prevent some of last year’s fatalities.  First the fire hydrants were open in the streets; second the water stations were full from the top to bottom!  Although some of the banana stations were low or at zero, water is the most important element while doing a test of endurance.

The support from sponsors and the city were easy to find and played roles that were very important to the race.

McDonalds, had people with lap tops all over the city to help you track your racer down real time.  They also provided maps and suggestions on the fastest way of arriving to the runner’s next location.  The maps were provided by the Bank of America, and I found this tool to be very useful for me!  The map was also done really well and was made easy for anyone that was not familiar with the City of Chicago.

The CTA also paid for anyone that raced the race!  I was really proud of Chicago for that one!

I have always had this saying stuck in my head:
 

“If you want to win something, run a 100m,  If you want to experience something, run a marathon…”

Are You Down?

With Chi Town?
I am in Chicago again, I flew in the next day right after San Jose.  The weather has been a little cooler here, but it should be perfect for the Chicago Marathon this weekend.
This also will be the last time this year that I will be in Chicago, well, at least for work.  I usually come here on my time off to hang out with my g.f. when possible.
Don't forget that it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month!
I also got my pics from the San Jose Rock & Roll Marathon this weekend.


That's me sporting my BondiBand (Cycling is DOPE!)

Plus the last photo of my iPod, it was stolen in San Jose after my run.
First Adams shoes were stolen in Philadelphia, which is almost expected, and now my iPod.  I am not upset over the iPod, as I am more upset that I lost the miles for the Nike+ Challenge.

I Know the Way, to San Jose...

So I have had my last Distance Race for the Year.  This is the list for the past 10 months.
I count Honolulu , since it was only on December 8  !  :)

• Honolulu
• Phoenix
• Atlanta
• Nashville
• San Diego
• Virginia Beach
• Philadelphia
• San Jose

I have also completed every single Rock & Roll event for the year, minus their NEW San Antonio Rock & Roll.  I will not be able to attend, since I will be over seas at the time.

I am glad to look back and have gone from zero running to all of those events!  I have done others such as 15k, 10ks, 8k,s and 5ks.  But to me the one's above have been my biggest accomplishments!  This was a personal goal that I had set for myself at the beginning of the year, but I have to admit that Nate really pushed me and helped me reach those goals.  He is truly a large part of my success while living our lives on the road.

It is also probably a good thing that I am done, since my knee started to hurt me after the Philly half marathon,  and now it DEFINITELY hurts me!!

Maybe when I am in Rome, or Barcelona I'll run 13.1 miles just for good measure, while the San Antonio Rock & Roll is going on!

Another Book.

After finishing several excellent reads, I felt adventurous and purchased books without recommendations.

Richard Preston

As I personally hate to leave a negative review, I felt that this book was just not for me. I love stories about passion and seeing life in a different perception, but this book was more full of facts than stories. This is not a bad thing, but it was just not my cup of tea.

I am in the process of reading a new book, and the first three chapters have grabbed my attention. This purchase also was a random and adventurous buy, and hopefully I will discover what I was looking for!
Although "The Wild Trees" was not for me. I did finish it from beginning to end and completed what I started.

Top That?

I look back at this year and I am in complete shock at the things that I have done/accomplished and the people that I have met.
I am not just talking about the "famous" people, I am talking about all of the great people that I have met throughout my travels.
I wonder to myself how could I possibly come close to topping any of this next year???
I also felt like that after my last post, how could my NEXT post top that post!?
The Tour De France was pretty good, and somehow, at least I personally feel like I was able to come close to it with Canada and Interbike Las Vegas.
In about a month I will be taking off to Spain, Italy, and France for a two week cruise that finishes in New York City. Afterwards I fly back to Vegas for the Las Vegas marathon. Las Vegas Marathon is my last event for the year. It is also up in the air if I am going to Kona, Hawaii after Vegas or not.

Here are some pics from the Vegas Crit.




The last pic is completely NON photoshopped! I promise! :)