to 26.2 or not to 26.2?

Of course I have been slacking on the blogging once again, but I found a little downtime at work today so here I am.

I need your guys help! I have been having a dilemma for the past few days since I attended (attended is the key word... not participated in) the Marine Corps Marathon:

My cousin's husband, Mike, was running in it-- his second marathon-- and we always tend to make it a huge family reunion when one of our own is braving the 26.2 mile trek. So we all woke up at 6am to secure our parking spot and places at the starting line. As we waited, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mike running by in his orange tshirt, black shorts, and black visor (we made sure to take note of his exact outfit so as to have a tiny chance of spotting him in the masses of 30,000 runners), I was in awe at those who started before the actual runners: those people who were unable to run and were using the handicap bikes, using only their hands to keep them moving. I literally teared up when I saw them start the race. It doesn't take much for me to tear up these days- elderly people, homeless people, CSI commericals- but this was a real doozy. A soldier with no legs, a woman with only one leg and one arm, and a older man with all appendages but an apparent disability were all about to tackle the 26.2 mile journey using nothing but their hands to pedal their bike. At that instant, all I could think was- "I am pathetic." Seriously, if these people who have already gone through so much in their lives can compete in such a race, then what am I doing with my life?

...& there lies the dilemma. I feel like I should take advantage of my health and my youth, suck it up, and start the journey. The most I think I have ever run in my entire life is a 10k, which I ran during my senior year of college to raise money for my deceased Aunt's scholarship fund. Since then, I have somewhat dreaded running in any race and have essentially avoided the treadmill and my new balances altogether. (don't judge me too much- I graduated from college in 2008, so it wasn't THAT long ago that I ran the race... and besides that, it was in the SPRING of 08). OKAY I'm lazy. Its settled.

I have a year to train if I am going to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon, so I need to make a decision pronto. Input is needed asap. If you would like to train me or run in it with me or even give me some pointers, by all means please do. The Marine Corps 10k, on the same day as the marathon, is looking all too tempting, but I might just go for the big one. You will just have to wait and see.

My family with Mike, post marathon.

Body Issues? None for DC United.

Have you ever dreamed of seeing the whole DC united team naked?

Well thanks to ESPN magazine, this fantasy can soon be a reality. Tomorrow, their "Body Issue" will be on stands and the area's favorite soccer team will be pictured in the buff.

My boyfriend just forwarded me an article from NBC Washington website called "United We Strip" since our friend Bryan Namoff is featured in the piece. (Wait... that makes him sound gay and I promise you that he is not). He forwarded me the article because he thought that Iiiii would enjoy the photo. It is really funny to see that Bryan is included in the picture of six soccer players, completely naked and placing their hands in an assuming position. The cliche move would be to have the soccer ball playing a role in covering some parts (I think...right. I swear I have seen that done before)? I wonder how Nadine, Bryan's wife, feels about this shot?

Bryan is second from left, with a classic expression on his face.

(http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-09-28-espnmag-body-issue_N.htm)

Aside from these United players, their issue also features gymnast & Dancing With The Stars Winner Shawn Johnson. Anyone else find it semi-strange that Shawn Johnson is included? She is definitely an awesome athlete, but is she even 18?She doesn't look a day past 14 to me. She's definitely going to get carded until she is at like 28. Lucky bia. Regardless, her inclusion in the issue= still creepy. But, not as bad as this picture that I found in a Google image search of Shawn's picture for the Body Issue:


Enough said.

The Girls of Madison

Not sure if I completely agree with the way that these girls from my alma mater are being portrayed, but I guess if you got it, flaunt it.. right? Plus, the proceeds are going to the SPCA and (once approved) JMU's SafeRides program.

http://www.thegirlsofmadison.com/

Adrienna, Anne, & Gab on pages 1, 3, and 8 are my sorority sisters... and the best looking in the calendar, I think. But I am probably just biased..

Go girls :) Miss you!

Inn at Little Washington

Last night, my friend Megan and I drove out to literally the middle of nowhere to a little slice of heaven called The Inn at Little Washington. It was our good friend Michaele's birthday so we took the journey to share her day with her. If it had not been for the typical bumper to bumper traffic that occurs in DC anywhere from 3-8pm every weekday, we could have made it there in an hour... but no. We made it in about 2.. and that is probably being generous. However, when we finally arrived at our destination, it was BEAUTIFUL and we were relieved.

Probably the highlight of the evening was when Michaele decided it would be a good idea to take the trick candle (that would obviously not blow out) and attempt to put it out on the antique table while smushing it with her new Jimmy Choo heels from her husband... always thinking, M!!! :)

So, due to a minor casualty (aka my camera breaking), I sadly did not get any pictures of the gorgeous place. However, Google image pulled through as usual and located some pictures that capture the beauty of the place.


This is a picture of the gardens outside the restaurant that you walk through to get to the guesthouse. It is so peaceful there in the middle of the country that I would just love to sit on those white chairs and have a glass of wine with a friend.

This was what I saw as soon as I exited the garden... the guest house where there is a waiting list of years to stay in the suites. We had cake and champagne here for Michaele's birthday and then hung out in the master bedroom for an impromptu photoshoot with all of the girls.

Lastly, this is the Chef/Owner Patrick O'Connell who was so gracious to us and kept checking in on us to make sure we were having the best dining experience possible. He really made us feel at home there.

Anyway, just wanted to share from pictures from my evening and document my current obsession... I want to go back there for dinner every night (well only if I could be teleported , that is). The women that I was sitting with at dinner told that if a man is the right one, he will bring me to the Inn at Little Washington. So here I am, waiting... :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHAELE.

"Horny for Zorny"... not anymore-ny

empty stadium.. post game

Poor Redskins (and everyone who decided it would be a great idea at some point in their lives to get a visible Redskins logo tattooed on their body)...

This was my view from our suite last Sunday when the Skins squeaked out a W against the Rams... I believe this could potentially be what the stadium looks like for the rest of the season ( fan-less) if the Redskins don't get their stuff together!

Time will tell... I wish them all the best!

Thoughts/Questions/Well-wishes?

P.S. the "Horny for Zorny" phrase was obviously not original. It was borrowed from the Sports Junkies & is engraved in my skull after listening to them in the car rides to JMU/ roadtrips with my dad.

check out the apparel... they are also offering a "get rid of him" logo

http://stores.colorworkspromotions.com/TheFan/HFZ/

whirlwind

I am back to my blog. Swear. Last time I will ever leave you for this long.

So obviously, I am horrible at keeping up with this and have almost given up completely and decided that I would just use twitter as my online journal. However, I am not quite ready to throw up the white flag just yet.. I think I still have more to offer. So here I am, back to fill you in on my life and the DC happenings as I fit into them.

Let me just say that my life has been a whirlwind since I last wrote. I have been busy busy moving into my new Georgetown apartment, bartending (well kind of... more on that later), working for Uncle Sam, and going to events all around town, such as Redskins game, salon openings, and fundraisers.

I WISH that everything that I dealt with at work did not have to be confidential because the stories I've gathered are some AMAZING blog material. But, so as to not lose my job/only source of income right now, I must abstain from sharing that dirt.

So here I am, back in action. (I like recapping it for you this way... so much easier):
In the past month I have:

-lost my Tory Burch clutch
-found my Tory Burch clutch (well it was slipped through my door's mail slot three weeks later- still confused)
-killed my camera (think that is number 7 at least)
-become a DC resident
-watched a Redskins game from the owner's suite
-eaten 5 guys five too many times
-met Hulk Hogan (no joke. and have pictures to prove it)
-celebrated o.y.a with the bf.

Way more to come. (with hopefully less losing/ruining my belongings). Regardless, I won't be MIA ever again.

Sidenote: some interesting news on the horizon. Stay tuned.... (you won't be disappointed)

its been awhile.

I did not realize that I have not written on my blog since July 10th and now I am mad at myself!

Since my last post, I have started working at the bar George in Georgetown. Here are some links so you can check out the bar that I will now be frequenting (sober) on the weekends:

The Scene Bisnow
(Featuring yours truly if you scroll down to the middle of the article).

http://www.bisnow.com/washington_dc_the_scene_news_story.php?p=5120

Review from K Street Kate

http://www.kstreetkate.net/2009/08/by-george.html


The bar is list only but if you are not on it already, let me know and I will put you on it :)


I have nothing else interesting to say today... sorry. Quite a boring entry.
OH actually... I just bought a homeless man a treat from Starbucks. He said that he could not have coffee because then he would be in the bathroom all day, so instead I purchased him a double chocolate brownie-- which I really wanted for myself... but kept thinking WWJD and WWJMD (what would Jillian Michaels [want me to] do?)

until next time I remember to post,

Lauren