the season of excess

oh hi again!!  damn, i’m not even keeping up with my previous “once-a-week” thang.  but the last coupla weeks have been the weeks of the holiday party and other assorted goodies (yet not much running)

To sum up the last coupla weeks:

at the work holiday party. damn, i really need a new pose.

playing bouncer at the Flyers holiday party. Apparently the most in-demand party there is.

and there were home-baked cookies by yours truly!! can u tell the color scheme I was going for?

ok, this has nothing to do with the last coupla weeks, but i just felt like posting a pic of my dog brother.

 So there being lotsa eating, drinking and socializing.  Which also equals hangovers, late nights, not waking up til the afternoon, lazy weekends on the couch.  I’ll actually be glad when January comes around and the party season has died down.  but don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun.  Work party was a good time, though this time around the CFO wasn’t even there, so a certain party tradition did not happen this year   But what did suck?  Party on Wednesday, work on Thursday (couldn’t take off like I usually do since our group had a vendor take us out to lunch.)  Flyers party was a good time as usual, though some peeps were missed.  Throw in others here and there…then last nite I crashed the Flyers speedwork session (as UA is on hiatus this month) and partied at Rathbone’s afterwards (yum 2-for-1 Blue Moons…love their 2-for-tuesdays!)…sorta late night for a “school night” but still fun.  But man, I don’t know what worked harder yesterday, my legs or my lungs.  Short repeats on minimal running are not the best…neither was breathing in that cold, icy air.  Thinking tempo is better for the winter months…?

On the topic of running, no races on the horizon right now.  After that crappy job at the 10K, I figured a 15K PR would not be happening and decided to pass on that race.  (Turned out to be a good thing-as I didn’t leave a party the night before til after 3 AM!)  I had tossed my name in the ring for the NYC Half, but I got rejected…as did 90% of the tri-state area…

Needless to say, NYRR’s facebook page blew up, and rightfully so.  Did I know there would be a chance of being rejected?  Oh yeah.  Did I know I wouldn’t have a shot in hell of getting in?  Hells no.  i definitely think that NYRR did not handle this well.  Between pushing off the lottery to mid-December (and leaving many in danger of getting closed out of other spring halfs) to disclosing all this information after the fact…I do appreciate that they sort of “came clean” but it’s also “too little too late.”  (And yeah, the truth does hurt.  Meaning about how they’ve strayed so far from their “base,” local runners (no I don’t mean local elite.)  As a friend of mine said (very well, I may say): “NYRR needs to remember their Charter and that the club was formed First & Foremost to benefit runners in New York City; The club was NOT formed to host triathlons, pay rabbits for professional track meets in CA, or to donate money to professional clubs in Mammouth Lakes or Minnesota.“  (There’s a good post on Joe’s blog too.)

So next year will be interesting I guess.  Especially since now NYRR is offering a guaranteed entry to the 2012 NYC Half for those who complete 4 out of 5 borough halfs in 2011.  I feel they are just going to cause another problem to try and solve another.  (Oh and don’t even get me started about the $70 registration fee for the More Half-marathon-which is 2 loops of Central Park!)  First off, given that 2 of the 5 halfs are on Saturdays, if someone can’t race on Saturdays for work or religious reasons, or other reasons, they’re automatically out of it (same thing for Sundays too.)  Secondly, those who want to run the borough halfs just to run them (and not caring about NYC Half entry) may get screwed.  Brooklyn is already tough to get into, I see it selling out in record time this year. (you can bet i’m going to jump on registration once it opens!)  Not to mention how they are always changing around the dates of the borough halfs…

As for me, I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get in, but it’s not the end of the world (there’s always the Brooklyn Half I guess.)  I’ve only done the NYC Half once and it was a bad race for me, so I thought that like Brooklyn, this could be a good race to “get revenge” on.  Guess only way I will ever get to run it again will be to have a qualifying time under my belt-and please don’t tell me that it’s so easy and everyone should be able to do it.  Those qualifying standards are no joke, even having my best half-marathon ever I still came up 36 seconds short…

Anyways, back to work…man, they’re still expecting us to work?  Doesn’t everyone go away for the holidays?

thing #256 that i hate about dating

okay, despite what the title may hint at, this post is not going to be solely devoted to bitching about the single life.  i just kinda liked the post title

so actually, this is a writeup about NYRR Club Night.  which as you all may know, is one of my favorite events, this being the 5th time I attended.  I’m always up for meeting others in the running community, and at an event like this, the atmosphere is actually a little more relaxed (unlike at a race where everyone’s out to get each other )  Like last year’s event, it was held at the Hard Rock Cafe, but this time they were bringing back the post-awards ceremony dancing!   I was glad, I felt that was a better way for the clubs to mingle.  As I had mentioned last year-I felt the cocktail hour was more “find your teammates so you can sit together during the awards” than a chance to mingle with the other teams.  So thumbs up to NYRR for listening to our feedback!!

So contrary to what I just said, ther was actually some minor mingling going on during the cocktail hour/pre-awards.  I was hanging out with the other Flyers who attended, but I was able to say hi/catch up with friends from other teams too…while ever so often, looking at the flat screen TVs that showed a slideshow from the 2009 races to see if we could spot any Flyers (Lam-you were spotted!)

So…time for the awards ceremony.  As our men moved up to the “A” division in 2009, no award for them this year.  Our 50+/veteran women won 3rd place in their division…congrats ladies, I am sure you gals will be #1 in 2010!   And of course, watched all the individual age-group winners get their awards…as I helped with the awards process this year, not a lot of it was surprising to me   The ceremony ended with a pictorial “decade in review”…ahhh brought back memories.  And a couple of us came away with this with ideas to improve our own team’s awards…

Anyway, most of the other Flyers left right after the awards ceremony, but EF and SD stuck around…not surprising, they are the dancing king and queen of the Flyers   And let me tell you…I was definitely glad to have them around.  Here is the part that has some relevance to this post title.  I do go to these events with an open mind…not with the expectation that I will meet someone, but “you never know.”  But let me say, it is just disturbing how aggressive and “grabby” a few of the men were.  And that anyone considers it to be appropriate behavior.  And this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with it…I remember a Jewish singles event where the same thing happened.  But I’ll tell you, this is one thing I truly hate about being single.  I mean, I don’t think I was “asking for it”, I wasn’t dressed overly slutty (if anything, I probably am more covered up than when I am running!)…it sorta ruined what should have been my favorite part of the evening.  I mean seriously…if someone’s body language signals that not interested, feeling uncomfortable…just stop it for godssakes!!

The music was good, but I kept having to excuse myself…to either say I needed to talk to someone, or get another drink…was actually a little bit of a relief when the night was over.  And guys-I know you are all not like that.  hell, one of my teammates met her boyfriend at Club Night a few years back and they are still together now.  I just seem to be a magnet for the wrong guys I guess.  Next year, if I don’t have a boyfriend, I will need to bring a bodyguard or something…

Oh, and can you believe it, the NYRR photographer actually caught me in action on the dance floor…

it had me in stitches

So…another year, another Flyers Awards Gala.  And unlike what others say, I do not consider this to be like a prom.  Let’s see…the prom, you have pressure to find a date.  And if you don’t have a date you don’t attend the event.  (That was me back in the day.)  This party…not so much!!  Plenty of peeps were there stag.  If anything, I think with all the glamour and fashion that graced the Midtown Loft, that this is more like one of those red-carpet awards shows…Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes, MTV Awards, etc. (except thankfully, no Kanye West moments!) than a silly high school dance

runner26, DD and me-triple trouble strikes again!

So anyway…I arrived “fashionably late” (less than a half hour after the real start time) to find the place already packed…well not a surprise, considering this event actually sold out this year!!  So I mingled with Flyers old and new (and tried to avoid a certain one who I have no idea why he even renewed his team membership-though is a good candidate for the “least likely to take a hint” award) and sipped some Cosmopolitans.  However-I did not partake in the food though in favor of mingling…but partially because I was a little bit wary of the food after the issue with the “Flyer Flu” last year (a crazy amount of Flyers got the flu after last year’s awards gala, and the food was one of the suspects)…but also I didn’t have the patience for the ridiculously long line.  And I did make sure to eat beforehand in anticipation…but as it turned out, that may have been an error on my part…

dancin'!

OK so time for the awards, which pretty much went off without a hitch.  All awards recipients were happy, those who we really had to keep the secret from (because they were involved in one of the awards committees somehow even though they were gonna receive awards) were truly surprised…and the crowning jewel of the evening was Crazy Bandanahead winning Flyer of the Year!!  (see his acceptance speech!)  Congrats Bandana-brain…well-deserved!!  Can’t believe it was only…4 years ago when we first met at the Chelsea Piers track meet…now you’re all grown up!!  my how time flies…

And time for my favorite part of the night…dancing!!  The DJ once again did good with the song selection and of course I had to request “I Gotta Feeling” which we were all just screaming along to while dancing…I think that song just may be the “SexyBack” of the 2010′s!   So anyways, the final 2 hours of the night flew by and before we knew it, was the “Last Dance”…

…but we had to keep the party going, and talk after-party, right?  So I approached the mike to make the announcement…and stupid me tripped and fell.  I know it was partially because I had too many Cosmos in me…but the floor was also slippery from everyone spilling drinks (apparently I wasn’t the only one who slipped during the course of the evening)…and I didn’t know it til later, but one of the tips of my heels was broken…but anyway, long story short, when I fell I got cut over by my right eyebrow and it wouldn’t stop bleeding…which led to a trip to the ER to get stitched up (thanks to my saviors for being with me…you know who you are   I owe you both big time!)  So definitely not how anyone wanted the night to end…but could have been a lot worse.  (Note to self-in the future, do not be an idiot at open bar events.  And do eat something!  There, I’m putting it here to hold myself accountable.)

With the exception of the “mini-stitches” by my eyebrow, I’m fine now though (I think I had more headaches this week from work than the actual impact)…running did have to take a backseat this week…was a little nervous about running in the dark, or even on the treadmill too (knowing how graceful I am and that I’d likely trip) and just wanted to heal up.  (Still planning on running Sunday morning though, who knows how that is gonna go!!)

But despite the ending-the party was great…everyone involved did a fabulous job, as usual!!  Til next year…

spirit fingers

(aka my well-overdue Flyers awards gala recrap. post title is a reference to the movie Bring It On. you’ll see why…)

Another year, another Flyers awards gala. Or as some people refer to it, the “Flyer Prom” (I’m not sure how accurate that is-I mean, there’s no pressure to find a date for this shindig. Or is there?) Another west midtown loft location, which us UWS’ers did not mind in the least Once again, shared a cab w/ Runner26 and her hubby, and arrived around 7:30 to find the party already in full swing…why, oh why, am I not surprised. Everyone dressed to impress, looking fabulous, and lotsa red in the house this year, including myself!! (I think this may have been my favorite awards gala ensemble yet!)

So, a coupla hours of sipping cosmos (it went with the ensemble!), sampling the catered goods, catching up with Flyers old and new, it was time for the actual awards ceremony. It started off with the annual “Year in Pictures,” which I had a hand in choosing both the pictures (yes-I actually allowed the underwear run picture to stay in there!) and the music (well just one of the songs, but was still cool to hear!) Then time for the actual awards-and let me say, our MC’s did a great job, they were totally themselves, very entertaining. As I co-chaired the awards committee this year, the recipients were not a surprise to me…except one-the “Team Spirit” award.

If possible, we try to spread the awards out so as many people as possible can win, and someone doesn’t wind up taking home 2 or 3 awards. So when our original nominee for the Team Spirit award was actually slotted to win something else, was back to the drawing board. A couple of nominees were thrown out-including myself (nominated by someone else-I would never put myself up for an award, I think it’s not kosher when I’m heading the committee) and all of a sudden the email chains got quiet, until my co-chair sent an email to me and a couple of others saying we were in contention so we were left out of the discussion-so that was that until the actual awards ceremony. Honestly, knowing who I was up against, I was sure it was going to go to one of them (I felt they did more for the team than I do.)

So, back to the present…time for the “Team Spirit” award…and who will it be? RB starts the couple of lines about the awards recipient…as soon as he said “she” I was thinking “ohmigod…no way.” I knew. My name got called. Applause. Go up to the front and accept my award. Pose for the camera. Walk back to my seat to even more applause. Throw an arm up in the air in jubilation. Get back to my seat still smiling. And that all felt so surreal-like I was watching myself through all that. (Is that how the Oscar/Grammy/etc. winners feel, I wonder?)

Watched the rest of the awards winners, capped off by the Flyer of the Year presentation, which went to who I felt was a very deserving winner and was very happy to see her get it-and the outgoing Flyer of the Year presented it beautifully too. For the most part, the awards were great and I was proud of the job that the committee did. One thing did bring it down-one of my good friends had improved a lot last year and it was very close between her and another woman, but the other woman edged her out. Her disappointment kinda brought me down a little-I hate seeing friends upset like that, and I guess I felt partially responsible, even though I thought I did the right thing. (It did blow over by the end of the evening. But still…)

Ahhhh time for dancing!! I don’t know what I was more buzzed on-the cosmos or my award, but the dancing was a great time as usual…I swear, this part seems to fly by quicker and quicker each year!! And at around midnight, I went to the DJ booth to request a song and they said “we’ve only got 2 minutes left” and “Last Dance” started playing and I think a lot of people were wondering…”huh?” as the dancing was supposed to go til 12:30!! If it was a misunderstanding, it got cleared up, and the music played for another half-hour, finishing off with “Sexyback”…a better way to end the evening Afterwards, I followed the crowd that went to the nearby bar/lounge Stitch for the after-party…before I knew it, was around 3 am and was time to head home. (And needless to say I was not very productive the next day!! This chick has not stayed out that late in a long time…)

I say this every year, but I felt this year’s awards gala was the best one yet!! Do we really have to wait another year for the next one…?

those blue drinks are evil!!

See those drinks that me and crazybandanahead are holding? Those are Blue Moonaritas-just should be referred to as “just plain evil.” I hadn’t even checked in at the NYRR Club Night yet before I had one handed to me. Yep, just that alone shoulda signaled how the evening was gonna be.

Don’t get me wrong, I did have a great time. After a lot of efforts in the last month or so to fill the Flyer tables (it was tougher this year-partially because the price had gone up again, but partially because once again, it was too close to the awards gala)-we got there, and had a pretty good group attending…from the open runners to the super vets.

Our team was the recipients of team awards yet again…our open men won third in their division, and our veteran women won second in theirs (and from what I heard-were very close to first!!) I of course initiated the screaming, I mean cheering when they were announced…congrats again, but next year I want to see both of you get first and get up on stage!

Then-the individual awards…and as everyone was quite antsy to get do the dancing, I do appreciate the efforts to move along this part of the program as quickly as possible. Our veteran superstar had won her age group last year, and was up again this year but unfortunately lost out (you’ll get em next year!!)

And then came my favorite part…the dancing. And this year, I actually got nabbed on the NYRR site…with what is apparently my “signature arm in the air move” (as I was doing that same move in quite a few pics on the Flyer site!! Need a new schtick…) But by then, those damn blue drinks snuck up on me. Needless to say, there was no repeat of last year’s post party, and I was glad I had off from work on Friday

All in all? Another fun and inspirational evening (and bandanahead agrees) If I can be running my best times 10 or so years down the line I’d be happy…but next year, stick solely to wine!!

the best night ever

(post title inspired by title of an episode from The Hills Season 2. )

Not sure about the “best night ever,” but last nite’s Flyers awards gala was definitely a fabulous night. After the last 2 years’s shindigs taking place at the Manhattan Club, it changed venues this year to SunWest Studios Loft-a very funky loft space in way west Manhattan which inside, had the appearance of a trendy NYC loft party, and awesome views of the city from both the windows and the outside balcony. Definitely give this venue change a thumbs up!!

Anyway, had a new dress for the occasion (which thankfully I was able to fit into-LOL!! I took chances by snatching it up on sale last June…) had all the accessories, shoes, hair and makeup all ready to go…I met up with Runner26 and her husband to share a cab to the party and by the time we got there, it was already packed!! Surprised…in the words of R26 herself “We don’t have to be fashionably late-just fashionable!” Guess everyone had the same idea-or just wanted to take advantage of the open bar…knowing my team, I think the latter

After about an hour and a half of sipping cosmos, socializing, posing for pictures, comparing formal attire (and who knew kilts were in fashion this year!! i spotted em on 3 of our guys…) it was time for the awards ceremony. The “Year in Photos” show was always entertaining, especially when I see pics of me in there…I spotted one of me and HC at Urban Athletics after the Snowflake 4-miler, me running up CPW during the Mini 10K (which another teammate commented to me that one seemed to get a lot of applause…), a team picture of Team Black at Need For Speed…and oh yeah, one of my chest, I mean the Flyers logo (yeah Dr. Evil…sure thats the real reason for using that picture!!) After that, was time for the actual awards, and the two MC’s did a great job…usually the natives are restless during the awards part because they want to get back to the drinking and dancing, but they made the awards presentations very entertaining. Wasn’t a huge surprise to me, since I was on the awards committee and had a big part of choosing the awards, but was great to see the presentations, and so many deserving peeps win…including quite a few bloggers

And very fittingly, the dancing started off with one of my favorites-”SexyBack” the final 2 hours seemed to pass by in such a blur…everything from current dance, to 80s to 70s to salsa and then all of a sudden, “Last Dance” came on…mind you, I was not drunk, but I guess time really flies when you are having fun!! Not ready to end the night, we all attempted to come up with an after-party plan…and not surprisingly, Kanvas was chosen…since I think that was probably the closest place-but was way too packed. So…I think everyone scattered after that…I wound up with the group who ended up going nearby to grab some food and just discuss the great night that went by.

Thankfully not hungover, but useless today-didn’t get to sleep til after 3 and didn’t move from bed til around 2. Such a great weekend…between the gala and a great time at a friend’s b-day party on Friday nite…

And the dress was a hit, and I intend to bring it out again in a month at NYRR’s Club Night!! Looks like we are gonna have a very lively group there again and I’m excited for it. (And hope we reprise the post-party…heh heh.)

(partially) off the fence

In my last post, I mentioned 2 holiday things I was sorta on the fence about participating in. I’ve gone ahead and signed up for one (the Midnight Run)-due to the fact that it ties into other plans that nite…

As for the other-still wavering. What I will wind up deciding, will be revealed in a coupla days or so :-p

In other news, I think it should be known that the Flyers‘ infamous Dr. Evil makes the strongest cosmopolitans that I have ever tasted. This ain’t no chick drink anymore.

and what were you doing on december 15th?

Well according to this, you most likely were attending some type of holiday party whose invitation found its way to you via Evite. And I was one of those, in fact, that would have been the last one in my 3-party weekend…

Thursday nite-work party. (The day of was such a wasted day with regards to being productive-between a long meeting, holiday lunch, and secret santa gift exchange.) Newer, bigger venue this year, consensus was that this was an upgrade from the past coupla years. The mojito was the choice drink of the evening, coupled with a coupla rounds of kamikaze shots (which I felt the next morning…first I was thinking “no more mojitos” then I remembered “oh yeah…i did shots too, didn’t i.”) which left me just beautifully buzzed and quite happy on the dance floor-but believe me, I was one of the tamer people there!! (though bosslady just had to ask during the evening how many drinks I had…whatever…) yep, it would not be a holiday party without our financial guy dancing to “Baby Got Back”-and ripping his shirt off near the end of the evening. (sorry-no pictures for public consumption!) Thank god I had off the next day, I had a killer headache and was thinking “oh man…I have to do this again tonite????”

Friday was HM’s annual tree-trimming party, each year with a specific theme-this year was Mexican-complete with margaritas, mariachis, and pinatas. (And let it be known, I am dangerous when trying to break a pinata…) And once again, Santa made an appearance and was way too happy to have the women sit on his lap :-p Had fun, but left relatively early (little after midnight)-as I wanted to make sure I got up in time to get a long run in before the Flyers‘ “meet the candidates” brunch. (Did a full 6, then did the 4-mile loop in the opposite direction of the Holiday 4-miler to cheer the runners on, then did another 1 to get over to the east side.)

Saturday was SS and DM’s tree-trimming party-and combination potluck too, my contribution was a dozen cupcakes from Buttercup Bake Shop (what…you dont think I really used my oven for anything other than storage??) We all wined, dined, and made the tree pretty

Needless to say, I was pretty much useless on Sunday, with the exception of spin class, watching the Survivor finale, and finishing up a work document I had been procrastinating on for awhile.

The festivities have died down a bit-had a holiday lunch and gift exchange with my group at work this week, and then have my last holiday party of the season tomorrow nite. (Unless you count the 2 things I am sorta on the fence about…The Ball on XMas Eve and the Midnight Run on New Year’s…)

Pictorial evidence from the Friday night party is below (since I have no pictures of Saturday and I know better than to post any pictures from Thursday’s party publicly )

santa baby

And it wouldn’t be a Flyers holiday party without at least one-or all-of the following…

• talk about the upcoming exec board election
• campaigning, kissing babies, or giving out candies and other assorted sweet stuff by said nominees
• massive alcohol consumption
• a visit from Santa, inviting all the Flyer women to sit on his lap. (Bonus points if said Santa is Jewish!)

Yeah, what can I say. I took the bait and sat on his lap :-p

And apparently what I told Santa I wanted for the holidays…well, apparently it was the most popular request of the night!!

it has begun…

and it couldn’t even wait til December. yep, the holiday season. the holiday parties have already started, and there’s quite a few more on the horizon…

(though i’m not surprised about the early start, considering XMas decorations have been up in stores since after Halloween!! And Hanukkah is early this year…)

This past Friday, I crashed the TRD holiday party (well not really crashed, as I was invited ) Was fun and quite a late night (cant remember the last time I stayed out past 3 am!) and rendered me useless on Saturday-with the exception of a 10-mile long run where I everso gracefully tripped and fell on the bridle path-and no that was not due to alcohol, I wasn’t even hung over!! :-p (my butt still hurts even now from the fall though…and I know I am opening myself up to a lot of comments on that one from my smartazz commentors :-p )

This week brings the Flyers holiday party, and Hanukkah with the family over the weekend. Then next week has the extended weekend of the holiday party, with my work party next Thursday, and 2 others on Friday and Saturday!! And I just got an invite for another party the weekend after…

But I’m not complaining at all, I’m glad that I can actually enjoy it all this year!! (Well with the exception of not partaking in eating a lot of holiday treats…booo…)

And running…well, just finished my 4th week in a row of 30+ miles (too bad that the majority of those miles were done at a snail-like pace…) So it is kinda sorta getting there. Still not expecting much on Sunday though. But running in the cold has not been that bad so far, I think some of my new winter apparel has helped…guess it’s all in the attire…

don’t know my own strength sometimes

This picture was taken at a marathon fundraiser party last week…the theme was “Hollywood.” (I didn’t really come in costume, but you can possibly say that I dressed similar to any of those overpublicized young female celebs..)

Anyway, this was me trying to break the pinata…took several tries (including me accidentally hitting someone else!!)…the stick used for breaking was too soft (cardboard is not very effective)…I knocked it down several times easily, but getting it to break was a struggle!!

devil with the blue dress on

yeah, i figure the title was appropriate given my attire for Club Night-and don’t anyone start about how I really am the devil. (Oh, and this was the other dress I was deciding between for the Flyer awards gala.)

If anyone remembers, I organized the Flyer tables last year and was a sucker and volunteered to do it again this year. Though I did have a teammate help me out, it was a little bit more of a task this year, betweeen getting down to the wire to get recruits and communications between NYRR and us being not as good as they were last year…but whatever, we got the job done. Fellow blogger BCG joined me and 18 others to celebrate our team yet again!!

Our teammates had done good this evening…not only did our men get an award for second in the Open B Division (guys, this year will be your year!) but our veteran superstar won the award for her age group…I thought she was robbed last year, so was very glad to see her get it this year!! (and also inspiration that hitting the next age group does not always mean you slow down…as she had improved greatly the last couple years.) And once again, I think our tables’ cheering had the highest decibel level

and eventually came the dancing part…same DJ as last year, and I think same songs as last year (well, except for “SexyBack” since I always have to request it…it’s a thing.) Wasn’t as impressed with the DJ this year…I think the one at the Flyers awards gala played much better music (more 80s stuff, and more current stuff too.) Flyers FR, PD, SC and JD were my dance partners for most of the evening…well when guys twice my age were not trying to hit on me. Yes, I like older men, but there is a limit!! (I know I hit a new age group last year, but this was ridiculous…why can’t guys my age be interested, dammit!! But one of them was quite persistent…after me, he tried hitting on BCG, then Madame President, then Madame President’s husband!)

Unlike last year, when I think I was the last Flyer standing, we had quite a lively group this year that stuck it out til “New York, New York” (the last song of the evening.) JD was intent on keeping the party going and suggested we all hit Faces & Names for a round of post-party drinks. Which we did, and had a coupla more hours of drinks and lively conversation, and I don’t know how the ass photos got inspired (see BCG’s blog for a hint) but it was still pretty funny. (If a certain few of you are reading…memories of a certain someone’s b-day, perhaps?) Before we knew it, was about 2 am and we all headed home.

Was a pretty fun evening…but in a way, a little bit…bittersweet…but hey, as the song goes, “i get by…with a little help…from my friends…”

now playing: “show me what you got” ~ jay-z

winding down

gotta love summer Fridays sometimes. I really needed this one. As I said to a few people last nite, I was calling this one a “hangover Friday.” I double-booked myself last nite, and my drinks over the course of the nite included a strawberry margarita, 2 glasses of prosecco (sparkling wine) and a glass of pinot grigio. (good thing i turned down that last glass of wine, right?) so yeah, mixing. don’t feel too bad today though.

The margarita was at the Boat Basin in honor of a friend’s birthday before I headed to the east side for a fundraiser party one of my teammates was having. My teammate fundraises every year for the marathon, and hosts a fun party with some type of creative theme. This one had a Vegas theme-complete with Elvis!! Though I know quite a few of the guests enjoyed him, I’m honestly not the biggest Elvis fan, so me and a few others stepped outside where it was a little quieter and enjoyed the beautiful night and the view. Oh yeah, did I mention that this party was held on the rooftop of an apartment building on the UES with an amazing view of the city? Fun night, and no worse for wear today.

This week has been insane, not only with the workload and the move. Wednesday night, the Flyers (with the help of 2 other tri clubs-AGTC and TANYC) hosted their 2nd annual “multisport carnival”-which was pretty much a makeshift expo with…i’m guessing around 30? 35?…run/swim/bike/other vendors or clubs in the area. i bought a little t-shirt from the Raising Heartrates calendar booth that says on the front “I raise heartrates.” can’t wait to wear it. LOL.

other notables-i got a nice email informing me that there will be preferred starting corrals at the upcoming NYC Half and that I have run a time in at least 1 NYRR race this year that gets me in (however, i’m in the 3rd of 3 preferred corrals, but every little bit helps…)

i’ve been on my feet so much this week, no wonder my running legs have been dead. my last run this week before the race was an easy 4 on the bridle path and reservoir on Thursday morning but my legs still felt tired. I’m really hoping this 48-hour rest period will do something to get the legs back before the Club Champs tomorrow morning. My 5-mile PR is just under 38 minutes…and I know I’m nowhere near that kind of shape right now, but at this point, I’ll take anything under 40…just to let me know that I am on the right track with my training. Running gods, what do you say?

on a night like this

quoted from one of my teammates, talking about one of the NYRR races that included the pros:
“I gotta say, since I will likely never match wits with Tiger Woods at Augusta National, scramble for a first down in Giants Stadium, or knock a curve ball over the center field wall in The House that Ruth Built, it was pretty neat competing on the same playing field as some of the world’s top athletes.”

That’s part of what makes this running community so special-if for just one day or one night, to be brushing elbows with the best of them…whether they are local celebrities, or national running heroes…or the best of the rest…I really felt last night’s Club Night was a very special atmosphere. Was nice to put aside any team colors and stuff like that and just have a really great night.

One of my first tasks this year as Flyer Member-at-Large was to get a coupla tables reserved and get those seats filled. Well fill them we did-26 people at our 2 tables. And boy did we have spirit too-we made sure we were heard when there was something Flyer-related to cheer about!! Our men’s open team and women’s veterans teams won awards-and one of our veteran women was nominated for an award in her age group but sadly did not win…but I have a feeling next year may be her year, as she has dominated her age group so far in ’06. but still, to just for her to have been nominated…it’s huge.

After the awards, we all danced…and danced…and danced…the music was great (though it’s funny, at first we were wondering if it was the same DJ as the one at the Flyers awards gala, seemed like the same songs were played! good stuff though), and the rest of the park showed that they can party as well as the Flyers do All in all, another great evening.

I’ll definitely be back next year!!

now playing: “on a night like this” ~ kylie minogue

gala-vanting

if there is anything I can say about the Flyers, it’s that they know how to put on a great party. not surprisingly, i had a great time last nite. the planning committee did a great job making this gala even better than the last. nice midtown location, open bar, good food, better turnout than last year.

the party officially started at 7-i got there around 7:15-7:20, thinking i’d be “early”-nope, my teammates waste no time a lot of peeps were already there so for the next coupla hours, just sipped on some apple martinis and mingled.

then came the awards ceremony-kicked off with a slideshow of “the year in pictures.” this part is always fun-great way to cheer for those you see in the pictures, reminisce about the year past, or see what pictures of you wind up in there (i’m not at all surprised this pic wound up in there!!) then, the actual awards were given out. as i was on the awards committee and helped in the decision-making process, the recipients weren’t a surprise to me at all, but fun to see everyone’s reaction. then the ’05 exec board officially passed the torch to the ’06 exec board-our reign had begun.

my favorite part of the evening came next and lasted til the end of the evening-the dancing the DJ played everything from oldies to salsa to current dance music to 80s music. boy were my feet tired by the end of the evening-they don’t call these shoes “killer heels” for nothing. but the party didn’t end-a bunch of us went to the bar downstairs for the after-party and kicked back a few more…finally got home a little after 3. slept til about 1:30 today-thankfully not hung over (didnt even get overly drunk last nite-i guess i can actually have fun without being wasted-go figure) just tired, especially my feet/legs…its gonna be running shoes or flats for me for the next few days!!

til next year…

surprise, surprise

so, my dad only gets one 60th birthday. and for some reason beyond all logical comprehension, my mom decides to throw him a nice surprise party at a nearby restaurant with dj, dancing, good food and open bar. but you understand, it’s almost impossible to get *anything* past him. we were all sure he’d find out. but as it turned out, surprised he was last nite to walk into the party room of the restaurant and see about 30 friends, family and loved ones. he expected that something was up, but not something that big!! so it was a good time. i was more sober than my mom was (she is never allowed to lecture me about drinking again, now she knows where i get it from!) my brother and i were not embarassed to be dancing with the other “adults” like we were at our bat/bar mitzvahs (as now we understand that they were all buzzed while dancing way back when.) we kept teasing my cousin about his 15 minutes of fame…it’s just the story that keeps on giving. my dad got appropriately toasted and roasted and showered with gifts. all in all, the evening was a success. (and my family is 2 for 2 in surprise parties this year-my brother and i threw a nice surprise dinner for the parentals’ 35th anniversary.) love ya dad!! here’s to many more!!

And as if Hershey’s mint kisses weren’t enough chocolate temptation (and i noticed there is a petition to try and get them made permanent, cool) I discovered something even better-Hershey’s mint miniatures. mint milk chocolate, mint dark chocolate and-the absolute kicker-white chocolate with mint candy bits-i mean, how can you get much better than that last one?? man oh man…please someone remind me i have a dress i still need to fit into next month for the Flyers’ awards party…

now playing: “rie y llora” ~ celia cruz

all that glitters

last nite’s tree-trimming party was a lot of fun…so much fun that i didn’t make it home til after 2 and could not drag myself out of bed til noon…

the XMas tree, in all its decorated, glittering glory…

Me and Derek posing for the camera

Me sitting on Santa’s lap…methinks he enjoyed it a lot

where did this year go?

seriously. it felt like just yesterday that i was approached at the Flyers’ awards party back in January by our newly elected president, asking if i wanted to be social chair. it too also seemed like yesterday that I was running for e-board for the first time.

but there i was last nite. my co-social chair and i raising a shot to ourselves at this, our last big event of ’05. you know the event is a success when we stay so long that we get “kicked out.” last nite’s holiday party at Blondies on the east side…good food, open bar, good company, can’t ask for much more sometimes. oh yeah, a surprise visit from Santa too…let’s just say i knew who in our club would be perfect for playing Santa…and he went for it. i’m sure he had lots of fun having people sit on his lap

and yes…i was well behaved when it came to the open bar…hey, this girl had campaigning to do!! and it just felt so good to not feel like i was constantly being watched…see, i can pace myself. and i can learn from mistakes

oh and brightroom posted the pics from the Kleinerman 10K…this one picture of me didn’t turn out half-bad…who knew i was capable of anything resembling a smile in the last mile of a 10k…

ah…so nice to have today and tomorrow off. especially in case the MTA does strike tomorrow…which i really hope does not happen. ever since i’ve been living/working in the city, every time a strike has been threatened, it’s been averted at the 11th hour. but i am a little surprised that my company hasn’t given us any contingency plans…there is no way i am walking the 70-something blocks in each direction every day…and this chick does not make enough to take cabs to/from work on a regular basis. and i know i’m not the only one in that boat. i could work from home, but there is only limited stuff i could do.

Update-just got a memo from my company saying that we are still expected to come in to work-and those who cant go into work due to the strike will have to charge it to vacation/personal time. I’m lucky that I’m carrying over a shitload of vacation days to ’06, but what about those employees who exhausted all their ’05 vacation/personal time already? i’m sorry, but i think my company could have done a little better job at a contingency plan.

let’s just hope, for everyone’s sake, it doesn’t get to this point…

now playing: “i’m outta love” ~ anastacia

we’ll always have "dancing queen"

little background on the title. at a work party this summer, a coworker and i were playing around on the jukebox and for whatever reason, we both chose ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” therefore, at any future events-including last nite-one of us has to say the title of this post.

as for last nite…little mixed. music was good, had a fun time dancing. food was decent too. paced myself well with the drinks…yeah, that was a sore spot. seemed like everyone was watching me to make sure I wasn’t drinking too much or too fast or whatever. what…just because i was dancing and having fun, it meant i was wasted? not so. anyway, i thought i was imagining things, but no, the hr manager gave me a mini-lecture when i mentioned going to the after-party…at that point i was like “f*ck it, i’m going home, sick of being baby-sat.” you know, i will be the first to admit i made a mistake at EB’s party…but do you really think i want to re-live it? no.

plus part of me is thinking i am really outgrowing these work events…a good part of the evening i was thinking how i can’t wait for the Flyers’ holiday party and awards party and how much fun i will have at both those events.

fun stuff coming up this weekend…tomorrow morning, the flyers’ annual “toys for tots” event…i won’t be participating in the running, but will partake in the caroling and hospital visit later that nite, will have 1 drink on the early side for my friend’s b-day (though other teammates are taking bets on whether or not i will be out til 3 am like the nite before the Mother’s Day 5k.) then the 10k sunday (which i’m feeling optimistic about…albeit cautiously) followed by brunch with the other nyc bloggers!! how cool is that

oh, and i stumbled upon what i consider chocolate perfection. Chelle has Coffee KitKats…Uptown Girl has peanut butter Hershey’s kisses…for me, it’s the limited edition Mint Hershey’s Kisses. And if i had any say, these would be available year-round…they’re *that* good.

now playing: “take a picture” ~ filter

joining the white headphones brigade

yep, you heard that right. even though i had doubts about joining the “white headphones brigade” of iPod users, i think i will be getting a nano for Hanukkah. i wanted something that could hold more music, and was easier to make playlists with and just easier to search for certain songs/artists on the device…my music is important to me and a couple of my teammates gave the nano glowing reviews.

ahh…holiday season. still got a coupla weekends to do my shopping…as this year Hanukkah is late-same day as Christmas, in fact!! But in terms of festivities, it all starts this week, kicking off with my work holiday party this Thursday. Last year the Flyers holiday party was the same night…so in my attempt to multitask, this was what wound up happening:

5-6 pm: pre-game at a nearby bar with a co-worker before work party. have an apple martini.
6-7 pm: office party-mingle a bit, grab a few hors d’oeuvres and another apple martini
7-7:30 pm: chatting with one of my co-workers at the restaurant bar. have one more appletini “for the road.”
7:30-head uptown to the Flyers party
approx 7:45-??? all a blur, but i vaguely remember having some wine (not smart!), trying to “work the room” in an attempt to drum up votes, heading out to a nearby bar for an after-party, crashing BIG TIME, eventually cabbing it home. woke up at 11 the next morning.

yeah, hindsight said i had a little too much to drink, but it was also a week full of late nights and early morning runs so i knew i was gonna crash and burn sometime that week, was just a matter of when.

so yes, one year older and hopefully one year wiser, will try not to repeat the same mistakes of the past

now playing : “believe” ~ from the “run lola run” soundtrack