Kelocity.com

A runner with an appetite for adventure!

Top of the Sears, I mean Willis, Tower! August 17, 2011

Filed under: Chicago,Family,Sisters,Travel — Kelocity @ 1:24 pm
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Sunday morning, we had plans to go to the top of the Sears Willis Tower. Even though I’d been to Chicago twice before, I’d never been up there! IMG_7186

Laurie explained that the Willis is known as the King, and this crown building is the Queen! They kind of do look like they’d be in love, I suppose.
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We thought we had VIP tickets, but apparently there was still a long line. Oops!
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I had a flight to catch in a few hours, so we convinced the employees to take us up the back freight elevators to bypass the movie and the crowds. Not sure how, but it worked! Up to the top we go!
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My mom is afraid of heights, but she did really well! Good job, mom!
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Looking down at the “Queen”! My, she’s short!
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They also have these glass boxes that jut out of the building that you can stand in. SO cool!
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And no, my mom did NOT go on this. LOL
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Why do both of my sisters pose so well for the camera and then when it’s my turn I do this?! No seriously, Why?!

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I guess that’s my ta-da pose or something.

How amazing is this picture?! So neat! Sisters in the city!
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Shortly after this, we had a fun leisurely lunch just chatting about anything and everything. It was so nice and relaxing. Then it was time for me to go. Sad, I know. There were definitely tears on the “L” platform, but we were all so happy to have a fun weekend together!

 

It’s a shame that such a nice weekend would end with such a horrible airline experience. Stay tuned for that trainwreck of a story!

 

What did I miss in Chicago? Have you been there? I’m making a list for next time!
I’ve been to Navy Pier already. Anything else? I love that town!

 

I got the Bottom Bunk!!!!! July 26, 2011

Filed under: Family,New Hampshire — Kelocity @ 11:27 pm
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We had a nice time in my hometown, but we were pretty excited to head up to Lake Winnipesaukee! I grew up spending my summers up there, and it’s also where we got married. We absolutely love it up there and always try to get in as many lake days as possible when we’re home. My grandparents live up there in the summer too, so it’s nice to spend some time with them.

(PS, my grandparents read my blog so I have to say hi!!!)

Of course as soon as we got on the road to get up there, it started to pour! We were really hoping it would clear up by the time we got up there, the rain was coming down in sheets! Typical New England, right?
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But sure enough, as soon as we arrived, it cleared up! (Also typical New England!) We have arrived!
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Did you see that big boat in the background? That’s the Mount Washington and she’s a beauty. We love watching her go back and forth across the lake during the day.
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I say it all the time, but this spot right here is my “happy place”. If I only had this view for the rest of my life, I’d probably be ok with that. Something about this lake just gives me such peace and really restores my soul.
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It makes me so happy that I now get to share my favorite place with Irving. I’m so glad that he loves it as much as I do. We both practically jumped right into the water after saying hi to my grandparents! We couldn’t wait to dip our toes in the water and then dive right in!
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The rest of the afternoon was spent doing a lot of this:
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And then later, a little of this!
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I love playing Mexican Train Dominos with my grandmother. We pretty much played all kinds of games all week long, if that doesn’t scream summer vacation, I don’t know what does! I forgot how much I like it, I have to try to play more often at home.
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Around dinner time, my mom, sister and her boyfriend joined us at the lake too! We headed out to dinner up the road. Along the way, we stopped to look at the new “Monkey Trunks” playground they built nearby. Isn’t it cool? It’s a bunch of ziplines and high ropes and obstacle courses! It’s on my list of things to do for next time!
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For dinner, we ate at the Lobster Pound, a nice restaurant across from the beach.
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It was so fun chatting with my sister and Chris. We miss them so much!
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Mom and Daughter (with that fresh-out-of-the-lake hair!)
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I think Irving was drinking a blueberry beer that is so reminiscent of the east coast!
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Chicken Parm = my favorite meal!!! And don’t be fooled, this dish served me dinner and TWO people lunch the next day. It was Huge!!!
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Group shot!
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We were so stuffed, we decided to walk back to the lake house after. But first, a photo-session!
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And one with just the boys!
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When it got dark, my mom and I took a walk on the beach and Mikaela, Chris and Irving went off to play mini-golf up the street. (Yep, twice in a week, it’s crazy!) After a couple of hours, my mom and I went to investigate to see how they were doing. We caught them deep into a very serious golf game.

Pictures from earlier in the week for visuals!
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Apparently the stakes were really high. They were playing for a very important prize: who gets the bottom bunks. (You see, our lakehouse has two sets of bunk beds and since we’re older, the bottom bunks are very desirable!)
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In the end, Irving came in first, then Mikaela and Chris. I didn’t even play, so I automatically got 4th place (rude, right?)…. but then it came down to a rock-paper-scissors game. 4th place vs. 3rd place (which I won!)… and then there were two other rounds, no one would really explain to me what was going on, but I kept winning in rock-paper-scissors…. long story short, I got first pick in the bunk arrangements! Sa-weet!!!!!

Here’s the final standings! First place, baby! Of course I picked the bottom bunk! Irving got stuck up top. BAHAHA!
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Oh the hilarity!
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So many more adventures to come!

 

Happy Birthday, Mikaela! June 15, 2011

Filed under: Family,Happy,Sisters — Kelocity @ 5:00 am
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When I moved across the country almost seven years ago, I thought about how much I’d miss my friends, my town, my traditions and my family, but never really occurred to me just how much I’d miss my sisters. They were still in school when I left and I always felt “so much older” than them (there’s 3 years between me and Mikaela and 5 years between me and Laurie).
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Now that we’re all in our twenties, I miss them more and more. I wish I knew them better and had more inside jokes. I wish I could ask them for advice and bud into their lives and offer them mine. It’s definitely easier with cell phones, skype and facebook, but it’s not perfect. And with 3,000 miles between us, it never will be. All we can do is try our best to stay in touch (something my mom reminds me of c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y with her “did you call your sisters this week” texts).

Today is Mikaela’s 25th birthday!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!
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When I talked to her last night, she said “25 is soooo old!” Instead of brushing it off, I said, “That’s because we ARE old!” I’m a nice sister, promise!

In honor of her birthday, let’s share some facts, shall we?

FACT: Mikaela insisted on wearing dresses everywhere we went. Even outside to play in the sandbox. She’d ride bikes in her dress, and play in the woods in skirts. That girl loved ruffled socks and pretty bows.

FACT: Back in the day, when getting chicken pox was cool (“when I was your age, kids used to get Chicken Pox!”) we both had them at the same time. Better to put your parents through it as few times as possible I guess.
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FACT: While all her friends were obsessed with cabbage patch kids and barbies, all Mikaela wanted was “a boy doll”. I think she named him Bruce when she finally got one. [UPDATE: The “boy doll” was named BRIAN. It’s been confirmed!]

FACT: She was OBSESSED with dogs. She begged my parents for a puppy for years until they caved and brought home Nikki for her birthday one year!
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Now, she’s a proud mama to Gizmo!
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FACT: She rocked the bowl cut for the first seven years of her life. Heck yea she did! Mikaela, send me a good bowl cut pic so I can show everyone!! Come on, it’ll be fun!

Hope you have the BEST birthday ever!

PS. how cute is this picture of her and Laurie from this week?! LOVE!
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Laurie Takes Chicago March 28, 2011

Filed under: Chicago,Guest Post,Running — Kelocity @ 9:44 pm
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My little sister, Laurie, is in grad school and living in Chicago at the moment. My college days consisted of making movies and watching films, but she’s studying chemistry, pharmacy and biology (clearly I didn’t get the brains in my family).
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Funny how neither of us lives in Boston anymore! (Picture circa 2006)

This past weekend, one of her High School friends visited while she was on Spring Break, and they signed up for a Chicago City Running Tour.
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They did the 5K option, but they offer all lengths (even up to a full marathon tour of the city!) It’s run by a crazy runner, Marlin, who has completed over 60 marathons (and one in every US state!) He leads runs throughout the city that combine a great cardio workout, with a sightseeing tour.
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On the day they went, they were the only two participants. Bonus: Marllin takes photos of you throughout the whole run!
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They also offer tours in other cities around the country (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, DC and Charlestown — No Los Angeles yet, but I hope they expand out here!)
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They hit some of the best spots in Chicago, makes me a little jealous, it’s such a great city. He gave them history about all the landmarks as they passed them.
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Run, Laurie, Run! (Make a sister proud!)
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The Sprint to the finish! LOVE this picture!
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Not a bad way to spend a morning! I’ll have to remember this company when I’m in a new city. So cool!
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If you’re interested, check out their website.

City Running Tours didn’t compensate me for this post, in fact, I’m pretty sure they have no idea I even wrote it. I’m just proud of my sister and really excited about such a cool concept.

Would you consider doing a running tour of a new city? Better than hitting the gym, right?

 

Christmas Day! December 31, 2010

Filed under: Christmas,Family — Kelocity @ 10:21 am
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On Christmas Morning, we all woke up pretty early to see what Santa brought us!!

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I was really missing Irving, but Santa didn’t forget him!
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Stockings always come first!
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I got so many awesome gifts, lots of running related things, cooking things, games and other fun stuff. Santa definitely spoiled us this year!

Then we headed to my aunt’s house for our annual family game night. This year’s game of choice was Scribblish!
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If you haven’t seen this game yet, you just have to trust me that it’s the best game of the year. It was HILARIOUS!
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It involves lots of drawing…and laughing hysterically at said drawings.
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The next day… the big storm hit….
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We had to snowblow and shovel 1.5 feet of snow out of the driveway.
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Not fun. But we made the best of it by hanging out inside and doing our annual sisters photoshoot!!
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This one might be my favorite!

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Then we took the party outside!
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I love these girls!

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Merry Christmas!

 

 
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