Attend an NFL Football Game...Check!

14. Attend an NFL football game

It's been awhile since I checked off one of the items on my "Life List" over there on the right hand side of this blog.  But last Thursday night, I finally attended an NFL football game!  Some friends of mine have season tickets to the Baltimore Ravens.  They were out of town for Thursday night's game...so I got their tickets!  The seats were great...upper deck of the stadium, on the 50 yard line.  We could see the plays forming, but didn't feel too far away from the field.

I was amazed at how different a professional game feels from a college game.  And I've been to some serious college games (Williams-Brice Stadium anyone?  Death Valley, you say?).  But the fans at pro games are INTENSE!  Everyone was totally into the game...very little socializing going on at all.  Also, the players are soo much more athletic than college players.  The time outs are also a lot "slicker".  Meaning the videos were put together well; and the fan chants were a bit more polished.

I really enjoyed it!  Here are few pictures to document this milestone in my life!

The Ravens even have a Marching Band!

Player introductions

View of the stadium from our seats

Happy Page who could use some Make-up!

Re-Learning Lessons

After 31 years of living my life, you'd think I would stop re-learning the same lessons over and over again.  Yet, often that is what I seem to do.  Especially when it involves what I need in my life to have balance.  Take for instance...Exercise.  As I've written before, I figured out a year after college that I need some kind of athletic pursuit or exercise to feel in sync with my life.  But in the past few months, exercise has become a serious burden for me.  At least, what I thought I considered exercise...

Training for a triathlon, buying a house, and planning a wedding are not my recommendations for maintaining balance.  At least when you are me.  After my apathetic triathlon, I decided I was not going to force myself to do any exercise I didn't want to.  The bad news about that resolution?  In less than 3 months, I have to wear an ivory wedding gown that shows my figure and exposes my arms.  A gown that was purchased less than a month after I trained for and ran 40 miles in one weekend.  Not really conducive to my no mandatory exercise plan.

So of course, being the all or nothing person I am, I decided to tackle one of the items on my to do list on the right.  Work out every day for a month.  Makes sense, right?  From no exercise, to no days off.  Here is the caveat though...it just has to be exercise.  Not necessarily my definition of exercise which usually means I have to be exhausted afterwards.  My goal for September has been to make it to the gym at least 3 times a week for a "hard" workout, but then doing "something" every day.  I have done a lot of 30 minute walks in the morning before work, church, etc.  Especially when I've been busy with rehearsal, etc.  It's hard because I don't feel like I am "doing" anything, but I started noticing last week that I am feeling considerably less stressed about the wedding, our house, and money.  And even though I'm not working out to my definition of "exercise", as I've been hopping on the Elliptical machine at the gym, I've noticed that it is more and more difficult to get my heart rate up.  It was easier to raise it during triathlon training (working out 3 days a week), than it is now when I am walking or pushup-ing, etc. every day.

I've even lost 4 pounds.  Granted, 3 of them were pounds I gained towards the end of triathlon training, but I'll take it!  On the vain side of things...my first official dress fitting is next Thursday, and I'd like to be down 2 more pounds before then.  Whatever I am body shape/weight-wise at that fitting is where I should stay.  But, if it doesn't happen, I'll still be happy since my dress fits wonderfully as it is and is quite flattering.  Just gotta work on those arms...

So to recap, I've re-learned that exercise in any form is good for me, even if I am not training for something specific!

Meh.

That's how I feel about the Iron Girl triathlon coming up this weekend.  This is my third year doing it...and the first time I haven't been excited and nervous.  Honestly, if I hadn't paid the $100 entry fee and biked/swam/run for most of the summer, I think I would probably be a no-show.  It just takes up so much of a weekend where I need to get other stuff done!

I guess I should have known that I was less than enthused about the Tri this year when I found out about my eye floaters and asked my eye doc if I'd be able to exercise, (specifically run). I had read that people with floaters and seeing flashing lights should avoid jarring exercise, such as running.  I was disappointed when the doc said I was cleared for all exercise.  Drat!  My built in excuse wouldn't work. 

So, here I am...a month later and still slated to do the triathlon this weekend.  Sure, I've kind of trained...but not the way I would have wanted to.  I have a feeling that my time will be at least 10 minutes slower this year than last.  But that is ok.  I've had a wedding to plan and a new house to buy and care for!

This proves to me even more that I am definitely an athlete whose goals are simply doing something, instead of improving on time, etc.  I've only run 1 half marathon (by itself), and have no desire to do another.  I've run one full marathon (by itself) and have no desire to do another one.  One Goofy Challenge...and -you guessed it- no desire to run another.  Yep, I definitely get a charge from finishing something that requires more endurance, or that I didn't think I could finish.  So...where does that leave me with regard to my next athletic challenge?

As I see it, I have a few options.  A few of them are listed over on the right hand side of the blog.  First, I suppose I could try an Olympic distance triathlon.  I enjoy the tri format...I just feel that I have "conquered" the Iron Girl as fast as I ever will.  I'm ready for more of an endurance challenge.  My issue is that I don't think I will ever want (or have the time) to train for an ultra marathon or an IronMan.  So, I thought it might be a good goal to complete a Century ride (100 miles on a bike), and perhaps one day get into and train for the Great Chesapeake Bay swim.  That one makes me nervous...but I think I could do it!

Anyway, I'll be spending most of my weekend prepping for and racing the Iron Girl triathlon.  Checking in and bike racking tomorrow afternoon...and then getting up at 4 AM to head out to the triathlon Sunday morning.  Check back to see if I actually manage to get myself there and to the finish line...

55/365 Goofy What?

Did I really run 39.3 miles in one weekend less than 2 months ago?  Yikes!

10/365 Goofy Medal

I completed the Goofy Challenge today and now have 3 great Disney medals to add to my Princess Half marathon medal! The race was good...I maintained my pace through most of it and finished strong and happy. Now I get to have a great time at Disney for the next 3 days!

9/365 Done with Donald

Donald Duck 1/2 marathon complete! Now on to the Mickey Mouse Marathon tomorrow and the completion of the Goofy Challenge!

8/365 Ready for the Goofy Challenge

Our clothes are laid out and ready for the icy first leg of the Goofy Challenge...the Donald Duck 1/2 Marathon!

7/365 Leaving on a Jet Plane...

I love my "Pack-it" Cubes.  They make packing light for a 6 day trip much easier!  Tomorrow, I head to Orlando for the Goofy Challenge, and some much needed fun time at Disney afterwards.  Since I have my BlackBerry with me, I'll still try to post a photo a day.  Ideally, I'll have some good photo ops at Disney!

Downtime is Delectable...

I have to say, this weekend was quite lovely.  For me, it was the perfect mix of busyness and downtime.  I spent some time with J, got 2 training runs in, had my planned early Thanksgiving dinner with friends, sang a few Christmas carols, and spent Sunday on the sofa watching football, continuing to acquaint myself with my MacBook, and reading.

Even though cooking my early Thanksgiving meal was work, it was very enjoyable.  Friday night, I went to the grocery store and cleaned the house from top to bottom.  Saturday, I went for a 5 mile run in the AM, had grits casserole with J and watched College Gameday.  My turkey went in around 11, and then I started working on the dressing and broccoli spinach casserole.  It was a lovely fall day outside, which added to the enjoyment of cooking inside for some reason.  My Linner companions came over around 2, and the food was on the table by 2:30.  It was certainly a modest Thanksgiving meal...3 dishes and no sweet potato anything, but it was tasty, and I didn't need to have tons and tons of food leftover!  A friend brought a yummy pumpkin mousse pie (that I am still enjoying out of the fridge!), and after an enjoyable afternoon, we headed out to sing Christmas Carols at a holiday lighting ceremony.

Once the carols were sung, I headed up to Baltimore to hear a concert version of Donizetti's Don Pasquale.  It was a good performance, and I even managed to be home in bed by midnight!  Unfortunately, Marcello seems to be suffering from an ear infection (I took him to the vet yesterday), so he was restless and waking me up all night shaking his head and scratching his ears.  I was worried about him, and didn't sleep very well.  I was up at 6:30 AM anyway to run the Cold Turkey 10K race.  It was a fun race...so fun, in fact, that we decided to run it again when we were done!  Ok, ok, we did have 12 miles on our schedule for Sunday. :)

After I got home from the run, I ate some leftovers, took a nice hot shower, and crawled into bed for some football and a nap.  Di-vine, I tell you!  I managed to rouse myself about 3 PM, blow-dry my hair, and head downstairs to veg on the couch in front of football.  I haven't had an afternoon like that in a long time.  Everything that needed to be done was taken care of, and I just relaxed.  I did make turkey tetrazzini with the leftovers to stick in the freezer, and got to finish up listening to Pat Conroy's South of Broad in the process.  Since I didn't sleep well the night before, I was in bed by 10 PM.  All in all...a great weekend!

Tomorrow, I head to SC for a Homeland Thanksgiving.  As I've mentioned, we are headed to Charleston on Thanksgiving Day.  We'll start off with the South of Broad walking tour, and then have our Thanksgiving meal at Magnolia's.  Sounds like a great day to me! Let's all say a quick prayer that my flight tomorrow night is not cancelled and is relatively on time!  I'm bringing my MacBook, so look for some blogs from the Homeland.

Back from Feeling Dead...

Pardon my absence, I was recovering from a nasty stomach bug that hit me Tuesday morning. Last weekend was fun spending time with my parents, friends, and J. The Navy Game was a fun tailgate, but the game was super-rainy. The Brahms Concert went ok...at least the audience seemed to enjoy it! Our Brahms after-party was a success. My Sunday 16 mile run was fun as well. I started to get a little sniffly during the run, which I attribute to allergies.

After being a bit stuffy on Monday, I woke up Tuesday feeling a bit feverish. My first thought- I have the flu! So I panicked. Once I calmed down, I decided to not go into the office and go to the doctor. Not the flu, but the fever was going up and I was feeling much worse. When I got home from the Dr.'s office, I realized it was a stomach virus. Yuck!

I slept most of Tuesday and on into Tuesday night. Yesterday, I felt better, but still couldn't be far from a convenient bathroom. So, I watched tv, movies, my iPod, read magazines...and tried to do a little bit around the house. But I was BORED!

So, I'm happy to be back in the office working today, for once. This weekend I have a "stay-in" date with J on Friday, a run Saturday morning, Navy tailgate and game in the afternoon (with rain predicted AGAIN!), and then a 17 mile run scheduled for Sunday. If the rain goes away, we'll be doing a "scenic monument run" in DC. I'm looking forward to that...I've always wanted to do a long run in DC since I live so close, but have never had the chance. Logistically it might be tough to get water/gatorade, but we're hoping there will be enough street vendors and convenience stores to replenish our handheld water bottles.

Hope everyone out there stays away from the stomach virus I had this week!

Back to Monday

The weekend was great...Navy beat Airforce, the tailgate was fun, I managed to finish the Metric Marathon (full race report here) and had a lot of chill hang-out time with football friends, running friends, and my roommate's family.

This week is a pretty normal one for me...nothing too exciting. I'm looking forward to some more downtime on Saturday!

October Makes Me Happy!

There is just something about the changing of the seasons that is quite appealing to me. I think it must be the fact that I love change. Even so, Fall has always been my favorite season. Perhaps because summer temps are always so hot...and it is lovely to look forward to cooler days and cold nights in the sweltering days of August! I have waxed eloquent on my love of fall in at least one blog post each year... see here, here, and here.

I was thinking the other day that I used to have so many free weekends in the fall when I could just relax, throw open the windows, clean the house (there is just something about a clean house and pretty fall weather) and enjoy the season. Now, my weekends of late have been chock full of things to do. I really need to slow down a bit. The problem is that I love to be busy and tend to overbook myself. Now that we are done singing for the Jewish High Holy Days, I hope things will slow down a bit. While I am still running crazy mileage numbers, the only other "regular" weekend activity will be Navy Football games. While those require some prep-work...once we are there it is usually a fun and relaxing time.

This weekend is the Navy vs. Airforce game. My roommate Maureen's sister went to the Air Force Academy, and her brother went to the Naval Academy, so everyone meets up for the game every year. Her Mom and Sister arrive in town tonight, and we are planning a tailgate extravaganza for Saturday. It should be a fun time with yummy food...shrimp salad canapes, crab dip, beef, chicken, and veggie kabobs, homemade brownies, snackie snacks, and much more. Oh, and champagne of course! Since we now have Navy season tickets, Maureen and I have gone all out and acquired a 10x10 gazebo tent, more folding chairs, and some Navy gear. I've always wanted to be an avid football fan and tailgater...but never really had the opportunity. So, I think it's going to be a fun season!

On Sunday I've been roped into running the Metric Marathon as part of our Goofy Challenge Training. My running partner Lauren runs this race every year, and wants to do it again this year. It's 16.3 miles (26K). We are supposed to be running 13 miles that day. So, my options are run 13 miles by myself, or run 16.3 in a race with about 150 people who will likely all beat me. Hmmm. I'll take the race, thank you! The last time I ran 11 miles by myself I thought I was going to gouge my eyes out from boredom. And I was listening to an audiobook...

I've carved out some "Page" time Sunday afternoon post-race and post-race party. Hopefully I'll be able to do things like catch up on laundry, read my ever-growing stack of magazines, and rest. I definitely need that to recharge...

Back Again!

Whew! Things have been busy around the Home for Wayward Chorus Girls the past few weeks! Maureen and I had a fabulous trip to Maine that included all of the things a trip to Maine should...eating lobstah, relaxing, reading, watching football, sailing on the Penobscot Bay, enjoying wine by the lake, bonfires by the lake, waterskiing, boat rides, good food, good friends, and good conversation. All in all, it was exactly the vacation I needed!

After we got back, work got busy, and last weekend was the busiest I've had in awhile! I guess that means fall is certainly upon us! Last weekend, I relaxed on Friday night while moving iTunes music files to an external hard drive (quite the task!). Saturday, I ran 5 miles, headed off to Rosh Hashanah rehearsal, came home to breathe for a minute, and then drove into DC to see Washington National Opera's Barber of Seville at Nationals Stadium for their Opera in the Outfield production. It was a fun, fun time! Doesn't get much better than eating a hot dog, drinking a beer, and watching opera! Sunday, I ran 10 miles in the morning and then went up to Baltimore for Baltimore Concert Opera's production of Faust. That was another great opera. Then, I had the pleasure of a quick dinner date with my recently somewhat elusive boyfriend (quite the busy man, as well). This week has been filled with work, rehearsing, and running. Last night, Maureen and I saw Barber of Seville round 2 at the Kennedy Center. I was amazed at how different the production is onstage vs. the simulcast! Not better or worse, we just saw different things onstage that we missed during the simulcast. However, the simulcast is great because you can really watch the performer's expressions.

This weekend? 2 Rosh Hashanah services to sing, 16 miles to run (in 2 separate sessions), some chores to be completed, a Navy game to be enjoyed on TV at the Ramshead Tavern...and hopefully a tasty Sunday dinner to cook! I will hopefully get some downtime at the house as well. Unfortunately, this weekend doesn't include a date...but one is planned for Tuesday!

Ideally, you all now feel caught up on my life the past few weeks! I may have pictures to post soon...but we'll just have to see!

Marcello is a Kitten Who lives in Our House

Since we are determined that Marcello is going to be a musical cat, Maureen and I sing to him when we are cuddling with him. It's usually anything from lullabies to made up songs (like the one in the title. The strange thing is that I can't get the song I made up out of my head. Every time I see him, I sing to myself "Marcello is a kitten who lives in our house". And he is. But I feel quite silly wandering around with a made-up song in my head. Here are a few cute pictures of Marcello for your viewing enjoyment:

I bought him a tunnel (along with the fancy "Kitty City")

Keeping cool while I get ready in the morning

Helping me pack my crate for the triathlon

Speaking of the tri, it was yesterday. I finished...2 minutes slower than last year, but I finished. It seemed much harder this year, maybe I didn't train as well? I'll have a full report over on my running blog complete with pictures hopefully sometime this week.

Other than that, things are pretty normal in my world. Hopefully they will somewhat stay that way, but who knows?

Where Has the Time Gone?

It's crazy to me that this summer is almost over. It seems like it was just Memorial Day, and now we're 2 weeks away from my Labor Day venture up to Maine. It's been a busier summer than I expected, but a good one as well. Chorus rehearsals start up again next week. What else is going on with me? Here's a quick rundown:

• Triathlon- The Iron Girl triathlon is this Sunday, and I'm a bit nervous. Last year I was nervous because it was my first try at a tri (ha ha!), and I had no idea if I would finish. I actually blew away my own expectations! This year, I think I started training a bit early, and have been burned out for the past month. I was up to way over the distances for the swim, bike, and run back in June. I've been hovering just under that now since July. So, I'm a little afraid that I'll do worse than last year since I didn't have my pre-triathlon Maine vacation to swim in the freezing open water lake and bike the almost-mountainous Acadia Park Loop. Oh well, it is what it is!
• After I finish triathlon training, I'll be going back to strictly running in preparation for the Goofy Challenge (the crazy 1/2 marathon one day, full marathon the next shindig I signed up for at Disney). I have every intent of diligently updating my running blog during this training, but we all know how that usually goes.
• I'm going back to my roots a bit in the chorus. For a couple of the pieces we are singing this year, I'll be singing alto. It's definitely exciting for me- while alto is more challenging musically, it doesn't stretch me as much vocally. Plus, it can be much more fun to sing harmony occasionally!
• Marcello the kitten is doing well. Other than his crazy kitty arsenic hour antics and jumping up on the counters where he doesn't belong, we are loving every minute with him.
• Next week is the 1st anniversary of J and I's first date. That is just weird to me...seems like the time has flown. I laugh when I look back at the date I didn't think was really a date...and at how long it took for me to figure out how I felt about him!

So that's the update on me...nothing ridiculously exciting, but life is definitely rocking along!

Playing Catch Up

Wow! Another long blog-post hiatus. It's like I fell into the black hole of blogging again. I feel like half of my posts recently start off with an apology for not blogging more often...but no matter. What follows is a bulleted list of what I've been up to...

• Most notably, on Mother's Day, I went to the Orioles/Yankee's game at Camden Yards. A friend gave us the tickets, and we were 3 rows behind the Yankee dugout. So I got to peer at A-Rod, Derek Jeter, and Johnny Damon very close up. Nice. It was a perfect day weather-wise, and was a really fun game as well. There are pictures out there somewhere...check Facebook for my roommate's pics.
• I also traveled up to Pennsylvania that weekend with a few friends for a voice lesson. A few friends and I have had a couple of lessons with my friend Sharon's teacher, Jean. Jean is a wonderful soprano and teacher...I'm sure she keeps wondering why we actually think we can sing and even sing in a chorus. I learn so much during a lesson, but it definitely brings me down many, many notches when it comes to what I think of my musical abilities!
• Last weekend, we had a little party for our graduating midshipman, Maile. She is headed off to flight school this summer. I'm very proud of her! We'll be going to the Naval Academy commissioning ceremony (graduation) this Friday. President Obama is speaking, so I'm looking forward to that.
• Triathlon training is in full swing, so I've been hitting the bike, the pool, and the road. I feel like I'm starting a bit early this year, but I also need to whip myself back into shape!
• Last weekend, I went to my friend Alicia's one-woman cabaret show. It was fabulous! She sang some funny songs with narration about dating, love, etc. If it was a recurring thing, I would recommend that you all come to one!

I think that's it for now...hopefully I'll keep being better at blogging in the next few weeks!

Enjoying Life in the Spring

I always think that I like Winter...that is, until it's March here in Maryland and the temperatures are still in the 40s. But then, before I know it, the trees are blooming, the weather is a bit warmer...and it's Spring! It's been 5 years since I moved to Annapolis, but I'm still always struck by how beautiful it is here near the Bay in the Spring.


The past 2 springs, I've begun my triathlon training in April. This year is no different, so I have been back on the bike a few times this year. Last week was the start of my official training plan, so I headed out from the house for one of my standard 10 mile loops. It was a beautiful spring evening- coolish, crisp and sunny. The loop I rode takes me from my house, down to the Bay Ridge area of Annapolis and back. For those of you not familiar with Bay Ridge...it's basically located at the edge of the peninsula that Annapolis sits on, jutting out into the Chesapeake and at the mouth of the Severn River. See Map Here (zoom in to see Bay Ridge)

The road that I ride/run during this loop is hilly and wooded. There is one last hill right before the first view of the Bay. I'm always huffing and puffing up the hill...and then suddenly the Chesapeake stretches out in front of me. For those of you who have been on this route...you know what I'm talking about. In the winter, it's pretty and cold. In the spring and fall on a clear day...it's stunning. Someday, I'll have to take pictures. In any case, last week when I traversed this lap, the sun was low in the sky shining on the water. As I headed up Bay Dr towards the corner ridge, I was looking at the Bay Bridge. Then, when I turned the corner and headed up River Dr, I could see Annapolis and the Naval Academy Dome. It was so breathtakingly beautiful that I had to stop and just look. Every time I take this route, I'm reminded of how beautiful the place I live actually is! If you had told me 5 years ago that I would be able to get home from work, hop on my bike and see something like this...I would never have believed you!

I've also enjoyed wandering around town in the lovely weather. On Saturday, my roommate and I walked through the Murray Hill neigborhood and then got brunch at 49 West, a favorite hangout of ours. The day was so lovely, and I kept thinking about how much I love Spring here! I've also planted all of my plants in containers on the back deck at the house, and they make me smile. Hooray for Spring!

Off to Disney!

Well, it's finally the day that I leave for Disney World to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon! I'm quite excited...for many reasons. I'm a little bit excited about the race...mostly excited that I'm going to be at Disney!

I grew up going to Disney World on a fairly regular basis. I fully subscribe to the idea that Disney World is a magical place. As a child, there was something about the place to me that was relaxing, fun, and very exciting. I think part of the reason I still love all things Disney now is the sense of nostalgia it creates for me. It brings back fun memories and happy times...with the promise of more to come!

Anyway, I'll be seeing Mickey and Minnie, lots of Princesses, the world showcase at Epcot, fun stuff at the Magic Kingdom, and more. We'll be eating well, too...with reservations at the Rose and Crown in England, the Italian restaurant in Italy (night before the race...we need our pasta carbs!), and at the Brown Derby at Hollywood studios.

I'll have pictures and a full report once I get back!

Oh So Goofy...

Anyone who has heard me say "I don't think I'll ever run another marathon"...close your ears (or your eyes) now. Are they closed? Ok...for the rest of you... I've done it. I signed up for the Disney "Goofy Challenge" which is a marathon and a half. Literally. During the Disney Marathon weekend in January, the Goofy Challengers run the half-marathon on Saturday and the Full Marathon on Sunday. I'm crazy. An official card-carrying member of the running cult that is my running group of friends. For my thoughts on my first marathon, read here and here. At some point after that, I decided that the training that went into the marathon was just too much and that I didn't think I'd do another one.

But, the Goofy Challenge is different. For one thing, it's harder than a regular marathon, but easier than an ultra marathon (usually about 50 miles or so). I'm the type of athlete/runner that needs some type of "new" challenge to stay motivated. Something bigger or more difficult. I don't get motivated by trying to do something faster. So, running another marathon to beat my original time doesn't appeal to me. For some strange, psychotic reason...running a half-marathon one day followed by a marathon the next does. I think the bigger, better, more difficult rationale is what motivated me to race the Iron Girl triathlon last year. And I had a great time with that.

I've also found that in order to stay motivated to exercise, I need to be officially training for something. After the Iron Girl Tri at the end of the summer, my exercise fell off this Fall because I didn't have anything that I was training for. Yet, now that I'm training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon in March, I'm actually motivated to run again. I've also registered for the Iron Girl again in August, so I'll be training for that at the end of the spring into the summer. Once I'm done with that, it'll be time to start training for Goofy. Something about paying a lot of money for a race motivates me to train for it so that I will do well (for me) and enjoy it. So, my $300 should motivate me to train well for the Goofy Challenge! Our strategy, however, will be to run the first 7 miles of the half and walk the last 6 (still finishing under the limit of 3.5 hours) and then to Galloway run/walk the full until we are exhausted and walk the last part (20 miles seems to be my wall). So, for those of you who I've told, "I don't think I'll ever run another marathon" (if you're still reading), I don't think it counts as my "running a marathon" if I walk a significant portion of it. Right? :)

I have to credit my friend Lauren with my decision to do this though...partially because when she told me she was going to do it I said, "Hmmm...wonder if I might do that" and she replied, "Oh, you wouldn't try that...you are the lazy runner". Nothing motivates me more than someone telling me I won't do something. :) (Love you anyway, La La!). But seriously, once I said I actually might do it, she talked me into it. Something about other friends are doing it...this would be the only time we can run it with other people, etc. A lot like the "if you're friends are jumping off a cliff" analogy. Anyway, Lauren and I are running the Disney Princess Half in March together (well, we are going to Disney together...she is much faster than me and will finish way before me, I'm sure) and she is my "Part of Your World" Little Mermaid song duet partner at Piano Bar as well. So, it's fitting that we now have another excuse to go to Disney and run! Maybe that is really my motivation for signing up for this crazy thing...

Navy Football

Somehow in the last 4 years that I've lived in Annapolis, I've become a Navy Football fan. It's pretty simple, actually. When I first moved to Annapolis, I lived about mile from the stadium. I could hear most of the games from my house. I'm a huge football fan, and at the time I wished I could go to the games. Unfortunately, I didn't know anyone in town very well yet, and didn't want to go to the games by myself (I had a few good friends, but they didn't LOVE football the way I do). I used to sit in my apartment with the windows open listening to the game, the echo of the drums of the bands, and just feel kinda homesick and lonely.

Fast forward a few years when I moved in with Maureen. She is not only a huge football fan, but also a Navy fan (her brother went to the Academy, and she worked there for 15 years). So, I started going to games with her. I've been to about 10 Navy games in the past 3 years, and have had lots of fun at all of them. There is something pretty cool about the traditions of the Academy...the mids marching on the field, the flyover (although we haven't had jets at any games I've been at this year), the Drum and Bugle Corps...I love it all. This year, a friend has tickets to the Navy vs. Notre Dame game at Ravens Stadium in Baltimore. I'm excited about going, and I plan on being an all-out Navy fan complete with hat, shirt, and face tattoos. It should be a lot of fun!