PROUD TO BE A DEAC

The phrase "act like you've been there" DOES NOT APPLY for us right now... The Wake Forest Demon Deacon FOOTBALL team is headed to Jacksonville, FL, this Saturday to take on Ga Tech in the ACC Title game.

This would indicate that we have won a lot more games than we've lost this season... don't believe it?

They don't make logos like that for nothing... so join us Saturday at 1pm in cheering on the old gold and black, as they continue their historical season.

And, make sure and check this out in preparation... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzNjhR45bN8

GO DEACS

... and After...

... QUITE a weekend!

AFTER the Wake-Maryland game was over Saturday night, the outcome was Wake on top, 38-24... meaning I received this in my email Sunday morning. *Yes, this is Wake football that we're talking about...

** ... after much deliberation, I think it is time to take the plunge and sign up for the Demon Deacon license plate!!
AFTER the fiasco with my original contractor skipping town (anyone seen Guido??), my real estate agent came through at the very last minute with a new, comparable recommendation. Neddie and his side-kick showed up Friday morning, bright and early, and started and finished the job within the next 36 hours. I was left with beautiful new floors in my foyer and kitchen!

AFTER a long Wednesday evening spent casually with some friends (read: they hung out while I prepared Thanksgiving sides - dijon glazed carrots, stuffed mushrooms, and a fresh green salad with candied walnuts, blue cheese, and Craisins - and desserts - Tollhouse and pumpkin pies), I was ready to head to my brother's house for Turkey Day. Though we tried to avoid it, we definitely had more food than we knew what to do with.

... of course, Charlie was always willing to jump in when needed.

... and as usual, the box for the roaster had to be measured before anyone could eat.
AFTER eating more than my share Thursday evening, there was more to be had. This weekend also marked the celebration of Chris' cousin's Bar Mitzvah.
The event started off Friday evening with a delicious, hearty meal at "That's Amore". Saturday evening was Max's actual Bar Mitzvah service and party... and quite the party it was. I'd been to my share of "mitzvahs" growing up but I don't remember them being this fancy and fun. My favorite part? The candy bar, of course...
... and dancing off the delicious food with the cousins!

AFTER all was said and done... the weekend wound down just perfectly... since my floors were done so much faster than we thought, my dad and I headed back up to my brother's house to hang out Sunday afternoon. My brother, of course, took this opportunity to put my dad to work.

But dad also got some quality time with "the boy", teaching him the proper method for using a measuring tape... and what it feels like to walk in the shoes of a "king".

(this was just way too cute not to share)

Isn't it obvious that "GO NAVY" was on the tip of his tongue??

Anything but Typical

Why I've decided that Thanksgiving vacation was the appropriate time to embark on my next home improvement project... and one that is significantly more substantial than any in the past... is beyond me. But nevertheless...

Starting bright and early (Black) Friday morning (saving me from spending unnecessary dollars out at the sales), we should *knock on wood that we can get in touch with my contractor* be replacing my foyer carpet with hardwood and the linoleum in the kitchen with tile!















Anyone who's been to my condo can attest to the fact that this will make quite a dramatic change (including little Annabelle - who will undoubtedly have a time getting used to the new slick surface)... but for those of you who haven't visited the glorious "west end" of Alexandria, I had to take the opportunity to provide a little before and after.

...BEFORE...















One thing's for sure: this will certainly reinforce who and what I'm thankful for... good food with family to energize me for 3 long days of labor, my dad flying up to DC to oversee the whole process, and having great friends around willing to entertain me during slow periods and to pitch in if help is requested.

Oh... and GO DEACS!! (Saturday night vs. Maryland, 7:45pm - ESPN)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veFwsFuj3rQ

Dedicated to my Deacs

Win or lose, it seems that I have taken to following the Deacs around the country for various sporting events. I suppose I owe this, in part, to my central location here in DC.

Earlier last week, we were lucky enough to catch one of the first Wake basketball games up in Lewisberg, PA, on the beautiful campus of Bucknell University (reminds me of a smaller Wake Forest nestled up in PA). After an over-time victory (PHEW!), the midnight-2:30am drive back to DC made me question my loyalty, but we persisted.

Then this past weekend, we enjoyed some beautiful fall football weather back in Kernersville and Winston while visiting Jayne and Jason... Hopes were high in anticipation of a good Deacon-Hokie battle. The battle was fought, but I wouldn't say it was good.

Though even after this weekend, I am still quite the proud Deacon fan... falling to the obnoxious Hokies and entering our final regular season football game with a 9-2 record is nothing to be ashamed of, nor is losing to top-seeded Maryland for the NCAA field hockey championship (which we've won something like 3 times in the past 5 years).

Yet still, there is much more to come... the final Wake football game - where we will fight for our lives against the Terps for a spot in the ACC Championship game (yes, this really is Wake football we're talking about), and the start of another ACC basketball season (ah-hem, another rebuilding year for the Deacs).

* In other sporting news, Army-Navy rapidly approaches - December 2nd - GO NAVY!!!

Going to the Chapel!!

Approximately 32 days from now, Katie, one of my dearest friends from college will walk down the aisle to meet Mr. Scott Thompson to start the rest of their lives together. I can't wait!!

In the meantime, we managed to toast their future together in a weekend of events celebrating the happy couple.

This past weekend, all of Katie's bridesmaids gathered in "the 'boro" (as the natives call Greensboro, NC). Friday evening kicked the festivities off with a relaxing round or two of Apples to Apples (my new favorite game... sorry Mexican Train).

Saturday morning we threw Katie an "Around the House" shower and brunch, complete with a number of Triad favorites... yummy Carving Board chicken salad plated on red-leaf lettuce, pineapple and strawberry skewers, Sister Schubert's rolls piping hot from the oven, Dewey's cheese straws, and Paige and the Cake Doctor's delicious mocha-angel food cake dotted with slivered almonds. All of the guests left with little bags of custom-M&Ms to remind them of the upcoming wedding!

Before heading out for the bachelorette events, Katie took us on a tour of their new home... so fun to see the place they will call home in just a few short weeks!

Once in Charlotte, assembled in our hotel, we started with a nice dinner *also enjoying a private viewing of the first quarter of the Wake-FSU showdown* and though it had started raining, nothing could dampen our spirits.

At Cosmos, we celebrated Wake's first-half lead with a fellow grad... c/o '36?? (we think not - but it was fun nonetheless). After it was official that Wake had shut-out FSU at FSU for the first time since 1973, we were well on our way! A few bars later, we finished off a fun evening at the Buckhead Saloon (had to include this for any Atlantans... apparently it still lives!)... and, of course, no bachelorette party would be complete without the bride up on the stage for her "last dance".

What a fun and memorable weekend! Katie's going to the chapel!!!

Timely...

... that it's Veteran's Day "time" and today is Election Day... I felt so proud to be an American going to the polls this morning!!

Thank a VETERAN for their service and remember all of those who continue to defend our freedom as well as those who have gone before us as you walk to the polls - we wouldn't have the chance to do this without them!

Now follow me closely here... since my dad's a Vietnam vet, it seemed appropriate to also brag about his most recent "work".

My mom asked my dad to build her a planting bench - and since they just had our porch redone, my dad had some "vintage" (circa 1980) wood lying around, so he built this for her!

Since it turned out so well (I think it's pretty cool looking and have put in my own order), my mom's suggested that my dad try and sell some! I'll let you know how that works out!!

Go Colonials?

Fear not Wake Forest... not that this was up for debate, but it's official... there's no chance my loyalty to my alma mater is at stake... have you ever tried yelling "Go Colonials"? It just doesn't work...

However, I'm also not about to turn down 4 free front row (read: on the floor) tickets to a GW men's basketball game. So off we went Wednesday evening to get to know GW's campus a bit more and see what basketball at an A10 school is like (GW won the A10 conference in 2006!)!

I know this much - I never got anywhere NEAR this close to the floor at a Wake game... and the fact that we could speak in a normal tone and have the ref hear and acknowledge us was pretty cool.

My Happy Halloween!!

Not the best costume you've ever seen? HA It was worth a FREE burrito (bol, in my case) courtesy of Chipotle's Boo-Rito promotion!

How did I get so lucky, you ask?? Dress up like a burrito and you were promised one on the house... and apparently holding a piece of foil up to your face counted (though some people were considerably more creative)!

What made it even more worth-while (as if the free bol wasn't enough?)?? While explaining the letters on my burrito wrapper to the cashier (C and G) and expressing how I would normally go for their oh-so-tasty guacamole, he told me that everything was actually included in their promotion... so not only did I walk out of there with a free bol, but a free side of arguably the world's best guac, too!

Thanks, Chipotle!