I knocked out several items on my 101 Things I Want To Do List. Say, "hasta la vista" to:
1. Get married
2. Own a cutting-edge bicycle
3. Own a premium luxury car
4. See an NBA game
5. Go to Las Vegas
6. Go to Africa
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 05, 2010
1963
Here's a photo of dad when he was a senior in high school. It's crazy how much we look alike...
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fashion is Cyclical ... So Is My Weight Loss
My fiance and I decided it was time we started making an effort to eat healthier. We've got the wedding coming up in October of next year, and we both want to feel and look great.
I know what has worked for me in the past (portion control, lots of veggies and no late night snacking). It took me about a month and a half to lose the weight I wanted (15lbs) .
A little over a year ago I went through a similar scenario, however, I think I used NutriSystem to shed the weight. This time around, I am preparing all of my own meals. It's worked out really well, and I still get to eat the super yummy stuff--just in moderation now.
My goal is 174lbs (which I met this past Sunday after sweating out the weight from a soccer game -- probably water weight is why I'm currently 176), and as long as I keep it within two pounds of this goal weight for the rest of the year, I will be happy. I'm still planning t0 hit the gym soon and get in a routine of strengthening my core like I did two years ago. Pretty sure Heather (fiance) wouldn't mind some six pack abs to run her hands over on our honeymoon. :)
I know what has worked for me in the past (portion control, lots of veggies and no late night snacking). It took me about a month and a half to lose the weight I wanted (15lbs) .
A little over a year ago I went through a similar scenario, however, I think I used NutriSystem to shed the weight. This time around, I am preparing all of my own meals. It's worked out really well, and I still get to eat the super yummy stuff--just in moderation now.
My goal is 174lbs (which I met this past Sunday after sweating out the weight from a soccer game -- probably water weight is why I'm currently 176), and as long as I keep it within two pounds of this goal weight for the rest of the year, I will be happy. I'm still planning t0 hit the gym soon and get in a routine of strengthening my core like I did two years ago. Pretty sure Heather (fiance) wouldn't mind some six pack abs to run her hands over on our honeymoon. :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Little City Called Rome and Something Shiny
A couple of weeks ago, my girlfriend Heather found out she would be headed to Rome, Italy for work. Knowing that my birthday was on the 11th of July, she invited me to come along with her. The plan was that we’d be able to spend time together when she wasn’t working during the day, and also tack on a couple of extra vacation days at the end of her trip.
When I realized the trip was actually going to happen, I knew it was my chance to do something really big. I mean, really BIG!
You see, Rome is Heather’s favorite place in the world. The architecture, the people, the food ... it is all amazing ... While living in Rome as an undergraduate, Heather learned Italian and fell in love with the Eternal City. I figured there would be no better place to surprise her.
Earlier in the week, we had visited Villa Borghese (Rome’s Central Park). We happened upon the most romantic restaurant I have ever encountered. Nestled away in the park, overlooking Rome and the Vatican City from it’s terrace, the Casina Valadier provides the most breathtaking view from your table (and amazing food!) “This will be perfect.” I thought to myself.
Since we were absolutely exhausted from spending the 11th at a Mediterranean beach (I know, tough life, right?), we decided to switch our reservations for the evening of the 12th for the celebratory dinner.
I must have checked my suit jacket one hundred times on the way over to the restaurant that evening, making sure my "gift" was secure.
We arrived at the restaurant just as the sun was setting behind the Roman skyline. Beautiful.
I made extra effort to make Heather think that my reason for ordering champagne once we were seated was to celebrate my birthday. Shortly after toasting my 32nd birthday, I took Heather’s hand into mine. I looked into her beautiful, blue eyes, and began telling her how much she meant to me …
Shortly thereafter, I was on bended knee, ring extended; my heart open.
Yes.
We’re engaged!
We spent the rest of the dinner taking in the view and talking about the rest of our lives together.
After dinner, we walked over to the Spanish Steps. There in the Piazza di Spagna, a horse and carriage awaited us for a tour of Rome under the moonlight.
We tossed coins into the Trevi fountain, vowing to return to our favorite place in the world, which now has a deeper, stronger meaning to both of us.
When I realized the trip was actually going to happen, I knew it was my chance to do something really big. I mean, really BIG!
You see, Rome is Heather’s favorite place in the world. The architecture, the people, the food ... it is all amazing ... While living in Rome as an undergraduate, Heather learned Italian and fell in love with the Eternal City. I figured there would be no better place to surprise her.
Earlier in the week, we had visited Villa Borghese (Rome’s Central Park). We happened upon the most romantic restaurant I have ever encountered. Nestled away in the park, overlooking Rome and the Vatican City from it’s terrace, the Casina Valadier provides the most breathtaking view from your table (and amazing food!) “This will be perfect.” I thought to myself.
Since we were absolutely exhausted from spending the 11th at a Mediterranean beach (I know, tough life, right?), we decided to switch our reservations for the evening of the 12th for the celebratory dinner.
I must have checked my suit jacket one hundred times on the way over to the restaurant that evening, making sure my "gift" was secure.
We arrived at the restaurant just as the sun was setting behind the Roman skyline. Beautiful.
I made extra effort to make Heather think that my reason for ordering champagne once we were seated was to celebrate my birthday. Shortly after toasting my 32nd birthday, I took Heather’s hand into mine. I looked into her beautiful, blue eyes, and began telling her how much she meant to me …
Shortly thereafter, I was on bended knee, ring extended; my heart open.
Yes.
We’re engaged!
We spent the rest of the dinner taking in the view and talking about the rest of our lives together.
After dinner, we walked over to the Spanish Steps. There in the Piazza di Spagna, a horse and carriage awaited us for a tour of Rome under the moonlight.
We tossed coins into the Trevi fountain, vowing to return to our favorite place in the world, which now has a deeper, stronger meaning to both of us.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Inauguration Day
The day began at 7 o’clock in a friend’s apartment in Washington, DC. I awoke to subfreezing temperatures, but a sunny dawn. After bundling up, packing some food and locking the door behind us, my girlfriend Heather and I joined hands and began walking down Mt. Pleasant Street, working our way over to the Columbia Heights Metro.
The station was already abuzz with folks from all over the world, making their way to the National Mall. The Metro cars were packed tightly, but everyone was in good spirits. People were looking out for one another. The feeling of being a part of something bigger than anything I have ever experienced in my life was growing.
We arrived at L’Enfant Metro Station and made a slow progression out of the station.
We walked down Independence Avenue with hundreds of thousands of others towards the Mall.
Heather and I entered the Mall at 14th Street and worked our way through the crowd towards the Capitol, section by section. 
We found a spot right in the middle of the Mall, directly across from the Carousel.
As we stood there for a few hours, waiting for the swearing in ceremony to begin, we made friends with others standing next to us. We talked about our families, commented on the arrival of celebrities and politicians gracing the JumboTrons and took in the estimated crowd of 1.8 million.
Before we knew it, the moment was upon us and the ceremony began.
My grandparents Curtis and Helen Morris passed away several years ago. They lived the majority of their lives in a very different America; an America with less opportunity and equality; an America that judged you not by the content of your character, but by the color of your skin. They didn’t let that stop them from seizing the day, seeing the world and leaving it a little bit better than when they entered it.
My grandfather was a civil service professional assigned to the US Army Ordnance Corps as one of the first munitions surveillance experts. He retired as one of the program's senior executives and a pioneer in his field only after making valuable contributions through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His achievements didn't just ensure the safety of Americans--they blazed trails of equality as he was the first African-American to hold such a post.
My grandmother is a pillar of motivation and inspiration. Together with my grandfather, she raised three boys all the while moving over a dozen times (Yokohama, Japan included). All three of her sons attended college and obtained advanced degrees. Two became Colonels in the United States military. One became a stellar educator and author.
Of everyone I have known and love, no one shines brighter in my heart than my grandparents. I wanted to make sure that as they looked down from Heaven on such a historic moment, they knew I was thinking of them. For that reason, I brought a picture of them with me to the ceremony.
When President Obama finished the last words of the oath of office, the crowd erupted. I looked down at the photograph in my hand and said to it, “We’re here. We’ve made it.” My eyes welled up with tears of joy. I shook hands with others around me and I kissed my girlfriend. “This is AWESOME!” I said to her. She looked back at me with her beautiful, blue, tear filled eyes and nodded her head in agreement. Complete elation took over the sea of people.
The station was already abuzz with folks from all over the world, making their way to the National Mall. The Metro cars were packed tightly, but everyone was in good spirits. People were looking out for one another. The feeling of being a part of something bigger than anything I have ever experienced in my life was growing.
We arrived at L’Enfant Metro Station and made a slow progression out of the station.
We walked down Independence Avenue with hundreds of thousands of others towards the Mall.
Heather and I entered the Mall at 14th Street and worked our way through the crowd towards the Capitol, section by section. 
We found a spot right in the middle of the Mall, directly across from the Carousel.
As we stood there for a few hours, waiting for the swearing in ceremony to begin, we made friends with others standing next to us. We talked about our families, commented on the arrival of celebrities and politicians gracing the JumboTrons and took in the estimated crowd of 1.8 million.
Before we knew it, the moment was upon us and the ceremony began.My grandparents Curtis and Helen Morris passed away several years ago. They lived the majority of their lives in a very different America; an America with less opportunity and equality; an America that judged you not by the content of your character, but by the color of your skin. They didn’t let that stop them from seizing the day, seeing the world and leaving it a little bit better than when they entered it.
My grandfather was a civil service professional assigned to the US Army Ordnance Corps as one of the first munitions surveillance experts. He retired as one of the program's senior executives and a pioneer in his field only after making valuable contributions through WWII, Korea and Vietnam. His achievements didn't just ensure the safety of Americans--they blazed trails of equality as he was the first African-American to hold such a post.
My grandmother is a pillar of motivation and inspiration. Together with my grandfather, she raised three boys all the while moving over a dozen times (Yokohama, Japan included). All three of her sons attended college and obtained advanced degrees. Two became Colonels in the United States military. One became a stellar educator and author.
Of everyone I have known and love, no one shines brighter in my heart than my grandparents. I wanted to make sure that as they looked down from Heaven on such a historic moment, they knew I was thinking of them. For that reason, I brought a picture of them with me to the ceremony.
When President Obama finished the last words of the oath of office, the crowd erupted. I looked down at the photograph in my hand and said to it, “We’re here. We’ve made it.” My eyes welled up with tears of joy. I shook hands with others around me and I kissed my girlfriend. “This is AWESOME!” I said to her. She looked back at me with her beautiful, blue, tear filled eyes and nodded her head in agreement. Complete elation took over the sea of people."We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."
- President Barack Obama
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Remarks From My Oldest Sis, And The Enthusiasm of Youth
I received an e-mail earlier this morning from my oldest sister who is stationed in Germany this morning. Her e-mail is in response to the letter my father wrote on Election Day.
Well, Dad said it very well... I can't really add anything eloquent at this point... my brain has turned to mush after 5 years of being a stay-at-home Mom.
However, I'll share a really great experience I had yesterday. I was in one of our local hardware stores shopping with Zibby when a German boy of about 10 yrs old and his mother overheard me speaking in English. He ran up to me and shook my hand and said "you are American?" When I said, "yes", he pumped his fist in the air and said "President, Neu President ... OBAMA!". His mother was grinning from ear-to-ear. I felt very proud to be an American and and it made me feel as if the great tension between the two countries was being lifted in these small little exchanges.
So, it was nice to share that triumph with my German neighbors since a lot of my military friends were McCain supporters....
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