Race in Franklin, June 13, 2009

It's happening! I'm directing my first 5K race! Join me for this inaugural event to raise money to complete the Kreger Farmhouse. Back in December my parents, through the Franklin Historical Society, saved and moved a 1800s house and its out buildings from being demolished. They raised enough money to move it, and now they need to raise more to pour the foundation and complete the details. The house, barn and mushroom shed will all be used as community buildings in Franklin once this project is complete. The 5K run features a scenic route through Franklin, and a cool t-shirt followed by a pancake breakfast to refuel complete with sausage, OJ and coffee. Not a runner? Walk the course or bring your dog and enter the Strut Your Mutt event. Join me in making this event a success!

We love the Heart Ball

Well, we had another successful weekend with my favorite same age, same sex cousin Holly and her awesome husband Danny! (I had to add the same sex because I'm lucky enough to have another same age cousin, but a boy!) Holly is a big cheese at the American Heart Association and it was the Heart Ball this past weekend in Chicago. Holly invited Chris and me to be volunteers and we jumped at the chance to dress up and pitch in a helping hand.

The Ball was held at the Palmer House Hilton, which was built in the late 1800s. It's right smack in the middle of the action, close to the lake front and shopping, if that's your thing. The hotel just underwent a huge renovation and has been restored to it's original swanky charm. I loved all of the gorgeous crown molding, intricate staircases and black and white photos of Judy Garland and the likes adorning the hallways. (All that and a Serenity Dreams bed!) If you have a chance to stay there while you're in town, I highly recommend it!

Brew #2

For months Chris and I have been affectionately know by our neighbors as the "one brew wonders." Not so now, neighbors! Chris and I brewed our second batch of beer, an IPA, this Saturday to be ready in the next month or so. Our motivation? Summer (save for the snow that no one but Elvis liked today), and a Downtown Runners venue at Rosie's in Ferndale this fall . Beer stop anyone?

Races, Places & Faces

ARGHGHGHGHGH! It has been too long! So many things have happened in the past several weeks, both good and bad. I'm looking forward to simpler times as we approach the change of seasons and the promise of warmer weather. Oh, how the sun makes me feel better.

Yesterday, was my third St. Patty's Day Race in Corktown, a neighborhood of Detroit. The first year, 2007, I ran, in 2008 Chris and I volunteered, and this year I volunteered and ran. Unsurprisingly, only a handful of people got sh*tty with me because they expected that their race numbers would be in alpha order (I've never been to a race where they were), but overall, it was a good crowd. How many short races begin at noon and serve free beer at the finish line?

Of course, many of my favorite people were there and it was a warm sunny day. Just perfect for running, parade and people watching, and tailgating. I've had more productive Sunday afternoons, but they're generally not as fun. Even Elvis had a good time!

White Elephant?

Oh, how I love my birthday. It's proof that I'm alive and that's cause enough to celebrate in my book! Inspired by our creative friends and the desire to pass on the belief that one (wo)man's trash is another (wo)man's treasure, we celebrated my 32 years of life white elephant style.

I'm convinced that some of our friends did not understand the rules. Since when did Waterford crystal and a growler of Kuhnhenn beer become white elephants? (Did my birthday presents end up on the white elephant table, perhaps?)

Some of the favorite white elephants were (in no particular order): a moldy hot pink bedazzled pillow, the Virgin Mary (or some other saint, as Matt would argue), a fabric goose that was a veteran of six other white elephant soirees, a left-handed beer mug with the sounds of a bike bell attached to it (as in RING! RING! I'm out of beer!) with a growler of beer.

Click on this slide show to check out some fancy photojournalism. Note that the Virgin gets around as the evening progresses. No big surprise there.

Want to rent a house?

Chris and I are now on month three of renovating our Redford rental house for new tenants. (Know anyone who wants to rent a house?) The joys of home ownership multiply when you have more than one residence, as many of you, I'm sure, can attest. In our rental history, we've had the joy of non-payers, smokers, dirty hippies, screaming families and retirees. If it's not asking too much, we're looking for someone neat and quiet who can pay the rent. I'm tired of our former neighbor Kim bitching about the noise level of the tenants.


In the past, we've been able to go in, clean, touch up the paint and rerent. This time whistled a different, more demanding kind of tune. The house wanted refinished hardwood floors, modern but subdued paint throughout, new curtains, an updated bath and a brand new kitchen. This house must be a woman!

We painted the basement from head to toe to make a great space to hang out, installed brand new kitchen cabinets, countertops, and flooring, put ourselves at risk for lung cancer determined to continue to work and not lose those three days it takes to finish the floors, caulked the top, hung a new medicine cabinet, replaced the toilet, paid a plumber, washed windows, cleaned out the garage, painted the closets, installed new drapery hardware, suspended roman shades, dangled shiny chandeliers...I'm about ready to move in and file for bankruptcy at the same time. It's amazing how easy it is to renovate a house when you're not living in in. We're closing in on five years in our current house and though we've made great strides, we have a rocky, windy, but yellow-bricked road ahead of us.

Before finishing up the kitchen floor, Chris must solve the mystery of the leak under the kitchen sink. This very leak lead to the demise of the former kitchen, and we refuse to let it ruin this one. If he can't figure it out, we're planning just to light the house aflame.

Stuck on a deserted island

This NYE, Chris and I played course marshalls for the 39th annual Belle Isle New Year's Eve Run. With beers in our pockets and our hats pulled low, we nearly froze to death in the biting wind and dropping temps at the mile and a half mark. Considering all of the races I do, paying it back was the least I could do. Just as the last runner passed, a car did too, with the window down. The woman driving was in a panic. "I'm lost and I'm trying to get to Ohio!" she exclaimed. "I'm following my compass south but the roads around here just keep changing directions!" For a moment I thought she was messing with us. Chris and I tried not to snicker and put on our Mr. and Mrs. Serious masks. "Well," I began, trying not to lose it, "you're on an island right now---could explain the curvy roads."