Selena enjoys getting to hear classical music performed live. I enjoy getting to see women that make People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People live. So I knew we would both enjoy the concert at the Swarthmore by the Ahn Trio.

These three Korean-American women are as ... [ more ]]]>

The Ahn Trio

Selena enjoys getting to hear classical music performed live. I enjoy getting to see women that make People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People live. So I knew we would both enjoy the concert at the Swarthmore by the Ahn Trio.

These three Korean-American women are as gifted on the piano, cello and violin as they are beautiful. They played two sets of amazing modern day classical music (which seems like an oxymoron, but apparently is not.)

We bought their CD after the performance, partially just to have something to sign since I wanted to get autographs and this picture…

Greg and Selena and the Ahn Trio

(Side note: I was amused as I observed the makeup of the line in which we waited. For at least 20 people in front or behind us, it was only Asian women or white men waiting in line.)

Greg on horseback in the desert

Our gracious hosts Laura and Ramy and lil’ Omar. Our fun travel companions Erica and her son Benjamin. Real horseback riding is so cool, especially when you get to trot or gallop. Viewing the findings of King ... [ more ]]]> Here is an overdue recap of our trip to Egypt.

The Good

• 

  Greg on horseback in the desert

  Our gracious hosts Laura and Ramy and lil’ Omar.

• Our fun travel companions Erica and her son Benjamin.
• Real horseback riding is so cool, especially when you get to trot or gallop.
• Viewing the findings of King Tut’s tomb in the Egyptian Museum.
• 

  Walking like an Egyptian

  The pyramids are magnificent, we are so fortunate they are still around to be seen and marveled at (unlike the other six Wonders of the World which are all gone).

• Learning all about the history of Egypt’s hidden gem, the Pharonic Village.
• Getting a great deal bartering for souvenirs in the Bazaars.
• Visiting the top Sporting Clubs in Cairo so Selena can train with her old master in Tai Kwan Do.

The Bad

• 

  Spices in the Bazaar

  Egypt Air for closing early on New Years costing us a day in Egypt.

• Egypt Air for losing our luggage.
• It is hard to find a street corner that doesn’t have a pile of trash, stray animals or both.
• Selena getting kicked by a horse.

The Crazy

Selena with a camel

• They have an ice cream shop in CityStars called Venicia that serves ice cream shaped like other foods including eggs benedict or spaghetti. Yum!
• I found a game I am really not good at — Boggle.
• It is amazing how well mummification works. You can still distinguish features of Ramses III who died over 5000 years ago.
• Driving in Egypt is insane. There are no traffic lights, there are no traffic laws, and no enforcement. Think about the wildest taxi ride you had in NYC, that’s how EVERYBODY drives.

To see the photos of Egypt, visit our Flickr album of the trip here.

Before we left for Europe, I went to the best concert ever.

The New Kids did this for us. Us 25-30 somethings whose parents wouldn’t take them to see the New Kids when we were 10. Now, as professionals who can actually afford the ticket, we finally got what we wanted. ... [ more ]]]>

Before we left for Europe, I went to the best concert ever.

The New Kids did this for us. Us 25-30 somethings whose parents wouldn’t take them to see the New Kids when we were 10. Now, as professionals who can actually afford the ticket, we finally got what we wanted. And I must say, I probably appreciated it much more than I ever would have at age 10.

The best t-shirt I saw at the concert read: “Hey Donnie, I’m legal now!”

In the past three weeks, I saw the New Kids and almost all of Europe. I could die tomorrow and have everything checked off of my bucket list. October’s been a good month.

Greg loves running. He likes races. He was ecstatic that I was ... [ more ]]]> I hate running. Running for “fun” breaks my cardinal rule of “never run unless you are being chased.” So when I was forced to do it for Tae Kwon Do training, I naturally had a hard time with it.

Greg loves running. He likes races. He was ecstatic that I was starting to run with my team. He constantly came out to run with me. I signed up for an 8K race, because it gave me a goal to work towards, and it’s something that I knew would make Greg happy. It did, and he promised to help me train.

Little did he know what he was getting into. The training process with Selena is not fun. I am prone to temper tantrums. I look just about the worst out there as you could ever imagine me. A few runs ago, I stopped at the two mile mark and threw a fit because Greg (Damn Greg!) was being TOO supportive. I jumped up and down. I punched my fists at the air. I screamed out things like “I’m never running again!” and “I’m going home and UN-signing up for this race!” All of this in the manner of a six-year-old being told to brush their teeth. Except on a city street. And I’m 30.

(Side note here: There is also an embarrassing incident of this happening one time on a frisbee golf course.)

Come Saturday night, the Rockville Twilight 8K. A delayed start to try to get over 90 degree weather and the heat advisory. I did it!

Below is a photo documentation of one of my proudest accomplishments! And to see how proud Greg and my family were, I hope he felt like it was worth it.

Before the race.

How I was feeling.

A kid at the race. I think this kid practices Falun Gong or something. Although later, I felt like he was onto something.

If you’ve ever wondered what I look like when I am hating life but aware that someone might be taking a picture.

This is after the race and after I went through the fruit, donut and granola bar buffet. The first time.

This is the reason I would sign up for another race: Four free beers per runner!

Go Dean: 38 minutes! Go Greg: 44 minutes! and Selena: 55 minutes.