FOREVER ON THE GO

Hello All,

Over the last week or so I have been all over the map.  I was lucky enough to join my club soccer team from Boston for our annual team dinner.  These are some of the best people in the world and I am truly fortunate to have them in my life.  (Thanks to the one and only Kevin Broome for picking me up in New York and taking me to the aforementioned dinner in Boston.  You are a man for others!).  

I was also lucky enough to catch up with some of my Clemson pals.  Guys that I never ever get to see and it was such a treat to spend some time with them.  Thanks for making my day Bucket, Wonka, and Aron.  We played golf at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus NJ.  The place is incredible.  Home of a Ryder Cup and multiple PGA tour events etc.  I wouldn't have traded spending that time with you guys for anything.  Did I mention these Clemson friends of mine are pro golfers?!?!  Needless to say, I didn't win golf.  We ended the day watching the Clemson v Georgia Tech game with my pal Kennyballs and the Tigers won big.  A day I wont soon forget.  Thank you.

A big thank you too to my brother Brian and his cash money wife Emily, B and Brenna, and Lindsay for making time to see, house, and feed me on such short notice once again.  My visits are never long enough but it was really great to see you all.

Then, as I was making my way to New York City, tornadoes struck much of the midwest.  Planes, trains, and automobiles later, and I am in Washington, Illinois with my disaster response team.  We are currently designing a plan of attack to get our teams into ground zero to help those in need.

 It's time to get to work.  I'll update when possible.

Mark/Chops

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

CAUGHT UP WITH THE BEST DRESSED CLEMSON GRAD IN NYC.  KENNYBALLS!

TERRIBLE PHOTO.  INCREDIBLE FRIENDS.  BOSTON SOCCER CLUB ANNUAL DINNER!  VIVA LAFIF!

ONE OF THE VERY BEST - KEVIN BROOME!

CHRISTINE SWEENEY IS NOT IN THIS PICTURE.  MEG IS!!

BEARD GROWING CONTEST AGAINST GREG!

BOSTON SOCCER CLUB GUYS AND CARDOSO'S MUSTACHE.  BOTH AWESOME

THE LOVELY MRS. MCGILVERY!  NOT MY WIFE.  I WISH.

THE PRIDE OF SOUTHIE - MY BROTHER BRIAN

A QUICK LUNCH WITH BLONDIE!!

I'LL LET YOU GUESS WHO ISN'T A PGA GOLF PROFESSIONAL...  GREAT TIME WITH SOME OF THE CLEMSON GUYS.  

KAT!! ROSS!! MUSTACHE!!!  

THE SETTING SUN AS I MAKE MY WAY FROM NEW YORK CITY TO ILLINOIS

SMOLDERING SKY SOMEWHERE IN INDIANA

1,000 MILES LATER, I ARRIVED.  MAKING INITIAL ASSESSMENTS AT GROUND ZERO IN WASHINGTON, ILLINOIS

THIS 2,400 MILE JOURNEY WAS ALL ABOUT THE DESTINATION. BOSTON STRONG!

Greetings all,

I just made my way from Boulder, Colorado to Boston.  I did the first 1,000 miles or so to Minnesota with my good friend Dan.  I then did the next 1,400 miles on my own and the next thing I knew, I was in Boston.  

This 2,400 mile journey was all about the destination.  I couldn't get there fast enough. My hometown Boston Red Sox just won the 2013 World Series and there was a parade to celebrate.  Given all that transpired this past spring with the Boston Marathon bombings, the Red Sox and their championship season was a rallying point for many here in Boston and I didn't want to miss the celebration of a lifetime in my hometown.  

I made my way out to the parade with my childhood pals B and Dano, as well as with Brenna and Christine. ( two women too pretty to be with the three of us)   The streets of Boston were a madhouse.  The crowd was huge.  The air was electric.  The hairs on my arms stuck straight out while taking part in this celebration.  I don't know... Hard to describe.  It's something I will remember for a long time. This celebration was about much more than a beloved baseball team.  It served as a reminder to me about living the life we dream of and the freedom we have to do so.  It was about the Boston Marathon victims, survivors, and all the heroes involved.   It was an incredible experience!

The second reason for making my way east was to visit my family.  Given my transient lifestyle these days, it is not often I get to see them.  It was so wonderful to make my way down to Cape Cod to spend  some time with my parents, my favorite sister Susan,(my only sister) and my aunt Judy and uncle Bill.  Also, although not long enough I got to spend a little time with my brother Brian and my sister in law Emily while in Boston as well as with my good pal Lindsay, and the McInnes and D'ambra families.  Thanks to each of you for finding time to see me, feed me, and house me!

Who knows when the next party in Boston with 2,000,000 people in the streets will be.  Who knows the next time I'll make it east to see my family and some of my closest friends.  The time for this was now.  The actual journey is already a bit of a blur to me.  What's crystal clear however was my weekend in Boston.  It was for sure one of those moments in my life that I'll hang my hat on forever.

Thanks to all those that made my time in Boston possible and memorable.  

On The Road

Mark/Chops

USUALLY IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY. NOT THIS TIME.  THIS TIME IT WAS ABOUT THE DESTINATION! BOSTON STRONG!

SOO SAD TO BE LEAVING.  I'LL BE BACK SOON COLORADO!

NOTHING TO DO IN THIS STATE, SO WE DECIDED TO CLIMB ON THE WELCOME SIGN

TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WHILE VISITING IOWA.  THE ANSWER:  KEEP DRIVING

BOSTON IN 27 HOURS!

PRUDENTIAL AND HANCOCK BUILDINGS.  WELCOME TO BOSTON!

AN IDEA OF HOW PACKED THE CITY WAS FOR THE PARADE.

YOUR 2013 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! JOHNY GOMES AND THE RED SOX!

CATCHING THE PARADE WITH MY OLD PALS B, BRENNA, DANO, AND SWEENEY!

BOSTON STRONG.  WORLD SERIES TROPHY ON THE BOSTON MARATHON FINISHLINE (WISH THIS WAS MY PICTURE)

CAUGHT TWO SOCCER GAMES WHILE IN BOSTON.  THE D'AMBRA FAMILY...  AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE VIEW FROM THEIR GAMES.

SO NICE TO SEE THE OCEAN AT MOM AND DAD'S PLACE.  IT HAD BEEN TOO LONG.

JANE AND TED SIMPLY DOMINATING WITH THE YARD WORK.  LOOKING GOOD MOM AND DAD!

SURPRISE VISIT TO CAPE COD TO VISIT MY FOLKS AND THE SISTAH SUSAN! OBVIOUSLY LOVE MY DAD'S CHOICE OF SWEATSHIRTS AND THOSE NECHAMA DISASTER RESPONSE HATS!