on your MARK, get set, go!

Thursday, March 7, 2013

A L O H A

Hello All,

Puerta Moreles, Mexico, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, New York City.

I have covered a fair amount of a real estate in the past week or so, but finally made it out to Hawaii!

I ran into my friends Mike and Dawn down in Mexico at Frank's wedding. Mike was the best man. Dawn was, well, THE BEST. It is hard to describe these two together, but I'll go with incredibly kind and hilarious. They were talking up Hawaii big time and said we should all come visit. Well, SURPRISE! I'm here!

So far, thanks to an awesome itinerary from Mike and Dawn, I have covered an incredible amount of the north shore coastline here on Honolulu. Scenic drives! Incredible beaches! Cliff jumping! Diving. Boccie etc.

In store I have plenty more exploring to do and hopefully some island hopping as well. It is a bit overwhelming with the amount of options for things to do here. Still to come? Surfing, mountain climbing, volcanoes, exiting planes while they are in flight, some more cliffs to Sayonara off of etc. Time for a big breakfast and to seize the day!

Aloha,

Mark/Chops

OH HELLO!

NORTH SHORE COASTLINE ON THE MAIN ISLAND

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SURFING ON THE NORTH SHORE. PIPELINE!!

BOCCIE MATCH WITH DAWN AND MIKE! THEY CRUSHED ME!

EXPLORING THE COASTLINE

HOME OF OUR DIVING EXPEDITION

IT WAS INCREDIBLE. MY CAMERA STINKS

I WENT SWIMMING. SORRY MOM.

COMING UP FOR AIR FROM DIVING

THE FAMOUS NORTH SHORE

TURTLE BAY - NORTH SHORE, HAWAII

ABOUT TO GO CLIFF DIVING AT CHINA WALLS

COASTLINE VIEW FROM CHINA WALLS

WHALE WATCHING HERE!!

SURVIVED DAY ONE IN HAWAII!! WHAT A DAY. THANKS DAWN AND MIKE!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

Monday, March 4, 2013

ROAD TRIPPIN WITH STARBUCK

Hello all,

Immediately following my return from Mexico last week, I hit the road with one of my disaster response pals, Starbuck. Yes, like the coffee place. We made our way from Staten Island to NECHAMA's Headquarters in Minneapolis to take care of some logistics stuff. Fun stuff. Anyways, along the way, we mixed it up with some locals, harassed some STATE welcome centers, did all you could eat pancakes at Bob Evans' in Wisconsin, and some cow tippin. That and listened to country music for 2,500 miles! Ok, no cow tippin was done.

I had never seen this stretch of our country before. This just in... the Midwest is flat. Also, I enjoyed visiting Sam, the newlyweds Frank and Laura, Julia, and Caitlin and Gerry along the way!! I don't see these folks much and loved every minute of the time we spent together. Thanks everyone for making time to see me!

Worth noting:

I drove a truck and trailer combination for the first time in my life. I didn't hit anything and both Starbuck and I are still alive. The cornfields of the Midwest are a great place to learn.

That's all I got from here in NYC. Oh wait, one more thing. I thought I'd spice up my day a bit tomorrow. How so? By catching a flight to HAWAII! Why not, right?!? Feel free to meet me out there. Bring your bathing suits, parachutes, and a tent!

ALOHA!!

Mark/Chops

MINNEAPOLIS AND BACK. 2400 MILE ADVENTURE!

MILE ONE WITH MY PARTNER IN CRIME STARBUCK

DROVE THIS TRUCK AND TRAILER ACROSS THE COUNTRY! TALK ABOUT UNDER QUALIFIED!

BEHIND THE WHEEL!

WHAT'S UP INDIANA!

WORKING OUT IN WISCONSIN

MINNESOTA IS COLD

SUCCESSFUL ARRIVAL AT HEADQUARTERS CALLS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE

BROKEN DOWN ON MY WAY TO CHICAGO FROM MINNESOTA. COLD AND LONELY. FROWN.

GRABBING BREAKFAST WITH MY LONGTIME PAL SAM WHILE PIT STOPPING IN CHICAGO

DINNER WITH JULIA AND THE NEWLYWEDS FRANK AND LAURA!

PIT STOP IN PITTSBURGH! DINNER WITH COUS!

The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

M E X I C O !

Greetings from Puerto Morelos, Mexico,

There are not many things that I am afraid of in this world, but Mexican food is definitely one of them. That said, It was going to take a lot more than a battle with Montezuma's Revenge to keep me from making my way down here this week.

Along with some of my best childhood pals, I was fortunate enough to come down here to have a little fun in the sun and be part of Frank and Laura's wedding.

15 years ago I teamed up with a partner in crime willing to take on all that adolescence had to offer. Whether we were taking on opponents twice our size on BC High athletic fields, figuring out how to get me to pass algebra and chemistry, brainstorming on how to pick up girls, or scheming to escape the wrath of our parents, Frank never left my side. I can't say we always made the best choices, but we made many of the important ones together. We lived and learned together and I think we are much better off for it. I know I am.

At some point, life got in the way and our childish ambitions gave way to adulthood. With it, our challenges have certainly changed and the miles have grown between us, but one thing has never wavered. Frank has been there for me through it all. With this guy, I have always had someone pushing me to be a better man. His loyalty, generosity, and drive for both personal and professional happiness are second to none. He has successfully won over the woman he dreamed of marrying, the love of his life Laura, and landed the career he always wanted. All this while keeping family and friends close, and staying true to who he is as a man.

Not that it matters what I think, but shortly after I met Laura a few years back, I had been rooting for Frank to put a ring on it. It is hard to describe just how nice she is. The fact that she is easy on the eyes and makes fun of Frank certainly doesn't hurt either. You are a wonderful woman and it is so easy to see how Frank fell in love with you. Are you sure you don't have any single sisters?

Your wedding was beautiful and I'll forever remember being part of it.

Viva La Mexico

PS shout out to the BC Sailing and Chicago crews!

Mark/Chops