2011 - What a Year! - Continued.
Continuing on with my remembrance of the mad year that was 2011, the top 5
#5 - Take That and Robbie Williams - Live at Wembley, London
March, 1996 - I made my first trip to Europe and discovered two things that I would enjoy to this day - Heathrow Terminal 3 and the group Take That. Since I first picked up my copy of Take That's Greatest Hits, their music along with the music of former group member Robbie Williams have been on my playlist non-stop.
Flash forward 15 years, for the first time, the entire 5 member group was reforming for a summer tour, including
8 nights at Wembley Arena in London. The shows conveniently fell on the 4th of July week, so I cashed in my miles and made a week of it.
This is by far the largest concert I have been to since seeing Wham! and the Pointer Sisters at the Oakland Coliseum way back in high school. Just sitting there watching close to 90,000 fans fill a stadium was a great experience, especially from my seats off in the corner under the awning - helpful given the downpour that greated much of the show.
The highlight was by far the chance to see Robbie Williams live, as he flew through a short set of his hits while flying across the adoring crowds. What a night!
Not familiar with Robbie Williams or Take That? Essential Robbie Williams album: Escapology; Essential Take That album: The Greatest Hits (1996).
#4 - Team Noah's Wish - LA Marathon 2011
In 2010, I ran the LA marathon for the awesome animal disaster services charity Noah's Wish. I was so moved by the idea of running a marathon for charity, that I jumped on board as Co-Coordinator of the
Noah's Wish marathon team (aka, joined Catherine to make it a 2-person show). From comp lunches at the Hard Rock Cafe to planning sessions in Catherine's garden, we watched our ideas turn into a great marathon team.
From July to March, we planned and planned and planned, and were greeted by the smiling faces of 20 marathon runners who joined us on the big day for what has now been dubbed the "LA Monsoon 2011." Yet, enthusiasm never flagged, and between our marathon runners and our amazing 24 person 5-k fund raising team, we far surpassed our goal of raising money for Noah's Wish
One highlight was meeting many of our runners for the first time at the LA Marathon expo. Over 2 days, we made new friends and got to chat with runners that we had been virtually encouraging for months.
The dedication and hard work of our marathon and 5-k runners helped us to raise over $28,000 for Noah's Wish and in June we were named the Best Overall Charity of the LA Marathon! Not bad for a small team who's office was Catherine's garden and our inspiration was a constant supply of Malbecs, Zinfandels, and Barbera's.
In July, we kicked off the 2012 Marathon campaign and added the London Marathon to our list of fundraising activities! Can't wait to see how these turn out.
#3 - Vinoteque on Melrose
I was a huge fan of Cheers in college - something having a place to go that feels like home where everyone knows your name. This year, Vinoteque on Melrose became my Cheers. From the first time that Catherine and I met Ginger and Shawn for a marathon meeting, the people, the atmosphere, the great food, and the awesome wine made us never want to leave.
While we did eventually leave, I have been there at least a dozen times in the past 6 months, always confident knowing that a relaxed good time awaited. Whether it was holding our charity meetings, or bringing friends new and old to dinner, Ryan, Erin, and gang are always there with a hug and joke. Or in the case of December, an Ugly Sweater.....
Just when it couldn't get better, came the discovery of Vinoteque trivia night. Spending a Wednesday night in cutthroat competition with other tables to win a bottle of wine and come up with the best team name is the perfect escape from the regular routine.
The trivia team is now a monthly fixture, with the membership changing each month, but know that I am there with competitive Courtney fighting to take home the prize.
My favorite prize winning team name, when we were Lindsay Lohan's probation officers, complete with nametags and stickers courtesy of Catherine!
Vinoteque on Melrose
7469 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 860-6060
Open at 5pm Tuesday- Sunday
#2 - Surviving the Challenges of the Year
In between the good moments and memories of each year, life keeps throwing us challenges to make us stronger. This year had its fair share of real bummers. In addition to the way-too-early passing of my friend and co-worker Marianne, some of my friends lost close ones well before their time. And then there are those times when you just don't know how destiny is going to call it. In February, my mom went into the hospital to have a kidney removed, in hopes of finally putting to rest years of ill effects resulting from various medical treatments over the year.
After too many hospital admissions to count, many of them accompanied by my impromptu flights to and from San Jose, by Spring, there was some color in her cheeks for the first time in weeks.
While the road to recovery has not been easy, nor is it necessarily over, a high point in her recovery came at Thanksgiving when she determined to host Thanksgiving dinner for 18 - just because she should. So after running the Torrance Turkey Trot with Mary, I popped into the car, and 5.5 hours later pulled up just as the turkey was coming out of the oven - a surprise visit that made her day. Here's hoping to continued recovery in 2012. My brother and I joke that this little 4'9" woman will be roaming the aisles of WalMart long after we both are admitted to the retirement home.
And there are those whose near brushes really throw us for a loop. In October, Catherine went in for a "simple knee surgery" in hopes of getting into London shape for 2013, 48 hours later a blood clot threw Catherine and everyone around her into a life changing loop. How is that possible, given the impossibly glamorous pre-op photo that Catherine surely commissioned from a Vogue photographer.
Not the time or place for details, but I am thrilled to say on December 30th, I sat on a couch with Catherine and her husband Tony, plotting our adventures for 2012 over a cup of tea.
#1 - Friends
I am the first to admit I am very fortunate. I have a great job that rewards me for my hard work. I live in a wonderful city, and have created a world where I can enjoy what live has to offer, whether it is food, concerts, wine, travel, or my running. But none of these would mean anything without friends to enjoy them with. This year has been a particularly bountiful year, with friendships growing and several significant new friendships blossoming. I have always been selective and sheltered when it comes to making new friends, but the fact that this year I can add the names Courtney, Sharona, Christian, Ryan, Erin, Janae, Ginger, Shawn, Mel, Shannon, Allison, Mary, and several others to my list of people that I am fortunate enough to spend time with makes me the richest man in the world today. And this is in addition to Phil, Mary, Marilyn, Helen, Catherine, Tony, Chris, Katy, and other friends who I have known for years.
I dedicate 2011 to each of you, and look forward to sharing more awesomely great moments of 2012 with you. Happy New Year!
From Top to Bottom: Me, Courtney, Kristin, Sharona, and Christian at Vinoteque Trivia Night - AKA our Brady Bunch pose. Guess that makes me Greg.
Bulldog 25K L to R with Nadine, Ginger, Tony, and Catherine. Did I mention it was 106 that day!
With Ryan, the coolest and funniest guy - at Vinoteque.
At one of the too few dinner parties of 2011 - Humans: Phil, Catherine, Toby, Tony, and me. Canines: Eddie, Buddy, and Sydney. And NO we didn't break into an Adele routine that night, although I think I did promise Tony that I would complete another one of his crazy athletic challenges.
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