Team A'Hearn

We went to the annual Washington Auto Show yesterday along with what seemed like the entire DC-metro area. Fun times. Let’s see: Dad wants an Acura TL, Steph wants a Mini, Steph’s dad will take a Mercedes C-Class, and Steph’s mom wants a Maybach. As for me, I’d love a minivan. Just kidding; kill me before that happens. I did sit in a Scion tC, however. While they are marketed towards the kids, what with their customizations and low price, I felt quite comfortable in it. It has a very sporty feel, and would probably create less ridicule than my Accord. Sigh.

Our new laminate floors are finally done! We have wanted better flooring on our main floor for a while, and recently got around to calling Empire for an estimate. We liked what we heard so scheduled the installation. After tremendous hassle, confusion, and a refund of our deposit (plus some!), the job was finally completed. Despite the scheduling trouble, I will say that the quality of the materials and workmanship is superb, and we really like the new floors.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a Cigar/Scotch Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in D.C.. I didn’t really know what to expect going in, but it turned out to be possibly the most surreal night of my life. It was an intimate gathering of two crusty old men, three restauranteurs, three reps from Glenfiddich, and one head of an area cigar distributor. Then three of us 20-something guys, looking scared and out of place, huddled in the corner and trying to blend in to the boisterous discussions and smoke. We were presented with a 5-course meal, each “expertly paired with a specific Scotch,” while one of the Glenfiddich reps (an ebony-haired temptress of knowledge and cunning) waxed historic about the intricacies of the distilling process. Cigars bookended the meal, and American Express was happy. A shower and some Listerine later, Stephanie was ready to let me back in the house. What an evening – thanks, Drew!

Sure, this is reasonable. When I was sixteen, I wouldn’t have thought twice about beating up my grandmother with a 2×4 for beer money. Wow.

Cookies for breakfast? Usually not. Unless they’re bacon cookies, of course!

Now that the holidays are over, Stephanie and I are trying to shed the extra pounds that have accumulated throughout the past few weeks. Steph is doing great, but I’m having trouble putting down the beer and pie – so it’s time to get back to some running and other general physical activity. To that end, I found a free online app from WinningStats.com that will help me log my runs. I’ve found that keeping track of my training helps me stay more disciplined and more likely to actually get off the couch. Last year I was using logging software from vidaone.com. That served me well but required my PDA, my laptop, and constant sync’ing between the two. This online solution from WinningStats.com appears to be extremely capable and full-featured, and I can access it from anywhere!