Category: Fun Days

The OC Half Marathon is About to Start!

It’s early Sunday morning and I’m here in Newport Beach at the starting line for the OC Marathon. This is my first big running event and it’s very exciting to be here! It was dark when I arrived and was one of the first here but now it’s dawn and many more of the estimated 13,000 runners are here.

I’m only doing the half marathon but at 13.1 miles, it’s still longer than any distance I’ve ever run at once. Now the PA system is up and running and now U2 (always suitable for epic inspiration) is blasting out of the speakers.

I’ll write more later but this is awesome stuff! I can feel some major energy and exciting brimming and in half an hour, I’ll literally be off and running!

Adventures in Downey: A Mid-Century Treasure Trove

This past weekend, Larry took Carrie and I to Bob’s Big Boy in Downey. Doesn’t sound like anything out of the ordinary, does it? After all, most Bob’s Big Boy restaurants are but a shadow of their former selves, looking like generic family restaurants inside and out. And Downey? Just another ho-hum middle class suburb of Los Angeles, right?

Um, no. This restaurant has been lovingly and painstakingly restored to its original glory, down to every last detail. It is an archetype of mid-century Googie architecture. Everything here is as it once was, from the green vinyl upholstery on the booths, walnut-effect laminate on the counters and tabletops, rock walls, and gorgeous bullet and sputnik light fixtures. It even features a drive-in section that is operational everyday after 4pm. You can learn all about it here at the restaurant’s website. And Downey? As it turns out, it is filled with amazing mid-century architecture everywhere, some well preserved, others not. It’s an amazing place to explore. Downey. Downey!!

All of these pics were taken with my iPhone, with suitable vintage photo effects courtesy of two apps – Hipstamatic and Camera Bag.

I had to dine on an old childhood favorite of mine, chili spaghetti. Sounds disgusting, and it sorta is, in the most gloriously delicious way.

The experience was so magical that we had to bring our friends Rebecca and Jody back the next day, meaning that we came here twice in one weekend. And yes, I did get the chili spaghetti the second time too.

Larry also took us to another Downey landmark, the oldest operating McDonald’s in the world. Opened in 1953, this location is well preserved and has its huge sign intact.

Rebecca and Jody learned that Downey was the birthplace and home of The Carpenters. Who knew? We found the house Karen Carpenter was raised in, and better yet, learned that once the Carpenters became successful, they decided to buy and manage two apartment buildings in Downey, directly across the street from each other. Random thing to do with your success, huh? And they named them too. What did they name them? What else?

We passed a Hawaiian apparel store called Exotical…filled with all kinds of vintage Hawaiian kitsch (which I don’t think was meant to be kitschy). Regretfully, they were closed as it was Sunday, but we got pictures of the patina’d sign and some creepy mannequins.

Turns out Charles Phoenix, a connoisseur of all things mid-century, has also taken an interest in Downey and did a feature with the local NPR affiliate KPCC here. Downey’s only 15 minutes from home…we’ve got some more exploring to do, and more chili spaghettis to down!

Ed Runs the Seal Beach 10K

As some of you know, I’m going to be running the OC Half Marathon next month, so I’ve been training the last couple of months and getting into shape for it. A few weeks ago, I found out that there was a 10K (about 6.2 miles) happening just down the street in Seal Beach, so I figured it would be great practice for the half marathon. After all, I’ve never run in any organized run before!

As it turns out my dad was planning on doing it too, but walking the 5K (about 3 miles) version. So it was really fun and cool to do this with my dad!

I wish we had some pictures to share, but all I have is this picture from the staging area, about 10 minutes before the start.

It was a real rush, especially the start when you’re running amidst thousands of other runners. The energy is really overwhelming, and you just end up running hard! I ran it in 52 minutes and 13 seconds, which equates to an 8:25/mile pace over the 6.2 miles. For me, that’s fast – definitely the fastest I’ve ever run over that distance.

I saw my dad about a quarter mile before the finish as he was wrapping up his 5K, we actually finished within a few minutes of each other. It’s so cool we both got to do this event together.

So, OC Half Marathon, here I come!

Our Go Room Photo Shoot at the Flamingo in Vegas

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Sometimes we really don’t know how we got so lucky!  Our friend (and wedding photographer!) Suzi Q met up with us in Las Vegas for Ed’s birthday last year, and did a little photo shoot just for fun with us!  Yes, lots of fun can be had when you are friends with an incredible photographer! Suzi is awesome, and we feel so lucky to be friends with her years beyond our wedding.

She even gave us props on her blog – so we are flattered by the publicity!  Be sure to check out the cool shots from our fun day in the “GO ROOM” at the Flamingo. Thanks so much, Suzi!!!

Click here to see the pictures!