Tag / Weber Grill

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Where Everybody Knows Your Name

This past weekend, I finally got to use my birthday gift from last year, a trip to Boston to see the White Sox take on the Red Sox with Danny and Michael.  The trip started early Saturday morning, with a trip to O’Hare to catch a 6 AM flight.  After arriving in Boston, we took a bus and a train to get to the Museum of Science, where we spent most of the morning.

With food on our mind, we wandered back over towards where we got off the train and found ourselves in the Beacon Hill neighborhood, where we ended up at The Paramount, rated as one of the 10 best breakfast spots in Boston.  A long wait through the oddly run restaurant, where you order and get your food prior to being seated, ended up in a decent meal.

After eating, we headed to our hotel, which was located in the medical district.  We checked in and relaxed for a bit, before deciding on going for ice cream prior to heading to Fenway Park.  Like nearly everywhere else we went, the ice cream shop was a little hole in the wall, but it certainly served its purpose.  From there, it was short walk up Brookline to the ballpark, which was… a little underwhelming.  From the outside, you could barely tell that it was a stadium.  Michael even asked where it was as we were standing outside it.

The game went about as you would expect.  With James Shields on the mound, the White Sox did not put up much of a fight.  We were sitting down the left field line, with a good view of the Green Monster.  The seats, which may or may not date back to the stadium’s opening in 1912, were not really designed for people well over 6 feet tall, so there was a lot of uncomfortable shifting as our knees were smooshed in to the seats in front of us.

After the game, we went back to the hotel and called it a night.   Continue reading →

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FB2: Week 21

FB2_Week21Another good week, as I extended my streak of consecutive days above goal to 16 days, with two days finishing above 10,000 steps.  The week got off to a slowish start on Sunday, as Father’s Day celebrations left me just barely over the daily goal.  Monday was once again a squeaker, with Tuesday and Wednesday bouncing back to normal levels.  Things really kicked off on Thursday, thanks to trips to the airport and then downtown with Val and Hayley.  Friday was another close call, and then Saturday was another good day thanks to a White Sox game followed by more Hayley fun in the city, including dinner at Weber Grill.

Total steps: 56,795

Daily average: 8113.6

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The Ever Growing 10,000 Step Club

Last winter, as the GlobalFit program was wrapping up, I took my last look at the top 20 step days I’ve had since I first started tracking my steps way back in July of 2011.  At the time, I had only surpassed the 10,000 step plateau 45 times.  In the year plus since then, I have managed to nearly double that number, raising the total to 81.  With my first year using the Fitbit coming to an end last week, I thought it would be appropriate to take a new look at my updated top 20 step days over the past 4 1/2 years, featuring 8 new entries.

btn10K-41: 6/6/2013 – 24,988 steps

My best single day total came during my 2013 trip to Disney World.  The day’s excursion to both Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom ended up with a total of approximately 12.5 miles.  And yes, it still bothers me that I didn’t get those 12 additional steps to reach 25,000.

2: 7/27/2013 – 20,592 steps

My second highest total came nearly 2 months after my highest, thanks to the BTN 5K and a, for lack of a better word, misunderstanding about where I should be picked up after the race.  These 2 days are the sum total of my days over 20,000 steps.

3: 9/6/2015 – 18,259 steps

The first new addition to the list comes courtesy of my trip to Toronto last September.  This Sunday consisted of traversing around Toronto, with trips to Royal Ontario Museum and, at night, the Molson Canadian Ampitheatre for the Oddball Comedy Fest.

4: 9/11/2015 – 17,889 steps

Another new addition thanks to my trip to Toronto.  My last day in the city was spent at the Eaton Centre mall, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a few other stops.

5: 6/8/2013 – 17,852 steps

My now-fifth highest output brings us back to Disney World, this time for a day split between Animal Kingdom in the morning and Hollywood Studios in the afternoon.

6: 9/5/2015 – 16,083 steps

We head back to Toronto for my sixth highest day, my first full day in the city.  There was exploring along the riverfront and, of course, a trip to Rogers Centre for a Blue Jays game.

7: 9/23/2014 – 15,728 steps

This total was accomplished thanks to the 2014 Sprint & Stride 5K race that was held at work.

8: 9/9/2012 – 14,957 steps

My eighth highest total comes thanks to a Sunday in Belfast spent walking from our hotel, down to the Titanic museum, and then back again.

9: 6/7/2013 – 14,940 steps

Another day of 2013’s vacation to Disney World, this day started with a morning trip to the hotel pool, followed by an abbreviated day at the Magic Kingdom.

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by jim

The 10,000 Step Club Revisited

Last spring, I took an initial look at the top 20 step days I’ve had since starting the GlobalFit program way back in July of 2011.  At the time, I had only surpassed the 10,000 step plateau 31 times.  In the 8 months since then, I have managed to raise that number to 45.  With the GlobalFit program officially wrapping up earlier this week, I thought it would be appropriate to take a new, and final, look at my updated top 20 step days over the past 3 1/2 years.

btn10K-41: 6/6/2013 – 24,988 steps

My best single day total came during my 2013 trip to Disney World.  The day’s excursion to both Epcot Center and the Magic Kingdom ended up with a total of approximately 12.5 miles.  And yes, it still bothers me that I didn’t get those 12 additional steps to reach 25,000.

2: 7/27/2013 – 20,592 steps

My second highest total came nearly 2 months after my highest, thanks to the BTN 5K and a, for lack of a better word, misunderstanding about where I should be picked up after the race.  These 2 days are the sum total of my days over 20,000 steps.

3: 6/8/2013 – 17,852 steps

My third highest output brings us back to Disney World, this time for a day split between Animal Kingdom in the morning and Hollywood Studios in the afternoon.

4: 9/23/2014 – 15,728 steps

A new addition since my original list, this total was accomplished thanks to the Sprint & Stride 5K race that was held at work last fall.

5: 9/9/2012 – 14,957 steps

We round out the top 5 with my highest total outside of the United States.  A Sunday in Belfast spent walking from our hotel, down to the Titanic museum, and then back again.

6: 6/7/2013 – 14,940 steps

Another day of 2013’s vacation to Disney World, this day started with a morning trip to the hotel pool, followed by an abbreviated day at the Magic Kingdom.

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Concert Flashback: Garbage IV

12garbageWith the Cubs on the road, I was able find parking across from Wrigley Field well before the start of the show, Garbage’s first in Chicago in 7 years.  Prior to heading downtown to meet Tina for dinner prior to the show, I walked past the Metro just in time to see Shirley Manson and Butch Vig mingling with the fans, signing autographs and taking pictures.

In the less than 2 years since this show, I have lost any and all thoughts about White Mystery, the opening act.  We showed up in the middle of their performance following a delightful dinner at the Weber Grill.  Once they finished, Garbage came out and, led by Manson, put on a riveting 90 minute show that combined the bands hits from the past 17 years along with songs from their newest effort.

The night was hot, and not just because of the music or Manson.  By the end of the show, my shirt was completely soaked through.  But it was worth it.  While I missed their return performance the following spring, I’m looking forward to them coming back to Chicago once again and dragging my old self out to see them, reliving my youth for an evening.

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Friday’s Tunes

Between the commute to work, a lunch time trip to Best Buy to pick up some essential office supplies, CD burning, and the commute home with a stop off at the Weber Grill for dinner, I spent a lot of time in the car on Friday listening to music. Here’s the selection that helped get me through the day.

Hash Pipe Weezer Weezer (Green Album) 11/9/2012 6:52 AM
Time Bomb Rancid …And Out Come The Wolves 11/9/2012 6:54 AM
Help! The Beatles Help! [2009 Stereo Remaster] 11/9/2012 6:57 AM
The Mustard The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer Once More, With Feeling 11/9/2012 6:58 AM
REALLY Silly Religious Crazies. I Mean, Double, Triple Crazy!! David Cross Bigger and Blackerer 11/9/2012 11:39 AM
If I Had $1000000 Barenaked Ladies All Their Greatest Hits 1991-2001 11/9/2012 11:44 AM
Page Off Intro / Theme From 30 Rock / Kenneth Chokes Jeff Richmond 30 Rock Original TV Soundtrack 11/9/2012 11:44 AM
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