Returning to the Big D

As you might be able to deduce from the picture below, the Winter Meetings were held in Dallas this year! So I had the opportunity to return to Texas for the first time in about 13 years (not counting layovers). One of the highlights of the meetings was the gala, which was held at the Ballpark in Arlington. A "Make Your Own Baseball Card" station, a mechanical bull, self-guided tours of the ballpark, armadillo races ... it was a very impressive party.

Good to be back. And always good to be in the VIP area. 

This is my friend Brittany who interned with me in Pulaski. She lives near Fort Worth now.

This is what we saw as we came in to the park. It completely enhanced the experience.

Armadillos ... are gross. And surprisingly fast.

Picture with the Rangers ACLS trophies. Too bad it should be a WORLD SERIES TROPHY!

One of the few, the proud ... the non-alcoholic drinkers of the party.

Training room

Ron Washington's office ... I wasn't there long enough to find his coke stash. Wah wah.

CLUBHOUSE. Of course there would be a deer head mounted on the wall in the Texas Rangers clubhouse.

This is where the cool people hang out ... and when I say cool, I mean professional baseball player cool.

MY MAN HAM

Tunnel to go out onto the field. LEGIT.

Texas Rangers mascots: Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Nolan Ryan, and I forgot the last one....

On-field shot

From the club level. Such a beautiful ballpark.

Me in the dugout with my Boston Red Sox cup. Hahaaa!

So then my mother and our friend Lori came into town and we reminisced the weekend away. We met up with old friends, shopped, ate delicious food, went to see our old house at 3312 Belmont Court (which I remember being much bigger), and we even got to visit the good ol' McKinney 2nd Ward. Fun times.

And then we randomly went to a Chicago concert at the Allen Event Center. It was so fun! And the music was fantastic.

Here are the ones I forgot

So I had some random pics that I forgot to put up ....

I spy with my little eye ... a rabid brother, AND a grocery store called BI-MART. What the heck kind of name is that for a grocery store? Shouldn't it be BUY-MART? This was right after the random Oregonian filled up our tank. Morgan doesn't like that they fill up your tank for you. Haha. What a weirdo.

"Can't a man just fill up his own tank of gas?!?"

Dev and Rachel gettin' their Womanizer on.

Barbie and Ken

KOREAN KARAOKE. Nuff said.

Garbear with the Curran kiddies.

Reeses ice cream cake for my birfday. Holla! Don't mind the chocolate on my nose.

I got that sweet sweatshirt from the ROSS in Seattle. Happy birthday to me :)

It's artistic. Don't over think it.

Riles fooling around outside the Space Needle

Outside the Moore Hostel! "Lets get the heck outta here!"

These are just random shots of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

When I took this picture, it was about 80 degrees outside. And the water was actually warm enough to get into, even though it looks like it's coldy.

Party in the OBX y'all

I am very fortunate to have some wonderful connections ... and with those connections, I create vacations. It's become somewhat of a hobby. 

It's pretty simple really. My dad has a consultant out in DC (Steve Wilson) who just happens to have a beach house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in Nags Head. Since my family couldn't make it out there, I thought I would take one for the team and use the beach house this past weekend. The Curran's of Lorton, the Oliver's of Greeneville, and Miss LaMay of Alexandria joined me. 

The Outer Banks are basically a string of barrier islands that hug the coast of North Carolina. They're also known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic", because so many shipwrecks occurred there (see sweet map below). Now it has obviously become a tourist destination ... which is fine with me. Party in the OBX y'all.

Kickin' it on the beach. Livi LOVES the beach. By the time we were done she was literally shaking from being soaked head to toe.

Woodstock 6112! Awesome place with 7 rooms and 7 1/2 bathrooms ...? Riddle me that one.

The water was surprisingly warm.

Our place was about a block from the beach.

Shot from Jockey's Ridge sand dune.

Rich and Eileen with the Roanoke Sound in the background.

Liv was able to let out all her pent up energy at the dunes. 

She stopped only for photos and kisses.

Livi "Beach Girl" Curran

Random fox running across the dunes ... check.

Next time we go back there, we're doing THIS!

Such a nice LEAP! Haha.

Rich was worried he was going to hit me ... but of course, I was the one who flinched. Rookie.

I couldn't pass up this photo opportunity :)

All those little heads on the pier are fishermen. Cool!

The whole weekend it was in the mid-60s ... which is pretty decent for the end of October.

Devon, how did your butt get wet .... since you obviously DIDN'T get in the water when we did Baywatch...?

Livi, LOOK AT THE CAMERA!

Having fun with the waves.

The Curran's without their children ... something you don't see too often.

This is the only pic I have of the Olivers ... sans Molly. This is Chris and his daughter Bella. They're awesome. 

The ever so photogenic Devon LaMay :)

Livi rockin' the Giants sweater after getting soaked. That's her "get me the heck outta here" face.

This is what happens when you put a dancer on the beach. She can't help it.

This is Devon clarifying that the 1st flight ended right here...

Shot of the hill at the Wright Brothers Memorial. For those of you who don't know, the Wright brothers moved out to the Outer Banks (Kitty Hawk) to test their flying machines on the dunes. This grassy area used to be a huge sand dune. The first 4 high-powered flights took place right here by Wilbur and Orville Wright. 

We just happened to come on the day that the Outer Banks Chorus performed! Say whaaat! They were great ... I want to be in a group like that when I'm old.

LOVE this FACE!

Lil' L gettin his smile on

Here are some shipwreck maps of the Outer Banks. This is mostly for Capn' Morgan.

All those little ships are shipwrecks! Crazy cool.