Trip to Los Angeles – February 2013

Garrett and Brendan on Team Cynergy AIDSLifeCycle ride

On Thursday, February 21, I escaped the big snow storm and flew out of Kansas City at 6 am.

The best part of Los Angeles had to be the weather. The second and equally good part was meeting up with Brendan Hooley, one of my team captains. On Saturday, Brendan and I joined Team Cynergy for a ride along the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway.

Tweets from the trip

Roger’s 50th in Chicago

Roger’s 50th Birthday T-shirt, designed by Zack
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My great friend, Roger celebrated his 50th birthday in October this year. Our birthday gift to Roger was a weekend surprise party with twenty-five of his friends in Chicago, Illinois.

Most of the group at Roscoes on Friday afternoon.
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Roger thought only five of us were coming. We met with Roger at the hotel, then went to Roscoes (a neighborhood bar). Everyone else formed a long line on the street, then walked into Roscoes for the big surprise.

Roger’s reaction is captured in the video below. He falls to the floor before we reached him with the camera. Yes, he was indeed surprised.

The group at dinner on Saturday night.
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Puerto Vallarta – July 2010

July 28 through August 2, a group of twelve friends traveled from Kansas City to Puerto Vallarta for my friend Mike’s 30th Birthday.

Highlights from the trip

The penthouse

We stayed at Vallarta Shores overlooking the beach, just south of Blue Chairs. The place was beautiful with a huge open-air common living space and deluxe kitchen. Each penthouse also had a private pool and three bedrooms, all with private baths. Amenities included wifi, TV’s in each room, mini-stereos with iPod hook-ups, daily maid service, and our very own private chef, Carlos.

A day on the mighty Pacific Ocean

On Saturday morning, we met up with Captain Ernesto Alfano and his beautiful and very friendly wife of ADA Sailing. We did a private day cruise on the Pacific Ocean, just to the south of Puerto Vallarta along the Mexico coast. We stopped for several hours to snorkel and swim in the sparkling turquoise waters, just south of Le Kliff.

Friends, new and old

While I knew a handful of the twelve Kansas City guys well, it was good to spend time with old friends, and get to know a few others better. I also had the opportunity to meet a long-time social networking pal Dan, who happened to be in Puerto Vallarta on an overlapping vacation. The group also made a new friend, Felipe, a friendly traveler from Toronto, who joined us for many of our activities.

Photos from the trip

Group shot
Group shot prior to departing Puerto Vallarta

The group on the beach at sunset
Group picture at sunset

Small group at La Noche for drinks.
Small group at La Noche for drinks.

Condo, decorated for Mike’s 30th Birthday
Condo, decorated for Mike's 30th Birthday

Mike, Birthday waltz
Birthday waltz

All aboard the ADA, destination Banderas Bay
All aboard the ADA, destination Banderas Bay

Turquoise waters of Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta
Turquoise waters of Pacific Ocean near Puerto Vallarta

Third Annual Ski Trip in Park City

Here are a few photos from our Third Annual Ski Trip in Park City, Utah. Fifteen good friends, a huge house, lots of skiing, home cooking and a modest stash of booze.

Fifteen of us at our house in Park City, Utah
The 15 of us at our house in Park City, Utah

Our larger than life house
Our modest winter home

On the gondola at Canyons
On the Gondola at Canyon Resort

Jason & Zack at Canyons
Jason and Zack at The Canyons Resort

Time-out at Canyons Resort
Timeout at Canyons Resort

Roger & David on gondola at Canyons
Roger and David on gondola at Canyons

Josh & Zack on gondola at Canyons
Josh & Zack on gondola at Canyons

Ready to bobsled at Utah Olympic Park
Ready to bobsled at Utah Olympic Park