Texas Lou

Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

My sister signed up for the Team in Training Houston chapter and will be running the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco with me.  This makes me so very HAPPY!

Running is one of the hobbies that she and I are both interested in and I am so excited that we will get to share this experience.  Plus we will have each other to share fundraising and training tips with.  I also kind of like to think of it as a free sisters’ weekend as well.  Although it’s not really free since she has to raise $3500 and I’ve got to raise $3900.

Thanks to Team In Training, we will finally get to run together!

If you’d like to make a donation to my sister, Carrie Elsaifi, check out her Team In Training website located at http://pages.teamintraining.org/txg/nikesf10/celsaifi.

And don’t forget to donate toward my effort as well (http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi).

Last week, I joined an organization called Team In Training.  I have been researching this organization for a while and am really excited to finally become a member!

The way that Team In Training works goes like this:  Team in Training sponsors runners, cyclists, and triathletes by providing them with training, coaching, and inspiration and funding all of their race expenses (race registration, airplane tickets, hotel rooms).  In return, the athletes raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Team in Training is now ” the world’s largest endurance sports training program”!

I wanted to join Team In Training not just because it seems like such a great organization in all aspects, but because I wanted to do something good with my ability to run long distances.  When I ran the Shamrock Half Marathon (my first half marathon) back in March, I did it just to prove to myself that I could finish it and also for the free beer.  Now that I know I can reach the goal, I want to do it for others instead of just for me.

I signed up for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon which will take place on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California.  I’m really excited about this race and also extremely glad to be traveling to San Francisco since I haven’t been there since I was five years old and therefore don’t remember much from the trip.  I am also super motivated to reach my goal of raising $4000 by October.

I’m asking every person who reads this to PLEASE donate toward my goal by going to this website.  Even if you can only donate a small amount, please do because every little bit really does count!

The way I see it I’m getting so much out of this experience:

• The opportunity to meet, train with, and become friends with a great group of people
• The opportunity to travel and spend time in a beautiful city
• The opportunity to raise money and awareness for a wonderful cause that can help save so many lives
• The opportunity to prove to myself and others that running the one half marathon wasn’t just a one-time lucky shot

I hope you will check out my page at http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/nikesf10/leslieelsaifi and donate toward my goal.  And please check back often to see my progress.

Thanks for the support!

I’m heading to Dallas this afternoon to spend the weekend with friends and family and celebrate my cousin Megan’s wedding shower and bachelorette party!  I’m SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

Here are the things I am most looking forward to this weekend (in no particular order):

• TEXAS
• Mexican food
• Spending time with family that I rarely get to see
• Getting to see Megan’s new house for the first time
• Meeting my cousin Leigh Ann’s two little ones for the first time
• Going to a Dueling Piano Bar
• Getting wild and crazy and forgetting my troubles for a couple of days

It’s sure to be a blast and how could it not be;  I’ll be in my favorite place with some of my favorite people!

I want to thank my friend Heather from college for writing about a new social networking site out there on her blog.

Heather wrote about a website called foursquare where you can check-in to different places with your cell phone and earn badges and achievements for trying out new venues in the city where you reside.  I had no idea these types of social networking sites existed and now that I do, I am totally addicted.  I absolutely love this site and its agenda because I am always looking out for new places to visit and new restaurants or breweries to try!  Even though I’ve been living in Charlottesville for over four years now, it still seems that there are so many places I’ve never been to and never even heard about, and foursquare is opening my eyes to many of these locations.

The ease of checking-in with a smartphone or mobile web device is also motivating me to finally trade in my three and a half year old flip phone for something a little more technologically advanced especially since I’ve been craving a data plan and GPS but have been putting off the upgrade because of the extra money it costs.

A similar website, Gowalla, was also brought to my attention by my friend Danielle.  I haven’t played with this site as much yet, but I definitely plan on doing so, especially because the site is designed and developed in my own home sweet home, Texas!  Once I get a newer phone, being active on both of these sites will be alot easier and much more fun!

I definitely recommend giving both websites a try and make sure to add me as your friend!

This is a cheap little souvenir I bought myself at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin back in December.  Even though it’s just a coffee mug, I think it might be one of my favorite pieces of Texas memorabilia, not just because I love the quote, but because it reminds me of a wonderful weekend trip that I spent with friends and family in the lonestar state.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Whenever I’m driving down the road and happen to see a vehicle pass me with a Texas license plate, something inside me jumps for joy.  It’s like that feeling I used to get when my high school crush would call and I would see his name on the caller id before picking up the phone.  A tiny bit of excitement takes over my heart because I know that the person in that vehicle has something wonderful in common with me!

So it is somewhat rare to see a Texas license plate in Virginia which is why I react this way.  However, when I travel to Texas and my mom picks me up from the airport, the first few cars that I see trigger this feeling inside of me.  And then I realize how silly I am because I’m back in Texas and seeing a Texas license plate IN Texas is no big deal!  But then I smile because I’m in Texas!

I know it’s random, but nothing feels like home, quite like Texas does.

Friday, February 12th, I drove to Virginia Beach with three friends from work to compete in the Virginia is for Lovers 14K.

We were all a bit worried as the weather forecast was calling for a 90% chance of snow.  However, I consider us to be lucky that the race wasn’t canceled and the snow didn’t begin until halfway through the 8.68 mile run.

This race was part of our training for the Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon that we are running in March.  All in all, the race went well.  Aside from the sideways snow and the 20 mph wind that started around the 5th mile, it was a fun race!

My stats were as follows:

Place	Name	City	Bib No	Age	Overall	Chip Time	Gun Time
243	Leslie Erin Elsaifi	Charlottesville VA	633	27	1829	1:52:32.8	1:56:12.8

After the race, we got to enjoy free Yuengling and burritos at the after party.  Despite the cold weather and snow, it was a pretty awesome experience and I can’t wait to do it again next year!

If you know me well, then you know that every year in January, I spend a long weekend in Las Vegas with several of the most awesome ladies in my life.

The tradition started twenty years ago.  My mom was having the most hellish year…her mom died, father-in-law died, the dog died, and the van got stolen.  So in January, when the new year started, her best friend, Mrs. C, and favorite aunt, Aunt Platt (aka Mary Fuckin’ Poppins) said after last year, this year cannot get any worse, so let’s go to Vegas to start it off right.  And so the tradition began.

When I was a little girl, I used to cry and cry when my mom left us every January for that long weekend.  My dad thought I was crying because I missed my mom, but honestly, deep down, I think I was crying cause I knew how much fun they were having without me and I wasn’t old enough to join in!

Well the year I turned 21, that rite of passage awaited me, and I got to go to Vegas for the first time!  I haven’t missed a trip yet and this will be my 7th year!  It’s pretty much my version of Christmas and it’s the best damn 5 days and 4 nights a woman could ask for.  No men allowed…only ladies…and we party our asses off until we are sick!

I’m going back to Vegas tomorrow.  I’ll get to see cousins, aunts, good friends, my mom, and my sister and I ABSOLUTELY CAN’T WAIT!  So in honor of my Vegas Girls and because it is Vegas Eve (yes, it is a holiday in my book), I wrote this poem!

Twas the night before Vegas, when all through the houses

The ladies were packing and picking out blouses.

Bracelets were hung from their wrists with Sin City charms,

As they decided which Vegas purse to wear on their arms.

The Vegas girls were way too excited for bed,

While Elvis sang Viva Las Vegas in their heads.

Now was no time for sleeping or resting or naps,

All that business could wait until they got back.

Thinking back on all of the past Vegas trips,

They grew more excited to trade money for chips.

Even though they might be digging into their secret stash,

They hoped to return home with a big wad of cash!

They would celebrate with drinks on that long Southwest flight,

Waiting for touchdown, to start that great night.

As the fabulous Las Vegas sign came into view,

The ladies would cheer along with the Southwest crew.

They would enter the Flamingo and finish check-in,

Drop off their luggage, and get ready to win.

Passing Bugsy’ Bar as they’d head to play black jack,

There would stand Elvis with the party pit pack.

“Now Tito! Now, Mireya, now, Claudine and Chip

Come dealers and pit bosses, please hurry quick!

See who’s come to visit us once again this new year,

The Vegas girls are back to take over you hear!”

The trip would be filled with great friends and good fun,

The ladies would sing “Way to go dealer!” at the top of their lungs.

Playing black jack, and craps, and hitting the slots,

They’d take over that casino and play till they drop!

They’d eat cheeseburgers in paradise at Margaritaville,

And catch up and visit as their fruity drinks chill.

Trying to beat the house, they’d stay up till all hours,

While the cocktails waitress kept bringing amaretto sours.

From Texas, Seattle, Virginia, and all over the place,

The girls traveled far and wide with a smile on their face.

They come every year to forget all their worries and cares,

And have a fun time and get away from  men, which is rare.

They’d head to the Bellagio champagne brunch as the trip neared its end,

Pretty soon Leslie would be calling dad asking for money to lend.

They’d all say goodbye as they got into cabs,

After paying their bills and closing their tabs.

The Vegas girls saddened that the trip was already over,

Would already be wishing for next year’s trip to come closer.

Back to the real world, they would have to go.

Back to work, responsibilities, and earning the dough.

But don’t fret Vegas girls, because it’s only Vegas Eve,

I shall see you all tomorrow with an ace up my sleeve!

It’s been a while since I’ve written.  I always feel like there is so much I want to write about.  Everywhere I go and everything I do, I tend to make a mental note (and sometimes take pictures) of things I want to blog about.  Lately I’ve been really busy.  With the end of the year upon us and the holidays flying by, there is so much traveling, shopping, working, and responsibilities to take care of. 

I flew home less than a month ago for my dad’s 60th birthday, and I’m going home again this weekend for my brother’s graduation from the University of Texas.  Then two weeks later, I turn around and go home again for Christmas.  Three weeks after the new year, I fly to Vegas for the annual Vegas trip with the girls.  All of this, and I didn’t even go home for Thanksgiving. 

Then I’ve got to find time somewhere in between all of those trips to do Christmas shopping (and birthday shopping for the unusual amount of December/January birthdays among my family and friends), keep up with laundry, bill paying, and the usual daily responsibilities, and finish a very difficult project at work.  All of this while trying to train for the half marathon I’ll be running in March and meeting with my Computers 4 Kids mentee once a week is just stressing me out.

So, the goal of this post is not to complain.  I’m well aware of the very lucky life I lead and wouldn’t trade it for anything.  I just want to let everyone out there (if there is anyone that actually reads this blog) know why I’ve been slacking.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and hopefully I’ll be posting again before Christmas!