Walk update! Headed to LA for Walk #7 tomorrow! Passed an important fundraising milestone this week... my total currently stands at $15,526... not only did we pass $15,000, but, blew past my total for last year!! Closing in on $25,000... you guys rock!!! :)

Just, you know, in case you want to make a donation... here's that URL: http://www.avonwalk.org/lisaspo :)

My birthday Friday was great! Game night was a rousing success and I hope to do it again on a regular basis. :) Thanks so much to everyone who came out and played. Pics are here: http://www.lisaspo.com/images/090905

Saturday, my friend Julie came up to visit from DC. You know me and my friends... I rarely let anybody go... we've been friends since the 7th grade and I just love her to death, so, it was a great birthday present to have her here. I treasure friendships like that... we can go months without talking and years without seeing each other, but, it will cycle... and then we'll have a period where we see each other a bunch. But, no matter what... the friendship doesn't change and when we see each other, everything picks up right where it was. I'm incredibly lucky to have a lot of friendships like that.

We had a great day... went to see Hairspray (and, as Baltimorons, laughed a little harder at some of the jokes than a lot of other people) from my very favorite seats (1st row mezz, baby). Then dinner with Christian and Chad at Afghan Kebob. Then out to Brooklyn to celebrate the Birth of Blerg. Then a very special shared experience... our first White Castle!

OH! I was also on Today in New York on WNBC Saturday morning. It was *really* fun and I think it went well. Everybody was incredibly nice and we had a nice, long 3 minute segment. I had a *huge* brain fart and deleted it from my DVR, but, I think they're going to send me a tape.

It was pretty funny... after I left the studio, I was waiting for the subway and this guy came up to me and asked, "Were you just on NBC?" *blink* It was so random! Apparently, he'd been watching at home right before leaving for the subway. :)

A few weeks ago, Christian, Chad, Annie and I had talked about doing a "tip to tip" walk on Saturday, but, then Julie was coming up on Saturday, so, we switched it to Sunday. It always seems a little weird planning something on September 11th, but, this felt right to me... not sure I can think of a better way to spend the day than with very good friends enjoying the city.

Danny and I headed up to Dyckman Place and, after a bit of confusion since we took the wrong subway line, met up with Christian and Chad at The Cloisters. It's so beautiful up there... you can almost forget you're still in the city. Met up with Julie at 138th street as we came out of Riverbank State Park and kept going down to 96th street. Took a little detour for some lunch at Famiglia Pizza where we all loved the pizza but rolled our eyes at the awful mother next to us. Danny went on his way and the rest of us hit the path again. Stopped for a bit to watch hundreds of bikers roar down the street and then to put Julie in a cab. Ended our 15.5 mile jaunt at the South Ferry Subway station. :)

Pics are here: http://www.lisawalks.com/2005/091105/

Had a *great* time guest bartending at Fred's! First, had dinner with a bunch of friends from work... then let the *real* bartender handle a little rush that had sprung up before getting behind the bar. I was basically allowed to pour wine, beer, sangria and Spodaliciouses (Spodalicisi?). But, I also learned how to make a martini (well, didn't so much learn as just mix what the bartender told me to ;)). I totally wore the wrong shoes (platform flip-flops), so, I was moving pretty slow, which sucked, but, other than that, I think it was a rousing success. I even helped a few people who weren't in our group. ;)

We raised $270 that night!! Thank you *so* much to everyone who came... we had about 30 people there!! :)

Pics are here: http://www.lisawalks.com/2005/freds0912

For those of you in NYC, time to start planning for the walk here... the final one!! Dinner on Friday night will be at Carmine's on the upper west side (around 91st and Broadway) at 6:30. Please let me know if you'd like to come... I'll want to make a reservation in the next couple of weeks.

Also, if you want to come out and walk a bit or cheer the walkers on, you can get more info about the route and cheering stations here: http://www.avonwalk.org/site/PageServer?pagename=nwy_Lets_Walk

Okay... off to try to get three days of work done today so I can leave at 6:30 for dinner with my friend Ben and then leave in the morning with a clear conscience. ;)

Happy Wednesday! :)