One Busy Bee

Not a typical combo for yogis or wine-Os but it happened. I can't take it back. I am so far behind in posting on my travels that I need to catch up. Saved as one of the first photos in the Favorites album on my phone are these beauties. Yoga in Champagne, France. I met my friend, Lisa, through one of the monthly Women Wednesday events I used to throw at my restaurant in San Francisco. There isn't anything this girl doesn't do. She's a yoga instructor, aesthetician and sommelier. I attended an event she was working and she mentioned she and her boyfriend were going to Paris. I jokingly asked if I could crash her vacation. No joke, I did, but I brought my dear friend, Mercedes with me too, plus mi Papichulo (a nickname I call a dear Puerto Rican friend of mine). Before I fainted on the airplane to Europe (that's another story for another time), I thought it'd be good for Mercedes and Lisa to meet. Papichulo lived in Orlando so that we would be difficult ...

That Southern Hospitality is real! And you'll feel it the instant your eyes meet Chef Stephen Pyles from Dallas, a fifth generation Texan. I have a love for Texas. My dog is named Bevo after the Texas Longhorns and my favorite band is from San Angelo, Texas, the Los Lonely Boys . I just returned from visiting five cities in the South. I fell in love with Charleston. And you'll feel warm and welcomed when you sit across the table from Chef Pyles if you have the chance. I can still vividly remember his smile. Comfortable with sitting across from this talented chef on Media Day at the Hawai'i Food and Wine Festival on Maui, we get to it. This is a man that has a weakness for travel. Inside I scream, " Me too !" Fellow Chef Wolfgang Puck also encouraged him, he says. Chef Pyles has opened 22 restaurants in five cities and has a new partnership with Delta Hotels by Marriott . His partnership with Benchmark Hospitality also has him running a culinary program. ...

One of the "Old Dogs" of the Hawai'i Food and WineFestival , Chef Rick Tramonto , sat at a table at Roy's overlooking the golf course and hotels on the water. It was media day and I was fortunate to participate for the second consecutive year. A welcoming smile greeted me to the table and he was ready as any professional would be. Apparently, I was not ready for the stories he was about to tell me. Chef Tramonto grew up with his father being incarcerated and he didn't learn how to read until he was 28-years-old with the help of his wife at the time and business partner, Chef Gale Gand . He is now an author of eight books, including his memoir, Scars of a Chef . He told me how he knocked on the back door of an establishment that would be making square hamburger patties and was just looking for a J-O-B. He just needed someone to give him a shot. It's amazing how one opportunity opens the door to a future of opening restaurants in Chicago and New Orlea...

You've seen the videos of people holding up signs for FREE HUGS and people receiving them very well. After a hike up Steiner from Lombard Street to see the Mrs. Doubtfire house, we ended up on Fillmore Street to explore that neighborhood. What did we find? After some catching our breath, we had our breath taken away as we gasped at a sign saying there were free cuddle sessions at the SPCA SanFrancisco . As animal lovers, my roommate, Kim, and I went in! Above the veterinary hospital is the area that has animals available for adoption. There were quite a few cats available in their mini office-like areas with glass doors. I didn't see too many dogs but the pups were offering the free cuddles on Saturdays. Free cuddles by cats are on Sundays. We stepped up to the desk and signed up to redeem our cuddle session. We were asked to wash our hands at the sinks behind us, a good step to keep the animals healthy for potential adoptions. Through another glass door and in th...

Today, through the pain of arthritis in my foot, clavicle pain on my right side and perhaps still full of delicious fried chicken from North Carolina, I managed to run 4.3 miles to reach a record of 100 miles of training for my first half marathon. I haven't ran since I did so on the beach in Myrtle Beach and that was only two miles, but at least I got some kind of work out during that vacation. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - SnapChat: bappletree Back home in Hayward, CA in my San Jose Fit Expo shirt with Bodybuilding.com  - SnapChat: bappletree Nelly, my Team in Training running buddy, and our cheerleaders, Kim and Sandra, met over a delicious dinner at InternationalSmoke (link to blog post) in San Francisco and we are basically all set for our January 2019 adventure. Southwest flights are booked, a hotel thru Wyndham and Sandra's timeshare has been reserved and we are almost all set with actual Walt Disney World  tickets. International Smoke, we...

Feeling lucky? Connect with me to attend my bowling fundraiser in San Francisco on Saturday, September 29th (3-6 PM) and knock some pins down for a good cause! I am training (along with my friend, Nelly Cheng) for my first half marathon at Walt Disney World in January and it is in memory of my Lolo, Victor Manzano. Our friend and Superwoman, Sandra, was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and is doing well with her chemo treatments. Let's help find a cure and fund support services for the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society . Join us for some fun and support a good cause! $$$$ 50% off! $$$$ $40/lane per hour - Max of 5 bowlers per lane with shoe rentals (reg $45/hour plus $35 for shoes), PLUS I'll buy one pitcher of beer per hour reserved. Reserve now to guarantee your time slot. Max of 10 lanes for 1, 2 or 3 hours each. Ex: 1 hour slot from 3-4 PM for 5 people = $40. Savings of $40 or 50% off! OR $5/person/game & $3 for shoe rentals (reg $7 per ...

It's the number equivalent to running 5+ half marathons. I have slacked a bit of blogging about my Team in Training efforts. It's been a bit busy for this One Busy Bee, but I have not NOT ran. I am scheduled to run a half marathon benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in January 2019 at Walt Disney World  (book your trip with me! Now a Certified Disney Travel Agent.) I have recruited my friend, Nelly, to join me and he's doing great. I am doing alright as well. The farthest I have ran so far in one attempt is 10 miles. Those runs consist of running from the Argonaut Hotel where I work to Fort Point, a couple of laps around the Marina Green and/or Fort Mason, the Aquatic Park Pier and back to the hotel. I have learned that I hate running in the sun, need a breeze to keep me from overheating and I also want to be a better driver and make sure I look to my right for pedestrians and runners.  I have had many encounters with drivers not being aware of their sur...

So, I'm committed. I signed up for my first half marathon ( Team in Training - Orlando Bound for Lolo ). I will create monthly posts to outline my progress, my workouts and struggles.  So here it goes! SPONSOR ME SUNDAY - I signed up. Did my research. Ask my friend and TNT alumni how it worked and recruited my friend do consider doing it with me. Success! I had already packed my gym bag and brought it work thinking I would repeat and actually succeed in running eight miles back and forth from the Argonaut Hotel to the Golden Gate Bridge and back. I did not. I forgot I had dinner plans with my Bride and she was running late, so I got at least 4 miles in. It was a windy day and I was not looking forward to running against the wind again. Plus I was still sore from the workouts from the weekend. But I now had to do it! I have been telling coworkers that I signed up so I am making sure I don't disappoint. Though sore and not a great time, I surpassed my revised goal of doi...