Operation Brewster’s Millions officially comes to an end tonight when the kids return from their one month Chicago vacation.  Now it’s time to focus on #11 and #12.

Great movie.  Definitely not for everyone though.  It’s a realistic, character driven war movie with little plot.  Lives up to the tag line, “War is a Drug”.

The aftermath.  It’s been a great month, but my body has paid for it.  When I started this list in January, I needed to lose about ten pounds to accomplish goal #28.  Now it’s twenty five pounds.  I am however a couple of weeks into an exercise program, so keep in mind muscle weighs more than fat. Yeah, that’s it.

One more Chicago meal for the road.

Happy Birthday to my brother, Sean. Dance the night away.

On the rooftops in Chicago,

#81 Done. It was a perfect day at Wrigley Field. A full house.  No rain. Plenty of Old Styles. And the Cubs won.  Baseball is alive and well on the North side of Chicago.

Al Fresco in Chicago with Sean & Kim

#25 on hold.  Exercise and Weight Loss will have to wait until Monday as we are off to Chicago in the morning to drink beer and eat hot dogs, burritos, burgers and pizza.

Finally Netflixed Frost/Nixon. Well done.

Happy Birthday to my Sonia.  Although it seems we’ve been celebrating all month, today is the day.  Amazing what a difference a year can make, huh?

#24 in Progress. Ate at the Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy hotel in San Diego. It bills itself as a five star experience. Out of how many stars I’m not sure. I’m guessing ten.  Great physical space. Ok food. Priced as if there were no equals.

At Pacific Beach in San Diego in search of a good burrito.

More pool time at the Ivy roof deck in San Diego. Sun detox starting tomorrow.

Having a mini vacation in Hollywood.

#24 in progress. Tried Dakota Chop House in Hollywood. Good steak.  Mastros is still the best so far.

#68 Done. Spending a couple of days poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Call it a pre birthday celebration.

So uncomfortable, but funny.

Happy 14th Birthday to my beautiful little girl. You are always the best part of my day.

#24 in progress. Got our Puerto Rican on at Sazon in Tribecca on Saturday night.  A hip and happening place with huge portions.  We both ordered the Pernil (pork), rice and plantains.  Slept well that night.

#78 Done. The street vendors are on every corner in the city and I always risk the consequences at least once a trip for a good dog. One dollar bought me a boiled dog with red onions. Healthy? No. Tasty? Absolutely.

#93 Devoured. Whenever someone compiles a top ten burger list, Peter Luger’s in Brooklyn is almost always high on the list.  Happy to say it lived up to the hype.

Enjoying the views of the Long Island Sound in Connecticut.

Sonia with Addie Lucey in Greenwich, CT

#24 in progress. Had Adrienne’s Pizza for lunch.  Located on Stone Street in downtown Manhattan.  Best pizza I’ve had.

#92 Done. It was a picture perfect 75 degree day in NYC and the park has never been better.

#24 in Progress. Ate Oysters at the Oyster Bar in the bowels of Grand Central Station.

Grand Central Station

Watched the sun rise from the East from our airplane to NYC.

This is a picture of me with my college roommates and best friends, Packy Taylor (left) and Matt Lucey (middle).  It’s not a particularly good picture, but I prefer to post the more awkward ones when talking about my friends.  I believe this was taken in Matt’s room in our apartment senior year.  It’s hard to tell what time it is because Matt is in bed and Pack and I have beers in hand.  Matt was never one to be in bed early, so I’m guessing it’s morning.  I miss college.  Also, notice the calendar on Matt’s wall.  At the time I probably made fun of him for it. “Nice calendar, nerd.”    Turns out the guys in college with calendars on their walls became successful investment bankers.  However I’m now wondering if the calendar was just decoration because the tennis racket definitely was. Anyway, this post is more about my buddy, Packy.  Quick story.  Late one night after closing the Avalanche Super Bar, Packy headed up the street to Real Chili for bowl of the good stuff.  Upon finishing he noticed an industrial sized box of Oyster crackers behind the counter.  Although a man of high morals and character, Packy had a weakness for Oyster crackers and enough liquid courage to do whatever it took (except pay the $3 dollars) to make the box his.   And when the apathetic cook turned his head that’s exactly what he did.  Packy snatched the oversized box of Oyster Crackers, tucked them into his chest and bolted toward the door.  The cook reluctantly gave chase, but once outside, what he saw changed his mind.  Packy was on the sidewalk with a mouth full of blood having tripped flat on his face on the concrete. The cook, satisfied with the karmic justice, returned inside without the box. Despite two broken front teeth and a whole lotta pride, Packy got his Oyster Crackers.  It’s a funny story that he tells much better than I.  Hopefully he’ll tell this story to his sons, Flynn and Cameron, the second of whom he just welcomed into the world last night.  Congrats Packy and Kylie!

#87 Finito. After dinner and a couple of drinks at Spago at Caesar’s Palace, we did a little window shopping at the Forum Shops.  As “luck” would have it, her favorite shoe designer, Giuseppe Zanotti, had a boutique and I, as I already mentioned, had a couple of drinks.  Long story short, Sonia finally owns a dream shoe.  Expensive? Yes. Deserved? Without a doubt.

#24 in progress. Ate at Tao at the Venetian. Impressive design, great people watching spot, so-so food. There were a thousand people outside just waiting to get into the club.

#32 Done. We saw Phantom of the Opera Vegas style. The sets were incredible.  The chandelier alone was a show stopper.  Best of all, I didn’t lose any money for the a hour and a half watching it.

Another pool day today in Vegas.  King James looked on with approval.

#45 Done.  Roulette is the casino’s best friend.  With the worst odds in Vegas, it’s a tax for people who are bad a math.  Although I am bad at math, I chose this goal for the thrill of the long shot.  After checking in, we found the nearest roulette table and dumped too much money for one spin on five numbers.  We played 8 (Brittany’s jersey number), 13 (Brittany’s birthday),  17 (Sonia’s lucky number), 22 (Will Clark’s number) and 24 (Devin’s Birthday). Round and round the marble spun and wouldn’t you know it, Devin’s Birthday hit.  Just like that we quadrupled our money.  The old me would have let it ride until I was down, but we cashed in and hit the pool.

Vegas baby. We Just arrived at our Hotel, The Palazzo (the Venetian’s new one) and will strategize at the pool for a few hours. Numbers 32 and 45 will fall. Beyond that, anything goes. What happens in Vegas will be blogged in Vegas.

June Recap. While June was a month of big accomplishments, only two goals (#8 & #90) were actually completed.  However, celebrating Devin and my brother George’s graduation from high school with the family, as well as seeing Brittany graduate from middle school,  June just may turn out to be the most significant of the year.   And although not on the list, I finally finished my 360 Photo Project. The last picture taken with my new iPhone 3GS that I waited five hours in line for. I am definitely an Apple whore.

What’s done…

#8. LaFashionInsider had its best month to date pushing revenues past 2008’s which means we have officially grown.  Rather than invest the month’s profits back into the company, we’re going to blow them in Vegas, New York, Chicago and somewhere yet to be determined.

#90. Devin and George’s high school graduation brought the family together which meant I had the opportunity to play with all of my nieces and nephews.  Hopefully there will be additional visits in the coming months.

In Progress…

#10. Not yet.  But here’s the thing, interpretation is key. If I start an exercise routine on say December 26th and stick with it until New Year’s eve, I will have technically completed the goal.  However, I suspect I’ll begin much sooner than that as “Leon is getting larger”. (Airplane quote in case you’re wondering)

#11. With Devin’s graduation from high school behind him, completion of this goal ain’t too far ahead.

#12. And Brittany too.

#19. Still going strong.

#22. Two down, three to go.

#24. To supplement our regular hot spots, we tried Rivera downtown, the new Boa on Sunset and the Beverly Hills Mastro’s.

#28. Rented Sunset Boulevard and Sullivan’s Travels.  One more and this goal will be complete.

That’s about it. Six months and 24% of the list is complete.  Hopefully that number is closer to 50% when I recap July.