I'm going to try and fix this now... :(

Right now it is a pretty blank, separate design, but eventually all the same functionality and design will be incorporated seamlessly into my website.

So...what do you think? Do you like the new gallery? Hate it? Is there something about it you really don't like? Is there any feature missing that you are just dying to see? Do you not even care because I post way too many photos and you don't look anyways (p.s. I know this is the case, but I won't stop posting millions of photos!)?

If everyone likes it I am going to go ahead and start migrating my old photos into the system, but if people have problems with it I will wait and try to find something different that fits my readers needs more. Or I will take into account what you say and try to modify this program.

One request I have already heard is to have hi-res photos available for download. While I would love to do that, it just is not in my budget as I can't afford enough web space to host hi-res images, plus I don't necessarily want them floating about for anyone to use. But if you drop me an email I will almost always send a hi-res image along as long as it is for non-commercial use and it's not something that I was paid from someone else to do.

So, please leave me a comment on what you think of the new galleries and if you have any suggestions/comments!

2. Heather's response to our night out watching I'm a Major League Eater: "You guys (me, Pat, Tim) would start laughing at some point and I didn't get it. I figured it was some kind of competitive eating inside joke."

3. Thursday night Heather and I got Guatemalan food and we shared a pitcher of strawberry margarita. That may have helped and may have hindered my ability to edit photos.

4. Saturday night I met up with Chelsa and we got tapas and shared a pitcher of sangria. We went to see Ron's play Never the Sinner. I got a free ticket because I did the photography that appeared on their posters and was sent to press. I was also very surprised to see that it was used in the multimedia backdrop to the show! My pictures were in a play!
The play was very good and very well done and performed. I'm impressed!
Then we got brownie batter blasts from Dairy Queen and sat on her porch people watching. We timed how long empty parking spaces would take to fill up (23 minutes, 6 minutes...) I was surprised they didn't fill faster. We met the "Wrigleyville Choir," a group of intoxicated people who said they would sing us any request but specialized in love ballads from the 80s, 90s, and today. Then we saw a bunch of people dressed all in white with red sashes go by...followed 5 minutes later by two guys in giant puffy bull costumes. Where is my good camera when I need it? I tried taking a crappy pic with my point and shoot...

Don't you love Wrigleyville on a Saturday night?

5. Me and Heather decided to try and figure out the best place to put our table...

Since it started airing on ESPN I would watch it every Fourth of July. It was my favorite part of the holiday and last year Nadia and I went to New York to see it in person! Unfortunately Nad couldn't join in this year, but I decided that I just couldn't miss it and went on my own!

I got to Coney around 8:45am. I managed to get myself a VIP pass but I wasn't exactly sure where that meant I could be. I'm glad I got there early though 'cause I soon met up with Jamie and Sadie and Carrie again and we managed to get right up front near the stage. I decided to stick it out with them because the VIP area looked to be a little more off to the side. Although, since it is such a fan favorite/media frenzy/thunderstick clapping/signs in the air event it is nearly impossible to get a good photo from anywhere! Maybe next year I can get a media pass...does running two blogs make me media?

Anyways, we stood there. For a long, long time. But we were entertained by both the stage and the crowd! The guys behind us were die-hard Kobayashi fans. And the guys next to us were all about Chestnut. I think me and the Hungry Sisters didn't care too much who won since we love them all! I mean, on one hand I have never seen Kobayashi win live, so I'd love to see him win, on another keeping the title in America is cool so I totally want Chestnut to win. But on my third and fourth hands I would die to see Pat Bertoletti or Tim Brown win it and do Chicago proud! So, in conclusion, I just want to see lots of people eat a lot of hot dogs!

The on stage entertainment was great as well. There was everything from a strong man to dancing dogs to music groups to the musical stylings of Badlands Booker himself!

Finally at noon the broadcast began! We watched Bunnettes dance and an ESPN reporter put hot dogs in a blender and drink them!

And then the competitors were announced and everyone took the stage...

As the giant Nathan's Famous clock counted down we all prepared for what surely would be an epic battle. And boy was it.

As soon as the clock ran down the eaters were off, hot dogs were dunked and stuffed and pressed and consumed. I had a good view of Tim Janus who seemed to be eating at a pace I'd never seen from him before. Joey and Kobayashi were pretty much neck and neck but with Joey always seemingly just that much ahead. I tried to keep up with my favorites Pat Bertoletti and Tim Brown, but unfortunately they were at the other end of the table and tough to see.

They ate. And ate. And ate. And then something completely crazy happened. Not only did Joey Chestnut break his ten-minute hot dog eating record from last year...he broke his twelve-minute record from the year before! With 68 hot dogs and buns Joey Chestnut won and edged out Kobayashi (who ate 64.5) for the third year in a row! Pat came in third with 55, which, by the way, just four years ago would probably have been enough to kill the competition. It's amazing the pace and capacity that has built up over these last few years!

After the competition I headed over to Ruby's where the eaters congregate after the contest. It was fun to catch up with the people I have met and I really do find it funny when I have conversations that go like:
Me: "Hi I'm Val."
Eater: "Wait, Val Bromann?"
I'm supposed to be following you, not the other way around! :-)

After drinking some beers that were just handed to me I headed back to the hotel, grabbed a pizza and Advil because by this point I had had almost nothing to eat, no caffeine and had a splitting headache. I ended up watching a few old contests on ESPN classic and then headed out to a bar for the after party.

It was tons of fun and I have to admit the fan girl in me was totally excited that I was sitting at a table in a bar with Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut. Totally. Joey's friend kept buying me drinks. Like, a lot of them. I know I had bought myself at least three. And I think he bought me at least three and two shots. I lost count. So I kind of felt bad when I ditched him to leave with Tim and his friends to go get food. But only kind of.

At maybe 2am or so we ended up going to get crepes at some crepe place. I had a smore crepe but...remember how I had like a million drinks? and remember how all I had had to eat was a piece of pizza? And remember how I have said countless times that I can't handle my alcohol? Well, I may have ended up throwing up in a garbage can outside. I figured though that it was OK. I mean Tim's a competitive eater so he's pretty much used to vomit. Right? Anyways, after feeling like a totally lame girl we went and ate hot dogs, because apparently a person who ate 30 hot dogs earlier in the day still feels the need for more! And then they dropped me off at my hotel.

And then I passed out. And that was my Fourth of July. And it kind of rocked.

View July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest Photos here!

I took the subway back towards the hotel but got off at Bryant Park to walk around. I took a lazy stroll home through Times Square. Do they let cars into Times Square anymore? Everyone was just sitting in the streets.

Then crashed for a while, took an impromptu walk through Central Park, then grabbed some Chinese takeout. While waiting some of the kitchen staff got in a big fight. I don't know what it was about because they were fighting in Chinese. I still got my food though. So all was OK.

I took my takeout back to my room. I am never in a big hurry to be a tourist in New York because I have been there before and know I will be again. Plus I was pretty worn out. Plus I knew I had a long day ahead. Plus I was paying an arm and a leg for the hotel room so I wanted to take full advantage. The shrimp was delicious because it was full shrimp with just a light breading. I am so used to Chinese shrimps being tiny and all breading. It was delicious.

But my fortune cookie was empty. I was sad.

View Photos from Day 10 - New York!

Here are a few behind the scenes photos from the taping of I'm a Major League Eater:

If you caught the show and knew who I was you would have seen me: I was the crazy girl standing there when Tim walked in the bar...and the crazy girl standing behind Tim while he was eating at the bar. I was wearing my Krystal Square Off T-Shirt. Super. Fan. And, well, that was it! Really, I looked crazy. But I guess that is me. Honestly, I have never really liked the way I look on camera, I always look like I'm made of spaghetti and get really shy and nervous and giggly...which does not a reality star make. But it was still a totally fun experience! And I gobble up any chance I get to be involved in competitive eating and see the eaters at work! And who knows, maybe it will get good enough ratings that it will get picked up for a series and I can make a triumphant return!

In the end it was an EXCELLENT show. Truly entertaining and really well plotted. But I have to say that Tim ran away with it. He pretty much was the show. And he was awesome. As always.

I watched the show last night in a bar with my roommate Heather, Pat Bertoletti, Tim Brown, and a bunch of their friends. It was so fun to watch the premiere of a TV show with its star! What a night!

p.s. I still haven't touched the 621 photos I took at the July 4 hot dog eating contest...and still have a gallery left to edit for July 3. But hopefully I will have that tomorrow...hopefully.

I woke up way too early on Friday and didn't want to get out of my amazingly comfortable hotel bed. But I had an eating contest to attend! So it was off to my first of two mornings at Coney Island! This contest was a little different - it pitted three of the best competitive eaters on the circuit against three of the finest elephants the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus had to offer! Since elephants do not eat meat they were not eating hot dogs...they were eating hot dog buns!

Now, the event seemed to be set more as a press event that one for spectators. Which I totally understand. There was a huge lineup of video and still cameras in front and then a fenced off area to the side where everyone else got to stand. You could still see it though. So I got the best view I could from there...but then I saw Tim pointing me out to someone and then they came over and told me to go stand with the press photographers! Awesome. I was told I could move around to anywhere when I needed to but was too paranoid about getting in someone's way. So I mostly stuck to one position and went with it! But I got to stand with these people:

The elephants were introduced first and then the eaters: Eric Badlands Booker, Tim Gravy Brown, and Juliet Lee.

They took their positions...and then the elephants started eating! George Shea didn't even call it to start yet! The elephants totally cheated and got a head start! Just sayin'.

The elephants' pace seemed to be slower. They didn't have the urgency of the other eaters. And once in a while they got a bit confused and started grabbing at bananas instead!

But both groups trouped on stuffing their mouths with hot dog buns for six minutes! When time was called it was tough to say...the eaters went at a fast pace but could only fit a bun or two at a times in their mouths. The elephants took the slow and steady pace but grabbed trunks full of buns at a time.

And then the results...the three eaters ate 147 buns...but the elephants came out ahead with a whopping 505!

So in the great rivalry between the elephant and the human, the elephants triumphed! But I am sure one day they shall meet again...

View Man vs. Elephant Hot Dog Bun Eating Contest Photos!

p.s. I have a new photo management system that will hopefully work out! It looks boring now but will eventually be styled and seamlessly integrated with my website design and all of my past photos will be added!
Some of the new features include: commenting on photos, photo keyword search, photo tagging, and more!

p.p.s. Don't forget to watch "I'm a Major League Eater" tonight 10/9central on Biography Channel. If there is a crazy superfan in the Chicago bar segment, that would be me!

I decided to take a bus to Fremont, which is pretty much my mecca. There are all kinds of crazy things there, like a giant rocket and a statue of Lenin and a giant troll. Awesome, eh?

I then wandered over to Gas Works Park where I chilled a bit with the pretty view of the cityscape and the odd view of gas tanks.

I headed back to Scott's and we got some sushi buffet for dinner. It was delicious. AH the fresh seafood!

The next morning I got up early to go to Pike's Place Market, watched people throwing fish, got some original Starbucks, ate some delicious macaroni, and saw the Museum of Giant Shoes!

Then I walked to Pioneer Square and got more coffee and saw more stuff. I went on the Seattle Underground Tour which was awesome. Except I hate when they put the most dynamic tour guide up in the front to give the introductions and then you get stuck with a different tour guide.

Scott and I wandered around Ballard and stopped at a great little Italian restaurant. The only hard thing was choosing what to order because it all sounded so good! I got a fish stew though because I was obsessed with getting fish I knew was way fresher there.

On my final day I took a bus to the zoo. It was fun and I saw lots of animals. I headed back and Scott and I ended up having a pretty lazy afternoon.

I was exhausted from all my touristing over the previous week and had to get ready for the last leg of my journey: New York!

I left for New York in the morning and didn't arrive until night, so I didn't do much besides get dinner. But my hotel room was awesome. And it had a big nice comfy bed. And it was mine all mine.

View Day 6 Photos!

View Day 7 Photos!

View Day 8 Photos!

View Day 9 Photos!

And luckily Brian managed to crack us up the whole way by using his kazoo at opportune times. Wha wha.

View Day 4 - Driving Home Photos

View Day 5 - Driving Home Photos

We went to the post office which was kind of awesome in the way that it was thoroughly American and thoroughly not. We made our way to Fish Creek to look for more bears but alas we saw none than went to the opposite end of town and checked out the breathtaking mountain views from the "pier."

We may have travelled long and far to reach a destination we only stayed at for three hours, but it was worth every minute and every mile. Driving to Hyder, Alaska was surely a road trip that will be very, very tough to beat...but that is not to say I won't try!

To next time!

View Photos from Hyder, Alaska!

It took us an entire day and some change to drive from Seattle to Hyder. As we got closer we stopped at a lot of road signs that pointed the way and made a trip to a glacier and Hyder's sister city of Stewart, British Columbia for lunch and a peak at the Toaster Museum (which was unfortunately closed). Ah well, next time...

View photos of Day 3 - Driving to Hyder, Alaska

View photos of Day 4 - Driving to Hyder, Alaska

I arrived in Seattle on a Wednesday morning and took a way too expensive cab to the hotel because I was way too tired to try to figure out the bus system. But I got to my hotel and since Brian wasn't getting in until late in the day I decided I would explore on my own. After trying to read a map I determined that I was sort of kind of near Capitol Hill, which is the eccentric area kind of reminiscent of Clark and Halsted here, only even a bit more out there. Seriously I got stopped by a woman(?) on the street who told me she was a street person and wanted to be my friend and wished me a happy early Pride day. A lot of people in Seattle randomly told me they want to be my friend. By that I mean two. Which I think is a lot.

Anyways. I went to the Museum of Mystery which was kind of lame. It cost $2 to get in but I only had a ten and the guy had no change. I scrounged up a $1.60 in change and he let me in although he said I could go in for free. There were big foot prints and information on ghost sightings and such.

I stopped for some coffee and then headed to Volunteer Park and stopped at their free conservatory to check out the flowers.

I walked up the street looking for the Jimi Hendrix statue, passed it, went back, still couldn't find it. Walked all the way around the block. Walked all the way around the block the other way and finally stumbled on it.

I went to the Seattle Art Museum, mostly because I wanted a place that I knew I could check my bags. I had my entire camera bag and laptop on me and my shoulders and back were killing me and I needed a break. That was much needed. While some people said the museum wasn't that great I actually really liked it. There was a lot of modern art and things like giant black rats and an interesting exhibit on race in America where the artist took classic paintings and changed them up.

I then walked to the waterfront and checked out the awesomely amazing Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe which had amazingness like two-headed calves and petrified skeletons.

I got some clam chowder and watched the seagulls. Then I walked to the Olympic Sculpture Park and walked amongst giant pieces of artwork and admired the water.

I walked around a bit more but nothing of interest was open anymore and I wasn't really hungry so I went back to the hotel and chilled. Brian and Time and Rose didn't end up getting in until maybe 11 or so. By that time I was tired and sore and a little hungry. When they got there we checked in and ordered pizza and then passed out.

The next morning we headed to EMP/Sci-Fi Museum. We checked out the Sci-Fi Museum first. It was small but pretty cool. It was basically everything the Hollywood Americana Museum in Metropolis should have been. The best part though was the Jim Henson exhibit! It rocked my socks and had everything from the posters he designed in college to his experimental works to Sesame Street.

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We didn't have time for EMP because we had to head out to the Mariners Game! The game was great! The Mariners killed it and I not only had a hot dog, but also had clam strips! I was disappointed by the lack of craziness when a home run was scored. Where were the fireworks? I was not disappointed by the fact that the guys raking the field busted out in dance. Awesome.

It was at the game where we found out that Michael Jackson had died and it became what everyone was buzzing about. The street vendor when we left was blasting his CD but swore that it was what he played after every game.

We headed back to EMP and walked through. The museum was soso, basically just a history of Seattle music and not too much spectacular. As a designy-ish person I liked the special poster exhibit going on. I think the recording studio thing was probably what people like most, but we didn't have much time for that. It seemed interesting though.

We next headed up the Space Needle! I have to admit I was a bit scared up there! Heights just aren't my thing. But the view was coolcool.

We headed back to the hotel and tried to get some sleep, we had a long drive ahead...

Day 1 - Seattle photos here!

Day 2 - Seattle photos here!

p.s. I am trying something new with my photos and am hoping this works out. It is seperate now but will eventually be styled and integrated with my website design. If this works out I will be migrating all of my photos into this!
Some of the new features include: commenting on photos, photo keyword search, photo tagging, and more!

I was also very very hungover at this point. Just sayin'.

Alright...I'll post a major recap of my amazingly awesome Fourth of July when I return to Chicago...For now here is a picture of the great American hero of the hot dog, three-peat victor at Nathan's, Joey Chestnut in action!

p.s. The good thing about competitive eaters is that they do not mind if you throw up in front of them because they are used to vomit. Just sayin'

Afterwards I met up with fellow bloggers the Hungry Sisters and we got some Nathan's and I watched as they went on the Cyclone...I had my camera that I wouldn't trust to be on it so I didn't go...yeah, let's use that as an excuse.

We then parted ways and I made my way back to Manhattan, walked through Bryant Park, and Times Square then took advantage of my cushy hotel bed. Sometimes you just have to take a vacation from vacationing, especially when you start thinking of all ten thousand of the photos you took that need to be edited when you get home. After a lazy day I took an impromptu walk through Central Park and grabbed some takeout Chinese food!

Tomorrow it is off to Coney Island again for the year's biggest eating contest, the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest!

You can watch the hot dog eating contest live on ESPN, 12noon Eastern, 11 Central, Saturday July 4!