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Welcome to 2025!
This year has brought exceptional fun at home in Chicago as well as on the road. I started the first half of the year mostly staying in Chicago and I used this time to build a base for athletic aspirations later in the fall. Once summer hit, things got busy as I jumped into running and tennis, along with taking my first international trip of the year to Canada. The back half of the year focused on a triathlon and two marathons. Plenty of additional travel, both big and small, made the months go by quickly. This will be my last winter (for now) in Chicago, as a change in my role at work will take me to Austin next year! As usual, I ended my year in Nebraska and Indianapolis for time with family and loved ones. I'm excited for the future and what 2026 will bring. Many blessings to all of you! I hope you've all had a Merry Christmas and enjoy a wonderful New Year's celebration!
Scroll down to read about my year in a little more detail and see some of the sights! I
Winter
01
Bundled Up in Chicago
I live in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, as I have for the last 3 years. I love the balance of restaurants and shops on top of basic life amenities. It's easy to get to work and is also home to several good friends of mine.
02
Indoor Training
During the winter months, I've spent a good amount of time at my nearby gym. I am training for a triathlon (August) and two marathons (October, November). Starting training early has been good for me physically and mentally.
03
The Third Cousin Trip
My cousins and I returned to KC for a third trip. We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. This trip is a great time to reconnect with family! We're looking at new locations for 2026 to shake things up!
Spring
04
Mustache Micah
Yes, I got a mustache.
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Reviews have been mixed.
05
Running
The Chicago Half Marathon was my first real organized race. I didn't know what to expect, but ended up very happy with my time of 1:34. In addition, my work participates in a ~5k with other Chicago companies and I've led our team 3 years in a row!
06
Tennis
I've picked up tennis over the last few summers. Some friends and I play every weekend at a nearby court. Luckily, we have a morning slot so we can wrap up before the heat. We'll often check out the Lincoln Park Farmers Market afterwards!
07
Montreal + Quebec City
I took a trip up to Canada in June. I explored new cities, saw an F1 race, learned much about Quebecois history, and even practiced a little French. C'est fantastique!
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See more photos below!
Summer
08
New York x2
In July, I had a work trip one week and a birthday trip (four years running now!) just two weeks later. NY continues to offer endless adventures: museum visits, jazz shows, and a bakery crawl to celebrate the birthday girl. The family vibe of the photo was unintentional.
09
Dog Sitting
What's summer without some dog days? I've been lucky enough to pet sit Sherlock a few times this year. He's the dog of one of my best friends Sofia, but he's told me that he prefers when I come to take care of him. Plenty of walks, treats, and picnics in the park!
10
The Chicago Triathlon
Near the end of August, I tackled my first triathlon! The swim was difficult, and I'd probably still be out there if they didn't have plenty of lifeguards to tell me that I was heading astray. But I pulled it together on the bike and run for a finish time of 2:45. A strong first showing!
11
Around the World
I ended summer with an around-the-world adventure! 17 days. 9 flights, 26,000 miles, and 53 hours in the air. Plus, an international ferry and train. It was a great way to visit 5 new countries and cultures!
11a - Baku, Azerbaijan
My first stop was Baku. The city is unique mix of European architecture, Islamic design, and modern statement buildings. The city felt very safe, parks were pleasant, and I enjoyed the Heydar Aliyev Center.
11b - Kotor, Montenegro
I had a short day and half to enjoy the double UNESCO World Heritage site of Kotor. The Old Town is delightful and the surrounding landscape is beautiful. The hills are steep but result in some great views of the bay!
11c - Dubrovnik, Croatia
The origin of this entire trip; my coworker had his wedding in Dubrovnik! The cliffside ceremony followed by a reception just steps from the water couldn't have been any more perfect. Best wishes to the newlyweds!
11d - Budapest, Hungary
Several wedding-goers and I took the opportunity to work out of our office in Budapest for a few days. The city exceeded my expectations and I'd be very interested to use it as a home base for a few weeks!
11e - Singapore
Singapore is the full experience. My mornings were spent visiting gardens, Chinese markets, and exploring Marina Bay Sands. In the evenings, I experienced F1 night racing and saw some great concerts!
Autumn
12 + 13
Marathon 2x
My athletic aspirations for the year culminated in running the Chicago and New York City Marathons! I had four days of recovery after returning from Singapore before I ran Chicago. Luckily, my sister Abby flew in to cheer me on along the race course (she logged a lot of miles too)! I finished with a time of 3:25.
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Three weeks later, I ran the New York Marathon, hitting all five boroughs. A tougher race due to bridges and hills, I was still able to log a 3:31 finish time.
14
Looking towards Austin
I traveled to Austin for work the week before Thanksgiving. I moved to a new role at my work, pivoting from hands-on trading responsibilities to developing strategy and the business of a different trading team. I am looking forward to stretching myself and facing off against new challenges.
This aligned with another opportunity to move to Austin full-time and help jumpstart our trading presence there. The loose plan is to move mid-2026! I've been in Chicago for the last eight years and it has been a great home. I'm excited to develop a new routine in Austin and explore Texas and the southwest. Longhorn fandom TBD...
15
Christmas with Family
The year wrapped up with merry times in beautiful Nebraska. My parents have completed their move to Lincoln and have a home that was filled with the families of both my brother and sister. With three kids each, there is plenty of action to keep us adults on our toes.
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We combined with extended family for cookie baking (389 Christmas cookies), Christmas Eve celebrations, and Christmas Day dinner. Many games were played (many were won by yours truly), movies were watched, and just a few cookies were had.
Christmas remains a wonderful season to cap the year and to reflect on all there has been for which I am ever grateful.
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A wonderful holiday season to all of you! I hope you all step into 2026 with a bounce in your step and an eye for the adventures to come.