What do you get when 2' of snow is melted by rain?

A backyard swamp! I saw the big dogs sink in a little as they were out this morning doing their thing. The snow was prettier. Weird that it took 24 hours to fall, 24 hours to disappear. They say we may get s'more snow this week, but they are weather people - what do they know?

Eddie and Lallie are in Pittsburgh for the Ravens game today......should have some interesting stories from there. Pittsburgh fans are not known for their "hospitality" unless that word can also mean "that is where you end up".... If the Ravens win out the rest of the season - we are gauranteed playoff berth. If they lose one, we are still in the lead, just makes it more difficult.

Well, Ashley is out at her mother's house. She left last night from Newark NJ. It was the only place with a straight through flight. Kinda weird. If we could have found one from Philly or BWI, we would have paid the extra $, but there isn't one. She was excited and a little apprehensive all at the same time. I really hope her mother doesn't try to do something stupid and have Tory around. Ashley (hopefully) has enough sense to do what we discussed if that happens. I have a couple of friends out there to get Ashley if need be. One of my old soldiers is in the Special Forces unit our there, he has agreed to do "whatever it takes" to help Ash if need be - so that is good :) Another friend lives in Portland, so Ash could stay there until I arrive.

Looks like New Years is at our house- so if you don't have other plans, stop on by! :)

December 2009!

Well, in two days, we received more snow than all of last year (and probly the three years prior all combined). 2' of snow fell in 24 hours. Schools closed for the two days they were supposed to be open this week.....early Christmas for all the youths. Here are some pictures!



Kelly (aka domestic goddess) making cookies :)

Aww - the three girls...






Sammi playing on the swingset. Funny, doesn't play with it much when there ISN'T snow on it...






Thought the dark picture was pretty....




Sammi Friday night - the snow hasn't stopped falling yet.....

Ashley, Dewey, and I are okay

We were rear-ended yesterday. I am sore today - Ashely seems fine. We both took a ride in an ambulance to the hospital as a precaution. I was on a back board and stretcher. Ashley got to sit. She had to get out of the ambulance to chase Dewey down. One of the firefighter peeps tried to get him out. If anyone knows Dewey, he doesn't handle strangers well. Kinda funny actually :)

Anyway, the van that caused it all, eviently side-swiped another car, then hammered the little BMW that got slammed in to us. It never hit the brakes. Not sure if the older gentleman in the van had a heart attack, stroke or what, but he and his wife were taken in an ambulance first. The poor guy with the little Z3 BMW, only had the car for three weeks. I feel bad for him. I believe everyone involved in the accident is okay physically. Although, if the poor dude in the beamer is like everyone else, he was upside down in his car. Going to be short paying it off.

That brings me to the question, and maybe even a solution. When you get in a wreck and owe more on a car that what the insurace company will pay, why are you stuck with paying the difference AND finding a new car? I don't know if my truck is totalled or not, so I don't know what is going to happen with it. The dude in the beamer and the van are both totalled (without a doubt). Since the van is truely at fault, their insurance should cover the payoff of the loans on the cars involved. Unless someone can exolain why that wouldn't be fair?

Surfing. I totally get it.

I took a surfing lesson this morning. Totally worth the money, even though I could have figured out how to surf on my own. The teachers are firemen/fireladies/paramedics and such - so I had that going for me. If I totally wiped out, I had a chance of being rescued :) Was with a group of 15 (I think) 4 from Japan - only spoke Japanese - they had a different tent than us Engrish speakers. I was the only solo - all the rest were couples in this class.

We started out with the basics - safety (did you know that a person paddling in the water has the right of way over the person surfing? I didn't either). After that, we went to the boards on the sand. We had nice forgiving beginner boards. We practiced paddling and then "popping" up on to the board. I got used as an example. Evidently I could do this pretty well ON SAND. Making that point known. :)

So off to the water we went. We paddled out. Paddling out is the HARDEST part about surfing. My shoulders were smoked before I even got to the buoys. The instructors were out there to help us figure out what wave to use and to push us to get speed. It really helped having that push. So a wave comes along, the instructor says start paddling, and then the wave picks you up and the instructor pushes, you go scooting down the wave. Remember how I said I was good at "popping" up on the sand? Yeah - not so much on the water. First time I popped too hard and pushed myself right of the back of the board. Second, I went right and somersaulted off the side. THIRD time was the charm. I nailed it. It was a small wave and it just was "right". It was me, the board and the wave. Totally awesome and poetic all at once. Then I started wondering why the water was getting closer, then I hit it :) I think I rode or tried to ride at least 50 waves. I was totally spent. Great workout.

So back to the reason for posting "I totally get it". I was kinda resting and bs'ing with one of the instructors, when all of a sudden, a wave took me. No paddling or nothing. Just woosh. I popped up perfectly and had a total in the moment ride. Nothing else in the world was on my mind, just me and the ocean playing like long lost friends. When I was done with the ride, meaning I DIDN'T wipe out, the instructor was so Zen. I was totally stoked talking about what just happened and how I wasn't ready and things just worked and all he said was "Sometimes the wave picks you". So, I totally get it.

Hawaii is B E A UTIFUL!

So traveling has it's privleges. Going to Hawaii in November is definitely one of them. Just wish I could have taken the family, had I had more time to plan I would have, but tickets are wicked expensive from the East Coast. I am actually on Oahu - staying at the JW Marriot - where all the pictures are from. The first picture is from my balcony. Last is the hotel from 1.3 miles away. I have to admit - the hammerheads in the "tide" pool in the hotel are kinda freaky to me. Evolution or God, can't really figure out how the Hammerhead fits in? I digress - it is still a beautiful fish - one that can eat you, but still pretty to watch swim. As long as I am not in the water with it....

Took a drive around the island today. Saw the Dole plantation, North Shore - whilst there I saw numerous sea turtles eating - truely cool! Also some surfers doing their thing - one broke his board on a wave. Pretty wicked. Supposedly 20' waves later this week. I am going to take a lesson, but not daring North Shore. I'd kinda like to make it home in one piece - after seeing the surfer break his board.... The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. If I could figure out a job that would afford us to live in Hawaii, we'd move in a heartbeat! Even the highways are pretty. There is a tunnel through a bautiful mountain range.

It is nice enough at night that I sleep with the screen doors. It is extremely relaxing to listen to the ocean.....

I got up and actually ran this morning - which I haven't done since the triathlon. If you can't get motivated to run/walk/be outside in Hawaii - nothing will ever get you motivated. Quite a few people up and exerciseing at 7am on a Sunday. Planning on swimming in one or all of the 4 lagoons that are on the Marriott property.

Football starts at 8am on Sundays. Quite nice! Monday night football - 4pm I may actually stay awake to see a complete game!

I suppose I ought to concentrate on work, but it is hard to do that here :)

It's been a long day, and I can't sleep...

So I went to one of my favoritest websites of all time - www.fark.com - fair warning, some of the "jokes" are harsh. Just sayin....

Anyway, they have a geek section that has all sorts of cool stuff on it. This one got me thinking: http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4712543 Like I said, long day.

So what if all the stars in the galaxies are actually atoms, atoms that connect to other atoms to form molecules, which form some other ginormous type of being......Does that make us the Who's living in Whoville? Who will be our Horton? Or are we a virus? A virus waiting to get wiped out by our host's immune system? Or is it possible we are the "good" kind of bacteria? You know, the kind that actually helps the host thrive and survive? Watching the human race, I would think the former.....but in knowing what the human race is capable, I hope for the latter....

Whew, time for bed...what the heck was that? Maybe I got that metal plate in my head too close to the microwave again....

No I don't have a metal plate in my head, just for the record. :) Although that would explain a lot!

What a hectic couple of weeks!

Good lord, I have been burning the candle at both ends....

Since the triathlon: Traveled to Minneapolis, MN to do a job at Target headquarters. Nice town. "Hamster tubes" connect the buildings, so you don't even have to go outside once you are downtown. Believe it or not - the only thing open was the Renaissance Hotel (Marriott of course :) ) but it was not connected by hamster tubes, so I had to drive 3 miles and park in a garage. Pay to park at night, pay to park in the day. I tried to get the Marriott that was literally one hamster tube away from Target, but it was sold out due to a Metallica concert (had I known they were in concert, I would have planned accordingly and gone to the concert :). It snowed, rained and was generally a normal October week in Minneapolis (so I am told).

Try to leave MN to get to KC for my 20th High School reunion, all flights cancelled due to a low ceiling...WTH? Had already dropped off the car, had I known I would have just kept it (NICE Mercury Sable). Alas, (do I get bonus points for using that word?) I wasted an hour bouncing between United and Us Airways as I purchased the tickets through US Airways, but the flight was operated by United. Pointless really – kinda ticked me off that US Airways sent me down to United, then United said go back to Us Airways. Get back to Us Airways and THEY tell me to go down to United…..at this point I said “the flight is cancelled, you knew this, they told me to come back down here…” Anyway, I finally had an agent help me and he told me they could credit my account with the ticket, but if I try to use it that would be another $150 for a change ticket fee…at this point I was like WTF? YOU cancel the flight and I get a change ticket fee? Anyway, I asked when the earliest I would get to KC would be – was told 9 am the next day – which just would not do….I had a very important meeting to get to (20th reunion Golf outing – more on that later) can I just get a refund on the ticket and get a car? Us Airways agent was pretty nice all in all – of course HE couldn’t refund the price of the ticket, but he did put in a request for refund….so off to part two of my Odyssey to get to KC….

I go back down to the Hertz counter and ask if they have any cars available (Remember the part where I said I just dropped one off? The nice Mercury Sable?) . Nope – no cars available. WTH? I told the lady I just dropped one off, I will take that one. It isn’t in the system we don’t have any cars. I notice a yellow reservation line and use it. Guess what? They have cars. PFFT! Gold Membership has benefits, as does talking to someone that gives a crap. So I get my Hyundai something or rather, and start driving the 6.5 hours to KC. BTW – it is freaking DARK in southern MN and pretty much all of Iowa. Not many lights out. Cool thing is, I probably got to Ty’s house quicker than if I had flown…..odd how that works.

Reunion! I wish Kelly could have been there to meet everyone, but it ws not to be. We will show her off next time :) I promise to NOT wait 20 years (I HAD A BLAST!) without seeing people from high school again…..Ty and Amy left the door open for me as Ty had to work an overnight shift at the hospital (he is an Anesthesiologist Assistant). I don’t think I woke anyone up…..Jansyn and Jaxson ended up getting sick while I was there- felt bad for them….and Amy as she had to miss out on the reunion frivolities…but I digress….On the way home from work, Ty picked up supplies for the golf outing. 24 balls (we came back with 2 – that is including all the ones we found-we aren’t very good golfers), a 12 pack of beer and a fifth of Jack Daniels. Let’s just say, the first two holes, we held our own. The last 16 went steadily downhill. I do have to admit, if the ball is within 6” of the hole, I am the master at draining those…..We had a great group: Me, Ty, Jim and Chad (thankfully they can play). We teamed up with Jacque and Lee as their third and Jim had to leave after the 9th hole. Thankfully we were playing best ball out of our group of four (we just started using Chad’s, Jacque’s or Lee’s as Ty and I started playing “where the hell did that go”…..mine was best once maybe twice on the front nine…..I should probably take a lesson. We held up the course – the golf police kept trying to get us to speed up. I did find out that I actually enjoy golf, probably because I don’t take it seriously. Nine am tee off, the fifth of Jack was gone by noon. Beer not much later…..I did to a stuntman barrel roll out of the cart trying to pick up a ball….no injuries to report, but I was sore from taking so many “practice” swings.

Friday night we went to the Fox and Hound out on 103rd and something. Pretty cool bar. Saw MANY people I literally hadn’t seen in 20 years (or thereabouts). Ty and I were early, played a couple games of pool, then people started rolling in. There were fun times had by all! We closed down the bar. What else would you expect? Had a cigar, then went to Denny’s for breakfast. Got home around 330-4am-ish. Didn’t do much on Saturday during the day, Ty had to get ready for a trip EARLY Sunday morning. I did laundry and we did some errands. It was a nice relaxing day actually. One of my “talents” is I don’t often get hangovers. I have had a few – when I get them they are doozies.

Saturday night was at Nara’s in downtown KC. The Hannah Montana concert was that night too – I was wondering what all the little kids were doing downtown….Anyway, it was nice, not too dressy, not a dive. Food was decent, company was stellar! We danced a bit, caught up on the past, got to hang out with people I didn’t catch up with the night before. Really nice time. We closed down Nara’s – and ended up at the Power and light district (I think that is what it is called). Hung out with Keith, Tina, Jami and his wifeTy had to leave early because of his trip….wise idea as I didn’t get back to his place until 4am. I think he left at 5….
So Sunday, I was moving slow, woke up at 9am is, got myself packed, said goodbye to Amy, Jansyn and Jaxson, and made my way to the airport. I did drive by where the old house was, it is now a park. Also drove by the high school. Shipped a box of “cold weather” clothes back to MD as my luggage was overweight on the trip to MN. Made it to the airport with plenty of time. So I watched the CHIEFS ACTUALLY WIN! Woohoo! Then watched the end of the Ravens/Vikings game – what an incredible game. Ravens lost, but they came back from 21 down to go ahead, only to lose by two points on a missed field goal…..Stover would have made it.
I fly in to Orlando – land at 11:45 – get to the ginormous (I walked to the gym last night– should have called a cab, but I got my cardio done getting to and from – so I had that going for me) Marriott World Center around 1am and get to bed around 1:30 am……..Working weird hours now to get this done. Some of the machines cannot go down during the day, so we are doing them at night. Tonight I went to the largest retail humidor and got a cigar, and people watched in downtown Orlando. It was really relaxing. Downtown Orlando is actually pretty cool…..check it out if you ever go to Disney…While in the humidor, I noticed a display case of Prohibition era Whiskey. Original bottles. Only $5000. Wish I had that kind of disposable income……

So that’s what I have been up to for the past two weeks. I can't wait to get home and see Kelly, Rachel, Ashley and Sammi.....Mom and Dad will be there too.....

Triathlon

So, I am going to do another one. I had fun. Parts of it really sucked - I will always hate running, but it was a beautiful course and what's 2 hours out of my life to try and keep in shape? The website is here... http://www.piranha-sports.com/Race50.aspx

The day started at 5:30 AM - getting up and ready out of the hotel (Super 8 - NOT a Marriott - and you could tell) We drove to the staging area - arriving about 6:15. There was already a big crowd. We had picked up our race packets the day before. Good thing to - there was a long line for that. The packet includes all your numbers and such that you would need to mark your helmet, bike and wrap on your body to identify you (in my case in case medical attention ws needed :) It also includes a swim cap - which was another first for me. We stage our stuff - I see who the experienced people are and who the newbies are (like me). The pros "roll" their socks for easier on time during transition.....it works well actually....

At 7:15 we sing the National Anthem, then head down the .5 mile path in our bare feet, socks (me) or shoes to the ocean for the swim. There is a mini transition point there to avoid having much sand, it didn't work well for me. Did I mention that it was VERY cold? 53 degrees. Water temp 65. My feet were numb at this point :) We all gathered on the beach for the start. My age group went first.....the start bell went off and a mass of humanity went crazily into the sea. My re-occurring thought was that if I was a shark, THIS is the place to be.....but I went in anyway. the water wasn't bad as I thought it would be, but it could be cuz I was numb already. I wasn't trying to break any records, so I let all the fast guys go first. Okay, all the not so fast guys too.

Swimming in the ocean is WAY different than the pool. First, it's salty. Then there are all the people trying to go to the same point you are. Then the waves not caused by people....just when I had a rythm going, a wave would mess me up. The weirdest part was once we got to the buoy that marked the end, the water was freezing. Really odd. The trip to the transition point was the hardest, My calves are still sore from plowing through the loose sand to get to my socks. I had a couple of guys from the next waves pass me and comment how big my calves were. A compliment I guess, I felt like they were about to explode.

Walking to the transition to the bike was interesting, got passed by a couple of the fast girls at this point. The really cool thing was how supportive everyone is during a race. Doesn't matter how you are doing, people are there encouraging you to keep going. Which is very helpfull :)

So I make it to the bike and try to get all the sand off my feet cause I know it will shred my feet on the run. As I was going IN to get on my bike, a few of the really fast guys were getting off their bike to start the run. Impressive... Couple of guys had water they poured on their feet - will remember for next year. Fact: Mountian bikes are NOT the bike to have on a triathlon, but since I didn't know if I would do another, I went with what I had. Now I know to start looking for a new bike. Anyway the 14 miles through Lewes DE was very nice......beautiful little town. I pedalled like crazy and got passed by people like I was going backwards. Of course they had real bikes. My butt really hurt! Another reason to get a real bike....14 miles later, I make the transition to the run part.

The run sucked. If there was a dualathlon, with swim and bike, I would be all over it. I hate running. it hurts. I mostly walked because I couldn't get my shins to "let go" It always happened to me road marching in the Army, they would let go around 4-5 miles in. I probably only jogged a mile out of the three. The run snaked through the state park and old Fort Miles. Very pretty. The best part was the run to the end. My quads were cramping like crazy at this point. The end was neat. Lots of people cheering you on, even though I was near the end.....

All in all I will do more next year. It was fun.

Got on a plane last night, and now I am in Minneapolis MN - were it snowed. Nice. Heading to KC for my 20th reunion this weekend, then off to Orlando FL next week for another virtualization gig.


The park and town are beautiful! There is a campground, so I may take the family down next year for a campout...

When it gets busy, it gets BUSY!

Good lord. Not complaining, well, cuz it pays the bills :)

So, Starting this weekend:
Saturday October 10th,
1. Take Rachel to Glen Burnie for Cheerleading.
2. Go to Cape Henelpen DE Saturday afternoon for Triathlon prep (still thinking about breaking a leg or something)
3. Drive to Mitlon DE for the hotel (everything closer was sold out) - 45 minutes is better than 2 hours early Sunday morning.

Sunday Oct 11th,

1. Survive Triathlon - at least that is my goal.
2. Drive home and finish packing for trip to Minneapolis MN.
3. Watch Ravens game? Hopefully....
4. Drive to airport. Maybe Kelly will be back in time to take me?
5. Fly to MN.

Thursday Oct 15th,

Leave MN for KC for 20th Reunion.

Sunday Oct 18th, - this is when things are still "grey"

Either:

1. Fly back to MD or start driving with mom and dad to MD.
2. IF driving - possible job in Springfield TN? Three day layover.
3. Back to MD around the 23rd.

Time will tell where I am at any given moment :)

Ramblings of a traveling consultant

SO I have been in Fort Pierce Florida for the past week - Edinburg (McAllen) Texas the week prior - total of 30 hours at home between trips. Kinda exhausting.

Things I have learned while traveling:

1. 7 year old little girls are really good at guilt trips. I miss you too Sammi :)

2. Water in airports is expensive!

3. People are people no matter where you go. May have different backgrounds (met a lady who grew up as a migrant worker (her parents were), one guy came from Mexico 5 years ago and didn't speak ANY English three years ago. Speaks English better than most Americans do. I need to learn a second language.

4. Everyone I have met wants to do their job and do it well. Makes me feel good about the middle class....

5. Sometimes I forget what car I am driving. Last week I had a red Hyundai, this week a maroon Mitsubishi. I came out of a restaurant this week and saw a car similar to the one I had last week. After 5 minutes of cussing at the car to open up.....I accidentally hit the panic button and figured out I was at the wrong car. I laughed at myself all the way to this weeks car.

6. Texas has the weirdest highway system. What is up with all the frontage roads?

7. I love my Swiss Army backpack. can hold all sorts of stuff in it and it has a laptop compartment to protect my laptop, which is also quick to get out at airport security checkpoints. Quality zippers, rugged construction. Nice backpack. Still haven't found the toothpick....

8. Hotel breakfasts are pretty good.

9. I like to get lost on purpose. With the GPS I know I will eventually get to where I need to be. I get to see lots of cool/interesting things doing this.

10. The best steak EVER wsa at George's Steak Pit in Florence Alabama. Less expensive than Ruth/Mortens and such - more than Applebee's/Chili's - worth EVERY penny.

11. I like to try local beers. Sometimes they are very good. Most of the time they are better than the "common" beers.



Little pet peeves along the way....

1. Rental car companies - What is the deal with cabling two keys together? The whole purpose of having two keys is to have one in reserve - you know in case you lock one in the car? Could you come up with a better system please? They don't fit in pockets well - especially if they are the big fat keys (remotes) and the tag used to identify the car. Next time I am bringing a pair of cutters to separate them.

2. American express isn't taken everywhere. Especially the local eateries. I hate having to carry two credit cards.

3. Waiters/waitresses that forget about you. Sorry - you lose a big tip when you do that. On the flip side, I gave your tip to the wonderful waitress that served me for lunch today. She deserved a big tip with all the people she was waiting on.

4. Airport security. So a 7" screwdriver is a no-no, but one that comes apart is okay? When I put it together, I can still use it as a weapon if I had too.....just sayin'

5. Expense reports suck. Necessary evil I know, but they are a pain in the butt.

I am sure I will add to this list in the future.....