Testing out my new mobile blogging I just set up. I hope it works!! Here goes nothing....

Ft Lee Sprint into Spring Crit

Yesterday marked my "official" (unofficial) return to the world of Virginia cycling. I didn't embarrass myself by trying to race. That would've been BAD considering I've been on a bike once in about 8 months! Anyway, I officiated along with Danielle, Jessi Larrick & Tom Ribble. We had a good crew so things went really smoothly. That is until the Women's 1/2/3 race. About half-way through that race the bottom fell out & it started POURING rain on the course!! Props to Julie K. (I can never pronounce her name correctly so that's what I call her) for powering to the win in hurricane conditions! The funny thing...shortly after they finished it stopped. I guess that was "my gift" for the women since Danielle wouldn't let me do a "Suicide Prime" for them!! ;)

The Master's 40+ saw a VERY high powered break of 4 guys. That's where the most of the money went! The funny thing was watching Bill Collins "wheely" over the finish line because he threw his bike so hard! (I still have the video Bill)

The Men's 1/2/3 race blew apart like crazy!! Props to Jared Nieters & Jacob Tremblay for holding off a charging chase group of about 6 strong riders for the win! Jeff Buckles was riding as strong as ever even if he did look like a mountain man!!

It was good to see everyone yesterday, too. Thanks to all the "welcome home's" I got from everyone, too!! It's good to be home & see everyone rip around the course. I FO SHO look forward to the next race!!

See ya on the road...

FINALLY HOME!!!

I'm home FINALLY!!! We got here this morning & it didn't take all that much time to get off the ship, off the base & in MY HOUSE!!! WOO HOO!!! I've had a shower, a couple beers & a good London Broil cooked on my grill with a nice glass of wine!! Now I'm sitting here watching our new TV (that Danielle bought SHORTLY after I left last fall). All in all it's been a good day!

?!

I know it's been a while since I posted last, but honestly....there's been NOTHING going on out here!! We pulled in to Dubai a couple more times. Had some "drama" with idiots trying their best to ruin liberty for everyone else. (one of them is still a "guest" of the U.A.E.) We made our last port call there at the end of February. Just a couple more weeks of being "on the line" & we're headed home!! We have one more port, though, before we get there. I can't say now, but it's a good one! I'll fill everyone in with plenty of details later.

Danielle has been keeping me up to speed on the racing going on back there. I heard Snowball #1 lived up to it's name! I thought that kind of weather wasn't supposed to be around until Jeff Cup?! ;) I hope everyone's season has started off like they'd been training/planning for. I doubt I'll be racing at all this year, but we'll see how the late season training races go. I just might hold down the "back of the train" some.

Well...that's it for now. More to come soon...

SCUBA trip...

...that didn't happen!

Here's the story...I had my alarm set to get up in PLENTY of time to be ready, get something to eat, sign out in the liberty log book & get all my stuff down to the pier. Well...I guess I turned my alarm off when it started going off. The bus was leaving at 0600. I didn't wake up until 2 seconds before they rang 0600 on the 1MC. I got up & ran down the to pier JUST IN CASE they were waiting for me to show up. Yea...right!! Needless to say I was pretty pissed at myself about the whole ordeal. Oh well...ya live & you learn. Maybe better luck next time! Who knows...I might actually get up on time!!!

Merry Christmas...

...from the other side of the world!! It's kinda hard to get into the Christmas spirit when all you see is sand, sand & MORE SAND!!!! We're trying over here, though. Luckily we're in port for a few days. It kinda helps, but it's not the same as being home. Even if I was home & had duty today it would be better than this!!!!! I am seeing signs of a "normal" Christmas, though. It's really odd to see pictures of Santa & GINORMOUS Christmas trees in the malls.....in a muslim country!!! Not something I thought I'd ever see I have to admit.

So...what am I doing to celebrate the holiday. I'm going SCUBA diving tomorrow!! Makes sense, right? Isn't that what everyone does to celebrate Christmas?! :) I'll post a "report" on that trip later on. K?

That's it for now. I hope everyone back home has a good holiday & gets everything from Santa they asked for!!!

Need some clarification

I know I'm behind the power curve here a little, but I just read something that kinda concerned me. I just read on Jared Nieters' blog that at DCCX Mike Stoop broke his leg! Is this true?! I know it was back in October, but you all know I've been "out of touch" since then. I'm just trying to catch up/keep in touch the best I can.

Personally...I think that accusation is false. You see...after watching Stoop race for a while (especially CSC Invitational this past year) I've come to the conclusion that he has "Chuck Norris DNA" in him!! If he did suffer a crash it's more likely that he didn't break his leg. Rather he ruptured the space/time continuum & that's the "break" everyone heard!!! THAT makes more sense!! :)

Happy Turkey Day!!

I hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving! I wish I was there to enjoy it with everyone so have some extra cranberry sauce for me! :) Don't eat too much, though! I'm sure there's a CX race around the corner or something!! Stay safe & nap well!!!

Peace, tranquility & solid ground.....for a few days

We pulled in to Dubai, UAE for a few days over the weekend. I've been there a handful of times, but not for 8 years. I hardly recognized the place!! There's construction everywhere! They're even working on (what's to be) the tallest building in the world. So far it looks so out of place since it's "14 miles high" (at least it looks that way) with nothing else even close around it. It was good to get off the boat for a little shopping for "shiny things" for Danielle's Christmas & birthday presents. I hope she'll be happy with them!! :) I'm sure she will, though.

Other than that I was on a mission to find a Starbucks if possible. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! I had 4 (count 'em 4) triple venti non-fat, with whipped cream, caramel machiatoes & MAN were they good!!! I have pics of me enjoying them, but our server is SOOOOOO SSSSSSLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW out here so I can't get them on here. I'll get them up as soon as I can find a place to do so.

Not too much else to talk about, though. Just time to chill & get off this huge tin can for a few days. I'm already looking forward to the next time! :)

Barrack Hussein "Osama" Obama

My worst fear happened!! I can just hear all those damn liberals shouting for joy all the way over here! Well...shout all you want ASS!!! I'll just stay over here & defend your right to completely screw our country up!!!

I hope everyone is ready for "Bill Clinton take 2". More taxes, cutbacks on "services" that are essential to our security. I'm not just talking about the military but we're completely screwed there!! There's other areas that will have "routine budget cuts" that everyone that voted "blue" yesterday is directly responsible. All I can say is that I hope your happy! Like I said...I'll just stay out here & defend your right to "be happy" until some time next year!! So party it up!! It's on me this time!!!

Keep one more thing in mind, too, while you're basking in your stupidity. He's not the first "African American" President. He's the first "Muslim" President. Mark my words "they"...you know those jackasses that planned, financed & executed 9/11...will consider this election a victory for them. Like I said...I hope you're happy!!

Dumb asses...