Home Again

Happy Birthday Patricia!

Well I made it back from my vacation and am happy to be home. Although was not happy to wake up this morning for work. I guess you can't have it all.

Baker City, Oregon is a very nice town even if there is not much there. I could see myself retiring in a town like that. It has mountains close by and to me that is all that matters. I came across some great roads to ride on but unfortunately did not have my bike. Hopefully I can change that next time.

Went camping up at Olive Lake just north of Baker and tried my best to prune myself as often as possible in the lake. Luckily, I also found a small cliff to jump off of. It was very pleasing, even if it was only about 12 feet or so high.

From there it was on to Twin Falls, ID and time with JM's family. I really enjoy hanging out with them. They have been very gracious to me and I appreciate the hospitality. I was really wanting to get on the tractor at Greg & Patty's but fought the urge to ask. I do want to go back and work the farm sometime if I get the chance.

Survived the 12 hour drive yesterday, and was fortunate passing through Salt Lake. I was really needing to use the loo and so happened that the exit I took was the one that my store was on. I managed to get out of there with no damage but with 2 shirts that were on clearance.

A good time was had by all, and it was great being able to spend a little time with Juan. I am also exstatic that I was reunited with Milton, my long lost favorite from Napoli. Thank you Costco.

Bob

Happy Birthday to my mother, I hope that she is having a good one. I have been trying to reach her all day but have been unsuccesful so far. I will keep trying.

Well, I am presently in Twin Falls, Idaho bored and anxiously waiting to go back home. Tomorrow is one week that I have been away and I have been looking forward to returning for the same amount of time. Sunday can't come quickly enough! I am however not looking forward to returning to work. I guess I just can't win anywhere.

That's life I guess. Hope you have a good weekend and are eating stroop waffles.

Yester Year...

As I reach my 2 years of being out of the Navy today, I am flooded by the times that have come my way the previous 7 years.

I look back on taking my senior trip to Cancun, Mexico. Boot Camp in Great Lakes, IL. Dental "A" School in Wichita Falls, Tx. Then being stationed in Great Lakes, just north of Chicago. I remember the wonderful friends I made there and the times we shared. The Taste, Summerfest, various festivals and Concerts. The trips to Detroit, Indy, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis.

Upon leaving Great Lakes, I was stationed in Napoli, Italia. (Naples, Italy for those who don't know.) I reminesce of the bike rides and the racing. The sight seeing of extreme beauty and the countries visited. The Tour, Giro, Dauphine, and Cyclocross World Championships in Monopoli.

I cannot begin to scratch the surface and the stories I have to tell....but will get them bit by bit. So thank you to the following for making these places a reality. California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. Also, England, France, Italy, Sicily, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Sweden and Greece.

Mom, Dad, Jon, Amanda, Elaine, Jamal, Karen, Justin, Don, Lori. Cody, Shawn, Tara, Juan, Marie, Russ, Katie, Jonna, Pru, Caribineri and others...Thanks again and I will expose myself more at a later time.

Alpe d'Huez

I remember being on top of that great mountain at the 2003 Tour. Let me tell you it was quite the party. Cody, Jake, Amy and myself had arrived the evening before as we had driven up from our home in Naples, Italy. Lucky for us, Chris and Juan were already there and had saved us a place to park and camp out. As we were passing through Briancon, Chris and Juan called and told us to pick up some paint for the road. Luckily we were passing a hardware store and quickly pulled in. After wandering the store we found what we needed since we were unable to ask for help because our lack of skills with the French language.

We arrived okay and started to get settled. Chris was cooking dinner and it sure was welcome. After eating and painting up the road with as much as possible, the night fell upon us and everything was still bustling. Juan and I decided to start walikng up to the summit and check things out. Juan grabbed his whiskey in a water bottle and we were off.

We came across a few other Americans and several others english speaking folk. At the summit we met these Irish guys and started talking to them. Everything was going well until one of them started talking and then we were lost. He spoke english but with his accent and speed we could not make a word out.

As we arrived back at camp, there were still a million cars driving up the mountain and music blaring everywhere. We finally managed to get to sleep although we were anxiously awaiting the coming day.

The next day I jumped on Chris' bike and headed down the mountain, so I could turn around and climb the whole thing. Everything would have been fine, but of all the water bottles around I happened to grab the one Juan had been drinking whiskey from. Even though I rinsed it out, it had done no good. So as I was climbing it felt like I was trying to quench my thirst with whiskey!!

After anxiously awaiting the riders to come through, the caravan started to come through and shower us with all the free trinkets like at a parade. It was the 100th year of Le Tour and so the caravan how gone all out on the decorations.

Shortly after there were helicopters overhead and we knew the riders were not far off. Then that's when Iban Mayo came by all alone. Then followed Lance, Jan Ullrich, Tyler Hamilton, Joseba Beloki and Roberto Heras. As they approached, Jake took off down the middle of the road with no shirt and waving a huge American flag. It was quite the lead out as Juan and I ran along side of Lance and Roberto. It truely was a great day for us and as Lance gained the yellow jersey. Even with Iban Mayo taking the stage with the breakaway.

It was a memorable day and I will never forget it. Thanks to all those that made it happen.

Not Yet

Well here I am at the start of a new week. I am happier then last because I am heading up to Oregon on Saturday. It will be wonderful since I will not have to be at work.

I know I was going to start on getting the past up on here but I have decided to wait a little longer. It is coming, I just have to take care of a few things so that has taken my time.

I will catch you tomorrow and hopefully it backs off the 110 degrees it reached here today. I really hope to be riding my bike to work tomorrow and for the rest of the week. We'll see though.

Shawn, where is your post? How is everything, I am waiting to hear about Germania.

Lewis but no Clark

Neither here nor there. Where am I going? I can barely decide; I just drank a fifth of vodka, dare me to drive?

Anyways, I was out the door and at Chris' house by 5 a.m. We were off to conquer Lewis Mountain and we did. I tell you it can be quite intimidating, when you are walking along a ridge that is no wider than 2 or 3 feet and has cliffs on either side that are at least 400-500 feet. I will have some pics for you soon.

I tell you there were a few times when I wanted to stop where I was and turn around. Trust me I would have if the trail had been wide enough. I was often thinking of how I jumped out of a plane and convincing myself that I could overcome this. Thankfully I made it and my body sure is feeling it. Where is that hot tub and maseuse when you need them.

Have a good Sunday and I will catch you back on Monday as I start my stroll down memory lane.

Eiger

Madonna has collapsed!!! Hopefully I can make it back there to conquer it someday before it is all gone.

As I sit here anxiously watching the clock for the weekend I am dreaming. Maybe just not of there but anywhere but here. I would like to spend the weekend with you and just have something differnt to look at. That is life though and the decision I have made. It isn't all that bad.

I am presently reading this, and I think that is where my main source of longing for something different is coming from. Check your local libraries and see if they have a copy available.

Have a wonderful weekend and why can't we all just get along? How about us doing this to their kids while we drive through the neighborhoods.

Riding By

Where did Levi come from today? I bet Floyd and Denis were like this motorcycle rider from last year saying, Where did that guy come from? Has he been bluffing so far, regardless he has already lost to much time. We have Denis and Floyd but who will be there to take the third step?

Well one more day before we reach the moments that we have been thinking of all week. Mine has yet to be decided but anything will be better than work. I will definitely be hitting the trails on the mtb and hopefully taking a hike.

I need something new in my life. I am not sure if it is just my job or my present locale. I am almost at 2 years since I got out, and sitting here thinking what do I want to do with my life....?
More to follow on that as I recall the 5 years I spent in the midwest and Europe.

I often wonder how people can be so stupid. Then I see more things like this and I just have to laugh for some reason. I guess it should not phase me after living amongst europeans for 2 1/2 years.

Always do the "right" thing but keep doing this..... Ciao Ciao

Humpty Day

Happy Wednesday everyone! Also Happy Birthday to Lindsay. Hope she had a good one.

I am thinking of something to put in here that does not seem to boring but am having a hard time of doing so. Ugghhhh. I talked to "Rusty" (as he put it) last night and he is doing well and glad to be back home in the good ol' miss. Hopefully he is able to land something soon besides a bass or catfish in the lake behind his home. haha. I am hoping that I can make it out that way soon, but will have to see what happens first.

Also talked with Juan & Marie today and they are gearing up for a fun weekend. Good luck to them, including Brandon, Tom and Heather. Wish I was still there so that I could be along for the ride. Oh well at least I will make it back later this year to do some other biking.

Speaking of riding, Good for her that she has decided to do more of it. She will definitely benefit more from it. Maybe she won't have to work the night job anymore, haha.

Also talked to Shawn before he boarded the plane for Deutschland. He is supposed to arrive there tomorrow about midday. Hopefully he can get some rest before racing on friday. Good luck to him and the rest of the team.

Anyways you all have yourselves a wonderful evening and I will ramble some more. Ciao

Unauthorized Page

Happy tuesday. How was yours? Mine was so boring, I had my tasks done before 8:30 and could not seem to come across any more. Also on top of that, the flippin' IT people continue to block more sites from me on a daily basis. I mean why do you block sites like this and what is wrong with this guy? I mean it is bad enough that I cannot read Shawn's page when I wish.

Speaking of Shawn and his recent post, he needs to quit being a B and stick with the advice that anonymous left. Hang in there man, nothing lasts forever, so make the most of now. I will always be there cheering you on and so will your family.

Hopefully they do not block all my favorites, because I do not know what I would do without my daily of her, even if she sometimes does not get up in the morning to post something new but rather sleeps in. I mean I am not trying to look at porn. Well sometimes bike porn like this, JK, but c'mon!! Anyways if I do look at porn, it is only because I read the articles....

Have a good evening and stop by his site and check out his post for 7-10. Once again the Dr. throws a wrench into things. Or is he just talking......

Straw

I guess I didn't have to wait to make my decision but it became clear today. Yes, I received that last piece of straw that broke the camel's back.

Today I was busy staring at my flippin' screen when the secretary walked in. She had my time card from last week in her hand and then asks if I had worked last tuesday. I said no, that was the 4th. She then goes on by saying that I do not get paid for holidays since I am not truly employed by the company. I understand that but think about it, it is a bunch of crap!

After returning from my hiatus in Seattle they told me that if I worked for one month as a temp they would hire me on. That was early February and here I am like an idiot waiting, and for what...? I have been back for 6 months and have not gotten anywhere with these guys. So just as they don't care, I have quit caring. It's quite humorous how they can send me to Phoenix 3 times for training. Also to Milwaukee and forward me money on my trips. Yet have difficulty or not wanting to bring me on permanently. They have given me a cell phone to "use as my own" and also a key to the place. I may use any of the tools or packaging materials. C'mon now, this totally is not making sense.

Well I am not exactly sure how much longer I will lead them on but it is constantly on my mind. I smile about the day that I show up and say, "Take this job and shove it, I ain't workin' here no more".

Happy Monday and hope your week is better than mine.

Right Now

Here I sit while trying to enjoy today. I am enjoying not really doing anything but there is part of me that is ready for some event or adventure. I am really wanting to go see the new Pirates of the Carribean movie, but I am not the only one. It is showing on several screens but that draws several more people. I will try again later in the week, but will honestly have to wait for next week or something.

Tomorrow it is back to the job and the fun I have staring at a screen all day. I am getting really bored and sick of my job. I am really starting to contemplate being a full time student and just working part time. I have to get caught up on some bills first, but I do see being a student taking priority. I am not getting any younger and I only have 8 years left on my GI Bill. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and talk to you soon.

How did that happen?

Hey there I am truly sorry that it has been over a week already since I put anything here.... It makes it look like some other pages that don't get updated too often. I guess it really does not matter since I do not have a fan base like them.

Anyways, I went camping on monday for the 4th. I love the mountains!!! Hung out in Silverton most of tuesday and watched the spectacular fireworks show they put on. I tell you nothing beats fireworks in the mountains! The only down part of the trip was not getting home until 12:30 that night and having to be at work at 7 on wednesday.

I survived the week and am happy it is over. Today I met up with Chris at 5 am, and then it was off to the moutains again. The clouds and rain have been looming the past few days but we wanted a chance to conquer. We were on the trail by 8:30, and came across some great abandoned mines. It is amazing to see the machinery that was hauled up there way back in the day. We climbed for 2 hrs before we decided that we needed to head back down before the visibility was worse then the 20 feet or so we were at. We made it back to the truck with only minimal showers and huge smiles.

We are hoping the weather is better next weekend, so that we may be able to summit what we start. Once again I am truly sorry for it being so long. I am really keeping my eyes open for inspiration and will not let this happen again. Thanks to Maigh for helping me through the week with her daily's and just being the great writer she is.

Talk to you guys tomorrow, hope your weekends are all great.