Accomplished!

Photo from the 1,000th mile!

Well, yet another 2008 resolution can be checked off the To Accomplish list. My goal to complete the "Rubber 1,609K" (translated: via bike, run and walk, total 1,000 miles) by December 31st this year was surpassed today at 2pm MST, exactly 1/2 way through the year. What I thought would equate to a trip from Denver to Austin, Tx., actually turned out to be a bit further south of the Texas capitol. If you scroll down to the bottom of this route, it shows a map indicating I would have ended up in Pleasanton, Texas.

So, with the year half way done, do I want to challenge my self to return back? Humm, after splattering on the concrete 3 weeks ago (one wrist 80% healed, the other still hurting at 60%), I am not too sure. To top it off today, at the 997th mile, my front tire went kapooey and my transport shuttle (Teri) had to come pick me up as I didn't have a spare on me. Came home, fixed it, and finished the ride.

Officially, 1001.7 miles on the bike-o-meter. On the weight-o-meter, FIVE POUNDS gained since the start of the year. Of course, all muscle-- of course...

Touring Tuesdays....

Last week the hills above, this Tuesday 'downtown' along the Pearl Street mall, one of the 'must sees' when touring Boulder, CO.

We met Austin at the Intense Debate International Headquarters :). As with any smart startup company, they are wisely keeping their overhead low. Austin has indicated they are moving to a newer office in a matter of weeks. Enjoyed meeting the I.D. team before heading out to the Rio Grande for lunch.

Housed in an old, historic garage, scrumptious Mexican food at the Rio Grande. They actually have several locations across the U.S., including Austin, TX!

Clearly, by the camera angle, the wife boozed it up at the cafe. Off to the far left, is our '1/2' son Austin :). I have great benefits where I work, but what I wouldn't give to be in shorts and a T-shirt like Austin enjoys. Yes, I fit in well with my Crocs, a local Boulder mega-company.

Like with seemingly everything else in life, 'old school' is now 'new school' in the world of bicycles--a nice minty green ride.

Boulder is dominated by bicyclists. Clearly, they have less concern about rising gas prices than our Denver metro friends.

About four long blocks and stores lining both sides, Pearl Street Mall is well known for all kind of human and 'wild' life. It was a pretty sedate day being there on a Tuesday afternoon.

Trying to make a living and doing the best he can.....

Build a gelato stand and the misses will find it...a nice heaving scoop of Jamaican Coconut...

Weekend Royalty...

Swimming at Cam's pool, his complex in the background....

Brynn and her flower cannister--it travels with her...

Future lifeguard....

As close as she wanted to come to getting in, she stayed perimeter for all 2 hrs....



Brynn insisting on getting a hair strand wet--her definition of adventurous....

Teri's craftwork---a pillow case dress for the princess...

Hawkin'

Teri and I had a nice , quiet afternoon hike above Boulder at this trail. The weather I thought would be cooler at 9000 feet, but still fairly warm, muggy and no breeze-- all a bit unusual for mid-June. We hope to do this kind of thing more often this summer.

At the parking area, lo and behold, dad talking on his cell phone to his 19 yr old pilot son who flew to Moab, but then had no transportation back and forth to the camping areas. At the time of this photo, he was at the Grand Co. Utah Sheriffs Dept in Moab hoping for a ride (without handcuffs) back to the airport 17 miles away. He was declined, so him and his friend split taxi fare of $50 to get there.

Husband walking ahead of wifey to eradicate the dragons, dinosaurs and bears....

Simple beauty......

"Go Green".....before the dead of summer arrives...

Not a bad view looking back toward metro area....



Back to the west where snow still rests atop the 14,000 foot peaks....

The Happs

Two weeks into his new job, Austin is having a great time. From
checking his company blog at Intense Debate, it appears that he
is a welcome addition (see June 12, 13 posts) as he has received
some nice pub. He looks forward to his Lebron James-like bank
roll in the future :). His first paycheck is Monday, just in time
for his cell phone and insurance bills-welcome to the REAL WORLD!
He took a second ACT test on Saturday, one more focused on
writing skills, and required by some institutions.

Cameron is pursuing his new passion--high country backpacking.
He leaves for a 3 day trip Monday morning hoping to hike about
20 miles or so. As for his flight training, he has started to
work on his 'commercial' flight rating getting his biggest
challenge out of the way a couple weeks ago when he flew to
Price, Utah and back in a Cessna 172. As part of the
requirement, he had to fly total round trip of at least
600 miles and land at two different airports. He is taking
a crash-course, on-line economics Summer class in July and
is holding a 3.0 GPA as he nears his Junior year, not bad
for having a full time job and full time girlfriend, not
to mention flying, backpacking, etc.

We have challenged ourselves to GO GREEN in a miniscule way
by trying to avoid using our central air this Summer. With
only Teri at home most days, she can tighten up the house
at the coolest point of the day and try to 'store' the cool
morning temp. It hit 90 yesterday, so day one of the challenge
has been met. The beauty of Teri being anemic is she is
constantly chilled---just wish she could pass it along to me.
Unfortunately, the furry lab-mix dog is not impressed with
our decision.

Speaking of, Teri awaiting more info on test results from her
doctor--but looks like she will have the 'female surgery'
thingy-ma-jig some time this Summer. So, it looks like Austin
and I will have to maintain the house for a bit, so we are
investigating Molly Maids, but I do not believe they have
an overnight option nor a cooking division.

My bum wrists continue to heal--right one at about 70%, left
one at 90%--felt good enough to hop on the mountain bike
yesterday for a very short ride of 8 miles or so. Teri is relieved
and has tossed the "Wiping Your Hubby's Hiney" survival guide.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all. Teri is grilling steaks later today
to celebrate. I am enjoying new a new pair of comfy, cocoa
colored Crocks. Cameron is working, so will be missing out on
the feast. Shelly probably thinking she could eat Cam's portions.
Speaking of the canine, her gimpy leg is back to 100%, so she is
back on squirrel patrol in the backyard.

Send gas money......

Later....

PAW-fect

Went to the vet today to get the paws checked out. Now what is that LAST thing you want to see when the Dr. walks into the exam room----uhhhhh, that would be the Dr. is wearing a cast! I thought for a moment it was a practical joke, but she had just had surgery from a tennis injury. Anyway, praise God, xrays revealed nothing broken in either hand--just a right hand wrist sprain and a strained right tendon. So, got me set up in a splint for 2-4 weeks which INSTANTANEOUSLY helped as it provided immediate support! Off to work tomorrow, still driving with my left hand and then shifting as well with the lefty--glad my wheels are well aligned. Hope to be eating right-handed again by the end of the week. In the mean time, Austin enjoying another lefty in the house...

SpectaculAIR Show!

A simply, glorious day for an air show out at Rocky Mountain Metro Air Show. Just to think 4 years ago Cameron was volunteering at one, today he worked it. Great weather day, blue skies, slight breeze and about 75 degrees. Enjoy the photos and the videos!

Air Force mascot falcon dawning his own helmet. For some reason, I do not believe the ones out in the wild wear one......

A B-17 all chromo-fied....

News media estimated 10,000-15,000 on hand....

World renown Patty Wagstaff on hand, has to be the greatest air show, female pilot ever to come to be...unreal at 56 years young!

Our lil friends Chris and his son, Adam, getting Patty's autograph...

A MIG 17, locally based, so we get to see him practice regularly...

Patty, inverted, picks up a ribbon with her tail that is being held by her staff center runway..

Patty tumbles across the runway before pulling straight up and returning back for another pass...

Air Force F18 buzzes down the runway before pulling straight up with both afterburners roaring..

Navy F16 circles back right at us and then banks to the South, no doubt directly over our house...guess Shelly got to enjoy the noise as well......

Strawberry Farm...

Well, I guess Lance Armstrong can be blamed for my injuries as I was inspired to ride when I got back from Vegas. Actually, I just got my ride out of the cycle shop getting some brake work done--well, the 'breaks' work--as in my right arm this a.m. feels broken! This is the result of my knee hitting the concrete sidewalk after going about 15mph.

I was cycling near at a park when 2 kids, about 6 and 9, yelled "hello sir". With their being a neighborhood garage sale going on, I thought they were just marketing, so I ignored them. I got a bit closer, and once again they piped up, so once again I ignored them thinking maybe they had a lemonade stand going on. Well, after I passed them, they shouted at me again, so I looked back (thinking maybe I am nude and they want to tell me or maybe a rattlesnake has crawled up back tire, etc) and that distraction had my bike go off the sidewalk. When I tried to recover, the front tire got sideways on my and 215 pounds of humanity went over the front handlebars while my leg got trapped underneath my bike. So, my reaction was to extend my hands out and try to break my fall--not a good idea looking back.

Oh, and what did the kids want--they were lost and needed directions to the library. I almost told them "I will tell you where the library is if you will tell me how to get to the ER". But the 10 yr old girl was truly apologetic, as well as grossed out when she saw my knee. They did offer to pick up my broken cycling mirror, my sunglasses and my radio, all laying in the park.

To make matters worse, I tweaked my back big time in Vegas and now with this ordeal, I did a Real Age test---I aged out to be Methuselah--969 years old! My kind wife has been nursing me back to health. Although I am hoping not, I suspect an xray of my right arm may be in order. My biggest concern-- don't think I can wipe the hiney, so I am going to have to pull the prenuptials-- I do believe I had the 'for better or worse' clause-- this will be a true test of our marriage.

Til next time...

La$ Vega$

Well, is there such a thing as a bad time in Vegas? I don't think so. Teri and I arrived this past Monday for a 4 nite stay at Caesar's Palace for our annual Intergraph Intl User's Group Conference, our 911 software provider and the industry leader. Surely I cannot complain about these working conferences as the last 7 years included places like Nashville (Downtown), Orlando Walt Disney World Resort, Montreal, Canada, Indianapolis, Nashville (Grand Ole Opry) , Denver (boring :) and this year in Vegas!

Weather was a variety. Upper 90s 1st couple of days, windy (60 mph!) the 3rd day and mid 80s on Thursday. Teri totally enjoyed pool time, only stress she had all week was making sure the tan lines were even and not enjoying the scent of her new spray-on sunscreen-- how does the other world live? I know one thing--we may be in a recession, but based upon pool side viewing, the plastic surgeons haven't missed a beat--ladies packing more flotation devices than the Titanic.

The best I could do was turning one .25 slot machine into $33.00, not a bad return for 30 minutes. A co-worker won $750 and another conference attendee pocketed---FORTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS last night! Yes, 40,000!

Looking up 9 floors directly above the pool and you will see our room..

Looking down 9 floors at the night time view of the pool....



Self-portraits are hard...


YUP, Lance Armstrong, our key speaker-- awesome 45 minute message on his life battles..



The Strip--day time.....


The Eiffel Tower at dusk.....



Pirate ship battle at Treasure Island--ship taking on fire and water....


The Mrs. in front of her palace that I bought her......


See the diver feeding the sting-ray?? Way cool aquarium...


Teri winning 3/4 gallon of gas on nickel slots......


The biggest sin in Vegas is not gambling, but the gelato stand...


Gelato cost: $10.00! The largest size--$47.00.


Cool, painted ceiling at The Forum Shops-- every high end store in the world resides here!


When in Vegas, you must eat at a buffet--so we did, Jimmy BUFFET's Margaritaville restaurant!!


Endless marketing.....

Awaiting the fountain show next door at the Bellagio...

Click the play button and enjoy the grand finale'--the dancing waters of the Bellagio Hotel!

Bow-dacious...

Sister in law Kelli has delved into her own home based 'bow production' business...take a look right here . I know some nieces in Texas who would look super cute this 4th of July.