16

Our 'lil guy' (6ft 1" and mounting) wakes up to his 16th birthday today! Boxed cheesecake (his choice) tonite that was preceded with Reeses Peanut Butter cup for breakfast and his choice out at a local eatery. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSTIN!

50 @ 48

Forty-eight years old and 215 pounds later, I decided to hop on my Diamondback Wildwood 21 speed Sunday morning and challenge myself to do something I had never done on 2 wheels-- ride for fifty miles! Temps at my 740 a.m. launch were in the mid-50s and winds were calm, perfect for the ride. I packed a couple of snack bars and 32 ounces of ice water, tune my radio to K-LOVE to pipe in the worship tunes, adjust my padded shorts to the padded seat, and head out.

Needless to say, when you live in a metropolitan area, there is no simple 'out and back' route, so you just have to create your own path. I headed west 9 miles on a gradual, but definite incline as it has always provided some interesting scenery. Most recently it was road kill---a rattle snake and a mule deer buck. Today, nothing interesting. Forty minutes to reach the first turn around point, but the beauty is only eighteen minutes to get back--like I said, definite uphill outbound trek. At the 20 mile mark, a quick pit stop under a shade tree for some water and a snack bar.

Off to the east for about 5 miles, then return back another 5 and now 60% of the journey is complete.The next 10 miles is on a northwest track, mostly downhill which means the final 10 will be the undesirable uphill final. At the 40 mile mark, I find a bench along side a cool pond and check in with Teri to let her know I still have a pulse and now begin the final 1/5 of the challenge.

The first part of the final segment is the gradual stuff - tolerable. But, at the 45 mile point, 'the hill' stares me down. With this verse recycling itself in my head as my groin was in a tug of war with my hamstrings, we set the gears to 1/1 and head on up--accomplished. The second rise awaits me one mile later and is even more difficult, but I stare straight down at the sidewalk and reach the pinnacle to find another cycling couple parked under a shade tree recovering and drinking a beverage, so I join them. I point the bike West and head home with one, long gradual hill to climb, but at this point, it feels like Mt. Everest---mission accomplished.

I arrive home four hours and three minutes of life behind me and stare down at the bike-o-meter to see an extra six-tenths of a mile--oh what I wouldn't have given to have had those pedal revolutions back! Using this tool, this aging body expelled 3,159 calories on this Sunday morning adventure, just 7% less than my completed marathon back in 2004, without near the physical consequences-- hallelujah! The joy of replacing those calories is always the most enjoyable part of these exercise challenges.

While the cycling world calls this accomplishment a 'half-century', I personally call it a 'prostate exam'... Til next time.....

RUNNIN....

Cross training for Austin begins tonight...talking about paying the price, forecasted temperature for his first team gathering at 6pm is 96 degrees. Certainly, one of the more unique things about Denver is afternoon highs peak in the early evening rather than mid-afternoon, which makes it really tough to cool down before our bed time. I believe I have officially handed him the running baton as my body's preference is cycling. Twenty-five miles accomplished this morning is easier on me than a 5 mile run. Good luck to the Ralston Valley High School cross-country team!

DAWG DAYS...

Officially, I believe one day of rain in the past 30 days. Temps cooling down this week to the low 90s, only 7 degrees above normal :).

Yes, I envy the headline in the Austin Statesman yesterday "coolest July in Austin's history".

5-Day Forecast for ZIP Code 80005

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
97° F | 67° F 36° C | 19° C	92° F | 59° F 33° C | 15° C	91° F | 61° F 33° C | 16° C	92° F | 61° F 33° C | 16° C	91° F | 61° F 33° C | 16° C
Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy
Detail	Detail	Detail	Detail	Detail
Today is forecast to be nearly the same temperature as yesterday.

SPEED....

The CAT (erpillar) dragster takes Top Fuel honors at the Mile Hi Nationals with the fastest speed of the day just a hair under 313 mph! The owner of the dragster and the driver's mom then headed out to Rocky Mountain Metro Airport where their Citation Jet awaited them and were fueled up by Cameron working at Steven's Aviation. Needless to say, Cam indicated they were quite ecstatic over their victory!

SAN DIEGO KID

Well, our San Diego kid has safely returned from his So-Cal adventure! They hit the ground running in San Diego and didnt stop for 4 days. The four of them visited (and safely escaped from) Tijuana, Mexico and traveled then down the Mexican coast to Rosarito Beach, home of the filming of the movie Titanic. The following days had them visiting the San Diego Zoo, the local Airmen's Museum, and, of course, the beach.

It goes without saying, they went airborne (faster than driving Ca. highways) in their RV-10 aircraft and had a sunset flight to the infamous, at least amongst aviators, Van Nuys Airport where one of their more memorable events took place. When asked if they had a courtesy, loaner car available, the employee tossed Cameron the keys. Around the corner and awaiting them was a lovely, stellar, green Jaguar--yes, complimentary. It appears very little poverty in this neck of the woods.

ADVENTURER!

Cam started upon one of his most adventurous journeys ever as he and a "co-worker/great friend/airplane owner" boarded a single-engine aircraft at 5AM along with 2 other passengers from his local airport airport enroute to spend five days in San Diego, CA! He was sharing 'pilot-in-command' time with the plane owner so is getting to log this into his pilot log book. The track has their route south from Denver over Albuquerque, NM where they were able to bank to the west and start their descent into St. Johns, AZ for their only refuel stop. His assigned altitude was 12,000 feet and cruising speed was about 200 mph. They arrived into San Diego shortly before noon and he was ecstatic about having to use his 'instrument rating' as they had to fly through some clouds as they descended into southern California. He has the camera, so more photos to come......

CAPTURED!

You never know who might arrive into a quiet, Denver suburban town of 134,000. Lo and behold, this nasty dude was arrested by our police department last night as he tried to victimize yet another young girl. Wanted out of Texas on a million dollar bond, no one had revealed any knowledge he may turn up in Colorado. One more of many success stories of America's Most Wanted and a great job by an 11 year old victim who positively identified the predator after he engaged himself in a brief foot chase with our officers!

Dual post at Blogonize!

SWITCH-HITTING

Well, I have been asked to beta test a new blog hosting site whose goal is to battle with the 'big guys', for the same price (free), but easier to use (old people friendly like me) with as many, if not more, options--so I am here now at Blogonize , which should be open to the world-wilde blogging public in the Fall 2007. Please bookmark me in your favorite places at Peeved. If for some reason, you can't find me here, there may be some maintenance and updating taking place, so you might want to check both here and at my old site on Blogger as I might 'dual-post' for awhile.

I know for sure one thing, Blogonize has a sweet look to it, sweet logo, so it's off to a great start!

IN GOD WE TRUST

Take a good look at photo number one and notice what appears to be the routine accident, all be it hopping a guard rail and a drainage pipe, as the accident takes place from right side of photo to left (make sure to click on photo to enlarge)....


and now as the camera pans away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GROOVIN' ON A MONDAY AFTERNOON....

Weekly flea bath...............

Swim princess.....

Cousins working their tans...

Monday, June 25, 2007 12:17:06 PM
Current Temperature at 9NEWS: 92°

What's wrong with this picture..........

2:30 PM TODAY

BURNET, TX TEMP: 87
ARVADA, CO TEMP:101

9-1-1 CALL

While working overtime this morning, I received a call from a lady who clearly sounded like she was in her mid-70s reporting a vehicle had arrived over night and was parked blocking her driveway. I asked if she could provide me with a license plate so she asked Delbert, her husband, to go outside and get it for me. He came in and handed the piece of paper to her and she recited the license plate as follows: "7-1-6 P as in Paul, U as in uniform and V----long pause---well honey, V as in Viagra"...can't make this stuff up.......

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

In our neck of the woods, the morning could not have been any more glorious. This was our view just blocks from our house that we captured after our return from Starbucks to discuss the future of the Hallocks. Standley Lake is full and pristine and just a great place to walk, run, ride a bike and fish and enjoy God's provisions. A warm one is expected as temps expected to climb to the 'hottest day-so far 2007' by mid-afternoon, should be around 94 humid-free degrees! You know--dry heat-- like sticking your head in an oven kind of feel.

BEFORE....

Loving the 'motel white' walls, dark green mini-blinds and matching green sea shell shade..

Yup, whiter than Teri's legs in December......
,

Hollywood lighting--instant face tan every time they come on! Ugly, dark towel cabinet and even uglier southwest-decor green window shade....time to see if those countless hours of watching HGTV is going to pay off......

AFTER.....

Out with the bright white, in with the new softer tones--a toupish-brown..."contemporized" the look with black, wall decor...out with the forest green mini-blinds, in with the bamboo shades which blends well with ceiling fan, so saved on that replacement expenses....


Keeping it real simple on the walls, couple new round mirrors and the 'door knob' decor with hooks to hang cap, robe,etc...
We took to heart what all of the "Get Ready to Sell" TV shows say--THIN OUT everything! Fortunately, both of us have always been anti-clutter, so it was fairly simple process...

The mid-80s Hollywood makeup lighting is gone, in with the tulips! The 'unmatching' towel cabinet that was hanging to the left of the mirror has exited the building, to be replaced with simple wall frame....and new sink faucets.....white towels and white floor mats not in photo, but it is really a nice color combo, thanks to Teri....

I guess the flash didnt go off :) ...new tub knobs, out with the Southwest green mini blinds, in with the simple white curtains...decorative plant soon to be added...

Took Wed-Fri off from work and worked harder here than I would have it the paying job, but I think it was worth it---labor costs for the project--ZERO!

Well, 2007 goal #5 accomplished...all that remains is 'buy Texas property"....it will be interesting to see how that transpires....

AIR SHOW IN TOWN

The old saying 'your worst day at an air show is better than your best day at work" was true today, although it was fantastic with gorgeous skies most of the day and temps around 80. Enjoyed the air show with a co-worker, Chris, and his 3yr old son, Adam. Probably my 10 th year in a row, although the show has been down-sized since the fatal jet crash on Father's Day 2000 that happened right before my very eyes. Again today, although a relatively minor incident, I couldnt believe my eyes as a private aircraft (not involved in the show) departed, got about 300 feet above the runway, and I saw a large plastic item coming flying off the aircraft---seems like co-pilot FORGOT to secure the canopy style door! Safe return to the airport to spend the weekend in Colorado as I am sure one has to be shipped to them! (Click the photos to enlarge, they are worth it.)

The F-16 fighter jet as it cruises just a few feet above the runway just before yanking on its stick and rocketing perpendicular to the runway straight up to flight leve 14,000 feet in a matter of seconds!

Snow-capped Rockies a perfect backdrop for the seldom seen B2 Stealth bomber--amazing aircraft that cruises at 50,000 feet and 600 mph!

Batman is in town!

Adam loves the firetruck, came home with a new fire hat to treasure.

My new, found best friend--what a chatter box. His favorite things at the air show were: his fire hat, the inflatable dragon and the oversized Air Force recruiting costume. (Next year, we hope to point out the helicopters ,jets and vintage aircraft :)

GORGEOUS MOON PHOTO FROM AIRCRAFT

FOTO FUNNY...

...and the newsroom goes silent........

MEMORIAL DAY AND MORE....

Our Colorado cowgirl in training to become a Texan :)

Macie Wheat! Teri was in Boulder, CO for her birth 6 yrs ago and it had been awhile since she had visited us from her new hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas! Her parents and two sisters were in town to join 50,0000 runners for the Bolder Boulder!

Grandma and grandpa sitting below the other flag we salute on Memorial Day!

Princess Brynn turned 2yrs old on Friday.....

Brynn sporting her new NEMO tatoo..............

Cam's Memorial Day flight---him and a friend flew the friend's parents who own a stellar plane http://blog.brentanderica.net/content/binary/N104ME_rv_10.jpg from Denver to Mt Rushmore for a day trip...600 miles roundtrip at a cruising speed of 200mph....



At 12,000 feet cruise level dodging weather.......

The Jimmy has been sold on Ebay--new home will be in South Dakota!

Cam starts a 2nd Summer job as an aircraft fueler soon..........

Until next time....