Chicago...

Ok - I don't have as many pics as I would like but I did have a good time. Probably the best stuff I have is pics from a dinner I went to at the Metropolitan Club in Sears Tower. It was on the 60something floor. It took right around 5-8 seconds for the elevator to get up and down from there. Yes, my ears popped. Crazy. Anyway here are some pics:




The outside pics are from the Met windows...





















Oh and another thing happened. I was offered 2 jobs while I was there. One of which I turned down immediatlely b/c I didn't want to move to Manhattan - I know, crazy. The other one I didn't turn down, nor did I accept it either. But it's something I can still do on the side and in a way have been. I was asked to be on a speaking circuit and get paid real money. I've been speaking at some conferences and only get a couple hundred at a time. This offer was for serious cash to speak, at an annual conference, no less for one job. For a big company. It's totally something I'm thinking about.

Also, I took luke to a skatepark today and he can totally ride transitions! I was blown away. So, guess what that means. Yep, a 1/2 pipe going up in the backyard. He's already learning to ollie too! I think he'll be easy to teach airs and lip tricks to. I am so excited. At the park I kept giving him pointers and some of the kids there were giving him other tips too, some of which were wrong that I quickly pointed out and corrected them. This is where is gets funny. They said you have to skate to really understand how to teach someone, and, of course, I chuckled a bit and said I knew how to skate. They said show us - which I did. After that they were all asking me for tips. It was neat seeing Luke tell people, yeah that's my dad...he's teaching me. What's cool is that I know he will be way better than me, after seeing him go today.

l8r

KY3

After a hellacious night, I pondered whether or not I should post. I have a few pics of KY left, but I'll save them for a later date. I am off to the home of the Cubs tomorrow and will be there through Friday. I will try to get some pics out from there as well.

On to other news...I lost 6 pounds yesterday - freaking unreal. I weighed 226 in the morning and last night I weighed 220. I know you're supposed to weigh more at night, so I am a little perplexed. I am testing a thing called Hot-Rox and that must be the reason for the weight loss. Read more about it here. I know you're probably thinking that I don't need to lose weight, etc. But I'd really like to get back to 200. I know physically I can't go below that b/c I am so big - no really, I am big boned. ;) hahaha

Anyway, I need to get off here...didn't want the blog to become stagnant, but I don't want this post to be seen as something perfunctory either.

ciao

KY pt 2

OK - more stuff...and some other cool things...



3 - Louisville Slugger Bats (lib size, luke size, my size)
1 - Cisco backpack
1 - book on customer service
1 - KY Derby Mint Julip Glass
1 - KY Derby BB Cap
1 - MS Keyboard
1 - Swiss-tech Key Tool

and for the other stuff...

Here is a pic of a piece (yes, piece - $5.95) of carrot cake that was served to us as dessert. It was literally the size of my head! I took this picture myself - no camera tricks...

I also get to spend some time at "The Downs" and at the "slugger's" (no, not my house...Louisville Slugger - geesh).

While at Churchill Downs, I took several pics. Following are pics that reflect certain thoughts, I was having at the time...

This pic is titled "self-portrait-concerned" - This refelcts my thoughts on the horses racing and possibly getting hurt...no, not really...it does, however, reflect my concern for gambling at the track (although I did win $60 at the casino)...no, you're right...not that either. I was actually making sure the camera would take a picture. ;)

This shot is titled "self-portrait - stoic" - This reflects my confidence in the gambling process at the track and how it makes life better for us all...no...right again. It actually reflects the esteem I gathered when I realized the camera actually took the first picture (above).

My last self-portrait, titled "self-portrait - U4ic (sound it out)" demonstrates a mirrored effect of what I am sure you are feeling at the present to not have to see anymore of these self-portrait shots. No, really...that's what it's for. ;) heheh

Now..on to bigger, better...well, more like something different. hahaha

At the downs, I was able to get in an all out private shin-dig (semi-private actually, there were about 200 people there - but we all knew each other) and here are some things I learned.

1. I am too big to be a jockey.

2. I am plenty strong enough though. Out of all the people who tried the jockey simulator to run a thoroughbred around the track for +/- 2 minutes, I was the ONLY one to complete it. I think it's because of my legs. I was sweating profusely...don't let anyone ever tell you that racing a horse is not hard! I have a whole new respect for those guys...You have to hold your butt 6-8 inches off the horse the whole time while using the reins.

3. Words of wisdom can be found anywhere you look, if you know what it looks like.

Here's a couple other pics from the downs...

Now - on to the Louisville Slugger Museum (and no, not all of this happened on the same day)...

First - I have to say that this place was really cool (I even got to go up to Mr. Hillerich's office to ask a question b/c no one else knew the answer - he's the owner, btw - plus I think I'm going to get some free bats to be able to donate to a charity as well...I just have to write him back). There was a baseball field set up in the museum, a theatre, a whole area that had the bats of past pro's and their exact weight, length etc. Very cool. (Ster, I tried to find yours but couldn't. ;) Heh heh...) I even got video of a 95MPH fastball coming at me...way fast!

These are pics of the inside ballpark:

Here's some pics of the museum (btw, the glove is HUGE - it's right beside a pepsi machine):

And finally, here are some pics of the (shhh!) factory tour...

Well, there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed your tour of northern KY. Oh, and did I mention that tomorrow the "Blue Angels" are going to be here? Whoops. I'll try to get pics with them too if we stay long enough. ;)

KY Freebies

OK - I have been here a day and I figured I'd show y'all some of the free stuff I've gotten so far...

Here's the list:

1 Custom Maker's Mark Glass with wax - (Maker's Mark)
1 MLB Baseball w/Maker's Mark wax - (Maker's Mark & Louisville Slugger)
1 Microsoft Leather bound Coffee Flask
2 Trend Micro Red Wristbands
1 Trend Micro Backpack
1 Trend Micro Rubber "Thing" holder
1 Quantum Leather Biz card wallet
2 wooden airplane models (TD)
1 New York Snowglobe (McAfee)
2 Flip out calculaters (ViewSonic)
2 Magnetic Clips (Oracle)
2 sunglasses holders for cars (APC)
1 512MB USB Flash Drive (Kngston)
2 Decks of playing cards (Kingston)
1 HP Tote Bag
1 Set of Titleist golf balls and tees (Xerox)
1 Horse keychain (GE)
1 Bottle opener keychain (ipSwitch)
1 LS TShirt (Corel)
1ea Full versions of Painter IX, Paint Shop ProX, Graphics Suite X3 (Corel)

That's it so far...

To KY...

Well, I'm going to KY today and am dressed down. I wore a T-shirt and shorts and the T-shirt I wore seems to be a hit around here. Everyone has commented on it. ;) So, I figured I'd take a pic and let y'all comment on it too. Why not?



PS - Thanks John.

summertime mx fun

Well, we had a blast yesterday. Some friends were up and we got out the bikes and rode in the backyard. ;) There are a couple of jumps, one about 12' and one about 3.5'. Very fun. There is actually a track outline in the yard at the moment, but it should go away when it rains. Anyway, I thought I'd share a couple of pics of me and Luke. Luke actually tried the smaller jump, but wrecked. He still thinks it's fun...that's good.

Ninja Parties With Pirates, Takes on ATF

Sometimes real life is better than fiction. Here is a case in point. I wish I would have made this up....I remember my Wesley Foundation days...good times...

From FOXNews.

Thursday, April 13, 2006

TACOMA, Wash. — Ninjas just can't seem to get a break from The Man.
At least when one's discovered running around at night on a college campus in black sweat pants with a couple of hankies on his head.

Jeremiah Ransom found this out the hard way when Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm agents detained him as a "suspicious individual" after they caught him, ninja gear and all, lurking around the University of Georgia campus, the Associated Press reports.
"It was surreal," Ransom said. "I was jogging from Wesley to Snelling (cafeteria) when I heard someone yell 'freeze.'"

But the feds soon found that Ransom wasn't a masked man hell-bent on mayhem — he was just a regular, law-abiding ninja who'd been hanging with some pirates at a campus event.
Ransom told the student newspaper he was on his way back from a Wesley Foundation pirate vs. ninja shindig when the was nabbed by gun-bearing agents, but was released soon after he was found to have violated no laws.

The agents thought something was fishy when they "noticed someone wearing a bandana across the face and acting in a somewhat suspicious manner, peeping around the corner" then breaking into a run, Vanessa McLemore, the ATF special agent in charge, said.

University Police Chief Jimmy Willamson said Ransom was wearing black sweat pants and an athletic T-shirt with one red bandanna covering the bottom half of his face and another covering the top of his head.

2 fer on Weds...

2fer on Weds...

That just doesn't have the same ring to it as 2 for tuesday - oh well. I missed yesterday, it was pretty hectic, so I will make up with my 2fers today. Here goes:

1 - For those of you that know abot my recent back injury. I think I'm fine. I'm not hurting enough to go to the doctor anymore.

2 - For those of you who don't know about the excrutiating pain I've been in, I'll tell you about it:

It all goes back to when I...~~~~~~(dream sequence)

happened to be at work one day and looked up from my computer. Eevrything seemed hazy. I felt a cool breeze embrace me which reminded me of summers on the farm when I was younger. I began hearing the rustle of leaves and smelling the fresh scents of springtime. To my delight, the sounds and smells were coming from within my office! I stood up and turned to see that my pictures had come to life. What joy! I couldn't believe my eyes. I decided to take a closer look and investigate this odd occurance further.


With closer evaluation, I noticed that indeed the trees were moving! Incredible! This had to be one of the most remarkable things I have ever witnessed. It was all coming alive. I decided to seize this opportunity and jump into the beautiful forest and soak in it's tranquil beauty. Luckily, I remembered to bring my camera along with me so that i would have proof of this adventure.

When coming into the forest, I almost stepped on the most beautiful flower I have seen. I was so excited, I took this picture up close. It turned out OK.

All of this excitement had me famished! I decided to go over to a small cafe I noticed out by a river. It was nestled just above the banks and allowed a sight that was virtually never-ending. You could see a tiny city on the other side of the river, which I made a mental note of to check out later.

At the cafe the waiter came up to me and spoke in an odd language, I couldn't quite figure it out. The harder I tried to understand him, the more it seemed very foreign. Finally I just stared at him and said "Bring me the house special." To my surprise, he smiled and nodded and seemed to know exactly what I said. And when he brought the food out I was somewhat excited, yet bewildered at the same time. Their house special consisted of Dr. Ahh! soda, 2 candy canes and 2 bags of BBQ peanuts. How odd. But I must admit, it was the best meal I had eaten and filled me up quite nicely.

I then asked for a newspaper so I could understand what may be going on in this odd land. And when my waiter handed it to me, I became very dizzy and puzzled. On the front cover of the paper was their newly elected president. This couldn't be right. Where was I? This question kept nagging at me. Why would a country elect this person. The face was so familiar, yet I couldn't put a name to it. For some reason, all I could think of was to call this person Ms. Wood. But I knew that wasn't the right name. After what seemed like hours reading about the new president and an odd news item about someone being sold counterfeit drywall, I asked the waiter who their new president was - the name was not mentioned at all in the paper. And then my jaw dropped as soon as he said the name. This couldn't be! Dolly Parton? I told him I'd be needing a 2nd Dr. Ahh! and to bring it right away.

The sun was starting to rise. I had been there all night and didn't even realize it. I decided to make my way over to the city on the other side of the river. Once there, an old building drew me near. How fascinating! I had suddenly had a slight time warp. I was now looking at a house that had been a hospital during the Revolutionary War. How odd. I walked around the house and studied it. I was very intrigued. I walked up to the house and of course it was locked. So, I bent down, eye-level with the keyhole and peeked in. Amazing! There were stacks of what seemed to be a type of styrofoam drywall. I had stumbled onto the counterfeit drywall manufacturing operation! I couldn't believe it! Of all the things possible to see and find, I found the motherload of illegal activity. I had just read the article and they had been trying to find this for years. I guess no one thought of coming across the river. Now I was engaged. I had to solve this mystery. I walked around the whole house. No one was there. I pushed on another, smaller door and it opened. Carefully, I peeked inside and to my relief, I was the only one inside. I started digging around for any kind of evidence I could find to help solve this case. In the corner of the floor, something caught my eye. I went over to investigate. I bent down and realized it was a piece of paper folded up. I unfolded it and looked at it. It had today's date on it! Whoever had this must have just left before I arrived. Upon closer inspection, it was an invoice. An invoice for Barnes & Noble. Why would a B&N invoice be here?

I heard the sound of cruching gravel and realized someone was coming. Quickly I ducked down toward the door I had entered. I peeked out and no one was there. I heard the door up front unlocking. This was it. I dove out the door and stumbled down the hill (this is where I hurt my back) and headed back across the river.

I saw the same waiter at the cafe that had served me the previous night. I asked how to get back to the forest I had come from and he gave directions and I could clearly understand them! Thanking him, I gave him the B&N invoice and told him what I had found. I had to get out of there. He was so happy. He immediately called the police. I left while he was talking on the phone about a reward. Soon, I was back in the forest, my back aching. I curled up in a little ball to relieve tension in my back and as soon as I did, i woke up...~~~~~~~(end of dream sequence)

That happened about a week ago and my back is just getting better. No, it had nothing to do with wrecking off of my new jump. ;)

l8r