Turkey Day Eve

Original photo by antonellomusina

Well, here we are, the night before Thanksgiving.  I cannot believe that it's already this time of the year, again.  It really does go faster and faster each year.

This year I'm thankful for my girlfriend and her family.

Last year I spent Turkey Day with a good friend from work.  We played Ultimate Frisbee in the morning and then feasted at his parents' house at night.

Ultimate Frisbee is fun.  We played until all of us were sore and tired.

Later that day, my friend took me to his parents' house where I proceeded to ruin Thanksgiving for everyone, unintentionally. 

We started to play a charades type game and my buddy's son, who was five at the time, wanted to join too.  Mom told him no.  Dad told him no.  So, the five-year-old chose me as the weakest link and attacked there.

Well, it worked, sort of.  I, being the "adult" in the situation, refused to let the child grab hold of the timing device.  Once in my possession I started a sort of keep-away/ignore said child game.  It was not going well, because the child saw me as his equal in this, not equal to all the other "adults" most of whom (minus my buddy's parents) I am older than.  In my desperation and exasperation I raised my voice at the five-year-old telling him that "NO, means NO".

That was that.  The game was over.  Mom whisked the five-year-old away.  I, the guest in this home, the outsider, was now the bad guy.   I was THAT Guy.  You don't ever want to be That Guy.

So, this year is another year.  My buddy did invite me to play ultimate again, but did not invite me to dinner.  Se la vi.  Thankfully, I'm headed down to my girlfriend's parents' house.  Since we have been together for over a year now, I've met a lot of the extended family that lives in Southern California.  I have enough of a rapport with them that a family gathering like Thanksgiving should go OK.  Plus, I'm not an outsider this year, which is a very nice feeling.  My girlfriend likes me (I hope, ha!), so the family accepts me (in my mind) as I am.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Movember

OK, 'tis the season of giving.  In that spirit I thought I'd promote my donation site for a cause I believe in.  I'm coming in quite late to the game this year with my Movember site.  At the same time, I've been growing my mustache since the middle of October, so that end of it is covered.

Last year I started like you are supposed to.  I was clean shaven on November 1st and started to grow my 'stache from there.

I was also able to raise $1000.00 last year in one month.  Not bad, but there were some people that had some serious benefactors because they had totals in the $100,000.00 range or more.  Very impressive.

This year, I'm just trying to raise a few bucks, period. 

Movember is dedicated to supporting prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.   It is a global event, which started in Melbourne, Australia.  This quip is taken directly from the site: "During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo's, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives."

 This is the link to my donation site.  Thanks for your support.

The Color Run

Original photo by The Pug Father

A week ago my girlfriend, two of her friends, and I went down to San Diego, CA and did The Color Run.  It really is The Happiest 5k on The Planet.

Basically, it's a 5k or 3.1 mile run.  They've added spots throughout the 5k where they cover you in cornstarch that has been dyed.  The colors we ran through where pink, yellow, orange, and blue.  You get absolutely COVERED in it.

At the end of the run they have a venue and stage where everybody gets together and throws more dyed cornstarch into the air.  When we did our color throw it blocked out the sun, completely.

It was a lot of fun.

I ran in my Pearl Izumi Syncro Fuel shoes.  They're from a couple of years ago as far as the model.  I picked them up at the outlet in Dawsonville, GA.  They're sweet, really lightweight.  Mine happen to be white in color.  Thankfully, they went back to white after one wash and now they don't stink! HA!

Surfing at Bolsa Chica

Original photo by mnapoleon

So, just got back from surfing at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Southern California.  I don't like to dawn patrol it only because I get up at the crack of dawn for work.

I don't really sleep in on weekends.  Most weekends I'm up at 7am anyways.  So, today I was in the water by 9:30.  It started off nice, a few rip currents, but nothing out of the norm.

Caught one wave, one, right a the beginning and proceeded to tea-bag it the rest of the time.  Se la vi.  It got really windy and as the tide went out there were more and more rip tides.

I've had a lot of fun lately on my Meyerhoffer Lemondrop 6'8" quad.  This thing is SO fast I love it.  I honestly can only surf it for a couple of hours and then my muscles are so tired I can't stand up on it! HA!  It's awesome.


Mr. Meyerhoffer makes some sweet boards.  I think I want the Slip In. . .

First Post

So, this is my first post.  My girlfriend and her mom have been helping me out.  Basically, I'm going to rant and rave about the various sporting activities I am doing/involved with at the moment.
Lately, that's been surfing.  I am from Michigan originally, so it isn't like I grew up surfing.  My brother started to take me out and get worked when I first moved to California for college back in '96.  I didn't actually have the epiphany until I spent two months in Australia surfing a little point break every day.  It was a brilliant moment and I have had the bug ever since.
That aside, I love cycling and all related things.  Of course Viva La Lance cannot be missed in the world of cycling lately.  I'm quite over the whole thing actually.  The man is still a machine and nobody beat him for seven years straight, despite being stripped of his titles.
Well, there will be much more to come in the future, but until then keep things rubber-side down!