oh yeah

I looked really good today!! An attractive beast. =)

Travel Udate

The flight to SLC was easy. Our rental car was a so-so domestic SUV, a Mercury Mariner. Kind of gutless and not very comfortable. The cabin also let quite a bit of ambient heat in. Just not the best, but for an SUV it made decent gas mileage, 22mpg.
SLC consisted of swimming, hamburgers, movie, church, games and talking.

The drive to Cheyenne was uneventful. It rained the whole way and was very foggy from Laramie to Cheyenne. I was driving 40mph and passing everyone. I felt so-so from some popcorn I shouldn't have eaten so that slowed me down initially. It was good to see nieces and nephews I hadn't seen in a long time. The city was not particularly beautiful, but my different family members seem to like it there.

From Cheyenne it was a planned drive to Rapid City, South Dakota. We thought we might as well go to Devils Tower as it was not much out of the way. You come around a corner and it just springs out at you. A short walk around of about 1.3 miles really lets you see all sides of the monument. I need to go back and do a guided climb of one of the easier routes, 5.8 or so. Now I need to netflix Close Encounters of the Third Kind to really put it all together.

First let me say this, South Dakota is not going to be the home of any future Miss America winners. There is something in the water that makes people there just unattractive, it was odd and very noticeable. Maybe I am just used to a San Diego level of physical beauty?

Rapid City let us go to Bear Country, and enjoyable drive through zoo featuring bears. If you are lucky like I was, you can even see the bears "doing it." HA HA. Next door was a Scandinavian themed store for a few little things. About 23 miles away was the National Treasure 2 set, I mean Mt. Rushmore. Having watched a PBS documentary about the carving of the monument I didn't need the audio tour or park rangers and could just concentrate on the visual enjoyment. I do wish you could get closer to it though. I mean, if you can hike up that ladder on Half Dome in Yosemite they should be able to rig something up for Mt. Rushmore visitors to bring them closer.

Now I am in Austin Texas and enjoying some good food. If I had to live anywhere in Texas it would have to be Austin. And finally being in a place where it isn't raining everyday is nice, which it has done everyday so far of this trip.

All in all, good times, good people and seeing new things in new place. That makes me happy!!

Pictures to follow in a few days.

Traveling Man

Fri-San Diego, CA
Sat-Salt Lake City, UT
Mon-Cheyenne, WY
Wed-Rapid City, SD
Fri-Austin, TX
Sun-San Diego, CA

I like going places!!! After this trip I will have been to more states than ever!

1 Oregon
2 Montana
3 Washington
4 California
5 Idaho
6 Utah
7 Arizona
8 Illinois
9 Georgia
10 Texas
11 Wyoming
12 South Dakota
13 Hawaii
14 Nevada

I think this trip might have pushed me over the limit now to where I have no longer been to more foreign countries than I have US states.....

Who knew?

I just learned today a song I liked is sung by Neil Diamond. Honestly, I never knew that "Solitary Man" was sung by him!!! I guess I am not as "old" as I thought, or I would have known that....

So there!

Norway

When I look at the statistics for countries that visit my blog, Norway is third for number of visits. I find this interesting in the fact that I have a strong Norwegian heritage I just learned about.

So, you readers in Norway, let me know who you are!

The Loot

1. Portishead's new CD. It is very good, much like the 1st one.
2. Gameness gi for jiu jitsu. Very light and nice looking.
3. Thor supermoto pants. Much cooler than my 1 piece leathers and my mx boots fit them better.
4. Panasonic Palmcorder camcorder. Nice. 40gb hard drive to, so no fooling around with mini dvd's, just put it right on the computer. And the nice extras to go along with it. =)

Thank you D!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Happy Birthday

Feliz Cumpleanos Para Mi!

1972 Rowdy


2008 Rowdy

Last year I was alone at FOB Hammer eating pound cake from a MRE in a tent in Iraq. Oh and with athletes foot for the first time in my life.

I think this year is mmmuuuuuch better!!!

A Rowdy Things Anthology

****************UNDER**CONSTRUCTION********************
A. autocross-The easiest way to get into car racing and a million times more fun than drag racing. Car control, learn it here.

B. bikes-Specifically mountain bikes. I have jumps, teeter totters and such made at my house for a reason! I also worked as a bicycle mechanic for 2 years before college. I raced a few times and really just like riding around, especially in the dirt.

C. candy-oh yumm yumm. I love sugar!

D. documentary films-I can handle the truth. They are a great way to see, feel, learn about and think upon things you never would in the course of a 'regular' life.

E. explosions-Dry ice bombs, fireworks, gasoline, mortars, rockets or whatever. Explosions are definetly rowdy!!

F. fireworks-I don't care if you call the cops, it is 4th of July man! I am blowing stuff up! Saturn missles, roman candles, bottle rockets even smoke bombs. I love them all.

G. guns-Shooting guns is fun! It requires skill, precision and practice. And you get immediate results!

H. hot tamales-One of the best candys ever invented.

I. icee-The wonderful treat from 7-11. mmmmmmmm

J. jiu-jitsu-This martial art es mi favorito! I love the physical aspect of and the mental as well. Grappling is like combative chess with move, counter move and tactics.

K. knifes-It is a requirement to have a good knife! My mom gave me one as a xmas gift that I just can't live without. I like Gerber for mass produced stuff.

L. Lotus Elise-all killer, no filler.

M. motorcycles-I have baby pictures of me on motorcycles. I didn't start really riding them though till I was 16 and had my own money to get them. I can't imagine a time without at least one in my garage since then amd from now on.

N.

O.

P. ping pong-Yes, ping pong.

Q.

R. rock climbing-I built a climbing/bouldering wall in my garage. At one time I owned more climbing shoes than tennis shoes. I can do pull ups with just one finger on each hand.

S. sharks-I have a thing for sharks.

T. traveling-I have to go places, see things, do things, hear new languages. Amsterdam, Morocco, Iraq, Mexico and so on. I liked those places and I can't wait to add Antartica to the list!

U.

V. victory-One of my favorite novels by Joseph Conrad and the triumph over adversity.

W. waves-Surfing, kayaking, swimming or just looking. Feeling the power and beauty of the ocean is just awesome.

X. xylophone-I have always wanted to learn how to play this intstrument!

Y. yoga-Lets see you do some of those balance poses! Man, I am just not that flexible, but I want to be!

Z. Zorro-I guess he is a pretty goog guy. The black and white Zorro, not the A. Banderas Zorro.

A,B,C's of me

Here are some abc's of being me, Rowdy traits. Soon I will probably tackle an abc list of Rowdy things.

A.active-I like doing things, and I like doing them outside, I might as well be solar powered. Odd for a red head.....

B.bathing-The shower is probably my 2nd or 3rd best friend.

C.cronic-Yes, I have Crohns disease, a chronic illness. But I try not to think about it or do anything differently in life until it forces me to, normally by an extended hospital stay. (see the last half of February 2008's posts)

D.detailed-The little things mean a lot to me. I have a natural eye for small and subtle things.

E.eyes-I always like to look at peoples eyes. You can tell sooo much about a person by their eyes.

F.fun-Minister of Fun, if there were such an elected position I would OWN it.

G.generous-If I have it, I will share it.

H.heroic-Everywhere I go I look for the AED because I want to be the person using it to save someones life. I am always thinking about what I would do in a 'situation' so that I could help.

I.inquisitive-Thinking about how things are, questioning and wondering. I would make a poor therapist as I could care less "why" something happens as how things happen and what to do about it.

J.junk food junkie-I love things like licorice, hot tamales, taffy, sour worms, caramel corn, cookies, angle food cake, soda, otter pops and such. Chocolate I can't stand. You get the idea...

K.kind-I have a hidden soft spot for certain people and situations. I actually do care.

L.literate-When I move normally the greatest number of boxes are taken up by books. Some of the coolest gifts I have been given have been books. I can't imagine myself without a desire to read.

M.mischevious or materialistic, I can't decide. materialistic-I will never buy anything generic. Also, at times having nothing and at times having almost everything I much prefer having everything. mischevious-duh!

N.new-I like new people, places and things. New to me is almost always better. I guess that also explains why I like change soo much...

O.optimistic-I truly have a constant hope things will be alright, or at a minimum manageable.

P.patriotic-The 4th of July is my favorite holiday, I went to Iraq of my own free will, I cry whenever I hear the national anthem, I would kill Osama bin Laden in a second, I have two copies of the US constitution and I vote.

Q.quick-I barely chew my food, don't drive the speed limit, like to be first at whatever. I like to answer first, turn things in first, be first in line, not waddle around. I like to be quick through using my intelligence, skill and efficiency.

R.risky-To me risk and reward are very often directly correlated.

S.show off-If I am going to do something cool, people better be watching!

T.tough-I have no trouble putting out some physical effort for something I feel strongly about. Physical pain doesn't even get to me too much, unless it is a needle or my guts. Then I am tender.

U.understanding-I think I can put myself in other people's shoes quite well.

V.virile-I have my moments. I also had a pretty good collection of marbles at one time.

W.western-No, not like a cowboy. I am west coast through and through. I am a product of the West.

X.x rays- x rays pay the bills for me right now. Not using them, but testing them.

Y.young-I will hopefully never look my age, or probably even act like it. I despise the theft of youth by just the mere passage of time.

Z.zoological-I like to observe animals. I in no way indulge in anthropomorphic ideas, but animal behavior interests me. And some animals make nice shoes, jackets, cheese and can be quite tasty. I also win the animal name game in the car a good 80% of the time.

Some Ketchup

I have some catching up to do with the 3 people in Europe who read my blog. =)

Mi classe de espanol has been going good! Tonight was my second night of Spanish class. It is mostly verbal, not much writing. I am correcting many of my mistakes and really learning something. I think I will have to sign up for a second "semester" so as to continue with this program.

I have also now had my second class of Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu (bjj) at Fabio Santos' academy. Fabio actually remembered me and the last time I was there was in 2001! Seven years later, wow. My instincts are still good and I remember quite a few techniques, but my physical conditioning is abysmal!! But I really enjoy class and I think I will have to get back into the tournament aspect of it again.....

This Sunday was also Mother's Day here in the USA. So I spoke with my mom on the phone for a long time and I will be seeing her in person the end of this month, so she will get her present then! (I know you read this sometimes Mom, so I can't say what it is!!)

Well, the only other thing is work and I am not sure I want to comment on that right now. I need to give it until August before I really pass judgement on my ability in it or what the job brings to my life.

This week I am doing some church stuff, riding my motorcycle at the track, getting my haircut and going to my classes. The normal fun stuff that is being Rowdy!!!!!!

hmm....

"You have great physical powers and an iron construction."

-taken from my fortune cookie today at Rice King-

Continuing the chinese theme, I noticed their Olympic propaganda stunt on the summit of Mt Everest. No Han Chinese gets to the top of Mt Everest without the serious help and aid of Tibetans and Nepalese. The ones they subjugate and look down upon. Thinly veiled Chinese nationalism at it's most grandiose.

Did the Greeks run their Olympic torch through the Turkish controlled part of Cyprus acting all superior and smug????

Learn Something New Daily Department

Maggots used in wound debridement are consider a medical device, not a drug. The same is true for leeches used medicinally. Who knew?

Also you are never supposed to reuse maggots or leeches and used leeches should be incinerated. Who knew?

??

Whats the difference between a rut and a grave? Just the size of the hole.....

Taken from an email sent to me by a friend, "I'll come to work every day, sit in my carpeted box, and wait till it's time to go home. Go home, not do any of what I wanted to do, fall asleep, and do it all over again."

All men die, but not all men live.............

tie

It looks like it was a tie with 4 votes each on mountain biking or jiu-jitsu on the direction of my fitness program. I guess that leaves me the tie breaking vote..... so I am going to vote for jiu-jitsu.

I can ride my bike to jj, but I can't do jj on my bike if ya know what I mean?

Cinco de Mayo

Today I am starting a real Spanish class. My Spanish has just been picked up from friends and living in Arizona and such. Just being near the border and also having lots of friends who speak Spanish.

Well now I will finally get some official instruction and learn some correct grammar! And what better day to start than Cinco de Mayo??

Just some pics of me..

not only Indiana Jones knows how to use a whip!

There I was, just jumping around, like you do...

Plan to work, work the plan

My dad once told me, "Dreams don't come true, goals do."
In that vein of thought I thought I should share how I plan to accomplish my May goals from a previous post.

For my reading goal I have 100 pages left so I need to read 5 pages a day.
Spanish classes have already been paid for, all I need to do is attend.
I have been buying and collecting cloth tote bags and now leaving them in each car so that when I go to the store, I have then right when I need them.
Self discipline and will power is what it is going to take to not buy and consume any snacks in the next week other than what I already have. Knowledge of the goal will help here.
Finally, I am recording my weight, body fat % daily and my waist in inches weekly with the idea that something I measure I will be more motivated to improve.

And I like improving.