Athens Sprint Triathlon Photos

I finally have the photos from the Athens Triathlon.
While it was a lot of fun having new friends join me in it this year, I don't know if I want to do another one that early in the year again. It's just too cold, and the weather has been crappy for the past two years now. I think I'll wait until April next year.

As this year goes, I've got another Sprint Tri on May 2nd that should be a lot of fun. Then I'll start my 70.3 Ironman build up in June. I have at least a few friends that are going to do that one as well so the competition factor will be alive and well.

The Starters.
What did I tell you last year? I am among them THIS year. wooho! Just a little bit intimidated...



The guy standing next to me is a 30 year Tri veteran, but only seriously for the past 10 years. Great. He's the only one that past me in the swim though.



Making the goggles stick.



Swimming.



Done with the swim, now out into the Arctic air.




Transition Area.




Leaving transition area to the bike course.




Leaving second transition to the run course.




Taking a cup of water even though I don't need it... I just feel rude if I don't take it, ya know?




More running.




Finish!
The girl in front of me seeded number 8! I caught up with her from seed 41. I though she was going to blow the doors of this race when I saw her seed number before the start.




THIS is the guy... this is the guy who beat me by 23 seconds. We are locked in a serious competition right now. haha




Changed into some warmer clothes after the race.



All the guys in our group that did the race. Good times!



I dunno, maybe I will do Athens again next year...


KoP

Tired Today, But A Good Sunday

Man...
My workout was really hard this morning for some reason.

I did a 3 mile run and then an unenthusiastic leg workout. I don't know why I felt so blah.
When I got home I weighed myself and I was 4 pounds lighter.
What I am guessing is that I either didn't eat enough this past weekend, and/or I drank too much coffee over the weekend and got a little dehydrated. I'm still pretty zonked, but I'm sure the energy will come back when I get some more food in me.
I should try that Green Goodness stuff that MauritaMason was telling me about, a fruit and vegetable concoction that will fill you with happy happy energy and joy.
Today seems like a perfect day to try it.


Yesterday afternoon, we took the top off the Jeep, packed up a lunch and our cameras, and rolled out to Brenham, about 90 miles away. We got some cool shots of these huge fields of Bluebonnets, the state flower, dontcha know.
Got a few good ones and had a great time even though it was a little chilly on the way back home. Allie, our Boxer, loved it. It was her first time in the Jeep... and maybe the last because she sheds all over everything, God bless her.


Here's way too many pictures of it all.

Hot girl and hotdog




Hot girl, hotdog, and cool kid




Bluebonnets






Bluebonnets



These people were trespassing. I tried to make a Citizen's Arrest, but none of them would put on the plastic handcuffs.





Bluebonnet




Bluebonnets






Bluebonnet and some other wild flower.





This is what Tristan would have preferred to do the entire time.





Allie enjoyed the Jeep ride, especially when she would hang her head over the side to let her jowls flap in the wind. HILARIOUS. It was a good day.



KoP

A Sunday Drive

Today, we're getting in the Jeep and heading out to a place called Brenham. Here there be Bluebonnets and we're going to shoot them.
I hear it's beautiul there this time of year with wild flowers blooming everywhere.

It will also be fun just driving around. The weather is perfect here today.
72 degrees and sunny.
Sorry to all you guys that are stuck inside from the snow and/or rain.
No, really.

See ya tomorrow.


KoP

Gonna Do Something

The other day, a drummer who makes videos on YouTube messaged me and asked if I would like to collaborate on a few songs.

OF COURSE I DO!

So he's gotten right to it, cut a pretty decent drum track, and sent it to me.
Man, I love the internet!
It's going to be a lot of fun recording with this guy. Hopefully I can work with it tonight, and of course you know I'll post it here.



KoP

Weekend Working And Too Much Stuff

Well, it looks like I'll be working tomorrow. While I don't exactly want to work on a Saturday, I am happy about the extra $$$. It will help finance our Roadtrip in May. It's going to be a fairly cheap experience anyway, but every little bit helps. I should probably be saving for a rainy day that is coming and already here for many, but... well, I'm 37. I may not be physically ABLE to backpack in several years... or I could be dead.
I should definitely go for it now.

Sometimes I wonder about all the material things I/we have or want. They certainly don't rule my life, but I know I think a lot about protecting them, and hanging on to the stuff that's mine. That's when I realized that "things" really can add stress to your life.
I ask myself "What things do I need, or rather, what if I take a more minimalistic approach concerning my possessions? If anything I am redundant and the "duplicate toys" I have show that clearly. Let's see if I can make a slimmed down list...

1-Laptop
1-Camera
1-Bass
1-Bass amp
1-Acoustic guitar
1-Jeep
1-Reasonably sized house
1-Pet
1-Wife
1-Child (Quantity optional within reason on this one)

See, that was easy...
OH!
What about a cell phone? Can it have internet access?
Can I have 1-iPod too?

Of COURSE you can, Philip!

Thanks, you're a real pal, Phil.

I feel less stressed already.

Here's a song about Life and the inevitability of Death by the one and only
William Shatner!
(You have to hit play yourself because I don't want to annoy everyone with the auto-play feature... all two of you.)
YOU'LL HAVE TIME
Enjoy!

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KoP

A Nothing Post

What to say, what to say...

Oh. Tomorrow, I will no longer be on "Home Dispatch" so that means I'll be driving into the office every morning like all the other good employees.

Driving my Jeep more is going to be ok with me.
I need to do something about the sound system though. It's a little wimpy at the moment with the stock cd played and paper speakers. I will definitely be getting a new head unit, speakers, sub, and amp before our road trip in May. I want to get one with an iPod connection too.
Sooner rather than later I hope.

The weather has been kind of bad this week so I may work this weekend. I'm ok with that.

Oh, watched the movie Rescue Dawn today. Pretty cool, and a little disturbing.


Ok, gotta hit the sack. 'Night


KoP

Take A Hike Ike Triathlon Photos

I finally got some pics up from the March 1st Triathlon turned Duathlon. It was coooooold (for us southern folk).




























































KoP

Haircuts And Hitchhikers

I got a hair cut today... lots of them... actually. It was painless, but not pleasant. After all, hairs don't grow up in a day.
I've become quite attached to each of them yes.

Also, Tristan and I just watched The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy.
Can you tell?
What a great movie. Those British chaps certainly have a charming wit.

So long, and thanks for all the fish!




KoP

Back To The Grind

Today was the first day back to work and I was almost late. Not a good way to start the week off, but the boss was sort of late too so all was well. Gotta leave the house a little earlier in the mornings.

We... actually Amy is starting to replant the flower beds around the house, and I must say, they are already looking quite lovely.

'Quite lovely'. haha

I never say stuff like that.

In other news, I had a very nasty dream last night. And it wasn't the fun kind of nasty either. Lots of bad feelings and I think I got stuck in the back with a spear, which can definitely be interpreted in a figurative way, but it also severed my spine.

I woke up with that heavy feeling in my chest, like I'd been heaving with grief.
Me no likey.


KoP

More Castle Shots

Our last night at Disney World, we got better seats for the fireworks display at the castle. OUTSTANDING!












There was another family seated next to us, and they were taking pictures too.
They had a nice camera, but, as it seems to be the case in many cases, they didn't actually know how to use it, that is, how to take low light shots without a flash. They could see the beautiful image that would pop up on the display screen of my camera when I would take a shot of the dark castle. Eventually, they began to get frustrated that they couldn't get the same with theirs.

Me being me, I watched them for as long as I could bear before I tried to help out, in fact, even more than I probably should have. haha!
I would literally sit there and give them a photography lesson if they would just listen, but as it turned out, they were on vacation and all of my helpful advice made them change seats.
Amy gave me a weary eye roll. I think she even mouthed the words "NO".
She KNEW what I was thinking as I watched them struggling with that camera.
LET ME HELP YOU!

I can't help myself!
Yeah, I'm that guy.


KoP

Too Early

We went to bed last night at about 12:30am, woke up at 3:30am, and flew out of Orlando at 5am.
Travel "deals" on Expedia equals early flights and weird layovers.

We landed in Houston this morning at around 9:30.

When we got home, I was sleepy, but I didn't want to take a nap because I knew it would be deep and I wouldn't wake up for hours. I don't want to get my days and nights mixed up.

Now it's twelve hours later and I won't make myself suffer a minute longer. I'm going to bed.

See ya tomorrow, bright and early.


KoP

It's Over

Well, the vacation is finally drawing to a close. We said goodbye to Disney World today.

In the morning, and by that, I mean a little after midnight, we'll be heading to the airport for our flight home. We're booked on a flight leaving at 5am which means we have to get up at 3am... UGH!

Goodnight, all. I have literally 2000 photos to show you once we get back home.

Cya on the other side.


KoP

Photo Op

Another quick photo post, then bed. Miss you guys, but we;re having a GREAT time!


Entrance to the Aerosmith ride at Hollywood Studios Disney. This giant guitar is just too cool.



Me, Amy, and a washed out Tristan on the Aerosmith ride. Notice the total Rock-out pose. This is a camphone photo of a tv screen. We ended up buying the photo anyways.
What a great ride.



Tristan feeding the Tyrannosaurus Rex at Universal Studios. He loves animals.



A scene was being filmed for the soap opera "Guiding Light". I got shots of some of the actors.









Mom loving on the boy.



KoP