New Hobbie...

So I have decided to farm worms...Vermiculture.

I can't decided between the "Can-O-Worms" and the "Worm Factory" to house them in. Pay4B is really excited about the idea!!! Ha-Ha...right.

It is recommended to have 500 worms per non-vegetarian in the house...sweet 1,000 worms for us.

We shall see how this all works out...hey it's good for my garden and houseplants!!

Blew Up...

So our water heater blew up yesterday...thank gawd I was home...so only part of the basement flooded. It should be ~$750 or so for the new one. Had it installed this morning...the bill comes after the first of the year.

So much for my new freezer...it will be at least 6 months before I quit bending over to get the meat.

End of Year Wrap up...

For those of you who didn't get the "Form Letter"

We are still out in Severance, CO. Joel is working for Harris Engineering as a process engineer & Melody is working for the Hach Company as a Technical Consultant & Instructor. We are still in our house with the 2 cats (Archimedes and Galileo).

This year found Melody traveling from one end of the earth…to the other. Joel stayed home and held down the fort. We did manage to play sports, travel for fun, and just goof off most of the time.

January was pretty calm at our house. Nothing too exciting…a trip to LA, California for Melody for her company’s International Sales Meeting. February found Joel and Melody in Durango, CO for a little fun…we once again participated in Snowdown. This year’s theme was “Pirates”…so we both dressed as pirates and walked down Main Street. I guess we did get some snowshoeing and skiing in while we were there.

In March we once again played in a dodgeball league for a little exercise. Melody traveled San Antonio, TX and Sao Palo, Brazil for work. We met up with and stayed with some good friends at Vail. It was rough staying up all-night and skiing all day. Those folks from the Ozarks live fast! April found us in Las Vegas with friends for a little R & R. The Hard Rock has a great pool. Again went back to work needing a vacation day from our vacation! Melody also found herself in New Orleans for work…it’s a tough job.

In May Melody found herself on her first International trip to SE Asia. She got to visit Singapore, Manila, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh (Saigon). What an amazing week and a half. Vietnam in an amazing country and she recommends if you ever get a chance to visit…take it. She also found herself in Washington state. This is also the start of summer softball leagues. Joel and Melody both were on multiple co-ed teams and each played on men’s and women’s teams. Joel was asked to join the Hach golf league, after his performance in the Hach golf scramble in Estes Park (which is an experience when you’re waiting for the elk to finish their nap in the fairway, or hit your ball over by a bull keeping an eye on his dozen girlfriends).

In June, we were consumed with summer softball. Got some white-water rafting in on the Poudre River, which is right here in Ft. Collins. Caught the Police reunion tour. Melody managed to stay in the US…only traveling to TN and CA. Again in July softball continues most nights of the week for us, and only one trip to the Atlanta area for Melody. We hiked two 14’ers one day, Gray’s and Torrey’s, and another 14’er the following weekend, Quandry (see photo). On the Quandry hike we celebrated another 14’er bagged by enjoying a nice cold can of Natural Light. Many of the other hikers looked skeptically on, but others caught on and wanted pictures of them chugging a beer on top of a 14,000 foot mountain too!

August once again found Melody running the Wild West Relay, again in our kilts. This was a 195-mile relay race from Fort Collins to Steamboat, CO. We again did very well…beating our time last year by over 10 min. Softball continued 5 nights a week. Melody got to travel for work to South Africa…she worked during the week and then took off for Kruger National Park for the 3 day weekend...words cannot describe what she saw…there are, however, over 1000 pictures if you care to check them out (see blogg).

September found Melody back in SE Asia for work. This time she was in Singapore, Indonesia, and Taipei. This month also marked the start of Joel’s favorite season…the start of College Football. We also managed a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico over Labor Day. We got to run around in the jungle, in the same area where they filmed “Predator”. Melody got some awesome poison ivy or something that gave her oozing boils all over. She didn’t have any problems getting through security at the airport…ooz and all!

In October Melody found herself in the US for work…Bowling Green, KY and TX for sales calls. Softball continues for both Joel and Melody…

In November Melody was in Albany, NY for sales calls. We made a surprise trip to exotic Wendover, Nevada with some running friends. If you’re looking for gambling, cheap hotels and World War II history, Google Wendover.

In December will find us trying to balance the holidays with our families.

We hope your holidays are filled with family and many memories…

It finally happened...

Well...it appears after a year of fighting it...work maybe forcing me to get a blackberry.

So all you jokers better quit sending me stupid jokes and dirty e-mails at work!!!

Hey...if I get "blackberry" thumb...is that worker's comp eligible??

Elffed

Happy Holidays

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1375959200

Pictures of Ice Storm...

Stuck in Ice...

So my parents, siblings & families, aunt & uncle, and grandmother are all caught up in the ice storm in OK. There is no electricity and water...so they all packed up and moved to my parents "compound" at the ranch.

My parents went a little freaky with the 2000 thing...but it has worked out. The house runs off a generator...so they are the only ones with electricity and heat. They have a well...so they also have water. The local fire dept. has also been buying fuel off them since the pumps don't work in town.

My parents went through this a few years ago when they lived in SE OK...I guess they learned a thing or two the last time.

I will try and get some pictures of the mess up...as soon as they send them to me.

Little Princesses

Not sure who is the princess here...

Disney World...

So...Disney world is not somewhere you should take your parents, your brother, a 4-year old, and a 7-month old. Everyone needs a nap by 1pm...and you still haven't done anything but get into the park and eat lunch.

Happy Hannukkuh!!

This goes out to all of those who are of the Jewish Faith...and those who want to be.

Gift for the Wise...

So I got this awsome, prison made t-shirt in the mail this week from Brownie for my birthday...

I will try to get an awsome picture of this awsome gift posted!!!

Our Holiday Tree...

Happy Holidays...

Surgery Anyone???

What is the deal with everyone in my family needing surgery??

In the past 2 weeks...we've had gall-bladders and thyroids removed...anything else before the holidays???

Better than Solitare...Fight World Hunger

So for all you bored people out there...

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance...

Eagles Game...Awsome!!!

So tonight's Eagles Hockey game was much better than Wednesday's loss.

Not only did the Eagles win the game 5-2 against the Gorrillas...but

1) I won the game signed hockey stick,
2) We also won free Qdoba burritos, and
3) We got free bobble-head dolls.

Happy Turkey, Eat too much Day...

Just got finished watching the competitive eating contest in Vegas...is this really a sport...to see how much turkey one can eat in a matter of minutes??? It really was disgusting.

Eagles Hockey...SUCKS

Just got home from the Eagles Hockey game. We totally played like @ss. I think the Eagles ate too much turkey before the game. We will try again on Saturday...

I've had it...with the Holiday Season...

I swear to GOD/Jesus/Muhammad/Budda/Yahweh/Krishna...I have had it with the holidays. All that happens is that families get together and walk on eggshells. Everyone ignores the big fat elephant that walks around.

I swear...one day I am just going to say screw it and spend the holidays with ME!!! or maybe some friends.

Trust Me Hash...Wendover, NV

VIVA WENDOVER (this is my version of the story and this is exactlywhat happened)

DAY 1
The 2007 Trust Me Hash, the first one in Coloradohistory, began at Red Rocks Bar on the third floor, east terminal of DIA Airport. There, 14 inquisitiveand eager hashers (four from Ft. Collins, four from Denver, and 6 from Atlanta) converged at 10:30am not knowing where their hares were taking them for athree-night trip. The hares were Head Eunuch, Can’t Say No, and Sperm Crawler who refrained from revealing their secret for another two hours as hashers filled themselves with bloodymarys and rum and cokes. Not knowing what to pack, Atlanta hasher Dribbles brought his mountain bike while Atlanta hasher Dipstick brought his skydiving parachute. Humpa Gump the wine connoisseur brought six bottles of wine. KneeDeep wore lime green and orange putt-putt shoes and cartoon pants. As hashers continued to guess where they were going, Cucci from Atlanta was more interested in where her relationship with Dipstick was going and asked him,“So where are we exactly in our relationship?”Dipstick quickly changed the subject by turning to Free Busch and saying, “Your shoe is untied.” Then he smelled a fart and moved away from her saying, “You Colorado folks smell.”Some of the Atlanta hashers along with Can’t Say No were vastly hung over from drinking margaritas the night before. In fact, Cucci bonded so well with her four margaritas that she shared one of them with her left boob. So needless to say, her boob was undergoing ‘morning after’ shakes as Pays 4Busch stared at it and drooled. The Fabio-like Butt Pipe from Atlanta brushed his hands through his long flowing hair and asked the group, “How does my hair look? Look okay?”GreenPiece was the nurse of the group. She took care of everyone from the very start by giving them yellowfever vaccinations just in case they would be traveling to an infected area of the world. RoseBud was the most obnoxious and chattiest one of the bunch. There’s always one in every group. After a couple hours the hashers were already so drunk that they couldn’t remember why they were meeting at DIA Airport. It was then that Head Eunuch stood up and peeled off the top layer of clothing he was wearing to reveal a brilliant light blue long-sleeved t-shirt. He turned around and beneath a logo of three animated hares (created by Dribbles, the artist of the group), was the answer the hares had been waiting for. Dipstick read it to the crowd, “BEND OVER EVA.” “WHAT?!” Eunuch quickly smoothed the wrinkles of hisshirt and Dipstick read it again. “Oh! WENDOVER, NEVADA. “WHAT?!” All members of the group looked ateach other with puzzled faces.
RoseBud said, “Can we go somewhere else?”
Green Piece said, “Are there adequate medical facilities there?”
Humpa Gump asked, “Is there a winery there?”
Free Busch said, “Exactly what are the requireddimensions for the baggage and do you think they will take my neon orange sixties-looking, flower-decorated,African imported, God-awful body bag?”
Pays 4Busch said, “Where is the chicken exit for thisride?”

The hares quelled the hashers by promising them therewould be plenty of beer to which everyone yelled,“Hooray!”And then they imitated Lay Me Over’s seal clap (also known as the ‘short bus’ clap). The hares then gave the hashers t-shirts identical to Eunuch’s with their names on them and beer mugs with blinking lights that blinded hashers as they tried to drink from them. Triple Tongue inexplicably unzipped his pants and tried to fit the mug over his testicles. On the way to their gate Knee Deep was shoved into one of the carry-on luggage tubs and sent through the x-ray machine because the person standing behind her thought she was a toy. Hashers boarded a plane that was largely comprised of senior citizens with hearing-aids and oxygen tanks. The flight attendants forced all passengers to down full cups of cheap and rancid champagne. In fact the pilot of the plane had so much of this champagne that he passed out. Flight attendants ran up to Atlanta hasher Open Wide who used to be a pilot and said to her,“Quick! We need you to fly the plane to Wendover!” “What is it?” Open Wide asked them.“It’s a tiny town where we send old people but that’s beside the point.”

As Open Wide got up from her seat, a flight attendanthanded her a cup of champagne and said, “Here, drink this.” “But I already had one,” Open Wide said.“DRINK IT!”Cucci turned to Dipstick and said, “Let’s talk aboutour relationship.” Butt Pipe asked nobody inparticular, “How does my hair look?” Then he asked aflight attendant for a mirror. Free Busch farted thenpointed her finger at Pays 4Busch. Dipstick moved toanother seat.Once they arrived Wendover, hashers noticed littlemore than four casino hotels, an old folks’ oxygentank refill stand, and a token 25-year old skankycasino whore whom Eunuch and Crawler later met in anelevator and tried to convince her to hash with themwhile they stared at her bulbous scantily-clad breastsand drooled.That night at the Peppermill Hotel, Dipstick got sodrunk that he couldn’t remember which room was his andso he found Rose Bud and Green Piece’s room andclimbed into bed with them.

DAY 2 - Day two began with a mysterious disappearance. Crawlernoticed that all of his underwear was missing alongwith one pair of socks. Hashers gathered at 2pmoutside the hotel for the first run of the weekend.While most of the group was decked in typical hasherapparel, elite runner Butt Pipe from Atlanta wore askintight aerodynamic Olympic runner’s uniform and aswimming cap under which he tucked his Fabio locks inorder to cut down on wind resistance. Dipstick worehis skydiving parachute while Triple Tongue had hislit-up beer mug fastened to his groin.When the run began, Butt Pipe and Burning Bush got sofar out in front of everyone else that they actuallylapped the group. The trail led hashers into adangerously rugged canyon that featured terrain sojagged that when LMO fell down, the razor-sharp rockserrated her right butt cheek completely off. WhenButt Pipe fell during his second time around, a sharpedge ripped off his left hand leaving a bloody stump.When Cucci fell, a pointy slab punctured her lefthung-over boob and tequila poured out of it. Rose Budlapped it all up however.After the run, hashers showed off their flesh wounds.Dip Stick said to LMO, “Your butt’s untied!” BurningBush was not done running and took off for a third laparound. Then the hares handed out hats that wereembroidered with TMH3 and Circle went on for hours.Green Piece made sure everyone’s illuminated mugs werefilled with beer and then performed reconstructiveplastic surgery on LMO’s buttock. Pig Pimp showed offher bra #70. Rose Bud complained that Circle was goingon too long and he was getting cold.“Shut the Hell Up,” Eunuch yelled.Later on, hashers met in the hospitality suite wherethey drank some more and ate Twinkies andhoney-mustard pretzels. Dribbles entered the roomwearing a new pair of underwear with monogrammedinitials S.C. on it and a new pair of socks claiminghe bought them at the Wendover mall earlier thatmorning. But there is no mall in Wendover.Later that night Humpa Gump ordered a peculiar redwine called Shir-az Dry that she shared with LMO andKnees Up. It was so dry that it was served to themwith a plate of throat lozenges and chap stick. Afterthey drank one glass they coughed up sand. After theydrank two glasses they were forced to order severalrounds of lotion shots. By the end of the night theywere so dehydrated that cactus began to grow on their skin. Eunuch got so inebriated that he had a hard time finding his room. Once he did find it he discovered CSN had dead bolted the door on him and so he climbedinto bed with RoseBud and GreenPiece…and Dip Stick.

Day 3 began with an explosion. The explosion consisted of an astronomical amount of fecal matter that came soaring out of Crawler’s butt and spilled into most of a toilet at Subway. Eunuch walked into the bathroom right after Crawler and doubled over from the horrific stench. Crawler picked up a mud flap at a nearby truck stop and would suffer several more aftershock secretions for the remainder of the day. Hashers gathered outside their hotel for their second run. Butt Pipe showed up wearing a sleek luge speedsuit and helmet. Burning Bush took one look at his tight uniform and said, “Oh, you are Jewish aren’t you?”On this trail the runners had to maneuver down a steepridge and hashers stood in awe as they watched LMO andPig Pimp flow effortlessly down it like watercascading down a waterfall. Knees Up puked at the beercheck. Then the trail led hashers to the airport which used to be an old air force base and past several historical markers including deserted barracks, hangers, and a even a swimming pool. Finally the trail led to a small white building thatresembled a post office. Inside however was an old bar called “Carmen’s Blackand White” which was built in the 1920’s. When hashers sang their Circle songs, the bartender and the four men seated at the bar applauded them and cheered, commented on their “unique personalities,” and even bought them a round of beer. A crooked trophy with a female body builder figure on top was awarded to Dip Stick who won the most money from gambling (though he actually found a lot of it on the floor) and a loser trophy with a turkey on top was given to Pays 4Busch who lost most of his money because it kept falling out of his pockets. Dribbles sang a song to the hares that he wrote himself which was set to the theme from Gilligan’s Island. Pig Pimp showed off her #71. As hashers prepared to leave the establishment, Tammy the bartender confessed that in all the 20 years she has worked there she has never met a more entertaining group of people. One of the men seated at the bar also admitted he couldn’t remember when he had such a good time there. They pleaded with the hashers to return to Wendover soon. All of the hashers piled into the hares’ rental car that only sat four people and headed back to the hospitality suite for more drinking and chaos. Dribbles showed up wearing yet another pair of new underwear with monogrammed initials S.C. on them. Later that night in the steakhouse restaurant, while Crawler described his sloppy excrements in painful detail, Eunuch drunkenly initiated periodic seal claps from the other hasher tables in the room and CSN contemplated using the dead bolt again. Thirty seconds after LMO finished eating her $20.00 dinner, she threw it all back up in the nearby restroom and would later spew on the hour every hour for the rest of that night. Knee Deep and Pays 4Busch got so drunk they couldn’t find their rooms and so they climbed into bed with RoseBud and Green Piece…and Dip Stick andEunuch...and the 25-year-old skanky casino whore.The hashers returned to Denver on the fourth day and when hashers reached DIA Airport they hugged and kissed each other.
“I love you man,” said Dip Stick.
“See you soon,” said Eunuch.
“Til we meet again,” said Open Wide.
“It was nice meeting you,” said Pays 4Busch.
”Let’s do it again soon,” said the 25-year-old skanky casino whore. HUH?!

Back in Wendover the headlines on the Sunday paper read,TROOPS OF CRUDE SINGING RUNNERS INVADE WENDOVER. INALL OF WENDOVER’S 87-YEAR HISTORY, THIS WAS THE FIRSTTIME THAT A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.- Lay Me Over

Playstation 3

Well...it happened. I broke down and got Pays 4 Busch a playstation 3. I think it was the moment of weakness with the pearl earrings.

So we now own the following gaming systems...

-Playstation 2
-Playstation Portable
-Nintendo Wii
-Playstation 3
-All the old and obsolete nintendos.

I think we need to get outdoors more...

Holy Crap...Batman...

Holy Crap...Pay 4 Busch just gave me jewelry for my birthday!!!

Has the world stopped??? Is it a full moon? This is the first jewery he has ever bought me.

He gave me a set of Mikimoto Pearl Earrings...something about medium size and A+ quality. Don't really know what all that means...but I love them!!!

I held them up to my $50 pearls I bought myself back in college...there really is a difference.

Thanks Cutest!!!

Happy Birthday to Me...

Happy Birthday to Me...

Happy Birthday to Me...

Thanks to everyone that send cards and wishes...

Not much planned today...maybe watch the OSU vs Texas game.

Glow Stick Give-a-Way!!

It's Halloween...So instead of candy at my house, we give away glow sticks and glow necklaces to the kids. Parents love it for it's not more candy...and well...kids just love glow sticks!!!

So I am wearing Pay 4 B.'s Andy Warhol costume from Snowdown 2 years ago. More people think I am Phyllis Diller than Andy...so we gently show them the Soup Can.

HA-Ha...

Happy Hour....

So I will be hooking up with the San Antonio Hashers this evening for a little of the Rockies game and many beers...Oh...and to see Brownie.

Trust me hash...the BAG SAGA

So as per my schedule to the right...

Pays 4 Busch and I are going on the 1st ever CO Trust Me Hash in November hared by Can't Say No, Head Eunuch, and SpermCrawler. Yeah, Yeah...I don't know what we were thinking when we signed up.

So I get this e-mail from the hares...stating and I quote

"Bring: ONE bag and a valid Drivers License. Notice I didn't say TWO bags. Notice I didn't say one big bag and one small bag. Notice I said you may only bring ONE bag. You will be getting on a mode of transportation that will only allow you to bring ONE bag. You're a hasher. Wear the same clothes over and over. We won't mind. We all know that you could only bring ONE bag. We only brought ONE bag, so we'll be doing the same thing. ONE bag and a valid drivers license. In your ONE lonely bag, pack stuff to wear in public and stuff to wear while hashing. Bring a bathing suit and bring warm clothes. It you get cold, it's your own d*** fault. If you get hot, drink a beer and relax."

What in the heck is all this supposed to mean??? We only have 1/2 a mind...there were so many words we didn't know what to think anymore. So of course there was some questioning going on...

RE: TMH3 - So does that mean just one bag and my chair?

RE: TMH3 - What about a purse?

RE: TMH3 - Oh sure a purse can't count that's like my backpack it's just a carry on personal item kinda like our pet carrier. So, my one bag, chair, back pack, purse and pet carrier should be ok, right?

RE: TMH3 - Marty wants to know if he brings me does that count as his bag?

RE: TMH# - Well as one of the co-hares Mr. Eunuch did say one bag...so if the shoe fits...I guess you are out...

RE: TMH3 - And Red Bull! They might not have Red Bull! So all I need is my one bag, chair, back pack, purse, pet carrier and a case of Red Bull, that's all I need.- and my mountain bike, that's all I need.

RE: TMH3 - Okay JERK, don’t you need your lamp and glasses to read by too?

RE: TMH3 - Duuuuh, everyone knows that! So, all I really need is one bag, chair, back pack, purse, pet carrier, a case of Red Bull, my mountain bike, lamp and my glasses! That's all I need. Really, that's all.

RE: TMH3 - Sure, bring them all...They will look nice on the tarmac when we leave..

It's a tough job...

I know...I have a tough job...

Today I spent all morning at the Maker's Mark distillery. Pretty cool place...they currently are using SBRs to treat the wastewater...all afternoon I was at the Jim Beam distillery. Here I got the up close and personal tour. Didn't realize just how similar brewing beer and distilling liquors was...and there you have it...you can teach an old dog new tricks.

I need a beer...

I totally swiped this from @ssgaggers blog...but it's too good not to post

Old Chicago's Halloween Mini-Tour

So I got a post card in the snail mail today...notifying me of a new mini-tour...

Oct. 17 - 31...

6 beers...glow in the dark t-shirt!!!

Taiwan & Too much $$$

So while I was in Taipei, Taiwan (see pictures here)...I found a new purse I want. I really like the Burberry brand...

Gee...this only costs $1,395 without taxes...so I let Joel know this was what I wanted...

So he texted me back..."You're in Taiwan, can't you find a knock-off cheaper??"

So this is what I got for $20...

Not a bad buy...if I do say so myself.

Back home & Powerful Sucker!!!

So I am back in good old CO...I did however bring back some sort of FUNK from California...so I have been sick since last Tuesday.

On another note...we finally broke down and bought a new vacuum. Since we have two, long-haired pussys...we looked into the Dyson suckers. Broke down and bought the dyson DC17 animal...Now before you freak out on the price, please note we did get it 20% off retail from bestbuy.com...you all really didn't think I spent $549 on a sucker?!?

So here is a picture of what this new sucker picked up after less than 5 minutes on my carpet...not even the whole house...

Taking Candy from Strangers...

Any comments???

I want a Red Rider BB Gun....

So who wants to pitch in and get me a lamp??? I think the decor would be great in our house...and it would give Pays 4 Busch something to stare at...

http://www.redriderleglamps.com/Store.cfm?category=13&position=1

Sustainable Lifestyles...

Do you live a sustainable life??

http://sustainability.publicradio.org/consumerconsequences/

Isolation Ale Keg Tapping!

We are Proud to Announce our Second Ever Keg Tapping Party in the Odell Brewing Tap Room!

Who: Odell Brewing Company
What: Isolation Tapping Party!
When: Thursday, September 27th, from 4:00 to 6:00
Where: Odell Brewing Company, 800 E. Lincoln Avenue

We simply can’t contain the excitement surrounding the 2007 release of our Winter Seasonal, Isolation Ale!

Come enjoy snacks and live music as we tap this year’s first keg of Isolation Ale at 4:00 with a little introduction from our brewers.

To celebrate the occasion, we will have raffles on the hour at 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 for Isolation Ale goodies including a six-pack and the new Isolation Ale T-shirt.

We will also offer 20% off jug fills of Isolation for our jug club members

Isolation Ale pints are $4.00
10 oz glasses are $3.00

Flip-Flopped on Time

So I am totally still on Asia time. I was up at 3 am this morning and currently getting to work around 4:45 am. This also happened yesterday. Pays 4 Busch is not happy about this new schedule...for I get bored and wake him and the cats up. He-He...

I started my Old Chicago's Oktoberfest mini-tour yeasterday evening... 3 beers down only 7 to go.

1) St. Pauli Girl - Germany;

2) Paulaner Hefe-Weizen - Germany; A textbook German hefe- cloudy, clovy, yeasty

3) Warsteiner Premium Dunkel - Germany; Dunkel means dark in German; though a dark beer, dunkels are lagers, not ales; great roasty flavors and creamy texture

Surviving the Earthquakes & Typhoons

So I am here in Taipei. No earthquakes or typhoons...just a light sprinkle of rain.

The wastewater seminar went well...an unusual amount of interest in LDO...that's dissolved oxygen.

So tomorrow I have a full day of checking out the city. Museums, Taipei 101, beef Noodle soup, the jade and flower market, and some sort of Night street market. I am so on the look out for a fake burberry bag...not about to pay $700 for a purse. Might try to find Pays 4 B. a fo-lex...only the best for him.

So the chinese festival of the full moon in on Tuesday...so Robert (the distributor here in Teipei) gave me a box of moon cakes...I will see if I can get them through customs and bring them home for everyone to try.

Typhoon Wipha

Let first start off by saying that it is VERY HUMID here in Bintan Lagoon, Indonesia.

So Typhoon Wipha is pounding Taipei and China at the moment...it will be interesting to see if I make it to Taipei tomorrow.

Yesterday afternoon we did a "team building" activity here. Paintball was one of the activities...not sure how shooting other teams with guns is team building, but we did have fun. It's nice to see people that I visited earlier this year...my friends from the Philippines and Vietnam.

Earthquake City...

So here I am sitting in Tokyo on my way to Indonesia...yes the same country where there are still having 8.0 and above earthquakes. Should be interesting the next week.

I will be in Bintan for the remainder of the week...at least until I head to Taipei for some wastewater seminars. Gotta love a job were you teach people to play in krap all day!!!

We will try not to bring anything rash-like home from Asia...unlike Mexico!!!

Have I mentioned how humid it is here...

At least I have been upgraded to business class the entire trip so far...for free!!!

More South Africa Pics...

This is a picture of the male lion at the giraffe kill we found inside Kruger. Beautiful animal.

Here are some more pictures from South Africa...here.

Here is proof that I do actually work on these business trips...it's not all fun and games.

Bringing Home Itchy from Mexico

So all back from Inter-Americas Hash in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Survived the Hurricane...slid on out to sea and missed us. Waiting to check out U-tube to see how many videos will be posted of this little event.

I did however bring back some great poison plant like rash...Offically on steroids to help clear me all up before heading back to SE Asia next week.

CO also officially won the bid to host the IAH 2009 in Winter Park, CO...dear god help the state. Winter Park will never be the same. Be sure to get signed up Early for the cheap Rego.

Softball last night was good...won 21-10. Haven't posted much on softball lately...haven't been to a whole lot of games due to traveling with work.

Back from the Wild

There is nothing like waking up in the morning to have a giraffe sleeping in your front driveway.

One cannot put into words the experience of Kruger National Park in South Africa...but maybe some pictures can. Here are a few...but more are here. Not all pictures...

Between my co-worker and I...we have over 1000 pictures and ~20 short videos.

I will try to get everything posted as soon as I can...but there are 9 rolls of real film that have to be developed and I have to get his pictures. So hold your breath.

Off to the Wild...

So this will be my last post for a bit...unless I find reliable internet.

So, Pays 4 Busch slips a card in my computer this morning...

A picture of a giraffes butt...inside it states "Party your giraffe off".

I found it mildly amuzing this morning...maybe I can get a real picture of a giraffes butt!!!

South Africa Here I Come...

So I leave for South Africa in two days...I really thought that since this was work, we would be hanging out in Johannesburg the whole time. Typically on work trips one might get to do a little sight seeing...but never did I imagine this...

Our distributors in SA actually will be taking us to Kruger National Park for the entire weekend after the training!!! We won't be staying in some high class hotel...we will be in a private home that sits right outside of the park. Appearently the zebras will eat out of your hands...which really is sad, but I will get some cool pictures. I totally want Mr. Lion to kill something right outside my door...those would be some pictures!!!

So I am totally stoked about the 23 hour flight!!! Is it time to go yet???

Oh...everyone wish Brownie good luck in the Leadville 100 this weekend...if he beats 27:34 he gets 12 whole beers from the Wild West Relay team Started Stout; Ended Ale'n. Although I don't see how running 100 miles at a 16:30 pace beats our 195-mile race at an 8:31 pace. But I am all up for buying his beer if he doesn't DNF!!!

Sludge Level Monitoring...

So today my life will be consumed with an ultrasonic sludge level monitor...for those of you not in wastewater...it measures the depth of the sludge in the bottom of an activated sludge wastewater facility. Humm...smells good.

Getting ready to leave for South Africa for work. Should be an amazing experience. Appearently our distributors there are looking at taking my co-worker and I on some sort of adventure over the last weekend we are there...something about pole houses, mosquito netting, etc.

Watch out Mr Lion...I have an On-On foot sticker ready for your butt.

After the Storm...WWR 2007

So we all got our Asses over the Passes...Congrats to both CO teams!!!

Started Stout; Ended Ale'n (Red Kilts)

Captain Free Busch

1st Hash division

27:34:54 overall time

8:31 pace

Tie Won On

Captain Thurston Forebush

2nd place hash division

32:10:33 Overall Time

9:57 pace

I must say...Thanks to my all my teammates for another succusful year...but especially to my Van #2 (insert hand gesture) teammates.

Freedom of Speech

"We Would Rather Do Business with 1000 AL QAEDA Terrorists
than with One Single American"

This sign was prominently displayed in the window of a business in Philadelphia.

You are probably outraged at the thought of such an inflammatory statement.

One would think that anti-hate groups from all across the country would be
marching on this business and that the National Guard might have to be
called to keep the angry crowds back.

But perhaps in these stressful times one might be tempted to let the proprietors
simply make their statement .

We are a society which holds Freedom of Speech as perhaps our greatest liberty.

And after all, it is just a sign.

You may ask what kind of business would dare post such a sign?

Answer: A Funeral Home (Who said morticians had no sense of humor?)

Calm Before the Storm...

So the Wild West Relay is only 2 days away...

That means 20 people at my house on Thursday night for food, my parents and Aunt & Uncle in town, and no sleep for ~24 hours. But hey all the pork, porter, and porn a girl could want!!

Still don't feel like I am ready for this race...but from what my teammates tell me (which isn't much) neither are they...so we will all hurt together...BRING ON THE BEER!!!!

Back in the "dry" Heat...

So I am back from TN...having been in the "humid" environments for over 2 weeks...I was looking forward to the dry heat. It is now sitting at 88% humidity at my house. WHAT?!?!

All softball games were canceled last night due to the rain.

Today is a Hashing day!!! YEAH...a little running and group therapy all for the price of $5.

Sunday finds me trying to get ready for that small race next Friday and Saturday. I did get Saturn of Fort Collins to donate the use of a vehicle for us for the weekend!!!

Back in town...and out again..

So I returned from the land of hot and humid (Hotlanta) on Friday. Played softball on Friday night and beat a team we lost to earlier in the season.

Saturday found me running my first leg for the Wild West Relay in two weeks. Time was bad...24:09. I am hoping it has to do with the fact that I was at sea level all week. Also got our REI list together for some serious shopping on Sunday at the Sale.

Sunday...got up at 06:00 to go to Circuit City to get in line for a Wii. Yes...we were the first one's in line (NERDS) and I now have another idoit, brain sucking box. It is addicting.

However, before heading to the house to play all afternoon...I did get another run on my leg for the WWR and shaved 30 seconds off the time 23:39. It was much much hotter today than yesterday...so I think it is the altitude issues. Will be running it again hopefully tomorrow.

Pictures of Quandry Peak, Greys, & Torreys here

Tonight finds us hitting the REI sale to drop a dime or two...

I leave for Chattanooga, TN on Tuesday...and won't return until Friday. Not helping my running.

Off to Atlanta for the week...It should be nice and cool with low humidity!!! HA-Ha---Not so much.

Will miss most softball games. At least this gives my torn up arm a rest.

Will be trying to hook up with the Atlanta Hashers at some point.

Monday's softball game ended in disaster...we kept up with the upper division team for most of the game, but couldn't hang on...

Tuesday's game also ended in disaster to a team we have already beaten twice this year. That's what happens when nobody hits.

Wednesday found a very successful happy hour...lots of old faces showed up...Welcome back Krabs, PileOn, Just Tom, Just Joe, Nitro Natalie, BJLM, etc...etc...

This weekend finds me hiking another 14er...Quandry...

Friday...

Softball game - we were up 22-1 at the end of the 1st inning...needless to say we won in the bottom of the third. Then headed to Denver for the Rockies game...which they won in 11 innings.

Saturday found us doing nothing...absolutely nothing. So I played the idiot box all day while Joel slept.

Sunday...again nothing. Did manage to get to town (FC) once for dinner.

What a bunch of lazy asses!!! Ha-Ha...at least I can admit it.

Nothing to do...

Last night marked the first night in a long time that Joel and I did nothing...no softball games, no happy hours, nothing...I was slightly bored, so I turned on the idiot box (PSP) and played Ratchet & Clank for ~ 3 hours.

Tonight brings us to another softball game and possible Rockies Game in Denver. Still haven't decided what the weekend will bring.

Wednesday brings on my women's competative team softball...we all show up for a 6:00 game only to find out the other team hasn't bothered to show...so it was a hard fought game, but we won 7-0 by default. Off to Old Chicago we all go...Most are still working on their mini-tours...I'm on my second now.

Yesterday...July4
We head up to Blackhawk with 3 of our friends...a little lunch buffet and a little gambling. Steve and Joel both walk away from the $5 slots winners...big winners. Gina, Joe, and I aren't winners.

We then race back to Severance for a BBQ with more friends. Watched the fireworks from our house...Greeley, Windsor, and the neighbors display.

Monday

So last night instead of being a good girl and not playing softball...you know, let the whole arm rest thing...I played with Joel's co-ed team in Fort Collins...we won.

Went to Old C's after and finished the mini-tour...got the cool t-shirt.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday...

Happy Birthday Pays 4 Busch (Joel)!!!

We awake ~ 4:00 to hike Greys & Torries Peaks. Knees Up & Chinwacker decide they need the altitude training for the Leadville Marathon, so they go with us.

If you have never done a 14er before these are two that would be good. They are easy...nothing technical about them, no rock scrambling, nice worn trails, etc. It took us ~5.5 hours from the first step on trail to the last step off trail.

Knees Up and Chinwacker decided to set some sort of world record for time...and were basically running the whole thing...Damn over-achievers!!! At the top of Torries, I whipped out a cupcake with a candle and had everyone that was on top sing Happy Birthday to Joel. Had a few issues on the way to Greys...got light headed, pukey like, and heart was racing...so what should have taken up ~30 min or so took me 45 min to get to the top.

Joel and I then proceeded to Parker to have a late lunch and birthday celebration with his family. Mumm...thanks for the steaks.

Saturday's Activities

It's a Hashing Day!!! Yeah!!!

Since I was a hare, I had to be at the trailend at 9:00...which didn't happen. At 8:40 Brownie calls me and states that he has just left his house in Colorado Springs. So much for laying trail early. So Pays 4 Busch and I stop at REI to get him a "save my ass in case I get hurt" pass from the CO search and rescue. Meet up with Knees Up and we proceed to mix flour and lay the top half of the trail...and then wait for the pack. Had a successful Hash...50 lbs of flour, 10 hounds, and 90 PBRs later we were all happy.

Spent the night at Knees Up's house instead of camping near the Peaks.

Friday's activities

So we lost our softball game in Wellington by 1 run. We put up a good effort, but not being the home team did not help. So we had to go to Old Chicago's to drink away our loss...I got three more beers toward my mini-tour...so one beer to go and I get my t-shirt!!!

So at work we have a number of our Canadian Distributors in for training...and being the entertainment specialist I am...Joel and I took 5 of them out. Joel played golf with one and then met up with us, while I took the other four for dinner and drinks. 06:00 comes really early when you don't get home until 01:00.

I got 4 more beers done on the mini-tour at Old Chicago's. Four more to go and I get the t-shirt.

Softball last night almost ended in disaster. We were up 18-6 and managed to blow the lead, get down by two...all within the top of the last inning. But never fear, we were home team and came back to win.

Softball finds me in Wellington this evening...back to Old C's to finish the tour...and who knows with the holiday fast approaching.

Last night at happy hour...not only did I get my first three beers towards the new mini-tour, but also finished my 3rd overall World Beer Tour (110 beers). Yeah!!!

Also had my first physical therapy session on my right sholder...PT seems to think we can strengthen it up enough to avoid surgery. On-On to sholder strengthing exercises. Athough he is not real happy about the fact I play ~6 games of softball a week.

So I am attempting to create something so everyone knows what I am up too...since family and friends gripe about how I don't stay in touch.

I must admit this thing is a time sucking machine. It also hurts my head trying to remember everything I have done in the last year or so...mountins I have bagged, races I have ran, places I have traveled too, etc.

Hope you all enjoy...I will try to keep it updated. Still trying to build it.