The Exploits of a TurboGeek!

So, here I am, musing.  I don’t want to talk about that yet though, since there are some necessary “Thank You’s” to go out.  First, thanks for the cool post with the pictures, Diana!  I have to say, you’ve got me a bit stunned.  First, you posted once before, and you posted photos.  At first, I had no idea how you uploaded pictures to my site since I thought a password was required.  I later found out your little trick.  You’ve still got me confounded though.  Not only did you put up more pictures, you put up thumbnails too!  How the heck did you pull that one off?  Color me impressed, which one of us is supposed to be the geek here?

Next, we have Donna trying to get me to blow my cover and post pictures of me with my car… We know I won’t be doing that… I have a secret identity for a reason!  I’ll figure out a way to prove my new car-ness to you all, however… Just you wait.

So, today I went swimming.  Yesterday I was lifting weights.  It is almost the end of April, and I have been under 200 pounds for almost the entire year!  I was briefly over 200 in January, since I was on vacation and eating non-stop, and working out stop-non.  Pretty cool stuff.  I think if I can keep at this weight a few months more, I can consider my weight “set” and not wonder if I’ll drift up to 230 again.

This is great for many reasons.  Possibly the greatest being that many places won’t let you ride their horses if you’re heavier than 200 pounds.  Now I’m free to  mount up anything I choose.  I think that is my new motto.  I can mount anything I choose.

I also met a swim instructor while at the pool.  I had seen her there before teaching, but she was always busy.  This time, she was teaching some kids to swim in my lane, and since I was constantly navigating around them, I had to stop at the wall and chart my course occasionaly.  During those times, I chatted with her, and now I’ve got myself a swim instructor.  We haven’t had a class yet, but probably I’ll meet with her once a week.  My goals being to learn flip turns and butterfly stroke.  What is best is, I explained why I wanted to learn those things (triathloning, mainly) and she first complimented my form, but then gave me a tip to help improve my kick…

You know what that means… She had noticed me…  It pays to wear a hot pink speedo.  It really pays.

Okay I am one of the three slackers that went to visit Dan over a week ago. But I think I should get some credit for being the only one of those slackers to ever post on Dan’s blog.   

Currently I am working in a unique situation.  I teach resource in a year round school, so at any given time I have students in school. Because school is open about 50 weeks a year, most of my life falls into two categories: 1)dealing with children 2)avoiding these little creatures.  

By trade, I spend most of my time dealing with impulsive students.  Every once and awhile, I am privilege with working with a student that is bright, creative, and unpredictable. I love these free spirits, though at times I scratch my head and wonder why.  At that moment, it usually occurs to me that hopefully a few of them will grow up and be like Dan.

Vacationing with Dan is like having a play date with my favorite kid. There is no agenda; there are no time constraints; there is no predicable direction.   Shiny lights need to be inspected.  Items need to be played with. Climbable objects must be climbed.  If not a string of taunts and name calling will begin – until someone gives in.   Being a person that has issues with gravity, I usually hold out to the last moment and then I pray for God to have pity on me.

Play places are like beacons to Dan.  No matter where we are we will stumbled on to one.  Once spotted- drawn like a moth to the flame, Dan buzzes over to any designated play area to try out the hardware.  I am a little surprised that Dan does what he does for a living because he would have been perfect at urban playground engineering.  I can imagine a large hamster trail with plenty of swinging, spinning, and wobbling contraptions that would bring delight to any eight year old at heart. 

Hi There!I’ve been irresponsible and not updated lately. I know. However, a significant portion of my reader base was actually here with me last week, so I don’t feel so bad about not updating Also, I’m hoping they’ll post some pictures and experiences here Nudge nudge.

No, today, I have something different to write about. I got a speeding ticket. I think. I was driving along and “FLASH” my picture was taken. I don’t know for sure if I was speeding, but I might have been. I certainly wasn’t speeding heinously though, because I try not to do that. However, I was a bit distracted, so who knows? I sure don’t. I’ll find out if I get a ticket in the mail…

Why was I distracted? Well because I was driving my brand new car, of course!!! It rocks. I have waited for months and months while I decided what vehicle would be best for me, and then months and months longer while my new car was built to my personal specifications and then delivered to me here. On Thursday, she arrived. Less than 100 miles into our relationship, we were caught breaking the law.

Yes, this is the start of something beautiful. Lets be honest, you need to christen a new car right. I can now honestly say that my car was properly christened on our first day together Heck, I might even get a photograph that will be suitable for posting here, which is more than I can say for most of my other christening/baptismal activities!!!

Well, here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Okay.  That’s all for now…  I hope some of you other slackers start writing soon!

Hey!

We’re back from Brussels. I met up with Diana, Jim and Lee Anne at around dinner time, and we had a ton of fun exploring. Since daylight savings has already started, we were able to wander about into the wee hours and still enjoy the direct sunlight… Through the clouds. We did find the Manneken Pis who is quite wee (I had to say it).

A longer post belongs here, but that one will come with some flavor photos from my guests. Yes, it seems weird to talk about flavor after talking about a little boy peeing. Anyway, the chocolate in Brussels was delightful, as were the parks, the mass transit, and of course the company. We did find, much to our dismay, that it is not possible to ascend any of the towers visible in Brussels.

This bums me out because much like your average house cat, ferret or other pea brained critter, I often aspire to reach the highest point visible and look at other stuff from there. Unlike those other critters I like to spit on people from that vantage and snicker… Most animals can either spit or snicker but not both, I think that is a uniquely human trait… Well, to be honest I don’t do that. By now the spitting has lost all of its novelty and it is hard to get a good snicker out of it.

Anyway, we’re back at my place, and there is more fun to come! Ciao!

P.S. Last time we drove around Brussels, not through it. Remember the wall that kept us from seeing anything good?

Hey!

That is a good Ugh, BTW.  I’ve been at work a lot lately.  I haven’t had much time to play with my new computer, or to be online in general.  However, it is all cool because, as a result of all the extra hours I put in, I get to take off a bit early today (later today, it is like 5am!) and meet up with Jim, Diana and Lee Anne in Brussels!

How cool is that?!?  Very cool, I tell you.  I’ve never been to Brussels before and I’m looking forward to seeing it.  More than that, I haven’t seen any of those folks since January, and I’m going through withdrawals!  There is nothing like old friends!!!

Speaking of which, I’d like to welcome two new readers to the fray.  Joel, a great old friend of mine who doesn’t spend nearly as much time on Instant Messenger as he once did (like I should talk), and JiggaDigga, whom I don’t believe I’ve ever met.

That’s all for now.  Have a good one, and we’ll have more to write when we get back from Belgium!

P.S.  Joel, please email me your contact

info, I have no current info on  you…