My Weekend So Far.....

[Pugwash]

My Weekend so far…..

On Friday, Jane and I headed to Wichita Falls for the Hotter Than Hell 100 bike rally: Over 13,000 riders descend on the small Texas town for what is historically the hottest weekend of the year to ride anything from 10 to 100 miles. For the 3rd consecutive year we stayed with one of the local families who open their homes to (initially) complete strangers, as the number of hotel rooms within 100 miles is not even close to enough for the event attendees.

Joe and Susan are perhaps the most “normal” people we know….they live in the same home that they have owned for 20+years, she’s a kindergarten teacher and he works at the air base. Their home made beer and wine are a source of pride to them and we must always temper our sampling the night before we ride!

2 years ago, they were excited about a potential “change” that was coming…last year they were not so sure about what they were seeing, and this year they were telling me about a T Party event they had attended, and were more engaged that ever before….I had always been a good house guest and stayed away from conflict with my hosts, so it was interesting to see the difference in their perspective.

The expo and packet pick up on Friday evening was again a pleasant experience with an off road and a 75 minute criterium (closed street course) race for all to enjoy, with many of the racers warming up for the 100 mile race on Saturday morning: prizes or “primes” for the first rider over the start finish line on selected laps are offered by spectators to add interest to the race. The Saturday race is on the 47th anniversary of Dr Kings “I have a dream” speech, and in this spirit, we offered a donation to the UNCF in the name of the highest placed African American rider in the 100 mile event

The ride was wonderful…13,000 riders all silent with their helmets off for the anthem and flyover, as mothers and daughters on tandems’ joined stick insect semi pro’s for the ride that best suited their ability or ambition. I watch fathers and sons ride together and I think back to the times I spent riding with Dad when I was younger...his influence on me in my formative years was so critical in determining the man I would become….but if I even mention how sad it is that 78% of African American kids are born to unwed mothers, somehow I’m a racist!

I rode along feeling truly happy….listening to Brad Paisley on my I pod, singing my head off to songs that are about love and family, fishing and NASCAR, and yes even MLK! It was so good to see him in concert just a few weeks ago, and the “Don’t Tread On Me” T Shirt he wore on stage made it even better! Call them conservative values, family values or anything else you may wish too, but by and large, they are MY values, and I’m happy so many more people seem to be proud to share them of late. I think of how much more I love my wife as we grow old together, and how the skuzzy blonde from 40 years ago in the 6” heels and the mini skirt the size of a belt has become my best friend and the center of a life which gets better every day we spend together.

The highlight of the ride for me each year is when the route swings through Sheppard Air Force Base….we ride down the flight line and then I get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye as the Cadet Corp lines the road to yell and cheer for us as we ride by…I ride 100k once a year and these fine young men and women who have made a volunteer commitment to spend years of their lives serving us all are cheering for me? I ride down one side of the line with a High Five for all and then loop around to offer my thanks to those on the other side of the road.

As I approached the finish line, long after the 100 miles racers have already finished, Jane was there by the side of the road.. she had ridden the 25 miles course but was waiting for me so we could cross the finish line together…we are a team

I am able to nap as she drives us home and we get back to find Bruce is not there yet….the house seems so empty without him, but he’s soon back from his play date with another Aussie at our dogsitters and we have a group hug on the sofa!

When I was flipping through channels last week I saw a few minutes of David Tueteras (?) Cowboy Bride, and thought that Jane would love it, so we relaxed and watched as a gay New York wedding planner and a redneck Texas cowgirl made a great hour of TV together…Jane was so pleased that I’d recorded it for her and I was more than happy to see the entire show… look for it, and set your Tivo’s

The Cowboys got their asses kicked in the pre-season game, then I headed out to a local bar to watch UFC 118….. just another day in the life of a middle aged husband.

I got up early this morning, took Bruce for his walk and then to Yoga class to work out yesterdays kinks and aches. I’ll save the Belgium F1 Grand prix until Jane gets home, so its morning TV shows and check in on the Glenn Beck rally in DC yesterday..

The rally was fully funded a few weeks ago and any extra contributions are being forwarded to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation www.specialops.org a charity that evolved from the Bull Simons fund after 9 men were killed during the failed mission to rescue the Embassy hostages back in 1980, and to provide education for their surviving children

The pictures show a full park and mall, yet CBS reports 87,000?

Beck insists on no signs or party politics, and MSNBC declares that Republicans bail on the rally!

The theme of the rally is Restoring Honor, and should be something that everyone can agree on, but as usual the professional agitators will find a way to ridicule and decry something they are afraid off.

The T Party members are compared to KKK members? Where do these people come up with such vile and hate filled theories… I wonder what Jose (Joe) and Susan, and their black and Hispanic grandkids feel about that?

I could get upset, but life is good, and why let the haters drag me down to their level?

[clover]

The Beck rally was streamed live on MSNBC (more socialist news by communists)  I watched most of it.  Who cares how many people were there.......(there were a lot).  The rally wasn't divisive....some good things were said...some I don't agree with...but all in all, irregarless of the motivation, the date chosen etc. it was the first sign of someone in America actually trying to unite the country instead of dividing it and tearing it down.  We spend fortunes nation building in the 4 corners of the world.  I think Beck realizes we really need to focus on nation building here....first.

[azbob]

Pug, great to hear from you and to read that you and Jane are enjoying life.  One heck of a ride!!!!

PS:  The Cowboys will lose this year, again! 

[Pugwash]

PS:  The Cowboys will lose this year, again! 

So they will remain only 5 Superbowls ahead of the Cardinals? ....... I can live with that 

[Rhonda]

Thanks for that Pug! A nice , enjoyable read.

I miss your posts!

We are heading down to Belize at Christmas this year, will you be around? Hope to meet you if so...

[klcman]

Thanks for that Pug! A nice , enjoyable read.

I miss your posts!

We are heading down to Belize at Christmas this year, will you be around? Hope to meet you if so...

Stay 2 weeksweeks longer, Rhon, and you never know what/who may grace your presence!     Or even 7 weeks longer.......

Nice prose, Pug.  Did Jane help?  We need to share a 6pk and a meat lovers....

[clover]

My Weekend so far…..


The pictures show a full park and mall, yet CBS reports 87,000?

I could get upset, but life is good, and why let the haters drag me down to their level?

well at least you told the truth, CBS just "reported" the estimated crowd count, it wasn't a mainstream media manipulation of the facts.  The count was actually accomplished by Airphotoslive.com.
http://stevedoig.com/archives/250

So I took it upon myself to calculate my estimate myself.

It's rarely rocket science, it's usually just math........


the square footage of the reflecting pool is 338,843 square feet.  http://www.visitingdc.com/memorial/reflecting-pool-washington-dc.htm    Multiplying that times 4 and dividing by 7 give me a total estimated maximum occupancy of 193,624.  That estimate would be standing room only, based on the determination of the International Codes Council, and Fire Marshals.  That equates to allowing your self to stand in a box 2 1/2 feet by 2 1/2 feet.  That also assumes that that entire area is "packed" with people...which isn't proven by the photographs.  

  http://web.rollins.edu/~jsiry/space.html

My guess is that there could have been as many as 133,116 people present, based on the pictures taken at high twelve.
There's a fair amount of lawn showing in the second picture, and the density may be less than standing room only.  

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20014993-503544.html

Either way it's a far cry from 300k to 500k........but then again it ain't no big deal......unless you make a point of it.

[Otteralum]

Thanks pug.  I watched the rally on C-Span.  I was impressed.

[Laurie]

Stay 2 weeksweeks longer, Rhon, and you never know what/who may grace your presence!     Or even 7 weeks longer.......

[/quote]

Or arrive 3 weeks earlier!   

[Rhonda]

See!! Look at this , you are ALL giving me a Complex!! Everyone will be there all around my stay and Hon even has the nerve to arrive the day I leave! Hmmmph.

Oh and K if E  is arriving soon after I need to be safe and get the HELL out of there! LOL

Laurie, one day I'll time it right...

[klcman]

Rhon, Fear not the E man.........he is as harmless as a pedophile in a max security prison (and he sez he is broke!) 

[Rhonda]

LOl...I'm very relieved , thank you with that pertinent  info.

He would expect me to pay his bar tab then wouldn't he???

[klcman]

just smile & bat your eye, coyly.