Dinner with Friends

My friends Frank and Bill came over for dinner tonight. When Bill and I started running we met Frank who has become a good friend. Frank entertained us with his exploits. Next week he leaves for Colorado where he will spend a few days acclimating to the altitude before running a 100 mile run, the Leadville 100. He said he had been training by running several laps - around the City of McAllen. His training run was 47 miles - will that be enough? He's done 50 and 63 miles, so my bet is on him. Should get a nice medal and a lifetime memory.

As we talked about events, he suggested we plan a long trip of our own. Bill agreed that he could do two weeks, so we have some thinking to do. Today was the second to last day for Melissa to cook so we had some tasty stir fried beef and brownies for dessert.

Something new

Here is something interesting regarding opposition to Congress flying on private jets. Get a real job if you want to do that!

I just figured out how to do that hyperlink - that is what is new! Pretty exciting for me...

I like reading those blogs which have those links. Now I can do it myself.

Frank and Bill are coming for dinner tomorrow night. Wednesday is Chef Melissa's last day so all good things must come to an end. Best wishes to her at Texas A&M. Whoop!!

I got up early today for the swimming. For some reason my ankle (left) is a bit sore. I hope it feels better soon.

Today has been a pretty good day. I had to get some old files out to see what I had done in 2001. Its amazing how much I've done that I remember what needs done but it was done so long ago.

Motorcycle Ride to South Padre Island

On Saturday, I rode at 2007 H-D Road King to South Padre Island with my friend Brian. He rode his Yamaha motorcycle. It was a great ride and great day. We got there after riding the back way on US 281 about 1:30 pm. We rode by the famous border fence - neither of us had seen it.

After getting there, we went to the condo and changed into beach wear - shorts and t shirt. It was great to get out of the riding jeans and boots. We then hung out at the Wahoo, eating, watching the water, talking. It was really relaxing. We then jumped in the pool and cooled off a while before getting back on and riding along the Expressway home. That was up close and personal with a lot of cars but we got back fine. I gassed up the motorcycle and returned it to Chico. Great day. I even got a Wahoo Saloon t shirt to remember the day.

Julie/Julia Project

I saw Julie & Julia today and it was a "sweet" movie. A good old fashioned kind of movie, like Nora Ephron does well. The characters were good and it was inspiring for both cooking and blogging. Like in real life, it was hard for the characters to explain the benefits and mechanics of blogging. But as the end credits said, it helped her to do and book which was later made into a movie.

I don't have a great big project to blog about every day, but looking over the previous entries, my life is one big project. :) Raising a teenaged girl is a big undertaking. Being married for 19 years is pretty interesting. Being in the legal world gives a great perspective on business, disputes and life in general. Plus I think my decade-long exercise project is pretty amazing (starting in 2001 with a plan to do the MS 150 that next year - "I'll do it if you will" I said to my friend Jay. A day later, he emailed me "You're on!". Nothing has been the same since. To think, I used to think I could never do those things.

On that note, my marathon training is on track. Sat. morning, I ran about 7 miles with my friend Kristi. I think I may sign up for the San Antonio half marathon in November, as a warm up to the Houston Marathon.

Father John asked if I would play in the Bishop's golf tournament in San Antonio in November. So I answered the call - YES! That should be a good crowd.

Last night Susan and I went to a 50th birthday party for Carlos from the hospital. It was a big event, with 200 people, catered, at the Museum of South Texas History, with 2 bands, the Retro Rockers and the Renaissance Rockers. There was a big tent and it was outdoors and it was a nice night for a party.

Heat Wave

I heard that it has been over 100F here for 38 of 40 days. The other 2 days it only got up to 99F.

So as I've said, outside activity has been somewhat limited. I did make it to the swimming pool early this morning for my triathlon training. It was a good start to the morning. Last night I fell asleep at 10 pm. so I was well rested.

Tomorrow, I thought I needed to increase my running for the marathon training for next January so I'll look to go 6-8 miles. I'm starting at 0645. Afterwards my friend Chico asked if I wanted to ride his motorcycle so I plan to do that during the day. The plan is for me and friend Brian to ride to South Padre Island to his favorite joint the Wahoo Saloon and have ceviche, then ride back.

We are going to a big 50th birthday bash Sat. night for Dr. Carlos who is the Chairman of the hospital. There will be a band the Retro Rockers. It should be fun. I saw his dad Ruben today and Ruben has just bought a new pre-owned Mercedes S550 so he enjoyed showing it off and I enjoyed checking it out. A very nice brown color with rich leather. Only 25,000 miles. Buying off lease is the way to go!

Wed Aug 5

Today was the first day back at the court after there have been no settings of note the past few weeks. So everyone was pretty keyed up but we got it all done as usual. I decided to get the front wheels checked at D&D Wheel Alignment after a recommendation from my mechanic Larry. It was a good one. I was happy to meet DJ and his staff and they did a great job, ended up replacing some front end bolts after recommended getting things checked every 10,000 miles. That's the kind of specific advice I like!

After getting my car back, and having a good day at work, I thought I'd go swimming at the Rowe HS indoor pool, which is open from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Bad idea! I went there and it was packed. After waiting to no avail for 30 minutes I bailed out. Swimming at 6 am. is much better at the Boys and Girls Club pool. I plan to go tomorrow and Friday. The triathlon is coming up Aug. 23.

This evening I also returned Oscar's bike which he had loaned me after the April MS 150. I rode about 300 miles on it so I thought I put it through the paces. That was quite nice of him. After riding the bike over there, (about 1 mile) I walked back which was a good trek. Made up for no swimming.

Round of golf

My friend Gerry called me last night to play golf early today. Since we had talked about doing this for some time (and never done it) I agreed, did a quick reschedule of the day and we teed off at 7:07 a.m. That was pretty early. The weather was nice for the first 2 hours.

Then it heated up and I started fading a bit. Amazing how I can go run 6 miles, ride 30 miles on a bike or swim a long distance and feel fine. But riding in a cart and playing 18 holes wears me out. I guess I'm out of golf shape. You don't realize what being in the heat and that fast swinging (the more the better) seems to do.

Upon reflection, I've played golf just a few times this summer. I played in June with Jeremy at his club, I played at Lion's Muni in Austin, today and at South Padre Island with Clint. To think I used to play that much or more in a week.