Posting from home...YEEEEEEEAH!

Hey all!

I am typing this from the comfort of my couch as I get ready to head into bed.  I finally got a cable modem in my apartment and a wireless router to boot.  Woo Hoo!  Not that I don't like to go to Fountain City Coffee, but it's much easier to do it from home.

Hey, don't be depressed if I don't post for a while.  I'm leaving Saturday for Camp Okoboji in NW Iowa for a week.  Sara and I are able to salvage a week of our 2 week vacation that we had planned in December.  Our plans went to pot when the Army got involved.  Unfortunately, I missed RAGBRAI this year because we chose a week with some good friends over a week of biking across Iowa together.  Anyway, I'll be back around 9 AUG, so don't worry!

See ya!

A Comment of Southern Movie-watching

Okay, so maybe I should have put this post first, but I didn't so lump it.

It's interesting to watch an action movie at a theater on a military post.  Here's some things you have to deal with:

1.  Camelbaks abounding.  Most 18-20-year-olds show off with their sneakers, jeans, or even underwear.  I think that's why they wear the pants down to their butt-cracks, so they can show off the boxers that they spent $30 on.  Not here at Ft. Benning.  No, the status-symbol here is Camelbaks.  Click here for a run-down of what I see every weekend.  All over Main Post, you see people with really short hair, baby faces, and these huge backpacks.  I don't know where they're going or what they need to haul, but they do it.  For the most part, I can just go with the flow...until they all go to the movies together and suddenly there's less leg-room that a Southwest Airlines flight.  What does one need a Camelbak at a movie for?

2. A failure to suspend disbelief.  Ft. Benning is home to some of the most Hooah! (it's an Army thing) Schools/ Units in the Army.  Groups like the Airborne School, and the Rangers, and the United States Army Sniper School, all call some part of Ft. Benning "home."  So, when you go into a movie where they have a level of expertise, the crowd is full of groans and hushed conversations about how this is all "fake."  Really?  It's fake?  You mean there really isn't someone named Jason Bourne?  What?  This all some elaborate story about some ficticious person?  What was I thinking?  I thought this was real.  I mean, if I wanted fiction, I'd go see Fahrenheit 9-11. (Don't believe it's fiction?  Read the 9/11 Commission Report.  I dare you!)   But when I come to a Matt Damon movie, I expect realism!

3.  Prolific use of chewing tobacco.  So I'm munching on my popcorn and snarfing down my new movie fave: Reese's Pieces when I see the kid next to me digging into his cargo pocket.  He pulls out a Skoal can!  The next thing I know, all I can smell is the sickening mix of mint and tobacco.  He puts a pinch between his cheek and gum, pulls out a styrofoam cup and enjoys his movie Southern-style!  Yeah, because there's not enough grease and salt in my popcorn, or sugar and chemicals in my Coke and Reese's Pieces to kill me.  Nope, I need some carcinogens just to prove that I am 20 and going to live forever.  This is one thing that I've noticed: It's too hot to stick a burning mixture of weed and paper in your face.  No, if you want the pick-me-up that tobaccy offers, you gotta chew it down here.  Everyone is always spitting.  Always!  Even in movie theaters!  How can that even remotely taste good with a Coke?

So, if you want a completely different movie-going experience, let me take you to a 5:30 matinee at the Ft. Benning Movieplex.  After you stumble over Camelbaks, listen to the grumbling about how something "can't be done," and see someone fumbling in the dark for their Skoal can, you'll appreciate your local movie theater a whole lot more.  I know I have!

This week's movie review

Last week, Ty asked me what I do in Friday nights. 

Well, I'm not one to sit around alone.  It's a useful skill that I learned on vicarage at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in San Jose, California.  The first few weeks I just sat in my house and watched Friday night television.  After I started to hit Full House re-runs, I knew it was time to get out.

But I digress.  Tonight I saw the movie The Bourne Supremacy.  I liked the first one, so I thought I would give this one a try as well.  I'm glad I made it to a matinee and only paid $4.00 to see this piece of junk.

The first did a great job of character development, bringing Jason Bourne from nothing to a checkered past to a realistic and believable hero.  This time the flashbacks were all about his first mission and how he get's pulled into the current-day ramifications of that mission so many years ago.  Not nearly as powerful as the first one.

Also, in this age of bluescreen, CGI, wire-fighting action, a classic action pic with car chases and human stunts just doesn't quite do it anymore.  Not that I am a big fan of all The Matrix knock-offs now-a-days, but the 15 minute car chase has run it's course with the Dukes of Hazard.  That, with the wobbly-camera work during action scenes that seems to be common now, almost sent me into an epilectic seizure.

This coupled with the fact that Jason Bourne is a character completely void of a sense of humor, and you have a movie that was hard to stay awake through...literally.  If it hadn't been for the explosions, I would have dozed of a dozen times easy.

Unless you get free tickets or need something to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon and can catch a matinee for less that $5, wait to rent it...maybe.

The Only Good Thing to Come from France

This is the only time that I care what the frogs have to say about anything.  And even then, I don't listen to what they have to say.  It's been a bit of a subdued TdF for me this year.

Last year, I was able to watch all the action on the Outdoor Life Network.  However, the local cable company doesn't carry it and, even if I were at home, it's on a section of cable that we don't get any more.  So now I jump over to the Cycling News section of Yahoo.com every day at noon, hoping for some news of Lance and his victory.  To see Thomas Voeckler in the mailotte jaune (Yellow Jersey) for so may days started me to worrying.  I kept telling myself "Wait for the alps.  Wait for the alps."  And that's what I did and that's what he did.

I believe he repeated a feat from last year, catching up with his closest competitor, Ivan Basso.  Basso had a two-minute head start, but it wasn't enough to stop Lance.

I have to admit that I admire Lance's life right now.  He gets paid to tour around Europe on his bike, ride the best equipment that Trek has to offer, and date Sheryl Crow.  I'm looking for a downside but I am not seeing it.  Well, I guess there was that whole bout with testicular cancer that he had.  On second thought, maybe I'm just content to be me.  I'd still like his bike, though.

Lesson Learned...the hard way

Today was our first Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) since hitting the ground in May.  I wasn't too worried about it because I have been under the wise tutelage of CPT Krieger and he's helped to "pump me up."  I was well prepared for anything but I had to sabotage my own self.

Yesterday, our S-4 was promoted to Major.  MAJ Adkins celebrated his promotion by taking us to a local eating establishment for some food and drinks and fun.  The only problem for me was that I had too much fun.  I ended up staying with the group that stayed until midnight...with my PT test at 0600, which meant a 0430 wake-up call.  It felt like I woke up 30 minutes after I fell asleep.  Ugh.

So, being the good trooper than I am, I was there in plenty of time, and I drank three bottles of Propel on my way in, trying anything I could to help me wake up and give me some sort of edge for my test.

To no avail.  I passed the test with 43 push-ups, 45 sit-ups and a two-mile time of 15:24, but I know I could have done better if I hadn't messed up last night.  Plus, I am still tipping the scales at 250, which is WAY outside Army regs.  Oh sure, most people look at me and say "you carry it well," but it doesn't matter.  I've still gotta deflate this spare tire around my gut.

And, while I passed the test, I am still not meeting the requirements for Airborne School.  Just to get in, I need to be able to do 42 push-ups, 52 sit-ups, and two miles in 15:54.  Plus, there is a pull-up requirement which I can't remember right now.  While ultimately it was a success, it's definitely not where I need to be.

Ah yes.  I remember the good-old-days of college cross-country and track where I was out until at least 2:00 a.m. before a Saturday meet and I still performed pretty well.  Could it be that I am getting old?  Nah.  That can't be it.

The good news is that I am not able to start over at square one.  The next test is rumored to be sometime in October, so I'll go back to the drawing board and work my tail off to get better. CPT Krieger will keep me on the weights, I'll get my run schedule set up, throw in some bike rides in the evening and hammer this thing out.  Hopefully I can drop a few pounds along the way and get that monkey...err...gorilla off my back.

Oh, and I'll be sure to be home plenty early the night before.

Glossary of Terms

Okay, after typing out "Command Sergeant Major," I realized that I need to throw up a bit of an acronym glossary.  I realize that most people aren't fluent in "armyspeak" so I am going to throw some basics up here to help with future posts.  Here are some biggies in no particular order:
 
BN: Battalion (the whole group gathered in our starship [see below])
Starship: the barracks that house the 5 intended Companies of our unit.
BC: BN Commander
CDR: Commander, ergo BC= BN CDR (Now I'm starting to get the Organic Chem willies!)
XO: Executive Officer
S-1: Staff Section 1 (Personnel)
S-3: Staff Section 3 (Training and Operations)
S-4: Staff Section 4 (Supply)
CSM: Command Sergeant Major
CA: Chaplain Assistant
Joe: Another name for recruits.  Always collective, much like the use of "Charlie" in Viet Nam.
Joethrax: any number of ailments contracted because of one's close proximity to Joe.
DS: Drill Sergeant.  Sometimes referred to as a "Hat" because of the distinctive Campaign Hat.
FTX: Field Training Exercise.  An excursion to the field that is usually overnight and sometimes longer.
 
So, here's the quick quiz:  Today, the BC got on the S-1 because the CSM couldn't get the men that he needed for a detail.  Meanwhile, the S-3 and S-4 argued about who was accountable for the bayonets that Joe lost during the FTX.  Top didn't care about that, he was all over the DS's for letting Joe screw up like that.
 
Are you picking up what I'm laying down?  Good, because from now on, I'm just gonna stick the shorthand in parentheses behind the word once and you'll have to catch on.
 
 

Minor Retraction

So, I was so worked up by the movie "I, Robot" that I went to get the book to re-read it...only to find that I hadn't read it at all.  So, borrowing a page from my good friend Ann, I have to retract some of the statements of my previous post.
 
I know I read a book by Isaac Asimov about a robot who committed a crime; perhaps it was "Caves of Steel" instead.  The movie is still good and somewhat of a "thinker."  You should go see it.  Unless you have come to look to Will Smith as the next Jean Claude Van Dam or Arnold Schwartzenegger.  The Command Sergeant Major didn't share my glowing review.  He wanted more action and not so much thinking.  *shrug*  Whatchagonnado?

Another "Matrix"

Last night I went to a late showing of Will Smith's new movie, "I, Robot."  Having read the book in high school, I was skeptical.  The book is really a good examination of "logical end" of...well...logic and how it can be manipulated toward an end that may not be desired.  While the movie is much more action-packed than the book was, to satisfy a broader audience no doubt, it still deals with the issue of Asimov's book and leaves you wondering about life just a little bit.

For me, it struck a blow at the creeping idol of Logic.  It's a movement that is growing more and more prominent and accepted in this Post-Modern Age.  It says that, because I can't understand something, it cannot be true.  It's a movement that puts the ultimate authority in individual understanding and logical progression.  Creativity, faith, hope are things that are not welcome in such a world.  Nor are things like skepticism, suspicion, and wonder.  In a world ruled by Logic, these things are not welcome or wanted because they are unfounded, unproven, and impossible.  If it cannot be proved, then it cannot be possible, which is a statement that sums up most people's concept of God and faith.

I cannot see Him, touch Him, or prove Him, therefore He must not exist.  He is not predictable, producable, or prudent, therefore He is not to be trusted.

While I would like to generalize people without faith in this way, it too often applies to people OF faith as well.  So many people get upset when God doesn't make sense with their logical expectations.  "Why doesn't God do things my way?  Doesn't He see how much sense it makes?"  Yeah, He probably does, but He's got a plan that goes beyond our logic.  His ways are higher than ours.

A long time ago, I figured out that God doesn't make sense; He's not logical.  And that has made life so much more fun.

A glorious day in Hawkeye History

IT WORKS!

Well, for a while now, my free blog hosting site has had some free picture possibilities. Couldn't do much about it while locked in my Army office because this thing works through Instant Messaging, which the military kinda frowns upon. Security pish-posh or some such. But, now that I am free from the Iron Firewall, I can post what I want, when I want.

So, what better test message could their be than to send a snapshot of a great day. It's a picture of me and the two Gregs: Greg Suckow, a good friend since high school and a faithful Hawkeye, and Pastor Greg Fairow, a.k.a. Pastor Hawkeye. Truly, he is a voice calling out in the wilderness. You see, Pastor Fairow is the campus pastor for our Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod in Madison. That's right, everyday he works hard to preach both the Gospel of Christ and the gospel of Herky (is that heresy?) to the lost people of Madison.

The two young ladies are students from the University of Iowa, who have made the trek to Camp Randal Stadium to witness their beloved Hawkeyes crush the head of Bucky yet again. I wish I could remember their names, but, more importantly, they are Hawkeyes. That's all you need to know.

Legal Stimulants and Free Internet

Hallelujah!! After over TWO MONTHS without too much internet action and very little decent coffee, I have found a place for both. Click the title to see what has great potential to be my new hangout. I was tuned into this place by a site called FreeWiFiSpot.com. It's a collection of places throughout the country that offer free wireless internet connectivity. Some are hotels, some are libraries, there's one at the Milwaukee Ale House! (Ty and I still don't know how we missed that one!) I happen to be sitting at the Fountain City Coffee House here in "Uptown" Columbus, GA.

I came for the free internet, but I have stayed for the coffee. Their house blend is pretty dark and a tad bitter for my tastes; it upsets my stomach. However, the Kona blend that I am sipping now is pretty good. Large coffee is $1.75 with half-price refills. The classic blues song, "It's Not Easy Being Green" by Kermit the Frog/ Jim Henson is playing on the sound system. Tomorrow night, they have a movie playing at 9:00. It's one of my all-time faves Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It sounds like they set up a white bed sheet, a computer with DVD player, and a portable projector and watch it outside. Too bad it starts WAY after my bed time, although the coffee would help...NO! I can't do it. Interesting musical transition: we've gone from Kermit to the Beastie Boys. Gotta say I didn't see that one coming.

This is an upscale version of your classic college coffee dive; nice marble tables, matching chairs, clean floors, decorating theme, track lighting, and budding artists with their work on the walls. We're just down the street from Columbus State University, so there are a few students here, although more than one person has a high and tight haircut like mine. Although, those have pretty well thinned out by 2000 hours. Did I mention that they had free wireless internet here? Oh yeah, you figured that out because I am posting whilst my Kona grows cold. Gotta slam it down and get home. I still have work to do for tomorrow...unfortunately. And Captain Krieger is gonna be waiting for me at 0600.

You will be hearing more from me about this place...trust me!

"Grade-A Bang-bang"

It seemed fitting to quote Kurtwood Smith (a.k.a Red Foreman) in his little appreciated role as Clarence Boddicker in the 1987 classic "Robocop" to describe the events of today.

I spent some time out on the range. No, I wasn't punching cattle, I was out with the Soldiers of A Co. as they familiarized themselves with the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, or SAW. Definitely packs a whallop; it was fun to see the boys try to engage targets with something this powerful. Some guys were accurate out to 300 meters or more.

What was even more fun was to see a Chaplain's Assistant try it. Specialist (SPC) O'Brien is here on her second week of Annual Training (AT). She's with the 1/334, which is the Reserve unit that I belong to now. She's done a week over at our Reception Battalion and was wanting to get out and see some "real" training. I was able to hook her up.

We joined A Co. just as they were finishing their familiarization and were getting ready to fire. We stood on the firing line as the Soldiers engaged the targets and we policed the lines, seeing how the guys were doing. As you can guess, spirits were high for a couple of reasons. First, the big boys were gonna get to fire the big toys. The Soldiers carry their M16A2's all over the place to get used to being responsible for their weapons. They were ready to try something a little bigger. Second, SPC O'Brien is a female, and the first these Soldiers had seen in a while. It was fun to watch the PVT's get caught looking at the SPC.

When we had finished checking on the boys, I went to find some shade. It was 95 degrees by 1130 this morning. We found some next to A Co.'s Commander. As we sat down, he looked at the SPC and said, "How'd you like to fire that weapon?" SPC O'Brien's usually broad smile got a lot broader as she walked over to an ammo box, drew a strap of 100 belt-fed rounds of 5.56mm and walked to firing point #2, waiting to put rounds down-range.

It was comical to see this maybe 5'2" form get down behind the weapon. The Drill Sergeant gave her a quick info-brief on how to load the belt and the firing procedures. She tipped back her borrowed Kevlar, about twice as big as it should have been, scanned down-range for the pop-up targets and let fly with her first five-round burst. The result was a lot of dust and a dropped target at about 75 meters. It's a good thing they were only supposed to shoot 5-7 round bursts because that's about all she could let loose before she had to push her Kevlar back on her head. The recoil jarred her so much that her huge kevlar fell over her eyes.

In a short while, her rounds were exhausted and all that was left was a lot of brass, some perforated targets, and a great story to share tonight with her bunk mates, who had been stuck pushing paper all day at the Reception Battalion. Who says being attached to a Chaplain isn't any fun?

Back in the Saddle Again

In my new-fangled exercise regimen, Sunday is a day for LSD. No, not the drug, although it would definitely make me a more interesting preacher. LSD stands for Long, Slow Distance. If I were in better running shape, that would mean 4-8 miles. Since I'm not, that means about an hour to an hour and a half on the bike. Right now, that's about 20 miles or so. So, at about 6:30 in the evening, I set out.

Columbus has this neat path called the RiverWalk. I thought to myself, a nice relaxing ride by the river this evening would be just great. My Trek was all tuned up thanks to the guys at Mike's Bikes. I'm getting in shape, right? And besides, how far can this thing run, anyway? No problem. So, without any recon or research, I loaded the trusty Trek on my Explorer, and I set out the the trail head that's about 15 mins. from my apartment.

Big problems. First, the trail wasn't completely finished. There were actually two small stretches of trail and the main trail. That meant having to navigate through the downtown area of an unfamiliar city on a bicycle. Not fun.

Second, the northern part of the trail doesn't go through the best part of town. As I started, there were calls from some of the locals of "how much does that bike cost?" Hmmm...this would be a good time to push the pace just a bit. On the way back, there was a young gentleman on his BMX bike who wanted to race. Well, kid, if you can catch me on my Trek, I'll be happy to race you but you gotta catch me first.

Third, and I realized this about 10 miles into the ride, the trail is about 15 miles ONE WAY. For me to go from where I started all the way down to the end at The Fort Benning Infantry Museum, I'm looking at a 30 mile round trip ride, by far my longest this year. I am proud to say that I made it. It took me two and a half hours but I made it.

Yeah, I know, 30 miles in two and half hours doesn't make me ready for the Tour de France yet, but it did feel good to get that many miles down. Well, most of me felt good. The part of me that was touching the saddle all day was REALLY glad when we stopped.

Today's lesson: always do your homework BEFORE you undertake something.

Not what I thought...or could have dreamed

Well, it's Friday already. Even the Army doesn't stop when you're away for a bit. It's been a short week but a catch-up week, so there's been a lot to do.

Last weekend didn’t go quite the way I had planned. There wasn’t as much time sitting around and I thought because Sara wanted to go places and do things while I was home. Hey, that’s fine with me…but tiring. I came back on Tuesday more tired that when I left. She did such a good job of keeping me busy that I didn’t have any problem sleeping in until 8:00 or 9:00 each morning. That was all the longer the dogs would allow.

It was great to see all my family at St. Paul Lutheran Church. I was able to preach Saturday night and Sunday morning. It gave me a couple of great opportunities. First, I was able to give Pastor Tom a respite. My heart and prayers go with him a lot. I was really glad to be able to help out in this little way. Second, St. Paul kicked off a great ministry that I want to tell you about.

It started with the Soldiers here at Sand Hill. In my short time here, I have had dozens of requests for Bibles. The Gideon’s are gracious in providing New Testaments, but so many Soldiers are asking for the full Scriptures. It’s an expense that the Army doesn’t consider as important as others. But, it’s something that the Church considers important.

When I hit the wall in getting help in the Army, I turned to St. Paul. I contacted them and told them what I needed. They took the ball and ran with it. This past weekend, I explained what we were trying to do to the people of St. Paul. We launched the “Bibles for Soldiers” program and the people of St. Paul responded very generously. With what they gave just this past weekend, we’ll be able to buy 1,000 Bibles from the International Bible Society, and I’m sure that more will be coming after that. For now, these Bibles will be made available to the Soldiers who are doing their initial training here. Anyone who wants a Bible will be given one.

It’s seems the least that we can do, to make sure that young men who are volunteering to serve their country have a simple Bible to read and draw strength from. It’s heartening to see the Church rise to this challenge.

A Thing of Beauty

I was reminded this afternoon why I love to live in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan.

After a quick movie (Hart's War), I decided that I didn't want to sit around too much during my four-day pass. So, we packed up the dogs and headed to Kohler-Andrae State Park, which is our new water destination for the dogs because the dog beach that used to be on the south side of Sheboygan has been gobbled up by the Blue Harbor Resort. It's not too much of a hassle, just that State Parks have a leash law, which we conveniently disregard for the most part.

As we pull up, there's a light drizzle in the air. Sara doesn't mind, I don't mind, and we know that Boomer and Trinity don't mind because they're wanting to get into the lake! We climb the sand dunes to get over to the lake and as we crest the top of dune, it was just stunning.

There were rain clouds over the lake and we could see the sheets of rain falling miles and miles away. The grey-blue of the sky mingled and mixed with the slate-blue of rain falling on the greenish-blue of the lake. The tide was rolling, as much as it does in this part of Wisconsin, so there were crashing waves at regular intervals. A few hundred meters offshore was a sailboat at full sail was pushed northward at a good speed. Closer by, Trinity was looking up at me with her soulful brown eyes, with just one word hidden deep inside them: "Throw." The landscape would have to wait; my daughter wanted to play fetch.

It seemed like a hundred times that I threw that neon green and fuscia disc into the greenish-blue sea. And every time, Trinity was more eager to fetch than I was to throw. Nevermind the fact that sometimes she was so eager that she didn't even see where it had gone, which made me wish that I had not worn denim shorts. I don't know if it's genetic disposition, the ability to play, or a desire to see me happy and cheer her on that makes her crash through the surf each time to get that frisbee. Frankly, I don't care because each time we go it's almost as if she's skipping through the waves and having the time of her life. To see her be so diligent in her play makes me want to be more diligent in mine. It's times like these that she's a real inspiration to me. It's times like these that I miss her the most.

Boomer wants nothing to do with fetching; it's beneath him. He's an explorer. He loves to claim and mark new territory for the Vanderbilt clan. Of course. when the next good rain or tomorrow's dog comes around, his claims will be no more. Nevertheless, he wanders around the beach looking for another tuft of grass to hold his mark. He bring Sara in tow as they conquer new worlds for his race. It's one small leak for a dog; one big downpour for canine kind.

The landscape keeps drawing me back. I notice that the sailboat has scooted away and I can't see it anymore. I get so lost in the melding of the rainclouds and the lake that I jump when Trinity steps on my foot wanting another throw. Called away from admiring the mural that God has painted over the water today, I turn back to task at hand: making my daughter happy. My mind drifts to a time in the not-so-distant future when my children will join us. Maybe throwing the balls and frisbees for these of future dogs to fetch. Maybe content to make sandcastles where princesses are held under the control of evil dragons, waiting for their prince to come. But, there's no time to wonder about the children of the future; my daughter is back for another flip. As I watch her bound out over the waves and marvel as she "surfs" them back in, I realize that today may have been the most beautiful day in my entire life and I will cherish it forever.

I'm on my way!

Strains of Motley Crue are ringing in my ears: "Tonight! Tonight! I'm on my way! I'm on my waaaaay. HOME SWEET HOME!" At least I think that was Motley Crue. It was some Hair Band that I listened to before I had any sense of taste. Whoever it was, the message is still the same. After almost 2 whole months, I'm going home to see my lovely wife, Sara, and the "dynamic duo," Boomer and Trinity. I can't wait!

I've got a rough outline of what the weekend is going to look like. Tonight, I'm just going to sit on my porch, drink some wine, and watch the world go by. Then it'll be off to bed with my wife and 150 lbs. or Labrador Retrievers.

Tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be up by 0600 (old habits die hard) and I'll put in a few miles running. Come, home, make some coffee and sit on my porch as I watch the world go by, waiting for my wife to wake up. We'll quick pop into the church real quick so I can see the wonderful women that hold that place together and then it's an afternoon with the puppies, wearing them out. Dinner Friday night will be at Cucina, as Sara and I celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary that was Monday. We'll come home, open some wine, sit on the porch and watch the world go by.

Saturday, I'm preaching at St. Paul, trying to give Tom a break, and then we're having dinner with some good friends, Roger and Wendy, that evening. It'll all wrap up with some wine on the porch.

Sunday will be church all morning, lazing around all afternoon, fireworks that night, and some wine on the porch.

Monday is gonna be spent in Cedarburg with Bryan and Zachary, and if Ty and Denys, want to tag along as well, who am I to say "no"? I fly back that night and I'm back 0600 for PT on Tuesday. Already, I can see that the weekend is going to be too short, but aren't they always? I'm just glad to be heading home.