Minneapolis Sunrise

View from my hotel room at dawn on Friday, June 26th.

Burlington weather

It was 90 degrees and sunny and humid in Minneapolis the past three
days while I was stuck out there turning wrenches in a muggy shop. I
finally am going back home and guess what I see in the Burlington
forecast: "national weather service advisory: start building your ark,
because you are in for 40 days and nights of solid rain." If only I
knew what a cubit was! If you get that reference then I will openly
admit that you are a comedy aficianado. If you don't get it, here is
time for you yet.

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Trapped!

I am wandering around the Mall of America. Terrifyingly American.

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If you're going to be dumb, you gotta be tough

I did some brrap bike riding in the sloppy mud on Friday afternoon and ended up crushing my hand a bit. The funny thing is that the hand injury was sustained while I was driving an offroad vehicle that featured a rollcage, 5 point harness, brakes, and four wheels! Not to say that I'm more skilled at two wheels than four, just sort of ironic that the "safer" vehicle was the one in which I hurt myself. I am not particularly fast on the dirtbike, that's for sure, but I have a lot of fun riding it and I sure do get quite a workout being out there, certainly a full body challenge. In one picture you can see me being passed by Aaron, he's the real rider and he looks like he knows what he is doing. Well...he does, I don't.

Speaking of things that I am bad at: I went and shot about 75 rounds of clay pigeons on saturday and my aim was WAY off with my 12 gauge over/under. I swtiched over to George's short barrel assault shotgun with the folding stock. That thing sure will clear a room but hardly potent beyond about 30 yards. Still a lot of fun though.

Cruise Ship Pictures

Yesterday I had the opportunity to tour the USS George H.W. Bush, CVN 77. This is the United States newest nuclear powered aircraft carrier and the last of the Nimitz class supercarriers. This ship was just delivered to the Navy a couple of months ago and is still being shaken down by her crew. Disclaimer: All of these pictures are unclassified and approved for release. The first picture was the Burlington sunset when I got home last night, pretty spectacular.

Im on a boat. A really really big boat

Stop being so selfish

My younger sister is in the Peace Corps over in a village in Ghana (that is in West Africa for you non-geography majors). She needs some help getting her project launched and could use your help. I was over there, in Ghana, during Christmas and New Years this past year and have to say that the people over there are the most caring and wonderful people you'll ever meet. Follow the link, read about what my sister is trying to do, and then donate to help out some people who could really use it.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=641-268

The Penny Wedding

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Penny on their spectacular nuptials this past weekend. Here are some pictures I took with the phone at Shelburne Farms, pretty much the most gorgeous setting possible in the state of Vermont. Good times for everyone involved.

D.C.

I am in the nations capital today for a meeting, and, inadvertantly,
when I was waiting in line to board, I cut of Vermont's own socialist
senator, Mr. Bernie Sanders. Sorry Bernie, still bitter about you
being a far left wingnut, are your antics really in everyones best
interests?

Brrap bike injury

Pretty sweet looking bruise on my leg, also have a smashed finger and the imprint of the end of my handlebar in the middle of my chest.

I am cool

Why am I cool? Because I rock lifejackets from 1989 with a certain debonair panache. Go check your dictionary for what those two words mean, because I have no clue. Pictures taken by Courtney Adams out on Ernie's boat.

Ben prior to immersing himself in 50 degree water:
http://caimages.com/photog/2009/may21wkbd/lg5.html

And now Ben preparing for insanity (though insanity never actually occurred):
http://caimages.com/photog/2009/may21wkbd/lg4.html

Check out Courtney's site CAimages.com for more fun stuff.