Las Vegas

Steve and I just returned from Las Vegas. Boy, has that place changed, and not, since I was there last. The mountains are still beautiful, the desert a mass of development and the people still searching for.....who knows what.

The Bellagio and The Venetion win for classiest place. The MGM Grand had lions on display that were fascinating to watch. The Cirque du Soliel show "O" was spectacular and impossible to describe. Thanks to Steve we actually got tickets. It's sold out for months to come but he always comes through. Paris at Bally's was nothing like Paris but a good effort. Everything else was...well, Vegas-like. Every possible way to separate you from your money Now I just need to kick that pack-a-day habit I developed beginning when I stepped off the plane Friday night. Unbelievable.

We ate lunch at Spago at Ceasars on Saturday. Sat next to Robin Leach of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" fame. He looked like a homeless person in need of a shower. He was talking with the manager of the restaurant about "Wolf's" post-Oscar party the next day. (BTW, Wolf is what those of us "in the know" call Wolfgang Puck.) Considered inviting Robin and "Wolf" to Shannon Barger's Oscar party, but thought the better of it. We probably had more fun at her party than they did at theirs.....

George is Looking Good

It seems like George Hincapie has worse record in the Spring Classics than Jan Ullrich does in the Tour de France. He's only won one semi-Classic before (Ghent-Wevelgem in 2001), and Jan won the TdF once in 1997. They're booth on the podium year after year (Jan in Paris and George in many races throughout the Spring), but don't seem to know how to come up with that elusive win.

I haven't heard anything about "Yawn", but George just one another (semi-)Classic on Sunday, Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. Conditions were bad, with strong winds and snow (just like how it is expected to be on the east coast when I go tomorrow). Just as he was the first American to win Ghent-Wevelgem in 2001, today he became the first American to win Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. He was 30th in the previous day's race, Het Volk.

Looks like Lance is bringing up a good team this year for the Tour. Too bad for Jan.

OLN will start covering cyling this month [March]

It's starting!!!!!!!!!

OLN has posted some scheduling information for some cycling events. Here are the dates for March--Sunday evenings, 5-6:30 PM (Eastern Time). There are more dates listed here. [I had some trouble loading that page in Explorer (Mac version 5.2.3) but it worked with Safari.]

March 6
Paris-Nice (France)

March 12 (Sat.)
Paris-Nice (France)

March 13
Paris-Nice (France)

March 20
Milan San Remo (Italy)/Tirreno-Adriatico (Italy)

March 27
Criterium International (France)

I read elsewhere that Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin will be providing commentary and play by play.

Note: This early scheduling on OLN may save countless fish and bulls from gory and pre-mature death.

it's me again, rob. finally, david and i have gone ahead and gotten internet access at our apartment here in the glorious confines of the los olivos luxury apartments. glad to see lance will give it another go this summer. nice to see that this blogging habit has sustained for many of our family members. it has been confirmed by rene, the automotive wizard and all around charming guy, that my car will require a new transmission, along with a few major repairs to the engine where oil leaks like a faucet. lance better look out, since i've been getting a lot of bike riding in as my primary form of transportation. i might challenge his seventh consecutive title run. anywho, more later as interesting information arrives. pray for the safe return of those stuck in far off places. peace to everyone.

Sunshine on My Shoulders...

...makes me happy. And makes me think of John Denver? It has been a beautiful sunny day today here. Finally. People are treating each other nicer. Dogs are back outside. It is delightful. We have gotten over 34 inches of rain this season (since July 1), more than we've gotten in a century. In fact, our average rainfall is 9"...and we got that in the last week alone. Once my shipment of howler monkies arrives, the rainforest in the backyard will be more authentic. And if you are considering a high priced spa for a mud pack to condition your skin, I can help you out with some fine backyard mud, lovingly kneaded by the paws of a one-year old lab. No cost to you.

I do love real "weather," and have certainly gotten my fill this winter. No complaints. Most of us have not slid anywhere in our homes. I am grateful. The herbal smell in the clean air is delightful and legal, unlike a Santana concert I recently attended.

Indianapolis, Chicago and Peoria

The weather looks tolerable in Indianapolis as I post this. I will be there Monday through Thursday doing organizational assessments which is really kinda fun, but time consuming.




Then back to Chicago to drive three hours to Peoria to meet a new organization for the first time.

Chicago's weather is looking kinda miserable for landing at ORD on Sunday.




The snow advisory only lasts until noon on Sunday!

Mom Back Home

My mom, Jane, went home from the hospital today. She is coming along fine. The Dr. said the lymph nodes showed cancer, so she'll begin chemotherapy in the weeks to come. That's all we know for now. The Dr. said she wouldn't lose her hair. She and Dad enjoyed their dinner, brought in by a family friend, and watched Dr. Phil. So, things are getting back to normal. My dad was unable to visit her for the last three days to to extreme back pain after a fall last week (a Vertigo spell). So weren't they the pair! And me thousands of miles away. Well, we do have to deal with our limits and trust others to pitch in and help. I'm thankful that they have friends to help them out. I may make a trip to see the folks in March.

Lance Decides (or Announces)

Lance just announced that he will race in the Tour de France in 2005 to try and win it a seventh time.


Here's his schedule:
March 6-13: Paris-Nice
April 3: Tour of Flanders
April 19-24: Tour de Georgia
July 2-24: Tour de France

See some quotes on what people think about it here.

Go Lance!

Now that we are here . .

This might save you some time.

Read any good books lately?

My own favorite films

If I were a member of the Academy I would vote for films like this one.



I also liked Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to all. We love you. Glen and I celebrated on Saturday with dinner at home (ordered our favorite pizza...BBQ Chicken) and watched "Manchurian Candidate" (borrowed from Rob's Blockbluster). The restaurants around here get too crowded and overprice special menues just for the occassion, so we don't go out. Rationality wins over romance. The movie was quite suspenseful and well-acted. Meryl Streep is chilling and brilliant. I enjoyed it as much as the original.

We got home around 12:30am Friday night/Saturday morning from the trip. It was delightful to greet the happy dogs. Today is a school holiday for me (President's Day for our district), so I am enjoying time in my sweats and catching up on electronic filing of learning reports, since I could not connect to the Internet during our trip.

My father is suffering from severe back pain as a result of a fall earlier last week. He's been to the chiropractor three times for adjustments and is making progress. It prevented him from being able to visit my mom in the hospital today. The fall was due to a vertigo spell. So the two of them are dealing with some frustrating health situations. Mom is coming along nicely. I talk with her three times a day. Her attitude is mostly good, but she seems to be discouraged most mornings. I think it is natural when you are recovering from major surgery. No report on the lymph nodes yet to determine next steps. So lots on my mind, too, as you can imagine. I am leaning on the Lord in bigger ways these days and find such strength in that.

Jane Remington surgery in Ohio

Jane Remington's surgery, scheduled for 8:30 this morning, started after lunch. The doctors removed much of Jane's colon in order to rid her body of cancer that was discovered there just days ago.

She was reported to be in recovery this afternoon at about 4:30 by Dick Remington who was waiting at Akron General Hospital. Dick reports that he was accompanied by several good friends from church during the day.

We are looking forward to hearing more good news tomorrow.

Waiting at the Fort Lauderdale airport

Cindi and I are here waiting for Song flight 2043 to Los Angeles. We had a wonderful few days in South Florida and Orlando. Everglades is a great place to see some large lizards lying in the sun. I'll see what I can do about a picture of one soon.

UPDATE:

Here's the photo as promised!

A ride out to Key Biscayne

It started with a big gray box on Sunday afternoon from the bike shop. I disassembled my bicycle Sunday evening, put it in the box, checked it in as luggage with Delta Airlines, wondered if it was on the plane all day, picked it up at the oversized luggage area in Fort Lauderdale, wheeled it out to the shuttle bus that goes to the car rental garage, put it in the trunk of the rental car, had the bellman help me with my luggage at the hotel, reassemble it in the room, and went for a short ride in the dark on Monday evening.

Then, this afternoon . . .



. . .I went out for a ride, about 14 miles out the causeway to Key Biscayne--several cyclist did the same route with me. It rained at the end. Was really pretty, sorry only one picture--but I was riding, not photographing.

Wednesday in Coconut Grove

I am sitting in the office of Miami Urban Ministries (MUM) waiting for my next meeting. We are doing an organizational assessment on many of our clients to determine the effectiveness of our work (funded by your tax dollars). It is a lovely day with tempatures in the 80s--but what do I care. I am in an airconditioned office. This is quite the contrast to last week in Chicago where the tempature went above freezing only once the whole week and the fine upstanding citizens of that city celebrated as if 38 degrees was some kind of achievement for them!

Happy Ground Hog Day

Puxtahwny Phil saw his shadow today, indicating 6 more weeks of winter.

Fairhaven Memories

Here is a picture of Harris Bay. This is a small bay where Fairhaven meets the Puget Sound. You can see the Alaska Ferry Matanuska getting ready to sail to Ketchikan, Alaska. In the background you can see Orcas Island to the right and Lunni Island in the middle. Behind the Ferry is the remains of Uniflite Boat Works. My uncle Arvin was the chief marine engineer when they were in operation. Their boats are still sought after and have held their value. Harris and Bellingham bays are a safe harbor for many boats that my uncle built for Uniflite and Bellboy.

brianna dancing

Here are two pictures of Brianna dancing. She fell yesterday and busted her nose, so these pictures are post-black eyes.