We got the Twitter ....

I never said I was not open to new ideas but the whole Facebook/MySpace thing has never been on our list of "Oh we have to do that" but I have a number of colleagues that use Twitter to quickly share info that is work related but also to share things that are happening. The small footprint message idea is not a bad thing in that regard so I figured lets give it a try.

You will see a gadget on the right hand side that has a small Twitter feed - I guess we will try to keep it up to date during our honeymoon - well the public details anyway.

We hope you enjoy the feed and we will try not to abuse the power ....

.... cu

Sam is not a happy camper ....

A few weeks back Sam was at the dentist when they mentioned that she was missing a molar. The dentist suggested that we go see our orthodontist. Well Sam was not at all excited about that but she held on to the fact that all her dentists had told her before that she had wonderful teeth and would not need orthodontics.

This morning I took her to see Dr Apt. It was an early appointment, which meant she had to get up early, not a good thing for her, and then of course that first "inspection" is not much fun. So she had some pictures done and then Dr Apt came in to look at her. The first thing he said was she had a wonderful profile, which we all knew. But as we went more and more into it there were lots of little things - space in between her teeth, minor misalignment and a few others. The suggestion - 18 months of braces. Sam was not thrilled. So we will talk about it and of course we will let her decide what she wants to do. Whatever she decides I know it will be right for her.

Ok - back to work .... cu


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Everyone asks .....

Everyone asks if I am getting nervous? My simple response is "what is there to be nervous about?"

Two weeks from today I will be sitting across from Laura as we will have many days. The only difference will be when the waiter asks what we would like I will get to say "My wife would like ...." Two weeks from now I hope our friends will be getting over a very good party while we start thinking about all the things we will do on our honeymoon.

I have no reason to be nervous. A wonderful and beautiful woman who has been my friend and confidant, who has challenged me and encouraged me, who is there when I need her and is there to help people in need wants to spend the rest of her life with me. What do i need to be nervous about?

I know we will face challenges - we have already - but I also know that we are both committed to working through those challenges and we are both looking forward to living a wonderful life together, enjoying those challenges we face and throughly enjoying the less challenging times.

The question is not am I nervous but more of how excited are you? And the answer to that is easy - VERY!

I hope you all keep up on our adventures ....

.... cu


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Back to school

Ok, it is not me back at school it is the girls. Last night was back to school night so I went over to meet some of Kris and Sam's teachers. They seem to have a great set of teachers - some of them new to me and others have been with either Tika or Kris in the past. They all seem eager to challenge the kids - and i think that will mean the kids will be busy this year. But i also like that they have a varied background including:

- a kiwi (from New Zealand)
- a former lawyer
- a former army recruit who worked in the Pentagon on psychological warfare
- a northern Virginian who lived in Austria
- a former lawyer

And that is just a sampling. I hope the kids take advantage of the diverse backgrounds to learn more than just what is in the curriculum.

In any case it should be an adventure for them

.... cu


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Life brings changes ......

I think  I am actually qualified to say that given the changes in my life in just the last few years .... but this is not about me. 

This morning I woke up and had a late e-mail from Martika. A late email from her is not unusual - she has been working hard at school and is quite often a late-nighter. This email was different. 

A few weeks back she had mentioned that her friend Jenny had wanted to go and check out the sororities at VCU. Tika was .... reluctant. She had never felt that the sorority thing was something for her. I talked to her and gave her my opinion which was that you will never know who you could meet or what you could learn if you never went at all and if you went and did not like it then maybe you met some nice people. Well she went and talked to some people who told her that they had met some of their best friends at just the first visit type sessions and in some cases one was in a sorority and the other friend was not. So she went and went again .... and is going again today. Turns out she found some of them very interesting and knowing Tika she also met some nice people there.

I am glad she opened the door to peek inside and if she decides to and gets accepted into one of the sororities then that is great. If not and she has met some new friends that is great as well. I am just glad she is exploring more things on her own.

Have a great weekend .... I am going to finish my coffee while Laura finishes up at Sax up the street.

.... cu


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A grim reminder ....

Yesterday was the annual Reston Triathlon, the "Olympic" version. It is a race I have always wanted to do but when I was racing never was able to get registered in time. Last year I was hoping to have a better chance after having volunteered for a couple of years but of course last year was derailed on July 17th.

Well this years race was a stark reminder of my own bad year. One of the athletes racing this year was approaching the end of the bike course when a car pulled out into the race course and he hit it. Fortunately he was wearing his helmet and as of now appears to be recovering well. For me reading his own e-mail on the accident was a vivid reminder of last summer .... seeing a car pull into your lane and knowing there is nothing you can do ... then next thing you know you are on your back. In his case his next memory was on a backboard ... mine was on the road.

I do wish him well and hope his injuries are not major. As for the drivers out there - all I ask is be aware. I know that cyclists also need to be courteous but in a case like this where there is a marked course an accident like this should never have happened. If I am not racing next year I will be making sure I am there as a road marshal once again - hoping to make the course safe for the athletes.

Please be safe.

.... cu

A new endeavor

So I am expanding my blogging to work related things. I figured I need to keep the two separate though so I have started a new blog http://tridentityideas.blogspot.com/

Feel free to check it out ... just started it so it will be a while before it gets really interesting

.... cu

Thank you Laura's Mom

When Laura's mom was in town she took a really nice picture of us and I just had to post it.



I just got a copy of it this week and since it has been such a busy week I have not been able to get it posted. The reason I like it is Laura looks great and I do not look too big. Laura likes it for the opposite reason - she says she does not look too small.

Work has been crazy for both of us. Laura with handling some oversight from the government and all the trials that she has going and on top of my regular workload I was in DC for two days at the IIW East Conference talking about identity for open government. One of the guys that I know was there and I was tossing some ideas at him. He asked if I had a blog and I realized that I should start a new one for work only stuff. You will see a new link on the right that will be my work related blog. Hopefully it gets some interest.

Ok going to start to get stuff ready for supper.

Have a great weekend.

.... cu


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Labored on Labour Day

Woke up this morning and decided to go for a nice run. They are almost finished the extension of Croson Road so right now it is car free and has a nice hill. So I left the house and ran up that way. I hit the hill after running just over a mile. I got to the top and decided to run through the rest of the neighbourhood. Two hills later I realized I ran 5 miles - the most I have run since the Marine Corps race in March. I think the break was a good ine but it is nice to be running again. I just need to make sure I continue to take it easy and build up the distances sensibly - not like the past when i would not run for weeks then go run a half-marathon.

Ok - having coffee with Kris right now at Caribou. Have a great Labour Day.

.... cu


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Location:Grand Commons Ave,Fairfax,United States

Off to a great start ....

Yesterday was a great start to the Labour Day weekend. Well I guess Friday was as I had a good drive down and back to get Jenny and Tika at VCU. Yesterday was a relaxing day and we capped it off by heading up to our friend Dave's place for a now annual eating event. Dave lives just northwest of Point of Rocks in the Catoctin Mountains. He used to be a chef so the food was great. Peruvian chicken, BBQ ribs, brisket, wings, chicken, potatoes, sweet beans and lots more. It was also good to see some friends from last year and to hear that Dave's wife Jill was doing ok after her adventures at the Discovery Channel last week. I also got the scoop on some upcoming changes to the network lineups :-)

Today a morning bike ride and now having a coffee before we go to get the girls. Tomorrow will be our bbq.

Have a great weekend .... cu

Location : 42974-42980 State Route 774, Ashburn, VA 20148,
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Oops ......

Looks like I was heavily influenced by oddball characters as I was writing my last blog entry. I think Kevin, the lost bunny of the Apocalypse, has made me think about Eric the fish. And of course the whole E name thing threw me off and instead of talking about Hurricane Earl yesterday I was writing about Hurricane Eric. Now I am sure John Cleese would have a blast with that thought but I thought I should correct it ..... And Mom did as well.

In either case I will watch out for Eric .... I mean Earl as I head down to Richmond this afternoon.


.... cu


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Location:Ryan Rd,Ashburn,United States

Looks like I get a trip to Richmond

After Tika having been at VCU for two weeks it was nice to be have a long weekend upcoming. She had planned to catch the train after classes on Friday and her friend Jenny would join her. She went online and bought the tickets and everything. Wow - so far so good.

Well that was until Eric decided to visit Virginia and well before its arrival our governor decided to flex his muscles and declare a state of emergency for the entire state. I certainly would have understood a state of emergency for the Eastern Shores, Hampton Roads etc ... but the entire state? Anyway after he declared the emergency Tika got a call from Amtrak to inform her that her train would not run Friday. Well of course she called, I think she is looking forward to the trip as well, and now it looks like I will go to Richmond tomorrow afternoon to get them. Jenny's parents will bring them back on Monday (or they may get the train).

I just hope I can time it to avoid the weekend traffic ..... I know wishful thinking.

.... wish me luck