Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my Dad's Birthday so I had to make sure that I gave him one more Happy Birthday wish.
Today's update being done from Brussels. I arrived a few hours ago so I am just trying to get my body accustomed to the time change and lack of sleep from the flight.
It was a good weekend, other than mixing up my flight time which made me miss going to see a movie with the girls - so we are going to do that next weekend. I did get to volunteer at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Light the Night walk this weekend. It was a great way to spend a Saturday evening. I got to meet some great people who were really inspiring including a 5 year-old girl who has survived her cancer to date. She has gone through 170 chemo treatments even though she is only 5. She is so full of life and energy. I left the event realizing how lucky I am, to be healthy myself and to have those close to me also to be strong and healthy. I did register as a bone marrow donor in case there is something I can do to help someone else. I encourage anyone who reads this to look into registering yourself. It does not require you to donate it just gives you the chance if the need/opportunity arises. You can look into it at http://www.marrow.org/
Off to get something to eat to see if I can get my body back on a reasonable clock.
---- cu
ISHI - Japanese for DETERMINATION. Some would say I am stubborn - others opinionated - but in reality it is determined. I believe it is determination that got me through the challenges I have faced and allowed me to start this new and wonderful life. I will stay determined and we will have as much fun as we can along the way. Read along for the wonderful adventure.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday Hike ....
Tuesday was vacation day. Of course a relaxing vacation is to head to 
Shenandoah Park and Hike Old Rag. For those unfamiliar, Old Rag is a easy to moderate hike with some nice big boulders on top of the mountain. Seven of us met in Centreville and then drove out to the park. Depending on where you check the hike supposedly takes anywhere from 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours and we had planned to do it in less than 4.
We started hiking a little after 8 and as we headed up we could see the fog was settling in
so big spectacular views was not going to be an option. Two of us, myself and Siri, kept a steady pace and we were soon ahead of everyone stopping a couple of times so we could keep the group together. We hit the summit in 1-3/4 hours 
had a quick snack and then decided to head down. Most of the group decided to climb back down the way we came, a 3 mile hike, while Siri and myself decided we would take the 4-1/2 mile trail that included the fire road. We of course made it a challenge to see who could get to the parking lot faster. One other person decided to join us and off we went. Well we made the parking lot in under 45 minutes (yes we were moving) and decided to cool off in the spring close by.
After everyone else made it down, all in less than 3-1/2 hours, we headed to Thornton Grill in Sperryville for some lunch and then back to DC. It was a great hike and my legs reminded me of it this morning.
Have a great week and cu l8r .....
Shenandoah Park and Hike Old Rag. For those unfamiliar, Old Rag is a easy to moderate hike with some nice big boulders on top of the mountain. Seven of us met in Centreville and then drove out to the park. Depending on where you check the hike supposedly takes anywhere from 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours and we had planned to do it in less than 4.We started hiking a little after 8 and as we headed up we could see the fog was settling in
so big spectacular views was not going to be an option. Two of us, myself and Siri, kept a steady pace and we were soon ahead of everyone stopping a couple of times so we could keep the group together. We hit the summit in 1-3/4 hours 
had a quick snack and then decided to head down. Most of the group decided to climb back down the way we came, a 3 mile hike, while Siri and myself decided we would take the 4-1/2 mile trail that included the fire road. We of course made it a challenge to see who could get to the parking lot faster. One other person decided to join us and off we went. Well we made the parking lot in under 45 minutes (yes we were moving) and decided to cool off in the spring close by.
After everyone else made it down, all in less than 3-1/2 hours, we headed to Thornton Grill in Sperryville for some lunch and then back to DC. It was a great hike and my legs reminded me of it this morning.Have a great week and cu l8r .....
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A month to study ....
Things are moving fairly fast on the naturalization front, or at least they appear to be moving. I just received notice for my interview which is October 20th. This interview is where they test knowledge of US History, understanding of the language etc... Not sure where it fits on the timeline for naturalization but I am a bit surprised it has come up this quick. I guess I should be excited about it - but it also means I will need to take a look at the example questions to make sure I do not make any mistakes. I guess it is convenient that Tika is taking AP US History - maybe I will get her to quiz me.
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Monday, September 15, 2008
Back from Ottawa ....
It was a long weekend but it was a fun one.
Went to Ottawa for a couple of days of work and then had some down time as well. Some former colleagues had arranged a reunion/fund-raiser. The reunion part was people that had been at Entrust mostly during the IPO time. I got to see people who I had not seen in 10 years as well as catching up with friends who are living all over. It was a great event and we raised over $27,000 for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
I also got to spend some time with my brother Wayne and the family. Nothing like playing catch and doing chalk drawings on the driveway. I also got to catch up with my dear old friend Malcolm, who also happens to be Martika's godfather. We had a great evening catching up and having a few beers (ok - one more poured then should have been).
All in all a GREAT weekend.
---- cu
Went to Ottawa for a couple of days of work and then had some down time as well. Some former colleagues had arranged a reunion/fund-raiser. The reunion part was people that had been at Entrust mostly during the IPO time. I got to see people who I had not seen in 10 years as well as catching up with friends who are living all over. It was a great event and we raised over $27,000 for the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.
I also got to spend some time with my brother Wayne and the family. Nothing like playing catch and doing chalk drawings on the driveway. I also got to catch up with my dear old friend Malcolm, who also happens to be Martika's godfather. We had a great evening catching up and having a few beers (ok - one more poured then should have been).
All in all a GREAT weekend.
---- cu
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Reston Triathlon ....
What a variety of a weekend. Saturday I was volunteering at the Reston Triathlon packet pick up. The early morning was ok but by mid morning Tropical Storm Hanna let us know that she was going to have an influence and at times it was truly raining horizontal. The day was great - I got to meet lots of great people in the AM and even get some insider information which will be good for next years race. I got to spend most of the afternoon in a great long conversation - thanks for the tea Miho :-).
Sunday was the day of the race - sunny and warm. Because of the rain Saturday they canceled the swim, too much debris in the lake, so the race became a duathlon. I volunteered as a bike marshal - making sure the bikers were safe and that the drivers knew what was going on. It was a little bit frustrating knowing that the race dropped my worst event and that there were a number of people that dropped out leaving empty spots. It would have been great to race - BUT volunteering is very rewarding in a different way. Again I met some great people and left the race motivated to make sure I am in and ready for next years event.
Off to Ottawa Wednesday --- hope all have a GREAT week.
Gary
Sunday was the day of the race - sunny and warm. Because of the rain Saturday they canceled the swim, too much debris in the lake, so the race became a duathlon. I volunteered as a bike marshal - making sure the bikers were safe and that the drivers knew what was going on. It was a little bit frustrating knowing that the race dropped my worst event and that there were a number of people that dropped out leaving empty spots. It would have been great to race - BUT volunteering is very rewarding in a different way. Again I met some great people and left the race motivated to make sure I am in and ready for next years event.
Off to Ottawa Wednesday --- hope all have a GREAT week.
Gary
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A break in New Mexico
It has been 4 or 5 years since I have been in Albuquerque so when I found out I had to be here this week I planned a half day just to go hike in the Sandias which is something I have done every trip out here. Usually I hike to the peak but this time I decided to get adventurous and it paid off. I pushed myself a bit and tried some new routes that I never would have tried before. So rather than just hiking I ended up doing a bit of hiking, some scrambling and a good bit of bouldering. 
The bouldering was the most heart racing as it meant pushing (well in this case pulling) myself. I tried some 20 and 30 foot boulders and had a blast. A few scratches etc but nothing major.For some perspective Sandia Peak is over 5300 ft above Albuquerque which puts it at over 10,600 feet elevation. Normally I would do the peak but this time I stopped somewhere just shy of 10,000 ft and then scrambled back
down through one of the canyons - which was as hair raising as some of the bouldering. The picture on the left was one of the routes I came down.There is a lot of cool stuff that you can see - some of the other pics are self explanatory - well the eagle got way too close for comfort. I suspect I was near a nest. The cactus above was one I found on the lower trail.
It was a fun 3 hours. Looking forward to a productive week as well.
.... cu
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Race Day ...... updated
It has been a good week ..... I had very productive meetings in Miami with one of our partners and I look forward to working more with them. They were also very hospitable and we had a
couple of good nights of Italian and Spanish food - with a couple of drinks ;-)
After the meetings I stayed in Miami for an extra night to see a good friend and had a fabulous time. Good company, good food, a nice exhibit at a local art center and a Duck Boat ride around the South Beach area that was a blast. It was a busy weekend as I flew back late Saturday knowing that I had the Leesburg 10K that I was running at 7:30 Sunday. A half hour delay meant I did not get to sleep until almost 1 AM.
The race itself was good - picked up my registration stuff in the AM and then had like 30 minutes to warm up and hydrate before the race. The weather was nice - high 60's - low 70's. It was a good
crowd - over 1600 runners. This being my first running race I did not know where to start in the pack so I tried around the center. Slow getting started because of the crowd but eventually I was passing people left and right and very few passing me on the outbound leg. After the 1/2 way turn around no one passed me and I even had a couple of guys comment on my pace - which was nice :-) Not real fast - ran the 10K in 51:00 (at least I think that is what the clock said) Official time - 50:13 so a 8:05 pace. Ended up finishing 198/670 that ran the 10K; 25/102 in my age group and they also did a first timers group where I was 3rd of 42. Kris and Sam were at the finish line to hear the announcer say how I kicked it on at the end - a guy tried to pass me in the last 20m and I was having no part of that - so I sprinted to the end and got in just ahead :-) After the race myself and the girls grabbed some breakfast.
Now I get to play catch-up until later this afternoon when myself and the girls go to see Batman in I-MAX with the Barnes' men. Looking forward to seeing that movie :-)
cu ......
couple of good nights of Italian and Spanish food - with a couple of drinks ;-)After the meetings I stayed in Miami for an extra night to see a good friend and had a fabulous time. Good company, good food, a nice exhibit at a local art center and a Duck Boat ride around the South Beach area that was a blast. It was a busy weekend as I flew back late Saturday knowing that I had the Leesburg 10K that I was running at 7:30 Sunday. A half hour delay meant I did not get to sleep until almost 1 AM.
The race itself was good - picked up my registration stuff in the AM and then had like 30 minutes to warm up and hydrate before the race. The weather was nice - high 60's - low 70's. It was a good
crowd - over 1600 runners. This being my first running race I did not know where to start in the pack so I tried around the center. Slow getting started because of the crowd but eventually I was passing people left and right and very few passing me on the outbound leg. After the 1/2 way turn around no one passed me and I even had a couple of guys comment on my pace - which was nice :-) Not real fast - ran the 10K in 51:00 (at least I think that is what the clock said) Official time - 50:13 so a 8:05 pace. Ended up finishing 198/670 that ran the 10K; 25/102 in my age group and they also did a first timers group where I was 3rd of 42. Kris and Sam were at the finish line to hear the announcer say how I kicked it on at the end - a guy tried to pass me in the last 20m and I was having no part of that - so I sprinted to the end and got in just ahead :-) After the race myself and the girls grabbed some breakfast.Now I get to play catch-up until later this afternoon when myself and the girls go to see Batman in I-MAX with the Barnes' men. Looking forward to seeing that movie :-)
cu ......
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