Week 2 for my classes is over. I am waiting on my grade of my first writigng assignment in the COLL100 course. I had to choose a topic for the final paper at the end of the 8 week period. I chose "mind-body". I have to make it realavent to learning. This class take up more time then I would like. I despise writing, but if i want the BS degree, I will just have to deal with it. More then likely, I will have to write many other papers for other classes. UG!

The web development class is much more interesting albeit still somewhat boring. So far, I have been breezing through it and does not take up nearly as much time.

I only had time for one bike ride this week. All the official singletrack trails have been closed due to the wet weather this month and with it being colder, it takes longer to dry out. I have been hitting the gym at work. I started jogging on the treadmill to cross train.

Today is Yule. The shortest day of the year when the Oak King defeath the Holly King until midsummer. This is also known as the Summer Solstice. The days begin to get longer. YAY!!!!!

I made the mistake, though probably for the better, of stepping on the scale after my workout at lunch. Apparrently, I have not been keeping a close enough eye on that. I knew I had gained some weight back, but not that match. Though I can tell that I must have lost a little from the way my paints fit. So, I am going to start keeping a closer eye on my calorie intake and exercise routine. I MUST lose at least 50 lbs. That is now my goal.

This month seems to be going by way to quick.In just 6 days it will be Yule and 4 days after that it is Christmas. The week after that it will be New Years. I probably feel like it is going quick because I have serveral things going on at the same time. I don't feel overwhelmed, yet. However, I need to be sure I'm pacing myself so that being overwhelmed does not happen to much.

My transcripts from other colleges have all been received on my my new college (APU). I am just waiting for them to be reviewed to see what credits they are accepting.

Work was very this week. I accomplished a lot with what little time I had and yet I still feel like it wasn't enough. Not is a self scolding way, there is still a lot to be done.

David and I went to a party at Aaron and Cliff's in Greenville, NC last night. Mingled with old acquantices and met some new one.

I still managed to get a couple bike rides on the trail this week.

Today, completed my first week of classes and look forward to the second week. Watched "Kung Fu Panda" and David is subjecting me to an HBO DVD Special of John Adam.

I just finished week 1 of my web development class(WEBD121) scored a 100 on the exam. To be realistic, I did not read much. This is a basic class and most anyone one with basic web experience would have done well. It was a good refresher.

I still have to develop what is now being called "Mind Mapping" which is really just an old fashioned outline to an essay, for my COLL100 class. I have to think a little more for this class. It's been a while since I had to worry about APA formats, spelling and grammar, all of which are a weakness of mine. :) I will get through it though.

I had one of the best MTB rides this evening at Umstead State Park. I started just before 4:30 and rode the outer loop counter clockwise. I consider that way more difficult then clockwise. The temperature was perfect and the wind was blowing hard. It just kept getting darker as I rode alone at dusk. I think it was a feeling of satifaction that came over me this evening. I could tell that the cross training and endurance rides are helping me to improve. I am not fast on a mountain bike, but I wasn't nearly as winded this evening as I have been in the past. Maybe it's the new bike, maybe it's the additional exercise or maybe it's both.

Depending on which time zone you are located, this is the 10th anniversary of my brother Robbie's death. If you are on Mountain Time, then it is tomorrow, but on eastern time, it is today.

I really don't want any comments, I'm just remembering.

I have decided to go back to college, yet again. I do have an Associates degree, but I never finished my bachelor's degree. I have tried a couple times many years ago, but my A.D.D would kick in and I would not finish. At that time I did not know I was A.D.D., however now I know and "Knowing is half the battle" (G.I. Joe). <-joke. This time I am doing this all online. I am trying the online college of "American Public University" http://www.apu.apus.edu/. I have many credits that should transfer, so I am hoping I don't have to take many general education or elective courses. I would like to concentrate mainly on my core classes of Information Technology.

Until my transcripts or evaluated, I have signed up for 2 classes. These classes are COLL100 Foundations of Online Learning and WEBD121 Web Development Fundamentals. The first is a required class of students entering the college. The second is a prerequisite class to most of my core classes.

Wish me luck. It's going to be a long journey.

I walked/jogged on the treadmill today after work. I haven't done that in a very long time. It's a totally different muscled used then biking. I have to climb stairs to our apartment and I was feeling each and every one of them.

The girls that sat in front of me at the concert yesterday took this pic of me and was kind enough to send it to me this evening. It's of me and Matt Nathanson. Not a very good pic of me. I look like a deer in headlights, not to mention fat compared to him.

It was just a nice day all around.

I finally got a nice ride today. Only 14 miles around Umstead State Park, but it was very nice. I waited for the rain to stop and then when out. Once the rain stopped it was perfect weather, although the trail was wet. Water, dirt and mud kep splashing me. I didn't have to stop once, which was kind of surprising considering I haven't been riding that much lately.

Once I got home and showered, David and I went to brunch at Cracker Barrell.

I went to a concert this evening. It was Matt Nathanson and the Indigo Girls. Matt Nathanson, who is a hot skinny cubbish type guy, was full of engery. Not sure he is gay, but wish he was. He did a complete accoustic set. After his set, the girls that were sitting in front of me was kind enough to take a picture of Matt and myself at the merchadise booth. The said the would email it tomorrow. I hope the do.

There was a band before him, but they were so aweful that I blocked out their name.

I only stayed for abiout 4 or 5 songs of the Indigo Girls. I like them but I was really there for Matt. :) By the time Matt's set was over, I had enough of accoutic music.

Stopped at the store and got some ice cream for David and I to finish out the day.

I needed this day. Thanks!

Guess I couldn't stay away.

Went riding at Dupont State Forest in Transylvania County, NC. It was fun and exhausting.

Anyone in the Raleigh/Durham area want temporary roommates? David and I are considering options and hate to sign a 12 month lease right now until we can figure out what's going to happen next. We're pretty laid back and keep to ourselves. We will close on our current house August 27th and have to be out by then.

Well, everything seems to be happening extremely fast lately. There is so much going on right now. Last month David and I Decided to put the house up for sale. The first people that looked at the house decided to make an offer. After a couple rounds of offer/counter-offer. We reached an agreement and the house is now under contract.

Now we have to decide on an apartment by the end of August. By not having the house, this will free us up to move just about anywhere we want to go. With David losing his job in the fall and I have only been working temporary job, I wouldn't mind taking this opportunity and move to a different area. Somewhere between DC and Atlanta. Places like DC, Asheville, Charlotte, Atlanta. I would also consider other areas. The biggest thing about the location is that it has to be within reasonable distance to mountain bike trails :)

David and I have been sick with the flu this week. We're almost over it now.

So begins the next chapter.

I just got downloaded a bunch of pictures from the past few months. Here is photo I forgot I had taken in Nashville, TN.

Think I will start posting more again.

How is that that people seem to have found the one thing(education, career) to concentrate their life around and seem to be happy with that. It seems like I never really found that or fit into that "norm". I know there's a flip side to that, but just something that makes me think.

I placed mulch around the side garden and edged the driveway this evening. The house is starting to look good again.



--What's around the next turn, what's over the next hill?

It's been a while since I've written here.

I'm not really sure how I'm suppose to feel right now. David and I decided to put the house up for sale. It's a preemptive move. I'm still doing contract work and David will probably be loosing his job by the end of the fall. So in an effort to buy us more time, we decided to try to sell the house and plan for the worse.

We've been working on it really hard to get it in a condition to start showing. I haven't worked this hard on the house since we first moved in about 5 or 6 years ago. Now that I've put so much work into it to get it cleaned up and the minor repears, I almost hate to sell it. The really sucks.

Got a new truck yesterday. It's a 2009 Toyota Tacoma,recular cab. Just the basic model. I almost didn't get it, but when I said I wanted to go home and think about it overnight, they made a very nice offer on my trade in. It was to good to pass up.



So I go mountain biking today on an trail that is not exactly meant to be where it is and my bike and I get a little dirty. Then I got to thinking, a brand new truck and a dirty me just didn't seem right. Luckily, I had my work clothes and just put them on so not to get the seats dirty. I just wasn't ready for that. I was ok putting the bike in the back of the truck.







Thank all for now.