Back To The Sunshine State

When I left South Florida I though that was it. It's in my rear view mirror. I am closing a chapter in my life. I did not burn any bridges in leaving my company, but I was honest in conveying my reasons for leaving.

Well over the last 48 hours, my world has changed such that they want me to come back. They called me for a position here in Houston working for them so I am off to West Palm tomorrow. Strange huh?? I will be interviewing on Friday. Because of all the emotion of just having ANYTHING to do with SFLA I am forcing myself to keep an open mind and give this a chance. It is free to listen and you can't turn the job down before you get it.

So I fly out tomorrow afternoon and come back Friday night. Along the way I am also looking forward to meeting a very special friend over dinner. Should be a lot of fun. I think I am also gonna go for a run on the beach on Friday morning. Just to get a perspective. I considered going back to my old house and doing my loop there, but I think I was running for all the wrong reasons on that route.

The cabin door is now closed.

Tasting Life Again from 14,000 ft

That is a DeHaviland Twin Otter. In fact, it's the Twin Otter I jumped out of yesterday from 14,000 feet.

I finally got my ground school done Thursday to clear the way for me to work on my class A skydiving license. Geez that has taken forever but at least it is done. Now that I have done my first two tandem jumps, I will have to complete 18 jumps witn a non tandem instructor to be certified to jump solo any time I want to. Ground school was easy but by far the most beneficial thing in the school was getting to pull a container apart and see how the damn thing works. There is a LOT to it but it's redundant out the ass. You have to walk away knowing:

1. You are not the first person to ever do this
2. Less some huge human screw up, this thing is gonna work

Saturday was my first shot at jumping, but the winds were well over 25 mph with the front coming in. Rules state that they are too high at this point in my career which is fine with me because it did look pretty rough up there. Walking into the DZ that morning one thing struck me: it really is a little community out there. People know each other and don't really reach out to the rookies. I would imagine a lot of rookies fall by the way side. But for the regulars, this is their life. They come alive in the plane. Some of them even catch a nap they are so at peace. Jokes fly around left and right. One thing is for sure, once you get onto that plane, you are now one of them, and they have you back and want you to be safe. But anyway..........

Late Saturday night/Sunday morning the front came through and it was certainly over cast but the ceilings were well above 15,000 with 10 mph winds. Conditions were go for try number two. I met Terry my jump master the day before. I suppose you could best describe him as the old Texas coot - more of a character on Dead Wood than anything I suppose. I checked the winds and diagramed my approach and flight plan, reviewed my malfunctions and procedures and the next thing you know Terry and I are gearing up. We checked our containers inside and out and I finally got to put the container on for the first time, so effin' cool.

Your heart skips a beat when you hear the engines start outside the hanger and you are walking towards a plane that you will NOT land with. Terry and I sat towards the front of the plane with two other students that were a few jumps ahead of me. The vets sat in the back towards the door. No tray tables, no safety announcements, no video briefings, no seat belt checks. When everybody is in, full throttle and you are climbing.

I think I was more nervous in the hanger than in the plane probably because the decision was made and I was confident in my skills. It took us about 15 minutes or so to climb. The door is open the whole way up so by default it is not pressurized and you have to clear you ears. The coolest thing is that you feel the humidity go away and suddenly the temps plummet from 88 to 55 or so. We checked gear several times and I kept reaching for my pilot chute handle to make SURE I knew where it was on the container. The vets went out on the first pass over the DZ and Terry and I jumped on the second. There I was crouched in the door looking forward at the propeller down range. Terry spots the DZ, points it out, I confirm and look back at him for the go. He confirms he is ready and grabs hold of my left thigh strap. I wave my left hand out the plane (one count), back in the plane (two count) and three is us arching on our backs watching the plane above us fly off without us.

Our arches slowly bring us belly down and I check altitude 12,000. Terry gives me a few signals to extend my legs as I check altitude. I adjust, thumbs up, 10,000. Practice handle throw one, I easily find the handle and arch again. Terry gives me the extend legs again, I check altitude, probably 8,000. Jump into handle throw two and find it, check altitude, 7,000. Thumbs up from Terry. I can get one more touch in knowing it is the last one before the real thing and I touch. Just before 6,000 now so I lock on the altimeter on my wrist. Just after 6,000 I wave off. Arch. Reach. Throw, Arch. I hear the pilot chute release from my hand and rustle in the wind as I feel my container pop open. I am counting.......one one thousand....two one thousand......by five I feel the canopy begin to open and just at that moment it feels like the hand of God above me slowing me from 120 mph to 20.

Above me is a beautiful square, stable, symmetric and steerable red canopy. I reach up and grab the steering toggles from my rear risers and give the chute a hard flare, left turn and a right turn. Cool. 4,000 feet now and all I have to do it enjoy the ride down. I catch myself all tense and then I think to myself, hey, this is the fun part. Sit back like you are chilling on your couch with a beer and enjoy the view! I spot the DZ and the radio chatter begins as they talk me down. Flying the canopy was a blast and easily my favorite part because you can really get a feel for how it flies into the wind and also down wind. As I am getting ready for my approach it is all natural. At 20 or 15 feet I begin a slow flare that leaves me maybe two to three feet above the ground and then there is a short jump to the ground. SURPRISE! This is the time I find out that basically the DZ turns into a rice patty after the rains. I could have easily stood up but I landed in the water and my feet go from under me leaving me on my ass and side. No harm, no foul. I am back on firm land......just a little wet.

I don't think I have ever felt more alive than I do up there. Life is tangible there. You have no barriers. You are about to jump out of a plane, what in the world do you think that you CAN'T do after that? Your limits are re-defined. Life is sweeter. The sky is more blue. Your cheeseburger tastes different. The birds sing a bit louder. The beer is a bit colder.

You get to taste what life is about on the simplest terms: You, our beautiful earth, and God.

31 Years ago

Several months ago when I began this blog, it was my attempt to create my own little corner of the world. Or maybe my own corner of the web. Well, I suppose it's not quite what I expected in some ways.

I think it's interesting how small the world can be. The blogosphere can be even smaller. I never really thought that maybe in some small way, it might not always be about me here in my world. People find you. Maybe there are people lurking in your blog that you never really know about. It could be a family member. It could be a long distance friend, you just never know.

It fascinates me how people that you never would meet during the normal course of life come into your world via blogging.......just one random click away possibly from a comment on another blog. I have been really fortunate to get to know some great people like Keg, Silver, Bones, and Capt. Crash beyond the gaming world via their blogs. But then there are others like e.e., Kimmy, Phain, Fame, WDKY and a few others that have come into my world. More so they have come into my life in a strange way. Have I met them? No. Do I know their names? Maybe, maybe not. Do I know what their voice sounds like? I haven't a clue. But still they are there and each important to me.

So 31 years ago, Fame was born. She lives in her world. I live in mine. We visit each other from time to time. I give her dog UGA pupperoni treats and raw hides. She encourages me. And today is her birthday so I guess this post is all about somebody else. Or several other people........maybe that is what I am getting at. Today we celebrate her specifically on her birthday. Darlin' I hope that you are having a wonderful day today. Happy Birthday.

Oh, I suppose you can't really have a birthday without cake!

Again

Here I am again.
Late.
Can't sleep.
Just here doing anything but going to bed.
In FL all I wanted was sleep to forget the world.
Now I don't want to.
I need to taste life again.

War Damn Eagle!

Auburn 7
LSU 3

Some Dave Matthews Goodness From San Fran

Cool photo if I do say so myself.

San Francisco 2006

So I think this would be a good way to capture my trip. Certainly a good way to look back on it when I am planning the next one..

Well I got into San Fran mid day Friday which was perfect timing. I had plenty of time to get settled and still have time in my day to explore. This time around I stayed at the Orchard Hotel on Bush street which was a great location around downtown for a base to hop around from. I was right down Powell Street from the trolley and tons of shopping and people watching. Sanraku was a surprisingly good sushi find in the city for lunch after a long flight. After resting up and getting a warm up beer in me that night I headed to Delfina for dinner and it rocked! Great wine and great lamb! I gotta find out more about Page wines. I was totally surprised to find out that Sue was back in the Bay Area again and not in NY. We were able to catch up after dinner over a couple drinks which was nice since we had not spoken in months.

Saturday there was a minor disaster averted. I forgot the battery for my camera.....yeah camera no battery....makes a lot of sense. So I spent the morning tracking down a replacement and charger. Unfortunately I have no pictures of Sausalito or my drive up through Muir woods because the battery was not charged. However, I do have the memories and that is what counts I suppose. I don't know if you could really capture the beauty of the cliffs and sea shore on that drive, it was simply amazing. I think I could drive those mountain roads listening to good tunes for hours on end. Sausalito is a must see next time I go as well especially if it is a nice day.

The concert that night was really top notch and my seats could not be better. I was 5th row left, right up front. Dave and the band played for a solid 3 hours and although I did not get Dreaming Tree, they did play Grace is Gone, Digging a Ditch and Granny. Solid set list all in all.



Sunday I was able to meet up with Jodi and her spankin' new daughter Leila. We went down to the farmer's market at the Ferry Building and caught up over lunch. The view of the bay and Bay Bridge going over to Oakland is amazing and it was a beautiful day. From there she dropped me off at the Marina area to kill some time before meeting with Tamara and her family.


The Golden Gate Bridge was only a couple miles away so I took off on a walk up to the bridge and out on the span. I always feel like such a kid up there, the bridge is just amazing and the view is second to none. Before heading to Napa that night I was able to meet Tamara and her family for dinner and catch up with them. The boys have grown a ton in the last year or so and it was good to see all of them doing well.


The next couple days in Napa were a good combo of familiar and new. The first day set the tone for the rest of my time there, very low key and relaxed. I really did not want to be rushed from vineyard to vineyard so I only went by Salvestrin (Rettagio), Terra Valentine (Cab and Viognier) and Barnett (Merlot). Of course a trip to Napa would not be complete without a stop at Taylor's Automatic Refresher....its all about the blue bacon ring medium rare! Dinner that first night was at Market in St. Helena. Day two started with a long drive and good tunes all the way north of Calistoga. Bob Schneider's new CD The Californian seemed to be my soundtrack for this trip everywhere I went. On the way back I had lunch at Mustards and got down to the business of wine. Although I usually don't care for Zins, I stopped at Chase and was really impressed with their 2002 Zin. From there the day took a bit of a strange detour as I was "kidnapped" by this group of women touring Napa in a 1947 Packard. I usually would have declined but what the hell, it turned out to be fun. We headed to Fleury which I didn't know a thing about but I am glad that I went. They have a pinot that is stellar. Wrapping up the trip was dinner at the Martini House which is always stand out. Can't go wrong there.

Over all this was a much needed get away and the pace was perfect because I didn't have much of an agenda. Can't wait to get back soon but hopefully I will be able to share it the next go round. I really need to spend more time in San Fran next time to get to know the city more. Also taking a day to drive north west to Healdsburg or another area would be a cool diversion. So what's next? I'm thinking Argentina..........

Back so Soon?

More where this came from........soon.

A Time to Decompress

This week was just a blink. Work was fairly slow overall for these three days so that was a welcome change for me. By far the highlight of the week was dinner with Caroline last night. We went to Glass Wall and had a great time. Are we connecting? Is this something? I don't quite know. I do know that I would love to get to know her in a meaningful way.

Well the bags are packed and I am off the California tomorrow. I am flying into San Francisco and plan to play it by ear for the most part. The Dave Matthews Band concert is Saturday night at the Shoreline Amphitheater which I hear is really cool. All I am asking for Dave is Dreaming Tree, that's all I need. Not much else planned which will be nice. I hear the drive to Sausaulito and on through the Muir Woods to the San Reyes National Seashore is nice and I might check that out Saturday during the day. Driving north to Napa on Sunday for a few days which will certainly be a highlight for me as much as I love wine. Gotta see the crew at Terra Valentine for sure.

Alright Houston, see ya later. I'll be back by the next weekend or so. Time to breath. Relax. Let go.

Too Much

Don't try this at home: two fantasy drafts in the same night and one of them hosted at your home. I hosted the Best League guys again this year and it was fun as always. Amazing how the years fly. I remember when they were just getting married four years or so ago and now they are on their second kids. The money league went like this:

2006 - 2007 Gladiators
Eli Manning
Plaxico Burress
Santana Moss
Carnell Williams
Steven Jackson
LJ Smith
Mike Vanderjagt
San Diego Def

Bench:
Randy McMichael
Julius Jones
Corey Dillon
Ahman Green
Roy Williams
Musin Muhammad
Lavuraneus Coles
Jake Plummer
New England Def
Ryan Longwell

The weekend in Nola/Gonzales with Andre and the family was great. I flew into Nola Thursday afternoon and went out with Andre to Bridge Lounge to meet his co workers. They did it up and it got totally out of control, body shots and all. Michelle came by and it was good to see her. It has been at least two years and I was kinda surprised that there was some magic still there. We drove back home Friday morning and spent the day with the family and his mom. Saturday we went back over to meet a few people to celebrate his birthday and I think Monique actually surprised him. That night was my first time seeing New Orleans East since Katrina - a year later it is simply gone. Just gone. Sunday was grilling at the house with a few more people. Overall, very chill.

Now, so much to do for Friday.