My First Day of Work

Today was my first day of work. If you did not know I am working for Holland America Cruise Lines. I got to the port at 8 a.m. Nobody realized that I was supposed to be working... good sign huh? Well the morning was spent helping people find their bags. They have a great system worked out, dump all the bags in one room, in no order, and let everyone in and have them find their bag. The great thing is that the workers, me, are not allowed to help the passengers carry their bags! Which is great because I am very lazy... I couldn't take pictures of that because due to customs and such no phones or cameras are not allowed in that area, plus I'm not allowed to be on a phone during work.
After that it was time for lunch, I wasn't told to bring a lunch so I had to go to the cart across the street and got a hot dog. It was really good though! After that it was time to check in new guests for the cruise leaving that evening. I was really scared that I would really screw up loging people in. It was scary the first few times, I was really nervous! I got the hang out it a few times around, pretty soon I had a pretty good groove going! Except with huge familys of like 10 or so I kind of was nervouse getting everyone in.
I didn't get done until about 3:30, and I was soo tired. But it was worth it for making that sweet cash money! I go in again tomorrow, same time same deal. I realized today that the people that take cruises are a very interesting group. They are either extremely old, from northern states, canadian, fat, rude new yorkers, and extremely ugly! These are a few pictures of some ships, basically my office... Also me in my uniform. Well until something interesting happens...

Christmas and My 1st ride

Merry Christmas all. It was a warm one today in Ft. Lauderdale, it was around 80 maybe high 70's... The day started late, as usual with my family, we opened presents at around 12... I made out ok, I didn't really want anything. I got new shades! I'm pretty happy about that. I need new riding glasses since the ones I have, for those who know of my Rudy Projects, they are not very practicle. The new ones are Oakley Radars. I might trade em in for a different color, I don't know if I like all black, I'll shop around.

My brother Craig got an iPhone! Brat, I had to pay for mine... Oh well. He gets to pick it out tomorrow. He was very happy with this present, let me tell you.

My dad got socks!

Well he got a little more than that, but that was the only pic I had of him. He got a new watch and some goodies from the Scottish Shop, which he loved, thanks Rebecca! My mom got him our family crest to put on his wall in his office!
I put a red bow on Figaro, needless to say he did not enjoy it. I thought it was cute and he should dress up a little. It took forever to get on him, but I could tell he was not enjoying it and took it off after a quick picture, sorry it's a little blurry. He later bit Craig, but for good reaseon, he wouldn't stop poking his tummy.

After presents we where going to dinner at a friends house. I decided to ride there and meet my family. I figured it would be a good chance to get out and make room for dinner. I also got to rock my Christmas present from Rebecca's mom, a Scottish Cycling Jersey, it is so sweet!
I figured nobody would be out driving on Christmas Day... wrong! It took forever to get past Ft. Lauderdale Beech. So many dumb people just walking in the road/bike lane. Just standing there... watching me come from about 40 feet down the road, not moving at all... I hate Florida soo much. I just wanted to unclipp and kick there fat asses onto the sidewalk... Other than that the ride was great, a little windy, but that's Florida. My legs felt good after not riding for 3 weeks, with traveling and finals. On my way up to our friends for dinner I missed the turn and went a few miles past it...opps... but it was not my fault. The street that I was supposed to turn on had no sign. I had my eye out the entire time, oh well extra miles! I mapped it out in case people want to take a look. http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/fl/fort-lauderdale/453178610341
All in all it was a great day! I am going to try and ride tomorrow as well, see how my legs feel after round two! I did miss being with Rebecca, it does really suck being so far away for so long :( I hope this passes by fast. Until I have more stuff, take her easy...

Birthday/Being Home

So I am home from school :( which really sucks. I don't mind visiting for about a week or two, but 6 weeks??? To get through being away from my gal I plan on riding all day everyday, except the days that I work. I will work and then ride the rest of the day. If you haven't heard i shall be working for Holland America Cruise Lines! Ya pretty bad ass! I will be doing computer check in! So if your mean to me I will send your bags to the wrong ship... I don't have a picture of me and my uniform yet but when I do I will post that asap. This is a pic of me going to my interview.

I also got my hair cut, I really needed one, it was getting too long. For my birthday my mom took me shopping. I needed nicer clothes, I am getting tired of t-shirts. I like dressing up now and looking good. This was my birthday outfit, It was all under $60. My mom is the queen of complaining and she said that the sweater had a defect and we got 40% on top of the 30% already marked down. Everything else was on sale too!
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This is the cake my mom made me for my birthday! It's pomegranate with lime, it has a lime glaze and sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and mint! It was damn good!


That is what I have been up to so far since being home, not much. I haven't started riding yet, a number of set backs have stopped me. My fingers are crossed for tomorrow though. I just want to get break over with so I can get back to my special lady friend. I don't see how I can do this 6 weeks thing. I want to get back so we can get "hitched" as she so lovingly put it! I will update everyone with pictures of sunny south florida and

Bristol Cross

Today the team went down to Bristol, TN to indulge in a little bit of cyclocross. It was freaking cold, the ground was frozen solid and all the ruts were like hitting big tree roots. I did alright, I got 9th. Nate got 1st in the 4 race, which is great since it was his first cross race. He raced on his brand new Salsa 29er that he got yesterday. I think I broke my pedal but I need a second opinion. I also flatted but that was after, luckily, I hit a big ass rock on the way back to the trailer after cooling down and flatted. Later during the 1-2 race it started snowing hard core. It was pretty intense! Rebecca came out to watch and cheer! This was her first time seeing a cross race, she had a great time. Apart from the fact that it was colder than hell.
Tonight we went and saw the School's Christmas Concert, it was great! Now were just gonna relax and snuggle and watch tv and go to bed. We have a big day at Everything Scottish tomorrow! Can't wait! Here are pics from the race!

Hickory Nut Gap-Roubaix and Christmas Party

Today I went riding out side, something I haven't done in a while. So the town decided to tear up a good part of Hickory Nut Gap to repave it. The funny thing is that they tore it up about a month ago, so the road is pretty tore up. Then once you get past the really crappy construction you hit the part of the road that should be torn up to be repaved, which is the the entire road to the top... Plus the ice, salt, gravel, rain run-off did not help.
So I rode to the top and came back to the gym and did 4-5 laps of the cross course to get ready for the upcoming race on saturday. Well that was extremely fun seeing as how it was muddier than hell. I was going sideways the entire time, but that is good practice since my handling needs to be improved by a hell of a lot. It got cold fast and was threatening to rain so I peaced out cause I had to get to class anyway.
After class Rebecca and I had to set up for the Cycling Team Christmas Party. It was a lot of fun setting up. Ronin was there helping out and we helped put up her tree that she bought. She decided to give it a test run in the bike room before taking it home. Rebecca and I made streamers the night before and hung those up in various places and also hung up lights that we bought, which are now hanging up in the apartment! All in all it was a great party.
The DeFeet rep. for this area came out to the party and was selling socks and such for $5 each! Holly cow, that's such a great deal. I got like 4 pairs of Woolie Boolie's my fave socks ever. I got Rebecca 2 pairs of arm warmers and 2 pairs of socks! Kristi gave up a pair of Hot Pink arm warmers that Rebecca really wanted. Thank you Kristi!!! The pics are up so enjoy! Later!

Long Time No Blog

So long time no blog right? I just have kind of been busy and plus I have not uploaded photos onto my computer because I don't think it can handle it. It has been snowing like every other day, so I have made friends with the rollers.
So Rebecca works at the Scottish Shop in Lineville and I enjoy going to work with her because the Shop is always interesting. They have food and candy from Scottland. They have a condiment called Marmite. Marmite is a yeast extract that is collected from breweries. It's the extra stuff left over from beer brewing. It is very interesting and has an unusual taste. Actually it taste exactly like soy sauce, it is actually good on buttered toast. It ain't Nutella but I saw Graeme Obree eat it in The Flying Scotsman so it apparently makes you fast. Sorry the pictures are backwards but blogger was being gay...




Rebecca and I made a trip to Nashville the other weekend to pick up her younger sister at Vanderbilt. It was a really cool place, a lot more to see than Banner Elk, but driving around there is a lot harder.

I spent Thanksgiving in Mountain City! It was awesome, I got my cat and dog fix for a while. Since I can't go home and play with Fig for a while I get to play with Rebecca's 5 cats and 2 Cocker Spaniels, it was a blast! On Thanksgiving Day we started " The Tour de Mtn. City" That way we didn't feel bad about stuffing our faces at dinner.
Well that is that for a while. I should have more soon. Sorry for not writing for a while but please check daily for posts!
Laterz!

The Airport and A Pumpkin

So we got up at 5 a.m. to get to the airport by 7:30 a.m. to make our 8:30 flight. So we get there a little before 7:30 and we think great nobody is here so we will def make this flight, since we are flying standby. We get to the desk and the guy is like "What flight are ya'll on???"
"The 8:30 to Atlanta..."
"Naw, that left at 7:15! The next flight out isn't until 11:30"
So we waited at the Tri-Cities airport until 11:30 and got on that flight to Atlanta. We had a long wait and it was very boring, but we were tired from getting up so early that we just slept. Than Rebecca found some coloring materials that the airport has for its "lil flyers". We passed the time coloring and people watching. We thought we saw Cher! This lady had HUGE Black curly hair. It looked just like Cher from behind, and she kept flipping it and twirling it around like she was someone special. After that we started watching Cher music videos on my iPhone.





Rebecca thinks that I look just like the Unibomber... What do you think?






We just hung out for our first day in Florida, went for a little run/walk in my hood. It was hot as shit and we were sweating like crazy. We went to my friend Anthony's house for dinner, it was his mom's Birthday. Played some Rock Band 2, which has a great selection of new songs! Than we went Bowling which was a blast! Haven't done that in a while. Anthony started bowling in a league with a few of his friends and is doing very well at it, cept he wasn't on his A game that day. We also got a pumpkin and carved it and made roasted the pumpkin seeds, very tasty!

Today we had to help my parents clean out their storage unit so that they can move crap out of their office so when/if they have to move their office it wont be as bad a move. That was kind of hard because it was a lot of heavy lifting but it wasn't bad. We got to go through all my stuff that my mom saves, than she complains about how my dad never throws anything away...

My neighbors let me and Rebecca borrow their Vespa Scooters! These things are badass! We went cruisin the beach and riding around my neighborhood on these bad boys! I will add pictures of that later. Until we have another adventure...

Fall Break Starts in 3...2...1... NOW!

So it is now Fall Break! I have to go back to Ft. Lauderdale which is kind of lame, but Rebecca is coming with me, Big Perk! We plan to hang out with Andrew for a little while before he heads out to California. Classes are out and I really don't have any work to do! I dont have any pictures to post because we really haven't done anything interesting...
On a happy not... I now have a cyclocross bike! I am soo pumped, but this means I willl be broke for the next 2-3 months. I got a Bianchi Cross Concept... once again, I am super pumped! It sucks that I won't have it until we get back from fall break, but I am happy all the same! I only got the frame but I will transfer my components from my road bike over to the cross bike. I Just need breaks, pedals, shoes, and a shorter stem. So that might put me in the hole another month or two...
Until I have some good pics of Fall Break in Sunny South Florida...

Home Coming Weekend

So it's Home Coming weekend here at LMC. This week was really busy for some reason but this weekend turned out great! On Friday Rebecca and I were challenged by Went and Kristi to a pizza cook off. Of course we won, we watch The Food Network enough to beat anyone at a cook off, so watch out! This is our winning pizza!

Rebecca and Went were chosen to be on the Homecoming Court! I was so happy for my woman to be on the court! I was equally happy for Went! They got to ride in the back of a truck in the parade! Kristi and I rode in the parade to rep. the team and followed Rebecca and Went.

Unfortunately she did not win :( , but isn't she great? Went is our King but I really wanted my woman to be Queen. We went to the dance last night at the Best Western, that was pretty fun.

All in all it was a pretty fun weekend and this week seems like it well hopefully be a lot easier and next week we have fall break and Rebecca and I have to go to FLA to help my parents with stuff. So that should be fun... At least Rebecca and I will be together and have some fun in FLA.

I should have some good stuff from this week so until then...

UPDATE 2

So like I promised I am updating my blog. I apologise to those loyal fans that have been waiting for an update for quite some time. Things have been going great! I am back at school and enjoying class, as much as anyone who is as lazy as me can. I have been trying to ride as much as I can but some invisible forces of nature have been trying to stop this ever since I have been back.
Were to begin with the bike probloms... The first day I got back I was so excited to get out and ride, so I did and 5 min into the ride I noticed that my tire was rubbing up against my frame. My wheel was true so I could not figure out what the hell was going on. So I turned around to head back and my wheel rubbing against the frame the entire time. I stopped and took the wheel off and put it back on but it only made it worse. By the time I got back the entire one side of my tire was worn all the way down, practicly to the tube, and my frame wass also worn from the tire rubbing. I took the bike to Dane who also had no idea what was going on, he played with it for 15 minutes and then poof.... it was fixed. So I had to get a new tire before I could ride, and Boone was way to busy since all the dirty App. Hippie kids moved back on that day. So I had to wait for a few days to go.
After a week or so of ther new tire my front tire developed a huge cut and my tube was pooping out. So i needed to go to Boone yet again to get another tire... Soon after that we had about 2 solid weeks of rain, than my derailure hanger broke off my frame(picture above), than my shifter broke and I had to wait to get enough money for the reapirs on that and for the shop to order a new part and install it. Than I became sick and was unable to ride, and now it seems that I have something to do every night and do not have enough time between classes and very important things to get any time on the bike. Well thats that story.
On a brighter note, I kind of started to get into mountain biking! It is really fun, its a total blast! I do not have a mtb of my own and am currently in the market for one. I have been riding lobsters Trek hardtail, that also has a rigid fork on it, but is super fun all the same. I did my very first mtb race as well and did fairly well for only riding a mtb for 2 days prior. I was 3rd for most of the race but Lobsters seat slides down and this made me not do as well as I could of. I had to stop several times to raise my seat, but I finished and did not get pulled so I was extremly happy!
I know that this was a lot to post, but guess what, that wasn't even half of it. I have so much to tell and so many pictures to post. I will add those from time to time but I am going to try and keep up with the current since that is so much easier than revisiting the past. So once again I am sorry for not posting but I am back in action! Happy reading!

UPDATE!!!

YES! I am still alive, sorry for not blogging for a while. I have just been really into being back at school and away from that hell hole that is called South Florida. I have had many adventures since being back at school and I add pictures and stories as soon as I get back to my computer, right now I am at Everything Scottish in Linville with my wonderful woman at her work. So I'll post more when I get back to school!

Work Sucks...

I guess some people really think that working sucks. I would not know since I have no job, I have been looking for about a week now and still can't find a job. It's the same story, "well someone is thinking about quiting, but they aren't sure yet, they don't know if they really want to... um they prob will, then again they might not... uhhhh... ya were not hiring..." WTF is peoples deals? It seems like by the time I do find a job it will be time to go back to school, so i'll work like 2 whole weeks or some bullshit like that, lame.
In other news I went for a ride a t 6:45 a.m. this morning, its the only safe time to ride in Ft. Lauderdale. Seriously it seems that Florida drivers are out to get bikers, for most part there is a bike lane, sometimes the bike lane ends and you have to ride on the regular street, no big. There are no cars in the lane next to you the whole time your in the bike lane, the second the bike lane ends someone is up your ass honking and yelling, shooting the finger and what not. It seems like they must sit in their car and think " Hmmmm...mhmmmmm... no body is in that lane, I don't think I want to drive in that lane either... O man there's a biker on the road...I gonna go get up his ass and honk and shoot him the finger!!!" What else are these ass holes thinking???
I figured the florida cyclists would be nice but whenever I pass someone going in the other direction I always give em a little wave to be nice, they look so pissed to see another person riding on the road. You get the worst "eat shit, go to hell" look in your life. So tomorrow when I ride in just gonna ride the whole time without one hand, that hand will be used giving the finger to every pedestrian, motorist, and cyclist on the road. I might as well call Genis and see if it will be some kind of record.
On a happier note I am planning on starting to ride track this week or the beginning of next week! I can't wait, it's gonna be so fucking sweet. I think track is gonna be so mush sweeter than training on the road here. By the way chloe im gonna be kicking your ass at track camp, not the other way around... and what!!!
Till a better day...
-Sean

Ft. Laudederdale...

So I'm back in home, we rolled in at like 3 am, went to sleep, then woke up late and started rearranging the room. I brought a lot of shit home so I can leave it. We then picked up Fig at the vets, I missed him a lot. Now I'm at the mall and I just got my hair cut. Now I need to go to the mac store and get a new cover for my phone and new headphones. Until I have my first fla adventure I'll post more later.

Camping

So I am off for another adventure, I am going camping with the Boy Scouts. I know sounds kind of lame but here is the deal... I am basically going to sleep in a chair all day, then at night sit next to a camp fire then sleep more at night, and of course I will be eating the whole time, so it works out great. I might get my lazy ass up and go to an activity like basketry or something, or go to the shooting range and bust a gap in some loud mouth little kid, only the future will know.
It's gonna be nice with no phone, tv, loud annoying P.A. kids tap dancing over our heads at 3 in the morning. Im taking a book and I might end up reading it. So you wont here from me until saturday, I'm taking the iPhone but I probably wont have service, but if I do I'll post a blog or something. Well lets hope I don't fall down the mountain or get eaten by a bear, but I should be fine, this ain't my first rodeo. See ya saturday.

-Sean

The iPhone Show

So the internet at school is down, lame. It won't be up till like Thursday, the IT nerds are probably messing around with nerd things. So know I explore the wonderful world wide web on my wonderful iPhone. Its no big deal, I just miss a keyboard, or a full size screen or aim and basically a whole computer. Still the iPhone rocks more than other phones. So Im only posting important things since I am somewhat limited. Ohh and Went, your charger is on the way.
-S

Friday The Fucking 13th, and Black Cats

So today I head out for my ride and this black cat runs out in front of me.  I was wondering if this meant that I was gonna have bad luck now.  So as Im riding I kept thinking about bad luck and all that superstition crap.  I decided to check out some gravel called upper crab orchard, turns out its doesn't lead anywhere.  So halfway on the gravel road I get a flat, lame, so I get off to fix it.  As Im fixing it a big wasp starts gettin' all up in my shit and trying to sting me.  He gave up and flew away after bothering me for 5 min.  As I am fixing my flat a house starts moving up the road towards me, Yes, a house!  I guess they were moving a house to its new lot or something.  So I basically have no place to move, Im already in a ditch basically, so the dude driving the house squeezed by without making me go smush.  So i fix the flat and I decide to go home since my tire was pretty low.  Then as I'm going down Valle Cruisis back towards school these two skank ass ho's are walking in the middle of the raod, swingin' their bags and shit.  So I'm going like 35+ and just buzz right by em.  They jump and start screaming, that made my day.  O and also, when we were riding down to Wily's to eat I almost crashed... don't ask why I almost did, I have no clue.  

I don't have a meal plan for the summer because they don't offer one, lame.  Rebecca gets free food for being a summer R.A. and what not, so we go to Wily's and she pretends like she is getting all this food but we really split it.  Ms. Jenny hooks us up like that.  But the dude that runs the cafe and Wily's was there tonight so Ms. Jenny couldn't hook us up, mondo lame.  So we had to spend money, again, which is extremly scarce.  So thanks again Friday the 13th and you damn black cat.

Tonight Rebecca and I went to a Contra dance, if you don't know what that is I shall explain.  It takes place in a Barn and some fat old sweaty guy yells commands at you, you dance with your partner and a "neighbor" and you swing people around to the commands.  It's really fun, cept when you end up dancing with someone that has no clue what they are doing and they end up screwing everything.  It's also fun to see the old people that have been doing it since the first Ice Age and they get really pissed at people that screw around.  All in all it is a real sweet deal, check em out next time your in B.E.

So other than that nothing much to report.  Rebecca and I are going to Hampton Trails to check out some new jersey's and stuff for her.  I've only been there once but I heard the dude gives killer deals, which rocks since I have $30 to my name.  Which reminds me, if you want to contribute to the Feed Sean fun, my P.O. Box is 3307 if you want to make a small donation.  I don't know the schools address but you can look it up.  

Till the next time.

Todd Nation!!!

  In between stints of studying we went down the rail road grade and got an amazing ride in.  we parked at some little rinky dink park that had a river right next to it- in fact the entire ride had a river next to it.

We saw this winner on the way through boone.

there was a pre ride wading session and after ride swim sesh as well. the views were amazing- i swear to god we had a tail wind both ways.  there were wildflowers everywhere, cows and shit, it was just some straight up old fashioned feel good ridin'

WELL! seeeeeeeeeeee ya later!

-s

WTF

This makes me sad to be Mexican. I just don't understand this.

More pictures

  More pictures from today...

The Cascade Falls

  These are pictures from our little hike today.  We went to the Cascade Falls just outside of Boone.  It was a nice little walk to the Falls and there were a lot of flowers.  Here are a few pics.