Hello. My name is Jim. Not everyone knows me so here is a bit about me. As you can see, I still ride bikes at the age of 54 - oh wait, that's not a bike. It's a trike. I've ridden the MS-150 for the last 7 or 8 years.
· I met Jay around 40 years ago and became good friends with him 35 years ago when we were the only seniors on the swim team.
· I am sure there was a time when I didn't know Patti but I couldn't tell you when. I just kind of remember her, well, forever. I had a bunch of friends from school but 10 or 20 years later I found myself wondering what happened to her (and not so many others).
· I've known Bruce and Debbie for upwards of 20 years. When we moved into the neighborhood in 1989 they lived two houses down. We play disc golf together pretty much every weekend and Saturday is always lunch with Bruce and Debbie.
· I met Paul and Mary in October of 2012 when we went on a cruise together. That's all I've got right now...more later (I bet).
· I really like trying new things. I try something new do it for a while and then try something else. There are a few things that seem to stick with me.
· I have played disc golf for years and years and years. It's one of the things that sticks with me.
· Photography is another one of the things that stays with me. I really like the pursuit of that truly excellent picture. I also love it when I capture it.
· Travel is another constant. I've literally logged millions of frequent flier miles in my work travel. Michelle and I have been taking cruises together for over 25 years. We've been to 49 of the 50 states (I have a life goal to stay out of North Dakota but that's a whole new story). I've worked on 6 of the 7 continents, vacationed on 4 of them and plan to get to Antarctica (the 7th) before I die.
· I've met (enough to shake hands with) two US Presidents. I've met (had dinner with) Bill Gates. I once rode in an elevator with Art Linkletter.
· I have jumped out of an airplane (with a parachute).
· I've done over 100 Scuba Dives
· I have a black belt in Taekwondo and once won 2nd at Nationals in Sparring.
· I got mugged in Brazil (sort of - I was already a black belt and I taught the mugger that he needed
a new hobby)
a new hobby)
· I climbed Devils Tower
· I have been stung by a sting-ray (in Mexico)
· I've walked on the great wall of China
· I have two children (a boy and a girl) both grown and married
· I've been on the Eiffel Tower in Paris
· I rode a camel to the great pyramids in Giza Egypt
· I've been to the Great Library of Alexandria
· I've been to a Superbowl (and watched Denver beat Green Bay)
· I've been to the Cathedral where Luke (yes, that Luke) is buried
· I've been in the Opera House (from all the pictures) of Sydney Australia
· I've been to an NBA final (and watched Boston win the world championship over Los Angeles)
· I've seen a Penguin in the wild
· I used to have an FAA flight instructor rating (but I'm not current anymore)
· I've visited a WW2 German Concentration Camp (in Michelin Belgium)
· I chartered a helicopter to fly around the Christ the Redeemer statue (Corcovado) in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil with my wife and daughter
· I lived in Saudi Arabia for 5 years.
· I once rode a cruise ship from Rotterdam Holland to New York
· I'm currently restoring a 1954 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup
I don't know the first thing about blogs, their protocols and etiquettes, but I guess it's time to dive in head first and figure it out. Mary and I have been married twenty years, most of it happily. We are only now starting to travel now that the kids are grown and mostly gone. When Jay and Pat suggested a cruise; we thought why not?
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw your photo I had to laugh; I have a TerraTrike recumbent that I have yet to put a lot of miles on. Mary hasn't said it, but I get the impression she's half embarrassed to be seen riding next to an adult on a tricycle.
I was a diver in the Navy, as well as a parachutist. I spent about six years in Hawaii at an R & D lab working with dolphins and sea lions. Mary is an ex-math teacher (at least, she's not teaching right now). She doesn't tend to think of herself as exceptional, but she has run a marathon and several 30Ks, the last one after having one of her hips replaced.
We are looking forward to meeting everyone. It looks like the beginning of a memorable experience, and perhaps the beginning of new friendships. Mary and I both appreciate the invitation, particularly since neither of us has ever been on a cruise. My previous exposure to cruising was limited to two day of seasickness and misery on an LST with the Marines off of Molokai.
You nailed the comment thing. If there are protocols you followed them beautifully.
DeleteFurther, you have endeared yourself to me. The income tax form has my occupation as "Computer Guy" (because I get to decide what to write). I spent a year on the NMCI project (Navy Marine Corps Intranet) as a lead architect (which means I think grand thoughts, draw pretty pictures but someone else gets to do all the fun engineering work). I more or less "lived" in San Diego (with frequent trips to Norfolk and the Pentagon). I have an official Navy ID and Top Secret Clearance (that isn't current) so I know my way around that part of the military.
I'm thrilled you are "yourself" enough to choose a recumbent trike, especially if some of those around you think it is the wrong choice. The best people in the world have guts enough to do what they think is right even if other think it is wrong. I've only had my trike for about a month but it is looking like an excellent choice. I've put around 100 miles on it in the last couple of weeks and will probably get over 500 miles under my belt prior to riding the MS-150 in May. You should think about riding with us. I have a friend who is driving down from Gillette to ride and I bet you could hitch a ride!
The way things are looking I might have to kick Jay to the curb and make you my second best buddy on the cruise (Michelle still gets top billing).
Finally a note on sea sick: Probably not going to happen. This ship is literally bigger than an aircraft carrier. The USS Enterprise (first nuclear-powered carrier) is 1,123 feet and 93,284 tons. The Oasis is 1,186.5 feet and 225,282 tons. Our last cruise (on the Allure - a sister ship from the same plans) we literally traveled between two hurricanes. We had 50' seas and barely noticed. One of the crew told me it was the first time he ever felt the boat move as the result of rough seas but it was so subtle that you had to focus to notice it.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteI love that you spent about six years in Hawaii at an R & D lab working with dolphins and sea lions. I might have to consider kicking Jim to the curb with Jay and have you be my best friend on this trip. I swam with dolphins in Cozumel and had a fantastic experience. They are so interesting.