A Tuberific Fourth

Happy Fourth of July, peanuts!

Yesterday I took advantage of the whole no-work thing to join several friends (about 20 of them) for a tubing adventure on the Shenandoah River. We enjoyed PB&Js, Fig Newtons, and hard cider as we floated downriver for three miles. Occasional .1-class rapids made things interesting.

Thanks to Jon for organizing! More pix here.

(pic above is friend Seth Wikas, rolling through the "heavy" rapids)

Day of Fun in Locust Grove, VA

On the top: Joanna, Pete, Darren, me, Jon, and Mary enjoy a spin around the big lake on Darren's family's pontoon boat.

On the bottom: My famous "breaching shark attack" descends upon an unsuspecting Jon.

On Sunday I drove down with several friends to Deep Dark Virginia - specifically Locust Grove, where friend Darren's parents have a gorgeous house on a beautiful man-made lake. First we visited a nearby winery (my first one in Virginia), then we went back for swimming, a ride on the pontoon boat, socializing, merriment, and food. Weather and company were perfect. The wine - eh.

Kayaking in Seneca Falls

Me and Diana work our paddling muscles in Seneca Falls, MD. Wet exits rock!

Obama So Phat

Everyone should check out my friend Eric's fantastic new project, ObamaSoPhat.com. See if you can come up with a submission - it's not as easy as you might think!

My First Boots

After 22 years of skiing, I finally have my own boots. They're beautiful. Happy day!

Strawberry Picking Turns to Strawberry Pie

Friend Lauren crouches in the field, me & strawberries, and the pie I labored over today

Memorial Day #2

Hiking White Oak Canyon in the Shenandoah, the happy location of a fabulously fun natural water slide. In the picture, Yvonne descends while I watch in the foreground (I did it too, but no pictures). Awwwwweeeesooommme.

Memorial Day Weekend #1

<=== Me, rock climbing!

I survived Old Rag

What up. It's been a while since I posted because I've been busy, mostly with things that would make anyone not really, really into telecom standards cry with boredom. Exception: my hike this past Saturday up Old Rag Mt. in the Shenandoah. One of those "you get out of it what you put into it" hikes - i.e. tough but rewarding. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to summit, which is a decent if not record-breaking pace. Our timing ("our" because I was with ten other intrepid hikers) was perfect; the weather was warm but not hot, and the sky had nary a cloud. Rock!

Pictures available on my photo page. Word.