It beginning to look a lot like normal.

Well the Chrismas tree has been placed at curb, the stockings put away with care, and it will be another year until Old Saint Nick visits here. As usual the whirlwind that is the Holiday season is winding down and another New Year about to begin. What new resolutions can I make this year that I will promptly break? There is always the ever present need to lose weight or finish house hold projects that were started months ago. No this year I think I will do something new and different. I resolve to do everything the exact same way I have been, well almost, only maybe this year a little better. The way I see it everyday is a new day with another opportunity to start anew. Bottom line is why wait to New Year's to improve...start today.
Happy New Year to the 4 of you that read this and may every day this year be better than the last.
By the way according to recent comments, readership of this bolg is up by 25%...thats right folks in this time of declining economics more people are tuning into the Rambling Elvis! Of course I should mention that the 25% increase represents one person, but I will take it.

It beginning to look a little like Christmas!

Just got home from a weekend of sailing. Yesterday was a bust with winds from 0-1 knots. Knot exactly conducive for running a sailboat race. Today found winds in the 8-10 range not exactly my forte', but powered through on the last race to a third place. My legs are aching from hiking so much much and my head hurts from the late nights.
Fert, aka Dave Ertel, is in town. Went out for a few beers and to catch up. I wish he and Melissa were still in town. Got to listen to him recount his tails of crashing his motorcycle at 80 mph. Of course this was on a closed course with full gear on. I have to admit that it sounds like a lot of fun, not the crashing part, but being able to ride a bike at 100+ mph. Knowing my temperament and zest for speed it would not be a pretty ending for yours truly.
Mari and I are heading down to Punta Gorda to spend the Holiday with my Mom. This will be my 38th year spending Christmas in Punta Gorda. We are packing the truck with all of the toys and hope have time to use them all. Can't wait to spend time with the famdamnilly!
Hope this finds the 3 people that reads this happy and well! Merry Christmas!

Family Weekend

Yay! Moms in town for little sis birthday!

Penascola Beach

Hello hurricane Ike! Waves range from huge to ridiculous! Easy 10-12 footers rolling through. Current is ripping through the pier at 6 to 7 knots. Not a day for surf but the locals will be loving the backside of the storm in a day or two. The picture does it no justice. Peace!

test with picture

this is a test of the emergency broadcast system. if this had been a real emergency it is too late...

Update

It has been a long time since I updated this thing. So here goes..

Sailing season is back in full swing. So, if you want to find me on the weekends head out to Eustis...my second home. If I had a choice it would be my first home.

Mari was promoted at work recently. She is one step closer to being a full instructor for Canine Companions. I am obviously quite proud of her accomplishment...but by no means surprised!

I have been bitten by the surfing bug....again! I recently got a stand up paddle board. What a work out. This has been a great addition to the chest of water toys since it allows me to get out at lunch time for a quick paddle. Also, it is crazy how many waves you can catch with it.

Mari and I are trying to plan a vacation...not so easy when anything outside the borders of Central Florida sounds appealing.

That's all for now...for the 3 people that read this I will try to do a better job of keeping this updated.

MS 150

Mari and I be will riding the MS 150 next month to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. This will be the first organized ride Mari and I have done together...hopefully there will be many more. If you are interested in doing the ride with us or would like to contribute money to our fundraising effort let me know. To find out more about the ride click on the following link: http://bikeflc.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer?pagename=BIKE_FLC_homepage

Mari has a good friend that suffers from this debilitating disease and we will be riding in her honor!

BTW does anyone read this stuff. If so leave a comment...

Update

Well what can I say. My last post was in November which means a lot has happened since then.

The Lake Eustis Sailing Club is in the heart of racing season. This means that all of my weekend time for the past few weeks and up until the end of March will be spent sailing. Our midwinter regatta is right around the corner and the lake will be filled with approximately 70 scow crazed sailors including yours truely. After that it is on to Sarasota to race E Scows with Bob Cole out of New York. Bob was kind enough to invite me to crew on his 28 foot sled and I have to admit I am like a kid at Christmas waiting for that ride.

Mari, as always, is very supportive of my obsession with all things boat related. In fact, she is now the proud owner of her own boat, a nine foot kayak. Mari took it out for the first time this weekend during the races and could be heard yelling encouragment to all sailors as they rounded the windward mark.

In addition to sailing I have been trying to get back in shape and have been riding as much as possible lately. I am very much looking forward to the time change this weekend which will allow for some longer rides after work (assuming of course I am not on the road for work).

In addition to sailing and riding listed below are some highlights of the past few months:

-Jimmy Buffet concert (thanks Chick for the jambalaya)
-Florida Keys trip with Bill (Mari's first time in Florida's offbeat paradise. Also got see to all of the grand prix sailboats there for Key West Race Week)
-Gasparilla with the gang from Lake Eustis (a great time was had by all...even if it felt like being on episode of Cops when some derelict decided to break into our traveling party pad)
-GW Regatta (my first top 5 finish in a class regatta)
-Mari's return to running (Mari has completed two half marathons in the past month...I am quite proud of her achievements)