Monthly Archives: August 2009

Orcas Island Wedding

Posted on August 31, 2009 by Al

“Congratulations. You had a wonderful wedding. Don’t have another one!” He smiled, drunk though he was, and said a heartfelt, “No, this is the only one.” Continue reading →

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Rapsody

Posted on August 26, 2009 by Al

RAPSody – the Ride Around Puget Sound – is now in its 6th year. Originally conceived as a true Sound surround experience, complete with ferry rides, the addition of the broad bike path across the Narrows bridge eliminated the Vashon Island portion of the trip. Continue reading →

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Advice To a Lottery Winner

Posted on August 24, 2009 by Al

Every year, the World Triathlon Corporation, producers of the Ironman race series, hold a lottery for 200 spots in the World Championships at Kona. They don’t release participation figures, but I suspect 40,000 or more people enter these. It costs $50 or so, and spots are apportioned among the US and the rest of the world. Continue reading →

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Water For Elephants

Posted on August 19, 2009 by Al

“Water for Elephants”, by Sara Gruen, appeared in 2006 and hit the best seller lists for over a year, ranking #1 on the NY Times paperback list in summer, ’07. So, if you HAVEN’T read it yet, what are you … Continue reading →

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Health Care, Again

Posted on August 13, 2009 by Al

Sigh. Looks like health care “reform”, as defined by getting a magic bill through Congress, is heading for another train wreck. It might behoove Democratic members of Congress, and the administration, to reflect on the nature of the New Deal’s … Continue reading →

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Whiskey Dick

Posted on August 11, 2009 by Al

East of the Cascade mountains, the land meanders downhill in fits and starts to the Columbia River. Continue reading →

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Kona Goals

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Al

’s time to get serious about some goals for Kona. I’ve been vague about those goals, not nearly as specific as what I had wanted for the Ironman races in Idaho and Arizona. Course record at Kona is not on my radar screen, not this year. Winning seems unlikely as well. And with the wind and temperature variables, time goals can get shot down very quickly about mile 76 of the bike, somewhere between Waikoloa and the “Donkey Crossing” sign on the Queen K.
Continue reading →

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