pictures of progress

Okay, here are some of the new developments on our little project up here. The ditch. 2920' long, just about 10 football fields in length, its 3'+ wide and 3'+ deep, and its bedded with washed sand. That was a lot of work. Even with all the big equipment we have access to here, I used my John Deere 2210, a shovel and a rake for 75% of the work. The initial hole was dug with the Excavator, an amazing machine and fun to operate, but it doesnt leave a very clean hole...hence the shovel! So, the ditch is done and the 15000 volt cable and 2 transformers are in place. $22,000.00. WOW, the thing I dont get is we did all the work!!!????
So what else is going to go in that big utility ditch? Cable? NOPE! we called about putting in cable, even though there is no service out here and Comcast wanted $43,000.00 to drop their cable in the ground, plus the cable would have to be boosted every 400'. Scratch that. Phone? Nope! Qwest wants us to trench an additional 1000' all the way to 101st ave to tie into the main phone cable. their fee is much smaller, but there is now way we can go another 1000'. so it looks like we will be crossing our fingers for new technology.
Here is what we are thinking:
Dish for the television and internet. We currently use Wild Blue for SAT internet and it is less than stellar. Download is alright, but upload is turtle pace. this is where the rub is. VONAGE has a wireless VOIP phone, but our upload at this moment wont support the phones min. upload speed. So, we will have to rely on cell phones as our primary communications and its not great coverage either. So come on technology! if anyone has any ideas about our communication crunch let me know!
Below are some pics of our progress:


hollie chucking big rocks out of the ditch

andy on the backhoe

15000 volts.

brrrr......its cold

watering hole

end transformer

hadden pitchin' in

back filling the turn to the Remote temp power

voltage artery

we are well on our way.

Random post

ME AND MY FOX

I really just wanted to post this picture so that Matt Shriver could see how sweet foxy is. For some reason, Foxy wanted to eat Matt alive when he was out here. Sweet girl! Udo, my boy is not doing so well right now. He has lost a lot of weight and the vets are scratching their heads. I hope this blood test reveals something useful that we just had! Udo is 51lbs right now. He is usually 70lbs. all this weight loss happened since the 14th of December. SAD!

2008

Well, we brought in the 2008 with some .30-.06 's and some gasoline! Our new neighbors put on quit a show. The xmas tree goes out in this show too. Lee and Christeen, and their 2 children are really nice folks and I thank them for having us over for the show. We had a good time out there! Tradition? you bet, they do it every year.

I CANT BELIEVE MY EYES!

yup, that is a building permit. I finally got one. I dont even know what to do now! Well, I kind of do. First thing is to button up the utility trench and get the power and phone buried. Then hope for 24 dry hours to put in the foundation. Then Septic tank, then frame the walls, second floor joists, frame more walls, ceiling joists, roof stuff, electrical, plumbing, finishing, move in.
how does that sound. I am shooting for April.

C&H

That is Hollie and I at lake Tapps doing our usual xmas day stuff. Its nice, hang out with a big family and do nothing all day. perhaps drive some golf balls off the dock in to the lake, but not much more.!
Well, that is about it for now. I will try to get some trench pics up. If you have been following this blog then you know I have a previous trench post...well, this one is going to make the first trench look silly. thats right silly. 2917ft silly, 3+' x 3+' silly.

Kansas City cold and pretty

When frozen mud thaws, it gets muddy

The conditions were constantly changing all day everyday. Frozen ruts to greasy mud to frozen ruts. Saturday it even decided to snow all day and get windy. Blustery! Good thing Jim Brown was a coast guard guy, tough as nails when it comes to weather. Anyway, the kids seemed to go about things normally and test tires and lines. They all seemed to prepare quite well and raced their rears off. The RAD Army that went out to Kansas brought home a stack of medals and a couple stars and bars jerseys. Cool.

Coach Chris gluing on some KILLER Challenge Grifos up

Those Grifos were the tire. Watching Benny rail those meats around the slopfest course was quite impressive...I am pretty sure that is what Andrea Caseblot was on too! Well, for me the season is over. I learned a lot about these kids, myself too and came out of the season inspired. Not only inspired but my bowling improved a ton as well. So for now I will stay glued to the internet waiting for results from Belgium, willing the success' those kids deserve.

Thurston County, Washington. Sucking since 1852

I would like to say that the Thurston County Development Services, Plans Examiners suck. What a bunch of turds. I would bet a lot of money the guy I am dealing with got his ass kicked on a daily basis before he entered the county bubble of protection. This guy is basically refusing to permit my building plans. why? "because" well thats helpful. Today I almost came unglued. I came in with the extra requirements he handed me at my last attempt...more engineering and details. (the plans are a canned plan that have been built numerous times and rubber stamped by this county!!!) Now all of a sudden this uneducated guy is over ruling structural engineers???
Anyway, i come in with what he asked for and he starts grumbling at me about where is this and where is that...and I say, I dont know, I just picked up the plans and handed them to you.
he replies: You have had way more time to look at this than I have!
I reply: You are the first to look at it, whats missing?
He: grumble grumble grumble, the stairs are not engineered.
I: Whats this letter from the engineer for," All revisions to this project have been reviewed and I certify with my stamp."
HE: Thats not good enough!
I: Why are you being so difficult?
He: I am not going to break state law for you!
I: Who asked you to break state law, I just am asking whats the problem with the engineered stairs?
He: Let me call the engineers...get this straightened out
I: Dont do anything outside the realm of your job!
He: What?
I: Hey pal, if you are going to give it, be prepared to get it right back. I dont need you to talk down to me or be combative and I sure as shit dont need you putting words in my mouth. If I had plans of non compliance I would not be in this god damn office applying for a permit. So what is it that you need for this project to be permitted?
He: Grumble grumble grumble.
I grabbed my plans and went to the front desk and asked for the head examiner. The gave me a card. Here is what the back says:

The Building Plan Review Section serves the public interest and fosters the general welfare of the people of Thurston County by promoting the safety of the built environment. We achieve this by:
PERFORMING competent, timely building plan review
Providing an educational resource for our customers in the building community and
Improving the quality and efficiency of our services.

WOW, I think they should evaluate that! "We Promise to be Condescending, Combative and guarantee to waste countless hours of your time to fill up our eight hour day." sounds more like it!

SHOOT ME NOW!

whats new???

FISHER TAKING A CLEAN ONE FROM ME

We just wrapped up the USGP of Cyclocross this past weekend down in Portland, Oregon. The course was the same as nationals in 2004, but the course was in much better shape...although the weather was horrendous. The Boys rode awesome. Steve won on saturday after being in the 2nd spot at almost every USGP race! So we were pleased as punch with that. Emsky rode really strong too and they both earned invites to the xmas cross camp in belgium. They will get to do 6-8 races in about 12 days over xmas vacation. eurocrosscamp.com check it out...donate! Also, Nick, our U23 guy earned a trip to the camp after a tough weekend. My bro from Durango came out too, Mr. Matt Shriver, mattshriver.com, He rocked on Saturday taking 11th and dnfed on Sunday, ahhhh cross racing! I must admit. It is getting harder and harder for me to be at the races without racing. Its killing me in fact...so, I joined the Hagens Berman Cycling team for next year. lets hope it turns out to be less than a total disaster! www.hagensbermancycling.com

Switching gears:
google the following: AMERO . WTF is Georgie trying to slide by us now????? Oh, black tar to the north, (thats canadian oil)and slave labor to the south (mexicans)...lets all be friends and for one union. GET FUCKED GEORGE!

Ron Paul. is he a quack? I dont know but he is the only one defending our constitution and not trying to rape it for their own financial good. He seems to be an honest politician, if that can exist, but will he win the bid to run for president? I doubt it, I wish someone with 2 real balls would get elected and put the whole bush administration in jail for crimes against humanity and take our country back. If you want your freedom back vote for Paul or even Kucinich, talk to your neighbors be civil and turn off CNN and Fox news. Use your brain and form an intelligent opinion. Check out Pauls stance on the IRS...it might freak you out. OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE

Sorry for the political banter but this country is going to hell in a hand basket. Stand up, vote, be heard and take your country back from the Neo / Theocons. Dont let fascism take our country by storm, because thats what is happening. The big corporations have stolen our government. I will probably get tazed for this blog but I believe in my right to free speech!

Google: Private military. yes like Blackwater...that is some scary shit. Now when the executive branch cant get the congressional nod to unleash the war machine, they just put out a contract and hire the private sector military. WHAT????? impeach those bastards! Bill got canned for getting a blow job. W and Dick are wrecking our country and violating all the laws that make our country what it is. ACCOUNTABILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hold those turds responsible

alright, that is enough for now...I am out.

whats up?

Back in the Saddle

Hollie and I both put our legs over the top tube of our bikes this past weekend at Donida Farms Cyclocross. It was a blast. The course was fantastic, the weather was perfect, but most importantly it was good to be racing. It was literally an "off the couch" operation as neither Hollie or I have ridden the bike since August. We have both been too banged up. Our clouds of pain parted and we raced.

Chris Leading the Boys

I somehow was even fast enough to Race near the front of the Elite mens race and mix it up with the boys on the team. That was so much fun to be in the mix with the kids, cool. Especially since those guys are flying right now. I cant wait for this weekend to try it again.

Some other news: I was asking Hollie if it would be okay to buy tickets to a rock show up in Seattle. $20 a ticket, 4 bands, not bad...she told me no way. (yes things are that tight right now)...So this morning I am eating breakie and listening to KGRG streaming and they say they are going to be giving some tickets away to the same show. So i pick up the phone and call. 5 questions later i won 2 tickets to go see New Found Glory and Senses Fail. I am pretty stoked. There has not been a lot of fun around here lately so you can imagine...I am going to go rock out with a bunch of teenagers. thank god there is a bar!

Oh, Tuesday nights Hollie and I have a new gig. We are going to the Eagles Ballroom and swing dancing. I am sure you are trying to picture it right now, and yes I suck...and yes Hollie rules. But it so much fun.
Well, thats about it for now

USGP, RAD

IAN "THE DANE" TERRY

I just got back from Kentucky and the first round of the US Gran Prix of cyclocross. The weekend offered up 2 races for the countries best to throtle each other for and hour +/- in dirt, sand, grass, mud and pavement. I did not race either day...I took out 4 strong lads from the RAD Racing NW racing program. 3 juniors and 1 U23 racer. all in all a great weekend.

Erik Emsky rocking

The junior boys raced so strong it was impressive to watch. on day 1, the boys ended up:
Steve Fisher 2nd
Erik Emsky 6th
Ian Terry 8th
On day one Steve rode hard and out in front, staying out of trouble. While Erik killed it but a bobble held him up, which later forced him to back off, so he would not aid in the chasing of Steve whom was up front...damn tactics, selfless action by erik and a solid ride. Ian had some bad luck drawing 2nd to last start position. He did not let it bother him but the traffic in the first sand pit caused a crash and a lone chase for the rest of the race. He went from 30th to 8th when it was all said and done. WOW!
In the U23 race RAD had Nick Weighall, the Cardio Kid as he is affectionately known, lived up to his billing as a super natural lung as he rapidly moved up from 4th row start to latch on to the highest ranked U23 rider, Jamey Driscoll. This also put the both of them in the top 15. Nick was railing and looked stronger than his U23 competition...but like NASCAR, nicks tires let him down and he had to pit for tires, back out he went but another mechanical was in the cards. So 5th U23 was the best he could do and top 20 overall

FISH

Day two the boys all had to over come the results of the day before to race again.
Steve: his legs where so sore we has limping when we walked to dinner.
Erik: Frustration at having a small mistake cost him making the front group and then the tactics forcing him to hold back.
Ian: Crappy start position and a crash.
Nick: Bad luck.
All I can say is that the boys had no problem over coming these things to put up stellar rides. Ian was amazing. You cannot tame the Dane! He drew a bad start position again, but rode smarter to get through the traffic only to hit the front of the race and drill it for 2 laps, shaping the front group and Launching Steve to another 2nd place. Erik just missed the split again, but rode so fast and solid with Ian just dangling behind the front group to end up 4th. Ian, somehow recovered from his opening effort to take 3rd.

Nick had much better luck today and the U23 battle was HOT with 5 guys riding together the whole race. Nick yo yoed in and out of this group, but fought hard to take 3rd. I was very impressed with his fight and I was glad the juniors where watching...he is a great example of a fighter!

Well, that is about it. The RAD crew will be in action in Washington for the next 2 weekends before we head out to New Jersey for the next 2 USGP's...until then