We started off celebrating Father's Day the way we always do in the Geek House --- Mr. Geek raced in a Triathlon. The Geeks all waited in the park to cheer him on during the run.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
How is College Geek spending his summer vacation?
He will be a camp counselor . What a perfect job for the College Geek! He can combine computer games, computer programming with "Dress like a Pirate Wednesday".!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
AbFab and Mr. Geek's Honeymoon
I have promised the story of AbFab and Mr. Geek's honeymoon since our 25th Anniversary party. This story is so HUGE that I will tell it in two parts.
More on this tomorrow!!
Part one-- the pictures.
Mr. Geek took me away for a romantic week to a fine romantic resort.
The beaches could be described by the locals as fabulous.
The on-site chef prepared all meals to order.
The choice of several dining rooms was available.
Guests were encouraged to explore new interests.
Fresh Seafood was available daily.
Sexy young men were available to serve your every need.
More on this tomorrow!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Medika Mamba in Haiti
I HATE cliches, I really hate them. But... well my time in Haiti really did change me. I haven't really posted on much of that because I am not sure how to write about it yet - without using lots of cliches which I just told you I hate.
I have kept up with the blogs I visited before my trip. Remember way back then, when even the thought of going to Haiti seemed so out there. I was searching for blogs that would tell me how dangerous the "man on the street" felt about Haiti and was looking for suggestions as to what to bring.
Well in a coincidence that should not surprise me, one of the blogs I follow is now connecting with the plant where I worked when I visited Cap Haitian. Tara and Troy Livesay live in Port au Prince with their family. I love to read of the Livesay family as they live their "ordinary" lives and interact with that which is so uniquely Haiti. Tara and Troy are expanding the number of children in the Medika Mamba program. To fund this project, Tara is running a marathon. (She is actually training in Haiti.) She has several supporters that have offered to match any funds that she can raise here.
Go visit Renald. I was going say and try to understand, but there is no understanding within me that can justify the pain in these children and their mother's lives.
I leave you with this thought for the day.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for injustice, freedom and peace. -Franciscan Benediction
I have kept up with the blogs I visited before my trip. Remember way back then, when even the thought of going to Haiti seemed so out there. I was searching for blogs that would tell me how dangerous the "man on the street" felt about Haiti and was looking for suggestions as to what to bring.
Well in a coincidence that should not surprise me, one of the blogs I follow is now connecting with the plant where I worked when I visited Cap Haitian. Tara and Troy Livesay live in Port au Prince with their family. I love to read of the Livesay family as they live their "ordinary" lives and interact with that which is so uniquely Haiti. Tara and Troy are expanding the number of children in the Medika Mamba program. To fund this project, Tara is running a marathon. (She is actually training in Haiti.) She has several supporters that have offered to match any funds that she can raise here.
Go visit Renald. I was going say and try to understand, but there is no understanding within me that can justify the pain in these children and their mother's lives.
I leave you with this thought for the day.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for injustice, freedom and peace. -Franciscan Benediction
Monday, June 8, 2009
The last ten books I have read
Kaylynne completed a MEME on books that she has read. The questions are very hard for this engineer's brain and my ONE literature class I had in college. That one English course included Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, that is all I remember about it.
But I went ahead and tried to answer the questions and I am giving you the list of books I have read since the end of the Spring semester. Because I know you are all dying to know, what does a geek read?
1. What author do you own the most books by? Trevor Kletz- He is the father of Learning from Industrial accidents.
2. What book do you own the most copies of?The Bible. My favorite revisions are the Good News and The Living Word. I hope to buy The Message soon and on the Colbert Report, I just saw a new edition printed like a glossy magazine. I will be looking for that. (For those purist, I do own an NIV and I think even a King James Version somewhere.)
3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? They did?
4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?Roarke, from the JD Robb Eve Dallas Series.
5. What book have you read the most times in your life?North to Freedom and Watership Down
6. Favorite book as a ten year old? When I was ten, I was wild about this series of biography books. I don't know if they still exist, but they were short and fat and contained lots of details about the character's childhood. My favorite one I remember was about Luther Burbank.
I also began consuming all of the Little House books. I was the only person that did not enjoy the TV show because the characters did not fill my expectations.
7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? How about worst book ever? It would have to be Silence of the Lambs followed Kiss the Girls. No more horror books for this girl ever again.
8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Tough one, I think I will skip this question.
9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone
10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? The only movies I have liked after reading the book was the Harry Potter books so I will not jinx any of my favorite books.
11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? There are so many I remember from high school, let's see- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Walden Pond, and anything by Hemingway.
12. What is your favorite book? North to Freedom, Watership Down, Gone With the Wind
13. Play?Macbeth
14. Poem?The Jabberwocky and anything by Ogden Nash
15. Essay? Seriously, I am an engineer, I don't ask you want your favorite technical paper was, do I?
16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Okay, he is not alive and I should probably not admit it, but I have HATED everything I have ever read by Hemingway. (I am sure I am going to literary hell for saying that.)
17. What is your desert island book? Little House on the Prairie - A great book with some survival advice.
But I went ahead and tried to answer the questions and I am giving you the list of books I have read since the end of the Spring semester. Because I know you are all dying to know, what does a geek read?
1. What author do you own the most books by? Trevor Kletz- He is the father of Learning from Industrial accidents.
2. What book do you own the most copies of?The Bible. My favorite revisions are the Good News and The Living Word. I hope to buy The Message soon and on the Colbert Report, I just saw a new edition printed like a glossy magazine. I will be looking for that. (For those purist, I do own an NIV and I think even a King James Version somewhere.)
3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? They did?
4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?Roarke, from the JD Robb Eve Dallas Series.
5. What book have you read the most times in your life?North to Freedom and Watership Down
6. Favorite book as a ten year old? When I was ten, I was wild about this series of biography books. I don't know if they still exist, but they were short and fat and contained lots of details about the character's childhood. My favorite one I remember was about Luther Burbank.
I also began consuming all of the Little House books. I was the only person that did not enjoy the TV show because the characters did not fill my expectations.
7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? How about worst book ever? It would have to be Silence of the Lambs followed Kiss the Girls. No more horror books for this girl ever again.
8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Tough one, I think I will skip this question.
9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone
10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? The only movies I have liked after reading the book was the Harry Potter books so I will not jinx any of my favorite books.
11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? There are so many I remember from high school, let's see- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Walden Pond, and anything by Hemingway.
12. What is your favorite book? North to Freedom, Watership Down, Gone With the Wind
13. Play?Macbeth
14. Poem?The Jabberwocky and anything by Ogden Nash
15. Essay? Seriously, I am an engineer, I don't ask you want your favorite technical paper was, do I?
16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Okay, he is not alive and I should probably not admit it, but I have HATED everything I have ever read by Hemingway. (I am sure I am going to literary hell for saying that.)
17. What is your desert island book? Little House on the Prairie - A great book with some survival advice.
18. And . . . what are you reading right now? (Since the end of the spring semester)
Strength and Compassion by Eric Greiten
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Sex God
Jesus wants to save Christians : a manifesto for the church in exile
When I find a book that I like, sometimes I go to the library and request every book by that author. I loved the book Velvet Elvis, it is a book about personal growth and faith. The other two books are okay, I liked most of them but I would have to say they were a bit light on content. I think they could have been condensed to one really good essay (which then could have been my favorite.)
How People Grow: What the Bible Reveals About Personal Growth by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
I loved the first two thirds of this book. I am still considering the last parts.
Do-it-Yourself Shiatsu - I am into acupressure and trying to learn about eastern medicine.
Promises in death - by J.D. Robb - no redeeming features here, just pure escapism.
Cover of night by Linda Howard - More good summer trash
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Testing Limits
I have been very distracted by summer, but I want to return to creating a Life List.
Next category is: Test Your Limits
Can I level with you? I am not so much into physical endurance tests. When Mr. Geek gets up at 5:00 am to go swim laps or signs up for another triathlon, I am not filled with envy. Not even a twinge.
I have run one 5K and I did enjoy that. Seriously I did, well mostly. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the women I trained with and the end of the race when we all hung out and ate fruit and bagels. I think I might want to run another 5K, but only with a group of friends. So are you out there? Do you want to train for a 5K with me? There will be food!!
Next category is: Test Your Limits
Can I level with you? I am not so much into physical endurance tests. When Mr. Geek gets up at 5:00 am to go swim laps or signs up for another triathlon, I am not filled with envy. Not even a twinge.
I have run one 5K and I did enjoy that. Seriously I did, well mostly. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the women I trained with and the end of the race when we all hung out and ate fruit and bagels. I think I might want to run another 5K, but only with a group of friends. So are you out there? Do you want to train for a 5K with me? There will be food!!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Getting Lost (The Plan)
I have paused in my review of No Opportunity Wasted to expand on an idea that I formulated in the last post.
Not only is the book North to Freedom by Anne Holm, one of my favorites, but I was reading the book to College Geek when he was in grade school. We were reading in when the Littlest Geek joined our family, if you want read about that story go here .
Because of the book and its impact on me and the College Geek, we agreed to give the Littlest Geek the middle name of David. David is the central character in the book. The book is both an incredible adventure book as David escapes a forced work camp and travels through Italy north to Denmark. It is also a journey of self discovery and awakening of a mind and soul that has never been free.
Call out to the producers of No Opportunity Wasted - the television show .
The Littlest Geek, named for the main character is now the age of David in the book (or will be next summer, hint hint). How awesome would it be to travel David's route and see it through the eyes of a young boy.
Here's the itinerary.
David escaped from a camp north of Solonika (Greece). He mostly walked this route and snuck aboard a truck for some of the traveling. This would put him in an interment camp either in Bulgaria or Romania. Parts of some of these camps are still around and can be visited. Perhaps Lovech Bulgaria where we could take some hikes in the mountains and come to understand David's journey.
David walked to to the shipyards of Solonika where he stowed away on an Italian Cargo ship. He was discovered in the hold, but the man finding him did not have the heart to turn him in. He gave David a makeshift floatation devise and let him jump off the ship shortly be for the ship entered the port of Salerno, Italy.
I am still searching for a boat that would take us to Salerno. I think we probably shouldn't stow-away, even in the interest of accuracy.
In Salerno, David first saw a world that was not grey. He saw a beautiful world full of light and color and the pictures of Salerno are very beautiful. David began to appreciate how precious his freedom was. He began to explore the village during the daylight and tentatively talking to the people there. The Littlest Geek and I should spend some time meeting the local people and eating the local food.
Go on a Quest
Not only is the book North to Freedom by Anne Holm, one of my favorites, but I was reading the book to College Geek when he was in grade school. We were reading in when the Littlest Geek joined our family, if you want read about that story go here .
Because of the book and its impact on me and the College Geek, we agreed to give the Littlest Geek the middle name of David. David is the central character in the book. The book is both an incredible adventure book as David escapes a forced work camp and travels through Italy north to Denmark. It is also a journey of self discovery and awakening of a mind and soul that has never been free.
Call out to the producers of No Opportunity Wasted - the television show .
HEY READ THIS!
The Littlest Geek, named for the main character is now the age of David in the book (or will be next summer, hint hint). How awesome would it be to travel David's route and see it through the eyes of a young boy.
Here's the itinerary.
David escaped from a camp north of Solonika (Greece). He mostly walked this route and snuck aboard a truck for some of the traveling. This would put him in an interment camp either in Bulgaria or Romania. Parts of some of these camps are still around and can be visited. Perhaps Lovech Bulgaria where we could take some hikes in the mountains and come to understand David's journey.
David walked to to the shipyards of Solonika where he stowed away on an Italian Cargo ship. He was discovered in the hold, but the man finding him did not have the heart to turn him in. He gave David a makeshift floatation devise and let him jump off the ship shortly be for the ship entered the port of Salerno, Italy.I am still searching for a boat that would take us to Salerno. I think we probably shouldn't stow-away, even in the interest of accuracy.
In Salerno, David first saw a world that was not grey. He saw a beautiful world full of light and color and the pictures of Salerno are very beautiful. David began to appreciate how precious his freedom was. He began to explore the village during the daylight and tentatively talking to the people there. The Littlest Geek and I should spend some time meeting the local people and eating the local food.
From there David walked and hitched rides through Italy stopping in Naples, Perugia, Florence,
Bologna, Milan, and Como before crossing into Switzerland.
After traveling through Switzerland and Germany, David finally enters Denmark. He travels to Strandvejen 758 Copenhagen. This is an actually address.
View Larger Map
We can visit Bellevue Theatre. Bellevue Theater is a theater on Strandvejen in Klampenborg north of Copenhagen, who visited annually by more than 100,000 visitors. Building are among the architect Arne Jacobsen's absolute masterpieces. In addition to the theater is the theater hosting and co-producer of a summer ballet, which annually ballet company created by Copenhagen International Ballet, headed by Alexander Kølpin.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Weekend Movie Review
The Middle Geek and I spent the weekend home by ourselves. We decided to kick back and watch some PG-13 movies. I mean now that the Middle Geek is a teenager, he has been excited to see some of those (trashy) movies that all his friends are talking about. So we cooked up some chicken wings, got some popcorn and watched the best that RedBox had to offer.
I will let him review them.
Meet the Spartans was so awesome. But if you are a little kid you shouldn't see this because it says really really really bad words. If you are someone who likes comedy definitely watch this.
The best part is when "Britney Spears" was by the pit of death shaving her head saying, "Why do y'all think I'm so crazy?" Then she got kicked into the pit of death.
Next the American Idol judges come in to judge the kick and the main guy says, "Ryan Seacrest?" and Randy says, "I just didn't feel that kick dog." Paula goes, "You move me." and then collapses. Simon says, "I didn't really think that was your best kick. I thought a donkey could do better than that." The main guy says, go **** yourself!!!!!!!
and this movie never watch it, It is a horrible movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will let him review them.
Meet the Spartans was so awesome. But if you are a little kid you shouldn't see this because it says really really really bad words. If you are someone who likes comedy definitely watch this.
The best part is when "Britney Spears" was by the pit of death shaving her head saying, "Why do y'all think I'm so crazy?" Then she got kicked into the pit of death.
Next the American Idol judges come in to judge the kick and the main guy says, "Ryan Seacrest?" and Randy says, "I just didn't feel that kick dog." Paula goes, "You move me." and then collapses. Simon says, "I didn't really think that was your best kick. I thought a donkey could do better than that." The main guy says, go **** yourself!!!!!!!
and this movie never watch it, It is a horrible movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Strength and Compassion
From the Dust Jacket: "Strength and Compassion brings together the best of Eric Greitens’ award-winning international humanitarian photography work with a striking series of essays."
Mr. Geek and I went to the book signing for this book. Yes, a real book signing, we felt so grown up. The author Eric Greitens read from some of the essays in the book and add some personal stories. After my trip to Haiti I have been drawn to those who work is developing* nations.
*"developing" is too clean of a word to describe the impoverished conditions, but I have not been able to think of an appropriate replacement word.
When Eric traveled to Bosnia and saw first hand the devastation and misery he was moved like most people would be. What is interesting about his story is that he moved beyond the surface of the surroundings and looked deeper into the people's lives. Within the walls of the refugee camp he found people who still had hope and strength. Intrigued by these people he was moved to learn how they were coping. What he discovered was the reason is that some had found a way to serve within the community. Some women started a knitting circle to knit clothing for those in the camp that had even less. Some of the older boys had organized soccer teams among the younger boys. And he discovered in serving, people find their strength
The most impressive thing about Eric is his history of service. He decided that if he was to speak out and encourage people to be possibly put in harms way, then he should be willing to do the same. In order to do this he joined the Navy and became a Navy Seal.
More and more veterans are returning home with life changing injuries. Eric visited these war veterans and asked them, "What is it you would like to do?" After it became apparent that they could not return to their unit, the second choice was almost always some sort of service. Eric then founded The Mission Continues . This is an organization that pays for fellowships for wounded veterans to explore and serve within the community. I urge you to investigate the website. It is inspiring.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!!
I have lots of posts in the queue but I interrupt them for this important Mother's Day Essay.
I LOVE my Mom Because:
Well there's so many reasons that I can't name them all, but I will try to say as much as I can.
Mom I love you because you are nice to me, you love me. You help me with my troubles and you are nice to my friends. When a bully is hurting my feelings you say like "back off." You mean bully stop hurting my child's feelings or I'll call your parents and then the bully will be like "Oh no, please don't call my Daddy He will put me in the corner." There are 5,879 more reasons to go.....just joking! Well it is time to end this essay...Oh, and one last thing I love you Mom!
Love from,
The Littlest Geek
I LOVE my Mom Because:
Well there's so many reasons that I can't name them all, but I will try to say as much as I can.
Mom I love you because you are nice to me, you love me. You help me with my troubles and you are nice to my friends. When a bully is hurting my feelings you say like "back off." You mean bully stop hurting my child's feelings or I'll call your parents and then the bully will be like "Oh no, please don't call my Daddy He will put me in the corner." There are 5,879 more reasons to go.....just joking! Well it is time to end this essay...Oh, and one last thing I love you Mom!
Love from,
The Littlest Geek
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Getting Lost
I am continuing to add to my Life For Life. Some people call this their Bucket List or list of things to do before you die.
The next category is Getting Lost.
This could be literal, drive or walk somewhere until you are lost, and then let life happen. I prefer to think of this as a suggestion to let go of control, go to the unfamiliar and then let stuff unfold. Sort of like planned spontaneity.
Some of the suggestions - and my thoughts
Join a tribe By a tribe, Phil means a group of people bonded by family, culture or mutual interests. When I think of my tribe, I am reminded of sitting around the sorority house full of geeks in college. I love to spend time with people who are passionate about something like art, music, feeding staving children, etc. Also my favorite part of any vacation is to get out of the touristy areas and find grocery stores and people that live there.
I have always hoped to visit Burning Man . However as this event gets bigger and bigger I am thinking there is probably a better counter-culture event to join. Any suggestions?
Get marooned Get somewhere remote and live off the land. Oh my, that sounds like my "honeymoon" in the Canadian Bush. Can we just say, been there done that. (And someday I will have to blog about it.)
Go on a "quest" You find a journey and retrace the steps, like those that follow Lewis and Clark's trail or go to every hotel that Washington slept at. I have been on marked trails like the Freedom Trail in Boston and we have traced some of Route 66 .
I have two quests I am considering. One is easier- I would like to bike across Missouri following the Katy Trail carrying everything we need for the week and exploring parts of rural Missouri.
The next is a bit more out there. My third grade teacher read books to us and my favorite one was North to Freedom . It is an adventure story of a young boy's escape from a Detention Camp in Eastern Europe. He takes a boat to Italy and journeys north to Denmark. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. It is for about 7th grade level readers but I have reread it many times as an adult. There is a movie based on the book called "I Am David". It is also good, but not near as wonderful as the book. So to be able to retrace his journey north would be lots of fun.
The next category is Getting Lost.
This could be literal, drive or walk somewhere until you are lost, and then let life happen. I prefer to think of this as a suggestion to let go of control, go to the unfamiliar and then let stuff unfold. Sort of like planned spontaneity.
Some of the suggestions - and my thoughts
Join a tribe By a tribe, Phil means a group of people bonded by family, culture or mutual interests. When I think of my tribe, I am reminded of sitting around the sorority house full of geeks in college. I love to spend time with people who are passionate about something like art, music, feeding staving children, etc. Also my favorite part of any vacation is to get out of the touristy areas and find grocery stores and people that live there.
I have always hoped to visit Burning Man . However as this event gets bigger and bigger I am thinking there is probably a better counter-culture event to join. Any suggestions?
Get marooned Get somewhere remote and live off the land. Oh my, that sounds like my "honeymoon" in the Canadian Bush. Can we just say, been there done that. (And someday I will have to blog about it.)
Go on a "quest" You find a journey and retrace the steps, like those that follow Lewis and Clark's trail or go to every hotel that Washington slept at. I have been on marked trails like the Freedom Trail in Boston and we have traced some of Route 66 .
I have two quests I am considering. One is easier- I would like to bike across Missouri following the Katy Trail carrying everything we need for the week and exploring parts of rural Missouri.
The next is a bit more out there. My third grade teacher read books to us and my favorite one was North to Freedom . It is an adventure story of a young boy's escape from a Detention Camp in Eastern Europe. He takes a boat to Italy and journeys north to Denmark. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. It is for about 7th grade level readers but I have reread it many times as an adult. There is a movie based on the book called "I Am David". It is also good, but not near as wonderful as the book. So to be able to retrace his journey north would be lots of fun.
Have you ever been lost?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Creating a Life List
Phil Koeghan's Ride Across America was primarily to raise money and awareness for MS. It has been succeeding and has raised more than the original goal.Phil has been sponsored by (and endorsing) GNC new Square Meals. It is an energy bar that can replace a meal. I have not tried that yet so I cannot review it.
Phil has also combined this ride with somewhat of a book signing tour for his book (and TV show) No Opportunity Wasted -- NOW.
I started a list of Things I wanted to do (from a Meme from Mean Mom back in December). It included:
Write a bucket list of thing to do before I die
Sing in a Gospel Choir (just once, I know I would be embarrassing)
Give a sermon (not to my children, a real sermon)
Stay in a hostel
Write a book
Take a culinary course
Be referred to as an expert by the local news
So guess what? We are beginning with the first item on the list. Phil's book is all about "learning how to live while you still have the chance" and "sharing experiences with other people you know and connecting with people you don't know." So I urge you find the book (or don't) but please join in on this discovery.
There are "Eight Great Themes" and I am going to try and explore each one and choose an activity to place on my LIST.
The first is Face your fear
Some of the possibilities (from the book) include:
Public speaking - Anyone that knows me, knows that this is not really a fear. In fact I love public speaking (odd I know) so let's move on.
Airplane Flight - Okay airplane take offs make me nervous and when I saw the itty bitty plane that I was going to fly across the ocean to Haiti, well I won't lie, I considered turning around. But I think I can say I faced that fear.
Snakes - I don't fear snakes so much - okay I don't adore them.
Heights - Now you are talking, I don't even like to look down when I am in the top tier at a stadium. My memories of the Grand Canyon makes my palms sweat.
So here's my first addition to my LIST.
Repel down a cliff.
There I added it.
Monday, May 4, 2009
More from Haiti
Before I traveled to Haiti, I searched and found lots of Blogs written by people living and working there. I find Blogs are the best way to get a feel for the place before a visit.
Since I have gotten back, I still read these Blog regularly. I am still trying to process much of what I experienced in my one week there. I am impressed and awed by the the tireless people who work and remain (mostly) optimistic.
Today I stumbled across a Blog that mentions Medika Mamba (peanut butter medicine) just as a footnote. I don't know if the Medika Mamba was made at the factory that we visited for sure, but these are the stories that keep the people that work there inspired.
Since I have gotten back, I still read these Blog regularly. I am still trying to process much of what I experienced in my one week there. I am impressed and awed by the the tireless people who work and remain (mostly) optimistic.
Today I stumbled across a Blog that mentions Medika Mamba (peanut butter medicine) just as a footnote. I don't know if the Medika Mamba was made at the factory that we visited for sure, but these are the stories that keep the people that work there inspired.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Mr. Geek's Wild Ride
AbFab and Mr. Geek are wild and rabid Amazing Race Fans. In fact maybe you remember their adventure on their private Amazing Race. When I read that Phil Keoghan, host of the Amazing Race was riding across America, I immediately began thinking of a way to intersect with his path. We live smack dab in the middle of the country, but Phil was taking a more northern route through Chicago (to be able to ride with the MS150 in Chicago).
The week that Phil would be the closest to where we live was the final week of classes for AbFab. Therefore it was decided, this was to be Mr. Geek's Adventure.
Using maps and the information on the official webpage, (we were not stalking, I swear) Mr. Geek was able to determine which Motel that the group would be staying at and made reservations there.
As soon as Phil arrived at the motel he got off his bike (even after riding over 100 miles) and posed with everyone for pictures and talked to everyone there.
The next day began the Amazing Adventure (yes I am using the wording amazing over and over, I am just that kind of dork.) After the send off in Rochelle, the group headed toward Chicago. Sometime around lunchtime, Mr. Geek called me. "Quick can you look on the website and see where everyone is?" You see on the official webpage there is a realtime GPS tracker and when it works, you can see down to the block where Phil and the group are riding (I am NOT a stalker, I told you that.)
Mr. Geek had fallen a bit behind the pace and before he knew it, the group was out of sight. We had planned for this possibility (we are engineers, that is what we do) and Mr. Geek had planned to circle back to his truck and come on home. However, that morning he had decided to let the Airstream carry his backpack for him. The Airstream trailer is pulled by Phil's Dad and is the support during the ride. Now it contained Mr. Geek's backpack, which contained everything he had brought with him, including the keys to his truck.
I was driving when he called and not next to my laptop so I wasn't able to immediately look on the webpage. I continued to my destination (I was going to get my haircut, thanks for asking) and asked if I could use the WiFi there. There was no WiFi, but they offered my use of the company laptop. (Thanks John!) At this time the GPS unit was not reading real time and I could only tell him it looked like they stayed on the same route. "You should keep going." I said.
After my hair cut, I went to the Bread Company to use their free WiFi. I decided I would send a facebook message with Mr. Geek's cell phone number, with the hopes that someone might be online and get the phone number to someone with the Airstream. After I sent the message, I tried one more time to see if the GPS tracker was working and it had been updated and it looked like they were stopped for lunch.
I called Mr. Geek again, "It looked like they are only two miles ahead of you. You are almost there." A bit later, I zoomed in on the map to look closer at the location. It looked like they were a few blocks off of the main road. I called Mr. Geek again, "Turn right at 5th street. They should be right there." And there they were and Mr. Geek was reunited with the group.
This is where the best part of the ride happened - in my opinion at least. Mr. Geek called me and handed the phone to Phil. Right there in the middle of the Bread Co. I sat on my cell phone and talked to Phil Koeghan. Seriously, how cool was that. I wish I could say I was witty, but mostly I sounded like a big dork, a big happy dork though. Thanks Phil, you made my day!
Here is Phil talking to me on the phone. (Mr. Geek was also a dork taking pictures.)
So the group began the final leg of the ride into Chicago. What? You say you want to see Mr. Geek and Phil riding together. Well you are in luck. Go to here and click on the daily blog. Watch Day27. About halfway through when Phil is talking about the potholes in the pavement, a bike rider in a blue jacket points to a hole in the road. That rider in the blue jacket is Mr. Geek.
When the group reached Chicago, the roads became more and more dangerous as rush hour was approaching. It was decided that the final few miles would be better covered by car- Don't worry Phil had logged in some extra miles earlier in the ride to keep the final miles covered honest. Mr. Geek asked someone nearby for directions to the nearest Metro train station. The plan, remember, was for him to catch an Amtrak train and ride it back to his truck. However he was offered a ride in the van with the gang. So Mr. Geek's wild ride ended seated in a van pulling an Airstream through downtown Chicago with the entire entourage. Yes, it was an amazing ride.
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