Macbuntu

Yup, finally got Ubuntu on the old (5 year old) Macbook Pro.  In fact, I am using it right now.  It has made an unusable Mac usable again!

New Vibram Day

Wanted to do more trail running, and possibly run the Falls Lake 12 Mile Trail Run in April with Kerry.  Tried running in my regular Vibram, but all the rocks, roots, and such made me walk the majority of the time.  Enter Vibram Treks.  Got them for 1/2 off...lots of tread on them, and the mesh covers my foot.

Hockey Night in Raleigh

 Got some last minute free tickets Thursday, so Kerry's dad and I got to the Canes game.  Good game, they ended up beating Vancouver for a hugely needed win.  Pretty sweet seats too, 107, row Y!

Louisburg Christmas Parade

Last week I served as a parade organizer through the County's Chamber of Commerce that I serve as Director on.  Pretty neat--seeing how things are organized on this end.  I was very surprised at all the horses, including this one!

Happy Birthday, Kerry!

My wife turned another year older, or another year wiser I will say.  I am blessed to have her in my life as wife, mother of my children, and best friend!

Skating Downtown

Never had the chance, until yesterday, to skate in a Downtown outside.  Yesterday, that changed, as we went to the Downtown Raleigh Winterfest and skated outside, in the shadows of skyscrapers.  So much fun!  We had not been skating since two years ago, I believe, so this was a lot of fun.  Girls did good, picking it up pretty quickly!

December Is Here!

As you can see--Christmas is on the way.  The girls decorated the wagon recently.  We are heading in to the only time we really use the wagon--all our night 'Christmas Light' walks!

Field Trip Dad

Went to another field trip with Lucy.  This time to Marbles.  As you can tell in the picture--lots of monkeying around.  It was so cute--two of the girls in my group are twins, and Lucy was in between them, holding hands everywhere we went!

Of course I liked the new additions to the Hurricanes ice rink--scoreboard and sound effects--including "Rock You Like a Hurricane!"

Oh Christmas Tree...

Yesterday was our annual Christmas Tree day.  Picked up a good one--still smells goooood!

Stay Out of That Hole!

Yeah, they did not listen to that too well.  We went to Durant this afternoon, after the shopping, and just hung out on a beautiful day in Raleigh.  Coming back, along the Secret Trail, they discovered this culvert.

It's A Hockeeeeey Night With Myra!

Yes, somewhere, under all this equipment, is Myra.  Kerry's dad is joining a hockey league at The Factory, so we thought it would be fun to dress her all up!

Christmas Parade With My Pals

Raleigh's Christmas Parade last weekend brought lots of screaming young girls (Scotty McCreery was the grand marshall), Stormy the Ice Hog, and of course, the Stormtroopers looking all festive.  Darth must've been back on the Death Star with a cold!

The Real Black Friday Tradition

Don't give me any shopping!  I will stay nice and warm in my bed, then stumble out, pull down the light boxes, and hang the lights.  This year I had a really good helper!

Switched to white lights, including some icicles this year.  Tonight we'll fire them up to see if it looks good.

Slithery Friend at Falls Lake

Went to Blue Jay Point on Falls Lake recently.  It was a cool day, but we walked down to the Lake from the playground anyway.  We happened on this apparent Copperhead snake, just laying there, hoping for some additional sun.  Pretty neat!

Jump Around!

Both our girls are now enrolled in The Little Gym.  Lucy has been getting much better, and it appears, after Myra's first day, she has some natural talent!

Cool Toys for Web Conferencing

So I attended a retreat at a local business on Thursday.  Before it started, the one employee said, hey, come here, I want to show you something.  They just put in this soundproof, acoustic conference room with these three large tvs.  So cool!  And then the document camera is above the ceiling.  How awesome!

Fall Is Here!

Had a nice leaf-crunching ride through the Abbots Creek Greenway yesterday!

Mattress Fun at BJs

Who would think getting a mattress (Myra) at BJs would be this much fun!  Girls rode the cart the whole way through the store!

Fun in PapPap's Truck

Had a great visit with Nana and PapPap this weekend.  Cold front came in, and Myra loved using her vest and hood!

Gooey, Halloween Fun

This Year's Pumpkins

Yup, more creative things like last year.  Myra (and Mommy) did Mr. Meowkins, Lucy did the witch, and I did the skull and crossbones.

New Sheetz Coming to Louisburg

Sheetz Goodness: Coming Soon!

Finally, a Sheetz in the town I work in.  Actually will be within walking distance.  Cannot wait!

Boo Bash at Optimist Park

Girls Got Face Painting!  Matched their outfits!

Went to the Boo Bash last night.  Pretty fun.  They had a haunted trail (we did the less scary version), which was well done with stories of NC, including Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard).  Then inside was a carnival with games and FACE PAINTING.  Then the outside Haunted Bus, with a wicked scary bunny bus driver, and finishing with Trunk or Treat.  Durant's Halloween Walk tonight.

Scary bus driver!

More Signs on the Trail

So I went for a run today.  Pretty good, it was in the 40s, and I sweated pretty bad, so there was steam coming up from me.  I went on the Neuse River Trail, and as you can see, they put up new, large signs.  These signs actually have a map.  They show the entire trail, to the Johnston County, even though that part is not done yet.  Pretty cool!

Rooted and Cyanogen ROMed!

Yup, I finally rooted my EVO and then flashed Cyanogen to it.  And wow, it's like a new phone.  Fast, slick, and powerful.  Just like when I got it.  Loving it!

Neuse River Trail Report

Well, looks like the Neuse River Trail is about finished.  They are just putting finishing touches on, like the sign to the left.  This sign, found in the terminus between Bedford and Falls River, is similar to all the various signs along the trail.  I am not too much a fan of these newly designed signs, I prefer the green and wood of the past, but I am happy to see these signs!

Of Course Soda Would Be Better...

Mmm...Candy Bar Quiz

October is Here!

Yup, the Neuse River Greenway is just about finished!  This bridge crosses the little stream between Bedford and Falls River.  You can see the floor is complete, but they just need to finish the sides.  So now you can run/bike/walk the entire way from the Falls Dam (where they put up a new sign I will try to get a picture of this weekend) to the WRAL Soccer Fields.  About 8 miles.  GREAT for marathon training!

Lucy in Gymnastics/Tap/Ballet

Such a growing girl!  She is actually improving pretty quickly from where she started.  She has a month of lessons in at the Little Gym.  Growing up so quickly!

8 Continuous Miles on Neuse River Greenway

Well, almost finished...look at the far part of the bridge!

Yup, take a look at the picture.  While not 100% done, no more going down in the creek bed to get around the unfinished bridge at the Bedford/Falls River connection.  So exciting!

Bamboo on Neuse River Trail

Could it be true?  On the hillside overlooking Capital Blvd we found a small grove of bamboo.  Obviously not native, but interesting none the less...

Yup, No Training Wheels

So we figured Myra is ready to begin to ride without training wheels.  I took them off Friday and we have spent two days riding around the neighborhood.   Looks like she may pick it up pretty quick too!
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Long, cool run today.  About 6 miles, and kept an under 10 minute mile.  Good, good, good...

Rainy, Cool Day!

Loving the past two days. Barely into the low sixtys, today rain. I LOVE FALL! Today I went out on the Neuse and Abbotts Creek Trail. Noticed a new sign for the Herons. Pretty nice.

New Vibrams!

Wow! Seeing (and wearing) is believing! The one on the left, obviously, is one of my old Vibrams. A year old, all kinds of holes, and man, do they stink! Got the new ones today. What a difference! Should be interesting to run in them!!

Signs...Signs...Everywhere on the Greenway there're Signs...

Ok, so my rock singer career won't take off, but boy, can I take Greenway pictures! Lately I have been going around the Greenway and noticing all the signage. Today I just went to do hill repeats up Falls River Avenue, inbetween the two Greenway entrances and I found two of these arrow markers. Pretty interesting...

Movie on the Green

Went to Lucy's school Friday to see Gnomeo and Juliet outside. Old school drive in style. Fun to do things like that as a family!

Twisted Sister

So tonight I queued up a YouTube video for Grease 2's 'Let's Bowl,' since we were bowling tonight. Then Myra asked what music I listed to when I was a boy. Twisted Sister came to mind, so we watched the "We're Not Gonna Take It' video. Afterward, Myra continued to sing that around the house. Funny!

Let's Bowl...Let's Bowl...Let's Rock n Roll...

Went to a bowling birthday party for one of Lucy's friends. We all got to bowl a little. Fun!

New Vibrams!

Yup, ordered a new pair--another pair of Black Sprints. The existing ones are fine, but two toes have holes in right down to my toe. Definitely need to get them replaced. Doing the Tar River 5K next weekend. Going to really try for a sub 28 minute time. We'll see!

Another Neuse Greenway Update

This is quickly becoming a Neuse Greenway update blog! After three days on it this weekend, figured I would give some updates. I went out biking today, following the Greenway East from the Bedford community. Got as far as the Railroad Underpass just West of Capital Blvd when I got stuck with workers working on the roofed walkway. I guess they figure we all could be at risk going under the railroad bridge. I did actually get to see a train pull out, then back up, probably in that quarry along US 1. You can see it up there in the trees. -- Good Labor Day weekend. Lots of running, lots of fun, lots of family time. Now the next scheduled day off is Veterans' Day--in November--which means CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!

Another Myra/Lucyism

One of our fun games we enjoy playing is Taco Monster. I think he is semi-related to Uncle Gary's Garbage Man. Anyway, the Taco Monster is roughly a zombie, coming around growling with arms out. When he gathers a victim, he wraps them up in a blanket like a taco.. FUN!

Labor Day Weekend

Thank goodness we may it to a 3 day weekend. I think all four of us share exhaustion. Busy week. Good day so far. I went running with my EVO, Vibrams, and Rocketfish headphones. The trinity that makes running so much better for me. Listening to Google Music through the headphones, and also using Runkeeper.. I went out to Capital via the Greenway. Coming along nicely. Stayed around 9 minute pace for the whole time--so hopefully next week's 5k will be around 27 minutes.

One odd thing was the roof they are putting over it under the railroad crossing. I guess the anticipate things falling from the crossing.

Hurricane Irene

Yup, first Hurricane of the year, and first to hit our coast for sometime. Luckily we made it through without too much trouble. Lots of rain and limbs down. Went on the Bedford Greenway today, and 4 trees and lots of limbs down. But pretty lucky! Now five days, and a 3 day weekend!!

The Rest of the Trail...

Approaching one of two new bridges on this stretch. I like the retro 'rusted metal' bridges here. This is the 4th from the Dam to Capital.
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This fence runs along a good stretch of the trail. I believe it is the factory/quarry the runs along US-1, right across from Sheetz.
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Yup, that's Capital. Lots of traffic! Trail is not quite finished through this area. It transitions from asphalt to concrete under Capital, in preparation for the long boardwalk bridge over some apparently swampy land.
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So this is as close as I could get. Around the bend, I spotted some construction workers. So we'll wait for a weekend and begin exploring further!

Sneaking on the Trail

So I decided to do a little exploring today on my run. I have been running the new Neuse River Greenway from the Falls Lake Dam, along the Neuse behind the Bedford Community. Today, I decided to turn right, navigate a small stream since the bridge pictured was not complete, and keep on.