JUNE is the...

...name of the sister and WIFE of Jupiter. Man, funny how those Greek Gods became God-like considering their choice of mate. Maybe somewhere in Arkansas there is a community of Gods and Titans?

June was Cycling Month. First off I rode in the Elephant Rock with John Obering, Matt Sodnicar, and an ex-pro cyclist that kicked my ass (and didnt sweat much). Of all the rides that I do during the summer, E-Rock is one of the more technical (see: climbs)...plus it is the first one of the season, so not quite in shape yet. The third weekend was the MS 150 - this ride is the reason we have a cycling team in the first place. This year we had 25 team members, raised over $22,000 for the National MS Society, sported new bad-ass black jerseys, and totally kicked ass. We couldnt have done it without our friends and family that donated to NMSS, our "support-staff" friends that set up/decorated our tent and provided drinks and massages, and everyone else that supported us along our 150 mile journey through the foothills of Colorado.

Inbetween E-Rock and MS150, the ATX Denver Adult Superfraternity put together our first Charity Golf Event. Knowing us, you probably wouldnt be surprised to find out that we did it a little differently than most golf tourneys... The "hackMasters One Club Golf Tournament of Fury" made participants play with only ONE club of their choice (I played with a 9 iron), and allowed them to buy coupons for various "cheats" (ie: mulligan) and "screws"(make a competing team member play with a left handed club). On the third hole you could buy a hole-in-one for $20 (I got my first ACE that day). The fifth hole? Kegstands for Cash. I think my favorite part was the designated "Heckle Station" at the teebox of the 9th: people just stood in the roped-off area and yelled at you while you took your tee shot. Good times - we raised around $2000 for the NMSS, AND learned some ways to improve the tourney next year.

MAY I borrow...

...a cup of sugar?

Since I actually left in April, I guess I could have filed it there - but I didnt, so you'll have to think outside the box. Craig graduated from Brewing School in Munich, so I headed over there to hang out with him for a couple of weeks and do "cultural things"...like drink beer. And ride bikes. And ride bikes while drinking beer. Last time that Craig and I played around in Europe we DID go to museums and various other historical places. This time we didnt beat around the bush. We drank beer. Lots of incredible German and Belgian beer. We went to the sacred places that they make the sacred beer. Including a little known monastery called St. Sixtus in Westvleteran that makes a beer that you probably have never heard of unless you are a beer snob. But we are beer snobs. And we went there.

Also, I took Jess down to Austin for a wedding. She survived meeting my Aunt/Uncle/Cousin, meeting my crazy mom, meeting my Nana/Grandad, meeting my old hometown friends, lots of mexican food, and a fun 4Seasons wedding. She didnt survive the pedi-cab ride home. I mean, she LIVED through the ordeal - but we got ejected at 5th and Congress at about 2am. I was a little embarrassed, Jess was a little concussed. After a really fun ambulance ride to Brackenridge, we realized we were the best dressed people staying overnight in the ER at the county hospital. That's what Texas is all about: Shiner Bock, Blue Bell Icecream, Mexican Food, Barbecue, and spending the night in a hospital after a really good party.

No updates since...

...April? I understand that some people consider my (very important) blog "the news", so sorry to keep everyone waiting. Ill try to fit volumes of information into paragraphs.

APRIL showers bring May flowers:

Jess and I joined a few new friends and a few old friends for a hike up to a remote cabin in the mountains above Blue River, CO. When you city folks hear "hike", you would probably not imagine hiking uphill with skis/snowshoes in 3 feet of snow in a snowstorm for 4.5 miles to reach a cabin with no running water. We had lots of wine and lots of bacon...it was nice.

I bought a house. It is 105 years old, and in a completely bad ass neighborhood near Downtown Denver. Come visit. But bring your work gloves, this is going to be a constant work in progress. I moved a good, solid 3 blocks away from the house that I shared with Craig and JD for two years...so when I moved my mattress I just threw it up on the top of the car and held on while driving down the hill. "Hey North Country Club citizens, your new neighbor is totally classy." Every day it looks less and less like a hobo is squatting there.