29 June hike
30 June hike
1 July hike
2 July hike
4th of July hike
So pretty much here on travel its like I am living like I am in prison while on travel (on purpose mind you). Its work-release...I go to work, then back to my prison-cell, except when Im shopping for groceries or hiking (don't get to do too much of that). And using the hotel hot-tub (when no one else is around)...don't think there's too much hot-tubbing when in prison (however, it is a salt-water version instead of chlorine...hooray!)
So other than the fact that I can come and go in my rental car whenever I want, go to restaurants (not that I do) whenever I want, go hiking and hot-tubbing, make unlimited calls on my cell phone (at least until I run out of minutes on my tracfone), and surf the web and order from Amazon or eBay whenever I want on my laptop in my room, my life on the road right now is exactly like Im in prison.
I think the biggest difference between my life and prison life is likely my meals. Being as Im on use-it-or-lose-it per-Diem, Im living pretty high-on-the-hog right now...I figure being as Im in self-imposed-prison I might as well live the best I can...and that includes buying groceries that I wouldn't normally buy at home. And for some reason Im taking pictures of my meals...(is that odd? I think it might be).
So....without further adieu and for your viewing pleasure, a photographic expose of prison meals here in the Boulder CO Residence Inn work-release prison.
Ordered delivery from BJs Brewhouse/restaurant. Ribeye steak, garlic mashed taters, broccoli, Sriracha grilled brussel sprouts, and chicken tortilla soup. And a creme-soda float. All dropped off right at my hotel room door by door-dash (I think that's what its called).
Tonight's dinner selection: steamed king crab legs, broccoli with cheese sauce, sweet tater with butter and brown sugar, pineapple slices, a fresh salad w/ Blu Cheese dressing, and a yogurt.
Buttered corn, sauteed (in butter) scallop pieces, pineapple slices and a salad (and yogurt).
Sweet potato w/ butter and brown sugar, grilled ribeye steak, broccoli with cheese sauce, and grilled chinning squash. And a yogurt.
Delivery order (from BJs again): Garlic mashed taters, double-thick bone-in grilled pork chop, sriracha grilled brussel sprouts, and chicken tortilla soup.
Grilled lobster with melted butter, grilled corn, grilled sweet tater (butter and brown sugar are coming soon).
This was at IHOP...spinach/mushroom omelette with pancakes and coffee. IHOP has really upped their game...it was awesome!
T-bone steak, grilled corn and sweet potato (and salad waiting up in the room).
The other T-bone (was a twin pack), zucchini squash and lobster (and salad). The ol surf n turf!
Tonight's fare was grilled teriyaki/garlic salmon, grilled corn, sweet tater w/ butter n brown sugar, and salad...and a beer. YUM! Prisoners getting beer, awesome!
Grilled corn, ribeye, bacon wrapped scallops, zucchini squash...and a beer.
King Crab (grilled) w/ butter (of course), grilled buttered sweet tater w/ brown sugar, and a nice salad. And the brown stuff in the glass is Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha (Iced Espresso). That is what I have when Im working a night shift and cant have a beer (its been in several other dinners but I forgot to list it). Prison life isn't so horrible...other than stepping out of your life for a period of time.
Just thought Id toss in this pic of prison life here at the Cape (and thanks Susie for letting me know NBCSN is broadcasting old stages of le Tour)...this is a selphie from this morning (Friday).
Stage 14 from last year, ON the Col du Tormalet...woo hoo! Racing! (even old racing). Awesome to hear Phil and Bobke...I should have known right away it was last year cuz Paul wasn't with Phil..but my brain was still foggy at this point in my first cup of coffee in my Residence Inn prison cell here in Florida.
While Im at it in the updating mode, here is the last prison food pictures (from Florida):
Sushi from Thai Thai (I love sushi!). A Rainbow roll, AND...
The REST of my first nights dinner here...the Sashimi dinner...MMMMMM! (or as they say, whatever floats your boat!) HA!
2nd nights dinner: the Sashimi dinner (again) and a Dynamite roll. Did I mention that I love sushi?
Parmesan crusted grouper with jasmine rice and asparagus. And a beer. TASTY!!
This is a Lobster roll (top) and a Rock and Roll (bottom). MMMM!
Tonights dinner selection: Blackened Sea Bass w/ Jasmine Rice and Asparagus. MMMM!
OK...Im off to work now. Last shift here in FL, then Sunday we fly HOME!!! HOORAY!!!
While Im at it in the updating mode, here is the last prison food pictures (from Florida):
OK...Im off to work now. Last shift here in FL, then Sunday we fly HOME!!! HOORAY!!!
I loved looking at all the photos- both the hiking and the "prison food"! :)
ReplyDeleteQuestion - what do you eat at work? Do you bring something with you or can you get something there? Do you have a favorite steak (Porterhouse, T-Bone, Ribeye, NY Strip, etc)? Every time someone asks me that, I'm never sure how to answer. On the farm, we had 2 freezers full of our own beef, so steak was never a big deal back then. Once I started living & most all PAYING for myself in grad school, steak suddenly became a rare treat & I bought whatever was on sale. I STILL do that except for the last 4 months & only shopping once every 3 or 2 weeks, I buy whatever looks ok & is actually there - not so much in my store the last 5 weeks at 6AM. I went this morning & all they had were a few packs of 3 T-Bones "on sale" (yeah, sure) & 2 other steaks that were flatter but twice as expensive. I bought a 3-pack of the T-Bones (is $24 for 3 a good or bad price?) & have wrapped each individually in foil, then put in a freezer bag & now they are in the freezer. I'll eat one per week. With Uncle Ben's Wild Rice (my go-to side with steaks).
Have you ever had Chesapeake Bay (i.e. Blue) crabs? That's what we Marylanders think of & eat when eating "crabs". I've only had Alaskan King crab legs once, more than 40 (argh!) years ago when I was in college. One of those chain seafood places that don't exist anymore had "All you Can Eat Buffets" with the Crab Legs once/week & one week a bunch of us went. I liked the crab legs but I'm used to the Bay seasoning we do on our crabs, so they seemed kind of mild in comparison & I've never tried them again. Same with lobster. I've always planned to try both again "ONE DAY" in places where they are the restaurant's specialty.
What would you say is your absolute favorite meal? OR, if you could only eat ONE thing the rest of your life, what would it be? Actually, answer both questions! :)
Well, have a Happy 4th (do you have to work that day?!) & stay safe. And keep those pics coming!
You too, Rae! :)
Normally (ie, at home) I eat leftovers at work. I always carry my lunch...probably can count on one hand the times Ive bought lunch at work in the last 10 years. If I have no leftovers I make some (Costco...buy a big pan of Lasagna or a pan of Chicken Alfredo, or their Chicken Pot Pie is always nice for a bunch of lunches too). I like steaks, Id probably say a ribeye would be my fav, but when NOT on travel I dont eat steak very often...pretty much holidays (Mem day, 4th of July, Labor Day)...otherwise its usually chicken. But being on travel/Per-diem, I buy stuff Id never pay for on my own (such as King Crab and Lobster). Beef has gotten pretty expensive lately.
DeleteI lived in Virginia way back in the day (87 to 90), lived in VA Beach, worked at Norfolk Naval Station. I had Blue crab a few times back then...even had a soft-shell-crab sandwich (once). Had no idea what that was...turns out its a sandwich bun with legs sticking out. Wasnt too keen on that..looked like a giant spider sandwich. Most all you can eat buffets have snow crab (much cheaper than King Crab). The problem with Snow Crab is you work too hard for tiny morsels of meat. With King Crab you get some SERIOUS hunks of crab meat from those enormous legs. Lobster is good but King Crab is better IMO.
As to fav meal, wow...thats tough...I kind of like nearly everything. Beef Stroganoff (sp?), lasagna, spaghetti, Pizza (MMMM...Pizza!)...spicy chicken sandwiches (such as at Chick Fillet)...a good hamburger stacked w/ everything, a nice steak, love the fresh fish in Hawaii...Id really be torn to pick one thing for the rest of my life.
Anyway...we work tonight (Thursday), have tomorrow off as our Paid Holiday for the 4th...and we fly to FL on Sunday. Our time here in Boulder is just about at its end...too bad, its really nice here (at least now...never been here in the winter). Gotta scoot and make some dinner before work...need to be AT the base (Buckley) by 6pm, and its about an hours drive. Have a great 4th yourself...enjoy one of those steaks!
Hello, Matt and Susie,
ReplyDeleteI missed your last post Matt, catching up today. I enjoyed the trail photos a lot - I do miss mountain hiking!
The trees have been killed by bark beetles I think. We are starting to have a similar but not as severe (yet) issue with gypsy moth - in fact the city just aerially sprayed for them the other day, which they've done the past 2 years. Imported insects are really starting to threaten a lot of our native forest here in Ohio!
Yes, Susie, I live in the state's hotspot of Franklin County. Cases are really increasing but so far hospitalizations and deaths don't seem to be increasing proportionally (at least the last time I checked, but those numbers will lag). Possibly reflecting more infection of younger folks. In my little suburb, cases are still low but starting to approach double digit increases. All the deaths so far have been nursing home residents.
I am so grateful that I had a few N-95 masks to hand and I wear one anytime I go to a store or post office (not outside, it is easy to avoid people then but I don't go to the park to hike now). Like Matt, though, I thought I had a mild case in April - no cough but other symptoms including mild shortness of breath after going up the stairs - I was tested but came back negative. I might go for an antibody test just to see.
You are right Susie I have a to -do list that always seems to have 10 or so items - I make myself do at least 2 nearly every day. Major chore I have to do soon is to fix my outdoor spigots - the washers have deteriorated (I think) so the innards need to be replaced. I've done it before so at least I know how. I'm going to Lowe's today to get the parts.
Boulder looks so nice! We have had wonderful weather the past 4-5 days, quite hot but low humidity so just how I like it! Great for spending several hours out daily doing yard/garden chores or walking. However, it also hasn't rained for well over a week, and my water barrels are getting empty - high water bill ahead, I'm afraid!
Susie I understand about missing people at work. Most of my co-workers were a few decades (!!) younger than I, so we didn't really bond, but I always enjoyed interacting with them, and I do miss that somewhat.
Matt, I could never eat as you are doing now - my lipid profile would be way out of whack with just 2 of those meals! Not to mention gaining weight! Lucky man.
I've never had King crab but when my mother lived in Galveston for a time, we would go down to the pier with a net, some string and a couple of chicken wings and catch blue crab. I do have to say, though, that it is not a favorite meal for me. I would be hard pressed to say what would be - I love a good steak but don't crave it often. I have too many things that I like a lot to pick a favorite, anywhere from soups to seafood to tacos. Love fish tacos! Maybe a quart of coffee ice cream?
Hope you both enjoyed a great 4th - it was very noisy around here as people substituted their own fireworks for the not-happening public displays. Someone was setting off some good ones over the lake that is just a bit beyond the end of my street - I enjoyed that along with a nice selection of patriotic music on the classical radio station and fresh peaches and a hamburger (local store had a SUPER sale, only 1/3 of the price hamburger has been lately!)
Hey Rae, great to hear from you...so glad you are safe!
ReplyDeleteWell...Im in Florida. Flew from Buckley AFB yesterday, arrived here about 8pm and worked till just after midnight...got my car and moved into my new prison cell (er, hotel room). Now I am up and about...sort of. Thankfully I had a thermos of coffee I had on the plane...didn't have to walk to the lobby for coffee (its a big hotel and I am feeling very lazy right now). Back to work tonight at 5:30...tomorrow at 4pm, then Weds and Thurs are day shifts...Friday is another eve (6pm), Sat a day off (hooray!), then fly home on Sunday...that is if all goes to schedule. I need to get moving and go get something to eat, then groceries for the week. Looks nice out my window...that probably means hot and humid..and likely bugs. Will see soon enough. Have a great week and stay safe!
Rae- so great to hear from you! I was getting worried! And I KNEW you'd be completing all kinds of house tasks, making me feel even lazier. :) It's funny, but even though I currently only go INTO the office once/week & the other 4 days, I work at home, saving myself a commute, I FEEL more tired every day then when I work everyday in the office. I think it's the constant stress.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of different food faves too. And don't think I could live forever on just ONE thing. If I HAD to pick one, it would be my stuffing, although it doesn't always come out perfect. And I USED to love pizza but it no longer loves me - I get bad heartburn from it & have to load up on the TUMS BEFORE I start eating it. Consequently, I've cut back pizza to only 2-3 times a year.
And I ate softshell crabs with hy Aunt when I was a kid. There was a company located on the Eastern Shore of MD (i.e. along the Chesapeake Bay) that froze them 4 to a box. My Aunt would broil them with butter, hmm, hmm, hmm! I loved the crunchy legs most of all! (Unlike a mature crab, you can eat all of the legs!) The only part I hated was this greenish-yellow stuff in the middle. I like eating steamed Bay crabs with the Bay seasoning, but man, SO MUCH WORK to get all the meat out! And I always cut my hands up terribly! Give me a really good crabcake sandwich OR Crab Imperial. Love both!
Hey, NBCSN is broadcasting repeat viewings of old Tour stages! The 1st one I saw was last Friday & they showed the 2011 stage where Tyler Farrar won the sprint on July 4th. Tyler was interviewed via Skype (or something) & it was great hearing & seeing him (he's a firefighter now in Washington state which I think is where he's from). No shows over the weekend but they showed another stage this morning between 9-12 & will be showing another stage tonight. I've looked at the onscreen TV schedule & it looks like they will keep this up for at least this week! They are hopping around years & stages but it's great to hear Phil & Paul & reminisce! I was able to watch on Friday but only listen today (& any weekday morning as the TV is BEHIND my "workstation" on my kitchen table. The show is called "Ultimate Tour" & I'm happy they are doing it. I WONDERED if they would & checked on TV a couple evenings last week but didn't see anything. It's possible that Friday 7/3 was the 1st show.
I'm still skeptical that the Tour will really start & complete this year but Europe is doing MUCH better than the USA containing COVID so maybe it really will happen!
Hi again! I found out that NBCSN started showing 'The Ultimate Tour' in the 9-12 am slot LAST Monday (6/29) & did so each Weekday morning & will continue to do so thru 7/17. A different stage each time & they jump around years. And then beginning last night, they will also broadcast TWO shows back-back between 7pm-1am M-F although I think I saw that one or two of those will be Paris-Roubaix. The night shows are NOT a repeat of the AM shows.
ReplyDeleteThey also interview one of the guys that was heavily involved in those stages. Last night we saw the stage that Dan Martin won & then the next show was Stage 9 in the 2017 Tour where Richie Porte hit the grass on the left on the last descent & FLEW across the road & took Dan out. Dan was somehow able to complete that stage & Tour with broken ribs! But poor Richie was immediately taken to the hospital. Dan was the interviewee.
I almost get teary watching the GLORIOUS French countryside, the cycling & listening to Phil & Paul. STILL can't believe Paul is gone! If there is one good thing out of this heinous virus, it's that we get to hear P&P again do what they did best! And even though the shows are just repeats, it's still fabulous to "spend July in France"! :)
Possibly because of the jumping around between stages AND years, my memory of some of the stages is not so good! I certainly remembered Ritchie flying across that road in 2017 though! Oof! Tonight's 7pm stage is Stage 11 of 2016 TDF & then at 10pm it looks like a stage of the 2015 Tour of California. Not sure why they are broadcasting a ToC stage but I'm guessing either Levi, Horner or Christian had a banner day & they'll be interviewing them. We heard from Tejay during yesterday's morning stage.
Also, NBC runs a promo for this year's TDF which is till scheduled to start 8/29 & NBCSN will be brodcasting it. Not sure if the commentators will BE there or not though, or just commentate remotely as they do for the Vuelta.
Gotta go.
OMG!! Just woke up (its 10am, Friday...we have today off but work tonight 6pm to 6am)...saw your info on NBCSN, checked my hotel guide, and WOW! They have NBCSN!! And lo and behold, I am watching a Tour Stage!!!!! Phil and Bobke narrating...lets see, stage 14, not sure of the year....its recent...Steve Perino is on the moto in the race...Gosh how I have missed le Tour!! Thanks for the heads up Susie!! Im sad that I wont have this at home..we dont have NBCSN on our subscription (it costs a lot to go higher...I typically do it for July).
DeleteTESTING
ReplyDeleteHey Susie...gosh, I think I was MIA the last 3 days...my work schedule here in FL is all over the map...its been fast and furious for us...we lost nearly a day early on due to a storm (it slowed down our aircraft offload last Monday by almost half a day) and were looking to be a day late going home (Monday instead of this Sunday) but both our shifts worked like DOGS and we caught up, so I suddenly have today off (Friday) but work tonight as we load the aircraft, have tomorrow off, and fly home on Sunday. I know there is a LOT of concern over the Covid here where Im at by our customer...there is talk that if we dont get out on Sunday we might be locked down for the 14 days right here...(just rumours tho)...but our gov reps seem to be VERY VERY VERY excited that we get out on Sunday instead of Monday. We were told last night at the end of our shift that there has now been a possible case here where we are working at...and one of our people spent some time w/ this person back last Sunday while we were were still flying (she flew out ahead of time, one of the people who do all the coordination behind the scenes) and she has been pulled from our midst the last few days (been wondering where she was). The person w/ symptoms has been tested, but here in FL they have a 5-10 day wait for the results...they are testing our person too but we will all be home when any of these results come back. IF this local person tests positive, that would be bad...as we have all had contact w/ our person (our entire group is a little family...we work and travel very close to each other, so if one of us is exposed we pretty much all are exposed). Ive brought up several times to our mgmt that when we get home we ALL should immedietly be tested, then put up in a hotel till our results come back so that we dont bring this home to our families. That wont happen obviously due to the cost (unless our customer/the government steps in and pays for it). Jeannie has been home doing all the right things, and I am the threat to her for catching this...
ReplyDeleteJust put a picture from this morning at the end of the post...racing...ahhhh!
ReplyDeleteAnd also some Florida prisoner food...they eat well here in Cocoa Beach! So...we loaded the aircraft last night between storms...got back to my room about 4:30am...urgh...LONG night..but its done. Im now up and about 12:30pm), doing 2 loads of laundry so Im not packing a suitcase full of dirty clothes...eating a plate full of sliced watermelon (gotta clean out my fridge of groceries, other than what I will carry with me on the plane tomorrow). We fly at 9:30am tomorrow...HOORAY!! This 30 day mission feels like we've been on the road forever! Sure will be good to be HOME! I don't think Id like to live here in FL...the heat/humidity/bugs/stuff that wants to kill and eat me combined with super-flat land all combine to make this NOT my cup of tea.
DeleteSunday, a bit past noon. We are NOT in the sky flying to CA as planned...another broken plane. So once again, here we wait. Maybe we can fly tomorrow IF they can get the parts down from Dover AFB today/tonight...but that is very tentative. I cant believe anybody comes here in the summer for vacation...its horrible! By 11am it was already mid 90s and about 200% humidity...(it was quite miserable on the plane waiting the prior hour for engine startup at 9am as planned...with no engines there is no cooling...gets pretty hot inside a military airplane w/ no a/c here in FL in the sun on the tarmac in the summer). By 9:30 and no engines we knew there was something wrong...they tried for/hoped for a waiver to fly, but by about 11:30 were denied by whoever makes that call, so we all got off both planes and got our luggage back and shuttled back to where all our rental cars were parked, and I am now back at the hotel in the cool a/c. I have absolutely nothing to do today (that doesn't involve me going out and about into the pandemic)..might swing by a grocery store as I am totally out of a few things I would like for today. And today was a double-time day too...stupid planes taking money right out of our pockets! They seem to do that a lot Ive noticed.
ReplyDeleteJust got word that parts wont be here in time for us to fly tomorrow...so now we are scheduled for Tues morning. Great...a vacation day in a pandemic paradise...what am I supposed to do? I sat in my room watching TV and reading my Kindle all day today...do NOT really want to do that again tomorrow. Crap.
ReplyDeleteWell...if Im not able to be HOME, at least I had an AWESOME Tour day..2001, stage 18, Voeckler in yellow for the 9th day, Andy Schleck attacks from 60k out on the Col d Izoard, Cadel Evans fighting all alone (no teammates, but he was pulling a bunch) to limit the damage on the final climb, the Col d Gablier...I had forgotten how AWESOME this stage (and Tour) was! And its SO GRAND to hear P&P...its like Paul isn't really gone. Tomorrow (not sure if they will show stage 19) lies the Alp d Huez, then a TT on the final day (which we all know Cadel Evans beat Andy by enough to win the Tour, with Andy taking 2nd and Frank taking 3rd!) So on this stage, Andy wins the day on the Galibier, Voeckler holds yellow by the skin on his teeth pulled almost entirely to that amazing performance by Cadel, Evans in 3rd but poised to win the GC. Contador dropped by Evans and loses any chance for this Tour (having won the 2 prior years). I recall so clearly rooting for Voeckler...it was SO exciting seeing him in yellow, fighting every day against all odds to hold it for another day. I also seem to recall this was pretty much the end for Andy...wasn't it either 2009 or 10 the infamous chain-gate, when Contador attacked Andy in yellow when his chain got stuck? (and won that years Tour by just about the amount of time he took that day)? Ahh...thank goodness my little prison cell has TV WITH NBCSN! I wont be watching any more Tour this year unless we are delayed another day. It was cool after the stage interview NOW with Andy...he owns a bike shop, and has NONE of his own memorabilia in the shop...how humble is that! Man...I SO miss le Tour! July just isnt real...this entire year is a writeoff, next year (we HOPE) life will return to whatever the new normal is. OK...gotta get some creamer for my coffee...I had the PERFECT amount assuming we flew home yesterday...now Im out. MUST HAVE CREME! Then back to prison for the day (Florida is really NOT doing well) and will slip out for a quick 3rd last dinner (thought last nights was my 2nd, didn't get the text that we would not fly today till later in the evening). I really want to be home! This trip has worn out its welcome...mission accomplished, just need to NOT bring this evil virus home to Jeannie. Later gators, stay safe!
ReplyDeleteHey Matt - so sorry you can't get out of the HOT ZONE until Tuesday but hopefully that meant you were able to watch Monday's Ultimate Tour stage! It was Stage 18 in the 2011 Tour - the one where Andy Schleck went on an almost all day break & ended up winning solo on the Galibier. Cadel Evans had NO teammates for at least the last two mts (I think) & DRAGGED THE REST OF THE SORRY-ASS GC guys up the Galibier in one of the most impressive displays of guts & "you-ain't-gonna-beat-me" strength of will ever seen at ANY Tour. His efforts that day is what allowed him to go on & WIN the Tour that year. Also of note - Yellow Jersey wearer Voeckler SOMEHOW stayed with the GC guys to mostly finish with them & keep the YJ another day. He almost collapsed after the Finish Line. And Contador cracked on the Galibier & that was the moment I stopped hating him. I never really became a fan again, but I did eventually root for him against Froome. At the time, we all thought we'd have several more years of Contador vs Andy & that did not happen. Andy's career was later shortened by a horrible crash-injury of which he did not fully recover & Contador was never the same rider at the Tour as he had been in the years 2007-2010 (excluding 2008 when the ASL kept his teams OUT of the Tour due to what its previous team members & staff had done! Note that they did not do that again after Contador really did test positive in 2010 & after Froome had that mysterious "positive" of some sort at the 2017 Vuelta?)
ReplyDeleteToday's interviewee was Andy Schleck (Frank was last Friday). Unfortunately, it looks like there will only be the AM Ultimate Tour shows this week & none at night. BOO! The night shows were the ones I was able to watch in full. Also, Stage 19 of the 2011 Tour is being shown this Wed AM & I'll miss it. Damn!
Anyhoo, did you see that Froome will be LEAVING INEOS at the end of the year? Not a shock since I'd seen rumours for months but I am shocked the news was released before this year's Tour. Will make the POWER TRUAD of Ineos even MORE bizarre at the upcoming Tour! Unless Froome or Bernal crash out or lose major time early, it look like Gerraint will be under a lot of pressure over who to back. And since Froome is leaving (don't care if he says all is simpatico with the team), you KNOW he will ride for himself for the win. Oh boy - DRAMA! Can't wait! It will make up for the lack of screaming fans in the mts (I'm assuming they will prohibit fans on the climbs)!
Hahaha, looks like we posted our comments at the same time! Glad you were able to watch that great Stage 18 of the 2011 Tour! Almost made me weepy, I miss it so! And even though I'll be terribly worried, I can't stop myself wanting this year's Tour to actually happen! I wonder what France is like in September? On the non-rainy days, the sky is SO BLUE & the mts & fields so GREEN in July in France that it will be hard to beat.
ReplyDeleteIt's looking like I'll still mostly be working out of my house by September so I don't know how I will stop myself from looking at the LIVE coverage! Maybe I'll take some vacation hours during the impactful mt stages like I usually do. I'll wait & see how it goes. After last year's historic stoppage of some stages due to just weather, I think we need to prepare ourselves for ANYTHING to happen this year due to COVID - they may even stop the Tour before it finishes!
Well, hopefully you get out of there tomorrow, Matt. Stay safe & bon appetite! :) :)
My fingers are crossed for you, Matt! Perhaps there is a not expensive extended stay motel close to home, one that is desperate for guests, that you can get a deal - maybe through priceline or hotwire? I hope that everyone on your team has been appropriately masked too!
ReplyDeleteIt is worrisome how often your transport planes are "broken". Are they the aircraft that are too old to be used otherwise, or what?
Susie, I am chewing nails because I don't have cable, and had planned to subscribe to NBCSports Gold - but they aren't offering the cycling pass now - so I can't watch the vintage stages AT ALL!! I have sent emails to NBCSports but the people who reply do NOT understand - I've been told how to access the NBCSports app on my Roku (but I CAN'T activate it without a cable subscription) and the Gold pass (but they AREN'T selling them now!) AARRGH!! I haven't missed a Tour stage since 2003, I think, and I am going through withdrawal!
I think I will have to see if I can get cable from my internet provider for just 1 month -- if they do have the tour, I will be able to find livestreams of it on the internet for free I am sure.
I would surely love to see the Tour that Cadel Evans won again - people made fun of his voice, but the man truly had grinta - even in his years with Lotto, he finished well despite very weak team support (I thought they never truly saw him as a potential winner). Remember when he finished with a fractured elbow, although IIRC that injury cost him the yellow jersey, and resulted in just about his lowest finish ever in the tour.
Ah, those were some great racing years!
I wonder if we will see a situation with Ineos this year (if the Tour happens) like we saw last year with Movistar - that should be interesting! Poor Geraint!
Hey Rae...glad to hear from you! The aircraft gods have cursed us...got a text from our Ops Coordinator (OC) that best case the parts wont be here until sometime Weds morning at best...the crew needs time to install and test, so we are scheduled to fly home Thursday now (and the BIG assumption is that these parts will fix our problem, AND that there wont be ANOTHER problem with either of our planes). Our planes are OLD (Vietnam era) transports...they have been thru depot many many times, but a lot of the stuff is just beyond that. There is SO MUCH that can go wrong...cargo doors not opening or closing (not even counting personnel doors), winches (these are transports for military equipment after all) that stop working, any number of hydraulic lines and systems (there is hydraulic fluid and film/spray pretty much everywhere inside the plane), all the electronics, and finally all the REALLY important stuff that actually keeps the planes in the air. Most planes are well retired by this point in their life...only there are no replacements that can carry our stuff, so they just keep flying (along with the rest of the fleet). We try not to think about how often they break when we fly...however I don't know of any that have crashed...so there is that consolation. As to what happens when we finally get home, no one knows (or is saying). Due to the upspike in FL cases they (my company and/or the Gov) MAY be forced to either quarantine us or test us...nobody in charge is very receptive to that idea but they may have no choice. We are all masked when we go anywhere, but at work we gave that up as we are inches from each other hours at a time, many of us jammed into vans for moving us around, and on the aircraft sitting next to each other...there is just no escaping that we are a bubble of hope (say about 40 people) that none of us have been in actual contact...cuz if (when) one of us gets it, all of us will have been exposed....pretty much that's how we roll. So far back home no one in our entire company has tested positive (so far, tho its just a matter of time). Here where we have been working there have been a few cases in recent weeks (we heard today our customer shut down the place yesterday for 2 weeks due to some positive cases inside from another company...none of us came in direct contact w/ any of them, but we have no idea who THEY contacted who then contacted us).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, enough on that..it can make you crazy worrying about it. Im doing pretty much what I can to stay safe (within reason). I am loving seeing some old stages...really missed that...and old or not it FEELS like new, even tho I remember the outcome...2011 was a really special year...we really had NO IDEA who was going to win, even in the last few days...how awesome was that!! I especially loved the Voeckler struggle...it was so refreshing...and Cadel pretty much on his own, what a valiant struggle he did! It was really special watching that stage this morning...and hey, suddenly I will still be here on Weds so can catch Stage 19...woo-HOO! There is a teensy little light suddenly in the darkness of being stuck away from home in a pandemic hotspot! OK...gonna go back to my book..(just back from dinner...Sushi...again...YUM!) If I had REAL prison food I would die. Later gators!
Well...got another text last night from our OC, seems now the part will be here TODAY and the plane hopefully fixed and ready to fly tomorrow (Weds). I can only guess that our customer (a 3 letter organization of the gov) got on the phone yesterday afternoon w/ the aircraft people n lit a fire under someone pretty high ups butt, and the fire then quickly burned downhill till suddenly the part is here a day earlier than previously expected. I know our customer is extremely unhappy AGAIN due to the fact that we have 2 expensive planes and a whole bunch of people sitting in a hotel (getting paid too) w/ rental cars n per diem...all charged to our customers budget. If our customer could somehow push the expense of us being stuck by broken aircraft on to the aircraft peoples budget, I think there would be a lot less broken aircraft (just a hunch). But sadly that isn't how things work in the gov. Was planning on renting a beach cruiser this am and riding around...just stepped outside at 8am and damn its hot and humid already! Guess I will skip that and continue hiding out in my room. I have a TV and a new kindle book. And coffee.
ReplyDeleteAhhh...just watched Stage 18 from last year...gosh, I had already forgotten it...Allaphilipe held yellow beyond everyone's expectations, Quintana WON the day on the Col d Galibeir (hope I spelled it right today...these French mountains are very tough to spell). Bernal attacked and put time on his own guy G. Thomas, both from superteam...and now leads GT by 5 seconds going into the next 2 mountain stages. I have to say that even tho I watched it last year, the descent to the finish from the Galibeir summit was riveting and more than once I was pulling my legs up in fear as everybody was trying to catch Q, and Alliphillipe was just a MADMAN. I forgot how exciting that stag was! OK...I need to slip out and get some lunch, then back to prison until dinner. Changed my mind about riding around this morning on a rental beach cruiser...for one thing, its too freaking HOT and HUMID for my likes...and b, things are just too covid-crazy right now (and half or more of the people out and about are not wearing masks). IF we do fly tomorrow I will miss the 2011 Stage 19...that will be sad but a good trade to get me HOME! My fingers are crossed we get a text in the next few hours that our plane is fixed and ready to fly.
ReplyDeleteHey Rae - did you drop cable in just the last year or did you not have it last year either? You would have enjoyed these 3 weeks of 'Ultimate Tour" shows. Gosh, I can't live without TV (which means cable since our HOA bans all roof antennas & satellite dishes). Hopefully, NBCSN will offer the Tour Pass thing once it looks 100% that the Tour is a go. If they don't, can you really rely on other internet sites? I've found the last couple years that most are blocked within the USA or you have to pay to connect or for a "package". Up until 2014-2016, I was able to go to Steephill or that other cyclingfans site that list all the LIVE feeds & click on a few during the days I was at work to catch the last mt or sprint finale but the last couple years, none of the sites worked for me & I will not pay any internet site just to watch a few minutes each day. Plus, there were always tons of ads on the screen & the connections were not great. I hope you can figure out something come 8/29 as it won't be the same if you can't watch & gab about it here with the rest of us! :(
ReplyDeleteToday's Ultimate Tour stage was Stage 18 of last year's Tour. Don't know why they picked that one! The Galibier was WASTED as there was still a 20k descent to the Finish. I had forgotten that Geraint was AHEAD of Bernal until that stage & I still don't know how he made up time on Geraint. They were together over the Galibier with the other GC guys (except Quintana who was leading way out front) & don't think the cameras showed how/when Bernal got past G.
And then of course, the next 2 stages were AWFUL due to the weather/roads & the one stage was stopped & the other was greatly shortened. Until that 1st stage that was stopped, G was only 5 seconds behind Bernal & I can't remember but I don't think the teams knew they were going to stop the stage until right before it happened so it really punished guys who didn't happen to be in the front when going over that one climb.
BTW, can y'all remember how Bernal is at TT? I think there is only a TINY bit of TT in this year's Tour but the penultimate stage is the TT so it could have a podium-changing impact.
I have no idea right now who I will be rooting for. I'm not even sure who will be IN the Tour since I think the Giro will be overlapping. And I can't remember when the Vuelta is scheduled at all. I desperately want to be able to buy my usual Velonews Tour Guide but if I can't somehow order it directly from them, I won't be able to get it as I will NOT be going to the Barnes & Noble where I usually buy it. I don't even know if they are open, but I wouldn't go anyway. Except for the grocery store once every 2-3 weeks & a few times to CVS, I go nowhere except to my office once/week & I see no one there on my floor. I had to reschedule my tooth extraction (for my next dental implant) for the 4TH time today. It's now scheduled for 9/30 & unless a miracle occurs, I think I'm just delaying the inevitable of cancelling until next March, which is when it was originally scheduled for THIS year!
Well, gotta do some more work. Tomorrow is my day in the office & I always write up a To Do List as there is SO much I try to cram in on the one day I'm there.
I'm crossing my fingers for ya, Matt that you can finally get out of there tomorrow! :)
Damn - another comment vanishes again! I'll try for the 4th time!
ReplyDeleteI came back for a quick update : the Tour does NOT overlap with the Giro; it's the Giro that overlaps with the Vuelta. The TDF starts 8/29, the Giro is to start 10/3 & the Vuelta is to start 10/20 (5 days BEFORE the Giro has completed). The Tour finishes 9/20 but can ANY rider hop over to Italy to start another Grand Tour just 2 weeks later?
Also, so far the ASO has only specified they will ban cars & camper vans from the climbs; fans can walk or bike up! WTF?! That's INSANE! You can't have screaming fans mere inches from the riders as they slowly ascend!
Thanks for the race dates, I had no idea. I wonder if they will really happen, and what type of racing we will get if they are held? (due to the fact that with pretty much no season this year the racers will NOT be in the usual tip-top-Tour-shape). I have another short trip mid Sept, but should be home in time for the start.
ReplyDeleteOK...just back from my FOURTH Last-dinner here in Cocoa Beach (and hopefully TRULY my last dinner here...I want to go HONE!) Gotta pack and get to bed...4am will come very early. Later Gators!
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! I discovered that I could get (and I DID) a 2 week free trial of youtubeTV, which included NBCSports. AND a DVR, so I have it set to record this mornings and all the remaining Ultimate Tour episodes. I have yet to try to see if it will qualify me for access to the NBCSports app on my Roku - I will look at that tonight. I won't be keeping the service after the trial though, it is too expensive for as what it offers (that I can't get elsewhere for free or less)
ReplyDeleteSusie, I dropped cable in mid 2018 (I think) because the price was getting extortional. But, I was subscribing to Playstation Vue, which was a great streaming platform I accessed with my Roku. Sadly, Playstation shut the service down at the end of January and I have been saving money by not subscribing to another streaming platform.
I have had some success using a VPN to access European broadcasts of races - usually a Dutch or Belgian channel, since for some reason I can follow that a little bit (I speak a little Spanish, but I can't follow the rapid-fire speech of the Spanish broadcasters). I had high hope of getting Eurosport, but they had restriction similar to NBCSports - needed a subscription to a qualifying provider.
Since Vudu(?) came along and seems to have partnered with cyclingfans, it is true they no longer post "pirate" feeds, but I hope to still manage to find some. Or, I will have to sign up with a streaming platform or buy the cycling pass if they offer it.
Hey Rae, awesome you can get NBCSN for a few weeks...I'm not even going to try...every year July hijacks my fitness and I come out of the month in pathetic shape...being as I've just come out of an entire MONTH of no riding I really need to hit it and NOT be watching old Tour stages (despite how much I'd like to).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am HOME! We made it uneventfully...5 hours, no airports, no TSA, no checked baggage (nor weight limits)...my ancient beat to hell (but still functional) Samsonite hard-shell weighs a TON when I fly these missions...and it's by no means the heaviest. It's just really nice to be back with my family and NOT in a hotel room! Gotta hit it...losing 3 hours means that 8pm here is LATE...and I was up at 4am FL time...I'm beat but was holding out so that I will sleep well. Later gators! Viva le Tour (even old Tours!)
So glad you made it HOME, Matt! Hopefully, you don't have to work again till Monday?
ReplyDeleteToday (Friday) was sadly, the last Ultimate Tour broadcast (well, for now at least). Today's stage was Stage 20 in the 2015 Tour which concluded on Alpe du 'Huez. Pinot won solo, Quintana attacked somewhere on the Alpe (don't remember where exactly & I was only able to sneak peeks today & missed his move) & made up over a minute on Froome, but Froome still won the Tour by over a minute. It was his 2nd Tour win. Man, what's better than a July sunny day on Alpe du 'Huez in the Tour! :)
And I say this EVERY YEAR & once again, I apologize, but it hits me every time at Tour Time - perception of time & human memory are WEIRD! When I was watching those 2011 Tour stages, it seemed "like yesterday"! But today's 2015 stage seemed "YEARS & YEARS AGO!" :)
Well, if it really happens, this year's Tour starts in 6 weeks! And I probably shouldn't want it so much as it puts all the riders, team personnel,& whatever media will be allowed, at risk, but I am SO looking forward to it! Especially since most other sports are still stopped & most of all because I'm mourning the delay of the Olympics! It was the right thing to do of course, but I love the Olympics as much if not a teensy bit more than the Tour & I've been devastated that we've been deprived of the Olympic Trials in swimming, gymnastics & Track & Field in June & then he Olympics themselves. The Tokyo Opening Ceremony WOULD have been next Friday! Excuse me while I choke back some tears. :(
I'm TRYING to stay optimistic that a safe & effective vaccine will be wildly available by early January & the world can START to "get back to normal" but much will still be different. Possibly for years. I was planning to finally go on the trip to Italy next year in early June but there is NO WAY I'll be traveling anywhere let alone overseas in less than a year. So, once again, the trip will be delayed. Heck, I'm putting off FINALLY getting the internet until next May as I refuse to allow anyone in my house! My plan for the last 5 years had been to get it this June (i.e. last month). Sigh.
Do either of you have "waves" of acceptance/shock/panic/depression over COVID? Most days I just work either at my kitchen table or in my office 1 day/week since early June & then, it will hit me all over again that I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT'S HAPPENING! And then I get panicky, then depressed, then the cycle repeats. Sometimes I go thru the cycle within a few days & other times, it takes weeks. Last week it hit me that I probably won't be able to go home for CHRISTMAS & got very upset. I've "moved past" it for NOW, but when the weather gets cold, I know it will slap me in the face again. :(
ReplyDeleteI'm also so filled with RAGE at the UTTER FAILURE of our so-called "federal government" that if I don't distract myself, I get ill. Can ANYONE explain WTF is so bad about wearing a freakin MASK during a pandemic?!! These selfish morons drive me to distraction. And don't even get me started on the SOCIOPATH in the WH & his NAZI co-conspirators!&*@#&^@&$%^%!$
Well, STAY SAFE & I'll check in again next week.
Hey Susie...I'm at work (Friday) but that's ok...saving my vacation...Jeannie and I are headed to Virginia to see her brother in less than 2 weeks...there will be a 2 or 3 day Ohio trip to go to a corn-bake, then back to VA and fly home. As to the waves and such, I think I'm still in disbelief over a LOT of things...as I was on travel I'd frequently look around and wonder how we got here...(masks, pandemic, political madness)...its all so surreal...like a fictional novel. I just read the other day some guy in Michigan (not wearing a mask) was confronted by someone who was, so the non-mask guy STABBED HIM. Then police showed up and ended up shooting the dumbass cuz he was CRAZY and had a weapon. I mean, really...what the hell??? I swear civilization is swirling down the drain and we are SERIOUSLY picking up speed, nearing the end of the flush I'm afraid. I mean, what's next, Sharknados? Zombie freaking apocalypse??
ReplyDeleteI know Jeannie is really worried about commercial air travel (as I think she should be)...she has us masks AND face shields we will wear pretty much door to door (not in our car, but airport door to airport door). Honestly I think our odds in the short term) are pretty low of catching it if we are careful (Jeannie is a maniac at washing her hands and using sanitizer, me, not so much). I really should do better...especially after losing our Dad to it. I think I'm still in denial somewhat...about the Covid AND him being gone...just doesn't seem possible.
I certainly have no good guess as to when life will return to 'normal' (ie, a vaccine is developed and widely available). I did make an appt for this Sunday afternoon to go get tested for the virus tho...3:30pm at our fairgrounds...it's a nasal swab, it's the earliest appt I could get. I'm still pretty PO'd at our company for NOT making us ALL testing appts...I mean, REALLY?? We just got back from one of the hot-spots in the country (the other is here sadly) but once again, and predictably, they are sticking their heads in the sand (mgmt) and going with the "if you aren't showing signs and testing positive then we will do nothing". Seriously...that is the policy. I know that if I walked this thing in the front door of our house and Jeannie got it (and worse if she was seriously ill), well...I can't even think of that cuz I'd lose it. But hey...over and over we get corporate emails reminding us that WE the employees are THE most important thing! Attempted brainwashing obviously, cuz they sure don't put their $ where their email-mouth is. We were essential personnel prepping for the mission, the mission was essential...and now that we are back, well...good luck. And be back to work on Monday ready to prep for the essential Sept. mission. But if you feel sick, stay home. And have a nice day. GRRRR!!!! OK..gotta stop now or I'll throw stuff...have a great weekend! Stay safe!
I do have waves of ..sort of... defeated resignation? I do think this virus is here to stay, but hopefully with a vaccine (which sounds like it might have to be yearly, like the influenzae vaccine) the risk can be minimized - at least, for reasonably healthy younger people, but there will always be cases where, just like every year with garden variety, community acquired pneumonia, or influenza, someone without obvious risk factors becomes seriously ill and perhaps dies.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing that makes me want to cry (really) are these utterly stubbornly stupid people - who fully believe that THEY are the smart ones -- who think that wearing masks is a constitutional issue, depriving them of their freedoms. I have moments (I will confess to only you) where I sincerely wish that these jerks would catch it and die -- but then I have to ask the Lord to forgive me and grant me compassion.
But why is it that none of the loudest "it is all a political conspiracy" jerks who have caught it aren't getting seriously ill? It's like what we always say in the trauma unit, that the drunk that caused a fatal accident always seems to escape with minimal injury.
I even have (former) co-workers who really DO (or shocking if they DON'T) know better who don't seem to be willing or able to think past their political stances to admit that masks are essential! Even to the point of denying that they help at all!
Matt, I have read that the air in planes is filtered well enough that it is lower risk than in the terminal. Hopefully this is true. What kind of masks do you have? if they are disposable, make sure that they have 3 layers, one of which is melt-blown poly or are N-95. If cloth (should have a pocket), try to find some good filtering material to place in the pocket - I have seen some on line sales of appropriate filters, or at the least look for vacuum hepa filter bags, or hepa filters for fans, furnace, and so forth.
And, Susie, just think of our delayed plans as an opportunity to plan the best visit to Italy ever! I really want to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum - you?
Hey Rae....sadly the world is chock full of people who are only for themselves, the rest of the not their problem. Masks that us common folk out on the street are wearing are NOT for the person wearing it, but everybody else (at least the non N95 masks). Jeannie has said the same thing (that the air IN the plane is safer than the terminal). It's just the proximity to others, and even w/ our masks on, if you touch something that has the virus on it (still alive) and then sometime in the near future touch your face too close to your mouth/eyes/nose...bam. And I can't even begin to imagine how many times a day that I unknowingly touch my face...if I were to get it that will be how. (and funny, but I've thought the same evil thoughts about the non-mask-wearing-complainers...the old "I hope you get what you deserve...that will fix your wagon" thing. This thing really only spreads because so many are NOT doing the right things. Jeannie said this today, about how if this had happened 50 years ago there would have been no whining, protesting, etc...everybody would have jumped onboard and likely stopped this thing in it's tracks. But now we have the "entitled" generation. They have never known not having a cell phone/computers/gameboy/starbucks/bank machines/NICE cars, and many many more things. Can you imagine if for a MONTH all electronics ceased to operate? Gosh...I remember it was a HUGE deal when my bank back in Helena put in a drive-thru w/ the tubes...so you didn't have to go INSIDE and stand in a line to deposit your check! (no direct deposit back then either). But the hours were still banking hours...no 24 hour cash available like now. Wow...stone age stuff for sure! In the Navy we used, gasp...TYPEWRITERS! I was a whiz on the newfangled IBM Selectric (w/ the round ball typehead?) Man, that typewriter was the stuff! And Carbon-paper to make a copy as you typed (or 2 or 3, depending on how many sheets you piled into the typewriter at the same time...my max was 3...any more than that and the last sheet would be all off and really sad quality). My typewriter that I got as a birthday gift while in High School was a manual...boy those little-finger reach-keys were pretty faint to non-existant. Ahh...the good ol' days. Or not...it was surely simpler times.
DeleteAnd travel...this year we HAD Oktoberfest reservations...which has been canceled of course. Dang...we were going to stay in London a few days on the way in and out of Munich...I've never got to spend any time at all in London. Gosh...there is just SO MUCH TO SEE in the world...sure would be great to be rich and retired...travel all the time, throw a dart at a map and go there...alas, most of us will only ever see a small handfull of places. But you have to have dreams!