Tickets- Redskins / Cowboys!

PRIME REAL ESTATE- Sec. 142, row 7, seats 9 /10 = 50 yard line / Seven rows from the field!




We were lucky to get these! Can't wait for Sunday!

So, Here's What I Do Between Rides!

First, I drink two cups of Yuban coffee. I get dressed and do all of the normal before work activities.





After a 12 minute drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I arrive here! I teach seventh grade English. This is year number sixteen.









It's a few minutes before the first bell, and the room is quiet and empty. It won't stay that way for long. Sixty-six students will pass through here today. Let me tell you a little about my teaching and my classroom.


















I love graphic organizers and have several displayed in my classroom. I use them on a daily basis. This one is on forms of literature.





























This one is about figurative language! They include several examples. I always have students look at various examples of a particular concept and then form a definition.




I always try my best to follow all of the correct teaching models, and I also believe it's important for students at this age to get up and move. Here are a couple of activities I do.























The first one is basketball. At the end of the class I ask questions. If the question is answered correctly then the student gets three shots. The shots are worth fractions such as 1/4 point and 1/2 point and so on, so we can get a little more practice adding fractions. There is also a Records board where we keep track of records.




Another game most students seem to like is what I call the Circle Game. Students form a circle and pass a foam ball. Before passing the ball the student must say something in a particular category. These categories could be anything from a prepositional phrases to compound sentences to literature elements. To keep things interesting we have "silly rules" like no names and no pointing.
















This is a Byrd Buck! Students can earn these by going above and beyond the call of duty on an assignment, exhibiting exceptional character, or simply by helping out in one way or another (running an errand / taking up or passing out materials).





Each Friday I open my "store." Students may spend Byrd Bucks on various items such as football/ baseball cards, crazy pencils, erasers, stuffed animals. By the way, I am always in need of donations to the store.


That's a glimpse of what I do between rides. I could go on forever, but that's enough for now. I can truly say that I love what I do!

What Every Guy Needs...

is a pair of great boots! Here are my latest 4 x 4 go anywhere, do anything boots. They are made by Rocky and have Vibram soles and Gore-Tex uppers.

The History of Bikes (Well, my bikes)

1966- 1975- Not a bike, but these things were fun! Every kid in the neighborhood had one. You could do some great fish tails with these plastic wheels! It was my first and only single speed.

1975- 1994-It was the banana seat bikes and a couple of ten speed bikes (like the one in the pic). In the neighborhood we built a "dirt course" with several small ramps and jumped them with these bikes!

1994- I purchased a Giant Sedona mountain bike from CMT. I never thought I would spend 600 bucks on a bike! It had front suspension!

1997- Then came the Specialized Stumpjumper. V- brakes were the rage!

2002- Next was the Intense Tracer. Sold it after a month. Call me old-school, but I couldn't get into FS.

2002- So, it was back to a hardtail. Decided to buy a Jamis Dragon frame. Steel is real. Well, at least for a year it was. I wanted to go with a lighter frame, so...


2003- it was back to the old 1997 Stumpjumper.








2003- I purchased my first real road bike. It was an Olmo! I completed a couple of centuries on this bike.










2007- I decided to give a GF 29er a try! It's what I'm rollin on now!

So, what's next? Who knows?



To be continued...

Goals!

2007 is winding down, and it's time to start thinking about yearly goals. But first of all I'd like to share one of Jannie's goals from last year.

"I want to make it up the Roanoke Mountain loop WITHOUT STOPPING before I turn 34," Jannie remarked after purchasing her Specialized road bike. She tried a couple times w/out success. We marked her progress with a landmark. Well, here's what happened in 2007 the day before she turned 34.

We headed out from her house on the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Roanoke Mountain. There are two hills to overcome before reaching the bottom of Roanoke Mountain, and she accomplished these without too much trouble.

We stopped for a couple of minutes and then headed up this four mile loop. About two hundred yards into this brutal climb she stopped and got off of her bike and sat down. The look of defeat and frustration was written all over her face. My thoughts were let's just revise this goal to "making up Roanoke Mountain before she turns 35."

But then I heard the words, "I can do this. I want to start over and try it again!"

So, we rode back down and started the painful climb for the second time.

This time she made it all the way to the top WITHOUT STOPPING! GOAL ACCOMPLISHED!

Enjoy the pictures!

Adult Football

This year I hooked up w/ some guys at work to play in an adult football league. Our cast of characters included some who have never played an organized sport to some with college and NFL experience. Most, of course, fell between those two extremes. For twenty bucks a person we got ten games with three refs followed by a double elimination tournament. We played our games at Salem's practice field on an $800,000 artifical grass! This field was incredible! I can't run as fast anymore, but I still can throw the ball pretty well, so the younger guys on the team played defense while I spent time at quarterback and wide receiver. I was number 28.


Touchdown pass to Coach Nixon.

I tried a spin move here.

Two Toys I Love!

This is the Creative Vision M: 30 GB. It holds most of my music collection. I use this player for home/ relaxing at the pool/ on the bus- field trips.




This is the Creative Zen V. I use this one for the gym and for riding. It's a 1 GB player. I love this thing! It's nice to be able to listen to music and ride!

26 vs. 29 - My Two Cents

About a year ago I decided to purchase a new bike. Buying a bike used to be simple, but now you must decide between full suspension or hardtail, single speed or geared, or how about a 29er? The final decision was a 29er. The Gary Fisher X-Cal. was the winner. I usually go with the middle range price point stuff and upgrade when parts wear. My first impression was WOW! This bike just feels right. Big wheels do seem to roll over obstacles easier than smaller wheels. The geometry of this particular frame places the rider's weight further back over the rear wheel. This causes stress on the seat tube- mine broke on a ride this summer. The new GF frames have been redesigned to correct this problem. All in all I really like big wheels. I'm not sure I'll go back to a 26 wheels. Maybe I'll try a different frame, but I'll stick with them big wheels!

Here's a great story about a father and his son and ST.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224710

I'll Remember

I am a diehard Redskins fan. I have been since I was six. I remember watching Billy Kilmer and Larry Brown. I remember pretending to be Charley Taylor in my backyard. I remember the Glory Days with the Hogs, Riggo, and Joe Theismann. I remember the story of the Hogs telling the Cowboys the play at the line of scrimmage, and the Cowboys were still unable to stop it. A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to work with Art Monk at his football camp at George Mason. I also remember the day the Redskins drafted Sean Taylor. I was excited! Many experts said he was the most gifted player in the draft. His current coach, Greg Williams, said he was THE best player he has EVER coached. Greg Williams has coached in the NFL for years. I always look forward to watching him play every Sunday. On Monday morning I learned from a coworker that Sean Taylor was shot.


I went to bed Monday night thinking things were improving for Sean Taylor. Comcast reported he squeezed the nurse's hand upon request. I figured he'll continued to improve. On Tuesday morning while getting dressed for work, I heard the words, "He's gone, He died."

That hurt.

I did not know him personally. I never met him. Maybe he had some off the field problems, but according to his teammates/ coaches he had turned his life around since the birth of his daughter 18 months ago. I remember some great things about him. I remember his bone crushing hit that turned a Monday night game around two years ago and the fumble recovery returned for a touchdown that helped win the game in Tampa Bay. I doubt that any player has more crushing hits posted on YouTube than Sean Taylor. I'm getting ready the watch the Redskins play their first game w/out number 21. Emotions are running high.

Sean Taylor R.I.P. I'll always remember you.