Tour De France 2004

When I was flying the Boeing 767 to Europe, I had several layovers in Paris. On one such layover I was fortunate enough to see Lance Armstrong win his 6th Tour De France. The last race of the "Tour" is in Paris where the riders ride several laps up and down the Champs d'Elysees until they finally cross the finish line after a couple hours. It's interesting because the "Tour" winner has usually already been decided by the time they start the last day because the other riders are too far behind time-wise to catch the leader. That being said, the final race in Paris is usually a celebration race where the drivers ride into Paris drinking Champagne as they begin their ride up and down the Champs d'Elysees. So... we arrived early that morning and the crowds were already beginning to stake out their viewing areas along the Champs d'Elysees, one of the most famous streets in the world. We decided to stake out our view by the Arc de Triomphe. This turned out to be a strategic spot because it's where the riders are slowing down to turn around and ride back down the Champs d'Elysees. We stood among other Americans from all over the U.S. who came to Paris just to see the "Tour", and here I was watching it because I just happen to be on a layover. :-)

If Only...

I've always admired and been somewhat envious (I know I shouldn't be) of those with the gift of music. Especially those who can sing. Sometimes I come across a song that moves me for whatever reason. I can't explain it. For someone else the song might do nothing, however, for me, I'm moved. God gives each of us a gift; I wasn't blessed with the gift of music. However, my children were. What a blessing it is to hear them play.... and sing.

I love musicals. Haley loves them more than Hunter. She takes after me in many ways... food cravings, electronic gadgets, working on and fixing things. However, it's the physicalness where Hunter looks like me... in fact he's pretty much an exact copy of me. Thank the Lord he's much more talented and smarter than me. Like Haley, I loved "Fiddler on the Roof", Sound of Music", "Nutcracker", even corny musicals like, "White Christmas"... I haven't seen the musical or movie, "Rent", however, I've heard this song..... It's called "Seasons of Love". It's one of those songs that I like.

Black Monday

Hunter and I are in mourning (we're wearing black today) over the San Diego Chargers loss yesterday to the New England Patriots. The Chargers won their division, got home field advantage, a bye week and this is what happens... what a horrible ending to the season for the Chargers. "Marty Ball" either came to fruition or didn't depending on your definition of "Marty Ball". The Chargers were 14-2 and rolling into the post season. Yet, bad things continue to happen to Marty Schottenheimer in the post season; he can't seem to win a playoff game. He's 5-13 and has lost 6 straight post season games. "Marty Ball" and Schottenheimer might be on their way out of Sunny San Diego...

The Compelling Story of Wesley Autrey

Headline: Man is Rescued by Stranger on Subway Tracks

Wow! Instantly you're placed in this situation having to make a life or death decision. Could you do it? Or would you freeze? In the immortal words of Maverick (Tom Cruise) from 'Top Gun', "You don't have time to think..... If you think, you're dead." Wesley Autrey didn't think about himself, “I had to make a split decision,” he said. Mark Twain is quoted as saying, "Courage is not the lack of fear. It is acting in spite of it." I would like to think that I'd make the same heroic decision as Wesley Autrey. To me, that's what defines heroism.... no time to think or summon courage... Act, Now! It's either in you, or it's not. One day each of us may be tested. "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees all others."
-Sir Winston Churchill.