Bedtime Stories

So my knees screwed and I'm getting lots of bedtime. This isn't all bad because it gives me time to do my homework. Anyway not much going on I leave for France in 6 days to see Marie but who knows if I'll survive the trip since I can't even walk or sit for an hour much less travel across the world and sit on a plane for 8 hours. Oh well you have to try everything at least once. So not much to say but bonjour!!! and buenos noches!!!!

Work and plans for the near future!

Been working alot at Ramada which is fun enough for the meantime. I think my baby bro michael will start working thier this week hopefully. Going to grad school which is okay. Excitement is on the horizon though as I am going to Normandy to visit Marie for 12 days 2 traveling. I'm flying to Paris then either she will pick me up or I will figure out how to take the train. Then after a few days at her school in Nantes we will head back to her parents place in the country for some rest and relaxation. Oh yeah I will need it because I will have knee surgery September 11th which will be no fun at all. I am in the beginning stages of planning a biking trip from Effingham IL to Eagle Colorado to see my brother. I read the trip journals of two guys who did longer trips but passed through the route I would like to take across Missouri and Kansas and it seems doable. This might be next summer after I get back from Europe at the earliest but we will see since we plan to travel quite a bit in Europe too. I think Marie will be coming with me and I'm sure whenever the trip takes place it will be interesting because I don't ride bike that much. Actually I don't even have a road bike but hey thats just details right. I figure the trip will take around 20 days and is hopefully cheaper than flying. I am yet to get used to this living at home thing and living according to someone elses schedule. Its quite draining and I think I actually get less done after the stress and being tired but hey its saving some money. By the way if you haven't been paying attention the World Cup is less than a year away which is crazy exciting. Soccer is one of my passions and the world cup is the pinnacle of soccer tournaments! so go USA I'll be representing in Europe since its cheaper than South Africa. Oh and the random pics are from California on family vacation and thats right a store named HEY JUDE!!! shot out to the Akumal Familia! Peace!!!

So after getting hassled around the casa for a week about work I finally worked a 13 hour shift at Ramada Convention Center. I just got done in fact, and I forgot how awesome it was to work thier and it brought back alot of good memories. I worked hard kicked ass and had a good time doing it. I worked with my younger hermano's friend Jordan which was pretty awesome. I am now an owner of a brand new 2009 Toyota Corolla which I absolutely love. It get insane gas mileage and drives so smooth and quiet. Its kind of surreal I never thought I would own a new cars so it is way cool dude. Muchos gracias tu mi padre por helping me out!!! Oh and cudos to my brother he has been playing some kick ass soccer! keep it up baby bro!!! My knee surgery is coming up soon so thats going to be a major brummer bummer but what can you do at least when I heal I can be ready to dominate indoor soccer this winter! I miss my girlfriend shes absolutely incredible and I can't wait to see her again even though it won't be soon but hey good things come to those who wait right! Its two in the morning and I'm Cash Johnsoned so peace, love, and prosperity!!! Buenos Noches

Post Mexico

So I didn't blog while I was in Akumal because the internet was not that available. However my trip was a blast and is sure to be one of the best summers of my life. I met a french girl named Marie who is now my girlfriend. Also I saw many sites like the Mayan ruins at Coba and Tulum. Cenotes (Freshwater under caves) included Dos Ojos, one at Coba, one at Xhcacel or however you spell it. Partying in playa, lots of dancing, camping at Tulum, playing pool at La Cueva, Snorkeling at Akumal bay, doing the turtle walk in the night time and hanging out with some amazing people. I picked up a good starting point for learning spanish and hope to continue in this pursuit. Then I spent 11 wonderful days in California (Stanford, San Francisco, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz) and then I met Marie in St. Louis and spent 5 days with her and my family at our lakehouse. It was amazing to see her after 11 days away. Then she left back to france and now will be the tough time of being away from her for an extended period. I am currently looking for some kind of income peace!!!!

Hostel Queztal

I made it to Cancun after the shuttle driver couldn´t find it and we took a bunch of side allies. However thing got much better when I arrived the two guys my age that work here are very nice and I even got my own room since the other part was under construction. My room is nice with my own bathroom. Anyway first night in Cancun Mexico and I´m still kicking. This hostel thing is pretty cool too except you have to go off the beaten path to find them. Tommorow I have a 10 min walk to the bus to take to Akumal. I think I will be blogging this who trip so if anyone wants to keep updated just check on here.... Viva la Mexico!

Thanksgiving at the Devils Playground

Thanksgiving for me this year consisted of a whole lot of eating and sleeping and some excercise. We did activities like soccer, bowling and croquet. Thier was also the usual bike riding including a ride to the devils playground. This ride is what I'm going to blog about since it was quite the adventure. My dad Frank, Greg Powell, and I rode bikes to the devils playground for a couple hours screwing around on mountain bikes. This area of land between T-town and effingham is hills and trails usually used for fourwheeler riding. However as real men ride bikes we tore up the trails on two wheels. While Powell gets the climbing award for the day;

I am proud to say I for sure got the downhill award as I was the only one to brave both incredibly steep hills full of leaves and ruts. I wrecked at the end of the first but made the second steeper one successfully. I think we all had at least one wreck my worst one was at the bottom of the first hill I fell off the back at the bottom doing kind of a superman and getting my leg scraped by the seat while I was careening out of control. Then my dad doing sideways somersaults in slow motion with his bike attached while me and Powell were cracking up. Then dad got last laugh as Powell being his over zealous self did a texas wheelie and almost did an endo onto a barbed wire. Overall it was a great break and I've already lost the 5 pounds I gained over thanksgiving. I subbed my first normal high school class on tuesday in language arts and today I am doing a half day at a special high school building not quite sure but I think its for computer students like pc repair and maintenance and networking. So I was able to be on the internet all morning for my job which was pretty cool. Next semester I'm transferring to blackburn which should be quite the new experience since edwardsvilles been my home away from home for the past 6 years. I'm going there in january after the trip to tuscon to the cycle house and christmas break. I plan on studying elementary social sciences. Hopefully with this I can teach junior high geography and coach high school soccer. Also I'm changing the color of my blog temporarily for christmas don't freak out those of you with ocd.

Spin baby Spin!

Thanksgiving break is here and that means mountain biking most every day for my family. The rides are usually inspired by my dad but me and Carlos have been more than willing to go. For me the best part of the ride is the creek crossing and wondering if Carlos is going to fall in. For me and dad it is no problem because we have been riding for a long time but Carlos has yet to figure it out. One of his spills was a foot in the water while the other one he actually fell off the bike and over the damn which was absolutely hilarious. Also we have been juggling a lot and playing soccer we have indoor today at the grade school gym which should be awsome. Meantime I'm pigging out on monster cookies!