Easy Days. Bumpy Ones Ahead?

Starting to worry that my apple trees will not produce. Still no blossoms. Is it my luck with plants. Apples produced last year while the house was abandoned. Now with my love and care - nothing. I am looking forward to many apples to give away to friends and neighbors. Also want to plant some pumpkins. Have to hurry up and plant those if I want them for October.

Also started to take care of my logs and splitting them. Hopefully many of them make good firewood that will carry me through the next winter. A real workout.

Weather has slowly started to warm up slowly over the past few days.

Not many movies I really want to see lately. However Prometheus may be another movie that gets me to the movie theater. It has gotten us at work to talk a bit about the Aliens universe. Not many movies lately have a long history that has fans looking for a sequel true to the world created. If this movie has a tie-in to the Alien (1979), it would be very awesome.

Also got a picture of the new Iron Man movie and well, it got me very excited. For those comic book fans, you will know what I am talking about. Civil War?

Pictured here is Dry Lake with views of San Gorgonio Peak. I have had the pleasure to see this in person years back. I do have plans on making this hike again.

A Canadian in Italy

Wow! Ryder Hesjedal takes the Giro on the last day on the last 28kms. Garmin is finally on the map big time with this win. Hesjedal came from riding in the dirt to the road and made the transition well as many did during those years. Meanwhile Taylor Phinney finishes his first grand tour and am sure many more to come. Time will tell his specialty and how he adapts to these events. I only hope he gives me as well as the many cycling fans that have been disappointed over the past years from scandals and cheaters (no names, don't want to be sued. Suing seems the solution for some to keep others from telling).

No ex drama thus far but I'm sure there will be some before the weekend is over. My attorney called telling me my divorce is final and papers were signed by the judge and I am awaiting them via mail. I would have wanted to personally pick them up.

On the reading front I am slowly moving through the Sword Of Shannara. Still don't know what my next read will be.

Memorial Day

Put in some time with Max Payne 3 and finished it. It was a very good ride. Good story line that moves along with great cut scenes. I didn't find them obtrusive. Bullet time never gets old. Rockstar does it again with this awesome game. I highly recommend this game.

Woke up Friday morning to a wet cold day in the 40s. Hope it brightens up for all the Memorial Day events around town. Found myself firing up the fireplace one last time.

Again a little drama with my ex picking up my daughter. Never fails.

Introduced my daughter to The Never Ending Story. Another awesome movie from the 80s. However she still loves to watch The Goonies and Pippi Longstocking among others.

Skyrim is adding mounted combat soon on its latest update. May look good but maneuvering combat while mounted may be a pain. Not to mention horses die rather quick in the game. Still no date on the new Dawnguard DLC.

The awesome print pictured here is from local artist Patrick Scullin. Check out all his works at Super Siblings. While I still have money I am waiting for a copy for my place.

Check out the funniest tech Vlogger, Lamar Wilson at Wilson Tech 1

Back To Fantasy

Finished Hyperion and I thought it was decent. Many on the book club thought it was not very good and didn't finish it. I liked the way it felt like the Canterbury Tales as some compared the style to. I liked the stories of the pilgrims in general. However, I was lost in the last chapter and may not read the sequel. I am glad to have participated in this Sword & Laser book club read. I will however skip the next read and go on my own. Have a craving for fantasy after many books on sci-fi. I am going to re-read the Sword Of Shannara by Terry Brooks. I read this book in my teen years and from what I remember, it was fun and kept a good pace.

Haven't been gaming as much as I thought I would be. I picked up the new Max Payne game as I read from reviews that it has an good single player story. Also haven't watched any new movies though I have a few sitting here to watch.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Podcast with Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak. Please vote to keep the slide whistle.

Tour Of California In Town

Tour Of California has made it through my small town again. Unthinkable years back to have such a race happen let alone bringing such names and media. Natalia and I made our viewing spot halfway up the Arctic Circle (Past Snow Valley). Again as last time up here the pace was fast and there was one main group and the gruppetto about 10 minutes back. Almost a repeat winner as last time up here. I do hope this race continues for years to come and this stage becomes a normal stage for the race.

Took Natalia to the bookstore (Barnes & Noble) as she loves it. She even asks me to go. A proud moment.

Again did a little more cleanup around my place and installed Ethernet cable to my gaming systems for a more stable connection and now it opens up my wi-fi. Also took some time to route and figure out the electrical layout around the house.

Check out the new TableTop Gaming Episode at the Geek & Sundry Channel.

First Book Club Read & Diablo 3

Finished Firstborn and I found it entertaining but yet another quick ending. I was hoping for more. The whole trilogy in all was decent and I would recommend it. Read the novella The Chronological Man: The Monster In The Mist, which I got as a recommendation through one of my "geek" shows. It was a fast entertaining read.

Now currently reading Hyperion from Dan Simmons as it is the monthly pick for the Sword & Laser Book Club. Got a late start and hope to have it finished on time.

Avengers: Battle For Earth, a new Marvel Superhero game is due to release this year. As always I am looking forward to any Marvel game with high hopes. This latest title is based on the Skrulls storyline with a variety of characters to choose from.

This week I saw the final release of Diablo 3 and the latest Max Payne game. I always love a good FPS with a story.

A little "ex" drama early in the week. I guess she wants to talk to me weekly. However, I do not want to spend anymore time communicating. It is all a waste of time for me. Again she was looking at shorting me days or hours with my time spent with my daughter.

Tour Of California will be up here on Friday and I will be out doing my part. Sagan winning every stage thus far. Doper? Hmmmm.

Don't forget to download the No Agenda Podcast and don't be a "douche bag".

Thanks Joss Whedon

He made Hawkeye cool! Watched the Avengers and all I can say is thanks Joss Whedon. Very entertaining movie with many clever one liners and comebacks. I loved the relationship between The Hulk and The Iron Man. I was afraid using Loki as the villain for this first movie was not a good choice but it was pulled off. Jeremy Renner as The Hawkeye was perfect and the "new" Hulk is the best yet. I still wished another story line was used as the Marvel universe is full of awesome story lines but this one was entertaining. As always after the credits there were 2 scenes. One of the scenes reveals the next villain and possible plot with Thanos. I was told another giveaway was in the movie with a shot of the Infinity Gauntlet. I had thought on the last scene after the credits another possible Avengers team member would be revealed, but a funny scene was screened. Overall I think the character relationships between each other in this movie was paramount to this movie and a base to future movies.

Tulips Are Out!

Tulips all out in my lower garden. However no blooms on my apple trees yet. Not worried yet. Still slowly cleaning up the backyard with the help of Natalia. I introduced Natalia this weekend to the movie E.T.

My grandma is in town and it is always a pleasure to have her up here. Hopefully she will stay in California for a few months.

Finally got to BBQ. Smoked 2 big pieces of Tri-Tip, which is my specialty.However I lost my touch and they didn't come out as good as I wanted them. However, I took some to a friend whom thought they were quite good. I was going to throw in some ribs as well but it was going to be too much. Next time I will mix it up.

Next week on Friday the Tour Of California will again come by my front door and I'll be out with Natalia cheering them on. Thus far I'm planning on watching them on Dead Man's Curve between Arrowbear and Snow Valley.

Found the WWE Grand Masters Reading Challenge. Another reading club online and well I want to do this challenge as well but unlike some people. I read a bit slow. But It has given me a bunch of classics to consider.

Don't forget to catch the latest Sword & Laser Video Episode at the Geek & Sundry Channel

Back To Gaming

Back on Skyrim again for a bit of questing with my wood elf. Hoping to level up and get cool armor and weapons in anticipation of the new DLC dropping soon.This game just doesn't stop with the content. Good news for me as not many games coming out and can't afford to buy games every other week. This looks like a light year for games but those coming out will be awesome.

Also finished reading Mockingjay and found the pace rather slow and didn't like the book as much as the second one. I was a bit disappointed at how the story wrapped up but it was a good ride. Now reading Firstborn, the last book on the Time Odyssey Trilogy.

Getting ready for my days off with Natalia and I hope to go out on some walks and clean up around the yard. Planning on visiting a library thanks to suggestion from a friend.

Check out the chat with the authors of The Mongoliads on G+ from Sword & Laser.

Spring Time

Though we really didn't have a winter and winter being my favorite season, I am looking forward to Spring. Funds are very low so I wont be planting much this year. Moving stuff around my new place and finding stuff on hikes to decorate. My 3 apple trees are getting green but no blossoms yet.

Drill weekend over and a bit full of more paperwork and new taskers. Quite a bit of new guys to the unit this weekend and they are picking it up rather fast and no bad habits yet. Sunday afternoon we had some downtime. A few Corpsmen in a lab full of needles, "Oh what to do". So we practiced drawing blood on ourselves. No other person helping. I say Bye" to Doc Aldrete as he is going IRR and Doc Jara-Castro as he is finishing his  contract and may be going to the officers program. It was a pleasure serving with you.

Congrats to Taylor Phinney on the Giro D'Italia Taylor Phinney as he held off the sprinters and some bad luck to hold the Maglia Rosa.

Still slowly making my way through Mockingjay. Some found it to be the best book in the series but I still think the previous book moved at a better pace. Feeling bad as I am falling behind my reading.

Not much work this week as my hours are getting cut this week. I do hopefully have my last court date for my divorce this Thursday. It has taken well over a year to settle this simple dispute. No "ex" drama this week, so it has been a good week thus far.

Phinney Wins!

America's new cycling hope Taylor Phinney takes the Giro D'Italia prologue. Taylor in short is seen as America's hope as he is touted to be one of the very few "clean" riders in cycling to date. He has made his pro debut very young and delivering slowly and on track. I hope he turns to be a great "Classics" rider. Earlier in the year he rode a great Paris Roubaix.

Still slowly making my way through Mockingjay. Some found it to be the best book in the series but I still think the previous book moved at a better pace. Feeling bad as I am falling behind my reading.

Avengers Debut, Star Wars Day & New Spider-Man Trailer

Only posting today as the New Avengers movie debuts today. Also today is Star Wars day so jump on the Twitter and flood it with Star Wars mentions. Also I decided to post the new Spider-Man movie trailer. I think it will suck also as it again takes another way to show you the origins. However Dennis Leary plays a character (If you don't like Dennis Leary there must be something wrong with you).

My reading has slowed down as I was hoping to have Mockingjay finished and started on my next read. Also haven't done any gaming lately.

Check out the new TableTop Gaming Episode at the Geek & Sundry Channel. Also later on today the new Sword & Laser video episode.

Avengers Mania

Yes, I am a super fan but not as far as cramming myself in a theater to watch a new release. I will wait to watch this film. Maybe even have good company to watch the new film. On another Avengers front, issue 3 of the Avengers Vs. X-men is out this week. Enough geek talk.

Peaceful week overall. A little "Ex" drama but that is always expected. My grandma is arriving this week for a visit. Always very excited to see her and always hoping she can stay a long time. I will pick her up Friday and hopefully she stays a while. Also drill weekend scheduled. I am sure it will be busy as it has been lately.

On a major note, my BBQs are home! Next full day off I will be outside grillin' and chillin'

Looks like spring is here and thus far I haven't gotten into the planting mode but I'm sure I will very soon. Just wish I had the fund$. My apple trees are starting to get green on them and excited to see what type of apples I get. My goal these next few days will be to get my BBQs up here.

Don't forget to catch The Guild Season 5 Episode 4 at the Geek & Sundry Channel.