Another Hike 'N Ride From FEMA Region 9

Coming to you from FEMA region 9. A while back FEMA has divided the United States into 10 regions. No lie and not from a sci-fi movie. Hunger Games is not looking that fictional all the sudden to many.

Went out with Natalia to a local loop around the Heaps Peak Arboretum and it was a nice easy walk. I was thinking this could be a nice loop to run a few times. The trail is very well maintained and marked and a nice easy hike. Natalia walked all of it and we stopped a few times for photo ops and to check out the sequoias. In the end a real nice peaceful walk with lightly falling rain.

Also was fortunate enough to make it out to another ride with the AARP (Old Farts) ride and was blessed with riding with Richie (Uh Oh). RC opted to do his thing and I hoped he would have ridden with us. He thought we would not wait up. We would especially wait for him. This time we actually hit the dirt. I was amazed I rode everything and Richie and me had a few seconds of the good ol' day . Rubbing some tires and him him throwing some dirt on mine to throw me off my game. Remember, this man taught me to ride dirty. Get in front of tight singletrack and hit brakes to bring up dust. Ha ha. A 2+ hour ride in great company again. I hope to go on a few more before I depart.

Finished reading The Companions and it was a great read all the way to the end. Even a nice surprise on the last page of the book. Now I am ready for the many new stories. Decided to finish reading the Darktower series and on the last book. A rather large one and weird story and hope to get through it before I depart.

Been checking out mountain bikes and stuff online and not so good so early. Still a ways away from getting back with money. But I am slowly narrowing my next ride. Maybe a Yeti in the classic color or a Breezer. Sadly both these are now Chinese made, so maybe I can find a US made Yeti. Basically looking for a classic ride in classic colors. Nothing like many of these wimps ride today. big travel big wheeled bikes with full "battle gear". I am traditional and looking forward to going out on real mountain bike rides again. Nature made terrain and not these man made shit out there. I would love to get the feeling of long climbs and technical power single track. That along good company will put a big smile on my face.

Everything Normal Here

Another semi-quiet few days with Natalia. Again my ex demanding info from me and making threats but that will not bother me. Natalia a little sick this week but very playful. I surely will miss her and the stuff she says. Decided to BBQ again and stuck to my "tried and true" tri-tip.

By now most have heard of the news of the new actors to play Batman and Iron Man. I don't know why they cant keep the same actors. If they wanted more money it should be payed out because already people are not looking forward to the movies. Fans get used to a certain face for that character. DC needs all the help they can get and already starting a movie loosing fans. Still plugging away at The Companions book and thus far a very entertaining read and a page turner. I am very sure it will leave me hanging and waiting for the next novels. Also in a Cthulhu mythos kick and looking for more stories and feel it will be a book I will take on my trip.

"If you see life  as a journey to death, if you truly understand that ultimate goal, then it is the present that becomes most important, and when the present takes precedence above the future, you have truly learned to live."

- Drizzt Do'Urden - The Companions

My dad recently received an Apollo 11 patch as being part of that mission. During that mission he was in the Coast Guard stationed in the Atlantic Ocean awaiting the landing of the capsule.

Watched the US Pro Cycling Challenge this year online and only way I can see it was through a Eurosport feed. Funny a local race can be seen through a European outfit as the US media so much tries to not allow viewers. Sponsors and advertisers should take notice they are wasting their money on such stations. Also the Vuelta A Espana has begun and thus far no good videos online. I was hoping to find some as I wanted to keep up with it a bit with Eusklatel and Caja Rural hoping to be very aggressive.

This week there was a march in Washington DC in memory of Martin Luther King and I must tell you that my uncle and grandma flew out there to participate. I saw a few pictures and one that got me a bit worked up was a few people stepping on the WWII Memorial. People just don't care anymore and don't know their history. Let alone think for a second of the sacrifice Americans made during those times so we can have what we have today. I have to start to think if it is ignorance or just plain hate and dishonor.I think some of the behavior  would anger Marting Luther King.

On another front get ready to have a bigger force of military presence from the U.S. to hit Syria as again this administration is finding stories to make the Syrians bad and in need of "saving" from us. Just another bunch of fake stories so we can get into yet another country to place our agenda there. Sorry. But don't worry he media here has many looking at Miley and the Batman news.

Please listen to the No Agenda Show for the real stories. 

Back Among My People!

I made it out to the Team Dirty Work ride last Sunday and it has been far too many years since I was back riding and riding with the group. A short ride with a small group went out to Mt. Roubidoux but a great feeling to be back among my people and old habits.Got to see RC again along with Lou and Mrs. Greywoods (Mrs. Goodperson) and  even got to see "Grey Dog". I hope to ride a few more times with them before my departure and when I return it will be a normal thing for me. Team Dirty Work a group RC started from his driveway and I brought the name over from Darrell Hand. Keeping the name alive and legacy many years later. Quickly the group grew and a stable of fixed characters were formed and nicknames came out of their actions. Trails were named all over the area and names that still live today.

Lately working and spending time with Natalia. My last few weeks with her before my long trip. I slowly have to get ready to not be in contact with her as my ex tries very hard to keep her away and make her suffer. Natalia is slowly learning to play board games and understand them and that is very exciting for me. Ok, just two games (Candyland and Chutes & Ladders). I do hope she likes them and we can spend many hours playing games together.

Finished reading the Ox-Bow Incident and though not my type of genre but now I know what the story is about. The story in short? Don't follow the masses. Jumped right into R.A. Salvatore's new novel The Companions which will lead the way to many more novels in this new world. Thus far a good read and weird to have "re-introduced" the original companions (spoiler). Along with reading I got me a new Nexus 7 which will hopefully keep me busy and pass the time while on deployment. Been hooked on the Elder Signs Omens game and finally got the hang of it and the rules. It can be a bit addicting. GenCon 2013 over and waiting for more footage to drop showing the many new games out, especially a Dice Tower series of videos that I hope they put together.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Show.

Wake Up!

Normal workdays and spending my time off this week playing Space Hulk: Death Angel. Don't judge me, I know. A fun game to play solo and a break from reading and playing video games (again, don't judge). Still pushing my way through The Ox-Bow Incident and hope to have it finished by this week.

Read Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali and a classic that it is and a little rare to find in the past I found it an average story. Average to today's standard but not 1978 audiences. The edition I bought doesn't have the collectible cover that made it a collectible but I just wanted to read the story to see what it was about. Also got the new R.A. Salvatore novel and was hoping to read it in my trip but I am sure I will not be able to wait. This book will lead to many more over the next few years in this story arch.

By now many of you would have heard of the "drill" that were to be conducted in Austin, TX and Pasadena, CA. A memo was leaked regarding this and quickly redacted. Many asked why it was redacted? Was this really a threat as the memo stated or a drill? People are starting to wake up from this "bullshit" and putting one and one together. England had similar memo and a real attack happened. However I highly doubt it was a terror attack. Again it happened in Boston as a drill (Operation Urban Shield) was scheduled and advertised and an attack happened. Thus far in Austin nothing has been happening. Maybe the group or groups in charge of this decided to not go ahead and cause another attack killing harmless Americans (there I said it). Funny how this memo had all this information but were not able to "thwart the threat" as they like to call it. But some will say that thanks to all the surveillance we are put under the administration is able to know all this. Wake up! It is so funny to me that this "attack" was scheduled in specific days to a specific street. Amazing! Meanwhile in Boston the trial of the two brothers is being kept secret behind closed doors. What was touted as a "terror attack in U.S. soil" is being kept secret. Why? We can have cameras everywhere and report but not of this. Why? Because it doesn't add up. So much evidence that any logical person can't put together but behind closed doors it can be. But of all the nonsense pushed to us during the pursuit of these brothers; in the end we are told we have a kid hiding in a boat texting and talking while being shot. High-tech video from above can see him and a gun clearly. In the end no gun. Picture recently released from a Boston police officer shows the kid bleeding but no traumatic shot to the neck as was sold to us, the citizens. Please, stop already. Austin and Pasadena, you have "dodged the bullet" to use a saying. These agencies may have been planning another "back pack " style device to kill harmless citizens to show that they are working and thanks to the person whom released this it was stopped. Go ahead and think me crazy, but next one day some truth will start to leak out and people will put one and one together.

I am getting closer and closer to leaving and feeling starting to change again. I am a very sentimental person and it will not be an easy transition for me at least the first few days. Bouncing around through Navy processes will not help either. I do hope having HM2 Chapparo leave before me can help me with this process. I know my last week here and with Natalia will be very hard but I will have to get in the mentality of dealing with it and getting out of here, do the job and come home. I know the return will be sweet and a great feeling. That alone has to carry me through the many months I will be gone. I just pray I get to stay in touch with my daughter for her benefit as well as mine. Also hope my court appearance that I will be unable to make as the court pointed out they cared nothing about my situation goes well for my mom as she goes there alone to deal with this. I didn't want this to end this way but again the system showed itself against males and even against the military.

Good Ol' Fashion Run Around.

Reading a book I never thought I would read, but I am reading The Ox-Bow Incident. An American classic and been curious what the story was about. It may take me a bit to get through it as it is not the genre I read but I do love western movies and maybe I may strike interest.

Uneventful days at work and as I get closer to leaving the only thing I am looking forward to is not working where I work for sometime. I do know many new faces will be seen on my return and hope our store manager is still there but doubtful.

Drill weekend done and one more to go as I have to be at the next drill for my eval. Hopefully it gets done before then. This drill weekend opened my eyes and changed my attitude. I got the run around myself and treated like an idiot (new song in the unit - I'm an Idiot manamana). The reserve center is a place where it gets people ready for the mobilization process and where most don't know anything and just give you the run around. Amazing things get done. Again probably not. I could never do that to my patients. Amazed little things the staff can do there simply don't help you out instead tell you to go find out. Will active duty be the same? Probably, but I go with that mentality.

Ordered some the new RA Salvatore book, The Companions as it under $10 in Amazon and it will be the first in the new series of so many books in the universe. Also jumped in and got a card game as I have been curious for some time and hope to get into gaming and board games. Also ordered me a new copy of Superman Vs. Muhammad Ali which is a classic and one I've been wanting for years. Was thinking of getting the original edition (original size) but I'm not rich and always wanted this classic.

Word around here is fires. It is that time of the season all the way to October where every community is in danger of some kind of fire. Right now fires around the mountain and I hope none creep up as I don't need that stress right now. Talking about fires on Friday night leaving my parents the house next door which has been empty for some time looks like found a buyer and a bunch of kids were outside with a huge bonfire. My Dad freaked but politely told them to put it down. Me? I was not going to be so polite. I was almost ready to call the fire dept so they can have words with these kids. This is a very touchy subject up here.

Below is a short video of the Clasica San Sebastian (Klasika Donosti) which is one of my favorites to see and course. The last kilometers from the base of Jaizkibel are always hard. Good luck understanding the language.

Here We Go Again

Much drama this week with my ex as she refused to follow custody agreement and keep my daughter for a week. I guess in turn I get to keep her a week as well. Sadly I had to bend over backwards explaining and reasoning with her. Why do I have to be so open and flexible while she hides and doesn't communicate. I had told her no as I had plans this week for my brothers birthday as well as friends wanted to see Natalia this weekend. Now I hope my last week here I don't spend with the police looking for her and instead spend my time sharing with my daughter. I again called the police to file a report and as usual they didn't care and just gave me a report number. Now I hope the judge sees this breach of the agreement and punishes her. I wonder far too often why these things happen to me. Does God think I'm that strong? I know I can deal with it but I would like to be at peace for a bit. I do know it is not a punishment because I did nothing wrong. Maybe it is God's way of letting Natalia really be with me and have me show her the right things in life alone with no person in between.

"Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal."

- Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451

Started to read The Long War and sorry to say I lost interest in the book. I will however try to plow through it and finish it. While browsing the book store I saw the 60th Anniversary edition of Fahrenheit 451 and decided to pick it up and re read it again. I find this another book everyone should read. Not long and its ideas are not far off as so many people do not choose to read but just watch TV and believe what is being pumped into them. I see people no longer question or have thoughts of things but just follow the masses. The quote above symbolizes that as one of the things Bradbury points out in the book is that we are made to all be the same. No one question or try to be different.

I'm always plugging the No Agenda show and well I know it is too much for many to swallow but that is who I am. I want to point out that the clip show and the latest shows were very good. I am hoping John gives more history lessons and points us to different pieces of literature for us to read further. His small talk about Karl Marx has informed me and gives me the urge to read more about this writer whom so many don't know the truth about.

In a few weeks I will be heading to my first real duty with the Navy. I hope my remaining time here is spend in peace. The time given between notice to deployment is actually good as now you come to terms and are prepared to do the job. I have in my life been away from home in foreign lands many times for this amount of time so the feeling is not alien to me. Excited in the sense that I get to do something that so many people never do. Done many things in my life so many never dream of doing. So many just sit at home and live a simple life that makes no difference or impact. I am happy to say I am not that person. I will be honored to do the job required and am always proud of the many "Docs" out there doing the job and sacrificing. That is the biggest part. The part so many never see which is the sacrifice they make by leaving family behind and their comforts of home to do a job. The many people that never appreciate it because they can never understand or comprehend of what it is to have honor, courage and commitment. I hope I get through processing and get the chance to do something for my country and myself. It is these experiences that I hope to pass on to Natalia in principle.

Check out the Dice Tower videos if you're into board games (don't judge me).

Life Is A Circle.

Friday went out with Natalia and walked two trails in the Big Bear area. Walked the Woodland Interpretive Trail (1.5 miles) and the short trail around the Discovery Center (0.5 miles). I want to get back into my old lifestyle before marriage and enjoy life and show Natalia the beauty and simpleness that is nature. Natalia walked about half of the trails and the rest on my shoulders for a nice workout. It was a great day out with cool temperatures and light rain along the way. Saturday we headed up to Green Valley and it was a short drive up there. We didn't hike as much but reminded me of the days when I first moved up here and took my dogs up there and skied the trails. The lake was crowded, but again it is a summer weekend. Best time is off season on weekdays to go up there.

Had a horrible week and finding out my ex lies and tries so hard to keep me away from my daughter which in time Natalia will know all the truths. Knowing that I face an uphill battle to try to be a parent to my daughter. Frustrating at times to be seen as the bad person when it is the other way around. However, I made contact with the guys from Team Dirty Work and was very happy to know they are all still out there riding. I will definitely get me a mountain bike when I return and join them again. Funny how life tends to come around in a circle. They have reminded me of the so many good memories I had around the group. In my cycling career and all the places and top events I participated on, it is this group of "Old Farts" as I call them that made the best memories.

Finished reading The Cassandra Project and found it entertaining and a page turner but not really sci-fi as many would call. It did not get many good reviews as it didn't have that sci-fi space feel many were expecting but I highly recommend it as a quick read. My next read I am jumping back into the Long Earth universe in the second book, The Long War. I didn't really find the first book that great but the premise of multiple earths different, so why not continue the story.

Another cyclist, Stuart O'Grady after many years decides to come clean and confess of his doping. However he claims it was only during the 1998 season. Of course he doped like so many others. Him like the many cheaters stole from so many clean riders out there. I am sure it was not only for one year as he claims. Of course his confession comes during his retirement announcement.

An update on Benghazi is that all the witnesses were handed out nice NDA (Non Disclosure Letters). How nice of this administration to make them shut up and not say anything. Ask yourself why. Why? Why are they being made to not talk or brought up to testify? Talking about conspiracies since some think I'm crazy. Here is a great picture taken by my friend "Lead Ed" while in Dallas. This is the "grassy knoll" where one of the shooters was standing during the assassination of President Kennedy. Amazing the fence is still there after all these years.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Show. Adam is out of town but a great clip show.

Lost Faith.

As if many didn't think I was cynical or pessimistic enough. Got back from court trying to get in writing a plan where my daughter spends time with my parents and I stay in contact with my daughter. To find out my ex felt I should not have any contact, her lawyer agreed and the judge did not care and pushed me off months out while I am gone to maybe give my parents one day a month for contact. Thank God there were laws in place for military members to stay in touch with their kids. Again the systems proves to me it doesn't work and doesn't have to be followed. Prisoners get to see their family more often than I will. Doesn't exactly surprise me as the judge on my case has shown in the past a bias towards fathers. But not just the judge, but the whole system. My daughter is being taken care of by a bipolar person and a person whom was accused of sexual abuse by my ex and still the system doesn't care. They are more concerned in writing down lies by my ex as true facts in bogus mediation reports. Got to keep these lame county "wanna be" psych techs sucking off the government. It bothers me far too much to hear my daughter every so often say that her grandpa is not allowed to change her. Yet my ex sees nothing wrong with her being under his care even when she told me of the abuse and confirmed by another person. Amazing! I will no longer continue to serve my country after my contract is up. Sad but that is what I am shown. Serve, sacrifice for what? The corrupt broken system we so hard go out and defend. I am sorry, I am done and I haven't even started. With this attitude and worry over my head I go out to help Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen in their medical needs so they can get home quickly and safe.

Courts continue to favor in the side of mothers and in my case military citizens and children suffer by loosing contact. Then we wonder where the Dad is. Where? He is too busy paying lawyers and wasting time waiting for trials to come up to be a Dad. Why do the females have all the rights automatically? Even with proof of mental condition, substance abuse or not even wanting the child courts still side for the female. Of course years later we wonder what is happening to the kids nowadays. Blame the courts.

On another front I have a friend whom finally lands a job to find out it will cost her money to work. However I am sure she is not alone. This administration keeps claiming lower unemployment numbers which is not true but those falling off is because benefits ended or they had to take a much lower paying job. Some even moving fields. So we are loosing experienced professionals for lower paying non experienced and in many cases not very well trained to conduct many jobs. Imagine the medical field. It will change as so many are replaced by poorly trained workers and the "Affordable Insurance Act" being forced to so many Americans will cause much problems. But all this administration cares is that everyone is paying for insurance thus more money for the firms whom lobby and run government. Will prices go up? They are now and will continue as people will be forced to buy. How constitutional.

History Repeats

What a tease! I was expecting rain last week and as usual all we got was about 5 minutes of sprinkles. I do live in the desert after all. Summer days are here and other than work not much happening. Drill weekend was slow but as usual working both days. The unit may start to crack down on the so many disappearing an not working but at this point I do not care. HM1 Garcia is slowly making her way out of this NOSC and to her next duty station and she will be greatly missed. Two more Corpsmen from our unit got tagged for deployment and the trend continues.

Oh, I almost forgot to say the most important thing. Roisin finally lands a job! A big relief for her and me as I was also getting worried. A skilled and experienced nurse and having a hard time getting a job. She will be closer to home and hope she adjusts quickly and nicely and ends up being good for her.

More and more sites are being shut down and accounts shut down by Facebook. Why? The answer is simple but many refuse to see the real reason. Slowly we are being shut down and soon many will fear what they write or even think in fear of being shut away or persecuted. More and more people are being persecuted or worse, incarcerated for no real reason other than speaking out and exercising their constitutional right. Is this what 1930s Germany felt like? May sound impossible but maybe book burning is not too far fetched.

I know this administration is waiting for the Zimmerman trial to come to a conclusion in hopes Zimmerman is found not guilty as he was before so they can place the "stooges" to start riots and protests so DHS can pull out again all their armored gear and weapons and put their civilian "glorified security guards" against us to see how far they can go with us before it is enough. Zimmerman, brought to trial because of a few public figures always citing racism for their agenda and pockets. Never are these individuals touted as "terrorist" as what they cite is hate and harm to others. Racism will never cease to exist in or society as long as we use it for an agenda. However the case was declared again a justified self defense and riots were said to happen and as I believed nothing really happened. Answer this - If someone attacked you and you believed to be in great harm and the possibility of never seeing your family again. Would you not defend yourself? I most certainly would.

Finished reading Ringworld and was a little disappointed at the book. It didn't catch me as I was hoping. Ringworld makes my 35th book read this year thus far and completes my reading challenge and new years resolution set. I was surprised to have read so many books so fast. I will continue of course and bump it up to 50 books by years end. My next read is Jack McDevitt's newest book The Cassandra Project and not great reviews but the premise of the story sound good and he is one of my favorite authors to read.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Show.

Tragedy

Prescott, Arizona, an area that I am very fond off and have a connection with. 19 firemen died fighting these fires which I feel has been horrible at the amount of them. It goes to show us all that these men put their lives on the line and some pay the highest price. Prescott a small historic town really honors them and feels the loss. Below is a video of the funeral detail to Yavapai Campgrounds and a short news piece regarding the wildfire in the Prescott and Yarnell, AZ area. In the short piece friend Gerry Frank is being interviewed while his son (J my BFF) is in the backdrop and later a family member (Michelle Groves) is also interviewed.

In Egypt we see the overthrow of a government put in by our administration and the Egyptian people have seen this and will not have a puppet government over them. So a revolt is happening. Funny to see the Morsi people waiting to Friday July 5th to organize. Why? First our administration needed time to gather "stooges" and fake protesters and supply them with signage and lastly can't do it the 4th if July as the promotion would not be as big with festivities in the U.S. Seems to me the Egyptian people do not want a president with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood ruling over them while our administration promotes it. I feel this administration needs to stop overthrowing governments and placing puppet leaders. Do not send any more military personnel to die, suffer and sacrifice for these evil actions that in no way are among our core beliefs of freedom and democracy. Now for years we have had our President touring African nations with promises of improvement and energy and such to create the One World government that is trying to be spread. Call me a conspiracy theorist or just plain crazy. But people around the world clearly see this.

Finished reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane and found it short and a typical Gaiman story with its supernatural feel. Rather short and didn't really feel its "adult" feel that it was sold as.

I have a handful of new released books downloaded and eagerly awaiting to read so my next choice was not hard since I will read them all. Larry Niven's classic, Ringworld is next since it is in my list and it is this months book pick on the Sword & Laser Book Club. So maybe I can relate when the book is discussed in the next podcast. Now I am one book away from my goal set at the beginning of the year of reading 35 books. I am surprised I read them so fast as last year I got 30 read, and now I am thinking of upping it to 50 by years end.

Don't forget to catch the latest No Agenda Show