This is the one. I will be picking it up in the afternoon on Thursday. I have my permit in my pocket and am signed up for Rider Safety Class. Ride on my friends.  

Adventures on The Island Of Ocracoke

Ocracoke is far, real far, damn far from CT. We loaded up the kids and dog at around 7.00PM and arrived at Avon on the Outer Banks were my brother was staying at around 11:00AM.  We stayed for a few hours and then we all took the ferry over to Ocracoke.  We got into 31 lookout at around 2:30 and began our vacation in true fashion with finding the best coffee shop (maybe in the world, except for the one I love in Richmond)  Ocracoke coffee Company.  My brother and I ran out and got coffee and smoothies for everyone make sure you try the Nuts and Joltzs.
 
We then went to the beach.  If you have never rode your 4 wheel drive vehicle on the beach a few quick tips are in order.
1.  Remove air from your tires.  (not sure why but it stops you from getting stuck yes of course we got stuck but some great folks helped us lower our tire pressure so that we had no problem getting off or on the beach again)
2.  Have a wife that is willing to drive anyplace to get to a beach.  She was a pro by trips end.

The beach was awesome probably one of the best beaches I have been on and I have been on some of the best.  Great waves, water not to cold and not to hot, sand very clean, dogs allowed, and we could drive the suv up to our spot.  You do not understand how convenient this is until you have done it you most likely are thinking big deal brining you vehicle on the beach whoop de de. (The Wiggles are the only thing that Kept my youngest calm on the ride. And it was a long ride It's whop de de Polka Time)
 
My brother left and went back to Avon and we went back to the lookout put the kids to bed and enjoyed a few adult beverages and some well earned alone time.  (Did I mention Ocracoke is a far drive)   We spent the rest of the vacation relaxing riding bikes and going to the beach.  I went fishing for a half day with my five year old.  We had a fun time and Sam received a compliment that he is a well behaved boy.  We caught a bunch of small blues a few Flounders and a few Spanish mackerel.

My brothers Family came to visit a few more times and on of their Daughters slept over to spend time with my kids.  We left them once in the lookout and asked them to meet us on the beach.  We got to the beach set up and started having fun.  As time went by I looked at my wife and she looked at me and we said to each other the let Luna (our dog) get free on Ocracoke.  The finale get to the beach and made up some story about having to get a new bathing suit for my nephew.  I let it go and we had a fun afternoon on the beach. 
 
I found a place that we could of stayed for another week and have the time off from work but my wife said that we had to many things going on and that we needed to get home she was correct I guess.  Sitting at my computer I kinda wish I was still on Ocracoke.  On are way home we stopped at Avon again and my sister in law finally cam clean with my wife about the dog getting loose.  She said that Luna was fast and they were chasing her around the street near 31 Lookout.  I wish I had a video camera hooked up to have taped the episode.  When Luna runs her whole face squishes back like the g-forces are going to make her head explode and all of them trying to chase her down, well it must have been funny.  My nephew finally tackled her and they got her back in the house. 
 
 
All in all it was a great vacation we loved Ocracoke.  If we ever go back we would stay at the lookout.

Luna On Ocracoke Island 

Cars on the Beach 

I am not sure about this. 

Hang ten dude 

Look at me I'm Surfin. 

Ocracoke Silver Lake Harbor. More Pictures to come. 

The Ball is on the ground. I am safe and I am dancing like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever! 

Art I Don't Know Howe

Art Howe is such a bad manager.  The Mets may win this first game after the break in extra's but you have to bunt down the line with Spencer or bring in a lefty to bunt the runners over.  This game should be over but now we have to use Looper for 2 full innings.  And Piazza who is freakin exhausted gets to catch a damn 11 inning game.
 
It really is not hard to be a manager when the play is clear cut bunt-sac fly-win game.   Now he fing pinch hits Valent what does he have Looper on his fantasy team and need more innings or k's.  The win would not have been good enough for Mr. Howe.  Even Bobby V could not have f---ed up this game.
 
He looks like such a dope standing on the top step of the dug out.  arrrrrghhh.

A-10 Diamonds Vs. K-J Hearts

In a Hold-Em all in show down when you are feeling short stacked the best you can ask for is 2%. I had the A-10 and went all in before the flop. It followed up a call of the blinds. Everyone folded except the caller. I had him on two high cards. Was not sure if they were suited and did not think he had an ace. I called his hand correctly and I was in the lead by 2% and decided to make the play. I was really thinking he might fold he had a big stack to save and to take the risk to save his call was well a risk. He called (shit) flop came 8-10-j- I was happy for about three seconds after the ten fell. Next Card comes K. (Shit Again) I do not remember the river card because it was not a ten or an Ace.

You can hang around in a Hold-Em Tournament for a long time playing tight and smart. But to win the whole thing usually comes down to about a 2% difference in your hole cards and that my friends is Hold-Em.

Big Slick

Playing at the big HoldEm tourney this evening at Sweet Peas. The game of Texas Hold-Em may be the best game of skill, chance, cunning, and cajones. It is like Chess in that you play your board as much as you play the other players. One False move and well check mate. But the one thing you can not do in Chess is bluff. I will give a report on the outcome of the tourney at a later date for now you can watch live poker every Wenesday on cable and the 2004 world series has begun on ESPN. Remeber to cash in on your pocket Aces. And never let yourself get beat on the river.

This may be the one. 

Kerry and Edward 2004 vs Mets World Series Win

I was posed a question by an old friend of mine. He is a right wing fanatic Yankee fan. Yes I understand that their is not much worse a combination in the world then a right wing fanatic Yankee fan. I overlook it because he is a good man and we've known each other since I was four years old.

He gave me the power to choose. Yes my friends I have the power to either have the Mets sweep the Yankees to win the world series or have Kerry and Edwards win the presidential election. This may be the hardest decision I will ever have to make. If you have read my posts you understand that well The Mets are second only to my family. At the same time I know that G.W Bush is ruining the world. The Mets or The World hmmm. I will now make this decision.

Kerry and Edwards
Why I would choose?
1. They will make the world a safer place in the long run
2. They have a chance to make the right choices for the future of the country
3. The Bush administration is evil and elitist. (They call you the Elite I call you my base.)
4. G.W.B was a bad baseball owner. And he really did not win the last election (popular vote)
5. The current administration is great at throwing everyone under the bus. (CIA)
6. They will make the right decision regarding the environment and will implement a real energy policy.
7. I can list a bunch more but you get the point.
Why I would not choose?
1. It is only four years
2. How much damage can G.W.B and friends do in only four more years.
3. What has John Kerry or John Edwards ever done for me except ask for campaign contributions?
4. It is only four years the and last Mets Championship was in 1986. Which is more then four years!

Mets Win World Series vs Yankees in a sweep
Why I would Choose?
1. It has been since 1986 with no guarantee of a World Series in sight.
2. I truly think Mike Piazza deserves a championship ring.
3. Playoff Baseball at Shea is awesome. I mean it the place may be a dump but it rocks in the playoffs and during a pennant race.
4. The Yankees are Evil. Evil like Satan, Deal with the Devil etc. etc.
5. Would make me happier then if Kerry and Edwards would win the White House
6. You get the point etc. etc,
Why I would not Choose?
1. It is a selfish choice. Only helps all Met and Non Yankee fans.
2. They may win it without my intervention
3. Would it feel like a hollow victory if I knew I had commanded it to happen.
4. And know for the happy re-cap Mets just beat Marlins.

This is a hard choice but I choose to have Kerry and Edwards be guaranteed the election and then root like hell to get the Mets to a World Series victory they earned.

Matsui & Reyes

Am I the only one that has noticed the bond between the Mets double play combo. They have a secret hand shake for everything. Ever since Jose has been back with the big club Matsui has been on fire at the dish and playing a much better defense. Some may say this is just coincidence but the two players seem to have a stronger bond. No I am not saying they are gay.. I am saying that it seems like Jose inspires Matsui to be a better player and have more fun. Matsui very easily could of folded up tent and started to mope around now the Reyes is up but his attitude is infectious.

For all those folks that were saying Jose was tanking it and was not really hurt just watch the young man play the game. He loves it and has a passion for it that inspires others around him. Reyes does not seem the type to make up or prolong injuries he just loves the game too damn much.

As for the Mets I stick to my prediction of winning the division if you take the team apart they have talent. And with a surging Matsui and a Reyes starting to find his feet what a fun pair of middle infielders we will have the pleasure of watching over the next few years.

Great Play at home. He is out. Yes my friends the Metropolitans have given themselves a chance to jump into a first place tie with another win ove the Phils. I have never in my 34 years have seen a mets team hit the ball like this team can.  

Sweep and season series win from the Yanks. Yes it was a good baseball weekend for the Metsies. Now it is on to Philly.  

Katsu 

Metsies win metsies win 

Oh captain my captain! 

Mets Win Big Game

Mets Win Big Game 10-9 at Shea vs the Yankees. It was very similiar to a game in which I thretened to never watch the mets again in 1999 I think it was a game the mest eventually won in the last inning off of Mariano Rivera with a seeing eye pinch hit single by MAtt Franco. Anyway Metsui has arrived so now we just need to get Reyes hitting a bit more and we will be scary.

The Mets have never won a season series from the yanks on Sunday the 4th of July they will get the chance to do just that.

Let's Go Mets.