Bike Ride

I rode in to work today. I needed to start getting time on the bike getting ready for the MS-150 in October. I ride from my house in the lower garden district into the 9th ward and then into work. The route takes me through the French Quarter and then along the Mississipi and into the navel base on Poland Street. The route is about 5 miles or so. I need to get a new battery for my odometer to make sure. Anyway it was a good ride I had to carrie all of my stuff in my backpack so I had an additional 15 pounds on my back. It was a good ride. I did not realize how sweaty I was until I got into the building and took off my backpack. I need to bring a bunch of stuff so that I don't have to carry everything in the mornings.

Anyway I got in to work and was looking at the newspaper and this is what I found

"Man murdered in Lower 9th Ward this morning
by Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune
Wednesday June 25, 2008, 6:46 AM
A 48-year-old New Orleans man was found murdered in the Lower 9th Ward this morning, a spokesman for the New Orleans coroner's office said.
Victor Russell appears to have died from gunshot wounds, said John Gagliano, the coroner's chief investigator. Someone found Russell dead the 6300 block of North Rampart Street and alerted police, Gagliano said.
The New Orleans Police Department hasn't released details about the case.
Media reports also indicated that someone coming home from work found Russell dead inside his home.
Court records show Russell had a litany of drug convictions.
He pled guilty in 1989 to possession of crack cocaine and received a one-year hard labor prison sentence in 1990, according to court records.
Six years after receiving that prison sentence, Russell was sentenced to seven years of hard labor in prison after pleading guilty to a possession of crack charge.
In 2004, Russell pled guilty to a possession of cocaine charge, receiving a two-year prison sentence. A judge suspended it and placed him on active probation, court records show.
He was off probation by May 2007, court records show, but police arrested him once more in June 2007, booking him on a possession of crack charge in June 2007.
Russell was awaiting a trial date in that latest charge at the time of his death."

This is right by work it is about 3 blocks away. It is a good thing I am not riding into work between 1:00 - 4:00. I do leave my house at 5:45 a.m. I feel safe but it makes me realize that I need to be vigilant when I do ride. I have friends at work that know that I am riding and so they come by my desk and make sure that I make it okay. If not they come looking.

Life is good and I am loving what I am doing and hope to do well on the MS-150.

Jessie- HAPPY BIRTHDAY 35 IS A GREAT YEAR!

WORK WORK WORK

I had to work on Saturday. It was okay because I only worked for 5 hours.

I am still planning on my emergency evacuation plan and head on up to Atlanta to see Nessa and Kevin and family on the 4th of July weekend. I am excited just to get out of NOLA.

I am going to see a comedian on Saturday Night. I don't remember who he is but I am scheduled to go with some friends on Saturday.

Well sorry this is so boring but oh well. Life is good and I am continuing to train for my MS 150. Thanks to IGES, Ingenieros, Michelle, and Wadsworth family for your support on the MS ride. I really appreciate you guys.

Later much, maybe I will write some more later.....

GOOD NEWS FOR BRIANNA AND KENNETH

GOOD NEWS.......
So life in New Orleans continues. It is crazy to think that I have already been here for 114 days. Yes I counted the days. 114 days in New Orleans area. I actually left Salt Lake 116 days ago. I recall the ride here and I was just glad when I finally arrived after 30 hours in the car I was just glad to not have to drive more than short distances.

SO YOU SAY WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS!

Well today I heard that Brianna my friend was back with her husband. Believe it or not that makes me really, really happy. I have prayed that she would find peace with what ever decision she made in regards to her marriage to Kenneth. I have prayed that she would find joy in her life and always know that a kind and loving Heavenly Father loves her and would always be there to support her and help her in her decisions. For I know that she is one of our Heavenly Fathers choice daughters sent to this earth to teach me and help me through some difficult times. I know that he has heard my prayers.

Together we learned about the elephants in South Africa.
I love that you love to learn!

You impressed me by showing me that you loved my parents.
You wanted to learn how to make tortilla's! You bring JOY to my heart
when I see this picture!

Kenneth you will forever be one of my mom's favored son's.
My mom and dad enjoyed you coming to learn with Brianna.
Together you learned! That made me HAPPY!

I saw the love you had for the scriptures and you
taught me to love them even more than I had before.
I loved it when you would read to me before we went
to bed every time we were together
for YW in the Richards Ward.

PEACE BE STILL and know that a loving Heavenly Father
loves to hear from us in pray and he listens to us.
DO WE LISTEN TO HIS ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS?

I love this picture because it brought me peace
to know that you were both happy!
I longed to have what you had with somebody
that was out there that would love me unconditionally.

There is beauty everywhere if we but look!

Brianna, aim for that which is best!
Know that a GOD will always be with you!

Return with Honor and with the one you love.
For GOD saved you for this the eleventh hour!

Two became one and with GOD nothing is impossible.
Find your way back to each other! For there is joy in what is
bound on earth!

DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?

Walk with me MY FRIEND!

The road is long and at times lonely but we are never alone!

A day on temple grounds will always have
a special place in my heart!

I wanted to make you something with my own hands!
I loved the time I spent on this project for with every hour
I spent on it I found peace in knowing that it was a gift of love for a friend!

The smile on your face was so worth the effort!

Find your way back together and remember
to have GOD in your partnership for with him nothing
is impossible and with him all things are made better!

I love you BOTH! Brianna as my friend and sister,
you who allowed me to cry and feel peace in your presence.
Kenneth as my little brother for I wish you the best in life!
SOME DAY WE WILL EACH FIND PEACE IN EACH OTHERS COMPANY!

Strive to return to the house of the LORD and know
that he loves all of us and is only waiting for us to ask
him our questions. He will answer prayers for
he has answered mine!

The sun rises and sets and and I shall see you in
GOD's time not mine!

I have prayed that my will, wants and desires in regards to Brianna and Kenneth would be malleable to my Heavenly Fathers will, in regards to this friendship that I long to have. I still continue to pray for Brianna and I pray that I will see here someday HAPPY AND CONTENT. I have seen her in my dream, happy and content, a dream in which we shared the joy of friendship and the knowledge that we care for each other.

I commend you all for reading the whole post! I know it is long but it was something that I needed to do!

Okay so this incident happened yesterday around 5:00 p.m. it is a lot of traffic at the time but I about died laughing when I read this:

"The driver appears to be 16 years old and the passenger 14, according to preliminary information, said Officer Garry Flot, a spokesman for the department. Both will be charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, flight from police officers and possession of marijuana. The driver also will be booked with numerous traffic violations and aggravated flight from police officers, Flot said.

"I was stopped on Poydras waiting for the light, when I heard a loud boom -- like a lightning bolt. Their car smashed into a maroon Hummer waiting at the light (on Poydras at St. Charles). It had been bouncing off cars, hitting one after another as it sped down Poydras (headed toward the river)," said Doug Salzer, one of the many motorists who watched as the Hummer and Trailblazer then slid to the other side of the intersection and caught fire.

As the "two young men" bolted from the Trailblazer to make a run for it, said Salzer, one was delayed because "his pants fell down to his ankles and he had to pull them up before he ran."

So much for a fashion statement.

I laughed and laughed and laughed. I hope it makes you laugh as well.

I will post more later

Rainy Day's and Sunday

So I woke up today thinking of my dad so I gave him a call. He asked how things were going and how the weather was. I told him it had rained some yesterday and that I had heard it raining in the night. He asked how the roads were I told him they were fine. Well I think I should have looked out my door before saying that. The roads around my house were rivers. The water was up to mid wheels on my car. I got ready to go to church and had to go through the river. The water was just above my head lights. It was crazy. When I walked out of my house I crossed the road to get to my car, the water was up to my knees. This picture is from across the street from the church. Luckily when church ended the roads were again passable and I was able to make it home. Oh by the way the first thing on my list to buy tomorrow or the next chance I get is an umbrella.





This is a link to an article about the thunderstorm.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/rain_flood_new_orleans_streets.html

By the way happy fathers day to all of you out there.

Bikes, Treadmills and other equipment

Michelle thanks for the suggestion of a movie chocolate and soft pillows. This had to do. I have no couch or comfortable chair but I did have a camping chair and an exercise ball to prop my feet up for my AA day (Attitude Adjustment), it worked and I felt much better today and was able to wake up and conquer the World!




I have converted my front room to a home gym. I purchased a treadmill and got an indoor trainer for my bike. Why you ask would I do such a thing at my house. I have committed to ride the 150 mile for MS here in Louisiana. It is over a two day period 75 miles on way and 75 miles back only a different route in October. So I have commited to get myself ready. I need sponsors so I am asking you all that read this blog to go to the following http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=5113220&pg=personal&fr_id=9300 and support me I would like to raise as much as possible. Please help.

So what else is happening:

• Went to the Temple on Friday. Was nearly in an accident. The truck in front of me started fish tailing and hit the car next to him and and almost went over the embankment into lake Ponchartrain. I finally made it safe to the temple.

• Temple: did not make it to endowment session. I learned that you have to call and make an appointment. Oh well. The temple workers were kind enough to hold a special sealing session and the six of us on the waiting list were able to do sealings.

• Work: life is good. I am getting more and more comfortable and in what I am doing. I went out and met with one of the contractors today and had a good fact finding meeting regarding the contract and the modifications I am working on.

Well that is enough for now. Please support me if you can for my fund raising for the MS ride.