Bored in Galveston

Got back from a work cruise in Galveston yesterday and man am I pooped. I don't know if it was lack of sleep on board a 60 foot vessel with 5 other people working 24 hours a day for 5 days or the boredom of doing seismic lines. We would just go back and forth parallel to the beach at 5 knots for hours on end. Each line 100 meters further or closer to shore from the last. I thought I was stuck in jail with little room to move around and the coast within swimming distance all the time. Sure was nice to get home.
Went out for a ride today and felt pretty crummy. My stomach ahas been bothering me ever since I got back from the trip. Well I met the fast group before I got to the normal turnaround. I really didn't want to ride fast but got sucked up into it. When I finally made it to the front I noticed we were keeping it around 26-27 and I hadn't rode in a week. My stomach was on fire. Not good, I thought I could crap myself at any minute, but I held tough for a while. Until there were only 4 of us rotating and about 10 just sitting on the back. Finally I had enough and pulled out leaving a nice gap for the sitters to try and make up. I really don't know if they caught the three out front, I was soft pedalling and letting my stomach settle. It was nice to be back but I should build into this again.

A chill in summer

Today was the first real summer day in NO. No wind and high, high humidity. The riding of late has been nice and my legs are feeling good, until today. Today seemed quite hard and we weren't going at a particularly fast pace , 21-23. With no wind, you just feel like it is a headwind since you are creating it. David and John were helping with the pulling and we had a nice ride to the parish line. On the way back we picked up Wes and John flatted just before the Huey P. As we stood around while he took forever to change the tube, seat was just pouring off me. I can be one salty son of a bitch and this day there was no doubt. I left a puddle where I was standing holding John's bike while he tinkered with the wheel. Then the only relief to a hot day is starting back up once you have been standing around for a few minutes becoming a raisin. I actually felt a chill and it was nice. It only lasted for a few 100 meters but it felt great. We just soft pedalled after John fixed his flat and that was ok with me. We have had 2 down pours since lunch and looks like more later today. I guess the city is finally experiencing a normal summer day here.

wet... no rain

Humidity is back. Those few weeks of dry weather were wonderful. Now just copletely soaked half way through a ride. I am always amazed at how much I can sweat. I really think I may live in a state of dehydration. How do those guys manage to stay upright when they have nothing do drink? I can't go on a ride without at least 2 large bottles of water.
Today was pretty nicewith John and I taking most of the pulls and Bob and Joe sitting on. My computer batteries are pretty dead as I don't think I registered an accurate speed all morning. Some of the time it was 0.0. Off to the store, and we will see how I have been training this weekend.

Triple shooting on the 4th

The riding has been ok as of late, just feeling a little rundown. Could be that summer is in full swing here with the humidity back to normal and the winds dying out.
The fourth was pretty relaxing for most of the day. C made some sangria and we hung out on the back deck and the front poarch for most of the day until the rains started. We heard the occasional firecrakers and whistlers throughout most of the day. But around 5:30 I noticed a fire truck pulled up to the corner of our block. No sirens, just guys walking down the street with EMS stuff. Maybe someone got burned. Oh well back to the sangria. About 15 minutes later a barage of news vehicles are lined up down the street. Oh shit, something bad has gone down and we missed it all.
Around 6 I took the dogs for their daily ride to the park to play some ball. As I passed the corner, I saw crime tape across the street. I asked someone with a notepad walking away what had happened. A triple shooting. Turns out about 10 people were on a porch playing cards. Some joker was standing on the opposite corner talking on a cell phone. After about 10 minutes he approached the game and opened up. Hit three people, two are fine, and the other we don't know about. Three kids were present at the time also. What is happening here? People just don't care about life anymore and they are not scared about committing crimes. Seems if they are picked up, they just get let out after a while to go about whatever they want. I am just down right sick of this. The city needs to get its act together or we will move. I don't know what I can do except complain right now. I know it doesn't help, but I don't have a gun and don't plan on having one anytime soon. I still believe that is a police matter.
Just wondering if things are going to get worse. A woman that gave a description of the shooter was upset but her description was very weak. White shirt, green and pink stripped pants and an umbrella. No skin color, height, weight... he stood there for 10 minutes before and you didn't notice. Is this description accurate? Are they planning their own retaliation? What the fuck?
Anyone who gets picked up by the police should have to do hard time cleaning the city. I don't care what they have done. Use the national guard to watch them pick up trash. Bring back the chain gangs. I think some good hard labor would rehabilitate some... at least I hope so.