Rant

So it appears the blog was hacked, so i went ahead and updated to the latest version. it's been over a year since the last update, so i can't even pretend to be able to fill you in on what's happened. I have some trip logs written that i will be backfilling into their proper dates, but for the most part we're just gonna take this opportunity to start fresh.

Yahoo! mail just prompted me for a CAPTCHA to send email. that's right, for me to SEND mail from my account, which i had logged into, it wanted me to type words and phrases into a box and click enter to verify i am human.

if they don't pull this service it will be the best argument yet to switch fully to gmail. now to figure out how to forward my yahoo mail there

I didn't get to where i am today by being an overachiever. --joe

so it's been a while since my last update... here's the highlights:

-went to Vernal for july 4 weekend with the canyonchasers. it was a damn good time, but oh boy do i need a better seat and some better boots for canada.
-spent july 4 with dave and the canyonchasers at liberty park watchin fireworks.
-spent the last 2 weeks veggin at home, not on the road for a change
-got to hang out a bit with chris gabel, who was in from toledo for break after med school boards
-fixed the damn pulsing problem on my bike, turned out to be a bad chain!


I am now currently sitting at SLC int'l airport, waiting for a flight to SFO that will connect with a flight to Sydney, Australia. Assuming i make this connection, i'll be there for 15 days. I'm pretty stoked. then i get back and have a week off, then i head out to portland, and then off to Canada! Lots to do for that trip...

new tires so i stick to the road
gps so i don't end up in Zion again accidentally
heated vest so i don't need 300 layers
boots i can ride and walk in
new seats so i survive 10 days in the saddle
saddle bags so we can bring everything we'll need
modify the luggage rack to keep new luggage off the paint
oil change so the engine makes it

and i'm toying of the idea of a rear box mod for the bike. more to come on that soon

So today was the first day of Grandma's viewing, following 5pm mass at Mt. Carmel. I cannot believe the number of people who turned out. some of which i haven't seen in years. Politicians, friends, family. Ruthie Mc and her mother came. Dan Hill showed up in town for his nephew's baptism. Tom Simiele came by to send his regards with Russi. Now there's an odd matchup standing in a receiving line

At one point (for about an hour) the receiving line was about an hour long. It wrapped thru half the church. There were posterboards set up everywhere with pictures of her from the last 85 years. While they weren't in chronological order, they provide a hell of a timeline. kids. grandkids. great grandkids. Husband. Friends. Coleagues.

There were a few awards displayed when the evening started, but by the time the viewing had finished they had quadrupled in number. Friend and coleagues brought notes from the mayor, the senate, the house of reps, all memorializing an amazing woman. I mean for fuck's sake there was a 5 minute period on the floor of Congress this week to remember Mary Zone. That's a pretty big statement.

Someone tonite said to me "hey if we all told just 1 story each about Mary we'd be here till next year." And when i looked around the room i knew it was an understatement. She impacted everyone's life she came in contact with, and she'll be missed and remembered fondly... with the endless arsenal of Mary Zone stories she left behind.