Something New

Here is a true sign that I am spending way more time at home. I notice this long stalk emerging from the center of one of the aloe vera plants I have growing in a pot on my patio. I have been watching it for a few weeks thinking that it really resembled one of the beautiful century plant blooms I so often see in the desert. Yesterday I notice that the blooms were actually weeping a honey like nectar. I asked the green thumb folks that I now if they have ever seen an aloe vera plant bloom before, but it seems as unusual to them as myself.

Not that I am an expert or anything but I have had these plants in pots for more than 10 years and have never seen them do this. Turns out to be a really dramatic flower. It is the thing I learned today, these aloe vera blooms are yellow with a tinge of red and drip a really sweet nectar.

I'm writing that one down.

New Shape

Kind of neat to see what a few years of development in design and refinement can do especially with the modern materials that keep evolving. Since the sport of kiteboarding is still so young, a couple of years can be like going from the paleozoic to the cenozoic era (like a billion years of evolution or something) in one step. I have been riding a couple of kites that were designed in 2005, and the past couple of weeks I spent time on 2008 and 2009 models.

Wow, the equipment can make one hell of a difference. Don't get me wrong, the old C kites still work and I can still have a blast with them but the flatter shapes have so much more power and turn, fly and jump so much faster.

Rode a Naish Cult 9 meter in what I used to use a 12 meter C kite, never over powered, at times light but could generate plenty of speed anyway. It just created a way bigger window to work with. Technology can actually be fun to play with even for an old luddite like me.

Board Shorts

Ahhh! Temperatures are in the 80's, the wind is blowing a little. Perfect to get to the lake and do some kiteboarding. Guy, Justin, Mike and Jordan met at Benbrook Lake near Fort Worth, Texas for a session of big jumps, spins, flips and rolls.

Have to take advantage of the conditions before the summer doldrums show up and put an end to all the fun.

Working Legend

Growing up in Texas, the image and grandeur of the historical cowboy has always inspired me. I have met a number of them over the years and not always on ranches since it is an attitude as much as a character. I had the pleasure of taking some photographs of one of my favorites. Bob Moorhouse is the epitome of a real cowboy, having spent his working life at the Pitchfork ranch near Guthrie, Texas. He was the fabled ranch's manager as well as inspiration for an entire generation of cowboys.

He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame as a ranch manager. Raised his kids to have a free spirit and enjoy themselves always. He now has a comfortable retired life closer to those daughters, but still riding horses and doing a bit more fishing.

After a conversation with him you can understand why young boys want to grow up to be cowboys.

Mowing

  Rain and warm weather in Texas and the first thing you get is a really good crop of thick green grass.  After wading thru puddles for two days, NASCAR was finally able to get the races run at Texas Motor Speedway a day late and as a double header. 

  Jeff Gordon and his Sprint Cup buddies did teach me a new way of mowing the lawn, and it even involves a bit of adrenaline since he was going about 180 miles an hour when the melee started. At the end of it all they blamed Tony Stewart and called it a no harm no foul racing accident.

   If we were on the street they sure would call some fouls on that.

Big Cheese

He hangs around most days on the living room couch, grumphs a little if he hears someone move. The only time he does anything strenuous is when the mail man comes. Then it gets a little crazy with all the barking and running from room to room.

Obviously he is just saving his energy for road trips and hikes in fields. Spent the day taking pictures in Cresson, Texas and Kimo got to go along. Judging by the smile on his face I guess he does not like bluebonnets. He was diligently romping around trying to step on as many as possible.

I think they got the last laugh though, he sprained his foot and spent the next couple of days limping.

Last Blast

  For anyone that grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Texas Stadium in Irving has been a landmark for directions, a shrine for football fans and a traffic causing nightmare all in one. As of early Sunday morning April 11, 2010 all of that changed as more than 2000 exlosive charges brought the remaining concrete and steel of the almost 40 year old mecca of the Dallas Cowboys to a pile of rubble. 

   For some it was a truly sad day, for others it was good riddance. I am just wondering how I will ever find my way around Big "D" without the reference point of the old stadium on the horizon to guide me.

The Big Fight

  I would argue that you can not see much of a boxing match in a football stadium. Most of the fans in attendance of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight would disagree thanks to the huge television screens in Cowboys Stadium. My argument is still that in your living room with a pay per view fight you are closer to the scree/thus seeing a better image even if it is only 42 inches.

  Never the less, place was full with more than 50,000 mostly Pacquiao fans watching the master win another world title, this one in the Welterweight division. Good for him 'cause he and Jerry are taking everyone's money.

Bike Friendly

I have been inspired by the freedom that two wheeled cycles have given me since I was able to balance on the contraptions as a seven year old. Ever since, I have had some form of pedal vehicle close by whether it was a classic road bike, a mountain bike or the banana seat cruiser of my childhood.

It just came naturally to get excited about a story on the progression of the bike Culture in Fort Worth including Jeremy Shlachter's custom made Gallus Cycles frames to the guys behind the latest bike shop, Trinity Cycles on South Main Street.

It is great to know that there is a true bike culture thriving in the Fort Worth area.

Big Boys and Bulls

  The Professional Bull Riders tour came to Cowboys Stadium Saturday for one crazy show. I knew there were a lot of cowboys in Texas but I never thought that they would fill the new stadium for a bull riding event.

  Country singer Gary Allen opened the evening with a concert and then the dirt flew. The PBR puts on a hell of a show as they keep everyone entertained between rides. Lots of wild action with eventual winner Valdiron de Oliveira walking away with $260,000 bucks of the green kind. 

Wasatch Range Skiing

Winter time and it was snowing in Texas, so we went to Utah instead to see if we could find even more of it. Spent a few days skiing and snowboarding in the Cottonwood Canyons over Salt Lake City.

The Wasatch mountain range has the greatest snow in the world. Light, powdery and skis like butter. No wonder they have such good extreme skiers out here. As sore as I am after a trip like that I can't wait to head back there.

Miller Blows Up

   Andre Miller of the Portland Trail Blazers blows up with 52 points against the Dallas Mavericks. Getting a win in a dramatic overtime game at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. An exciting game that I got to witness thanks to the Associated Press. Dirk Nowitzki and Mavs just could not pull it out in the end.