Before I get started:

First of all I'd like to thank my close friend Suzy for slapping me tonight. I'd also like to thank her for coming out to watch me get yet another kiteboarding lesson under my belt, one step closer to becoming the mad man of the water I want to be. I'd also like to thank her for dinner and great conversation. You are a blast.

Suzy is like this close friend who you just enjoy her company; she can be blunt when I do something stupid, i.e. slapping me, and beyond compassionate when I'm all in a emotional tizzy. I so love you and thank you for your friendship.

Back to the story of the day:

Today work was nuts; for you folks thinking about going to Microsoft Vista, all I can say is read this article FIRST. Users complaining on slow downloads seem to be common with Vista. Which is why my copy is just siting here unused. Sorted that out over the two hours it took to build and test a Vista box. I formated it over with Linux just as soon as it was done.

Got 15 miles done on the bike, including going up and over a few overpasses on the Pinellas Trail. While working into a pouring sweat the only thing that would have made this better would have been some cute gal waiting naked at the house who was into to passionate sweaty sex. Alas, no such luck. :-)

Then came my kiteboarding lessons: I got a block of hours and I use them to get better skilled at kiteboarding. Fact is that anyone wanting to get into this sport should have to sign up for training. Will save your ass from an emergency room visit. I should know first hand...

So training was supposed to be at the beach at Treasure Island, well no its supposed to be at the Skyway, no the tide is out and it sucks at the Skyway, but on the other side of the skyway it's great except for the LIGHTNING, ok let's all go back to Treasure Island.

Suzy meets me there as she wanted to see me and hey I told her I'd be there. Figure I could do something impressive with the kite? Sure, I send it crashing onto the beach because of the wind dropping out. I felt silly, but managed to relaunch it and while I finished up my lesson, Suzy went out to meet friends. It was nice to have someone see that I actually do this; I keep getting the "you are so full of shit looks" from folks sometimes. Not that I care, it was just nice to share that with her.

The lesson was only an hour; it was more for the ability to feel safe on the beach again after my last accident and the wind was just making just keeping the kite in the air a real chore. My trainer was awesome. I'll get in more board time when the wind is up.

I drive over to see Suzy for dinner, have one Jack and Diet, lots of water, and a lot of conversation. Met the guy who used to pitch for the Devil Rays, though I don't know his name.... Like I know anything about baseball....

I walk Suzy out to her car and walk over to the Swig to get my car. Tonight is the Blues Jam night, but I'm not in the mood for it; I really need a break from the local bar scene. It's 10pm and I'm going to watch stuff recorded on the Tivo, drop a xanax and pass out.

Tomorrow will be yet another busy day.....
-Mike