So glad o be getting out of town for a few days and getting to run around a what I hope is a pretty cool place. With all the up and coming bands coming out of Iceland i am hoping to check out a few while there. I am also hoping that I can see a review from the Of Monsters and Men show in Seattle while I visit their country.

Blue lagoon is on the radar and we are looking into snow mobile trips too. We will be on the lookout for cool stuff to do too. Pictures a plenty. I have 32 gig of card space and 32 gig of USB space so there is no shortage of high quality pics happening.

I hear they have salmon there but Amy does not eat Atlantic salmon cause she is spoiled. There should be plenty of options for her as i have seen plenty of ads for seafood places.

I want to find some wild puffins to get some shots of. We may try to do some whale watching if the weather is ok. No sense in heading out to sea to be miserable if the weather sucks. We are also thinking about a rental car and heading south to the beach like you do in Iceland in March.

Next stop Reykjavik!!

I will only have my iPad and maybe Amy will have her iBook. We have the camera kit for the iPads so we should be alright with our photo stream and stuff!

T-3.5 days till lift off!

That said its been just shy of a week on this weight loss plan. Why the weight loss? Well if you read my deer post you know I went to the hospital. During that trip they took all kinds of scans and crap. Well they thought they had found some cancer on my thyroid but after additional tests and scans it proved ok. They did find some issues with my liver though. Mostly due to extreme weight gain (50 lbs) since I quit smoking two years ago. I never really thought about it but I guess I did fill that void of smoking with beer and food. Not a lot of food but food I should not have been eating. Sure a Chili burger every now and then is ok but you cant follow it with a large pizza for dinner. Go figure.

So the doc told me I HAD to lose weight now before my sugar level puts me into type II diabetes *note I am not that close but it has gone up in the last 2 years by a significant amount. So I looked at my options and decided that Weight Watchers for Men seems to be a good option.

Why WW? Simple it does not only help keep you accountable for what you shove in your fat mouth but it allows you to understand exactly what you are eating. That is exactly what I need. I know that I eat food but I need realize how much and when. I have changed a bit of my eating patterns by not eating a meal after 7pm which I think helps a lot. It reduces the amount of time between my lunch and dinner as well as allows me to digest before going to bed. It also means I will have to cook more. I am still working on the going out thing. WW does really well with chain restaurants but I got to a lot of local places so it requires a lot of guessing. Lucky for me I cooked for several years and I know more about portioning and cooking methods then most. I think that helps. Amy has also been helping by not cooking with butter and helping with the portion sizes.

So far in week 1 I have done well and tracked every piece of food I have eaten and I find the tools on iPad and iPhone to allow me to do it quickly without feeling pressure to do so. I have yet to use all my points in a day and I have yet to use any of my extra points. I am feeling hungry most of the time but not starving. I will post official weight tomorrow but my first weighing of the week shows me down 6 lbs. Thats not bad

Tuesday started out just like any other work day. Me being a bit tired after a nice 3 day weekend but I was up and out of the house on time without incident. Amy had just started back at the school so she also was up and out early. opened the garage and pulled the bike out, it had just gotten out of the shop saturday with new oil and a full tune up and was in tip top shape. Start out the day with of course some kind person testing the limits of legal while making a free right while I had a green light left. No harm no foul and I continue on.

Sun is just cresting in the east and there is plenty of light out to see fine as I hit my first set of s turns and roll past 148th street. This of course leads into several other turns left and right. Well I am doing just under 40 (closer to 35 due to coming out of a light) and I make a nice sweeping left and what do I see? A nice sized doe standing on the double yellow, head facing towards my side of the road and looking right back at me.

This is one of those moments that as a motorcyclists we all think about but pray we never ever have to deal with. In my mind there is no options other then to straighten out and brake hard and fast, which is what I did. Well I ended up locking up my rear tire and started to skid. Trying to come out of that I released the rear brake which caught road and sent me high side over the right side of the bike. I was in the air for a short amount of time and landed on my right side. The wind knocked out of me, my life preservation skills kicked in and tried to figure out where I was and what to do. Thank god there was a jogger close by who called 911 and was able to talk to me.

My first thoughts were holy hell what the shit was that about. I realized there was not much I could have done while I was on my back and I needed to call work to tell my boss I was not gonna make it in. Before that happened I was able to get the jogger to call Amy who of course freaked out. I dont blame her and the jogger was able to tell her that 911 was on the way and that I was alive and talking. Once I heard the fire truck close by I honestly started to go into shock. I was able to answer their questions and what seemed to me joke with them but I was out of it. I remember them getting me on the back board and loading me up into the ambulance and the state trooper asking me a few questions while I was on the ground but it was not really until I was in the ambulance and we were moving that I really remember much. I remember kind of seeing my bike on my left side about 25 feet away (It was on the kick stand so I am sure it was moved there by the fire dept..) They were nice enough to listen to my request to pull my laptop bag out of the saddle bag as well and send it with me to the hospital.

The ambulance ride was a new thing for me being strapped down. I had been in them before but never as the dude going to the hospital. I was able to get in touch with everyone I had to and was able to post to twitter and facebook. For those that maybe concerned when you see a post like that, the good news from being there personally is that once your able to do so your more then likely past the rough stuff. Amy was able to get turned around and get my wallet (which my dumb ass forgot) and get to the scene for the cops and see the bike and clear up the loose ends before heading to valley med to meet me.

The ambulance crew got me there ok and where very nice and all was well except the whole hospital leaving me for what felt like FOREVER on the backboard, in the neck brace and no pain meds or doc. I don’t have official times but I am going with 1 million minutes passed before the nurse was able to come in and get me an IV push which helped ease the pain in my back. On came the XRays and CAT Scans and all was well. Not a broken bone or major injury! Thank god!

About another hour passed and I was able to get some more pain meds and head home. I had to ask the doc if he would give me some pain pills and he was like sure I guess…. That kind of pissed me off. I don’t really like to ask for pain killers to begin with but the same hospital group was willing to give me more pain killers when I broke my toe then when I got tossed off a motorcycle, seems a bit backwards to me but what ever.

I am glad to be alive. I have a renewed respect for motorcycle safety gear and helmets. I am also positive that had I had ABS on my bike I would not have had the same accident. I will say that the skills I have learned with my group riding as well as the constant reminding of safety within those groups lead me to access and deal with situation at hand.

Today I am alive and well and will live to ride another day. I know some people would be afraid to get back on 2 wheels but I am looking forward to it. Wind in my face and hand on the throttle! My next bike will have ABS though!

I love to see you choke on what ever team you play on you washed up Swede. Your lack of passion is what sent you on the down hill here in Seattle. Your lack of team continuity is what failed you. You not being able to play the same game that we as western hemisphere players have to endure to be successful. You are just a washed out pretty boy that could not play with the passion it takes to be a Seattle Sounder.

Some day maybe you will will figure out what passion is. Maybe you will figure out that YES 30K plus is a HUGE draw for any game. Regardless of you play for the rest of your coaching and playing days I promise you I will hate you for saying that we have no passion.

Where where you on 9.2.2009? Apparently not on the same field or plane we where. Remember that first team trophy? Apparently not you dumb ass. Well we have 2 now and where were you? NOT in Seattle for the second one. Thats right your silly ass decided to walk away to Chicago who you couldn’t handle either. Well thats just as well cause the Hoops will see through your silly ass and pin up boy dreams and realize that you have no further use to them either.

Thanks for trashing my league and everything we did for you and your sweet dog you jilted bastard.

Forget what you did in MLS and relive the glory days cause thats about all your worth.

Signed
Your former Seattle Sounders Friend.

Lets start with 2018…. The “lost” bid. I am not some super FIFA dude but I am not sure why the damn cup has to be played on EURO soil every 8 years or some bloody snot complains they have to travel to far to see it and they are the only “REAL” fans. England jumped on board for the 2018 bid which they all but have locked up to the Russians. No ill will for my English friends but that was our cup. You got the 2012 Olympics give us WC. For my personally its hard enough to convert people to the beautiful game but adding 18 years is not doing us any favors. The worlds game grew by the world cup moving around. Look at Europe and South America the location of most of the world cups since the start. Look who have the most defined leagues and money from the sport. 2010 World Cup in South Africa was awesome! Not only a country but a continent got to experience something great and from that will come the fostering of the sport. Getting the 2018 WC could have grown American Soccer to levels unheard of faster!

Now onto 2022…Here we are looking at some pretty good competition. Qatar has a pretty strong bid and its a great location for middle east soccer. The area has a healthy soccer presence but it needs to a big boost and they have the money to make it a great event. The boys in Green and Yellow from down under have a ton of motivation to get the bid. Much like the US they have a national league that is very young but does ok. Great international players coming in like the US and have a solid Euro format. They need to foster soccer much like the US because of Aussi Rules football, Rugby and Cricket all being solid national sports. They did host the 2000 Olympics so they have hosted a Major International Soccer tourny so they know a few things. I really dont think that Korea or Japan have a shot but their bids are viabile but would have been more solid if they would have combined again like they did in the past.

Now time for me to let it out. I think the cup here in the states is very important. I think we need it sooner rather then later and that us sitting down for the 2018 bid instead of busting Beckham and the boys balls and pushing cause we like to beat the English, the US Soccer Federation weaseled some crazy deal. Why I say! I know that Europe is not fond of us over bearing Americans. Intruding on “Their” sports and getting involved in things we should not. Got news for you that may feel that way, Soccer or Football has been ingrained in my world since I was 6 years old. I know I was not raised with a local team that I have to support. I grew up in the awkward age of soccer in America when soccer was not cool and was just as weird as the band or other weird things. It was when soccer in lots of places was a “Club” thing and not a sport.

My kids grow up with Soccer. I coached and ref. I learned the rules. I am a professional soccer season ticket holder for a team that soon their grounds will be hallowed like Old Trafford, Anfield, Wembley or Nou Camp. With time comes tradition, With tradition comes prestige. Seattle, Washington is working on that now. Its to bad that its not like this around the country. Its so close too, so close to breaking open here. If we could lose the thoughts of what if we take viewers away from American Football or Baseball or Basketball. WHO CARES!! I watch throw ball but could give a shit about baseball or basketball. To me Throw ball is like Rugby in the UK, everyone knows its there and lots of people follow it but its Soccer that gets me going but Rugby or in my case throwball will get me by. I have something that most people in Europe do not have with their team. My team is growing up with me not me growing up with it.

Tomorrow morning I will get up and head to work like I always do but I will get to listen to the words that will be coming out of my radio as I drive in. The words from Zurich that very well could hold the fate of Soccer in the US. Club soccer will only go so far here. Seeing that Golden Ball being held up by US hands would propel us into the next wave. I as a soccer supporter in the US am pissed that it will not be 2018. I as a soccer supporter will open my home in 2022 to my friends from around the world to come share the beautiful game with me.

{excepts about this piece] I was a bit emotional today when I heard Landon Donovan speak on behalf of the US delegation in Zurich. I wanted to post a bit about how I feel and not even all of it just 945 words that spilled out. I wish there were more people that were willing to dump how they fell about international soccer on paper so people can see it.

I have been hoping that the Tea Party movement picks up and it becomes viable for one and only one reason.  To allow the American people see that we do not have to vote left or right or down party lines.  To blur the lines and stimulate honest debate in America would be a fresh change of pace.  No more donkeys or elephants only, lets bring in the rest of the Zoo!

Last week I was talking to someone who tends to be more conservative then me over all and he said to me “Lee, your more conservative then you think you are”.  I thought about it and agreed with him.  Not because he was right or wrong but because I tend to lean personally to the right.  Now not to the right of center mind you, for every way I lean right I have a trait that leans left.  I believe in the right to bear arms but I also believe in you should have to prove you ability mentally and physically capable to handle the weapon you choose to own.  I believe in anyone of right mind to decide whats best for themselves without intervention of the government (abortion and euthanasia).  I believe in small government and that no one in my country should ever go without food.  I believe that we have more work then we are willing to do ourselves.  I believe the union for workers was a great idea but now hinders most business’s and cripples our local, state and federal government.  I believe that everyone in our great land should serve 2 years in some sort of program be it the military, peace corp or helping out in your own community in a legit program.  I believe anyone has the right to become a US citizen as long as they can serve 2 years, speak fluent English and pay their taxes.

I feel that the last 60 years of Federal dollars have been wasted without enough checks and balances requiring an undue burden upon the tax payer in America.  Federal waste during the 80′s was never accounted for.  Money spent for a “War” in Iraq the first time squandered on companies that are now set for life.  The money not spent to protect our troops during the first half of the second gulf war was criminal and everyone involved should be prosecuted to the highest level up to the death penalty.  The dollars spent on the work towards impeaching Nixon and Clinton were tax dollars wasted.  

I am not one to question the secret missions of the government with agencies like the CIA and FBI and who ever else.  If those dollars went to protect me I am ok with that.  I do question where those dollars where during the weeks leading up to 9/11?  I also question where the dollars where during the 90s leading up to the attack on US soil as I know it was not going into protecting the US Boarders.  You ask me how I know?  Well I worked on some of the oldest ships in the US Fleet.  So what you say?  Well I can tell you for a fact that dollars should have been spent protecting us not working to impeach a president that had some sex and may have had some family involvement in some bad real estate deals.

I love my Country to death.  I just wish we would open our eyes as a country and see that we have the right to choose who we vote for.  It does not have to be a Donkey or Elephant.  It can be the best person for the job.

Get rid of the two party idea in America as soon as you can.

Today I can only what it must be like to have that great idea. The venture capitalists are back at it and looking to find the next google or facebook or twitter. Lots of great small companies coming out of the wood work providing great tools. The one tool they do not have is history. I use to work for a small business who was looking to get big….they always looked at the big boys and swung the bat. They had over a .500 average but they lacked something and that thing was time. History was always an important factor in our success. Building on experience was our proven weapon of choice.

Being a great solid company in todays times is golden. To be a great solid company and move into a space that you are not known for takes balls. Yesterday Google made some large announcements about their cloud computing marketplace (http://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/home). This is a game changer as far as the leverage the small to medium company has today. The small guy in the garage can now compete with the big boys in the same sandbox. Small business can shop around for their best tools with little to no effort. They don’t have to be shoeboxed into some big product and spend a ton of money for it.

I am impressed by this showing from day one. I am impressed by the quality of tools available from big names and small names. Go and check them out and be impressed yourself. I want to thank all the people that are making the world of business for the little guy better. I am glad to work for a company on that list, I hope we are thinking like the guy in the garage.

I think its funny that I have quite a few friends that consider themselves Right leaning when it comes to politics. I also have quite a few friends that are left leaning as well.  What I don’t have many of is friends that are any thing but republicans or democrats.  I don’t consider myself either nor do I believe in the view of a true independent voter.  I am glad when people say they are a republican or democrat as regardless to being liberal or conservative I can identify you. 

The Independent voter is a republican or democrat just either afraid to admit it or likes likes on one side most of the time but likes what the other side has to say at any given time.  Thats wishy washy but thank god and the heavens our system of government allows for such things.  I could only imagine what would have happened to you during world war II in Poland if you said well the Jews are cool but I think I am going to go with the Nazi’s this time cause they talk a good game.  Of course it was a bit more complex then that but Freedom Fighters didn’t see it that way.  Nazi’s didn’t see it that way either but hey what ever right its ok to vote per annual tread I get that.

Almost every where else in the world the idea of political martyrdom is common place.  I am not saying that we as American’s need to reach that level but if the middle ground cared as much as the right or left it could come to that.  Of course we Americans have been there before many many times.  As recently as 50 years ago we were killing people for political ideas and vocalizing those opinions.  The fact is…the average American could care less unless it DIRECTLY affects them.  That means the IRS is at their door, someone wants to mess with their medicare, their unemployment runs out or some other life changing event pits them against one force or another.

Whats the point of this?  Good question!  The point is after years of listening to many many many people in my 36 years of life, I can honestly say I love America!  I can also honestly say I honor my country but those in my country men will never understand my political ideals.  Why you ask?  Its simple really, I believe that Americans fight every day to make this a more perfect union.  Many of them not sure what they fight for but fight anyway.  Most of them way to young to understand the complexities that make up our political system.  Many of them not understanding what it means to be a democrat or republican but take on those titles because of their parents.  Many of those people have lost their lives over the last 8 years and hundreds of thousands over the last 200+ years.  They like my fight and they like my over the course of their lifes will understand deeper what they fight for.  Oh yea back to the point sorry bout that.

What am I?  Right or left?  Democrat or Republican?  Bush or Obama, Palin or Clinton?  None of the above.  I believe that in due time that we will review the ideals of our fore fathers and understand the ideals of great words of Jefferson and Washington and Adams and Douglas (yea the black guy remember him) and Lincoln and all the other great theorists of this great experiment called Democracy and fall back in line.  I am for the ideals of state control with federal insight.  I am for the ideas that one part of our vast region can not sustain the whole of the rest of the parts of our Country.  I believe that the democratic process is broken and that we as Americans have forgotten that we don’t live in a 2 party country and that anyone with great ideas, ideals and fortitude can oversee this great land and all its individual parts.  Much like the Workers movements in America we stand together to get things done.  I believe that the Middle Class of America is the Working Class.  I believe that workers do and leaders lead and tween the two only meet to figure out what the worker wants.  I believe that the man or woman that works to live is the one that controls their dynasty.  I believe that small business is what man this land ours but I also feel that the sweat put into those small business’ has never been repaid.  Honest work for honest pay is a trademark of a great leader both giving and receiving.  To often in America hard work is not repaid to those that do the work only the ones that guide the work.

Quick side bar – I work for a company that allows me to both grow and rewards their employees for their actions to a point that I am honored to work where I do.  I also have stock in said company and have a vested interest in the well being of my employees, peers and management team.

To often I see the hard work go for not.  I see the sweat and tears of long hours return nothing more then a crap life and a drain on the emotional well being of those people.  Those are hard working people with special talents of some type.  I have seen their bosses drive 100k dollar cars while paying skilled workers well below their peers at other companies.  No vested interest in that company yet give 110% daily.  Some of my friends that do this is out of respect.  Some its to pay for food and others its to grow learns and understand so that they can become better business leaders in the future.

I guess I more then likely have clouded the subject more then cleared it up but I still fear lack of understanding for what I truly believe in.  I will just say I believe in America and always will regardless of which way the wind is blowing that day week or year.  Will quote the great Thomas Jefferson with this “There is a natural aristocracy among men. The grounds of this are virtue and talents.”