Baby Back Ribs

Everyone loves them, so how do you eat them. I'll tell you my way: I am right handed so I pick up the rib with my left thumb and index finger, eat 1/2 then lay it down, switch ends and eat the rest. I don't wipe my 2 fingers off until all the ribs are finished. My right hand is always clean to drink and use my fork. Seems Simple right! Now here come my best friends and very closest dear relative, who insist I do it wrong. They will only pick up this 3 to 4 inch rib with both hands and start eating in the middle. After 1 bite they have BBQ sauce on each cheek, elbows dragging in their plate, and both hands a mess. I am then asked to pass more napkins since I have the only clean hand at the table. Now this intelligent lot have sticky fingers, BBQ sauce in each ear, baked beans on their elbows, and that's not the worst of it. Since they can't tell the end of the rib from their filthy hands, someone always screams as they bite down on one of their own fingers. So there I sit alone at the table while everyone else is either washing in the sink, taking a shower, or taping up their bleeding fingers. I'm not saying that my way is the right way to eat ribs....I'm saying it's the only way. Neither me, or one of these highly intelligent people that I know, would hold a hot dog on each end and start eating in the middle. So why does the brain shut down when they start eating ribs. Please, can anyone explain this for me?

Valentines Day

I found a wonderful Mexican Restaurant to celebrate Valentines day with my bride here in Dubai. We even had a waiter who made fresh guacamole at our table. Here are sights on the beach in front of our hotel. There's just something about the sun and salt water that we just can't get enough of, now that we are back in the cold UK. This holiday was a 7 hour flight for us from London Heathrow, and a great break for us both.

The Dubai Mall

The Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the World with over 1000 stores and shops. This is a city full of malls attracting the many tourists even in the hot summers which reach 50 C, or 120-130 degrees. The Emirates Mall has this indoor ski hill that I had to see to believe. The Dirham is the local currency which is about 5 dirhams to 1 English pound. There are only 3 coins which is a 1, 50, and 25.

The Burj Al Arab

Looking like a large sail, the Burj Al Arab is a good example of the incredible architecture here in Dubai. I believe that every architect here tries to one-up the most bazaar designs. I love to see these wild building ideas and wonder how they even stand up. It is sad to see many of these large construction projects stopped because of the economic downturn, the same as I also see in the UK and the US.

The Burj Khalifa

The recently completed Burj Khalifa is the World's tallest building. At 2700 ft high and 160 stories, it makes our 22 nd floor flat seem like ground level. My first parachute jump was 2800 feet, so this building is way up there. It has 59 elevators, can you believe it. I sure was disappointed that the building was closed for repairs, so we weren't able to go up to the observation level on the 124 th floor. I got a friendly Arab man to lay on the ground to take this picture for us, and I got one for him also.

Dubai

Dubai is located on the Arabian Peninsula south of the Persian Gulf. It is one of the seven Emirates called the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Dubai was built with oil industry profits but now main revenues come from tourism and financial services. Here is a satellite picture of the famous man-made Palm Island with a red dot where we stayed. Also are two photos of our hotel and our ocean view. I wasn't able to post on this blog while in the Arab Country. With our internet connection provided by the hotel, this blog was converted to the Arabic language so I couldn't figure it out.

Oldies--Everybody Races

Here at a 1988 Apple Blossom Race is Me with son Brent, on my left and Cousin Jason Wilsey in the red. Julie's taking the photo. This was Brooke's first race at 7 months. Middle photo is Brent and I after a race in 1990. Julie and I always tried to involve the whole family when we traveled to numerous races in the Pacific Northwest. We always felt that this bit of competition could give our kids another edge. These races sure taught me a lot about life. When your coming down to the wire in the pack and you're hurting, you gotta find a way to break out. It's always there, and to hold back and settle for just average, is absolute crap! We both believe that setting high goals makes it more possible, and is the only way to reach them. Whether you enter the race, or go to your daily job,,,,their both the same, Take some pride and do the best you possibly can.

Oldies Team Races

These team and relay events were always a great way to make friends. Usually they brought out the best performances in people. Here are my two favorite team races out of many.The Hood to Coast relay in Oregon was high on my favorite list. Here we lived together in vans for 24 hours, always traveling to get the next runner to his starting point. With around 800 teams it was always a mad-house. The relay in Bend Oregon was one that I've been on two winning teams, competing against close to 1000 entries. These were just too much fun.

Ridge to River 1980's

More boring oldies out of the scrap book. In the 80's I lived for these races, trained hard and had a lot of fun. Here is 1984 photo of my first Iron man event with my wife Julie, (Mark Shipman in the gray jacket). Julie's support made it possible for me to train year round and be competitive for over 12 years. I'm not going to run a mile under 5 minutes again, but instead I'm working at pushing 60. I get to the gym 4 days a week, as we all should get our exercise.

Dirt Bike Racing

Here are some old photos that aren't very good. These were shots taken at Mattawa Washington in 1974. This was a 100 mile desert race that I did as a team, with Glen White of Wenatchee. (on the left). I raced this 250 Husquvarna hard for 2 years before quiting. The helmet kept messing up my hair. Nothing like getting out and playing in the dirt.

Early 70's Hot Rod Days

Here is a few scrapbook pics in my early 20's. From 1970 -74 I got the racing bug and found out how to win and loose. I've always loved a good race but wasn't a very good looser. I bought this 1970 Boss 302 Mustang new, for $3800 and sold it for $2000 1n 1974. The Corvette was a 1969 t Top, 427--435 horse. I paid $3200 for it and sold it for $6000 in 2 years. I could get it to 140 mph.

Julie 30 years ago

This is where the competitive spirit started, and it's still there. From 1977 to 1980, while other high school grads went on to college, Julie got her education here racing in a man's world. She reached # 2 on the list of British Columbia's leading jockey's. Still with no formal college education, she manages half of Barclays retail branches here in London. Amazing! Second picture, Julie is far right. I decided to post some old albums that we have in the box and let you'all know some history about us. We met in 1980 in Wenatchee Washington, and married in 1983. You have to click on these pics to see the large version.