Running and Roseate Spoonbills...

We went for a run today around the university, and being as it's right in the middle of one of the busiest flyways in the country we saw some cool birds... including a Roseate Spoonbill. Like the Flamingo, the Roseate Spoonbill's pink color comes from the food it eats. Some of the crustaceans it eats feed on algae that give the spoonbill's feathers their rosy pink color. The other large bird in the picture is a Great Blue Heron... very common on the coast here.

Nijntje...

Playing in the grass and grooming herself as the kids clean her cage... how cute is she?!

And she's not a baby... she's a full-grown Netherlands Dwarf weighing 2.2 pounds!

40mph winds!

Well... winds in the 30's gusting to the 40's... no riding today!

Free Hugs

You Tube Video of the Year... 25,987,328 hits!:

"Sometimes, a hug is all what we need. Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whos sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.

In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witness is the true spirit of humanity come together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person..."

On the mound again!

Kees was called to pitch again and did a great job... they tied 11-11 and are now in second place!

We found Patrick!

As in Patrick Starfish from Spongebob Squarepants ;-)

First open water swim!

Kiersten's very first open water swim in the choppy, murky bay water, and it's blowing 20mph with some whitecaps ... and she thought it was "no big deal"!

I've done open water practices here with good pool swimmers and even navy pilots who think they can do it and then freak out once they realize that when their head is in the water they see nothing, and every time you come up for air the chop results in water pouring on your face and in your mouth... that's why one of us always follows the group with a lifeguard buoy, LOL!

She also LOVED her new DeSoto T1 wetsuit, and can't wait to do it again!

Wetsuit removal... or not ;-)

Here's a series of shots of Kiersten practicing coming out of the water and taking her wetsuit off... but she forgot to take off her cap and goggles so it wouldn't come off... she tried so hard and it wouldn't go so she ended up just laughing uncontrollably!

Happy Earth Day!

Open water swim #2

Today we did an open water swim in an area where there was a good current so Kiersten could work on sighting and swimming while fighting a current... Kees came along and decided to swim in the 72 degree water without a wetsuit (like me) ... they handled the current like it was no big deal and after about a mile of swimming wanted to stay in and swim/play some more!

They explored the marine life along the bulkheads and then we went to the beach for a bit before heading home.

On the mound!

This is Kees' first year in the majors so he's low man on the totem pole and we didn't think he'd get to pitch, but he was called up on Tuesday and did an outstanding job!

Custom bikes

There were some cool custom bikes at the race... check out the wood inlay in that headset!