Let's be honest...we like pictures, right?

The whole point of "creating" a blog was because I though people might like it if they had the opportunity to read what I write.  And let me tell you....at least 5 people have told me they enjoy reading this.  Sure, that may have been over a long period of time (10ish years), but nonetheless, I thought it was important that I continue to write.  That was about 2 years ago.  Actually, I wrote my last piece in June, 2010.  I had pretty much relegated this blog to the basement archives of my Internet footprint, when a few things in my life changed that lead to its re-birth. 

1) I got a girlfriend.  She moved to Denver-  Before she left she started a blog and said I should write on mine and she could write on hers and we could communicate that way.  And while It hasn't completely worked out as a real tool for us to maintain our relationship, it has lead to a renewed for me to communicate with the rest of the world...via me writing, and then crossing my fingers to hope people will read. 



This is Hannah.  And maybe i am a little bit strange, but to me noting is more sexy than a woman on roof that she built herself, while wearing grey and khaki.  Well, ok...maybe if she had a real toolbelt instead of a nail apron, that would be better.  No worries.  that problem will be solved in a few days.

 2) I discovered the page view analytic- So, apparently, blogger is a bit like Santa, in that it knows when you're sleeping, knows when you're awake, and it knows what blogs you are reading and keeps track of that.  So, as a blog writer, I can go to the blogger dashboard and look and see how many people have viewed my page.  And let me tell you...if feels so good to see that graph spike upward when I post something new.  So, tell all your friends.  Make more friends, then tell those friends.  As for me, I will be sitting here, pressing refresh, waiting, and getting immediately excited the moment it goes up (or sinking deep into a malaise if nobody "views" the page.  that's right, you don't even have to read!  just "view."  i wont know the difference....unless....you comment!)

3) I got an iphone-  now I take all these extra pictures and I need to outlet for posting and writing about them.  Facebook is just too short to do that and my pics are just too many.  So, i am going to post them here and answer all the questions that might arise. 

Which leads me to my title.  Maybe y'all just want to see pictures and not have to wade through my prose?  For now, I am going to assume your silence is a yes.  Prepare to be 1000-worded!




This is Jahkeem.  He is my Little Brother.  (make note of the capitalisation)  Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters hosts a gathering at the Discovery Place.  This year, they gave us these nice white shirts with blue lettering.  Somewhere in the BBBS promo material, there is a picture of ALL of us wearing the same shirt.



Like I said....white shirts....we all got 'em. 





"My girlfriend joined AmeriCorps and all I got was her crockpot..."





"...which I then filled with chicken, sweet potatoes, regular potatoes, kale..."



"....and chick peas, red beans, onions, and Siracha.  It was good.  What were we talking about?"



For the month of December, I have taken "off."  This means none of the hard physicality of Jiu-Jitsu.  Yep.  Nothing but laying on the couch, over-eating, drinking egg nog, hot yoga, cycling at least twice a week (road and mountain), and 6 am MMA Circuits that require hand wraps so I can punch harder.  Ah the leisure of December.

 



Its been at least 4.5 minutes since I mentioned Hannah in speech, so let me go ahead and talk a bit about her.  She is just finishing up working with San Antonio Habitat for Humanity...or HFHSA as we call it in the biz.  As a way of showing thanks, they made out engraved plaques for all the Sun 1 team.  Super nice of the HFH crew down there. 



While I of course cant escape thinking about her, she apparently cant get away from me either...since all the world is plumbed with PVC made here in Queen city.

Ahhh...the season is upon us.  Christmas lights are decorated everywhere.  My house projects are all wrapping up.  And we have already celebrated Festivus with its many toiletries and candies.  It wont be long now.  So excited to have a bunch of the people I consider to be family coming to see me.  So excited for warm nights by the fireplace.  So excited to just generally laze about and do whatever comes to mind with people and food and drink. 

I hope this reaches all of you with Happy hearts and warm tidings.  Hold tight to the ones you love.  and get ready for more pictures ending out the year and into the new one.

Will DAlen Rice

XOXOX to everyone

From BoingBoing

Gravity Light

http://boingboing.net/2012/12/12/gravity-powered-lights-cheape.html

This is so cool.  Something along this same concept line was going to be part of the power plant gym, whereby a person would run up a flight of stairs with the weight, deposit it onto the line, which upon descent would crank a generator.  Then, you run back down the stairs, retrieve the weight, and start over.

This idea is way better.  Fund it if you can.

be great

December it is...or as some call it...Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!  yes...it is that time.  The month-long event we call Christmas.  Or, as some of you will be happy to refer to it... NOT Movember.  I have shaved, and now have regained my youthful, non-creepish-ly '70s, face.  Stay tuned for next year, in the 11th month, when my mustache will return!

no mustache!

One last note about the end of November.  I am grateful for thanksgiving, when we are reminded to be thankful.  This time also coincides with the thing I am most thankful for, so, it should be easy for me to remember.  For about 25 years ago, Hannah Raines was born.  And although I didn't meet her until about 21 years after she was born, it has been pretty awesome having her in my life, both as a friend and as the woman i love.  Its been about 3 or 4 years, and I hope it will be many more. 

Also no mustache! (now with a crown!)




Thanks to the internet, I can figure out where there is a local bakery no matter where she goes.  And everyone loves cupcakes...especially on their birthday.



Cake...AmeriCorps Style (from her TL)

So, now, its December.  This means slow times, cold weather, and eating.  I have been eating so much junk.  This would normally be a problem, but I am not training this month.  Which means... friendship bracelet time.  I wouldn't really be able to wear a bracelet while training since it might get caught on someone's finger or something.  And although I have been itching to get it on (Hannah made it for me...twice!), I am not in a hurry to remove a training partners finger.  Imagine the bleeding!

Two of my most important reminders. 

December also means Men's Shelter.  The first Friday of every month, I end up at the Uptown Men's Shelter.  We cook and feed about 300-400 men.  They know when they see Beth walking in, that the food is going to be good.  All the smiling and warm hearts of Holy Comforter Episcopal come out and cook up a storm.  Occasionally, they even get some bonus items when we are around.

Doritoes and TicTacs.  Score!

Not too much longer for Christmas...for real Christmas.  In an effort to make time go by, "Operation Keep Busy" is in full effect.  Justin and I went off to the woods this weekend.  It was nice to be out in the middle of nowhere.  We encountered some rain, some cold, much wind, and a general bleak calm and quietness that really resets the soul.  Now my room smells a bit like a used REI, but no matter.  Everything dries in time. 

In case I don't see you.  Merry New Year, Happy Christmas, and blessings to you in whatever form they may take. 

Some Miscellany:



Yep...L-shaped carrot.  Tastes the same.



Little did I know how important this would be to my relationship



Hannah claims in her most recent blog post that I am "doting."  could have something to do with this little bit of voodoo she has done on me.
http://hannahmraines.wordpress.com/posts-are-here/



I guess i got my own little bit of voodoo too though.  Here is a sewer cleanout cap made in Charlotte...which she came across in San Antonio at her Habitat site.  There's no escaping thought of me.