Some fun facts about the Eisenhower Interstate System.

Happy Birthday Mom! We had a great time coming up for her birthday party this past weekend, as well as the Hatfield Pignic at Hershey Park.

"We took an early lead last night and never relinquished it, as we won 16-9 on a statistically mind-boggling 21 for 34 with 2 doubles, 5 triples, and one inside-the-park homer, plus 5 sacrifice flies. Thanks to the subs who played, and especially to Marc Siegel, who stopped a bad hop at third with his left cheek bone!" -Michael Whisenhunt

I think that's a better writeup than I did!

What an action-packed night of sports I had! I started things off with the Thursday beginner's road ride at Cycling Spoken Here. It was a 28 mile ride over about 1:50. The low-light was after we crested a huge hill and were "spinning" to rest. The cyclist in front of me asked me to look for something on his wheel ... unfortunately I could hardly hear or see what he was talking about, and I basically fell over while looking. Brought the group to a halt, but no injuries or damage, except to my pride!

The ride finished at 7:50, so I had to hightail it back to RTP for my 8:30 softball game. I got there when the second batter was at the plate -- pretty good timing! I even had some fortune at the plate, partly due to the right fielder playing too close to center and partly from me hitting deep balls very close to the right field line. I managed a home run and a triple before they wised up and shut me down. The unfortunate part of the night was when a groundball took a nasty hop and hit teammate Marc in the eye, dislodging his glasses and giving him a nice welt, which is probably a black eye by now. In the end, we won 16-9. My line: 2-4, 3B, HR, 2RBI, 2R.

This video contains the funniest antics from a baseball manager getting tossed from a game.

with an Ecnonomic Analysis of Toilet Seat Position!

This has been an exciting week for Cary wildlife... first, I discovered a two-foot-long black snake in the strawberry patch, and then there was a twelve inch turtle on the netting in our pond! Fortunately there were no marine casualties.

I went on another group cycling ride this morning. In the beginning, I was feeling pretty good. As the ride went along, I stayed with the leaders, without realizing that the middle and back of the pack were quickly falling back. Nonetheless, I was feeling pretty good in the pace-line, taking my occasional turn at the front. Then we hit a giant hill, and I started dropping off as well. For a few miles, I could still see the leaders and followed from a distance. Eventually I lost sight of them, and I had that feeling -- I'm not in Apex anymore! Rounding a corner, I found two bikers, but not from my group. Turns out they were also going to Apex, although by a different route. They helped me get about a mile from the bike shop, then I stopped at a gas station for the remaining directions. Overall I still had a good ride, doing about 23 miles in 1:23. I guess I learned a valuable lesson -- stay with the middle people!

Our bats were light tonight, but we prevailed 7-2 in a defensive thriller. I had a rare good day in the field with four outfield catches. Got gunned down once at home plate on a perfect throw, but I made up for it with a first-to-home effort (uh, suuuure I touched second base...) late in the game. My line: 2-3, R.

Watch the Robot Chicken Star Wars Special Trailer on YouTube -- funny stuff!