8 posts from 2007

Geekbrief.tv is having a Christmas party tonight to celebrate Geoff's new Christmas Album.  I've been listening and watching it sense 8:30pm CST and I really didn't think it would be that great, being a virtual party and all, but to my great surprise, it's really Great!  Cali, isn't in the video, which is a bit of a disappointment, but I've have to say Geoff is doing such a good job she really isn't needed tonight.  She is in on the chat channel along with everyone else.

Geoff is on UStream.tv singing while playing his piano.  Were  looking at him from the side with a view of his piano and a Christmas tree in his home in the background. 

People are singing by typing in the words of the songs along with Geoff's singing on the chat channel. Requesting songs, and having a toast along with Geoff every now and then.  His dog made a cameo appearance and played the piano for a few seconds.  His wife ran out and picked him up a Christmas song book, which came in very handy. We even got to see their cat all decked out in a Christmas outfit.

People are twittering, and digging the link for party on dig. When I last checked it had 51 Diggs and it started out in the single digits.

It looks like they hit a max of around 330 viewers before 10 o'clock.  It's now 11:19pm and the party is still going solid.  Their down to about 220 viewers, but I'd have to say it's really worth staying up if you can.  He does a really good job of singing and taking requests for all kinds of songs, from Christmas to Queen to gospel songs. He does it all.

People watching and listening and chatting are twittering, and digging the link for the party on digg. When I last checked it had 51 diggs and it started out in the single digits.

Throughout the show Geoff has played the piano, banjo, and guitar and improvising with his own sounds where needed.  It's quite a lot of fun and very festive.  This beats TV any day in my opinion.

There is a link to iTunes where Geoff's new Christmas Album is up for sale for $4.95 and a button for tips for those so inclined.

Geoff played until about 12:30am CST, thats almost of four hours of great music for free.  He ended with Goodnight sweetheart it's time to go.

I'd have to say I'm glad I didn't miss this party.  Thank you Geoff, Cali and Neal, and everyone else involved, you made my night.

Hey, here's a kid from outside Portland in Milwaukie on Youtube that became famous.  You have to see it to believe it.  At first I thought they said Milwaukee, but after listening to it again and seeing the spelling I knew I was wrong.

Got this video from a tip from Veronica Belmont.

I just found this on youtube.com.   I  remember this video well.  Hope you like it.

I've finally uploaded the last of the Ragbrai 35, 2007 photos.  I hope to add comments or descriptions on some of them with time but, don't be surprised if I don't.  Ragbrai is done and I've moved on already.  Here's one of the recent photos I uploaded.

Go Army Team

Paul Klipstein

Please contact me if you read this.  I really would like to keep in touch with you.

Dale

This is just a quick post.  Will update later. 

Update.  OK, I have been uploading pictures that I took while on Ragbrai.  I still have lots more to upload.  I hope you like them.

Here's my post comments.

It was really great to have my sister on Ragbrai this year.  It was her first time so she didn't exactly know what to expect.  It was a bit harder that she had expected.  She said I tend to glamorize the ride a bit, but she still had a lot of fun. 

The last two days were a bit hilly and took a toll on Shari and me.  I wasn't able to train for hills because I tore a tenon in my foot before the ride, but I was still able to ride my bike.  It would of taken a lot to keep me from going on Ragbrai.

Shari was a little slow, but that is to be expected.  I was also slow on my first Ragbrai.   When your a little slow you tend to come into the last town a little later, which cuts into your rest time and entertainment time.  I think it also wears you out more in that you spend more time on the bike.  So what usually happened is we would come into town a little late, get our bags, set up camp, make calls to home and friends, find something to eat, shower and if there was any time left we would chat a bit and than hit the hay for the next day, because we were worn out from the long ride that day.  Somehow we managed to find time to explore a bit and when ever possible get on the internet and send a couple of e-mails.

We got up every day at 5:30 am.

Friday,  was party night and boy did we party.  We listen, danced and jumped to two live bands. I made friends with a couple of Miller girls and guys, and in return they gave me a couple of free beers.  I tried to win the Miller Lite team bus in a raffle, but alas someone else took that big thing home.  I could be heard saying what am I going to do if I win that bus?

We had sunny hot 90 plus degree weather every day, with one night of rain.  Suntan lotion was a constant companion for Lynn and Shari.   I only used it minimally and then a little more after a couple of days.  My tan was getting burnt after a couple of days.  By the end of the ride it was hard to stand out in the sun and we would always seek shade wherever possible.

Other than Friday night, I think our best time was when we rode through Amish country were we took some time to eat ice cream, root beer floats, and take a horse and buggy ride.  It was also interested to see how they lived from a little closer view point.  There are no pictures from that area, because we choose to respect their right not to have their pictures taken.  We also got to see a little boy high on a hay wagon controlling the horses while an adult or father gathered the hay and through it up on the wagon.  One think I noted is there were a lot of little children and that the Amish people that I met didn't talk much.  

Throughout most of the ride Shari, could be heard saying "And why would I want to come back again next year?"

I hope she found her answer. 

As far as next year goes I plan to take a vacation with my wife.  It would probably take a lot of prodding for me to change my mind. 

Finish - Ragbrai 35 2007

Ok, it's time for an update.

Friday, Shari and I rode to Cedar Rapids, IA.  We arrived at Lynn's sometime near midnight.  We chatted a bit and then hit the sack by 1 am. 

Saturday,  I awoke at 5:30 am to the loud sound of someone talking on a family radio.  Lynn, forgot to turn it off last night after showing me it didn't work right.  Needless to say I was hoping to get a little more sleep.  I didn't sleep that well anyway, because I wasn't used to the high pitch wine his air conditioning made.

Shari and I ran out to get something for breakfast at McDonalds, Carol went to buy her new Harry Potter book, and Lynn ran out to buy a used bike for parts to fix his bike.

I think we finally got on the road about 11:00 am.  The drive was a long 5 and 1/2 hours with not stop for food, just snacks and restroom.

I don't have much time as this is cutting into my sleep time so I am being brief.

We tried to sell Shari's week long pass to no avail.  People just weren't buying.

Sunday,  up at 5:30 and on the road with our bikes by 6:50 am.  We were riding from Rock Rapids to Spencer.
75.7 miles.  The weather was really good and the ride went pretty good.  Shari, being a little more tired than the rest of us.  We hit the sack by 10:30 pm

Monday,  up again at 5:30 and on the road by 7:15 am.  We spend extra time filling tires and fixing a bad tube on Lynn's bike.   This time we were all a bit grougey in the morning, but we put it aside and headed for Humbolt, IA.