Happy Birthday

For little Gert. Who's not so little anymore. She's seven today.

There are few songs that make me think of Gert more than this. It's an awful video, but every time I hear it I get nostalgic and all teary.

The Stephen Malkmus School of Dance

And I was there.

Yes, you too can dance like Stephen Malkmus. Learn the pigeon toe jump! The stiff-legged wobble! The arm twitch! The backwards wiggle-walk! The off-rhythm, arms-in-the-air-but-still-kind-of-care! The droop-armed run in place! The squat and nod! And, for a limited time, the down-low/up-high hand wipe.

(Side note: great show. Loud, rocking and weird.)

On the Road Again

Finally got to edit some of the video from our summer vacation. Will make others soon. Here's a montage (yes montage, I like them) of us traveling from home to the cabin.


Driving to the Smokies: St. Louis to Townsend from Gary O'Brien on Vimeo.

Not Posting

I know, not posting. Just do not have time to sit down and write.

But this...this is important. You see, we blocked out July 25th through August 1st as our vacation. The plan is, no matter where we go, to be driving there on the 25th.

I can't do it now. Mont Ventoux on the penultimate stage! There is no possible way I can miss that. That may very well decide the tour on a mountain top finish. On the freaking Ventoux.

Hope the kids understand...

Ugh

My throat feels like I swallowed the shag rug from Robert Evans' swank pad after an orgy around the hookah.

Add to that the fact that I'm under an intense deadline and that Gert has been up the past two nights puking, and you have me right now. I'm exhausted, feel like crap and haven't slept well for the last few days. I'm plugging my way toward my deadlines while I'd much rather be asleep while I wait for the scream of urgency from the next room signaling another round of Captain Vomit reporting to duty.

Send help.

And a haz mat suit.

Sad Little Gert

As if having a broken arm weren't enough, poor Gert is reeling over a friend moving out of the neighborhood. It seems that there were some issues at home and mom and at least one of the daughters moved out.

Gert tells me they are currently living in a "compartment" with the number 2 something.

Tour of Missouri Update

Still on the road. Seeing the start of today's race and heading home to a puking, one-armed daughter and a tired wife.

Highlights were the entire time trial, which was great. Driving through Ft. Leonard Wood, watching the race split apart in Stage 4 on the King of the Mountains climb on highway J with a 12% climb. I believe I got the video of the exact moment the winning break broke off from the main pack. And I saw Kayle Leogrande come struggling up the climb five minutes after the pack and eventually climb into the broom wagon. The finish in Rolla was great as well. In fact, my brother-in-law's head and my hand and hat bill are on the far left bottom of this photo. Darby is the one hanging over the barrier and my camera is sitting above his left ear.

Untagged video and photos here.