Inline Prep & Snapper Day!

Worked with my ex-coworker and good friend Carey today setting up for the Inline Marathon tomorrow. The work is a bit physical, but it feels good to do that after sitting all week at work and doing homework. We were fed pizza for lunch from Pizza Luce too! Here are a few (mobile phone) pics of the progress:

Loaded up the truck with scaffolding 9am at Jamar

Outside the DECC along side the William A. Irving - the Inline Marathon Finish Line Area

The truck arrives as do the other workers to set up.

Truck unloaded, the motley crew waits for their next directions.

Notice how nicely we stacked the scaffolding parts for ease of assembly.

All through the late morning and just after lunch idiots kept trying to drive through the blocked off area, totally ignoring the blockades and even getting out of their cars to move them aside. *Shakes head & fists* If you look past the worker on the right and above, you can see the two gigantic motor homes - each towing cars, driving by two clueless old guys looking for an RV park. (one is part way around the corner in front of the Irving.) Some people were VERY rude to us, even in the light of their own IGNORANCE. Later a cop came by and said she finally had blocked off the road by the Aquarium as it should be for events such as this (I kept saying earlier they usually block the road there to eliminate any access behind the deck - but no one seemed to listen, so there was a constant parade of people who thought in spite of the ROAD CLOSED signs that they were not meant for them and could drive through. Sheesh.

Of course, my beast (black car below on the left) is an "Official Inline Vehicle" and I have the pass to prove it!

All done for today, the barricade fencing in place, in the distance the scaffolding is up as well as the 40ft cross plank for the finish line. More pics tomorrow when we add the banners.

After work, I took a run up the hill to meet George from Fabian Seafood to grab a couple of Red Snapper. The woman in front of me took the two smallest looking fish, but while she settled her bill, I had a bit of a dig in the cooler and as luck would have it I found two more small-ish fish. They weighed approximately 3lbs and at $8.50/lb came to $29.75. A bit expensive, but a well deserved treat. I'm worth it. (I'll have to save one for a future dinner with my friend, as we love to share a good meal of fish.) It's not like we can get them here in MN, not even at the grocery, and Fabian Seafood brings them up fresh, not frozen, packed on ice. Thanks George.

My friend George called today inquiring about a walk, and as much as I wanted to go, I needed the money more. Maybe on Sunday.

On my way home, I noticed my friend's board was gone, and with the wind we're having, there must be some decent waves - I'd love to go take a run to watch, knowing he's there, but I have to write an essay due tomorrow night, and with work starting at 4:30a tomorrow, that would make me quite tired to leave the paper until late afternoon. I hope he's having fun and my thoughts are with him. One day I hope to have a swim and a surf (lesson) with him. Until then, ¡Abrazos mi amigo!