I used my step ladder today. I don't get along with my real ladder.

Wouldn't you love to know the story behind this pic? How did he get up there? Has he injured anything? And if, as it appears, those are electrical lines, getting him down is going to be tricky.

Speaking of electrical lines...this truck driver threw a steel cable up and over the logs on his truck to secure them before driving out of the woods. Alas, that steel cable swung up and over the electrical line you see above the truck. He said the tires exploded almost immediately and then the truck and its load burst into flames. Oops.
We're coming down to the end of the Olympics and frankly, I'm ready for them to be done. I can't imagine what logarithm they used to decide what events to televise but it needs revision. I appreciate running, including the demands of the marathon. But it doesn't make for riveting television. Nor do soccer games or field hockey. We've seen very little track and virtually no field events - shot put, hammer throw, javelin, long jump, triple jump, pole vault.... Instead we get team rhythmic gymnastics?? Nothing that involves a ribbon qualifies as sport!

Did you hear about the Japanese member of their synchronized swimming team, Himromi Kobyashi, who nearly drowned? Seems she gets extremely nervous during competitions and passed out right after their routine ended. Two guys had to jump in to pull her out before she drowned. Several things puzzle me about this incident, including why it took two guys poolside to save her life. She's surrounded by teammates who are Olympic swimmers, and two guys have to jump in the pool to get her to safety??
Then there's the Cuban taekwondo competitor, Angel Matos, who was upset with the ref for disqualifying him after Matos exceeded the 60 seconds allowed for recovery from a knock-down. He got up, raged at the ref, then gave him the ref a really effective taekwondo kick to the head. Matos coach went on record as saying the ref deserved what he got.
Matos and his coach are banned for life from competition.

My mother thinks that my motorcycle riding is too risky. Imagine what these guy's mothers think!
Craziness

I had another good ride this morning. Going up the hill into Vistancia felt unusually difficult and I thought I'd probably cut some miles off my return route, but at the turnaround things got almost easy. Then I saw a large flag and realized that besides the incline I'd been battling a wind. Downhill with a tailwind is almost fun.
A couple of weeks ago I was about 10 miles into my ride when I hooked up with Otis. At our house afterward we exchanged phone numbers, and arranged to meet again this morning.
Otis is in his early 40's, was a 3-sport athlete in High School, and is about my height and probably weighs 200+ lbs. But that guy can climb! Otis is also a believer, and we've enjoyed good conversation.

I am impressed with Lisa Leslie. Her testimony after winning her fourth gold medal with our women's basketball team was gracious and sincere.

Tomorrow we're going to look at Habakkuk's example of honest prayer and deep faith. He's one of my favorite OT characters.
As we continue to grow it's fun to get to know new families. I look forward to Sunday mornings.
I hope you do, too.