Even after he swung off his bike it felt like he was still riding. The wind off the ocean was up today and it was blustery enough to keep his hair pinned back as he walked towards the Windmill’s surf-side entranceway. Stone took a deep breath of the salty air before pushing open the door.

The staff working behind the counter looked up at the door chime and immediately went back to what they were doing. A tall guy, young, Stone thought his name might be Josh, asked him, “The usual?” to which Stone simply replied with a nod. He was a well-known quantity now, at least here. He’d brought just about everybody on the team here at one point or another and it was also his favorite place to go and think, but that’s not why he was there today.

August 6, 7:45PM

Ahhhhh.

I crushed it at work yesterday so I could coast today, but it still turned out to be a busy day.  Didn't stop me from bailing at 3:00 PM.  I beat the Shore traffic home and took the family to Barnacle Bill's.  No lie, they have the best cheddar burger anywhere.  I'm going to have to remember to take Vic there when he visits.

Got home and donned the swim wear.  All four of us - me, Chris, and the girls - spent some time in the pool relaxing.  Emerson swam without her floatie! First time!  You go, girl!

Kids will be in bed soon and then it's mojito time with my wife.  *waggles eyebrows*

The opening music to the television coverage of Cubs-Diamondbacks game floated across the living room.  Joe had three job interviews this week and even though they weren't construction jobs he'd felt so good about it that he'd splurged on a pizza and a six-pack for the four-thirty game. 

The open beer sat on the endtable next to the couch, nestled on a coaster.  The pizza box was open on the low coffee table between the couch and the television stand and a slice was steaming delightedly on a paper plate in his hand.  The Star Spangled Banner was playing.  Joe was happy.

"Did the game start yet?"  Heather walked through the living room on her way from her bedroom to the kitchen.

The coffee machine hissed and gurgled as it went about its business, the sound and smell of fresh coffee welcoming the slanting rays of early morning sunlight that slipped through the window over the sink and splashed across the flowery print on Heather Grasso's dress.  The tween girl placed a delicate hand over her mouth as she yawned, pausing in the act of fetching a large navy blue mug from the cupboard.

Monday, February 15, 2:49 PM PST

It's a long story.

Mayhaps you noted the time zone above.  That's right, I'm in California. 

My mother-in-law, bless her heart, turns 70 in a day or so -I don't know the exact birthday.  To mark the occasion she insisted that the entire family go on vacation together to their time share out in Newport Beach, California.  You see, my brother-in-law lives out here and they visit him often enough that they bought the place, and so on. 

I'm not sure how many people here are planning on taking a look at Champions Online, but I've spent some hours in the open beta and have been kicking it around with the guys in my face-to-face game.  For the benefit of anyone interested, here's a compilation of my posts in that forum.  It should give you an idea about the game and certainly a place to ask questions if you're curious.

Wednesday, August 19

July 31, 7:12 PM

As of right this second, I am on vacation!  Can I get a whut-whut!

I gots me a house on the beach.  I gots me a big cooler.  I gots me a really nice beach chair.  I gots me a golf tournament involving four days of golf and booze and whut-whut.  But that's not until tomorrow.

For right this moment, I have a perfectly-poured gibson.  And that's enough.

Oooop!  Chinese food's at the door!  I've got to go!