However, this time I drove up with Cashmir. The 13 hour drive was miserable and exhausting...
...but ultimately well worth it!
Tikki
Damsel and Lego are such sweethearts.
Got to meet the super cute Lass.
Photo bombing with SoBelle.
Leilee's Tennessee accent was so adorable!
Remi. And let's just say her awesomeness rubs off!
Entered my arm in the sleeve competition. (But didn't place.
)
Who knew sharing an Oyster Rockefeller with Ryker at dinner got me a new best friend!
Of all the first time meetings this weekend, Toxic is a riot!
I can always tell it was a good night when I think it's a good idea to walk the 10 miles back to my hotel.
Didn't call it a night until 5:30am.
Even still, helped Cashmir met movers at her storage unit early on Sunday.
And had fun in the process.
But later, we stopped by Hell City once more just long enough to say our farewells before getting back on the road.
All the while thinking...
Because I missed this:
But as always, it was great to meet new people and hang with everyone again. But two days just wasn't enough time!
I ran Tough Mudder on Sunday. I hadn't done one of these runs since Dallas 2012.
For those who haven't heard of it, an intro:
Now I've been doing a lot of mud runs lately, but this one... This one was a real challenge!
The course always starts by gathering in front of the starting line with chanting, motivational speeches, story telling of cancer survivers and wounded veterans, the national anthem, and finally reciting the Tough Mudder pledge:
Notice how clean we are at the start. HA!
I'm still on the hunt for good video editing software so I can put a video together of the whole thing. In the mean time, I give you the "Electric Eel"!
We had to crawl under this obstacle which had hanging wires carrying up to 10,000 volts of electricity! My first jolt was super weak and misleading, so I started crawling fast and unafraid... MISTAKE!
I got at least three fully charged jolts that made my whole back spasm! It felt like my shoulders high five'd each other behind me, very suddenly and without consulting me first... 
My two new buddies and I completed the 11 mile course in 2 hours 49 minutes. I had never run that far before so by the time I got home that evening, it hurt to walk!
Overall, it was a blast and I can't wait to do another!
I've got all this video of skydives, motorcycle rides and mud runs that I want to do something with. But all I can do for now is take screen shots of all the action.
Anywho, screen shots of this weekend's run:
It was only 3.2 miles and I finished in 43:53. Good enough for 15th place (out of 102). I'm happy with that considering I wasn't running for time.
I also learned that GoPros are prone to overheating. I only got a little over half of the course on camera before it shut itself off. 
I've got another run this weekend so hopefully I get the problem solved by then.
So the biggest news, and reason for my lack of updating, is that I've moved into a new apartment. A 1BR with a good amount of space, but more importantly... It's all mine!
I can't seem to get the WiFi working to save my life though. So I'm hard lining it...
St Patty's Day weekend was a big one. It was also the last weekend of Bike Week Daytona. I rode down with some friends. Some I've known for a while, some I just met. So I slapped the GoPro to the bike and we were off!
This is Dave and Patti:
I rode back to Jacksonville solo while they and everyone else stayed. Shortly after I got comfy on the couch, I got a text to let me know that Dave and Patti had gotten into a accident on their bike. Nothing too serious, but Dave needed surgical pins put in to fix a broken tibia. I'm just going by what I was told. Thankfully though, it wasn't worse.
The very next day was St Patty's and I went out with friends. But, like people who had work the next day, I took it easy. Even though the only thing I had the next day was go to the gym.
I couldn't help but think back to last year's St Patty's celebration in Columbus, OH. Felt all warm and fuzzy knowing it had been a full year since meeting many of you fine people. (And all you weirdos too!) 
Lastly, I ran a mud run the other day for the first time in nearly a year.
Not only are they a blast, they're usually for a good cause. In this case, multiple sclerosis...
Well, I've caught the bug big time! I've looked up all the mud runs within three state for the next month and a half. I've already signed up for the next two weekends.
I just wish I could get friends to join me! To them, I say...
Congrats! You're all updated on all things Zale! Yay!
Here, have a cookie:
I received an email last week from one of the companies that has me waiting around until they officially hire. Basically, it said I could leave for Israel by the end of the month. Yay!
Although, that means I'll be missing:
and what will finally be coming to town in May:
So hopefully all you couples out there had a good Valentine's. Personally, this holiday is one reason why I enjoy being single.
And to you gentlemen, I trust you heeded the advice of my boy, The Genie:
I went to a Die Hard move marathon the other day. $25 to see all five movies... 10+ hours of Yippee Ki Yay?!?! Hell yeah!
Lastly, in case you missed my last blog, there's a little contest I'm doing there.
Fin.
Additionally, I've been pondering what I should do with the "earnings" of my recently filled coin jar...
(banana for scale. lol)
And having returned from yet another SOLO trip abroad, I thought "why not let a friend join in the adventure this year?!"
So guess the amount in the jar/oversized beer bottle and win the amount within to join me on this year's trip!
Rules:
1) Closest guess wins.
2) Guess must be posted to THIS blog.
3) Should the winner not be able to make the trip, runners up will be awarded.
I haven't decided the destination for this New Years yet, but my trips are always open invite. So even if not the winner, all are welcome.
Good luck!
You bet your ass I took the bike out!
As you can see, I also experimented with the GoPro too.
Overall, a great ride. And I got the sun to prove it.
I was still working security at the embassy in Afghanistan at the start of 2012, but my three weeks of down time lined up just right, so I went to Jamaica to ring it in.
Jan- Feb:
-Vacation over... Back to Afghanistan for another 9 weeks. It was chilly.
March:
-SG St Patty's Party, OH. It was my first day back in the country and I don't think I could've had more fun. Been on this site since 2005, but this was my first ever SG event and it was great meeting everyone.
-Shortly after I got home from the party, my girl and I broke up after nearly a year together. We both knew it was coming. It was complicated...
April:
-Ran Tough Mudder Dallas. It was a 12 mile mud run/obstacle course and was exhausting but a hell of a good time!
-After wanting to do it nearly my whole life, I finally got certified to skydive and still just regularly with this guy:
April- June:
-Last rotation in Afghanistan. As the contract drew to a close, the bullshit went into overdrive and I began to wonder if I was gonna be able to take it. Your shoes are dirty? FIRED! Wanna take a smoke break in uniform? FIRED! Fuck I hate politics!
June:
-Home just in time to help my little brother celebrate his 21st Birthday.
The next few months were spent just enjoying my time off waiting for my next contract to start.
October:
-I didn't expect to be home long enough to see Halloween, but since I was and it was the first one I've been home for in 8 years, I went BIG!
November:
-Went to the SG Columbus Halloween Party. The party was a blast, I saw some familiar faces and met new people too.
-The best part of the weekend, however, was getting to perv on Delia's and Shipwreck's Zivity shoots with Sobelle and Amarena.
-I also start using Instagram again for the first time in over a year.
Also throughout the year:
-Started my sleeve in January. About 27 hours over 8 sessions with the finally session in October.
-Some loss too... My Nana passed this Thanksgiving after a long fight with heart trouble. And earlier this year a Navy SEAL friend and fellow contractor was shot and killed.
AND FINALLY!!! My NYE celebration in London:
For the past nine years I've celebrated New Years Eve in a different country. It's a tradition that started coincidentally but I've managed to keep alive.
I'm not a fan of tourist type stuff but I would just happen across the most iconic London sights just walking around.
Here's to a great 2013!
Shot up to Columbus for the weekend to attend the SGOH Christmas party. The turnout wasn't as expected, but had a good time as always.
It was 80s themed!
I was excited when Damsel and Dimples showed up as colorful as I was. Everyone else seemed to go with the 80s rock look.
I didn't get to talk to to them much at the Halloween party, but Kewpie and Ash were a riot! I kept getting my suspenders slapped!
Spent the next day strolling around downtown. After wandering a few miles, I found myself on High St and thought "I know this place"!
Although this was my first time finding a concrete sofa.
Next adventure: NYE London!
