74.31 minutes, 14.92 miles, average speed 12.0 mph, top speed 27.0 miles.
Home, neighborhood, out to Massasoit State Park, couple laps on the cranberry trail, back.
Cycling Diary: 4/9/05
Cycling Diary: 4/8/05
38.35 minutes, 8.14 miles, 12.6 mph average speed, 18.9 mph top speed.
Shorter ride today as was up at 3:30am for the Pope’s funeral, took a nap, and generally exhausted from longer ride yesterday. 15 miles or bust tomorrow.
In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum
As the end of my life approaches I return with my memory to the beginning, to my parents, to my brother, to the sister (I never knew because she died before my birth), to the parish in Wadowice, where I was baptized, to that city I love, to my peers, friends from elementary school, high school and the university, up to the time of the occupation when I was a worker, and then in the parish of Niegowic, then St. Florian’s in Krakow, to the pastoral ministry of academics, to the milieu of … to all milieux … to Krakow and to Rome … to the people who were entrusted to me in a special way by the Lord.
To all I want to say just one thing: “May God reward you.”
Apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud Eum redemptio.
Farewell, the Bishop of Rome.
Cycling Diary: 4/7/05
93.45 minutes, 18.88 miles, 12.0 mph average speed, 28.6 mph top speed. Neighborhood to Massasoit State Park, around Taunton, back home.
Grow Up Pedro
It’s good to see that Pedro Martinez hasn’t matured during his time so far in New York:
“I did my job. I think I did that all seven years I was there. Everyone seems to have forgotten about that. A lot of the fans probably remember, but they’re selling me as a negative. I’m not saying all the fans. But some have forgotten.”
Martinez also told the Herald he doesn’t care if he gets his World Series ring from last year’s championship team.
“If they want to keep the ring, that’s fine,” he said. “I just know I contributed to that team to win, and I’m proud of it. They can never erase what I did in Boston. Most important, I had a job in Boston for seven years, and I appreciate that. And that’s the most important thing. I had a job, and I did what I had to do in my job. Every time I could pitch, I did. Hurting, or not hurting.”
Cycling Diary: 4/6/05
9.71 miles, 12.2 mph average speed, 27.0 mph top speed, 47.23 minutes. Home – 80% of the way to Massasoit and back. Sidekick was with me so cut trip a bit short.
SFC Paul Ray Smith, Medal of Honor
There’s nothing more to say – the citation says it all:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
United States ArmyFor conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force. Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round. Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force. During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.