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Vantage Point | Entry #30
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 26-07-2017 18:45
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Alex is like Jennifer Love Hewitt in Ghost Whisperer
Pd: I have read it again. I have a bad feeling
Edited by Aquarius97 on 26-07-2017 19:20
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-11-2024 19:15
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 26-07-2017 19:15
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Dude, what the f...
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 26-07-2017 19:32
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Entry #25B | April 22, 2018: Letter for Brother Michael Vogel Jr.
Note: Alex sends home a hand written note with pictures.
Interrupting my zombie killing spree, I heard my stepfather yell something from the kitchen. I put down my X-box controller to see what it could be this time.
"Mike, you got mail."
That's still a thing? Oh, it's from Alex.
Dear Mikey,
I know letters are old fashion and a FaceTime would have been easier, but this just feels right. I remember dad sending us letters when he went off on his crazy journeys and thought I'd give it a try to continue the legacy.
I'm writing this is France. Nouan-le-Fuzelier to be exact.
By the time you have received this, I'm sure you have already heard the news I'm about to share. But, it's a story worth sharing again and I want to write it in pen. So, here it goes.
My memorable day began with pain. Then, it started to rain. (I'm a poet.)
I was instructed to pace the peloton through the first 35kms of the stage.
After doing the grunt work, I sat back and watched the race unfold. It was extremely dangerous. With the rain and wind, it seemed every corner somebody took a tumble.
By the time we got to 15kms to go, there were only 38 of us left in the peloton with five escapees up ahead.
We were all drenched and tired. But, we had the breakaway in our sights. A stage win and the first yellow jersey of the Tour du Loir-et-Cher was in reach. The tempo went up another notch.
And there they were. Caught with 8kms to go and the gas pedal was lifted off the front of the peloton as everyone took a quick breather before gearing up for the bunch sprint. A moment of relaxation for them.
For me, the golden opportunity I had been waiting for.
I just went on gut instinct. I could have waited in the peloton and probably sprinted to a Top 10 finish, but you know me. I want to win.
I didn't want to look back. I didn't have the time to look back. I could hear the splashing of their tyres behind me.
Head down, grip the handlebars tighter and pedal.
I swung my body around every corner. It felt like I was just gliding on the slick roads. Dad would have been proud. Then, I saw it.
The finish line. I got out of the saddle, looking for any energy that I still had left in the tank. There wasn't much.
The crowd roared as I reached the grandstand. But, I couldn't tell if they were cheering for me or for the angry peloton trying to catch me.
For the first time, I looked over my shoulder with 50 meters to the line.
I couldn't believe it. I did it. My first win.
Mark went a little overboard with the podium celebration, but it all worked out in the end. Nobody found out about my secret.
Keep following your dreams and never give up Mikey.
Love, Alex.
I folded the letter up and put it on my desk. Taking Alex's advice, I return to my game of zombies on CoD determined to beat my high score. I did. Thanks Alex.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 26-07-2017 19:40
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Funny that he's playing a zombie game, as my thoughts on post 25A were like "wait... Alex is something between the real world and death.. a zombie"..
Great win there. Loved the screens.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 26-07-2017 20:14
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Nice win there!
Mark is his stand-in for the podium right? Finally he starts having a job to fulfill. Pretty soon Mark is gonna have to come along only to do that job, full time. 
Go Alex! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 26-07-2017 23:35
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Hmmm a Trans-gender by any chance  |
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 26-07-2017 23:39
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One thing I have for sure is that Alex is someone really famous if he needs of a friend to go the podium instead of him in those small races..,
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 27-07-2017 07:28
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25A - uuuuuhhhhuooo, creepy..
25B - Nice win
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-07-2017 01:51
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@tshoha: Glad somebody caught on to that. Hidden messages and meanings are always the best. Especially in a story like this.
@Ian Butler: First of hopefully many cameo appearances by Mark.
@sutty68: A valid assumption, but no.
@Aquarius97: Or...
@Tamijo: 26 - Coming up... In an hour or so. Busy day today.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 29-07-2017 03:21
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Entry #26 | April 23, 2018: Memory with Stepfather Kevin Hoeven
Note: A cold welcome into the family.
The moment I saw her, I knew she was going to be my next wife. She didn't see it that way, at least not at first. But, over time I won her over.
Alex, on the other hand, not so much. "You're not my real dad," has been a common insult over the years. Alex just couldn't let go of the past.
While my timing wasn't great - pursing a women two months after her husband passed away in a horrible accident - I felt I deserved a fair chance to be accepted.
Alex wouldn't have it and started the teenage rebellion years early. There wasn't a day when we wouldn't argue. Alex wasn't ready for a "replacement" father.
In an attempt to smooth tensions, I resorted to the same tactic that won over Alex's mother. My money.
I'm a successful banker that has made some wise investments over the years. So, anything Alex wanted. Alex got. New clothes, sports equipment, new phone, etc.
It got out of hand, but we didn't argue as often. It worked.
But, as you can image, this couldn't go on forever. Alex's mother eventually discovered what was going on. Turns out a new car was the last straw.
Naturally, I took all the blame for her child being a manipulative exploiter. Nowadays, Alex and I don't talk. But, I still send a check every month.
I can't lose another beautiful wife because Alex knows too much.
Some things are better left as expensive secrets.
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| Reveille |
Posted on 29-07-2017 03:28
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Step-dad is Dutch Jordan Belfort? |
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 31-07-2017 21:37
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@Reveille: I can't confirm or deny that assumption. Legal reasons.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 31-07-2017 21:37
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Entry #27 | April 18, 2018: Observation with Treasurer Jeroen Bosman
Note: Looking over spreadsheets after Tour du Loir-et-Cher.
"Not often I get to say this, but Paul I got some good news." Paul laughed.
"No. Seriously. We got some extra money to spend after last weekend's race."
Being a small continental team, these days are few and far between. For me, it's Christmas. Feels great to deliver some good news for a change rather than coal.
How'd we get to this point? Alex Vogel.
The power of yellow jersey is something else. With Alex winning the first stage of the Tour du Loir-et-Cher, sponsor revenue came flooding in. It was the team's first win of the year and everybody supporting the program couldn't have been happier.
Everything went off without a hitch, even with Alex's secret. It was impressive.
Alex even held onto the GC lead for a couple of stages before losing it on bonus seconds. It was bound to happen. Alex might be gutsy, but still not the fastest.
Yet, determined to prove us wrong, Alex finished fourth on Stage 4. Just a couple feet away from getting the yellow jersey back before the final stage.
A 13th place on the final day wrapped up a 3rd place overall finish for Alex.
Instead of pocketing the extra cash for the prize winnings. Paul and I decided to double down, using the money to send another rider to next week's race...
... Alex had earned another two weeks in France.
Let's see if the run of form stays intact at the 7-day Tour de Bretagne Cyclist.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-07-2017 21:39
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Sweet! |
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 31-07-2017 21:46
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interesting move - I wonder where that money came from 
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| Aquarius97 |
Posted on 31-07-2017 21:51
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From prizes
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| Croatia14 |
Posted on 31-07-2017 23:22
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well, maybe there is still a sponsoring connection to somewhere near Mr. Vogel, that opened up some floodgates after the win
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-07-2017 23:31
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Hopefully Bretagne will see Alex shine  |
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| Tamijo |
Posted on 02-08-2017 06:54
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Better results start to come now, nice.
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| Mresuperstar |
Posted on 02-08-2017 16:31
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@Croatia14: Combination of prize money and team sponsorships paying out after the team's first win and wearing the yellow jersey.
@sutty68: Let's find out, in an hour or so. Still have to write the report.
@Tamijo: That's what happen when young cyclists start to find their groove and get some experience under their belts.
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