Nine years ago today I married the love of my life. It's been a great ride from London to Houston to the San Fransisco Bay Area to Raleigh, North Carolina. Has it all been easy. No? What I do know is that our love is as strong now as ever and that marriage needs work every day.

-Richard

Finished Reading "Ref Storm Rising" a novel by Tom Clancy written in 1987.

-Richard

Finished reading "Let History Judge, the Origins and Consequences of Stalinism" by Roy A. Medvedev. A very insteresting book written by a Soviet Historian in 1968 discussing the way Stalin's own dictatatorship created his own cult again the teaching's of Marx, Engels and Lenin.

One intersting fact that stuck out is the way Stalin changed history through literature, media and film to reflect his point of view and propaganda. Doesn't it sound very familier to how Holywood and the media distort history and the truth today to support their argument? Frightengly so!!

-Richard

Score Update:

International Football: USA 0 Morocco 1 Friendly
USA 2 Venezuella 0 Friendly

Cricket: Sussex beat Durham by an innings and 39 runs. County Championship Division 1. Durham are in 5th place.

Rugby League: Bradford Bulls 0 Leeds Rhinos 30. Superleague. Bradford stay in 3rd place.

Ice Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes 4 Buffalo Sabres 3
Buffalo Sabres 4 Carolina Hurricanes 3
Buffalo Sabres 0 Carolins Hurricanes 4. Eastern Conference Finals. Series tied 2-2

Baseball: Houston Astros 5 Texas Rangers 0
Washington Nationals 3 Houston Astros 10
Washington Nationals 4 Houston Astros 1
Washington Nationals 5 Houston Astros 1
Washington Nationals 8 Houston Astros 5
Pitsburg Pirates 12 Houston Astros 5 The Astros fall to 25-24 and 4th place in the National League Central Division 6 1/2 games behind the St.Louis Cardinals.

-Richard

Vanilla Bean. She was the first animal I adopted myself as Oreo was Jenn's before we got married. As I said earlier, Oreo was the dog that inspired me and therefore us into animal rescue. Not long after we moved to North Carolina we decided to adopt another dog. Looking around Jenn fell in love with the Dalmation mix in Moore County, NC called Alexis.

I had to go to Chicago on business, we drove so we could pick her up on the day we got home. So, after long drive back we got to the shelter to adopt her. As soon as we met her she jumped up and kissed us. From that moment "Nilla" was a member of our family. Five years later she is still a very happy and loved one of us.

- Richard

Score Update:

International Cricket: England drew with Sri Lanka in the 1st Test Match.

Rugby Union: Raleigh 32 Providence 21 National Division II Championship Last 16
Raleigh 11 Pearl City 35 National Division II Championsjip Quarter-Final

Cricket: Lancashire beat Durham by 125 runs. Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy
Nottinghamshire drew with Durham. County Championship Division I. Durham are in 3rd place.

Rugby League: Harlequins 16 Bradford Bulls 58. Superleague. Bradford move up to 3rd.
St. Helens 42 Bradford Bulls 18. Challenge Cup 5th Round.

Ice Hockey: New Jersey Devils 5 Carolina Hurricanes 1
Carolina Hurricanes 4 New Jersey Devils 1. Canes win Eastern Region Semi-Finals 4-1
Carolina Hurricanes 2 Buffalo Sabres 3. Eastern Conference Final. Buffalo lead series 1-0

Baseball: Houston Astros 1 Colorado Rockies 2
Houston Astros 3 Colorado Rockies 0
Houston Astros 1 San Fransisco Giants 10
Houston Astros 3 San Fransisco Giants 14
Houston Astros 1 San Fransisco Giants 10
Houston Astros 5 Texas Rangers 3
Hosuton Astros 0 Texas Rangers 6 The Astros record is now 23-20. They are 3rd in the National League Central Division 5 games behind the St. Louis Cardianals.

-Richard

Score Update:

Rugby Union: Raleigh 32 Media 24 MARFU Division II Semi-Final
Raleigh 27 Lancaster 25 MARFU Division II Final. Raleigh are Champions!!

Cricket: Durham lost to Lancashire by 128 runs. County Championship Division 1
Durham beat Northanptonshire by 4 Wickets. Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.
Durham best Warwickshire by 66 runs. Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.
Durham beat Middlesex by 135 runs. County Championship Division 1. Durham are in 6th place.

Football: Brentford 1 Hartlepool United 1 League 1.
Hartlepool United 1 Port Vale 1. League 1. Pools finish the Season with 50 points, in 21st place and relegated down to League 2

American Football: New York Giants draft: Mathias Kawanuka a Defensive End from Boston College, Sinorice Moss a Wide Receiver from Miami, Gerris Wilkinson a Linebacker from Georgia Tech, Barry Cofield a Defensive End from Northwestern, Guy Whimper a Defensive End from East Carolina, Charlie Peprah a Safety from Alabama and Gerrick McPherson a Corner Back from Martyland.

Rugby League: Warrington Wolves 27 Bradford Bulls 4 Super League
Bradford Bulls 54 Catalan Dragons 6 Super League
Hull FC 28 Bradford Bulls 12 Super League . Bradford drop to 4th place,

Ice Hockey: Carolina Hurricanes 5 Montreal Canadians 6 (OT).
Montreal Canadians 1 Carolina Hurricanes 2
Montreal Canadians 2 Carolina Hurricanes 3
Carolina Hurricanes 2 Montreal Canadians 1
Montreal Canadians 1 Carolina Hurricanes 2. Eastern Conference play-offs Round 1. Canes win series 4-2.
Carolina Hurricanes 6 New Jersey Devils 0
Carolina Hurricanes 3 New Jersey Devils 2
New Jersey Devils 2 Carolina Hurricanes 3 Eastern Conference Play-offs semi-final. Canes lead series 3-0

Baseball: Houston Astros 7 Pittsburg Pirates 2
Houston Astros 2 Los Angeles Dodgers 6
Houston Astros 4 Los Angeles Dodgers 3
Houston Astros 8 Los Angeles Dodgers 5
Cincinatti Reds 5 Houston Astros 4
Cincinatti Reds 6 Houston Astros 3
Cincinatti Reds 2 Houston Astros 3
Milwaukee Brewers 4 Houston Astros 2
Milwaukee Brewers 5 Houston Astros 8
Houston Astros 5 St. Louis Cardinals 4
Houston Astros 4 St. Louis Cardinals 3
Colorado Rockies 5 Houston Astros 4
Colorado Rockies 5 Houston Astros 0
Colorado Rockies 5 Houston Astros 3
San Francisco Giants 7 Houston Astros 5
Los Angeles Dodgers 12 Houston Astros 7
Los Angeles Dodgers 9 Houston Astros 6
Los Angeles Dodgers 2 Houston Astros 4
Houston Astros 12 Colorado Rockies 2. Astros record is now 21-15 and are 3rd in the National League Central Division 2 games behind St. Louis and Cincinatti.

-Richard

It's amazing how much a difference a year can make in sport. This time last year Hartlepool United were last than 10 mins away from being promoted to the Championship. Last week a draw with Port Vale was not enough to stop relegation to League Two. Essentially the same team completely opposite result. Hopefully we can see a big turn around and a quick promotion back.

-Richard

Finished reading "The DaVinci Code" by Dan Brown.

-Richard