It was all so real and Dr Seuss at the same time

Noah, Jordan and I rolled up to the house following the Wednesday night ride. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves, and it was getting better because we could smell dinner on the grill from about 1/4 mile away.

As we hit the driveway, out from behind the dense grapevine on the front fence comes Mama on the lawn tractor. She's wearing the skirt and blouse she wore to work that day. In her lap is a naked Buddy. Also in her lap is Reanie dressed in a black ballet outfit, complete with hot pink tutu. At the end of the driveway is a big bouncy slide fully inflated.

Buddy rules II

We're the all of us, including Jordan, riding in the car to Denton for some not-Mama-made pizza. In the course of discussion, Noah explains some problem he solved that did earn a polite nod of acknowledgment from me. Buddy, with perfect timing says, "That's good thinking, Noah".

Buddy rules

Buddy and I were watching the last bit of the Giro stage today. While sitting in my lap, he pointed to the screen and asked, "Is that you, Daddy?"

"No, Buddy. But thanks."

Then he belts out, "LOOK, IT'S NOAH!" Ok, so it was Simoni, but that Buddy was certain Noah was in the race was pretty dang cool.

The thing about 4WD is...

...that you can go about 50yd further than 2WD before you get stuck.

Happy Birthday!

Catherine Elise Owens just put Troy in the #3 seat of hierarchy at his house.

stuff has been happening

so much that blogging has taken a back seat. and the camera isn't in a pleasant mood, so I can't even cheat by posting pics.

Will be catching up with a diddy about Noah racing at Ft Davis, Troy and Roxanne bringing baby Cate into this world, having Buddy with me during the day now, eggs over easy with cream cheese and honey, and other things that make me feel good.

Some pictures of Noah at Ft Davis

Fair warning

This is fair warning. I'm gonna write about Noah's race at Fort Davis soon, and if you don't like hearing some Dad gush about how his kid did...Nobody is Making You Read This.

1922-2007

I want to stay as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can't see from the center.
--Kurt Vonnegut

He could also get you a pretty good deal on a Saab.

Castaway II

This just amazes me, and I reckon this means I'm easily amazed, but still...
My buddy Riner is sending me some goodies, and he provided me the tracking number since these are special goodies. I get a kick out of seeing what that package was doing yesterday and last night:

Apr 11, 2007
4:12 AM On FedEx vehicle for delivery IRVING, TX
2:49 AM At local FedEx facility IRVING, TX
2:24 AM Departed FedEx location HUTCHINS, TX
1:04 AM Arrived at FedEx location HUTCHINS, TX

Apr 10, 2007
8:36 PM Left origin WICHITA FALLS, TX
6:29 PM Arrived at FedEx location WICHITA FALLS, TX
4:39 PM Picked up WICHITA FALLS, TX
3:11 PM Package data transmitted to FedEx Wichita Falls, TX


If I had a tracking #...
April 11, 2007
11:07 AM Tracking the FedEx tracking #
10:34 AM Ate some more breakfast
9:29 AM Ate breakfast
8:51 AM Took kids to school
7:20 AM Got up for real
6:00 AM Turned off Chloe's alarm
4:47 AM Kicked Buddy since he kicked me
3:21 AM Took Reanie back to bed
2:55 AM Took Buddy back to bed
1:17 AM Took Reanie back to bed

April 10, 2007
11:21 PM Took Reanie back to bed
11:07 PM High 5
11:06 PM Private time with Mama
9:33 PM Get kids in bed
9:21 PM Get kids out of tub
9:09 PM Eat some take out dinner
9:01 PM Unload bikes and stuff
7:56 PM Put on street clothes and head home
7:21 PM Get dropped
7:03 PM Attack
7:00 PM Race


Sten, send me a danish or something so we can track that one!

Stevie Wonder Driving School

We're rolling down FM 407 getting the little ones to school. Buddy is in the back, and Reanie up front. We're having as serious a discussion as can be with a 3 and 4 yr old as co-pilots. Suddenly, just as I'm coming up to cars and a stop light, Buddy covers my eyes with his hands from behind my seat, and he says, "Where's Daddy?"

Teaching him how to unbuckle his own seat belt doesn't seem such a wise thing now.

Good morning!

Reanie staggers into our room this morning. Tells me she needs to go potty. Right on. I tell her that she knows where it is. She comes out a little bit later more awake. I asked her, "Did you go big job?"

She said, "No, I'm all out of big job."

And I thought that's where it would end. But, no.

Then she bends over, sans skivvies, and says, "See?"

Enak Bor is my inspiration

There was a time, back when I was the only bike racer in the family, that we could load up half the Expedition with my stuff, and the other half was for the rest of the family. We seemed to be fine with that. Mama, #1, and eventually #2 could pack whatever they needed to make a day in the ditch palatable, and I brought everything I've ever needed or thought I might need for a bike race. And we packed Moby to the gills (i know...i know...poetic license, please).

A few years ago, I bunked up with a good buddy and his wife for a stage race. At that gig, I brought two bags and one bike (it was a stage race). I thought I was traveling light and being all respectful. Enak, though, came with one bike and a back pack for the entire weekend. He mocked me, and he did so at a time I was feeling all good about myself.

Well, we're about to head out for what I think is my first stage race since that one, and I got all my street and cycling clothes, and all the race food, bottles, etc for me and #1 (since he now races too), and we're taking all of #1's stuff for a race, his bike, my bike, and all the stuff for Mama, #2, and #3, AND we're putting it all in a car (Wallace) that is half the size that Moby was (well, I guess still is, but it ain't ours anymore).

Enak, I'm getting there. You are my inspiration.

table manners and acting like a lady

What with Reanie going to a private school and all, we get to enjoy the fact that she has learned to burp on purpose. It works so much better, too, when she is in her school uniform. That's money well spent, NiMYRT customers.

So, since she's learned her new trick, she likes to demonstrate and practice her proficiency lots. Buddy's trick is a little more pleasant to endure since it is somersaulting. But he doesn't do this at the table. Reanie does burp at the table.

I'll say something about it being rude. Mama says something about it not being lady-like. Buddy says, "More chicken," and we pass him the fish.

At dinner tonight, Reanie roars a burp and says "excuse me". Same ol', same ol'. I, predictably, say something like, "It is rude to burp like that. especially on purpose. Stop." Mama says, "Reanie, be a lady at the table."

A few minutes later, Reanie burps again while scratching her butt (we're still at the table). I say, "REANIE! Stop scratching your butt at the table!"

So Reanie asks Mama, "Is scratching your butt being a lady?"

3 or 6 min of your life you won't get back

I watched the POSSx2 play like this for ten minutes or so before thinking to grab the camera. They'd wound down by then, but it was still fun for me (but prolly not for many of you blog readers). Can't remember how much we paid for this playset, but it was worth it. I'm trying to figure out a way to bottle up these laughs. for now, we have the videos.

No animals were harmed in the filming of this video clip.

Part I

Part II

Some pictures from the Lago Vista weekend

Some Thoughts

-thinking about #3, one would think "speech impediment" would be easier to say. I wouldn't want to be the first person to make fun of it him once he's aware he has trouble with R's. And W's. And "Th". And "S". And "V". And "B". And...

-thinking about #1, I'd reconsider the tactic of crashing him out to get rid of him. Might work that one day, but if you have to race again the next day...hang on. I can't remember the saying, but there is something about one's character that is proven when they are faced with adversity.

-thinking about #2, one of the highlights of my life has been to notice that #2 has favorite songs on the radio, and catching her singing full throttle along with Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield...if she new, I'd go buy her anything she wanted right then and there.

Observation of the day

Helicopters make donkeys run fast.

What we have here is a failure to communicate.

Reanie: I can't hear you. You have to say "No" louder.

Good Game

One of the fun things about these things is the numbers.

26 Deviled ("evil") Eggs

30 potions Cheese tray and bread

40 pieces prociutto and melon

30 pieces brucetta

lots of olives

24 servings Polenta and sausage

20 servings garlic scallops over linguini

60 pieces bacon shrimp over bed of spinach

36 pieces baked clams

40 portions fried rice balls

20 potions caponata

20 portions spiedini

20 portions Chicken Tikka, pita and hummus

30 portions caprese

24 potions baked pears

20 portions banana pudding

50 pieces chocolates

14.5 bottles of wine