Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Lunchbox news...
Still not here yet. Still sitting in Devin's shop.
Don't ask. Nothing to say except bike shop guys are bike shop guys and work on bike shop guy schedules for the most part. Very likely to be here by labor day weekend.
Moved some bars and stems around tonight and got parts ready for the build in preparation for its arrival.
90 X 10 stem on to the SS (feels a little long after the overly short 70).
70 X 0 with Gravity light bars for the Box
50 X 0 with Bontrager Crow bars on the Curtlo. These bars feel much better than the overly swept Syntace flat bars.
Gravity dropper remote moved to the right side under the bars and feels much better. This is a toy that I am totally attached to.
The Box is 14mm shorter ETT than the Curtlo. The saddle is about 10mm further back, so I think the cockpits will be very close. The sit on top Gravity dropper will go to the Box, and the Curtlo will get back its Thomson setback post and QR to help even things out a little more.
Just tooling around in the street with the Curtlo reminds me how much I like the bike. It also reminds me just how difficult it is to get the heavy front end of it up in a hurry. I'm pretty sure it will become the loaner once I ride the Box.
News scoop: Talked with Devin today and he said he is working on a short chain stay version of the Revelation 29er FS SS (it will be sold under a new name). It will have interchangeable drop outs available so you can run it geared or SS. 3" travel. Those drop outs would also make it an ideal Rohloff-able XC bike. Stays around 17". That is Monkey territory!
I know my next frame (assuming I like the short stay Box).
PS: I like talking to Devin. Good guy.
Don't ask. Nothing to say except bike shop guys are bike shop guys and work on bike shop guy schedules for the most part. Very likely to be here by labor day weekend.
Moved some bars and stems around tonight and got parts ready for the build in preparation for its arrival.
90 X 10 stem on to the SS (feels a little long after the overly short 70).
70 X 0 with Gravity light bars for the Box
50 X 0 with Bontrager Crow bars on the Curtlo. These bars feel much better than the overly swept Syntace flat bars.
Gravity dropper remote moved to the right side under the bars and feels much better. This is a toy that I am totally attached to.
The Box is 14mm shorter ETT than the Curtlo. The saddle is about 10mm further back, so I think the cockpits will be very close. The sit on top Gravity dropper will go to the Box, and the Curtlo will get back its Thomson setback post and QR to help even things out a little more.
Just tooling around in the street with the Curtlo reminds me how much I like the bike. It also reminds me just how difficult it is to get the heavy front end of it up in a hurry. I'm pretty sure it will become the loaner once I ride the Box.
News scoop: Talked with Devin today and he said he is working on a short chain stay version of the Revelation 29er FS SS (it will be sold under a new name). It will have interchangeable drop outs available so you can run it geared or SS. 3" travel. Those drop outs would also make it an ideal Rohloff-able XC bike. Stays around 17". That is Monkey territory!
I know my next frame (assuming I like the short stay Box).
PS: I like talking to Devin. Good guy.
Martin Luther
Thoughts on Marriage and Childbearing
It seems life was not so different in 1522. I found the paragraph about how to encourage women in childbirth particularly challenging/troubling, given that death was a very real possibility for women of that age.
Work with all your might to bring forth the child. Should it mean your death, then depart happily, for you will die in a noble deed and in subservience to God. If you were not a woman you should now wish to be one for the sake of this very work alone, that you might thus gloriously suffer and even die in the performance of God’s work and will.
Those are tough words for a woman or husband of any century to say or swallow. It takes a pretty incredible faith to believe what you are doing (bearing children) is within the will of God and pleasing to him even when things go catastrophically wrong. I think folks of that time had much less perceived control over their lives health wise than we do. Due to this, they had a much greater sense of God's providence and sovereignty. Essentially they were forced to trust in God alone rather than all the scientific medical doo-dads we have now a days. Guess what though, we still all die, just usually not so young.
More exerpts:
But he who recognises the estate of marriage will find therein delight, love, and joy without end; as Solomon says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing,” etc. [Prov. 18:22].
Now the ones who recognise the estate of marriage are those who firmly believe that God himself instituted it, brought husband and wife together, and ordained that they should beget children and care for them. For this they have God’s word, Genesis 1 [:28], and they can be certain that he does not lie. They can therefore also be certain that the estate of marriage and everything that goes with it in the way of conduct, works, and suffering is pleasing to God. Now tell me, how can the heart have greater good, joy, and delight than in God, when one is certain that his estate, conduct, and work is pleasing to God?
I say these things in order that we may learn how honourable a thing it is to live in that estate which God has ordained. In it we find God’s word and good pleasure, by which all the works, conduct, and sufferings of that estate become holy, godly, and precious so that Solomon even congratulates such a man and says in Proverbs 5 [:18], “Rejoice in the wife of your youth,” and again in Ecclesiastes 11 [9:9], “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life.”
It seems life was not so different in 1522. I found the paragraph about how to encourage women in childbirth particularly challenging/troubling, given that death was a very real possibility for women of that age.
Work with all your might to bring forth the child. Should it mean your death, then depart happily, for you will die in a noble deed and in subservience to God. If you were not a woman you should now wish to be one for the sake of this very work alone, that you might thus gloriously suffer and even die in the performance of God’s work and will.
Those are tough words for a woman or husband of any century to say or swallow. It takes a pretty incredible faith to believe what you are doing (bearing children) is within the will of God and pleasing to him even when things go catastrophically wrong. I think folks of that time had much less perceived control over their lives health wise than we do. Due to this, they had a much greater sense of God's providence and sovereignty. Essentially they were forced to trust in God alone rather than all the scientific medical doo-dads we have now a days. Guess what though, we still all die, just usually not so young.
More exerpts:
But he who recognises the estate of marriage will find therein delight, love, and joy without end; as Solomon says, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing,” etc. [Prov. 18:22].
Now the ones who recognise the estate of marriage are those who firmly believe that God himself instituted it, brought husband and wife together, and ordained that they should beget children and care for them. For this they have God’s word, Genesis 1 [:28], and they can be certain that he does not lie. They can therefore also be certain that the estate of marriage and everything that goes with it in the way of conduct, works, and suffering is pleasing to God. Now tell me, how can the heart have greater good, joy, and delight than in God, when one is certain that his estate, conduct, and work is pleasing to God?
I say these things in order that we may learn how honourable a thing it is to live in that estate which God has ordained. In it we find God’s word and good pleasure, by which all the works, conduct, and sufferings of that estate become holy, godly, and precious so that Solomon even congratulates such a man and says in Proverbs 5 [:18], “Rejoice in the wife of your youth,” and again in Ecclesiastes 11 [9:9], “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life.”
Mother Teresa
While I am not Catholic, and find much of Catholic tradition to be at odds with the teaching of the scriptures, Mother Teresa is almost universally held as an example of self sacrificing love and service to the poor. I found this very lengthy article interesting, in that she went about her ministry for 50 years without any "feeling" of the presence of Christ in her own life.
I found the article to be impressively well researched getting opinions from religious leaders, secular psychologists, and atheist leaders.
Some quotes below:
Mother Teresa- "So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them - because of the blasphemy - If there be God - please forgive me - When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven - there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. - I am told God loves me - and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?"
"Let's say you're married and you fall in love and you believe with all your heart that marriage is a sacrament. And your wife, God forbid, gets a stroke and she's comatose. And you will never experience her love again. It's like loving and caring for a person for 50 years and once in a while you complain to your spiritual director, but you know on the deepest level that she loves you even though she's silent and that what you're doing makes sense. Mother Teresa knew that what she was doing made sense."
"Who would have thought that the person who was considered the most faithful woman in the world struggled like that with her faith?" he asks. "And who would have thought that the one thought to be the most ardent of believers could be a saint to the skeptics?"
I found the article to be impressively well researched getting opinions from religious leaders, secular psychologists, and atheist leaders.
Some quotes below:
Mother Teresa- "So many unanswered questions live within me afraid to uncover them - because of the blasphemy - If there be God - please forgive me - When I try to raise my thoughts to Heaven - there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return like sharp knives & hurt my very soul. - I am told God loves me - and yet the reality of darkness & coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul. Did I make a mistake in surrendering blindly to the Call of the Sacred Heart?"
"Let's say you're married and you fall in love and you believe with all your heart that marriage is a sacrament. And your wife, God forbid, gets a stroke and she's comatose. And you will never experience her love again. It's like loving and caring for a person for 50 years and once in a while you complain to your spiritual director, but you know on the deepest level that she loves you even though she's silent and that what you're doing makes sense. Mother Teresa knew that what she was doing made sense."
"Who would have thought that the person who was considered the most faithful woman in the world struggled like that with her faith?" he asks. "And who would have thought that the one thought to be the most ardent of believers could be a saint to the skeptics?"
Monday, August 20, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Geniuses
Very interesting article about those on the upper end of "special."
To some extent, complacency is built into the system. American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs. But it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential.
In a no-child-left-behind conception of public education, lifting everyone up to a minimum level is more important than allowing students to excel to their limit. It has become more important for schools to identify deficiencies than to cultivate gifts.
AS A CULTURE, WE FEEL DEEPLY ambiguous about genius. We venerate Einstein, but there is no more detested creature than the know-it-all.
Home schoolers would also say that our education system is great at training followers and employees, but who is training the leaders to lead.
I am not three deviations above the mean, but I went to public school until college, took all the advanced AP classes, etc, and was essentially never challenged much. That all changed when I started my rigorous college studies woefully under prepared, and struggled my freshman and sophomore years to get up to speed. My college experience prepared me well, and made med school a cake walk. My point? The public education system of Anaheim CA let me down, and I don't think I was alone in that.
My other point: it was not the Government's job to make sure I was educated properly. My parents should have seen to that. I don't want to seem too hard on them. They did what their generation thought was right: sent me to school and provided lots of opportunity outside of school. They also paid my way through that excellent private college.
Still, we are going about it differently with our kids. Hopefully with better results.
To some extent, complacency is built into the system. American schools spend more than $8 billion a year educating the mentally retarded. Spending on the gifted isn't even tabulated in some states, but by the most generous calculation, we spend no more than $800 million on gifted programs. But it can't make sense to spend 10 times as much to try to bring low-achieving students to mere proficiency as we do to nurture those with the greatest potential.
In a no-child-left-behind conception of public education, lifting everyone up to a minimum level is more important than allowing students to excel to their limit. It has become more important for schools to identify deficiencies than to cultivate gifts.
AS A CULTURE, WE FEEL DEEPLY ambiguous about genius. We venerate Einstein, but there is no more detested creature than the know-it-all.
Home schoolers would also say that our education system is great at training followers and employees, but who is training the leaders to lead.
I am not three deviations above the mean, but I went to public school until college, took all the advanced AP classes, etc, and was essentially never challenged much. That all changed when I started my rigorous college studies woefully under prepared, and struggled my freshman and sophomore years to get up to speed. My college experience prepared me well, and made med school a cake walk. My point? The public education system of Anaheim CA let me down, and I don't think I was alone in that.
My other point: it was not the Government's job to make sure I was educated properly. My parents should have seen to that. I don't want to seem too hard on them. They did what their generation thought was right: sent me to school and provided lots of opportunity outside of school. They also paid my way through that excellent private college.
Still, we are going about it differently with our kids. Hopefully with better results.
Hox Genes
"Genetic processes were not simple in early aquatic vertebrates only to become more complex as the animals adapted to terrestrial living. They were complex from the outset,"
I read a much more detailed story about these diverse genes in National Geographic a year or two ago. Honestly the whole concept is mind blowing. Why does a "simple" single celled organism need all the genetic templates to go on to form, in the future, heads, eyes, limbs, etc. There is a wasteful genetic excess in these complex, simple organisms that suggests to me a designer, at the very least of the Deist sort.
My background is Biochemistry, and I find it much easier to accept evolutionary processes in the development of the current diversity of life from single cellular organisms. The key problem not yet solved, however is how those first cells got there, relatively quickly (almost immediately!!) after the earth was cool enough to support life. With our current knowledge of thermodynamics, the process is impossible without some sort of life catalyst.
Currently scientists are toying seriously with the idea of life developing on comets extraterrestrially and being delivered to earth, the so called panspermia theory, to get around the time problem involved in inorganic to cellular evolution.
I can only stand back in awe and say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The dust of stars flows in our blood! Indeed every element heavier than Helium was synthesized in a star. We certainly don't understand all the hows at this point, not by a long shot.
I read a much more detailed story about these diverse genes in National Geographic a year or two ago. Honestly the whole concept is mind blowing. Why does a "simple" single celled organism need all the genetic templates to go on to form, in the future, heads, eyes, limbs, etc. There is a wasteful genetic excess in these complex, simple organisms that suggests to me a designer, at the very least of the Deist sort.
My background is Biochemistry, and I find it much easier to accept evolutionary processes in the development of the current diversity of life from single cellular organisms. The key problem not yet solved, however is how those first cells got there, relatively quickly (almost immediately!!) after the earth was cool enough to support life. With our current knowledge of thermodynamics, the process is impossible without some sort of life catalyst.
Currently scientists are toying seriously with the idea of life developing on comets extraterrestrially and being delivered to earth, the so called panspermia theory, to get around the time problem involved in inorganic to cellular evolution.
I can only stand back in awe and say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. The dust of stars flows in our blood! Indeed every element heavier than Helium was synthesized in a star. We certainly don't understand all the hows at this point, not by a long shot.
The Wizard of Waukesha
Recovering in his hospital room after what was in fact a quintuple bypass, Paul made two lists. In the first column were all the things he did not like:
"I didn't want to play for big crowds. I didn't want a boss telling me that you ran over two minutes. I don't want a guy to direct the show and put a lot of pressure on me. I didn't want to do a lot of interviews. And I had no reason in the world to be famous."
In the other column, he discovered something surprising about himself:
"The best fun I ever had was in the little joint where I could do what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, play for a few of my friends. It would be great therapy, a reason to get me out of bed. I could always surround myself with young musicians that could play what I used to play or play better than what I played. And I could continue making new friends."
I loved the story and the rendition of "Over the Rainbow" at the end. A great example of aging with grace.Monday, August 13, 2007
Copper basin-Sierra Prieta-West Spruce and down
I just had the nicest ride. Seems too seldom lately. Good news is that I am not as out of shape as I feared. Lots of climbing, felt fine. Nicely overcast day, no rain, tacky trails.
Hosking set me up with a nice route. Park at the pavement's end on Copper Basin, up to 393, ride it back down to near the gate of Pearlstein camp, take a left onto the technical rocky 2 track that follows the drainage up to the Sierra Prieta overlook. Takes an hour of climbing mostly.
From Sierra Prieta, I bombed over to 264 (W Spruce), and rode up and down it about 1/2 hour, turning around before west spruce when it became apparent that a lot of hike-a-bike was in store on the return if I didn't stop. Back up to the overlook, then the Whiskey race course down to the 4-way intersection with 51, go straight across to little used 391, and take this back to the car. Nice 2 hour lollipop if you are fast, 2:30 for me.
Map here of most of the ride.
The Curtlo is simply an amazing climber. I've said it many times before, but it continues to blow me away. Let's be clear that I am talking about slow, relentlessly technical climbing, if you want to go fast up a fire road look elsewhere. Especially with the ground moist and tacky, the bike will not give up, and will go as far as its pilot can push it in technical terrain. Steep, rocky, loose, ledgy, matters it doesn't. I do not see how the Lunch box can be any better. The Box will do other things better, but I hope it still climbs the technical stuff well. That is probably my one above average skill mountain biking, and I want to keep it!
Still, the Tractor performs like a tool. A very capable tool for climbing impossible things and descending safely. Unfortunately, it also feels like a tool. No passion, no fun, very deliberate. I'm certain the long wheelbase is a the cause of this. I'm dreaming the Box (with its 1 inch shorter stays, and 2.5" shorter wheelbase) will bring all that capability, and a Boxful of fun in addition.
I should note that I think my prior F135 fork was not indicative of how awesome this thing is. The repaired fork is way better than before. Plush, keeps the front where you want it, and takes a beating. This is the first time I have ever enjoyed the loose rock descent down the Whiskey race course from Prieta. I pretty much had no need for braking although I did out of fear from prior runs. Hope it lasts because it is superb.
Hosking set me up with a nice route. Park at the pavement's end on Copper Basin, up to 393, ride it back down to near the gate of Pearlstein camp, take a left onto the technical rocky 2 track that follows the drainage up to the Sierra Prieta overlook. Takes an hour of climbing mostly.
From Sierra Prieta, I bombed over to 264 (W Spruce), and rode up and down it about 1/2 hour, turning around before west spruce when it became apparent that a lot of hike-a-bike was in store on the return if I didn't stop. Back up to the overlook, then the Whiskey race course down to the 4-way intersection with 51, go straight across to little used 391, and take this back to the car. Nice 2 hour lollipop if you are fast, 2:30 for me.
Map here of most of the ride.
The Curtlo is simply an amazing climber. I've said it many times before, but it continues to blow me away. Let's be clear that I am talking about slow, relentlessly technical climbing, if you want to go fast up a fire road look elsewhere. Especially with the ground moist and tacky, the bike will not give up, and will go as far as its pilot can push it in technical terrain. Steep, rocky, loose, ledgy, matters it doesn't. I do not see how the Lunch box can be any better. The Box will do other things better, but I hope it still climbs the technical stuff well. That is probably my one above average skill mountain biking, and I want to keep it!
Still, the Tractor performs like a tool. A very capable tool for climbing impossible things and descending safely. Unfortunately, it also feels like a tool. No passion, no fun, very deliberate. I'm certain the long wheelbase is a the cause of this. I'm dreaming the Box (with its 1 inch shorter stays, and 2.5" shorter wheelbase) will bring all that capability, and a Boxful of fun in addition.
I should note that I think my prior F135 fork was not indicative of how awesome this thing is. The repaired fork is way better than before. Plush, keeps the front where you want it, and takes a beating. This is the first time I have ever enjoyed the loose rock descent down the Whiskey race course from Prieta. I pretty much had no need for braking although I did out of fear from prior runs. Hope it lasts because it is superb.
Friday, August 10, 2007
F135 back
Nice to have that black beauty back on the front of the Curtlo.
Initial impression is that it is more supple now compared to the earlier fork. Weird how only two weeks off the FS bike and it feels like I have a rear flat when I first get on.
Let's hope this "upgraded" fork holds up.
The Lunchbox is back at Lenz for assembly and should be shipping out next week with new rear wheel (150mm Hope Pro2 10mm TA, Flow, Comps.....NO DISH). My initial plan is to swap the fork with front brake and front wheel back and forth between the Curtlo and the Box for a while on some comparison rides. If I can ride the Box up the super steeps with managable front wheel lift, it will become the go-to ride since I am certain it will outperform the Curtlo in almost every other way. I don't think it will ever out (technical/steep) climb the Curtlo, but if it is close, it will be a done deal.
Got totally spanked on an afternoon run thursday at Granite Basin. Only an hour, but I overheated so badly I was walking quite a bit. Heat simply kills my performance, and there is nothing to be done but slow down until the radiator catches up. I have never acclimated well to it since I typically ride/exercise early.
Initial impression is that it is more supple now compared to the earlier fork. Weird how only two weeks off the FS bike and it feels like I have a rear flat when I first get on.
Let's hope this "upgraded" fork holds up.
The Lunchbox is back at Lenz for assembly and should be shipping out next week with new rear wheel (150mm Hope Pro2 10mm TA, Flow, Comps.....NO DISH). My initial plan is to swap the fork with front brake and front wheel back and forth between the Curtlo and the Box for a while on some comparison rides. If I can ride the Box up the super steeps with managable front wheel lift, it will become the go-to ride since I am certain it will outperform the Curtlo in almost every other way. I don't think it will ever out (technical/steep) climb the Curtlo, but if it is close, it will be a done deal.
Got totally spanked on an afternoon run thursday at Granite Basin. Only an hour, but I overheated so badly I was walking quite a bit. Heat simply kills my performance, and there is nothing to be done but slow down until the radiator catches up. I have never acclimated well to it since I typically ride/exercise early.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The Separation of Church and State
In the simplest terms, separating Church and State means that the institution and the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Church is separate from the institution and the civil jurisdiction of the State. The Church as an institution cannot mingle in the institutional affairs of civil government. Neither can its officers. In the same way, civil government cannot disturb the ministry and operation of the Church by tampering with the Church’s doctrines or courts.
Interesting, well researched article on the jurisdictional separation of church government and state government.
God has placed both the church and civil authorities in their positions for different purposes and given each jurisdiction over their own matters. Equal but separate. The rub of course is where does one jurisdiction end and the other begin. Is abortion a church or state issue? How does the state determine the legality of "moral" behaviors such as murder, theft, perjury, etc?
Interesting, well researched article on the jurisdictional separation of church government and state government.
God has placed both the church and civil authorities in their positions for different purposes and given each jurisdiction over their own matters. Equal but separate. The rub of course is where does one jurisdiction end and the other begin. Is abortion a church or state issue? How does the state determine the legality of "moral" behaviors such as murder, theft, perjury, etc?
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Chuckles
Lots more where this came from on the site:
"Which leads me to my next management myth. You don't have to hire the best people. You can hire anyone, as long as you scare the bejesus out of them."
Another:
"Don't get me wrong. I'm a liberal. I vote for Democrats. But I just get really bummed out when I have to actually spend time with any of them."
"Which leads me to my next management myth. You don't have to hire the best people. You can hire anyone, as long as you scare the bejesus out of them."
Another:
"Don't get me wrong. I'm a liberal. I vote for Democrats. But I just get really bummed out when I have to actually spend time with any of them."
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Foot Pain
I think I just solved an annoying ball of the foot pain...finally. Thsi concerned me enough I thought I was going to have to quit riding the hard tail. The feet would ache for days after a ride.
Just FYI in case you suffer from the same:
The progression went like this:
1. Use 2-3 running (cheap) insoles in old running shoes, notice numb feet (did
this for years).
2. Consult podiatry, get orthotics, get new shoes (cheapish Shimano)
3. Hate orthotics....very painful arch, give them back for modification,
return to 3 layer cheap insoles and numb feet.
4. Try modified orthotics (thin), arch feels good, but now I bruise ball of the foot
Not numb, but painful. Bruising gets worse each ride.
5. Return to 3 layer..now numb and painful.
6. Discover my screws protrude 1mm into the shoe while moving cleats around. Not enough to consciously perceive or feel. I figure, what the heck.
Grind screws 1mm shorter, use thin orthotic, move cleat all the way back.....COMFORT!!!
Rode SS for two hours (305 to the Juniper on Smith) with zero pain, zero numbness.
Just don't forget to check the simple things. I evidently was bruising myself on that screw even with that tiny amount of protrusion.
Speaking of numbness, Dan is back on the bike!!! What a joy it was to ride with him again in the early am. He is using gears to get around the numbness (doesn't have to pull the bars so hard). We had a blast on the very humid, very tacky trails today.
Just FYI in case you suffer from the same:
The progression went like this:
1. Use 2-3 running (cheap) insoles in old running shoes, notice numb feet (did
this for years).
2. Consult podiatry, get orthotics, get new shoes (cheapish Shimano)
3. Hate orthotics....very painful arch, give them back for modification,
return to 3 layer cheap insoles and numb feet.
4. Try modified orthotics (thin), arch feels good, but now I bruise ball of the foot
Not numb, but painful. Bruising gets worse each ride.
5. Return to 3 layer..now numb and painful.
6. Discover my screws protrude 1mm into the shoe while moving cleats around. Not enough to consciously perceive or feel. I figure, what the heck.
Grind screws 1mm shorter, use thin orthotic, move cleat all the way back.....COMFORT!!!
Rode SS for two hours (305 to the Juniper on Smith) with zero pain, zero numbness.
Just don't forget to check the simple things. I evidently was bruising myself on that screw even with that tiny amount of protrusion.
Speaking of numbness, Dan is back on the bike!!! What a joy it was to ride with him again in the early am. He is using gears to get around the numbness (doesn't have to pull the bars so hard). We had a blast on the very humid, very tacky trails today.
Baby Boom?
Apparently, our family is not all that unusual in our demographic, although I would hardly call all the kids around here a "status symbol" or "fashion trend". In fact, I find referring to our family in such terms highly offensive.
"Competitive birthing"...give me a break.
We have all these kids because we think it is part of the stewardship of our lives. We are responsible to God Almighty for our use of our bodies and our lives, and part of that is the children we rear. The scriptures state that children are a blessing. We have taken God at his word and found out that it is indeed true because I for one was very reluctant to start on the path to fatherhood. In retrospect, it has been nothing but good.
Very interesting listen for sure.
Speaking of having a few kids....Wow! The Duggers seem quite organized, however. How could you not be. Debt free too. Inspiring story of family, but I don't aspire to that many.
"Competitive birthing"...give me a break.
We have all these kids because we think it is part of the stewardship of our lives. We are responsible to God Almighty for our use of our bodies and our lives, and part of that is the children we rear. The scriptures state that children are a blessing. We have taken God at his word and found out that it is indeed true because I for one was very reluctant to start on the path to fatherhood. In retrospect, it has been nothing but good.
Very interesting listen for sure.
Speaking of having a few kids....Wow! The Duggers seem quite organized, however. How could you not be. Debt free too. Inspiring story of family, but I don't aspire to that many.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
I've Been Busy
Working like mad, and a side trip to Oshkosh.
Unfortunately, not much riding, not even commuting. The F135 fork spewed oil (again) the night before I left, and is now at WB for investigation/service.
The bikes of Oshkosh:
It felt like living in China or Holland. So many really crappy bikes being put to such good use. I wish we could see sights like this on a daily basis.
Most memorable was a tandem with mom and dad, a kid seat on the tandem, towing two trail a bikes with a chariot connected at the end. That's six folks on that train. Wish I'd had my camera.
Unfortunately, not much riding, not even commuting. The F135 fork spewed oil (again) the night before I left, and is now at WB for investigation/service.
The bikes of Oshkosh:
It felt like living in China or Holland. So many really crappy bikes being put to such good use. I wish we could see sights like this on a daily basis.
Most memorable was a tandem with mom and dad, a kid seat on the tandem, towing two trail a bikes with a chariot connected at the end. That's six folks on that train. Wish I'd had my camera.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)