On cereal-bowl sneezes:
Momma! I bleshooed my mihlk rightout!
On self-awareness:
DAYEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Calm down…little woman.
[hand on her hip] I am NOT a wittow woman;
[pause and then authoritatively] I’m a sissah.
On her first day / first moment in dance class:
Where’s the songs?
Here is a visual preview of the four generation tunnel ride we took today.
Not much detail yet…but you will probably see details over at BopOps blog and Grumpy’s blog.
A little history:
We have a Roomba Red, a robotic vacuum that is red. Or rather we have a formerly-robotic and rather inert piece of red plastic that is indeed referred to as Ruby Dumbo.
The name came about in something of a bidding war for names between myself and the older mermaid when she was not so ‘older’. Neither bid won outright and so the aforementioned, aforeworking, aforerobotic vacuum was named.
Along came another mermaid who, incidentally, has never known a day without robots [ok that is just weird]. Despite this life-long familiarity, she hasn’t lost the innate sensibility to be distrustful of the little thing that moves on it’s own and lacks a certain mammalian nurturing tendency. In fact, only recently has the wee mermaid been able to stay perched on the couch by herself while Ruby Dumbo doth clean. And she hath cleaned very well I might add.
>>| Fast forward to current day.
Ruby Dumbo is now aforementioned and the service her little red exoskeleton so dutifully provided is sorely missed. So The Daddy jumped at the chance to introduce more time-sapping technology into a 21st century house…all in the name of time savings. Another story might be the historical view [in 50+ years] of all the time burned up with ‘time-saving’ technology. Another story I say, because this is not one of them.
Enter Black Ruby Dumbo, Black Ruby for short.
She isn’t mean, she’s just black and she does some things above and beyond Ruby Dumbo (besides vacuuming). She can self-dock (going to bed), adjust her height for floor conditions, not get tangled in tassles or cords, bring me coffee in the morning with cream and sugar, and project-manage the washer and dryer. But beyond all that, the most impactful thing for The Mermaids is that she talks.
I had only just opened her box (literally only opened the top) and Emma bolted for the couch with intent. She looked on in eerie fascination from a safe distance, asking whether she talked up until we woke her up. And talk she did. Black Ruby gave a little demo of the things she can do and then the lines were smudged to a smoky shade of gray as Emma began [still from the couch mind you] to have a conversation with Black Ruby.
Black Ruby…I have…look…at my…blue…toe..nails…Black Ruby.
Not much later, and with only a little hesitation she petted Black Ruby on her…shell [?]. It seems Black Ruby is part of the family now with all due respect to her predecessor Ruby Dumbo, may she rest in one piece.
With those portentous words we were awakened this morning by an excited little mermaid girl.
Abby is going into kindergarten this year and is there at this moment.
I think she is going to like it.
Her accomplice didn’t know why we were excited but she caught on quickly.
Much like gambling I only report the fast times…but this time I earned it through persistent semi-fast times rather than lucking into a good result with a roll of the dice.
This morning I awoke late (alarm clock usability + up till 2AM + up again at 5:30AM with a crying mermaid) so I took off on my ‘bent with a mission: Try to make my 9:30 meeting.
I could do it, undoubtedly, going normal break-neck speed. I was, after all, leaving at 7:45 but considering the way I snapped out of bed when I heard the time…I was instantly in the mood for some abnormal break-neck speed. I still didn’t run stop-signs, that’s the third rule, right after “no women, no kids“.
So I pushed the whole way…only checking on my average and rolling time once (at the Mt Baker Tunnel). It was looking good, 41 minutes rolling time and something over 18 mph average. The true test would be how much sprint I had left in me for the stop-n-go through Seattle.
In the end I needn’t worry, I beat my best time (59:46) by over four minutes with a time of 55:38 and I rolled in at 8:55.
My average speed was a whopping (for me) 17.8 over the 16.8 mile distance which included the freakish cliff of a hill at Massachusets.
I was/am tired but I am recovering nicely.
If I ever get a Silvio I will have a pretty healthy benchmark to beat.
P.S. My meeting was canceled before I arrived.
Last weekend I did my slowest ride ever. Good thing too because I was pulling two princesses on our custom made float.
Long story short: Abby got aced out of being in the River Days Parade with her dance troupe (the troupe decided to skip the parade this year) so when I got an invitation from the neighborhood program I jumped at the chance…on one condition. I had to ride my bike in it.
This allowed me to pull the girls in the bike trailer (Ang’s condition was that Emma be strapped in so she wouldn’t just stand up and walk off the back of the thing). This meant we had to get creative with the trailer, running it in “flat” mode and with some tulle and Ang’s deft hand it became a pretty decent little float at about 23:00 the night before. For that matter Ang did most of the hard work as I had to be on site 2 hours before the parade started to get queued up with the group. She got the mermaids dressed in their (current) favorite princess outfits and they sat atop the float waving their hearts out.
In a couple of these shots you can see Abby’s hand near her face. She was plugging her ears because the SeaFair Pirate Cannon was only 10 floats back. The report from that thing is, let’s just say, convincing.
I thought it was funny to watch the crowd react to the thundering cannon everytime it went off. You could almost see the speed of sound in the wave of reactions of the onlookers down the parade route.
Maybe this is a reaction to missing the STP. nah
Maybe this is the start of a mid-life crisis. nah nah
Maybe this is some kind of reverse-dare where I dare myself without provocation. no comment
If you know me…and I am pretty sure that you do otherwise you would be all like
Woops, I spelled ‘belief’ wrong.
and be gone before you ever got this far.
So, as a knower of me, you are at least familiar with my relationship with dare. Not just any ‘ol Tom, Dick, or Harry-dare (or would that be Tom, Jack, or Derriere…never-mind) but a dare that speaks to me…you know. A dare that has legs, one that comes from the heart, means something, and has (all important characteristic) a reason behind it.
I don’t jump off buildings into swimming pools or ride shopping carts down hills for TV, that’s just stupid, save that lunacy for Jack Derriere.
* But I will swat at a honey bee to prove to my younger brother that I am faster than a bee-sting: reverse-dare style.
* Or accompany friends to a 35 foot overpass to watch them jump into the lake and then show them how it’s done…alone: reverse-dare style.
* Or convince a friend that she was Princess Leia and I was Luke and I could easily hold on to the rope with my strong hand, hold her with the other, and swing into the river: revers – well that wasn’t reverse-dare style but it had reasoning.
There is always reasoning; maybe some tongue-hanging “didja see that” glory, a little bit of wacky-ness. I am playing this up too much, get to the point, Okay?
Ok, so it didn’t take much this time but there was reasoning, that’s all. One call to Bastelyon and we had it worked out. Ya see, he has been trying to make me run his first marathon with him…in November.
HA! a marathon? Hey, I said REASONING c’mon!
So here’s what I reverse-dare styled him to get me to do with him, with me:
I will run 3 miles with him if he will bike 12 miles with me and we both try to keep from drowning swim in the lake for a quarter mile, in succession. I think we can do it, and…well, we’re gonna Tri.
Every once in a while I break out the typing test. I have tested myself maybe twice since last time.
I hadn’t made any special efforts in the interim but I can tell when I am cruising or “feeling good” for typing so so I switched over this afternoon to do a quick test.
I was surprised and happy at the result. I may just make my goal of 100 wpm on this test.
this may feel a bit strange
Now 13 July
Ahh, home. What a weekend. And it isn’t even over yet. Gonna take tomorrow off so that Ang can just rest, Abby can still do swimming, and make sure that no mermaid climbs on her. THAT hospital had a very bad time keeping things together from the get go…but that is a different post.
2 hours ago
Ang is in the hospital, recovering, she is going home today. I smuggled in a Venti Mocha, and my computer so I could tell you all about it.
The girls want to stay at Nana’s house another day but I think it won’t happen again tonight. I am sure they love being the focus of attention, the painted fingernails and toes, and lots of movies. Maybe in a couple hours the 3 of us will get outside and wash the car and enjoy the beautiful afternoon sun.
I am in the hospital blogging with ‘loaded’ legs and a full nights sleep behind me.
14 hours ago
I am leaving the hospital after spending an hour or so nodding off while watching Pirates of the Caribbean III. I must say that the first hour of that movie is tedious. I smuggled in a chocolate bar for Ang for the movie but it didn’t make it past the DVD player setup.
15 hours ago, 12 July
I feel like I have to ride. My legs are juiced and I don’t care that it is 10PM, a ride through town in my t-shirt and shorts (which now present just way too much drag) over to Mom’s house for three personal pan pizzas that burn the roof of my mouth. The summer evening, and the breeze on my face, reminds me of being a teenager; too young to drive, too old to be in bed but not so grown up that a good game of hide-n-seek is out of the question. It is very liberating after the last 24 hours. Thank you so much to Nana and Papa for taking the girls for the night.
approximately 19 hours ago
Dad and JC finished the ride! Congrats you two. Hopefully you got a nice post ride picture that I can link to later. No cramps, extra energy, and a good tailwind at the end all combined for a good ride. Sorry to hear that JC had such pelvic pain. That was unexpected and made for a miserable ride until the Advil kicked in. 🙂
approximately 21 hours agoJust talked to Mom and she heard from Dad They were approaching the Lewiston bridge about an hour ago; Damn I’m good!
approximately 22 hours ago
Ang just called, she said she is feeling better but still needs the IV medication for pain. I guess she won’t be coming home tonight. I got a lot of work done today. I just stayed in all day despite the beautiful sun so I could be ‘on call’ and I just woke up from an unexpected nap. I guess I was a little tired after last night. By my estimation Dad and JC should be just about on the Lewiston Bridge by now.
approximately 30 hours ago
Dad just called. He said they were already in Centralia! He really wanted to check on Ang and let me know that he and Jim really miss me being there on the ride. I miss being there too. But priorities are priorities and I did,
by the way, make a vow “in good times and in bad”.
approximately 32 hours ago
Wow, she had her surgery at 2AM. That was fast! After waiting for 4 hours between the time that we got to the ER till the time the doc got time for her they sure moved quick on the surgery.
approximately 35 hours ago
Just got off the phone with Andy. He is incredulous that I am not riding. I am already over it, a lot has happened in the past 8 hours. PaPa called too, he was worried because Yvonne didn’t come home last night. I may as well get up and get over to the hospital so that I can be there when she goes in for surgery.
The girls will be hungry and I am sure Gramma Nana didn’t get much sleep with Emma. She isn’t just a kicker, she is a grinder too. Speaking of which…coffee.
approximately 37 hours ago
I had to at least see them off. Dad and JC are pretty upset that I am not gonna be able to ride with them. I think they both had a brief moment of denial, followed by a question about whether they wanted to ride or not. It didn’t (and shouldn’t) last long. They are there for each other and even though last nights activity didn’t make for the BEST night’s sleep they seem prepared enough. Dang this is early.
approximately 39 hours ago
Angela is getting admitted. She has a clear cut case appendicitis and the doc said she will probably have surgery sometime in the morning. It is abundantly clear that I will not be riding with the guys 200 miles to Portland starting in just a few hours. They should be able to make it just fine.
approximately 41 hours ago
Angela’s mom Nana is cleaning all of our dishes. Worried.
Ang is finally comfortable with a heavy double dose of pain reliever and she should be going in for a CT scan of her belly in about an hour to see if they can get a fix on what the problem is. I am still fuming about how LONG she just laid there, in clear pain. The STP is an also-ran.
approximately 42 hours ago
I have had it. I finally got into it with one of the orderlies/nurses and he took it for aggression. I clearly and loudly explained that I could walk out the door and get some Tylenol to at least help with her pain and he just said “rules are rules”. Nobody in this place has a snowballs chance of getting on my good side now. In fact, I don’t have a good side anymore. My good side was going to the STP and wasn’t worried about how much pain Ang is in. Ack!
approximately 44 hours and 15 minutes ago
[in a hurried voice] JC? I am sorry but I need to take Ang to the hospital.
No problem…It’s that bad?
Yeah, she is in a TON of pain.[in a calm Dad voice] Abby? I am gonna take Mommy to the doctor okay? JC is gonna stay here with you until Gramma Nana can get here.
Which doctor? You mean like where my doctor is?
Yeah.
Okay, as long as I know where you are.[on the phone]Dad? Can you come get JC and have him stay at your place instead of mine so that you all can get to sleep. I am taking Ang to the hospital.
No problem.
Thanks, bye.
approximately 44 hours and 30 minutes ago
Hey JC! C’mon in. Grab some pasta. We already ate but we are gonna get our bikes prepped a little bit here and then hit the hay! Ang is laying down for a few minutes. She isn’t feeling great.
See ya in the morning! [to Mom and Dad as they drive away].
approximately 45 hours ago
Hey Andy! Yeah, I am really full too. Kinda takes the edge off the butterflies doesn’t it? Cool. Maybe we’ll see you in the morning? Yep, we are starting out at 4AM and driving to get near the starting line. Allright. Get some sleep. See ya.
approximately 47 hours ago
Foods all ready. Mom and Dad should be here shortly. I am pacing around like a caged animal and the kids are endlessly squealing. Movie time. We just need to get the food done and the bed made for JC and the bike ready and…
Honey? [with a serious look]
Yeah.
I am having some serious gas pains.
Hm.
If this doesn’t stop there is no way I am going to Portland.
[blowing it off] Ok. It’ll be fine. [I can get a ride home with somebody…shouldn’t be an issue]
approximately 48 hours ago
Woo Hoo! I am home early. Feeling good, a little weak in the legs, but I am sure by tomorrow morning I should be good to go.
famous last words
blief 