Outpost in the sky

John and Emmalee hanging out on top of the shed, which has become their fort.

This picture represents their afternoon's work. I see "My Little Pony" (from Emmalee) and rocket, and a Space 1999 Eagle (from John).

Weekend Getaway

Our bikes are loaded and ready for our weekend getaway.

This local landmark in Morgantown Indiana was where we stopped for lunch. We'd ridden past it on pretty much every one of our trips to Brown County, but had never been there at the right time to eat.

This town is used to bikes passing through; it's a common route for bikes heading to some of the most scenic routes in the state.

It seems a rite-of-passage for me, traveling through Brown County -- must stop and take a picture of the infamous Gatesville sign. A single sign marks both the entry and exit point of this tiny town.

Carolyn waits while I snap a few pictures.

My bike, parked at the Lake House we're borrowing for the weekend. We stopped here to drop off our luggage, then hit the road again.

Many small towns have streets with no name. This is the first time I've seen a street sign announcing this fact.

From Seymour we traveled back to Brownstown, Story and Nashville. We ate a remarkably mediocre mexican dinner. Here's Carolyn striking "Casa Del Sol, Nashville" off our list.

"Would you stop taking my picture?!?!?!"

End of the day, helmets and jackets resting on the couch. A great ride. About 200 miles.

The lakehouse across the inlet from where we stayed. Flowering dogwood, or rosebud, or some purple-blossomed tree was in bloom everywhere. Very beautiful.

Carolyn's bike at the lake house, ready for another day of riding.

Martinsville gas stop.

Franklin Indiana

Inside Don&Donna's Restaurant

The courthouse

Don&Dona's Restaurant

Franklin. indiana. Last stop on our trip.

center of complexity

i had to help in the data center at work. on a sunday. at least i slept last night. most of the folks had been there all night.

Child's play

All the passers-by thought it was just a drainage ditch. only my children realized the strategic importance of capturing the fortress. Here they stand, triumphant.

hide and seek

Emmalee plays hide and seek. Perfect Emmalee shaped pile of laundry.

King Cobras

John drew pictures of several king cobras.

Running circles

John and emmalee do laps at a pit stop in cincinnati on our family adventure to look at a camper. a little exercise to break up two plus hours on the road.

Spring Break

John curls up with a 'Calvin and Hobbes' book from the library.

Token

I also have the dolphin Emmalee gave me for Christmas placed prominently on my desk.

2008 Motorcycle Calendar

The calendar Emmalee made me for christmas has a prominent place in my office and is the envy of every motorcyclist who sees it.

Father and Son Activity For Saturday Morning

Mom and Emmalee were at a birthday party. John and Dad spent the morning building "Eagle Transporters" (from Space 1999) with legos. Here are the Eagles we built of all shapes and sizes. I built the first and biggest, improperly colored one on the left. John built the properly colored one (white) next to it. We each built a handful of the others. As the lego supply was depleted, the objective became who can built the smallest Eagle.

Dad, how'd you get so good at building with legos?

Hmmm, I don't know, years of practice I guess.

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea

There's a hole in the bottom of the sea.
There's a hole in the bottom of the sea
There's a hole, there's a hole, there's a hole in the bottom of the sea...

There's a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...
There's a bump on a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...
There's a frog on a bump on a log in a hole in the bottom of the sea...


John illustrated it, and took it farther than I've ever seen it taken.

Frankly, I'm lost after frog, but I pick it up again after "man"

there's a fly on a man...
there's a can on a fly on a man...
there's a snake on a can on a fly on a man...

Then what is that ...
there's an apple on a snake?

Could it be some biblical garden-of-eden reference?

There's a car on an apple?

I don't get it.

There's a Tree on a car?

Now I really am lost.

I lose it again after tree.

I do recognize window

There's a spider on a window...
There's a House on a spider on a window...
There's a Satellite dish on a house on a spider on a window...
There's a Bicycle on a satellite dish on a house on a spider on a window...

I need to track him down, sit him down, and make him explain to me what the details are that I'm sure I missed.

Black Horse In A Cherry Tree

Emmalee decorated a paper plate for the song "Black Horse In A Cherry Tree" by K.T. Tunstall. The back features K.T. herself performing the song, complete with tamborine under her right foot. As seen on youtube.

Easter Egg Hunt

Hunting for easter eggs at gramma karen's house.

Games

Super tic tac toe at .subway

A walk in the woods

Geese left their footprints in the ice and snow.

The flood waters have receded leaving acres of ice on dry land. we took a wall with gramma and the kids to survey the new landscape. though by this time there had been several days in the forties, the had was still thick. we slated and even tried to jump with enough force to break through the ice . . 4. something wot wouldn't do he the had weren't on dry land.

Posing by their creation.

A dog house made by j and e.

Tears are wiped away

. Emmalee and daddy.

Geekin' Out

A trip back to age 10.
I didn't know SPACE: 1999 was available on DVD. I had forgotten how much I loved this show at age 10.
A friend at work loaned me the first set -- 6 episodes.



I was giddy! Just looking at the DVD packaging, suddenly the memories all flooded back into my mind... I have notebooks from 1976 filled with pictures of "Eagles". I dreamt of living on Moonbase Alpha.


And John's at about the right age. I knew I'd enjoy watching them with him.

So, I watched the first episode "Breakaway Moon" and was appalled at how horrible it was.

I reported back to CW, my friend at work. "I watched episode 1."

"And?!?!?! What'd you think?" he asked, eagerly.

"It was so AWFUL!" I replied.

"How could you SAY that?!!?" he asked.

"You know, at least Shatner and Nimoy looked like they enjoyed their jobs. Landau and Bain look like they're bored. They're just walking through the script with no enthusiasm for their job."

He thought for a minute. "They get better."

"I believe you. I'm determined. I'm gonna watch more. I mean, I loved the show as a kid, I have to relive some of it now."

Then I watched "Matter of Life and Death" and reported back: "That was better."

Then I watched "Black Sun" and reported back: "This is more like it. This is the show I knew and loved."

John and I watched it together. John said, "Would that really happen if you got sucked into a black hole?"

I said, "No, not really.... well, actually nobody knows for sure, nobody's been sucked into a black hole and lived to tell about it."

Dog House

A dog house built by j and e for her stuffed dog toy. when it was accidently bumped and damaged, j willingly undertook a restoration project.

Brotherly

john built a car for his sisters stuffed animal. like his father did for his sisters in the olden days.

Fun and games

The kids played a wicked game of scrabble with gramma while mom and dad went to a movie

Motorcycles

There is hope.

Puppy love

Trip to the pet store