Brace yourself

Originally, I felt like I was Roy Munson, what with my huge splint and swollen hand...

So I've been "Munsoned"...first the bulky original splint and now I'm more like  Ernie McCracken (Bill Murray in "kingpin") with a sweet wrist brace for the next 4 weeks...at least I can wear sweaters again...

Now I am more like Ernie McCracken (sans hair) with a much sweeter wrist brace...

Year Ending

This weekend has been both chill and hectic. It's an awesome time as it's my 2 days with Jake. Saturday opened up with him flying up to the door and raring to build Legos. I obliged of course and we spent 2 hours constructing some more planes and trucks for his army. I am amazed each time with his creativity and skill. We work very well together on Legos, rummaging through the bins, the crushing sound of Lego's swishing as Jake calls out/requests a "flat 2-er", or a "fat 4-er"... I search for him and he searches for me and in the end he gets a sweet armada!

Saturday around noon, we joined Curtis, Sean Whalling from Soulcraft and Jake's bud (and Curtis' neighbor) Jeffrey on a trip to Sacramento to attend a benefit/raffle for frame builder Steve Rex who was recently pretty badly hurt on a ride (broken femur and shoulder). Steve builds incredible frames and has a bike shop in Sac. It was really amazing to see the level of support Steve garnered...they offered $10 raffle tickets, had hoped to pull in $2500, and when all was said and done, $30,000 was donated to his medical bills/family...it brought tears to a lot of people's eyes...Jake was totally stoked as his raffle ticket number was called-he won a pair of Voler leg warmers!

Saturday night, Jake wanted to stay up "all night" so we tried. Let's see more lego'ing, kick back and watch Clone Wars, sip some hot cocoa and marshmallows and spend 2 hours reading an incredible book from my childhood, "Where the Red Fern Grows". Surprisingly, Jake made it to midnight!

Sunday brought a later wake-up and rain. We settled into Legos (surprise) and the headed ou to First Squeeze for some breakfast. From there it was marathon time...Hit the Loose Caboose for some "Racing Orange" Spray paint to start a 1964 Ford Stock car model Curtis and Mitzi gave Jake for Christmas.

 Let's see, picked up a new pair of sweet black and white checkered slip on Vans for Jake-mo...

...did some christmas shopping for cousins Kaya and Kaleb, some grocery shopping, then back home for...Lego Building!

Papa and YaYa stopped by so we did Mexican food with them and then back home to finish the Lego fleet, shoot some digi-pics of it, hit up bath-time and a little more reading before shut-eye time.

Whew!

As a single Dad, it's bittersweet, I see my son only 40% of the time (soon to be 50%), so when he's here, it's all I can do to cram as much time doing "stuff" as possible---the other days of the week, no matter how "fun" I try to make them, just aren't the same...anyway, I am super-excited to give him my gifts, as there are some incredible surprises coming!

I tried...

So like every 4-5 years my parents get a new whip...and since the economy is in the shitter and car dealers are serving up sweet deals, my dad called yesterday to say he was heading out to look at new cars today.

I jumped at the opportunity to run interference, this was gonna be the year they didn't get a Corolla...You see they've had 5 Corollas in  a row. Five. Corollas are nice enough, but damn, try a new flavor...

You gotta understand this goes back a loooooong way. Like 1984. 

Trade in Ford Fairmont on maybe a new thing called a mini-van. My brother and I were hyped on the Toyota mini-van, we took one home overnight. No-go. My mom did not like how you basically sat on bumper.

Plan B-Alfa Romeo Milano...I tried...hard...

No go...we got a brown 1984 Plymouth Voyager...

One loss.

Time passes and Corollas start coming and going.

5 years ago we set out in earnest. No Corolla. I thought I had my dad into a new Beetle. He had history with VW. Bought new bugs in 1954, 1967, 1972, 1974. We spent time at VW. he seemed sold. Went home, told my mom a Bug was in the cards...Rejected.

They went out the next day without us and came home with...a Corolla.

Today. Headed out with them in that Corolla. But I did my time online night before. Outlined, reviewed options...Honda Civic, Honda Fit, VW Jetta TDI, Subaru Imprezza, Mazda 3 sedan...had all of them on screen when I was picked up...to Toyota dealer we went.

Drive over I mentioned VW...."nah" said my dad.

At dealer they made bee line for 09 Corollas. I had no chance.

"Peep the Rav4"...I said

My mom liked it, walked back to Corolla.

My dad, at 73 was unflappable. He was getting a Corolla. All that needed to be decided was arguing with my mom on interior and exterior color.

DAMN!

Sensing my personal loss (like it's really a loss!--it's not my car, my dad is a grown man deserving of whatever he wants...and more), I settled into making sure they got a cool(er) Corolla...pointed toward Dark Grey XLE with sat radio, bluetooth, moon roof, alloys, CD changer, power everything ... They took the bait! 

Although my mom was totally against the steering wheel stereo/phone controls..."too dangerous"... they seemed to agree and like it.

4 hours later, Corolla 6 joined the family.

No big loss, I have my own life to lead...goal is set... my used Mini or maybe Nissan Qube is like 6 months away...

I am screwed

Yep. Totally.

6 weeks to recover.

Serious pain meds, the shit hollywood types get addicted to...kinda freaky.

All from a ride with my son and my friend.

W  oh  W...

Thanks a million to all who offered their thoughts, but most importantly to my mom, dad, Curtis, Karlie and most definitely, Jake.

Seeing how important being on my bike has been this past year, it's a little freaky to not have that "crutch" for 6 weeks, but I'll make it...

JRA

Nice work today. 

Totally broke my wrist (third time same wrist) on a "family ride" with Jake today...that will teach me to try and get my wheels off the ground!

Off to ortho tomorrow or so to get re-set and cast...

Freakin' great...

Thanks goes out to Jake, Karlie, Curtis & Mitzi and my Mom and Dad for helping me out today...