Happy New Year

Eden and Elly are spending the night with us tonight. In fact when Anna and Ken get done with the church high school group New Year's Eve activities they are staying the night too. They think it will be a little much waking up the girls to take them home. So we have a full house. With Rebekah that makes seven of us here to see in the new year.

I bought a used bicycle and blogged about it over here.

Luckiest Grandpa

This afternoon I am watching all three grand daughters, Georgia, Eden, and Elly, while Anna has lunch with MT. Before Anna left about 1:00, I was sitting with Elly thinking about how good it feels to have them around. Then I realized that what really feels good is that our kids like coming over and bringing their families.

Georgia's Birthday Party

Birthday Flip

I got a Flip Video for my birthday. Here is a little video of Georgia and Eden.

Elly Kirsten Wilkinson

Anna's baby came today.


Here is another picture.

Bicycle

Alrightythen, Jan tried out the bicycle today and after I adjusted the seat she thinks she might ride to work tomorrow.

Bicycle

Saturday I bought an old Schwinn Crossover (1980s, Made in China, I believe the bottom of their Cross models.)from a lady who had it listed on Craigslist. I gave her the full asking price of $10. I brought it home, aired up the tires (They're still holding.), and cruised around the neighborhood. Sunday I rode it to church and back. Then later, cleaned it some and took apart and rebuilt the pedals. The bearings were a mess. Tonight I adjusted the brakes, cleaned some more and rode around a little. It is turning out to be a nice bike. I mentioned to Jan that it rides real well. She's thinking about riding it to work this week. I think it is worth $20 now. Before too long I'll put on new tires.

While looking up information on the Crossfit on the internet, I ran across a cool bike blog. I put a link to it on the right of this page. I am amazed at the things some people are doing to restore old bikes. Someday it would be interesting to find something really old like from the 50s or even pre WWII and see how close to original I could get it.

Tour of California

I left work about 3:30 today at the urging of a couple friends and made it to Old Town in time to catch the racers. This first group was past in a flash. I took the picture on the corner of Woodworth and Second. It was amazing, quite a deal.

Third day on the treadmill with my backpack, it's getting easier. 35 minutes, 1.25 miles.

Evolution Valley

I hope to do The Big Walk 2009 this summer with some guys from church. I spent some time on our treadmill today with my backpack on. I had it loaded with 20 pounds of sand. The plan is to hike into Evolution Valley with options to do some local peaks for those so inclined. I figure after hiking 18 miles in I will be looking to be reclined on a nice foam pad with a good book.

Celebrity Collage by MyHeritage

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Family history research - Roots

Eden's Slide Show

Georgia's Slide Show

Toy Trains

Years ago my sister, Heather bought some electric train stuff at a yard sale of a friend of hers. She gave some of it to me. This week for the first time in years I got it out and have been tinkering around getting it to go. I have it set up on a partial sheet of plywood. Jan says Georgia will love it. Georgia enjoyed the one we saw at the tree farm where I was Santa last Sunday. Seeing that one is what started me thinking of setting mine up for Christmas. Rebekah asked about having the train go around our Christmas tree, but I don't think I have enough track and don't have things running well enough to be sure the engine wouldn't stop on the backside of the tree. So far it has been fun. When I get things going well, I'll put up a picture.

Does anyone (Sara?)know anything about fractals. I watched Nova on channel 18 last night and lost a lot of sleep thinking about them. So much so that I emailed a math professor I know and asked questions and gave my thoughts. I hope that is the end of it and I get some sleep tonight.

I went for a bike ride today after work. Rebekah had to come pick me up at the Clovis Hospital. I had a flat tire, only made a little over nine miles, Fowler Ave. to Sheppard to Tollhouse Road to the Hospital.

I put my bicycle back together today and went out for a little ride to the hardware store. The bike seems fine. Maybe I don't need another after all. I hope to be on it regularly again.

Cycling

I signed up to follow a blog today. Pushing Pedals is a blog by a young man who is riding his bicycle across the country.
I also have become a craigslist junkie. I have been looking for a road bike for myself.

Biking

Yesterday I joined some friends from Eagles Harbor Community Church for a bike ride. We left about 8:00 AM and rode a little over 35 miles up around Avacado Lake. It was my longest ride. I rode a Specialized Allez that belongs to fellow rider Gary Gerrard. My old Raleigh Grand Prix has a broken spoke. Next time we will try to get some others from Mountain View Church to join us.