My appearance is substandard.

I have now given three speeches in my public speaking class. On the two of them, I have had points deducted for my appearance being "substandard". Nice.

Garrett is getting more and more capable. This is truly a joy to see and I am thankful that I have people in my life that we able to help me get things back in order.

I guess he owes Ocean some strings, but damn, he really likes that guitar...


They are getting bigger and I am getting older.


My arm is really sore right now, but I tried to ride anyways. Things are stabilizing in my head, but I still feel a little off. I took some pictures...Adam getting radical...


Tim has these tire slides in the bowl that are a delight. The Sword would probably approve...

Getting back to normal...

It's been a crazy last few weeks, but we are getting back to it. Garrett is doing so awesome with his potty training...he gets up on his own (usually by calling for one of us) in the middle of the night to make deposits in the pee bank, which is excellent for a three-year-old.

Anna is killing it in school and was a great zombie cheerleader for Halloween (pics later). I am so very proud of that kid.

Ocean has switched back to skateboarding again. This would be frustrating as hell were it not for the fact that his bike was so unbelievably inexpensive.

Phoenix needs to use less conditioner.

This "house check" for the BMX house in Austin, TX was awesome. I lived in a rider house for a bit and looking back...it was probably some of the best fun I had in my 20's. God, that was a long time ago.

http://www.odysseybmx.com/dailyword/2009/11/austin-bmx-house-check/

Of patches and pumpkins

We took the kids to the corn maze/pumpkin patch on Sunday. It was a very much a wonderful time and I am pretty sure they had a great day, which is all I can ask for as a father.

More to come...

All of these worlds are yours except Europa.

Attempt no landings there.

I saw this title on a Gizmodo blog earlier in the week and it served to remind me how much I love that line from 2010: The Year We Make Contact. I feel like I missed my calling, since I am absolutely captivated by anything that has to do with space exploration. Anna seems to have an interest in it though, so perhaps I will live vicariously through her. The idea that there is a vast intelligence out there that essentially gives the evolutionary process a nudge is tantalizing, to say the least.

So, on to other things. Given the current state of affairs, the motivation to ride my bike or get out and take pictures has been sapped. My world is very much in limbo, which affects everything. My focus on school has not been as sharp, while my focus on work has increased in an effort to occupy my mind so that I do not dwell on what lay ahead of me and my family. It is my hope that a return to sanity and normalcy is on the horizon and that sound reason will dictate matters...not raw emotion.

So, while the will to do much else has been absent, I was coaxed outside on a Sunday a few weeks back and took some pictures of friends from Johnson City. All of those guys are committed riders and are genuinely good humans as well. Check it...


Jake Hunter with experiments in facial hair!


Jake Booher with failures in facial hair. Makes up for it in boost.


Will Love with confirmation that he is pretty good.


I can never remember this guy's name. Sorry, good guy.

So, Garrett is in the living room with Anna reading some books, so I will have some more pics up later of kids. Being a dad ain't at all bad.

The old world is rapidly fading.

Yes, the times they are a changing. It's pretty unoriginal to quote Bob Dylan here, but that is just about the best way I can sum up what is happening in the world concerning my family. Many of you know the situation that I am facing, and I appreciate the concern and kindness that I have received from my friends. I really don't want to get into it here, but just know that we are working very hard to get things back to normal. The kids are stressed out about as much as Mica and I are, but everyone knows that no matter what happens, we're still a family and nothing will tear that down.

We got to celebrate Garrett's birthday last weekend, and with the inclusion of BMX stuff, skateboard stuff and pizza, the G was in some sort of 3 year old boy heaven.

Under the watchful eye of big sister as he makes his wish...


My little sister Jaime brought Anna and Garrett's cousins for the celebration. This shot was about as close as I got to getting them all in there...Aiden is chilling on the floor...Madison is breathing on someone out of the frame...


We had a pinata, and though he is blurry, the look on my son's face is priceless. Also...looks like he might be a lefty. Just like his old man. We're awesome.


Aunt Amy sent over a special pillow case for his birthday that he loved. He made great use of it after passing out at the end of a really awesome day. I'll eat you up I love you so...


I'll have some BMX pics up in a bit. Thanks to Corey for the header design. I am a fan.

Happy birthday, son.

We've come a long way from the day you came home.


We've got many more years of wrestling time and seesaw riding ahead of us.

Happy 3rd birthday. I love you.

Things have changed.

That is all I can say right now. Well, I can also say this...

I'll eat you up I love you so.