I’m a little late here; having returned to my film cameras, I’m putting fewer pics on the site.  However, as I was downloading tonight I came across some random digitals of Brody’s birthday.

He greatly enjoyed indulging in his favorite combination obsession…lego’s and star wars.   He had also been wanting a Nintendo DS quite badly.  I spent weeks telling him how expensive they were and that it’d have to be a Santa thing or he’d have to really save…we just couldn’t afford it. 

So of course he got it…to heighten it for him, I wrapped it in four or five different bags, held securely with tape or staples and then that in a couple boxes.  By the time he got it, he was exhausted, but still happy enough to jump up and down.

I also used the opportunity to highlight my stellar parenting skills by giving him his first Ozzy t-shirt!  (We are currently learning ‘Iron Man’ in guitar lessons, though technically that’s a Black Sabbath song, not an Ozzy song). 

Often, I observe behaviors in the kids and am somewhat disappointed in my parenting (NOT referring to Ozzy here…maybe, Mo saying ‘I’m bored’ during the national anthem the other day is a better example) but just as often you see something that says ‘Hey!  Maybe they’ll be okay after all!’

With every gift, Brod was very deliberate about reading cards first AND ignoring any money till said card was read.

Finally, I’ve posted the dream shot for Grandma J of Brody blowing out his candles, just the way you like it!

Dad and I now have a running joke that on every motorcycle ride, I will lock up the back wheel during an abrupt stop at least once.  Well, it’s more of a scientific study than a joke, as to-date this year, I’m batting (or screeching) 1000.

Last week, I was watching the deer that we might’ve hit run off to our left, not noticing the other two following behind and coming from my right (and of course the Honda Accord in front of us)…SQUEAL!  Week before it was Dad and I approaching a flashing left turn signal and my assumption that Dad was just going to take it as all was clear.  He thought it was a solid red arrow…SQUAWK!  Last year is was any number of stop signs that are apparently not on my left where I tend to fixate but rather in front of me (and badly backlit in the setting sun)…SCREECH!

Fortunately, I am a motorcycling weeble and I DO NOT fall down!  Yay, a good use for a fat ass! J

Today, I had the day off and it was a perfect day for a ride.  Took off, dropped by the post office, had a very leisurely lunch at Leo’s (read the newspaper and tied up a booth for an hour while only needing to leave a two dollar tip…AM I READY FOR MY AARP CARD OR WHAT?) and then off to ride. 

Turns out on weekdays, when I’m usually at work, the really old and trucks hit the streets.  I’ve never seen so many sun-faded Lincolns in my life.  And why the hell do you buy a gas guzzling eight cylinder panzer if you’re only going to go 32 miles per hour?  So I was either going around turns that are normally nice little runs at twenty miles per hour, or if you prefer metric, 65 WHAT THE F**Ks per ometer.

When I wasn’t lane splitting to pass the Bill Knapps I was stuck behind a convoy of delivery semi’s who appear to prefer city streets to highways and are more intent on spewing exhaust in my face than actually transporting goods to their destination.

I rarely pass cars, but today…multiple times and even once MULTIPLE cars (I choose not to quantify so as not to upset my Dad or my Wife).

The worst incident today, and the cause of this particular trip’s brake-lockin’ good time occurred in South Lyon.  I was driving down a side street, maybe 30 mph and up ahead I see an old (like really old) dude in a truck at the next intersection (I’m going west and have right of way, he’s heading south and is supposed to wait till traffic clears to continue his southern trek); he is basically fixated on the teen gals who had gotten out of school and were walking on the opposing side of the street.  After the couple cars in front of me pass him, he just darts out into the intersection in front of me!

At this point, I’m very calm and serene as I plot how I’ll nail my dismount and get a 10 from everyone (except the German judge) and make note that he has his quadruple-focals on his forehead and he’s squinting at the girls.  Crosses my mind that when you’re a centurion, one should wears those on one’s nose so as to better see both traffic and the hotties. 

After making note of this I do what obviously comes natural, lock both wheels and keep the bike upright.  Fortunately, the right hand locks the front wheel, the right foot the back, leaving the left hand to hit the horn and then transition to the open palmed ‘What the hell are you thinking perv’ gesture finishing off with a finger brandishment. 

Brody has continued to have success in school.  He’s not a runaway genius by any means (he is related to me after all), nonetheless in all of his subjects he’s at the ‘top of the class’ (surprisingly, even second graders sit around and compare report cards) and gets the highest marks on all projects.

Attached below (click to enlarge…..(tee hee; that sounds dirty!)) is the grading rubric for this huge folder he put together on pond habitats.  (I’ve attached one page where he goes all scientist with a description and picture of one of several pond dwellers that he choose to study).

What impresses me most?  The final line….a BIBLIOGRAPHY!  He’s in second grade, and he’s creating bibliographies!