laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

I took this photo on Easter Sunday, 2005 at the beach on Honeymoon Island. Ethan is six years old in this photo.

May 13-15, my family went camping with my friends Randy and RC and their families to Alafia River State Park. Alafia River State Park contains some of the best off-road cycling trails in Florida, because it used to be a phosphate mine. Randy, RC, and I wanted to go specifically so we could experience what the other off-road riders were talking about, and also because we were starting to lose the sense of challenge when riding the Wilderness Park trails. I had looked at some of the photos of the trails at Alafia, and we figured that since we were doing well at Wilderness Park, and had even raced with the big dogs in February at the Squiggy Classic, we were ready. Little did I know.

I made a really big decision last night, at least for me. I was logging on last night when Julie saw my computer wallpaper - a black and red Gary Fisher bicycle, the Cake 4 DLX. The Cake 4 DLX is about $1400, which for me makes it more a dream bike than anything else. Julie said something about how it was good to have a goal, and then suggested that if I were to sell my motorcycle I could probably afford it.

Wednesday was my birthday. Wednesdays are always hectic, since Julie is in charge of the preschool at church and that's the day I use to do updates and preventive maintenance on the computers in the church office and tutoring lab. But we decided to splurge and go out for dinner before church, and it was a really nice time.

Julie and the boys arrived after I did, and I was already seated at our table. They came in carrying three huge bags -- I hadn't been expecting presents, at least not right then. Ethan gave me a very nice cap. It's hard for me to describe, so I'll just have to post a picture. Seth gave me a 1L blue water bottle with a screw-on lid. It's made of the same kind of plastic that goes into bulletproof windows, so it should be pretty durable. Julie gave me a set of Crank Brothers egg beater pedals, Answer Impact cycling shoes, and $500 to go toward the purchase of a new bicycle! Wow! I was so totally overwhelmed with her thoughtfulness.

Ethan earned his yellow belt in December, 2004. Here I am tying the belt on for the first time during the ceremony.