05/14
It hit me. It finally hit me. If Trainboy’s knees wouldn’t clear the handlebars- lowering the seat would make no sense because you need to keep a nice extension when pedaling. Raising the handlebar headset could work, but it that failed, just rotating the handlebars upwards would make the most sense. Sometimes my mind is soooooo slow.
So I got out the wrenches again, rotated the handlebars, and it worked great. He is one happy Trainboy. I put the training wheels back on. The sidewalk is so wide open.
Now what do we do with the bike we just bought? It’s a nice bike. The front is suspended and it didn’t cost much. The Thrifty Wife says we shall keep it. SHE HAS SPOKEN.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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Friday, May 14, 2004
Thursday, May 13, 2004
05/13
Went to Wal-Mart to buy Trainboy a new bike. I still can’t believe he needs a new one, he just isn’t that big. The next step up from his little one appears huge- 20 inches. This seems so not right. Not a salesperson around.
I got one down off the rack. Fortunately it had a quick-release seat. Maybe somebody figured out that the one thing that would increase sales was a quick-release seat so you can quickly see if a bike will work. I put the seat as far down as practical and call Trainboy over to try it. Apparently it will work, but I’m still not convinced.
Regardless, it is now time to decide on a color scheme. The Super Mom shows him all the different colors. He is intimidated but decides on a blue and green one.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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Went to Wal-Mart to buy Trainboy a new bike. I still can’t believe he needs a new one, he just isn’t that big. The next step up from his little one appears huge- 20 inches. This seems so not right. Not a salesperson around.
I got one down off the rack. Fortunately it had a quick-release seat. Maybe somebody figured out that the one thing that would increase sales was a quick-release seat so you can quickly see if a bike will work. I put the seat as far down as practical and call Trainboy over to try it. Apparently it will work, but I’m still not convinced.
Regardless, it is now time to decide on a color scheme. The Super Mom shows him all the different colors. He is intimidated but decides on a blue and green one.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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Wednesday, May 12, 2004
05/12/2004
The Super Mom tried to get Trainboy to ride his bike. His knees kept hitting the handlebars. What can they do but call for Super Dad, disguised as mild-mannered humble dad.
So I got out a wrench and lowered the seat. Didn’t really work. Got out the allen wrenches and raised the handle-bar head. Didn’t really work either. I just can’t believe he’s outgrown that bike already.
Super Wife and I discussed it, it appears we will take a trip to a local purveyor of fine Chinese goods and see what’s available.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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The Super Mom tried to get Trainboy to ride his bike. His knees kept hitting the handlebars. What can they do but call for Super Dad, disguised as mild-mannered humble dad.
So I got out a wrench and lowered the seat. Didn’t really work. Got out the allen wrenches and raised the handle-bar head. Didn’t really work either. I just can’t believe he’s outgrown that bike already.
Super Wife and I discussed it, it appears we will take a trip to a local purveyor of fine Chinese goods and see what’s available.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
-
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
05/11/04
The Super Wife had to go to the hospital for some additional CEU’s (continuing educational units.) So I walked to Ms. Pikachu’s school to get her myself. On the way home it started to rain. Just before we got home it turned into a downpour. Life could be worse. Life could also be drier.
When we got home I went inside. It seemed the natural thing to do. Ms. Pikachu did not follow. I walked back out on the porch and there she was, under a downspout that sends the water from some of the roof and porch into the driveway. It doesn’t lead all the way to the ground, it just pours it like a waterfall from the roof of the porch onto driveway cement. She was drenched and loving it. I asked her, “Are you happy?” She started singing, “I feel good, duh, nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh, like I knew that I would…” It was funny, yet strange, to have my 12 year-old daughter answer a question with a James Brown riff. She sang about a verse.
Amused, I went inside because the Super Wife had walked to the hospital and I thought that if she wanted a ride home I’d better be by the phone. I could not just drive over there and wait for her; the place has a dozen doors with a parking garage. If somebody offered her a ride I’d miss her. Depending on the door she used I’d miss her. So I waited by the phone like a good Jewish mother. She got home on her bike. Rather beautiful for being all wet, her, not the bike.
I went to the back door to unlock it and put out some more birdseed. She put her bike away herself because she’s self-sufficient that way. While we were talking Ms. Pikachu came around laughing. She said that she had gone back under the downspout and started singing ‘I Feel Good’ again. Some people walking by gave her the weirdest looks. She loved it. It’s probably not going to get any better.
This evening the Super Wife was bushed. It was decided we’d eat at the little Italian place. On the way we dropped off two garbage bags full of toys at the Salvation Army. Two garbage bags full, and you can hardly see the difference. Somewhere along the way Ms. Pikachu got her hands on a little chicken no wider than a quarter. Size doesn’t matter when a manic attack is coming.
As we sat at our table she went nuts with the chicken. “Help me people, I can’t work this chicken alone.” She knocked the chicken over several times. “Aw, the chicken is narcoleptic.” The chicken is finally knocked upside down. Gravely, “Chicken is dead. When their feet point at the sky you know they’re dead.” She turns chicken upright. “Oh, chicken isn’t dead after all! Chicken, did you see a bright light?” Train Boy replied, "I think it saw a train." He was laughing and couldn’t control his root beer.
The kid gets more mileage out of a couple feathers than anyone I know. She’s just nuts, but it makes for an entertaining evening.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
-
The Super Wife had to go to the hospital for some additional CEU’s (continuing educational units.) So I walked to Ms. Pikachu’s school to get her myself. On the way home it started to rain. Just before we got home it turned into a downpour. Life could be worse. Life could also be drier.
When we got home I went inside. It seemed the natural thing to do. Ms. Pikachu did not follow. I walked back out on the porch and there she was, under a downspout that sends the water from some of the roof and porch into the driveway. It doesn’t lead all the way to the ground, it just pours it like a waterfall from the roof of the porch onto driveway cement. She was drenched and loving it. I asked her, “Are you happy?” She started singing, “I feel good, duh, nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh, like I knew that I would…” It was funny, yet strange, to have my 12 year-old daughter answer a question with a James Brown riff. She sang about a verse.
Amused, I went inside because the Super Wife had walked to the hospital and I thought that if she wanted a ride home I’d better be by the phone. I could not just drive over there and wait for her; the place has a dozen doors with a parking garage. If somebody offered her a ride I’d miss her. Depending on the door she used I’d miss her. So I waited by the phone like a good Jewish mother. She got home on her bike. Rather beautiful for being all wet, her, not the bike.
I went to the back door to unlock it and put out some more birdseed. She put her bike away herself because she’s self-sufficient that way. While we were talking Ms. Pikachu came around laughing. She said that she had gone back under the downspout and started singing ‘I Feel Good’ again. Some people walking by gave her the weirdest looks. She loved it. It’s probably not going to get any better.
This evening the Super Wife was bushed. It was decided we’d eat at the little Italian place. On the way we dropped off two garbage bags full of toys at the Salvation Army. Two garbage bags full, and you can hardly see the difference. Somewhere along the way Ms. Pikachu got her hands on a little chicken no wider than a quarter. Size doesn’t matter when a manic attack is coming.
As we sat at our table she went nuts with the chicken. “Help me people, I can’t work this chicken alone.” She knocked the chicken over several times. “Aw, the chicken is narcoleptic.” The chicken is finally knocked upside down. Gravely, “Chicken is dead. When their feet point at the sky you know they’re dead.” She turns chicken upright. “Oh, chicken isn’t dead after all! Chicken, did you see a bright light?” Train Boy replied, "I think it saw a train." He was laughing and couldn’t control his root beer.
The kid gets more mileage out of a couple feathers than anyone I know. She’s just nuts, but it makes for an entertaining evening.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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Monday, May 10, 2004
We watched 'Secondhand Lions' with the kids. You get Michael Caine and Robert Duvall as brothers. That's worth watching a viewing right there. Supposedly they're nutty millionaires living in the middle of nowhere Texas, so a lousy mother dumps her son off with them for a few weeks so he can find out where the money is. She tells the brothers they need to show their nephew how to be a man since he doesn't have a father and it will only be for a few weeks. Then she takes off.
Apparently their idea of being a good influence is sitting on their porch with shotguns on their laps and shooting at salesmen. They get a lot of laughs with their shotguns.
And the boy also learns something about what it is to be a man.
It was a good movie. The kids enjoyed it. It wouldn't surprise me if the Super Wife buys it.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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Apparently their idea of being a good influence is sitting on their porch with shotguns on their laps and shooting at salesmen. They get a lot of laughs with their shotguns.
And the boy also learns something about what it is to be a man.
It was a good movie. The kids enjoyed it. It wouldn't surprise me if the Super Wife buys it.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
-
05/10/04
We went to Target with the kids. Some things are absolutely predictable. After getting a few items in Health we continued on to get Ms. Pikachu some art supplies. We did not get past Toys. At least some of us didn’t get past Toys.
Train Boy believes he cannot just walk past a toy section. If he doesn’t get something we have failed to understand that he must get at least one thing anytime he goes through a toy section. Super Wife and Ms. Pikachu continued the long journey to art supplies, I stayed with Train Boy, and can that boy shop. First he checked out all the Hot Wheels, then he checked out all the LEGO’S, then it was Thomas the Tank Engine. That’s all I remember, but I know there was more. I do. I know.
After he made his final decision we headed out for the art supplies like we were driving cows to Abilene. Of course, by the time we got there they were gone. There was no alternative, Mr. Favor and Rowdie Yates hitched up our pants and kept driving all the way to Montana by way of Women’s Wear. And there we found them. It wasn’t long that I knew we should have said, “Meet you at the Target Grill Watering Hole.” Ms. Pikachu was going Trail Happy.
DaaAAaad! was her setup, followed with her fashion punch line. “Dad you wouldn’t believe some of the ugly clothes they’ve got here. This blouse is awful and it looks even worse with this ugly skirt. Here, let me hold them up in front of you. See?” “Dad, this blouse is so busy it makes you look lazy.” “Dad, this would be a two piece top with the skirt, so hold up the under piece for me, would you? Thanks” Super Wife did not help when she said, “That looks good on you.”
“Dad, I’m thinking this hot pink top would look really good with your hula skirt.” She was going blonde manic and loving it. It’s funny how a kid can rob you of any sense of dignity, humiliate you in public, and you don’t mind as long as you’re getting laughs out of it too.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
-
We went to Target with the kids. Some things are absolutely predictable. After getting a few items in Health we continued on to get Ms. Pikachu some art supplies. We did not get past Toys. At least some of us didn’t get past Toys.
Train Boy believes he cannot just walk past a toy section. If he doesn’t get something we have failed to understand that he must get at least one thing anytime he goes through a toy section. Super Wife and Ms. Pikachu continued the long journey to art supplies, I stayed with Train Boy, and can that boy shop. First he checked out all the Hot Wheels, then he checked out all the LEGO’S, then it was Thomas the Tank Engine. That’s all I remember, but I know there was more. I do. I know.
After he made his final decision we headed out for the art supplies like we were driving cows to Abilene. Of course, by the time we got there they were gone. There was no alternative, Mr. Favor and Rowdie Yates hitched up our pants and kept driving all the way to Montana by way of Women’s Wear. And there we found them. It wasn’t long that I knew we should have said, “Meet you at the Target Grill Watering Hole.” Ms. Pikachu was going Trail Happy.
DaaAAaad! was her setup, followed with her fashion punch line. “Dad you wouldn’t believe some of the ugly clothes they’ve got here. This blouse is awful and it looks even worse with this ugly skirt. Here, let me hold them up in front of you. See?” “Dad, this blouse is so busy it makes you look lazy.” “Dad, this would be a two piece top with the skirt, so hold up the under piece for me, would you? Thanks” Super Wife did not help when she said, “That looks good on you.”
“Dad, I’m thinking this hot pink top would look really good with your hula skirt.” She was going blonde manic and loving it. It’s funny how a kid can rob you of any sense of dignity, humiliate you in public, and you don’t mind as long as you’re getting laughs out of it too.
http://publicserf.blogspot.com
Whine at me: publicserf@yahoo.com
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