James and Family

Among all the other holiday activities this week, I spent the Friday after thanksgiving trying to complete some woodworking, as mentioned in a previous entry.

This project not being my own, it was an opportunity to acquire a drill press that I've had my eye on for some years now, but could never quite justify buying.


the nephew and niece.

Freilachmakers Klesmer String Band. I brought Isabel to attend a performance by a local string band. It was a great performance. As expected, the daughter tends to get restless and so we had to leave early.


Where's Miffy? I also took her to a scheduled appearance of Miffy -- a children's book/cartoon character. Miffy, however, was nowhere to be found.

Upon inquiry, the host informed me discretely that Miffy's head had arrived but not the rest of her body, but that I could rest assured that they were following up the matter with FedEx.


max 25w. taken during dinner with the Usual Suspects.

note: myself noticing the lighting fixtures is not meant to be a reflection on our scintillating gossip, er, conversation that evening.


Kayla on a swing. Last Saturday.

signing in at mikaela's birthday


tropa


at the park


isabel at the park


kayla at the park


the moon last night

As I sit here typing this, I am exhausted. I just came from my first bike rides of the year, which are now possible for me since the Baby is no longer in that super-fragile stage. Last Friday I joined a 30-mile bicycle club ride and today I rode 38 miles with the club. There were about 40 riders today.

Now my lower back is recovering from the pain of the ride and so is my right knee.

And guess what -- I brought my camera for today's ride. So here we go.


Don't try this at home. With the camera dangling from my neck, going down a slope at 25 mph, I fired a few shots. Later I discovered to my horror that I left the camera set at shutter speed 1/30, so many exposures were off -- including this and some scenic shots of the trail by the lake. I hate it when that happens.


More of the Bikehikers in action. After I was able to correct my settings.


And somewhere in between my two bike rides, I spent some time with my friends Anakin, Padme and Obi-wan.