James rides a pedal bicycle today without training wheels

Success!  The training paid off.  These pictures are in our garage tonight.

After a year of the balance "Skuut" bike, James rides a big boy bicycle without training wheels.  The Skuut bike probably set us back $200.00, but the big boy bike, which he loves, is a Goodwill special that probably ran us $10.00.  He's reached this milestone earlier than I did.


The lessons: (1) buy stuff cheap when you can, but splurge if necessary; and (2) train consistently, but not obsessively.




James resolutions for 2014:

1. learn to swim;
2. learn to read.

A perfect end to a great year for the youngster, a year of growth and accomplishments.

Comments on The Blue Nowhere, Jeffery Deaver (2001)

This is another old used book I got from a thrift store.  This one was a murder mystery perpetrated by a hacker.  It was written at a time when hackers were cool, and before "geek" became a compliment.  Other than that interesting throwback, and the fact that it's set in Northern California, the book does not have much to commend it.

Adventure with James:LA Zoo, Gene Autry Museum, Travel Town

Taoski stayed home to work on the home, getting it ready to put on the4 market.  That's been delayed now from January 2, 2014, to February. Our realtor will go to Taiwan and will come back after the New Year.  So James and I did an adventure today by ourselves to get out of her way.

We usually do the train and anything within a mile or two of a stop.  I usually like to keep the driving to a minimum on the weekend.  James, however, wanted something new today.  So we decided on the LA Zoo and perhaps other attractions out by Griffith Park.

We're members of the LA Zoo. It's about $75 per year.  James has been with me or Taoski maybe 10x already, and we've got another 4 months to go.  This represents a pretty good savings over what we'd pay for single visits.  It also lets us explore at our own pace, no rushing to get it all in, saving some for another time.

James has a routine.  He got to show me around.  We went to the petting zoo and saw some of his favorite animals such as the giraffe. I managed to avoid spending anything at the zoo.  He asked for some junk food and trinkets, but I held him off and he was a pretty good sport about it.

 

The Autry Museum is across the street.  I'm a bit curious about it. It's Western history, guys in cowboy hats and all.  If we paid for a one time visit, it would have been $14.00 for both of us.  A yearly membership, however, is $75.00, so I went for it.  I have some misgivings.  We'll see whether it pays off.  James asked repeatedly to leave and go to Travel Town.  We did stay, however, for 45 minutes or so and saw some stuff.  It's guys in cowboys, but also Indians, too. We will be back.

 

 

 

 

Next was Travel Town, which is in the same neighborhood.  It's basically antique trains, a gift shop, picnic tables, and a little train around the perimeter.  There is no entrance fee.  James did, however, expect a ride on the little train, which runs $2.75 per person. And he got it.  After about 45 minutes of Travel Town, he was worn out.

 

 

He was asleep in about 5 minutes in the car.  Another successful adventure.  Damage is about 30 miles on the car, $5.50 for the train rides, and $6/ mo for the museum membership spread out over the course of the year.

 



comments on Green-Eyed Lady by Chuck Greaves (2013)

I just finished reading Green-Eyed Lady by Chuck Greaves.  Mr. Greaves was a former law partner of my Dad's at Hahn & Hahn's.  He has now given up his law practice and writes full time.

Green-Eyed Lady is a crime thriller.  It is Mr. Greaves' third book and second in the Jack MacTaggart series.  Much of the action takes place in the San Gabriel Valley and for that reason alone is worth reading.  MacTaggart is an attorney in perhaps his mid thirties and has hung up his shingle in Sierra Madre.  His fictional law office is right down the street from where I used to live.

I like the local feel of the book.  It's always interesting reading someone else's take on your hometown.  Mr. Greaves spent 20+ years here so he knows something about it.

I also like the protagonist, MacTaggart.  He is witty and has a good sense of humor.  He's interesting and unpredictable.  He is, however, full of himself at times and can get a little tiresome.  No one is perfect.  He's me if I hung up my own shingle close to home.

The plot revolves around two murders and an election.  It is difficult to follow at times, and the end is not very satisfying. There is no real "a-ha" at the end.  I thought the first in the MacTaggart series, Hush Money, had a better plot.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next one from Mr. Greaves.

Santa Sucks

I will not lie to
my son.  Santa is not real,
and he is not good.

My World is Your World

Son, you might call them
Hillbillies.  But I call them
ancestors. Guess what?

Puritans

It's you and me
against unordered nature
outside the fence.

My business is yours
and yours is mine.  And we have
no business out there.

Their City on a Hill

The Puritans built
some nice buildings for themselves
and their pretend selves.