Summertime...

Man, I dunno' what the weather's been doing where you live, but here? Dude, it's SUMMER!

We've really been enjoying record late-spring weather and embracing our second full 'warm season' in our house. I think we feel truly 'at home' now and are doing our best to really settle in and take care of the things that need taking care of with a house like ours.

Sarah (eldest daughter) beat us all out of bed a couple Sunday mornings ago. I found her in the living room, reading her book, enjoying her customary glass of morning chocolate milk.

Niki is working almost 3/4 time hours as a personal trainer these days so that means I'm at home most mornings getting the kids up, dressed, fed, and off to school. Last week I came down to the breakfast table and found the above drawing sitting on it. Turns out our youngest daughter and Mommy had been doing some artwork together the night before. Pretty sweet.

The famous pool. I feel like an alchemist, constantly working on the thing, doing my best to keep the water crystalline. We often comment that it must be a certain kind of person who likes a pool 'cause it's simply true that they're a lot of work. If you didn't love it, you wouldn't want to do it, that's for sure. Me, I treat cleaning and tending it as a meditative exercise, a chance to zone out and focus on one simple task.

Triathlon training is going well. I've trained MUCH harder for this one than I did the last time. I'll fill you in after race day for sure. My first race is next month then Niki will join me for one in August as, it's our hope, that her badly sprained left ankle will be healed enough to allow her to do the run by then. Our friend lent her a race bike to start training though and the above picture was taken on our first test ride together. She did really well. Surprised me actually with her confidence.

And, finally, yours truly on my two or three times a week 5.5km run. Figured I'd try to capture a shot for you and this was the best one of six or seven exposures I took.

All told our days are full and fulfilled lately.

Possible BIG news on the work front later this week with a couple potentially very significant deals pending. If either of them should close I'll be sure to mention it.

Hope your summer is shaping up well.

Peace,

T

The COST of joy...

It's been a busy couple weeks.

I've been toiling.

Now, I realize, doing some of the work I've been doing could be seen as 'play work' but it would only seem that way to those looking at it from the outside, not to those doing it.

(and I have been really busy writing and then presenting pitch after pitch after pitch this spring)

See, it's Spring around here and that means I have lots of prep work to do. Both at our house (pool, grounds, etc...) and with the boat.

First I had clean it out, check all the rigging, then sand all the woodwork, wash the hull, then wax it. 

This took two days. 

Step One...

Then 'Lift In' day came. This entailed getting to the yard, getting the engine (which I'd had overhauled) onto the boat along with the gas tanks, getting them connected, as well as making sure all the rigging was ready to go. I spent 6 hours at the yard on 'Lift In' day waiting for my turn.

Step Two...

Once the boat was in I had to to motor over to a guest dock to wait for 'Mast Stepping' day (the next day). So, come Monday, I was back at the yard getting the boat ready to have her mast stepped. My appointment was at 4 so I got there at 2 and spent two hours prepping.

At 4 the mast went on, then I motored back to the guest dock to complete the rigging process. Shrouds tightened, fore and back stay adjusted, sails up and on, sheets on, properly rigged and working, then I washed her down.

Step Three...

The next day (Tuesday) the Fam' and I moseyed over to the marina (after dropping off one car at our home harbor then driving to our guest harbor in the other vehicle) hopped aboard (with all our soft goods) and sailed home. We covered 20 miles in just under 2 hours which meant traveling just about as fast as our wee boat can go.

Sam took the helm for the last 30min or so.

Step Four...

To see video of the trip, click HERE.

We got home and fell right asleep. As we were drifting off I said to Niki, "See, even the things you LOVE require TOIL in order for you to get JOY out of 'em..."

So, keep toiling friends. The horizon is calling.

T

Not so random beauty...

Snapped this on the way to the studio last week.

It was shoot day as usual but there was nothing 'usual' about this tree. This tree is a symbol of life, new life. This tree is (to me) a symbol of Zion, The Eternal City.

This tree is a promise.

That life will (and does) come again.

I need that this year.

Oh yes I do...

T