I have an incredibly nice and understanding wife

I know that you likely know that already (She would have to be to put up with me, right?), but that was proven even more this past weekend when she let me go out and buy this....

That is a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M50 (an 800 cc bike - for those who care). Shaft drive, fuel injected, all blacked out... I looked and looked and finally decided that is what I wanted and she was nice enough to say "Go buy one".

Well - she actually said, "If you don't stop talking about buying a bike and just go do it, I am going to kill you!!!"

One of my buddies pointed out that I am the only guy he knows who had to buy a bike to save his marriage. :)

I was looking for something that would dependable and have low kms and this fits the bill. My brother (aka "Lenny") is wanting us to go on a big trip sometime next summer - so "Miranda" (as I am calling here - or "Mandy" for short.... it is an "M" 50, right?) will eventually get saddlebags and a windshield etc.

A nice, light bike that is fun to ride around town, easy to move around the garage and yet big enough to hit the highway..... look what you get when you marry well! :)

This last pic is not of me (of course) - but it gives you the idea.

My Weekend

So here is what I did with my weekend.... what did you do with yours?



Ok - that isn't me.... but that is insane.

Anyway - I did do something bike related this weekend... I bought a 2008 Suzuki Boulevard M50 (an 800 cc motorcycle). I will post pics and tell the story (b/c there is a story) later, but not now.... I am working here!! :)

A Day at the Farm

About a month ago we had a chance to go to Mom and Laurie's farm. As part of that, we were got to help with the calves... tagging, immunizing and "ringing"... MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! (Sound effects are free... you have to imagine the smell yourself)

Here are a few, non-graphic, photos.

Megan holding a rope that is holding a cow
Megan and me (I am wearing - "Fashion du Lenny"... in other words - my brother's work clothes. I did not wash them, but I am sure that stuff will come off when they dry).
Sari taking a well deserved break (She smiled like this most of the day.... happiest I have seen her in a long time... you can take the girl off the farm but......)
Grandpa Laurie with his groupies
Grandma Farmer (she really is a farm wife now... I am completely and totally impressed - she was telling me about farm things all day).... You can also see Sari working in this one too (at the right of the pic)

All in all - a very fun day (except for the "baby boy cows" - but we will not think too much about that.... MOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!) :)

Rafferty Water Release

I have never seen these outlets used and the field that is full of water is usually dry as a bone. At one point they were letting 200 cubic meters of water out of the dam every second.

Some Gravelbourg Pics

The crew of kids

Something we had never tried before.....

A description of it is here (read down the wikipedia page to the picture of the pan that is used)... and here we are doing it..... mmmmm!!!!

The Divas... as Jeff called them
I am not sure this is her having fun... or how she got through the weekend (it is only punch by the way)

A Nice Long Weekend

Ah - what a nice weekend!

On Friday night we headed out to Gravelbourg to spend the weekend with Jenn and Jeff Jacobs (and their kids). It was really nice! Not really enough sleep... but tons of laughs, good food, fun, a trip to the "Snack Shack" for ice cream and rain (Ok - maybe we could have done without that last part - especially after getting caught in two huge storms while walking downtown after Jenn said, "It is really nice outside".... but those will be good stories later too).

It was also a "preacher swap" so I got to preach there. If you would like to be encouraged about a congregation in a small town that is bucking the trend of churches that are getting smaller and closing shop.... check these guys out. They have not only expanded their building but are welcoming all kinds of new people. It was a fun morning. My mom and Laurie came to church too (their farm is not that far from G'bourg) so they got invited to Sunday lunch at the Jacob's home too. We came home Sunday night, but wished we could have stayed longer.

Today we worked in the yard (first time this year we have had a chance between doing other things and rain), so that was nice too. Ended the night with a BBQ and a drive.

All in all - tons of fun! We will definitely do the "drive to the end of the world" (as Sari calls the trip to Gravelbourg) again soon.

(Pics to follow.... and I mean it this time. Check back for those)