Happy Thread

Ok, we’re back at JFK airport for a 1:55pm flight to Lima and a connecting flight to Cusco. My son, who speaks Spanish, contacted Alpaca Expedition and even though everything I’ve read says acclamation should be 48 to 72 hours they say we’ll be fine with only 24 hours. I think it has more to do with the $860 balance we both owe them but that’s just me. I do have altitude sickness medicine, acetazolamide, with me and have now started it just to be safe.
Yesterday’s drama really sucked the joy out of me but we’re back on track now. I thought I’d go 9 days without a smoke but that’s not happening!
Also, @MaytagMan, we always savor the local flavors wherever we go so, yes I will be trying the guinea pig.
 
Ok, we’re back at JFK airport for a 1:55pm flight to Lima and a connecting flight to Cusco. My son, who speaks Spanish, contacted Alpaca Expedition and even though everything I’ve read says acclamation should be 48 to 72 hours they say we’ll be fine with only 24 hours. I think it has more to do with the $860 balance we both owe them but that’s just me. I do have altitude sickness medicine, acetazolamide, with me and have now started it just to be safe.
Yesterday’s drama really sucked the joy out of me but we’re back on track now. I thought I’d go 9 days without a smoke but that’s not happening!
Also, @MaytagMan, we always savor the local flavors wherever we go so, yes I will be trying the guinea pig.
really glad to hear this!
 
Ok, we’re back at JFK airport for a 1:55pm flight to Lima and a connecting flight to Cusco. My son, who speaks Spanish, contacted Alpaca Expedition and even though everything I’ve read says acclamation should be 48 to 72 hours they say we’ll be fine with only 24 hours. I think it has more to do with the $860 balance we both owe them but that’s just me. I do have altitude sickness medicine, acetazolamide, with me and have now started it just to be safe.
Yesterday’s drama really sucked the joy out of me but we’re back on track now. I thought I’d go 9 days without a smoke but that’s not happening!
Also, @MaytagMan, we always savor the local flavors wherever we go so, yes I will be trying the guinea pig.
I had a 24-hour headache before adjusting, but then was fine.
 
Upgraded the spring on my bike's rear shock last weekend.

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Did the front today with new springs and oil, plus cartridge emulators. I don't have a bike lift, there wasn't enough room to fit a jack stand with a floor jack under the engine, and I don't trust a floor jack alone to hold for hours, so I used ratchet straps from the garage door tracks to the crash bars to hold the front end while I removed the forks. It worked like a charm!

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I only took it out for a couple miles afterwards, but it sure seems to have made quite the improvement. It feels much more planted, absorbs bumps well, and has almost zero brake dive.

Next weekend: fluids. I bought a vacuum brake bleeder that runs off an air compressor to try out so that will be fun. Should be much easier than doing it manually, or that's the idea anyway.
 
Went to New Haven, Connecticut over the weekend for a two day lacrosse tournament at the Yale Bowl. My oldest scored her first two goals, got some New Haven pizza and stopped by The Owl Shop.

It was hot, although thankfully it wasn't like today and tomorrow. It's Houston hot in New England. In fact, I think tomorrow we are hotter than Houston. My girls had lots of fun, while my son got some time alone at home with mom.
 
Over the past few weeks, we've done some really hard adult things and I don't like it.

Braydon was shipped off to Ft. Benning on Monday 6/16 and arrived at 1:00AM in Columbus, GA (Ft. Benning) and his phone was immediately turned off. Momma and the other 2 women in the house, were worried the entire week. Me, on the other hand, was super excited for him knowing that this entire experience was going to change him in ways, none of us know yet. This past Sunday night around 6:00PM we had just ordered 4 half price shakes from Sonic, because they're half price after 5....duh. We're getting ready to head to Sonic and Braydon face times the wife and we all freak out. 30 minutes later, we find out he has no hair, he hates reception (basically sitting around doing nothing) and he probably won't be picked up for Basic Training until July 11th. Get to the Sonic that we normally go to, 45 minutes after the wife ordered, to only figure out that she used another Sonic. Needless to say, we drank our shakes 🤣

Prior to him shipping off, we went to a buddies house and enjoyed some very old Padrons, courtesy of @rbbrock . Thanks Robert for the cigars, Braydon really enjoyed this and I'm thinking I'll be putting together something for him when he's back. @BlindedByScience Tom, we didn't get a chance to enjoy the cigars you sent, but will make it a point when he's back. It had rained so much before he left, that we just didn't have time/chance. I do appreciate the note!

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We weren't paying attention at the post, the morning of his departure and then all of a sudden, they called them to formation. He quickly ran over and we really didn't get a chance to say bye, but I think it might have been better that way. Just rip the bandaid off and go for it. If we're friends on FB, you've probably seen the many pictures my wife posts and tags me in, but this is the last photo of Braydon that we have before he left.

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Then the following 2 days, we were at Olivia's college orientation at Oklahoma State. Things sure have changed, in the 27 years since I was there. Holy shit is tuition expensive now. There would have been no way that I would have been able to go then, if the student loans were the way they're done today. My garage is now being quickly over ran with dorm stuff, to a point where I can't do any woodworking. We have way too many Amazon deliveries. Dorm this, dorm that. Sorority this, roommate that. Happy wife/daughter, I guess happy dad :)

I know at some point when they both are gone at the same time, I'll miss this craziness, but while being right in the middle of it, it's hectic. Stella, our youngest (incoming HS Sophomore) is excited about it only being about her, FINALLY 😀 Here's to me and my sanity. Here's to being able to keep the momma bear, calmed down enough to let everything process as it's supposed to. And here's to me finally enjoying a cigar or two, in celebration of these kids I love so much, finding their way in life.
 
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