Thursday June 19th at Northstar TT

Jon jumped up to the take off point with just 20 seconds to go.

Woooo just made it

Wednesday June 18th in Reno

The opening race of the Tour de Nez was a crit around the parking lot of the Grand Sierra Resort (used to be the Hilton).
Lots of family in attendance--Sam and Sharon, Kayley (due in December) and Brian, and of course Bill and I and Jon and Cyndi.

Jon was 13th out of 100 with the same time as the rest of the field.

Back Home Again

We got back from the Tour de Nez bike race late last night. Went our to unload the RV this AM and sniffed the slight trace of wood smoke in the air. Not an unusual thing in fire season. William says the lightening strikes started a few small fires out on the forest. Nothing close. Lots of news and pictures from the race so I will make separate posts.

What is this election about?

It's not about the war or the economy. Deep down inside of people, it's about hate and fear and a dark stain in the blood back to the beginning of time and whether McCain and his minions can whip up a big enough mob in time to drown or burn the latest witch. It's about the fear of one who is seen as different. It's about the painted bird.

Nevada City Classic

At the bike race on Sunday

Axel walks the balance curb with Auntie Sharon.

Is Papa coming?

Clapping for the riders.

Jon stays up with the leaders. Most of the riders drop out.

Fifth place is OK.

Mr Cool Guy with Papa's bike.

There was a mishap when Jon went to pick up his prize money. Some pencil scuff next to #1, Jon, led the officials to think that Jon had been lapped once. NO NO! That was fixed but it cost the race an extra $200 as the other riders had already been paid out.

Rescue delayed

I made Jon stop the rescue so I could take the picture. Axel was not crying. He just said "Help."
We don't know how he got stuck as we were all in the kitchen.

Grandchildren here

Axel liked exercising on the big gray ball.
Axel is wearing the turtle contrada scarf from Siena as a sarong after he got all wet playing in the water on the deck and his clothes were in the pop up tent trailer.
Leah likes her scarf from the noble goose contrada. It makes a good cape.

Axel is tired.

Bike Jacker

Day breaks Hampsten's 21 year record

from Cycling News:

The 2007 Tour de Beauce champion, Ben Day, has broken a 21 year old record set by American Andy Hampsten. Day, who is not returning to Canada to defend his Beauce title, bested Hamstens record time for the Vail Hill climb of 26.33 by 45 seconds.

Hampsten, still the only American to have won the Giro d'Italia, set his record up the tough climb during the 1987 Coors Classic. Day (Toyota United), a former Australian Time trial champion is racing in Vail as part of the Teva Mountain games. Chris Baldwin, a Toyota United team-mate of Day, came home for second in a time of 26.29, putting him four seconds under Hamsten's record.

Jonathan Baker rounded out the podium in third, while mountain biking legend, Ned Overend at the ripe old age of 52 finished fifth, in a time 27.23.

Jon's time was 26.57, just over the record time. Yeah, Jon!
He is coming to Nevada City ready to ride.

Save Gas Less Road Rage

Picked this from How The World Works on Salon today:

Think of all the aggravation that vanishes from the world when we all refrain from putting the hammer down on the accelerator pedal -- when the only thing that bothers us when some asshole cuts off us while merging onto the freeway is, gee, it's really too bad how much gas that jerk just wasted. Pedestrians and bikers and errant raccoons and armadillos will all breath sighs of relief as average speeds of hurtling vehicles decline across the globe.

McCain Totally Breaks with Bush

McCain supports golfing during wars!

Saturday Night at the House on the Hill

Pictures do not do justice to this house under construction high up in Alta. Margaret and Bob have 25 acres up on top of the hill with a great view. You can hear the train whistle as it goes past over the mountain. Reminds me of Grandma Nettie's when you could hear the whistle of the Wabash Cannonball going past. (50+ years ago)

We had a great meal around the campfire.


This is the last night in California for Steve and Diane as they head back to Boise today. Diane has great skills as a home designer and gave us some good ideas for fixing up our old house.

Consumer Price Index

Don't you feel we ought to ditch the Core Consumer Price Index that leaves out food and energy costs. I think it is totally hiding the true inflation that we are living with. If food and energy were included in the CPI as it is in most other countries, our CPI would be a healthy 7%. As I notice that the last time I filled up the Nissan Maxima it cost $48.97 and yesterday's fill up was $59.86.
The Government went to the Core CPI because there was a slight overestimation of the inflation rate and this affected Cost of Living Allowances (COLA) for such items as government pensions and Social Security. Now there is a gross underestimation of inflation that is verging on the laughable.

Remodel This house

The Wrightbuilt home team, Andy and Debbie, came over to give the house a once over. Much discussion about what we have and what we want, picture taking and measuring. They will get back to us is about a week with an initial analysis and possible dollar amount.

We have been assured that something can be done with this house. This will be our remodel for the next 30 years as we intend to "age in place."

Are these kitties here to stay?

These two are hanging around here more and more. My fear is that the female looks a bit chubby. Dad has started making the dry cat food less accessible when he is not there. Although I often see the black kitty head across the street, I don't think the gray one is leaving our yard and I have seen her in the back too. What to do?

Getting together at the Northridge

Mexican Bike Race

Really makes you want to bike race in Mexico.

MONTERREY, Mexico - A car has plowed into a bike race along a highway near the US-Mexico border, killing one and injuring 10 others.
A 34 Km Family bike ride!

more here

also on cycling news a slightly different story

The Big Black Cart

When we were in Bruges we shopped with a big shopping cart. So since I walk to grocery shop here I wanted a cart so I could bring back more than two canvas bags of groceries--and not too heavy ones at that. I could not find any store selling shopping carts--remember how we saw them everywhere in every color in Bruges. The thrift stores said they got them in sometimes, but not right now. So William went on line to buy me one. The Big Black Cart. It can carry 150 lbs of groceries, if I could drag/push that much up the hill. I tried it out today and did bring back more than I could have carried--including a 6 pk for Mr. B.

Out to the Grass Valley Vets Building

Went to hear Amy Goodman tonight. She was on a book tour promoting "Standing up to the Madness." Good inspirational progressive speech. Hard to believe that she has been doing "Democracy Now the War and Peace Report" for 12 years. I bought both books of hers that The Bookseller had out but did not wait for any signature. I also got the DVD of her interview of Utah Phillips in 2004 as a gift for getting both books. The progressives were out in force as the place was totally full. The Vets building can hold about 1000 people. The building itself is really looking spiffy since it has had a recent makeover.

China Taiwan Summit

Remember Anna Wong whom we met in Luca? She was in favor of eventually joining with China as she said most Taiwanese felt that they were Chinese and supported this. See article here.