Living Out Loud: Season 1: Episode 1- Pilot

Living Out Loud: Season 1: Episode 1- Pilot: I have always wanted a blog... I have my friend, Will to thank for planting the seed inside my head... Thanks, Will... You can catch up with...

Five De Mayo.

Hmmm.  What has been happening.  Waiting on a leather jacket for my daughter so she can go riding.  PT'ing it up everyday.  I am ready to take some leave.  I haven't been on vacation in almost a year, and this won't even be a vacation ha ha ha!  Just some well deserved time off.  Back on Friday I think the Kitten had had enough of the week as I had.  So we took off for Santa Cruz.  Spent the night and then hit the beach for the day.

My original touring crew.  We've been all over the land together.

Rolling my pants up to take Jr. in the water.

She wouldn't go near the water unless I was there first.

Even then she wanted to be carried.

$6 sand toys, and she loved them.  :)

All my ladies of the weekend <3

So we had a complete blast over the weekend in Santa Cruz.  Topped it off with a blinding worship this morning and about to enjoy a steak dinner with the Kitten.  WW!

Almost forgot.  I was sending out some pics of the weekend to a couple of friends and I decided to smart with them ;)

I replied...

I know, I know...

Yesterday it happened.

My oldest daughter asked to go on a ride. I was pretty shocked to say the least. We had to go take pictures for my youngest daughter so this was a great opportunity to try this on. I went and borrowed a helmet and gear and we fired up the RK. She was more worried about the preparation than the actual ride. After the initial ride she was pumped. She wants to ride everywhere, for everything, all the time. Very cool! She's a natural. Today we even hit the 505 and 80. It may be time to invest in a sissy bar :)

What a day.

I mean seriously.  I woke up at 0530, watched the Kitten go to work.  Kinda.  With one eye open.  Got in the shower and woke up.  Went out to wash my thermos and get my coffee going.  Noticed I was running late and skipped the coffee.  Woke up Jr. and got her dressed and going.  Hop in the grocery-getter and off into the rainy morning.  Call work to tell someone to cover the meeting.  Drop off Jr. and grab a fast breakfast.  Make it to work just in time before the down pour thrashes the landscape.  Pretty much an "Office Space" day.  Not much to do and the sun comes out and drys up everything.  Sigh...  I catch a jet to debrief in the last hour of my day.  The jet comes down, taxis in, and two busloads of ROTC cadets come out to tour the jet, a.k.a. I-Can't-Finish-My-Inspection-Due-To-The-Show-Configuration.  Everything is alright.  Good conversation for the aviation nerds.  Come back inside and give turnover.  Go pick up Jr. and the kids...right as the rain starts again.  The kids are crazy.  See pictures below...

Yes...I grilled in the rain.

Jr. wanted to come out to help.  Till it started raining.  Again.

And more intermediate sunshine.

We sit down to eat and my oldest says to pull her loose tooth.

And here we are!

Yes.  What a day.  I think it is a clear night too.  Go figure.  And the Kitten missed all of it!

Feb, Mar, Apr...

...time is just rolling by it seems.  Seems like only a couple of weeks ago I was celebrating Jr's birthday.  I've been working.  Debriefing a little, taking care of our squadron's vehicles, PT, and general training.  I managed to get out from under my dreaded motorcycle loan and into another.  MUCH better and I got what I wanted. Things are really gel'n pretty well.  Christie and I are happy, the kids are loved, the bills are getting paid, we have food on the table and roof over our heads.  Here's a recap in pictures of the last couple of months.

The Kitten all happy on her phone.  As if this bike couldn't look any better right!?  WW!

Rawlings 'family' pose.

The old aftermarket exhaust.  From Cycle Shack to Samson.

2011 Road King.

Sigh....a former relative.

The Kitten goes out for groceries and comes back with this beauty.  I've never owned a grill so nice!  Gas on one side, coal on the other.

I go to turn in some papers on base and run into my 1st Harley-Davidson.

Jaycie and me during our annual Breakfast With Dad at her school.

Tried my hand at modifying a pickup.  Successfully at that!  Dimarzio Evolution with a n Alnico V magnet?...I think so!  Courtesy of an older Burstbucker.

The Kitten was pretty integral for a friends wedding.  This was the order of the that morning.

Another shot of the Nightster.  I really loved that bike.  I'm glad it's found a good home.

My oldest is in Tumbling this year.  She hates it, she loves it.

Me and my sis.  We are going through a new phase of the military yet again.  Great troop.

I have been slack

I've been slack on my blog lately. Not that this is a big deal or bothers me in the slightest, but... There are things that are interesting in my life, daily, that I don't think I can write about. The memory is there and that's about all I like to process on it.

The most recent, recurring things are my faith and past time hobbies. Christie and I have really settled into a living dynamic with our faith in God. We practice Christianity but aren't set on a certain denomination. It's interesting to realize and give thanks to the things God has done for us. Besides the solace we find within "the word" and from prayer, we also have a bonding experience through our worship together. Needless to say, we are spiritually rooted. This is a great thing!

My hobbies. What can I say about them? The skating has slimmed to nil and guitar playing is more or less for worship (I just can't bleed my fingers with the kids around). My motorcycling is in swing. Or in season, which is unusual for this time of year. The lure of a new bike has been put into the ear of not only myself, but my wife also. The venture is joint and we will probably see the fruits of this effort pretty soon. If it's God's will. Hopefully it is. I try not to build myself on it too much. I don't like disappointment and try to stay humble in most applications. Outside of purchases, I am feeling the need to be in a collective again. More of an accountable type of system that is more identifiable with who I am. Who knows though? ;)

The Holidays of 2011.

So, I enjoy the holiday season this year. I had a great Thanksgiving. My wife can sure cook, the kids are just a joy to be around, and I had time off to actually spend it with my little family, the traditional way.

Christmas was fantastic. We spent that time really bonding and doing silly, fun stuff and not worrying about time or an agenda. The kids learned about really helping others in need and we were very grateful for the gifts we received! One of the best Christmas days I've ever had!

New Year's started with a plan that morphed into something even better. Just me, the Kitten, and Jr. I'm leaving a lot out here but the fact is, it was good just being with each other.