Two cinnimon one brown...

little something from the archives

2009-09-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIaXOmdrSrA

P to the C

2009-08-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

Doesn't matter if it's cold and rainy, a snow cone always sounds good to little boys...

Tal gettin his climb on

I nicknamed this seemingly innocuous train "The Neck Breaker" due to it's neck snapping velocity...

Two caddies are better than one...

Holdy patiently waiting to get on the coaster...five min after this he was covered in dust from wallowing around on the ground

Holden tells me that pretty much everything he wears is waterproof. We were going swimming the other day and he wanted to wear his new shoes in the pool 'cause they ARE waterproof!' Here he is testing his theory...

Holden had to escort Aimee so she didn't get scared...

Me and Tal were in the Pro class so we lined up first...

Of course Tal has to find the highest scalable spot and climb it...

Mini golf is the worst invention ever, and the course in PC is the most deplorable one ever. But the boys like it so I played along for as long as I could

Funny thing happened on the first hole; Tal steps up and eyes the cup fifteen feet away, down a lane that was cock-eyed, full of bumps, cracks and wrinkles in the carpet, and gives it a whack and the ball bounced and ricocheted down the green til it fell gently in the bottom of the cup. I told him he should retire from mini golf then and there, but he didn't take my advice...

Hold, admiring another fine shot...

Summer lunches at the park...

2009-07-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have fond memories of going to some park a hand full of times out in WVC to meet my dad for lunch. Ma, the sisters and myself would usually pick up an industrial size bucket of KFC and roll over to this one park where we would spread a blanket that reeked of mildew from being in the trunk of the car for months, sit under the scorching sun, and eat some chicken while trying to fend off a flock of seagulls that would have made the early pioneers run in terror during the cricket crisis.

Now I get to meet Tal and Holden now and then for a little lunch and a visit at an hour that's out of the ordinary. We usually skip the moldy blanket and bucket of fried chicken parts and just split a subway, but it's still fun.

Tal turns six, gets a new whip...

2009-07-16T14:07:00.001-07:00

Talmage T. Simper is now 6 years old, and as such needed, and was deserving of a new bike. Nothing better than getting a new bike. It's like new friend you have to get to know, with a new personality, and unique characteristics, complete with areas of excellence and idiosyncrasies. You don't quite know each other and you're not totally comfortable at first, but that's part of the fun; building the relationship and the memories over time. Getting dinged, and scarred together on countless adventures and over thousands of miles. My bikes have carried me to work, to school, up steep canyon roads, over mountain passes, and on more than one occasion provided me an escape from reality and given a mental recharge. I think of any place in the world, on the bike is where I glean the most mental clarity and spiritual lucidness and find my place in the universe. With friends and bikes alike, I've had a few over the years; some I wish I still had, and some I'm glad to be rid of. But of the two, I think I miss a couple bikes more than the friends that are absent in my life. Nothing against them, it's just that my bikes have consoled and comforted me more than pretty much anything or anyone because of how in tune you can get with yourself whilst spinning your legs for hours on end. So get yourself an unconditional friend that won't shit on your carpet, and build a relationship. To Talmage I say, happy birthday my boy, and have fun with your new friend...

This is only the beginning I'm sure...

2009-07-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

Tal and Holdy LOVE the skate park. We've only been a couple times because it's usually packed and there has to be a wide open bowl for them to tool around it with out getting waxed by all the kids in shrink wrapped jeans and head bands flying around. We did make it out the other night and Talmage had a little break through moment. One of those moments where fear is usurped by confidence and becomes a marker for future feats and accomplishments. So one day Tal when you're throwing down double back flips on your motorcycle or 720 tail whips on the ramp, don't forget who taught you how to ride out of the bowl...

For the record....

2009-07-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'm not opposed to catching big fish either...:)

Give said the little stream...

2009-07-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

There is a certain appeal to small trout streams. Usually they are off the beaten path and require some walking to get to, and as such are for the most part unmolested by worm throwing rednecks. Aside from the solidarity the offer, their primitive and often over grown nature makes fishing them challenging and unique. As I creep along under the undergrowth, and come upon wild Bonneville Cutthroat feeing, I often fell as if I’m the first person to have witnessed it in that place. Probably because I think there are few people that would crawl through the spider webs and bug infested foliage to get to small fish. Maybe they’re on their bass boat, or on bigger waters searching of more boast worthy fish. I’m not sure…but I don’t really care, as long as they aren’t around me, I’m happy.

I have this little obsession...

2009-06-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I have a bit of an odd obsession: dead birds. When ever I’m out and about—usually riding my bike—I frequently see a dead bird on the side of the road. Terns, thrushes, wrens, finches, warblers, you name it, I’ve ridden by it. It’s not uncommon to ride past road kill of all types on the roads I frequent in the canyons and rural country; but a dead cottontail, skunk, coon, or deer doesn’t draw me in like a small feathered missile that has met his demise lying lifeless on the shoulder of the road. Sometimes it’s moments after it was darting through the air like a winged fighter pilot with deft acrobatic maneuvers that I come upon them lying on the road, their hollow bones pulverized; a little winged vessel left unmanned. Why do I care you ask? Why do I stop my inertia--which is sometimes quite high mind you, to admire and inspect these little dead creatures? Because cyclist’s and birds have a lot in common: we are designed and meant for speed. We often travel at high velocities, battling the wind and elements trying to survive, escape or sometimes just enjoying the feeling of freedom of the moment. Sometimes we succeed in these pursuits and sometimes we fail, but fundamentally I’m not much different than that bird that was flying across the road whose time had expired. The mountain blue bird didn’t see it coming, and we most likely won’t either. So let the dead bird be a reminder to live in the moment, to enjoy your speed and agility while it’s yours to enjoy, because the time will come for everyone, and every little bird that it will be taken away. Next time you see a dead bird stop and pay your respect, and remember that svelte bird was meant for speed and flight and he went down, and it’s only a matter of time before we all do too. Take your precautions yes, but more importantly, live life to the fullest and ride fast while your legs can still carry you…

The White Tigers...

2009-05-08T09:46:00.001-07:00

Consulting with my assistant on stragety before the game...

He advises that we run them over with a motorcycle...

Look friends!

Running to see Whit and Kaya...

Maybe a little too excited....

Just a little grass in the hair, no biggie...

all....most.....

there....

Protect this house... or just kick a couple goals for the other team, whatev...!

Talmage kicking ass and taking names...at least on that kid...haha

We use the 'mob' offense...

Sometimes all you can do is laugh...

Game Face

Getting to that Zen state....

Holdy thinks I'm a good coach and a GREAT daddy...

Tal was not too happy with #12's taunting....

Post game wrestling...

Back to the pain cave...

2009-03-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot the pleasant metallic taste your saliva turns when you're redlining, or the way you hipflexors and quads feel as if there are two midgets attached to each simultaneously weighing them down and administering indian burns from the inside out. Ah yes, the joys of accent on a bicycle. And for some reason I'm inclined to go higher faster next time...go figure. I might get back into shape by Halloween. (Photo courtesy of nobody, I had to take it myself. Location: Suncrest-- 10 mph up 58 down)

Dug up some fun from yesteryear...

2009-03-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Just a couple little gems I found on a memory card. A good reminder of how fast they grow and how fun they've been and continue to be...love my bears...

The only redeeming thing about Provo....

2009-03-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Tal: "Dad! Why did you eat that fish heart!??"
Me: "Cause you told me to!"
Tal: "Well that disgusted me!"

Tal and Hold LOVE to go fishing, and I refuse to take them to the fish farm or the city ponds that double as sess pools because the water is so dirty that the planter fish they put in them couldn't see a fly three inches away. And if by some miracle they did, they'd prob turn and run in fear because they were raised on pellets and don't recognize natural food sources. I refuse to use rotten clams or shrimp, although it seems to work for some of the Mexicans I've seen there when I ride by on my bike. I'm trying to wean Talmage from the thought that powerbait and treble hooks are an acceptable fishing method, and inculcate a sense of respect and purism when it comes to catching fish. Yes I'm a snob. This snobbery and ethical debate about how to hook a wiley trout dates back hundreds of years. I'm a fly advocate so we go places were the fish are wild and natural. As my current circumstances dictate, that's five min from home on the Provo river. Rivers and streams are magical places that fascinate me as much now as they did as a kid when I would ride my bike up to the stream by Hogie's market and catch crawdads. It's no different for Tal and Holen. As soon as we pull up they're scouring the banks for treasure, making forts, finding new and precious stones, and tracking animals in the mud. So while they're doing that, I'm trying to find a good hole with rising fish to cast to where I can simultaneously keep one eye on them and one on my Griffith's gnat... Who says I can't multi task!!? One of the boys favorite things to do when we fish is to make a fire and eat some freshly caught trout cooked right on the coals. Every fish I caught, or that Tally reeled in and Holdy scooped out of the water, they pleaded, "Can we eat this one? Lets eat this one! I want to eat some fish!" The midge hatch was going good so I just wanted to keep catching fish so I made them let the first five or six go and every time the fish would swim away they had a look of disappointment in their face...haha.. So finally I caved and Tal gathered up some fire wood and we had a little illegal Indian fire on the banks and a little smoked brown trout snack....

First Annual Photo Annual

2009-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

What you do in winter when it gets dark at 4 pm...

2008-12-22T14:48:00.000-08:00

Naturally, you go see the lights: Temple Square, Hogle Zoo, Christmas Street, Wheeler Farm, Pioneer Park, anywhere there are colored, twinkling lights people flock like moths to a flame; and we are no exception...

Tally doin what he does.... When he is within an arm's reach of Holden, he is touching his head or his ears 67% of the time...I've done the math.

Of course we have to cut as many fresh tracks in the snow as possible, and eat it like your Tiny Tim at Chuck-O-Rama....

Camera phones are great for convenience, and mine actually takes decent pics when the subjects can hold still for a half a second; however, for my boys this is like asking a hyperactive squirrel with ADD to sit down and write a 5,000 page essay on War and Peace...

Dragon Ball Z, or the the cultural nativity scenes were rubbing off on Tal-- his Asian gesture of cordiality attests to that... Tal made a special request to go see "the Jesus statue." At least he held still for a picture....

Holdy bear with his hat on backwards

Zoo Lights

Holdy bear rockin the 3-D glasses....

Little House on the Prarie

2008-12-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

PBS was toying with the idea of bringing back Little House and had an open casting in the west dessert. Being the strong, silent Michael Landon type that I am (RIP Michael,) I decieded to take the boys out and audition in hopes of at least landing a cameo spot on the classic program. As it turns out, we were a bit too 'edgy' for the part and didn't make the cut. At least we got some nice pictures to show for it...

Pilot to Copilot ready for take off.......

2008-12-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

I figured it was high time that I stop depriving the world of the adventures of two of the cutest, most precocious and precious boys that God ever made. Intermixed, will undoubtedly be some oppinionuendo by yours truly. I'm trowing out the disclaimer now: I will not take any responsibility for any offense given or taken by reading this blog, so do so at your own risk (PETA members, tree huggers, vegans, and left wing in particular). Fair warning. :) That said, for the other three potential visitors, let the games, er, the blogging begin! Pay a periodic visit for what will undoubtedly be some opulent photography, enrapturing narratives, and breathtaking experiences....or just some shots from my camera phone and random drivel. It's all in the eye of the beholder here folks...