My adoring readers (all two of them) have been clamoring for an update on the “fam”. I apologize for the delay. I could say something like I’ve been buried at work, but it would be a lie. I’ve just been lazy. At least I’m honest.

Tammy has finished rehab and has been cleared by the doctor to put her new and improved ankle to use. We’ve been to the climbing gym twice and taken one short bike ride. She’s doing well, but still taking it slow. She had a little “discomfort” climbing, but nothing that can’t be avoided by doing easier routes while she rebuilds her strength.

My explorer had water pump issues last month and I couldn’t seem to find a full day to tear it apart (nor the money to buy replacement parts) so I decided to take advantage of the unusually cool weather and ride my mountain bike to work. I rode to work for almost a full month. Weekend before last, I finally managed the time and money to tear down the truck and replace the water pump. BamBam is running fine now.

My old buddy Galyn has taken me out on several death-defying mountain bike rides in the last couple of months. I am very surprised at how much I enjoy it. It’s not the same as riding a motorcycle in the mountains, but it’s close. Plus it’s getting me back in shape. I still can’t keep up with Galyn on the hill climbs and have to stop to catch my breath once in a while, but it’s getting better.

An unfortunate side-effect to this new hobby is that I tend to fall… hard. On our first difficult trail (Cedar Hill), I did a full-fledged “endo”, landing squarely on my helmet. Yaaay helmet!

A couple of weeks ago riding in the Hwy 360 area, I lost it going down a rocky ravine and bashed my shin in a big way. My knee is still a tad swollen from that fall, which put an end to my daily ride to work. The knee is not bad enough to keep me off the bike entirely; just enough that I decided to rest it.

In other news, I have been drafted as the “climbing expert” on an exhibition to summit Grand Teton next summer. Again, this can be entirely blamed on Galyn. His brother-in-law, for some as yet undetermined reason, has made up his mind he needs to climb the Grand. He enlisted Galyn to head the team and Galyn tapped me to be the rope-man. We are planning on taking the Owen-Spaulding route in August of 2005. That route is the easiest way to summit, but still has a couple of spots that will require some easy rock climbing. All the guides say the route is easy but “exposed”, meaning you probably won’t fall, but if you did (without protection) you would make a nice meal for the carrion birds three thousand feet below. On the way down from the summit, we’ll be doing at least two rappels over 100 feet. This means toting two climbing ropes (approx. 9 pounds each) to the 13,770 foot summit along with the necessary hardware. I’m going to have be me in MUCH better shape by then.

Tammy and I are starting our second season directing the youth drama group, The Bottom Line, at our church. This year is going great. The kids are excited and we have many more chances to perform. We are also both teaching Sunday school; I’m with 10th grade boys, Tammy’s got 9th grade girls. Just last night we have a meeting at the church to discuss a new adult drama ministry. We won’t likely have directorial roles in that group, but will certainly be involved.

Okay, I’m spent. I can’t think of any other information to share. I hope you all (both of you) enjoy this update. Good day!