The Tobacco Trail

We got so lucky yesterday!!! Not one drop of rain on our silly heads or hats or caps or whatever. Today it has been raining since we got up, and still is as most of us are heading off to bed - but nobody is really upset about it - because we all know North Carolina really needs it.

Well, yesterday we finally hit the Tobacco Trail. Someone at my Dad's work had mentioned the words Tobacco Trail to him before, but since he doesn't smoke anymore it didn't really strike the appropriate root of interest with him. But boy, what we have been missing:

This trail takes off more or less behind a mall near where we live, and then takes you all the way to beautiful DownTown Durham. My Daddy had been to one of the newly renovated areas for a Dinner before, and I guess he thought that was about the extent of making Durham pretty, but what a surprise we had yesterday; many many areas are popping out of nowhere everywhere that could make you believe Durham is a really cool place to live.

The Tobacco Trail is really really great. My Daddy could even take it to work (if he ever gets his act together). The Tobacco Trail is an old train track converted to a bike slash walking slash jogging path, and it is simply amazing what wonders some well spent tax dollars can do. You may have thought only Europeans get out and walk, jog or bike in great numbers (well, we all know the Americans have the Jogging part down better than any other nation on this globe), but it was simply great and very refreshing. Lots of people were out on this trail and everyone seemed to be really enjoying it frequently - it didn't feel like a tourist attraction at all - if felt like a utility trail - and I tell you, it sure looks like a great trail for training for your next long distance run.

We were a total of eight in our group, and my sis and myself had to share the space in our two kid trailer, and once we got out all the drinks, snacks and books and started taking of our shoes and socks, it did get a little cramped in there.

We rode all the way to Durham, had a fantastic brunch at Elmos Diner (who is maybe only related to Donald Duck and doesn't share anything else besides being a duck with Donald). And on the ride back everything was wonderful until I woke up my sis. I didn't get yelled at right away, because it sure wouldn't have helped the situation while my sis thought that the end of the world had come, but I did have to acknowledge in the end that it had been a pretty bad idea to wake her up after she had slept so sweetly for such a sweet while.

Like I said, we made it back to the cars without one drop of rain, and it was such a mild and humid day, that it really didn't feel like December at all. Great timing and great idea guys! I'm all up for it again!!!

I heard some mumblings about trying one of those attach-a-bike thingies in the future (for me!!!) - I can't wait to see if that plan will pan out anytime soon.

Happy Trails to all of you.
LUC

Why I run!?!

Because I can, because I CAN, BECAUSE I CAN!!! I just love running. Running in circles, running down the hill, running up the hill, running for no apparent reason, running for the sake of running! Running is just great!

Back when I was living in Barcelona, I used to go running with my Daddy all the time, but that was when I would still sit in the Baby Jogger, and Daddy and Pablo would actually do the running. Since my Daddy even back then wasn't all that strong (or because Pablo was running so fast) they would take turns pushing the Baby Jogger, but then again, that's what being friends is all about, isn't it? Yeah!

So, a couple of weeks back I ran in my first race. I didn't have time to write about it, but I figured now was a good moment to make up for it. My great Daddy actually ran the 1 Mile race with me. We started off running really fast, but then my Daddy cautioned me to conserve my energy and so we slowed down a bit. That was quite a good idea, because I later needed all that conserved strength to finish the race running. Beside stopping once for stretching the race went wonderful. The funny part of the race was (it was a neighborhood race - a Family Run so to speak) that for no apparent reason half the kids were sent down the wrong street - so they dispersed into the neighborhood without really knowing where to turn after having been told to run in the wrong direction (by accident I presume). But fortunately we were running next to some people who knew (and who had cell phones!) and this is how we ran 1 Mile and 1 Mile only. Close to the Finish Line Mommy was already waiting for me and we all finished the race together. I actually won a Free Movie Ticket for finishing (and I think Daddy got one, too). Maybe I can go see a Movie with Daddy - wouldn't it be great if they showed the Jungle Book, I would love to see this Movie on the big screen!!!

Gotta go! C U later!
LUC

Down the tube...

Guys! Yesterday we went hiking around the neighborhood, and there is a lake nearby that has an overflow system! Daddy wanted to convince Mommy that all the excess water is pumped to Lake Jordan, because of the extreme drought conditions in North Carolina, but after we did the appropriate inspection we realized that it is a manual bleed-off valve, and what Daddy was thinking is probably nothing more than SPECULATION!!!

Someone at work had asked my Dad what the water restrictions were for Orange County, and when I checked this morning I realized that Chapel Hill is still at Stage 2!?! Strange when everybody else (especially Durham!!!) is at Stage 4 and thinking about Stage 5. For those unbeknown to the topic of mandatory water conservation Stage 4 means that all industries shall reduce their city water consumption by 50%. And for those new to the English language shall = must! No kidding here! Right now Durham has 39 days of guaranteed water supply remaining. 39 days. Count them buddy, because no more showers for you after February 3rd. Better get that extra supply of deodorant now, Stinky (might wanna pick up some extra bottled drinking water, too)..............



Anyhow, the large piping for the excess water bleed-off is not exactly the playground anyone needs to be visiting without their parents or the appropriate official, but since I couldn't find an official anywhere Daddy was good enough - and he does take pretty good pictures.

Today it is raining. Yeah!!! It certainly can't rain enough around here. We may go outside and try out our new Matschhosen (for those of you new to the German language this translates to: pants for dirt! ... or dirty pants... that's a fun word to be screaming out loud! DIRTY PANTS. DIRTY PANTS....BETTER GET YOUR DIRTY PANTS BECAUSE WE ARE GOING OUTSIDE).



Ha ha, I just placed a small battery charger next to my Daddy, and he mistook it for the mouse and tried to use it as the mouse - boy what luck he had moving the cursor around with the charger. NONE!!!



Ciao!
LUC

REVOLUTION

Alright, this is it.

I am taking over.

I have just spent the last four days straight with my Dad... he's on vacation or something... and I must tell you, that poor dude has no time to write a blog. So, that's it. No more of this: "Gee, if I only had time to write", or his other poor ass excuse: "If I had only taken a picture to go with the story!" - it's over Pap - you write no more - you been hanging out here toooooo long, buddy.

SOOOO, let me fill everyone in on my story. It's Christmas season 2007, I turned three sometime this past summer, and have been living in the United States of America for the last six months or so. I had a really good Thanksgiving break at Lake Norman. My Daddy was hanging out with this other Dad, they were fixing up an old deck or something - really crazy, because it took them the entire break, and there was still no water to float it in when they were done. But anyhow, I had a really good time with my mom and my sis, and the other mom and her three kids. Those two crazy ladies took us on a canoe trip across Lake Norman, so that we could have a picnic on someone's sister's deck, that was in much better shape then the one my Daddy was working on with that other guy.

My sis has been quite the trooper, and she is trying to pick up on all my tricks! Most of the time I don't mind. But boy brother, the things I dreamt about doing when I was her age, geee, no problem for her, buddy.

So, it has been a wonderful time to be alive. I love it when my Daddy sits down with me and we get creative.

And I guess he loves it, when he gets out with Mom, and they go mountain biking.

Man, everytime I upload an image, it's screws up my formatting and puts the last pic first! Anyone got a fix for that???

Well, I am getting out of here. I'll be back soon, this is my own here revolution. Wish me luck and I will keep you going with pics and stories.

Since it is the jolly Christmas season, please allow me to leave you with a picture I took last night.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

LUC