Burning the Creek, 2021

This year we didn't take as many pictures as last year, but we burned a lot more of the creek.  We got some tough spots that would not burn last year so they were extra thick and a bit more susceptible. 

 

I had a smoked brisket resting inside and I needed to go tend to it.  This is our neighbor who is teaching Caleb how to safely ignite new areas with the torch.

Caleb Hates Art Class

I've seen very little of his art over the years and then in 7th grade, they do something like this.  Both Rob and Caleb hated this assignment, but I kinda like it. It got thrown in the burn pile so I preserved a picture of it before its firey fate.

 

Steve's New Habit...

Steve has always had a relationship with the space heater but just this week, the fuzz-butt started crawling between my legs while I'm working and lay in front of the space heater.

 

2021 Ames Track Meet

We were a bit late for this one. Mama Chaos had to work (so did I, but my butt gets out of bed, does the usual get ready stuff before getting dressed, put on sweats and a oversized shirt and go downstairs to my work station).  We met in Ankeny and drove up to Ames together and as such, were a bit late and missed Caleb's first event... such is life.

This is the first event that we got to see.  Caleb is rounding the corner in the lead.  

Not as big of a lead as you think since the 2nd place kid is two lanes to Caleb's right.  And does his face look funny?

Why yes it does!  He doesn't remember to take his mask off for races!  LOL!  In the last one, he reached up and pulled it down but he finished this one with it fully on.  I struggle getting thru the grocery store with it on...  this kid is running like crazy.

Getting ready for his 100m hurdle.  He also likes to cheer anyone from his school on.  He's the yellowest jersey in the pic.

At the starting gate...

They're off!

Pretty much a dead heat between him and the dude next to him.

This was a heat that he wasn't supposed to be in, but a teammate got in trouble at school and therefore, could not participate tonight so Caleb is filling in for him in the 200m hurdles.

Again, pretty much a dead heat at the second hurdles.

At the third set of hurdles, he is getting some seperation and he expanded on that by the end of the race.  The trouble is, he was running as the kid who couldn't participate tonight so that lad gets the "time".  There were two heats for this event so Caleb came in second place ultimately.

 

Another meet in the books and the kid is loving it!  Can't beat that.

Vaca 2020 - Day ?? - Gatlinburg

Another Ripley's Believe It Or Not.  We did not entertain this one as we did in Orlando, but judging from the outside of the building, it was a bit tempting.  Only if we didn't have a fantastic cabin to get back too!

In line for the ski-lift'ish thingymabob...

Liftoff after WAY a too crowded cattle lead to get to the ride.  People on top of each other with about 60 percent in masks.  I'm not a huge fan of the mask wearing stuff, but if you're going jam people together into lines like this, something should likely be done...   Anyway, Robby and I are in the first swing, with Mom and Calebber behind us.

Speaking of mom and Calebber...

One of my fav parts of this ride is the part when it goes down as you cross the stream.  It's a beautiful view, if only for 30 seconds or so. At least you get to see it twice.

I love the mechanics of these types of things.

This was new since the last time my bride and I were up here!  This was pretty cool and provided many relaxing sounds as you lounge around looking at the peaks and valley's.

This suspension bridge was also new!  It's big'un!!!!  Robby and myself went about 1/4 of the way across it and betwixt its swinging and the people jammed on to it (can't really tell from the pic) I decided to turn around.  Robby followed.

A little better shot from the next level up showing both the length of this thing and the amount of peeps on it.

As we're on it.  I can't tell for sure if that Rob in front of Caleb or somebody else...  I think Rob and I are still involved at this point.  I think once we got closer to the middle where people congregate (you'll see why in the next pic), is where we turned around.

And in the middle is the see-thru floor!  I like the ones in China that appear to crack as you step on them!

So what did Rob and I do?  We went back and found some lovely lounging chairs overlooking what I love about this place!

Time to go down.  Still great views!

I've said it other times on this blog, there's 3 things that can make nature look better and here's one, the other's being Mama and Rob.  I tend to be a blemish...

Mama and Rob riding behind us.  Rob is giving us a thumbs down, of course...  what a horrible experience.

So we have driven past a beer store a few times now.  You can tell that sun is getting a bit lower in the sky and our goal was to be back to the cabin before sundown every night due to the treachorous roads.  However, tonight was the best night to hit up the Beer Wine & Liquor Super Store on our way back to the cabin.  Rob walked over to the Shell gas station for nature'ous reasons as he couldn't wait.  Caleb stayed in the van.  While we were making our way to the checkout, we hear the cashier say, "There's a f'ing bear at the back door!".  We checked out and left the parking lot.  The road to our cabin was just around the corner from the spirit's store and what did we find?  The bear who was just going about his bidness.

 

So pretty cool overall but a VERY big difference between the 2021 Gatlinburg experience and the bride and my first experience however many years ago when there were a lot less people and, accordingly, traffic.

2021 Indianola Track Meet

This is obviously during the warm-up period yet.  Caleb is the dude in about the dead center of the picture.  He appears to be leading his relay team to some undestined point.  Why do I say that? Because he has told me in no uncertain terms since then that he had NO IDEA what he was doing for a lot of the start of the meet.

That's Caleb on the footy-thingy-ma-bobber where you start your race.  Apparently, two of the more experienced teammates were helping him with his technique.

His 2nd hurdle of the evening.  Probably needs to get that front leg aimed straighter out to make this a long term thing, but he did pretty dang good for 7th grade and the first meet.

His 5th hurdle...

He absolutely loves this picture of his teams first relay.  I put a "tongue of fire" over Caleb while you can note that his next closest foe was right at the left-most upright of the football goal post.  Also note the flags at the top of both goal posts as the wind was ABSOLOOTLEY  STOOPID!!!  Some of the boys would "meet their match" about straight out in front of us due to the force of the wind, which was probably sustained at +30mph, and gusts up to 50+.

I like this picture because much like his football team in the Fall, Caleb wasn't jacking around on the sidelines.  He was very actively in support of his teammates.   That's him in the shadows running out to support a teammate who was in a hot competition.  This went on nearly all night.

 

Breaking In The New Track Shoes

The lad is doing track during his 7th grade year and as a result, he needed new track shoes.  Mom got him the shoes but she worked on the weekend when he wanted to go try them out.  So I took him up to track at his school so he could do a few laps and see how they felt.

These were taken about 10 days ago and he had his first track meet tonight (03/29/2021).  I'll post some pictures, and hopefully, videos as well.  His school did a fantastic job tonight!