So Today...

After karate, we went to a friend's parents lake home. On Saturdays, The Madster, 'Nika and I hop on the bus and head down to karate. Yeah it's only a 5 mile round trip, but I feel pretty good about leaving the car in the garage for this short trip. It's more about not hopping in the car every time we need to be someplace. Last week we even stopped and did a few errands on the way back from their session. The kids really like karate - liking it so much they want to go 4 times a week. I will gladly take them, but I myself am rather ambivalent about the martial arts in general. I really like the fact that the girls are learning to defend themselves that they are developing coordination, balance and flexibility. But let's face it, it's about hurting someone. Yes, I know, I know it is drilled into their heads that this is ONLY to be used in self defense - but still. And there is also the martial part of it. I guess I would feel a little silly carrying on with the whole military bearing thing - barking "Yes sir," standing at attention, lining up according to rank - unless, of course, I was in the military. But the girls really like karate, so we go.

After karate we headed up to Lindstrom, MN to enjoy the water, boating, fishing, all of that stuff, with friends from church. Well the girls enjoyed all of that. I fell into a conversation with an old freind, S.T., John a student at my alma mater, Luther Seminary and Bernard, an adjunct philosophy instructor at a local college. A 3 hour conversation. It was intense, wide-ranging and a rollicking good time. The Other Younger Half showed up later after she was done rubbing nekkid people.

The downside of being gone all day to the lake was that I missed yet another day of biking. Third day in a row. This is not good.