wrecked...

So, this morning, I had every intention of going for a 25 mile bike ride.  It would be my longest of the summer, to this point.  Last weekend, I did 20 miles and wanted to continue to build my long ride endurance.  I went to Shelby Farms, which provides a mixture of low traffic roads and some off road trails.  At around mile 16, I started up this brief hill.  Some new gravel had just been laid, so I move to the right to avoid most of the gravel.  As I did, my rear wheel sunk into the gravel and the bike slipped out to the left. I, however, fell to the right...right on my shoulder.

I wasn't wearing a helmet, but I didn't hit my head.  No harm, no foul there.  But, I did take most of the impact on my shoulder.  And, now, I struggle to move my right arm. (Fortunately, my fingers are still working in good order, so that I can type this blog.)  I also skinned my leg and arm a little.  But, this is not my worst bike accident.  No, that happened when I was 13 and hit a parked car.  My brother's sympathetic response to my accident today was "at least you didn't get hit by a car."  See, my brother saw me immediately after my accident when I was 13--beaten and broken.  And, he recently pointed out to me that I should consider avoiding biking.  This was my third accident in the three years that I've lived in Memphis.  And, yet, I don't plan to give up bicycling any time soon.

quotes from a book

I read a book called "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne while I was in NC on vacation and I wanted to remember some things he wrote. So, I'm scribing them onto my blog...

"I had a college professor who said, 'All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, just to arrive at death safely. But dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip or dance, just don't tiptoe.'"

"There is a brilliant truth I have come to see, largely because of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, spiritual writer and fellow register, whose words are now inscribed on my wall: ' The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community [even if their intentions are ever so earnest], but the person who loves those around them will create community.'"

back in memphis

So, I'm back in Memphis after spending a while in NC.  It was good to see the family.  I got to spend some quality time with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Moreover, Kevin and Amanda and I got to spend time with mom and dad.

On Monday afternoon, Amanda and I went walking in the lower field of the farm to see if there was water in the creek.  (See, Central NC is in a severe -er, exceptional- drought and it poured rain on Sunday.)  And, there were some splashes and pools of water around.  And, as Amanda and I stood and stared at the random accumulations of water, Amanda notices a large bone laying in the creek.  I mean, this thing could be the size of a dinosaur's shoulder blade.  Well, now that I think about it, it was more likely the hip bone of a cow.  Regardless, it was a large bone laying in the creek. So, Amanda and I set out to find more bones.  Amanda (now nicknamed Long Feather--completely unrelated story) finds the skull of a small animal, with the upper jaw still holding onto teeth.  We took the bones back to my dad to get confirmation of what they belonged to when they were being used.

And, we all got to play the Nintendo Wii...a lot.  I was sore several days.  My mom learned that she was a better bowler left handed, as she was trying to give her arms an equal workout.  Kevin is the most efficient user of the Wii.  Though, Winston is the most vocal.  I don't think he appreciates the animated characters.  He likes to growl at them.

pictures from the 4th

Here are some pictures from Stanly County, NC.

An Outhouse (not in operation)

Eli and Aidan at the Oakboro Parade

A really hot guy at the Parade

Sunflowers at the Farm

Candy Apples at the Fair

panning for gold

Today, my mom, dad and I visited the site of the first discovery of gold in the United States, the Reed Gold Mine, in Central NC.  There were gold nuggets of 17, 23 and 28 pounds found there during the 18th and 19th centuries.  I sat through a video, actually slept through some, and learned a little about gold mining. 

My dad and I panned through some rock and I ended up sorting out two gold flakes and a sliver.  The guy at the panning troughs put my gold in a vile for me and now I have a keepsake.  All, in a days work.

farming

I've been learning to farm.  Today, I operated the John Deere lawn mower for about two hours and trimmed the orchard and yard.  I've picked cucumbers, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes and apples.  I've been watching the cantaloupes, watermelons, corn and peppers grow.  Now, my dad has done most of the work and my mom has picked gallons of berries.  And, I'm sore.  I might have to blame the soreness on my obsession with my mom's Nintendo Wii.