Khan's Castle

New year's at my sisters: At last count, something like 28 members of the family are here today to celebrate the new year. One is missing: my nephew who died in the accident back in the spring. I'm very saddened thinking about him. He should be here. I'm convinced of it because, as this is my first time here for a new year's, I can attest to what my sister tried to explain: People have lain down their arms here and are simply gathering to keep up the ties and stay in touch. This is something I believe my mother and father tried to do, but were simply unable, are still unable. That is a sad but true fact as well, and so the celebration, on closer reflection, could be said to have a meloncholy side to it, and yet the people in attendance here seem to have accepted the fact of that situation and resolved to see things done differently for the future. I'm heartened to say that they are succeeding. There is hope.

A couple movies: The Western classic Shane and the modern animated Cars. Both were a lot of fun, Shane having more depth than most Westerns and Cars being just fun and sweet. These are the latest in a line of movies I've been getting from Netflix, making sure they're films I'm comfortable with the kids watching. It's been great lately and makes me realize just how many movies out there that I really prefer my younger children not watch.

I'm about halfway done with Jon Krakauer's Under the Banner of Heaven: Quite a story so far. I'll post more when I'm done.

Progress towards a front lever continues. I can hold the one-legged version a little longer, a touch easier, than ten days or so ago. I held a tucked one for a good 20 seconds last night, the longest time yet, and that was a number of sets into the workout. Not having shoes on helped since I usually do them while wearing rock shoes, but last night's progress felt like a little more than just that. Wishful thinking perhaps, but perhaps not.

Last weekend, my son had a great time with my old Erector set: He built various odds and ends while I built a crane like the ones that load and unload container ships. Even today, it's easy to burn hours conceiving a design and realizing it with construction toys. We have a lot of Legos and those along with my old Erector set—an amalgam of 5 sets, actually, making it fairly large—really facilitate the creative process for kids (of all ages). Watch a child with those types of toys and you'll really see their minds at work. It's a great thing.

Surfing later, I found Metallus. Oh my, what nice stuff to play with! Expensive, but I would expect no less for a well-made metal construction system in the year 2006.

In the gym, things are coming along. In this regimen, I'm now up to the step where the lever is performed with one leg straight, the other bent. In the first set, I held that for about 5 seconds, up from maybe 2 or 3 last week. Very encouraging.

The little ones and I laughed our heads off at A Night at the Opera a few days ago. One funny movie!

A little victory this week: After working on it a lot for a few days, I finally solved a Rubik's Cube for the first time Wednesday night. I worked it again the next day at lunch just to be sure I had it. It had been on my list for a long time and so it's satisfying to have it done.

Watched the Marx Brothers in Duck Soup the other night with the kids. It's a funny film, but I can tell I've aged and times have changed since it was made. Still a classic.