DID I MENTION MY KID IS A ROCKSTAR?

Lil Bop = Rockstar, v. 2.0: This Saturday was to be a day of Dbop fishing solo. Nice quiet day with no distractions except where to be a trout slayer. As I moved around the house in the morning, Lil Bop woke up and asked me where I was going. After she found out I was going fishing, she wanted to go. So, it became a father-daughter bonding trip. We started the day with breakfast burritos and a drive up Clear Creek Canyon. We stopped a few times to fish Clear Creek, but neither of us was having any luck. It was tough to find a good spot where both of us could fish near each other. After a tough start, I decided to head for the Blue River Inlet to Lake Dillon. A friend of mine recommends the spot, and now so do I. It had plenty of good spots that we could fish near each other and plenty of fish. I caught two small trout, while Lil Bop made history with her first catch. She did all the work. The only things Dad did were to get her rod ready and tell her where to cast. Otherwise, she cast, hooked, and reeled in her first fish all by herself.

SNOW IS COOL. REALLY COOL. COLD?

Part of the reason the Bops are in Colorado is that this here Bop likes the cold. I spent too many summers outside in south Texas to want to endure it anymore. I haven't posted anything recently because since Christmas, Lil Bop has had ski lessons every Saturday. That means every Saturday, I have gotten up at 4:45 am so the Bops will be ready to roll at 6 am so that Lil Bop will make it to class by 8:30. This Saturday is the first since Christmas that I get to sleep in. It hasn't been entirely torture. I do like to ski. The first time I had skied in almost two years was fun. Mrs. Bop managed to capture one of my finer moments.

I got myself caught in some waist deep powder. But, I was to be avenged. A couple of weeks later, Lil Bop had been kickin' butt in her lessons. One day after we picked her up, she wanted to show us that they had been going in the half pipe and that she could do it. Mrs. Bop and I were hesitant, but Mrs. Bop decided to capture the whole thing on video for posterity. All I have to say is that MY KID IS A ROCKSTAR. So's my wife.

TOTEM POLE TOUR '08

I know that we live in a part of the country that has some people that think a little freer than others. One of them happens to be my neighbor. But these are some interesting pieces of art to have in your front yard. I've noticed these poles throughout the neighborhood since we moved. So to cure some cabin fever today, Lil bop and I went for a walk. I knew of four, but found a fifth during our travels.

BAH HUMBUG

There'll be more when I'm not feeling lazy.

COLORADO CHRISTMAS

Last weekend, we participated in a tradition very new to the Bops. We cut down our own Christmas tree. For $20 (awesome), the Colorado Forest Service will let you go into certain areas that need thinning and cut down trees no larger than 6" round and no taller than 15'. The permit is a mirror tag and if you carefully follow the directions on the back, it folds into an ornament (ugly as sin). So we followed some friends to the cutting area, had a small lunch once we parked, and proceeded to hunt down the Bop's Christmas Tree 2007. After 45 minutes of looking uphill of the car, we ended up downhill of the car and found our tree in 5 minutes. Mrs. Bop's "I want to help" was helping decide on the tree, and being the historian for this expedition. Once the tree was decided on, I set to work on falling this behemoth of a tree.

The picture is a little deceiving. It took a little longer to cut it down because I was on the side of a very steep hill. But with a little perseverance, I had the family tree down and was hauling it to the car for transport to the Bop House.

After struggling to move the tree to the car, we had to document our conquest. Our friends took a picture for posterity.

The tree in the background makes ours look a little bigger than it really is. It ended up being around 7' tall, perfect fit for the Bop House. The next day, we had it set up and lit. No ornaments on it in this picture; maybe that will make it to a post in the future.

HOUSE IN OCEANSIDE

I've lived in many places during my life. The first place I have a memory of is my family's house in Oceanside, CA. We lived there while my dad was stationed at Camp Pendleton. I remember going to the beach during the summers and playing in the back yard. I have very fuzzy memories of this house because we moved from here when I was four.

WHERE I'VE LIVED

My brother Jack Army has gone to many places during his career, and that made me think about where I've been in my life. So, I'll start with where I'm living now. The Bop's just recently moved across town into a house. This is the first time Mrs. Bop or I have lived in our own house. It's been apartments or duplexes up until now. It's a nice feeling not having to worry about being or hearing the elephants upstairs. Lil Bop can jump and dance in the house without care (sort of -- we have hardwood floors) and she finally has a yard to play in. The funny part is I live on Cherry St. now.