A Sign of Spring

Forget crocuses, spring is a tuned-up bike. It hasn't had a tune up since I bought it over ten years ago at the Century Cycles Rocky River store. And I plan to do some riding this spring and figure I better take care it accordingly.

After the tune up at the Century Cycles Medina location, the guy was nice enough to tell me that it was a nice bike for it's range and that Raleigh doesn't make them like that any longer. They are heavier with more features for comfort and a lower-quality component package.

He said they also marveled at the shape it was in. I have always kind of babied it knowing I had the responsibility that came with justifying having spent more than I should have at the time.

I remember the liberating feeling when I got the bike. I rode as far as I could one day. I had to call Jill from a pay phone to come pick me up near dark. That was how euphoric I was and how completely I misjudged. I rode from Parma to Peninsula (and not quite back) that day.

In An Instant

Lens: From the Archive: Instant but Timeless
Hundreds of photographic works collected by Edwin H. Land of Polaroid are to be auctioned by Sotheby's, Carol Vogel reports.

D Turns Seven

Danny actually had two parties for his seventh birthday. He had this bowling party that you see here with a few of his friends, and then a small family party later that day. Thanks to our friends the Gladdens for suggesting the idea of a bowling party at "Ghost Alley" formerly "Kolony Lanes" in Wadsworth, which is where this was held.

Apparently the building and bowling alley have been in Wadsworth for quite some time. I found it well run in better shape than Wadsworth Lanes. The owner and staff bent over backwards for us and our party. We had a great experience overall and I recommend "Ghost Alley" to anyone interested.

I've never seen boys so excited together. It was everything I had to keep them all off the lane surface at one time. And if one of them picked up a spare you'd think they just won the lottery. A cheer would rise up from their lane. They we so happy for one another.

The photos show the gift and cake segments of the party. Mostly because I don't like to use a flash and they were somewhat still. At first we see Danny in party hat and glasses opening a Game Stop gift card flashing a knowing smile, then his mouth open in shock at receiving a "20 Questions" electronic guessing game. Turning seven sure is sweet.