Week powered by the 'sun' and Momma's big performance

You could say that this past week was one in which we were running on
fumes, yet without any fossil fuel, and our energy motivated only by the
sun. On Tuesday after work Dad went over to the Alice Springs Youth
Centre (between ANZAC Hill and ANZAC Oval) to help set up for the annual
Sunchase 2005 Model Solar Vehicle Competition being held on Wednesday
and Thursday. Mom and Logan were really nice as they brought over
pizza, cookies, and drinks for everyone helping to set it up. The
hardest thing to do when setting up for the event is to put together the
80 meter long figure eight race track. It has to fit together just
perfectly with no bumps (which is damaging to the model solar race cars)
and the guides on the track have to be measured accurately to ensure
equality for all. At about 10 PM we all called it quits for the night,
with a couple folks camping there overnight to ensure no vandalism
occurs on our track. On Wednesday Dad helped out at the Solar
Mini-Challenge, in which about 8-10 schools came out with their students
(ranging from primary thru high-school level) and competed against one
another with their 'under $60' kit solar cars they built. On Thursday
the main event occurred in which the big rigs ('built from scratch')
model solar cars and boats would compete. They can cost student teams
upwards of several hundred dollars and this year was certainly more
exhilirating than last with more model solar cars racing at 'breakneck'
speeds, anywhere from 18 to 45 seconds to do 100 meters. This can be
largely attributed to the fact of a good number of kids having gained
great experience from last year. Unfortunately we only had one entry
for the model solar boat competition, but luckily Dad had fixed up and
brought along his under achieving model solar boat. That way we were
able to give the excited 5.5 year old some kind of competition.

On Friday evening we went out to a parade for the grand opening of the
week-long 'Alice Springs Desert Festival'. There was a tall ice-man
and fire-man that Logan and Bradon said was a dragon. Additionally
there were belly dancers, clowns, anti-nuclear waste protesters, etc...,
the usual fare. It only lasted about 20-30 minutes at which point the
spectators were invited to join in as part of the parade to walk down to
the Desert Festival celebration grounds. There we heard some music and
watched some circus acts, but it was a bit too crowded for the size of
the area and so we didn't last long before heading out. That night
Daddy read the dog book "Lady and the Tramp" to Logan. In it, Lady's
owners were sitting on a park bench and were facing eachother, seemingly
about to kiss. Even though we had not ever discussed this with Logan,
he proclaimed "Mom and Dad kissing" while pointing at the picture.
Then Logan started shaking his head and said "They're naughty", "they're
naughty Daddy".

Saturday morning Mom was quite tired and so Dad decided to be lazy as
well and blow up the little swimming/wading pool for Logan to play in.
It didn't take long before Logan wanted Dad in the pool as well, so Dad
joined in. Wouldn't you know it, but the second Dad sat down in the
pool, he looked at Logan and suddenly saw a yellowish discharge cloud
escape from him... and begin a journey outwards into Daddy's domain. I
think Dad was in the pool for maybe 15 seconds total from start to finish.

Saturday afternoon was Mom's grand performance with her Alexandria
Quartet woodwind ensemble, which was organized to be played as part of
the Alice Springs Desert Festival festivities. It was free and they
played amongst the trees and shade just in front of the historic
waterhole from which Alice Springs was named. The surroundings were
perfect and there was about 150 people sitting along or around the
hillside above the performers. Needless to say Logan didn't hold out
for too long and lasted for about 45 minutes, just shy of the first
music break (2 hour long show). Dad tried to keep Logan within a
distance such that he could hear the music, yet far enough away that
spectators didn't have to hear Logan. Climbing amongst some large and
difficult boulders (primarily with Daddy holding or carrying Logan),
Logan found a cave and indicated as such. Upon leaving the cave he
started singing "Batman" at close to the top of his lungs... hmm, where
do kids pick these things up? Couldn't be other kids? Anyway, Dad
strategically moved Logan further away from the performance so as not to
lead everyone to believe this was "Batman" themed. On the backside
of the hill, there was a father with his 3 children who were just as
anxious to climb the rocks. In a strong thick British accent the man
proclaimed "I asked you not to go on the rocks." Logan then said
somewhat loudly, just as a parrot would, "I asked you not to go on the
rocks." Only Logan did it in exactly the same manner with just as
strong and thick of a British accent as the man! Yes, Daddy had a
very difficult time holding back from laughing and moved his son away
from that area as quickly as he could. Finally, Dad and Logan made it
back around and sat and played in the sand in the dried up Alice Springs
waterhole down below the performance area while listening to Mom play
her oboe along with the other musicians. As far as Logan and Dad could
tell, there wasn't a flaw or mistake in it and Mom did a wonderful job.