Back in March I launched my new business, Rudder Financial, a financial planning and wealth management firm. I wouldn’t say that my goal has always been to show that it’s possible to break free and live a life less ordinary, but I guess over time I’ve certainly proven that point. Ali and I left ordinary behind at twenty-nine, and here we are all these years later still living life on our own terms, having adventures, and not going broke along the way. With decent planning and solid investments, I think most people would be surprised at the life they can live today, rather than simply dreaming about the life they might live tomorrow. So, if you’ve ever just wanted to talk to somebody about your income, spending, investments, goals, and what sort of timeline could make it all possible, give me a call. And if you’re working with someone already but feel like their outlook on life doesn’t match the lifestyle you are striving towards, then let’s talk about that. If you’ve followed us along all these years you already know who I am and what kind of people we are, so just reach out and see if Rudder might be right for you.

All right, this is getting a little ridiculous now. Five flat tires in as many months. This bike was fine for running around town, but it’s time to get something a bit more robust. In the meantime, if I get a flat in San Miguel, I’m rarely more than a five minute walk pushing the bike to a mechanic.

At this shop I interrupted the mechanic and an old guy sitting on their lumber and taking nips of warm beer. Five minutes later my tire was fixed and they were back to their business of watching the world go by while waiting for the inevitable flat to come to them. In a town of cobblestone roads there’s never any shortage. Actually, their number one business seems to be pulling their air hose across the sidewalk to fill up slowly leaking tires of cars and bikes for a small tip.

Time to touch up the house a bit. Scraping, spackling, and painting.

Whenever there is something new around Za immediately makes a nap spot out of it. Leave a sweatshirt lying on the floor, she’ll find it. Set a pillow down while making the bed, she’ll find it. Put a sheet over the chair while painting, she’ll find it.

Lowe turned fifteen today. We kept it a very low-key affair as we were just hours away from heading to the airport. I could go on and on with the superlatives describing what an awesome kid he is, but we tell him all the time, and it would just embarrass him if he ever bothered to look at this website anyway.

Dropping Za off at the dog sitters. A local family has a nice property just outside of town and they’ve always got a few dogs they are watching. We don’t worry about Za for a second while she is there with them. They charge 300 pesos/day, which is an absolute bargain.

And just like that we were in Minnesota visiting the grandparents. They’ve always had a ton of animals, but over the last couple of years all the dogs had died of old age. Tehy said they weren’t going to get any more dogs. And yet it wasn’t the least bit surprising to find this new guy running around when we got there.

Ouest and Aunt Katy.

Katy’s husband Mike rewires some headlights while the owner and manager watch over his shoulder.

Hard to beat a good stretch of good Minnesota weather in August.

My nephew Curt got engaged to my second favorite Ali. We’re all happy and excited to have her join the family. And they’ve at least half-heartedly promised me they wouldn’t get married in February (cough cough KATY!).

Lowe and I told Grandpa to grab his wallet, then snuck him out of the house while Grandma wasn’t paying attention. An hour later, we walked out of Target with a new PlayStation and a stack of games. It was time to retire his PS3. It had been a good twenty-year run.

We found Lowe some ill-fitting riding gear and he hopped on the back of “my” bike. Grandpa keeps two nearly identical Road Kings because he just destroys the things. It was a nice day, so we cruised over to the DMV to renew my license, grabbed some Dairy Queen, and then followed Grandpa through the countryside for a while. We aren’t a great influence on a 15-year-old.

At one point Lowe asked me, “Is that hard to do?”
“Is what hard to do?”
“Peel out like that?”
“On a big bike like this, yeah.”
“Don’t try it,” he told me, as Grandpa once again left a trail of rubber at the stop sign, and then another patch as he shifted to third a few seconds later.

I have to admit, the guy can do things on his Harley that I wouldn’t even try. Even at his age, I don’t know a better rider.

We were able to sneak away and get out of the beautiful weather for a while to climb walls indoors. The Boulder Base gym in St. Paul was new, and it was incredible. We had an awesome day.

Grandma and her girls.