Star Trek Weekend

We have decided to have a Star Trek weekend. We are watching all of the Star Trek movies over this weekend except the first movie. That is three a day. Star Trek immersion!

Mile High

Denver is always a mile high; but this week, it is also knee deep.

Missing Esh

The pets have had varying reactions to Esh not being here. Pearl and Dottie seem to have adjusted fairly quickly, as has Autumn Leigh. Wilbur, our autistic cat, is oblivious to everything to begin with so he is okay. That leaves two other pets. The first to have a problem is Jojo and she reacted immediately. She has been extremely "needy" requiring constant petting, cuddling, etc. She seemed better yesterday but last night she seemed to have a problem again. Mark is also having a problem. "Mister Extrovert" who greets all visitors at the front door has become withdrawn and has had only one short spell of purring last night. They will eventually adjust. And, the first time Esh comes home to visit will be a shock (in a good way).

Word Math

A) What number, by adding one letter, becomes a sound?

B) What number, by adding two letters, becomes isolated?

C) What number, by inserting one letter, becomes finely ground meal?

D) What number, by subtracting one letter, becomes a plant?

E) What number, by subtracting one letter, becomes a preposition?

F) What number, by replacing one letter with another one, becomes a luminous object?

WWE and DNC

Eureka finished on Sci-Fi channel and WWE [http://www.wwe.com/] came on after it. The image shown reminded me of an earlier image...the Democratic National Convention! Hmmmmm...subliminal messaging?

Esh's New Job

Esh has his first job! Tonight, over the speaker phone, we helped with tax forms. Esh will grade papers for "How Things Work" [http://howthingswork.virginia.edu/]. What a terrific step towards adulthood!

Leaving the nest

The mind is prepared
at least you think it is
The child is prepared
at least he thinks he is
Emotions seesaw as we all prepare
but getting all things together makes us aware
That a change is coming for parents and child
Sometimes it feels big and sometimes mild
Though the drop off and unpacking is a momentary distraction
and buying a t-shirt and lunch the next action
Reality sets in that we soon will be leaving
For parents and child emotions and tensions start weaving
Goodbyes are said and away we go
Then the mind and emotions set in with questions a glow
Will he be okay, will he do okay
Will we be okay, or just worry each day
Freedom is felt, from all involved
But all hang on to ensured we are loved
Dogs and cats smell and see a change
Their emotions like ours have a wide range
It will take awhile before we all start to adjust
Life moves forwards with lessons learned for all a must
But from time to time home he will come and call
To visit with friends, parents, animals and know that he is welcome by all.

Terrific Olympics

From Wikipedia:

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Mauritius, Sudan, Tajikistan and Togo won their first Olympic medals. Serbia won its first medal as an independent NOC, having previously won medals as part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro. Bahrain, Mongolia (which had previously held the record for most medals without a gold) and Panama won their first Olympic gold medals. A total of 88 countries have won medals, and 55 of them have won at least one gold medal

Dropping Off

Yesterday, we dropped Esh off at UVA. We were able to park on the grass in front of the dorm so unloading was easy. The suite is on the third floor which meant stairs and stairs and stairs; and it was hot (although VA in summer can be much hotter and more humid). The view from the room is pleasant -- tree tops.The microfridge had been delivered so cool drinks will be possible for Esh and his roommate. Esh's roommate seems very nice and very American although he lives in Shanghai, China. We met his parents too, and they were also very nice. Gravity and I helped unpack so we could take boxes back with us. At one point, I asked if anyone had seen two of the pillow cases and that's when Gravity said ..."Where are the pillows?"

After everything had been carried up three flights of stairs, we all went to Bath and Beyond and bought pillows. then we went to Barnes and Noble for lunch and then said "goodbyes". I realized the other day, even though Gravity has an older sibling who has older children, we are the first one to an independent child. Big step for the child and for the parents. We love you Esh!

Tonight

Tonight, laughter rings throughout the house as the "super friends" have gathered in our library. They all want to be adopted but I had to say "No...sorry." Esh will be close and he can hitch a ride home with me on Fridays. It will not be too long before they see each other again.

MI TV

The old Mission Impossible shows are amazing. So far in the first season, the team has dealt with ghosts, brain washing among spies, kept scientists from being killed, rescued various people, stopped a bio-terror plot (remember these shows are set in the late 1960s), on and on. We sit here just waiting to see what the writer's will come up with next!

With Love

Wonderful poem about our Grandmother on her 90th (!!!!) from an extended family gifted poet:

Walking up the flagstone steps,
A warm friendly face greets you.
Inside the house , pictures of family, furniture, and knick knacks,
Known all the years through.
The kitchen warm, and inviting,
Delicious smells that are enticing.
Warm summer months eating out in the porch,
Taking in all the nature, no sun does it scorch.
Hanging vines of grapes, wisteria, and the like.
Then after eating ,finishing the day with nice hike!!!!!
These are the things I remember in my mind,
With these memories, the ties they do bind!!!!!

Fine ("Finish" in Italian) Phantom

We finished Phantom of Venice and we were all surprised. The one person we did not suspect as the thief was the thief! What fun. Now onto old Nancy Drew replays! Scarlet Hand here we come!

Cell Saga or Letting Go

I say goodbye to a trusted friend. Some people go out and buy whatever is new on the market. Not me. If I can make and receive calls, I'm okay. This story starts about two years ago.

My Phone Pleads with me
There I was, noticing that my talking/calling time was getting shorter and shorter. Until finally, I could not talk without being plugged into the car. "No big deal, my cell phone said, I just need a new battery." Well after three days of searching, everyone said, "your phone is old." Finally my phone pleaded with me to try Radio Shack. "Sure, they said." but we have to order one and it will take a week. I went for it, probably spending more than I would on a new phone. One day it arrived, I was happy, my cell phone was happy, the birds sang and life was great.

Fast forward about a year...

My Cell Phone is Middle Age
You see, phones are like dogs. For each human year, they age seven. Finally my phone, which barely had a "1", "2" or "send" button left on it from speed dialing asked me let it retire. Being selfish, I dismissed it. One day when I was talking the battery just fell out. A piece to hold it in had broken off. I like to fix things so I duct taped the edges, holding in the battery. I carefully replaced the "bandage" every couple of days. Worked great -- sort of -- well enough. We had quarrels, but who doesn't.

My Cell Phone is Old
One day, the duck tape stopped working and my phone said, "I'm just too old to for this." Glue I said. I knew that gluing the battery in place, would make the phones life time that of the "permanent' battery. But what the heck. So I carefully glued the battery in place. Every time I used the phone I got the smell of glue. But I could deal with that.

Asparagus
After about six months, the battery would slip from the glue ever so slightly. Off the phone went. Our asparagus from the local grocery store always comes wrapped with two rubber bands per bundle. So with the glue and a tightly wrapped rubber band, I held the battery in place. Yes, yes., I had trouble seeing the numbers, but so what.

The time comes
After three months of rubber band, it was time. My battery was dying again, it was glued into place, made tight enough by rubber bands and I could speak for a whole minute before having to recharge.

I went shopping, found a wonderful phone, same functions except I decided to get more minutes, texting and I can take pictures. It's smaller, slimmer and more up to date.

I was told it would be three hours before I could make calls. My phone told me it had had a good life and would hang on three more hours.

In Retirement
So. The new phone works, the old is in a retirement. I suspect is will keep me company until one day it's battery just gives up and it goes to place cell phones go to die. It thanked me for a good life; and hopefully we will see each other again. I just hope nobody duct tapes, glues and rubber bands me when the time comes. I've learned a lesson: when you love something, sometimes its best to let it go.

Ode to a cell phone
Cell, you tried to tell me
But the stubborn guy was selfish
Hopefully your resting now
I give you a final bow and say thanks
As we say goodbye, as you fade away
You're happy for me now
I'm happy for you now
And we can all rest, it's a different day.

Not Chinese

Japanese cookie -- not Chinese! The idea of fortunes is American. "Help! I'm trapped in a fortune cookie factory!"

Olympic Tennis

There were more than 17,000 spectators when Nadal played Hewitt in tennis at the Olympics. As the game progressed, Hewitt's name was displayed during his serve accompanied by the words "New Balls". Perhaps he should have stayed with the original balls as Nadal had been struggling a bit before the change; but after the change, Nadal swept the game. It can lead to a bit discomfort when female players such as Venus and Serena Williams get new balls; but so far, they have still been able to win games after the startling change. Power to new balls!

Togo

Togo is a small African country in the "Diamond" region. Togo sent one athlete to the Olympic games in Beijing. That athlete just won bronze in kayaking (called canoeing K-1)!!!

I Love This Country

The men's Olympic gymnastic's team is so...American. There are three members with eastern European heritage (Joey Hagerty, Jonathan Horton, Justin Spring). Then there is Alexander Atemev born in the USSR and now an American. Also, Raj Bhavsar who is of east Indian descent; and Kai Wen Tan who is Chinese American. Only in America; and they won the Bronze Team Gymnastics medal!

Old Mission

The old Mission Impossible TV shows are great. We are thoroughly enjoying them along. Brain twisters.

Working With Italian Police

We have begun to work with the Italian police. It is great. So far they communicate with us through ATM machines (which also dispense binoculars and a PDA). Venice is beautiful and we are tyring to track down the person who has stolen several Venetian artifacts. Risk is our nature and danger is the name. We wear it well! Just call us all Nancy...

We are glad to help the GdiF!

Watching Gold

The athletes might be going for the gold but we are getting gold by watching the Olympics on TV. It is wonderful. We all especially enjoyed the archery today; although none of us are quite sure why Beach Volleyball is an olympic sport. The swimming is awesome as is the diving so far. Bravo to all of the athletes from all 204 nations! Track and gymnastics next week.

We're a knowledgeable family

"...I know. You know I know. I know you know I know. We know Henry knows, and Henry knows we know it.

We're a knowledgeable family. " A Lion in Winter.

Quotable Quote

"...we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know." Donald Rumsfeld

Inanity

So I am supposed to be solving a problem so Bill can increasing the ratio of peas in a party mix; and Bill has nothing better to do with his time than calculate the ratio of peas in his party mix? Picture Bill hovering over a bowl of party mix and carefully separating all of the different things in the party mix, then counting each clump of stuff and then calculating out the ratio of peas to other things in the mix. Right. I can almost imagine someone doing this. Who exactly thinks up these problems anyway? Okay, okay so I do not want to solve the problem anyway... That is probably the actual problem.

Headache Free

So far, fingers crossed, Esh has had NO headache this morning! Hooray!!!

Goodbye Saint; Hello, Mission Impossible

We are watching the final The Saint episode. Next we are going to watch old Mission Impossible shows. Goodbye generic town, generic hotel room, generic mansion .... we began to recognize all of the same sets that were repainted and used over and over again in The Saint. Our favorite was the generic town street just wide enough for a single car.

15% of Six Hours

Esh and October waited at the hospital today to have Esh's spinal tap "fixed" for six hours. About an hour was actual productive time. The rest of the time, Esh and October did mental Hangman, "I See...", and a thousand quiz questions...until they were punchy with boredom. But, Esh is SOOOO much better. Bravo.
------------------------
October Says:

15 CCs of blood were removed from Esh and then put into the area surrounding his spinal column.

Complications

Esh has been experiencing bad headaches after walking just a few feet and nausea when in a car.

"Headache with nausea is the most common complication; it often responds to analgesics and infusion of fluids and can often be prevented by strict maintenance of a supine posture for two hours after the successful puncture. Merritt's Neurology (10th edition), in the section on lumbar puncture, notes that intravenous caffeine injection is often quite effective in aborting these so-called "spinal headaches". A headache that is persistent despite a long period of bed rest and occurs only when sitting up may be indicative of a CSF leak from the lumbar puncture site. It can be treated by more bed rest, or by an epidural blood patch, where the patient's own blood is injected back into the site of leakage to cause a clot to form and seal off the leak."

Not a fun way to spend the summer before going to college.
----------------------------
October says:

The doctor said that a bit of caffeine evenly dispersed throughout the day will actually help Esh's recovery.

Experiencing House

It seems that on just about every episode of House they give a patient a lumbar puncture and Prednisone. Esh now knows how it feels to have both!

Last Wednesday, Esh felt crappy in the morning but by the afternoon he was having violent shivers. To the ER we went. During the trip to the ER the tachycardia began. His resting heart rate was between 120 and 130 with spikes over 170 (normal is 60) so they admitted him to he hospital. He spent three fun-filled (hah) days in the hospital (we are posting this now as he did NOT want to hear from any family - and still doesn't - neither do Gravity or October either so do not call or write - thanks). They are not completely sure what the diagnosis is but it looks like a severe reaction to Mononucleosis. Wow. He has notified his friends. He is okay now but very tired and if he moves too much he gets a "screamer" headache. Bummer.

What a way to spend the last few weeks of the summer before college! Yuk.

Recursive Dreaming

Last night I dreamt that I had told Gravity and Esh about a previous dream I had had last night.