Best Thanksgiving Ever

We all had a really good Thanksgiving. We played a Nancy Drew game all day long. Food was provided by our local grocery store so little cooking involved. It was completely relaxing in every way; and we all needed that after a very busy couple of months!

Castle Mallory Un-haunted

We finished "The Haunting of Castle Mallory" the new Nancy Drew game! It is great; in fact, we all agree it is one of our favorite Nancy Drew games. It uses math, chemistry and has tons of fun puzzles. Even Esh enjoys it. Really great game.

Xmas Vacation

This Christmas vacation, we will go to Ocracoke again. We are all looking forward to the vacation from the hard work we have been doing. The house we have usually stayed in is already booked so we are going to try a different one. The new house is on the harbor which will be different; usually we stay on the marsh. We will be able to see the ferries come and go, and each of us will have a king size bed and our own private baths! Linens are provided for us which will be great.

It's A Girl

Bud is home again to study. And, he was killed today by a thrown sock! His assassin was a girl and the person organizing the game is a girl!!! Awesome....

Infinity

If Bud returns to UVA in the spring (and it is iffy due to the five week "break" this semster) one of the classes he is going to take is about Infinity. There will be lots of reading and discussion about infinity and all of its different aspects. Sounds like a really great class!

Amazing Google Earth

Google Earth has always been pretty amazing but now it is awesome! They now have actual photos of each street or building, etc.! You can take a panoramic view of our neighborhood! Truly wonderful. Just click on the above embedded link, key in your address and take a look. Camera icons show where the photos are. If you do not see one for your address, zoom in and more cameras appear. Click on a camera and view the view! Try Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower -- anything.

Privacy is a thing of the past!

Gnomie at my drawing table!! Wonder what he will draw??

Assassin's Game

Esh's school has an Assasins game going on for a couple of weeks. You are a target and you have a target. How is one assassinated? By being hit with a clean sock. If you are hit, you are dead.

You cannot be killed at your place of work during working hours or while in the middle of playing a sport.

Also, each day has a method of immunity from being assassinated. Yesterday, if you were wearing your shirt inside out, you could not be killed. If someone tried to kill you and you were immune, they are dead.

Today, to be immune, you must be carrying a banana. It must be in your hand and visible, not in a pocket or backpack.

Esh is still alive but so is his target.

Get in the mood! Click Here

My Own Worst Enemy

This TV season, there is a new show on NBC called My Own Worst Enemy. It has Christian Slater playing the main character and we consider it to be a fairly enjoyable show.

However, the questions raised by the show's premise might be better than the show itself. As background, a man has a chip in his brain which has begun to malfunction. Sometimes, he is a well trained professional killer (aka Edward) and other times he is Mr. Typical Family Man (aka Henry). What is not clear is this: which one is the actual / original pre-chip person? Also, is it okay to have a chip implanted in your brain which affects your personality? The answer seems straight forward to be "No" but if it is okay to have a prosthetic arm why would it not be okay to have a brain chip? If it is okay to have an artificial heart why would it not be okay to have a brain chip?

Interesting questions are raised by this show.

Insurance

We have always felt that insurance is a good thing; additionally we have always tried to make sure we are not over-insured, too (although it may be better to be over- vs. under- insured). Each month, we purchase health insurance through an HMO. We also pay for life insurance, house insurance, car insurance, and an umbrella policy! We have Orkin termite insurance, and insurance on the pipes and telephone lines leading to the house. We have made sure that Bud has copies of his insurance , too, especially while driving. Insurance is just such a good idea as a person never knows what the future holds. Bud and October have both had fender benders in the past year and the insurance cards were pulled out. Gravity had some other unknown vehicle scrape along the side of his car while it was parked just a year ago! Good idea -- insurance.

Dough Boy

OMG, Pillsbury now does pre-made pie crusts! Wow. They already make yummy cinnamon twists, crescent rolls, dinner rolls, cookie dough, ...........

Buddy

Bud is home this weekend. He is studying here the entire weekend in order to get caught up. He decided to take a bit of a break at UVA to the extent that teachers wrote asking where-are-you types of things to both him and his academic Dean. We will see what grades are like at the end of the semester........

Random Facts

Like random facts? Here are two posts that are amazing!

http://diamondhearted.blogspot.com/2008/10/very-random-facts.html

http://diamondhearted.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-random-facts.html

Ancient Rome Reborn

From UVA's news blog: Ancient Rome has been reborn as a collaboration between Google Earth and UVA. Cool video where you travel through ancient Rome.

http://uvatoday.org/blog/?p=472

Time For Another Puzzle!

The numbers 1 to 9 should be in each row and each column and in each square with no repetitions. Have fun!

Lion Sighting

For a couple of weeks now, the news has reported a lion, yes -- full grown actual lion like they find in Africa -- lion in our neighborhood. NBC says that many people have seen it and that police have told them that the sources are credible. Wow. We are being very careful when we let the girls outside. Dottie, the slowest and oldest dog goes out the front with October on a lease; Gravity takes the two twins (born a year apart and complete opposites) out with him in the back. The woods behind the house are populated with deer; and there is a farm with sheep and lamas nearby so I am not sure they would go after our literal "pack". Wonder if any of the neighbors are missing any outdoors cats.....

New Soup

Tonight we are having another new experimental dinner soup. I have taste tested it and it is great! So here it is:

Buy Campbell's Southwestern Corn soup (comes in boxes -- one per 1.5 person). This was used for the soup base. The portions below depend on number of people and amount of corn soup base. The soup should be very chunky and full of other stuff -- sort of like a stew.

Also buy:

• precooked beef bratwurst - chop into bite size pieces
• napa cabbage - chop; it will shrink significantly in the soup
• onion - peel and chop
• fresh tomato - de-stem then chop
• butternut squash - peel and chop into chunks; it becomes very soft when cooked so fairly big chunks are okay
• fresh parsley - chopped
• olive oil

In the bottom of the soup pan, very lightly brown the onion, cabbage, squash. Add bratwurst. Stir and heat until meat is warm and slightly browned. Add tomatoes and parsley and heat about 2 minutes. Add the boxed soup. Simmer at least an hour so flavors blend. Yum.

Our travel gnome is at it again!!

Here he is by a BIG picture of October's butt!

Ukrops

Ukrops supermarket is amazing! For only $111, I just ordered Turkey Day meal. Here is what we will have:

• 7-8 lb turkey breast cooked and ready to go
• 2 lbs. cornbread dressing
• 2 lbs. sweet potato casserole
• 1.5 lbs. seasoned green beans
• 1 qt savory gravy
• 1.75 lbs. cranberry orange salad
• dozen white house rolls
• dozen min-croissants
• one sweet potato pie
• dozen assorted cup cakes
• dozen country ham biscuits
• 2 lbs. triple cheese macaroni cheese

I don't think I could cook the meal myself for a cheaper price especially at my current hourly wage of $50 per hour. With everything precooked, I will be a guest at Thanksgiving Dinner like everyone else and I love it! It is the way to go.

Eleventh Hour

Gravity and I have watched some of the new TV shows (The Mentalist, My Own Worst Enemy, Eleventh Hour) and our favorite is Eleventh Hour. It is a very well done show where a scientist works with the FBI to solve science related crimes. There is also a female FBI agent assigned to protect him and this situation has given a few instances of comic relief. very good show and highly recommended especially to those of you who like science.

Sleep Disorders Redux

Gravity placed a post on his blog about sleep disorders that is really interesting. It triggered some additional thoughts in me.

Remember the Ambien stories where people who had taken Ambien were driving cars while asleep and cooking breakfast at 2 AM while completely asleep? Well, I wonder if Ambien creates REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in people who do not actually have REM Sleep Behavior Disorder naturally! Interesting. Some day we actually might know the answers to all of these questions.

One of Our Favorite Authors

One of Gravity's and October's favorite authors died yesterday. Michael Crichton was 66. Many people probably did not even understand that Jurassic Park was primarily about chaos mathematical theory and that the dinosaurs were only used to demonstrate the math theory. His research was awe-inspiring to say the least! We will miss your books. Fond farewell.

----------------------
October says:

My two favorite books of his are Andromeda Strain and the little known The Great Train Robbery which is based on an actual train robbery in England. Both of these books are very well researched and written. Andromeda Strain was actually written while Crichton was in medical school. I like both of the films produced from both of theses book, too. It could be because Crichton was heavily involved with both of these films, too. I will miss his books.

Web Users Beware!

Are "private" blogs actually private? Many say not so. How could they be as it is impossible to secure a world wide web. The other day I found this out on Google:

"Saturday, July 26, 2008. Starting again. I've become really interested in crocheting again. I finally found a pattern for a..."

This is from a blog that is supposed to be private! Web users beware. Nothing is actually private. Privacy is best left to the phone...no that does not work; best left to the US mail system...no that does not work either; and definitely not email. Oh well, there is just no privacy. Everyone is constantly spying on everyone else. So, just hang loose and go with the flow. Be happy -- don't worry.

Voted

Gravity and I both just voted. We voted cross-party; i.e., we voted for people from multiple parties not just following the party line. Hope everyone else votes too! Esh, and his roommate, are not old enough

Surprise Candidates

What a surprise. There are six groups of two running for President and Vice President!

President and Vice President
Statewide
Chuck Baldwin and Darrell L. Castle
Independent Green
http://www.baldwin08.com
President and Vice President
Statewide
Bob Barr and Wayne A. Root
Libertarian
http://www.libertarianparty.com
President and Vice President
Statewide
John McCain and Sarah Palin
Republican
http://www.johnmccain.com
President and Vice President
Statewide
Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente
Green
President and Vice President
Statewide
Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez
Independent
http://www.votenader.org
President and Vice President
Statewide
Barack Obama and Joe Biden
Democrat
http://www.barackobama.com

Fun At College

One of Esh's many gifts is the ability to make friends. People just love him! (Gravity and I must have done it all correctly!) Every time we talk with him over the phone, he tells us delightful tales of adventure and fun. He and several of his friends are applying to Brown Residence College at UVA. It is like a college within a university. It is limited to only 300 students so the process is very selective; but Esh already has Friends who live at Brown and they are encouraging him to apply.

One interesting thing about Esh's friends is that they cover the complete scope of grades at UVA; and they include boys and girls. When Esh was in HS his guidance counselor once told me that everyone liked Esh. She said this was unusual with gifted kids as they often act as if they were entitled to treat others badly because they were bright. Well, Esh keep up the good work! And good luck getting into Brown Residence College!

Seasons Survey

The other day, I was thinking about how wonderful autumn was as it is my favorite season; and how glad I was that summer, my least favorite season, had finally ended. Then I began to wonder how many people were influenced in choosing their favorite season based on the conclusion of their least favorite season – a type of “Ah ha” feeling of relief. I began to ask people – friends, family, people at my veterinarian, a class of students at UVA, my hairdresser, etc. It appears that my initial thought might be correct. The sample size for the survey was far too small to be statistically valid, but, none the less, it is interesting. Following are the results of this very small survey.

Results:

Based on the repeating sequence of four seasons, the normal statistical occurrence of favorite and least favorite occurring adjacent to each other would occur about 50% of the time. Of this 50%, half would have the least favorite preceding the favorite with an overall result of 25% of the time. The chart below shows what would be expected if no influence occurred between the choice of favorite and least favorite seasons; i.e. they were random in occurrence.

Favorite and least favorite not adjacent -- 50%
Favorite preceding least favorite -- 25%
Least favorite preceding favorite -- 25%

The results gathered from the survey varied greatly from what would be expected based on typical random choices as listed above. The survey results are below.

Least favorite preceding favorite -- 57%
Favorite preceding least favorite -- 16.5%
Favorite and least favorite not adjacent (exclusively summer/winter) -- 16.5%
Not familiar with four seasons -- 10%

Definitely, the occurrence of the least favorite season prior to the favorite season must have some significance. Whether the influence is the “Thank goodness that season has finally ended!” effect would have to be determined from an additional survey; but the results of my brief and small survey results are clear. Many people’s favorite season follows their least favorite one. It is definitely true with me.

Youth at College

This weekend we found out that Esh's roommate is younger, too. Esh turns 17 in a few days and his roommate turns 18 in January. They will be the same age for two months.

Mrs. Butterworth To The Rescue

If Obama gets into the White House, he will need one of the Geico spokes-people to help decide what to do. Mrs. Butterworth is so happy and positive she would be a good choice.

Chinese Cabbage Soup

Bok choi, tenderloin strips, water chesternut slices, mushrooms, tamari sauce, chicken broth, carrots, leeks, snow peas, Napa cabbage. Yum.

UVA Family Weekend

This weekend is Family Weekend at UVA. We went up to C'ville and took Esh out to lunch. Then we wen to see Grandma L and Uncle C and Aunt F, October's long-term friend. It was a good day. It was good to see Esh, meet some of his suite-mates, see L, C, and F. Truly a family weekend.

Great Gas

I got great gas today for my sports car. 93 octane gas here was $2.78 per gallon at a Shell station. Nice.

Autumn Soup Again

Ah...Autumn. Time for my autumn soup again and indeed, we had it this past weekend. For the first time, I added some left-over steak and it was indeed a nice addition.

So what goes into my autumn soup? Always chicken broth, butternut squash, tomatoes, canned black eyed peas, carrots, onions, salt and pepper, and fresh young spinach. For the rest of the soup, I look at what is good at the store. This means that sometimes I also add zucchini, fresh peas, canned fresh kidney beans, canned diced tomatoes, turnips, potatoes, meat, corn, flesh black eyed peas, and the kitchen sink (kidding of course -- it never looks tasty enough!)

I think next I will try to develop a soup for each season. I also want to develop a Sukiyaki soup. Love bok choi!

Esh Is Sick

Poor Esh. He has one of those phlegmy icky things; but he is not alone. the entire suite of 10 boys has the phlegmy icky thing! We have offered to pick him up and redeliver home if he gets to the point of wanting the things that home has to offer that dorms do not -- fires in the fireplace, a soaking tub, people to feed you in bed, animals to comfort you and most of all -- quiet. Dorms are never quiet except maybe when everyone is sick. Our love to Esh. Tomorrow might be better!

Favorite Season

Yesterday, something occurred to me about favorite seasons. Do they always follow people's least favorite season?

As an example, my favorite season is autumn. My least favorite season is summer. Gravity is close on liking all seasons but his least favorite is probably winter and his slightly most favorite is spring.

Today at the grocery store, I asked people. Two people said that their favorite was spring and their least favorite is winter!

It makes sense. After your ;east favorite season you get a very welcome change; and that season becomes your most favorite.

Midterms

Esh called today to say that midterms are going well. He is dropping one of the physics classes as he is too busy with grading for 19 credits. Gravity and i have no problem with this decision what-so-ever. Luv ya Esh.

Meridian

The following poem is from UVA's magazine Meridian.

by Victoria Chang

Dear P.,

Last night I buried you alive in my
sheets. Tonight I drop you and you
shatter into thousands of crystals.
They spill between the poplars, wake
them by the hundreds. I crawl and
collect them one by one. But when
I touch one, the ground becomes
the night sky, the crystals turn into stars.
I become the pine that stretches over
the lake, reaching for your reflections.

Hoody for Pearl

One of our family's sweetest members went to the vet today and came back collared. She had licked a spot on her foot into a problem. The collar will prevent her from doing more licking. She is miserable but she is adjusting. She has to wear it for a month. Long time.

Happy 50th

Happy B-day Paddington Bear!

Home Sweet Home

Esh was home this weekend and spent hours and hours with his friends here. For a short while, they were here. I was told that our house was exactly what they wanted when they got a house! Wow, what a compliment. It makes me very happy. I am so happy that Esh had a good weekend, too! Now...back to college and back to work. Love ya!

Barney Gets Stuck

The electronics genius on the MI team is called Barney. In tonight's show, while stealing plutonium and trying narrowly not to get caught, Barney went in and out of elevator shafts probably a dozen times. You could say, he really got the shaft in this show!

National AP Scholar

Esh got another award in the mail this week. The College Board AP program has named him a National Scholar!! Hooray, Esh! This is the highest AP Honor available for US citizens. Wahoo.

Autumnal Foods

Somewhere along the line I began to associate foods with the different seasons. The minute the air gets crispy with a chill, I begin to think about apples and squash with brown sugar and nuts; and pot roast and cherry pie. The aroma of pot roast or turkey cooking fills a house with extra warmth and comfort. i guess it all goes back to the fact that we are animals jut like all of the other wonderful creatures on Earth.

Harvard Law School Changes

From Cavlier Daily:

"So when Harvard Law School decided this past week to overhaul its entire grading system, it was a big deal. To put it concisely, faculty will no longer give letter grades, instead offering a modified pass-fail method with four possible marks: Honors, Pass, Low Pass, and Fail. Traditionally, most law schools have used the same grading system we’re familiar with here at the University, with letter grades and pluses and minuses. When and where this practice changes, if it does, a legal education and its job placement sequence could change fundamentally.

There are reasons to believe a widespread changeover won’t happen. For one, HLS isn’t pioneering this trend, but is simply switching to a style of grading that Yale Law School has used since the 1960s. Additionally, Stanford Law announced in May that it would take up this method. In that sense, it isn’t a revolutionary idea; it’s been around for a while. Still, you can bet that if Harvard is altering its game, other schools will give pass-fail a second look. "

VA Leaves MD In The Dust

From the Cavalier Daily:

"Cavs leave Terrapins shell-shocked in victory --Cavalier offense, defense fire on all cylinders to shut out Maryland 31-0....In Virginia’s 31-0 dismantling of Maryland Saturday, Cavalier fans cheered themselves hoarse..."

Great video highlights.

Honors List

On the honors list is our Esh!! BIG Congrats!

B Rated Disasters

Most of the day, Gravity and I have worked. Gravity is working on a project that is about to wrap-up and I am learning Photoshop CS3 so I can edit the photos for my next two class projects more efficiently.

In the background, we have had the SciFi Channel on. All day they have been running B-rated disaster movies. It has been hysterical. First there was a massive volcanic eruption, then an atomic tornado and now a black hole is consuming the Earth! Wow....and all in one day.

Ghost Dogs at Moon Lake

We finished Secret of the Scarlet Hand, a mystery involving Mayan culture. So onward to Ghost Dogs at Moon Lake! We have arrived to find our hostess gone and the house was attacked by BIG dogs with green eyes the very first night!!

Gas Shock

I got a shock at the gas pump when I filled up today. I have been hearing horror stories of long, LONG gas lines and prices over $5! Nothing had prepared me for what I experienced. My car takes 93 octane so you can imagine what I was prepared for. I just stared at the gas station and the sign out front. There were no lines and even 93 octane was only $3.93 per gallon.......... The best kind of shock.

Wetlands

When is a wetland a bog or a swamp or a fen or a marsh? According to my math book, the classification is based on the pH levels of the water in the wetland.

I became curious so I checked Wikipedia. Along with other classifiactions, pH is indedd one factor for classification. "A bog or mire is a wetland type that accumulates acidic peat" according to the Wikigod. "Fens are characterized by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline." "A salt marsh is a type of marsh that is a transitional intertidal between land and salty or brackish water..." Interesting stuff in math books!