Happy 90th Birthday Grandmom

Deaths taken out of the Register of Lamplugh from Janry ye 1 1656 to Janry ye 1 1663

I tried resisting, but I love this list.

Michael: If you want, we can get you a new sewing machine.
Michelle: I’d rather have a new laptop.
Michael: And that’s why I love you.

Just got back from seeing Nickel Creek for their Farewell for Now tour.

As always their show was excellent, but I have to say a part of me longed for the first show I saw: they played in the Mountainlair Ballrooms, there weren’t a ton of people, there was plenty of space to get up and dance, and they played for more than two hours–loose sets that they made up as they went along.

But it was a fantastic show, and you should see them if you have the chance–before it’s too late.

Many of my answers were, “well… it depends”
(more…)

The military is developing an invisible tank.

Okay, invisible I suppose I can accept, since I’ve seen science news for invisibility cloaks/clothing for years now.

BUT

Really. Come on. What is the point of making a TANK invisible, since it’s not like it’s STEALTHY or anything. “Oh my! There’s a tremendous noise coming from that direction but I don’t see anything! That must mean I should ignore the noise and go about my business!”

A man has been placed on the sex offenders’ register after being caught trying to have sex with a bicycle.

The best part is there is a large full color picture of the man (NOT NEKKID) in the story, so it’s not just that his name is out there, now we know exactly what he looks like.

But really, I mean… HOW?!

Got back today from Orlando. Michael had two conferences there, and so I decided to take a week off to do absolutely nothing, where I couldn’t be tempted to actually, you know, do something around the house.

Discovered a couple things.

First, there is far more alcohol at a Disney resort than I would have imagined.

Two, Orlando and its environs have some very interesting flora and fauna. I particularly liked the little lizards.

c) Even living and growing up in a college town, I was still shocked by the amount of drinking and (although I didn’t see the end result so I can’t be certain) casual sex. I went to several events with Michael, and at some, alcohol was easier to get than soda or water. (The first conference only had drinking, the second conference had drinking and a surprising number of people looking like they were trying to hook up, regardless of whether they were married or not.) However, living and growing up in a college town, I wasn’t bothered by those things, just surprised to see grown-ups acting like teenagers.

4th, I decided that I really don’t like golf. The second conference was at a resort on a golf course. I went walking in the mornings, before things got hot, and was stunned by the amount of water and fertilizer and manpower used to maintain the courses.

Fifth, places that cater to the rich nickel and dime you like nobody’s business. The Disney resort didn’t have free wireless (WAH!), and the golf resort… jeesh. No fridge in the room (just the wet bar), anything you wanted had to be purchased from the hotel–water was $3 to $5 a bottle, in addition to the room charges, there were also charges for “supplies” that included internet, towels for the pool, etc. Thank goodness all this was covered as part of the conference fee. Unfortunately, meals for me were not, and there was nothing really within walking distances of the hotel (certainly not at noon when temperatures are in the 90s) and so meals were…. not cheap. But at least a the second resort the food was good.

F. I really do have problems with bright light. Most every afternoon I got a headache. And the same thing happened seventeen years ago when I visited my family in Hawaii. So the purchase of high end sunglasses was not a waste of money, and I really now have no desire to go to the beach, since being in the sun for any length of time during the day makes me sick.

Lastly, I had my first massage (being at a resort is good for something). By Jove that my certainly will not be my last massage. That was fantastic.

But for now, I am tired and really glad we’re not going to work tomorrow.

ADDENDUM the First:
Book reviews will go up later. Whenever I feel up to it. Because you know I read plenty while on vacation.

I was wondering if anyone else had noticed the synchronicity of this post at Stuff on my Cat and the latest comic at XKCD.

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!

No! Not ME silly!

My cousin’s wife–the cousin who got married in January–she’s in the hospital now. The doctors are trying to hold things off long enough for the shot they gave to help the babies lungs develop work.

And yes, I said babies plural (which is why they’re coming early). She’s having twins. They were due at the end of October, but last estimate was that they were both about four pounds each, so although they’re early, they’re pretty large.
So keep them in your thoughts (or prayers if you do that kind of thing), that they’ll get through the birth as easy as possible (did I mention that at the last doctor’s appointment, one of the babies was breech?) and that the babies will be larger than estimated, so that they can get out of the hospital sooner.

Of course, that means no more sleep for Eric & Logan for the next several years, but hey, I’ll be sleeping fine right here!

I am a nerd queen! Bow to me and bring me books!

Additionally (from the website):

One of the biggest advantages of living in Morgantown is that because of the university, we get to see a lot of musicians, speakers, comedians, etc that we wouldn’t if we lived elsewhere in West Virginia.

Last night, we have the privilege of seeing Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

They started out with a John Coltraine set–five pieces I think. There was also a set of pieces written by one of the Orchestra members, Ted Nash, that were based upon modern art paintings.

They also did a couple pieces were more big band and New Orleans jazz, which I have to admit is my favorite, but they covered a good variety.

What I had forgotten, was that (being the good public radio listener that I am) I really like Wynton Marsaliss speaking voice. I’m not sure I can tell you precisely what it was, but his voice is enjoyable to listen to.The Orchestra itself was fantastic–an ensemble of talented players, most of which who played at least one solo.
However, the one thing that really stood out to me was that there were no female members. Why there are so few female jazz musicians (aside from singers and singer/pianists) I don’t know, but it was a very strange recognition.

But despite the lack of women, it was a fantastic show, and I highly recommend you see them if you get the chance.

Goats sacrificed to fix Nepal jet

Nepal’s state-run airline has confirmed that it sacrificed two goats to appease a Hindu god, following technical problems with one of its aircraft.

Really, I don’t think there’s anything I can add to that.