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Who's In Charge Here, Anyway?
The guy who runs this blog hasn’t been posting very much lately. What a deadbeat.
Mothers Day (or is it "Mother's Day"? Or "Mothers' Day"?)
On Mother’s Day, we had a fun get-together at our house. Mom and Dad came, and Mary, Jeff, Laura, and Daniel came down from Williamston. It was great to see everyone.
Soccer - Rain's Favorite Game
Over the last two Saturdays, we’ve watched two soccer games, and had two more rained out. We went to K’s in the morning on Saturday, and there were big puddles of water on the field. M’s game went on as scheduled, though, and his team won their first game of the season. The previous Saturday, M’s game was rained out in the morning, and K’s game went on as scheduled. His team lost a close game, it could have gone either way.
Science Olympiad Update
Science Olympiad night at Lawton Elementary is Wednesday evening. It should be a great time. The students have an opportunity to show everyone what they’ve learned in their practices. The final teams that will compete on June 5 will be finalized by next week, and the kids can train in earnest for the next three weeks. We’re very fortunate to have these events and opportunities at our school and in our district. Science Olympiad is self-sufficient, so it doesn’t require tax dollars to pay for it. With so many cutbacks, this would probably be an easy target.
How to Deal with Bill Collectors
If you ever want to escape from bill collectors, I have an easy way for you to do it. Don’t renew your cell phone, and get a new number. It completely confuses them. Of course, you all know I’m referring to my recently-new phone, whose number used to belong to a guy named Robert. I don’t like to judge people I’ve never met, but I can confidently say he has trouble paying his bills. When I get calls for him, about one per week, the person on the other end of the phone seems confused that people aren’t born with a single phone number that follows them all their lives. They ask me if I know Robert – yes, yes, I do know him, he’s er, he’s right in the front yard, oh no! he’s gone now. Just hopped in his car that he hasn’t paid for and drove to the jewelry store to buy a watch he can’t afford. I’ll have him call you RIGHT BACK on his gold-plated telephone from his Jacuzzi.
No, I would never do that because then they’d keep calling me. The thing that bothers me the most about this is that I’m the one who ends up having to call back the collection agencies to notify them that Robert no longer has this phone number. I’m sure Robert has a black mark on his credit report, but I doubt he has to worry about anyone actually finding him. I found a guy on facebook with the same name who lives in this area. I’m betting that’s him, but I don’t want to contact him. Yet. I should just tell the people at the collection agencies if they want to find him, they should use the internet like the rest of the civilized world does.
Early Christmas List
You know the movie "This is Spinal Tap"? It's one of my favorites. Which makes me want to buy this.
I'm not sure what I would use this knife for, but I'm sure I could find something.
I don't want one of these to keep at my house, but I'd like to use one for a while.
Big News! (Actually, regular-sized news)
We’ve been up to the usual these days – soccer, Science Olympiad practices, playing Frisbee and catch with a baseball, going to Pilates class, working, doing crossword puzzles, reading Rick Riordan and Carl Hiasson books, eating Meijer brand Lite Chocolate Moose Tracks ice cream, fixing broken PVC soccer goals, volunteering at the school, and playing the Brain Quest game at home. To name a few.
I’m helping organize Lawton’s Science Olympiad night, which is May 12 from 5:30-7:00. This event gives Science Olympians the opportunity to show each other, parents, friends, and siblings what they’ve learned in their Science Olympiad practices. Kids who visit enough booths will get a frozen treat, and while there will be many adults lending a hand, the stars of the evening are the kids. The Science Olympiad competition will be June 5 at Ann Arbor’s new high school, Skyline High, just like last year.
The kids continue to work hard at soccer. I am almost positive they’re getting better at it. M’s morning game was rained out on Saturday, but K played in the afternoon.
I’m going to give blood at the kids’ school on Wednesday afternoon. If I give blood, M and K will (for some reason) get a certificate. The point of the blood drive is to show the kids how important it is to give of yourself. But they’re not – they’re making their parents do this. I think all this is doing is making kids rely more on their parents to do the dirty work. And if they’re going to get a certificate, I think they should at least have to watch the needle go in without losing consciousness. This donation will make nine gallons lifetime for me – 72 donations. This is by no means a record in the history of blood-letting, but if I ever need nine gallons of blood for some reason, I expect the Red Cross to hand it over pronto, no questions asked.
President Obama was in Ann Arbor over the weekend, speaking at the UM commencement. He spoke about not getting all your facts from one place, seeking out different points of view. When J graduated in 1991, George H. W. Bush was the speaker, with then-Governor John Engler introducing him. Personally, I think they both just wanted to be on the field at the legendary UM stadium, and this was their chance.
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I’m helping organize Lawton’s Science Olympiad night, which is May 12 from 5:30-7:00. This event gives Science Olympians the opportunity to show each other, parents, friends, and siblings what they’ve learned in their Science Olympiad practices. Kids who visit enough booths will get a frozen treat, and while there will be many adults lending a hand, the stars of the evening are the kids. The Science Olympiad competition will be June 5 at Ann Arbor’s new high school, Skyline High, just like last year.
The kids continue to work hard at soccer. I am almost positive they’re getting better at it. M’s morning game was rained out on Saturday, but K played in the afternoon.
I’m going to give blood at the kids’ school on Wednesday afternoon. If I give blood, M and K will (for some reason) get a certificate. The point of the blood drive is to show the kids how important it is to give of yourself. But they’re not – they’re making their parents do this. I think all this is doing is making kids rely more on their parents to do the dirty work. And if they’re going to get a certificate, I think they should at least have to watch the needle go in without losing consciousness. This donation will make nine gallons lifetime for me – 72 donations. This is by no means a record in the history of blood-letting, but if I ever need nine gallons of blood for some reason, I expect the Red Cross to hand it over pronto, no questions asked.
President Obama was in Ann Arbor over the weekend, speaking at the UM commencement. He spoke about not getting all your facts from one place, seeking out different points of view. When J graduated in 1991, George H. W. Bush was the speaker, with then-Governor John Engler introducing him. Personally, I think they both just wanted to be on the field at the legendary UM stadium, and this was their chance.
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Flag Football - Video Highlight
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M catches a pass last week at his flag football game. He's number 11.
M catches a pass last week at his flag football game. He's number 11.
Soccer, Flag Football, Grandparents, and Really Big Ferris Wheels
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M and K were lucky enough to see all the grandparents last weekend. Grandma and Grandpa S visited Saturday and watched both of the boys’ soccer games in the wind and cold. Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa B came to watch M’s flag football game and stayed for a yummy dinner of Chicken Ceasar Salad, bread, pears, and lemon pound cake. With whipped topping from a can.
M and K had good starts to their soccer seasons. K’s team won, 5-3, which matches the number of wins they had all of last year. They look like they’re a little more mature this spring than last year, and we saw some good passes and good runs to the goal by a number of players. K had his usual determined look as he went after the ball.
M's soccer team lost their game, 1-0, but it was a moral victory against a team that plays together all year. The other team had a lot of raw talent and it was clear they had a number of set plays they practiced, but M’s team ran them hard. Some of us parents got the impression the other team was a bit surprised that they didn’t walk all over us.
M’s flag football team also lost, 12-6, with the opposing team’s final touchdown being scored on an interception late in the game. M's team played very well, and he had several great plays as usual. He caught a pass and ran downfield a ways when he was on offense, and on defense, he tipped one pass up in the air and it landed in the arms of a teammate for an interception. He also had a couple tackles. Their last game of the season is Saturday, when they’ll play in the Consolation playoff game.
Links
When dad was here, he said I didn’t post nearly enough fun links to other websites. Because I hate to disappoint him, here a few I’ve been saving up.
You will never get me on the London Eye. I’ll fly on a plane 6 miles in the air, but I will not get on this. I’m still kicking myself for going on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago that one time.
More “observation wheels”: The Singapore Flyer and The Star of Nanchang
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The favorite books of 50 famous authors.
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Robots! More Robots!
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Um - what?
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Should you eat it if it falls on the floor? Check this guide for the answer.
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Some interesting old calculators and slide rules.
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M and K were lucky enough to see all the grandparents last weekend. Grandma and Grandpa S visited Saturday and watched both of the boys’ soccer games in the wind and cold. Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa B came to watch M’s flag football game and stayed for a yummy dinner of Chicken Ceasar Salad, bread, pears, and lemon pound cake. With whipped topping from a can.
M and K had good starts to their soccer seasons. K’s team won, 5-3, which matches the number of wins they had all of last year. They look like they’re a little more mature this spring than last year, and we saw some good passes and good runs to the goal by a number of players. K had his usual determined look as he went after the ball.
M's soccer team lost their game, 1-0, but it was a moral victory against a team that plays together all year. The other team had a lot of raw talent and it was clear they had a number of set plays they practiced, but M’s team ran them hard. Some of us parents got the impression the other team was a bit surprised that they didn’t walk all over us.
M’s flag football team also lost, 12-6, with the opposing team’s final touchdown being scored on an interception late in the game. M's team played very well, and he had several great plays as usual. He caught a pass and ran downfield a ways when he was on offense, and on defense, he tipped one pass up in the air and it landed in the arms of a teammate for an interception. He also had a couple tackles. Their last game of the season is Saturday, when they’ll play in the Consolation playoff game.
Links
When dad was here, he said I didn’t post nearly enough fun links to other websites. Because I hate to disappoint him, here a few I’ve been saving up.
You will never get me on the London Eye. I’ll fly on a plane 6 miles in the air, but I will not get on this. I’m still kicking myself for going on the ferris wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago that one time.
More “observation wheels”: The Singapore Flyer and The Star of Nanchang
--
The favorite books of 50 famous authors.
--
Robots! More Robots!
--
Um - what?
--
Should you eat it if it falls on the floor? Check this guide for the answer.
--
Some interesting old calculators and slide rules.
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Festifools and Prickly Pear: Better Together
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The family unit did some uniquely Ann Arbor things yesterday. It's no fun living in a city with all kinds of neat things to do if you don't do them.
We went to Festifools in downtown Ann Arbor yesterday. It's a parade of large puppets and other characters made by whoever wants to make one. Here is the group's website.
Here is an example of the puppets.
Maybe you recognize Bender (the robot) from "Futurama" in this picture?
One more picture - the man on the left is the Mayor of Ann Arbor, and the man on the right is also the Mayor of Ann Arbor. Or maybe it's the opposite, I'm not sure.
After the parade, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Prickly Pear Southwest Cafe. I had the Vegetarian Sweet Potato Enchiladas. According to the menu, they have chihuahua cheese in them. In retrospect, I should have asked, just to make sure it wasn't cheese from a dog. Dog cheese = not good.
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The family unit did some uniquely Ann Arbor things yesterday. It's no fun living in a city with all kinds of neat things to do if you don't do them.
We went to Festifools in downtown Ann Arbor yesterday. It's a parade of large puppets and other characters made by whoever wants to make one. Here is the group's website.
Here is an example of the puppets.
Maybe you recognize Bender (the robot) from "Futurama" in this picture?
One more picture - the man on the left is the Mayor of Ann Arbor, and the man on the right is also the Mayor of Ann Arbor. Or maybe it's the opposite, I'm not sure.
After the parade, we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Prickly Pear Southwest Cafe. I had the Vegetarian Sweet Potato Enchiladas. According to the menu, they have chihuahua cheese in them. In retrospect, I should have asked, just to make sure it wasn't cheese from a dog. Dog cheese = not good.
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USS Arizona
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Back in February, I mentioned I was almost done building a model of the USS Arizona. I finished it shortly after that, and I haven't put up any pictures of it until now.
The colors that were outlined in the model instructions are roughly what I used to paint it. But the model is an old one that they haven't updated in a long time - experts now believe the colors were much different from what most people think. Most, if not all, the pictures of the Arizona that anyone kept track of were black and white, which makes determining the true colors more difficult.
Here is an article about a model that is at Pearl Harbor today, and the colors it uses.
Some details on the USS Arizona itself are here.
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Back in February, I mentioned I was almost done building a model of the USS Arizona. I finished it shortly after that, and I haven't put up any pictures of it until now.
The colors that were outlined in the model instructions are roughly what I used to paint it. But the model is an old one that they haven't updated in a long time - experts now believe the colors were much different from what most people think. Most, if not all, the pictures of the Arizona that anyone kept track of were black and white, which makes determining the true colors more difficult.
Here is an article about a model that is at Pearl Harbor today, and the colors it uses.
Some details on the USS Arizona itself are here.
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A Few Links
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I love these radio telescopes from Russia. Someone took some great pictures.
Robots! (and a few ray guns)
A graphic showing the best jobs. I wasn't able to resize the image in my browser, so you might have to scroll back and forth to see it all. Is anyone surprised to see Security Trader with the highest salary?
I love these radio telescopes from Russia. Someone took some great pictures.
Robots! (and a few ray guns)
A graphic showing the best jobs. I wasn't able to resize the image in my browser, so you might have to scroll back and forth to see it all. Is anyone surprised to see Security Trader with the highest salary?
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