five things

I'm linking up with Mama Kat this week for this "5 things" thing...

"List 5 things we don't know about you"

Well, that's a bit of a challenge, because I've been blogging and oversharing for quite some time, but here goes, in no particular order:

• I've never had a traffic ticket of any kind, maybe because I don't like to drive much.
• That's partly because cars put me to sleep, I  KNOW  I could fall asleep at the wheel.
• I'm currently crushing on Sam Smith - that voice, those eyes - even though he's most likely gay.

• I've been featured in advertising brochures at two different places I worked, both times as a generic minority female engineer.
• Got these new tights for practically free as a birthday thing from our friendly sporting goods store:

             I took them for their maiden run this morning and I luv 'em.  The cat apparently

             couldn't care less.


"5 things you're knowledgeable about"

• Bushcraft.  Strangely enough.
• How stuff is made via automation.  I was a (generic minority female) manufacturing engineer for several years.

• Math.  Numbers are just so trustworthy.
• Sleeping around.  KIDDING!  Just checking to see if anyone's reading after that riveting coat hanger video
• Blogging instead of doing homework, clearly.

"5 things you know nothing about"

Just five??

• Video games.  We've had gaming systems of some kind in our home for a good 12 years or so, and other than Guitar Hero, I know nothing.
• Making pie.  I've never made a pie from scratch.  Never.  Maybe I should design an automated process.
• Snowboarding.  Yes, I know I live in Colorado.
• Investing.  Otherwise, we'd be rich.
• The Kardashians, and I'm not about to start.

"5 things you believe"

• "Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
• "We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy.  The amount of work is the same."
• 
  

• "In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice.  But in practice, there is."
• "If someone is nice to you but rude to the waitress, they are not a nice person."

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4. Five Things. List 5 things we don’t know about you, 5 things you’re knowledgeable about, 5 things you know nothing about, and 5 things you believe.

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title goes here

So most of us probably heard about the Rosetta spacecraft that landed on a comet 500 million (give or take) kilometers from earth last week?  It was truly an exciting accomplishment for space exploration and certainly for the team of scientists that pulled it off.

But did you hear about the *ahem* "shirtstorm" that erupted after one of the project scientists was interviewed while wearing a shirt adorned with artistic renditions of scantily clad, leather-bound, buxom women?  Ugh, I don't want to get into it, apparently things got pretty nasty - women lashing out at him, others lashing out at the women for lashing out at him... sigh.

I will say that (1) I don't have a big problem with the shirt, (2) I don't think it suggests that women aren't welcome in science fields, (3) I'm still impressed that he and colleagues landed a spacecraft on a freaking comet! BUT (4) he shoulda thought twice about what he was wearing for such a media event.  I understand he felt pretty bad about it afterward.

Years ago, I worked in a lab with three older guys and a couple of guys about my age.  One of the older guys had a couple of photos of random topless women at his desk in our open lab.  Once, I was directed to get some keys out of  a top desk drawer of one of the other older guys.  I opened said drawer and, HELLO naked girl!

But... that was those guys.  We actually had a fun work environment in that lab.  There were other women who regularly came into the lab for both work and socializing.  And I can honestly say that if there would've been any type of dangerous situation at work, those guys would've protected me before protecting themselves.  That was about 20 years ago.  Thinking about it now, I'm sure such "decorations" are not allowed.

So back to the scientist.  I feel bad that his accomplishment has been marred by his bad choice of clothing, even though it was - yes - his choice.  Maybe he could use his physics smarts to make a time machine to go back and wear a different shirt?

Today, I was going through a power point from one of my classes and noticed a typo.  There was an equation that used an "A" where there should've been a "T", and it could've been misleading since either an "A" or "T" was relevant to the equation.

I typed out a quick e-mail to my professor, noting the typo.  Before sending, I was thinking what I should put in the subject line.  "T and A" immediately came to mind, but LUCKILY I caught myself.  I don't know him that well!

Have you made a faux pas - fashion, e-mail, or otherwise - that you wish you could get a do-over for?

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Silver Liningness Sunday

Happy Sunday!  It is currently a balmy 28 degrees, and I'm very grateful for that.  It was SO cold this week, 28 feels like springtime!

But enough about the weather, let's get on with the weekly recap, shall we??

First of all, as most of us know, Tuesday was Veteran's Day here in the U.S.  It's nice to set aside at least one day a year to ponder and be thankful for what our veterans have given us.

Meego had his first band concert for the year.  He's in the group for freshmen and other newbies, and they performed very well.  I will say that the high school demonstrates an excellent music program. Five different groups performed, so we also enjoyed the two groups that played before Meego's.  I was very impressed by the string symphony.  I told Magnum it was like we'd made a wrong turn and ended up at the Julliard School!  And really, it's just nice to see kids performing with such skill and poise.

As I was looking over the program, I saw that Meego was listed as playing a euphonium, and I was all, "What the heck's a euphonium??  I thought Meego plays a baritone?"  Magnum was no help.  Good thing for google:

Fig. 16.1

Figure 16.1 shows a side-by-side comparison of a baritone (right) and a euphonium (the other one).  They sound very similar, but the baritone is a bit smaller.  Gosh, this blog is so darn educational.

Anyways, enjoyable concert it was.

Also, I was able to spend a pleasant coupla hours with brother Guano yesterday as he was passing through to visit my nephew - his eldest who attends school near us.  Really, I think his whole family should just up and move here, but I'll take what I can get.

Fuzzy pic of the Guano I stole while in the coffee-for-Jesus coffee shop he found.

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it was a dark and stormy night...

...and day.  And then another dark stormy night and another dark stormy day and then *sigh*.

It's FWEEZING here as in many other parts of the country, but I'm really not complaining because I have a nice warm house and furry pets.  In fact, I think the pets are suffering more than I am from the cabin fever. Yes, life is good.  This rough weather helps to serve as a reminder.

Earlier today, when I was looking out at the c-c-c-c-cold, I saw a squirrel just hanging out by our tree.  Just sitting there.  I stealthily approached so he wouldn't run off, then I tossed some peanuts toward  him.  The peanuts sliced right into the snow, totally undetected.  Fail.

I often ride downtown to the library there, but I haven't ridden my bike all week because of the cold and ice and snow. I'm thinking of the many homeless people, especially the teens I see around there.  It's already in single digits and could get below zero tonight.

I am missing my quality time with Bella and Alice.  My computer wallpaper isn't helping much

Wait!  Wait!  Take me with you!!

But in the meantime, here is my bro-in-law (Magnum's sister's husband) - a die hard commuter - with his new Fat Bike, ready to roll.

These Fat Bikes are starting to show up locally for snow and ice, but they just look so... so... FAT to me.  As in heavy and slow.  Plus, they're pretty pricey.  I don't see Bella and Alice getting a BIG sister anytime soon

I wonder if I can get a similar chin warmer though?

Silver Liningness Sunday

First week of November down.  YAY, no more political ads!  As for the election itself, most of the results went the way I'd hoped.  We do mail-in ballots here, and I often wonder how secure and accurate that is, but I was surprised to learn that some states don't have mail-in yet.  Does yours?

I've mentioned before that Magnum's employer has these health incentives, and we've jumped through the various hoops to reap them.  This week, I made my final call to the "health coach" to get all my credits in.  It was a painless and short conversation.  In fact, I would've talked a bit longer, but Ms. Health Coach seemed to feel pretty much done with me.  Okay fine, as long as I got my credits. That 10-minute conversation made for a nice hourly wage.

The weather's been holding out nicely here.  So much so that bagging leaves is actually a chore I look forward to.  Also, this pleasantness is good for our wall-building efforts, which so far, mainly refers to Magnum's wall-building efforts.  I think "Rambo" needs to join in The Great Wall project in a little while...

Along with that, I got a new phone yesterday.  It's pretty. I tested out its camera with a photo from this morning's lovely ride.

I call it "Moon Over MouseTown".  See it?  The moon?

dude, we're so stoned right now?

So we had a bit of a ditzy delay, but the wall stones have arrived.  Thankfully, the driver's forklift fit through our back gate, so he could place all thirteen pallets in a nice row at the base of the hill of pain.

As you can see, he totally trashed the lawn, though...

Okay, that's actually what it looked like already.  See why we need landscaping projects?  This is just the kick-off.  

Anway, it was quite exciting when he showed up on our quiet cul de sac with a flatbed full of wrapped heavy things and began carting them to our backyard.  I'm sure my nosy neighbor was mushed up against her window, wondering what's going on.  

So now the easy part begins.  This is the easy part, right?  That's what I'm thinking.  The critical piece was getting all these stones to the project site.  Done!

The common laborers will consist mainly of Magnum, Meego, and myself. along with hopeful visits from Chaco and Wolfgang.

In fact, Chaco and Wolfgang were home for a while last weekend.  I found Wolfgang intently examining Meego's school pic from earlier this year.  Remember the ill fated too-late-with-the-haircut picture day?

Wolfgang says, "He looks like Rambo", and not  in a good way.   He's got a point.










Betcha Rambo can build a pretty good wall, though eh?

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Silver Liningness Sunday

So how 'bout that extra hour?  Was it good for you?  Frankly, I'm not a fan of changing the clocks in either direction and wish we'd just get rid of the practice, but I won't complain about an extra hour.

Yesterday, I went to P.E.O. where my sisters cheerfully greeted me with warm birthday wishes!  Then I had to delicately inform them that it was not my birthday.  Due to a typo, my birthday was erroneously listed as November 1.  I told them that I intend to fully expend these last few weeks of my 40s.  They were fine with that and sang to me anyway.

Halloween came and went on Friday.  We had just enough candy.  I've noticed the trick-or-treat traffic has dwindled a bit over the last few years.  I'm not sure if it's because the neighborhood is getting older, or trick-or-treating in general is waning.  Maybe both.

Probably the cutest costume I saw was our 12-year-old neighbor girl.  She was with her little sisters and dressed as a baby - wearing footie pajamas with a pacifier clipped to them and carrying a teddy bear.  As I was doling out the treats, I noticed that the teddy bear was smiling and looking around.  It was the girls' little brother, born last May!

He was more of a costume embellishment than an actual trick-or-treater, but he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.  His teddy bearness did include straps for his sister's shoulders, otherwise it might've been a chore to keep that costume intact.

Remember that messy hill photo from last week?  We were hoping to get our stones delivered this week, but a mistake was made that has delayed the delivery.  The girl who calculated and wrote down my order specs seemed quite ditzy, I think the ditziness has been confirmed.  Next week?

For this week's imagery, I'll share this photo that a facebook friend of mine from the hometown posted.  I found it rather synchronous .

Maybe she's not crying anymore.

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