This, my blog, is about everything that I find interesting, which pretty much includes everything! From the stuff I love, to the technology I want, to what I've recently discovered, I will share it all with you. It's possible that I will rant, wax poetic, go off about science, shock you, act like a nerd, be amusing, or become a factor in your very own personal journey of self discovery. Or I may not. Who could know? Take a chance and read on. I'd hate for you to miss out.
It is true; I am a mom. In fact, my daughter has called this a "Mom Blog" and it somehow made me feel vaguely insulted. Kind of like I had nothing to say that wasn't related to my "momness." Of course, that's not true or maybe I just didn't get it - "Mom" is who I am to her (and my son) and consequently everything I say is related to that in their eyes. Now while I haven't yet blogged about diapers or nap-time or time-outs or teaching your teens to drive or curfews or finding time for yourself to keep from going crazy or any of that mom stuff, I do have that capability.
So watch out! I may not go off like Anita Renfroe with her "Momsense", but I absolutely could.
In fact, I'm also a woman. So while yes, I may have rebuilt a carburetor or two, repaired the occasional broken mechanical object and programmed electronics, I can still relate to most things female. Hence, I will also be buying Anita's book, "The Purse-Driven Life", for my mom for Mother's Day. While I am currently not that into purses and shoes, I could be. I really could be.
So "Yay!" for complexity. "Yay!" for women (and kids and men and all creatures) not being pigeon-holed into stereotypical roles or likes or dislikes or even jobs (diaper-changing is not necessarily gender or age specific, by the way) and for being who they really are!
So this is what a mom looks like:
But so is this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
Well, okay, maybe not her.
And now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to go make roll-out cookies ...
Before I get into the joys of blowing things up to celebrate American freedom, I'd like to briefly implore anyone who has access to a child to: A - Keep them safe around fireworks, fires, flammable things ... you catch my drift. A local grade-schooler here on the river just did himself some serious damage by being allowed to handle gasoline near an open fire.
B - See if they really know what the words in the National Anthem mean. Otherwise it ends up being the Star Mangled Banner with lines like "Jose, can you see?" and "the home of the Braves." Personally, I have sang it at so many baseball games that I often hear a phantom echo of the words "Play Ball!" at the end of it. But really, how many kids have ever seen a rampart anyway? You can enlighten them as to the meanings of words in that first verse (we never sing the others) and then all they'll have to deal with is the near impossibility of hitting those high notes in the latter part of the song. It's not necessary to share that the melody is actually from an old drinking song. Save that tidbit of information for when they're older.
So ... back to blowing things up. Being born and raised in Southern California I never got my hands on many legal fireworks. It took a move to Oregon to give me that access. Yay, Oregon! Some organizations make their budget funds for the entire year just by throwing up a tent and waiting for folks to come empty their wallets there in pursuit of explosive bliss.
Then came a trip to New Mexico. Who knew that Texas chasers really chased you? Or that fireworks could bounce up into the air and off the ground several times and maybe end up on someone's roof? You could walk into a shack, plunk down your money and walk out with a firework that shot way up into the sky and massively exploded! What really blew me away was how everything there was just like tinder and yet extremely dangerous fireworks were, in fact, totally legal. Cool. Our neighbor down the road just happens to have his Oregon Pyrotechnics license. While we will still be lighting off our own stash of fireworks in our yard at some point in the evening this 4th, we also want to pitch in for his display this year and watch him ignite it. Good times.
Finally, I just want to convey blessings and gratitude to our military and their families at this time - you are appreciated!
I’ve always been fond of robots as far back as I can remember. Maybe it was the prepubescent exposure to Isaac Asimov. Maybe it was my fascination with mechanisms of all types. Or maybe it was because I didn’t envision the kind of future that Fred Saberhagen proposed in his Berserker novels, but one rather more along the lines of I, Robot - the book, not the movie – please!
My dad just had robotic surgery. Ironically, I had discovered the da Vinci Surgical System some years ago and applauded the effort and concept of it. Thanks to Robert Heinlein’s Waldo story, I was long familiar with the concept of human manipulation of objects and tissue via remote control. This surgery probably not only helped save my dad’s life and functions, it did so with minimal invasion. He was extremely lucky to have the machine available locally and to be operated on by a doctor who trains others in its operation. How cool is that?
I’m ridiculously fond of Topix right now. It gives me news, lets me edit and I can blog there to my heart’s content. I highly recommend checking out some of the 360,000 plus categories they have.
Speaking of ridiculousness, there’s an invention coming soon to a restroom near you. It will dole out toilet paper just like those automatic paper towel holders do. Sorry, but you’ll only get 5 sheets with each wave of your hand. This company just wants a little piece of the $1 billion away-from-home toilet paper market.
The International Space Station is getting some Japanese food this year. Yummy. How have they managed without it?
There is a gorgeous Japanese website that has the most elaborate bento box food I have ever, ever seen. It is way too pretty to eat, but I would.
Sanrio has made some bodacious Hello Kitty products – even a sushi bar – but I’m not too sure where I stand on the Hello Kitty Urinal Target that I saw at Hello Kitty Hell. It seems wrong to pee on her, you know?
There’s this guy I discovered named Baron Bob who will sell you the most ludicrous crap in the most entertaining way. Do you doubt me? Just watch him sell you on this Singing Dancing Tequila Worm.
Here’s something to do. Determine if you are left-eyed or right-eyed. It really works and you’ll be so proud. It’s like you joined a special club.
