A new garden has begun on Teaside Drive. That's because we transplanted some cilantro and strawberries and basil into some little cardboard boxes. Always moving around makes it harder to get around to planting. But I say let's move our plants with us if it comes to that. Or leave them for the next guy, why not?
So are you a morning person? A night person? It turns out I am a morningdaynight person.
I hope you've packed as much fun as I have or more into the first 46 days of this prime year. It turns out that my blog readership is inversely proportional to my math topics. So how about a sweet update about the wife and kiddos?
Well, Bonnie, as most of you know, is nearing the end of her twenties. Of course she still looks every bit as young and fresh as the day we remet. I think the hardest part for her about getting older is that my hair just isn't what it used to be. Or maybe I am getting her confused with me, because I do that sometimes. Bonnie has been sewing cute state pillows and other things. She threw a great valentines/birthday hoedown. It wasn't really a hoedown, but it was like a hoedown for 3 under 5 and their parents.
The kiddos are growing and developing as if they missed the memo that this is the second year in the second decade of the third millennium CE and that time was slated for slowing down. we are doing our best to savor our experiences and drag back the reins of time with appreciation. Orry is reading more and doing more math. Isaac understands cardinality finally and is talking up a storm. His speech takes some deciphering but mostly now because some of his consonants are replaced /t/ and /sh/. But he's consistent, and once you know the code you can decipher everything. It helps when Orry's around because he's so quick picking up the context. Annie is demonstrating a lot of signs and language know-how. She's doing her best to keep up with the boys. She really likes the soothing effects of holding a blanket. She'll give kisses goodbye and goodnight, and she says thank you and please too. And shoes and socks.
It's my hope that the kids will really dig the new garden.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
the day before
The day before Valentine's-Day-the-wife's-birthday, also known as Ryan Unger's birthday is usually the last day of hope in this household. The day where Bonnie might still think that maybe there's some slim chance she's going to get surprised with something special or have a decent birthday.
But this year we changed it up. I knew that it might not fare well for me if I totally slacked off yet again, so this year I secreted away a couple rolls of streamers and pink balloons and waited for Bonnie to go buy herself some birthday/valentine's gifts. Then I rallied up the troops and decked out the living room.
Then, as Orry puts it, we hid and when Daddy said "okay" we jumped out and said "Surprise!" and threw balloons in the air.
We gave Bonnie the cards we made. The idea was to give a surprise early birthday/valentine's party, but I could see the look in her eye, which means, "Man, now, not only do I have to make my own birthday meals, buy my own gifts, and plan my own day, but I need to clean all this up as well."
Today some of the streamers started coming down, but I got the duct tape out so I think we'll be okay through tomorrow.
For now, it's off to church with us!
Oh, and for your extra reading pleasure, check out our letter writing blog, notjustthebills.
But this year we changed it up. I knew that it might not fare well for me if I totally slacked off yet again, so this year I secreted away a couple rolls of streamers and pink balloons and waited for Bonnie to go buy herself some birthday/valentine's gifts. Then I rallied up the troops and decked out the living room.
Then, as Orry puts it, we hid and when Daddy said "okay" we jumped out and said "Surprise!" and threw balloons in the air.
We gave Bonnie the cards we made. The idea was to give a surprise early birthday/valentine's party, but I could see the look in her eye, which means, "Man, now, not only do I have to make my own birthday meals, buy my own gifts, and plan my own day, but I need to clean all this up as well."
Today some of the streamers started coming down, but I got the duct tape out so I think we'll be okay through tomorrow.
For now, it's off to church with us!
Oh, and for your extra reading pleasure, check out our letter writing blog, notjustthebills.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
the white field, solid red circle post
Congratulations America. We might get another world champion chess player in Hikaru Nakamura. Sure, Hikaru, you were born in the land of the rising sun (only 23 years ago), but thanks for pushing those pawns for the stars and stripes.
I wrote up some math notions about cousin primes and double cousin primes and got a nice email back today about prime gaps of 2^n. Nothing about troy-troy-semiprimes, but I wouldn't be surprised that somebody has listed the troy-troy-semiprimes but with some other inferior name.
Wait! No more math this post, I promise.
I went to a CCFA support group today. If you want to read up about Isaac's colitis, visit our other blog IBD in our home. I haven't written it there yet, but you know, Isaac's chronic disease is teaching me about life. When I come home from work he pops up and yells Surprise! from behind a piece of furniture (after having watched his brother do the same for the past 6 months). Then he wants to spin in the air like an airplane. And come on, who doesn't?! He is just full of life and love and such a delight.
The other news of late is the buzz on ancestry.com about some Becker photos that surfaced and so my dad and I have been reminiscing and remembering old memories that weren't really ours in the first place. That has had me thinking a lot about the old Becker farm, barn, and so on.
And then, of course, lots of work, work, work at the school. As soon as I get halfway done with what I need to get done, I get new tasks that double my workload. Oops. Well, you don't need to figure the proportions--I just mean to say that I'm always a little too busy. And in such a great month, one likes to be comfrotably busy, but able to enjoy lots of extra time with his beautiful wife and delightful offspring.
We had some guests yesterday who are bringing Japanese into our house. Breathing the spirit of kokoro where our family members have forgotten it. The couple, students at the language school, have fascinating lives which I should tell you about another time, when you have more time.
I wrote up some math notions about cousin primes and double cousin primes and got a nice email back today about prime gaps of 2^n. Nothing about troy-troy-semiprimes, but I wouldn't be surprised that somebody has listed the troy-troy-semiprimes but with some other inferior name.
Wait! No more math this post, I promise.
I went to a CCFA support group today. If you want to read up about Isaac's colitis, visit our other blog IBD in our home. I haven't written it there yet, but you know, Isaac's chronic disease is teaching me about life. When I come home from work he pops up and yells Surprise! from behind a piece of furniture (after having watched his brother do the same for the past 6 months). Then he wants to spin in the air like an airplane. And come on, who doesn't?! He is just full of life and love and such a delight.
The other news of late is the buzz on ancestry.com about some Becker photos that surfaced and so my dad and I have been reminiscing and remembering old memories that weren't really ours in the first place. That has had me thinking a lot about the old Becker farm, barn, and so on.
And then, of course, lots of work, work, work at the school. As soon as I get halfway done with what I need to get done, I get new tasks that double my workload. Oops. Well, you don't need to figure the proportions--I just mean to say that I'm always a little too busy. And in such a great month, one likes to be comfrotably busy, but able to enjoy lots of extra time with his beautiful wife and delightful offspring.
We had some guests yesterday who are bringing Japanese into our house. Breathing the spirit of kokoro where our family members have forgotten it. The couple, students at the language school, have fascinating lives which I should tell you about another time, when you have more time.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Feb 4
Well, happy birthday to me!
Actually, I sure hit the jackpot when Bonnie agreed to marry me. What a gal. What a lovely little family we make, and what a life.
Our school was canceled today so it really is a nice birthday surprise to spend it with Bon and the tots. What will we do? I think an obstacle course is in order. And spinning. Lots of spinning.
I'm up good and early, spending my hours looking at IBD and colitis stuff for Isaac's IBD blog. It is uplifting to think that even though we're talking about chronic conditions, Isaac seems to be doing so well now and that even though he is "unlucky" in some sense, he is very "lucky" in another. There's your quota of quotes for the day.
Why was our school cancelled? The massive winter storm that has covered most of our western hemisphere in white also put down some freezing rain and left Houstonians feeling all apocalyptic. But before you comment on climate change, I did read that in 1895, Houston got 20 inches of snow in February. What?! Bring it.
And speaking of, my wife has brought a delicious breakfast to the table. So on with my wonderful day....
Actually, I sure hit the jackpot when Bonnie agreed to marry me. What a gal. What a lovely little family we make, and what a life.
Our school was canceled today so it really is a nice birthday surprise to spend it with Bon and the tots. What will we do? I think an obstacle course is in order. And spinning. Lots of spinning.
I'm up good and early, spending my hours looking at IBD and colitis stuff for Isaac's IBD blog. It is uplifting to think that even though we're talking about chronic conditions, Isaac seems to be doing so well now and that even though he is "unlucky" in some sense, he is very "lucky" in another. There's your quota of quotes for the day.
Why was our school cancelled? The massive winter storm that has covered most of our western hemisphere in white also put down some freezing rain and left Houstonians feeling all apocalyptic. But before you comment on climate change, I did read that in 1895, Houston got 20 inches of snow in February. What?! Bring it.
And speaking of, my wife has brought a delicious breakfast to the table. So on with my wonderful day....
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
February!
And you know what that means. Yours Truly sleeps under a star arrangement moreorless the same as the arrangement in which he squeezed out to breathe his first precious breaths. Cancer, Sirius trailing Orion, Pegasus. Cygnus rising.
February, brrr! The last few days the house was fine with no extra heat source. Now I'm wrapped in a blanket and my nose is cold. Because February has bite. Sure, it might pussyfoot around toward the end of the month. But when February comes, you best be ready for a cold snap. Especially you, Midwest.
The cold, as you know, is a nice set up for the most romantic day of the year, my wife's birthday. Over the years, I've slyly conditioned Bonnie to have low expectations on that sweet sweet day, so maybe this year I will surprise her and do one little thing like offer to do the dishes or change one of the pee diapers on that day. Or maybe I'll bring her home some fresh ingredients so she can make some of her delicious homemade ginger cookies in the shapes of little hearts. Then in the evening I will get her a blanket so she can wrap up in it while I write some weblog entries. (Don't tell her but I'm thinking about getting her a nosemitten.).
There is, of course, the Super Bowl. They changed it to February because, let's face it, February is when athletes and mothers do their best work.
Another unsung hero of the days of month two is Presidents Day. In a month exactly four weeks long, why not make the work load even less! This means that salary is sweeter in February. Not to mention it makes another three day weekend so I can do something else special for Bonnie. Oh, snap! I just checked my schedule and it looks like my school doesn't observe that federal holiday. So goodbye, sweet salary. Goodbye, something special.
Still, February, it's better to have a birthmonth of low expectations and a little disappointment, than to not have a birthmonth at all. So thank you for existing.
Today is groundhog day. This means that depending on your desires for Winter or Spring, this could be a day of joy or of less joy. In Houston, with the temperature having dropped 50 degrees in the past day, I doubt any groundhogs are going to be putting their noses anywhere except snuggled up in their mate's fur. And that is sounding good to me as the night draws on, except that with Bonnie, it is called hair, and I'm going to go snuggle my nose in it.
February, brrr! The last few days the house was fine with no extra heat source. Now I'm wrapped in a blanket and my nose is cold. Because February has bite. Sure, it might pussyfoot around toward the end of the month. But when February comes, you best be ready for a cold snap. Especially you, Midwest.
The cold, as you know, is a nice set up for the most romantic day of the year, my wife's birthday. Over the years, I've slyly conditioned Bonnie to have low expectations on that sweet sweet day, so maybe this year I will surprise her and do one little thing like offer to do the dishes or change one of the pee diapers on that day. Or maybe I'll bring her home some fresh ingredients so she can make some of her delicious homemade ginger cookies in the shapes of little hearts. Then in the evening I will get her a blanket so she can wrap up in it while I write some weblog entries. (Don't tell her but I'm thinking about getting her a nosemitten.).
There is, of course, the Super Bowl. They changed it to February because, let's face it, February is when athletes and mothers do their best work.
Another unsung hero of the days of month two is Presidents Day. In a month exactly four weeks long, why not make the work load even less! This means that salary is sweeter in February. Not to mention it makes another three day weekend so I can do something else special for Bonnie. Oh, snap! I just checked my schedule and it looks like my school doesn't observe that federal holiday. So goodbye, sweet salary. Goodbye, something special.
Still, February, it's better to have a birthmonth of low expectations and a little disappointment, than to not have a birthmonth at all. So thank you for existing.
Today is groundhog day. This means that depending on your desires for Winter or Spring, this could be a day of joy or of less joy. In Houston, with the temperature having dropped 50 degrees in the past day, I doubt any groundhogs are going to be putting their noses anywhere except snuggled up in their mate's fur. And that is sounding good to me as the night draws on, except that with Bonnie, it is called hair, and I'm going to go snuggle my nose in it.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
my school
Today was a pretty big day. It was the first day of classes at our new school. The Language school where I've been working since June has also moved to this new campus building we have in north Houston.
I didn't get a chance to relax until about 3:37, but that's okay. Let me tell you what. Last night around sunset, I was able to stand in front of a big circular window on the side of our building that faces West. It was good to see the sunset sky from three stories up (we're the only tall building around. On what we should call the front of the building, the beltway zips by, almost always pretty full of racing cars. At dusk they are ribbons of red and white, bustling on the way cars do. At three stories up looking down, it is silent, and relaxing to see the cars zipping by while I was surveying "my domain". My classroom/office is on the third floor, and faces the back (So I don't ever really need to look at the beltway if I don't want to.). It is a large room with about 47 desks. I smooshed most of them together in the back and have about 13 desks out in front that I will use. It's quiet up there. I can go right out into the stairwell and stand in front of the large circular window and check out the world. When it's dark outside it would be easy to see me if you're in one of those cars zipping by on the beltway.
My class is room 309. It's not prime, like, say, 2011. But the keener of you may notice that it is semiprime. In just a few weeks, I, too, will be semiprime. By then, the hubbub of the term's beginning should be replaced with the general business of everyday teaching and learning. We'll see.
I didn't get a chance to relax until about 3:37, but that's okay. Let me tell you what. Last night around sunset, I was able to stand in front of a big circular window on the side of our building that faces West. It was good to see the sunset sky from three stories up (we're the only tall building around. On what we should call the front of the building, the beltway zips by, almost always pretty full of racing cars. At dusk they are ribbons of red and white, bustling on the way cars do. At three stories up looking down, it is silent, and relaxing to see the cars zipping by while I was surveying "my domain". My classroom/office is on the third floor, and faces the back (So I don't ever really need to look at the beltway if I don't want to.). It is a large room with about 47 desks. I smooshed most of them together in the back and have about 13 desks out in front that I will use. It's quiet up there. I can go right out into the stairwell and stand in front of the large circular window and check out the world. When it's dark outside it would be easy to see me if you're in one of those cars zipping by on the beltway.
My class is room 309. It's not prime, like, say, 2011. But the keener of you may notice that it is semiprime. In just a few weeks, I, too, will be semiprime. By then, the hubbub of the term's beginning should be replaced with the general business of everyday teaching and learning. We'll see.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Happy Birthday Annie!
You've made it this far, little one. That's one year of breathing air down, and according to the actuarial life tables, you can expect 79 more, more or less, barring the unmentionable. Have a good life. We'll do our best to get you off to a good start.
Readers, you might ask what else is current in our life? Let's skip the rest of October, a wonderful visit from relatives in November and December, a fun road trip to a delightful Christmas vacation in New Mexico, moving to a house across town, and also quite a few trips back to Louisiana. I'm busy each day gearing up at the new campus of North American College where I teach at the language school and have been "enjoying" the many hats of promotion. Meanwhile, Bonnie has been working at the house unpacking boxes and minding the tots. Tonight she made jambalaya and mashed potatoes which we're about to eat. Afterwards we'll have a homemade birthday carrot cake.
The kids keep developing as you might expect. Life is good. Our bedroom doesn't have a light controlled by a switch near the door, and that's about my biggest complaint.
Readers, you might ask what else is current in our life? Let's skip the rest of October, a wonderful visit from relatives in November and December, a fun road trip to a delightful Christmas vacation in New Mexico, moving to a house across town, and also quite a few trips back to Louisiana. I'm busy each day gearing up at the new campus of North American College where I teach at the language school and have been "enjoying" the many hats of promotion. Meanwhile, Bonnie has been working at the house unpacking boxes and minding the tots. Tonight she made jambalaya and mashed potatoes which we're about to eat. Afterwards we'll have a homemade birthday carrot cake.
The kids keep developing as you might expect. Life is good. Our bedroom doesn't have a light controlled by a switch near the door, and that's about my biggest complaint.
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