blivet 2.0

A Most Unusual Morning in Las Vegas #

Ian’s first snow at home! Needless to say, he was pretty excited this morning. So were we!

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Four Years #

I would remiss if I did not note that two days ago [the 23rd] marked the fourth anniversary of this particular site [1999/12/23].

Some Observations #

After a morning’s worth of adoration by Grandparents. eating and present unwrapping by a certain two-year old boy, all but Dad are napping. I expect next year’s activities will occur in significantly less time. Ian was very careful unwrapping things. I suspect he really doesn’t understand why it is ok to tear this paper [the wrapping paper] and not the newspaper, magazines or book pages. He was quite adorable in this first and last slow-motion Christmas. Happy Holidays to all.

Yes, a packing box and paper towel tube got the most return attention.

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The Calm… #

It is mid-afternoon as I write this. I suspect Ian’s afternoon nap is winding down soon, so there will be scant time for observations here.

However (and I should mention ‘if’) you observe this time of year, I hope it is wonderful for you and yours. It certainly is here.

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‘Yeee-haw’ Indeed #

I think John looks good in a hood, don’t you? “Now let’s see…, what was I doing before I started that graduate program?” Congratulations, Dr. VanDyk. I don’t know about the Yoyodyne gig, I hear the Hong Kong Cavaliers are looking for a harp player.

A Boy and His Dog #

This picture of Keats and Ian is from last week. I think it is the last picture we have of Keats. It is one of the very few we have of both of them together. One good thing about this is that Ian has no real comprehension of Keats absence.

Thanks for the emails…

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Rough Day Around Here #

Today has been rather rocky. Our old Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Keats, made his last trip to see Dr. ‘Liz [our good friend and Keats’ Veterinarian] around noon. The fact that it was ‘time’ didn’t make things easier for any of us…

Rest in peace, good dog.

[edits: added link and explanation of who Dr. ‘Liz is. –eds.]

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New email… #

I tried to send out emails, but it is likely I have missed someone. Probably several someones. Use the same username, just change the back part to cox [.] net

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Thanks for the Fish #

Dave, thanks.

Normalcy… #

Two weeks and lots of things have happened in the larger world. You’ve read about them elsewhere and I won’t bother you with them here. The semester is over and things are quite a bit calmer these days. It is cold (for here) and I’m having a hard time getting into anything like the holiday spirit, even with the spirited actions of a certain two-year old.

I feel a bit adrift in time. Not really Billy Pilgrim-esque, but I feel separate of my time and this place. Out of step and isolated once I get very far away from my family or several of you I read on the web. I understand it from a Buddhist/Yogic point of view or from an anthropological or Kuhn-ian perspective and know that it will result in a renewed coherence or unity. it is just interesting to be behind the eyeballs again instead of in front of them.

I suppose that was vague and incoherent enough to be unintelligible, but it is the best I can do without going into way more detail than I wish to in public.

My Mother is improving incrementally. Thanks to all who have emailed.

We had the good fortune to see the extended version of The Two Towers in the theatre over the weekend. Wow. If I can just figure out how to get a 20 foot screen in this 1,100 ft² house I’ll be set. We probably won’t catch The Return of the King for ten days or so. Yeah, right. Like I will be able to wait that long.

Just in case anyone is wondering, I’ll not be posting anything about my workplace here again. I got referenced anyway and … I’ll be not talking about where I work or what is going on there from here on out.

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The Winds Die Down… #

After some whirlwind graphics prep in support of my favorite Ph.D. student who had a big end of semester presentation today in her Igneous and Metamorphic Tectonic Orogenic Something or Another graduate seminar, things are calm enough to post a brief comment.

I greatly enjoyed sharing Susan’s company for a brief time on Friday last. I am pleased to report that Ian is now ear infection and rasty cough free and back to his disarmingly pleasant self. I hope her niece is well again as well.

My Mom continues to recover, though she thinks that it should be happening faster. No surprise there Mom, remember you’re 70-something now.

Me? I’m pleasantly surprised that items like this second century Roman d20 show up at Christies. [via Ed] I want to see the GM’s manual…

From the ‘Not to Be Included in Got Caliche? Thanks Anyway Brian Department’:
The pollen and macro˜botanical flotation analysis from our pithouse came back while I was in Texas with Mom. We have Corn (Zea maize) in the structure fill under the wall fall [a good thing]. Cooool. We’re opening the pithouse back up next week.

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