The university closed down for a snow day, today. It's a mixed blessing... fun to get an unexpected day off, but I'll pay for it later trying to catch up at work.

I've really been enjoying writing the monthly column for the Payne County Audubon newsletter. The latest issue is here. My column is called, At SunDog House, which appears on page 7. I ( Read more... )

It turns out that my dad isn't just being stupid about his teeth after all. I think I've mentioned that he has lost all but a few of his teeth in the past ten years, and we thought he was just being silly for not pulling the two or three that remain in front in order to get dentures so he could eat normal food. While the soft food thing has turned ( Read more... )

It's been a busy, busy week!  There was the pre-Christmas shopping spree; then Christmas Eve dinner with the family. We'd planned to do Hideaway pizza, but no one bothered to call Hideaway to find out if they'd be open. They weren't. My backup plan was takeout Chinese or Mexican (there were plenty of restaurants open); but brother Mike was hungry ( Read more... )

I had broccoli from the garden again this morning. This plant seems to like the cold ( Read more... )

When one of my former co-workers moved away for a year, she asked me to take care of her betta fish. Betta, as she was named, was already over 2 years old, which is pretty old for a betta. I understand they can live 3-4 years, but Kate and I have never had one reach 4. Betta was beyond the venerable stage when she passed away yesterday, at well ( Read more... )

Sunday, we had a Mother's Day cookout at our house. My parents, nephew, brother, and sister-in-law came. Brother Mark provided all the food... hamburgers, barbecue chicken, and hot dogs plus a potato and a bean casserole. Kate provided the apple wood for the grill. I was very surprised that my dad came... he doesn't leave the house much anymore, ( Read more... )

My brother, Mike, is on another research cruise - in the Atlantic this time. The ship/institute is keeping a cruise blog here: http://www.vti.bund.de/en/startseite/about-us/research-vessels/walther- ( Read more... )

I didn't accomplish much over the holiday, but I did get to visit with several friends, some of whom I rarely see anymore. It's nice to catch up and spend some time together ( Read more... )

Chicken sagas aside, it has been a great Christmas so far. The blizzard hit Christmas Eve, with several inches of snow and sleet. Kate and I were trapped behind snow drifts Christmas day, so we postponed the family celebration until Saturday. My brother Mark made it up from Edmond, and my brother, Mike, and sister-in-law, Hideko, were visiting from ( Read more... )

I'm not sure, but I think this may be my first blizzard warning ( Read more... )