Robots

We saw Robots today. And I'm wondering what to make of it. Fun and interesting visually, but here's the premise. Regular robots can't afford fancy upgrades on their bodies. They rely on old parts found here and there or purchased at the hardware store. High class robots have shiny new bodies. Corporate/owner class robots decide to eliminate spare parts, forcing robots to buy fancy upgrades. Those that can't afford to upgrade will be outmoded and sent to the chop shop eventually to be melted down. So a group of ragtag robots rebel and defeat the corporates. Everything's good because now the ragtags can go back to fixing their pathetic forms with spare parts. The lower class is once again content because they're not going to be annihilated. Yay!

backyard 

Slowing Tensions

If I read one chapter each day I can complete Bryson's book in 11 more days.
I've given up on a few books this year after hundreds of pages of reading, creating a sense of dissatisfaction not with the book but with myself, that I've not made a good match. I like reading this book, Brief History of Nearly Everything, but each new chapter requires a mental readjustment as I gear up for scientific topics I know nothing about---geology, particle physics, chemistry. I didn't think I was remembering much of the text, but in the past month, I've read with (some) interest news articles about neutrinos, Mt. St. Helens, and fossil finds. I've been slowing down on my chapter a day goal recently. So close and yet so far. Maybe if I weren't falling asleep every night at 9:15, I could get this done. I might have hypersomnia.

Bed Head on Pinnacle Day

Peter forgot his passport. Our neighbors to the north let him in, but warned him that the Americans would not let him return. So I had to leave my house to procure transportation for said document. I like to run in the afternoon after fumbling around with work in the morning, so I left the house with bedhead and worn down running apparel. The good part of being away from home is that I know no one so it doesn't matter too much what I look like when I leave the house. At home, I'm sure to see people I know and they're sure to make comments to me about my appearance, and probably to anyone else they see that day. My standards have become quite relaxed and that's a little scary since they weren't all that high to begin with. But my mission was accomplished, and if all goes well, husbandman will be allowed to return to the country of his birth in a few days.

It was covered in a white tent. 

Chibloggo

A great weekend in Chicago. Food and drink galore. Sunny downtown yesterday has turned into a snowy today. I didn't get to see the Bean.

I hate these machines more than I can say. 

Duplicating

Off to the place with the dreaded duplicating technology. Overhead transparencies have gotten tedious, but powerpoint requires a scanner, which I have not. I have 60 minutes to talk at a conference and will have about 50 transparencies, each with its own little story. I'm trying to pull out of my ruttiness, trying to be more forward looking. So up ahead looms Chicago for iceskating, spa services, art institute, and fine foods galore. And a chat with teachers who research their own classrooms. Cloning concepts from paper to acetate is a drag, but it needs to be done. Perhaps Chipotle will duplicate a burrito for me when I'm through.

Last Word

Hunter S. Thompson just typed one word on the sheet of paper in his typewriter before he shot himself. The word was "counselor." Quinn thinks Thompson was leaving a clue, that his counselor may have caused his suicide or even have been trying to kill him. Peter thinks that maybe his wife had suggested a visit to a counselor because of his depression. I wonder if the word was a final piece of advice, a recommendation that his family visit a counselor to help them cope. Rosalyn believes he may have been beginning a letter to his counselor.

Rosalyn's Penguin 

Pinnacle Day

In my Monday night class, Writing in Schools, the class discussed if novels were better than professional wrestling. I said they were "different" and the professor, father of twins and others, told me I couldn't hide behind that word. Just watch me my friend.
As for words, Quinn announced early yesterday morning, "My philosophy is...our thoughts redefine our words." Asked for further explanation, he said that a word is defined differently by each person, according to their thoughts.
Saw a nuthatch today. What's better a nuthatch or an eagle?
Made savvy mom's squash soup. It tastes happily like Thanksgiving.
Am leaving on Saturday for Chicago to talk to the class of good friend and former grad student pal, Dr. Katie Van Sluys . The talk is almost done, but not quite.