Just Touching Base

A few hours after getting an automated call from the Sauk Centre Public Schools, I learned that all Minnesota public schools were closing. The Governor said they should. I'm glad that someone showed good sense. It's going to be - brisk.

I've seen a doctor about my left shin: again. The good news is that the two new open spots aren't infected. The bad news is that even when these heal over, I can expect more of the same. It's an incentive to keep my diabetes under control, and lose weight. Lots of incentive.

It's also frustrating: but I've had lots of practice dealing with "frustrating." I think having substandard hip joints helped me learn, from infancy up, to deal with limitations: not quietly, or calmly; but to deal with them.

On a happier note, there was a big family get-together today over at my father-in-law's place. A really big one. I stayed here, partly because I'm just about the exact opposite of a 'party person,' partly because I'm having more than the currently normal trouble with my legs, and partly because I had a post to get ready for tomorrow.

My wife, son, son-in-law, and daughters # 2 and 3 were there. I gather that they had a good time. For that, I am very glad.

Related post:

• "Spilled Coffee, Reality, and a Wind Chill Advisory"
  (December 9, 2013)

Calculus and the Mind's Eye

My wife and #3 daughter are teaching/tutoring kids from another home schooling family this afternoon. One of the subjects is arithmetic, a useful skill but not one of my favorite academic disciplines.

Arithmetic isn't quite the same as mathematics, and that's almost another topic. My wife is the math whiz of the family: no surprise, since she's also the one with a degree in computer science. I'm more like my father: much to the frustration of school teachers and administrators who looked at my aptitude test scores, which showed considerable mathematical ability; and my report cards, which definitely didn't.

I think part of the explanation is how our brains 'do the math.'

My father told me about a test he took in calculus class. One of the test's questions described two cylinders which intersected. Students were supposed to pick the intersection's volume from a list of numbers, showing the calculations they used to arrive at that number.

While everyone else started using calculus to determine how much volume the cylinders shared, my father imagined what the cylinders looked like, looked at the cubage where they went through each other, and checked off that number: which was one of the possible values shown on the test.

Then he set about writing down what he hoped was the set of equations that would give that answer.

When the test came back, he'd gotten that problem wrong.

He was the only one in the class to get the right result for the intersection's volume: but his written math wasn't even close to being correct.

I'm the same way. My mind's eye has excellent vision, but I never passed calculus class.

School's Out All Day

We got a call early this morning, from the automated Sauk Centre schools system. The message said something about freezing rain: and that school was closed today. All day.

I'm impressed. It takes very serious weather to get a two-hour delay: closed for the day is quite unusual.

I see that Interstate 94 was closed from Alexandria to Fergus Falls. That's west of us: more like west by northwest, actually. Part of the Interstate is open again, but I'm glad that travel isn't in my plans today:

• "Slick Roads, I-94 Reopens Near Alexandria"
  Cassie Hart, KSTP.com (March 15, 2013 6:49 a.m., updated 9:25 a.m.)

An updated report on Minnesota driving conditions boils down to "difficult:"

• Minnesota Road Traveler Information Service
  Minnesota Department of Transportation

The Students are Coming! The Students are Coming!

It's almost 3:15, Monday afternoon. School let out a few minutes ago, and hordes of highschoolers - many (most?) in vehicles - are pouring down south 9th Street.

If you want to see the action, it's online: Small Town America: Minnesota. The streaming video there is from what may be Sauk Centre's first on-the-street webcam.

Saturday: About a Rabbit, a Leash, and School

My wife is putting Giol, #1 daughter's pet rabbit, in the basement for the night. Uneventfully tonight. He'd finished a sort of salad bar we set out for him on the floor, and I gave him an apple core earlier. I'll admit that we're a bit soft when it comes to that nibbler.

Yesterday evening, when my wife came to get Giol, he was at the end of his leash. Which was remarkable, since he'd gotten out of his harness. Apparently, he's learned that he's only supposed to go as far as the leash does.

#1 daughter is in Alex now, preparing for the start of classes on Monday. My son's homeschooling has already started - it only slowed down for the holidays, I think.

Me? I've got tomorrow's posts for Apathetic Lemming of the North to set up, so I need to get back to work.

Snow, Bicycles, Software and Waiting

I'm waiting for software to finish testing a picture I'm trying to get ready for tomorrow. It's a slow process, involving one of the more maddening aspects of the 3D software I use.

But, it's given me time to think. Also, finish Stapleton's "Star Maker" - which relates to another blog. (Drifting at the Edge of Time and Space, mostly) Which I'll be writing about, another day, in that blog.

It's about 4 in the afternoon here, the sun's getting low in the southwest, and the software is still cranking away. There's snow on the ground - barely enough for snowmobiles.

It's been quite a year for this family: a head-on collision - everybody survived, thank God; one daughter married; my father died. I've missed something - no matter.

I was out, almost an hour ago, picking up a prescription, and noticed that a few high schoolers - or maybe junior high students - had used bicycles instead of cars. When I was in high school, back in the sixties, a few kids drove but most walked or used bicycles. Times change. So, apparently, does the amount of disposable income. Riding a bicycle doesn't significantly increase food intake - but gasoline costs money.

Oh, well.

I see the software's almost finished one aspect of the test. Time to see what it's up to now.

Monday: Wedding on Saturday, But No Worries

Well, at least it isn't next month yet. I see the last time I wrote anything here was three weeks ago.

My wife and #2 daughter came back about a half-hour ago, after getting groceries and running errands. A few minutes ago my wife noted that she'd thrown away the medicine and was putting the bag it came in away. After putting the items where they belonged, she decided to take a break.

Yesterday I couldn't find my camera. I asked my wife and kids to keep an eye out for it. Not long after that, one of them spotted the camera: right where I left it. In the laundry basket.

I suppose we're a bit distracted by what's planned for this Saturday: our #2 daughter's wedding.

A few minutes ago I tried on the black suit I'll be wearing. It fits - and looks pretty good, I'm told. My son is trying on his as I write this. At 13, it's a bit more of a learning experience to put on that sort of thing. We're not a particularly formal family.

Most of what we've been doing seems to center around that wedding. My wife gave me a haircut; I trimmed my beard, over-trimming it in a patch the size of my thumbprint - my wife assures me it'll grow over by Saturday; my wife's been putting finishing touches on the wedding dress; and the ladies have been involved in activities that I haven't tried to understand.

Aside from that, I've started putting two cups of sugar water in the hummingbird feeder at roughly weekly intervals. I think I have more clients now. The first hummingbird feeder got set up in April of this year. It was a unit we had in storage here, and not particularly easy for the birds to use, or me to clean. I got another one and set it out in the first part of May. Then, about a month later, I spotted the first hummingbird.

Next year, maybe I'll have some hummingbird-friendly plants around there. It's nice, having those creatures flitting around.

#1 daughter moved her base of operations back to Alexandria, up the road, when classes started this fall. She's spending weekends here, to see her rabbit Giol. And us.

Her rabbit's been moved to the basement, where his 2x4-and-chicken-wire run lend a certain flair to our already-eclectic decor. He's a fine little creature to have around - and has us rather well-trained when it comes to giving him bits of vegetables.

Giol typically spends part of the evening, and weekend afternoons, upstairs with us.

#3 daughter has, among other things, been writing; I've been doing my usual routine of writing micro-reviews of articles and blog posts; posts about Sauk Centre, writing, quick-and-simple outdoor grilling, and making sure to exercise at regular intervals.

Exercising is easier, now that the family has Wii Fit: the program keeps track of when I exercise, and what I weigh; and is designed to alleviate the mind-numbing boredom of, say, running in place for fifteen minutes.

Let's see: I've mentioned the wedding, hummingbirds, the wedding, #1 daughter, the wedding, #3 daughter - - -. I'll come back and add more when I think of it.

One more thing: My son's starting with homeschooling now; which means more paperwork for us. Among other things, we have to demonstrate that we've got the right sort of education, and that his vaccinations are up to date and officially noted.

On his part, he's getting his trombone lubricated. He'll be in - band, I think it is. Something musical at the school, anyway. Friends of his have been over here now and again over the summer, and I understand he's got a system worked out with them for keeping in touch during the school year.

Monday: Bright and Clear; and #1 Daughter Moved Out

#1 daughter wrapped a wedding present for my wife this morning - for #2 daughter's wedding, actually. She and I had a good talk, then #1 daughter took her rolling suitcase and headed back to Alexandria.

We were in the kitchen while #1 daughter wrapped the gift, and I fixed my breakfast. Sprocket stood between us, whipping his head back and forth, as if in an effort to give 100% attention to both.

It's the start of school, soon, and it's very reasonable for her to be up there. Still, it's been very good having her under the roof.

Between #1 daughter moving back to Alexandria, and #2 daughter getting married in less than a month: there are a lot of transitions going on.

#1's rabbit is staying here, for the time being. Which is okay: He's a quite creature.

Wednesday: Elementary School Graduation

#1 daughter made another sale today, and is spending the bulk of the evening in St. Cloud, dropping of forms and getting dinner as the company's guest - along with other sales people. I gather that Cutco puts quite a lot of emphasis on keeping their sales people's enthusiasm up. Smart, really.

#2 daughter and my son-in-law-to-be discussed wedding plans with #3 daughter and my wife. Actually, it was mostly #2 daughter doing the discussing with her sister and mother.

Sprocket apparently thinks we're okay. He'll accept all the attention we give him, and has rested next to the couch as my wife took her nap.

My son took Giol, #1 daughter's rabbit, for a walk after he came home from school. Sprocket wanted to join them but cooler heads prevailed. Sprocket would, I'm sure, be well-behaved enough: but Giol's a rabbit, with all the nervousness that's normal to his species.

Sprocket got a walk with my son soon after Giol was inside again.

I'll say this for having a rabbit and a dog in the house: some members of the family get many opportunities to get out in the fresh air and sunshine.

My son and the rest of the sixth graders had their graduation ceremony this evening. It was quite an affair: The elementary school choir sang, and my son was one of the soloists; we watched a slide show and reading based on "Is There Really a Human Race?" (Jamie Lee Curtis & Laura Cornell); awards for particularly good grades were handed out - my son got one of them (and yes, I'm a proud papa); we watched more slides, this time of the sixth graders as quite young youngsters and then as they are now; and, finally, the diplomas got handed out.



Also, inflatable balls.

The kids knew what those balls were for. Quite a number of them were chasing the balls across the back of the multipurpose gym, or whatever that outsized room is called. The room's just about the right size for energized kids to run off steam while family groups talk and take pictures.

I put a dozen photos of the ceremony and reception in today's Sauk Centre Journal entry.

Back to that book, "Is There a Human Race?" I gather that the answer is "yes." I think my favorite set of questions from the book was "Am I a jockey / or am I a horse?"

Of Valleyfair and Hummingbirds

I just about forgot a high point of the week for my son.

He and his class went to Valleyfair, down in the metro area, on a field trip yesterday. I'm still not at all clear on how that's 'educational,' but he certainly had a good time. Happily, they have water fountains copiously distributed at Valleyfair, so he didn't get thirsty.

A hummingbird showed up this evening at the feeder. At least, that's when I noticed the first one. Another came later - or maybe it was the same one - and a bit after that I saw two at the feeder. Then, I think, they spotted me and flew off.

Friday Morning: Retrospective on My Son's Field Trip

My son went with his class to the Minnesota State Capitol yesterday. We were expecting him back around 6 or 6:30, but he arrived around 8:00. I'd told my wife and #3 daughter that they might as well go to Soo Bahk Do - that was around 7:30 - so I had the treat of having some one-on-one time with him as he talked about the trip.

They toured the capitol building, including part of the roof. My son was quite impressed by the statues at the front of the building. And, at how long the stairs leading up there were.

The Minnesota historical museum was on the itinerary too. What my son rated as #1 there was a tornado simulation: a room that gives occupants an impression of what the worst Minnesota tornado would be like, for someone inside. The simulation includes a tree falling. Sounds impressive.

And, the Ramsey House - 1st governor's mansion. Peter says that he'd been leaning on a wall when the guide said 'no leaning on the walls' - he bounced off the wall, then: and someone laughed. He thinks it was his teacher. Those two get along famously.

I'm glad he had a good time with the trip: I remember my 6th grade field trip to the capitol. There wasn't a tornado simulator that time: but the capitol building part of the trip seems to be the about the same as when I had that experience.

The rest of yesterday, in fact most of the week, was fairly routine. Except for a promising job possibility for me. There's a company that needs someone with marketing and business-to-business telephone sales experience. Which is right up my alley.

"Quote of the Day" Reminded Me of Me and My Kids

Today's "Quote of the Day" from The Quotations Page is:

"Thomas Jefferson once said, 'We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works.' And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying."
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004)

#1 daughter says I remind her of Merlin, since I talk about events in human, geological, and cosmic history as if I'd experienced them first-hand.

#2 daughter doesn't put it that way, but was impressed at how I exclaimed "hey! That's the Lion Gate!" when glancing at a travel brochure she'd gotten from college. Apparently I said it the way most people would say, "Hey! That's - - - " and identify some familiar contemporary landmark.

My personal experience only goes back to around the midpoint of the 20th century (that's my story, and I'm sticking with it): but I've read enough about humanity's story and our little probes into what makes the universe tick, so that I do have a sort of vicarious 'memory' of those things.

And now, my son has a paper he wants me to look over, before he turns it in.

Feeling Better Today: Wouldn't Take Much

My temperature is well below 101.6 F today, which I don't mind one bit. There's been some sort of bug - flu, most likely - going around town. School kids are sick (including my son), teachers are sick, and this family has been taking turns being sick.

I'm sick of it.

That was an attempt at humor, folks.

Aside from that, though, things have been going fine.

To Love, Honor, and Do the Dishes

My son had an extra two hours at home this morning. Sauk Centre schools opened two hours late. We'd had freezing rain overnight, and calling the roads slick was an understatement. Osakis and Alexandria simply closed their schools, but Sauk Centre very seldom gives up a school day.

Someone we know went to the hospital this morning, with a broken leg and ankle. He'd slipped and fallen on the ice. I'm not at all disappointed that I haven't stepped outside today.

A technician looked at our dishwasher this morning, and found out that the motor was kaput. Replacing the motor would cost almost as much as a new dishwasher - and the one we've got might develop another glitch any time. It's far from new.

So, we're getting a new dishwasher. I think it makes good financial sense - considering the risk that a near-replacement-cost repair might be followed soon by another expensive fix.

If all goes well, we'll get it tomorrow. I hope this goes more smoothly than the last appliance we had to replace. That time, when the thing came, it was a fraction of an inch too big for the available space.

My wife, musing on household expenses, noted that within the last year, we've had to get a new

• Street
• Van
• Dishwasher

Actually, we don't need a dishwasher. My parents got along fine without one - until I was in college - and we could do the same.

On the other hand, I've been spending a noticeable fraction of each day washing dishes since Friday - and I'd rather be doing a different sort of work.

Just the same, I'm glad I can do chores like that.

That's My Boy!

My son gave a presentation in school, about computers. He's quite interested in the subject himself, and told us that his classmates had quite a few questions. Good news. He seems to be fairly comfortable about getting in front of people and talking.

'That's my boy!'

Of Homework, Friends, and a Rabbit

My son went back to school today, his friends were glad to see him, and he's still got a lot of homework to catch up on. He spent the afternoon, after school, with one of his friends.

That didn't help him get caught up on his homework, but I don't mind all that much. He started working on the accumulated assignments yesterday, and put in a goodly amount of time. And, he had this evening to spend on homework, too.

He and I read Garfield from the website, as is our routine before his bedtime.

#1 daughter had called earlier. She, or, rather, her rabbit, had made a little girl's day. The girl, probably around five years old, had been wanting to see Giol when she visited her grandmother. Each time she came, though, #1 daughter's car hadn't been there. Until today.

The little girl was delighted with Giol, and petted him for quite a while. Giol, understandably, wasn't as pleased with the situation, but took it quietly. Of course, rabbits take just about everything quietly. They're far from the loudest of animals.

Anyway, the little girl, who hadn't said a word to #1 daughter, enjoyed Giol until her grandmother decided that the rabbit had had enough. Then the girl ran down the hall, crying, 'Daddy! I petted the bunny!'

As #1 daughter said to me, 'then she talked!'

And now, I've got to get some sleep.

Goodnight.

That's My Daughter Who Did That!

I'm generally quite pleased with #1 daughter, but it's nice to see my opinion confirmed.

She's going to Alex Vo Tech now, studying commercial art. And, recently, won a design competition. A local hospital needed a poster done, and had the vo tech sort out the best student design. And, the best design was #1 daughter's!

Me, I'm a proud papa. A delighted dad.

"That's my daughter!"

Thursday: Catching Up; and Catching My Breath

I hear that Alexandria, up the road, got snow the night before last. It was gone by morning, of course: the temperature was a balmy 40 degrees Fahrenheit by then.

It's been a long time since I posted here, so there's a lot of catching up to do. Some highlights from the last several months:

July 31, 2008. My son can now raise his left eyebrow, without the right one coming along for the ride. He's rather pleased with this accomplishment.

About a week later, around August 7, there was a long power outage at #1 daughter's apartment. Her phone worked, happily, so we had a long chat. Happily, this household has one of those telephone plans where we get unlimited long distance time - and a fairly low rate. I don't know how my wife finds these things.

#1 daughter started classes at Alexandria Vo-Tech this fall. She's planning on going into commercial art. A good idea, I think. So far, she seems to be doing well.

We've fall has come, and there have have been a few spectacular displays: including two small trees that turned bright red, while the bushes and trees behind them stayed green.

#3 daughter is a senior this year, and still home-schooled. It's a very satisfactory arrangement for us all. She and my wife have set up the northeast bedroom as a music studio for her. She's hoping to get more guitar students.

#2 daughter is expecting to graduate in December. She'll have finished the four-year program in a little under four years. Says the proud dad.

#3 daughter has been enjoying Giol, #1 daughter's pet rabbit, when #1 daughter comes to visit. #1 daughter says that #3 is enjoying Giol in spite of herself. #1 could be right. Even more surprising - particularly to #1 daughter - #2 REALLY likes the rabbit.

My son's friends have been over quite a few times: particularly one who likes the same online games. Sometimes the two get together by playing the same game online at the same time, and communicating through the game's chat functions.

That more or less brings me up to date, although I'm pretty sure I'm missing something.

A week or so ago, my wife and #3 daughter organized and cleaned the first floor - no small feat, considering that my wife has been fitting another household's stuff in this house, on top of what we have. I finally figured out why they were doing that. A young man that #2 daughter met online, at Ave Maria Singles, if I remember right, is coming to visit for a few days. From Louisiana.

By now that's "has come to visit."

#2 daughter arrived in Sauk Centre Friday, and the two of us drove to St. Cloud last Saturday morning, October 18. Since the St. Cloud airport is on the opposite side of St. Cloud, I wanted two hours available to get there. For once, I was ready to go on time. #2 daughter was scooting back and forth, doing last-minute preparations that I probably wouldn't understand.

We left with a bit less than an hour and a half of my two hours left. The Interstate narrowed to one lane, for road work. Twice. The second time was exciting, because the warning sign was several miles away from the start of the narrowed road. Traffic had re-adjusted to two lanes, and had to merge: fast.

The drive through St. Cloud was obstacle-free, until we came to the Mississippi bridge. It's not there any more. The detour was marked, though, and didn't take us more than maybe a quarter-mile out of our way.

Just to be thorough, I missed the turnoff to the airport. The next place to legally and safely turn around wasn't much more than a mile down the road.

We still got to the St. Cloud airport with five or ten minutes to spare.

On the way back to Sauk Centre, the three of us stopped off in Freeport. He'd asked about the church there, and I thought we might as well go see. The young man and #2 daughter spotted a fancy jungle gym. We stopped, and those two climbed to the top. She tells me that, as far as she is concerned, that was the top of the day.

The rest of Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday, are a bit of a blur. The young man blocked out 20 minutes to talk with me. About an hour and a half later, he had to go with #2 daughter, my wife, and #3 daughter to Cenacle. As my father-in-law said about me, decades back, "I can talk to this one!"

Besides being able to talk with me, and the rest of the family, the young man can grill chicken. As #2 daughter pointed out, he did it without nearly incinerating the chicken and melting the grill. It was pretty good, and my first taste of Cajun cooking. Something made by a Cajun from Louisiana, anyway.

#2 daughter drove the young man back to St. Cloud airport (Tuesday, I think it was), and spent the rest of the day with a cousin in St. Cloud. After she got back, I asked her how things went on the trip. This was her reply: "Okay. I stayed with him until he had to go away."

While all that was going on, I got a bulletin ready for the printers.

One thing I can say about the last week: it hasn't been boring.

Other than that, #3 daughter and one of her cousins have been doing something that involves #3 daughter borrowing my camera quite often. #3 explained what she and her "twin cousin" were up to, but I'll admit that I didn't follow her. It has something to do with a sort of story they're doing. This cousin is #3 daughter's "twin cousin," a nickname that got started because they're quite a bit alike: right down to appearance.

And now, because I need to get some sleep, I'll stop.

Tuesday: Catching up, again

Tuesdays seem to be a challenging day for me. I'm getting caught up, again.

Actually, after this post, I will be caught up.

The day was beautiful, again. I didn't take a walk, though. I'm stiff and a bit sore around the lumbar region: probably because of that long, long walk I took yesterday. I don't regret the walk: But the next one I take will be a little shorter, I think.

I did, however, go to Fitness Guru, that exercise place. And, got some writing done.

Our son came back from school at the usual time today. He told me that his classmates have been talking about the Ash Street project - which gave him an opportunity to say that he lives on Ash Street. That seems to give him some notoriety, for the moment.

#2 daughter had her talk with #3 daughter and my wife again today. And, as a sort of treat, I got to talk to #1 daughter when she called. We had quite a log conversation before she noted that I sounded like I needed sleep. She's right, I think.

So, with that in mind: Goodnight.

Monday: Field Trip for Our Son, a Walk for Me

Our son went on a field trip to the Minnesota Science Museum today, getting home about 5:00. He had a good time, and was impressed by the Omnitheater. They had something on the Alps, I gather.

My wife and #3 daughter went to Alex this afternoon, to get information about laptops, among other things.

There were the usual telephone conversations between #2 daughter and my wife, and #3 daughter.

As for me, I got the household chores done, put in about 10 hours of work, and took a walk. That walk was unplanned. Around 2:45 in the afternoon, I noticed quite a bit of fog collecting in my mind, and decided to see if an extended walk would help. Besides, walking is a bit of a treat for me, now that I got the original equipment swapped out and replaced with two new hip sockets.

The evening proceeded quietly, and I'm going to cut this a bit short: It's time I start getting more sleep.