what i'm reading now

This book is about the danger and likelyhood of catastrophic earthquakes in California. It's an interesting read that gives you an historical account of the state and it's propensity to grow urban areas in the places that are riddled seismic faults. According to the author Los Angeles and San Francisco "straddle two of the most violently seismic zones on the planet".

rachel's painting

This is my daughter Rachel's latest painting. She hasn't been at it long but I'm amazed at the balance of her composition and her use of color. She's a better artist than her dad.

jenna whistles

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jenna counts

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

what i'm reading now

This book is an excellent read about the blizzard of Jan 12, 1888 which swept south from Canada across the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas. The cold front eventually reached the southernmost boundary of Mexico. As it rapidly advanced across the prairie states teachers let the students go home and many were lost in the blinding wind and snow and froze to death, some within a few yards of their homes.

The author describes the backgrounds of the immigrants that were struggling to make a living on the land, the failure of the U.S. Army Signal Corps to adequately warn the people of the approached cold wave, and the heart breaking efforts of parents and citizens to rescue the children and adults who were lost in the storm.

spaghetti

Jenna drinks a grape soda while she watches grandpa cook spaghetti. I was getting a few strands of spaghetti from the boiling pot with some tongs , running cold water over them, and then testing them for doneness. Jenna soon wanted the tiny samples I was getting. After a few samples, she went to the cupboard and pointed and grunted until her mother figured out she wanted a bowl. She brought the bowl over to the stove where I was standing and held it up for more spaghetti. She can't talk but she communicates very well.

quote of the day

The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.
--Umberto Eco

quote of the day

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.
-- Arthur Schopenhauer

i should have stayed in bed

We woke up to 15 degrees this morning and it never got above freezing all day. I should have stayed in bed, or at least on the couch reading a book and drinking coffee. I went to Lowe's to get more material for the project. I went for 6/3 with ground eletrical cable and also some 12/2 with ground. I came home with 6/3 without ground and 12/3 with ground. I just wasn't paying attention. For the uninitiated the six stands for the size of the wire and the three means it has a black insulated wire, a red insulated wire, and a white insulated wire. I needed an additional bare ground wire. All four wires are bound together in plastic insulation. The 12/2 with ground has a black wire, a white one, and a bare ground wire. The 6/3 is for 240 volts and will be used to conduct power to Dorothy's new electric oven. The 12/2 is for 120 volts and will be used for ordinary outlet circuits. I may have to take a day or two off to think about this. You can't plan too much. I'll drink coffee and stare at the project until my head clears.

jenna's first haircut

Kelly thought that Jenna's hair was getting out of control so she took her to the salon for her first cut. I thought it was just perfect.

Here's the finished product. It looks like it still has an urge to rebel.