Friday Fragments

Join me and others along with our hostess Mrs. 4444 in emptying minds of little tidbits in another edition of Friday Fragments.

Field experiment team left today for Kansas. If you see a caravan of radar trucks and vehicles with weird stuff on top...you know you've seen my group.

While waiting outside with the vehicles I noticed our resident geese hanging out and munching on grass. Guess they were the bon voyage party.

All the rain has brought my lilies back to life. I planted these in my mailbox two years ago. Last year they came back but really didn't produce flowers. This year they will be beautiful.

A Late Hodgepodge

I wasn't going to do it but then it just called out to me and said "Fill Me In" so I'm filling it in. :)

1. Did you do anything 'memorable' this past weekend?
We watched the sport of weather forecasting. You didn't know that is a sport? Here in Oklahoma it sure is when the weather gets bad. It is a race for which tv station can show a tornado first.

2. Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-


"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."


Your thoughts? Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy? Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation? If you're a parent, are there specific things you do to pass on this sense of responsibility and appreciation to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?


I think we take freedom for granted in the USA. But it is certainly something that you shouldn't because it can all change on a dime.

3. Loudest noise you've ever heard?

Lightning strike really close to the house.

4. What was the last thing you ate that might be considered 'junk food'? Did you enjoy it?

I had some Reese's peanut butter cups this afternoon that someone brought me as a bribe to help them with a proposal. They were tasty and the bribe helped.

5. When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt 'packed in like sardines'?

When we were in London and rode the tube during rush hour. Boy can they pack them in.

6. Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip? Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute? Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?

I'm pretty good at packing for a trip. I used to make extensive lists but then I started travelling more and just remembered what I needed. I do seem to forget something though each time. I tend to overpack especially on business because I need both business wear in the day and comfy clothes at night.

7. What was the last sporting event you attended in person? Did your team win? Did you care?

I bought Dan a small pack of tickets to the OKC Dodgers (our AAA baseball team). We went to opening night in April and it was packed. The Dodgers won and are really doing well this year.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The rain continues to come down and we are officially the wettest month EVER. Supposedly it should be nice next week. I've enjoyed not being too hot but I can do without the humidity. Even on the days it isn't raining it is so humid that it feels like it is raining.

Friday Fragments

Joining Mrs. 4444 for a fragments edition. Been awhile since I've done one so you know I've got to have some.

We've had record rain and when I mean record I mean really really wet. In May we are going to set the record for wettest month EVER. Places have been flooding that I've never seen flood. Our lake provides water for the town and it went to the flood drain for the first time since it was built in the 50's. That much rain. And it is supposed to rain for the next seven days. I'm thinking kayaks and canoes will be the only way to get around.

This was our backyard when we got 4 inches of rain. That's a river flowing into the neighbors yard. And a lake in the backyard too. It isn't supposed to look like that.

During all that rain we had a couple of big hail storms. BASEBALL size hail hit the house. Our insurance adjuster has been out and was circling hole after hole on the roof. Waiting to get the whole estimate but I'm sure a new roof will be coming soon. Along with gutters, hot tub cover and hammock.

And the rain has kept the temperatures down. In fact I'm wearing a sweater right now. Which I don't think I've ever worn one this late into May. Feels like a fall day instead of spring here.

Whitney has been home now two weeks and cooked dinner for us every night. She's in major practice mode for when she gets an apartment. She still is looking for a job but a couple of good possibilities are out there. She is so earnest about looking and wants one so bad. I appreciate everything that she has been doing to look for one.

My summer at work just keeps getting busier. We finally got review dates for our main grant and preparing for that will take up a lot of time. Add in a seven week field experiment that starts next week where we are sending about 30 people to Kansas to investigate nighttime thunderstorms and I've been a bit busy at work. I'm not sure it will ever really slow down. I keep telling them no more field experiments but they don't listen. Already planning the next one and it will be a dozy. I'm not looking forward to that one.

And there is my fragments for you. Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

A Tribute to David Letterman

Tonight is David Letterman's last show on television. While over the last few years I have stopped watching a lot of late night tv, I'll miss Dave.

I actually remember when he had a daytime tv show. I was probably one of the few people who watched it but it was on in the summer while I was in high school.

Then he moved to really late night (11:30 where I lived). And the humor was perfect for a college student. Dan and I used to watch him every night. We still talk about things he did way back then.

The Suit of Velcro

Throwing things off the roof

Paul Newman on Letterman's first night in the Ed Sullivan Theater

Every Christmas taking the meatball off the top of tree with a football

Then there are the sayings. I wouldn't give his troubles to a monkey on a rock. All the squirrel/nut jokes. How he adored Johnny Carson.

We still joke about how Dave loves the kids. He did one bit where he asked a kid what his favorite food was and he said lettuce. Next shot had them eating heads of lettuce like they were apples. That still makes me chuckle.

Late night tv was forever changed by Dave. If you watch both Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel and their tributes to Dave you know that their lives were changed by him. 

Happy retirement Dave.

San Diego

I'm so swamped at work I never was able to talk about my trip to San Diego at the end of April. It was a quick trip for a two day workshop (that was actually productive). A week before the meeting the hotel changed. This turned out to be a win for all because the new hotel was right across from the marina and right next to Little Italy.

I ate a lot of seafood because you know we just don't get good stuff in Oklahoma.

But the greatest part of the location was the fact that Top Chef winner Richard Blais' restaurant Juniper & Ivy was less than a mile from the hotel. I was a little geeked out at that tidbit and planned my eating accordingly.

I'm one of those people that really doesn't mind eating by myself. I travel enough that it has to happen. I made a reservation for one but when I got there they said they had seats at the chef table if I wanted one. I'm not a fool...I of course said yes. Basically I had a view of the seafood section of the kitchen.

Richard Blais is a user of molecular gastronomy. That turned out to be an adventure that I was happy to take. My server was great and she was able to get a lot of things halved so I could try a bunch.

First up was his take on deviled eggs. It was actually an egg meringue. So a little sweet.

Then I ventured into octopus. It was grilled and had an eel sauce glaze. It was cooked to perfection.

Then I moved on to yellowtail tostadas. These were probably the best thing I ate in a long time. In fact I had a half order and then had the other half order.

Then it was dessert time. He made a take on a yodel (you know that chocolate cake with white cream frosting rolled up). This one had liquid nitrogen ice cream in it and then the hard chocolate outside was covered in hot chocolate. Oh my. If I could have licked the plate I would have.

I also had a couple of their crafted cocktails and bought an autographed copy of his cookbook. So I blew my per diem plus more but it was so worth it. I'm happy I was able to go to this restaurant. I really understand how there is a difference in average and highly skilled chefs.

Graduation

Last weekend my baby graduated college. So proud of her for finishing in four years and graduating cum laude. What a privilege it is to be her mother!