5-17-12

 This is the observatory at Chichen Itza.

 This is another building. Below is a building that was called the nunnery but of course, nuns were not housed there. I think it was more like a classroom or library.

I have lots of photos from our day at Chichen Itza but will only share a few . It was a long car drive, but worth it. So educational and thought provoking to see the ruins of a culture that was conquered by Europeans who enslaved the native inhabitants. Also very interesting to think about how religion was used even here, even then, to control people.

5-16-12

Today we went for a long walk, hung out at the pool, then migrated to the beach. It's a tough life!!! Tomorrow... Mayan ruins.

5-15-12

Look what we found on our bed this evening! Rose petals and a swan.

Today my in laws renewed their vows after 50 years if marriage. Good photos to follow. I was the official photographer. My first wedding gig!

The bride and her two sons... giving her away.

 The renewal of vows, and the beautiful family they made together.

5-14-12

We got an offer in our house today! On the market three days.

Today we went snorkeling on a beautiful coral reef. Also lounged by the pool, and dined at a Japanese restaurant. This place us really beautiful.

5-13-12

 View from breakfast... this place is beautiful.

 Walking from the lobby to Building 3

 The guys waiting on sushi...

 The girls waiting on sushi...

We are glad to know where to run when/if the tsunami arrives.



See the hammocks on the right? That's where I was reading the book Ishmael and sipping a mojito in the shade this afternoon. Pretty wonderful.

5-12-12

We traveled all day and finally landed on the Yucatan Peninsula. We are at a luxurious resort to celebrate my parents-in-law's 50th wedding anniversary. This guy was waiting to welcome us.

 The beach was like a Corona commercial. Rocky though... too rough to swim in. The breeze was strong.

 Self portraits!

 We celebrated 50 years with Dan's parents at a restaurant on the beach. It was such a great way to start the week.

5-10-12

Looking down the stairs to the basement.  I wonder what lies beneath? Buried treasures? A window to a new world? Old discarded items?

Putting our house on the market really makes me think about all the reasons why I want to move. I really hope they are valid reasons. I really hope my intuition and heart haven't lead me astray.

5-9-12

For Sale.
:(

5-8-12

Celebration! I went out for a beer after work today with some colleagues to celebrate the end of our first year as a department, Mags' tenure, and my departure.

Well, we weren't celebrating my departure, but we were talking about it.

Yes, I am leaving my university for another one. One I love. One I have loved for a long long time. I have been offered a job teaching at my alma mater university. I will be teaching in the building I used to run around in as a kid, riding the elevators for fun, looking out off the Eagle's Nest top floor roof at the town below (the highest point in town). Today I gave the dean my letter of resignation, and mailed my signed offer letter south.  I will be starting on July 1st and working through the summer supported by my NSF grant. We don't know when we will be moving. I guess my mom's address will once again be mine, for a while at least, temporarily. Guess what Mom, I'm moving home!

5-7-12

Today the girls went to visit their dad at his "job" at the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store. Dan volunteers there once a week to give back to the charity we support. Gotta love the vest! I spent all day writing my NSF annual report. Fun fun.

5-6-12

Today my Aza graduated with her master's degree in secondary education. I served as a marshal at the graduation ceremony. We had a nice dinner party that evening. Here is Dan with his two science teacher girls.

 

The whole family!

 

Grandparents!

5-5-12

Derby Day!
Not that it mattered to me.... I didn't watch it on TV, nor did I go to Keeneland to watch it there, but it was a beautiful day and I spent it working on my NSF annual report. Dan and his parents and the kids went to the races.

5-4-12

My girls!
Jes, tired from a long day of travel from Denver to here, arrived in time for dinner.
We had Derby Pie for dessert!

5-3-12

 

Aza got a huge surprise today. Dan asked her to come help him with a window that was broken, so she came downstairs and her grandparents popped out of the kitchen and surprised her! They've come to celebrate her graduation on Sunday. She's the first grandchild on both sides to earn a graduate degree. Yay Aza!

Today I received a special letter in the mail. I'll tell you about it later.
:)

5-1-12

Today was my last day working with the kids on their solar cars. I've yet to analyze the data, but I think it was a successful experience for them. It was fun being back in a classroom every day.

4-30-12

 

Jack and Iris
Last day of April... spent all morning at a middle school, then attended the last department meeting of the academic year, then started cleaning out old papers from my office.
Tomorrow is May 1st

4-29-12

This is the door to our basement. Today Dan took it off and glued/clamped it so it would hang right. I then washed, patched cracks, and painted it. Took all evening. Earlier today I sorted through ALL my clothes in the attic and filled up the entire back of my Honda Fit with boxes to donate to Goodwill. Drove down to Nicholasville and donated them. Cooked a really good dinner- peanut chicken with mushrooms, spring onions, lemon zest, coconut milk, peanut butter, and spinach. What else? Oh, I designed and made a cart for my Sea Birds curriculum. AND cleaned two ovens! Lord have mercy, you'd think I was fixin' to have company or something! Jes arrives on Friday for Aza's graduation and we are so excited to all be together for the weekend celebrating the first of our offspring to finish a graduate degree.

I drank a cup of coffee today. Perhaps that accounts for the enormous feats of accomplishment.

4-27-12

Today students worked on gears. This successful group created a simple gear train to lift their sea bird eggs. It's Friday. This weekend I need to finish up my grading and turn in semester grades, clean house, pull some weeds, and wind up the semester. Next weekend, Aza graduates with her masters degree in secondary education. She also has an interview next week at the high school she graduated from back in Virginia. Wouldn't THAT be interesting??!! Lots of changes in the works in Chrissy's family. Things will be very different come fall.

4-25-12

Today students tested solar cells in series and parallel. I took some pictures while they were at lunch of some reasonable voltages and current readings. The waxed paper is to simulate cloud cover... there is so much more I could do with these kids. I wish I had more than 6 days I could work with them.

4-24-12

All week I will be working with students at a local school testing out my Sea Birds curriculum. They are at lunch during this photo. So far it's a challenge to them. I hope they are successful in the end.

4-23-12

Working in my office on my Save the Bats curriculum... we got a student-made anemometer and a blow dryer to crank out some voltage. The gearing is tricky. I wish I had a lab for this stuff instead of the corner of my desk. Makes for a messy office.

4-22-12

Spread mulch today in the back garden.
I am very attached to my oasis, my little plot of land in the city.
I love my trees, peonies, lilies, primroses, wood poppies, and all the trees.

4-21-12

 

Irises are in bloom. I wanted blue irises in my wedding bouquet 27 years ago and didn't understand why they weren't available in November.

Difficult weekend full of contemplation.

4-17-12

 

 

Family Engineering Night!!! We had about 50 kids and parents, plus about 10 volunteers from my student chapter of NSTA help out at a local elementary school. It was a great success! Parents were really involved with their kids in the design activities. Lots of smiles all around the room for 90 minutes. I took about 100 photos but really can't post any here of the smiling children. But just imagine.

4-15-12

 

 

 

Cool nights and comfortable days, and the garden flowers are loving it. Today I spread about 400 pounds of mulch and need about 400 pounds more to cover the bare soil and keep the weeds down and moisture in. Maybe next weekend I will finish the job.

4-14-12

Dan is putting together 10 kits of my curriculum. He has orders for five of them and will surely sell the other five soon. What a job! 120 thermometers, 120 timers, 120 lamps, 120 plaster penguins, a bazillion cut up squares of felt and foam and paper and bubble wrap!

4-12-12

I love teaching! Tonight was my engineering class and my students brought their curriculum and materials to teach with. This was a lesson on anemometers. Boy, did we make the wind blow with a hair dryer! We had a great time and it filled me up with joy.

4-11-12

My new fun thing to do is play Draw Something with people on my iPad. I make a drawing and the other person has to guess my word. They they draw and I guess. Here is my drawing of Grandma. I don't think I ever saw either of my grandmothers knit in a rocking chair, but I plan to one day when it's my turn. So I guess this is me in about 15 years. I will need a front porch.