PARI

Eli has been working on the astronomy merit badge. He's also had an interest in things astronomical and meteorological for some time, thanks in no small part to his mother. And we've heard several folks talk about PARI. So for yesterday's school holiday (a teacher workday) we decided to make the jaunt.

PARI is 75 minutes from Black Mountain, on the other side of Brevard. The scheduled tour was billed for 2PM; we got there about 1230PM and the docent was kind enough to begin with us then rather than make us bide out time. We did the galaxy walk. (If our Sun is four inches in diameter the next nearest star is in Arizona!!) We also got to poke around in most of the buildings. One of the highlights was the 950' tunnel from one building to one of the satellites. We didn't walk the whole thing, but it was awesome.

We spent a lot of time looking at old glass slides of outer space and learned about how they are being digitized (by a fellow named Thurman Barker!). The site has two 26-meter radio telescopes that are fun to see; we missed by minutes seeing one move. But all-in-all it was a nice visit.

Cake thieves

One birthday; two mooches.



Yes, that piece of cake is indeed about three times the size of his mouth.



Later in the evening, Calvin went back for more. He pulled the cake off the counter. It stayed in the box, but was upside down. Didn't seem to bother Calvin.

Thirteen

Eli hit a milestone last weekend, turning thirteen. He was born at JW in Richmond, a little before one in the morning, lo these many years ago. I remember the nurse remarking as his head was starting to poke out, "Wow, look at that red hair." Little did I know.

Biker

We've had a bag full of costume pieces for some time. Briggs gets it out now and again. This weekend he discovered this green bandana. Today he put it on and ultimately almost never took it off the whole day. Between the bandana, the two missing teeth and his general grubbiness, he looked like he was ready to get on his hawg after leaving a bar brawl. The first one of you moops who suggests a tat had better just watch out!

Show me your belt

Briggs recently got a belt to wear with his Tiger Cub Scout uniform. So he and Calvin have been big into the whole concept of belts this week. Today Calvin slipped on an old belt (the shorts have no belt loops, mind you). At our first stop on the Parkway I noticed it and asked him to show it to me. He preferred showing me his belly, his shoes, his knees, looking at the belt himself: anything except the belt. Finally, he showed Granny.

A simple comparison

I don't want to hear any complaining about the hardship of leaving the Outer Banks of North Carolina because of Hurricane Earl. Or having to loose a couple of days of vacation. Or about how horrible the traffic is. Just shut up.