Yay! I brought along some cat-5 cable along with my laptop just in case the LAN ports were operative in the dorn rooms. They are! Yay! (Thanks to my roomie, I have a cable long enough to reach my bed. Mine was only 10ft long, hers is more like 20ft. And I had forgotten to mention this originally, but when she had me read it to her, she bitched about it, so I’m including it now.)

So I can do occassional updates this week. (In order to wear the kids out, we’ve got ’em busy most of the day. That tends to wear us teachers out too.)

To get an idea of the prison cell that they put us in the first night (last night) I took a couple of pictures.

My bed.

Carolyn’s bed.

We’re back in our proper dorm now (Douglass) and in our proper room, which is much bigger (but still not air conditioned). There’s currently a big thunderstorm going on outside and we’ve got a wonderfully cool breeze, however. So that’s nice.

The girls arrived today and they seem like a good bunch of girls. (The collective noun for a group of girls I’ve always figured was “giggle.” So we’ve got a good giggle of girls this year.) Tomorrow we actually have our first classes with them.

Walked for 2 hours solid this morning with my roomie, Carolyn, and another teacher, Becky. And you know what’s so odd about Wooster? It’s all uphill! It’s amazing – we started our walk going uphill, and we finished going uphill. I’ve always suspected that MC Escher had a hand in the design of this city.

I will probably add more stuff later – I’m ready to read some and then hit the sack. Busy day tomorrow!

The Buckeye Women In Science, Engineering and Research (B-WISER) Institute is an organization of women (and a couple of men for good measure) who try to encourage young women into the physical sciences. Despite this being the 21st century, girls still aren’t being encouraged into chemistry, physics, geology, etc. as much as the boys. So Dr. Lois Cook, professor emeritus last of Wright State University (my alma mater – and my dad’s) and Betty Obara (my old junior high science teacher) started a camp for 7th grade girls several years ago, and it’s still going strong. Lois graduated from the College of Wooster many (many) years ago and was welcomed back to the campus with her science camp. Dr. Ted Williams, retired chemistry chair, from Wooster, is the third go-getter who got this camp off the ground. And me? Well, I teach physics there with my co-teacher, Dee Leis (an elementary science teacher from Tipp City, OH).

When the camp was in its second year (or maybe third? but I think second) my sister and I were contacted about being counselors in the camp. I was a freshman in college and Amy a freshman in high school, and we both said yes. My sister was able to continue as a counselor throughout her HS career, but I kept having conflicts in the summer. No matter, after I became a physics teacher, I came back. This time as a teacher.

The camp is loads of fun – for the teachers and the girls. We all have at least one other co-teacher in our respective subjects (chemistry, physics, earth science, computers, research, and engineering) and this year, we’ll have a robotics unit too! (The engineering bit is part of the research bit and the girls work on projects at night – building straw bridges.) The food is good, the campus is gorgeous, the dorms that we’re stuck in SUCK, but hey – it’s only a week. I love my coworkers (and my roommate is completely mad – and thus wonderful) and enjoy the week teaching science.

Tomorrow morning I’ll pack up the car (it’s already got the science equipment packed in it) and head oop north (and east) to Wooster, OH. It’s a 3 hour drive, so having lots of good music is crucial. Shame the latest Big Finish audio isn’t out yet – I could do with a new Sylvester McCoy adventure to listen to on the way there. No idea how often I’ll be able to check my e-mail or LiveJournal, so don’t expect to read much (if any) from me for a week. (I hear a huge sigh of relief coming from all quarters… hmmm…)

So, take care, everyone! Have fun while I’m away! And be nice to the Random Sylv Pix, dark_pheonix! 😉

With the new season upon us, it’s time I got a new seasonal icon. Much perusing of Sylv pictures ensued. But I think I’ve got it.

Started my summer job (which is my usual job, only just computers, no kids) this week. Next week is science camp (where I teach physics). And I’m taking tomorrow off. Heh. 🙂

One of the last activities that judiang and I did for the weekend was go bowling. Yesterday, we ended up going to Steak & Shake for lunch rather than Dunaways (the Irish Pub in Troy) which was yummy (mmmm – peach shake!) Then we went to one of two bowling alleys that are in Troy.

There were only two other people bowling and one of them was done before we actually got started. The other finished about halfway through our game. I kind of felt sorry for the employees who were watching the empty place.

Now, just to preface this, Judi and I suck at bowling. We both freely admit it. One of the previous times when we were bowling, neither of us could do as well as the little girls who were bowling next to us. Our main goal is to knock pins down each frame. Then, if we can, to maybe get a spare or a strike. We’d love to break a hundred – and back when I was bowling more regularly, I have done that.

Breaking 100 was not to be for us that day, alas. However, in the first game, I had 6 gutterballs in the first three frames and wasn’t able to catch up with Judi. She ended with a score of 78 to my 71. Both of us had gotten a strike in the first throw of the 10th frame, and we felt pretty impressed.

In the second game, I was finally starting to warm up and after taking turns being in the lead, I came back at the end with 2 strikes in the 10th frame for a score of 93. Judi was a consistent 77. After a 5 minute break, we started the third game, where I took the lead in the first frame and refused to give it up. I came the closest to 100 yet – 96. Judi was still consistent with a score of 80. Certainly some of our better bowling (even if it does suck). 🙂

After the game, we returned to my place where I put Judi back together again with some furious back rubbing and a hot pad. Then we headed off to the airport once again. *sniff* farewell to Judi!

On the way home, I stopped for Chinese for the ‘rents and me and we had General Tso’s and Mu Shu Chicken for supper. Mmmm!

I only worked 2 1/2 hours today and have been napping and vegging the rest of the day. Ah, summer vacation!

Actually, lazy – yes, hazy – not really, crazy – certainly not, day – yes. OK, so the Subject of my entry is only 50% correct…

Yesterday was a wonderful day for lounging about. After I finished my journal entry, I sat outside for awhile and read some more from Ivanhoe. I’m nearly done with it. Then I snoozed a bit and when the wind picked up, it woke me and I realized it was 1:30pm. Lunch time! So I scurried about. Made a fire, got the stuff out of the fridge. Nuked the leftover baked beans that my Aunt had brought the day before. Then charred the steaks for about 5 minutes and finally woke judiang. We had a nice little lunch, pausing only to heat the steaks a bit longer over the coals (OK, so another minute on the fire would have been perfect).

After lunch, Judi played Scullery Maid again and it was my turn to zonk out completely. I napped outside for awhile, enjoying the sunshine on my legs and the warm breeze. It was an absolutely perfect weather day. (And today is looking to be nearly as perfect.)

I returned indoors to help Judi with her geeking (and insisting that she post to LJ while she was actually awake). In preparation for supper, I cut up the peppers, onions, pineapple, and pork for the kebabs. I marinated the pork in soy sauce, garlic, honey, and rice wine vinegar. And after a bit, I started the sticky rice in the rice cooker and then we headed outside to make the fire. Judi made the supper fire and did another great job.

When the fire was ready, we stuck stuff on skewers and grilled away. Yummy! We kept putting more wood on the fire and poor dad’s wood pile is looking a little lean now. After supper, we just sat around the fire and chatted and watched. The sun went down and eventually the fire turned to glowing coals. Around 10:30pm, we spread the coals around to go out faster and headed back inside.

After some geeking on IRC, it was time to finish watching The Second Coming which I showed to Judi and elsaf last weekend. By the time it was done, it was well after 1am and we decided to go to bed. Just as well, since the cable had gone out – including our *ahem* internet connection.

It’s now nearly 11am. We’re pondering bowling and an Irish Pub, but we’ll see how things go.

Ah, it’s a beautiful morning here at Lake Loramie. judiang and I just went for a short walk around the cottages here. Judi’s even regretting that she has no shorts to wear. (elsaf, can you believe that?!?) So we’ve put the three ceiling fans on and are now relaxing in the three season room.

Yesterday continued to be a lovely day for us. We took the liquidy Bailey’s Irish Cream Ice Cream along in a plastic container and headed on back to the Lake. On our way there, we stopped at Wagner’s grocery in Minster (the one in Fort Loramie didn’t have what we needed) and bought a bag of ice and a box of rock salt. And once at the Lake, I began to freeze the ice cream in the “old fashioned” way. Mom has an ice cream maker that’s electric, but uses the salt & ice treatment. It froze this time!

My parental units showed up shortly after we returned to the Lake. Mom decided that she wanted to make deviled eggs and a Miracle Whip cake to go along with our meal.

Miracle Whip Cake

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 Tbsp cocoa
2 tsp soda
1 cup Miracle Whip
1 cup hot water

Sift dry ingredients into a mound. Make a hole in center and put Miracle Whip into hole. Add water in small amounts and stir until smooth. Pour into greased and floured 9×13″ pan and bake at 300°F for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

We had the Miracle Whip, but she was out of flour and cocoa. So for the second time that day, I went to Wagner’s grocery. Before we left, though, I got on Judi’s rinky dinky laptop and looked up how to make an Amaretto Sour. When I discovered that it took Sweet & Sour mix, I thought “wait a minute, I saw that at Wagner’s when I was there earlier!” Sure enough, they had it. (Wagner’s has a very impressive collection of booze – even the smaller one in Fort Loramie does too. And in case you are wondering, Ohio allows alcohol to be sold in groceries with the right license – there are very few liquor stores in the state.)

Mom and I returned back to the cottage to see that my aunt Becky and Granny were already there. Since I’d completely forgotten to set up a card game for Judi’s last trip to the Lake, we made sure to get one set up for this weekend! Judi had already started a fire (she did it completely on her own! I expected her to brag about it in her journal entry last night, but she didn’t!) This is such a change from the citygurl who wouldn’t get within 6 feet of the fire when she first joined us at the Lake six years ago.

I grilled burgers and dogs for everyone and did a good job, according to those eating said burgers and dogs. Then dad took Judi and I on a motor boat ride around our section of the Lake while mom put dishes in the kitchen (ooops! sorry mom!) It was a lovely ride and we saw around 8 tutles on the trip. (Mostly they’d jump off the log they were sunning themselves on as we passed by.)

Boat trip done, it was time to PLAY CARDS! The family game of choice is Shanghai Rum.

Shanghai Rum

Hand requirements consecutively:
2 sets of 3
1 set of 3, run of 4
2 runs of 4
3 sets of 3
1 set of 3, run of 5
3 runs of 4
1 set of 3, run of 10
3 sets of 3, run of 5
3 runs of 5

Deal out 11 cards each hand. Each player is allowed 3 buys each hand. (You’ll need all three for the last hand in particular – you MUST have a discard.) Start each turn by drawing a card from the stack or from the discard pile. Lay down your required cards if you can and then discard. After laying down, the following hand you may play any cards in your hand on your oponents laid cards. Hand ends when one player plays all cards and has a discard.

Deuces are wild in all hands. Any run or set must have more natural cards than deuces. Scoring – each player with cards remaining in hand must score as follows: number cards are worth 5 points, face cards are 10, aces are 15 and deuces are 20. The person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins.

It’s so popular, I included the rules in the family cookbook when I made it. (It’s under the Drinks section.) The whole time we’re playing it, we’re swearing up and down a storm and think “why the hell are we playing this game!” But when it’s over with, we think “my, that was fun!” Judi’s announced intention was to come to Ohio for Becky’s annual asskicking. And when we were done with the game, Judi had the second highest score after Granny! (Oh, in case you didn’t read the rules under the LJ cut, that means she came second to last.) Becky, of course, won the game. 🙂 (My excuse for not placing first was that I’d made myself an amaretto sour and was somewhat drunk.)

We finished the evening with Bailey’s Irish Cream Ice Cream and Miracle Whip Cake. Yummy! Becky & Granny left after that, followed by the folks. And then Judi and I cleaned up the dishes and goofed off online for a bit before retiring to bed. And we slept in today – mmm! A nice sleep in, if you ask me. Today’s goals are to have steaks for lunch and pork kebabs for supper. And that’s it. 🙂

Well, we’re taking a bit of a breather at my house while some Bailey’s Irish Cream Ice Cream is being made. Judi’s asleep on the sofa and Leo and I are here in my den. We got up early this morning (7am) in order to leave the cottage by 8am. Well, we got moving a little later than anticipated, but no matter, our timing was perfect. We arrived at Walmart just in time for a shuttle to the levy. (The festival is held on top of the levy by the Miami (can’t recall if it’s Great or Little Miami) River.) As soon as we got to Hobart Arena, we walked to the main street and waited for the parade.

The parade got to us just shortly after 9am. We were at the end of the parade route. And Judi got to experience her first “Small Town” Parade as she called it. Troy isn’t a small town, in my book. Pleasant Hill (where I live) is. Troy is a City. We eventually compromised and called it a “Small City” or “Big Town.” 🙂 Of course compared to Chicago, Dayton’s considered a “Small City.” (We did have another parade alternative. Today is Dayton’s Gay Pride March. I’ve been to the previous ones, but this is the first one that I’ve missed.)

We stayed watching the parade for over an hour and finally the Newton High School Marching Band arrived. We walked behind the library after they were past and sat on a bench to get our backs in shape. I dunno when it happened, but since Judi and I first met, we have become Old Women(TM). How the hell that happened, neither of us know…

We moved on to the levy again to browse the festival. The crowd wasn’t too bad yet and we got some food items. Snow cone for Judi, fresh tater chips (the type that’s all one coil of potato) for Treen. Strawberry shortcake for Judi, lemonade shakeup for Treen. Hot dog for Judi, Texas Tenderloin for Treen (and Judi – that thing was HUGE!) We got a dozen strawberry donuts and a jar of strawberry salsa (don’t laugh – it was good!) And as we walked out of the festival, we topped it off with strawberry lemonade shakeups.

At Hobart Arena, we just missed the bus back to Walmart (they were using Troy City School buses) and stood in line and chatted with the fellow in charge of the bus stop. He was very pleasant and talked with us about Troy and Chicago. Eventually, our bus arrived and we headed back to Walmart.

We bought a few essentials at Walmart and then moved onward to Trina’s house. And here we are – I’m typing, Judi and Leo are sleeping. And the ice cream isn’t freezing, dammit! (I think I put too much Bailey’s in this time. I’m thinking of maybe getting some vanilla ice cream, taking my drink mixer, and making Bailey’s Shakes for everyone if the ice cream doesn’t freeze before we leave. Ah well!)

I received an e-mail from Peter Royle of Chivers.co.uk today regarding my Quest to Purchase Big George. He said not to worry about Mrs Harmon – they will send her another set. And I can keep the Great Expectations for myself. (I might do as he suggested and donate it to a local library. I’ll know better once I read who is in the cast.) So Mean Trina didn’t have to fight with Nice Trina over whether to send the package on. YAY! Royle also said that he would inform the head of logistics about the postage problem. Perhaps they’ll get it sorted out some day. And should I ever need to order something from them again (like, for example, Sylv reading another audio book) they’ll send it to me with free postage. That’s nice. 🙂

So, apart from a rather loud and obnoxious burp, Chivers is doing what they can for their customers. (You know, there may well be another copy of Big George floating around in postal limbo – if it ever arrives here, I’ll have to auction it off to the highest bidder! Heh.)

Every year at the end of school, my seniors get out long before anyone else. So I think “cool, I’ve got more time to get shit done before the end of the school year.” Only what happens is that I’ve more stuff to do than time to do it in. And I’m scrambling to get everything done before the teacher’s last day. Requisitions, room inventory, chemical inventory, book inventory, student fee requisitions, grades, lab cleaning, etc. Heck, I often have whole days with no students in which to get stuff done thanks to exams. But again, I usually scramble (and sometimes don’t get done in time).

This year, however, I dunno what happened, but I’m checked out already! And checkout day is Friday. Woohoo! I got the requisitions done and my grades (always a hassle for me) and inventories and checked out shortly after lunch. Woohoo! So then I spent the remainder of the day working on my gray cabinets (where small samples of oft used chemicals are stored for student use). I have to relabel them and refill all the bottles and get some chemicals added and others removed. I got 2 of the cabinets relabeled today, but have the other two to finish. And when I finish there, I have some physics shelves that I want to reorganize. And of course, I have computer things awaiting.

So I’m excited – only a day and a half to go and I’m now doing the extra stuff I always wished I could get to. I finished listening to Arrangements for War (a 6th Doctor/Eveline Big Fish story) and Big George today. So tomorrow I can bring in some other audio adventures.

In other news – I’m bringing vanilla ice cream to the carry-in on Friday (and No Pudge brownies) and made the custard tonight. Mmmmm – damn fine! I used a real vanilla bean, too. Also, judiang‘s going to be visiting again this weekend! Woohoo! I pick her up after I finish at the carry-in and we’ll go see Harry Potter. And we’ve just decided to go to the Troy Strawberry Festival this weekend. YAY! And Aunt Becky, Granny, and the folks will be coming up to the Lake on Saturday so we can play cards. YAY!

You know, I should go to bed….

If you read about my quest to purchase Big George as read by Sylvester McCoy, you may be happy to know that it finally arrived! It turns out that the phone call that I got from the University of Michigan Law Library was indeed about this audio tape. Hooray!

There was a message in the box from one of the Law Library workers which read:

It is my sincere hope that you FINALLY receive this audiotape! I can’t explain the misdelivery, but I can do my part to see that it gets to you.

Thanks, Elizabeth! I need to write her a thank you note. 🙂

Now, to get the 6-volume audio tape set to Mrs A Harmon. There’s a part of me that says “send it to her, as Elizabeth from the Law Library did for you.” But there’s the cheap bastard part of me that says “Chivers and their incompetent distributor, WorldNet Shipping, f*cked it up, let *them* pay for it!” I might let you know which side of me eventually wins through. I might not, too… 😉

And, in the completely bizarre question category, as I was walking home from the gas station where I just bought a (very expensive) gallon of skim milk, a young man of my acquaintance asked me if I knew what “binomial nomenclature” was. I did, and defined it for him. And he was satisfied with that and continued on. OK…