Evolution Revolution

It took me about a week after I began writing this blog before I told anyone. And then it was only Shirley (with an endless stream of corrections). I shared it with the kids a few days later. The kids were probably a mistake. Eric's response was that it sounded interesting and maybe he would check it out someday (I suspect by the year 2050). Jill likes to point out how I mischaracterize her. Michael wants to know if he gets paid for reading it. Michael read "Star Struck" and wants to know if Dan Rather and Colin Powell have blogs. He thought they would be more interesting. When does the parental abuse end?

Shirley then expanded the universe to some of her friends. She said they liked the personal stuff, not so much the political or Walden stuff. So I focused on the personal only to be greeted when I get home at nights with "I can't believe you wrote about ....". She says I embellish. Hellooo. It's called writing and as long as there is not talking animals it qualifies as factual opinion. ... and dogs are not considered animals for the purposes of this blog. For example, Michael and I were talking last night and he asked the question “Doesn’t Mom remind you of Judge Judy? Think about it.” (btw Michael doesn’t get cable TV so he is locked in to what the networks offer which apparently is a lot of the judge.) He continues, “they look, sound (except for some dialect differences) and act alike. Make a list of what they have and don’t have in common and I bet the have’s win.” We went through the exercise and the biggest difference we found was that in Judge Judy’s court there is a 50-50 chance of winning. Doesn’t this qualify as good factual opinion? It certainly comes closer than historical movies. Oops, she’s coming, I got to go.

Star Struck

I've attended a couple of conferences this year with famous keynote speakers, Colin Powell and Dan Rather to be specific. Neither had anything insightful to say but the crowds loved them. Powell focused on how he took orders from his wife. Yawn, I can go home and experience that. I like to ask people how they are enjoying the conference and am amazed how many respond, "oh that Colin Powell (or Dan Rather) was really special." Even from people I knew disagreed with their politics on everything. What are they thinking? Where is the justice? I spoke at the same conference as Rather. I made a bunch of insightful points ... and the audience rated Rather above me. Go figure. I need smarter audiences. ... or maybe I'll work on some impressions. Audiences always love good impressions.

Multitasking - Fact or Myth

Shirley and Jill for years have been preaching to me that females (them) can multitask and males (me) cannot. I would estimate that this is reinforced at least once a week with questionable observations usually involving my listening capabilities. You are probably wondering where I’m going with this … well yesterday, Shirley was using self check-out at the grocery store when I called. She ran into a problem. She scanned her loyalty card into the machine and it didn’t like it. She rescanned it and this time it really didn’t like it. She summoned the clerk over to show her the problem only to get this rude response, “that is a Kroger card, this is Albertson’s and we don’t require a loyalty card to get our discounts.” Shirley then complimented the clerk on her store not having a stupid loyalty card. She is obviously getting soft. I remember the day when she would have insisted on speaking with the manger and demanding that they match the Kroger discounts at a minimum. I wonder what card she uses at Super Wal-Mart. Does she use a card at Kroger? The only thing I know is that from now on, self check-out is dead to her.

That said, she now claims it was entirely my fault for calling at an inappropriate time. What happened to this multitasking skill? Did I mention she didn’t even answer the phone? So she wasn’t trying to do two thought requiring tasks like talk and self check-out but merely checking-out with the background noise of her phone ringing. Is this multitasking talent just a myth? I’ll be looking for chinks in Jill’s armor.

Lunch with Hayden

... and Jill came along as well. Isn't it funny that at such a young age that the most expensive toy is not the child's favorite. Hayden's favorites are the free give aways from the doctor's office. ... but then they get older. For example, Jill's favorite is any high end jewelry from Bailey, Banks and Biddle. With Shirley, it is the masterpieces from the art fairs. For me, it's a deal, any deal even if I don't need or want the object. Actually, Shirley scored some great lizards the last visit to the McKinney flea market. My kind of place.

Hayden was as wonderful as usual, especially now that Jill is really feeding her verses pretend feeding her. Jill claims that she didn't know that bottle nipples came in different sizes. It took little Hayden an hour to suck, and I mean suck, 6 ounces of milk from a bottle. Now she does 10 in 10 minutes and has a much better disposition. Her smile does attract a crowd wherever we go.

Another Ice Day

Twenty four degrees and everything is covered with ice. I love the fact that Jack Henry & Associates has the technology and willingness to let me work from home on such days. I'm as productive at home and I hate driving on ice. My only problem is that I use a lot of cell phone minutes ... I don't want to go to that next level.

It's morning walk time for the dogs. They seem to love it and don't notice that it is freezing cold. The grass crunches when you walk on it ... but better walking than on the ice rink that used to be a driveway. We go the usual distance with a lap around the barn. The dogs are excited about heading back because they can sense breakfast. No wind, sun coming up, feels good, it's actually pretty nice out.

Climate Change Largely Irreversible

A NOAA senior scientist said changes in surface temperature, rainfall and sea level are largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after carbon dioxide emissions are completely stopped. If carbon dioxide is allowed to peak between 450 and 600 parts per million (385 today), conditions in some parts of the world could compare with the 1930s "North American Dustbowl." Areas that could experience these conditions include southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern North America, southern Africa and western Australia.

A 1000 years?? Ouch for the grand kids. Science had made greater advances in the last 10 years than all of history before. ... and discovery continues to accelerate. There is such promise, especially in health care and alternative energy. Hopefully all this progress will develop a solution to CO2 before it wins.

I knew it was my mother's fault

While doing my morning read of Google news, I ran across "Just how popular and social someone may be is likely rooted in that person's genes, according to researchers from the University of California San Diego and Harvard Medical School." Clearly it was the fault of my genes, aka mother, that all those girls in high school and college would not go out with me. Finally those sleepless nights wondering why can now stop. Phew. Eric and Jill, I haven't heard a big THANK YOU.