
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-30-almost-standing-almost-walking/4748977841_d2cbff9e11_o_d.png" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Almost standing">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-30-almost-standing-almost-walking/4748977841_4bc2ac8f93_t.jpg" alt="Almost standing"/>
</a>

Nora is standing nervously on the branch of Babyhood, contemplating taking the plunge into Toddlerdom. No longer content to sit and play with an object, she must be upright and moving at all times. Unfortunately, her sense of balance is more or less equivalent to that of a World Cup striker in the penalty area.

At the moment, she requires, and demands, a helping hand to hold her as she walks, but every day she is using that hand for balance less and less. Even worse than this stage when she can pull herself up, but doesn't yet know how to fall (she arches her back so her cranium hits the floor first) is the stage we are entering in which she needs to teeter along solo, but you have to have your arms there to catch her if she falls. We are not yet ready to let her start falling all over the place yet, since she does it so badly. When she will _really_ be a danger is when she figures out how to stand up without pulling herself up on anything, which will be happening any day now, as you can see from the first part of the video. That's when the real noggin-battering will begin.

### New Feature!!

Since Nora's grandfather's voice is so prominent in this video, I have taken the opportunity to figure out how to add subtitles to a video and upload those to YouTube. Click on the "CC" button on the video player menu (bottom right) to read what he is saying.

May this be the last video of her staggering drunkenly towards the camera carrying her underpants that ever reaches the internet.


Almost standing, Almost walking


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742037944_9815c89560_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742037944_18e0b07c60_t.jpg" alt="Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

As soon as I learned that my friend and grocery store manager, Andrés, cultivates mushrooms, I knew immediately that we had to do a timelapse photography project with his next batch. The particular species he cultivates is _Pleurotus ostreatus_, the [oyster mushroom](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_mushroom). He buys preprepared bails of hay wrapped in plastic, to which nutrients, mushroom spores, and water have been added. Holes have been cut in the plastic on the top and sides of the bail. Before you can see any mushroom growth, the whole bail gets warm to the touch, as the nutrient consumption begins inside. When the little fungal sprigs started appearing in the holes, Andrés came to me, with a big grin on his face, and said, "Today's the day!" So I returned that afternoon and set up the tripod, flash, and intervalometer pointing at the bails of hay in his grocery store's warehouse right down the street from where I live. And then we waited...  Unfortunately, I don't have any way to plug my camera or flash into a wall outlet, so I had to go twice a day with my laptop and a spare charged camera battery to download all the photos from the memory card and replace the camera's battery, a process which required removing the camera from the tripod. Even though I was careful not to move the tripod, every time I changed the battery, either the tripod moved or the level of zoom changed slightly. Thus I was unable to get one long take of the mushrooms growing. I will have to investigate alternate power sources, and perhaps pull the photos out using the USB cable instead of removing the memory card.

The entire process took about 72 hours. After the first batch of mushrooms have been harvested, more will continue grow. Each bail of hay providing four or five harvests. And even then it's better if you spread the hay in a dank dark corner of your garden, because they will keep growing and growing and growing.

## Fresh Oyster Mushroom Recipe

Because these mushrooms were freshly harvested from a clean environment when I cooked them, they didn't need to be washed at all. In fact, Andrés specifically told me _not_ to wash them because they will absorb the water and then release it into the frying pan later, losing taste as they do. This species of mushroom is fairly common in supermarkets around Spain – they call them _setas_, which is is a term that encompasses most types of edible mushrooms – but the time between being harvested and the time spent in a refrigerator means they lose a lot of flavor. These were fresh and very flavorful.

1. Cut the mushrooms at their base with a pair of scissors
2. Optionally wipe them off a little bit with a napkin. Do _not_ wash them!
3. Do not cut off their stems. Since they are fresh, the stems are tender and edible.
4. Sprinkle on a little bit of salt
5. Sauté them in a little extra virgin olive oil.
6. Serve.

Some people add a little garlic, but these fresh mushrooms are so flavorful that extra spices are not really necessary. _Taste the fungus!!_

## Timelapse Video

Worth [viewing in HD](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udPh7fM0s58&fmt=22).

## Photos

Now on to the photos. More are available in [the photoset here](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/sets/72157624375190784/).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741378055_e138f25965_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741378055_188d1775c2.jpg" alt="Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742037944_9815c89560_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742037944_18e0b07c60.jpg" alt="Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741417171_7806c0666f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741417171_a15355605a_b.jpg" alt="Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741420929_2ce4690b59_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Andrés with his babies">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741420929_bbf85d5c97.jpg" alt="Andrés with his babies"/>
</a>

Andrés looking like a proud father.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742060642_bd710a2b3c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Oyster Mushrooms ready for sauteeing">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742060642_c0f9f38dbd_b.jpg" alt="Oyster Mushrooms ready for sauteeing"/>
</a>

Warming up the frying pan.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741429365_dba79d32bc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sauteeing Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741429365_7b11fab050.jpg" alt="Sauteeing Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

Sautéing oyster mushrooms.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741433531_d4805d260c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sauteed Oyster Mushrooms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4741433531_a7ffa48e1c.jpg" alt="Sauteed Oyster Mushrooms"/>
</a>

On the plate.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742071182_04597734ca_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ready to eat a mushroom dinner">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-28-oyster-mushrooms/4742071182_d2a4505855_b.jpg" alt="Ready to eat a mushroom dinner"/>
</a>

A hungry timelapser ready to enjoy the fruits fungi of his labor.


Oyster Mushrooms


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729685739_a28d0b0d29_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729685739_754ccf92f0_t.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

Today is San Juan, a pagan-made-christian solstice holiday involving [bonfires](/2006/06/26/small-town-festival/) and general merriment. Since Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Colindres, it's a holiday for the town, including Marga's work and Nora's daycare. The weather today is absolutely superb, 24Â°C with a cool breeze, so we decided to head to the beach and watch Nora play for the first time ([almost](/2010/05/24/nora-at-the-beach/)) in the sand. And there's no sand better than that of the beach in Laredo.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730327696_9a74c4ef70_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730327696_c24e0a568f_b.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

On arrival she still had her beach shirt on.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730332302_ddfed4c7f9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730332302_8b55c64dab_b.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

Her mother explains how shovels and buckets work.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729688393_271036c62c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729688393_1b90dbdf77_b.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

Sand on her face, eyelids, hair and torso. She was in total rapture picking up sand and letting it fall through her fingers. She must have done that motion a couple hundred times.

And we had to constantly tell her to stop eating the sand. In her defense, however, the shovel does look a lot like a spoon.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729690311_41d3dcb20a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729690311_b3e9745fbc_b.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

The iPhone's camera gives the photos an old faded print look.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729691851_832e5881a9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Child">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729691851_df7929ff13_b.jpg" alt="Sand Child"/>
</a>

Her _Hello Kitty_ beach toys in the foreground courtesy of her Spanish grandmother.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730338386_aa8db75548_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Walking with Mommy">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730338386_9357c3ec48.jpg" alt="Walking with Mommy"/>
</a>

She spent over an hour absolutely refusing to stand up because she was so enamored by the sandy surface and didn't want to be that far away from it. But eventually she did walk around with her mother.

There was a group of three five-year-old girls playing nearby, one of which was also named Nora. This confused the heck out of our Nora as she kept going over to them. Once she decided that it was her mission to remove every toy from _their_ toy bag, much to the annoyance of the five-year-old owner of said bag.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729694997_a85eaf7779_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sand Castle">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729694997_5c1ea64404.jpg" alt="Sand Castle"/>
</a>

I had totally forgotten just how much fun playing in the sand can be. I had lots of fun digging holes, burying various parts of my body, and building "castles" and walls. What you see above is a castle I built..._over an underground tunnel!!!_ \[Please hold your applause until the end of the post.\]

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730341126_014d76bf61_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Towering Sand Castle">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730341126_cd6a35d03e_b.jpg" alt="Towering Sand Castle"/>
</a>

My castle towers into the clear blue sky.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729696967_74b2176707_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Secret Tunnel">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729696967_4ecb4bd8ba.jpg" alt="Secret Tunnel"/>
</a>

The secret tunnel under the castle.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730342896_6ba2f176d2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Secret Tunnel">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4730342896_6bd525480d.jpg" alt="Secret Tunnel"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729704527_00cbd23394_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="NORA">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729704527_660ecbb52d.jpg" alt="NORA"/>
</a>

Later I built some walls spelling Nora's name.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729700455_c0ccdda147_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Big white belly">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-shes-a-sand-eater/4729700455_a24494fd4b_b.jpg" alt="Big white belly"/>
</a>

With that enormous belly and very little hips, her bikini bottoms kept sliding down.

After about two hours at the beach, we were pretty worn out, so we headed home for baths and showers all around and to continue the rest of our Saint John's Thursday.


She's a sand eater


<img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-24-why-i-love-the-world-cup/4690611640_3621c81686_t.jpg" alt="World Cup 2010 South Africa" class="post-thumb"/>I enjoy watching soccer. Aside from the occasional beautifully executed maneuver, however, soccer, like all sports, is boring as hell if you don't care who wins. My biggest problem with soccer is mustering enough energy to care who wins. I did a better job this past year following the Spanish _Liga_, choosing allegiance with the local team, Racing Santander, even reading the sports newspaper, _Marca_, in a bar at least once a week. But the effort required to keep up with player trades, injuries, and rumors is more than a little exhausting...all in an attempt to generate some emotional attachment to teams or players.  When it comes to the World Cup, however, it's not football clubs, it's _entire countries_ competing! Having been an expatriate for a decade now, I have plenty of emotions about countries. I've met someone from most of the counties competing in the World Cup, and some of them are still friends I'm in contact with. That emotional connection makes the World Cup matches _much_ more important to me than the average _Liga_ game.

As I write this, all four countries I've called home, USA, Denmark, England, and Spain are still in it. Hand me my vuvuzela and let's watch some soccer!!


Why I love the World Cup


Nora left on Thursday afternoon to spend the weekend with her grandparents. She's still a little too young to appreciate Father's Day, and she [already celebrated](/2010/03/23/fathers-day-gift/) Spanish Father's Day with me this year, so her absence on Sunday [didn't hurt too much](/2010/06/20/first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/). She's coming home this evening to watch the Spain - Honduras World Cup match with her old man.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-21-shoeless/4720427611_62482ca7a8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora Shoeless Frame Break">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-21-shoeless/4720427611_d8cefdde68.jpg" alt="Nora Shoeless Frame Break"/>
</a>

  My favorite thing about the photoshop work I did in this picture is that you totally can't tell that there was a shoe on the floor beside her in the original photo. Recently she's had a habit of removing her shoes and socks and then trying to put them back on, only to discover just how much easier it is to add entropy to a system than order.


Shoeless


[![Oktoberfest Backdrop (crop)](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718775514_aba5f27fb8_t.jpg "Oktoberfest Backdrop (crop)")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/4718775514 "View 'Oktoberfest Backdrop (crop)' on Flickr.com")For a week now I've been seeing signs around town advertising the "_I Festival de Cerveza de Colindres_", but none of the signs said exactly what or where it was, just the dates, June 17 - 20 and the bars that were sponsoring the event. I sort of assumed that it was going to be some discount on beers in those bars or something, but yesterday we ran into a friend that informed us that it was a big festival with bands in a tent near the town hall. Unfortunately, it has been cold and rainy all week, but today, on the last day of the festival, we went to check it out. This is what we found...  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718676356_56afe11e96_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Beer Festival Tent">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718676356_3f9834613b.jpg" alt="Beer Festival Tent"/>
</a>

The beer tent as we approached. Marga immediately noticed the cool illusion they had created by putting Oktoberfest panoramas on the wall.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718035669_d429e9652f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Oktoberfest Backdrop">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718035669_cf871e7d17.jpg" alt="Oktoberfest Backdrop"/>
</a>

Looks like I'm actually at Oktoberfest, doesn't it?

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718042905_5c4fbbdefd_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Frauline Marga">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718042905_e71cc9f952.jpg" alt="Frauline Marga"/>
</a>

My dear Frauline.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718731854_fdab010649_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Colindres Beer Festival Panorama">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718731854_f2e72f3db1.jpg" alt="Colindres Beer Festival Panorama"/>
</a>

The blue sky and clouds was a nice touch. I imagine that on Saturday night the tent might have been full. In one corner they were grilling hamburgers and sausages.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718049821_5a85991ea7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paulaner">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-20-first-annual-colindres-beer-festival/4718049821_257bfa9a66.jpg" alt="Paulaner"/>
</a>

Marga's Paulaner.

With the exception of the severe lack of information on the advertising posters, I was quite pleased with the festival and look forward to participating more next year. One of the things I love about Colindres is just how well festivals and town parties are organized and run. Hooray, Colindres!

Next week we have [San Juan](/2006/06/26/small-town-festival/) [festivities](/2007/06/17/cocido-in-the-park/)!


First Annual Colindres Beer Festival


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714249365_3285a4da5b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="El Soplao">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714249365_e157c21186_t.jpg" alt="El Soplao"/>
</a>

Today, my wife and I we took full advantage of our childless weekend to do a little local tourism. One of the "must see" attractions of Cantabria, the northern region of Spain where we live, is the [_Cueva El Soplao_](http://www.elsoplao.es/ENG/default.htm), an ancient cave discovered by miners in the late nineteenth century and only opened to the public in 2005, containing some of the finest known specimens of stalactites and stalagmites in the world.

The stalactites form at a rate of about one centimeter every 150 years. Some of them are two or three meters long. That's 45,000 years old. It's rather mind boggling to look at a stalagmite standing as tall as I am and think that, in the time that it takes to have all the happiness, sadness, pain, pleasure, and joy of one entire human life, this structure gains a couple millimeters. And then, once you've contemplated the single tree, you take a step back and see the whole forest of thousands upon thousands of stalactites and stalagmites... You can't help but have a transcendent moment and appreciate the transience of your own [existence](/2007/09/07/existence/).[![el soplao](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4138547249_b7bbdc7e06.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/luisgonfer/4138547249/)

[![el soplao](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4139309278_8d1c671445_o.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/luisgonfer/4139309278/)

Some of them take on a curtain-like look to them, causing some of the stalagmites to look like sheet-wearing ghosts.

### Formation

Because of the geological timescales involved, stalactite growth is a little hard to study scientifically. However the basic process by which stalactites and stalagmites grow is fairly well understood and makes complete sense:

1. Water flows through the rock from the surface picking up calcium carbonate.
2. Water drips from the cave ceiling, evaporating a little as it drips, depositing a minuscule amount of calcium carbonate on the ceiling.
3. The drop hits the floor and deposits another minuscule amount of calcium carbonate there.
4. Repeat until the stalactite and stalagmite meet.

Easy, obvious and boring.

But wait! This is where things get wacky...some of them, called [helictites](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helictite), grow sideways! Some of them grow up from where there is no stalactite coming down. Some of them grow in spiky balls with radial symmetry and others like winding tree roots or vines. **And no one knows why.**

![el soplao](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/CUEVA_EL_SOPLAO-72.jpg)

The best theories of helictite formation involve some combination of wind and capillary forces. Others, which seek to explain the radial symmetry, involve crystalline structures and magnetism. It's just difficult for a scientist to study something that will only grow five millimeters in her entire career.

One thing that constantly kept popping into my mind when I was looking at these helictites was just how _organic_ they looked. That was almost the most impressive thing about the whole cave experience. How could water and rock that would be like this even if life had never appeared on the planet look so much like tree roots or corral or sprigs of grass? Absolutely amazing.

I followed the rules and took no photos and touched nothing in the cave. All of the photos I've provided here were found on the internet. [Here](http://www.lasrozasdecabuerniga.com/index13.htm) are some other good ones. The desire to reach out and feel one of the white wet glistening limestone pillars is quite overwhelming. When I was in the cave, I commented to my wife that they should have one stalagmite where they just say, "Screw it, we're gonna let people touch this one." I would have even paid extra.

### Return to the Planet's Surface

After we rode the old miners train back up to the tourism office and gift shop, blinking furiously as our irises contracted, we were disappointed to see that a cloud bank had rolled in and the gorgeous views we'd missed in our rush to our pre-purchased 13:30 tour were no longer visible.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714882020_92b26ba6f5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="El Soplao panorama fail">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714882020_52c75f9cf6.jpg" alt="El Soplao panorama fail"/>
</a>

Despite only feeling like about 15 minutes, the cave tour took a full hour, so by the time we got into the car and were leaving, we were starving for some lunch. We stopped at the first little one-church-two-bars-ten-houses town we found and stumbled into glory. Well, actually the restaurant, which was in someone's basement, was called [_Casa Gloria_](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bar+gloria&sll=43.278455,-4.426117&sspn=0.129974,0.154324&ie=UTF8&hq=bar+gloria&hnear=&ll=43.281079,-4.426117&spn=0.129968,0.154324&z=13&iwloc=A&cid=16117629545241034844). It was one of these places like we experienced in [Rioja](/2010/04/19/april-rioja-trip-day-1-of-2/) that only made one thing, but they made it _really_ well. In this case it was _lechazo_, which means "lamb that was only ever fed milk". Actually they had _cabrito_, baby goat (kid?), too. The house wine was a 2001 Rioja _Crianza_, and the leg and ribs of the lamb we were served were _perfect_. It was one of the best meals we've had in a long time. Did I mention we were starving?

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714896618_79e91b81dc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="La Gloria">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714896618_db03e4e605.jpg" alt="La Gloria"/>
</a>

Unassuming house in the middle of nowhere with a killer one-dish restaurant in the basement.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714902960_23d8273476_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cabrito y Lechazo al Horno">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-19-cueva-el-soplao-soplao-cave/4714902960_782bf7fc92.jpg" alt="Cabrito y Lechazo al Horno"/>
</a>

Their menu board out on the highway, with some horses across the street. _Al horno_ means "in the oven", in this case, "roasted".

With tummies full and the geological insignificance of our lives understood, we headed home for a late hour-long Spanish siesta, during which the stalactites and stalagmites in the Soplao Cave grew 7.6 nanometers.


Cueva El Soplao - Soplao Cave


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708058437_6b59d3d0f9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Abuelo with Sparkler">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708058437_15a8823a32_t.jpg" alt="Abuelo with Sparkler"/>
</a>

On June 12, 2010, shortly before the United States faced off against England in their first World Cup match of the second decade of the third millennium, we had a party to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of [my third grandfather](/2010/06/12/quirky-old-grandpa/). It was a lovely meal with good friends and family followed by a balloon-popping event, some gifts, and cake. A good time was had by all, even if Nora did manage to receive more gifts than the birthday boy.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707430816_11306fcef8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="90">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707430816_0280bf9dea.jpg" alt="90"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707479958_e3822281ea_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707479958_25c197fa79.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Not ninety candles, but they were at least in the shape of the arabic numerals 9 and 0.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707484806_740ecb6fb9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Abuelo extinguishes candles">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4707484806_1bbdc7c98c_b.jpg" alt="Abuelo extinguishes candles"/>
</a>

For a nonagenarian, Abuelo has some good lungs.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4706891575_47215ec049_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4706891575_0f9e3fc37b.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

For some reason, Abuelo was made to get down on the floor for the balloon popping.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708043895_5d3a8f130e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708043895_966919f63b.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

All the popping wore him out.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708690916_a4ceba324f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708690916_59fa34fd2b.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

But luckily we had sparklers to resuscitate him.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708055623_10cb3b12d6_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708055623_d834513100.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Aunt Manoli with a sparkler. This is possibly my favorite photo of the day.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708704096_5242598152_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Abuelo's Plaque">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708704096_22bf63ca67_b.jpg" alt="Abuelo's Plaque"/>
</a>

He was presented with a plaque that reads:

> From your children, grandchildren, and granddaughters on your 90th birthday. 12-6-2010

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708725982_8f74f7948d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708725982_25a2a513b6.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Abuelo with his sons and daughters.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708093053_d287b4b8c1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708093053_de506d5fe7.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

All the party attendees (except Nora, who was napping). He's very well loved.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708739410_566e40ff56_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-17-abuelos-90th-birthday-bash/4708739410_c1e09941a3.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Oh well. Party's over...


Abuelo's 90th Birthday Bash


President Obama really likes [this recent video](/2010/06/04/use-your-words/) of Nora.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-14-entertaining-the-president/4700131490_5ec6066123_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Entertaining Obama">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-14-entertaining-the-president/4700131490_59f4bfaa73.jpg" alt="Entertaining Obama"/>
</a>

I'd be more than happy to send the smart-object-enabled Photoshop file for this to anyone who requests it.


Entertaining the President


[![thumb](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-13-making-decisions-about-car-seats/4293685189_bddb8acae0_t.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/sil3ntp8nd8/4293685189/)Sometimes it seems like parenting is one big series decisions about trading comfort for safety. My child is tall and lanky, so it has taken her forever to reach the magical 9 kg threshold in which the car seat manufacturers say she can face forward in the vehicle. In her rear-facing seat, she looks, and is, horribly uncomfortable. As her tall and lanky father who takes a couple transatlantic flights a year, I sympathize. My daughter, her mother, and I have all been looking forward to when we can flip her around to face forwards.  Doing some research on the subject of car seat safety lead me to [this page](http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/qt/rear_facing.htm), which claims (bold theirs):

> Extended rear-facing, beyond one year and \[9 kilograms\], has big safety advantages that parents should strongly consider. In fact, the [most recent study](http://babyproducts.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=babyproducts&cdn=parenting&tm=32&f=00&su=p978.1.168.ip_&tt=13&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/13/6/398.abstract) on this subject shows that toddlers are up to **five times safer if they remain rear-facing until age two**. Turning baby's car seat around isn't a milestone to rush on. It's actually a step down in safety, so don't be in a hurry to make the big switch.

I believe it. After a cursory look at the physics involved, it makes a lot of sense that, for frontal collisions, at least, facing backwards must be safer. But the same physics applies to all passengers, and at some point we decide that the comfort of facing forwards is worth the risk.

Four years ago, when I saw [one of my favorite TED talks](http://www.ted.com/talks/steven_levitt_on_child_carseats.html), I made a mental note to go back and re-watch it when contemplating just this issue. The talk is by economist Steven Levitt, examining the data involving in child automobile fatalities to see just how effective car seats are. His findings were astonishing: **Car seats do _nothing_ more than the adult seat belt to prevent death after age _two_.** You don't believe it, do you? It's a tough pill to swallow, and he even likens the psychology around car seats to a placebo, namely that it just _feels_ better to be doing, and paying for, something rather than nothing.

  

In the end, we have succumbed to the attractiveness of a single-investment car seat that is approved from 9 kg up to _twelve years old_. Even if I had never learned of Levitt's study, that upper limit would seem a little ridiculous to me. Do sixth graders really ride in car seats to middle school? We still have plenty of time to think about and decide when to stop car seat use, but I can't imagine my daughter still using the car seat much past the end of Obama's second term.

We are also going to start using the forward facing car seat immediately, despite her being a few grams shy of the nine kilogram threshold. It's a risk, yes, but I have to believe that there is some added safety provided by the increased driver concentration as a consequence of reduced backseat screaming. As I said, parenting is about weighing trade-offs between comfort and safety, and living with the constant fear that some decision you make may bring harm to your child, a fear so strong that entire industries are built on it.


Making Decisions About Car Seats


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/3551493178_c91dfa532b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Abuelo Toasts his Goddaughter">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/3551493178_c6240fa953_t.jpg" alt="Abuelo Toasts his Goddaughter"/>
</a>

I have three grandfathers. There are my parents' fathers, of course, but there's also my wife's maternal grandfather, who I love like my own. One of the most unforgettable moments of my wedding day was when he took me aside and said, "To you, from now on, my name is no longer Ramón. It's _Abuelo_." I get choked up just thinking about it.

During our [recent summer vacation](/2009/08/16/back-from-extremadura/) to his house in Extremadura, I came to understand – if you can call it that – two strange quirks that he has.

## Going to Cuba

The first is that, whenever he announces to people that he's going to bed, he says, "I'm going to Cuba." I interviewed all the other people in the house, and none of them knows why "Cuba" could possibly mean "bed". The only thing I can come up with is that geographically, the island is very flat from north to south, and long from east to west, which _maybe_ resembles a bed or cot?

Personally, I rather like that there is no reasonable explanation. I've decided to adopt this quirk and use "I'm going to Cuba" to mean "I'm going to bed" as often as I can. I love it. Plus, you can vary it a bit, e.g. "I've got a meeting with Castro in a half hour." Beautiful.

## There's going to be a bullfight this afternoon

I needed my sister-in-law to translate this one for me. This means, "There will be a thunderstorm this afternoon." Perhaps this euphemism/metaphor stems from the similarities between the words _toro_ and _tormenta_, meaning bull and storm in Spanish. Maybe it's because a bullfight and a thunderstorm are two things you don't want to be caught in the middle of without preparation. I don't know, but I like it.

I really, really hope I turn into a quirky, but lovable, old man. His quirks are a big part of what I adore about my third grandfather.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/189310533_b3754c0c9b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ramón and Erik">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/189310533_b3754c0c9b.jpg" alt="Ramón and Erik"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/3169656583_00d5f9ac44_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Grandpa and Erik">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/3169656583_c12d6c9c59.jpg" alt="Grandpa and Erik"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/2398377292_dd95287622_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Fond of Grandpa">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-12-quirky-old-grandpa/2398377292_d2f8bc0b00.jpg" alt="Fond of Grandpa"/>
</a>

I wrote this post sometime last year, and it's been in the drafts box for a while now. But today is his 90th birthday. ¡Feliz Cumpleaños, Abuelo!


Quirky Old Grandpa


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-baby-dj/4689043814_c2cd1d77cc_o_d.png" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Baby DJ">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-baby-dj/4689043814_4d9000d34d_t.jpg" alt="Baby DJ"/>
</a>

Almost a fortnight ago, Marga's cousin, Rubén, and his girlfriend, Patri, gave Nora a toy, in the shape of a butterfly, that plays up to 30 different songs. In other modes it will pronounce the letters, and some words that start with them, from the alphabet. But Nora's not quite at that stage yet, so we keep it in the "music" mode. She absolutely adores this toy. Without fail, as soon as it starts playing music, she starts dancing, which has been a tendency of hers [for some](/2010/04/15/dancing-baby/) [time now](/2010/06/08/every-move-you-make/). The music selection is also perfectly appropriate for Nora, with a mixture of American songs like _Oh my darling, Clemintine_ and _Tennessee Waltz_ and some Spanish [_pasodobles_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0Q8VkJ4AG8). The video below is pretty typical of her playing with this lovely toy.  Nora spins some wicked vinyl. Eat your heart out, Fat Boy Slim!


Baby DJ


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686482340_c83113442a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Colindres Lighthouse">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686482340_b96d20c0a5_t.jpg" alt="Colindres Lighthouse"/>
</a>

Last Friday during my morning walk with Nora around town, we went down to the fishing port. The port was as busy as I've ever seen it: people mending fishing nets, loading nets onto boats, and unloading fish by the metric ton. It was very interesting, but also something I didn't want to be in the middle of with a baby for too long. Below are some photos I took of the fishing port followed by some others I took on the rest of the walk.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685819259_793aba1347_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685819259_f5930abf46.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Sewing and repairing these nets strikes me as one of the most daunting jobs ever. You're working closely with something small in your hand, which is attached to this _huge_ pile of the rest of the net.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686458066_a0cc17fbf2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686458066_d9bec79475.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Loading the nets onto the boats in a way that they can then be unloaded properly into the sea is done with these cranes.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685830469_947b1810e0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685830469_f02ea605e4.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

There were hundreds of crates this size full to the brim with fish.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685835873_610fb0a98b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685835873_8cff968e20.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

They suck the fish out of the boats with this enormous vacuum pipe which then dumps them onto this rack where they fall into the crates. When one crate is full, it's pulled away and the vacuum is turned back on. The come out of there really fast, so it doesn't take long to fill a crate.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685843023_3d5fbe7827_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685843023_d8ee70627a.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

While net sewing is typically the job of women, often the fishermen's wives, men do sometimes help.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686482340_c83113442a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686482340_b96d20c0a5.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

A view of the lighthouse as I was leaving the port area.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686489496_98027c15df_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686489496_2f8c7afa3c.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

They just cut the grass in the park, and it looked lovely.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686494896_ae397ce242_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686494896_4a82c32cf6.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Grass-eye view.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686502738_75797d1d0a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686502738_90b36becee.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

I often walk by this horse and chuckle at the "crop circle" he's made.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686507640_a7d6fc4f9a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686507640_bd22b3dd0a.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

The grass is greener over here.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686515684_d872f3851c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4686515684_a120096a83.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

Another horse trotting around his crop circle.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685889161_a03c389fc0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685889161_eaf04127e7.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

_Seriously??_ A Mini station wagon???

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685899705_5d168cc2c2_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685899705_e26c0e0763.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

These pine trees are neat. They remind me of plastic Christmas trees.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685903379_7d57359e8d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Pine Top">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685903379_d841227c64_b.jpg" alt="Pine Top"/>
</a>

Tree top.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685907023_e7379c62bd_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685907023_fc24a839fb.jpg" alt=""/>
</a>

This is the dumbest paint job ever. I imagine that the top floor of the house has a different owner than the bottom two, and that they couldn't come to an agreement about whether or not to paint the facade, so the bottom owner said, "Well screw it. I'm going to choose the ugliest color I can find and paint my two floors!" The result is rather atrocious.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685912479_fedb3eefa1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tree Shadows">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-10-walking-in-a-fishing-village/4685912479_bd51fe94c8_b.jpg" alt="Tree Shadows"/>
</a>

Tree shadows.

I hope you enjoyed our little walk. Who knows what interesting sights we might see next time!


Walking in a Fishing Village


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-09-banking-security/162257320_21c8abaf69_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Fourteen Thousand Euros">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-09-banking-security/162257320_21c8abaf69_t.jpg" alt="Fourteen Thousand Euros"/>
</a>

Today I went to my bank to pay my Spanish taxes, which, after [avoiding double taxation](/2008/06/26/avoiding-double-taxation-between-spain-and-usa/), came to a whopping 4.87€. I had done the taxes on my computer with the [downloadable java app](http://www.aeat.es/wps/portal/ProgramaAyuda?channel=57ce4b8238767210VgnVCM1000004ef01e0a____&ver=L&site=56d8237c0bc1ff00VgnVCM100000d7005a80____&idioma=es_ES&menu=0&img=0) and had generated a PDF for myself and one for my wife. However, when I printed them, they came out strangely formatted. I couldn't understand why, so I loaded the PDFs onto a USB pen drive and took them to the bank along with the poorly printed versions. They said that my printed versions weren't good enough and agreed to print the ones I had on my pen drive. So I watched as my local banker inserted the pen drive I gave him into his Windows machine and opened and printed the PDFs.  This strikes me as a _huge_ security faux pas. He has seen me come into the bank over the past five years, granted, but still. He took a pen drive from a customer and double clicked on an icon on it that had an Adobe Acrobat icon. If I was a little smarter and a little more evil, I could now have access to his entire workstation, on the internal banking network.

My intentions were completely honest, and the guy helped me out...but talk about the future of bank robberies! Who needs a gun and a getaway driver when you can use a pen drive and show a little cleavage? My shirt was fully buttoned, but were one to take this to the professional level, I have little doubt that plan would be more successful with the role of in-bank operative played by an attractive woman.

From my experience with American banks, I can't really imagine them opening files on a diskette solid state storage device that a customer brought in, but it might be possible.

Has anyone seen any crime novels, movies, or television episodes with this _modus operandi_?


Banking Security


[![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-09-glenn-beck-and-i/516feiQV0qL._SL160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439184305?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439184305)Oh my! It seems that Glenn Beck has written [a novel](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1439184305?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1439184305) with the same title as [one of my blog posts](/2007/02/27/overton-window/). While I continue to support the notion that it is important to examine the limits of what is not socially acceptable to discuss in political discourse, I also firmly disavow any notion that the utter nonsense spewing from Beck's mouth has anything to do with [such a window](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window). Talking provably incorrect bullshit is not "pushing the limits". Behold the nonsensical "dog returns to his vomit" (there may never be a more apt sentence written about this novel!) "burnt fool's bandaged finger \[going\] wabbling back to the fire" teaser. It's too bad [you can't burn eBooks](http://xkcd.com/750/)...

Hopefully obviously I was joking about burning books. Even this guy's opinion deserves to be heard, before promptly being checked for accuracy and discarded.


Glenn Beck and I...


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-every-move-you-make/4683434734_e2ff0f2c99_o_d.png" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Posing">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-every-move-you-make/4683434734_2d3a845a2b_t.jpg" alt="Posing"/>
</a>

Nora continues with her tendency to dance whenever she hears music. Last week when I put her in her crib while I looked through her wardrobe for some clothes for the day, I had [her iPad](/2010/05/17/ipad-for-a-13-month-old/) playing some music. She was groovin', so I ran to get the video camera. Check out her pantomime of a "midnight train going anywhere".  YouTube has blocked this video in Germany (sorry, Germans!) because they're the only ones that figured out that it might contain copyrighted music.


Every Move You Make


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681074749_3b451e8414_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Bad Girl Image">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681074749_7f1b1b018e_t.jpg" alt="Bad Girl Image"/>
</a>

Recently at the playground and around town Nora has been "finding" toys that their owners have temporarily abandoned and has enjoyed playing with them a lot. Once she heisted a toy baby stroller and managed to walk a good ten paces with only the stroller as her support...before crashing it into a fence. On our walk on Sunday she borrowed, with the owner's "I really should let you use my motorcycle that is way too small for me now, but I _really_ don't want you to" reluctant permission. She did quite well on it, despite the fact that she had to lean dangerously to one side to touch the ground.

I suspect that no matter how many toys you have, the ones that don't belong to you – and therefore you cannot become habituated to – will always sing their special siren song. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681074749_3b451e8414_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bad Girl Image">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681074749_7f1b1b018e.jpg" alt="Bad Girl Image"/>
</a>

Working on her bad girl image...as a motorcycle thief.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681707672_2ff751e54b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bad Girl Image">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-08-grand-theft-moto/4681707672_b8c43ac61d_b.jpg" alt="Bad Girl Image"/>
</a>


Grand Theft Moto


Recently I've been enjoying the genre of popular psychology books. I realized that what I most enjoyed about my college psychology courses were reading about the experiments and studies, especially the ones with seemingly counter-intuitive irrational results. So far in this genre I've consumed [Predictably Irrational](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248), [How We Decide](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547247990?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0547247990), [Outliers](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316017922?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0316017922) and [Stumbling on Happiness](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400077427?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400077427), which no one took [my hint](/2008/12/18/dan-gilbert-makes-me-happy/) to buy me. One of them, funnily, doesn't fit that neatly into the genre.

[![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-07-publishing/512I1oTZY%2BL._SL160_.jpg)](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061353248?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061353248)![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-07-publishing/41ta0%2B18nYL._SL160_.jpg)![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-07-publishing/41683QNEDwL._SL160_.jpg)![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-07-publishing/416ie48vq-L._SL160_.jpg)![](http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=eriksblog07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1400077427)  I first learned about these authors through their TED Talks. Dan Ariely has [done](http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_asks_are_we_in_control_of_our_own_decisions.html) [two](http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_on_our_buggy_moral_code.html), Malcolm Gladwell has done [one](http://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_on_spaghetti_sauce.html), Dan Gilbert has [done](http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html) [two](http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_researches_happiness.html), and Jonah Lehrer is constantly appearing as the neuroscience expert on my favorite science podcasts, [Are We Alone?](http://radio.seti.org/) and [Radio Lab](http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/). Dan Ariely has [a blog](http://danariely.com/) on which he often posts interesting ideas and YouTube videos of himself explaining his research. And Jonah Lehrer's blog, [The Frontal Cortex](http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/), is one of my favorites to read every day. Lehrer writes about how irrational decision making effects current events like the [banking crisis](http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2009/12/bubbles_2.php), the [volcanic ash cloud](http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/05/anchoring.php), and, most recently, the [BP oil spill](http://scienceblogs.com/cortex/2010/06/high_stakes_innovation.php).

I guess what I'm wanting to describe is a new sort of connectedness between author and reader. It feels more like a teacher-student relationship. Authors can get more feedback quicker, directly from readers, not just from literary critics.

Last week Dan Ariely [tweeted](http://twitter.com/danariely/status/15144181589) that his new book, [The Upside of Irrationality](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061995037?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0061995037) was released. So I pulled out the iPad, went to the iBookstore, and sure enough, there it was as a new release, I chose to download the free sample, and _within five minutes_ of his tweet, I was reading the first chapter on my handheld device.

Another publishing trend I've been following with interest, on both [Twitter](http://twitter.com/wilw) and [his blog](http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/), is how Wil Wheaton is self-publishing his books using [Print On Demand](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand) (POD). Rather than a publishing company deciding how many copies to print, the author signs up with a printing company and they print and ship individual copies as orders come in. In the same way that a recording artist, like [Zoí« Keating](/2009/12/03/zoe-keating-is-awesome/), no longer necessarily needs a record company to get her music out to fans, writers will now be decreasingly dependent on big publishing houses. Not to mention that once eBook readers become more widespread, a book might never need to take the form of ink on paper to get from the author's mind to the readers'...much like this blog entry.


Publishing


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669122960_fc42f0382b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Bubble Photography">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669122960_6d77c96dd7_t.jpg" alt="Bubble Photography"/>
</a>

Recently I've been having a surprising amount of fun playing with some bubble solution that Nora was given by a local shopkeeper. Besides [the obvious](/2010/05/17/ipad-for-a-13-month-old/), the bubbles are my favorite of Nora's toys. It took her a while to break out of her awe at looking at them enough to intentionally pop them, and she still hasn't understood the process of blowing through the hoop to create them. But that's fine; I'm content blowing them for her.

I have more ideas about photography of bubbles than I have time to implement them, but last night I finally got around to my first attempt. For some reason my off-camera flash wireless connection wasn't working, so I decided to turn off the room lights, set a long exposure, and manually fire the flash. Of about twenty shots, these are the best three. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669122960_fc42f0382b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bubble Photography">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669122960_6d77c96dd7.jpg" alt="Bubble Photography"/>
</a>

Although it's nearly impossible to tell, the hoop was lying down on the table on this one.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669126490_66851a5481_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bubble Photography">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4669126490_98104e9113.jpg" alt="Bubble Photography"/>
</a>

Sagging...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4668506155_9794e7e5ea_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bubble Photography">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-bubble-photography/4668506155_0f13a1a48f.jpg" alt="Bubble Photography"/>
</a>

Here you can see the reflection of the camera sitting on my splayed gorillapod and the flash also sitting on the table.

There are many, many more interesting things to be done here. These were made in about five minutes on the spur of the moment.


Bubble Photography


![thumb](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-04-use-your-words/2.jpg)Nora has understood the "first I talk, then you talk, then I talk again" format of human conversation for several months now. But it wasn't until just recently that she's begun forming clear sentences with what are clearly words. Unfortunately none of the words she speaks are in either of the two languages I understand. As you might imagine, it can be very frustrating for both sides of the conversation. It is clear, however, that she is trying to express some concept through speech. And, because the words seem so much like words, only in a foreign language, sometimes I get asked on the street by people that know my origins if she's speaking English. Perhaps the set of sounds she's making is what spoken English sounds like to a non-English-speaker?  We spend a lot of time playing the speaking game just like we are in the video you are about to see. One of the most fun parts of the game for me is my introspection as my brain does its very, very darnedest to make some sense out of the words it's hearing. Be aware of the work your brain is doing as you watch the video. I'm afraid that anything you hear is likely just [pareidolia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia), and she's not really commenting on Kirstie Alley.

The pajama she's wearing is from Marga's cousins, the youngest of whom is about to turn 19 years old.


Use Your Words


[![Kindle vs.iPad](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-03-kindle-on-the-ipad/5154254605_d875221d5e_t.jpg)](http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodomut/5154254605/ "Kindle vs.iPad by kodomut, on Flickr")I bought my first Kindle book. I bought it on my computer, and when I started up [the Kindle app](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle/id302584613?mt=8) on the iPad, it magically appeared. While the UI of the Kindle app is not as nice as iBooks, it's not at all bad. I hear [the Barnes & Noble one is horrible](http://www.tuaw.com/2010/05/27/barnes-and-noble-releases-ereader-app-for-ipad/). From what I can tell, because the Kindle books are created principally for use with their monochrome device, none of the images aside from the book covers have any color. For most books, this isn't really a drawback, but it could be for some. There are two major pros to the Kindle app that has me convinced that I will not exclusively be reading iBooks:

1. The sheer number of books available for Kindle that aren't (yet) available in the iBookstore.
2. Kindle has apps for desktop computers ([Mac](http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/mac), [PC](http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc)) that lets you read the books you bought **and keeps track of what page you're on between devices!** That's very cool...and not at all good for my productivity at work.

I wouldn't be surprised if Apple released a desktop iBook reader pretty soon. At the moment, I don't even think you can get to the iBookstore from iTunes, only from the iBook app on the iPad.


Kindle on the iPad


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-01-my-third-grade-journal/4660137427_0714a0e8a8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Third Grade Journal">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-01-my-third-grade-journal/4660137427_fa3fea490c_t.jpg" alt="Third Grade Journal"/>
</a>

My third grade teacher, Mrs. Black, made us keep a journal throughout the entire school year. It was yet another part of my education that I absolutely despised the teacher for making me do, but that I am immensely grateful for her making me do it. As anyone who has attempted [NaBloPoMo](http://www.nablopomo.com/ "National Blog Posting Month") will tell you, some days you just don't have anything to say, but darned if forcing yourself to do it doesn't make some interesting things come out.

As an eight-year-old, school activities and cub scouts dominated my routine, and girls were clearly opponents considered to be "on the other team". I particularly like the references to people and big events that I still remember. Many of the people mentioned are still my friends 23 years later. Interjections in block quotes are from 2010-me.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-01-my-third-grade-journal/4660137427_0714a0e8a8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Third Grade Journal">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2010-06-01-my-third-grade-journal/4660137427_fa3fea490c_b.jpg" alt="Third Grade Journal"/>
</a>

Oct. 29, 1986

I have Cub Scouts today.

Oct. 30, 1986

We were doing our puppet show today.

Oct. 31, 1986

We led the Kindergarteners around the room.

Nov. 3, 1986

We did not write anything in our Social Studies book.

Nov. 4, 1986

We out out early today from school.

Nov. 5, 1986

Thelbert, Brad, Joshua I., and me have Cub Scouts again today. We also did a Self Check and a a test in Math. And before that we went to our school Library.

Nov. 6, 1986

Today is the day before our field trip.

Nov. 7, 1986

We went on our field trip today first we went to Register of Deeds, courtroom, Art gallery, the we went to the old courthouse witch is now a museum then the city hall, the New Herald, the post office, the police station and then we went to lunch at the recreation center. And we didn't have any work for school.

> I have a pretty good memory of this day, particularly the dark room at the police station where they developed photographs...or was the the art gallery? Hmmm...nevermind.

Nov. 10, 1986

Today, we had P.E.

Nov. 12, 1986

Mike, Brad, Joshua, Thelbert, Jason, Ray and everybody else are having a Den me

Nov. 13, 1986

I made a

Nov. 14, 1986

Tonight we're having a Family Fun Festival.

> At some point I went back to my elementary school, perhaps when I was in high school, to see one of these FFFs, but it seemed really lame (dude, I was in high school!) with silly little games and construction paper creations. I think that now, with my parenting cap on, I'd probably enjoy it again.

Nov. 17, 1986

Today our school P.E. teacher wanted us to do jump rope.

Nov. 18, 1986

We had to do jump roping again today.

Nov. 19, 1986

I don't have Cub Scouts today. We get to go to a band on Thursday with Cub Scouts.

Nov. 20, 1986

Today is Thursday. All the Cub Scouts and I are going to a band concert today in the new auditorium that was built about one month ago.

Nov. 21, 1986

Our class went to a magic show in the new auditorium called Magic over the Rainbow. And tonight my Cub Scout pack is having a Pack Meeting and our Den is having a Flag Ceremony. Ray quit.

Nov. 24, 1986

This is a two day week.

Nov. 25, 1986

Mrs. Black was not here today.

Dec. 1, 1986

We learned how to write letters today.

Dec. 2, 1986

Dec. 3, 1986

We have Cub Scouts today again. We also cut some logs.

Dec. 4, 1986

We didn't do very much today.

Dec. 5, 1986

Today is my favorite day. Yesterday I was in a parade.

Dec. 8, 1986

I'm going to the Dr. today because of my throat.

Dec. 9, 1986

The doctor gave me some pills for my throat.

Dec. 10, 1986

Last night I finished my report. We might buy a new car tonight.

Dec. 11, 1986

We bought our new car last night. I like the power windows!

> [Mazda 626](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_626), baby! I have _very_ clear memories of the smells and excitement of the dealership. It had this awesome joystick on the dashboard to control the side mirrors. This is the car that would be used 7-8 years later to teach me how to shift gears before being sold.

Dec. 12, 1986

Tonight we're going to a party. I hope the ping-pong table set up.

Dec. 15, 1986

The party was great. I stayed there until 11:00 or more! My real bed time is 9:00. They had their ping-pong table set up, and darts. I played both.

Dec. 16, 1986

We made some candy to go in our candy dishes. It was mint candy. You could smell it all the way across the room.

Dec. 17, 1986

Today we are learning the last cursive letters of the alphabet.

Dec. 18, 1986

Today is a week from Christmas!

Dec. 19, 1986

After today we have our Chritmas Vacation. And tonight my Cub Scout Pack is going to go Christmas caroling.

Jan. 5, 1987

I felt bad about going back to school today, but I got to feeling better after I got to work.

Jan. 6, 1987

My Dad left early this morning to go to Missouri. he will come back tomorrow from 7:00 to 8:00, but I do not know when.

Jan 7, 1987

Today we had a Spelling page in our book with sentences about people named Paul and Betsy. And tonight my dad is going to come home and I have got Cub Scouts.

Jan. 8, 1987

My Dad came home last night and brought me a t-shirt that said "Kansas City" on the front.

Jan. 9, 1986

I wrote a paper about a robot and me for English yesterday. And Jacob came over and played with me.

Jan. 12, 1987

My dog has been acting very strange. She thinks a little ball that squeaks like a puppy when you squeeze it is her puppy. Lizzie's body thinks she has had a baby and the green ball is her baby. So she takes care of it like a puppy, she carries it around the house like a baby, she licks it like a baby. We called the vet to find out half of this information.

> This was very bizarre. I can't really explain it any better than I did at age eight. Apparently [pseudocyesis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudocyesis) isn't that uncommon in dogs.

Jan. 13, 1987

Today we had a math tournament on addition and subtraction problems. I won my first match. I have to compete 12 people. I have to admit I'm not the best one.

Jan 14, 1987

Today we had some mystery matter.

Jan. 15, 1986

We had spelling baseball today. And my dog, lizzie, isn't so strange.

Jan 16, 1986

My dog still like the ball. I'm out of the tournament.

Jan. 19, 1987

I went to The Angus and played pool Saturday night. My friend Jacob spent the night, he rode home with me from The Angus. And last Saturday I invited Josh Martin over, but I forgot. And Jacob stayed until three o'clock P.M. so Jacob, Josh and I played together until Jacob had to leave. Then Josh and I played until five o'clock which is when Josh had to leave.

We got a new kid in our class.

Jan 20, 1987

Today we made some sandwiches on an assembly line.

Feb. 2, 1987

Today we got back from 11 days off of school (It was like a second Christmas vacation).

Feb. 3, 1987

Yesterday I had forgotten about a lingual arch, which I had to go to the Dentist to get put into my mouth. It hurt a little when he put it in, and a little today.

Feb. 4, 1987

Today I did a potpourri activity. I told my dad, and he was really proud.

Feb. 5, 1987

I'm doing better this grading period, I think.

Feb. 6, 1987

We had a popcorn party today.

Feb. 9, 1987

I read three books over the weekend. I'm going to get a new watch that has a lot of things you can do with it this week also.

Feb. 11, 1987

Yesterday I got a watch, you can play a vediogame, a piano, and use a calculator on it. It's 1 inch / 2/1 inches.

> As I recall, this watch was the BEST THING EVER. I had a few calculator watches since this one, but never with a video game.

Feb. 13, 1987

Today is a week from our pack meeting.

Feb. 19, 1987

On Sunday, 15 my dog died. We had to dig a hole.

Feb. 20, 1987

The Cub Scout banquet is tonight. I'm going to get my WOlF badge.

Feb. 23, 1987

We are moving to a new store. I helped build a wall. It was ten feet high.

> This was when my parents' computer store moved to its current location. In order to partition the huge open space, they got Phil, then my father's employee at his state government job, to build a little wall with a door in it across the room. I got to help at pretty much every stage, and I enjoyed it immensely. That wall is still standing today.

Feb. 24, 1987

We are learning about electricity.

Feb. 25, 1987

Today I have Cub scouts and I only a little bit of homework.

Feb. 26, 1987

Today Scott (Mrs. Black's son), he showed us some experiments using electricity, it was really neat!

Mar. 2, 1987

On Saturday our team had our firest soccer game. My mom and my friend seth's mom are the coaches. We got beaten 14 to 0!! That was just a practice game though, that my mom that we need to practice by ourselves. Now we practice every Wednesday.

> Just a year or two ago, Seth and I and our mothers were laughing about this sporting farce. For some reason our indoor soccer team didn't have a coach, so our mothers stepped up and took control of the team. To this day, I'm pretty sure neither of them know much of anything about soccer or coaching. If we scored a goal during the entire season, I'd be surprised.

Mar. 3, 1987

On Monday I had a ton of homework. I did not even have time to get it done, so I'm pretty sure I'll have double homework tomorrow.

Mar. 4, 1987

Today I have Cub Scouts, and my mom came to have lunch with the class. And I have soccer practice today too. I hope we learn a few things about soccer.

Mar. 5, 1987

Soccer practice went great. I think we will do well next game. I got hurt a few times but . . . Boy, after it was over I felt like I could boil a pot of wate just using my face.

Mar. 6, 1987

Today is my pen-pal's 72nd birthday. My pen-pal is [my Grandfather](/2010/03/22/james-holman-robertson/). We have to play a real game of soccer tomorrow.

Mar. 9, 1987

On Saturday We played a soccer game. I came two inches from scoring, but they won four to zero.

May 10, 1987

Tom brought me to school today. Tomorrow I have soccer practice.

Mar. 11, 1987

My dad has been sick ever since Mar. 1, 1987. His throwing up woke me up today.

Mar. 12, 1987

I didn't have Cub Scouts yesterday because the den leader (Ann Call) was sick. I sold 20 Cub Scout Show tickets. Would you like one free?

March 16, 1987

I got sick from my dad (Paul). Seth (my best friend) got sick the very same day.

Mar. 17, 1987

Yesterday we got an Amstrad.

Mar. 18, 1987

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day.

Mar. 19, 1987

I am sick.

Mar. 23, 1987

I played my best soccer game on Saturday, the score was 0 to 4. On Sunday I played some tennis with my frends.

Mar. 24, 1987

My dad went to the doctor and Grace Hospital yesterday. He stayed home sick yesterday too.

Mar 25, 1987

Today I have Cub Scouts. I have to turn in my ticket money. I have 30 dollars.

Mar. 26, 1987

I am going to get a flashlight for Cub Scouts. We had to give back our Amstrad. But we got a new computer. It's called a Beltron. We learned who wrote the words to The National anthem. It was Francis Scott Key.

Mar. 27, 1987

Today we had a practice for the C.A.T. ([California Achievment Test](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Standardized_Testing_and_Reporting_(STAR)_Program)), which is next week. And tomorrow I will get my flashlight. Today we had to split up into groups of four. When we were in groups, we had to make seeds float, glide, be attractive to animals, stick to clothes and fur, and explode. My parents will have to do that too.

Mar. 30, 1987

Today we took the first part of our test. Half of it was very, very, very hard.

Mar. 31, 1987

Today's test was twice as easy as yesterday's was hard. I fell out of my chair today too. We did a new dance in P.E. It was really hard. All I had to do was watch the girls. It was really fast music, so you had dance fast too. I admit boys aren't best at everything.

April 1, 1987

Today is April Fools Day. I'm playing jokes on everybody. I forgot to tell you our school burned down so I'm writing from home.

April Fools! Ha! Ha! I got ya.

April 2, 1987

Today we had math for our CAT. We didn't have English, Science, or Reading.

April 3, 1987

I made an orange on one side red on the other bird-like airplane. This girl named Courtney just said it doesn't look like a bird. Ok... Ok... Maybe it doesn't look like a bird. She just picked it up a through it. And now she's messing with my watch. Lauen (this other girl) is putting clay in my hair. Ow! Ow! It hurts trying to get it out. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! I hate girls.This is embarrassing.

Now Mrs. Black is reading, [Mouse and the Motorcycle](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380709244?ie=UTF8&tag=eriksblog07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0380709244)

April 7, 1987

Our desks got moved today. I have my work all done. I sit by Brooke and she sits by Courtney. On Saturday and Sunday I saw these birds, crow, robin, eagle, barnswallow, bluebird, goldfinch, tufted titmouse, chickadee, evening grosbeak, carolina chickadee, wren, chipping sparrow, downy woodpecker, cardinal, red-bellied woodpecker, mourning dove, and red-tailed hawk. That 16 birds.

April 8, 1987

Today we have a long scout party.

April 23, 1987

I've been playing tennis a lot. I can almost beat my mom. I have a twohanded backhand. I hope to get to take tennis lessons this summer.

April 24, 1987

Today is Mrs. Black's birthday. We talked and talked and talked and talked and finally Mrs. Black said: "We talk so much used up our time for Social Studies. Then everybody was cheering and everything like that.

April 27, 1987

On Sunday Dustin came over and we caught 70 caterpillars, but last year Charlie came over and we caught 446 caterpillars, so that isn't our record.

> My parents used to pay my friends and me some tiny, tiny amount to catch these [eastern tent caterpillars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_tent_caterpillar) and put them in mason jars, presumably to suffocate, to prevent them from turning into moths that eat all the leaves.

April 28, 1987

David, Josh, and I were writing papers about oranges. Eddie Erwin came and played a few songs for us. He's blind and has a dog named Liby. He is a guitar player.

April 29, 1987

Last night Bert came over. My Mom and Dad were playing tennis. In Scouts we went to the Computer store that my dad owns.

April 30, 1987

I was sick.

May 1, 1987

Today we went to the [Schiele Musum in Gastonia](http://www.schielemuseum.org/) and we saw a planetarium about Uranus. Some rocks and a ton of other things. Go sometime.

May 4, 1987

Jacob, Daddy and I went to Wake's farm.

May 5, 1987

Yesterday we had a Science and Math fair, so our parents could come do what we have done.

May 6, 1987

On Tuesday my Dad won a tennis tournament and the first place prize was a new tennis racquet.

May 7, 1987

Yesterday I went to the library in Scouts.

May 8, 1987

I'm sitting beside Emmi. I'm also going to a party tonight.

May 11, 1987

Yesterday was Mother's Day. Today is when we get our report cards. I made all A's and S's.

May 12, 1987

Today in P.E. we practiced T-ball. We made a telescope by painting a paper towel roll then we put black over one end then put rubber band around it and poked holes in it with pins in the shape of constellations. It's fun to look through.

May 13, 1987

Last night was the Science fair. there was one neat thing that I thought was good was a robot that moved and talked. A band was held too.

May 14, 1987

I was sick.

May 15, 1987

The Bike Rodeo was supposed to be today but it was cancelled, so it is going to be next Friday so I had to work all day.

May 18, 1987

In P.E. we played a game of t-ball. My Dad's birthday is tomorrow.

May 19, 1987

Today is Paul's birthday. we got him a pool table.

May 20, 1987

Today is Field Day. I got a first place ribbon for the4 frisbee toss.

May 21, 1987

Today we watched the older 4th through 6th grade have their Field Day.

May 22, 1987

Today is the bike rodeo.

May 25, 1987

In P.E. our team won.

May 26, 1987

I have soccer practice today. Our next game is Saturday today is Tuesday.

May 27, 1987

A Lady came and gave us a tooth brush. She is some kind of dentist.

May 28, 1987

I got a kitten yesterday her name is pippi short for Pipsqueak.

May 29, 1987

We made apple sauce. The whole school had a music program each class sings a different song and we did Michie Banjo.

June 1, 1987

My dad left for Atlanta for a computer show.

June 2, 1987

I'm going to my mom's softball game tonight.

June 12, 1987

Sorry I haven't wrote to you lately. Today is the last day of school.

## Bonus Essays!

Also found in this same notebook were four "essays". They are as follows:

#### What Thanksgiving Means to Me

If the Pilgrims did not land on America than we would be Indines. Thanksgiving means to have turkey and every thing else.

#### Colonial Times

I'd not like to live in colonial times because they were to strict. On Sundays you could not kiss your Mom or Dad. And you could not work. And everybody had to go to church, even babies had to go to church. And you could not fall asleep in church. The school was very strict.

#### My Vacation

The most fun thing I did on my vacation was build a 7 feet tall!! It was BIG!

I stoped my house from burning down. There was a fire 1 foot tall in MY house.

#### Snow Days

My family buried my dog, Lizzie. I put in some snowballs for her. I also played inside and outside. I called my friends on the telephone, and wrote to people on our computer bulletin board. I played some computer games, read some books and wrote to my pen-pal (My Grandfather).

Thank you very much to my father, who took the time to type this up, leaving in all my errors.


22 posts from June, 2010