Good morning all:

“In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.” — Bertrand Russell

Maybe I am a little nutty listening to a few cuts from a ripped ‘70s synthesizer music LP by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop—Fourth Dimension at this time of the morning. Actually it’s excellent listening while enjoying my first coffee. I have always loved the quirky sci-fi British television show Doctor Who for which the workshop provided the theme music, making these pieces especially fine. Anyway, it’s a great listen and a great cup of java. Enjoy your morning and the post.

Last night was the Full Cold Moon; or with some native tribes the Full Long Nights Moon. What made this occasion special is the fact that every number of years the Moon’s rotation brings it closer to Earth. This time it was 28,000 KM closer than average, and this means that it was substantially different from most full moons. It made it appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than average. Paul has a live cam pointing at the lake in Canada that our cabins are on, and since there is no artificial light in the area it is a perfect place to view night spectaculars. The photo (click on it to enlarge) I captured at 11:30 last night, and with the ice and snow the moonlight reflecting off the lake bathed the area in light. I guess it was one of those “you had to be there” moments and now you are. The moon itself rises from the right side of the photo and was just about directly overhead when this photo was captured. By the way, the bright spot towards the middle left I believe to be the star Vega. Vega, in the constellation Lyra, is the fifth brightest object in the sky and only 25.3 light years from earth.

I don’t know how many times someone asked my mother how in the world she was able to raise four sons. It’s taken over forty years but, finally I know—BOYS ARE MUCH EASIER! Now that our gang is raising their own I have the luxury of sitting back a bit and observe; and it’s the girls who are handfuls.

This week, for example, little Dinah is dealing with a hefty case of chicken pox. Brother Marin dealt with the same virus a couple of weeks ago. As a boy, his case was mild and presented mom and dad with minimal ‘sick kid’ care giving duties.

Little Vaioleti finally came home from the NICU this past Wednesday as a bouncing 7 pounder—a huge leap from the 1 pound 14 ounces she stared out with 103 days before. Her apnea episodes made “going home” to occur on Vai’s own schedule. It also meant that she got her way and had the hospital assign a portable monitor to accompany her home. She settled in beautifully and is happy to be at home; eating and sleeping as babies should. With all the false alarms (due to the leads coming loose because of Vai’s turns and twists) means that mom and dad haven’t slept a wink since. Oh, have I pointed out that Vai is a girl?

Since I am home more than ever these days Marcia passed an edict under which we take turns making the evening meal. When I first heard her plan I considered learning from Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich by selling my seat at the table. However, the plan is actually working well; though we do have to watch that it’s not becoming a contest. Thursday Marcia made a delicious crab something with a very rich mystery sauce and wild rice. This was definitely a step beyond the mustard with molasses crusted salmon I made the night before. So I decided to reign things in a bit by making a super cold-weather peasant dish—Shepherd’s Pie.

Yesterday, the day for the Shepherd’s Pie attempt, my day was such that around four o’clock a concerned Marcia casually asked if I had made plans for dinner. Yes I had, but also had lost track of time.

I am told that there is a television show promoted as Hell’s Kitchen. In short order our kitchen became what could be the stage setting for that show. The Shepherd’s Pie production meant that a ‘create from scratch’ event had to take place. Eventually, right on schedule, it became a lovely dinner complete with a glass of wine; seconds of both the Pie and the wine were had. It’s amazing what three skillets plus a pan on medium-high burners, an oven at 425 degrees capped by a short stay under the broiler, and a smoke alarm going off as accompaniment to the whole endeavor, can accomplish.

I just looked up to note that the setting moon dropped into view through our family room picture window. It is a spectacular sight. Take a little time to enjoy what is around you and make it a great week.

Cheers,

Dirk