Life's Great Mystery Solved

You saw it here first folks! Check out this photo of Steve C. solving the TAKITAPART puzzle. This wooden puzzle, with a penny "trapped" within it, has been in our house for many years and Steve solved the puzzle! During our evening of casual conversation, he examine how the thing was put together while Jim did a patent search on the puzzle. Steve looked at that puzzle from all angles and then made the correct moves and was victorious as the penny and puzzle pieces fell into his hands. Well Done! Now that Steve has taken the puzzle apart and re-assembled it, our evening is complete. Steve is in town from Williamsburg, VA, to run in a race tomorrow in Ithaca. But now that the puzzle has been solved, tomorrow's race is rather inconsequential! 

In all modesty, I must take a little credit for Steve's success, because he was reveling in the nirvana that can only be achieved by Carrot Cake Cookies.

Hope all is well.

Scooterville Action

We are having a rip-roaring good time in Scooterville this week at school. Today was the third day of Scooterville and the students who had PE today had heard all about it from their friends, so they arrived at the gym all worked into a lather! I set up 12 different things that you might find in a community, a Wegmans, a playground, a library, an ice-cream parlor, etc. The children move around on their scooters and pretend that this is all real. Their favorite activities are the car-wash, McDonalds, Wegmans and the gas station. I so enjoy watching the children get into their roles, which they take quite seriously. They know how to order a meal at the drive-thru, they know to go to the bank before going to the gas station (cash only!) and they are generous beyond compare as they bring the Sheriff of Scooterville (yours truly) pretend treats from the ice-cream parlor. At the end of their PE time, the children who were safe drivers and good citizens of Scooterville get a Scooterville Driver's License, a reward greater than gold to these children. The very few children who have not earned their Driver's License are given a Scooterville Learner's Permit, not quite the reward they were hoping for. Out of over 300 children so far, I have only given out 3 Learner's Permits. Please do not send me comments about how I am destroying these childrens' self-esteem. Trust me these 3 kids have no shortage of self-esteem, just a complete disregard for the rules and their classmates. So I am looking forward to one more day of Scooterville and then I will put it all away until next year!

Jim called from NYC at 8 PM and it looks like he will get home on time tonight, about 10:15. It will be good to have him home. 

We got some good news at our church this week. Our Pulpit Nominating Committee is presenting their candidate on Sunday! He will preach and then we will vote on whether we want him. I am hoping for the best as I am ready for our permanent pastor to be installed. We haven't been to church very regularly lately, but I was already planning on being there this Sunday because my bell choir is ringing at the service. Hopefully the guy won't withdraw his application after he hears us ring! 

That's all for now. I have to go knit. One of Corey's friends was coveting the orange hat I knit for Corey. When I asked Corey if he thought Kyle would like me to make one for him, Corey said, "Yes" so I am trying to finish the hat so I can send it along with Jim to Cornell this weekend. 

Jeanne, in response to your comment. Yes, that baby jacket does come with directions for an adult size. In the near future I will tell you where to find the pattern. 

Hope all is well.

Tired Tuesday

Yesterday was a long, productive day at school. After the students all went home, I spent two plus hours setting up the ever popular Scooterville in the gym. I will put some Scooterville action photos in the blog later this week. I then spent another hour at my desk putting together the PE equipment and supplies order together for the 2008-09 school year! That was followed by an hour long PTA meeting and I was home by 7:30 PM.

Last night I talked with Corey via iChat, until that quit unexpectedly and he then called me on the phone. Yesterday was his first day of classes for the semester and he seemed pleased with his courses. He was looking to change one geography course for another, but the one he wanted to get into was full. I encouraged him to e-mail the professor and ask about getting special dispensation to get in, especially when he told me that the professor was the same guy who taught a class he was in last semester. This morning he sent me an e-mail saying he was in! On Saturday, he is running at an indoor track meet at Cornell University,

in Ithaca, NY. By some coincidence, Jim is going to a race in Ithaca on Saturday, so I guess they will try to meet up.

I am including two photos of my finished Baby Surprise Jacket. The jacket is knit as one piece and looks like some kind of manta ray when it is finished. See the first photo.Then it is folded up and looks like a jacket, see the second photo. The buttons are not sewn on yet as I need to wait until I find out whether the baby is a boy or girl. Isn't it a cute jacket, and the design is pure genius! The colors in the

 photos are not true as they are brighter than pictured (yellows, greens, oranges). 

Jim called me last night from France and followed that with a couple of e-mails. He is doing well and has found a wonderful place to run, right outside the hotel's doors. Between getting up early to get his run in for the day and staying up late for 5 and 6 course dinners, I imagine he will be exhausted when he gets home.

Tonight, after Yoga, I went to Panera Bread for dinner and tried using the wireless internet connection there with my iPod Touch. It was really cool to read my favorite knitting blogs while eating my soup and salad. I even sent Jim an e-mail while I was there! Technology can be great fun when it is working properly!

A little snow fell today, but I think it will melt tomorrow.

Hope all is well.

Engaged!!!

Congratulations to nephew Michal and his long time girlfriend, Elizabeth, who recently announced their engagement! An early October wedding is planned.

We've met Elizabeth and she is a delightful young woman and she and Michal seem to make each other very happy. 

We hope that Jeanne and family will keep us posted on wedding plans! 

Congratulations again!