Nancy and Amy Kerr Thanksgiving dinner worked out really well for Ian and me this year. My Aunt Marlene had her dinner at 1, and my friends, the Kerrs, had their Thanksgiving dinner at 6. Whoo hoo!
Life is good!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
And Happy Thanksgiving Again!
Nancy and Amy Kerr Thanksgiving dinner worked out really well for Ian and me this year. My Aunt Marlene had her dinner at 1, and my friends, the Kerrs, had their Thanksgiving dinner at 6. Whoo hoo!
Life is good!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope everyone had as much fun this Thanksgiving as I did! Here are some photos I took at my Aunt Marlene's. The Village People dropped in and did a mini-rendition of "YMCA":
Here are cousins Gary, Philip and Bobby, with Joe in the background tending bar:
Here is Amanda and her boyfriend Ian:
Here is my cousin Doreen, who is married to Joe:
Doreen and Joe's sons, Devan...:
... and Xzavier:
Here are cousins Gary, Philip and Bobby, with Joe in the background tending bar:
Here is Amanda and her boyfriend Ian:
Here is my cousin Doreen, who is married to Joe:
Doreen and Joe's sons, Devan...:
... and Xzavier:
Here is Philip and his girlfriend Eileen:
And Jan's youngest son, Lawrence:
And my cousin Diana, two-fisted drinking at dinner: :D
And my cousin Diana, two-fisted drinking at dinner: :D
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Car Mats and Earrings
Happy Birthday to Me!
Miss Lisa (the amazing receptionist at Siegel, Kelleher & Kahn) took Ian shopping for my birthday. She is teaching him how to shop, and the result is simply wonderful.
I love presents. It's not just about the getting, you know; I love giving them just as much. The whole present-picking process can be fun. I think it's important for Ian to learn this, also, although, since he's only 8, presents are all about Him. :D
I thank Lisa from the bottom of my heart for sharing her precious time with my son, and for teaching him how to select "girl" presents that bring me joy.
And I thank Ian for the gifts, which include car mats and Christmas earrings. (They match, Ian says. The car mats are black, and black goes with everything.)
Michael said...
"Car Mats and Earrings..." Sounds like a good title for a country song.
Serena said...
I was thinking more along the lines of, "You might be a redneck if..." :D
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tire Pressure Chat with Obi-Wan
My brother is an incredible wealth of knowledge about anything and everything I have ever asked him. The cool thing about getting instruction from him is that he never assumes I have a 'baseline of knowledge'. He teaches from scratch. I'm posting most of our entire chat just in case it can help someone else out there like me. I'm sure I'm not the only one on the planet who doesn't know about tire pressure! So, here is our chat about tire pressure and how to work the air machine:
Serena said: Sooooo..... how do you put air in your tires?
Michael: ? How do you put air in your tires? What do you mean? Is this a metaphor?
Serena said: Um.....no. I truly don't know how to do it. Check out my blog.
Michael: 'Somewhere written on the tire is a number followed by PSI...' The number on the tire is the MAXIMUM the tire should be run at. The specs for your vehicle are on a sticker on the driver's side door. Open the door, look down along the side that would be impossible to see when the door is closed, and there it is! It’s probably 30 or 32 psi.
Serena said: You know, I found that, but disregarded it because it wasn't on the tires. It said 33 psi.
Michael: Good. That is the pressure the car was designed to operate at, for maximum fuel economy and handling characteristics.
Serena said: Ok. Now. 3 of my tires said 28, and one said 30. They are all supposed to be at 33. How do I get them up to 33? I know I have to use one of those machines at the gas station, but I don't know how they work. And what happens if I get too much in? Will they blow up?
Michael: Don't worry about the light - the car won't blow up.
When the pressure is mismatched, you lose a very small amount of fuel economy, it might not corner that great, and it might cause a little extra wear on the CV joints.
“A little extra” is a 1.) function of how low the pressure is (tires will still run with as little as 10 lbs pressure), and therefore how great the mismatch between tires, and 2.) how long you leave the problem unattended.
At the gas station, there will be an air pump that will probably cost you $0.75 to use for two minutes of air.
Uncap the valve stem on your tire, put the money in, press the nozzle TIGHTLY to the valve stem. You’ll know if it isn’t tight enough, because you’ll hear hissing of air escaping.
Many stations have a gauge built into the nozzle – you release the handle WITHOUT LESSENING THE PRESSURE AGAINST THE VALVE STEM and the gauge pops out with the tire pressure. Continue filling until you hit the number you are after (33).
Another note:
Tires get hot as they run, so 33 psi is a cold temp. Try to use a station nearer to your house. If you have to drive a long distance, put in 34 or 35 lbs (as long as the number on the tire sidewall is at least 35 psi), go home, check your pressure in the morning after the car cooled all night, and bleed off the excess until you get to 33.
Really, though, that is being reeeeeeaaaallly fussy about it. The exact pressure is not as important as getting all the tires as close as possible to the same number.
Don’t forget to put the valve stem cover back on. It keeps road dirt out of the valve.
Serena said: Okay. It sounds like I can do this. :)
Michael: Come to think of it, its winter, everything in Buffalo is close by – just fill ‘em to 33 and don’t worry.
Serena said: LOL! It's 19 degrees right now!!!
Michael: Yeah. That is TRULY cold temp.
Now. If the pressure falls a long distance in one of the tires, say to 20 lbs, you will notice pulling to one side of its in the front, or a feeling that the car is trying to skew sideways a little if it is in the back. The point? A mismatch affects handling, and can cause loss of control in sudden responses or slippery road conditions.
Again, don’t be paranoid, just understand that there is a reason to pay attention to this maintenance detail.
Serena said: Yeah, the idiot light being on really frightened me.
Michael: One more thing about tires – improper pressure causes uneven wear. If you run them a long time underinflated, they wear out on the edges before the center. If you run them overinflated, they wear out in the center of the tread before the edges.
The second scenario is easy to visualize – overinflation makes the tread balloon out, or bulge.
Low pressure also allows the tire to fold over (collapse) on hard cornering.
Use a gauge. Trust science.
You need to get your father to teach you how to change a tire. Seriously, he’s good at it. Back in the day, before steel belted tires were invented, tires were “bias ply” with fabric belts. Flats were very common, so most everybody learned how to change a tire.
Even if you have AAA, it is something you need to understand – you might have a flat at a time or in a place that you just cannot wait four hours for the AAA tow truck to appear out of the mist.
Serena said: True. Something AAA is doing now is asking if you are in a safe place when you call. In my case, I tell them I am with a child, and my wait time has never been longer than 20 minutes when Ian is with me. It's not something I'd like to count on, though.
Michael: You bet. And Ian will not always be with you. ;-) Besides, it’s a chance for bonding with your dad. :D
You asked, ‘what happens if I get too much air in the tires? Do they pop like balloons?’
On the rare occasions when tires fail, the nearest grease monkey is either killed or horribly injured.
The good news is that this hardly ever happens, and I’ve never heard of a case happening when ordinary folks are properly doing routine maintenance.
http://www.automotivetraveler.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&Itemid=119
We didn’t cover tread depth. The tread should be at least up to the top of Abe’s head when you stand a penny in the groove.
Serena said: Why?
Michael: Insufficient tread - HYDROPLANING!!!! WHEEEEEE!!!!
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=51
Serena said: Oh.
Michael: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroplaning_(tires)
http://www.engr.pitt.edu/ssc/images/clip_image001.gif
Hydroplaning = “there’s a little brown spot in my shorts today”
(Sung to “There’s a little black spot on the sun today” Sting)
Serena said: LOL! Wow. Okay. Does air pressure in the tires affect the tread depth?
Michael: No. Tread depth is a direct function of wear.
That is why tires are rated by miles: 15,000 mile tires are cheaper than 80,000 mile tires because they will wear out faster.
Serena said: Ah haaaaaa. And the 80,000 tires are probably the more expensive.
Michael: Of course. They are made with more expensive chemicals & processes, and more complex design.
Did you know that roads are covered with a bacterium that lives on the rubber shed by tire wear?
Serena said: Eeuuu.
Michael: That is why the roads are not full of black eraser crumbs.
Serena said: Good heavens.
Michael: I know. You don't really think about it, but all that rubber has to be going SOMEWHERE!
Serena said: How do you know this stuff?!?!
Michael: I am Obi-Wan.
Serena said: How different our conversations would be if it weren't for Star Wars!
Michael: LOL! You bet!
Plus, I lived next door to a tire salesman – he told me all kinds of stuff that I have not even gone into – the 300 chemicals it takes to make tires, the belts in the sidewalls to prevent failure, blah, blah, blah. It’s an entire universe of knowledge.
Serena said: Sooooo..... how do you put air in your tires?
Michael: ? How do you put air in your tires? What do you mean? Is this a metaphor?
Serena said: Um.....no. I truly don't know how to do it. Check out my blog.
Michael: 'Somewhere written on the tire is a number followed by PSI...' The number on the tire is the MAXIMUM the tire should be run at. The specs for your vehicle are on a sticker on the driver's side door. Open the door, look down along the side that would be impossible to see when the door is closed, and there it is! It’s probably 30 or 32 psi.
Serena said: You know, I found that, but disregarded it because it wasn't on the tires. It said 33 psi.
Michael: Good. That is the pressure the car was designed to operate at, for maximum fuel economy and handling characteristics.
Serena said: Ok. Now. 3 of my tires said 28, and one said 30. They are all supposed to be at 33. How do I get them up to 33? I know I have to use one of those machines at the gas station, but I don't know how they work. And what happens if I get too much in? Will they blow up?
Michael: Don't worry about the light - the car won't blow up.
When the pressure is mismatched, you lose a very small amount of fuel economy, it might not corner that great, and it might cause a little extra wear on the CV joints.
“A little extra” is a 1.) function of how low the pressure is (tires will still run with as little as 10 lbs pressure), and therefore how great the mismatch between tires, and 2.) how long you leave the problem unattended.
At the gas station, there will be an air pump that will probably cost you $0.75 to use for two minutes of air.
Uncap the valve stem on your tire, put the money in, press the nozzle TIGHTLY to the valve stem. You’ll know if it isn’t tight enough, because you’ll hear hissing of air escaping.
Many stations have a gauge built into the nozzle – you release the handle WITHOUT LESSENING THE PRESSURE AGAINST THE VALVE STEM and the gauge pops out with the tire pressure. Continue filling until you hit the number you are after (33).
Another note:
Tires get hot as they run, so 33 psi is a cold temp. Try to use a station nearer to your house. If you have to drive a long distance, put in 34 or 35 lbs (as long as the number on the tire sidewall is at least 35 psi), go home, check your pressure in the morning after the car cooled all night, and bleed off the excess until you get to 33.
Really, though, that is being reeeeeeaaaallly fussy about it. The exact pressure is not as important as getting all the tires as close as possible to the same number.
Don’t forget to put the valve stem cover back on. It keeps road dirt out of the valve.
Serena said: Okay. It sounds like I can do this. :)
Michael: Come to think of it, its winter, everything in Buffalo is close by – just fill ‘em to 33 and don’t worry.
Serena said: LOL! It's 19 degrees right now!!!
Michael: Yeah. That is TRULY cold temp.
Now. If the pressure falls a long distance in one of the tires, say to 20 lbs, you will notice pulling to one side of its in the front, or a feeling that the car is trying to skew sideways a little if it is in the back. The point? A mismatch affects handling, and can cause loss of control in sudden responses or slippery road conditions.
Again, don’t be paranoid, just understand that there is a reason to pay attention to this maintenance detail.
Serena said: Yeah, the idiot light being on really frightened me.
Michael: One more thing about tires – improper pressure causes uneven wear. If you run them a long time underinflated, they wear out on the edges before the center. If you run them overinflated, they wear out in the center of the tread before the edges.
The second scenario is easy to visualize – overinflation makes the tread balloon out, or bulge.
Low pressure also allows the tire to fold over (collapse) on hard cornering.
Use a gauge. Trust science.
You need to get your father to teach you how to change a tire. Seriously, he’s good at it. Back in the day, before steel belted tires were invented, tires were “bias ply” with fabric belts. Flats were very common, so most everybody learned how to change a tire.
Even if you have AAA, it is something you need to understand – you might have a flat at a time or in a place that you just cannot wait four hours for the AAA tow truck to appear out of the mist.
Serena said: True. Something AAA is doing now is asking if you are in a safe place when you call. In my case, I tell them I am with a child, and my wait time has never been longer than 20 minutes when Ian is with me. It's not something I'd like to count on, though.
Michael: You bet. And Ian will not always be with you. ;-) Besides, it’s a chance for bonding with your dad. :D
You asked, ‘what happens if I get too much air in the tires? Do they pop like balloons?’
On the rare occasions when tires fail, the nearest grease monkey is either killed or horribly injured.
The good news is that this hardly ever happens, and I’ve never heard of a case happening when ordinary folks are properly doing routine maintenance.
http://www.automotivetraveler.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=225&Itemid=119
We didn’t cover tread depth. The tread should be at least up to the top of Abe’s head when you stand a penny in the groove.
Serena said: Why?
Michael: Insufficient tread - HYDROPLANING!!!! WHEEEEEE!!!!
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=51
Serena said: Oh.
Michael: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroplaning_(tires)
http://www.engr.pitt.edu/ssc/images/clip_image001.gif
Hydroplaning = “there’s a little brown spot in my shorts today”
(Sung to “There’s a little black spot on the sun today” Sting)
Serena said: LOL! Wow. Okay. Does air pressure in the tires affect the tread depth?
Michael: No. Tread depth is a direct function of wear.
That is why tires are rated by miles: 15,000 mile tires are cheaper than 80,000 mile tires because they will wear out faster.
Serena said: Ah haaaaaa. And the 80,000 tires are probably the more expensive.
Michael: Of course. They are made with more expensive chemicals & processes, and more complex design.
Did you know that roads are covered with a bacterium that lives on the rubber shed by tire wear?
Serena said: Eeuuu.
Michael: That is why the roads are not full of black eraser crumbs.
Serena said: Good heavens.
Michael: I know. You don't really think about it, but all that rubber has to be going SOMEWHERE!
Serena said: How do you know this stuff?!?!
Michael: I am Obi-Wan.
Serena said: How different our conversations would be if it weren't for Star Wars!
Michael: LOL! You bet!
Plus, I lived next door to a tire salesman – he told me all kinds of stuff that I have not even gone into – the 300 chemicals it takes to make tires, the belts in the sidewalls to prevent failure, blah, blah, blah. It’s an entire universe of knowledge.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
All My Tires are Round...
...so why is my tire monitor idiot light on? And why is it some things come so easily for me (just got a 100 on my Finance test) and things that should be simple come so hard?
Last night I learned how to use a tire pressure gauge. It involved a lot of laughing on Joe's part, and it wasn't easy, but I actually got the little slide rule thing on the end of the tire pressure checking apparatus to pop out and give me a number. Three of my tires say 28, and one says 30. Joe left me with famous last words...
'Somewhere written on the tire is a number followed by PSI, which means pounds per square inch, and that is the number that should be on the gauge. Look at your tires in daylight and you will find it.'
Yeah, right.
There are ALL KINDS of numbers on these stupid tires, accompanied by the fact the tires are made in Korea (isn't anything made in America anymore?), but I could not find this PSI number. I even looked at all four tires, just in case they are all different, but no such luck.
So I’m worrying about my tires the entire drive-on-the-Thruway home, and I’m worrying about my tires when I pick up Ian, because I have no idea what happens when your tires aren’t right, but it sure can’t be good because that idiot light is on, and I get home, pull in the driveway, come inside, my neighbor asks me how my day went, and as I’m telling him about the stupid tires, I’m crying.
And he, of course, is laughing.
Some days I just shouldn’t get out of bed.
So my next questions are… what happens if I get too much air in the tires? Do they pop like balloons?
I really, really, really wish my mechanic was still alive.
Last night I learned how to use a tire pressure gauge. It involved a lot of laughing on Joe's part, and it wasn't easy, but I actually got the little slide rule thing on the end of the tire pressure checking apparatus to pop out and give me a number. Three of my tires say 28, and one says 30. Joe left me with famous last words...
'Somewhere written on the tire is a number followed by PSI, which means pounds per square inch, and that is the number that should be on the gauge. Look at your tires in daylight and you will find it.'
Yeah, right.
There are ALL KINDS of numbers on these stupid tires, accompanied by the fact the tires are made in Korea (isn't anything made in America anymore?), but I could not find this PSI number. I even looked at all four tires, just in case they are all different, but no such luck.
So I’m worrying about my tires the entire drive-on-the-Thruway home, and I’m worrying about my tires when I pick up Ian, because I have no idea what happens when your tires aren’t right, but it sure can’t be good because that idiot light is on, and I get home, pull in the driveway, come inside, my neighbor asks me how my day went, and as I’m telling him about the stupid tires, I’m crying.
And he, of course, is laughing.
Some days I just shouldn’t get out of bed.
So my next questions are… what happens if I get too much air in the tires? Do they pop like balloons?
I really, really, really wish my mechanic was still alive.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Condolences
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
- Dylan Thomas
Evil said...
The Curve of Forgotten Things
Things slowly curve out of sight
Until they are gone. Afterwards
Only the curve
Remains.
- Richard Brautigan
Serena said...
I like it. I'll have to look at more of his work.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Drive Home
There's no place like home! :D
Evil said...
Um, rarely does one here that in reference to Buffalo.
Serena said...
I know. I've never been accused of normality. At least, not recently.
Hellerstown, PA
The price of gas was $2.59 when I left Buffalo. Traveling down the I90, I noticed that even on the thruway, it was $.20 cheaper than it was where I filled up before I left. Why is it so much cheaper elsewhere? Erie County taxes, I bet!
Coffee's On!
Before I went to bed last night, Uncle John told me the coffee was made, it just had to be plugged in. I got up at 6 this morning, went into the kitchen, and it took me a solid five minutes to realize this is the coffee maker! I haven't seen one of these in years, but I tell you what, the coffee was Wonderful!!!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Uncle Tone's Memorial Service
I am a horrible photographer! Not just because I can take lousy pictures, but because I walk around with camera in hand and forget to USE it!!!
That being said, here are all the pictures I took at Uncle Tone's memorial service. All six of 'em.
Great Uncle John Glokner (son of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner) and Joe Jimenez (son of Renee Sousa Jimenez, daughter of Clarita Arenas Sousa, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Debbie Gecik and her sister Brenda with Brenda's son. I was joking with my cousin Wayne that I would have all these pictures, would get home and say, now... who the heck are these people? I'm so sorry - I can't remember Brenda's son's name!
Here are Wayne and Barbara Laucius. (Wayne Laucius is the son of Mary Glokner Laucius, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Here are Elizabeth and Victor "Uncle Doc" Sousa. Uncle Doc really is a doctor, but I don't know his medical specialty. (Victor is the son of Clarita Arenas Sousa, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Here is Uncle Doc with Joe Jimenez's two daughters, Andrea and Christina. They were both studying hard for their APs this weekend, and I wish them both the best of luck!
That being said, here are all the pictures I took at Uncle Tone's memorial service. All six of 'em.
Great Uncle John Glokner (son of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner) and Joe Jimenez (son of Renee Sousa Jimenez, daughter of Clarita Arenas Sousa, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Debbie Gecik and her sister Brenda with Brenda's son. I was joking with my cousin Wayne that I would have all these pictures, would get home and say, now... who the heck are these people? I'm so sorry - I can't remember Brenda's son's name!Debbie and Brenda are the daughters of Clara (Chippy) Arenas Gecik, daughter of Phillipe Arenas, son of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.
Here are Laura and her husband Tom. (Laura is the daughter of Eugenia Arenas Johnson, daughter of Phillipe Arenas, son of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.) I started to take the picture when Laura was smiling, but sometimes I have digital camera issues. She looks very much like her mother, Eugenia, who I corresponded with by "snail mail".
Here are Wayne and Barbara Laucius. (Wayne Laucius is the son of Mary Glokner Laucius, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Here are Elizabeth and Victor "Uncle Doc" Sousa. Uncle Doc really is a doctor, but I don't know his medical specialty. (Victor is the son of Clarita Arenas Sousa, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner.)
Here is Uncle Doc with Joe Jimenez's two daughters, Andrea and Christina. They were both studying hard for their APs this weekend, and I wish them both the best of luck!
And here is the one, the only, exhausted Miguel Ian, son of Serena Raquel, daughter of Anne Bosley, daughter of Raquel Arenas Bosley, daughter of Esther King Morris Arenas Glokner. :D
Memorial Service
I decided to go to New Jersey for my Great Uncle Tone's memorial service. I don't see that side of the family near enough, and I'm ashamed to say it seems I only make it down there for funerals. {heavy sigh} I will work on this, I promise.
The drive down was gloomy, and I took this picture out my window and thought, "Suitable weather for a memorial service." As strange as it may sound, though, I had a great time! Uncle Tone was quite a character. His daughter, Ronni, said it best. He will be "a hard act to follow".
The drive down was gloomy, and I took this picture out my window and thought, "Suitable weather for a memorial service." As strange as it may sound, though, I had a great time! Uncle Tone was quite a character. His daughter, Ronni, said it best. He will be "a hard act to follow".
Here is His Highness, playing with his french fries at the Friendly's in Cortland, New York.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Another Dimension - Clear as Mud
For all of you who are absolutely Dying to know the answer, here it is!
But first, the original problem. So you know what I'm talking about. (Yeah, sure.)
"One or more initial conditions are given for each differential equation in the following exercises. Use the qualitative theory of autonomous differential equations (huh?) to sketch the graphs of the corresponding solutions. Include a yz-graph if one is not already provided. Always indicate the constant solutions on the ty-graph whether they are mentioned or not."
y' = 3 - 1/2y, y(0) - 4, y(0) = 8.
The solution:
Another Dimension Part Two
Sometimes I have to work very hard to make sure my professors, who I have never met and probably never will, know that I am taking my education Very Seriously. I have come to realize I am anomalous.
As you all know, I completely and totally did not understand my last homework assignment. I got a lot of laughs from your comments, which I posted on the original blog entry, but, alas, no assistance! :D
My Calculus professor called me last night. She said she realizes I am working hard on this course, and I really screwed up the homework. (She is blatantly honest with me, and I completely appreciate it!) Instead of sending me an email to have me try to work through it again, she arranged a time to call me to explain the assignment in detail so I can get a complete understanding before I move on. She is going to call me this evening to explain it.
It's good to know that, when I have exhausted all my options, I still can have help. I might just pass this course yet!
JT said...
The force is strong with you. Yes, it is. :)
Serena said...
This is because my brother is Obiwan!
As you all know, I completely and totally did not understand my last homework assignment. I got a lot of laughs from your comments, which I posted on the original blog entry, but, alas, no assistance! :D
My Calculus professor called me last night. She said she realizes I am working hard on this course, and I really screwed up the homework. (She is blatantly honest with me, and I completely appreciate it!) Instead of sending me an email to have me try to work through it again, she arranged a time to call me to explain the assignment in detail so I can get a complete understanding before I move on. She is going to call me this evening to explain it.
WHOO HOO!
It's good to know that, when I have exhausted all my options, I still can have help. I might just pass this course yet!
JT said...
The force is strong with you. Yes, it is. :)
Serena said...
This is because my brother is Obiwan!
NOW We're Talkin'!
"I shouldn’t have to start each Christmas morning with a needle nose pliers and wire cutters."
JEFFREY P. BEZOS, the Amazon founder and a supporter of easy-to-open packaging.
NYTimes.com, 11/15/08 Quotation of the Day
I cannot TELL you how frustrating it is to try to get the packages open...the twist ties, tape, little practically invisible rubber bands, black plastic strips that everything winds through, tiny screws and even glue, all of this inside a plastic sealed package that an ordinary pair of scissors cannot cut through. I have stabbed myself, cut myself, and even broken a pair of wire cutters trying to get Ian's gifts open. Packaging has become more and more ridiculous as time has gone on.
I have resorted to getting the presents open before I wrap them, just to avoid all the frustration on a morning that should be Fun! I hope Mr. Bezos can pull this off!
The link to the New York Times article about packaging is here. You may need to sign up for an on-line New York Times account, but it's free. And it's a great article.
Saturday, November 08, 2008
I think I've Entered Another Dimension?
Here are my instructions:
"One or more initial conditions are given for each differential equation in the following exercises. Use the qualitative theory of autonomous differential equations (huh?) to sketch the graphs of the corresponding solutions. Include a yz-graph if one is not already provided. Always indicate the constant solutions on the ty-graph whether they are mentioned or not."
y' = 3 - 1/2y, y(0) - 4, y(0) = 8.
I'm sending out a plea for assistance. Begging, really. I am not ashamed. :D
For some reason, the y-axis is replaced by the z-axis, the x-axis is replaced by the y-axis, and the x-axis itself is nowhere to be found. And according to the answer in the back of the book, the graph on the yz-axis looks different from the graph on the ty-axis, where the y-axis is back to being itself again and the x-axis is really a t-axis.
Any ideas, anyone? Besides, "Begin drinking heavily"?
Jarett said...
I can't help. It's not written in any of the languages I speak.
Evil said...
My BA is Cultural Studies, Anthropology and Psychology. Sorry.
Serena said...
That's okay. I'll keep the "Psychology" part in mind for when this course completely drives me 'round the bend!
Lisa said...
Trust me, you do NOT want me to help and I am sorry to say I don't know anyone. Good luck in your search, though!
Serena said...
Thank you!
Jackie said...
I am not ashamed to say that I could not be able to help you in any way. And good luck w/ that.
Serena said...
Yeah. It appears I need all the help I can get!
Kurt said...
I got your note and you have my sympathy. I used to be pretty good at this stuff, but that was 20 years ago. I tried to refresh my memory on this stuff online and I just couldn’t recall how to do this. You must have some class notes that could help.
Serena said...
Unfortunately, no. I'm taking the class on-line, and there are no class notes or lectures or anything. It's just me and the textbook. I really appreciate your offer, though. I even got in touch with two of my high school math teachers, and they weren't able to help, either.
Joe said...
Change your major.
Serena said...
That thought keeps crossing my mind. Didn't I pick a great time to enter the world of finance?
Eileen said...
Calculus! I give you a lot of credit. I stopped helping the kids in middle school with Math. LOL!
Obiwan said...
The z-axis is 'yaw'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_dynamics. Excellent footage of crosswinds landings on http://www.youtube.com/. Just type in 'landing in crosswinds' in the search bar.
Jeff said...
Forget about wine... Looks like it's time to hit the 'good' stuff!
Serena said...
God help me. I'm totally screwed.
Jeff said...
Yup. Even HE can't help you now.
Is that a derivative?
Serena said...
Um, I don't think it's a derivative; I think I'm supposed to be graphing these without first solving the problem. There's rules. And I've never been good at following rules!
Jeff said...
LMAO! Must run in the family...
E.W.G. said...
This equals your homework problem.
http://i35.tinypic.com/259v1af.jpg
Serena said...
Perfect! :D
"One or more initial conditions are given for each differential equation in the following exercises. Use the qualitative theory of autonomous differential equations (huh?) to sketch the graphs of the corresponding solutions. Include a yz-graph if one is not already provided. Always indicate the constant solutions on the ty-graph whether they are mentioned or not."
y' = 3 - 1/2y, y(0) - 4, y(0) = 8.
I'm sending out a plea for assistance. Begging, really. I am not ashamed. :D
For some reason, the y-axis is replaced by the z-axis, the x-axis is replaced by the y-axis, and the x-axis itself is nowhere to be found. And according to the answer in the back of the book, the graph on the yz-axis looks different from the graph on the ty-axis, where the y-axis is back to being itself again and the x-axis is really a t-axis.
Any ideas, anyone? Besides, "Begin drinking heavily"?
Jarett said...
I can't help. It's not written in any of the languages I speak.
Evil said...
My BA is Cultural Studies, Anthropology and Psychology. Sorry.
Serena said...
That's okay. I'll keep the "Psychology" part in mind for when this course completely drives me 'round the bend!
Lisa said...
Trust me, you do NOT want me to help and I am sorry to say I don't know anyone. Good luck in your search, though!
Serena said...
Thank you!
Jackie said...
I am not ashamed to say that I could not be able to help you in any way. And good luck w/ that.
Serena said...
Yeah. It appears I need all the help I can get!
Kurt said...
I got your note and you have my sympathy. I used to be pretty good at this stuff, but that was 20 years ago. I tried to refresh my memory on this stuff online and I just couldn’t recall how to do this. You must have some class notes that could help.
Serena said...
Unfortunately, no. I'm taking the class on-line, and there are no class notes or lectures or anything. It's just me and the textbook. I really appreciate your offer, though. I even got in touch with two of my high school math teachers, and they weren't able to help, either.
Joe said...
Change your major.
Serena said...
That thought keeps crossing my mind. Didn't I pick a great time to enter the world of finance?
Eileen said...
Calculus! I give you a lot of credit. I stopped helping the kids in middle school with Math. LOL!
Obiwan said...
The z-axis is 'yaw'. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_dynamics. Excellent footage of crosswinds landings on http://www.youtube.com/. Just type in 'landing in crosswinds' in the search bar.
Jeff said...
Forget about wine... Looks like it's time to hit the 'good' stuff!
Serena said...
God help me. I'm totally screwed.
Jeff said...
Yup. Even HE can't help you now.
Is that a derivative?
Serena said...
Um, I don't think it's a derivative; I think I'm supposed to be graphing these without first solving the problem. There's rules. And I've never been good at following rules!
Jeff said...
LMAO! Must run in the family...
E.W.G. said...
This equals your homework problem.
http://i35.tinypic.com/259v1af.jpg
Serena said...
Perfect! :D
Friday, November 07, 2008
Birthday Shopping
Mommy, what do you want for your birthday?
This year I would like car mats. (The Aveo didn't come with car mats, can you believe it?)
Okay. I will get you car mats and matching earrings.
Thank you, baby.
I am not kidding. One of these days, not laughing is going to give me a hernia!
This year I would like car mats. (The Aveo didn't come with car mats, can you believe it?)
Okay. I will get you car mats and matching earrings.
Thank you, baby.
I am not kidding. One of these days, not laughing is going to give me a hernia!
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
President-Elect Barack Obama - It has a nice ring to it!
Every year, on Election Day, I make my way to my polling place and vote. I make sure I bring Ian with me.
We spoke this year about the importance of the presidential election, about trickery, lying and fear, but most of all, we talked about how important it is to do your homework.
What eight-year-old boy likes homework? Certainly not this one.
But by my example, seeing me hit internet sites, asking questions, watching the debates, asking more questions, reading different papers, hitting more internet sites, and asking even more questions, I hope to teach him that voting is not just a privilege. It is a duty and a responsibility, one to be taken very, very seriously.
Today, I am proud to be an American. We took a giant step away from our sordid past of bigotry, racism and tyranny. We spoke up and said, yes, we need change.
Throughout the course of the day, I heard many people express many of their fears, fears that the Republican party did a great job of sowing. I say to them, give President-Elect Barack Obama a chance. Have faith. More than 63 million voters cannot all be wrong. Sleep well.
He is not going to put our children in danger, leave our military unsupported, take away our second amendment right to bear arms, let our small businesses go under because of unfair business practices, send our jobs to Kenya, or let terrorists overrun our country. That is what the Republican party would have you believe. Open your minds. Do your homework, and make sure you look outside the box the Republican party has so carefully and relentlessly constructed around you. Use the Internet and feel free to check out what other countries are saying about us. Explore the world while you look for your answers. It is enlightening.
It will take a long time to overcome the damage, erosion, and destruction of our economy, and, indeed, our trust, that the past eight years of Rethuglican Rule has brought upon us. President-Elect Obama will not be able to overcome this overnight. Give him time.
President-Elect Obama worked hard to earn our votes, and will work hard to continue to earn our trust. Support him.
I woke up this morning, heard the news, and felt an overwhelming sense of relief and hope. We did good yesterday. We truly did.
We spoke this year about the importance of the presidential election, about trickery, lying and fear, but most of all, we talked about how important it is to do your homework.
What eight-year-old boy likes homework? Certainly not this one.
But by my example, seeing me hit internet sites, asking questions, watching the debates, asking more questions, reading different papers, hitting more internet sites, and asking even more questions, I hope to teach him that voting is not just a privilege. It is a duty and a responsibility, one to be taken very, very seriously.
Today, I am proud to be an American. We took a giant step away from our sordid past of bigotry, racism and tyranny. We spoke up and said, yes, we need change.
Throughout the course of the day, I heard many people express many of their fears, fears that the Republican party did a great job of sowing. I say to them, give President-Elect Barack Obama a chance. Have faith. More than 63 million voters cannot all be wrong. Sleep well.
He is not going to put our children in danger, leave our military unsupported, take away our second amendment right to bear arms, let our small businesses go under because of unfair business practices, send our jobs to Kenya, or let terrorists overrun our country. That is what the Republican party would have you believe. Open your minds. Do your homework, and make sure you look outside the box the Republican party has so carefully and relentlessly constructed around you. Use the Internet and feel free to check out what other countries are saying about us. Explore the world while you look for your answers. It is enlightening.
It will take a long time to overcome the damage, erosion, and destruction of our economy, and, indeed, our trust, that the past eight years of Rethuglican Rule has brought upon us. President-Elect Obama will not be able to overcome this overnight. Give him time.
President-Elect Obama worked hard to earn our votes, and will work hard to continue to earn our trust. Support him.
I woke up this morning, heard the news, and felt an overwhelming sense of relief and hope. We did good yesterday. We truly did.
In the words of Albert Einstein...
"May the conscience and the common sense of the peoples be awakened, so that we may reach a new stage in the life of nations, where people will look back on war as an incomprehensible aberration of their forefathers!"
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Peter Clay
My birthday is coming up; Hope's just passed. We used to go out partying for our birthdays. Too old for that now... :D
Sometimes my dreams take me back…
I woke up this morning remembering the days Hope and I went to see different bands on Friday and Saturday nights, and wondering what ever happened to Peter Clay.
One of our favorite bands consisted of friends of ours, Jimmy on lead guitar, Hal with lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Pete on bass guitar, and Charlie on drums.
Charlie could dance. I don’t mean line-dance; I mean Really dance. He could two-step anybody around a dance floor with no apparent effort. The funny thing about Charlie, though, was that the more he drank, the less he could keep time. Not a good thing in the drummer! He sure was fun, though.
Hal had a great voice, and it was obvious he loved to play. He was married to Heather, the most jealous and possessive woman I have ever met. If she called, Hal had to return her call within minutes, even if it meant he had to call for a break in the middle of a set. It was ridiculous, and I wonder if that marriage has lasted. I don’t remember ever seeing Hal laugh.
Jimmy was friendly. He drank little, talked little, played well, and pretty much kept to himself.
And then there was Pete. He seemed to be over 6’ tall, and the cowboy hat made him even taller. He was soft-spoken, and I never understood why he had a mike. He never used it. He would sit with us between sets, elbows on his knees, holding a beer in both hands, comfortable in his own skin. I worked with his daughter, Shawna, for a while, and I enjoyed his company those evenings, between sets, listening to music, just chatting about his kids and grandkids, work, trucks, shows, whatever. The adult conversation I don’t get enough of these days.
People move in and out of our lives all the time; some I miss, some I don’t. I wonder how Pete’s doing these days. He's one of the ones I miss.
Sometimes my dreams take me back…
I woke up this morning remembering the days Hope and I went to see different bands on Friday and Saturday nights, and wondering what ever happened to Peter Clay.
One of our favorite bands consisted of friends of ours, Jimmy on lead guitar, Hal with lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Pete on bass guitar, and Charlie on drums.
Charlie could dance. I don’t mean line-dance; I mean Really dance. He could two-step anybody around a dance floor with no apparent effort. The funny thing about Charlie, though, was that the more he drank, the less he could keep time. Not a good thing in the drummer! He sure was fun, though.
Hal had a great voice, and it was obvious he loved to play. He was married to Heather, the most jealous and possessive woman I have ever met. If she called, Hal had to return her call within minutes, even if it meant he had to call for a break in the middle of a set. It was ridiculous, and I wonder if that marriage has lasted. I don’t remember ever seeing Hal laugh.
Jimmy was friendly. He drank little, talked little, played well, and pretty much kept to himself.
And then there was Pete. He seemed to be over 6’ tall, and the cowboy hat made him even taller. He was soft-spoken, and I never understood why he had a mike. He never used it. He would sit with us between sets, elbows on his knees, holding a beer in both hands, comfortable in his own skin. I worked with his daughter, Shawna, for a while, and I enjoyed his company those evenings, between sets, listening to music, just chatting about his kids and grandkids, work, trucks, shows, whatever. The adult conversation I don’t get enough of these days.
People move in and out of our lives all the time; some I miss, some I don’t. I wonder how Pete’s doing these days. He's one of the ones I miss.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Heavy sigh.
I was re-reading my last few entries, and realized the top three were basically funeral announcements. If I get anymore news like this real soon, I'm gonna need Prozac!
However, laughter is the best medicine, so, because winter is coming, and the temperature was in the 20s when I woke up this morning, here's some good ole Buffalo humor:
A UB student from downstate got lost in her car in a Buffalo blizzard. She remembered what her dad had once told her: 'If you ever get stuck in a snowstorm, wait for a snowplow and follow it.'
Pretty soon a snowplow came by and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about 45 minutes. Finally the driver of the snowplow got out and asked what she was doing. She explained that her dad had told her that if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a plow.
The driver nodded and said, 'Well, I'm through with the Wegman's lot, now you can follow me over to Tops.'
However, laughter is the best medicine, so, because winter is coming, and the temperature was in the 20s when I woke up this morning, here's some good ole Buffalo humor:
A UB student from downstate got lost in her car in a Buffalo blizzard. She remembered what her dad had once told her: 'If you ever get stuck in a snowstorm, wait for a snowplow and follow it.'
Pretty soon a snowplow came by and she started to follow it. She followed the plow for about 45 minutes. Finally the driver of the snowplow got out and asked what she was doing. She explained that her dad had told her that if she ever got stuck in the snow, to follow a plow.
The driver nodded and said, 'Well, I'm through with the Wegman's lot, now you can follow me over to Tops.'
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