Jazz II

I decided not to respond to Scott's post about the Jazz until they played the Hornets and Nuggets this week. However, D-Will's smackdown of CP3 changed my mind. Even if they lose to the Nuggets this week, they look like real contenders. I am (cautiously) optimistic...

Jazz?

Ryan...since I'm confident you're sticking firm to your New Year's resolution, you certainly wouldn't have noticed that the Jazz are absolutely on fire. Scary good.

15-2 since picking up Kyle Korver. They've needed a shooter since
Horny retired way back when.

I think Kyle Korver and his armpit hair are
two big reasons the Jazz stopped sucking.
(AP photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Belt Butt

This post has moved to a new location.

Tintin Movie 2009

Looks like Gollum is rumored to play Captain Haddock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Tintin#Films

Tiger the Incentive Destroyer?

Really interesting article here about Tiger Woods and how he causes a breaking down of normal incentive structures in golf tournaments.

President Hinckley

I thought we should have a space to share thoughts about President Hinckley. After hearing of his passing this morning, I felt that peculiar feeling of sadness mixed with peace that we associate with the passing of loved ones. I am very grateful for President Hinckley's love, leadership, and teachings.

Also: News here and here.

I Disagree

More here

hair or no hair?

So, Hallie did what all kids do...except I never really thought she would. It took everything I had not to freak out because once she realize she had CUT HER HAIR, she was devastated. Anyone who has been around Hallie knows that she loves her "long wavy locks". There was too much damage for me to fix, so we took her to where I cut my hair last week and she had her first big girl haircut. She sat so still and loved it. Until we got in the car and asked if she could put her long hair back on. OH, BOY.
At least she didn't cut it to the scalp. The lady who fixed her up said that Hallie did one of the best hair cuts she has seen, most of the time they have to do some shaving or something drastic. Maybe Hallie will be a beautician.
Did anyone ever cut their own hair?
Here is a before and after, although you can't see her hair too well in the Christmas picture.

It's Official

Yesterday I finally got to go to see a doctor for being pregnant. It was so good to hear the heart beat of the baby, and to know that I haven't been vomiting for nothing. I wasn't sure of my last periods, so I had an ultrasound today... how exciting! The baby is 68mm (2.6 inches) and everything looked perfect. I am 13 weeks and the due date is July 29th. First trimester is done. Hooray!

Beatta

What does it take to cancel church?

Not much in North Carolina. When it started snowing about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon I asked Ryan if he thought they'd cancel church. When it stopped snowing about 6 p.m. , we were sure they wouldn't. When the phone rang at 9 p.m., they did.So, what do you do with yourself on a Sunday with no church? (Other than feel guilty about how glad you are that you don't have to wake the kids up, force them to eat, wrestle the kids into church clothes, coax and cajole them into sitting still or at least being quiet during church, wrestle them out of church clothes, force them to eat, and herd them to bed.)

At our house we eat waffles, have a Sunbeam lesson, take a drive, and eat roast beef and roasted potatoes.

Is Ryan Hot?

I just learned that my education paper with Frank Caliendo is the #1 "hottest" article at EER.

http://top25.sciencedirect.com/?journal_id=02727757

Ryan

Chant Outlawed in Spectrum

Yet another hallowed Aggie tradition bites the dust: The WAC commisioner, Karl Benson, has ruled that the phrase "You Suck" is "outside the guidelines of sportsmanship". USU AD Randy Spetman was told by the head of WAC officials (refs) that the chant "borderline offensive", and decided to go the commish.

The game officials can now award technical fouls, have offenders ejected, or even empty the building.

Apparently the problem started at New Mexico State, where the students would chant after a made free throw, "Nice shot, A-hole!"

The Aggie students, not to be completely squelched, did come up with a couple of pretty good signs. One, referring to the criminal element that makes up a fair share of the NMS team, showed a flip-over calendar turned to Day 6, and the caption, "Days since last arrest." The other said "New Mexico - not much different than the old one."

No Dumping Allowed (Economist Humor?)

Is that an attorney or real estate investor in there?

Working a regular work day is a new thing to me. I was in school for so many years that it's difficult to remember the last time I had to keep regular hours. While I dislike certain aspects of the lifestyle, I try to find humor and happiness in small things. One bright spot is the box of fresh fruit delivered by The Fruit Guys every Tuesday morning that my coworkers and I munch on all week. Another is the public restroom we share with several other firms who coexist with us on the 8th floor of 1920 Main Street. It has very nice smelling soap in the dispensers and the stalls are slightly larger than most I've seen--comfort loos.

Eating lots of fruit and living the same routine every day have a great result: regularity. Folks, if you've never experienced this, I've gotta tell you--it's fantastic. Because 1920 Main Street is a fairly large building, each floor houses enough companies and thus enough employees to maintain a fairly steady stream of visitors to the restrooms (if the other firms would get The Fruit Guys to visit them, too, then we could perhaps work out some kind of floor-wide lavatory rotation!).

Recently, though, I've noticed something funny: Whenever I enter a stall, the occupants of the adjacent stalls (which are almost always in use) immediately freeze up--no sound (squeaks, rustles, grunties, flushies), no motion, nothing. Invariably, despite my later arrival, I leave first. Honestly, if I were to break open the next stall door, I'll bet I'd find a middle-aged businessman in an Armani suit quivering atop the john in an effort to pass (ha ha) undetected. My coworker confirmed that he has also noticed this uncomfortable silence on the pot. Are we the only people who are not embarrassed by our use of a toilet? Do we not all go there for the same reason? Or should the privy be just that?

Today, upon entering an empty stall, I could feel the tension mount as the fellow through the wall on my right went into lock down and ceased all operations (breathing included). I tried to lighten the mood a bit with some humming and whistling--standard bathroom fare--but the man would not be moved. As the moments passed and the silence grew heavy I was almost overcome with the urge to bang my hands on the wall and yell "BOO!". Probably would have scared the crap out of him.

Peaceful place in Norfolk????

We had the most pleasant afternoon today walking through the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. (thanks mom) They have a really fantastic kids area that doubles as a water park in the summer. We also went yesterday morning with some friends. I still haven't even seen 1/2 of the Gardens. The Camilla's will be blooming in a month or so and there are many things blooming now!!! I haven't had the peaceful outdoor feeling that you get hiking for a long time.....but now I know you can here in stinky ole Norfolk. Did I mention that we wore shorts and tee shirts to do this???? B-E-A-U-TIFUL!!!
I am so pleased that we are finding things to do and for people to do when they COME AND SEE US!!! HINT HINT.
Alison

How to recognize my car

PixelWhimsy

One of Ian's favorite new activities is playing a computer game called PixelWhimsy. It allows children to bang away on the computer keys and not mess up the computer. Basically, it reprograms each key to make a different shape or sound. Below is some "refrigerator art" Ian made using the program. It is great for kids that like to play on the computer, and it is free. Download it here if you are interested.

coast to coast game

A new way to pass the time -
Yesterday on the flight from Atlanta to SLC I played trivia vs others on the plane. It was fun - better than crossword puzzles. Each person had a screen in front of them with many options (movies, games, etc.). I chose to play the trivia. Rounds of 20 questions, with a winner each round and cumulative totals. Hard questions in history, geography, science, music, arts and literature. Speed, as well as the correct answer, counted. I won one round and was fourth overall on the plane at the end. Hooray for me!

Mom

In Case You Hadn't Heard...

winter fun

Hallie and her Uncle Chace made the snowman, with a little help from others and everyone thought it was quite funny to stick a prosthetic bum on it. We took a sleigh ride at Tobin's aunt Marilyns house outside of Park City. She loved the snow and ate all of it that she could. Everytime we saw Hallie her she was lying face down in the snow eating becuase her hands got too cold from holding it. We had fun out West, but were very glad to come back to our nice warm weather.

Memphis the Lab Rat Part II

Memphis the Lab Rat! Get it? HARHARHARHAR!











The NCSU Vet school decided that Memphis had enough seizures during the 4-week evaluation period to continue with the study. The rest of the study is divided into 2 8-week periods, with a 2 week "washout" period between them. In one (randomly selected) period she will get the drug, in another she will get a placebo. I guess the experiment is triple blind, since the researcher, pet owner, and pet do not know which period is which. Memphis never knows what is going on anyway...

Memphis is currently 2 weeks into the first 8 week period. Updates to follow.

The best part of the study so far was the comical survey I had to fill out. The questions were of the "strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree" variety. The questions were similar to: "I believe that my pet is aware of my moods." and " I am in touch with my pet's feelings."