Go Big Red!

JP & I went to the Purdue game this weekend. It was a nice day (45°) but there was a bit of a 20 mph breeze that kept it feeling cool. The Army Golden Knights parachute team flew in. They dropped from a few thousand feet two miles south of the stadium and did a freefall to a few hundred feet. The lowest guy was barely visible above the rim of the stadium - we thought for sure that there was no way he'd be able to make it to the stadium, much less clear the bleachers. The winds aloft must have been blowing pretty good, because he made it with no problem.

We were invited by the dean of engineering at UNL. We had a great lunch at the Chancellor's pre-game party in the Lied Center. It's not your normal beer-soaked tailgate party. We thought we had pretty good seats in the 10th row at the 40-yard line, but our neighbor's daughter texted us and said she was on the 50, just 6 rows behind us. 

Despite fumbles and interceptions, the Huskers were able to pull off a win.

Fall Decor

While CP and I were in Utah, JP decorated the front porch for Halloween.

CP's 1st Road Trip

We left G&G's early in the morning and headed north to SLC. We spent the night at R&J's new house up on the mountain. 

The next day we headed east and crossed Wyoming and Nebraska. The speed limit is 80, and the constant up and down was a challenge for CP to maintain a constant speed. We went slow up the hills and fast down the back sides. 

We skirted a snowstorm that was pounding the Medicine Bow mountains west of Laramie. It was a sticky wet snow that stuck to every pine needle and branch. We were able to make it home by 9:30 PM. Not bad for an 890 mile first road trip.

Desert Rocks

We had a picnic lunch out in the desert by a butte that has some cool petroglyphs.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day. Sunshine, warmth from the sun, coolness in the shade, and every now and then, a vintage jet cruising overhead.

CP's New Car

CP and I flew out to southern Utah to pick up his new car from G&G. When we arrived at the new St. George airport, there was a warbirds fly-in going on. CP got to sit in the cockpit of a MIG-15. I think this was the highlight of his trip - he tells all of his friends about it.

After the airport, we headed out to the desert to work on the concept of a clutch pedal and driving stick. The truck is a lot easier to drive than my Subaru.

For dinner, we were treated to CP's dream restaurant: an all you can eat sushi buffet. After that, we climbed up on the big rock overlooking the valley and caught the sunset.

CP gets his height from his grampa.

Pool Shark

The girls next door invited us out for an evening at one of their favorite watering holes. The boys at pizza & wings and then played pool against our neighbor the pool shark.

JPs Snow Tires

All wheel drive is great in the snow only if your tires aren't slippery. This year we got some sticky rubber for JP's ride. GP loves to help out with car maintenance.

Fall Colors

Our yard really took off this fall with its colors.

The rose bushes just keep going on and on.

Basement Season

Our ex-neighbors finally completed the basement of their new house. The ginormous 80" TV is up and showing football games, the arcade machine is glowing, the poker table is separating fools from their chips, and the kegerator is pouring two flavors of cold beer. Between their place and ours, we should be able to ride out the coming winter in style.

CP's Sweet 16

CP turned 16 this year! It's hard to believe that he has grown up so much so quickly. We treated ourselves to dinner at a new sushi restaurant in the Haymarket: Blue. CP LOVES sushi and was excited to try some new types.

Honors

CP took part in the honors ceremony at his school. It was at 2:00 in the afternoon. I never expected that so many other parents would do the same thing. We filled one full side of the gym bleachers. Hopefully this will be a regular event for our boys.

GP's B-Day

GP had a bunch of friends over for his birthday. We got 50 wings from BWW, and they ate them all without slowing. It's amazing how much teen boys can eat.

For our family celebration, we went to GP's favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden. He's a pasta boy. 

Dove Family

Our doves hatched and grew up in the back yard. The babies stayed pretty much in the shrubberies of the berm, but now and then ventured out into the open to catch some rays.

World DEMs

I found a site that has digital elevation models for the entire planet from a Space Shuttle radar mapping mission. I modified my Excel programs to work with the file format and now I'm able to make colored maps of anywhere. I know, I know, Google Earth can do that, but not really, and I've been tweaking on my Excel app since before Google Earth and Terra Server were accessible. There's some satisfaction in seeing my own output.

Here are some random snapshots of our planet. They're all 1920 pixels wide to be used as wallpaper. To really appreciate them, you'll have to view them at full size. There are a lot of fine details that don't show up in the thumbnails below. 

If/when I ever finish school, I'd like to try some super hi-resolution prints on our large-format printer at work. If you have any place on earth that you'd like to see, let me know.  

SW Lybian sand dunes

The Emi Koussi volcano and the Arounga meteorite crater in Chad

SW Iran. Persian Sea is the black at the SW corner.

Samarkand, Southern Uzbekistan

Iceland. The big smooth pink-ringed patch on the right is the glacier/icecap over the Bardarbunga volcano that's erupting right now.

Rio Somiloes in NE Brazil

Southern Michigan

Coteau des Prairies, South Dakota / Minnesota

NW Territories, Canada, Eh. 

The MacKenzie River is at SW corner, Great Slave Lake is on the east edge.

Rumblin Man

CP has been eyeing a sweet bass at Guitar Center. They had a huge sale for Labor Day, so he got his b-day present early. Every day, he's down in the basement rocking out to MCR, the Dead Kennedys, the Ramones, and Rise Against on Rocksmith and the 100 watt bass amp. It's fun to feel the house rumble to the tune of  Anarchy in the UK. Good thing that everyone in the neighborhood has their windows closed.

Homecoming

CP went to homecoming last night with a date and two other cute girls. They went to dinner and then to the dance. CP's date is wearing a vintage dress from her great aunt from 1929. She was fired up about it.

Cat trap

Any time we get a new box, it only takes about 20 seconds before we snare a cat in it. They absolutely cannot ignore an empty box. 

Must. Sit. In. Box.

Late Summer Spiders

For whatever reason, we've had spiders everywhere this summer. It must have something to do with all the rain. Towards the end of summer, we get these big perfect-web ones on the deck and in the roses. This one caught a big wasp a few hours after I took this photo. She wrapped it up in silk and then dragged it off to her lair.

Beautiful Night

There's nothing better than a warm moonlit night on the deck.

Dog sitting

We're fortunate to have good neighbors that have fun dogs that need babysitting. They're a pair of King Charles spaniels, and all they want to do is be with people.

It doesn't matter who, they just need to be held.