Dear Mr. President

Just got off the phone with my almost-96-year-old grandfather. He mailed a letter to President Obama today suggesting that scientists should work on preventing tornados and hurricanes. His logic was that people said atomic bombs couldn't be made either.

Being one of the most interesting people in my life, and having neither the heart nor reason to object, I found myself almost agreeing with him. He does, in fact, have a point. At least, he has decent logic and it never hurts to suggest outlandish things. Baba (my brother, the eldest grandchild came up with that one) is one of those people who make you think twice about the value of a college degree, hair dye and whether or not to tell your favorite story in public. I also imagine he wrote said letter in pen on legal paper, with his signature all-cap printing. It is probably even legible.

"They don't want people writing to the President, you know, but I just figured someone ought to do something about those terrible storms. And it only cost me a stamp."

"Oh, they don't mind," I say, with a smile on my face and tell him about the ways that our President has made it possible for all sorts of people to share their ideas with him. Even people who don't know how to write in cursive or send snail mail. I also pointed out that there is considerable question about whether atomic bombs are a good thing or not.

 "They are most definitely not good for humanity," he stated.

He is the man who lived in a log cabin in Alberta, Canada. Who got one pair of shoes a year, whether they fit the whole time or not. He played stickball in the Bronx. Rode his motorcycle naked on New Year's Eve in New York. Lost his Dad at 17. Worked as a machinist on the Manhattan Project. Bought a house in 1942 for $5400.00. Raised 3 silly daughters (I suspect he is responsible for the "after-dinner-Pedronis," a bout of silliness that starts in our family exactly when dinner is over). Took wonderful trips with his wife. Calls his Ford "The Limo." Who scared me as a kid, annoyed me as a teenager and awes me as an adult. Loves his 6 grandkids to pieces. Who misses my grandma everyday. John Baptist Pedroni is loads of fun.

He is almost 100% responsible for my repeat story-telling that plagues my marriage and friendships (others, who shall remain nameless get some credit). But in 65 years I hope I am still able to retell all the best moments of my life. This may be one of them.

Half a Year Early

The only decent Halloween ideas come in the spring, but come October I draw a blank.

For the record, this one's for you, Dad!

Darth Vader On Trombone While Dancing - watch more funny videos

Dang, I wasn't snatched up, were you? #Justchecking

Weekend Wildlife tally: 1 snake, 2 whales, 4 zebras, 6 sea otters, 30 harbor seals, 500 elephant seals, and 2754 cattle. #wannabet

Dan just pointed out that by going to Cambria instead of the Seychelles we are saving over 8 thousand dollars in airfare alone. #goodpoint

Just got back from a walk and it's seventy two degrees in the house. And i have a bug bite the size of a quarter on my forehead. Tomorrow's friday!

Sundials

Last Friday night at our house began as a quiet evening, with Dan finishing up a late-afternoon project.  I took the pup for a walk and when I returned, my honey was just finishing up in the shower and he arrived in the living room wearing his grey corduroy pants and a decent long-sleeved shirt.  I, of course, thought this meant we were leaving the house.  

With no dinner-making ideas in mind, it may have just been my stomach doing the thinking.  So I coyly suggest how about some soup and grilled cheese.  (It had started to rain - I went the comfort food route.)  But to my surprise, he didn't take the bait (or, he took the bait?).  Whatever.  He said that sounded great.  No burrito run, I gather?  For an encore, we figured it's about time our garden/landscaping plans got some attention.

We sat squished in the living room chair.  Luna just sat there looking like it was MY fault that it was raining.  So we started working on a to-scale-but-neither-or-us-is-measuring-it drawing.  At least this time we're starting with actual real boundaries and angles, relative to the house exterior.  From there the questions came in rapid succession. Can you put the fruit trees there or will they cast shadows on the raised beds?  Where should the compost bin be for adequate sun exposure? Where does the sun set in the summer? If you're in Alaska, what pattern does the sun follow in the sky?  Which one is closest, the tropic of Cancer or Capricorn?  What is the angle of the Earth's axis tilt (excluding the 4 centimeter change after the earthquake in Japan 2 weeks ago)?  Is "due east" in Santa Barbara the same as "due East" in Uganda?  Or New Zealand?  

But really, we only knew the answer to one.  Well, I knew it, but Dan wasn't convinced. (23 degrees).  And we didn't have a globe in front of us.  And we were actually wedged in the chair together.  So, rather than go open the Encyclopedia Britannica (are you kidding me, we aren't in the stone-age: we have it on CD-ROM), we spent about 90 minutes drawing and thinking and trying to figure them out.  

Obviously, pencil and paper is the most practical.  This is what we concluded:

Glad I could clear that up for ya.  Both sun position and our geekiness.  yeah.