Oysters

On Saturday Joan and I went to a Oyster eating experience at the Oceanair Seafood Room. This was a special event where the executive chef led an oyster tasting. He educated us on oysters themselves, where they are found, flavors, differences, etc.

The tasting included a list of 4 different west coast oysters and 4 different east coast oysters. We received 3 of each on the half shell and he required us to eat then straight up, no crackers or sauce (naked). That way we could compare the flavor differences of each of them.

I was very suprised by the variations. Even though many are the same species, the environment they grow in has big influences. Some where chewy, others buttery. They all had various flavors in them. And each had a different saltiness and ocean taste.

Joan isn't a big fan of oysters but she did a respectable job tasting (and passing the rest to me!). Two dozen oysters is a lot for a non-oyster eater, especially when they have to be eaten naked!

It was a lot of fun and a really enjoyable afternoon!

Take Your Child to Work Day

Last week we had take your child to work day. This has been around a number of years but this year engineering took on the coordination of activities and events.

A full day was planned and the kids got to see a lot of neat stuff that happens in the day of the life of an engineer at Motorola. We had tons of phones and electronics, x-ray machines, guassing magnets to change the TV screen colors, soldering, assembling, sound tests, and so on.


And of course engineers are a different bunch. Many of them have "toys". So the highlight of the day was the Tesla Coil. This demo started with a Jacob's ladder. Then a Van de Graaff generator to use static electricy to make the kids hair stand out striaght. Next the demo moved to a small tesla coil that made light bulbs light with amazing colors. And finally was the big Tesla coil. This was the big show and the kids oo-ed and aw-ed all the whole time as electric charges shot all over!



It was a good day for all.

All Star Fun




My son and I watched part of the all star game last night. I love to see his excitment just because so many stars from all the different teams are there at once. We missed the opening when they introduced each postion with hall of famers first then the player for this year. But we did talk about some of those historical players. "Yogi Bera, who's that?"!


And I have a feeling he will want to add a Hamilton t-shirt to his Ranger collection next time we go. What a performance at the home run derby!

Got to love baseball. Now I'm feeling like I need me some more baseball soon!

The Quiet Before...

We strolled around campass last week just to walk around and visit Mike. Mike was asleep in his spot. The campus was empty, closed, totally dead...

Hard to believe that in a month this ghost town will transform to life. Two of our girls will be living here, one for the first time to move out of the house.

And, of course, Death Valley will open for buisness... dun dun dunnnnnnn

4th of July

In our family we have this thing about traditions. I'm the instigator of most of it. But once a tradition is established it must be followed at all costs. And we have a bunch of them.

One such tradition for the last many years to go see fireworks on the 4th of July while sitting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. They are set off on a barge in the river at the I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge. We sit on the opposite side on the levee with the state capital lit up in the back ground and the fire works show before us.

Well the last two years had not gone so well. Two years ago something blew up on the barge right at the start and the show was ended right then. Then last year the show was just a dud, seeming to just end mid stream. So when it came time this year I was thinking maybe it was time to skip the show, avoid the 30 minute drive, and just do our own little show that always follows instead. The adults were all for this.

So I go to take the consensus with the kids asking them what they want to do? They answered, its a tradition, we have to go. Enough said, lets go...

This year the show the most spectacular we had ever seen. Several times we thought we were in the big finale only for the show to slow down and keep going. I guess the organizers knew the last two years were disappointing and were making up for it. Even after all was finally done and we were all leaving one more shot off. As if to put the exclamation mark on the end.

Thanks kids. It was a great, traditional 4th of July.

As it should be...

Sometimes a lyric just strikes you.

Sometimes the lights all shinin on me
Other times I can barely see.
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been...

It seems like that is the way things are right now with kids growing up and life passing by.

Have a great 4th. We are off to Louisiana to sit by the lake and watch the grass grow.

Half way there.... Happy Birthday!!




Today our 'baby' turns 9 years old! Yikes, how did this happen.... Happy Birthday!

Bocce!

The father's day gift this year was a bocce ball set. This has proven to be great family fun! It is easy to do, outdoors, and creates fun and excitement. Of course my son perfers bocce on the wii....