Showers of all sorts

This is about all the showers I wish I had more of in my life.  As a mother and amateur astronomer with a 3 month old and two year old, my time is limited.  This morning I braved a shower while both girls were awake, because I felt icky and stinky and tired.  One half dozed safely in the other room, and the two year old was tossed up on my bed with Team UmiZoomi on Nick Jr.  Then I stripped off everything as fast as a I could and scrubbed off the cookie dough bits, chocolate drippings, baby drool, and everything else that had attached itself to me in the previous 40 hours or so.  Ahhh.  So refreshing to be clean, and not find your children in trouble afterwards.  Although my two year old was ready to take off again and create a ruckus elsewhere in the house.  So I've gotten once successful shower in, without my husband home to corral the little maniacs.

Now, shower #2, the Geminids, peaks late this week.  Yes, it peaks.  The meteor shower is visible for a while this month, waxing and waning like the lunar phases.  The nights the news stations always report about are just the night it peaks.  If you miss it by a day, you haven't really missed it.  If you want to wait until Friday or Saturday night, when there's no work, and no school, to stay up late with your family to watch, it's okay.  You may see a few less, but you will still see them. 

It always drives me crazy when everyone sends me fb messages and e-mails about stuff like this.  "ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!"  Yeah, I'm a space nerd.  I expect people to know this by now.  And I expect my close friends and family to have listened to me rant enough to not fall for the hoax e-mails that say "Mars will be visible as big as the moon!"  I promise not to get started on all the reasons that's impossible, how much more havoc that would cause than my two year old.

Happy stargazing.  Go read about the Geminids.

More About Food

This year has been a love hate year for food.  I just some something funny on the news about Cincy Chili and got to thinking about it.

I spent the first 8 months hating everything edible.  Thanks to a very long pregnancy.  I couldn't even eat seafood, my favorite, or think of it without puking.  Since my little overdue princess was forced into the world, I have managed to get in my fill, both from my favorite sushi place, and my own stovetop, grill, and deep fryer.

I finally finished compiling my favorite recipes into one book, so I can print it out to keep in the kitchen.  My laptop is just not safe being a cookbook.  I'm a very messy cook.  Not that I mind, I mean who wouldn't want to be covered in their favorite foods every evening at dinner time? 

Even with two small children, I promise this year I'd dust off my brain and cook real food to bring to thanksgiving dinner.  It's been years since I made a pie with a crust I didn't buy from Walmart, I'm sorry to admit.  Hopefully this will turn out well, sweet potatoes are fresh from my garden, so it can't be that bad.  I've never used the other recipe, an old one handed down from my husband's 93 year old Kentucky grandmother, who's recently passed. But something that's endured time that long must be delicious.

Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Eating.

30's > 20's

It's not just simple mathematics.  The 30ths are definitely greater than the 20's.  To be honest, my 20's just kinda sucked.  And I spent almost all of them in a relationship and marriage that ended unpleasantly.  I never guessed though, that my 30's would be so great.

Today I turned 33 years old.  When I was 29, I was divorced, living with my parents, looking for an apartment, and looking for a job someplace far far away from my ex.  Maybe a few thousand miles, or another continent away. 

Today I'm happily married to a sane man.  We have a 2.5 month old and an almost 2 year old, both beautiful intelligent girls.  I quit my job to stay with them, and occasionally work freelance writing jobs when I want something to do and some extra cash.

So, Happy Birthday to me!  And Hoorah! that Apple Barn Winery ships to my state, since my husband apparently ordered me a case for my birthday.

Eclipses and Insomnia

In another universe, where I've won the lottery, and my kids are older, I would have been at the total solar eclipse in Australia this week.  They did stream it live from several news websites for those of use that aren't globe trotting astronomical fanatics.  It reminds me, every time I turn on my telescope, the handset screams at me "DON'T LOOK AT THE SUN!" over and over and over, while I try to remember which button makes it go away.  If I had more time to get the telescope out, perhaps I would remember, and not have to dig up my manual.  I'm a bad astronomer.  Right now I probably couldn't even find where the planets are for you.  I have half a year's worth of Astronomy Magazine sitting in a pile where I plan on reading.  After I get the kids changed, fed, bathed, cleaned up after, wash the dishes, scrub the floors, and the bathrooms, shower, and sleep. 

Sleep.  I could complain that I never get sleep.  I could blame it on my 2 daughters.  But that would be silly.  I've been a bad sleeper since I was a kid.  If I weren't up feeding or changing diapers, I'd just be up staring at the walls, pacing the hallways.  I come from a long line of bad sleepers.  My children are doomed.  Sorry girls.

Speaking of girls.  Aren't mine cute? Also, please note that the pacifier is gone.  My eldest has lost the last one, and my youngest refuses them.

Driving

I am certain there should be a law against astronomers driving after sunset. 

Recently we were returning from a trip out of state to visit family.  Since the time change, it's been getting dark early and quickly, so it was well into night as we neared home.  I remember leaving the highway and drifting closer toward the country roads where we lived.  I couldn't help but stare out the windows at the stars, peeking in and out of the clouds.  And since I wasn't driving myself this time, I even opened the sunroof to stare up. 

As a passenger, this only gave me a crink in the neck, but had I been driving, I'm sure I would have veered off the road into a ditch, or a deer.  Either way, it would be hazardous to my health.

I can drive myself at night, I'm a grown up, and I can resist the temptation to stare up and drift off into the universe.  But I'd rather be the passenger at night, so I don't have to stick in reality.

Peanut butter and Strawberries

I love peanut butter, maybe more than any other food.  When my first daughter was born nearly two years ago, I watched carefully and fearfully for the deadly peanut allergy. Many sticky sandwiches and handprints on my furniture later, that fear has been alleviated.  Even now, she sits in my lap eating peanuts. However I made a startling realization this week. 

I grow strawberries in a raised bed, next to the main garden.  Near the end of the growing season, my oldest discovered she could rummage in the bed and find leftover strawberries to pick.  This happened when there were only a few stragglers left, so she didn't have many.  Sometime around then, she developed a yeast infection.  I'm not joking.  The doctor was baffled by it, but gave us a prescription safe for her to use, and we used it for months.  The infection seemed stubborn, but in the last month has cleared up well, and looked great.

I finally got brave enough to go to the store alone, with my newborn and her.  As we finished up in produce with her allotment of apples, we passed the rack of strawberries.  She shreiked in delight, so I went back for them.  I think she ate half the container that day while I cleaned and she played.  That night at bath time, I discovered the rash on her again, more angry, bumpy and terrifiying than I hate ever seen it.  And back so suddenly.  Then my tired brain made the connection.  Shoot.  Strawberries.

She goes back to the doctor next month, so we need to test to be sure, but I don't doubt that's the problem.  I hid the rest from her, and she's begun to clear up again.  Although her health is important, I may still cry when my husband tills up the strawberry bed to rid her of the temptation and frustration.

Political Madness

In a fit of political responsibility and parental madness, I took my two daughters to vote with me yesterday.  Two months old, and 23 months old.  It took my so much longer to get them ready, load them up, drive there, and unload them, then it did for me to vote.  I hiked into the polls, obeying the no cell phone sign, as much as I wanted someone to photograph how ridiculous I probably looked.  A two month old strapped to my chest, fussing, and a nearly two year old warily eying everyone around her, while I held onto her coat hood to keep her from sprinting off toward the sticker guy.

My two year old LOVES stickers.  And all three of us were rewarded with stickers upon finishing.  Somehow I think I earned more than a sticker for pulling this off without a world-ending meltdown by any party involved.

I'll refrain from mentioning who I voted for.  I think everyone has had enough of political fights lately.  I was just relieved this morning, to be able to turn on the tv and not see political ads.  I had chocolate cake, and celebrated this little victory. 

In a related note, both little girls are sleeping AT THE SAME TIME, so I managed to finish my cookbook, only one year late.  Now to print it out and give it to everyone for Christmas.  Oh don't worry, they're getting real presents too. 

I'm one of those people...

Yep, it looks like I'm going to be one of 'those people' this year.  I've been itching for the holidays for over a month now.  I believe it has something to do with our new arrival late August.  Another daughter, nearly two months old now.  But that's not all, my younger sister is expecting her first child, a boy, in less than a week.  My family seems to be infected this year with visions of a Christmas gathering filled with 4 grandchildren who will, at Christmas be approximately 10, 2, 4 months, and 2 months.

I'm not sure it's just that compelling me to holiday bliss.  I want to bake and decorate and sip on Bailey's Irish Cream.  I want to give to people, and bath in the happiness the holidays can bring.  I want the snow and cold to return, after a long hot dry summer, spent pregnant.

I want to see my almost two year old open gifts, her birthday and Christmas both in December.  Last year she was barely a year, and didn't seem interested in opening very well.  I have a video of her ripping paper off one tiny strip at a time and handing each one to Daddy before moving on to another strip.  Without interference we would have spent the entire day opening her two gifts.  That was out of the questions due to the impending road trip out of state to the inlaws after breakfast and presents.

There is one more lovely thing about December, besides the holidays, and celebrating the birth of my first.  The sky gets colder and cleared, and the atmospheric conditions much more friendly to my telescope.  I hope to squeeze in some astrophotography, even with sleepless children, a baby still breastfeeding, and my own lack of coherent thought and motorskills from 2 years of sleep deprivation.

That all being said, I love my life.

Two Books and One Spider

Today I received a shipment from Amazon.com.  Two books and a "critter net".  Now I can't actually put the net up yet, since the addition has just begun, and my daughter will not be in her current room very long.  In fact, it won't be much of a room when things are done, just a pass-through space I plan on using as an office/library.

In a related note, I am the only female member of my immediate family that does not own a Nook e-reader.  I understand how fabulous and convenient they are.  And how my 17 month old can't rip the pages out of them, but I have this attachment to paper books.  I like the smell, and the sound, and turning pages.  Even if they take up lots of what little space I have around.

So, two books.  A cookbook, and a religious/political book.  Something I usually don't read.  In fact, I avoid discussing/sharing my political views as much as possible.  If you learn one important thing about me, learn that I despise conflict.  I don't want to fight about stuff. I want peace, love, and happiness.  Corny right?

I managed to read one and a half pages of the book before my daughter woke up from her nap.  I think she wasn't done.  I think she heard me taking two minutes of personal time.  But that's okay.  I still love her. In fact, she's drug a diaper box out of her bedroom and is beating me with it.  I am not kidding.  I think she's trying to get it up on the couch with me, but the box is nearly as tall as she is.

When I get around to trying recipes and finishing chapters in the book, I will attempt to remember to report back.

I haven't taken much time to write lately due to child illness, my illness, spouse illness, general mess, and family tragedy. Things have calmed down a bit, minus the big hole in my yard and mudpiles where the addition is going in.

P.S.  Spider on the remote control is a sign not to watch tv.  I think I have to throw it out now.  Eeek.

One of Those Moms

I'm "one of those" moms.  Did you know that?  I put my child on a leash at the mall the other day.  She's been mobile a while now, and utterly refused to stay in the stroller. I know how much she loves being free to move, so we ran down to Sears and picked up a leash/backpack that was a fuzzy little sheep.  I can put a drink and snack in it for her too while we run around.  I knew I'd become the mom putting her baby on a dog leash the moment my daughter learned to walk.  She moves fast and gets into lots of things.  Even with supervision, I feel better having her on the harness.  If a couple people think I'm lazy, or cruel, who cares.  My daughter is one of the happiest, smartest 15 month olds I've met.

There are other things too.  I've let me daughter eat Cheerio's that she's dropped on the living room floor.  I clean it regularly, and she eats specks of dirt off of it when I'm not looking anyways.  I don't use a plate on her high chair/booster seat.  If she eats beefaroni, or peaches, or green beans, it's right off the tray.  She just dumps the plate everywhere anyways, even the suction cup plates.  She's stronger than everyone thinks.  The suction cup just means she's got momentum going and the food flies father when she gets it loose.

Sometimes I let her nap in strange places.  Like here:

Sometimes she runs laps around the kitchen table, or (like this morning) around me. I let her be herself, and be free the best that I can, while still keeping her safe.  I do things some parents think are evil, but honestly, I'm too busy most of the time to care much what they think. 

And for the record, the doctor tells me she's one of the healthiest kids he's ever seen, every single visit.

A Trip Though Chinese History

Shen Yun

Saturday evening I bravely dropped my daughter off at her grandmother's house for her first overnight babysitter.  Nobody has ever watched her for more than a couple of hours at a time, and that was mostly my husband, and once my big sister.  She is 14 months old today, so it really was time I got used to the idea that she could survive a night without me.  Honestly, I was more concerned about me surviving a night without her.  She has become so integrated into my life, and basic daily functions, that I'm not sure what to do with myself when she's not here.  Even for short periods of time.

We headed out to Cincinnati, stopping at Carrabba's for dinner.  I'd never been there before, and we had giftcards anyway.  We hardly ever go out to dinner, so it usually takes a while to use up a giftcard. I enjoyed a sinfully delicious plate of Lobster Ravioli, and a dessert called something like Chocolate Dream, that was meant for two people, but only eaten by one.  Anyone who knows my husband will realize that he ordered steak.  He's a meat person, hunt it, kill it, skin it, eat it.  Restaurants simply bring that meat to him a bit easier, and with less blood in my kitchen.  For a little while I was still tense about leaving my daughter, and then spent the rest of dinner trying to remember how to eat without a 14 month old sitting beside you making messes and squeaking and talking and demanding your dinner and wanting to eat in your lap.  It turns out, I am capable of eating on my own.  It just takes a little practice.

It was raining all day Saturday, so when we made it downtown to the Aronoff, we indulged in the luxury of valet parking.  I'm a bit hesitant to leave my car in the middle of downtown with strangers, but it was cold, and raining.  It turns out, if you tip them ahead of time, when you leave the show, your car is one of two they already have waiting in front of the building.  There was a line of people waiting for their cars to be retrieved, but mine was waiting and ready when I emerged after the show.  So, remember to tip well, tip the people bringing your food, tip the people handling your car, if you're going for a night out anyways, spend a few extra dollars to make them happy, and in turn, you happy. I had also used this opportunity to dress up, since I rarely have the chance to wear anything that hasn't had food thrown at it, or baby spit on it, or other various disgusting things.  So I was showered, clean smelling, and in a dress.  It would have been no fun walking from a parking garage in the rain, in the cold, in a dress and heels.

So, into the Aronoff, over to will call to pick up my tickets, since this was a last minute decision, and then we spent some time milling around the lobby looking at souvenirs, and my husband sipping his glass of wine. I was interested to see the different types of people who had come to see the show, and their various states of dress, from old jeans, to black tuxes.  I noticed and overheard quite a few couple's who had adopted babies from China, and were bringing them now that they were older to see the show, and learn a bit about where they came from.  I was also more than thrilled when one of these couples seated their tiny 4 year old daughter in front of me, instead of her 7 foot tall father.  I thanked them profusely. I will admit, tickets were quite expensive, but the show is a one of a kind performance, and I'm glad to have gone.

Now a bit about Shen Yun, in case you have no desire to read all about it on their website.  It's a non-profit group based out of New York City, with three equally large dance companies that tour the world seven months out of the year.  The idea was to try and revive 5,000 years of rich culture, history, and belief that was being lost to modern society, and a bit to politics as well.  Much of it is based on, and supported by the Falun Dafa religious group and their beliefs.  The show has gotten criticism from the Chinese government for it's political messages, and some international shows have been canceled due to the pressure.  I agree, there are a couple scenes and messages that convey the distress over the repression of religion in China, but the show is a beautiful performance, filled with traditional dance, history, mythology, and song.  The orchestra contains traditional Chinese instruments playing alongside those in a modern orchestra, and live they are amazing to listen to. 

We sat in the second row back from the orchestra, so when the opening scene began, the fog rolling off the stage actually washed over the first 2-3 rows after filling the orchestra.  Three cheers to them for being able to perform with absolutely no view of their music or the conductor until it cleared.  There were drums and fans and dancing, and dozens of intricate costumes and hairpieces.  It's something you can't describe.  All the dancers were so light on their feet, even with so many on strange leaping and flipping.

Overall it was an amazing evening, relaxing, and full of good food, music, and dancing.  And yes, my husband came willingly.  If you ever get a chance, and can find the funds, please do yourself a favor and go see Shen Yun.  You won't regret it.

Listening to the stars and riding in old cars.

I mentioned before that I took a research trip to the NRAO in Greenbank.  The day we left there was the day they got "official" possession of the big dish.  During our stay we got a tour of the new wing that was built for running the scope.  The walls were shielded with thick lead to keep the computer equipment from interfering with the dishes. 

Greenbank lies in the hills of West Virginia, in a radio dark zone. Which just means you won't have much luck getting a radio station in the area.  It also means there is a guy whose job it is to drive around with sensors finding leaky microwaves and such to repair.  Did you know your leaky microwave could be inhibiting valuable scientific research?  The idea just seems hilarious, some guy showing up and offering to fix my leaky stuff.

The scopes are so sensitive you can't drive just any car back the extensive campus where they lie.  There is a gate after the main facilities and dormitory that you must pass through to head back there.  You are limited to diesel vehicles since the lack spark plugs.  Or, if you're feeling adventurous (or were students like us) you can ride a bicycle. Our professor did drive us on occasion, in one of the NRAO's old 1950's cars.  I may have a picture of this someplace.

The best thing about radio astronomy is it's lack of certain limitations regular astronomy has.  I can do it during the day, at night, or when it's cloudy. Depending on the type of radio dish, there are a mountain of other obstacles to overcome, but everything has it's pro's and con's.

I believe I wrote a length essay on this trip for a college writing class that earned me an A.  So, yeah for double positives.

How I Found Astronomy

As promised, a few notes about my history in astronomy.

I will always, always remember how I came upon my love of astronomy.  I had this wonderful teacher in 4th grade, Mrs. Wallen, who had us draw names of planets out of a hat (or something like that) to write reports about.  Now I know, as a fourth grader, it wasn't that much of a report or paper, but that's where it started all the same.  I got the planet Neptune and it remains my favorite planet to this day, just for starting it all.  I remember my mother taking me to the public library, since the internet and computers and electricity basically didn't exist way back then.  I read and read and read about neptune, and a bit about the other planets too, and I was hooked.  How could it be that I didn't know about all this wonderful knowledge before?  I was astounded and amazed and enralled. 

I read as much as I couldn't, even things I didn't understand (which was a lot back then).  My parents were nothing but encouraging, and I'll always love that about them.  Even encouraging when teachers, students, and maybe other parents thought I was just reading Astronomy magazine to "show off".  Anyone who really knew me, would know otherwise.  I remember reading about variable stars and stars used for stellar distance markers out of the magazine in fifth grade. I remember my mom dropping off copies of astronomy before I would leave with the band or track team for some game or track meet.  I treasured those issues, the first ones I ever had, a special treat since she had to drive an hour to the big city to find them for me.

I got my first telescope, a tiny toy really, but it might as well have been the Hubble to me back then.  I know my parents probably sacrificed to get it for me.  I looked at the Moon and stars, Venus and Saturn and Jupiter with it's moons.  It was all so amazing.  A friend of my father's had a larger telescope that he let me look at Saturn through, and it was even more spectacular.

In high school a man came from the astronomy club from the big city and tried to help me and a few other people form a local club.  We had a few meetings, but then I went off to college and it stopped.  I studied astronphysics in college for a year and a half before switching it to a minor, and majoring in writing.  Not that you could tell I have a writing degree from my scattered ramblings.  During that time I got to travel to Greenbank for Radio Astronomy research, I got to photograph the moon, and use the college telescopes, including an ancient Clarke Telescope.

When I moved south after graduation, I purchased my first real telescope, and probably last, a Meade LX200 12" with GPS and UHTC.  I know, big scope for a first buy, but it's the one I always drooled on in the glossy issues of Astronomy magazine, and swore I'd own one day.

I still visit the local club, although it's a bit of a drive, and I travel to the dark sky site from time to time.  I even served three years on the board of trustees as their loyal secretary. 

I don't have as much time for it lately, with a 14 month old, and a baby due in August, but it will always be there waiting for me.  And you don't always need a telescope.  Sometimes it's just a small fire in the back yard, and a pair of binoculars, or your own two eyes, enjoying the blessings of the night sky.

Refreshing

I've cleared out this old space for my (not even close to) spring cleaning.  It is possible that I have been motivated by two whole nights of sleep in a row, thanks to my growing little bug. 

I've been in a bit of a slump lately, feeling sick and tired and bored and unmotivated and generally like a pile of sludge (much like the gunk my spouse just cleaned out of the hot water tank).  So, here I am again, promising to try and write more and read more and run more and stare at the sky more.

I am looking forward to integrating myself back into my life.  It seems I've forgotten that a bit.

I'll try to post a bit more in the near future about my background in a few different areas, in case you're bored, or simply curious.  And if you don't care at all, that's okay too, but I'd like to spend a moment and wonder why you're over here listening.