Good....

I am happy to report that the lights WORKED in the big auditorium yesterday!  Well, they worked in the way they worked BEFORE.... meaning ~1/3 of the lights were non-functional.... but the students were able to TAKE THEIR EXAM.  

I am also happy that my flight tomorrow is a "Red-eye" so that I can still go to the "Retiree's Cigar Group" this afternoon.  As I have often said.... the cigar itself will be reasonably pleasant (but never a transcendental experience like a pipe would be).... but BEING WITH my friends..... is priceless.  

Until the "Retiree's Cigar Group" I had not really had any "non-family", "non-U folks", "non-band folks" people to just hang around with.... in a very long time.  It is really valuable to me.  

PipeTobacco

Wednesday Thoughts

It is midweek.  It is the longest workday for me this semester.   But it still feels good to reach the half-way mark.  

Tuesday mornings tend to feel the most "out-of-sorts" for me this semester.  The reason why, I suspect is partially because I have band rehearsal on Monday night and typically do not get home until around 8:30pm or 9:00pm.  My wife and I always want to eat dinner together, so having an especially late dinner also leads to a tendency to stay up later than typical as well.  Last Monday, I ended up probably going to bed around 1:30am or so.... and the 5:00am alarm Tuesday morning was not music to my ears.  

We have made it a "habit" of sorts this Fall to eat most Wednesdays in the biggest dorm's cafeteria at the U after my wife picks me up and we swim.  It is a nice thing to look forward to on Wednesdays.  

I am happily acclimating well to a return to indoor track running.  Do not get me wrong.... running outside is MUCH more fun and enjoyable..... when I can do so in daylight and when it is at least 50 degrees Farenheit (~10 Celcius).  But, I had grown rather tired of running in the dark with a headlight..... and close to freezing temperatures COMBINED with utter darkness....... make the indoor track feel almost "palatial" in comparison.   

Planning for the trip to Washington (DC) is both enjoyable and stressful.  It will be wonderful to be there.  But, getting ready..... comes with challenges:

1.  Making sure our beloved hound will be taken care of..... one of our kids is planning to stay with her.... but our dog, being older.... and also rather "super attached" to me.... she sometimes (usually) acts "mopey" when I/we are away.    Our cat does quite well..... he will want MORE attention for a while upon our return, but there are really no worries about him.

2.  Making sure we pack WHAT WE NEED.  Forecasts suggest it will be rather COLD (for DC) while we are there.  So, we need to plan for that along with my having one "gussied up" outfit (sportcoat, slacks/tie etc) for my presentations.... which necessitates my bringing a pair of "dressier" shoes.... in addition to my comfortable shoes.  But, perhaps the most "worrisome" packing revolves around my bite guards (for my TMJ), spare eyeglasses, dental floss, and the snake's nest of wires to run all the "gizmos" (computer, phone, watch, etc.).  

3.  Getting to the airport "on time".  My wife is extremely ardent about meeting or usually EXCEEDING TSA guidelines on when to arrive at an airport.  I am considerably more lax about such things.... and detest sitting around in an airport, waiting and waiting.  I am especially more lax when we are leaving from a smaller airport where there will hardly be anyone about other than the passengers of the "Redeye" flight.  So, our typical morning will be my wife being agitated and wanting to leave even earlier than our long discussed, NEGOTIATED departure time determined the evening before...... "just in case" something goes wrong....and I.... knowing we will be sitting around for hours in an uncomfortable airport.... will keep trying to stall our departure time to the airport.   

4.  Getting acclimated to how we will get from the airport to the hotel.  I am actively studying the train schedules and trying to figure out the easiest way to utilize them.... then I will print out the results "just in case" I need them 

* * * * *

I will have in my "carry-on" which is just a backpack..... my gizmo computer (not that I want it, but I have to meet online with some students who are "needy"), a book to read (not sure which yet), a pipe (not sure which I would like to bring..... a favorite would be wonderful..... but then I would worry that the rough airport travel could destroy it.... so I will likely bring an average work-horse pipe), and all the gizmo wires and my bite splints, and other TMJ related supplies.... and my reading glasses..... and a spare set of clothes as my "just in case".  

If I can weezle away some time, I really HOPE that Georgetown Tobacco is still pipe focused and not relegating pipes to only an afterthought.  It is the place I would truthfully want to spend my time with a pipe in hand.  That would be the most exciting goal.  It was a really beautiful place back when I was there as a young, new prof.  It was delightful to sit with and chat with other pipe smoking fellows back then.  

* * * * * 

I had a rather strange dream last night where I was at the U, working on the computer, and I had (what I thought) was my NPR Classical Music station streaming through the computer's speakers.  I was extremely tired in the dream, but was working on grading a lot of electronically submitted work from my "bazillion" students.  I started to nod off a bit, as the papers were more dull than a Sunday afternoon in a dry town...... when I caught a bit of a person speaking in the radio.... and it was my band's conductor!  He was cursing up a storm OVER TOP OF THE MUSIC HE WAS DIRECTING and was in a veritable uproar because our group was PERFORMING live in the studio for NPR... and he was mad as hell because the "low winds" were all MISSING at the performance.  The bass clarinet (me) is one of the "low winds" but it also included our bari sax player, the tuba player and the euphonium player.   The alarm on my gizmo phone awoke me before I had anything else happen in the dream beyond my realization of my absence at this special performance I had no clue about.  When I awoke, my heart was racing (~80 bpm).  

* * * * *

With today being Veterans Day, I thought I would mention my Dad here, specifically relating to his service.  To me, though, he was DAD.  As you know, my Dad was a pipe smoker and I did learn the beauty of that gentle art through watching him enjoy the gentle pleasures of pipe and pouch throughout my early life.  I miss him, and I wish I could talk with him face-to-face and enjoy a pipe with him.

My Dad, who would soon be reaching his 103rd birthday, was a Veteran of World War II.  He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division of the Army.  This division was referred to as the "Screaming Eagles".  My Dad was part of D-Day (Operation Overload) and was a glider pilot and landed in the invasion of Normandy.  It was there that my Dad was shot.   Fortunately, although the wounds were quite serious, and he experienced one of the very early skin grafts to try to better seal and repair gaping wounds....he recovered.  For the rest of his life, due to his wound, he had a ~1inch X ~2 inch patch of skin in his lower trunk that even after healing, left a divot that was roughly 1/2 inch deep from that wound.  My father earned a Purple Heart and two bronze stars during his service.  

* * * * * 

I had better head to class.... hopefully the damn lights will work in the big auditorium and I can give the students their exam today.

PipeTobacco

Let There Be Light... PLEASE

As many know, I often have larger classes for anatomy & physiology sections.  Well, one of my sections has ~125 students in it and is held in one of the very large lecture halls at the U.  This room also happens to be in the second oldest building at the U.  As far as big lecture halls in old buildings go, this one is reasonably nice.... except for the LIGHTING. I and also several other professors have sent in work requests to try to have the lighting system repaired.  Roughly ~35% of the lights in this room will not operate.  

When I am "big voice lecturing" to the class,  and I have an anatomical image projecting onto the big ~30 ft x ~15 foot screen above me and above the 40ft expanse of  white board extending from one side of the room to the other.... a somewhat dim, "mood-lighting" light level is ok as I rant and rave about all the different physiological concepts I yammer about.  

But, when students take their exams..... some of them end up having to sit in regions where the lighting is nearly atrocious.  Their younger eyes likely do "ok" in the dim light..... but I would be angry as hell if I were taking an exam in some of those seats.  

For those students.... that is why I have been pressing this issue with the U's Facilities Management.   And, it has been worked on and examined by the U's electricians.  But.... unfortunately..... they report that they cannot figure out how to fix the situation.... because of the antiquated "high tech" equipment, and also due to the room's inherent electrical complexity.  I counted one time, and there are ~40 different light switches in the room organized into four different banks, none of which control "everything".  The U electricians petitioned to get approval from the "high falutin', muckety-mucks" (the President, the Provost and their minions) to call in an electrical specialist.  That is somewhere in progress.

Well..... today..... I go to my class in this lecture hall..... get there about 15 minutes before the start of class..... having hoofed across campus with a big box hoisted onto my shoulder.... containing ~250 different exams and ~250 scantrons.  

You see.... this semester, I have TWO back-to-back anatomy & physiology classes, each ~125 students, and each having an examination yesterday.  One class is Anatomy & Physiology 1, the other class is Anatomy & Physiology 2.... different topics in each, different exams in each.

I get into the big lecture hall, and some of the students are already sitting in the room, waiting.  But, they are sitting in a room that is PITCH BLACK inside.  The only reason I knew some students were in there was through the light shining onto the faces of these students from their gizmo phones that they were interacting with in a myriad of ways while they sat.   

I chuckled a bit under my breath..... I often go into that room and students in that first class seem to LIKE to sit in the dark..... who the hell knows why?

I entered, set the box down, and then proceeded to dig my own gizmo phone out of my pocket, and I proceeded to turn on the thing's flashlight.... and proceeded over to the amazing wall of light switches. Different switches had various printed paper labels under them, some had jury-rigged labels made from masking tape, and a few still had plastic labels from the old "Dynamo Label Maker" days.  But, many were unmarked as well.  

I started locating and trying to flip the switches I had memorized to flip as the ones that would provide the greatest amount of light in this space.

None of them worked.

I went back to what I thought may be a "main" switch,, and changed its position.

No effect.   I then went back to the prior panels and tried again......

No effect.

Getting very nervous, I only had ~10 minutes now until the exam was set to start.  More and more students were pouring into the dark and using their phone's flashlights to get seated.  I called both IT and also Facilities Management..... and after working through each Departments damable phone tree (aka, the "Interactive Voice Response System" reached a real person, and they were dispatched to try to rescue me.

Unfortunately, the IT Specialist came, and could not activate any lights whatsoever.

Unfortunately, the U Electrician came over, and he too could not get any of the switches to operate.  But, he then went up to the very back of the auditorium and with his keys was able to open a small, narrow, locked door leading into the projection room for the space.  I followed him inside.  He proceeded to open and examine a variety of different electrical panels..... some had solid green lights inside (a good sign) but MANY displayed instead... a flashing red light (not good).  He cursed... somewhat under his breath.  He tried to turn everything in that projection room OFF and then back ON (sort of a "reboot"...  like done on a computer).  

I went back out to talk to the class about potential options..... while the electrician worked.  

Unfortunately, and yet also fortunately...... the U's electrician (fortunately) was able to get MOST of the lights to come back on (now ~40% are out)..... but it took him (unfortunately) about 45 minutes into the class time for the lighting to be "restored".  

While he was working, I had talked with the class about options for the exam.  I gave them three "options" with the idea that the majority opinion would be what we would do.  I already knew the student mind enough though, that their preferred choice at 90% of the vote (to take the exam in the next period) was what I was planning anyhow..... but by being allowed a choice..... it gives them a sense of ownership and philosophical "agency".  I then told them the obvious (that I also could not lecture without light) and that unfortunately class was cancelled. 

The electrician, who was a near perfect doppelganger of myself in appearance other than I would need to still be at my previously portly girth. He is someone I have known for a few years, his having come to the U AFTER retiring with his pension from his former electrician job.  He is a very nice fellow.  

After thanking him for his help, I worked on the rooms computer until the next class arrived, and then gave that SECOND class their exam.  

I HOPE that I will not have lighting problems on Wednesday, when I am not hoping to administer the exam for the first class.

* * * * *

I have been thinking and searching around looking for the various pipe and cigar shops I can find in Washington D.C.  It sure isn't like it used to be, where pipes and pipe tobacco shops were common and typical.  Even the one pipe shop I remember from a prior, long-ago DC visit..... Georgetown Tobacco..... seems much more focused on cigars now.... and pipes are pretty much an afterthought. The same is true for Curtis Draper Tobacconist..... pretty much just cigars these days.  But, I do remember a blend of pipe tobacco I had gotten and greatly enjoyed at Georgetown Tobacco.... it was called "Night Owl" and as a young biology prof back then, I tended to pick a blend preferentially, if I could relate it back to some sort of creature..... hence "owl" attracted me first to the blend.  But, even though "Night Owl" has now been long gone in my cache, I do remember it fondly.  If I do get the opportunity to get to Georgetown Tobacco...... I hope they may still have "Night Owl" on hand.

But, if I do get to go to Georgetown Tobacco... and it has a lounge that is all or primarily only focused on cigars.... that will be disappointing.... and if that IS so (like I fear), I think may rather go then.... instead.... to the Casa de Montecristo Cigar Lounge & Bar which is part of J&R's Cigars.  

It may sound foolish or stupid, but if the old "pipe focused" Georgetown Tobacco and Curtis Draper Tobacconist are both a much reduced venue for pipes and pipe tobaccos than each had been...... it would feel somewhat sad to spend a lot of time in either if it is now really mostly about cigars.  I would, rather, in my mind.... indulge in the Casa de Montecristo in that scenario.... because that was and remains its purpose.... cigars.   I do still hope that Georgetown Tobacco is both very pipe focused/friendly and that they still have "Night Owl"..... but if not, I at least have a backup plan that would be enjoyable.  

And, I MOSTLY am still just HOPING that  I CAN successfully eek enough time out of part of a day to at least DO one or the other of the above.

* * * * *

I ran today..... indoors.... but with my new shoes!  They actually felt very comfortable.  It was a pleasant run.  

PipeTobacco

Crunch Time

 

Last week, following my post about the (then) upcoming mid-term elections, I had a sudden realization that not just one.... but TWO different conferences were coming up.... both LESS THAN two weeks away!!!!  In my mind, I had been thinking I had THREE WEEKS of time to work on them.

But, when I realized HOW CLOSE both were, it resulted in me feeling "under the gun" in terms of timing.  I HAD to get the four student research posters to the graphics center before last Thursday, and I had a talk to prepare as well.  All of those things needing my attention and work with seven less days to accomplish what I needed.... made for a rather hectic workweek, and ended up nullifying my hoped for writing here during the Tuesday-Friday dates of last week. It was unfortunately an academic "Crunch Time" for me.

But.... fortunately, I did get the research posters to the Graphics Office in time (after a few late nights) and the talk is up-to-snuff.  Three of the research posters are heading to an international conference that is being held in Washington D.C.  I will be leaving for that meeting this upcoming Friday.  The other two presentations are at a regional symposium about two hours away from the U.... and that does not occur until the 20th.  

The Society for Neuroscience meeting (in D.C.) is a huge extravaganza.  Even though a bit lighter in attendance since challenges from Covid and from Trump both affecting Visas..... the last two years, attendance has still hovered around 35,000 researchers globally in attendance.  It should be a very interesting meeting, and my wife is scouring the Internet to help find us some especially enjoyable restaurants featuring less common ethnic cuisines in our home region during our stay in D.C.  I am kind of hoping especially for a really nice, authentic Turkish restaurant, I would love an Ethiopian restaurant, and I would be especially excited to find a style not at all available anywhere near home (perhaps Russian, or Brazilian, or Argentinian).  We also plan to try to visit at least two different Smithsonian Museums.  I have to admit I have been looking at potential pipe shops and cigar lounges.... if I can wiggle away a bit of time to visit one of those delightful "candy shop" venues for me too.  I am really hoping I can find a bit of time to do that, but I will see.

Also, last week, on Friday, because of extreme cold (38 degrees Fahrenheit (~3.3 Celsius)),  high winds (~15 mph (~24 kph)) and rain at 5:30am.... I succumbed and ran at the indoor track, thinking that now unfortunately, the indoor track will become my norm once again for the next several months until likely April.  I am still hoping to eek out some outdoor days for a while, but I suspect it will be sporadic at best.  I ran on the track this morning as well.

I am not sure if I beat AC this year or not, but this morning, my wife and I succumbed and finally turned on the furnace for the first time.  It was just not pleasant inside at 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) this morning, and we both agreed it was time.  

I am glad that all the "academic" aspects of this upcoming research conference trip are done, and all that is really left to do is my normal work week (but also trying to get my normal Friday lab work, writing work, and grading work done during the earlier four days)... and packing.

I remember very fondly the first time my Mom brought home Captain Crunch Peanut Butter.  I had generally liked regular Captain Crunch (although I much preferred Corn Flakes, Quisp, Sugar Frosted Flakes, Product 19, and Trix).... but Captain Crunch PEANUT BUTTER was to my young palate, extremely delicious and stayed a favorite for quite a while.  

I think most of the cereals I listed above are pretty common knowledge, except perhaps for Quisp.  I have added a photo of it below:

PipeTobacco 

Vote

 

I have already voted this morning.  It will be interesting to see the results.

It will be rather interesting IF the control of both the Senate and the House become Democrat Majority. Polls suggest this will happen, but polls have been inaccurate in several other occasions.  Things I think about given the current thought that we may a Democrat Majority Senate and House (DMSH):

1.  Will DMSH actually be able to successfully reign in Trump to keep him from doing as many egregious things?

2.  Will DMSH actually incite Trump to act out even MORE vehemently than he has already been?

3.  Will a DMSH result in the Democratic Party becoming more unified or more fractured ahead of the 2028 presidential election?  

I worry that modern society is too "self focused" meaning that the thrust of most discussions and arguments politically are focused on individuals and/or small, specialized factions.  I truly believe that the advent of Internet commerce, fractured news media, smart phones and social media, and asynchronous media streaming has obliterated most all aspects of broader community.  

I miss newspapers.  Electronic facsimiles of said are just not the same.   Their decline also has contributed to the loss of recognition, participation in, and an awareness of community.  

* * * * * 

Haley Stevens..... I worry/fear she may have had some sort of psychological breakdown.  Her actions, and her interviews Sunday to the present have been shocking.... and difficult to observe.  

* * * * *

Through it all, my mind still spends its free moments thinking about pipes and pipe tobaccos.  In some ways I am finding comfort in that consistency of my mind.  Eight and a half years ago (when I first laid down my pipes), I had very mistakenly presumed my focus, my passion, and my interest in pipes would wane.  As these past 8.5 years have shown to me.... this is not the case.  While there is "undulation" in my pipe focus day-to-day, it has never left me.  From a physiological perspective this is still surprising to me, but in the same vein from a psychological, philosophical, and perhaps theological perspective I guess it is not as surprising a finding.  

Because my PCS is still in the 9+ range, I have both a pipe and a pouch of pipe tobacco in my jacket pockets today, and I have my trusty Zippo there as well.   I have not had the full set of the trio with me  at the same time as I go about my day-to-day actions in a long while.  It is strangely COMFORTING that because of the beautiful tools within my pockets.... within a matter of less than a minute, I could readily grab the pipe, tobacco, and lighter and indulge in their grace and beauty.  And, yet of course, it is also more than a bit NERVE-WRACKING that these beautiful pieces of art and tools are ALL so conveniently present and instantly available as well.  It feels GOOD to think about just spontaneously having a pipe at any moment.  Yet, in the same breath, I feel WORRY (guilt?) about slipping off the wagon.

PipeTobacco

Halloween

With Halloween occurring tomorrow (Saturday), I did carve our pumpkin for our porch and have a candle ready for its innards.  Depending upon my wife's plans for us tomorrow, we will either be home to distribute candy, or we will have an old chair with a big bowl of candy out on the porch, with a sign requesting revelers to take only one or two pieces so everyone will be able to get some candy.  

Interestingly, with the SOARING prices of actual chocolate currently.... due to some sort of cocoa shortage..... the candy favorites we like to give have been in short supply (difficult to find)..... OR other favorites have been REFORMULATED into a version that does not taste as good as it should.  So, my wife made the executive decision to have our treat, this year, be packages of "gummie bears" instead of the usual.  I have to admit that I do like "gummie bears" so that is fine by me.... I will gladly eat any remnants if there are any.  

But, by far, my FAVORITE candy of the Halloween season are HANDS DOWN.....

Brachs Mellocreme Pumpkins

Yes, I know... they are basically the same as Candy Corn (which I also like), but they are about the size of what would be perhaps 3-4 candy corn.... and they are typically softer.... and a bit creamier than are individual candy corn.  

Long ago, they used to have small bags of candy corn (often with a mellocreme pumpkin or two in each bag as well) to distribute to the kids.  But, we have not seen any of those in well over 20 years.  Otherwise.... if they were still around..... THOSE would by my preference to give out to the kids!

Apparently, though, candy corn (nor Mellocreme Pumpkins) are NOT favorites of hardly ANYONE these days.  I have read (far too many than warranted, IMO) comments from folks online who seemingly DESPISE these delicious little candies. I think there may even be an "Anti-Candy Corn" online group or club that I stumbled across one time.  

But, very kindly, my loving wife bought me TWO larger sized bags of MellowCreme Pumpkins that I may dole out to myself for the next several weeks.  

* * * * *

• Running was again pleasant....  after the first mile or so!  :)   
• The Retiree's Cigar Group was so beautifully relaxing and fun!  Most all of the group was there, and it was a time filled with a lot of joking, laughter, and relaxing times!  And, I reverted back and had a 6x60 Cohiba Red Maduro which is a pleasant cigar I have always had good luck with as well.  
• PCS is still ~9.0.  Not sure if that is going to change anytime soon.
• It feels so STRANGE that we are 2/3rds through the semester already!

PipeTobacco

Of Mice and Mazes

 

One of the toys I had received as a very young kid, was the classic labyrinth maze toy like shown above.  If you are not familiar with this toy, it is a maze-shaped board, that is controllable (in terms of tilting left and right, and front-to-back) by the two side knobs shown.  The goal was to navigate a steel marble through the maze from start to finish without falling into any of the holes.  

I remember receiving my labyrinth maze toy at Christmas when I was four years old.  And, even though for my four-year-old self, it was rather beyond my patience and dexterity to succeed at.... I always liked the toy.   It sat in my toy box or on a shelf in my bedroom for quite a while, not played particularly often.  But that changed when I was eleven or twelve, and I "refound" a strong interest in the toy and worked and practiced on it quite frequently until I was rather adept at navigating all the channels successfully.  I really liked the DESIGN of the toy and the DESIGN of the maze on the table of this toy.... and it sort of "imprinted" in my mind.

Advance a couple of years and I was just starting my first year in high school.  My best friend and I... 

(I have sometime in the past written about this friend of mine... we were wholly ensconced in (unfortunately in our minds) the "nerdy, unpopular" group of kids in our school.  He was my friend who I would regularly go seining to catch baby fish (bluegill, pike, darters, catfish, etc) in local streams and ditches to put into aquaira so we could watch and observe them... they were usually about 1 - 1.5 inches long.) 

... were very excited that a science teacher at our high school had decided to have that year, the district's first "Science Fair" it ever held.  We both schemed and discussed what we could DO for our projects for a long time.  He ultimately decided to create a study looking at fish feeding behavior and learning.  I really wanted to really do something with mice.  Eventually, on one of the weekends my parents took me to the public library, I stumbled across a book about mazes and checked it out.  In that book, I learned that the classic labyrinth maze toy was a classic maze shape and was referred to as a "Lasher Maze" based upon a researcher who used this style of maze in testing.   I then had my idea.

I asked my Dad if he thought we might be able to BUILD a "Lasher Maze" for me to use with mice.  He was game to try, and over the course of a weekend and a trip to the lumber yard, he and I worked with his electric and manual hand tools try to build a mouse-appropriate sized version of the maze of my toy.  It was a fun time, and remember fondly working with him as we carefully worked to measure and remeasure our boards to create this maze.  During this work, as with most things, my Dad always had his pipe gripped in his mouth.  By that time, I had already been sporadically "borrowing" and sampling his pipe tobacco myself.... but it was prior to his knowing that I was doing so.... so while I would have ALSO liked to have had a pipe while we worked, it WAS only a pipe dream of mine at the time.  

When we completed the maze, it was actually rather beautiful and was very nicely done!  We painted it with a can of orange spray paint (I already really liked orange by that time), and then cut out of hardware cloth, a cover to place over the maze so the rodents would not climb walls or escape during testing.  

Over the next several weeks my friend and I both worked feverishly on our projects... and we helped each other out in both projects, collecting our data and in writing our science project reports.  We even very carefully followed the tenets of the scientific method we had found in one of our textbooks in science class as we organized and wrote out our projects.  

We and other kids from all the various high school grades eventually submitted their projects for consideration.  There were prizes for each grade level, and an overall winner prize as well.... which was a small trophy.  

On the day of the awards, prizes were first given to each grade-level winner.  My friend and I were greatly disappointed when our grade winner was NOT one of us, but was another kid who had written a report about something to do with how batteries produce electricity.  

Although we were VERY disappointed,  we continued (of course) to stay in the auditorium for the rest of the event..... (I have to admit, though, my friend and I were not paying particularly close attention at that point, and instead were playing various pencil and paper games with each other in one of our notebooks..... "hangman" and "dots and boxes" and "battleship" are the games I remember us doing.)... and eventually it was approaching the end of the event... and they were going to announce the overall winner.

Both my friend and I were presuming it would be a 12th grader who won, and we anticipated it being either this really rather annoying guy in 12th grade who was a rather mean, "teacher's pet" kid for the 12th grade Physics teacher, or this equally rather mean girl who was very snooty to both of us... she did some sort of chemistry report and was also in 12th grade.  

The principal went up to the podium to announce the overall winner..... 

... and he began by talking for a while about all the strong science projects and all the general "political platitudes" about how science is important and on and on.... 

... then he said, that it was very difficult to chose ONE winner, so they had decided to award TWO first place winners for the Science Fair.... 

... and he then read off both MY NAME and MY FRIEND's NAME!!!!!   We were both shocked and amazed!!!!!  It was beyond our imaginations that either of us would have won.... and even more that BOTH of us won.  

Regrettably, there were no additional science fairs that occurred during out time in high school.  The young teacher who had organized this one, was unfortunately pink-slipped (laid off) because of budget cuts in our district... he ended up being one of I think it was 6 teachers that had to be laid off that year due to these budget cuts.  

I still have that maze my Dad and I built.  I actually have some of my rodent researchers use it to run juvenile rats in, as they are similar in size to mice.

*****

• Running was pleasant this morning, even though cold.  It helped me to clear my mind.
• I am aiming to head to the Retiree's Cigar Group this afternoon.  I will be avoiding that dull as dust type of cigar the fellow convinced me to try last week.
• Fortunately, my wife and I have NO scheduled agenda items tonight, and so I can be luxuriously sanguine (I hope) at the Retiree's Cigar Group... and just have fun.  And, my wife and I can leisurely swim afterwards.  
• My wife has a late afternoon on-line meeting with her "Veggie Peeps".... these are a cadre of on-line friends she has that all met when they all were trying to adopt a wholly plant based diet for health.  Even though I would be wholly fine eating a completely plant-based diet.... and there is pretty strong evidence that type of extremely vegan, very low fat diet can be very helpful for reducing risks of heart disease, diabetes, and inflammatory responses in the body.... after trying it for about a month.... my wife and her friends basically gave up on it.  However, they remained friends and meet regularly online.  I actually enjoyed the choices we had during the month she adopted this diet... and would readily go back again if she is ever of  a mind to do so.  

PipeTobacco