Nelson Speaker Series

If you are in or near Claremont this month and next, come hear some great lectures for the Harvey Mudd College Nelson Speaker Series called Powering the Planet Sustainably. This Thursday Nathan Lewis will be the first speaker. It starts at 7:30 p.m. in Galileo Hall. This series is free and open to the public.

Nathan Lewis George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology Chair of the Editorial Board for Energy & Environmental Science, Nate Lewis is a great effector of change and a leading researcher in solar energy solutions. He will discuss the technical, political and economic hurdles that must be overcome before the widespread adoption of renewable energy.

Harvey Mudd College in Kenya

This summer a group of four Harvey Mudd students (Mudders) went to Kenya with physics professor to install a pump in a well, along with the solar panels to run the pump and provide electricity to a school. It was not all smooth going, but in the end, mission was accomplished.

See a video here.

Vegetarian Burritos - Yum

Since I don't teach on Fridays (that doesn't mean I don't have plenty of work to do, but it can be done at home on my own time), I have decided that I want to try out new recipes at week's end. I decided this when I found an intriguing recipe that I just had to try out yesterday. I googled vegetarian burritos and came up with this recipe. (It's called enchiladas, but I used whole wheat and corn tortillas, so they were more like burritos). They were most delicious.

Around the World - What Day Is It?

Thanks to the wonders of technology, I had two great video chats today with friends who are living in a different day than me. First I chatted with my friend in New Zealand where they were just getting ready to start their Saturday morning, and then I talked to my friend in Qatar where it was just after midnight there - 2:00 p.m. here. I'm amazed that we could find the time to talk when we are all awake at the same time!

Electronic Death

On Tuesday when I plugged in my trusty Logitec speakers for my iPod, they refused to turn on. I hoped that my trusty husband could find out what was wrong and fix it. I have been using these speakers for at least five years in my music classes, and they are a necessary tool.

Unfortunately, the speakers were pronounced dead as a doornail. A quick check online lead me to find some Altec Lansing inmotion speakers purchased that night so music teaching could go on. Now to find a way to recycle these old ones....

Yoga

I have added one new thing to my schedule this year - yoga! On Tuesday mornings Lynn drops off her cello at my house, and then we make our way down to Claremont Yoga in the Claremont Village for an hour and fifteen minutes of fun. Our particular class is called Iyengar Yoga which involves using props for support - blankets, bolsters, straps, etc. Last week I was pretty sore on Wednesday. Today, not quite as much as last week!

After class we come back to my house to play some Celtic duets, something we've been doing for fun for two years.

The Vista Garden

Vista is lucky to have a great garden area. Part of it is reserved especially for the 3rd graders who read the picture book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran and then get to create their own Roxaboxen in the garden. I love the fact that kids are given the time and space to create mud pies, plant vegetables, arrange rocks, and have a rich imaginative life. That is missing from so many childhoods these days.

The other day as I strolled through the plantings, I was shown this amazing gourd that is about the size of a big watermelon. There is also another cool gourd growing on the fence.

Fiesta de la Luna

Although the moon was waning and not visible in the early evening on Saturday night, Claremont United Church of Christ held our annual fundraiser called Fiesta de la Luna. The food was catered by Homegirl Cafe, and it was excellent Mexican food. I think I'll have to make a trip downtown to the restaurant. The all-woman mariachi band, Mariachi Luna, was fabulous. The silent auction and live auction were great hits.

Art Show Closing

Turns out, Friday night is a happenin' time in Claremont. Our friend, artist Steve Comba, had a show in the Packing House at Loft 204. After strolling downtown and enjoying the closing reception for his show (seeing friends, munching munchies, imbibing in a little white wine and discussing art), we wandered over to Yogurtland and out into the courtyard which was filled with people and music. The weather was perfect (after a strange and wonderful day of cumulus clouds, rocking thunder and spritzes of sprinkles) and it felt a perfect ending to a work week.

Solar

On the recommendation of two friends, I read Ian McEwan's newest book, Solar. The NY Times did not give it a particularly good review, nor did other sources, and I have to say I agree with the reviewers over my friends this time. The book started out very funny, darkly funny, but then it seemed to slug along, much like the protagonist.