New Entertainment

In our search for a new tv series to watch, Hal and I have finally stumbled on 30 Rock. We started watching them instantly on Netflix and after watching 6 episodes at one time, we have now finished season one and the first three episodes of season 2. Once we finish that season, we can catch up online with season 3. This is one series that is best seen from the beginning. I started watching it a month or so ago, but I think I'll enjoy new episodes more now that I understand what's going on.

Happy wedding day to my niece, Jenny and her fiance, James!

Orffing and Socializing

Today was the day for Claremont music teachers to get inspired for the new year! I am a member of the American Orff Schulwerk Society where I have borrowing privileges for the video library. I thought that if I borrowed three videos, I should share them with friends, so this is what we did. Jody offered her house, we brought salads to share and watched some truly inspirational teaching. We will definitely have to do this again sometime!

Good Day to be Outside

As soon as Liesl left, the weather in Claremont decided to be wonderful. It's sunny and in the 60s today. Therefore, my neighbor kids are out in the front yard. They are not playing with Christmas toys, however. Keeping them totally occupied is a pile of wood scraps (like blocks) and some wood glue. Samantha is in 3rd grade, and the twins, Owen and Elliot, are four.

Reading Up a Storm

Liesl and I now share a favorite author, Haruki Murakami. I first read Kafka on the Shore and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle earlier this year. Yesterday I stared A Wild Sheep Chase which I finished just now. It's hard to define Murakami's style, although I like to say it has magical realism. Other critics say "postmodern" and "fantasy", although it is not the type of fantasy one might associate with alternative universes or dragons.

I took this picture with Photo Booth - a Mac application that Hal gave me a few days ago.

Another Book

Because I enjoyed Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake so much, I was excited to find her newest book, Unaccustomed Earth, on the library bookshelf last week. Although I prefer novels to short stories, I particularly enjoyed these, especially with Lahiri's writing style. Although, I do wonder sometimes if she knows of any people who have mostly happy relationships.

Boxing Day

Yay for the sun today! After a very wet, gray Christmas, the storm moved on, and we were treated with a beautiful view of the snow-covered mountains. Hal, Liesl and I took a walk up to the Botanical Gardens this afternoon. We each had a camera and had fun practicing with our macros.

Christmas in Claremont

Christmas Dinner


Skyping Claire and Kelsey


Liesl and her new backpacking pack

Christmas Eve Hike

It was supposed to rain all day today, but the storm seems to have slowed down, so we took advantage of the weather and took the 5-mile loop at the Claremont Wilderness Park. Here we are at the summit. We wish Claire could have popped over for the holiday....

More pictures are here.

Memory Lane

Liesl and I have been reminiscing today. First we watched The Grinch and Charlie Brown's Christmas (Rudolph is tomorrow), then we went through some of her old school work. She wanted me to scan some of the funnier stories, and here is one where she nearly predicts her future. If she had known about neuroscience in first grade, perhaps her teaching topic would have included neurons.

Readin' Time

Being home on winter break means I get more time to read. The rainy day gave me even more reason to curl up and finish Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood - my first Atwood novel. My mom brought me this book at Thanksgiving and said that her book club had plenty to discuss about this book. This dystopian novel is dark and is said to be the sequel to her Handmaid's Tale which used to be required reading for Harvey Mudd freshmen.