Surprise! (sort of)

On Wednesdy, the 24th, i turned 40.  The big 4-0.  Doomsday.  Black Wednesday.  The demarcation line between young and old, it seems.  Over the hill, as it were.

My beautiful wife sprung a surprise party for me at work that afternoon.  Most of my staff attended, and well as some other friends at the office.  Caroline & David got to come.  But the big surprise was that my parents and sister flew in from Texas to celebrate the event with me.  That was really cool.

I actually knew about the party itself.  Someone at work accidentally included me on an email with the secret.  They quickly tried to cover the mistake with a ruse to get me out of my office, so someone could sneak in and delete the email from my computer, but i had already read it.  Nevertheless, i played along with the ruse, and didn't let on that i knew anything.  But i didn't know who all would be there, so there was still some element of surprise involved.

Star Fruit

Some good friends brought over a wonderful fruit basket today, only the basket was actually a scalloped-out watermelon with handle.  And the fruit was ready-to-eat -- grapes, pineapple, blueberries, watermelon, strawberries.  And atop it all, this star-shaped fruit. 

Now, i have never seen a star-shaped fruit before.  Never heard of one.  So, i assumed they had just cut up some normal fruit into the shapes.  The forms were so good that it looked like they had used a cookie cutter.  When i asked what type of fruit it was, my friends answered, "star fruit". 

OK, you guys are pulling my leg, and they even have their 9-year-old daughter in on the joke, as she is calling it star fruit, too.  Julie assures me that she's heard of it. 

Are you kidding me?  There's a fruit that is naturally shaped like a 5-pointed star?  And people think all this world came about by some purely mechanistic, random-chance process?  God made star-shaped fruit for the pleasure of us people, his grandest creation. 

God made this fruit so i could get a kick out of it.  That's very cool.

Back to School, Phase 2

Today was Jackson's first day of kindergarten, so there wasn't so much "back" in the "to school".  Though Julie & i were discussing how it doesn't seem like a momentous "first day of school" occasion, since Jackson has been going to pre-school for a few years.

But this was his first day of full-day school.  His first day with a lunchbox.  His first day navigating halls with big kids tromping through.  And probably a score of other firsts that we didn't get to witness within the classroom.

He had a day of artistic regression, drawing a scene of our trip to the Gatlinburg aquarium's shark tank -- without the sharks ("i couldn't remember how to draw a shark"), and depicting himself and Emily as stick figures, when he already knows how to draw bodily.  I'm sure that will work itself out in a matter of days.

So, a big day for a big boy.  Jackson crashed on the couch a half-hour after dinner.

Back to School, Phase 1

Emily started 2nd grade today at Calvary Day School.  Loaded down with all the supplies they have to bring, an everyday book bag bigger than any one her Dad ever lugged around, and a fresh-baked muffin for her teacher.

I'd report more, but you know how hard it is to get any info out of her.

Book Review: Conservative Like Me

Title: Conservative Like Me
Subtitle: Restoring American Politics, Piety & Patriotism from the Ground Up
Author: Evan Archilla
Rating: 3 (1-5 scale)

This is a nice, little book, and i agree with most of its content. I like how Archilla approaches his themes from the perspective of a new or recent arrival to our great country.

But it's pretty light on research or nuanced argument. Call it "Conservatism for Dummies", like the recent spate of similarly-titled books. Which is not to disparage the book at all, but rather to accurately describe what you're getting. I mean, we all need one of those Dummies book for something.

If you want more in-depth looks at these topics, check out the Heritage Foundation. It should be your next stop after this primer.

Famous Events of August 11th

Births

§           2005  David Michael Scott

§           1973  Edgardo Alfonzo, Venezuela, infielder (SF Giants)

§           1968  Charlie Sexton, rocker (Arc Angels)

§           1961  Craig Ehlo, NBA guard (Atlanta Hawks)

§           1954  Joe Jackson, English singer/pianist/composer

§           1953  Hulk Hogan, [Terry Bollea], Ga, WWF heavyweight champion (1984-89)

§           1950  Steve Wozniak, co-founder (Apple Computers)

§           1949  Tim Hutchinson, (Rep-R-Arkansas)

§           1946  Marilyn Vos Savant, writer/world's highest IQ (228)

§           1946  John Conlee, country singer (Common Man)

§           1933  Jerry Falwell, TV evangelist (Moral Majority)

§           1925  Mike Douglas, talk show host (Mike Douglas Show)

§           1921  Alex Haley, writer (Autobiography of Malcolm X, Roots)

§           1900  Charles William Paddock, 100m runner (Olympic-2 gold-1920)

§           1807  David Atchison (US President for one day in 1849)

 

Events

§           1992  The Mall of American opens in Minneapolis

§           1984  Carl Lewis duplicates Jesse Owens' 1936 feat, wins 4 Olym track golds

§           1984  During a radio voice test Pres Reagan joked he "signed legislation that would outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes"

§           1974  Lee Trevino wins the 56th PGA Championship, at Tanglewood NC

§           1972  Last US ground combat units leaves South Vietnam

§           1968  Beatles launch "Apple Records" label

§           1966  Last Beatle concert tour of US begins

§           1966  Debut of the Chevrolet Camaro

§           1965  Watts riots begin in Southeast LA, lasts 6 days

§           1961  Warren Spahn records victory #300, beats Cubs 2-1

§           1960  Chad declares independence from France

§           1951  1st color baseball game (Braves vs Dodgers) telecast

§           1934  First civilian prisoners arrive in Alcatraz Prison

§           1933  Temp reaches 136(f) at San Luis Potos¡, Mex (world record)

§           1919  Green Bay Packers football club founded

§           1919  Death of Andrew Carnegie

§           1914  France declares war on Austria-Hungary

§           1909  SOS 1st used by a ship, Arapahoe, off Cape Hatteras, NC

§           1866  World's 1st roller rink opens (Newport RI)

§           1864  Confederate General Jubal Early abandons Winchester, Virginia

§           1806  Meriwether Lewis is shot in the leg along the Missouri River

Hospital Photos of David

Link for baby photos of David.  Mother's name is Julie.  Password is 21541.

And unto us, a child is given...

The Scott Family was blessed with a 4th child, a 2nd son, today!  David Michael Scott arrived at 4:36pm today, August 11, 2005.

David weighed exactly 8 pounds, and measured 21.5 inches long.

Mom and child are doing fine.  More to come later, especially photos.