AZ Museum of Natural History

The day after the big game, we met up with the friends from school Roo was hoping to spot at the game. Our chosen venue, The Arizona Museum of Natural History. The boys were elated to see one another as us parents spent our time chatting and following them through the many exhibits and back again once, twice or more. Captivated less by the dinosaur bones, it was the real old fashioned jail and the mining cave that monopolized their attentions. We did sit for the movie and learned of a very interesting hypothesis formulated by paleontologist Jack Horner. His findings have led him to conclude that the feared T-Rex was likely NOT a predator as previously suspected. More likely, he was a scavenger, not killing, but scaring predators away from their kill with his odoriferous, ugly, loud self. The T-Rex had small front arms that were probably useless, especially if he fell to the ground chasing prey. This observation and his leg bone ratios (femur & tibia) suggests he was a walker, not a runner. Apparently it's a tough sell since society along with the scientific community is leery to picture the T-Rex as anything but a tyrant. Maybe years from now when our grandchildren are reading this post (I keep a printed copy of everything instead of a journal or scrap book) they'll say, "how silly, people thought the T-Rex was a predator".

College Football Game

[Written by Ryan] During our vacation in Arizona, Roo and I went to the Insight Bowl at Arizona State University’s Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The Insight Bowl featured the Iowa Hawkeyes against the University of Missouri Tigers (aka Mizzou). I have to confess I had never heard of the term “Mizzou”, but based upon the number of Mizzou fans staying at our hotel I was quickly educated. Given my natural leaning towards supporting a fellow Big Ten team, we felt as though we were behind enemy lines - - even having the opportunity to see from a distance the Tiger pep rally in a roped off section of the hotel parking lot, complete with a speech by the Missouri governor. There were no Hawks fans to be found. While at the hotel, Roo would whisper that he was a Hawks fan for this game, but we kept it our little secret.

This was Roo’s first football game; Darla and I spent several days before the game answering many, many questions about all things football. I’m afraid this game may have skewed his perspectives of what a typical college football game entails. Before the start of the game, three people parachuted into the stadium out of the dark sky and fireworks lit up the sky. For a 6 year-old, he was relatively engaged in following the game, particularly given the view from our cheap seats, which were about 5 rows from the top of the upper deck. A friend from Roo’s school was also at the game, and Roo was frustrated that he could not find him in the crowd of ~53,000 people.

The game started at 8PM so we headed back to the hotel at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Roo fell asleep in the car and I listened to the game on the radio. A turnover late in the game brought the Hawks a victory, which we enjoyed as our little secret.

Cowboy Up!

While the northeast is being hit with a blizzard, we're still comfortably holed up in (former) cowboy country. I couldn't resist including some classic American tunes, for which you'll have to double click on the photo to read.

(Johnny Cash for those unfamiliar with the tragic ballad about young Bill)

Christmas

Last night after a delay at our connecting airport, we arrived in warm Phoenix Arizona. In our quest for a steakhouse, Roo became car sick, vomiting without warning, and thus unpresentable for any restaurant. At our hotel, Ryan brought out to the car a white hotel robe for Roo to cover his dirtied clothes. We made fun out of it, commenting how much he looked like a Jedi in the robe. Needless we had Christmas dinner in our room and watched Tim Allen in Santa Claus 2, only to succumb to sleep before the end. Did he ever find a Mrs. Claus? We'll never know.

Well, here we are, at a lovely resort. It is bound to be a good holiday, as long as we keep the driving to a minimum!



May your day be merry and bright! Happy Christmas Day.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Arizona

The Tudors

I’ve finished watching the fourth and final season of the television series “The Tudors”, the story of King Henry VIII and his six wives. Although a good lesson in European history, the show provides plenty of entertainment. Complete with romance, betrayal, and war, it offers much that is pleasing to the eye. Opulent dress, glittering jewels, rich textiles, succulent food and most of all, gorgeous people! (note of caution: there are also disturbing scenes in and around the Tower) However, the last point, gorgeous people, I found to be a frustrating disconnect when I researched further on the lives of these historic figures. Sure, no one would probably watch the show if Lady Mary looked liked the Lady Mary depicted in her portraits, and it’s doubtful the real Charles Brandon could hold a candle to the actor Henry Cavill. Certainly, “what is beauty” in Western civilizations continues to evolve and historians report that Henry was a hottie in his day. However, I’d argue the message of his tyranny is harder to extract when he and everyone around him is of excessive natural beauty. For example, it is easier to extract a future “Bloody Mary” from this:

than from this:

Unlike some faithful viewers, I’m glad Showtime ended the series of the Tudor family at this juncture. I’d likely not make it through depictions of the “Marian Terrors”. Regardless, I’m more equipped than before for a future visit to London and the historic sites occupied during the lives of Henry VIII, his friends, and enemies.

Gingerbread House

As an adult I'm somewhat bothered by the Grimm elements in the classic German fairy tale Hansel & Gretel such as famine, parental abandonment, and a cannibalistic woman, to name a few. As a child I remember enjoying the story. I contribute this to the one image that remains in my head, the fabulous gingerbread house the evil woman has constructed to lure the hungry Hansel and Gretel into her lair. My mind recalls images of abundant color, sensual sweetness, and sheltered warmth amongst the wet, damp cold of snow. I can't remember ever seeing an actual gingerbread house (graham cracker, yes, gingerbread, no), and I've never succumbed to the temptation of the DIY home kits available everywhere this time of year. Needless to say, when I saw the real deal at Cafe Beethoven last week I couldn't resist returning this week to add yet more confection to the collection to enjoy this holiday season.

Cookie Exchange

Today's cookie exchange will likely add a few pounds to my already burdened frame. Thank goodness for the "monthly unlimited" special at Powerflow yoga to carry me through half of December and into January!