Happy Birthday, Jamie!
Today's post is postponed due to lack of COOL! The computer room is one of the rooms without AC, and it is LA Hot in there! But there are thunderstorms scheduled for tomorrow, and highs back down to the 70's by Friday. Yay!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tuesday, June 26
Hot!! Hot!! Pant, pant, pant.
I know, the high today was only 93. But there is no air conditioning!! The church where we are going to VBS is not air conditioned! It wasn't too bad. After VBS we went to the pool, very nice. Cool water. And, Rachel passed her deep end swim test! Yea!!!
We went to get a movie and a pizza for supper. Tim ate with his study group tonight to strategize and socialize. There was no way I was going to cook in that kitchen. I used my pampered chef kitchen thermometer just now, and it says the kitchen is 91 degrees! The main hall is 83, and the upstaris hall is 90. We have the window units running in all 3 bedrooms and are keeping the doors shut so at least those rooms will be cool. I will be glad to get home to the land of air conditioning!! Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter - highs in mid to upper 90s with a heat index of 100. But, fortunately, Jamie has planned to spend the afternoon at the mall tomorrow, and to have dinner at Rainforest Cafe tomorrow night. It is supposed to thunderstorm all day Thurs (highs only in the upper 80s) then highs are predicted to be in the 70s until early next week. Thank goodness!!
I had a God moment today. I was talking with the director of VBS before the kids came up for closing. She told me that there actually was a wait list for coming to VBS, but that since we made the effort to come to church on Sunday morning, she put us in. In a way, I feel a little bad that someone else didn't get in. But I am so relieved that we did!! I have enjoyed talking with folks from both congregations as I have been there helping. Plus, it has been really good for Jamie and Rachel to have a break from each other all week. I have also appreciated having a break from the kids!! I guess God knew I needed it.
Blessings to you all!!!!
I know, the high today was only 93. But there is no air conditioning!! The church where we are going to VBS is not air conditioned! It wasn't too bad. After VBS we went to the pool, very nice. Cool water. And, Rachel passed her deep end swim test! Yea!!!
We went to get a movie and a pizza for supper. Tim ate with his study group tonight to strategize and socialize. There was no way I was going to cook in that kitchen. I used my pampered chef kitchen thermometer just now, and it says the kitchen is 91 degrees! The main hall is 83, and the upstaris hall is 90. We have the window units running in all 3 bedrooms and are keeping the doors shut so at least those rooms will be cool. I will be glad to get home to the land of air conditioning!! Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter - highs in mid to upper 90s with a heat index of 100. But, fortunately, Jamie has planned to spend the afternoon at the mall tomorrow, and to have dinner at Rainforest Cafe tomorrow night. It is supposed to thunderstorm all day Thurs (highs only in the upper 80s) then highs are predicted to be in the 70s until early next week. Thank goodness!!
I had a God moment today. I was talking with the director of VBS before the kids came up for closing. She told me that there actually was a wait list for coming to VBS, but that since we made the effort to come to church on Sunday morning, she put us in. In a way, I feel a little bad that someone else didn't get in. But I am so relieved that we did!! I have enjoyed talking with folks from both congregations as I have been there helping. Plus, it has been really good for Jamie and Rachel to have a break from each other all week. I have also appreciated having a break from the kids!! I guess God knew I needed it.
Blessings to you all!!!!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 25
We went to VBS today at Payson Park. It was fun. The theme this year is Avalanche Ranch. Rachel is actually in the class of rising 2nd graders, because the 3rd grade group was full. But she has already made a new friend. His name is Joseph, and he came to Bible school all decked out in full cowboy gear: hat, bandanna, boots, even spurs!
Jamie also made a friend today, her name is Emily. Maybe he'll connect with some of the boys in his group during the week. David is actually in the 3 year old class. I'm helping out with snack. It's a good way for me to get involved low key; to see the church, the kids, and the program before just leaving my children with strangers. I'm going to help again tomorrow, but Wednesday, I'm going to enjoy the first moments I've had alone since the end of May. I also have some things to do to get ready for Jamie's birthday on Wed. There is a big group of kids (about 70). There is also a lot of church involvement - 26 adult volunteers and a whole flock of teens! Apparently there are two churches that join together for VBS. I also understand that these two congregations are in the process of talks of merging the two permanantly.
We went to the sprinkler park this afternoon. It was a hot one here - in the 80s. The next two days it's supposed to be in the 90s. It's really hot, too, because we only have the 3 window units in the house. When I put David to bed tonight, the temp upstairs was 84! And now, at 10:00, it's 82 downstaris!
Anyway, we met Mina, and her 2 children, Cybele and her 2, and Sara and her 1 with one on the way (due July 5) at the sprinkler park around 4. Rachel and Kia had a great time together.
Rachel says that she's not bothered at all that Kia doesn't speak much English. She said that today Kia communicated several times with hand gestures. I know that Rachel will give Kia lots of practice listening to English!! Jamie found a group splashing each other and joined in, so he had a good time too. I don't think that they ever exchanged names and other personal info. David wouldn't go into the water at all. I tried to take him to a place where the water had pooled, but the sprinklers weren't spraying above the feet. He still didn't like it. He spent time in the sandbox and on the playground equipment. Then we had the treat of an ice cream truck coming up to the park. David got a snowcone which he sucked on with glee until he dropped it.
Then he was sulky the rest of the time we were there because mommy wouldn't let him eat it off the ground.
Tim came home for dinner tonight. So we got to enjoy a family meal together. He says he thinks he did ok on his Accounting exam.
Jamie also made a friend today, her name is Emily. Maybe he'll connect with some of the boys in his group during the week. David is actually in the 3 year old class. I'm helping out with snack. It's a good way for me to get involved low key; to see the church, the kids, and the program before just leaving my children with strangers. I'm going to help again tomorrow, but Wednesday, I'm going to enjoy the first moments I've had alone since the end of May. I also have some things to do to get ready for Jamie's birthday on Wed. There is a big group of kids (about 70). There is also a lot of church involvement - 26 adult volunteers and a whole flock of teens! Apparently there are two churches that join together for VBS. I also understand that these two congregations are in the process of talks of merging the two permanantly.
We went to the sprinkler park this afternoon. It was a hot one here - in the 80s. The next two days it's supposed to be in the 90s. It's really hot, too, because we only have the 3 window units in the house. When I put David to bed tonight, the temp upstairs was 84! And now, at 10:00, it's 82 downstaris!
Anyway, we met Mina, and her 2 children, Cybele and her 2, and Sara and her 1 with one on the way (due July 5) at the sprinkler park around 4. Rachel and Kia had a great time together.
Rachel says that she's not bothered at all that Kia doesn't speak much English. She said that today Kia communicated several times with hand gestures. I know that Rachel will give Kia lots of practice listening to English!! Jamie found a group splashing each other and joined in, so he had a good time too. I don't think that they ever exchanged names and other personal info. David wouldn't go into the water at all. I tried to take him to a place where the water had pooled, but the sprinklers weren't spraying above the feet. He still didn't like it. He spent time in the sandbox and on the playground equipment. Then we had the treat of an ice cream truck coming up to the park. David got a snowcone which he sucked on with glee until he dropped it.
Then he was sulky the rest of the time we were there because mommy wouldn't let him eat it off the ground.Tim came home for dinner tonight. So we got to enjoy a family meal together. He says he thinks he did ok on his Accounting exam.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sunday, June 24
Today we went to Payson Park Congregational church to worship. I had seen a sign outside that said they were having VBS next week, so we thought we'd go check out the kid scene. The church was small but friendly. The kids are signed up to go to VBS. And there are boys in Jamie's age group. Maybe we'll make a buddy. Pray for one for him!
After church, we grabbed a quick lunch and the kids and I headed to the pool to give Tim quiet to study. He has an accounting exam tomorrow. Rachel made three new friends. And David enjoyed the water, even though it was fairly chilly! I met a family from Kentucky who had relocated to Belmont for work. They've been in the area for about a year. We talked a little about churches, and she said that they had a hard time finding the right spot too. She told me about the church they attend now. It's a non-denomintaional one in Lexington. She said that it has lots of kids and young couples. So, maybe we'll have to check that one out.
Tonight we had dinner at a Fellow's house, Michael and Maren. We all brought a dish, and our hosts grilled out. It was a beautiful evening to be outside. The kids all got along quite well. THere was a sandbox, and David spent most of his time there. Rachel made a new friend, Kia who is from Finland. All of the moms are going to meet tomorrow to take the kids to the sprinkler park. It should be fun.
After church, we grabbed a quick lunch and the kids and I headed to the pool to give Tim quiet to study. He has an accounting exam tomorrow. Rachel made three new friends. And David enjoyed the water, even though it was fairly chilly! I met a family from Kentucky who had relocated to Belmont for work. They've been in the area for about a year. We talked a little about churches, and she said that they had a hard time finding the right spot too. She told me about the church they attend now. It's a non-denomintaional one in Lexington. She said that it has lots of kids and young couples. So, maybe we'll have to check that one out.
Tonight we had dinner at a Fellow's house, Michael and Maren. We all brought a dish, and our hosts grilled out. It was a beautiful evening to be outside. The kids all got along quite well. THere was a sandbox, and David spent most of his time there. Rachel made a new friend, Kia who is from Finland. All of the moms are going to meet tomorrow to take the kids to the sprinkler park. It should be fun.
Mina, Sara, and CybeleAdriene and Louis
Saturday, June23
Today the kids and I ventured back out to Land's Sake farm for the Strawberry Picking Festival. It was a beautiful, cool day. Like a sunny fall day in Alabama. We took Tim in to school to meet with his study group, and then headed out. On the way, I got a phone call from the couple we met at Belmont Methodist that are from Australia. They have friends also in the Australian Air Force who have been stationed in Montgomery for 3 years. Those friends were passing through, and Russell called to see if we could come have a barbecue. Unfortunately we were already headed out to the farm. I did talk to both sets of husbands and wives. It was kind of neat, actually. The friends in Montgomery have kids Jamie & Rachel's ages. We're going to try to hook up when we come home in a year. They'd like to make a visit to the Space & Rocket Center.
We arrived at the Strawberry festival at about 12. We met Cybele and her children there,
bought our baskets, and headed out to the field to pick strawberries! At first we were having a tough time finding good red, ripe strawberries. We got several that weren't red all over. The field had been a little picked over. Then we found a couple of rows that had much better berries. We had 2 baskets: one for the boys and one for Rachel. David had a great time picking berries.
I would find a good berry and then call him over to pick it. Rachel did a great job filling up her basket with dainty red strawberries. 
After that, we got lunch and ate it at a picnic table while being serenaded by a bluegrass group (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo). Made me think of home and all the guys from Cotton Patch Gospel. A little later in the set, they played an Irish reel, and Rachel had to get up and dance. We're definitely going to have to find a place for her to take lessons up here! She can do a good little jig a-la Riverdance!! After lunch, we wandered around the farm for a bit, and then decided to head back home.
After dropping off our strawberries, we ran out to Blockbuster to return some movies and to Target. This trip was much more calm for David. He did get upset when we walked past the Thomas aisle and mommy wouldn't stop, but he calmed relatively quickly.
Tim got home from school sometime around 6, and we decided to try an adventure for dinner. We went to Bugaboo Creek Steak House. It's made to look like the inside of a lodge in the Canadian Rockies. There are talking trees, buffalo, and flaping taxidermied fish. It was cute, and the food was pretty good. After supper, we came back home to make strawberry smoothies. Rachel wanted to help, so she did several steps. But she wasn't crazy with the final restults. Jamie kind of liked it though. He wants to make banana smoothies next.
We arrived at the Strawberry festival at about 12. We met Cybele and her children there,
bought our baskets, and headed out to the field to pick strawberries! At first we were having a tough time finding good red, ripe strawberries. We got several that weren't red all over. The field had been a little picked over. Then we found a couple of rows that had much better berries. We had 2 baskets: one for the boys and one for Rachel. David had a great time picking berries.
I would find a good berry and then call him over to pick it. Rachel did a great job filling up her basket with dainty red strawberries. 
After that, we got lunch and ate it at a picnic table while being serenaded by a bluegrass group (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo). Made me think of home and all the guys from Cotton Patch Gospel. A little later in the set, they played an Irish reel, and Rachel had to get up and dance. We're definitely going to have to find a place for her to take lessons up here! She can do a good little jig a-la Riverdance!! After lunch, we wandered around the farm for a bit, and then decided to head back home.
After dropping off our strawberries, we ran out to Blockbuster to return some movies and to Target. This trip was much more calm for David. He did get upset when we walked past the Thomas aisle and mommy wouldn't stop, but he calmed relatively quickly.
Tim got home from school sometime around 6, and we decided to try an adventure for dinner. We went to Bugaboo Creek Steak House. It's made to look like the inside of a lodge in the Canadian Rockies. There are talking trees, buffalo, and flaping taxidermied fish. It was cute, and the food was pretty good. After supper, we came back home to make strawberry smoothies. Rachel wanted to help, so she did several steps. But she wasn't crazy with the final restults. Jamie kind of liked it though. He wants to make banana smoothies next.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Quick Note from Tim...
Many have asked what's going on with me, so here's a typical 'day in my life'. It isn't nearly as exciting as the activity of Sonja and the kids.
We are in full swing academically. I am taking four graduate level business classes (Financial Accounting, Microeconomics, Marketing Management, and Probability and Statistics), and we are convened from 8am until 5pm. We will complete a semester's worth of work in about five weeks... I have my first mid term exam Monday! This insane pace is required to complete all the required coursework in one year. If you are interested, the course curriculum can be seen here.
Much of time is spent doing individual work, as I have to be prepared to contribute to our group case work. My study group is quite diverse - myself, Ramesh (India), Luis (Portugal), and Charlie (South Korea). We usually meet after classes to discuss our case summaries and prepare other assignments. The study groups are combined with others for larger project assignments, so one of the challenges has been prioritizing all of our waking moments to maximize the use of our time together. I've even been on a four-hour Skype teleconference with a meta group to complete an assignment... All in all, I'm doing ok (averaging about 5-6 hours sleep per night).
I get up around 0500, study until 0630, and at around 0700 I walk down the street to Cushing Square, where I catch the MBTA Bus 73 to ride to Harvard Square. There I board the T (the subway), which I ride to the Kendall/MIT stop. Total time in transit is never less than 30 min or more than 40, and is always standing room only. From the T station at MIT, it's about a five minute walk to the Sloan school (with a small detour into Au Bon Pain for a cuppa joe :-) We do get breaks between lectures, which are almost always occupied with small group discussion, problem solving, and coordination. The hardest part is the inevitable comparison with my undergraduate days, where I spent a good 2-3 hours out of class preparing for each hour in class. If I tried to apply that ratio here at Sloan, I'd be working 27 hour days, not accounting for sleep, hygiene, and family!
So at the end of the collective school day (which comes at a prescribed time, otherwise we'd work continually), I reverse the process - walk to the subway station, ride the T to Harvard Square, then catch the 73 bus for the return trip to Cushing Square. I get home, walk to the house, collect the mail, then hit the books...
It is becoming routine. Most of us are in 'barely hanging on' mode. I never had to do anything approaching a medical residency, but if this is a hint, I'm glad I didn't choose that career path - plus the fact that continual sleep deprivation really impairs analytical processing!
On a positive note, I took a break Wednesday evening and watched the Space Station and Shuttle fly over - WOW! The shuttle had separated from the ISS the day before, and were still within a few degrees of each other as they passed almost directly overhead (Rachel was the first to spot it!) We watched for a good four minutes, and it looked like a dog-chasing-cat race across the sky, with both about as bright as Venus.
So - it sounds tedious, but the course material is fascinating, and when I have time I'll write more. The faculty are all world-class, and the PhD students leading the recitations are excellent as well. The courses all dovetail, so there is clearly a common thread.
Finally - the other fellows are a fascinating lot. For example, one of my new friends owns a private equity firm in Switzerland, and he is a big proponent of "Web 2.0". From his idea, we have had about 1/2 the co-hort set up profiles on facebook.com. If you haven't checked it out yet, and you are so inclined, do so. Alfonso said, "It's the next Google." That may be a big exaggeration, but there is rationale behind the statement.
Cheers!
We are in full swing academically. I am taking four graduate level business classes (Financial Accounting, Microeconomics, Marketing Management, and Probability and Statistics), and we are convened from 8am until 5pm. We will complete a semester's worth of work in about five weeks... I have my first mid term exam Monday! This insane pace is required to complete all the required coursework in one year. If you are interested, the course curriculum can be seen here.
Much of time is spent doing individual work, as I have to be prepared to contribute to our group case work. My study group is quite diverse - myself, Ramesh (India), Luis (Portugal), and Charlie (South Korea). We usually meet after classes to discuss our case summaries and prepare other assignments. The study groups are combined with others for larger project assignments, so one of the challenges has been prioritizing all of our waking moments to maximize the use of our time together. I've even been on a four-hour Skype teleconference with a meta group to complete an assignment... All in all, I'm doing ok (averaging about 5-6 hours sleep per night).
I get up around 0500, study until 0630, and at around 0700 I walk down the street to Cushing Square, where I catch the MBTA Bus 73 to ride to Harvard Square. There I board the T (the subway), which I ride to the Kendall/MIT stop. Total time in transit is never less than 30 min or more than 40, and is always standing room only. From the T station at MIT, it's about a five minute walk to the Sloan school (with a small detour into Au Bon Pain for a cuppa joe :-) We do get breaks between lectures, which are almost always occupied with small group discussion, problem solving, and coordination. The hardest part is the inevitable comparison with my undergraduate days, where I spent a good 2-3 hours out of class preparing for each hour in class. If I tried to apply that ratio here at Sloan, I'd be working 27 hour days, not accounting for sleep, hygiene, and family!
So at the end of the collective school day (which comes at a prescribed time, otherwise we'd work continually), I reverse the process - walk to the subway station, ride the T to Harvard Square, then catch the 73 bus for the return trip to Cushing Square. I get home, walk to the house, collect the mail, then hit the books...
It is becoming routine. Most of us are in 'barely hanging on' mode. I never had to do anything approaching a medical residency, but if this is a hint, I'm glad I didn't choose that career path - plus the fact that continual sleep deprivation really impairs analytical processing!
On a positive note, I took a break Wednesday evening and watched the Space Station and Shuttle fly over - WOW! The shuttle had separated from the ISS the day before, and were still within a few degrees of each other as they passed almost directly overhead (Rachel was the first to spot it!) We watched for a good four minutes, and it looked like a dog-chasing-cat race across the sky, with both about as bright as Venus.
So - it sounds tedious, but the course material is fascinating, and when I have time I'll write more. The faculty are all world-class, and the PhD students leading the recitations are excellent as well. The courses all dovetail, so there is clearly a common thread.
Finally - the other fellows are a fascinating lot. For example, one of my new friends owns a private equity firm in Switzerland, and he is a big proponent of "Web 2.0". From his idea, we have had about 1/2 the co-hort set up profiles on facebook.com. If you haven't checked it out yet, and you are so inclined, do so. Alfonso said, "It's the next Google." That may be a big exaggeration, but there is rationale behind the statement.
Cheers!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Friday, June 22
A cool, rainy day today. Our big outing today was a trip to the grocery store. We did have a visitor for lunch. One of the partners, Cybele, and her husband have just gotten to move into their house here in Belmont. They have been in a Residence Inn with their 2 small children since mid-May. Anyway, I invited Cybele over for some lunch. I was so excited to have a clean house that I could invite someone in to on the spur of the moment. I'm looking forward to coming home and trying to get my house more in order. The rest of the day was filled with scattered thundershowers, so we didn't try to go back to the pool. We just had a nice day here. Tim made it home for dinner for the first time this week, and that was a nice treat. Jamie has almost finished Harry Potter. He has been a little obsessive about getting his reading done. He doesn't want to have the raido on in the car because he's reading. I am proud of his accomplishment. He says that he has enjoyed the reading, but is ready to be free from it for awhile. He says I can have as much time as I need to finish #6, because he wants a bit of a break. Whew! Because I am behind!
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