Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
I drew this Zentangle last night right before heading off to bed. I don’t think it’s quite as ‘good’ as my first one, since I didn’t follow the ‘rule’ about repeating patterns. But, it’s my Zentangle and I’ll draw it however I feel like drawing it. 🙂
I learned about Zentangles yesterday, which is a more focused form of doodling (in a nutshell). Also, you’re supposed to do them in pen because you are not allowed to erase any ‘mistakes.’
Here’s my first attempt at a Zentangle:
I may color parts of this one with colored pencils tonight.
I updated my “Exercise Your Mind” Bingo card to reflect my progress.
Next up:Â Jigsaw Puzzles.
I just finished my previous two walking challenges (one successfully up the coast of sunny virtual California and one oh-so-close-but-not-quite walk across Kansas thanks to record rainfalls in May). No rest for the weary, I suppose.
I picked up my packet for the Lansing Community Library summer reading program (not just for kids anymore! – all ages welcome) at the kickoff event Saturday afternoon. Don’t worry, you’ll have another chance to sign up tonight at 5:30 p.m. and meet one of the Sporting KC players.
Not only is this a reading challenge, it’s an exercise one as well. My packet included quizzes about healthy foods, facts and olympic athletes. The most interesting and challenging of my various goals will be the “Exercise Your Mind Bingo” card, which I recreated as a Google Doc so I could easily update it as I progress and share it here in this blog post.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”document/d/1tWwH-CAuxLcw3q3QFliQPFiwJbfu6bm9_JmzCGbyDEs/pub” query=”embedded=true” width=”600″ height=”1000″ /]
To satisfy the “Learn about easy life hacks” I did a Google search on ‘life hacks’ (duh) and read a few ‘top 100’-type postings. I settled on following @LifeHacks to get daily bits of dubious wisdom. Most of them are good for a chuckle.
Next up:Â Learning to draw a Zentangle (whatever that is and I’m sure it’ll be fun to find out).
For the last few years, I’ve paid a supporting membership in Worldcon so that I could nominate and vote in the Hugo Awards. This year, I actually get to attend Worldcon, since it’s hosted in Kansas City, Missouri this August.  The cost of actually attending MidAmeriCon was quite a bit steeper than the supporting membership, but I’m hoping it will be worth it. I haven’t attended an SF con since DragonCon five years ago. So I’m do for some geeky fun.
Best Novel (3695 nominating ballots) (for the rest of the categories, click here)
I need to read four of the above five nominees before the end of July (when voting closes). I read Ancillary Mercy by Leckie almost the moment is was released (I pre-ordered the ebook). I’m currently listening to Uprooted by Novik.  I have Aeronaut’s Windlass and Seveneves queued up for listening and Fifth Season is waiting for me to crack open the book if my ears get tired.
You can check my reading progress right here on my blog via the “Currently Reading” widget found in the right-hand pane of this page.
Leckie has set a high bar with her Ancillary trilogy, but only time will tell if Breq will retain my vote.
Please take a few minutes and watch this amazing documentary about war and peace.
[vimeo 128373915 w=640 h=360]
The Fallen of World War II from Neil Halloran on Vimeo.
You will find hope if you reach the end credits. I guarantee it.
May has been like April was supposed to be – full of showers. And all that rain is preventing me from taking refreshing lunch time walks (otherwise, I end up walking in circles in the bottom of the parking garage where there’s no signal, no sunshine and no spring flowers). Thursday saw a break in the clouds (sort of) and I walked east a couple of blocks to visit the Kauffman Memorial Gardens. I took several photos and didn’t get much walking done for 5-10 minutes. More like a stroll through the park (click on photo to see the rest of the album).
Tonight is my first night this year as a volunteer of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City in our public outreach efforts to introduce astronomical observing to the public. Every Saturday night in May and through the end of October, we open up Powell Observatory to the public and provide education programs, solar observing, binocular observing and of course telescopic observing (weather and cloud cover permitting). The weather forecast for this evening couldn’t be better. See for yourself as we have our own weather station and sky cam broadcasting 24-hours a day.
Astronomy’s Sky this Week reports for tonight:
Saturday, May 14
• The Moon moves approximately 13° eastward relative to the starry background every 24 hours, and its motion carries it near Jupiter this evening. From North America, the two appear within 5° of each other all night. They will be in conjunction at 6 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning, when our satellite passes 2° due south of the planet. Although the best views of the pair come with the naked eye or binoculars, don’t pass up the opportunity to observe Jupiter through a telescope. The giant planet’s disk currently spans 39″ and displays a wealth of atmospheric detail. All this week, Jupiter appears high in the south as darkness falls and doesn’t set until nearly 3 a.m. local daylight time. It shines at magnitude –2.2 — brighter than any other point of light in the night sky — against the backdrop of southern Leo.
While Sky and Telescope Sky at a Glance expands on: The two brightest things in the evening sky, the Moon and Jupiter, shine high just a few degrees apart this evening, as shown here. Third brightest is Mars, low in the southeast after dark.
So for a great time this evening, head south of Kansas City down US-69 to Louisburg and join me and several hundred other people as we take in the wonders of the night sky.
Keep Looking Up!
DigUSA Network Mini-Series premiered in March 2015 consisting of ten (10) episodes
Watched via Netflix DVD in March/April 2016
Synopsis: When Peter Connelly, an FBI agent recently stationed in Jerusalem, begins investigating the murder of a young American, he realizes that he has uncovered an ancient international conspiracy that threatens to change the course of human history. Certain that the dangerous prophecy is nearing fruition, Peter must race against the clock to unravel its mystery. From a remote farm in Norway, to an enigmatic compound in New Mexico, to the serpentine tunnels of Jerusalem, this immersive, fast-paced adventure will take viewers on a quest for a truth that will shake the world’s beliefs to its very core.
I had these DVDs literally for months. I think they were first shipped to me back in late January or early February. I just never seemed to find the time to sit down to binge watch a ‘new’ television show. It must have been a rainy weekend in March when I decided to pop the DVD in and begin watching Dig. My initial viewing sessions got me through three or maybe it was four episodes. About that time, Terry said he’d like to watch to so I told him to watch the first four episodes late at night to catch-up. After a few more weeks or this (not catching up) I finally gave up and just watched the rest of the episodes over the course of a Saturday and Sunday. And I even remembered to watch the bonus materials before returning the DVDs (finally) to Netflix.
Beyond the MaskRelease Date: April 2015
Watched via Netflix DVD: May 2016
Synopsis (from IMdb):Â The chief mercenary for the British East India Company, being double crossed by his former employer, has made his way to the American Colonies. Working to redeem his name, William Reynolds (Andrew Cheney) now hides behind a different mask in hopes of thwarting his former employer. As his past life closes in on him, Will must somehow gain the trust and the help of his beloved Charlotte, a woman he has been lying to, as well as a colonial intellectual by the name of Ben Franklin. All the while he races against time to defuse a plot that could have devastating effect on the birth of a new nation.
The story was intriguing and I’m always a sucker for a Revolutionary tale. The actors performed well (I laughed, I almost cried). Yet, I remained unconvinced in the sincerity of Will’s conversion, but his actions and convictions spoke louder than his words throughout. Charlotte’s constant protestations of confusion made me doubt her intelligence, but she redeemed herself admirably before the credits. I spotted the telegraphed clues to the mystery early on, so the plotting was almost as heavy-handed as the special effects, which I thought were a bit over-played.
I liked the score, except perhaps for the repeated use of Pachelbel’s Canon, which really wasn’t popular until the 1970s, not the 1776 (in fact it was pretty much lost to history until the early 20th century).
Christian film-making is improving. I continue to hold out hope and with each passing year my prayers are answered for an improved storytelling experience.
Give Beyond the Mask a try. You might find a spark of redemption waiting for you.
At the beginning of April, I embarked on two (2) virtual walks. The first is sponsored by my employer and is called “The Big 1” and described as “The Big 1 takes you on a coastal voyage from Laguna Beach in the south all the way up to San Francisco.  It is going to be a beautiful trip and your goal is to complete the route along the Pacific Coast Highway in six weeks.” Continue reading “Double Timing It: Walk Across Kansas and Up the Coast of California Simultaneously”