Just back from a fantastic weekend getaway to Tampa Bay, FL. Something we had planned a few months ago, but with all the activity from the wife’s final exams, and Christmas preparations, we had almost forgotten about it.
Spent the day at Busch Gardens on Saturday. Very cool place. Rode 4 roller coasters (Gwazi, Scorpion, Kumba, Montu), saw lots of animals, and even got to feed some giraffes. Missed the rhinos though.
What a great place. Can’t wait to go back again. Go check out the photos at the gallery.
2003 Chart of the Nuclides
One of the coolest things (at least I thought so) I’ve ever had decorating my wall was a 3’x5′ Chart of the Nuclides poster from 1976 or so. I had it posted on the wall above my desk, so that every time I looked up I could check out a different element. It was big, and packed a ton of information about each element into each box. It also doubled as a place for me to post Sticky notes. Had to leave it at home when I moved to the US, and I’ve been missing it ever since.
Just heard that the 2003 16th edition of the chart is now available for a really decent price. Only $25 for the wall chart or the book (the book is only $15 if you’re a student).
Think I’ll have to go place an order…
Christmas baking is done!
10 pounds of flour, 7.5 pounds of butter, and about 4 pounds of sugar later, our baking is done. Now all that’s left to do is package up the cookies and ship them off. Everyone will get their cookies late this year, but at least they taste good.
Thanks sis!
Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for the great Christmas/birthday gifts, Salsas That Cook : Using Classic Salsas To Enliven Our Favorite Dishes, Casablanca (Two-Disc Special Edition) and Animatrix DVDs.
Can’t wait to watch the DVDs and try out some new salsas!
Hawaiian shirts
Jay Allen’s entry on hawaiian shirts reminded me of what my friends and I used to do during my undergrad (and graduate) days at U of A.
Our Friday ritual after class was to head up to RATT (Room At The Top), the bar on campus. Usually we’d head up there around noon or so, grab our usual table in the corner and have some lunch and hang out. The guys with afternoon classes would head off, and come back afterwards. Hawaiian shirts (bright and colourful ones) were standard dress on Fridays. Whoever forgot their’s would be the scornpost for the remainder of the night. They made us very identifiable, and very easy to spot in a crowded bar. Also useful as an ice breaker for meeting girls. We became very well known for them. Sometimes, people would pass us by on campus and say “hey, it’s the hawaiian shirt guys!”.
We’d step off the elevator, head to our table and the waitress would meet us there with a couple of pitchers. Food orders would be placed, and the meeting would start.
People would come and go, and come back again. Much fun was had, much schmoozing and lawn mowing was done. Ahh, those were the days 🙂