luncheon with chem nerds!

I almost said "nerdesses", but I think it would be regarded as non-PC, so I didn't.

But I don't believe that Yvonne or Lea or Nicole would have objected one whit!

I have no photo of our group, so my dining choice will have to do.

That's the BEP Wrap, one of the specials at the kayak Kafe Midtown today.

In other words, the black-eyed pea pattie, with avocado and other healthy options, in a tortilla and served with a side salad.

We met just before noon, meaning I'd had breakfast not an hour earlier.

That meant half my entree went home with me for later!

And the conversation?

It started out with talk of children between Yvonne and Lea, but by the time we were all finishing our meals, we were firmly entrenched in chemistry matters.

That went on for an hour!!!

Even after we paid our tabs, we sat and talked and talked!

I very much enjoyed that... and was glad, once again, that I retired 6 years ago.

Yvonne is still very new to retirement, but I hope she'll find her joy soon.

Suzy Carpenter retires at the end of this semester.

That will make Lea the lone female chemistry instructor on the Armstrong campus.

Wow.

How very different from the days when I was there.

thursday with zoom and the gals of ethel

Ethel who?

 

Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD in philosophy, was the founder of AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons.

 

Note that forward-thinking word: "persons".

 

She started that organization in 1958, when she was 74 years old, making sure its membership was open to all, regardless of gender, race, or anything else.

 

In 1958...

wow.

 

Before that, in 1947, she founded the NRTA, the National Retired Teachers Association.

It took seven years, but she finally located an insurance company that would provide health insurance at a reasonable rate to that group.

 

Knowing all retired people needed that, two years later she started AARP, and now that organization has celebrated its Route 66 birthday...

just like me.

 

So, when asked to supply one word in the ZOOM chat to describe Ethel, I knew what to write:

Pioneer.

 

After all, I know a bit about that.

 

That's when I knew I was right place, right time.

 

In fact, when we broke into ZOOM rooms to get to know some of the other attendees, I told them that I'd never heard of Ethel Andrus.

 

I'd seen "Cheers To Ethel: A Virtual Birthday Bash" on the AARP website a few days ago and signed up, as it would be "something different".

I swear I heard Mary K, the moderator, gasp from her home in Michigan.

 

That's me, in the upper right, with women from Charleston and from somewhere in Virginia.

The other two were from Colorado.

 

We were all asked where we were and to give two words to describe why we were there tonight.

 

Then, Mary asked us to describe a moment when we knew we were truly noticed by others...

and this is the first thing that came to mind.

 

That's the Wall Of Women notice, posted originally at the Health Professions building on campus at Armstrong Atlantic State University in March 2013.

 

The nursing students had been asked to nominate a professor that made them feel empowered...

and three of them named me, a chemistry professor, someone decidedly not in their major field.

 

I was the only one on that Wall of Women who was not a Health Professions teacher.

 

Wow.

 

Tonight, I told the five other women in that ZOOM Room about that, about how touched I was that the students had chosen to honor me in that way, as a woman who would "inspire, innovate, imagine, empower".

 

I also made sure to tell those in the Zoom room that I taught chemistry and always endeavored to make it personal and approachable for my students.

 

Then I added that the Wall of Women notice is still in view in my dining room.

 

Very nice.

 

"Flexible office hours, emails back in time, helps you understand the material in class, will take time and talk to you, and she learns your name, and is hands on in lab (Organic Chemistry Class)."

 

"This is my first year here at AASU and this semester I knew would prove to be a challenge for me but Dr. Smith made it so comfortable and fun in her organic chemistry class that I don't fear it anymore. She's always willing to help us anyway she can, but still pushes us. She feels like a mom away from home since I'm so far away from my mom. She's just a sweet person and I just love her. :)"

 

"She has inspired me to work harder and push myself more than I have. She is teaching me that no matter how difficult the problem may look, it's not really that difficult if you just break it down. :)"

 

Wow.

 

Proof positive that they listened to me, that they heard me and saw me.

 

Tonight, these five women heard me and saw me, too.

 

Most definitely right place, right time.

I think I'll sign up for The Ethel newsletter and see what this group is all about.

flashback: may 3, 2012

I always tried to be at the special events on the Armstrong campus, especially those during the day.

This particular one was during the second year of my temporary full-time gig there.

It was the Friday before Cinco De Mayo, so the university had been having Hispanic Outreach activities all week.

I don't recall just why a Native American dancer was there to entertain the lunchtime crowd, nor do I recall which nationality he was.

All I can say for sure is this: he was magnificent to watch while he was dancing all over the plaza.

My feet were tapping right along during his entire dance, and he noticed he had my attention.

Looking directly at me, he asked the gathered audience if anyone would like to join him in a group dance, knowing I would be the first to volunteer... that's what he told me, too, when I spoke with him afterward.

(smile!)

 

First, he lined us up and showed us a few steps.

 

He made sure we were holding hands, too.

I felt like a Rockette!

(smile!)

 

Next, we started dancing...

 

... as he led us in a curving line all around the plaza at the student center!

 

 

Then, we gave thanks for the dance we had done together.

 

My thanks to Armstrong for a lovely break from chemistry and teaching!

 

My thanks to the dancer for seeing in me a kindred spirit!

 

My thanks for fb for this 'memory' a couple of months ago!

 

i thank You, God!

i wore this for you

"Oh, thank you! I do so love this springtime dress."

Not the dress, silly rabbit. Look closer. I'm talking about the group of chemical symbols spelling out my name. "I wore this for you" is what I said to Sherrill Milnes tonight, pointing out my name. He's been calling me "oo-sure", which seems to be the pronunciation of the word "usher" in other languages.

"Hahahaha! That's a hoot!"

That seems to be the general consensus. Penny told me that's how "usher" would be pronounced in Hebrew. Lonnie, who has a degree in microbiology, thought it very clever to use the chemical symbols. Kim, a former nurse, told me that the chemical symbols are no longer used on labels at the hospitals. The names of the chemicals, including drugs, are spelled out.

"Actually, that doesn't seem odd. Hospitals have to be concerned with malpractice suits, so spelling names in full would be the safer thing to do. How did the Maestro react to your name display?"

He seemed a bit thrown by what F-Au-S-Ti-Na meant, so I'm guessing he's not versed in chemistry. But, when I pronounced my name, he responded "That's a very old name." So, then, of course, I told him about Faustina the Elder and her husband, Antoninus Pius, and the temple in the Forum. He smiled at that, then went on to the sanctuary.

"Well, that's cool! And what was going on tonight? And were you at Asbury Memorial?"

"Back To Broadway" was the event, which would be my penultimate volunteer gig for SVF12. And, yes, this was at my church, and was the final event at this venue.

"I do hope lots of familiar faces were there! After all, Asbury is the home of 'God On Broadway', so folks should have turned out in droves!"

There were some. Helen Downing was there, also Tom Lewis and some of those in the theatre-going group he's put together.

"That's good. Hey, there's something oddly familiar about this photograph..."

Right? I didn't notice the similarity when I took this shot right before the show started. But it looks a lot like that painting the ex has, doesn't it? "Sparkling Night", by Misha Lenn, is its name. I have the magnet of that painting. We'd bought the artwork on that Mediterranean cruise we took in 2002. Smitty had let us have the 8-day trip, a promo offering from Johnson Wholesale Floors, since our 10-year anniversary would fall during it. Plus, I told him I'd take the cruise instead of a raise that year. I knew he'd go for that.

"I remember that. You and Jeff went to the Isle of Capri on October 24th to celebrate the day. Then you went searching for a leather purse when the ferry landed back in Naples. What a memorable vacation that was!"

Most definitely. That's when Jeff noticed my name carved above the pillars of a temple when we were tromping around in the Forum. Wow.

"Wow. That's still such a 'wow' moment, all these years later. So, how was the show?"

The show? Oh, yes, back to the present! So, there were only six singers. Torlef Borsting, who isn't in that stage photo I took, was the only one I didn't know. The three women, from left to right, were Emily Yocum Black (checking her makeup), Kyaunnee Richardson (adjusting her hair), and Leah Huber (perched on the stool). James Wright III and Carlton Moe are the two fellows eying the women raptly. (smile!)

"Yes, very nice! Not exactly like the seriolithograph by Lenn, but definitely in the same flavor."

Exactly. As for the show, there were several songs that I loved. James did such a tender version of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" that it brought me to tears. "Sing For Your Supper", done by Kyaunnee, Emily, and Leah, in three cutely choreographed numbers, was great fun! But it was "Think Of Me", the one song on tonight's program from "The Phantom Of The Opera", that was the absolute highlight! Kyaunnee sang the part of 'Christine' beautifully... but the unexpected - and surprise to all - cameo performed by Carlton truly stole the entire night!

"I'm sure! I know you have a soft spot for that tenor, don't you?"

 Most def I do! I wonder if he'll be in tomorrow night's musical? I hope so!

under the sea, miyah and me...

That was the theme of her birthday party at Hilary Park: Under The Sea.

As soon as I arrived, Miss Chlo was sure to point out the snack treats her Mommy had prepared so prettily: 

'seaweed' veggie straws - 

fish of many colors - 

pointy shark teeth - 

pickled 'sea cucumbers' - 

a sweet lollipop 'coral reef'!

Yummy!

Each table had fanciful sea creatures, too.

But, the biggest decor was over by the gift table.

Gift table?

Is that like the gift closet in my living room?

Actually, it's much better!

These gifts are wrapped and waiting to be enjoyed!

LOL!

Here, we have Miyah beside her Mommy, across from her Grammy, and surrounded by cousins, classmates, and friends!

Her Aunt Chelsea is over by the lovely algae curtain.

Speaking of cousins, that's Alyssa at this table in the foreground, with her back to the camera.

Not that she was trying to hide from me -

she'd given me a big hug when I came and I had admired her new haircut!

More sea theme was at the cake table.

That's a giant blue lantern fish blocking the view of the "cake", which consisted of cupcakes - in both chocolate and vanilla - which each had a sea character decorating the top.

Pop Pop supplied the lighter for the candles in seven of said little cakes, with the birthday girl patiently waiting for all seven to be lit.

The boy across from her is Zander.

The boy beside her is Daniel.

The two blondes in the foreground are Leila and Alyssa.

All were trying to wait patiently...

but the cupcakes were calling!

And Miyah had to use three breaths to blow them out!

LOL!

The cupcakes were even calling me...

as I had expected they would.

I made sure to have a vanilla one, thanks,

with a starfish on top!

Then, I was calling the ice cream!!!

"Ice cream! Oh, ice cream!

I brought Lactaid so I can eat you up!"

And there was ice cream just for me -

no vanilla and strawberry, or chocolate and strawberry, just good ol' vanilla with chocolate ribbons.

Thank you, my dearest Christina, for always looking out for me!

I'm so glad Chris and C J and Karen were there to celebrate Miyah's birthday, too!

They were in several of the fifty or so photos this shutterbug snapped, as was Michael when he came.

What a lovely party for us all!

65th birthday party, with cake and chem nerds!

I hadn't realized the Coastal Georgia Section 

of the American Chemical Society 

came into existence the same year I did.

Pretty cool...

and now I have this cool Koozie as a memento!

(smile!)

Its birthday65 party - 

or anniversary party, 

depending on one's perspective -

was held out in Pooler - 

as that's roughly a midway point 

for folks in Savannah and Statesboro -

at Sam Snead's Tavern,

out by the airport.

So, what kind of shenanigans

might be expected

at such a party?

Student presentations, of course!

Hey, this -is- a group of chemistry nerds,

remember?

There were three such talks, but this guy -

named David or Davis -

and done completely remotely -

was my favorite!

He kept picking up things in the room -

a desk phone, a desk chair,

the fire extinguisher! - to keep our attention.

What a grand sense of humor!

(smile!)

I decided early on that this grand dinner would serve as my "farewell and happy retirement" party, too!

After all, some of my favorite people were right there with me tonight!

Cliff and Lea Padgett were sitting a table over, with Mitch Weiland and Will Lynch.

(Get this: Will even gave me a hug! Surprise!) 

Brent Feske was at my table, most of the time, but kept roving.

However, the ones I usually enjoy are in the photograph collage.

There's Yvonne Roach to my left, talking to a student who doesn't eat vegetables.

Across the table was Brandon Quillian, fellow USN veteran and topped with his usual tam.

And right beside me was Jim Lobue, with Cathy MacGowan close at hand.

Retirement was certainly a hot topic, with both Yvonne and Cathy doing that this summer.

Jim retired last year, so Cathy was talking to him about that.

I encouraged them to set a schedule of things they like to do, and to try to arrange events for when they would have been busy with the job, so they can keep a pattern.

Hope they'll enjoy being retired as much as I have!

(smile!)

All the good times were just with the conversation, though.

The whole shebang was gratis!!!

Remember that 2019 SERMACS that I helped bring to a rousing success?

Well, the section made a heap of money off that.

Part of the largess was used to fund Summer Undergraduate Research the past few years, culminating in the three talks this evening.

Very nice!

Some of that bounty was also used to purchase all of our dinners - and desserts! - as well as beverages of choice.

We could choose fish, steak, chicken, shrimp, or even vegetarian plates.

I went with the Catch of the Day, and was rewarded with the chef's choice of grilled grouper a la bruschetta topping!

My, oh, my, that fish was delicious!!!

As well as the rice pilaf - drizzled with balsamic glaze! - came broccoli and a salad.

I left only a mouthful of rice, and the lemon rinds, on that plate! 

And then...

the grand finale!

The menu called it simply

"Lemon Cake"

but it was certainly more than that!

Luscious moist blueberries 

bedecked both slices

with a creamy lemon curd

that melted in the mouth!

Marvelous!

My thanks for the group for this gift

of dinner with boon companions!

It's been a pleasure seeing all again!

(smile!)

scientist ducks and moonlight park!

You know what the best part was of the President's Day vacation?

Not just the part about my first niece bookending her four-day holiday from school and weekday responsibilities here in Savannah with me...

though that was most excellent!!!

Not just getting to spend some time with my now-official great-nieces...

though that was most excellent, too!!!

And not just having visitors at my house...

though that was definitely sweet!!!

 

However, the best part, I do believe, was the game Chloe made up.

Seriously!

I didn't suggest it, nor did Christina or Miyah.

Chloe made it up with her 5-year-old mind.

And it was fun, too!

Can you tell what she's holding?

In her right hand is the mermaid duck from the family outing for the movie and pizza last year.

Her left hand holds one of the scientist ducks from the 2018 chemistry nerds convention in Augusta.

You remember that we all love the ducks, right?

Even my Beaufort boys love them!!!

Miss Chloe was fascinated with my collection, of course, especially as I have some very different ducks, in a range of sizes.

We had been half watching "Curious George", then we tuned in "Pinkalicious" and TV time seemed to be requiring the girls to stay too still.

Next thing I know, Chloe is in front of me with her hands behind her back.

"Which hand has a duck?", she began....

and the game was on!

"Which duck do I have?" became the next phase, with Miyah taking a turn at having me guess while Chloe reloaded.

Then it really got complicated.

"How many ducks am I holding?"

Really???

It had been hard enough to make good guesses at which ducks, but I'd somehow been able to distinguish the scientist ducks from each other and from the Elvis duck and the vampire duck, from the mermaid duck and the tiny blue duck, from the strawberry duck and the confetti duck and the baseball duck...

seriously!

Maybe the girls and I have a telepathy thing going, right?

But by the time it progressed to me having to guess how many ducks...

well, I was glad when their mom helped me out!

Shhh, don't tell the girls!

(smile!)

By the time "Donkey Hodie" came on - trust me, it's a pun, you have to say it out loud, so thanks to my first niece for cluing me in - the girls were restless.

Time to bounce elsewhere in town for some running around!

Say what?

How about the park outside my front door, you say?

Hey, it was much too cold for that.

Like, at least 15 degrees colder than late morning on Friday had been.

Especially since Sunday had been too cold for church, today had not yet improved.

So, where to go?

Moonlight Park, of course!

We weren't the only ones who thought of the playland at Oglethorpe Mall, either.

I really had to be quick with the camera to get this shot with just Miyah and Chloe, and both in that lovely sliver of moon!

Chloe had already ducked down to go on the slide, on the left, but Miyah was standing tall -

I very much like this photo!

(smile!)

They got to play and Christina and I got to talk, as well as pop into River Street Sweets for rock candy (her) and into Bath & Body Works for free lotion and discounted hand soaps (for me, thanks to the bfe's coupons).

Such a lovely way to pass time in a warm space!

Then, off to Seasons of Japan for a leisurely luncheon!

What a fabulous finish to our fun together!

Thank you, dearest Christina!

(smile!)

judging baked goods with science

Hey, Hallie started it!

 

She holds an annual cookie contest for kids in her life, posting the photos on fb for for folks there to serve as the judges.

 

This year, she had ten entrants!!!

 

Each of them had to decorate three cookies: a tree, a star, and a gingerbread man.

 

Here's her post.

"Voting closes at 7:00 PM Monday…
Here we go again. Our annual Christmas cookie decorating contest. Please vote for your favorite by number. Don’t even ask about the back story on #3… lol. Keep in mind that 4 of these artists are in college and took off work to compete."

 

I saw the post today, so the judging must close on Christmas Day.

 

After viewing all the cookies, I determined that I needed to look at each type of cookie and determine their merits before advancing to the other two types of cookies.

 

That simplified one aspect of the judging, but made it difficult to declare one winner.

 

So, here's what I wrote to her.

"Okay, being an analytical chemist, I've put some care into my decision. 

If I could only select one as the winner, it would be # 7 or # 1, as both made two of my Top 3 lists. Here are those, for your consideration. 

 

Snowflakes: 1 (bright!), 5 (gum drops!), 7 (crisp lines). 

 

Tree: 4, 7, 10, all chosen for the yellow star at the tree's top. 

 

Gingerbread: 1 (shiny and simple), 2 (shiny), 6 (traditional). 

That was fun!!! 

Merry Christmas to all!" 

I wonder what rubrick was used by the other judges?

I wonder who will win?

I wonder how the cookies taste?

(smile!)

games and puzzles, puzzles and games!

Today was a day with nothing going on.

Not that I'm complaining, but... I would have liked to have a movie outing, or a meetup to attend, or a luncheon somewhere, but...

nope.

So I made sure that won't happen tomorrow!

I looked around and found, wonder of wonders, an event at the Jepson!

It's a talk about one of the exhibits there, one I've yet to see, so I plan to go a bit early and visit some of my favorites, as well as the new Robert Barthe.

Hooray!

 

Okay, what to do now?

While clearing off the sun room table, I found a crossword puzzle.

Better yet, it was written by Matt Jones!!!

Oddly, it was not called a Jonesin' Crossword, but it definitely was.

The clues for the four puzzle answers that went all the way across just had an arrow pointing back toward the number in the "Across" column.

I finally "got it" after I solved the second answer: "Jack Bauer Drama".

That had to be "24", right?

Then I solved another line across: "Bill With U S Grant".

Okay, I thought, his face is on... a $50 bill!

So, these answers are all for things that stand for a number!

Ding, ding, ding!!!

So, the title of ""Adele Debut Album" is evidently "19" and the "Old Vinyl Single" is a "45".

Very cool!

Too bad I didn't realize until just now that the arrows were pointing back at the Across number for a reason.

Hahahaha!

(smile!)

"Celebrity Jeopardy" came on, so I glanced at the list of contestants and decided to stay.

Utkarsh Ambudkar was on the panel!

He's a pretty smart cookie, too, as he ended up winning.

However, his chemistry knowledge - and that of the others - could use a boost.

In that first round was the category "Hey, that's not an element", so I watched!

Germanium, Italium, Francium - he knew that one, then backed off and went to "sports".

Gold, Silver, Bronze - nope, he picked "Silver", not realizing Bronze is a mixture.

Californium, Floridium, Tennessine - none of them chose "Floridium" in time.

But when it came to choosing between Snookium, Einsteinium, and Curium, he knew that the one linked to a "Jersey Shore" character was a fake!

Good for him!

(smile!)

Now, "$!00,000 Pyramid" is on and it has Tiffany Haddish, wearing this super-blonde, super-curly wig straight from an Art Deco magazine spread!

Later!

voices of the past: students

Dear Professor Smith,

I found this on the internet and thought it was hilarious, and I figured a chemistry professor (MY chemistry teacher) would like it, too. 

Cheers,

Rachael Abraham (2011)

Ms. Smith,

I enjoyed your class... both of them.

Brad Twesne (2000)

 

Dr. Faustina Smith manages to instruct class in a fun and interesting way while still maintaining a safe, educational environment for students. She is a very helpful professor that makes the learning experience enjoyable and the material easy to understand.

Olivia Dean (2008)

Professor Smith,

You are a great teacher and I like the way you taught this semester. I wouldn't change anything about this course. When I needed help you were always open and free to talk to. I really enjoy coming to your class and I'm excited about taking you again next semester!

Jessie W (2010)

Wonderful experience in class. 

Fun teacher allowed open opinions and great examples. 

Was available for further questions and help.

Hillary Simmons (2008)

It was a little fast for me, but when I figured it out it made a lot of sense.

Kim B (2010)

 

Excellent teacher with an encouraging and entertaining personality. Great professor who really helps students to understand what I perceive to be a difficult subject. Perfect setup with lecture and lab info.

Christi J (2010)

 

Very understanding and helpful!

One of the most sincere and caring prof I have EVER been blessed enough to have enabling my college education!

Kayla Shattles (2008)

 

Dr. Smith is an excellent professor.

I have enjoyed her class and I have learned the material much better this time.

Chloe G (2000)

 

Mrs. Smith is a fun teacher. I do not know if it is because of the lab experiments or her, that I enjoy the class (it's her!). She has a bubbly personality. The class was understandable for me and fun to take.

Tomica Vance (2010)

 

Greetings Doctor Smith!

I hope this email finds you well and in high spirits. I just wanted to apologize for my frequent absences from our 6-7:15 pm lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays and to clarify as to why I've been so flaky. I work full time as an assistant manager at a retail store in order to pay for school and apartment. I am not intentionally missing classes, however I do hope that you will be understanding of which. I will be unable to attend lab tonight but am more than willing to come to your 11:30 lab Thursday morning.

I actually am quite fond of your class and lab specifically. It's so interesting how the information crosses between the two. You do a fine job finding real life examples for both the experiments and the correlation of material covered in class. I look forward to the rest of the semester and will see you soon... Monday, haha!

Forever a Chemist,

Megan Taylor (2012)

 

Made the labs fun and made sure we got them done! I only had her for lab but it was excellent!

Brandon Camp (2008)

 

Hi Mrs. Smith,

I just wanted to stop by and say that I am sooooooo happy about my last test score. I thought it was higher, but I was so thankful that it was an 82. I just want to say thank you for all your support and pushing me to do better. I might not come out of your class with a "B" but I learned something about MYSELF that will help me in other classes. Thanks again!!!

Thank you,

Gerkerea Hodges (2011)

 

Very good teaching practices, made it easy to learn and pass this class.

David Capasso (2008)

 

THANKS! btw you made my transition from high school to college a little better... I thought all the teachers do is just talk and then leave but you remembered my name which makes me feel like I'm not just a number and you joked around with us in labs and even in class sometimes. So, thank you! <-)

Taiyana Stephens (2010)

 

Great class, learned a lot.

Not Professor's fault, but lab supplies were not always plentiful, resulting in taking a long time to complete lab.

I've taken 2 chemistries in high school.

This is the first time I have understood it enough to make higher than a C, thanks to Professor Smith.

Marshall Green (2008)

[Note: Eventually returned to Armstrong as a psychology professor!]

 

Dr. Smith,

I wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your class and how you teach. I was terrified that I would not be able to keep up with the class, but your style of teaching has provided me with the confidence I did not have in myself.  I wish all my professors were like you. 

Thank you so much for truly caring about the students.

You don't realize this but you have made an enormous impact on my life.

Again, thank you for caring.

Louis D'Angelo (2011)

[Note: He was retired military and had just begun college.]

 

I really enjoyed Mrs. Smith this semester. I started the class out thinking "it's chemistry, this will be boring" but you fooled me completely. You keep the class together on the material and always went out of your way to make sure we understood the information given. And encouraged us to form study groups with fellow classmates and I believe that was the extra boost I need to become successful in passing your class. Thanks, Professor Smith. Keep up the good work. :-)

Professor Smith I really enjoyed having lab with you because you kept the lab interesting and yet fun. Those weekly quizzes we take really help also as a tool to make sure we understand the information and material for the weekly lab and that we are not just doing the lab and leaving. I really can say that I have learned plenty rom you this semester and thanks for the extra time you gave me to ask class questions after lab.

Sara Floyd (2010)

nineteen centimeters

The magical aspect of all of this tonight: the ability to travel to a World Heritage Site in Africa without having to go any farther than the Tybee Post Theater.

The place really should have been packed.

I was there with the bfe for a film about a paleoanthropology site where an incredible depository of animal bones had been discovered.

I had no idea that it was a local fellow, Lee Berger of Sylvania, who has been in charge of that dig ever since its start in October of 2013.

That's him in the photo.

He looks like a modern-day Indiana Jones, doesn't he?

No doubt in my mind that he drew inspiration for his life's work from that first movie.

He would have been 15 years old that summer of 1981.

Now, he's a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, two years from being 60 years old.

What a life of adventure!

That was especially clear in "Unknown: Cave Of Bones", which documents some of the exploration - and hypotheses - of him and his team in the Rising Star Cave.

They have recovered more than 1500 - yes, that's right, more than one thousand five hundred - bones, all going back more than 250,000 years ago.

Incredible.

Moreover, the bones are of a previously unknown species, Homo naledi.

I had brought the issue of Smithsonian magazine that I've been reading of late.

It has an article titled "Invisible Evidence", in which the chemistry analytical tool mass spectrometry has been used to identify protein fragments on the surface of items as diverse as ancient manuscripts (including a letter penned by the real Vlad "the Impaler" Dracula) and paintings to those of stones and animal remains.

The date on that issue is November/December 2022.

Right place, right time.

I made sure to bring the article with me, to show Dr. Berger.

Not so surprisingly, he did know of the work by Pier Giorgio Righetti, along with Gleb and Svetlana Zilberstein.. which, coincidentally, began a decade ago, the same year when Berger's team first started exploring and excavating the cave.

Timing.

(smile!) 

About two feet shorter (just over four feet in height) than the average modern human, these fauna curiously used this cave as a cemetery, though its unknown what members of the group qualified for inclusion there.

More is to be forthcoming by year's end, so I will look forward to that.

We here at Tybee were the first to see this film on the silver screen.

Amazing, right?

Here's something else that was amazing.

To reach the burial chamber, deep within the cave, required very tight maneuvering through a 12-meter vertical chimney with a width of only 19 centimeters.

Let's put that into English units of measure, rather than scientific ones.

The chimney is the height of more than six men, stacked head to foot atop each other, much like acrobats in a complex formation.

That's quite a climb down to access the chamber, plus a grueling clamber back up.

But that isn't the worst of it.

It's that extremely narrow window between the two sides of the latticework dolomite walls.

It's only about 7.5 inches.

To picture that, take a piece of standard letter-sized paper from the printer, then cut off an inch along its length.

Now, hold that paper to your side and look in a mirror.

Would your body be able to squeeze through such a narrow space?

Would you be able to do that for 39 feet, going straight down?

Would you then be able to go back up those 39 feet, walls pressing on you the whole way?

Lee Berger did.

He had to see for himself... 

to breathe that air himself... 

to touch those surfaces himself...

just once. 

Just once almost ended in tragedy when he got stuck between those fragile lattices.

If they had collapsed, he could have lost not only his own life, but those of his team.

Amazing... but I understand the obsession with experiencing it for himself.

That's what the trip to Iowa had been for me.

Mind, that narrow, long passage would not have been the case when this cave was used for the burials.

The collapse of a large block of dolomite - now known by the cavers as 'the Dragon's back' - caused this limited access path at some distant time in the past.

Dr. Berger intimated that other caves used for burial by this species have been found, so perhaps they shed a light on normal rituals that may have been used.

Yes, I'll have to keep my ears open for "the rest of the story," as Paul Harvey would say.

(smile!)

a dragonfly, o-hi-o, and cheesecake

Remember that I had a dragonfly light on the tip of my index finger yesterday?

That one had clear wings, with brown smudges on the edges, and a black body.

Well, this afternoon, as I was heading out for a cool matinee on this hot day, I was stopped short by another!

The type that usually visits me in the summer has a black body with black blocks on its transparent wings.

This one has a big white body, but the same wings.

I think it was waiting for me!

It lit there just as I turned back from locking the door...

and then, there it stayed...

clicking its wings, but otherwise motionless...

even posing long enough for me to zoom in!

I thanked it for the shot and explained that I really did need to go, and it left.

Nice!

 

After the movie, I popped by the Food Lion.

They have the cherries on sale this week, so I got another pound.

So juicy and sweet!

Tony texted back about the photo from Saturday with the kids, and he had an invite to a cookout for the 4th!

Anything I could bring, since I was at the store?

Oh, yes! A cheesecake for their anniversary!

Sure, I could pick up one of those!

I finally chose the New York style, plain, so he and Laura could top it with fruit of their choice.

So lovely and creamy!

Then, I sat down to tune in the Bananas game, sure that it would have fireworks at the end.

Whoa, it was already into the seventh inning???

But it was not yet 8 PM, which made it 7 PM there at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio.

Ah, but they had started the game at 6 PM... odd.

That's okay, I was able to watch the kid on stilts serve up the yellow balls to the batter.

The Bananas ended up getting the point for that inning, were they acted as the visiting team and the Party Animals were the "home" team.

Every time the camera panned the stands, I looked for the telltale signs of yellow shirts on the fans...

but I guess those folks were just out to see what a circus looked like when the costumes didn't include spangles or fright wigs or red noses.

(smile!)

The Party Animals took the point for the 8th inning, continuing to secure their lead by 2 points.

Then came the critical 9th inning. 

When every run counts as a point, the Bananas had a chance to at least tie it up... but did not succeed in doing so, as they failed to get a runner across home plate before the last out.

The Animals jubilantly raced onto the field, lighting sparklers along the way, and doing a victory dance!

Hooray for them!

They won both of those Ohio games!

Now, it was time for some real fireworks!!!

There goes the countdown...

and I heard the cannon boom...

but the sky was still so light at 8:33 PM that only the initial burst of the explosive catalyst was visible.

A puff of grayish smoke was the only result.

More booms of the fireworks cannon, over and over!

More puffs of smoke vying for space with the clouds.

Well, drats.

Even the big finale, shown here, had barely discernible color.

That was okay, though.

Plenty of folks in my 'hood were shooting off bottle rockets and such, with an occasional burst of color making it through the trees.

In fact, that's been going on since Thursday night.

I expect the big blasts to go on at dusk tomorrow!

(smile!)

 

Oh, and here was a bright spot at the grocery store!

One of the workers there was trying to get a motorized grocery cart back into the store, along with a short string of regular carts.

I had grabbed that train as I came up to him, then pushed them inside, having to slow down for some shoppers on their way out.

A dark-haired woman had stopped when she saw me, watching until I had the carts in.

Then she came up with a big smile.

"Do you remember me?", she asked.

I knew her face, actually mistaking her for one who was in the neighborhood fb group.

"Jamie?", I asked.

No, it was Mara King, one of my former students!!!

Wow!

I told her that August will make six years that I've been retired.

She told me she still had her notes from my chemistry class, that she had so enjoyed learning chemistry from me, and that she has a daughter who is now taking chemistry and concerned about doing well with it.

She had told her, "Don't worry, I've got you on this, I still have my notes."

Isn't that amazing???

I just beamed!!!

How blessed to have that encounter!!!

Right place, right time... and I was doing a good deed, shining my light.

i thank You, God.

(smile!)

bday65 with chem ladies!

Yes, it's been a couple of months since we last met, but, thanks to Leah, we were together again, and sooner rather than later!

In fact, we're to dine again next month... and in August, too!

And what was the driving force between the reunion of us Armstrong Pirates?

Birthdays, birthdays, birthdays!

Cathy Mac's was in mid-May, mine was the end of May, and Leah's was just a couple of days ago, with all of us now speed limits (70, 65, and 45).

Pretty cool!

That just leaves Yvonne, who will be a year older than me in August, hence the need for at least one more luncheon before fall semester at GaSoU starts.

This time, we were at Applebee's, as I had a free dessert coming, courtesy of their loyalty program - with plenty of Cinnamon Swirls to share with all!

Thanks, Applebee's!

Dessert is certainly the most common reward for birthdays.

Tuesday, after catching the movie about fly fishing, I dropped by Jason's Deli to claim their birthday gift to me.

I chose the Cranberry Walnut Cookie, a most excellent choice, and just perfect after dining on the Great Southwest Bowl.

Red Lobster has a dessert waiting for me, too: their Chocolate Wave; I'll just pass on that, as their is no alternative that works for me.

The best option for a reward?

Choice.

No need to work around food sensitivities or allergies with that one!

(smile!)

Lions and Legionnaires

I completely understand why Eugene was a Lion.

After spending about two and a half hours with the Savannah Lions Club, I definitely saw and heard the sense of humor mingled in with the proceedings.

I was greeted at the door of The Pirates House banquet room by Bart, a friendly face, and I told him upfront why I was there, rather than make him think I was interested in joining.

I'm glad I did that.

He took me over to Rush, who listened to my tale, and who took me right over to Lois Modell, who happened to be a guest for the luncheon, too.

And who was she?

She was the director of the Savannah Center For The Blind And Low Vision.

For real.

She just so happened to be at that meeting...

and I just so happened to be at that meeting...

and we sat together for the entire luncheon.

Right place, right time.

I'm still a bit in awe of the timing of this coincidence.

She has given me the name and contact information for Juliet Hardeman, the Parent Mentor for Chatham County Schools.

She is the one to help get my Elements of Touch Periodic Table into the hands of the local students.

Lizzy Ross, the Program Director at the Ronald McDonald House, had me show her how my invention works!

She deals with not only children who have lost their vision to cancer, but adults, too, and thought my Periodic Table could be of use for them in Chemistry classes.

She, too, was not a Lion, but a guest, like me, like Lois.

i thank You, God.

 

I'm so glad I had dressed up for the occasion.

In a way, it was as if I was going to an interview, but instead of a job being at stake, it was the future of my invention.

The universe sent this fellow on "Let's Make A Deal" to get my attention, and he did.

As a STEAM punk alchemist, he turns zonks into prizes.

I don't know if he meant it STEAM, but that's how I heard it.

That meant this was an official first outing for my Table.

The 'medieval roses' dress was warranted.

I was still wearing the dress when I went to the American Legion meeting at 6 PM.

I'm sure that's why Joe immediately recognized me as having been at the luncheon earlier.

Yes, Joe is a Lion as well as a Legionnaire!

He got a kick out of me recognizing him as "the bouncer" during the Tail Twisting portion of the Lions' meeting.

That was the "trivia" time, complete with bad jokes, which served to engage each member in answering a question, then paying a dollar "fine" for getting it wrong... which they all did!

I just know Eugene loved that part best.

So, back to this evening's get-together.

That started with dinner from Barnes' restaurant.

It was free, which was different from past meetings of Post 36.

Then again, we were no longer only that first post of Savannah.

Now, we were joined with Post 500, the first black post in town, so together we were The Two Firsts American Legion Post.

The space now inhabited is new to both posts and will eventually become a bar, as well as a site for "Hail & Farewell" parties for Hunter Army Air Station.

That will be an easy transition, as we're directly outside the Montgomery Street gate.

Of course, that will not be for awhile.

There's quite a lot of work to be done to the spaces.

For one thing, there's this ancient linoleum layer to be removed, as well as the marred tile floor and stained carpet.

Plus, the acoustical tiles in the ceiling are stained from both water damage as well as years of cigarette smoke - yuck.

But tonight was a time of getting to know each other.

I found out I'm one of three ex-sailors, that I'm one of three former electronic maintenance techs, and that I'm one of two who served down in Panama.

Very nice to feel like I belong!