Guardian Emmy

Emmy, watchdog supreme, guarding the upstairs landing.

“DAAAAADDDDDYYYYY!!!!” “What’s the matter, honey?” “I don’t like being alone.” “Well, I’m sorry, honey, but I have work to do, and it’s time for you to go to sleep.” “But when I’m alone I get scared.” “Well, I can put on some music if you like. You can listen to that, and it might give… Continue reading Guardian Emmy

Go Fly a Kite

SteelyKid, flying a kite.

The kids spent last week at Grandma and Grandpa’s, as school was closed for Passover/Easter (best wishes for each of those holidays to those who celebrate them), and Kate and I went down there for the weekend. During which trip we went up on top of the flood control dam in town, and flew a… Continue reading Go Fly a Kite

Spring Break

The Pharaoh SteelyKid I is judging you.

This week is Union’s spring break, and like basically everything associated with Union’s academic calendar, it’s too short. I have to turn in my Winter term grades today, and next Monday is the start of my Spring term class. I also find myself in a place right now were every little thing is pissing me… Continue reading Spring Break

Science at Bedtime

SteelyKid showing off the board she broke at taekwondo. Bad guys, watch out!

“Daddy? How do you make water?” “You mean, what is it made of?” “Yeah, what’s water made of?” “Hydrogen and oxygen.” “Oh. And what’s hydrogen and oxygen?” “They’re chemical elements.” “So, when we drink water, we’re drinking chemicals?” “Well, yeah. In a sense, everything is chemicals. Water’s a chemical, air is made of chemicals. ”… Continue reading Science at Bedtime

The Most Important Cosmos Review You’ll Read This Week

“So, that’s the science show with space pictures. What did you think of it, honey?” “Science. Space pictures. Awesome!” Our umpteenth winter storm of the season delayed school two hours this morning, which is kind of the worst of all possible worlds from a parenting perspective– when the schools are closed, there’s (usually) a snow-day… Continue reading The Most Important Cosmos Review You’ll Read This Week

Idle Physics Query: Whistling Bombs

SteelyKid and The Pip, gangstas.

Not that long ago, SteelyKid was doing something violent with toys (she’s very tough, as you can see from the featured image above), and in the process made the canonical falling-bomb whistle noise. And it occurred to me to wonder, why that sound? I mean, I’ve seen footage of falling bombs and the canonical sound… Continue reading Idle Physics Query: Whistling Bombs

Shave and a Haircut

Kate has been cutting The Pip’s hair a little bit at a time, and this morning he demanded a trim. This is a somewhat fraught process, as he’s two, and thus tends not to hold still very well. While Kate was trying to get him arranged, SteelyKid came bouncing into the bathroom to “watch,” which… Continue reading Shave and a Haircut

SteelyKid and the Big Telescope

SteelyKid looking through the Union College Observatory's telescope.

SteelyKid’s class at her after-school day care has been learning about space for the last month or two (the program is very flexible– the teachers ask the kids what they want to learn about, and then they spend however long on that topic the kids like), so we’ve been getting a lot of tidbits about… Continue reading SteelyKid and the Big Telescope

Video Editing Software?

SteelyKid playing on her playset in the snow.

Both SteelyKid’s kindergarten and the snow-day day-care program that the kids go to were closed today, which kind of threw a wrench in things. But it’s also kind of fun, as I got to spend some time playing outside with SteelyKid on her play set in the snow. The “featured image” above is a cell-phone… Continue reading Video Editing Software?

Basketball at High Altitude

SteelyKid and The Pip way up high at the basketball game.

SteelyKid is one of the biggest fans of Union’s women’s basketball games. Not necessarily the team, just going to the games– she rampages all around the lobby, and as the crowd is generally pretty sparse, everybody is cool with that. The Pip has started coming along this year, and the two of them chase each… Continue reading Basketball at High Altitude