In Between Snow Belts

A Slow Saturday

Temp got up to 29°F last night, dropped to 21°F in the afternoon and was 11°F the last I checked. For a little while there was sun, then heavy snow. Snow picked up, then stopped. Mrs. Dr, Phil went out in it for a time. Not too cold, but the wind out of the west was harsh. When we get winds like this and snow, the drifts build up between the house and the trees -- amongst the trees the driveway doesn't build up so much.


Mrs. Dr. Phil scooping out our turnaround. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)

While she was out, our neighbor Bryan wandered by with his John Deere and its snowblower. He did some blowing, but then a belt or something came off.


Half an hour later, Bryan was back, clearing things off. Thanks, neighbor. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)

There was an hour window where the snow stopped and Mrs. Dr. Phil went out to the grocery store. While she was out, I saw that the snow had built up on the back deck -- thought and first it was just against the window, but no. In the backyard, the wind had the snow levels reduced in spots, but it has to go somewhere.


It's a trap! (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)

It was funny, though, picking up the D100. I'd carried the F4s with me the last couple of days due to the cold. But I wanted the D100 and the N2020 in service because they were lighter. Compared to the F4s? You bet.

Dr. Phil

Michigan Tech January Sunday Brunch

We Gather Together In U.P.-like Snowfall...

For the last couple of years the local Michigan Tech alumni have gathered on a Sunday in January when Marie Catrib's opens special for us and we eat and eat amongst friends. Sunday 26 January 2014 was our day. Alas, seven months ago Marie passed (DW), but her son continues the tradition, for which we are all grateful.

I made our reservations early, because they asked for the numbers to be limited to the available seating in the main room -- last year we were at one of several tables in the deli counter area.

Steady bands of lake effect snow were falling when we got up. Overnight there had been numerous slideoffs and crashes through the area, and the roads were still slippery. Still, it looked like we'd get a break in the new snow and the winds for a couple of hours, and I figured we'd make it.

It was 6°F in Allendale as we drove east -- up to 12°F on the way home -- and as I expected, there'd been plowing and scraping of the roads so the church crowds could go to/fro. Most of the way I kept it to 40 mph or less. At Warner and 68th I started braking early, but before the part they'd sanded, so the stopping didn't start out so good. And one part of M-45 was a little squirrely. Plus the idiot who refused to comprehend the Yield part of Merge onto I-196 and I had to bail into the fortunately clear left lane so he didn't plow into me.

Warner and M-45 were both plowed fully wide. And going through Standale, I commented that this was the first time in years that the snowbanks along the road were higher than the Bravada window sills. Not quite the U.P., but closer than usual -- and just the other day there were no snow banks.

The side streets in Grand Rapids were choked with chewed up deep snow, but things weren't bad on the routes I took. This was the first outing with my new Dunham Winslow (New Balance) shoes in 10½ 6E and their more aggressive tread did well in the snowy parking lot.

Marie's!

Last year I shot the event with the infrared D100R (DW). This year, I also had a brand-new-to-me Nikon D100 Christmas present, but this one is of the more normal ROYGBIV visible light persuasion.


Class of 2003 and 1963, I believe, at our table. Geophysics and EE. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


Seven month old Liam and his really cool folding high chair. Sort of like a camp stool. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


Far side of the dining room. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


Sorry, ate the first round before I thought to take a picture. The pasty looking thing behind the most excellent cinnamon roll is a date-filled Finnish cookie. We also had two kinds of roasted potatoes and quiche, with and without meat, other lovely savories, a Finnish pancake, sort of like a thick flan with strawberry preserves, and thin slices of lox rolled up with cream cheese, capers and onion. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


The near side of the room. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


I believe this is Marie's son. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)


Just part of the spread. (Click on photo for larger.)
©2014 Dr. Philip Edward Kaldon (All Rights Reserved)

Naturally, it is only now that I realize I didn't hand the camera to someone else to get our picture. (grin) Typical photographer.

Lovely, lovely event. Still haven't won a new hat in the raffle. Of course, the Alumni Office didn't send any hats, though three people will be a little warmer with two scarves and some gloves.

One Small Nit

Twice I tried to get the emcee to pause a moment for Marie, the first time he didn't hear me, though many of the alums murmured their assent. The second time he said in an aside, "That was last year." Maybe he meant they acknowledged her passing at another West Michigan Michigan Tech Alum event -- I was in the hospital. And maybe I misremembered that I had posted the news here while I was in the hospital.

I didn't push it, and dammit, now I am annoyed with myself. Yes, Marie Catrib died last year, but this was the first alumni Sunday brunch without her and they did open up again for us. So I think it would've been nice.

Still, the food and camaraderie were lovely, and ever the wonderful hostess Marie couldn't have wanted a better memorial.

Dr. Phil

Amazing Or Insane?

I'm Not Cleaning That Bathtub

Via Facebook, thirty some wild ideas for home design:
http://www.boredpanda.com/amazing-home-interior-design-ideas/

I particularly like the indoor and outdoor kitty habitrails. But that bathtub is only going to work if (a) someone cleans that sucker everyday, (b) you don't have well water and (c) you clean yourself before using that tub. And I've seen the bookshelf staircase elsewhere.

Alas, with bandages and compression stockings, I suppose the beach sand under your work desk isn't going to cut it. And no wide border on that box? You will never be free of that sand. Besides, I'd want to put a mild heat source under that sand.

Some of the others seem a little indulgent to me...

Dr. Phil