Way, way late update

OK - I get it. I guess it's time to update. Where to start? Hmmmmm. In May I (I'm saying "I" until Kevin decides to put his 2 cents in - I'm not holding my breath) took off and went to Chihuahua City for a few days with some colleagues from NMU. My impressions were: It is a lot the same as I expected and also a lot different. I was impressed with their diet. Yes it was Mexican food (Kevin warned me I would get overdosed on Mexican food and be tired of it and I said NEVER! Guess what? I was right! I could eat it all the time.) The fruit - I have never eaten so much fruit in all my life. They have fruit with every meal. The enchiladas with mole' (did you know mole' was made with CHOCOLATE? How could I resist?) - yummmmm! I visited a bilingual school - very sparse on equipment as compared to our classrooms but very high on attitude! I went into a 9th grade classroom and remembered why I love teaching those grades so much. I also got a picture of the Curves there - Kevin and I joke that "they're everywhere!" They really are. We got to hobnob with some biggies and I took pictures of a Tarahumara Indian mother and daughter. I learned a lot about the culture, particularly the more advantaged people. I definitely want to go back. There are some beautiful places there and I would like to go camping in the desert and in Copper Canyon in the Sierras.


As soon as I got back we left for about 5 weeks in Oklahoma. We visited with babies and kids, helped my Mom and Andrew with their houses and stuff and sloshed through the rain and rain and rain .... you get it. It rained the last 18 days we were there - every day - straight through. It was a record. Even Mom's yard looked like a lake at times. Andrew literally had ducks swimming behind his house. I'm really not kidding. Mandy, Ella and I managed to get in a trip to the zoo and I visited the egret rookery before the rain started. Driving home it rained so much we had to stop in Kansas City for the night and I-35 was closed going south (good thing we were going north).

We arrived home around 5am on a Monday and I began teaching that morning at 8. I taught every day for 2 weeks then had a couple of days off. Then I took off for one of those events of a lifetime. Somehow I was on a list to attend a NASA education conference and then watch the space shuttle, STS 118, launch on August 8. 2007 from the VIP viewing area at Banana Creek. What an amazing sight! People always ask me if it was loud. I don't honestly know. I was yelling with the rest of the crowd! It was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. And yes, I really did take that picture myself!



I also learned about the virtual world Second Life and I was pretty embarrassed that NMU, a supposedly high tech university, knew nothing about it when over 100 universities from the US and others from over 13 other countries were involved along with NASA, NOAA, the American Cancer Society, Nature, NPR....... So I am now in there and trying to establish a foothold for NMU. If you want to see me there, my avatar is Clowey Greenwood. Kevin (Makwa Greenwood) is in there too and we have built a log cabin on some virtual land owned by some LDS people (Cumorah Island - part of Adam-ondi-ahman Island). I also have a space (seen behind me above) near the Star Trek museum for my students to hang out and for me to have class with them.


I flew directly from Orlando to Madison where I attended and participated in the Distance Teaching and Learning Conference at the Monona Conference Center. It was a good conference. I got home and almost immediately began teaching a one week seminar in Escanaba. The next week was professional development stuff at NMU and the following week Kevin and I started back to school. Whew!

Kevin is broadcasting for public radio here, WNMU-FM 90.1: http://wnmu.publicbroadcasting.net/. He is typically online on T, W & Th nights from 7-10pm and on Saturdays from 2-8pm. Tune in on the website and listen. He has a great radio voice. He has been very involved with helping the Native American community get some of their events publicized on air as well as NMU's diversity conference.

I gave a presentation about diversity in Second Life during the conference and also sponsored a LDSSA event. Last week we had the annual Seaborg science and math education conference and I presented two sessions about space. So that is a quick and dirty update. The animals have been ornery lately - Amber and Jane went across 553 and had to be separated and controlled, Nurmi learned how to open a side door on his cage and get out. Melvin is just obnoxious but not as much since Amber is home alone - Melvin is glad to see her without that pesky, rowdy Jane (in his opinion). Such is the crazy life!

Mother's Day too

As I was reading my daughter's Mother's Day post, and after talking with her last night, I was reflecting on motherhood. I had visions of what motherhood would be like before I ever had a baby. I guess in some ways my visions were accurate. But mostly being a mother was a lot more and a lot less than I thought.

I thought I would love a baby a lot. I really had no remote idea how much I would love my children. There aren't words to describe what "a lot" means when it comes to love for your own child.

I thought that, if I did things right, they would always be "good". Well...I guess it all depends on what you consider to be good. All in all they turned out all right.

I thought that I would always do things right. I learned I'm not perfect and life gets in the way sometimes.

I thought kids would be grown up and I wouldn't ever worry about them once they graduated from high school. I pray every day about someone or something to do with the kids. And I pray that they pray.

I thought that kids would always be the kids and I would always be the adult. I learned as much from them - even when they were very little - as I taught - maybe more.

I thought I would be happy when my babies were all kids. I found I really loved having babies.

I thought being a mom would bring joy. I had no idea how much fun and laughter it would bring.

I thought that, if I did the best I could, they would understand. I found that sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes the best isn't good enough.

I thought that, if I made them be accountable for their mistakes, they would grow to be responsible. I was completely right on this one. They are amazing and, at least to a small part, I think it was because I did expect them to be honest and accountable.

I thought that, if I loved science they would too. I think they like it OK and a couple are in a peripheral field but no scientists (yet - I have one in the making in my granddaughter).

I thought it would be easy to have a happy home. It has taken me so long to get to this place the kids are all grown and gone.

I thought that, since I was a good mother and good teacher, I could be a good stepmother. I had no idea that this would be the hardest job of my life.

I thought that being a mother would be a peaceful ride on the slow river. I found it was a raging torrent always going faster and faster with a thunderstorm overhead.

I thought kids would certainly not make the same mistakes I did. Some did, some haven't yet, some may be working on them now.

I thought I would know everything my kids did. Every holiday dinner I learn more things I didn't know and probably never needed to know (you know - the soy sauce on the dining room table as a slip-and-slide?).

I thought motherhood would be one feeling. I had no idea the breadth of feelings it brings - joy and pain, laughter and worry, relief and anxiety, glad they are grown and wish they were still little kids, gratitude and......well, just gratitude to Heavenly Father for wonderful kids who make me proud. Loving, caring, mature, intelligent, responsible adults - the kind of person I wish I was at their age. I was certainly sent some very special spirits. I hope they know that.

Four Years Later

Yesterday was our 4th anniversary. Compared to my friends, many of whom are approaching their 30th anniversary, that is just a baby-step. It is kind of sad that we met so late in life - we certainly would have enjoyed the young-family thing. But better late than never. One of the children says we are now an "ordinary couple" meaning, perhaps, that our rlelationship has degenerated into the humdrum of life. However, we do not feel that way at all. I suppose we are more used to being with each other (although this semester has tested that more than usual) but we are as much in love today as we were four years ago. No, that's not true. The more we get to know each other, the more amazing it is how much we complement each other, and the deeper the love. OK, so now we know the truth - neither of us is perfect. However, given our ages and experiences from the past, we already knew that . The question is never whether someone is "good enough" for someone else - it is whether the other person can live with the particular flaws of the other one. We can live with these. In fact, life is wonderfully good. Sorry kids, I didn't mean to burst your bubble of humdrum with pukiness.

End of Semester Rantings from Carolyn

I guess I just need a place to rant and rave about the end of the semester stress on professors. Students complain and groan over late-night study and cram marathons and paper-writing sessions. As soon as that last final is over - they are GONE! WHOOPEE! It is summer. OK - I remember those days. What a stress it was before that last day. I remember having to take 3 finals and write 2 term papers and do 1 class presentation. It never dawned on me what I left behind. Let me tell you students what is left behind.

I have 19 lengthy research papers to read and grade - about 42 if you count the rough drafts. There were 40 tests to complete grading this week - probably 60 journal articles not counting one class's summary journal articles (there are 40 of those), 40 virtual "babies" to look at, 4 meetings to attend, 1 entire day at the high school to present students' projects to high school kids, 17 oral presentations to watch and grade. And that's just the last 2 weeks. That doesn't count the 18 hours of class time last week, 6 hours this week and the time spent with my online course. Oh, and I need some laundry done and I have to eat and sleep sometime. Every semester I wonder why I don't just lecture, lecture, lecture and then give bubble-sheet tests and be done with it. But I honestly don't think that results in good learning. I love what I do until the last two weeks of every semester. Then I stress out beyond all belief. A colleague of mine looked so stressed I thought he was ill. I understood.

So, students, after taking that last test, writing that last paper, doing that last course evaluation, putting on those shorts and heading south, think about me and all my colleagues knee deep in your work and only until next Tuesday at noon to turn grades in. Now - back to grading.......

Summer's on it's way (supposedly)

Well, the weather has warmed to the 50's in the UP. Not quite up to spring-time but people are in shorts and sandals (this IS the UP after all - we're a tough breed). Yes, people in Florida - this is warm weather. This is a picture of one of our cooler-weather visitors, a pileated woodpecker (Carolyn says, "Yes, I know, I kind of obsess with woodpeckers. If you want to see all my discussions on woodpeckers and other science stuff see my science blog").


Last Sunday was in the 80's, a brief aberration but nice nonetheless. After church and a brief nap, we had the missionaries and Jennifer and Robert over for dinner then went to Jennifer and Robert's property to look at the excavation. It was exciting to see where their house will go.

The snow is gone except for some remnants on the ski hill. A couple of years ago there was still a tiny pile on the 4th of July. Of course they make snow there all winter so it is deeper and harder packed. There is no snow anywhere else. There are stories though of people cutting ice from Lake Superior for their 4th of July celebration. That hasn't happened for about 100 years though. Usually by then it is well into the high 70's or 80's in the daytime. The nice thing is that, even when it is really hot, it cools to the 50's or 60's at night and you can just open the windows for some of our cool, smog-free, balsam-smelling air. Don't you wish you were here for the summer?

This summer we are doing some family visiting, temple-hopping, and baseball game attending. After that, Kevin is taking some classes and I am teaching a couple of courses in science education. We are offering a 2 week institute for K-12 science teachers during July. Anyone interested can go to Carolyn's science blog or e-mail her.

On the road again.......

Actually only Carolyn was on the road. During winter break (the UP has no spring) Carolyn flew to Oklahoma to see the new grandbaby Liam (a beautiful baby if we may say so) and Ella. And, of course, their parents, Andrew and Carolyn's Mom. When Carolyn left the UP there was about a foot of snow left on the ground. When she came back it was all gone - temporarily. Here is a picture of the kids (Ella and Liam) chillin' outside in the 70-plus weather in Oklahoma.

After being home 3 days, Carolyn drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference where she gave four presentations and stayed in the very posh Amway Grand Hotel.

She was home again for 10 days and then flew to St. Louis for the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference where she presented with a group of NASA educators and scientists a full day workshop on Living and Working in Space: Habitat. A highlight of the trip was sitting by Buzz Aldrin (who walked on the moon) on the shuttle. Shuttle bus but still...it was pretty cool. We plan on going back (together this time) this summer to see a Cardinals game and do some more visiting.

Here she is enjoying the weather and scenery in downtown St. Louis. The picture on the right is Carolyn in the workshop.

Now she is home again for about 19 days then she drives to Lansing for the annual retreat of the Michigan Science Teachers Association board. She is the Region 13 Director. So, basically, between March 1 and April 22 Carolyn has been gone 21 days. Lots of people do that but not us - it is pretty tiring especially when teaching in between.

The Ardmore Connection

Life is sometimes so strange you have to wonder. When we lived in Colorado daughter LR (she wishes to remain anonymous) went to college at BYU. While there she met a young woman who became a very close friend for the remainder of her college years and even until today. We will call her AB. When we told LR we were moving to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and that it was in the Green Bay Wisconsin Stake of the Church she said that she thought that was AB's stake. It turns out that, not only was it her home stake, but her father was in the stake presidency....

Pretty strange - but it gets lots stranger. I have to back up a few years. LR's father was married for a time to a woman who had a daughter about LR's age. They became friends and she even went to girl's camp with us. But, when the marriage ended they lost track.

Back to the near past. A few years ago LR's sister JT went to college at BYU Idaho. She became engaged to a young man whose last name I will call Bing. Mr. Bing and JT didn't work out - end of story. Sort of. JT came back home and her friend BW went out to Idaho at the same time. After a while BW became engaged to a man named Mr. Bing. Different Bing but same last name nevertheless. Interesting thing - he was originally from Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Ardmore, Oklahoma is a smallish town very near Lake Murray where I took the kids to camp many times during their growing up years. We often ran into Ardmore to get more food or ice. So we were familiar with Ardmore although practically no one outside of Oklahoma would even have heard of it. Of course, Oklahoma is my (Carolyn's) home state. I am so Oklahoma that my great grandparents lived in Indian Territory.

BW (JT's friend) who became Mrs. Bing continued living in Idaho after their marriage. Meanwhile, LR's good friend AB married and moved to .......guess where?.......Ardmore, Oklahoma. How strange is that. One day, out of the blue, LR thought about her former step-sister. Her dad had mentioned that he thought she was married and living in........Ardmore, Oklahoma. So LR e-mailed AB and told her to look for RS (the former step-sister). AB said she met her in church and, in fact, sat next to her on Sunday! Wow - talk about coincidences! And even more interesting than that, RS hadn't been to church in several years. Their kids were about the same age and they became friends.

Back to Mr. and Mrs. Bing living in Idaho. They recently moved to.........Ardmore, Oklahoma. And every day, our son AD drives past Ardmore for his job. For all I know, he probably delivers shoes or something there. I have to wonder what will happen next in Ardmore, Oklahoma!

Just Like in the Movies!

Well, this is my third attempt to get this into the blog. The first time I never finished. The second time I dumped my first draft and began again. I had the story done and put in the picture when my computer locked up and I lost everything. This time I am typing it into Word first.

This event was one of those heart-pounding adrenalin-pumping times of our lives. After checking out of the hotel in Florida we had several hours before we needed to be at the airport. We decided to go to the manatee watching area south of Tampa at Apollo Beach. As we drove along on US 41 (kind of funny since that is the same highway that goes through Marquette) Kevin (driving) looked out his side window just after we passed a major intersection. In that split second that he wasn’t looking a little white car ran the red light on the cross street to turn left into our lane, came whipping up behind us, went around us and zoomed in and out of traffic. Just behind him was a policeman with his lights flashing and his siren blasting. “Good” I said to Kevin, “He’s going to get that guy.” “What guy?” Kevin asked and, as I began to explain, another cop came, then another and another. It was then that we realized this was a made-for-TV type high speed car chase!

Quite a number of police vehicles passed us going after the car. We couldn’t even pull out of the way because they were going around us both ways. After all the cops were ahead of us we made our way once more toward the manatees. As we got down the road I could see a lot of people standing in their yards and on the corner looking down a side street. Good, I thought – they got that guy.

We drove on a little ways and Kevin glanced in his rear-view mirror and said, “There’s someone coming up behind us” about the time I kind of yelled “That’s him!” Once again he came right up to us before going around on the right. We pulled over onto the center median to let the jillions of cop cars get past. We could see that they had formed a road block up ahead. Good, I thought, they got that guy. We were sitting on the narrow median behind another car caught in the middle of the chase. In order to stay completely out of the way, Kevin had pulled a little into the oncoming lane. No one was coming that way since the road was closed off by all the cops. And we waited for the situation to clear up.

All of the sudden Kevin realized that the little white car had managed to escape once again and was heading right for us! He backed up a little and pulled out of the oncoming lane just as he passed. When he passed, the driver looked right at us into our eyes. I remember thinking “I hope he doesn’t have a gun.” By this time there were probably 20 different police vehicles – different city cops, state police, sheriff deputies, etc – following the crazy guy. We sat there until the cars all went past us and we thought they had the guy. We went on to see the manatees most of which, because it was so warm, weren’t there anyway and the ones that were didn’t come up much.

When we got home we looked online to see what was up with the crazy guy. It turns out that the man, John Mullaly, flipped out about 7:30 that morning. His girlfriend called police and told them he was unstable and would likely hurt himself or someone else. They began chasing him after he stole his father’s truck (notice I didn’t say little white car). When they received a call that the truck was involved in an accident and had flipped they called off the search and proceeded to the accident. Mullaly had hit a car with a woman and her children (luckily no one was seriously injured) and flipped the truck. End of story…..

Except…..he got out of the truck wielding a machete and carjacked a small white Mustang from a young man (the little white car). Thus began the high speed chase. The police finally stopped him by throwing things to pop his tires under the car at the end of a dead end road. It turns out that he tried to run over 2 deputies, bit 2 policemen during his arrest and was talking about Aliens and President Ford.

Here is a link to a video of the end of the chase – after he turned off 41, then somehow managed to turn back toward it again. http://tbo.com/video/xml/MGBO049DPWE.html

This was certainly a moment to remember but the kind of event I hope I never have to remember again!

A Perfect Day

While we were in Florida for the conference we took the opportunity to spend the day following the conference walking to Caladesi State Park. Here's the "secret" although apparently well known by locals. It is no problem walking to the park. Yes, the walk is fairly long but, while I was somewhat worried about the water level, it was apparent that water seldom, if ever, covers the beach to the island. Because this is not the typical way to get to the park (taking the ferry is the recommended way), there were shells galore. Not huge ones, but beautiful ones of many colors. Most of the Whelks were living so uncollectable but conch shells were abundant. We also found probably $100 worth of natural sponges. I am hoping they are salvageable. They are currently frozen in a bag in the garage. The sun was bright and the temperature was in the 80's. The water was warm enough to be comfortable (a virtual bathtub compared to August Lake Superior temperatures). We were able to get many wonderful photo's of Florida water birds. The only downside to the day - and that doesn't count at all - was the long walk back to the car loaded down with shells and sponges. I told Kevin I thought it was an almost perfect day. He said "almost?" and I have to agree. It really was a perfect day.

The View from the Hotel Bathtub

Doesn't that sound like a movie or something? A novel perhaps. At any rate, the people who built our house did really strange things like put the dishwasher on the opposite side of the kitchen from the sink. But the 4 baths are interesting. Actually we have a half bath behind the kitchen that is pretty normal. The bath in the basement is something you would expect - a small shower stall, small sink, and toilet. But the other two baths are something to behold. The one upstairs is hot pink. Yes, the sink, the toilet and the shower. The one on the main floor is the same basic plan, a little smaller, but with an identical shower stall, this time in apple green. There is no tub in the house. No place to soak my toes or take a bubble bath. So whenever we travel I take bubble bath and enjoy the bathtub.

Hotel bathtubs come in three kinds. There are the oldest ones - huge, deep porcelain things. I love them. The mid-age tubs are comfortable, vinyl, and not as deep as the old tubs. They are OK - definitely relaxing. Some of the newest tubs are made for torture. They are tiny with straight up-and-down backs. That means you can't lean back and relax. They are shorter and your knees stick out of the water. Beware the new tubs!

It appears that hotel managers and people who do housecleaning have no idea what can be seen from the tubs in their establishment. It is amazing what you can see from there. You can see under the sink in many rooms. No one ever dusts the U part of the pipes - the trap part. Often the pipes are rusty. Sometimes way back under the vanity are things left by previous inhabitants. Bobby pins are the most common things. Sometimes the broom doesn't appear to reach all the way back. In the hotel where we are currently staying - a Hilton I might add - the back of the toilet has about 5 years of dust on a little ledge back there. I am not so finicky that I can't stay in a room where there is some other person's bobby pin, but some people are. Hotels pride themselves on making everything appear as though you were the very first person in the room. Nice hotels even do little origami things with the Kleenex and toilet paper. May I suggest that hotel managers occasionally sit in the bathtub and look around. They might be surprised!