An un-lost opportunity...
Aug. 23rd, 2009 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alexpgpThe rate at which we lose opportunities to do things easily accomplished, things that promise a significant payoff is, frankly, mind-boggling.
Earlier in the week, I had spoken with the kids about the possibility of Huntur coming over for a weekend sleepover, during which we'd go outside and look at stars (and if I played my cards right, convey some basic information about constellations, planets, meteors, and the rotation of the earth).
By mid-yesterday afternoon, I was involved in something-or-other when Drew came over, slightly concerned that I hadn't been answering my cell phone, and in the course of our conversation, we confirmed the sleepover, which focused my attention on some basic housecleaning, etc., in preparation for the visit.
The kids and grandkids came by at around 6 pm, fully equipped in the toy and clothing department, to my and Shiloh's great joy. As the kids went back home, I went into grandpa mode and we had a pretty good time.
Unfortuntately for star gazing (but fortunately for mushroom hunting), the night sky was overcast and lightning could be seen flickering all around, so there was no going outside last night, but among other things, Huntur helped me make a batch of dough for bread and kept an eye on it as it rose after mixing.
Shiloh woke me in the middle of the night, asking to be let out, and as I supervised that operation, I noticed that a portion of the sky had cleared in the vicinity of Capricorn, where gleamed the impossibly bright "star" that is the planet Jupiter. I trained my 12x binoculars on it and imagined I saw some dots on either side of Jupiter, which would be the moons, but I couldn't hold the optics steady enough to confirm it wasn't my imagination.
I went looking for something I could rest the binoculars on before waking the grandkids, but by the time I came up with something suitable, Jupiter (and most of the clear patch) had disappeared behind clouds.
This morning, as Huntur and I made some bread out of the dough we made last night, I mulled over the idea of going out into the woods to see if last night's rain had raised any mushrooms. Considering how light the rain must've been (courtesy of a Web weather site), how late at night it must have fallen, and the fact I had about 3,000 words due to clients tomorrow morning, I decided to make today a work day.
I took advantage of Skype again to connect to my sister-in-law's phone and managed to get hold of my niece, Olga, who was at the apartment while Galina and her mom were out. Later, I called again, and we spoke to my mother-in-law (though Huntur and Mathew didn't really say all that much, other than "Hi!" and "I love you!"). Eventually, I got through to Galina, and we spoke briefly. Tomorrow is her last full day in Russia this trip.
Perhaps it will rain tonight, too. And maybe I won't be inundated with work first thing in the morning. We'll see.
Cheers...
Earlier in the week, I had spoken with the kids about the possibility of Huntur coming over for a weekend sleepover, during which we'd go outside and look at stars (and if I played my cards right, convey some basic information about constellations, planets, meteors, and the rotation of the earth).
By mid-yesterday afternoon, I was involved in something-or-other when Drew came over, slightly concerned that I hadn't been answering my cell phone, and in the course of our conversation, we confirmed the sleepover, which focused my attention on some basic housecleaning, etc., in preparation for the visit.
The kids and grandkids came by at around 6 pm, fully equipped in the toy and clothing department, to my and Shiloh's great joy. As the kids went back home, I went into grandpa mode and we had a pretty good time.
Unfortuntately for star gazing (but fortunately for mushroom hunting), the night sky was overcast and lightning could be seen flickering all around, so there was no going outside last night, but among other things, Huntur helped me make a batch of dough for bread and kept an eye on it as it rose after mixing.
Shiloh woke me in the middle of the night, asking to be let out, and as I supervised that operation, I noticed that a portion of the sky had cleared in the vicinity of Capricorn, where gleamed the impossibly bright "star" that is the planet Jupiter. I trained my 12x binoculars on it and imagined I saw some dots on either side of Jupiter, which would be the moons, but I couldn't hold the optics steady enough to confirm it wasn't my imagination.
I went looking for something I could rest the binoculars on before waking the grandkids, but by the time I came up with something suitable, Jupiter (and most of the clear patch) had disappeared behind clouds.
This morning, as Huntur and I made some bread out of the dough we made last night, I mulled over the idea of going out into the woods to see if last night's rain had raised any mushrooms. Considering how light the rain must've been (courtesy of a Web weather site), how late at night it must have fallen, and the fact I had about 3,000 words due to clients tomorrow morning, I decided to make today a work day.
I took advantage of Skype again to connect to my sister-in-law's phone and managed to get hold of my niece, Olga, who was at the apartment while Galina and her mom were out. Later, I called again, and we spoke to my mother-in-law (though Huntur and Mathew didn't really say all that much, other than "Hi!" and "I love you!"). Eventually, I got through to Galina, and we spoke briefly. Tomorrow is her last full day in Russia this trip.
Perhaps it will rain tonight, too. And maybe I won't be inundated with work first thing in the morning. We'll see.
Cheers...
