Long-Outdated Photos

Fountain Cheerwine in lovely Chapel Hill, NC, where we had an awesome, very cheap dinner amidst the glad tidings of a UNC football win.

Lititz, from whence we received mailed chocolate following the trip. Ashley blamed me, but I think Karen might have more to do with it.

Sure, we both have striped interior hoods over blue shirts. What of it? Maybe we're both finishing grad school this month too?

Nom nom nom

The mighty capitol skyline, Harrisburg, PA

Look at those Luke-Luke ears flapping! Who's our favorite Puerto Rican street mutt?

A summer trip in Instagram

That's One Small Step for Ben

And one giant leap for birthdays!
We're back from a whirlwind adventure to the Space Coast.

Astronaut Training eXperience was a success -- another notch in SpaceBear's Orion's belt.

We were there a few days after the launch of Endeavor, just as crews were preparing for the final launch of Atlantis, ending the 30-year shuttle mission -- perfect timing for our fair astronaut's 30th birthday.

With many WWP-like Southeast Asians (and Germans with multiple cameras/sock & sandal combos), we toured Kennedy Space Center's flight decks, drove by the Vehicle Assembly Building, and glimpsed the bald eagles and alligators who patrol the Kennedy Space Center National Seashore and Wildlife Refuge.

Here's the control room used for the first manned missions to space, including the Gemini launches.

Afterward, our trusty astronaut needed a good rest before a restorative stop at the Ghirardelli Ice Cream for a chocolate malted.

You'll be glad to know we timed our trip to coincide perfectly with the spring lovebug onslaught. Oh, Florida! ;-)


We also swam near the dolphins, gulls, egrets, pelicans diving for dinner/duckweed.

We even stopped by old haunts, confirming the presence of a) fire ants and b) hicks.

And, of course, when in Rome:

You've gotta hit up some Disney action.

I think it's safe to say we're Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow folks -- sustainable fish grown and served in all the EPCOT restaurants? Tours through the hydroponic veggie plots? Friendly welcomes by our international friends in Canada, Japan, Germany, Norway? And leisurely strolls through my beloved French homeland? Oui!

Blurry adventures through space

And time.

I think we can safely proclaim: it's a magical, inifite world out there.

Astro-Bulletin:

Someone just received his Core Confirmation Packet from the Kennedy Space Center!

Woot!

That's one small birthday for man

Operation 30th Birthday Liftoff: announced. Guess who's going to space camp at long last?

Birthday boy is winding down the 2011 festivities this weekend, though he's packing bags for a trip to Cape Canaveral in May to keep the celebration going strong.

All Your Base Are Belong to Us

Quick programming note to alert all other friends that Dave M. is currently trouncing everyone in the unique postcard category.

Last year, he thrilled us with his "Best wishes on your Pan-African alternative holiday to Christmas" card.

Now, he's the star of his own themed superhero postcard. It's amazing, Halk-Kar Dav-Em. We eagerly anticipate the accompanying comic book!!

Sprung Spring

(UVa, overlooking the new beach volleyball courts)

Alternate Blog Title: Matt, Try not to be jealous of our southern seasons

(our parking lot at 7:35am Thursday)

(Evening's walk to see the "Super Moon")

(Nearby neighborhood in bloom)

(Recent rainbow, photo taken with iPhone while driving on Rt. 20 during my commute home)

(Ben spies the season's first leaves)

Occasionally, we must ask ourselves: how can I get me some good maple syrup flavor? Fortunately, this past weekend had our answer in spades.

Behold scenes from the 2011 Highland County Maple Festival.

Maple Funnel Cakes

Peds w/Pork Rinds

Sundry Goodz

Long Lines

Rustic Museum

Scenes from the Golden State

Bouncing to and fro across the biomes and weather patterns of this great nation gives a diversity to our most recent photo posts. Consider this tree from the courtyard of the hotel I recently stayed at in contrast to the feet of accumulated snow we recently encountered.

Although my time and energy (and spending cash) were dominated by work or its related endeavors, I was able to carve out some time for myself around dawn to run and walk. I was particularly struck by the view from under a pier.

I also saw something interesting that seemed to fit well with J's mycological preoccupation, documented it dutifully, and present it here.

I realize belatedly that there is nothing obvious in this photo to give a sense of scale. Opening it in another tab or window, however, will allow you to see a larger version wherein human footprints are discernible. Suffice it to say that the sucker was big!

We're both home safe and sound now. Who knows where we'll go next?

Scenes from the Garden State

Christmas Blizzard 2010

PTSD prevents me from recounting our harrowing journey from the Menlo Park mall to the Webster Hilton on 12/26. Allow these photos, taken upon our return, to paint you a more pleasant photo of the Jersey Snowpocalypse 2010 (not to be confused with our many Old Dominion snowventures of the 2009-2010 season).

Monday morning, we awoke to calmer skies and put those muscles to heave ho'ing a whole lot of the fluffy stuff. Remind me again why we're avoiding snow-blowers?

Poor Finn, who finally achieved garage status at home, found himself in a chilly predicament.

No surprise; the avian residents of the 'boro made out just fine. I await the day you get to the master gardening chapter on the pitfalls of feathered vertebrates, Karen Cultivates. ;-)