One Turning

Etymologically, "universe" comes from a phrase meaning "one turning." It is fitting, then, that mathematics, the language of the universe, should have its own special ways of representing unity among circles. I submit the Tau for your consideration. (Dave, we're looking at you.)

Adventures to, in, and fro the City of Fountains

Despite spending 25 hours in airports or on airplanes, my 28 hours on land in Kansas City for Mike and Megan's wedding were a total success.

We all had a top notch time in KC -- a surprisingly pleasant city for a weekend visit, a happy reunion, fun antics, a crazy afternoon storm, good laughs and stories.

The ceremony was at Loose Mansion, and it was short, sweet, and involved a lot of mispronunciation of my first name. However, it was completely worth it because we, Megans, now totally outnumber any other name in the family. It's all further proof that Megans rule -- even when we're called "Maygen" by clergy, family, and friends.

The food at the wedding was great, even for a veggie sitting next to multi-generational Kansas cattle ranchers. This was the salad of my dreams -- blue cheese, walnuts, champagne vinaigrette. I even managed a second serving. More please!

Later, the kids danced and shook their bones.

My lovely cousins cavorted.

And shared in utter embarrassment while our parents danced to Van Morrison covers. (Note that I was in total solidarity with Jack, Katy, and Colleen. Maybe our shared ski-sloop noses cause us to roll our eyes the same way?)

All too soon, it was over. In the morning, after eating the extra handmade chocolate-dipped cherry I smuggled out, we had a festive recapping brunch and were all sent off.

On my way, I spent time imagining tornado-free flights in the KC airport (after a truly exciting night spent on the floor at O'Hare airport when twisters galore canceled all evening flights). Thankfully, the way home involved no desire to cover myself in newspapers, as my clever neighbors in Terminal E did early Saturday morning.

The route back did take me through the Minneapolis airport, which is probably the nicest airport I could have had a long layover in. I enjoyed some Wolfgang Puck pesto pizza, read my Kindle and this month's Vanity Fair, and people-watched fit, blond, smiling Minnesotans. Orlando would be proud of all the little-while friends I made on my journeys.

And one small souvenir: pilfered roses from the center piece, which made it all the way home safe and sound in plastic cups.

Now: laundry and regaining all that lost sleep!

Congrats, Megan and Mike!

Ready, set, go!

Lots going on lately with Team Be'gan*, but the big news is

Ben got to meet his cousins for the first time! And while they are from Wisconsin, they also happen to be champion Wii competitors and musicians.

Ben also saw this awesome(ly gross) moth at the Short Pump Wawa on one of our two stops there last week and demanded I document it. This may or may not have been after an ear-ringing, rockin' Doors concert, or after a trip to the blissful supermarkets of the Richmond suburbs. Like I said, lots going on! ;-)

* Don referred to us jointly as M'en yesterday, I think accidentally, but we might still prefer the former conjunction. Thoughts?

They Say It's MJXK's Birthday!

Happy 25th Birthday, Matthew!


May your day be filled with sticks, adventures, antics, and wedding birthday cake!

And many more (cha cha cha)!

PS: Make sure Puetro Rican street mutts don't steal or lick your presents.

Surprise Mail!

With the holiday this week, our typically slow and untrackable mail was all out of sorts. I was awaiting a long-overdue paycheck, Netflix, Ben's new shoes, magazines, etc., etc.

Thursday, I happily found a slip in our box saying we had packages to pick up at the rental office, and I scurried myself over only to find they had closed for the day. Of course, that day I also found one neighbor's Netflix and another's package slip in our box, too...

Imagine my surprise when the best part of the backed up mail turned out to be a mysterious envelope without a return address. As soon as I opened it, though, all became clear.

Thanks, BD, for the great surprise mail! Who doesn't love a package? Of course, I may have briefly performed my patented "Cover over the 'b', 'e', 'v', and 'e'" move for a moment, but afterward quickly found a new home for our bright and sunny charm. ;-)

Oh the drama!

I haven't watched any of the amazing, long anticipated Scripps Bee footage yet (never fear -- it's DVRed and waiting for me), but I had to post this local piece on it.

'Meperidine' a bit too tough for area speller

:-) We watched the qualifying rounds earlier this year and were cautiously optimistic about our chance for local glory. Alas! But the explanation of both her outfit and her failure in this article summarizes most of my interest in the world of competitive spelling.

J, if only we were as prescient in other ways... RIP, Spellbound project.