Simple Fix

Until today I’ve been putting up with a sharp, intense pain in my lower thumb, assuming it was arthritis. Today a physical therapist used her hands to apply a technique called positioned myofascial release to a muscle in my thumb, and the pain has gone. I’m amazed and grateful.

Angles

Spent a few minutes building a rig to evaluate a LEGO Mindstorms sensor that measures angles. Spent a few hours trying to read the angles from a computer program. Eventually a simple test suggested the sensor is defective. My next LEGO creation needs to “know” its joint angles.

Categorized as LEGO

Honoring Ordinary People

On my cycle ride: Sheridan Memorial Park. Surrounding plaques honor veterans of ten wars while reflecting on the futility of so much conflict. I appreciate how this memorial focuses on the ordinary people called to fight in wars, rather than leaders.

Earnest Young People

On a chilly day for cycling, warmed up with an Americano at a community table where earnest young people were chatting with each other or their laptops.

Obfuscation

Saved by the bell! Ran out of time in today’s “Phlebotomy as a third language” just before this slide. Next time, I’ll try to break this into manageable parts and rephrase: “…degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirements.” Not sure I’ll succeed.

Categorized as Teach

Cranking up the Thermostat

After a dusting of overnight snow and a chilly walk this morning, I was ready to crank up the thermostat and hunker down for the rest of the day.

Chopping Veggies

Chopped and prepared veggies for two dinners: cabbage and onion for a braise tonight, and roasted eggplant and zucchini for a veggie lasagne tomorrow night. One of the joys of travel, for me, is renewed appreciation for everyday home activities.

Categorized as Cook

KLM Delft Houses

It’s a joy to be traveling through Schiphol again. KLM hands these Delft houses, filled with Dutch gin, to passengers traveling B. There’s 102 different designs, some fetch over $500 on the secondary market. This evening, I’ll be sipping cheap wine in steerage en route to MSP.

Thames Path Hike

The Thames Path is a 184-mile National Trail that roughly follows the River Thames from its source in the Cotswold Hills to the Thames Barrier east of London. For three days this week I walked part of the trail from near Reading to Oxford. I’m grateful I was joined by two friends I’ve known for…… Continue reading Thames Path Hike