FizzyLizzy

I think we can cross this one off the list.

I made one of Mr. FL's favorite meals tonight--Fish & Chips. It was my first foray into deep frying, and while not one of my favorite cooking techniques, wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. The aromas of hot oil, fried potatoes, and ketchup reminded us of our favorite hamburger joint.

Pancake supper!

Except for Mr. FL taking my car out for a spin to ensure that the gas line doesn't freeze, today was a hibernation day. If it were possible for me not to leave my home for the next week, I would do it in a New York minute. Alas, there are groceries to buy, children to chauffer, and field trips to chaperone.

I feel irked that the Star Tribune is still running stories about the "14,000-year-old artifacts." I will now try to explain why.

1). None of the artifacts found are diagnostic. A diaganostic artifact is an artifact with a datable "style." Automobiles have changed styles over the past hundred years, and I wager most people could guess a car's date to within a decade or so by how it looks. Similarly some stone artifacts--mainly spear and arrow points--changed styles over time. When a site contains an in situ (in it's original location) artifact with a datable style--a diagnostic artifact--you can be fairly certain the site is within a given date range. When I told you I found a 9,000-year-old artifact (give or take), that artifact was diagnostic. It was a portion of an Angostura or Agate Basin spear point.

2). I didn't see the title "geologist" listed with any of these experts' names. Since they didn't find any diagnostic artifacts, it appears they are trying to date this site based on it's geologic context--i.e. that these artifacts were found underneath material deposited by a glacier. While archaeologists have a decent understanding of geology and some are trained as geologists, most archaeologists would not have enough knowledge to determine whether or not something is a glacial deposit. I haven't seen any evidence that anyone involved with this project is qualified to make that determination. While I'm no expert on geology, I was able to use my basic knowledge of Minnesota geology to help date the 9,000-year-old site. It could not have been inhabited prior to that time because it would have been covered over by a huge river of glacial meltwater.

If you've managed to read this far, thank you for letting me vent.

Katherine: I'm going to try out for American Idol when I'm old enough. And I already know what song I'm going to sing--a Kelly Clarkson one.

Dad: That's six years away. Do you think you'll still like Kelly Clarkson then?

Katherine: I'm going to like Kelly Clarkson forever. Or until I'm 20 at least.

Fifteen minutes is a long time when you're 10. That's how long "Rhapsody in Blue" is. While that piece is one of my all-time faves (it's Ipod worthy), it stretched the limits of fourth-grade patience at Orchestra Hall today.

William's first experience on ice skates went incredibly well. While he loves sports, I would have to say that he's not a natural athlete--much like his mother. But he was quite capable of balancing on ice skates. After of only two minutes of hanging onto me he said, "Mom, I can do it on my own." And he pretty much did. Bravo, little dude!

I had an eerily similar experience to Mrs. Bickerson's yesterday. I had come across a movie on TV that had robots in it. As I was watching it, trying to figure out what it was, Mr. FL walked past and said, "Is that Short Circuit?" "I don't know." "Does it have Steve Guttenberg in it?" "I haven't seen him." Then as if on cue, Steve Guttenberg appears. Mr. FL: "I saw that at the Yorktown Fashion Mall." The year was 1986. I don't think I'd like to play Trivial Pursuit against Misters Bickerson and FizzyLizzy.

Hockey? Soccer? Softball? Ummm, no...Basketball. At least they can say they held the other team to 4 points. For a while into the third quarter it looked like the final score was going to be 1-0, the only point scored on a free throw. After losing dismally in two evaluation games, Katherine's team was placed in the "C" league, comprised of teams with comparable skill levels. The Eagles were quite aggressive. I can't imagine many other 4th/5th-grade park board teams have players foul out. Katherine actually thought the game was more fun losing badly to a team that played more fairly than beating an aggressive team.

A couple of months ago Mrs. Bickerson wrote about the high percentage of bloggers in our church circle. It's not your grandmother's UMW circle. Similarly, who would have thought even a couple of years ago that you could find 32 MB flash drives for $4.99 hanging right next to the chapstick in the Target checkout lane.

Speaking of Target--Frannie if you're reading this--I've found a couple more Southtown Target fans. Personally, I am not a fan of the Southtown Target. But they're going to shove it down my throat since they closed my regular Target for 10 months.

Somehow I don't think this is the dress my mom will be wearing to the wedding. If you can believe it, this dress is pictured in the "Mother of the Bride" (or Groom, I suppose) section of a national bridal shop chain website. Most of the other dresses are hardly any more matronly than this one. And the models all look as if they're 30.

In exactly what kind of situation would a mother-of-the-bride be trying to outfox her daughter? Divorcee trying to outshine her ex-husband's trophy wife? Divorcee trolling for a date? Mother of a fourteen-year-old bride thinking she's too young not to look hot? O.K., probably not that last one.

Anyone see the cowboy dude on American Idol: Minneapolis last night? He shares an unusual last name with my friend so I asked her about him. Yes indeedy, he's her cousin!

A big milestone for William today--he lost his first tooth. He's been awaiting this momentous event for some time now. At least once a month he would ask when he was going to lose a tooth. Of course I'm a bit sad. I'm going to miss that sweet little smile full of teeny tiny teeth.

This life-changing moment was juxtaposed by the disappointment of the results from the Easy Bake Oven he requested for Christmas. The cake, which some of you may remember, was about 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch high--with the frosting. William: "On the front of the box it was gi-normous." I was pretty sure he had no concept of the realities of the E.B.O. but I thought it was so cute that he wanted it that I--or excuse me--Santa just couldn't resist.

My Easy Bake memory is of baking a "cake" for a carpenter that I had a crush on when my parents were having an addition put on in the 1970's.

Sorry for the lack of photos--our camera has been AWOL at Mr. FL's grandparents' house since Christmas.

While this could be quite remarkable--and I don't doubt the authenticity of the artifacts themselves--I need more information. Yours truly recovered a 9,000-year-old (give or take) artifact while working on a project in 1994.(1) The feeling of finding something that old is pretty cool.

1. Sxxxxxx, Elizabeth (1995) Archaeological and Historical Research Relating to the Traverse des Sioux Site, Nicollet County, Minnesota.

Would it surprise you if I told you that I think I've found the dress to wear to my brother's wedding in August? It shouldn't.





















Thank you January clearance!

Just wanted to update you that instead of now being stressed out about the people who canceled before their presentations, I am now pulling my hair out because of volunteers who didn't bother showing up for their presentations--leaving teachers and their students in the lurch.

My mom has been making this cake for years. It's tasty, easy, and always turns out.

1 1 lb.-2 oz. box yellow cake mix
3/4 c. cooking oil
3/4 c. water
1 3-3/4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding
1/3 c. poppyseeds
4 eggs

Combine first 5 ingredients in large mixer bowl. Mix at low speed for about 1 minute. Add eggs one at a time beating at medium speed for about 3 minutes. Pour into well greased and lightly floured 10-inch bundt pan. Bake in 350 degree oven till tests done (45-50 minutes). Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert cake onto plate or rack for further cooling. Can serve with custard.

Custard Sauce

3 oz. box cook n'serve vanilla pudding
3 c. whole milk

Prepare pudding according to package directions (using additional 1 c. milk)--takes 15-20 minutes.

...for fans of The O.C. And I know there's at least one of you out there.

I just have to admit it. I have been avoiding our computer. I'm the coordinator for an art program at our school and it's totally stressing me out. It seems like every time I check e-mail there's another one from someone saying they're not going to be able to give their classroom presentations. I figure if I don't turn on the computer then I can't check e-mail and won't get any bad news. Nice plan, huh?