confirmation

This was Beka's first class to only have her as a teacher for confirmation...

nevis

We went up to Doug's lab for a picnic... Doug showed us the Nevis Mansion, the local dear, and his growing hops.

Nikki was ready to fend off any danger along the "path" Doug was taking us on.

local 2

There has been this bottle of beer that has sat in our kitchen for months... Beka found it at Whole Foods and recognized it as a Brooklyn Brew we hadn't had before. Doug decided that he wanted to wait for a special occasion to pop open the bottle.

So when Doug came home from work in an unusually chipper mood, Beka knew something was up. Instead of telling her what happened, he just showed her the bottle -- the thorn in his side at work, the bane of his current existence, the Hitler to his Germany, quit.

And so, finally, we enjoyed the Brooklyn Brewery's Local 2.

halloween

Doug was Ben Bailey from Cash Cab and Beka was a witch in charge of a halloween party....

spider toss

Doug helped upgrade the spider toss for the church halloween party... he cut the wood, Beka painted, Eva stood in it.

youth showcase

There was a youth showcase at the church to benefit the youth trip to New Orleans next month. Our friend Ryan came out and helped to lead improv with a group. More pictures on the church's facebook and website.

New Orleans

Beka is one of the adults going to New Orleans for the ELCA's National Youth Gathering with a group from the church. The whole group has started a blog for our journey. Check it out:

Road to NOLA 2009

preachin

Beka preached for all three services this morning. It was the festival day for Jesus' baptism.

The wrong readings were printed in the bulletin, so the congregation only heard the correct gospel and then I began my sermon by recounting Genesis 1. But, the readings were supposed to be:

Genesis 1:1-5
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11

Some of you asked to read the sermon. You can find it here. That will explain the picture.

new job...

Beka started her new job as Director of Family and Youth Ministries at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Jamaica, Queens.

It's pretty awesome, but keeping Beka super busy.




Go back to the update post.

glasses for the masses

At the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, they've opened a huge exhibit on glass. How it's made, how it's used, and what makes it such a cool substance.



Among the displays, there is one all about Doug's project, NuSTAR. Inside the case you can see the superthin glass we use to make x-ray telescope optics. The spindle on the right is made from dozens of layers of glass, stacked atop each other. The NuSTAR optics are actually much larger and nearly 200 layers of glass.





Here is an oven with a sheet within, before it is slumped into the mandril. After it's finished forming, Doug's new laser scanner will determine whether the glass will be good enough for mounting into the telescope.

busy busy

This week:
• Doug built more of the laser scanner and figured out a little more of what kind of work load he was in for.
• Beka started spring semester classes.
• Both of us have worked fastidiously to pack up our lives into boxes and suitcases so that it can be moved to the new apartment starting tomorrow.
• Eva got nervous as the space in the apartment changes.
• Pushkin played in every open box and in the hall, happy to have more to do.


We'll still update when we can... but be patient. :)

eva gets to work...

Eva's favorite spot right now is in front of Beka's computer... (we didn't position her like this)







Rough day at work...

moose and squeeral...

There was a squirrel in Doug's lab...
and it liked to steal tangerines...
Doug managed to lure it out with an apple...

official!!!

Doug's project is official!
Read the article...

how many volts?

Doug brought things home from his lab for the robot...

Doug: Lick!

bring your cat to work...

everyday!

Beka took this on her phone... it was moments before Tara (the black one) went after Pema (the one under the papers)...

the result was the mousepad flying off the desk, papers falling, and somehow, her computer screen going black.

what do all of these thing have in common??

This guy's job right here!

Sailing on the Hudson

We were invited by Beka's bosses to go sailing on the Hudson. It turns out to be an educational boat where people can volunteer for a week to learn to be an environmental educator and help run programs for other school groups. They also do tours at night for the public. The boat itself is an antique, made in the 1960s, and has the biggest sail in the US, weighing 3,000 lbs.

Look! It's home! →

Pretty much amazing.
And while there were three Reverands on the boat (just that we knew of), and we were offered the chance to get married on a sailboat at sunset on a beautiful summer night, we have not yet eloped.