All Things Superficial

We all need entertainment at some point, don't we?
So instead of posting something about what our family is doing, we're going to review a few of this week's more interesting entertaining moments. Yes, these things are...
Superficial.

Up first...the dazzling Detroit Red Wings!

Last night they swept the Colorado Avalanche in impressive fashion, with an 8-2 bludgeoning of the sixth-seeded Avs. A small slice to show how impressive the Wings are is shown in this clip of Henrik Zetterberg's goal to put the Wings up 5-1. Just watch this:
Henrik Zetterberg's Amazing Blind Spin Backhand Goal

I played this over so many times, even in slow motion. I couldn't believe it. The man takes a shot, which is blocked by the goalie. As he begins spinning, the puck rebounds off the goalie toward him. He completes his spin, taking a blind backhand swing at the puck, lifting it up and over the goalie's left shoulder. Absolutely unreal. As the announcer says, "does he see this puck?" If you play it frame to frame (I did), you can see it looks like he truly sees the puck as it rebounds toward him, so he completes his spin quickly, and it looks like he actually sees the puck before he takes his backhand shot.

And so they wait for their opponent, which will be either the Dallas Stars or the San Jose Sharks.

(Bring on the Stars!)
I added this image as a bumper sticker on facebook. Feel free to become my friend on facebook and see it for yourself.

Up next: the genuine Brooke White
Sadly, Brooke was sent home from American Idol (Season 7) this week. She was a wonderful artist, but even those of us who love Brooke could see that she wasn't performing at her best the last couple of weeks. I think we all saw this coming on Wednesday night.
So long, Brooke. We hardly knew ye.
Beyond that, I have five AI things to say:
1) David Archuleta and David Cook are the final two.
2) David Cook is hands-down the most talented, and deserves to win, but Archuleta has that teeny-bopper fan base to buoy him.
3) Syesha Mercado should definitely go into stage musicals/acting.
4) For all my loathing of Neil Diamond songs over the decades (though when I hear one, I'll usually be humming it for days), I was very impressed with the man on Tuesday and Wednesday. Especially the song he performed. Can anyone tell me if this man is a Christian?
5) How on earth is Jason Castro still here?! Someone please tell me. Who is going to pay money for a ukulele rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow??? Listen folks, as my wife has said, you cannot buy his smile! All you get is a photo (awkwardness included), maybe some lyrics, and a lot of lousy music. Ugh!
OK, I'm done. Just let me step down here and...yah, the soapbox goes right over there...thanks.

And finally: An E-mail. About feet. And the number 6.
Have you heard about this? If not, you've got to try it. I tried it and was so frustrated, I had to send it on to my co-workers. It likewise frustrated them. It looked so easy on paper (or the computer screen, in reality). Can't believe my own body won't do what I tell it to.
Here's the e-mail:
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HOW SMART IS YOUR RIGHT FOOT?
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You have to try this, it takes 2 seconds. I could not believe this!!! It is from an orthopedic surgeon...........
This will boggle your mind and you will keep you trying over and over again to see if you can outsmart your foot, but, you can't. It's pre-programmed in your brain!
Without anyone watching you (they will think you are GOOFY......) and while sitting at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.
Now, while doing this, draw the number '6' in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.
I told you so!!! And there's nothing you can do about it! You and I both know how stupid it is, but before the day is done you are going to try it again, if you've not already done so.
Send it to your friends to frustrate them too.
~
OK, I tried it several times, and it was true every time. In fact, I even found that my foot changed direction when I started thinking about drawing the number six in my head (no hand involved)! That's when I gave up. At one point (and this happened to a co-worker also), I thought I'd done it, thinking I'd outsmarted my own brain. Then I realized my foot had been going the wrong direction the whole time. Kinda, weird isn't it?
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That, folks, is all for today.
Superficial stuff, but entertaining to us.

The Brighter Side

The kids had a lot of fun in Grandma & Grandpa's back yard.
("The kids" includes Jon, of course!)
Now that's what I call an underdog.
Getting some air.
Note to self: Get a shotgun.
Slide collision!
I love this picture.
Framed by the tunnel, tree shadows stretching in the distance, the sunlight bouncing around the tunnel, the reflection on the slide. If Junior's whole face reflection had been in the picture, I might submit it to a contest.
Gotta get that shotgun!

Daddy's turn.
I don't know why, but every time Daddy gets involved, the boys start taking greater risks.

Hmmm...

Traffic jam on the slide!
And now for the greater risk.

Note the open mouth. Junior is making a swoosh sound effect.

He is just like his father, who likes to make sound effect noises with every special thing he does. Of course, the kids love it. I never really realized I did it until Junior came along.

The long climb.
Sliding through the Golden Daddy Bridge.
Or maybe the Jean Leg Daddy Bridge is more appropriate.

And now for the head-first ride down the slide with Junior on my back.

LOL - I guess I'm making sound effects in this picture, huh?

I think mine was not a "swoosh", but a "whooooaaaa!"

On Grandma's sacred glider.
We stopped at a park on the ride home, so Syl could feed Jules.
Stephen was asleep.
More swing time.
Always posing.
Okay...who's gonna win?
Precious.
Thankfully, there were many brighter moments on the trip.

The Michigan Pilgrimage

Our trip to Michigan was filled with sadness, but also with moments of joy. It was good to have everyone together around the kitchen table again. It was sad that it took Mom's death to bring us together.
Uncle Kyran really enjoyed hanging out with Julia Grace.
And Julia Grace loved cuddling with her Grandpa.
Cousin Lanette did artwork for the kids...
...and they were thrilled and proud to have those drawings.
The kids were enthralled with Grandpa filling the bird feeders.
After the first viewing, we picked up the kids at the Montefusco home. Amy kindly volunteered to watch our kids, who absolutely loved being there. Junior wanted to go back the next day. Amy took this picture of us. At the viewing, it was sad to see Mom. She looked like she could have sat up and said, "What are you all doing?!" But it was good to talk to old friends, to be comforted by and to comfort familiar faces.
We enjoyed a night at the Nagles, who generously invited us over for dinner. It was nice to relax and play some PS2 games. I haven't done that since...well, since the last time Tony had me over (many years ago in a land far, far away).
It was good to see Tony and Beth again.
Our kids had a lot of fun with Allie and the Nagle pets.
Syndi was able to reconnect with Allie...
...and with Jason Montefusco, friends from days gone by.
Sylvia and Amy enjoyed some time together.
It was good to be with old friends.
(No, I'm not calling them old! Though someone did mention a number with a four on the front and a zero on the end.)
The week wore us out completely. It was non-stop, go-go-go, be here, get that, do this, write those, decide, select, drive, run....even Jules was worn out by the end. But she found a place of respite in Grandpa's arms.

Joyce June Wheaton Sterling

In Loving Memory of

Joyce June Wheaton Sterling

June 4, 1930 - April 12, 2008

Gone Home, Too

On a cold and breezy April day,

Under clouds that kept the sun at bay,

Someone stole away a woman we love,

And took her home to heaven above.

On this earth she touched so many lives,

And lived a life for which one strives.

A wife who loved her husband so;

She only nitpicked so he might grow.

A mother who loved her children dearly,

And wanted the best for them so sincerely.

A grandma who doted on every grandchild;

She pushed them and praised them, loving them all the while.

A teacher who taught from her teens 'til life's end;

With a heart for her students, she was teacher and friend.

She worked hard for her church, with the best of intention;

Often her work would go without mention.

Whether gardening or teaching, or any need she'd find,

She'd jump in with her heart, two feet not far behind.

If you stood beside Joyce for a moment or two,

You could not depart without knowing her view.

She affected so many, was involved in so much,

That you couldn't live near without feeling her touch.

And though we all mourn, for she's no longer here,

We rejoice, for where she is, there's no pain, not a tear.

For the clouds could not keep the Son at bay,

And Joyce is at home in heaven today.

~

Jonathan D. Caruvana

April 15, 2008

FE Exam on Saturday

Jon is taking his Fundamentals of Engineering Exam this Saturday. This is the book (above) he's been using to prepare for it. The exam starts Saturday morning at 7:40 AM, and goes for 8 hours (two 4-hour sessions) with a lunch break in the middle. He should be done around 5 PM. He's been studying as he can over the last few months, but still feels totally unprepared. There is just so much material. The things he covered three months ago are a distant memory.
The book is about 2 inches thick. The exam will cover engineering math, statics, dynamics, materials engineering, fluids, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, engineering statistics and probability, chemistry, computers, engineering economics, ethics, process design and control, health and environmental engineering, and even biology.
They provide a 250+ page book with equations and tables (above).

It should be interesting.

Your prayers would be much appreciated.

New CFC Look!

In case you haven't noticed, we have a few new looks on our blog.
We have changed the header, added a clock, and added a poll.
(See right side for the poll.)

Go ahead, answer the poll question. And, for this first one, go ahead and tell us if it's dumb (i.e., you don't want to be forced to answer a stupid poll).

Feel free to comment on the blog and its new look.

We like comments.

Let me say that again: we like comments.

And thank you, Deborah, for your comments!

You are very kind.

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The picture above is a picture of Jules run through a painting filter.

Click on the picture to see the larger version and get the true effect.

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