Batter Up

COSMIC: This morning brought an uncharacteristic Thursday trip up to Shoreline for us, to the place the kids usually take classes on Wednesdays.

Annabelle had a special, one-session jewelry making class. As soon as she walked in and sized up her bead choices, Bee decided she was going to make something with a planet and stars theme. She chose a star as her big focal point, and then beads that looked like planets. The black beads closest to the clasp represent a black hole. "I'm really proud of it," she declared afterward. I can see why! :)

While Bee was in class, CJ and I took the pups for a nice long walk in the forest behind the school.

It's a towering stand of evergreens. There's a rustic little bulletin board near the public street entrance. The big sign exhorts people to pick up dog poo.

I like the smaller sign (a Post-it note, really) ...

Nice sentiment, randomly placed (right above an earnest plea for more donations of dog poo bags).

PLAY BALL: Today was a glorious day, as it marked the beginning of the 2014 Major League Baseball pre-season, which means the real thing isn't far away. The game started shortly after 12 p.m. We were driving toward Rick's house at that time. I timed it so that we pulled up to baseball field right before the first pitch. I had the kids get out of the car and run around the bases.

My timing was great. As soon as they touched home plate, I had them run to the car ...

and as they slid into their seats, the first pitch was delivered! Go Mariners!

Once at Rick's, I refinished a table, and worked on making the house more like a home while I waited for a contractor who showed up a half a day plus late. The kids enjoyed a picnic of spaghetti, because everyone knows that's a great picnic food. ;)

MEANWHILE, IN JAPAN: While Bee was beading and CeeJ and I were strolling, a joint mission and between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency thundered into space from the Tanegashima Space Center on Tanegashima Island in southern Japan.

Image Credit: 

NASA/Bill Ingalls

On board was the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory.

In a press release NASA administrator Charles Bolden said, "With this launch, we have taken another giant leap in providing the world with an unprecedented picture of our planet's rain and snow. GPM will help us better understand our ever-changing climate, improve forecasts of extreme weather events like floods, and assist decision makers around the world to better manage water resources."

More info on the GPM's Web site: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GPM/