Against All Odds

As you may recall, the demands of the week were already stacked against me. I certainly did not need interference... of any kind.


And while I did not accomplish everything on my list, I made admirable progress.


I even made my bed.


Without a lick of help from these two.

Be All I Can Be... and then some

*This may be (another) one of those occasions when I should not be publishing my musings... like being on meds and operating heavy machinery, you think you're capable, but that is actually the first indication that you are not capable, or particularly safe. I will keep this simple, lengthy, but simple.


I must summon untapped reserves of undiscovered energy, resolve, and magical mom powers. I need to unleash my Super Chicken!

1. Maria has relapsed. And what never sounded like "whooping cough" is definitely sounding like whooping cough now. Geoff and I took turns doing a twelve hour shift as living mattresses. This is going to be a painful Monday. Poor Maria. In the middle of one the cough-barf-cough sessions, she sputtered indignantly, "This is so boring!"

2. Max was Constantine. And Augustus. And even though his notice to me was short, we got him in costume, and with good props. I got see the whole program, with students acting out the scenes and events from ancient history. Give me a chance, and I will see about slipping in some pictures... but we have to get Max's permission first. Evidently he is less convinced than I am, that he looks awesome in a tunica and toga!

3. I *heart* robotics, children, science, students, math, children, art, students, music, children, glitter, glue, chickens, and children. And no matter how it crushes my blogger stats, I will never stop posting about robotics.

4. Feedback, comments... these are the fuel that make a blogger's heart beat stronger. I love your comments!

5. Pay bills.
Right.
Reality.

6. Pay bills, clean out car, clean-up carport, clean everything.

7. Seriously.

8. Ask Lonnie if Chickenblog can host her amazing 2102 Team Paradox video. Watching it makes me smile through tears. See #3.

9. Submit Make-Club forms.

10. Clean. I thought of this again, because what I really want to do is decorate for Christmas, but decorating a messy house is yucky for me.

11. Decorate for Christmas! And clean!

12. Make lists... <----- funny, to me. A list reminding me to make lists. being easy to amuse is one of my finer qualities.

13. Cure Maria's sickness.

14. Be everywhere my calendar is reminding me I have to be this week. Cancel those events where I know I want to be, but cannot be.

15. Make gift for the Queen Bee.

16. Clean.

17. Photograph, edit, format, write and proofread, then publish posts about:
a. Missy's aprons, and unbelievable generosity.
b. The success and merits of pie birds.
c. Max as Roman emperors.
d. Ripple progress.
e. And other WIP's.
f. Christmas crafts, dreamed of and real, and my new favorite supplier.
g. General blog love and shout outs with links to new (to me) blogs I am enjoying.
h. Gratitude post about Jola and B, and their sweetness.
i. Humility post about being in pajamas, at noon, when Jola and B came to the door.
j. Gratitude post about a sick little girl and the brothers who stayed by her side and put together a 200 piece ladybug puzzle with her.

17. Get Zelda off of the nest and those fertile eggs! Oh dear.

18. Oh yes, and clean the house. Then move out, and seal it. Just kidding. But, if when it is clean, I better not catch anyone mussing it up again!
Do you ever feel that way?

19. Give me strength.

Super Chicken!
Help me, Super Chicken!

Robot Parade

There is a school. And the school has a robotics club. And the robotics club needed a place where they could build a float for a Holiday Parade. And since we have space, and we love robots, and we love robotics club members, and we love making things!! we said: Okay. Come on over! Let's build a float together. A Robot Float!

And so, what started innocently enough, soon became a total immersion project for our family, for our neighbors, for 2102 Team Paradox!

The results? Team work, engineering, innovation, cooperation, fun, many late nights, lots of food and hot cider, glitter, power tools, parts, parts, parts, and faith. Oh yes, and a fully functioning, rising, grabbing robotic arm!

Celebrating light and service through community outreach, and promoting the values and mission of FIRST, I am proud to present Lavender, a 2102 Team Paradox Robotic Float and her debut at the Holiday Parade!


FIRST Vision:
"To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology leaders." ~Dean Kamen, Founder


Alex and James, prepared to keep Lavender operating smoothly.

FIRST Mission:
Our mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.


Suki, team marketing president, gets the float registered. We arrived early to hold our place in the parade line-up. Then we waited for team members to arrive...


...and arrive they did! Meet the new faces of 2102 Team Paradox. Say *hi* to old friends!



Hey! Gabe's got the new team shirt! Lucky.


Wayne and Nate, pulled up with Lavender, and the build team got busy with lighting and hooking up the controller.



Wired, and accessorized in photoluminescent paint, Lavender, is ready to shine!


Alex, James, and Eli getting everything ready for the ride. They were in Wayne's truck for the parade, handling Lavender's arm motions, the lights, and music.


Grant made the generous offer to be our robotics' mascot, and he did an amazing job! He led the float and made community outreach a verb, with robot hugs and high-fives!


Robot-Erika! Robot-Lon! Robot love for everyone! Marketing members are experts with cardboard and duct tape!


Team Paradox president, Nathan, and Alex doing checks, making adjustments.


The sun goes down. Everybody is getting ready!


Robotics is a team sport, and every team has leaders. The float was built by many, but I would like to make special mention of some core team players: Suki, Eli, James, Alex, and William. Grant gets special mention for the blood he donated as the robotics's mascot. These were the members that gave extra much from the start, in the middle, and to the very end.


Team Paradox has great mentors. Please excuse any perceived bias, but trust me: Great Mentors.


Great mentors are the best.
Sandy and Myron, Bobbie and Darrahl!


Applause! Another special mention: Maria is a mini-Paradox. She recruits for the team on the school playground. She serves food at float build sessions. She is learning tools, designing robots, and all in all is simply a spirited robotics fan. This may have been her first parade, but it is definitely not going to be her last!


James, Suki, Alex, Eli, Grant and Chris. And, of course, Lavender.


This awesome robo-suit is the creation of CJ, and first appeared in Las Vegas, at FRC. CJ, this thing is too cool, and with Grant at the controls, it was an awesome outreach tool.


Maria drew a robotic arm, and William cut it out for her. She wanted all the technical touches for her float.


Meet Sam. This guy is proof that 2102 Team Paradox has a bright future. Working on this float was his very first robotics activity, and he showed awesome skills and dedication. Sam, you are so totally Paradox!


It was wonderful seeing everyone, and sharing the success and geektastic joy of seeing the first ever 2102 Team Paradox Holiday Parade entry. Thank you mentors, Sandy and Darrahl.


Coming soon! A re-cap of the robot build.
Lavender's arm moves up and down, and her claw opens and closes. It was amazing to see it come to this point. The journey!



Maria and Olivia. Two spirited Paradoxians.


William, Alex, and Max. They give a lot for robotics.


*sigh*
The float is built, the parade is over...
These four are in the kitchen making pancakes, while I edit and format photographs, and write this post, and they are discussing what's next for Lavender, for next year!



Speechless joy, unending pride...


Makes you want to dance in the street!


Dream it. Design it. Build it. Work it. Make. Tinker. Play!


Play like a robot, and put your heart in it! Right, Erika?


This is so funny... the parade hasn't even begun. We had as much, or more fun, waiting in line, cheering for passersby, and just being plain spirited!

Was it the low light, or me too excited to hold steady? No matter, these blurry images capture the energy of a great event.


These blurry images capture the energy of a great event, and all the kookiness of our wonderful community.


I really hope someone with a steadier hand got this shot!


As spirited as ever, as full of gracious professionalism as Dean Kamen could hope for, as loveable as ever! 2102 was up and cheering for every float and marcher, heading out to the parade route.


The parade may have been on the highway, but the fun began on Second Street!


On Second Street there were robots dancing!


And the Shuffle!


Yeah, that's right: Kool for school.


Number 71?! We're up?! Wayne is ready to roll!


Places everyone! Suki takes command and gets everyone in order.


Check lights. Activate fog machine.
Go Lavender!
For science!
For engineering!
For math!
For art!
For music!
For community outreach and service!
For robotics!



We're rollin'!


Cheering and sharing 2102 Team Paradox Spirit and Inspiration!

This was a triumph.

Go Robotics!

Tap~Tap~Tap

She grew! Maria thinks that the birthday is the day you grow. Fortunately, all of her growing has happened slowly over the year, and now she is six, and she is a bigger girl than when she was only five.

On the day of her dance class, we rushed out our door, and I was so proud to get her to the studio on time. As we walked up to the studio door, Maria tugged my sweater and said, "I just remembered, teacher said there is no class on Thanksgiving." I should have remembered too: No class the week of Thanksgiving! But there we were, ready to go. Figures I would get it right, when it was wrong.

Then I remembered Grandma BooBoo and Grandpa Ron's birthday gift to Maria: Tap shoes! Maria borrows shoes when she goes to her weekly tap and ballet class. It works fine for the class, but as my mommy pointed out, it doesn't give her an opportunity to practice. Thank goodness for grandmothers! Even from a distance, they can fill in the gaps, lend a hand, offer support, and be there. I know I need my gaps filled, quite often.


So, we left the dance studio and headed over to the store that sells all things dance. Maria got measured for tap shoes. And seeing, really paying attention, to the condition of her "pink" tights, I grabbed a new pair of those too.


They are so shiny!
Maria was speechless... surrounded by point shoes, and tutus, and all things sparkly, and she could not believe she was getting her very own tap shoes.

"These are from Grandma BooBoo and Grandpa, Maria." I explained to her that they sent the shoes for her birthday. Her jaw dropped. It's funny when someone's jaw really does drop open, the look of astonishment that comes over them. She was definitely grateful, and I realized why her amazement was a bit much when she asked, "How did they do that? How did they get the tap shoes into this store for me?" Even after explaining about how the transaction actually took place, she was still mighty impressed.

She has been tap~tap~tapping her joy and gratitude all over the house!

Thank you BooBoo and Ronnie!

*> *> *> *> *> *> *> *> *> *>
After dropping off Maria and Max at school, Geoff came home and informed me that Maria was very excited that mommy would be bringing cupcakes to school for her birthday!

yipe

panic

scramble

Somehow, I consistently fumble on one thing or another, and cupcakes to the classroom is just the tip of the iceberg.



Trader Joe's to the rescue! I had a box of their pumpkin cake mix in the pantry. Ooh, that pumpkin cake is delicious! To the mix I add a grated carrot, a scoop of oatmeal, and a mini scoop of flax meal. Then into the muffin cups goes the batter.


Maria loves these muffins, but to make them party special I grabbed a tub of whipped cream cheese from you know where, and mixed in some cinnamon, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Dab, swirl, go!

Cupcakes to the classroom success.
sigh

*> *> *> *> *> *> *> *> *> *>
It can be hard to jump back in to regular life after a sad event. Professor Moriarty was a sweet innocent, and Alex's personal pet. Everyone here has been knocked a bit off-kilter by his injury, and his sad passage.

The kindness of all of You, friends new, old, far, and near, has been so sweet and comforting... a lovely reminder of how good we can be to each other. It just feels so nice when people let you know that you are thought of, that you are not alone, so thank you. Thank you for taking time to reach out to us... you made our week better than it might have been.