Austin Articulations

Hello from Austin!

Work is keeping us busy as usual. James has entered his busiest season (post admission decision release) and will be working extra hours through spring break as he leads his team in two big events and spring break (aka prime time to visit a college campus), all while two positions are unfilled in the office. Hannah is prepping for Orchestra UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Then on to solo and ensemble and spring concert repertoire.

The Murchison Philharmonic Orchestra at Pre-UIL. We performed at the newly completed
Austin ISD Performing Arts Center, finished in January 2015

For New Years we hosted James' best man, Josh, visiting from China. He played the UT Carillon when he was a student, so he made arrangements to play again while he was here and invited us to each be guest baseline performers! Very cool experience! As we walked up to the top of the UT tower, it almost seemed like we were in the movie Hugo :).

Sitting on the bench of the UT Carillon; at the top of the UT Tower,
right underneath the bells

Duncan napping on top of James' tuba :-)

And of course, our kitties our keeping us entertained. James' tuba case has become Duncan's new favorite napping spot. Rimsky seems perfectly happy ruling over his kingdom from the back of the couch.

When there is time to sit and open a book, James is reading Devil in the White City by Erik Larson and Hannah is reading Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card.

We wish you all warmth and health at the close of this winter season!

Many Blessings,

James and Hannah

Birthday Thanks

First off, thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and gifts. They were much appreciated, especially given the long stretch of work I've been stuck in!

That long stretch of work is also why I haven't been around much for family gatherings. I've been working lots of overtime and lots of days since joining the education department (more on that in a minute). That's great for my car loans, not so great for my personal life.

Tallulah, or what my car loans are for

I've been working so much largely because when Mother got drafted to do work for the Cosmosphere's revitalization campaign, it was felt someone needed to help her. So I've moved upstairs to the education department...in theory. In practice, I still work 14-20 hours a week at the front desk because things there are a little sore about my being stolen away and I don't want to rock the boat too much. Since I'm unwilling to rock the boat, it means that I have just 26-20 hours to do work that probably requires closer to 30. Things will settle eventually, but for now I drink lots of coffee and don't sleep much.

The other part of that problem is that I have a hard time saying no to the opportunities I get at the Cos. Besides the routine stuff like Dr. Goddard's Lab (see below for a video Kate made of me in the lab) there are lots of new ones to take part in too. And, of course, the Mars Rescue program we thought we could finish in September is still being polished.

I've also helped build a new show called "Everyday Science," which we do for free while the Planetarium is being renovated.

An animation explaining sound for Everyday Science

Though I was also selfish with that one and plan on stealing parts of it to add to the Goddard's show on flight I'm working on...

A reference image of the Four Forces of Flight for the Flight Show

...which I'll get back to just as soon as we're done making a Space Junk demo from scratch. Amongst all that, I've taken over booking field trips from Laurie and we're both super-excited to get started on a project where admin wants us to cold call schools and market our new programs.

Right now, these are also my hobbies but I'll get back on my bike again just as soon as it warms up!

Aha-I knew I had another item of wild clothing.....

Gus' agility collar and Kate's treat apron

Wonder Woman Socks- Auntie's of course
Bugs Bunny Tie from Uncle Tim