Jamie Patterson's Blog, page 2
August 2, 2012
Watching the Olympics
This picture probably means nothing to people who haven't been around Lake Harriet once or twice but they're playing the Olympics each night from 9:30 to 11:30 at the band shell. Huey and I watched Phelps and Lochte duke it out in the 200 IM and even though I'm pretty sure everyone in the crowd had to have known who won there was a huge cheer at the finish (I won't say who won for people who are a bit behind!).
August 1, 2012
1 Year
We just celebrated my niece Madeleine's first birthday and it's hard to believe a year has come and gone. Like her mom says, the days are slow and the years are fast. So much is changing that it's so lovely to stop and appreciate the really fun changes--like crawling! And spinning! Brushing hair!
July 25, 2012
The New Digs
The online university I work for decided to class it up and moved into a new building at the edge of downtown Minneapolis. It's a nice space. I'd like it even more if they weren't making me work from there (must fill new, expensive chairs with workers!). Out one side of the building you can see the steeple of Our Lady of Lourdes, known outside of Minneapolis as the church in the 90s flick Untamed Heart (see first 50 seconds here) but known inside of Minneapolis as the quickest Catholic mass in town. In and out in 30 minutes for a full mass. Hate to say it, but I think that's pretty awesome.
Deep Graffiti
I just love Minneapolis sometimes. This, from an alley a block from my house. Deep, man. Deep.
July 23, 2012
Physics and Philosophy
One of the joys of being ABD is the freedom of intellectual inquiry. Sadly, instead of focusing on my research related to doctoral writing groups, I'm more interested right now in the intersection of science and philosophy. This from the book I'm reading now (Physics and Philosophy):
Quantum theory reminds us...of the old wisdom that when searching for harmony in life one must never forget that in the drama of existence we are ourselves both players and spectators.
Important for the writer in me to remember (less spectating! More doing!).
Quantum theory reminds us...of the old wisdom that when searching for harmony in life one must never forget that in the drama of existence we are ourselves both players and spectators.
Important for the writer in me to remember (less spectating! More doing!).
Ants
The year might have been 1986. We shared a driveway with Mel and Gert and it was summertime so there were anthills filling many of the cracks in the driveway. Somehow, some way, someone (one of my playmates or maybe me) discovered that you could really upset the ants if you used a magnifying glass and the sun to aim strong beams of the hot, hot sun at their little anthill home.
I remember it was maybe the first time where I could see my influence on something. As a kid of 9 or 10 it was kind of thrilling, I think. Kind of fascinating that my little hand and the sun and a magnifying glass could have an effect.
We weren't at it for too long when Mel came along and asked what we were up to. I don't remember the exact words and I don't remember if I stood up or stayed crouched or if I was instantly embarrassed or not but I do remember being gently questioned. Did I think about the ants as I was doing this? Did I think that even though I could see how I affected them with the magnifying glass that my presence had greater significance, greater impact if I took care to leave them to their work and step around the hills? I remember the suggestion to put the magnifying glass away.
With the news lately filled with what happened in Colorado I can't help but think of that one small moment. If only, if only, we all could be content with the knowledge that some of our longest-lasting legacies will be ones we'll probably not even know of. That each person's significance, each person's impact is not in a moment of self-defined glory but in the day-to-day ability to live in grace. To support the life around you. To step around the anthill.
I remember it was maybe the first time where I could see my influence on something. As a kid of 9 or 10 it was kind of thrilling, I think. Kind of fascinating that my little hand and the sun and a magnifying glass could have an effect.
We weren't at it for too long when Mel came along and asked what we were up to. I don't remember the exact words and I don't remember if I stood up or stayed crouched or if I was instantly embarrassed or not but I do remember being gently questioned. Did I think about the ants as I was doing this? Did I think that even though I could see how I affected them with the magnifying glass that my presence had greater significance, greater impact if I took care to leave them to their work and step around the hills? I remember the suggestion to put the magnifying glass away.
With the news lately filled with what happened in Colorado I can't help but think of that one small moment. If only, if only, we all could be content with the knowledge that some of our longest-lasting legacies will be ones we'll probably not even know of. That each person's significance, each person's impact is not in a moment of self-defined glory but in the day-to-day ability to live in grace. To support the life around you. To step around the anthill.
July 21, 2012
Happiest Dog on Earth
It's 12:30 a.m. after the Patterson's summer party, where is Huey?
Oh yeah, that's right. Caught him going down the line cleaning dishes. Happy, happy dog.
Oh yeah, that's right. Caught him going down the line cleaning dishes. Happy, happy dog.
July 18, 2012
Day Before
Tomorrow is my parents' summer party, which is always fun. Always just a bit strange. Today the tents went up and it's fun to see a party kind of, sort of start to take shape. Hoping for better weather than we had today!
Minneapolis around 10:00 a.m. this morning--the Dome is off to the right!
Jeni, Ducky, and Lemon checking out the tent and tables. "Let's set those up," says 3-year-old Ducky of the tables (she supervised!).
Minneapolis around 10:00 a.m. this morning--the Dome is off to the right!
Jeni, Ducky, and Lemon checking out the tent and tables. "Let's set those up," says 3-year-old Ducky of the tables (she supervised!).
July 16, 2012
Huey and the Cone
A little over a month ago I caught Huey rubbing his face in what appeared to be a broken duck egg in my parents' backyard and the event was immediately followed by what appeared to be a cut in his right eye. Emergency visit to the vet, cone, eye drops, eye gel, and he's cured.
Fast-forward a few weeks and the cut returns, no duck eggs in sight. Fast-forward to last week and the cut is back, prompting a visit this morning to an animal ophthalmologist. Turns out I owe an apology to the duck egg--Huey has a treatable degenerative disorder and he had simple surgery this morning to help correct it. Hoping the little guy will bounce back in a week or so and we can finally get rid of the cone (and get some sleep!).
Fast-forward a few weeks and the cut returns, no duck eggs in sight. Fast-forward to last week and the cut is back, prompting a visit this morning to an animal ophthalmologist. Turns out I owe an apology to the duck egg--Huey has a treatable degenerative disorder and he had simple surgery this morning to help correct it. Hoping the little guy will bounce back in a week or so and we can finally get rid of the cone (and get some sleep!).
