15. September 2015 · Comments Off on Review: The Martian · Categories: Uncategorized

The Martian
The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an amazing read! Not since The Da Vinci Code has a book commanded my attention as much as The Martian! It’s a very simple exposition, with minimal backstory. You are rooting for the Mark Watney in the here and now, the crew of Hermes in the here and now, and NASA ground support in Houston and JPL…in the here and now. It’s very easy to keep track of characters, and you aren’t racking your brain trying to remember who had which history with whom.

I had a couple moments where I wondered, “Things are going too well, what kind of novel is this if there is no conflict whatsoever?” Frankly, the conflicts are on the minimal side…just enough to annoy the situation, but the characters remain hopeful throughout; they are written with such relatable emotion that you will empathize with Mark and Venkat as they encounter one challenge after another.

The last journal entries are the most exciting of all, so if you’re thinking “This is too good to be true” most of the way through the book, just wait till the end.

As a scientist, I must commend Andy Weir’s research regarding orbital mechanics, Mars weather, and NASA operations.

My family and I are looking forward to the movie!

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02. September 2015 · Comments Off on Our Next DIY Project: A Faux Log Cabin Guest Room · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

I am mainly writing up this post so we have something to stash to Pinterest.

Dave and I joined some friends who just moved to the area in the Colorado Springs area Parade of Homes. Unlike other Parades I’d been to in other communities, this one requires you to drive all over the city to see the houses in assorted neighborhoods.

In the Banning Lewis Ranch neighborhood, about 10 minutes from our house, was a house that had a youth bedroom decorated like a hunting lodge.

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Dave and I love this! We think this can be done pretty nicely with our guest room!

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