Bowling

The last two years, we've gone bowling the day after Thanksgiving.  And, we've played with bumpers.

I find that I really like playing with bumpers.  (I'm the first J).

This year, I got an awesome spare out of a split.  My mom was asking Shelly how you would hit both pins after a split like that, and as Shelly explained, I hit both pins!

 David's awesome bowling skills.

 I won again.

Later, we played bowling on the Wii.  This is at my sister Shelly's house.  Her daughter, Brooklyn, REALLY liked watching the pins go down.

So, in case you didn't think bowling is a spectator sport, Brooklyn is here to prove you wrong.  (Hopefully the video works this time.)

Christmas Carol Puzzles

For those of you who need an intellectual challenge this Christmas, can you identify these Christmas Carols?

A Small City in Judea

Colorless Yuletide

Singular Yearning for Twin Anterior Incisors

Righteous Darkness

Loyal Followers Advance

Weather: Cloudless; Arrival Time: 2400 Hours

Far off in a Feeder

Array the Corridors

Bantam Percussionist

Monarchical Triad

Nocturnal Noiselessness

Father Christmas Enroute to Borough

Initial Christmas

Frozen Precipitation Commence

Proceed and Enlighten on the Pinnacle

The Quadruped with the Vermilion Proboscis

Query Regarding Identity of Descendant

Delight for this Planet

Give Attention to the Melodious Celestial Beings

Hence Arriveth Kris Kringle

To Decry Matriarchal Osculation of Yuletide Anthropomorphism

At the Zenith of the Habitat

Endocarp Vestiated in a Conflagration

Jehovah Dulcify Blithe Chevaliers

Derek's Wedding

 My brother Derek married Brooke in October.

Can you tell that he's happy about it?

Bradford (my sister Shelly's son) was not happy about having to wear shoes.

David worked to help exhaust / distract him:

The exhaustion part didn't work; Bradford has lots of energy.
Audrey (my brother Kevin's wife) kept Brooklyn (Bradford's twin) occupied:

The four siblings, youngest to oldest: Janene, Derek, Kevin, Shelly.

My mom's siblings: Dave and Ilene, Kurt and Linda, Curtis and Christine, Leigh and Nancy, Nancy (missing Ren), Max and Lonna.

My dad with his brother, Dale.

 David and I enjoyed the reflecting pool.

Although we didn't get quite this elaborate of an effect.

 And, some fun pictures of the reception:

 Yes, that is a bagpipe band behind them.

Why I need to write more

As I've been working on a paper, I realize that I don't write nearly enough.  And, since writing skills need continuous practice, that means that this paper is really painful to write.  Really, it shouldn't take me a full day to come up with a good, professional, concise explanation of one graph, should it?

As I've been processing data, I've kept a document with a running commentary of my observations.  That has helped, but now, having to go through, determine what is truly significant, and make my conclusions coherent to an outside reader, is a daunting task.

Just to give you a taste, imagine trying to explain this plot:

Can you see my difficulty?