Hurricane Sandy is the "October Surprise"

Most of the news in October focused on the November 6th election. Then on the evening of October 29th, Hurricane Sandy came ashore in New Jersey.  Sandy had been paralleling the East Coast but took a sharp turn west, having been sucked over by a cold front diving south-east from Canada.  New York subways were flooded, thousands of coastal homes were damaged or destroyed, hundreds of them burned, towns flooded, and scores of people died.

Laurie and Tom in Maryland had many inches of rain but their power did not go out.  Even the east end of New York City went dark.  The NYSE was closed for two days. 

The disruption to the last week of campaigning for the general election is the unknown story. 
The Presidential election of 2012 divides the nation and divides extended families.
I am content that my little family sees things as I do.

Too Busy for Much of Anything

I got my annual Kydd novel, another signed and numbered (086/500) delivery from Great Brittan.  But I've not even had time to finish the first chapter.  On the bus to and from work, when I'm sufficiently alert, I read commentaries on Matthew 12-16 in preparation for next summer.

I do wish I could setup a better fish tank for Peter, Paul and Mary.  They've lived for years in a standard fish bowl.  I expect them to live a long while.  At least I've bought them enough fish food to keep them going for a long time.  Goldfish are so easy to keep.  And the cats leave them alone . . . so far.  Speaking of cats, Ginger is wobbly but well. Much loved Shadow has a chronic sneeze.

I've been allowed to take charge of the new Business Statistics course.  I'll know this month if it will get a new course number. 
I wrote an updated course description and got it approved by both the business school and the math department.  I also bought a SONY DPV-FX750, a 7" portable DVD player. 
I want to watch some statistics DVDs I own and the only "free" time I seem to have is on the bus.

It seems like every task in SBE has to move across my desk.  That's an overstatement, but everyone depends on me for something.

Cross Country in 2012

The BCS boys took 2nd in the Nisqually League but only senior Daniel Nortz (right) will run for the Vikings at State on November 3rd.  And once again, I'll be there shooting for the Bellevue Reporter.  The BCS girls could only get four runners to the starting line at both the league and district championships.  I will miss the other seniors Noelle Crosby (left), Kenzie Clark, and Kyle Smit. 

On November 2nd, Coach Sloan will drive Daniel and me, and perhaps freshman Scott Graves to Pasco.

The SPU men took 5th and the women 3rd at the GNAC championships at WOU.  So both of them will race at regionals, this year in Hawaii.