Book Review: Calculating God

I decided to venture into reading a few other books written by Robert J Sawyer, based on the recent trilogy I read. I picked up Calculating God, which is based on the idea that aliens arrive on Earth, bringing with them a firm belief in a universe creator.

I haven't finished the book yet, but I am definitely not enjoying it so far. I am about three quarters of the way through, but I have to finish, I can't bring myself to just stop. The idea of the book sounded interesting, but it is falling flat. The main character is a paleotologist (dinosaur bone scientist), and is dying of cancer. I am finding way too much of the book is either written in scientific, hard to follow jargon, or is about his dying, which as far as I can tell, doesn't have any bearing on the main story. It is just very distracting, without adding anything important, relevant, or attention-catching.

This is definitely not one of Sawyer's better books, and not one that I am enjoying. I just need to finish so I can go onto something else.

Time flies

Oh how quickly time can fly by. Hard to believe my last post was 10 days ago. And that I am beginning to use Sept dates at work. Eek, where did the summer go?

Aah, summer. The hot hazy days of humidity mixed with super frigid air conditioning. How I hate to go between the two. But the good news is that this year I seem to have been able to avoid getting a summer cold. Which I usually get, due to venturing between the two extreme temperatures.

I am looking forward to heat at work, but since we are in new offices, it is yet to be determined whether the chilly vibe will continue, or if it will venture to the other extreme and feel too warm. I guess the only thing to do is wait and see... And dress in layers...

Shampoo

So if I blogged about toothpaste, why not about shampoo and conditioner? Why is it so hard to find a good shampoo?

I have thick, dry, wavy hair. Most shampoos leave my hair feeling like straw. I find it very hard to find one I like, so I tend to bounce from one brand to another, trying to remember if this one was okay, or if it was horrible. I used to love Thermasilk, but alas, it was discontinued. Since then, it has been one trial after another.

I have been using Tresemme. Not bad. But I think I need a change. My hair doesn't like the same shampoo for months on end. And those big bottles sure last. I think I've had the same bottle for 3 months now! Of course, they are slightly too big to both fit in one corner of the tub. It always seem like one is threatening to fall into the tub and crush my toes.

I have been thinking about trying the new Pantene. But the old stuff was so bad, so I'm not sure I should risk it. I know there are good shampoos out there, I just don't want to spend $20 on one bottle that will only last a month. It's just not in the budget.

Book Review: Hominids

After enjoying the 2010 One Book, One Community selection, I decided to check out previous selections. I recently read Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer, which was the selection for One Book, One Community in 2005.

The book is about a Neanderthal scientist whose quantum computing experiment opens a bridge between his Earth and ours. On his Earth, it is humans who went extinct while Neanderthals survived and evolved.

There are many parallels between each version of Earth, and main extreme differences. There are mammoths and mastodons still living with the Neanderthals. They still live a hunter/gather lifestyle, with no agriculture. Their Earth is healthy and vibrant, without the pollution and overcrowding of our Earth.

Reading the book, several times I found myself thinking that the Neanderthal Earth sounded like a much better place to live. Safe, clean, and healthy. They have less personal freedom as everything they do is recorded, they have no beliefs of religion, men live separate from women except 4 days a month, and there is only one month a decade when they conceive children. Many modern people would take exception to these differences, but I don't. Overall, I think their Earth sounds splendid.

The book really makes you think about the choices humans have made regarding how they live, and what they have accomplished. It is very thought provoking. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Started my project

So all the stars aligned, and I was able to start my cross-stitch project with minimal cost. The chart I wanted was on sale for 25% off, and combined with the $5 gift certificate I got for creating an account, it only cost me $6.25!

Then I found a 40% off coupon in the paper for Michael's, and got a frame for $16. I had decided that I need a frame instead of just using a hoop. I have never been a fan of hoops.

And when I went to pick up my free chart from Stitcher's Place, she had the 25 count fabric I needed. And it only cost me $10.


So for around $30, I bought everything I needed to start my project. I don't have all the thread, obviously, but I do have about 5 colours that were in my stash. Including several skeins of black, which is the most used colour in the chart. I should be good for a while at least.

Since this will be such a big project, I actually prepared properly. No using tape around the edges and starting right away this time. I took the time to square up the edges, whip stitch all around the outside, and even basted the outline of the pages from the chart. Yes, pages, my chart is 36 pages long, when printed on regular paper, in a readable size. Oh my!

It took 2 evenings, but it is ready to go. Not easy getting it into the frame though.

If you look closely, you can just see the basting. I did it in light pink, so it doesn't stand out, but it is still visible.

Now to get started stitching. And maybe be done in ten years or so...

Husband, boyfriend, what do you call him?

So what do you call the person you have lived with for years, who you have children with, but who you have never married? Husband? Boyfriend? Significant other?

This has been an ongoing theme for the morning show at my local radio show. It got me thinking...

I am in this situation. I say husband if the person isn't a friend, and just use his name if they are a friend. I figure that common-law is almost the same as married nowadays, so it doesn't really make much difference. My sister is in the same situation, and they refer to each other as husband and wife.

Toothpaste

While brushing my teeth this morning, I was looking at my toothpaste, and had some random thoughts about it.

It seems that toothpaste comes in one of three brands: Crest, Colgate, or other. And Crest lovers don't seem to like Colgate, and vice versa. I am firmly in the Colgate camp. And I will only use mint flavoured toothpaste. Those other flavours just don't seem to give that clean mouth feel that I think brushing your teeth should leave.

Right now though, I'm not using Colgate. Our toothpaste was almost right out, and while we were in the store this past weekend, we saw a display for Arm & Hammer on sale. Decided to try it, and I am already regretting it. It just doesn't taste right. It's funny how something as small as your toothpaste brand can affect you.

We are eating

My monkey is eating! It took 2 and a half days of no eating, but it finally worked. It has taken 3 days to recover, but definitely worth it. Mr Monkey is eating smooth fruit baby food like a champ. We haven't progressed further than that, but it is very encouraging.

Of course, now we have sleeping problems. He used to always drink bottle and then go to sleep. So without the bottle, he really doesn't want to go to sleep. It has been a rough few days, but I am sure it will get easier and better. We just need to get a new routine going.