Ennui-bruary

Sorry people. I guess Happy Valley really isn't hoppin' lately. We've mainly been working, studying, etc. We did manage, however, to win 2nd place at the CAMS chili cook-off about 2 weeks ago. Normally, I'd be sad about not winning first, but this is perfect since we won't have to host next year. The winner does. If you'd like to try the same recipe it, was pretty delicious:


http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_16934,00.html



**In case you don't check astronomy news, there will be a lunar eclipse next Wednesday from about 10PM to 10:45 EST. I hope it will be clear out. It will be easy to see for the entire U.S.**



Speaking of the moon, last week was Lunar New Year, as you probably know. We went to a celebration where they have a parade and some food. The kids were all pretty cute helping to carry the dragon. One little girl was in traditional Korean dress, sort of like kimono, but obviously different since it was from a different culture. Unfortunately, I don't remember the word for it.






Homemade dragon.







We are in the year of the rat. I am a dragon, Thad is a snake, and Anja is a monkey. Ha ha! Yes she is!


Last week we went ice skating with some friends. It was her first time, and Anja skated really well by the end of the 2 hours. Matt are Rebekah are the other people in this shot. Ok, Anja is insisting I mention that there are two Rebecca's (Rebekah's). I hadn't realized how much I missed skating until I got out there. Ah, good times.

Living with a historian

Someone was talking about the origin of Valentine's Day, so I asked Thad if it was accurate:

The story I heard dates from the third century when Rome was ruled by the Emperor Claudius II. It tells how the Emperor outlawed marriages for young men because he felt single men were better soldiers then men who were married. A priest, named St. Valentine, didn't agree with the Emperor and married young lovers in secret. When the Emperor discovered what St. Valentine was doing, he sentenced him to death. While St. Valentine was in prison, waiting to be put to death, he met and fell in love with the jailor's daughter. Before he died he sent her a love letter and signed it "From your Valentine". This expression is still used today and now St. Valentine is best remembered as a romantic and heroic figure.

He said:

The story is complete baloney.
1) No roman soldiers were coming from Rome in the 3rd century.
2) Any emperor who outlawed young men getting married would be an idiot.
3) Even in 496, the pope Galatius knew nothing at all about St. Valentine.
4) The story about the daughter, etc, was created in 1290 by a poet named Jacobus in his Legenda Aurea, golden legend.
5) The story about, "From your valentine" is a modern creation.

So now you know at least one version that has been debunked. Lucky for me I get to hear a lot of theories debunked. Oh those historians...

My reaction to the ice storm

Instead of looking outside, I'm going to look at this for a while.