Another site

Rooting for you, TEPCO and people of Japan ...

Reading that's not from a nuclear advocacy group:  http://armscontrolwonk.com/

Hooking you up

Need a science fix?  A nice physics lesson regarding Japan's nuclear reactors: here.

Perhaps a baby fix? Luke's taking over blogging about our boys: here.

Japan's Fukushima-Daiichi Reactor

I am nearly isolated from the media right now (yesterday, my mom had to call us when there was a Tsumani warning because she correctly knew we wouldn't hear), but I've still heard a lot of fear based reporting on Japan's nuclear power plants.  Some of it is irresponsible, some of it is just the nature of reporting.  There has to be a STORY.  (For instance, Mozilla has been getting a lot of press about the upcoming Firefox 4 release.  Even though they are a confirmed non-profit and their CEO repeats that firmly in every interview, there's a lot of buzz about the company going public.  Which they're not.  No IPO.  None.  If there is, we'll buy us a California house and you can all come live here.  But that's not happening.)

Two calm sites on the status of the reactor:

http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/information-on-the-japanese-earthquake-and-reactors-in-that-region

http://www.iaea.org/press/

And my summary: There has been damage to the nuclear power plant, including an explosion this morning that happened outside the primary fuel containment structure and didn't damage the actual reactor.  At this point the damage has all been economic and no people or environment has been harmed.

The tale of Scott and a snail

I do a stroller run with friends every Tuesday morning.  Scott does GREAT with Mark: holding his hand (usually not too tightly) and talking to him or "reading" him books.  We run along Steven's Creek Trail under 2 highways and over one (on a huge pedestrian bridge where I taught Scott to yell "Go Mommy!") and to the NASA Research property.  Here we let the children out for a break.  Scott has been finding snails and last week the snails were all locked in their shells!  We think this is because of the unusual freezes out here; they sealed themselves in for protection.

Ever seen snails like this?

Snuggling

Overheard from Scott

We want our boys to be aware of what they eat, but I think we may have taken this whole carnivore thing a little too far.

Playing in the kitchen on Saturday morning, Scott holds up a little toy cow.
Me: Scott, this is the mommy cow.  See her udders? 
Scott: Where her baby?
Me: Yes, where is her baby calf?
Scott: Daddy COOK it!  Take baby, put in microwave, HAMBURGER!
Me: ... ... ... oh.  Do you like hamburgers?
Scott: Yes! Sometimes I eat, sometimes I not.  Daddy COOK it!

Later, swinging at the park, we are talking about books and I ask Scott what he likes to read:
Scott: Chickens.
Me: You like to read about chickens?
Scott:  No, I like to EAT chickens.

Whoa.

Since that's not very Valentine's-y, let me leave you with something a little sweeter:

Mark is such a cute napper.  I start snapping photos.

The camera is a little loud.  He awakes.

And smiles.  What a doll.

xoxo to all.

Wedding tree

The plum tree that guards the entrance to our building has put on its dress whites and put me in the mood for a wedding.

The tree makes me think all at once of brides, mothers, and guests: 
dressed in impractically beautiful clothes,
waiving delicate embroidered cotton handkerchiefs, and
throwing tiny petal teardrops down like rice (or birdseed, or bubbles)
on us
as we play
in the square of warm Spring sunlight below.