Photography of the Forbidden City exhibit was not permitted but this restriction did not apply to the permanent collections which include a very eclectic combination of maritime and oceanic art, Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Korean, American, African, and native American art. Pictured here is a scale model of the Queen Elizabeth, a wedding gown sculpture created from sea shells, and three wooden figureheads from 18th and 19th century seagoing vessels.
Jeanine and I visited the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem this afternoon for a rare cultural enrichment date without the kids. The museum is featuring The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City. On public display for the first time ever are the contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s (r.1736-1796) private retreat, the Qianlong Garden (also known as the Tranquility and Longevity Palace Garden) which lies deep within the immense imperial complex. In his time, he was among the richest, most powerful men in the world. A connoisseur, scholar and devout Buddhist, he created a luxurious garden compound to serve throughout his retirement as a secluded place of contemplation, repose and entertainment.
At 4:30 AM Jeanine and I were jolted from sleep by the sounds of tires screeching under heavy acceleration. The driver of this vehicle had swerved off the road and run over a large rock which became lodged underneath his right rear wheel. We watched for several minutes as he tried to extricate his car and then called the police when it became apparent he was drunk. A total of three Concord Police cruisers arrived on the scene within minutes. The driver was taken away in one car, a second gave pursuit to a car that passed the scene without slowing down, and the third waited until a wrecker arrived to lift the vehicle off the rock and then towed it away. Quite a bit of commotion in our otherwise very sleepy neighborhood.
Kyle creates the ultimate Thanksgiving dinner sandwich. Construction details (from the bottom up): 1 slice of sourdough bread, a layer of mashed potatoes spread evenly and covered in gravy, 6 slices of turkey breast covered in gravy, 1 layer of stuffing topped with cranberry sauce and gravy, 1 slice of sourdough bread. The two minutes it took to grab my camera and snap this photo placed me in grave jeopardy as I was standing between Kyle and his first bite into his masterpiece.
With much to be thankful for this year the immediate family gathered for a casual celebration of the holiday. My mother had planned to join us but was not feeling up to the travel. Jeanine prepared a spectacular meal which we will enjoy in the form of leftovers many times over. Maya made her first cheese cake from scratch which was simply wonderful.
I extended an invitation to Thanksgiving orphans (those spending the holiday alone) at iRobot to join our family this year but did not get any takers. I hope this was because they were all spending the day surrounded by loved ones.
Gold and maroon spirit day at the Peabody Middle School has Maya all made up for the occasion.
While Nico and I were in Telluride for the Mountainfilm Festival last Memorial Day, we were interviewed by Outside Television prior to the screening of Nico’s Challenge. Today I discovered that interview for the first time and have embedded it here.
UPDATE: The video server is now behind a paywall.
What a surprise to come across this image on the Outside Television website.
I am experimenting today with a new feature which allows me to embed a photo book I published from my first visit to Wyoming. By clicking on the book you will be able to flip through its pages. If you click on the Full Screen icon (towards the right hand side of the menu bar in the book window) you will be able to get a much better view.
On Friday, Jeanine and the other members of a book group to which she belongs were guests of the Oprah Winfrey show. Although none were called on for questions during the show the group had a grand old time in the Windy City. I believe this shot was taken during a shopping excursion. Jeanine also met up with her sister Lauren and they enjoyed a visit with their aunt Karen.
Jeanine is still in Chicago with her book group as guests of the Oprah Winfrey Show. The show was taped yesterday and she then connected with her sister Lauren who drove up from Indianapolis. Kyle spent the day working and then took Hannah out to the Cheesecake Factory for a birthday celebration. Nico and Holly spent the day together, first watching the CCHS Men’s Varsity Soccer team capture their second straight state title, and then painting her bedroom. Maya went to see the new Harry Potter film with her friend Lydia after spending the better part of the day together. I was left entirely free to enjoy my new Audi Q5 which I picked up this morning. I had planned to get another A3 but in the end, decided I needed a change of pace and a little more room for the kids.
Chief Operation Officer of Avid, Kirk Arnold, was gracious enough to allow me to borrow the Emmy Award I accepted years ago to share with students during my presentation yesterday. In addition to actors and directors, Emmy Awards are given to companies for technical achievement. I was honored to accept this one for pioneering work in computer video on behalf of Pinnacle Systems (which was subsequently acquired by Avid). I took advantage of the 16-hour loan to make this self-portrait which is far better than the snapshot taken on the night of the award ceremony.
A couple of slides from my presentation. Many of the parents in attendance resonated with my message and thanked me for sharing it. What impact my advice will have on the students remains to be seen.
Embracing Your Inner Nerd; Wild Adventures in Technology was the title of my presentation to students (and some parents and teachers) at the Concord Carlisle High School this evening. To promote careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), I shared my career journey, dispensed advice, demonstrated a couple of robots, and showed off the Emmy Award I accepted for early work in computer-based video. I was quite pleased that Nicolai, who was among the audience, enjoyed the talk and did not feel that I had embarrassed him.