So many interesting things I learned this week. I got my hair cut by Tara on Thursday. Tara has decided to move her salon to her home which will afford more flexibility as she raises her boys. The salon is newly remodeled and if customers value exceptional service, they will journey into the residential venue which is easy to find and no parking issues. Our standard wandering conversation turned to sprinkler systems and the challenges created by tree roots. Tara mentioned her Catalpa trees, having never paid much attention I asked for a tour of the yard. These trees are amazing, they grow up to 80 feet high and have very large pointy heart shaped leaves. This time of the year they are covered with seed pods that likely earned the tree the alternative name of cigar tree. In the spring the tree has a beautiful floral display with the flowers looking like a white and purple iris. In the fall the leaves do not change color, when the first frost comes, lots of leaves falling will provide a good opportunity for raking. How have I lived in Boise for all of these years and never realized why it is called Catalpa Park? The more I think about traveling to see the world, the more I am inclined to look around me for all the amazing things I have overlooked.
Hank heard a story on the night sky app – the international space station was directly above them. He asked his mom how they cook dinner in the international space station. They asked me of course because I know everything. They do not cook on the space station as a lack of gravity makes it impossible. All of the food is in prepared packets and they have warming equipment. Also we were curious about washing up before dinner and what about washing your hair. Several great videos allow accurate answers to those important questions. Water floats in space due to gravity but it does have a tendency to stick to surface areas, a wash cloth filled with water forms a very neat water tunnel as you wring it out and the water also forms an amazing attachment to your skin- Hank says it well, “looks like clear slime”. The hair washing video is also fascinating as all of the hair on your head is weightless and floats straight up. The astronaut described the use of no rinse shampoo, warm water and a giant comb to get it clean and a towel to catch excess moisture. I am glad Hank asked and I have new knowledge thanks to his inquiring mind.
Don’t miss the best stargazing of the year this week end. If you believe a wish on a shooting start is valuable save them up. From August 11-13, The Perseus meteor shower will send 60 to 70 meteors shooting across the sky every hour. Peak activity is the early hours of Monday morning. This event happens every year but this time a crescent moon will darken the sky. This makes me remember Jiminy Cricket as he sang the theme from Pinocchio which later became the Disney brand music. “When you wish upon a star…..your dreams come true.” The little wooden puppet paid a steep price for lying but it all turned out ok. Maybe it will that that way in our real world struggle with the facts.
Enjoy the stars. Mike