Top 10 Indicators You Need a Break From BREAKAWAY

I do not want a break from BREAKAWAY and robotics, but there may be a few indications that we need a break.

The closing ceremony of FIRST Championship games in Atlanta included a Top Ten list of "Indicators You Need a Break From BREAKAWAY," and there were some funny ones. OKay, I admit some were funny, and some were true, so I had to reflect for a moment to realize that they are kind of humorous... like: "Build workshop is primary residence." Well, part of the build workshop has been in our primary residence since January, and I have often referred to the school's metal shop as a second home. This isn't normal?

And when I saw indicator #2, I thought, "Cool. I could totally go for that. I painted the RV in team colors. And I have seriously been thinking of pimping my ride with some sweet details. Why not bumpers?" This isn't normal?


And "Yes. Yes, I have been thinking about St Louis. Can we get there? What will they build? How many more T-shirts should they silkscreen? Which FRC events should we they elect to go to? Is there an aquarium?"

I think it may be time for me to reflect on my own Top Ten Indicators I Need A Break from BREAKAWAY.

10. We are exhausted. Yes, I still feel the energy and love robotics and FIRST, but we have been worn a bit thin, by the intensity of these work-school-laundry-robotics schedules. I need a nap. Several naps.

9. We are still trying to move in to our home. We have made great progress, but there are still unpacked boxes and empty walls. We need to reapply ourselves to being moved-in.

8. Every time someone does something well, or needs encouragement, my arms spontaneously shoot up and I pump phantom pom-poms.

7. That thingy, in my leg, that makes the muscle hang on... it's still not hanging on. Don't tell my mommy. She worries.

6. Maria has been tagging every clear surface with 2102 and Paradox illustrations.

5. I think I can dance. This one is embarrassing. I know I cannot dance, but for some reason I do not let this fact keep me from doing the Cha-Cha slide. In public. Before cameras, and people whose respect I hope to earn.

4. Every post about robotics has been a detrimental blow to Chickenblog readership. Actually, this reason sucks. I will never take a break from posting about robotics! Hence the new header.

3. The house is a mess. Oh boy. This one is serious. I used to at least pretend that I was trying to be a domestic diva, but I gave that act up. I love robotics and 2102 and FIRST, and given any excuse I will write, photograph, sew, and beg for this team... especially if I can get out of mopping and dusting.

2. The house is a mess.
What?
Oh.
I said that.
That's okay.
I think it bears repeating.

1. From Blogger: "FTP publishing will no longer be available after May 1, 2010
You currently have blogs that are published using FTP. You must migrate your blogs to a new custom domain URL or a blogspot URL."

Uh.

Uh-oh. This one is a doozy.

Chcikenblog Chickenblog is going away. All the deep thoughts, and flowers, and hencakes, Betty, Chango, Joe, Benjamin Franklin Thunder Cat, and the Ratty-Rats, the quilts, Geeks... all of it.

But not for long.

I hope.

Geoff? Will this take long?

Geoff is taking a break from BREAKAWAY, so he can do... he can make... he can... you know... make Chickenblog come back slicker, and shinier, and bloggier than ever.

This may take a few days. This may get glitchy. This may make me really nervous. It will confuse me too, but I am familiar with that sensation. Mostly I just hope we don't make you nervous and confused. And I hope we don't *poof* leave the Interwebs, forever lost in cyberspace.

While Geoff is banging his head and sitting on hold with someone named "Josh" in Bangalore migrating the blog to a new custom domain URL or a blogspot URL,
I will be reassuming my role as a domestic diva, *ahem.*
Pray for me. For us.

For your viewing pleasure, I would like to leave you with an original work of art, torn from Alex's english notebook. (The very same notebook where he is supposed to be writing English notes.)


"Dostoevsky Esky Esky Esky" by Alex V2"

He's reading Crime and Punishment.
It's done in pen. The teacher took a picture of it with Flat Stanley.

I love this blog.
Please look for us on the other side.
We will be back.

Dear Atlanta, I Think I Love You
Maybe it's only a crush. How well can you really know someone, or a place, after four days? But I think I am in love just a little bit with Atlanta, Georgia. Some might take offense, if I said, "I cannot believe it," or "I am surprised," so I won't go that way. But Atlanta kind of did exceed my expectations.

Of course I am not sure I had actual expectations, other than a much suppressed desire to see Rhett and Scarlett pushing a pram down Peachtree Center. Fiction. I know. But I cannot deny that my mind is impressionable, and I actually even enjoy the irrational generalizations that I harbor.

Dear Atlanta,

I think I love you. We were met by friendly and courteous people, and a big, yet easy to navigate airport. And it just kept getting better...


We felt the welcome right away. And it helps... we came across a lot of country, to a new city, but seeing FIRST banners with Atlanta's message was like a warm smile from a stranger. And the smiles were everywhere... the hotels, and visitor information booths, in the restaurants. It felt like the city took a genuine interest in FIRST and making everyone comfortable and appreciated. Nice.


For the most part our time was all Robo, all the time. We were robocentric, but on the walk between the hotel and the Georgia Dome we enjoyed beautiful views, urban color, and lots of things I think we would love to go back and enjoy... like a carriage ride.


Speaking of the Georgia Dome, wow. I mean Wow.


Comfortable access, easy on the eyes natural lighting...


... and really, really, really big. Seriously big.


Georgia Dome is impressive.

In regional events the team pits are on the other side of the playing fields, but those events have between forty and fifty teams. I believe Atlanta was hosting five hundred FLL, FTC, and FRC teams. Ten thousand students + mentors, coaches, referees, judges, volunteers, moms, dads, media, brothers, uncles, sisters, aunts, grandmas and grandpas, CEOS, CIA, vendors, and robots. In Atlanta the six playing fields were in the Dome, and the hundreds of team pits, vendors, universities, and corporation booths were in the Georgia World Congress Center, Building C. Did I mention we walked a lot?


Alex and I want to fill the seats of the next FRC arena, whether it's in San Diego, or St. Louis. This is a huge ambition, but Dean Kamen spoke to us, and we are under his hypnotic influence. We believe in FIRST, and we believe everyone should care about education, technology, Coopertition, Gracious Professionalism, robotics, and the students who are our world's strength and hope. We hope everyone will share our love and respect for thoughtful, intelligent, motivated students, and make the time to support them.


"Famous people"... what is that all about? We give so much time and glory, so much money, to people that are mostly about consumption and superficiality. My heroes are teachers, mentors, and volunteers, and my investments are in students... they are changing the world, they will turn the economy around, cure diseases, find answers, fix problems, and they need to know that we believe in them, that we will support them, that we respect their worth.


I get so pumped about FIRST!
It's easy to do.

Being in a robotics club is hard work. The intensity of the build season, when students and the men and women that support them, make tremendous sacrifices, both at school and home, can be painful at times. Lost sleep, tensions, anxiety, blood, sweat, and tears... these go hand in hand with getting to FRC. Speaking for the team I know best, the students are intelligently designing and conceptualizing a machine that must perform to the specifications of their goals and the rules of the game, and then they take their plans in to a metal shop, where they manufacture parts, assemble those parts and test them. Then there is wiring and programming... making everything work as planned. And the marketing side of the club is just as industrious, doing all they can to financially and emotionally support the build team, and to meet the requirements and expectations of FIRST, keeping documents, forms, and outreach in order.

It is serious. It can be serious fun too. But anyone that does not recognize and appreciate the high caliber of intelligence, dedication, and seriousness of robotics and FIRST teams is a total bonehead. (CNN, shame on you and your trivialization of your superiors).

Oh. Excuse my little tangent there.
But hold on. This is still about Atlanta, because for the most part Atlanta respectfully received FIRST, and the city definitely helped us enjoy some hard earned fun.


Meet Reginald. He took our lunch orders for three days, and he was such a sweet and friendly guy, we feel like we have a friend at the Georgia Dome. Thank you Reginald. You are awesome!


And Centennial Park... what a lovely treat to walk through here every morning and evening. This is also where FIRST hosted a big end of competition party... a grand finale, where everyone could celebrate another successful year in robotics.


We got to watch as the preparations for the party were steadily building up, and by Saturday afternoon we could see the carnival-like attractions awaiting the celebrants. Even Atlanta Fire and Rescue was ready to keep the evening fun, and safe.


There was only one time when... okay two times... when I wish we had a stroller for Maria in Atlanta. She's grown a lot since we carried her sleepy body around Paris and Amsterdam.


She was so wiped out, and heavy, it took Geoff, Alex, William, and Me taking shifts to get her back to the hotel.
Poor Maria. She wholeheartedly gives herself to supporting her team, but keeping up with teenagers and adults is hard on a little one.


Where do you go after a long day passing out chocolate Paradox eggs, cheering, and following Breakaway matches? How about the top of the world, on the seventy second floor, in the Sun Dial Bar? Steve and Geoff, build mentors extraordinaire, relaxed, and revolved. William, Alex, Max, Maria, and esteemed metal shop teacher, Jason B., were there too, and we mellowed with the setting sun and fantastic views of the Atlanta skyline.


The lounge makes a full revolution every sixty minutes.
Look! There's Centennial Park, and beyond that Georgia World Congress Center, and Georgia Dome.


We didn't make it to Ted Turner's grill, but check out the tip-top of our revolving hotel. It was nice in there.
Lisa S., and all of our travel team did such a good job of securing rides, beds, and food. Go Travel Team!


I like to think that Andrew Young would love to party with FIRST.


I must blame thank Matt for this one.
Let's see... we have Dennis, Chris, Matt, Andrew, Nate, Wayne, Jason, George, Natalie, Maria, Max, Alex, and Geoff... and more at the other bar! We were all at the Georgia Aquarium (more on this amazing visit later) and we were having a wonderful time, but we were also amazingly hungry. Don't be hatin', but seeing all those fish, well, we were sort of inspired to eat... you know... fish!

So. Yes. It is true that we left the private, invitation only, Aquarium party to go out for a seafood dinner. And thank you Matt for this suggestion. We skipped a very long burger line, and instead enjoyed fantastic views, great conversations, excellent service, a delicious meal, and re-entry to the Aquarium with happier tummies.


I call this the Legal View. Legal Sea Foods was not only a good choice for our dinner, it was beautiful, and no one gave us a hard time about coming in our work clothes. I'm not sure all establishments would be as welcoming to a huge team of red pant wearing, face-painted, robo fans, but by the end of the evening the manager was promising to come to the next day's matches. Definitely caught robo fever. Sweet.


I think Jason B is enjoying FIRST Championship benefits. Well deserved, Jason. Salud!


And this... this deserves a whole other post. Maria is like a one girl Commissioner of Paradox Spirit, spreading good will and robotic diplomacy wherever she goes, and the sweet women at the bar of Legal Sea Food were totally game! Service with a smile was never more awesome.


I love MARTA.
I love the Olympic ring fountain in Centennial Park.
It was fun having a small dose of the outlawed Freaknik... how low can you go?
I should have known Atlanta would be cool, since I do know some very cool people that hail from there.


I hope we can return to Atlanta some day, but ironically all that we learned as a team about visiting Atlanta may not serve us the next time we make it to a FIRST Championship, because 2011 FIRST Championship, 2012 FIRST Championship, and 2013 FIRST Championship are in St Louis!

(Alex, we need to get busy if we are going to fill the sixty-six thousand seats in their stadium!)

Thank you Atlanta!
Go robotics!
Go FIRST!

Next Stop, Atlanta


Well, every yellow, red, and blue article of clothing in the Bird House is washed, pressed (lies-lies-lies) folded and packed. Thank you for encouragement, support, kind words, good ideas, and robotic patience. We are taking our mini-team to join with the team to FIRST Championship, Atlanta, Georgia. Adventures and opportunities ahead!


It's crazy. It's fun. It's challenging. It's Geeklicious. It's Robotics!
And I think we have just enough energy for one more spin on the robo dance floor.

Perfectly At Home


Everyone was home yesterday. Not necessarily in the home.
Betty, get out of there.


Thank you.
Everyone was home yesterday, and for most of the day we were working and playing outside. And I think it was the combination of work and play that made the day feel pretty nearly perfect.


From the rose bed...


... where blooms are waking,


... to the orchard where the trees are taking root and giving fruit,


... I am beginning to see signs that we are settling in to our home. I see familiar touches, and I feel the comforting sense of belonging. We are claiming walls, filling drawers, spreading out, playing, making our marks. It feels so very good.


The traffic is our own, and so are the lines on the ground. Bike races, hopscotch, tic-tac-toe, plucking blossoms, running barefoot, chatting over the neighbor's fence, spotting birds, putting tools away... it's like untying knots, unraveling tension that has been building up, and letting it go. Little by little, finally letting it go.


So the day was full. Full of productive work, full of games and laughter, full of deep thoughts and other musings, and full of delightful nothingness.


Everyone did their own thing. Coming and going.










They can be elusive... the words that describe my happiness for feeling perfectly at home. The feelings are wonderful.

Bliss in the Weeds


Besides earthquakes and aftershocks, something else has been going on in So Cal... we've been blessed with amazing weather. Almost summer-like, almost late summer-like, which is when it tends to be even better than the month of gloom we have in June. We've been making mint tea, and minding the rose buds, watering our orchard, taking dinner outdoors, and soaking up the beauty in the breeze.

Even the weeds look verdant and good, although on closer inspection I can see we are going to be plagued with stickers if I don't selectively yank the offenders. Betty surveys the land, and she is glad. This is spring, she declares. This is Betty season.


Up close I notice the stickers, and closer still... I see the lady bug beetles. Loads and loads of scurrying red beetles, and black dotties on red beetles. Eating the aphids beetles. Darling and good, lady bug beetles.


And baby ladies. Baby beetles. Did you know? Some people don't recognize these reticular little bugs as ladybug larvae. Now you understand why I am delaying the weed pulling party. I love pulling weeds. Honestly. I would gladly pull weeds in my yard, than get my nails done. There are lots of things I would rather do than get my nails done. But still. I get lost in happy garden bliss when I am pulling weeds. When I get around to it, I will be very courteous of the ladies.


Betty?
Betty, are you courteous of the Lady Beetles?


Yes, Betty and the Lady Beetles are neighbors, and friends.
O, Betty, eres bellisima. Chica-chica.


So, with the children home from school, and the sun shining, I am blissfully sitting amongst the weeds. Counting hummingbirds and dreaming of figs. The lady bugs are traveling up and down the highway of stalks and leaves. Maria digs holes. Alex builds a windmill. William watches, and chats. Max reads The Hobbit, again. Geoff makes garage progress. And slowly the sun slips west.


Stickers are inevitable, as is the return of school.


Happiness can be so fragile. Fortunately it is also abundant, and easily nurtured.


I like to pause, to recognize happiness, and the pleasure it gives... before the memory flies away.