Multiple topics to cover this time, so I'll try to make each quick.

In Memoriam...
I heard on NPR today (we're members of WUWM, previously members of a DC-area station that gutted its news schedule for classical music, not that I have anything against classical music) that an author that held a warm spot in my heart, Madeleine L'engle, died Thursday at the age of 88. I fondly recall getting A Wrinkle in Time off one of those grade school book orders, reading it, and then heading to the Staunton Public Library to find more. It was science-fiction written for my age level that I didn't feel talked down to me. Without that book, how long would it have been before I learned the word tesseract? As with C.S. Lewis, faith colored Ms. L'Engle's works, but I honestly didn't even notice as a kid. Later I just didn't care; I loved the book, so why worry about the author's faith? I can only hope that there are other authors out there to carry the torch for our youth. She will be missed. The New York Times has a nice write up.

NPR has a several stories and interviews with her, as well as mentions of her works in various book lists.

Missed Opportunities
Last Friday, Emily had plans to see the Vienna Boys' Choir here in Monterrey. I was waiting for her to get home, knowing she'd have little time to change before heading out to dinner and the show with her co-workers, when she called. Her cell phone was dead and she was borrowing the phone of the woman who had just rear-ended her; said cell phone was also nearly dead so she had little time. She was fine, but they were waiting on the insurance people to arrive. She told me to pass a message on to the co-worker who was going to give her a ride to the show. I did so and waited anxiously for Emily to come home.

When she got home the first thing she had to do was call our insurance people. Since she had no functional cell phone, she had to wait until she got home. She called and we waited. The guy arrived, but took a long time to complete the paperwork. By the time he finished, it was too late for Emily to make the show. Here's the only thing she'll have to remember the show by:

$513 (pesos, about $50 US) down the drain. The only bright spot, if there is one, is that the bumper is likely to be replaced. That will also eliminate the scratches on it from two previous collisions, neither of which was our fault either and neither of which we were able to pursue at the time.

How Sweet It Is...
Emily found this recipe she wanted to try, but it required maple syrup. We found it at HEB, one of the two big grocery stores here, but it was expensive: $119 pesos ($11 US) for 100 ml. Today Emily found it at Costco. Here's the visual comparison:


The Kirkland syrup, also 100% pure maple, was $196 pesos ($19 US) for 1.89 liters. So, that would be nearly 19 times the size for about 66% more. I guess this means lots of pancakes in the next year, 'cause we're not moving it!