The Life of a Mathematician

Earlier this week, Qalmlea (see the Sporadic Maunderings blog in the links list) took the long way while traversing to Oregon and visited me. As she mentioned on her blog, we went to a Thai restaurant, and the food was very good. It is always nice to meet an old friend again. I've relocated three times since finishing high school, and it seems like with each move it is harder to establish new connections when I know I'm probably going to have to sever them again. I try to keep in touch with people, but it doesn't always happen.

Monday evening and yesterday morning we had houseguests here. "We" at that time meant just myself, Mr. Eby, and Nala (the dog) because Mrs. Eby was still in Canada. This family that visited has ten children. The oldest is in college and the youngest is barely out of diapers. They said that they've decided ten is enough, and this is the first time the youngest has been that old.

Next week I'm visiting a friend from college who I haven't seen in about five years. I leave on Saturday and come back after the 4th on whatever day that week works out the best; the bus tickets are not date-sensitive.

Since I'm not likely to blog during that time, I'll post something patriotic right now:

Oh say, can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Who's broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming!
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!