Gang,

Sorry I haven’t emailed in a few days, as you might have imagined, we’ve been busy. I’ll make this as short as possible as I have to shower and get back up to the hospital. The delivery was a bit tough and Alex wasn’t too small at 7lbs. 14 oz. Both mother and baby came out fine … He is incredibly adorable and he has his mother’s grimace! :) Don’t tell her I said that! :) Hopefully St. Francis (Monroe) will put his picture up on their webpage for all to see and you’ll understand.

Candi is well. She was banged up a bit during delivery, but I am incredibly amazed at how strong she was! Yesterday wasn’t a good day for her as she recovered, but today is new and she has even gotten up and walked around.

We deeply appreciate your thoughtfullness and prayers. I’m on my way to clean up and get our other babies (Zoe and Sidney) some dog biscuits. Then I’m off to the hospital.

Trey

All our best to Gordo’s clan.

City rain barrel sale set for Nov. 1
City of Austin water utility customers may purchase up to four 75-gallon, polyethylene rain barrels. Quantities are available on a first-come, first- served basis. The first two barrels are $45 each; the third and fourth barrels are $75 each. Retail price is normally $120 per barrel.

Customers who receive water from the City of Austin qualify to receive barrels through the Water Conservation Program. Wholesale customers also may qualify.

To purchase a barrel, bring a copy of your utility bill and photo identification to 4005 Airport Blvd. from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 1, 2003. Money and applications will be accepted in advance. A receipt will be mailed to you and required at the time of pick up. Only cash or checks will be accepted. You may fill out the forms and purchase the barrel the day of the sale.

Even though you may have paid for a barrel in advance, distribution of barrels will be first-come, first-served. Barrels will not be held for advanced orders.

TreeFolks will be giving away free tree seedlings at the time barrels are distributed. For more information or to see if you qualify, call (512) 974-2199. Additional information, including an application is available at www.cityofaustin.org/watercon/rainbarrel_sale.htm.

Check out ideas and how-to’s at ExtremePumpkins.com and get your pumpkins ready. Post a picture of your pumpkin on October 31st. I will arrange for an arbitrary judge and come up with a trinket for a prize.

Finally a scientist doing important research.

As a biscuit cools, moisture diffuses from its centre to its edges, say Qasim Saleem, of Loughborough University, and colleagues. The shrinking centre and expanding edges create a build-up of stress that can lace a cracker with tiny cracks.

Yesterday at PVP Online Scott Kurtz posted this dead-on strip:

and today the Penny-Arcade boys fired back:

(click on the strips to see a full sized version.)