Can I get your number?

A recent email read...
"UNBELIEVABLE MATH PROBLEM

HERE IS A MATH TRICK SO UNBELIEVABLE THAT IT WILL STUMP YOU. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO CAME UP WITH THIS AND WHY THAT PERSON IS NOT RUNNING THE COUNTRY.

1. GRAB A CALCULATOR---NOT AN ADDING MACHINE. (YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS ONE IN YOUR HEAD)

2. KEY IN THE FIRST THREE DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER (NOT THE AREA CODE)

3. MULTIPLY BY 80

4. ADD 1

5. MULTIPLY BY 250

6. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER

7. ADD THE LAST 4 DIGITS OF YOUR PHONE NUMBER AGAIN.

8.. SUBTRACT 250

9.. DIVIDE NUMBER BY 2

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE ANSWER?"

Go for it!!! Pretty cool, right?

Now for the personal invitation... Take your mind back to your beginning algebra/pre-algebra days... Recall the Order of Operations and a few properties... According to this email, if you can break this "magic" math trick then you're being asked "why you're not running this country".

I shared this with my co-workers and thought you might enjoy the thrill of figuring it out... Have fun!

Here's a little video that applies as well. It's "ree-dic-ooolus!"

Warning: Please excuse the profanity.

MadTV Can I Get Your Number Original -

Lovely Valentines Day

Earning the title as "tourguide" for our NYC excursion on Valentines day was quite an honor... I have poster more about our day there on Mom's blog... Skeeners.Blogspot.com (side bar)-- "Skeens (Gpa and Gma)"

Wicked Good

Mom treated Maraea and I to the Broadway musical Wicked in NYC at the Gershwin Theatre on Friday the 13th. We drove up to Manhattan after I got off work. Coupled with a late start due to my lack of speediness after work and hitting bad traffic, we ended up missing the first 2/3 of the first half. Mom and Maea are fortunately the opposite of "wicked" and we really enjoyed what we did get to see. It was SO good! We love listening to the soundtrack, but I have to say Alli Mauzey made a fantastic Glinda and Nicole Parker as Elphaba was excellent... talent. The set was choice as well. It was my first true broadway, and it was only appropriately enjoyed with Mom, born of Elliott Behrens- musical man. Couldn't have been a better way to spend Friday the 13th!Afterwards we walked down to Time Square so they could see the ever-awake crowds of midtown at night. Maea almost got a picture with Batman, until we learned that he was not the real deal. Good times.
Rolling into NJ after midnight, we were so happy to stay in the comfort of Rich and Jess Skeen's home. They are so good to us!

Latest Fashion

How have I been missing this? My students are wearing some cutting edge colors! It may remind some of the 70's or 80's but no... it is the 2000's and these kids are sporting neon and much more... here are just of few items that I see most frequently in the halls...

Takoma Park, What?

Perfect timing... Our friend, Tricia, had a basketball game at Columbia Union College up in MD on the evening that Mom and Maea flew into Baltimore for a visit! Trish is an all star, sinking at least half a dozen three-pointers. She comes from a family of excellent athletes and ballers, so it was no surprise. Mom broke out into her cheerleading mode, yelling, "Just like I taught you, Trish!" Unfortunately Trish was too focused to wave and give us a "thumbs up."

It was a great game... SVU dominated. Way to go Trish!

Philidelphia

A couple weekends ago, my friend and coworker, Elyse and I drove up to Philly for a meeting regarding a school program that I am making a decision about becoming more involved in this summer. I learned a lot more about the goals of the school and this particular project, met some neat people, and am glad to have gone... details forthcoming.

Elyse grew up in town near Abbington, PA, so we went there to put our bags away and spend some time with her parents. Pam and Andy were a delight, and we enjoyed some good ol' "Dad humor" over dinner. I experienced "true PA" by going to the local ACE grocery store as well as Whole Foods (one of my favorite grocers).
The evening was eventful, spending it with Eyse's sister and her friends at the home of her and her fiance in Philly.
Sunday morning, Elyse was super nice and let me use her car so I found a local ward to attend, meeting some really neat locals of the Pennypack ward. I was surprised to meet several Brazilians in the ward.... wish I could speak Portugese like Abes! The people were very welcoming, and the lessons were fantastic, as usually... I love the constancy of the gospel and how the truth is unchanging no matter where you are. One of the men who was teaching Sunday School shared a motto he lives by, which I have embraced, "Go with the flow. Don't fight the faith."
On our way home, Elyse took me into the heart of Phili to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the Constitution Center... and the cobblestone roads, of course.

P.S. Elyse's parents have such a happy and darling dog, Lula (pic. left)

Running Behind

What a bore my blog has become for these last few weeks. I apologize. Life is full as ever, and I have just neglected to record what's been going on... My sister, Kristen, has once again inspired me to get going... SO, I will do a little catching up here...

Winter Hurdles

As you may well know, I love to run and cycle and swim. This year I will be running in the Boston Marathon for my first time, which takes place in late April.

I have discovered a great way to stay motivate through the winter time... sign up for a Spring Race! Whether that means a 10K walk/run or a 5K... Maybe a bike race or triathlon... anything that "moves" you to activity in preparation through the winter.

Looking back on past winters, and experiencing the frigid conditions of winter, the pattern is clear... it's much less appealing and easy to avoid staying physically active to the level necessary for good health and a balanced life though the winter months. Who would not want to just stay inside on the couch sipping hot cocoa and watch the cold winter pass by? It's comfortable... that is until the results of hibernation set in... sleepiness, depression, several extra pounds, dreading summer clothing, you name it.

While setting a goal or signing up for the race is not the fix-all, it is the daily choice to stay physically active and knock down or jump over the winter hurdles that prevent us from having a need to start over every spring.
Easier said than done, but every effort is worth it... life is meant for living, and living is most enjoyed in good health, not limited by the season or the condition of our physical state.

THIS YEAR at BOSTON...
My cousin, Stacey, just re-qualified a couple weeks ago, so we're going to run at least a portion of it together... she's an inspiration! My mission president qualified in October and is still considering the race! And... Mom and Dad are heading east as dedicated cheerleaders! Connie is looking into coming as well!