Dark Matter

There is presently a heat wave- known affectionately as 'Lucifer' -hovering over Europe.  Even Thomas' father is starting to talk about global warming, much to Eva's chagrin.  Next thing you know he will be wearing love beads and giving up cake. 

Flying to Dubrovnik tomorrow, to meet up with the boat on Wednesday. Thomas surprised us by hiring a small (presumably cheap) jet to take us because the connections are so complicated. Frederick is delighted, while I am pretending not to panic. It will be three hours with unknown pilots in a plane with an emergency bathroom only. (what's not to like....)

It's been such a lovely month with a rather cheerful teenager. Together, we have accomplished much: 583 backhands,  seven chocolate bunt cakes, and PEA mathematics 400.  Alas I am painfully aware how infrequent these quiet times with F will be in the future; and it's making me rather melancholy. Or maybe it is just due to the large steaks we ate last night. (We are delicate sleepers when faced with dead animals at dinner...lots of dreams about dark water. )

In an attempt to keep up wth the youngster, I am reading Neil DeGrasse Tyson's book "Astro Physics for people in a hurry". It is not an easy read- most of the time I bounce along a bumpy road, waiting for a word I understand (whipped cream density vs that of hot chocolate! Eureka!). Anyway, I recently came upon the section on dark matter.  It seems that 85% (!) of the universe is made of a mysterious substance- a substance that appears to produce gravity, but not interact with the universe in any other normal way- it emits no light or electro magnetic radiation for example. De Grasse Tyson calls it the single greatest mystery in science today.  Last night over steaks and sea air, the Wehlen trio took a stab at solving this, the largest secret in the universe. Thomas speculated it could be dust; Frederick said maybe prehistoric aliens, recognizing the universe was expanding too quickly, stuffed dark matter around to slow it down.

I said maybe dark matter is love- and both of my left brainys laughed.  

But not for very long. xo