What Does an Actuary Do?

A week or so ago as I'm walking out for work in the morning, Jack and Tabby were at the kitchen table eating breakfast.

Jack: Bye, Dad. Have fun crunching numbers.

Tabby (jaw drops): You crunch numbers?

Me (laughing): Yeah! Like this (crunch fist).

Tabby: Wow. Are they hard or soft?

Friday morning as I'm leaving for work, Tabby is at the computer and looks up.

Tabby: Bye, Dad! Have fun punching numbers!

I can't even think of a good title

I thought this only happened as part of an apocalyptic future in sci-fi books/movies/games.

Planet of the Apes

This past Friday, instead of watching a movie from our Blockbuster queue, Becky and I actually went to the 2nd run theater down the street to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The trailers made it look like it had potential, which, you know, is better than trailers that suck.

Wow. If I had known just how good it was I'd have gone weeks ago and not flinched at paying full first run theater prices.

It starts out with a very exciting sequence introducing us to the main human characters (a genetic researcher and his family, friends, work associates) and the situations they're in that provide the context for the rest of the show. Then it slows down to a sweet story about characters that care very much for each other . . . with tensions gradually increasing towards the inevitable uprising the movie is named for.

The way they develop the main ape, Ceasar, as the leader of the uprising is executed amazingly well. Despite his development during the "slow" portion of the movie, it is still incredibly engaging. I found myself, literally, on the edge of my seat in anticipation. Such that when it happened, it was like an emotional explosion. And I was totally cheering on the apes.

Two opposable thumbs way up. Becky and I both loved this movie. It was exciting, well made, had some thought provoking depth. There are several parts that we think are too intense for a four year old, so we're not letting Tabby see it. Yet. However, we're definitely sending the boys.

Once Upon a Time

Becky and I really don't watch much TV. Mostly our TV set is only used for watching videos. Which we don't do often either, really. Just a movie most Friday nights. Last Friday, however, we hadn't received a new one from our online queue, so we decided to go check out if hulu had the Bones season opener yet. You see, occasionally, we do find a television program we like to watch and when it is available online we'll catch it there.

Well, I think we recently found a new favorite show. Since the episode of Bones won't be available until next Friday, we decided to check out Once Upon a Time. And man, we liked it well enough that we didn't wait for episode 3 to come out online. We actually tuned in Sunday night to watch it.

Fun show.

Pictures!

Finally. Getting the pictures up from when my Mom and Dad came up to visit.

We spent an afternoon at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens

Funny story while we wre there. Tabby decided she wanted to catch a fish with a stick. She found a stick of suitable length and went to sit patiently on the step by the koi pond.

"What fish do you think you're going to catch," I asked.

"That one," Tabby answered, pointing to a big orange one.

"I think that fish is old enough that it knows better than to bite a stick."

"Then maybe I'll catch a stupid small one."

We spent another afternoon at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.

My parents were here for Jack's 18th birthday!

We went to Baird Creek Park to get a family picture taken. We had fun in some pictures. Tabby was mostly fussy, which is really unusual for her. Especially in front of a camera. We even got a picture to turn out okay, I think. Yay digital cameras.

I like this one because Becky always says Sam's name sounds like a doctor. Like she could imagine hearing "Paging Dr. Samuel Marsh. Dr. Samuel Marsh, report to wherever," over a hospital PA system. And here we caught him looking kinda' doctor like.

Fun Filler

So much eventful I hardly know where to start.

The new job has been good. Mostly I'm playing with spreadsheets. I get paid to do homework!

Jack turned 18! And got his driver's license! Becky is scared to death.

My parents spent a few days here. It's been about 3 years since we've seen them. It was very nice. I've got pictures to post.

But that's going to take some time to put together. So for now I'll just pass on a little fairy tale Tabby acted out in the tub tonight.

Several of her "My Little Ponies" were lined up on the edge of the tub talking or playing or I don't know what, when her dolly came along and started kicking them into the water.

"What a naughty little girl!" I said.

"Yeah," Said Tabby. Kick.

We had a great time with me running ponies away from the doll while she chased after to kick us into the water. In the end, there just aren't enough places to run around a tub and all the ponies were kicked in. I picked up my book and read a bit. Next thing I now, the doll is gathering all the ponies out of the water in a pot.

"Oh, is she rescuing the ponies now?"

"No. She's going to boil them and eat them."

"Like, she's going to eat the ponies for dinner?"

"Yep."

"Wow, that's horrible. You're not supposed to boil ponies. You pet them and ride them and feed them apples."

"Yep. She's naughty."

Back to reading my book. Suddenly all the ponies are lined up on the tub again and the Barbie mermaid is casting healing magic over them all.

"Did Barbie rescue the ponies?"

"Yes, because she's a good guy."

"Oh that's wonderful."

"And now they're going to boil the naughty little girl."

Sure enough. Now I noticed the doll in the pot that the ponies had been in.

"What?! That's horrible."

"They're going to eat her for dinner now."

"Maybe . . . maybe instead of eating her, Barbie can rescue her from the pot and heal her up and maybe she's learned her lesson and will be good now?"

"Yeah, whatever Dad."

The end.

Good News!

I got a job working for United Health Care as an Associate Actuarial Analyst. From what I understand, I'll be working with their rate engines. I'll find out more on 9/12 when I start.