Why my husband is called Mr. Wizard

Don Herbert, the original Mr. Wizard










Our daughter and I have called the man of the house Mr. Wizard for years. In fact, the name may even predate our 29 year old child, I can't be certain since my synapses do not fire like they once did. Old Americans, like myself, may remember that the original Mr. Wizard had a children's TV show in the 50's teaching science concepts.

But I do remember that the name for my husband started at a campfire on a starry night.



The Wiz has always been interested in physics, theories about the formation of the cosmos, and other gee-whiz stuff. My background at that time was more arts and literature, so I found this utterly fascinating. I recall sitting drinking wine at a campfire staring up at a sky thick with stars. "Tell me about the Universe, Mr. Wizard" I asked. And so he seduced me with big bang theory (apropos, eh?), the idea of an ever expanding galaxy, and of our minute spot in the magnificence of space and time. I was dazzled. (But I always was easy when it came to guys with big brains.)

The name stuck, and thirty some years later he is still Mr. Wizard. But only on the days when I like him. When I am pissed off, I don't call him much that is worth repeating. You probably guessed that, since 30 years is a very long time. But I do still like him most days.

As I recall this, I am reminded of something Cynthia Jones of Diana's Grove wrote:

"I will sing the song that the Universe sang on the day that the Earth was newly born and She held it in Her starry arms."

livingdominica: I wonder what that girl at the campfire would think if she could see me today, living on this wayside tropical island.

Kick ’em Jenny, My Namesake

Image of Kick 'em Jenny by NOAA



I love the name "Kick 'em Jenny". As a person sometimes called Jenny, I take pride that the newest island in the neighborhood, rising from the Caribbean, is called Jenny. They say this underwater volcano was named after the rough surrounding seas, but that makes as much sense as it being named after my evil temper, doesn't it? So, I am claiming she was named for me. I always wanted a namesake volcano. And Roger says I deserve it.

Of course we won't be buying beach front property any time soon. It would take a year of steady eruption or thousands of years with intermittent activity to reach the surface. Still, she is active enough to have her rumblings recorded way up north on Martinique, and shipping lanes carefully avoid her. After all, she is the most active volcano in the Antilles chain.

Jenny lies off the coast of Grenada and made her presence known in 1939 with an eruption creating a 900 foot plume above the ocean surface. That event also produced a wave large enough to wash over the west coast road in Barbados, although at the time it was not recognized as a tsunami. She has erupted at least twelve times since 1939, the last major event occurring in 2001.

Scientists just installed underwater seismographic devices to keep a closer eye on Jenny's activity. Read about it at Scientists to Monitor Submarine Volcano in SE Caribbean Sea.

livingdominica AKA Kick 'em Jenny

Dominica Yacht Club Enters Bequia Regatta!

Read about it here: Bajan Reporter - http://