Well, Karen surprised me indeed, and more than I expected, too. Sunday afternoon Karen helped me outfit my chemistry lab by presenting me with two key gifts.

For her first surprise she printed all the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all the chemicals needed for experiments from the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture. The chemical lists for the book are available in kits listed at http://www.homechemlab.com/sources.html. Karen printed each MSDS and placed them in a binder. She booted me from the garage, where I was building a back board for part of my counter, and snuck the binder into the garage, placing it on the counter. I knew she had put something in the garage, but I am, apparently oblivious to items in the physical world. After several minutes working around the bench, with our friends Richard and Loraine watching, I finally noticed the binder. Karen saved me a time consuming step. My inner geek started to come out this morning and I had to resist the temptation to read the binder instead of going to work.

Karen’s second surprise dovetailed with the first. She ordered the basic chemical kit from Elemental Scientific, which is due to arrive this week sometime. Karen likes to take precautions. I am more use alive then not, so her first gift made sense if I am to have the second floating around the garage. I will have to think about proper storage soon.

The last surprise was more gastronomic in nature. We joined Richard and Loraine for dinner at the Melting Pot in nearby Bellevue with our kids in tow. All I can add is wow. I cannot believe how much I ate, and it was good. I thought I had stopped just shy of gluttony, but I think I was wrong. I was extremely full, no doubt, and doing well until I got home. Then I got the hiccups. I thought I was going to rupture.

At lunch with a friend some time back, we discussed how you know a meal was good. He said, “When you sit back with a satisfying smile.” I replied, “How about when you break out in a sweat?” Last night took me well past the sweat; tears.

Richard, on the other hand is a different sort of creature. Loraine described it as the “Richard Experience”, like it is some kind of interactive exhibit at a theme park. Richard is apparently blessed with the ability to eat like a lion and gorge himself without issue, sit back and smile on his accomplishment and never gain a pound. Thankfully he finished the leftovers that the other five of us could not manage. I say thankfully, as I would have felt compelled to eat them myself had he not intervened. Thanks buddy, for taking one for the team.

I think I will take time off from eating for the rest of the week and use the time to read my new MSDSs.