I don’t usually put personal stuff on this blog for a lot of different reasons, but today is a rare exception.
You see, today is my mom’s 80th birthday.
She’s been a huge influence on me. Of course, your parents are supposed to be, for better or worse, but in this case I’m going with better. My parents were really great about encouraging my siblings and me to pursue the lives we wanted (including letting me keep my giant 10″ Newtonian telescope in the corner of the living room for years — visitors thought it was a water heater), and that resulted in all of us going after unusual or non-standard careers. And, come to think of it, all of us have made major career changes at some point in our lives; I consider that to be a positive aspect since it meant we were unsatisfied with the way things were going and, rather than settle, we went off in new directions to find what it was we wanted.
My oldest brother is an electrical engineer has a degree in computer science and now runs a computer and networking consultant business in Atlanta. My other brother’s the chief engineer for construction in a Maryland county public school system. My sister has a Masters degree in music and sang opera, for criminy’s sake! And me, I’ve had a handful of weird careers myself. Writing stuff while wearing pajamas may be the most mainstream of them.
So my brothers and sister owe a lot to my mom. I know she reads this blog (though the fire-eating and tattooing and gun-shooting stuff may have her reading this from behind the couch), and I also know she would love it if everyone here sent their best wishes to her.
Happy birthday, Mom.
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May 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. BA! Good job!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Happy Birthday, Bad AstroMom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Not to nickpick, but technically speaking, she hasn’t actually been a mom for eight decades, right?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Happy Birthday to your mom!
But eight decades? She’s been a mom from birth?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
Three cheers for awesome moms!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Mike: good point. But you know what I mean.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Having 4 kids FEELS like being a mom for eight decades-trust me! Happy birthday to your mom…
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Happy Birthday BA Mom!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
HAPPY BDAY! I am going to save this post to show the mom of my children.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Happy Birthday, Astro-mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Happy Birthday!! And thank you for being a good parent!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 am
Dang, even my grandma isn’t 80 yet. Then again, I am just a young whipper-snapper who needs to GET OFF YOUR LAWN!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Hope you have a wonderful day.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Happy birthday Astromother! You raised quite a bunch, but I’d keep my eye on this one if I were you.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Happy Birthday to You, and many many more!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
Happy birthday, Mom Astronomer.
So exciting!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
A Very Happy Birthday to you, BA Mom!
And thanks for Dr. Phil too
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
Happy Birthday Phil’s mom!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
Happy Birthday Badastromony’s Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. BA! Many kind returns!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Happy Birthday to Phil’s mom. 80 years is an accomplishment.
Congratulations and have a great day with friends and family.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
I’m surprised you posted a pic, because she is MORE ADORABLE than you, BA! Yowza!
Happy Birthday and many blessings.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Happy birthday! Thanks for Phil, he’s great!
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
She is your mom? Really? I thought she was your little sister!
(That’s a compliment in Spanish, I hope it sounds ok in english… :-1)
Happy birthday!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Happy birthday, Mom of the Bad Astronomer! Hooray!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait. Your son really isn’t that ‘Bad’ of an Astronomer!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
Best wishes on your birthday Phil’s Mom.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:01 am
Thanks, Phil’s mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Congratulations BAMom, you surely must be proud of the excellent job you did with your sons and daughter
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Happy birthday, ma’am!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Wow. Cool. Today is my Birthday as well, no, I’m not kidding this time.
Happy Birthday to us BA’s Mom!
I’m about, oh … 40 decades behind you …
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
Happy birthday, Mrs. BABlog mom!
And you are better looking than Phil, he must have got his face from Dad.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
happy 4 scores mum
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
Happy Birthday!!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Happy Birthday Phil’s Mom! And while were at it Happy early Mothers Day! You raised a great son.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Wait, if she is 80 then that must mean that you are… uh, a lot older than I thought you were.
Happy Birthday, Mama Plait.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 am
Have a happy birthday, Mrs. Plait!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. Phil’s Mom
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Happy Birthday Phil’s Mom! Great job!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Happy birthday and congratulations!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. P!
Congratulations on eighty years, we should all be so lucky. Any advice for the rest of us?
-Joe
PS You must be so very proud of those two engineers and the singer. Don’t worry, though. Someday Phillip is going to get serious, stop this writing nonsense and get a real job like that nice Myers boy did.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. BA!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Happy Birthday, BA Mom!
So how old does that make you, Phil? I note your birthdate doesn’t seem to be listed anywhere I could find.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
A very happy birthday to Phil’s mum – I hope he’s taking you somewhere nice.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
Муу Одон Орончийн ээжид төрсөн өдрийн мэнд хүргэе!
translation: Happy birthday to BA mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
Happy Birthday -and may there be many more.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Happy Birthday, Mom BA! You raised a firecracker!!
FWIW, my dad is 80 this year, too.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Happy birthday, Mrs BA!! Your son rocks! Good job!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Happy Birthday Phil’s Mom! Your son is a positive influence!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
Congratulations on your 80th solar revolution – that’s 29220 sunrises, and 29301.4 planetary rotations!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
@Romeo: He doesn’t want to reveal his own age (I asked him with the intent of updating the Wikipedia article). But apparently it’s okay to tell everybody how old the women in his life is. Hah.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe!
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe!
Hippo Birdie Deer BA’s Mom!
Hippo Birdie Two Ewe!
And Men With Oars!
You raised a fantastic son!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 am
Happy Birthday BA Mom! And happy early Mother’s Day. Thank you for giving us the Bad Astronomer so we have fantastic things to read and think about every day.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Happy Birthday Bad Astro-mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 am
Happy Birthday MUM! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:35 am
A very happy birthday! Congrats on raising such interesting people! I know you must be so proud…
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 am
Happy Birthday!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:37 am
Happy 80th BAMom!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Happy birthday! Thanks for raising a wonderful son! Best of wishes to you!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am
Happy Birthday BA Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
Many many happy returns and many more happy birthdays, Phil’s Mom! And a hi to opera singer sister from an opera stage manager. Bravo to the entire Plait family!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 am
Happy 80th birthday Dr. Plait’s mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Happy Birthday, BA Mom! It’s great to have supportive family; I know because my mom is great like that too. Keep it up!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. BA mom! We love evolution… and you created a genius!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 am
Happy birthday to the bad mother!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Happy Birthday to the Maker of a Fine Human being. I’m sure Phil is Happy you where born. Have a great day!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mom! Enjoy the day!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 am
Happy Birthday BA Mum
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
Happy Birthday Mom! A fine Son you have created.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Even though I’ll be calling her later, I have to write something here!!
Cookie! Happy Birthday! You have been the most amazing grandmother, and I know for a fact you’re a fantastic mom, because, well, my aunt and uncles rock! Oh, my Dad’s OK too.
I can’t wait to see you in the next couple weeks! It’s going to be the best week ever! VH1 can just throw their Best Week Ever show out the window.
I love you!
Dorienne
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs. Plait.
I’m sure you’re proud of the brood you’ve created and nurtured. Seems like they have their priorities in life as straight as humanly possible. May we all have the capacity to produce such mindful and pleasant offspring. I’m sure it wasn’t always easy, but considering you have the wisdom of 80 years to draw on, your perspective is enviable.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Happy birthday
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Happy birthday, Mrs. BAMom! You know you want to share some funny & embarrassing Phil-raising stories here with us. Don’t you? Please?
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Ms. BA! Congratulations!
14 billion years ago, an unprecedent cosmic event happened… many eons later, all that stuff from that gigantic explosion gathered and clumped together, creating one of the most wonderful creations: you!
Despite the fact you are the Mother of a very special kid. The sole fact of your existence is something wonderful and unique!
Phil, always keep in mind that behind every Bad Astronomer, there is a Good Mother!
Congratulations from this little spot in space: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada,_Nicaragua
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
To Phil’s Mom…
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Happy Birthday!! You produced an amazingly talented and intelligent son! Enjoy your day!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mom!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Maz’l Tov MamaBA! To many more happy healthy years under the sky!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs. Plait.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Happy Birthday, BadAstroMom! Here’s to many more…
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Happy Birthday Astro-Mum. Many congratulations
. & well done for producing such an informative, intelligent and influential son – must have been hard work 
. Sure the rest of the sprogs are just as great… Have a lovely Day. M
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait! May you have many, many more!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs. Plait!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Hey! My Mom will turn 80 this year too! Happy birthday to your Mom, Phil.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mom! The BA rocks, you should be very proud to have produced such a top dude!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Happy Birthday, BadAstronoMom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Happy birthday and many happy returns.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Happy Birthday Dear. You’ve obviously done good as a Mom and a human being.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
# dhtroy Says:
Wow. Cool. Today is my Birthday as well, no, I’m not kidding this time.
Happy Birthday to us BA’s Mom!
I’m about, oh … 40 decades behind you …
You’re -320?
RE: length of ‘Momhood’. Take the total of the ages of the children (yes, I know they overlap) and you have the EML.. Effective Momhood Length.
J/P=?
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Happy Birthday to a Bad Mom. Wait, that doesn’t sound right…
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Happy B’day, Badmom.
You are indeed more adorable than Phil.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Hope you have a Happy Birthday, BA’s Mom, and you did really good!
We love you and BA!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Happy birthday to you! Sounds like you are a wonderful mom.
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Happy Birthday Bad Mom!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
All the best AstroMom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Happy Birthday! I’m also the last person in the world that you want to have light your cake with that many candles on it. =)
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Happy Birthday Mama BA!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Happiest of B-days to Mom of Phil – best wishes on many more :^)
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. PLAIT! Hope you have great party!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 pm
A very Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait! Though inviting birthday wishes for you from his fans might be a novel and entertaining idea for a birthday gift, I hope your son is also taking you out to dinner!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs.Plait. You made one Bad Astronomer! Hope your day is full of awesome!
May 2nd, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs Plait!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Happy birthday from Sweden!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:17 pm
It’s like eating well. If you obsess over it you will get sick from it too.
The middle ground is to recognize that it is an observably efficient method to improve the populations (and so likely your) health. But by the same observations occasional lapses aren’t much to obsess over.
Well, according to those references hand washing (and drying) in tap water is nearly as efficient against infectious viruses as with soap. Perhaps bacteria is different, but on that data alone I wouldn’t bother too much over the soap/no soap difference.
What could be more bothersome is overuse of strong antibacterials as commenters discuss. We should probably keep those strictly for hospitals and especially surgeon use.
Or in other words, I wash my hands of those soups.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Oops! Wrong thread – please feel free to erase my earlier comment.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Happy 80th birthday, Phil’s mum! ^_^
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs Plait!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Stellar job on raising the kids, mum! May they be a comfort to you when you grow old.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s mom! You rock!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Happy birthday Phil’s Mum, my dog also sends birthday wags.
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
113 replies already! Holy Carp!
That’s a fish, you know… I’m just sayin’…
Happy birthday Bad Mom!
You’re a young chick yet!
Richard Drumm The Astronomy Bum
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
You go girlfriend! You look like a fun lady. Happy Birthday!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Happy Birthday Mum,
Bill
Cambridge, England
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Happy birthday to Dr. Plait’s Mom!
Thanks for raising one of the finest (and most entertaining) scientists available in the media today.
Jeff
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Dear lady!
I met the man, and you did a great job!
Have a seat and relax, secure in the knowledge you’ve made a fine citizen as well as a Doctor of Stuff Way Out There!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Have an absolutely lovely day! Happy birthday, and best wishes for many more.
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Congrats and happy birthday to your mom Phil!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Happy Birthday Phil’s mum. Have a great day
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Can’t … fix … typos! ARG! I meant 4! 4 decades! Not 40!
My mind can’t be slipping yet. It just can’t! I’m not that old yet!
At least, I don’t think I am.
Wait. Who am I ?
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
From Mexico, an A(H1N1) free hug!
¡Feliz cumpleaños!
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs. Phil. Without your son, no one would ever know that it’s a good idea to wash our hands after we crap.
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Dear Mrs. Plait-
Wishing you an astronomically beautiful and landmark birthday from Geologic Records Headquarters! We love that Doctor guy and we have YOU to thank!
cheers,
Donna [aka Ms. Information for the Geologic Universe]
May 2nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm
@Damon
After reading the first 30 comments or so, I just scrolled down to the bottom to post mine… and then I was staring at your comment. Way to go, that just had me ROTFL.
Oh, and happy birthday Mrs. BA!
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Happy Birthday, Momma Astronomer! And thank you for giving us such an interesting, informative and educational son.
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA BA!!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:13 pm
happy birthday
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Happy birthday Phil’s Mom! 80 years is a great milestone, and we wish you many more. Thanks much for giving us the BA!
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:26 pm
You sure have raised a good son, Mrs.
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Happy Birthday, Dear Lady.
My mother is 83 and like you is full of life, having well earned it.
May your days be ever sweetened.
*hey, Phil. Nice Mom!*
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mum! You did such a good job, reckon you should start your own site – ‘Bad Parenting’.
No, wait…
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
My mom also turned 80 this year, so we went to Florida and let NASA provide us with one huge astronomical candle, Kepler’s launch. (I also dragged her around the launch pad tour at KSC!) I hope you and your mother get to share the beauty and knowledge of the night sky together on this special anniversary.
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Happy Birthday, mom of Phil—you look a lot younger than 80! Whatever you’re doing, keep on doing it. Congratulations on raising some very interesting intelligent children too. I loved the Newtonian in the corner story, by the way. What a great mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Happy birthday, AstronoMom! Have a wonderful day!
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mum! Hope your son did something extra nice for you.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Happy Birthday, Bad AstronoMom!
You can be proud of your boy.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Happy birthday, BA’s mom! If your gift is a copy of Death From the Skies, it’s a great read. The ending is a bit.. well.. I won’t spoil it.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Happy Birthday!
Wait a minute, it’s after midnight…
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Phil, I’m reasonably confident that your Mom knows about the Baldness thing, so you can probably ditch the cap around her.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait! Have a wonderful day.
May 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Happy Birthday BA Mum. (from Australia)
Just curious, As well as teaching Phil to wash his hands, did you also succeed in getting him to wash behind his ears?
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs. Plait!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Happy Birthday, Bad Astro Mom, and also Happy Mother’s Day a week early.
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Happy Birthday, ma’am!
You did an excellent job on Phil. Thanks.
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Hi Mrs. BadAstronomer’sMom! Happy Birthday; hope he got you a lovely present!
May 2nd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Plait.
Did Phil get his sense of humor from you? You did a great job raising Phil.
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Happy 80th! We know where he got his good looks, and probably sense of humour! Congratulations to you, you’re just getting started!!!
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Happy Birthday Phil’s Mom, and lots more too!
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Happy birthday Mrs P
Here’s to many more, and thanks for giving us Dr Phil too
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
MY BRIDGE
(…Don’t mind me. There’s a part of my brain that insists I’m San Franciscan and can’t be convinced otherwise. One day…!)
Happy birthday, Phil’s Mum!
(It’s my grandmother’s eightieth in a few weeks.)
May 2nd, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Happy birthday, Mom Astronomer!
May 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs BA’s mum.
˙ɯnɯ s,ɐq sɹɯ ʎɐpɥʇɹıq ʎddɐɥ
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Happy Birthday Phil’s Mom!
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Happy Birthday! Thanks for giving us Phil. He must have been a challenge, but the result was well worth it!
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Congratulations and Happy Birthday to BA’s mom.
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY BA Mom!
You have a beautiful smile
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Can we wish you both a Happy B-Day *and* a Happy Astronomy Day?
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Even though I just talked to her on the phone, I’ll say it again here. We are so glad to have you and therefore the day of your birth is a day to rejoice! Happy Birthday to the best mother-in-law I’ve ever had. You deserve all these good wishes and more for putting up with your smart-ass youngest son.
For all of you speculating on Phil’s age, I won’t give that away without his consent, but I will say that I am MUCH younger than he is
Also, he was a later-in-life (at least for that generation) surprise baby, so he’s maybe not quite as old as you think.
We can’t wait to see you Mom – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Love,
Me
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Warmest wishes for the very happiest birthday to the Bad AstroMomer!
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:00 pm
[this might not display correctly for you allz, but here goes, anyway…]
♫╫âρṕỳ [⁴×⁴×⁵]Ђ βιπτђδαγ„ мø♀ḧėŗ Ṕľåīẗ♪
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Happy birthday Phil’s mum! You’ve done a great job with your son, he has been a very good boy despite his “bad” reputation. Stay well, dear lady.
May 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Happy Birthday Phil’s mom! Seems to me you did a mighty fine job.
Phils age: His myspace page says 44. Is that not correct?
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 am
Nothing comes close to the impact my mom has had on my life…..so i give best birthday wishes to The mom of my favourite blogger
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 am
Happy Birthday!
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 am
And many many more Happy Birthdays! My best wishes are with you.
You did a great job with your children.
I’m looking forward to seeing your son in London.
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:56 am
I always get my updates a little late, so: Happy, belated, birthday!
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 am
Happy 80th birthday to Phil Plait’s Mom from Pluto!
You’d be almost a third of the way to being one Plutonian year old if that makes you feel any younger!
—-
Each of Pluto’s years are approx. 249 Earth years long!
249 divided by 80 = 3.1125 & 80 x 3 = 240 – nine years shy of Pluto’s “year”.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 am
Oops make that just *over* a third of the way to being one in Plutonian years. Not by much though ..
Happy “Earthly” birthday to the mother of my favourite blogger, author and astronomer anyway!
(Blushing at basic maths blooper.)
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:21 am
Happy Birthday to Phil’s Mum (from NZ). Hope you’re proud of him! Love the blog!
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 am
Well, congratulations from Germany, too.
May 3rd, 2009 at 6:58 am
Happy Birthday BlogMom!
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:00 am
Happy Birthday Mama BA!
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:03 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHIL’S MOM
Thanks for your great son and for thereby making this blog possible!
Here’s hoping we get to do this at least a couple of times more!
(Assuming this becomes / already is? a decadal tradition.
——-
…. Belatedly because I only log on once a day. (Sometimes not even that.)
Is there a closing time for this? Have I & others already missed the boat?Its already May 3rd …
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
And all the best for the next decade!
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 am
A belated “Happy Birthday!” to Phil’s (obviously awesome and loved) Mom.
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 am
Happy birthday, Momma BA!!
May 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hey, happy birthday to mrs. BA-senior! My own mom is only nine months younger: Next January it’ll be her who’ll turn 80, the roundest of the round numbers we can aspire to be.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:14 am
Happy birthday to Dr. Plait’s Mom!
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:15 am
Belated Happy Birthday Mrs Plait & thanks for helping to make your son the marvellous person he is today.
Congratulations on reaching 80 & hope you had a great day! In fact hope you have agreat day today and many more to come!
Its threads like this that reveal everyone at their nicest here too. Not a bad thing that either.
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 am
Belated birthday wishes, Mrs. Plait. You’ve been so successful at being a mother, you should have had more kids.
May 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
Many (if belated) happy returns to Phils’s Mom ;-D
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 am
Happy Birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day doing something you love!
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mom!
I hope my kids turn out as cool as yours.
With love from Audrey, in South Africa
xox
May 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Happy Birthday Mrs Phil’s Mum from the UK
Tell him to get his hair cut…
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm
To a terrific mother! Happy birthday, and many, MANY more.
May 3rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
And Many More, Mrs Plait!
May 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Congratulations to her, and my best wishes for 80 more years!
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Happy Birthday, Phil’s Mom!
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Marvelous, wonderful happy birthday! I join many others here in hoping that you’re having a fabulous time.
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Happy Birthday! Thanks for your part in battling ignorance in astronomy!
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
You don’t usually comment about personal stuff and I don’t usually leave comments…..so I’ll break the rules with you on this one.
Congratulations to your lovely mother!
Not sure what one does to thank a woman who allowed something the size of a water tank to live in her frontroom for all those years, but I am sure you will think of it.
May 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Tomorrow I too turn 80, and this is the first time in 72 years that I have had the opportunity to formally share birthday greetings with your lovely mom again.
It has been a delight – I wish her many more exciting birthdays such as this!
Berny
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Happy birthday Mrs. Phil’s Mom!
May 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Happy Birthday B.Astromom!
Hon Man
from Hong Kong, China.
May 4th, 2009 at 5:54 am
Happy Birthday BA Mom!
May 4th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Happy Birthday Mrs. BA Mom!!!! Many happy returns!
May 4th, 2009 at 9:31 am
belated birthday wishes – missed post earlier because I was away celebrating my mothers 64th birthday on the same date
May 4th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Happy Birthday to the BA’s MOM
May 4th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Congratulations on reaching the ripe old age of 80!
May 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Happy Birthday Astro´mom, your friend from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala C.A.
May 4th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Happy belated birthday BA’s Mom!
May 4th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Happy Birthday Bad(in the best way possible
)Mum!
And yes, it is still here birthday here, I typing right next to a black hole
May 8th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Happy Birthday!