Just stopping by to point you toward a new study out by The Washington Toxics Coalition on choosing safer products for our children. Read their findings on toys, sippy cups, children’s clothing, and more! Safe Start For Kids
Those who know me understand that I am the perfect blend of Prissy Princess and Earthy Birthy. I never vacation unless there is at least a 4-star hotel within driving distance, am notoriously the family and/or friend who doesn’t “do” the outdoors, and my family nickname growing up was Queeny.
And yet, I’m all about natural childbirth, homeschooling, and I breastfed my son until he was :mumblemumble: years old. So one never knows what I’ll find interesting or where my opinion will fall on any given topic.
I almost didn’t read the story I’ve linked below. I saw the words “cross country skiing on the Virginia Meissner Trail at
Amber’s short essay really resonated with me, so I thought I’d share it:
Crossing Tracks with Skater Boy
We all know that I think math is evil. However, my son is a total science geek. Nothing excites him more than performing a hands-on science experiment. So when I came across this site, I had to check it out. How cool!?!?
Case Western Reserve University Center for Science and Mathematics Education
This is CWRU’s children’s outreach site, offering programs, activities, and education for grades K-12. Granted, most of the programs are geared toward the older grades, but it’s still such a wonderful asset to those in Cleveland and its surrounding area. I mean, how totally awesome is the concept of a summer day camp called Shipwreck Camp?
From the site:
Looking for a unique day camp experience this summer?
Join us for a virtual adventure to find a shipwreck in Lake Erie! Inspired by the research and exploration of Dr. Robert Ballard, father of the JASON Project, the Immersion Presents Program, and finder of the wreckage of the Titanic, this camp will engage campers in field science and exploration weekdays from 9:30a.m. – 3:00p.m. (time may vary, depending on event planned) starting Monday, July 28, 2008.
In collaboration with Cleveland Lakefront State Park (ODNR), the Cuyahoga County Public Library, and Case’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education, campers will:
*read novels related to exploration
*conduct the research necessary to find a wreck in Lake Erie
*using the tools of a scientist, conduct field research
*embrace the history of the Great Lakes region
*immerse themselves in an introduction to SCUBA and snorkeling
*build and operate an ROV
*discover what weather contributes to shipwrecks in the Great Lakes
*develop a plan and find a wreck
*share your discoveries
I don’t even enjoy science, but even I want to take this course! Be sure to check out all of the other programs offered, too. What a great resource!
Lord love a duck, it’s ca-razy here in this household! I had my first test this week in audiology and my first test in acoustics is coming up. I detest both of these courses with the intense heat of 1,000 E-Z Bake ovens! WHY, WHY, WHY do you physics people continue to ruin perfectly wonderful sentences by putting NUMBERS in them? E.V.I.L.
I woke up this morning with a headache, thanks to the ever-changing weather here in OH. The first thing out of bed that I dealt with were peed-on sheets from my nephew, who spent the night last night. Needless to say, both boys needed a shower after I discovered this. They asked if they could take a shower together, to which I replied, “Ok, as long as you don’t make a mess and get rowdy.”
Which only means that 10 minutes into the shower, I hear a huge crash. I look in the bathroom to see the shower running, Bennett standing under the water, and Enzo lying in front of the tub wrapped in both shower curtains.
At this point, I don’t even really care, so I help Enzo up, toss a towel on each of them, and tell them to dry off, shower time is over. Have they even washed yet? Do they still have shampoo in their hair? Have I mentioned that I don’t care?
We were supposed to meet my friends Amy and Elaine at Panera for lunch, but there was no way we were going to make it, so the boys bundled up and headed out back and here I sit in my office. I filled out my FAFSA work yesterday and am going to devote today to grad school applications. I need to get accepted while I still have good GPA, as my two current courses are surely going to bring it down.
Speaking of my classes, I found this restaurant to share with my acoustics classmates: SoloPerDue. How utterly wonderful does it sound? Unfortunately, I won’t be visiting Italy anytime soon.
If I were in Taiwan right now, I think I’d take my two hooligans here for dinner: The Toilet Restuarant. Sadly, they would love it.
Alas, this is more the reality of my current life: Frozen Food Reviews.
Lunch today is Meijer brand Natural Creamy Peanut Butter on saltines and a Diet Coke (with Splenda). I have hot water ready to make cocoa for the boys when they come inside from the snow, and Valentine’s chocolate from Tom to help me make it through the grad school application process.
So it’s back to my crazy life. I put the boys in warm, dry clothing and gave them their hot chocolate with the explicit instructions, “You spill it, you die.” Yep, you guessed it, I just heard a holler from the living room, “Spill!!!!!!”
:::sigh::: Gotta go for now!
Here are some recent pictures of my back yard.
Okay, so not technically my back yard. But if you head north on my street about 3 miles, you’ll end up in the lake where these pictures were taken. My dad captured these images on Feb. 2. You can see Cedar Point in the background.
In an effort not to flunk out of grad school, I’ve spent the past two days catching up on the all the school work I’ve pushed aside. Fingers crossed that it works! I have my first test in Audiology this week. However, it’s my text next week in Acoustics that has me terrified. Too much math, which is just evil.
But in my internet surf travels, I do manage to come across some pretty cool sites. I had never heard of the Bread and Roses program before, but I love the concept. Here is their mission statement:
Bread & Roses is dedicated to uplifting the human spirit by providing free, live, quality entertainment to people who live in institutions or are otherwise isolated from society. Our performances:
In carrying out this mission, Bread & Roses seeks to create a social awareness of people who are isolated from society, and to encourage the development of similar organizations in other communities.
How utterly wonderful is that? And on March 13, they will be holding their annual benefit concert, headlined this year by Joan Baez and her son, Gabe Harris.
For more information, including how to donate and a list of facilities served along with who will perform at each one, be sure to visit the Bread and Roses web site. If you live in the Bay Area, please consider volunteering or attending one of the benefit concerts. In the spring, they will host May Around the Bay which already has two events listed. The Bubble Lady will be appearing in Sausalito and The Acoustic Vortex is scheduled in Mill Valley. There should be more artists and venues listed as it grows closer to May, so be sure to check back and consider supporting what looks to be a wonderful program!
Oh yeah. And wish me luck on my tests! I’m gonna need it.
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, I came across this event in
I’ve never been to
And for an adults-only Valentine’s celebration, I came across the Mercury Lounge in
So many choices, so little vacation time…..
Now that we’ve established that I love a good tropical vacation, I’ll come clean and admit that a typical vacation for us is little more than a weekend “getaway.” I love finding places that are interesting to us but may not be to the population at large. Enz0 loves science and history and has had a long-standing interest in large shipping and passenger ships. A good time for him is buzzing the freighters in our 27-ft Crown Line and catching some of the crew above deck so he can wave at them.
So when I got this site from my dad today along with the message that it is run by one of his cousins, I bookmarked it ASAP. This is exactly the kind of web page from which I would begin the search for a cool weekend trip!
Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping
With links to museums, a calendar of events, shipwreck files and more, it’s a boat nerd’s dream!
Oh, and they have a lighthouse page! I started putting together a lighthouse unit for Enzo last year that I never completed, so perhaps this will motivate me to finish that project.
And check out the wickedly COOL calendar they offer! I may have to splurge on the $30 to join the group so I can get the newsletter and calendar for Enzo.
Awwww, and a gallery devoted to the building of The Fitz. :::sniff:::
Ok, clearly I need to spend some more time on the site to see EVERYthing that is there. But before I head over, let me point out that the sponsor link at the top isn’t made of up of the typical spam-type links that you see on every web site. They are links that lead to ship tours, or lodging on the Great Lakes….exactly the type of links that will come in handy when looking for things to do or places to stay on any of the Lakes. Lock tours of Canada, a tour of Lake Huron, an inn in Niagara, and even a tour of a freighter! So be sure to click on those links, or refresh the page until you find one that interests you for more To Do suggestions.
For further ideas on activities and lodging, be sure to visit the Kango Lodging page and the Kango Things to Do page. For example, I just typed in “Port Huron,” which is the location of the BoatNerd’s headquarters, and found several B&B choices, an inn, and a few hotels. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy!
I’m off to play and plan a vacation!
Damn, it’s cold here in NE Ohio! Everything is frozen solid from that dangerous combo of icy rain and snow. The local schools are open today, but those to the west of us are all closed. My friend Amy lives in Norwalk, which is only 15 minutes away, and her kids are home. So I think we just barely missed the worst of here in Sandusky!
As I looked out the kitchen window over the frozen tundra that is our back yard right now, it struck me that this time last year, we were all still sporting our tropical tans from our trip to Punta Cana. (Well, okay, everybody but me, since I avoid the sun at all costs. I’m so fair I might spontaneously combust one day!)
Oh, to be on the beach right now (in the shade, of course), drinking my Bahama Mama and listening to Calypso music. Alas, I am here, dreading leaving the house to go to work later today.
What are your favorite warm vacations? Where do you head when the days turn shorter and the sun is covered by gray clouds most of the time? Do you head for tropical Hawaii? Do you hit the surf in California? Maybe you follow Jimmy Buffet to Key West.
Tell me about your ideal (real or imagined) place to escape the winter doldrums and then we’ll raise a glass of fruity, rum-spiked punch!