Fire and Ice

Here is Aaron making his glass flower using black and violet:



I'll post some other things this weekend.

**************Zooniverse****

One of the things I love to do with my time is to help researchers go through their mountain of data. If you would like to help out, scientifically, with a bit of your time here are several things to check out:

Ancient Lives

Help transcribe ancient papyri, written over 1,000 years ago by the citizens of Oxyrhynchu, the City of the Sharp-Nosed. Everyday life and writing, that we need your help to uncover.

I "helped" out transcribing and measuring a couple of fragments. It is quite hard, but I can see where familiarity would make things easier in a little bit of time.

Ice Hunters

Help to discover Kuiper Belt Objects with just the right orbit and just the right characteristics to make them eligible for a visit from the New Horizons mission.

This is the one I've been working on the most. I was invited during the beta phase and Eveybug even came an sat down with me to look for solid round objects and possible asteroids. Super cool...literally!

Planet Hunters

Using public data from NASA's Kepler mission, we are looking for planets around other stars.


The Milky Way Project

Sorting and measuring our galaxy, the Milky Way; we're asking you to help us find and draw bubbles in beautiful infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope.


Old Weather

Help scientists recover worldwide weather observations made by Royal Navy ships around the time of World War I.


Moon Zoo

Explore the Moon in unprecedented detail using images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.


Galaxy Zoo: Hubble

The latest version of the original Zooniverse project. Help astronomers figure out how galaxies form and evolve by classifying their shape. Now with added Hubble galaxies.


Solar Stormwatch

Help spot explosions on the Sun and track them across space to Earth. Your work will give astronauts an early warning if dangerous solar radiation is headed their way. And you could make a new scientific discovery.


Galaxy Zoo: Mergers

Understanding what happens when galaxies merge is one of the most important questions in astronomy. Help astronomers by trying to match a merger from SDSS with a simulation.


Galaxy Zoo: Supernovae

Help us to catch an exploding star. Astronomers are following up on your best candidates at telescopes around the world.

A Long Winded Post...Literally and Figuratively

My mom was requested to play at Camp Creek by Eve's former preschool teacher, Crystal. Crystal now does Read Across America, so she read a story, then my mom explained about the Highland Pipes, the Shuttle Pipe, the chanter, and the history of the Georgia tartan. She performed for Eve, Noah and Rachel's classes and a group of 2nd graders and kindergartners that she didn't have a grandchild in attendance. Here she is playing for Eve's class:

She played classics and a newer composition by Sir Paul McCartney.

Mom had squealing sounds and couldn't tell from which part, so Rachel came up and made the diagnosis.


We ran over to the local eatery called The Blue Rooster and I bought two of my favorite gals lunch.


Oh yeah, Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My sister-in-law, Melissa posted that on Facebook and I love any chance to relive Muppet Show episodes.
:::::::::::::Noah's Art:::::::::::
Noah's art teacher has been teaching the third grade about the works of Grant Wood. Here is Noah's take on a classic:

I did a successful run to Ikea this morning. I grabbed a cool small shelf unit called "Trofast" with some slip in white drawers. I got the lids, too. Now I have Eve's art supplies all in one place. Yeah!

:::::::::::::Current Personal Reading Book:::::::

I'm really enjoying this one.


::::::::::::Family Reading Book:::::::

Noah has read this one already and suggested it for everyone.

Hello Sir...

::::::::Another Noahism:::::::

We took Rachel to Fernbank Natural History Museum to do a memory study for Emory University's Bauer Research Center. Since we had a family pass we took the rest of the kids. I went up to the Member Service counter and presented my identification to the young man behind the counter to get our tickets. Noah came up to stand next to me and asked the the man, "Hello Sir, but could you tell me if your necklace is metamorphic, igneous or sedimentary rock?" The poor guy looked shocked and befuddled, then he said, "It's a citrine." So Noah asked, "So what is a citrine?" The guy responded, "I don't know. It's just a citrine."


Michael took Aaron, Noah and Eve around to the different exhibits, while I went with Rachel and the researcher around Fernbank. Rachel was given a digital camera to take different photographs of things in the facility. She was assigned some specific items to photograph and sometimes she was allowed to take some of her choice. She had to take 3 photos of each thing because they said the image would process in her memory better that way. She kept commenting on the dead bird exhibits and that she wouldn't photograph any animals private parts. She believes in "Privacy".
After the researcher was finished with Rachel we joined the others to play in the hands on exhibits. The kids really love to make giant bubbles.

Rachel went to the research lab on Tuesday and they put the cap on her head that would allow them to monitor her brain waves. They put her in a room and gave her a thing that was like a computer game controller because they figured that apparatus would be easiest for computer savvy kids to operate. She was having a little bit of a learning. So they took a little more time to explain how to use it to her. Michael said he explained that she didn't play computer games much, that she liked to read a lot. They asked what she was reading. She told them, Pride and Prejudice, also Johnny Tremain. The researchers then put her in a dark room and displayed photographs, some were hers and some not, to see how and where her brain responded. We love science!

:::::::::::::::Parent/Teacher Conferences Begin::::::::

Michael and I went tonight to conferences for Rachel and Noah. I don't think I've walked away so at ease for the progress of two of my kids. The best news is that Rachel's teacher is now cancer free!!! All the parents clapped and cried for her. We really are pleased at the rapport she has with the her class. She is such a fantastic teacher and she tries to keep the bar raised, so the kids really achieve and stretch. Rachel scored well on all of her tests, but could use some help with fractions.


I had to run up after 10 minutes to make my appointment with Noah's teacher. I was surprised that all she had to say was good stuff. She said he has matured and really works hard to turn in assignments on time. His reading tests for the accelerated reader program are showing he is reading at grade level. His other tests show he needs improvement in punctuation, capitalization and another grammar area. He was outstanding in every other area, so my little man with poor fine motor skills is really coming along.

:::::::::::This Morning::::::::


Another Noah story. Noah decided he didn't want to watch morning programs on PBS, or play on the computer. He wanted to create circuit that he had made with Michael before. He said it wouldn't take long because there were only 11 steps. He called me in after a few minutes because he said he couldn't find the right resistor. He had a code that listed the color he needed. We went through all of the resistors, but couldn't find the one he said he needed. I grabbed the phone and called Michael at work. After talking to Noah for a couple of minutes he realized that Noah confused the resistor for the integrated circuit he actually needed. We thanked Michael and got only a few steps into the circuit before he had to run off and get on the bus. Interesting morning for an 8 year-old.



I hope y'all have a happy Valentine's Day! I will be baking sugar cookies for Eve's Kindergarten class to decorate tomorrow. I will be using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, of course. (((HUGS))) to all!

Interesting Weekend

::::::::::::::::Congratulations:::::::::
To my brother and sister-in-law on the birth of their second child, a boy, on Halloween. Marcus, another of Michael's brothers, suggested calling the baby "Boo". Benjamin and Missy declined, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be a favorite nickname.

::::::::::::::::My Dad Called:::::::::::
This is an unusual occurrence that had both of us laughing. He called to check on us and let me know that his sister, Doris, has terminal lung cancer. My dad is the middle of nine kids and he dearly loves his family and he is very sad. My stepmom, Alice, went to see her. I'll try to find out more information, this week.

::::::::::::::::Busy Friday:::::::::

My day was full on Halloween...along with everyone elses, I guess. Here was my schedule:

Wake kids,
Feed them,
take Rachel and Charles (the neighbor boy) to school early for Christmas Musical practice
Go back home and get Eve and Noah on the bus
Get Aaron on the bus
drive to Walsmart for pipe cleaners (I forgot to buy them earlier)
Ride bike to elementary school
sign in... drop off pipe cleaners
Grab some yearbook checks and process the paperwork
take pictures of 4th grade field day
run in for 30 minutes to help with Book Fair set up
eat a chocolate glazed doughnut
Go back to the field and take photos of 3rd grade field day (Noah's class)
run to Eve's Kindergarten class to help with Halloween crafts for 45 minutes
***Potty Break***
run to the field to take photos of 5th grade field day (Rachel's class)
run back inside to help with Noah's class crafts for 30 minutes
stop by the art room and check on caricatures for the yearbook drawn by the art teacher
found out about a pie throwing contest at 3pm.
stay and take photos
grab purse and more yearbook stuff
jump on my bike and race home to beat the school bus
eat a non-healthy bowl of chocolate ice cream
greet the kids at the bus and yell, "I WON! I Beat the bus!"
Kids think I'm really weird...normal reaction

That was all finished by 3:45pm. Then came Halloween, which was surprisingly relaxed.

Michael left from work to be assistant quartermaster at the scout leader training. He told me he cooked all weekend. He was quite exhausted when he arrived home on Sunday, but he and I took Noah and Eve for a walk to the library and park. The kids only played for a short time because Eve popped the blister on her hand and a little girl puked all over the play area. Michael and I saw this little girl, about 5, go down a slide that some other children had covered in sand. She sputtered, walked to her dad (or grandpa) and puked at his feet. He didn't even get off his cell phone call. He stood up and walked her over to a different slide where she promptly puked again. He walked her over to the swings and asked her if she wanted to get on...still on the cell phone, mind you. As she wandered away from the swing I told Michael, "I bet he lets her puke in the sandbox". DING DING DING, Alex...what do I win?!? She puked in the sandbox. Michael and I called for Noah playing on the other side of the park and said we are going home. The dude finally got off the phone and got the little girl her shoes to take her home. What a blithering twit.

::::::::::::::::



:::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::::

I finally finished this book after a few months of off and on reading. I don't completely understand most of the explanations in the book, but I still enjoyed delving into the concepts. Who needs mind expanding drugs...just sit down and try to understand physics for the history major. The concepts of nano technology are mind blowing and relevant to more and more things. Kaku talks about such ideas as Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. Apparently, Harry would have to be melted down first, which, I believe, would be life threatening.
Kaku also explains why the Large Hadron Collider could not destroy the Universe, as some had feared. We don't have the technology to muster the Planck energy needed. "This is truly an unimaginably large number, a quadrillion times larger than the energy attainable with today's most powerful machine, the Large Hadron Collider..." He also discusses the different theories on parallel universes and time travel. Whoa, that is some crazy stuff...but I still think evil Spock with the crazy goatee was quite a cutie.
This book touches on so many fascinating concepts that are written about in science fiction stories and Kaku writes in a way most people can understand...(me, well, I still need a Babel Fish for my brain). Not light reading, but truly cool stuff!

::::::::::::Off to Walk...see ya later!

It's Nice to Have Neighbors That Have A Similar Sense of Humor:

I was invited to a (Wall Paper) Stripping Party at my neighbor's house. She was tired of looking at the floral wallpaper in her bedroom. She also promised lunch for my efforts, so why not! Two of her friends came over to help for a few hours, then had to leave to pick up their kids from preschool. I stayed until my kids came home a couple of hours later. I was able to help her finish up the third wall and clean up. She used her enthusiasm and adrenaline to finish up the wall a little while later. Michael called me down stairs to say I had a message. This is what my funny neighbor left on my walkway:


CLASSIC!

I'm going slightly out of order because I have a few things going on. The wall paper dealy was on Wednesday, but this next blurb was on Monday:

Spotlight on Specials:

This was a night of going to school with the kids and learning about some of the classes devoted to certain subjects. We didn't get to go to every Specials class, but Noah showed us the Math Specials room in this photo:
Eve caught some air time in the gym:


Aaron and Michael checked out their hand/eye coordination:

Everybody checked out the keyboards in the music room:






When we got back home Noah was still climbing the walls...literally:

The Kindergarten had a field trip to Washington Farms in Watkinsville, Ga. I drove up separately in my minivan and got there shortly before the buses arrived: I got a photo of Eve's eager face at the bus window:




Pie pumpkins are small and sweet. This one is destined to be a pumpkin pie filling:


::::::::::::::::::Thursday::::::::
I had a workshop day with our Josten's yearbook representative. There were only a few people that could make the training class, so I was able to ask my questions and get some help with the software. Come to find out I was the most involved of the advisors in working with the program. I was able to point some things out that frustrated me to another advisor and give some ideas on what worked well. The Josten's rep laughed and told the other advisor that I was anal about getting everything right. It's true. I also was looking at other yearbooks and they are cookie cutters of the year before with big photos and no journaling. It goes against my grain to not tell the story, or bits of it at least. I have a hard time asking people to buy something that I have not put my best effort in. I'm not a slap and go kinda person. I have been indexing the photos as I find out the students names to try and make sure everyone is in the book more than once and can find themselves. I've had kids ask me to take their photos and saying they have never seen themselves in more than the student class section. I'm now the yearbook lady and I have teachers smile and grab my arm to show me a great shot, or just be polite and tell the kids to keep working. I also get kids saying, "Hey, there is Eve's mom, (Noah's mom), (Rachel's mom), and I get the biggest grins. I wish I could get all of the great photos into the book in the end. I have never done this type of book before, but I hope to be up to the expectations of myself and others.

::::::::::::::::::TODAY:::::::::::
I took another Wilton Art class. The lesson was on making Petit Fours. It was a 2 hours hands on class. We all got to decorate 5 petit fours. We used poured fondant for 4 of them and white chocolate for 1. I brought them home and my mom photographed them, so when I get the photos I will post them. I shared them with my eager family. Everyone was complimentary. I particularly like petit fours and the limitless decorating possibilities.

:::::::::::::::::Reading::::::::::
Still enjoying the The Mysterious Benedict Society. I'm also reading a book about science and I had to have Michael explain to me the difference between gravity and the strong force as it relates to the presence of dark matter. I'm still confused. Gravity is bending light like it shouldn't by our understanding. I find this stuff fascinating, but remain sooooo clueless!

I grabbed a book on the Magna Carta that I will add to my Shelfari. It looks pretty cool. I have to run and pick the kids up from a birthday party...so later, gators!

A Walk Down Memory Lane...

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

:::::::::::::::::::::::Book Review:::::::::::


The new installment of the Sisters Grimm stories was a crowd pleaser at our house. We finished reading the last two chapters last night and the kids were cheering and asking questions, eager to find out what happened next. The kids loved having Robin Hood and his Merry Men in this one with their fun lines and action scenes. The two characters that got the biggest laughs were Puck and The Mad Hatter. I thought the kids were going to lose muscle control during the court scenes with The Mad Hatter as the judge. Puck's choice for the body guard contingent to the Grimms is pretty hilarious, too!
If you have young children they would probably be rather frightened by some of the imagery and action in the book. I often was creeped out by the Grimm Fairy tales as a kid, so I find the twisted humor in this series cathartic. Noah noticed one inconsistency in the book that regarded a spell placed around Little Red Riding Hood. I told him that he should work as an editor, which led to...

Noah: What is an editor?

Victoria: Someone who looks for consistency in a book?

Noah: What is consistency?

Rachel, Aaron, Michael: "READ THE BOOK!"

We are so excited that Michael Buckley plans to write another story in the series! WOOT WOOT! I give Tales From The Hood 3 Fairy Godmothers out of 3!




Michael put some new podcasts in the mp3 player for me, yesterday. On my walk, I listened to Astronomy Cast's show on Galaxies.
I also listened to Wait Wait's show from 7/20 that featured John Waters as a guest.

:::::::::::::::::::Today:::::::::::

Rachel is going to the dentist to have her teeth cleaned. Yesterday, the orthodontist said she was looking good and that we didn't need to return until December. He tightened her appliance, we made a schedule, then went to do a little school shopping.

We stopped by Old Navy and Rachel found a cute skort, some cropped shorts with a tailored edge, and a couple of shirts.


Take care!

It's All Relative...

::::::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::
We just finished listening to this book on c.d.:



We loved it! Michael Reisman, the author, was inspired by the author Douglas Adams and the same cheeky fun mixed with science shines throughout this book. There is also a fair amount of menacing situations for the 3 young children in the book, too. The narrator, Nicholas Hormann, has a captivating voice and I enjoyed his portrayal of each of the characters. Noah exclaimed that this was his favorite book that he has heard on c.d. He has heard several. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the book, too. We will be reading the book as a family when we finish our Sisters Grimm selection (we are enjoying that one, as well). My advice is grab a towel when you read this book because you are going on a great trip!



I'm going to throw these Flair buttons in because Einstein's Theory of General Relativity is part of the story, too:






::::::::::::::::::A Sweet Surpise::::::::

is a new kit from Karen Lewis





I went for my walk yesterday, but I only did 3 miles so we wouldn't be late to my nephew, Tyler's birthday party. My right foot only hurt the first 2 miles :). Michael is going read up about how to tape my foot properly. Maybe that will help because staying off it isn't the greatest option.

:::::::::::::::::::::Speaking of Tyler::::::::::

He was KING of the day, yesterday. The fire station down on Ebenezer Rd, in Sharpsburg did a fabulous job showing the party kids their equipment. The "rookie" put on his turn out gear for us and let the kids get a photograph. The kids all got to play with the fire hose on the pumper truck and sit in it. The truck was brand new and had that "New Fire Truck Smell"! The EMTs showed us the ambulance and let Tyler get hooked up to the monitor and get a print out of his heart beat. They also let us tour their kitchen, sleeping quarters, and rec room. It was a really cool experience.

Afterwards, we went to Tracy and Joe's for some cake and juice. Evey picked out a snake Webkinz for Tyler and gave him a stuffed Gorilla. I'll post some photos when I locate where I put my uplink cable.

::::::::::::::::::::Iron Eyes Cody:::::::::
On Michael's blog he responded to a question about what he considered the most effective commercial. Here is mine:


Give a Hoot...Don't Pollute! Take care! :)

Life is Random...

:::::::::::::::New Layouts From the Botanical Garden:::::

<sub>My dd, Rachel, was in awe of the gorgeous flowers at the botanical gardens.

Brand new Blossoms by Dawn Inskip
NDISB: http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php...e=products_new
ScrapScandiStyle: http://shop.scrapscandistyle.com/ind...oducts_id=1504
Treasures to Scrap: http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.co...oducts_id=1615
also by Dawn: Frame from New Beginnings kit, flowers and dragonfly from Evitangel Collab, Embossed Alpha set 2, word art from Life's Expressions
ScarletHeels Media: Doodle Teeny Alpha
Font: DJB Sissy by Darcy Baldwin @ www.thedigichick.com




Spring Collection by Natalie Braxton and Kate Hadfield from TLP, Background paper by Jacque Larsen</sub>

::::::::::::::Yesterday::::::::::

I listened to Astronomy Cast episodes about what it would take to create a colony on Mars. I didn't realize that Mars' pressure was only 1% of ours. You also get the recommended minimum of safe radiation exposure in 1 week. We would have to live underground, so the dirt could act as a radiation shield. If there were any solar flares you would be a crispy critter. I'm thinking if there is a manned Mars mission I won't be yelling, "Pick Me!".

Michael went for his apheresis appointment, then came home and took us out for Mexican food. The boys misbehaved, so Michael told them the next time we go out they can pay.

:::::::::::::Today::::::::

is voting day for some local leadership. Once the kids wake up and I get breakfast for them I'll go over and vote.

The tendonitis in my right foot makes me feel old. The tendon stretches out pretty quickly, but each time I initially stand up it hurts a lot.


:::::::::::::::::::Michael's Album:::::::::
This is the title page for my husband's album when he went to Japan for his mission.



<sub>Credits: Geisha Template by Kirsty Wiseman at http://limegreenbogiegirl.blogspot.com/2008/07/turning-japanese.html (I modified the kimono to be straight at the bottom).


I used the burn tool on the papers and hair for definition.
Background paper: Explore Solids by Catrine

Kimono: Jen Wilson's Yori papers

Geisha's Hair: Birgit's Retro papers

Doodle Border by Jenna Desai

Cherry Blossom branch (modified) by J.McCarthy

Font: CAC Shishoni Brush</sub>

Later gators! :)