Home from the You Be the Chemist Challenge

We're back! We had a really great time in Philadelphia.

Jeremiah (Z) studied in the airport, studied on the airplane, we got to the hotel too early so he studied in the visitor's center, studied in the salon while I got a haircut. We went to the rehearsal and then to dinner at the City Tavern. Z fell asleep studying at 9:00.

The contest was tough, all the kids were so smart. He was eliminated in the 2nd of 5 preliminary rounds. When it came down to the finals, they were tied for 2nd and 3rd and had to do a "lightning round" to choose who to eliminate. The lightning round went on for 40 questions before anyone missed anything. The winner was Christopher Pillay. 2nd was Ethan Li and 3rd was Nabil Shaikh.

The You Be the Chemist Challenge was a privilege. They treated us so wonderfully. It was fascinating to learn so much about chemistry. He is going to have a leg up in his science classes in high school. It was a good experience. He's never studied so hard for anything before and that's a good skill. It's good to be challenged.

Treva Jeffries, the science director from Toledo Public Schools came to support Jeremiah. We were so grateful. Thank you so much for everything you did to organize it in our area and give TPS kids the opportunity! : )

After the contest was over the tone changed and all the kids were able to relax and have fun. They took us on a double decker bus. I got whacked by a tree branch. If you ever sit on a double decker bus, sit on the left side. : ) We went to the Franklin Institute to see the IMAX movie, "Wild Oceans". (I still saw swirling shoals of sardines when I closed my eyes that night.) After the IMAX we saw the "Real Pirates" exhibit about the pirate ship, The Wyhdah, that was salvaged. It was a great exhibit. Then we went to dinner at Dave and Busters and the kids played games. My parents and I had a lovely time talking to Christopher's dad, Prem. My dad left early and we also talked to Cori's parents and Treva. We got to meet and hang out with such nice people! : ) I peeked into the game room and saw Jeremiah and the other boys laughing and talking. It was neat because he'd been so quiet before.

Saturday we went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. We really enjoyed it. We love art. Going to the 3rd largest museum in the country made me feel extra proud of the Toledo Museum of Art, which stacks up well. Come see us! : )

We also went to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Yes it would have been sweltering in there. Our founding fathers rock!

We missed everyone and we've glad to be home. I'll put pictures on flickr soon.

Busy!

We are so busy studying for the YBTC contest this week!

But we figured out why one of the hamsters was so fat, she had babies!

Secret Signs

Here's something we noticed while we were out and about.
Do you see the "A" in the circle?

Hmmm... Maybe that's how the sign hanger really feels about towing "all others"? Did he think this would ever see the light of day?
Did he even use enough glue?

Ha! : )

I wonder how many other signs are covering up other signs?

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Mashup I am not going to make: "Anarchy in the U.K." and "Both Sides Now"

Lunch, the Universe and Everything

I'm worried about food. It's not like I snack all day long or anything but I know that when I have a headache, my lunch is going to make me feel better. I am trying to replace my crunchies: carrots or celery instead of chips and my fruit: an apple instead of applesauce. But, I know that a bowl of lettuce is not going to make me feel better. :(

My husband once said to me during a discussion about housework, "How can you call it work if you're just sitting there?" Cold, but true. But not true. I've had lots of days where I come home feeling like I just took my SAT's again. It is what it is.

I'm thinking about doing the Atkins diet again. Not because it doesn't stink or anything, but because it works fast. But extreme diets cause total food obsession.

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Mashup I am not going to make: "Ba-Da-Ba-Ba-Ba (I'm Lovin' It)" and "Stupify"

Crazeee

Aack. I'm getting interrupted so much, it's making me flakey!

It's like the right hand doesn't know what Sybil is doing.

Camera

We put our economic stimulus check in the bank to pay bills. But I did get to spend a portion of it for new photographic equipment



...which I used to take a picture of these cameras.

Scared you and your PowerShot, didn't I? : )

Seriously, dozens of people at the NASA open house had incredible cameras. Most of those people were reporters. These belonged to a regular guy with a hobby who sat at the next table for lunch with his wife and baby. The reporters had lenses that stuck out at least a foot. How do you walk through a crowd with that? They did.

I got a really nice Kodak, that I probably wouldn't have gotten without the check. (Got the two-year accident warranty. Suckahs!)

Hope that affects the economy somehow... Mostly hope it affects my photography skills. Might have to bother to "learn how".

Commencing Countdown

We spent the day yesterday at the NASA open house. It was a blast! You can see more photos on Flickr.