WPI's Touch Tomorrow Festival

A couple of weekends ago we went to WPI’s Touchtomorrow event that is cosponsored by NASA. This event is free to the public and allows everyone to get up close and personal with Robots, astronauts, professors and students who have built/are building/thinking about building cool stuff.  There was  a ton of stuff for kids to do. Spotty’s eyes were aglow. He was enraptured listening to one of the mechanical engineering professors. He was talking about how they initially go to home depot when they are building proto types of items that would help the disabled. I never would have expected Spotty to be interested, but he didn’t want to leave. Spotty was also able to drive around a couple of robots and play video games that the students created.  We spent at least 5 hours there, and could have spent more. Spotty got a very cool NASA patch for completing his “passport” (going around to various shows/talks and getting a stamp to say he participated).  We will definitely be back next year.

Librarians rock

So Spotty Chop is taking part in a committee to choose the “best” book of 2014. The kids had to commit to reading 10 new books this year, and at the end of the year they will vote on things like:

Best Cover

Best Male Character

Best Female Character

Best Story

Etc.

Spotty has read:

Almost Super - Marion Jensen

Jackpot - Gordon Korman

A Snicker of Magic - Natalie Lloyd

The next book was just chosen:

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee

So far Spotty has loved each of the books he’s read. Almost Super seems to be his fav right now.

So the Children’s librarian (Mr. S) sent out an email to the parents of the participating kids of the “Cartwheel awards” staying that he was going to the Book expo in NY and wanted to try and get signed books for the kids. I didn’t tell Spotty why I wanted a list of his favorite authors, but this is what he came up with

1              Dave Roman - Astronaut Academy

2              J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter

3              Stephan Pastis - Timmy Failure

4              Tom Angleberger - Origami Yoda

5              Ursula Vernon - Dragonbreath

6              Jeff Kinney - diary of a wimpy kid

7              Suzanne Selfors - Imaginary Veterinary

8              Stephen/Lucy Hawkins - George’s secret key to the universe

9              Bryan Chick - The Secret Zoo

10           Jay Epstein/Andrew Jacobson - The Familiars

11           Jon Scieszka - Spaceheadz

12           Dav Pilkey  - Captain Underpants

13           Lenore Look - Alvin Ho

14           Samurai Kids: White Crane - Sandy Fussell

15           Kate Klimo - Dragon Keepers

Well I went to the library today and Mr. S got Spotty the next in the Timmy Failure series!!! Spotty Chop is going to be reading a book that doesn’t get to bookstores until the end of OCTOBER! His head is going to EXPLODE when he finds out. The only bummer is that Stephan Pastis doesn’t personalize books (to save time) – but what he did do is draw a picture of the main character.

I just think this is so Fing awesome. Spotty recently mentioned that he may  become both a video game maker AND a librarian! 

Never under estimate a woman

Wow, just...Wow


here

THE MYSTERIOUS POST CARDER IS BACK!!!!!

I don't know if anyone was reading back in '08. But we have a mystery at our house! It has been about 3 years since we last heard from our anonymous friend. Someone that knew me in high school (and knew Boy Toy) has been sending me postcards from around the world.  They bring up very specific things about me/us. We have no idea who it is. It may be   multiple people.  And our last one was so very long  ago.  I occasionally  feel bad because I am not sure who it is, but  we have been having so much fun trying to figure it out. 


But now they are back! and in Switzerland! They tell me they are swimming and walking every day, and practicing their French. They wonder if I remember how badly they spoke French.


What is really bizarre is that the 3rd time I read the post card (it is a puzzle that has stumped us...) I wondered if it could be an old boy friend of mine (and it would have to be REALLY OLD as Boy Toy and I have been together for....25? 26 years?) Well I say to Boy Toy I wonder if it could be "BU" and he says "Are you kidding me? That is exactly who I thought of when I read it". I haven't  thought of BU in...YEARS and I can't imagine Boy Toy has either (i think there was a boy or two between BU and Boy Toy.)


Whoever it is seems to think of me fondly and that brightens my day. 


The Game is Afoot SEND ME MORE!!!!

What a difference a few months make!

Spotty has started fall soccer and I am amazed with how much better he is playing this season compared to last season (granted, last season was his first season). His dribbling is natural, he is so much more aggressive and he seems to really get the game. He scored 3 or 4 times his first game but he also prevented 4 or 5 goals by being in the right place at the right time. We over heard a father telling one of the kids Spotty was playing with that “you can’t take the ball away from your teammate (Spotty); you have to get open so he can pass to you.” We started chatting a little while later. He was impressed with how good Spotty was and lamenting that his son didn’t quite know the rules as this was his son’s first time playing. We laughed and said that Spotty started playing last season and we were blown away with how much better he was playing now. We explained that last season all Spotty did was pass he never really wanted to run with the ball.

We were worried when we first walked up to the field because Spotty seemed to be so much bigger than everyone else on his team. Turns out he is the oldest member of the team by a month. Apparently he really grew this summer. His team does have a lot of little kids on it, but last spring he was the smallest on his team. I am glad he is still in instructional. I think this will be a big confidence builder for him. Plus? I love watching my boy run!

Money Notes

To whomever wrote on a dollar bill:

Please know that you are beautiful. Good luck wherever you go.


Thanks!!! I got the message and it made my day. I am sending out a bill with this:

Things will get better. Someone is thinking of you.

bet you wish you were my kid...

just sayin

Poolish Shenanigans

I came home from work, heard mirth and foolishness in the backyard. Went into the pool area and saw....

Spotty Chop doing back somersaults in the water. Did I mention he learned to swim on Saturday?

I gave birth to a fish

Spotty Chop has learned to swim.

At 4 years old and over night he now swims underwater.

He wears a mask, he kicks his feet, he will even use his arms on occasion.

He jumps into the pool, doesn't want anyone to catch him.

He is doing all of this with no arm thingys.

We spent 4 hours in the pool today and now 2 hours later he is back in the pool with boy toy.

This is all boy toy's fault. They were swimming yesterday for a few hours. I was cleaning the house. My baby went from swimmy arm thingys and needing to be caught when he jumped into the pool to this....Grown up crap.

Who's afraid of the big bad...postcard?

Guess who is back? Our postcarder has just left Italy, where there seems to have been a lot of food porn, for a more sedate Netherlands. They have also started knitting, which is great...who ever they are. We have let a few friends in on what's going on, they are so into the mystery that it brings us back to the feelings we had when we got the first...WTF and OH MY GOD HOW FUN.

Where oh where will they go next?

Pink in October

You may have noticed a little change...I'm going PINK in October. I saw Hayley Townley, Breast Cancer Survivor Extraordinaire at Carmi's (isn’t that where you meet everyone?) and she is going pink for October. As I have friends and family that have either kicked cancer’s ass…or unfortunately been kicked in the ass, this is something that I can really stand behind. How about you?

WaterFire, dirt and snuggles

We had a lovely weekend that just passed.

Saturday I had my car detailed. OMG if you had seen what it looked like (think toxic waste dump topped off with cookie crumbs) and what it looks like now (CLEAN and does not smell of milk). I had the added bonus of thinking it was going to cost me $299 (and willing to pay every dime) and instead paid $99. Such a treat, I can't stop running my hands over the dash. Spotty Chop had fun playing with gramie and grumpa while I sat around watching SG1 (season 6) waiting for my car to be done. We then got ready for Waterfire. Moo, Freak Show and Cheese Please joined us in our wandering. As an added bonus Moo brought us homemade peach habanero preserves (insane on cheddar) and a marinade (which is new to me and I can’t wait to try).

If you have never been to WaterFire and you live near (or near enough) you really are missing out on a great evening. The Providence Rivers are set ablaze, wacky but good music is playing over loudspeakers. And the people! People are everywhere, young, old, and everything in between. I think what I like about this event best is how people behave. If this event was in Boston you would have drunks weaving their way in and into folks causing problems. In all the years I have been going to this I have never seen that here. It is something you can take your family to, or your date, or hell yourself. There are pockets where street performers are doing their thing, we happened upon Peruvian musicians, a group doing the Chinese dragon dance, another group doing some traditional Jewish dances. We rode a boat on the river and got up close and personal to the art. I honestly can’t say enough good things about this. It is something I look forward to every year.

Sunday Spotty Chop and I hung out at Target, snuggled on the couch, read books, ran outside, played with play-doh, took a tubbie and watched a movie. Pretty typical but the snuggling was sublime.

Holy Christ on a Cracker Batman!

I was having a bit of a crappy weekend until I popped into my blog late Saturday/early Sunday. Apparently I am not just writing to amuse myself; I have been told that I may be interesting to others.

I have won my first award!

This has definitely blown me away and tickled my funny bone. Barb, who has been so generous with her comments and support, is the one that surprised me with this. She has multiple blogs that you should check out when you have a second. I usually find her at Picture this, at last! where her photos blow me away, but then there is Made for Keeps and The Family Branson . Damn girlfriend, working overtime aren’t we?

As for the award? It is the Este Blog premia el arte y la creatividad .



So not only is it an award, but it’s a language lesson as well.

You wanna know what it means? Go see Barb she took some Spanish.
Ich spreche Deutsches aber sehr schlecht.

Here are the rules for this award.

1) You must pick 5 blogs that you consider deserving of this award, based upon creativity, design, interesting material, and that also contribute to the blogger community.

2) Each award must have the name of the author with a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.

3) Award-winners must show the award and put the name and link to the blog that awarded it.

4) Award-winners and the one who has given the prize must show the link to the Arte y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.

5) These rules must be included in your post.

Well, how do you pick 5 blogs that are kick ass? Personally I panic, procrastinate, and then pass out.

Here they are

1.) one thing I HATE about today – Annie’s web designs makes me happy, I think it’s one of the best out there. She also has issues with MORE-ONS and rat fink bastards. What’s not to love?

2.) Blogger Buster - Amanda writes a blog to help other bloggers make their blogs look and perform better. Because of her I found "suck my lolly" and the design I now use (although, she has 125 new favorites...)

3.) Project Rungay – If you have never read the snark kings (or should I say Queens) Tom and Lozenzo, RUN, do not pass go. I can’t start my mornings without them.

4.) Another Roadside Attraction – Rue makes beautiful things. She also has a beautiful family and an interesting take on life. Did I mention she takes a mean photo as well?

5.) Editorial Anonymous – Is a blog written by a children’s book editor. She not only gives great insight into an industry that seems very mysterious to me but gives great advice.

Here’s to more great blogging! (Or even mediocre rambling…)

Hook me up

We have finally joined the digital age. Today we made the switch from cable to....digital cable. You would not believe all the cool stuff digital cable comes with.
There is a guide, this allows you to search for different programs, gives you synopsis of the show in question and then allows you to go to that channel.

• There are more channels! Good friggen god there are channels in the 100's and the 200's and the 800's.
• You are able to pause live television
• You are able to record live television
• You can find every Star Gate episode showing and record it (or Star Track, or or or)

OK so I am a dork. We were having problems with our internet and I called to have them fix it, once they did they asked if I wanted to hear about their new bundles. I said shure. We have general cable, phone and internet all through Comcast. To upgrade to digital I would save about $30. To get a DVR box I would be paying an extra $6 a month. Have you taken a look at the 2008 fall season? There are about 7 new shows that I am interested in seeing. I figure out of the 7 shows at least 1 of them should last more than a season. What a freaky deaky deal!!!

So far we have watched every Buzz Lightyear on Demand, Tom and Jerry on Demand, Iron Man, Spider Man, started watching Disney's Tarzan, but Spotty got board so I taped that bad boy so I can finish it and now Boy Toy is watching some mixed marshal arts thing ON DEMAND.

BE AFRAID

Jinkies

Our postcarder is back! I thought they had forgotten about us, but apparently they have been hitchhiking around the Pacific NorthWest and then living in the wilderness of the Yukon Territory. It sounds like this person (persons?) is truly having a blast with their life. I am enjoying the fact that they are sharing it (in a wacked out way) with us.

We are wondering if it is just one person or a group of people as the handwriting on the various cards is different. They also are addressed differently. Whatever it is it's keeping us guessing.

Keep traveling Post Card Dude!

Scooby Snacks

So our mysterious post carder is back, and seems to be in the UK. They were at the Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Workhouse museum. Apparently there is a display of cigarette packs found on the grounds, which reminded them of us and when we used to smoke and collect Marlboro miles. We got some damn good stuff too, kayaks, luggage, sleeping bags, not to mention clothes and barbecue crap.

Still don't know who they are, but am so happy that the card sender didn't forget about us. We will figure you out yet!

Our son is a dork

Spotty Chop has really been into playing video games, actually watching us play video games. We are currently playing Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, and there is NOTHING cuter that a 2 year old saying Thievius Raccoonus. Unless it’s a 2 year old cheering his daddy on as he plays; “Come on dada you can do it! Go dada go, Go dada go, you can DO IT dada!!!” Or a 2 year old “reading” the title screen of a new level. “Sly Cooper in THE TIDE OF TERROR…MWAAAHAHAHAHahaaaaaaaaaa. I think he picked up the fiendish laugh from me.

The boy is totally hooked. We played almost the entire weekend. It was a struggle to get him to do anything else. As soon as he would wake up from either his nap or in the morning the first thing he would say is “mama, would you like to play Thievius Raccoonus?” When we just couldn’t take it anymore and we told him we just had to take a break he would very reluctantly do something else. Preferably the Hot Wheel Movie extras, but he would be read to as long as it was from the “big book” A Disney/Pixar thing with stories from all of his favorites. Or he would spin around, and around, insisting that we spin too.

I think it might be in his genes. Boy toy and I were gamers. In fact back in the day, we actually had to buy 2 computers because we were fighting over “game time”. Then we had to position them so we could easily see what each other was doing, in case the other one was doing something cool. After Xmas or birthdays we would literally spend 2 or 3 weeks straight doing nothing but playing, Thief I am looking at you. Ok we would go to work, but that would be the only time we would leave the house. We haven’t done that since Spotty was born. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just a thing. When he was an infant, we didn’t have the TV on much, which turned into Spotty being annoyed when the TV was on, which lead into THE HELL THAT IS DORA. He went through a period where all he wanted to do is watch dora, little einstens, bob the builder, wiggles, mm club. He moved up to movies then he learned about “extras”. I blame Monsters Inc. Damn Pixar knows how to do extras.

So now it’s video games. If this phase lasts long it won’t be so bad, there are a few games I got stuck on and he should be ready to kick ass in no time.

Huston we have liftoff!!!!

So early on in our trip while we were hanging out and watching TV, boy toy picked up on the fact that there was going to be a shuttle launch during our stay. OH MY GOD. I was trying not to make a big deal out of it, but boy toy seemed to get it into his head that our vacation would not be complete if we missed this. One of our books had a number that you can call to get up to date info on the launch and we called to find out what time the launch was. Lucky for us it was an afternoon launch so we planed a day of it.

On Thursday one of the news stations had a running ticker on what was going on. We were concerned with the weather and before we left the news was reporting a 70% chance that the launch would be postponed. We decided what the hell, there was a wildlife park over by the space center we could always do that if the mission was scrubbed. Did I mention that we brought my TomTom? God I love that thing!!! We ended up at the Astronaut Memorial Plaza in Titusville. There were hundreds of people there. It was right on the water across from Cape Canaveral. Boy toy held down the fort while Spotty and I went to play. I had stuffed a bunch of cars into our backpack and we were looking for a place to drive them. One little girl came over and wanted to play so we gave her a car. You would have thought I was giving away Crack. We suddenly were surrounded by kids all wanting cars and to play. I was a hero to several moms.

And then…it started, they pipe in what’s going on at the control tower and they said “we are a GO” the crowd cheered. You could literally feel the excitement, and when the count down began it was so quiet and then, you heard it. DAMN it is loud and beautiful and awe inspiring. Seeing it on TV just isn’t the same. It is magical. I hope to god I get to see it again. When it was over we spent some time roaming around the park. I spent money to have an envelope postmarked with Cape Canaveral and the date and a Yoda stamp. I am a dork what can I say.

It was mid-afternoon, so we decided to go to the wildlife preserve. They have a driving tour that lets you see what Florida used to look like. Every couple of hundred feet you would see a car or cars pulled over with people taking photographs. We saw tons of birds. They also had areas where you could get out and walk to observatory stations that were equipped with binoculars. Spotty just loved the chance to run around. We spent a good 2 hours meandering about. It was getting dark when we left and Boy toy spotted an enormous alligator, it had to have been about 8 feet not including the tail, and it was about 10 feet from the car, just sat there looking at us. Pretty damn cool if I do say so.

Zoinks! Scooby Doo Where are you?

We have a mystery going on at our house.

On Friday I received a post card from Australia. In it the writer tells me that they were thinking of me and bringing up some specific things in my life (the 69 Camaro I used to drive, how I like to knit) and then ended the post card with “Aren’t I good staying in touch”. But seemingly forgot to sign it. Boy Toy and I went through a list of folks who we thought it could be, but haven’t got a clue.

On Saturday, another Postcard, calling me by an old nickname, pointing out that they are wearing flip-flops and not Chucks (love my chucks). Then mentioned how they were thinking of Boy toy and I and the summers we have spent together. No signature.

On Monday…no card. Boy toy and I were sad.

Today? Another postcard. Some stamps are over some of the writing, but they are looking for a wallabee and got a chance to swim near a dolphin. And they brought up my DEEP love of Star Wars. Damn this person is good. We are having such a good time trying to figure out who it is. Keep those post cards coming!!!

The mind of a 2 year old

Spotty Chop’s brain had been doing incredible things lately. We have spent a lot of time playing “Super Space Boy to the Rescue”. One of us puts on the space helmet (a combat helmet) and holds the flashlight, directs the sidekick while the 3rd party gets “trapped”…in the bed, bathroom etc. The rescuers come flying in and save the troubled unfortunate. We literally spend hours playing this.

He reads to himself now. I don’t think I have ever heard anything as funny as his renditions of Hop on Pop. “NO Pat, no sit on dat. STOP! You must hop. No hop pop. Say say today. He mispronounces a few words consistently. Vacation is cation and machine is bachine. I was worried for seconds that he might have a speech problem, but he asks me to read Carl’s Masquerade, so I think he should be ok. He has also started reading to me. I can’t believe the memory on this kid. The details he remembers or thinks is important is amazing.

Spotty woke up last night around 2:30am needing chocolate milk. Lucky for him, I couldn’t fall asleep. I told him to stay in bed and I would get it for him, but he got upset and told me he had to get the chocolate syrup for me. During the day I always ask for his help, his job is to get the syrup. Apparently this has turned into mama is incapable of finding the chocolate syrup and he will get plain old milk or perhaps nothing if he is not there to direct me, how do I know this? He was practically crying because I did not grab the syrup fast enough and as soon as I took it he ran back to bed. Our bed to be exact, where this 31 lb child managed to take up 3/4ths of a queen sized water bed. I went to sleep in his room in the toddler race car bed…with crib mattress. He was ready to go again this morning around 6:30. God help me.