Category Archives: Things to Do

Bye, 2016.

When I finished NaBloPoMo in 2015, I intended to take a week off and then resume blogging. Instead, I took that week, then more than 50 other weeks, and here I am. Plenty of times I thought about blogging, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I don’t even know what stopped me. Was my blogging moment in the sun over? Was I ever really in the sun to begin with? Was I just too uninspired? Busy? Lazy? The answer to all of these, except for whether I was ever really in the sun, is pretty much yes.

In case you’re wondering, here’s a rundown of what’s happened since I last wrote:

December: Holidays. Work.

January: Work. Snow.

February: Work. Snow. Sad.

March: Work. Probably didn’t snow. Still sad. I fear I will never see sunlight or be warm again.

April: Spring break in LA. Not sad! Warmer!

May: 40th birthday! I wore the fancy party dress. I did a ropes course. I felt strong. I went to Nashville with dear friends. I took over as editor in chief at yeah write.

June: Work. Yeah write.

July: Work. Yeah write. I got book edits back from beta readers and an editor. Yikes. Sinus infection.

August: Work. Yeah write. Book edits. Humidity.

September: Work. Yeah write. Book edits. Long Beach Comic Con (yay, LA!!). So much inspiration and zero time.

October: Work. Two new big freelance jobs. Work. Work. The sun is leaving. Work. Sad. Yeah write. So much stuff.

November: Thanksgiving in LA! Sun! Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Cold. Yeah write. Work. Sad. Cold. Election.

December: Work. Yeah write. Sad. Work. Christmas. Work. Sad. Sinus infection. Work. Freezing to death. Blob-like.

As you can see, there wasn’t much time for storytelling and I wasn’t really in the mood for stories either. I’ve been so busy. At times, I was busier than any person should be. January looks like it could be moderately busy. I’m fine with that. I have big plans and they all take work.

What I think is most funny is that I think what inspired me to finally break my blog silence was that every year, around this time, I feel like I want to start cooking again (I pretty much haven’t cooked all year) and organizing my house, my life, my everything. Usually things start to get away from me in the fall but the fact is that last year I never got stuff back together so all of 2016 felt off. This is the first time I feel like I can get 2017 on track. I can set real goals rather than arbitrary ones with no target dates (I can’t explain that, you’ll have to accept my vagueness with the understanding that it will make sense later).

In some ways, while everyone else was having the worst 2016, I was having the best. So many things became clear. And in other ways it was the worst because clarity is an absolutely frightening thing sometimes when you don’t know what to do with what you now know to be true.

So, here I am. On the edge of a new year. I have some resolutions and goals, like any good overachiever would. You’ll hear about them in time since I’m not ready for the big reveal. And that’s how I know that this path I’m on is the truth: I need to guard it and protect it. I need to cultivate it. I can’t get bogged down talking about it. I have to push through until I’m there and then I can tell you what I did. I won’t feel like I owe you an update or I made you a promise that maybe I didn’t keep. I’m not making myself promises, other than to get up every day and do the work that needs to get done that day so that I can be where I need to be.

I do hope to blog more. I miss it. I don’t know that I have the time for it in any real way, but I’ll try. For now, I’m going to end the year with some work, the grocery store, getting my hair done, and a party with friends. It’s the right way to end it. I’m ready for something new.

 

 

 

Science Fun at Liberty Science Center

Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ opened its doors in 1993. I was in high school at the time, so I figured I was too old to go to what I perceived to be a children’s museum. Once I had my son I kept thinking we should head down there as a family, but I just never got around to it for a variety of reasons. I’m happy to report that I have finally rectified this situation.

LSC was spectacular. It’s four floors of hands on learning fun with something for all ages. It is definitely not *just* a museum for children.

Our first stop was to the Beyond Rubik’s Cube exhibit which celebrates the famous cube’s 40th anniversary with 7,000 square feet of excitement and fun. The room is filled with interactive games, robotics, a solving station, and more. Nathan’s favorite item was the world’s most expensive Rubik’s Cube, a gold and jewel encrusted masterpiece. I particularly enjoyed the robotic arm capable of solving a cube in a matter of seconds by taking pictures of each side then systematically performing the necessary twists and turns. Each time it solves the puzzle, it does a little victory dance to show spectators just how amazing it is. This exhibit will be open through November 2014.

 

Nathan and a friend solving a wooden Rubik's Cube

Nathan and a friend solving a wooden Rubik’s Cube

Also open until November is the Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog. Inspired by the beloved PBS KIDS TV series, this exhibit provides lots of hands on fun for the little ones. Nathan (age 7) wasn’t very interested in most of the exhibit as I do think it’s geared towards the preschool set. However, even Nathan enjoyed the conveyor belt used to fill Clifford’s bowl with giant bones. If you have younger kids who love the show, they will love the opportunity to dress up as Clifford and his pals, explore his doghouse, and climb up on Clifford to slide down his tail.

Nathan filling Clifford's bowl.

Nathan filling Clifford’s bowl.

Nathan had a great time building in the Block Party area which is filled with all sorts of oversized foam shapes and tubes. We both learned so much in the Infection Connection exhibit on communicable diseases. Eat or Be Eaten, an exhibit featuring animals and snakes and bugs and such was fascinating and just a bit creepy. We finished off our visit with the Tesla Lightning Show which features two one million volt Tesla coils, music and lightning.

Nathan building at the Block Party exhibit.

Nathan building at the Block Party exhibit.

One afternoon simply wasn’t enough to see everything we wanted to see. We will most definitely be headed back soon to continue with the learning and fun of science.

Would you like to visit Liberty Science Center with your family? I have four (4) general admission passes to give away to one lucky winner. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post. Comments must be left by 5pm on Friday, August 8th, 2014, in order to be eligible.

Special thanks to Liberty Science Center and Jersey Moms Blog for the giveaway passes. As a Liberty Science Center Blog Ambassador for the day, I was provided with vouchers for my visit. All opinions expressed above are my own.

EDITED (8.13.14):  And the winner is… Kristin! Kristin, I’ll be emailing you shortly so you can claim your prize. Congratulations!