Weekend Entertainment

 

I have loved the book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch since I first read it. You can watch this video if you want someone to read it to you.

I was excited to see that it was being
performed live and I could watch online.

Unfortunately, the Danish Melodi Grand Prix, to pick which performance would go to the Eurovision Song Contest, was at the same time.

I was able to enjoy both of them and use a third device to chat with friends in Denmark about which performers we wanted to see in the finals.

The next day we had a chance to see a live performance as part of Family Weekend at Scripps College and Scripps Presents.

The ABBA tribute band brought out a lot of dancers and many of us sang along.

The highlight for me was when the band invited an especially enthusiastic student to sing with them. She had a great voice and her passion and zest were infectious. She shouted, "I'm living my dream!" and everyone cheered.

When work is play

In order to be prepared to use the department's new 3D printers in the lab D. thought he should bring them home and practice.  He is lucky that his work is fun, like visiting a science museum, he once said.

First he made some calibration prints and then made matching pieces from the two printers.  Next he let A. have a turn, who was having fun coming watching the creation being made.  R. had much more fun manipulating the software.

Success!

The first useful thing he made was a replacement part for my bicycle bags.  The bags hook on the rack and a piece slides onto the side, giving it more stability.

The piece that slides across the horizontal part slid right off
and the company does offer replacement pieces.

I think D. did a great job making a match.

Next up was time for something more complex.  Just as one can get knitting patterns online, a person can get 3D printing patterns, too.  D. got one for a Maker Faire Robot Action Figure.

Feel free to send your suggestions!

Worth the Wait

A. earned money taking care of neighborhood animals and then carefully researched the scooter market.  Below is a video of the chosen one!

Remember when Calvin sends in box tops and waits impatiently for the arrival of his beanie propeller cap?  It was a bit like that here.

Then the magical day arrived when I looked out and there it was!

Some assembly required.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night will stop a boy from trying his new scooter.

At his request I am posting a much better picture.

Definitely worth the wait!

The Mice Will Play

Life isn't all work.  Time on my own also included unproductive activities.

• working on a jigsaw puzzle
• watching movies, including Hairspray, Mad Hot Ballroom, and Shawshank Redemption, which is celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its release
• swimming when it isn't 6a.m.
• going out for breakfast after practice
• walking with friends
• reading the whole paper in the morning
• browsing the thrift store

Now it is back to the regularly scheduled program.

Money In, Money Out

Both kids earn money  - taking part in studies, walking dogs, tutoring, and feeding hens.  Each one has his/her own style of saving and spending, but they are both good at saving for a goal.  This past weekend A. reached his goal and today we went to spend the money.

Sydney Opera House - 2989 pieces!

Having spent a lot on this set he earned extra money to spend in the store.  The money was burning a hole in his pocket (did your mother used to say that you?) and he almost bought three mini figures he created himself, but decided to save it to spend in Cleveland, where his patient grandmother will take him shopping.

Toy Hall of Fame

In alphabetical order, the following toys were announced as the class of 2013 with two of them being chosen to enter the Toy Hall of Fame.

• Bubbles
• Chess
• Clue
• Fisher-Price Little People
• Little Green Army Men
• Magic 8 Ball
• My Little Pony
• Nerf Toys
• Pac-Man
• Rubber Duck
• Scooter
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Last year Star Wars action figures and dominoes were inducted and with this year's class the total will be 53 toys.  You can nominate your favorite here and you can check to see if it is already included here.  I love that a stick is part of the list!

The Hall of Fame Fame seems to be in what I used to call The Strong Museum but is now called The Strong and has several components.

• National Museum of Play
• International Center for the History of Electronic Games
• National Toy Hall of Fame
• Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play
• American Journal of Play

Regardless of the name, I have fond memories of visiting there more than a few years ago.