Liberty Science Center

On a very rainy and dark mid-morning we gave Nadine, our GPS lady voice, the coordinates for the Liberty Science Center in Liberty State Park.  I was sure this was the right thing to do as the rain was very heavy and it just seemed like it wasn't going to let up any time soon.  Or at least in the next several hours.

  I was feeling very confident that we could make it there and back without getting lost.  After all, I have Nadine in my face and Ammon, who has a built in GPS in his body, at my side.  The Science Center isn't too far but you need to go across a bridge to get there and pay a toll and navigate the crazy roads of New Jersey.  Thankfully we made it without incident.

This is the IMax theater from the outside.

This science center is huge (to say this, leave off the "h" and just say, "uge")!  It has the world's largest IMax screen and has four floors of with hands-on interactive science learning going on.  It was the right destination on such a rainy day.

I don't know which section was their favorite: the power of water, life on Mars, the power of the sneeze, or just watching the Hoberman ball contract and expand. 

Located on the first floor is a skyscraper exhibit.  This exhibit was my favorite.  It was interactive, informative and the photographs of the buildings were very well done.  They had two beams from the World Trade Center on display.  I wanted to get a picture of the beam but the beams were too big and the angle wasn't right.  Both beams were bent in half.  Not broken.  Just bent.  The more I looked at the beam through my lense the more I realized again the enormity and tragedy of the attack at the World Trade Center.  It caused me to pause and I felt water in my eyes.  I'm not going to cry at the Science Center.  I left the beam untouched by my camera but I have a picture in my mind that I will never forget.

After roaming the center and even going back for seconds we decided that we had our fill of science for the day.  When we emerged from the massive building it was sunny and extremely humid.  I had no idea storms roll in and roll out so quickly.

However, you can't go to the Science Center without visiting Liberty State Park.  So, our journey was not over.  We took a short drive to an area that is normally packed with cars.  But who would possibly be out in this heat?  The answer became very apparent when we stepped out onto the viewing area.  No one.  No one would be out in this heat.

I stand by my decision to take the kids to the Science Center.  We hung out at the park for awhile.  We stayed just long enough for the sweat to start drying and another round of sweat appearing.

 We got in the car and drove back home with the a/c on high.

Two Gentle Reminders

We have lived in Chatham for almost four weeks.  I'm not sure if the time has gone by quickly or not but almost everyday I am reminded of California.  It has nothing to do with the lack of California that I see.  It's more like the synonyms of California that I keep seeing.

The first is a gas station.  There's nothing special about this particular station except for its name.  When I first saw the station with its big "Getty" name I thought of the Getty Center.  We usually hit the Getty Center a couple of times during the summer.  This summer will be the exception.  The second thing I noticed about this station was the price of gas.  What?  Gas is below three dollars?  How can this be?  When we were driving to the airport and I was taking my last looks at our neighborhood I distinctly remember gas sitting at $3.35.  Clearly above three dollars.  I haven't seen gas in the two dollar range for a very long time.

The second funny thing that reminds me of California is a silly bumper sticker.  We don't indulge ourselves in using bumper stickers, although bumper stickers are harmless enough and sometimes they make me laugh.  So, I kept seeing this particular sticker while driving and wondered what and why would someone be advertising the Los Angeles International Airport.  Yes, I know.  I see the little writing below the LAX.  It's hard to read when you are traveling at 35 miles per hour.  Obviously people aren't saying they love LAX! 

 People are really into lacrosse on the East Coast and it just happens to look like they love Los Angeles.

These reminders make me smile because they remind me of home.

Conservancy Run

When Scott and I first became friends at BYU one of the fun things we did together was go running.  For me running is very therapeutic, it can be painful, it's a bit addicting, and it makes me sweat.  Running allows me to think.  Being on a college campus eludes itself to needing to think.  I would run a lot.  Scott would stick with me to mile two and maybe mile three but I would always like to go five.  Like I said, I needed to do some thinking.  I found running fun and I think he found it tolerable.  So, you can imagine my delight and slight jealousy when Scott tells me about his runs around the city-over the Brooklyn Bridge, along the Hudson River or a 5k corporate run in Central Park.  Truth is I haven't put running shoes on for a month.  But that changed last Saturday.

On July 11, Scott found a run in Central Park, the Conservancy Run.  A four mile run benefiting Central Park projects to keep the park planted and maintained.  The run was on July 17.  It would be fun and beautiful right?  I'm not running to win.  After all, they were not doing awards for this run.  Instead they were planting a flower for every person who crossed the finish line.  Certainly I could cross the finish line.

We signed the boys up for the run and Jenna up for the kids' run.  This was going to be interesting in a NYC heatwave with a body that hasn't been running.  We tell the kids that we are doing the run and they are up for it but we just keep telling them it will be fun.  It's going to be fun right?

We made our way into the city via the George Washington Bridge. Scott dropped us off at the edge of Central Park and we made our way to all the race talk we could hear on the loud speaker.  We picked up our time chips and shirts.  I put the chip on our shoes and this is when I start noticing that it was warm outside.  In fact, I look around and everyone has a slight sheath of sweat on them.  Okay, big deal.  It's hot outside.  It's summer and it's supposed to be hot.  This is going to be fun.  A run in Central Park!

This picture was taken in the beginning of the race.  Alec is still smiling and so am I.

This picture was taken when Ammon was fresh and feeling like this was going to be fun!

The boys ditched me after the first misting station and mile marker one.  I kept watching for them along the way but I never saw them again until I crossed the finish line.  I was good until after mile two.  I started to feel the affects of the weather and just my body being soft.  Stinkin soft body.  I kept telling myself to breathe and to stay loose.  After all, this was only four miles. 

 Seriously I better not be the last person over the line.

During mile three I blame my slowness to a woman eating a pineapple Popsicle.  We are running along and this woman joins the run right in front of me.  I didn't see where she came from but she had a running bib and she clearly was sweating so I assumed I just hadn't noticed her.  Of course I hadn't noticed her.  She had been standing by an ice cream cart buying a pineapple Popsicle!  I notice that ice cold treat in her right hand and ever so slowly being brought up to her mouth.  She really stopped for a refreshment and is it eating on the run.  I was flabbergasted that she was so rudely eating in front of everyone! She eats and runs for about a quarter of a mile.  At some point she starts walking.  I pass her and make a little vow in my head not to let Popsicle eaters pass me on the trail. 

But I can't get the idea of having something really cold in my mouth out of my mind.  I slow down.  The Popsicle eater passes me and she licks the last remnants off the stick only to toss it on the side of the route.  Okay, I need to forget about the coldness that I want and hope that the Popsicle "high" she has won't last.  I pass her and I don't look back.  She must not pass me again.  I finish ahead of the Popsicle eater.  I will never look at pineapple Popsicles the same way ever again.

By the amount of sweat we are seeing in this photo the run is over. 

Two things I need to point out in this sweaty picture. 

First, that is my hair in a pony tail.  The pony has no bounce, but it is indeed hair tied in a a hairband.  I think I may be chopping my hair off soon.  That's another story. 

 The second thing is, I'm wearing shorts that aren't long.  Those are real running shorts I'm wearing.  I don't consider myself a vain person but I am self-conscious about this super ugly vascular thing I have on the back of my right knee.  I try to wear shorts long enough to spare myself public humiliation or people being sicked out by it's hideousness.  I just needed to clear those two things up.

They needed these EMT vehicles.  People had heat exhaustion.  The cooling stations were full. 

We were drinking liquids for the rest of the day.

 The kids' run was fun to watch.  Jenna was in the first heat for her age division.  She did really well coming in second place.  Before the race started we told her to run as fast as should could and to breath!

There are couple of people in this picture who are happy but there are a couple of people in this picture who are literally dripping with sweat.  Maybe they all were dripping with sweat because it was so hot and humid.  Alec's feet even felt the effects of the sweat.  When we got home he was very concerned about his feet.   He said, "Mom, something is wrong with my feet.  I don't know why they look like this.'  I look at his feet.  I laugh and tell him that his feet were pruned from being in sweaty shoes all day!

  Everybody said they had fun.

I hope they had fun because I know I did.

So This is What a Date Looks Like

One of the draw backs from living bicoastal is the lack of dates in our lives.  There are those couples that have their regular Friday night "Date Night" and then there's us.  We have a sort of regular "See you when the plane lands night" or the "You are on California time and I'm on New York time night," I'll talk to you tomorrow when we are both awake at the same time.  It's a little ridiculous and it gets old.  So, you can understand my excitement when I say that Scott and I had a real date.  And the date was in New York City.

The date began with a train ride into Penn Station.  The train ride was pretty entertaining.  About ten minutes into the trip I hear this oddly familiar laughing and talking.  It takes me a second but I realize that it sounds exactly like the character who played Chandler's girlfriend on "Friends."  After updating my Facebook with this funny incident I am helped out with her name: Janice? Is that you on my train? 

When the ride is over I have no idea where to go so I just follow everyone and act like I know what I'm doing.  I knew this night was going to be good as soon as I look up after getting on the narrow escalator to see the side of a woman's polo shirt sleeve.  The white embroidery read: Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.  Again, I laugh.  I think I may have even laughed a little out loud.  I need to find Scott and share my laugh with him.

Scott and I find each other and we head to the subway.  I should just mention here that it's at this moment when we have a conversation about how the subway is a lot better smelling and breathable in November than it is in July.  When you round a corner to the platform the feeling of being in someone's armpit hits you.  There is no denying that this is the armpit of someone who has just worked out.

We ride the subway to Lincoln Center.  I've been to this stop before but I've never been to Lincoln Center, so this is exciting!

It's Restaurant Week in New York City so we need to partake of some good food.  This date is in celebration of our anniversary.  The night before we were married our two family's went out to Chinese food together. I'm sure the food tasted like no other Chinese food we had ever had because we were happily in-love and about to be married.  It was some good Chinese food.  I'm digressing.  Back to the date. 

 Just around the corner from the temple and the Lincoln Center is Shun Lee's.

 A Chinese restaurant that was packed with people who I'm sure some of which were in-love.

After we had the perfect dessert, a beautiful sliver of a pineapple cut into bite sized pieces, we headed over to the Lincoln Center.  I've seen it many times on television and in the movies but it's really amazing to be there in person.  It's a bit on the magical side of things.

We were about to see Sting and the Royal Philharmonic and I was pretty stoked.  A couple of months ago I received a "concert call" from this concert in California.  In fact, I got a couple of phone calls that night and I was even stoked about hearing it through the phone!

I should note that Scott isn't a huge Sting fan but he did say he's glad I am.  I won't go on and on here about Sting and his voice but I will say that Sting is a guy who has taken care of himself. 

 The concert was magical.

One funny comment that we over heard during the intermission was from one of the center's directors.  He was having a conversation with a guy who was trying to get him as a business contact or something businessy.  The director made a comment like, "I know what you'd be getting from me, but what would you be doing for me?"  The conversation ended quickly with the director saying, "What I can say is that it's so nice to look around and see so many people out tonight, during the middle of the week, enjoying the opera!"

Um... dude.  This is not the opera.

I'm sort of not secretly in-love with him.

Scott knows all about it.

After a fourth or fifth encore we headed away from the Magical Dateland back to Penn Station.  You know, the place I didn't want to ever be in after 11 o'clock at night?

Well, it was a lot better on this night than it was on the Fourth of July.  I couldn't resist taking a picture of the Express sign and the slew of people underneath it....

Dates in California require a lot less traveling and a lot less people mingling. 

But, I would "Ground Hog Day" this date anytime.

Liberty

When I think of the East Coast, and even when I reference its proximity to other states, I often use the term "squishy."  It is squishy because everything is so close together.  We are 4 1/2 hours from Washington DC, 5 hours from Boston, 3 hours from Palmyra and add two hours to that and we are at Niagra Falls.  So, with the squishy factor in full effect we are trying to take advantage of it.

Last Saturday the boys arrived home from attending Scout camp in New York.  They had a great time but I don't think they appreciated our proposal of taking a day trip because of the amount of sleep they had in the past week.  The four of us had been sleeping in nice, comfortable beds, so we didn't have a problem with traveling into Pennsylvania. 

Scott and I had never been to Pennsylvania before so it was kind of an adventure to figure out where to go and what we should see.  Well, it's not really that adventurous because we just type in, "Philadelphia with kids," into Google Search and your trip is planned out for you.

Philadelphia is a very cool city.  I was actually surprised at it's beauty.  I know the city is struggling economically but I think the history and spirit of our nations beginnings allow this city to let off a certain beauty that I can't really describe. 

I won't bore  you with all of the pictures I took.  But here are a few from the day.

 

After walking around for a few hours we needed food.  We had no idea where to go but this area around Liberty Hall is also very squishy, so we knew it would just be a matter of blocks before finding a place to eat.  And we were right.  We found this crowded restaurant called "Jones."   Six of us waiting for a table with the other dozen people also waiting to eat was a little like musical chairs, except for the standing up part, because the waiting area sort of blended into the restaurant.   The waiting area was squishy too.  Oh my.

Anyway, you need to go to "Jones" when you're in Philadelphia.  It has olive green shag carpet.  Swivel chairs and booth seating, high ceilings, and great music playing in the background.  It has really delicious food and great service.  They should pay me for this advertisement.  But seriously, really great restaurant.

Alec even wrote his sentiment in Ketchup.

On our way out of Philadephia we headed toward the Philadelphia Art Museum.  I think that's what they call it.  We were not anticipating being art admirers on this trip but we did need to run the 72 stairs and see Rocky Balboa.

Adrien!

I'm so glad the East Coast is squishy.

Weather Confusion

As my fingers hit the keys I am listening to the sound of rain coming into every open window of this house.  I ran down stairs to take a picture of puddling water and cute feet.

 I'm not convinced July is the month for rain.

  

I know when Scott moved here last June he said that it had rained everyday.  Everyday. Really?  I'm not convinced June is the month for rain either.

We arrived in New York on a Sunday and it was partly cloudy with a chance of rain.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  Was this fake Southern California rain?  Or were they talking about real rain?  It did rain Sunday afternoon but it was just the fake kind.

This is Alec collecting rain for his Venus Fly Trap on Sunday.  Rain water is the best type of water for those plants.  I know what you're thinking.  And the answer is, no, we did not buy the VFT on Sunday.  We carried it on the plane with us.  Alec thought it would love the humidity.

A few days ago we had really strange weather.  Well, we had strange weather by California standards.  We had a slight sprinkle that turned into a down pour.  The down pour lasted for over an hour.  The rain cleared up but it was still over cast.  We decided to head to the pool because it was really hot.  By the time we got to the pool the sun was shining and it was beautiful out.  A couple of hours later the clouds rolled in and we swam in the rain.

I'm about to publish this post and the rain is still pouring out of the sky.  I'm still not convinced this type of rain is acceptable in July.