Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Field Trip (not a soccer post)

I went to the A2 Hands On Museum w/ Solstice's class yesterday. We had a great time, but it totally wore me out. I don't know how the elementary teachers can do it day in & day out. Those kids are nuts. Of course, some of the parents are kind of nuts too. One dude, Rocket, drove me nuts the whole time. Rocket isn't his real name, but he looks like he just stepped out of Colors w/ his red dew-rag & red dollar-sign, bedazzled baseball cap (all he was missing was a "wife-beater" under a shirt w/ only the top button buttoned. It's fantastic that he is willing to volunteer, in fact, he's been @ other things too, but he is just soooo stupid. During "Slime Time" (45 minutes of nastiness when the kids got to create different types of slimy goop), the instructor asked if it was a solid, a liquid, or a gas. His response: "it's a solid & a liquid." 1st of all, we're the adults... let the kids answer. 2ndly, it's 1 or the other, come on! (As it turned out, it was a Non-Newtonian Fluid. Other examples of Non-Newtonian Fluids can be found in the Tub Girl photo & in the ever-popular video, "2 Girls and a Cup of Non-Newtonian Fluid." After "Slime Time" was over, we had a few more minutes to check stuff out & Rocket was amazed by the fact that the pins in the "Push up the pins and leave an imprint of your hand or face or whatever" thing always fell back to the same place. I asked what he meant, & he meant just what he said... "It's crazy that they always go down right next to each other." Maybe the fact that I asked makes me the real idiot here. Afterwards, we had to stand between a row of buses & a tall brick wall for about 20 minutes so Solstice's teacher & I caught a nice buzz off of the diesel exhaust before we finally boarded the bus. As Solstice & her friend Shawnte were about to sit down right by Rocket, I was able to usher them to a farther seat to avoid another Mensa meeting w/ him. Solstice had a blast, & can't wait to go back. It'd been quite a while, but I think the next Museum on our itinerary will be the Detroit Historical Museum. I just found a 2 for 1 coupon & it's burning a hole in the old proverbial pocket. Overall, Solstice's favorite part was The Bubble Thingy & Slime Time and Shawnte really like lunch.
The Bus Ride w/ Shawnte
The Bubble Thingy
The new nature room... same as the old nature room (w/o the tarantula)
Chloe administers CPR
Slime Time!!!
Fun w/ Mirrors

14 comments:

Daye said...

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks subversive thoughts on field trips. Oh and nice transition to TubGirl. I challenge you to get smooth segues to TubGirl (tm) in every entry!!

Andre said...

OK... the challenge is on!

Shannon said...

that sounds like fun! wish i had me some wee ones at times.

Anonymous said...

I just rented a movie called, "Non-Newtonian Fluid Craving Sluts Part 28." It was a foreign film. And very educational!

Liz Peltier Moyer said...

I am glad that you are showing elementary teachers the proper respect. Also- I like Wendy's challenge.

Liz Peltier Moyer said...

Also, DIA should be on your list. I hear it's doubled in size. Or you could wait until I get back for that trip. 12 weeks left!

Andre said...

Jason, that sounds fantastic... I'll have to check it out.

Elizabeth, let's go to the DIA when you get back. That was actually my plan anyway.

ypsipearl said...

Geo and I just took our kids to the DIA a few weeks ago and they loved it. You have to check out the virtual feast in the fancy European room. That's not exactly what it's called but you'll figure it out. The armor display was popular too.

Andre said...

Yeah, I told them about the armor and they seemed pretty excited. I kind of think they'll dig the post-modern stuff too.

Unknown said...

Wait, you do stuff other than play/watch soccer/football?

Andre said...

Well, not really. This is all a lie.

Anonymous said...

Yep, he's not sitting here reading Moby Dick at all... oh wait, it's a comic book version... never mind....
I'm looking forward to the museums this summer too, it will be nice now that the kids are old enough to really get into it.

Zoe the Wonder Dog said...

The public library has a program where you can "check out" free passes to many of the Detroit museums/attractions. Sometimes it gets you 2 free passes, sometimes 4. The kiosk with all the options is in the "new books room" of the Michigan Ave library (to the right at the top of the stairs). I think the Historical Museum is one of the venues.

I second YpsiPearl's endorsement of the DIA. The kids loved the modern and post-modern exhibits and some of the "romantic" hunting scenes -- especially when there was a slaughtered animal in the painting.

Andre said...

Awesome.. thanks for the heads-up. I just picked up a pass for the Detroit Historical Museum for this weekend. I haven't been there since I was a little kid.