kicking cancer’s ass one science post at a time
If you don’t know WhyMommy, well, you should. And if you do know her then you know why I’m doing this.
I was very fortunate to meet and hug (and eat chocolate-dipped fruit with!) Susan aka WhyMommy at BlogHer this summer, but I feel like I’ve known her for oh so much longer. I’ve been a reader of her blog Toddler Planet for years, long before I was a blogger myself. One thing that has always been clear in her writing is that throughout her trials with cancer, Susan is first a mother. She’s also, quite literally, a rocket scientist.
Some of you may know that Susan has recently been diagnosed with cancer again, and is undergoing surgery again, today. We wanted to do a little something to support her, in the way only bloggers know how. In the spirit of Susan’s love for her kids and for teaching them science we bring you Team WhyMommy’s Virtual Science Fair! (Thanks to the amazing Stimey for the putting it all together!)
So the science fair project I did with Josh was one he didn’t actually know was happening. I stealth-scienced him. :)
My goal for this last week was to fit any science topics I could more into our daily life and conversations, whenever and wherever they seemed to fit. Here’s a few of the highlights!
First we took a walk in the swamp behind our house. It’s early for the frogs yet, (and for mosquitoes for that matter! Yay!) but even without spotting any wildlife we enjoyed it. Clearly he did:
It’s so pretty back there, and we’ve never really taken the time to appreciate it. I’m so glad we did. And we’ll be going back weekly to watch the changes as spring and summer progress.
While we were up in Maine this weekend, we had a chance to stop by my friend’s house to see her new baby cow named DC. Short for Diet Coke, the cow was only 3 days old, (!!) and as cute as can be. I don’t think Josh has ever petted a cow before, at least not a tiny one. I wish I had gotten pictures though! I didn’t even think of it. He also got to pet one of her chickens, which she picks up and holds just like I do with my cat. (She’s been known to comment under the alias “Cluckers” here. I wonder why?)
When we got back to my parent’s house from visiting Cluckers, it was dark and the sky was full of stars. Josh and I really don’t get to see that very often. We have too many trees, and far too much light pollution around our own house. So I made him stop and look. I pointed out Orion, and Cassiopeia, and he asked where the Big Dipper was. Now I’m planning an evening out with him, with a star map in hand, and we’re going to look at the stars for as long he wants to!
One of the most fun things we did this week was taking a walk by a nearby brook that looked more like a river from the heavy rains we’ve had.
Whoa! Of course we talked about the flooding, and we inspected the edges to see how high the waters had come up just a few days before.
See where he’s standing? All of that was underwater!
Then he found a clearing and danced like a leprechaun! So much for real science. :)
This week has made me realize that I really don’t do enough of this stuff with my kid. Sure we spend lots of time together, and he loves to read science books, but we don’t experience it as much as we should. I think we just forget to stop and pay attention to things during our usual hectic days, but now that we’ve started I’m not going to stop our science adventures, it’s been too much fun!
Thank you Susan, for inspiring us in so many ways! I hope you can look at the stars with your boys again soon. xo
ps. Go check out all of the other Team WhyMommy’s Virtual Science fair posts!
Filed Under blogging, photos, the boy Tagged blog friends, photos, science, the boy
blogher: really in real life
I once said that BlogHer is what happens in the hallways, and these last few days have only confirmed that. There is nothing like randomly running into someone you only recognize from their avatar or their url and having that instant “OMG I know you!!” ~squee!!~ moment with. And then repeat that moment a hundred times over with a hundred different people. And then do it again the next day with another hundred people.
Imagine sitting there chatting to someone for 20 minutes while you’re taking a break and finally saying, “so what’s you’re twitter name? What?! I totally follow you!” It’s actually quite bizarre, in a good way!
For me, BlogHer is also sitting in a hot, crowded, session surrounded by women typing away on their laptops and iphones, intently listening to freaking fantastic panelists and tearing up because you suddenly realize I have found my people. These are my people.
I know what you’re waiting to hear me say, you want me to talk about cliques and snobbery. Not gonna happen. Because it didn’t happen.
Here’s the truth. I have not met one person who snubbed me. I have not witnessed cliques. And not because I haven’t been in the thick of it. I’ve been all over, met a million people, and had my own fan girl moments and honestly, it’s been amazing. I’ve hugged everyone I can get my hands on, and I’ve been hugged right back.
I’m not going to sit here and name drop so-called “big bloggers” that I had dinner with or who I hung out with at this party or that. You know why; because they don’t see themselves that way and the big blogger rock star crap embarrasses them. They are just women (and a few men) trying to have a good time and not hide in a corner because they’re afraid no one will talk to them, just like the rest of us.
Um, hello, most bloggers blog because they have some form of social anxiety. Lucky for me I don’t really. I’m pretty dang good at introducing myself with no expectations. And you know what always shocks me? When someone knows who I am in return.
Let me also say one thing that BlogHer ISN’T about. Swag. I know. You’ve all heard about swag and wondering what we got. Well yeah, some people got some cool stuff if they happened to be at the right place at the right time. The majority of us got a lot of tote bags, water bottles, some toys for our kids, and strange amounts of laundry detergent handed to us. And you know what? Who cares?! It’s just not about the swag! I would much rather collect friendships thank you very much. I have missed a number of opportunities to get “stuff” in order to hang out and have actual CONVERSATIONS. To each their own, but that’s my take on it and probably the last I will say about the swag.
Anyway, I can’t tell you enough how incredible this experience is. Busy and crazy and fun and crowded and overwhelming at times. What I’ve learned, and what I’ve done, and who I’ve met have imprinted themselves on me. I know now that the way I blog is just fine, because it’s my way. I do it for fun, for an outlet, for me and me alone, and I’m much more secure about that than I ever was before this.
As soon as I get home I need to start saving for BlogHer 2010 - in New York City. I’ve found my people, and it’s fantastic. (And yes I have some funny stories for you, soon!)
….and I’m PC, but we’re both going to win
She’s the Mac. Not only is Leighann awesome, and she’s a fellow Blog Nosh editor, and I’m jealous of her Mac, she’s also my roomie at BlogHer! Since I’m on a run of good luck with my plane tickets, we thought we should both trying to win a free stay at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers during the conference from Z Recommends! Since we’re already planning to be roommates, we’ve decided if one of us wins the other gets to stay in the room too. :) And a sweet swanky Executive Club Level room it is!
Now, it’s not like me to do a post about a contest, but this is one I contest I really want to win. Especially since it’s worth about $800! I bet you want to try to win it too. But I’m not going to tell you how because I want it!!! Okay, okay, I will tell you how, you just have to check out this post. the requirements are easy, a blog post like this one (but geez you probably don’t want yours to be like this one!) for your first entry and a tweet for your second. (But be sure to read all the directions.) Humpf, but you better not win. Cause it’s mine. Mine, I say! Or at least Leighann’s. Which is as good as mine.
Btw, not only is Z Recommends giving away a stay in the hotel, but if you missed your chance to buy a conference pass before they sold out, they have a contest for that too! But I’m not entering that one because I have my pass and I’m trying not to be greedy here. ;) I’m just sharing the love with you. Mwah!
a favor
Please send prayers, good thoughts, good wishes, good karma, anything you can Shannon’s way.
Cancer sucks.
Closing comments so you will maybe go comment over there instead. Please?
apparently I kick ass
I think it’s pretty obvious I’ve had a bit of a hectic week. Work is kicking my butt and traveling, fun as it was, burned up precious time. Not to mention trying to get in a few peeks at the Olympics at night. I may have stayed up a bit too late a few times!
In the middle of it all, my virtual twin Kaza reminded me why I love blogging so much. This is why I can’t quit y’all no matter how busy I get otherwise. Kaza seems to think that I kick ass and gave me an award that says so!
Thank you!! If I could give it back to you I would, and you know I adore you!
I’m supposed to pass this on to 5 bloggers I think kick ass too. That’s easy - there are tons of bloggers who inspire me. Narrowing it down to just 5 is the hard part! Here goes:
- Erin - I found Erin really randomly back when we were both on Wordpress. I’m so glad I did, I completely relate to every post she writes!
- CraftyKeg - She blogs about crafting and food, does it get any better than that?! Seriously, you should all be reading her!
- Auds - She IS barking mad, in a good way! Her posts are the longest of any other blogger I know, but I’m always riveted!
- Bejewell - Can we say hysterical? Even her url is funny! This chick makes me laugh out loud every time - even if she thinks I’m a wuss. ;)
- Stimey - Stimeyland is an amazing place, and she is an incredible mother. I admire her in too many ways to count.
Ladies, you all kick major ass!