Magnetic Magic

Magnetic Magic: Magic Tricks Done With Magnets

Adam received this Klutz Book of Magnetic Magic ages ago and I just let him go through the experiments by himself.  Recently, Dova picked up the book and wanted to try the experiment with a glass jar and paper clips. 

Attach thread to paper clips and tape them to the bottom of a jar.  Stick a magnet to the underside of the lid and watch the paper clips magically suspend in mid air.

I didn’t want to deal with fishing out tape from the bottom of the jar afterwards, so I set up the experiment for them on the counter with a drinking glass.  It was an attempt to engage in a learning experience with the kids.  For a few moments, I felt like super mom, teaching my kids important lessons in magnetism.  Maybe I could even homeschool them!

We left the magnets and paper clips and went on to something else.  A little while later, I found this.



Oh well, so much for a learning experience.  At least our kids are a creative bunch.

PSF - A Walk Through Diagon Alley

We went see the Harry Potter Exhibition a second time with the express purpose of taking photographs in the store.  The first time around, I was gunshy about taking illicit photographs, which kept my camera under wraps in the store as well.  This time, I saw other people taking secret photographs in the exhibits, but I didn't dare whip out my huge DSLR.  I drank in the sights again and noticed a few extra things that I missed, such as the Time Turner, and the fact that dementors do have pseudo pelvis with no leg sockets, where the tail bone extends down several feet below it.

As soon as you walk into the Harry Potter Exhibition store, you immediately walk up to Ollivander's Wand Shop.



Maker of Fine Wands Since 382 B.C.



Boxes and boxes of wands to choose from (but really the wand chooses the wizard or witch). Besides taking pictures, I also wanted to purchase Dumbledore's wand (the elder wand). I was going in with an open mind and if Hermione's wand spoke to me I would get that instead. When I tried them out, the elder wand definitely felt right to me, but Hermione's wand spoke to Dova.  Now, I couldn't tell her that only Adam and I could have wands, so Hermione's wand was added to the list of extravagant purchases.



I didn't notice the display of Hermione's and Dumbledore's wands until after I viewed this photograph at home.



Next stop is Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. No robes here, just knick knacks.



You can find clothes at Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop. They really ought to be at Madam Malkin's. And no Weasley's Wizard Wheezes shop.





You can find the Harry Potter books and DVDs at Quality Quidditch Supplies, but not at Flourish & Blotts. What gives? This Diagon Alley may not be so authentic after all.



For a mere $499.99, you can purchase this wizard chess set. Very cool, but probably not magical.



Look at the detail in those gorgeous pieces!  There was a full size pawn inside the exhibit.



If you can't afford that, this Quidditch chess set is available for $349.99. What a bargain!



Beware of the dark magic objects at Borgin and Burkes!



Down near the Apothecary and Eeylops Owl Emporium, we finally found some treats to eat.



We bought two chocolate frogs, which are chocolate with rice crispies. Even with the collectible card it was hardly worth $3.99.  We got Gilderoy Lockhart (gag me!) and Donaghan Tremlett, bass player with Myron Wagtail, lead singer of a popular wizarding band.  Got the Fudge Flies as well, no flies, just cheap chocolate.



But we knew to stay clear of Bertie Bott's Beans after our previous experience.



There were plenty of figurines, but only Dobby the elf looked real.



I finally found the nicer artifact section with this painting and owl cage, and what's that stone?



A replica of the Sorcerer's or Philosopher's Stone!



The Time Turner would be really cool to have. Especially if it worked.



The Golden Egg was beautiful.



Dova peered into this box with Harry Potter's glasses. Adam really wanted the glasses, but not being prescription would be a problem.



The most chilling piece of jewelry was the horcrux locket.



Complete with the note from R.A.B.

At this point the cashier told me that photography was not allowed as the store was part of the exhibit..  Adam looked at me in shock.  I thought this was ridiculous because you could buy these objects and take them home to photograph.  I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.  Oops!


Hosted by Cecily

SkinIt!

The one thing that drove me crazy about my new laptop, the Acer Aspire AS1410, was that the black plastic cover was always covered in fingerprints.  You could not pick up the thing without fingerprinting it. 

So as another Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday present to me, I made a custom SkinIt from our Beatlemania photo.  After very, very carefully applying the skin (an automobile-grade decal), I now have the coolest looking laptop that doesn't fingerprint!

And since I used RetailMeNot to score a nice discount, I used the extra savings to get a skin for my Nintendo DS as well.  Koi Yin Yang on Blue is so very Angela.

I’m usually not into customizing my gadgets, but these skins put a smile on my face.

WW - Sorting Hat Says...

Ravenclaw!  Although Adam does exhibit the courage and chivalry of Gryffindors, his personality is definitely more intelligent and clever like that of Ravenclaw.

We went for a second visit of the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Museum of Science over the weekend.  As soon we entered the store, I whipped out my camera and took pictures of "Diagon Alley" and many of the items in it.  Near the end, I was taking pictures of the jewelry, when a cashier said that photography wasn't allowed.

"But it's the store!"

"It's still part of the exhibit."

I would certainly agree, as it was like walking through a set.  But hey, she couldn't very well yank my memory card out of my camera.  Many more photos to come...

Visit by Wordless Wednesday or 5 Minutes for Mom or 7 Clown Circus (wordful) for more participants.

P.S. Back to Blogger comments for now as Haloscan is finally meeting its demise.

Piano Lessons 'R Us

We started piano lessons with the kids last year, when Adam was 8 and Dova was 5.  Adam picked it up easily, but within a few weeks, it was apparent that Dova didn't have the coordination or concentration to do it.  We tried again a few months later, but after a practice where we both ended up in tears, we quit again. She wasn't able to practice on her own, and she simply couldn't do it with me either (one of the MANY ways we clash - there will be no homeschooling at this house!).

When I learned the piano, I practiced on my own every day, and during lessons, I would get corrected.  Adam is flying through his lesson books because at every lesson, he plays his pieces perfectly, thanks to his mom correcting him during practice time.  So I think he is learning twice as fast as I did.  Unfortunately, he relies on me to tell him the notes, so he still can't read music.

But the most rewarding part of practicing is when I get to play together with the kids.  When we play something that actually sounds like real music, it is a total rush.  It's pretty difficult to get them to perform at their best with the video rolling, but that awesome feeling of creating music together is still palpable (pink robe and all).



Today, I tried to start Dova on the piano again. After she threw a huge fit, we finally sat down to review some of her first lessons. After 15 minutes, we recorded this.



Do you see the delighted look on her face?  She's definitely ready for lessons again.  Here's hoping I won't strangle her in the process.  I love her to death, but sometimes...

Here are some encore videos of Adam (for Grandma).





I remember having trouble learning how to pedal properly, but with just a little bit of coaching, Adam picked it up and really understood it. His favorite part of this video is turning to camera onto me of course.

Sunday Morning for Adam

Eating Cheerios (Joe's O's) with a good book (Star Wars) and super crazy hair makes for one very happy Adam.

Harry Potter Exhibition in Boston - One More Month!

For my birthday, we went to see the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Museum of Science in Boston. It was far better than we could have imagined.  The only downside was that no photography was allowed.  I was tempted to shoot surreptitiously (I love these kind of challenges), but I only had my point and shoot camera and there were too many guards around.  Plus, what kind of example would I be setting for my kids?  They will have plenty of other opportunities to learn how their mom pushes the envelope.  We settled for the program afterwards, where the photography was not quite up to snuff, but still better than just memories.

In 2006, we saw the Star Wars exhibit at the Museum of Science, which was cool, but nothing phenomenal.  Sure, there were ship replicas, droids, and costumes, but it was just a static display, nothing to draw you in.


Adam and Dova in front of the wizard chess knight in the lobby of the Museum of Science.

Walking into the Harry Potter exhibit was like walking into Hogwarts.  It was magical.  From the rich textured fabrics of Harry's and Ron's beds, to the oversize Jack in the Box and the boggart chest, everything was so real.  Walking from room to room brought more and more awesome displays.  The kids' favorite activity was to pull the mandrakes out of the pots, where they screamed and scowled at you.


Image from the Harry Potter Exhibition gallery.

One of the most vivid displays was the dementors.  You can't really see them in the movies (or the program), but inside they are creepy skeletons with long arms and hands, and a long backbone with no pelvis or legs.  Chilling to the bone.

You could walk through Hagrid's hut and see his gigantic kitchen and costume. Turning the corner, was the wall of Education Decrees tacked up to the ceiling and finally the great hall with candles hanging in the air (OK, it was a bit smaller, but it had the same feel).  My favorite costume was Hermione's dress from the yule ball, the fabrics were absolutely exquisite and Emma Watson was so petite!  Even Daniel Radcliffe's clothes from the first movie were tiny, there would be no way that Adam at age 9 could fit into Daniel's clothes at age 11.

The model of the phoenix Fawkes was quite striking as well.  He stood perched eye level with you and his tail feathers almost touched the ground.  His orange and red colors were really vivid and I was tempted to secretly whip out my camera again.

At the end, the store was even spectacular.  There was a display of wands in boxes stacked just like in Ollivander's wand shop.  You could purchase a Marauder's map for $40!!???!!  There weren't even any footsteps in them.  Of course, I caved and bought Adam a (ridiculously expensive) wand and Dova this shirt which she layered for the winter.

 

But my biggest regret was that I continued to think that I couldn't take pictures in the store.  The store isn't part of the exhibit so I should be able take pictures! Pictures of Ollivander's wand shop, of the Marauder's Map, of all the cool wands (plus I need to get Dumbledore's wand for myself... but not because I crave power...).  So we are going back to see it again!  Because I am obsessed!

If you live in the Boston area, the exhibit will be here for one more month until February 21st.  Since tickets are pricey, it is worthwhile just getting the Museum of Science membership (plus you can see the HP exhibit again cheaply if you are obsessed like I am).  It also gets you a 10% discount in the shop if you are compelled to buy wands.  Next stop for this exhibit is Toronto from April 9, 2010 - August 22, 2010.  Don't miss it!

PSF - Emo Boy

For the longest time, Adam has wanted long hair.  Last year, we let it grow until I couldn't stand it any longer and chopped it off in time for spring soccer.  He has the thickest hair and is always the sweatiest boy out there.

I've cut Adam's hair since he was a baby, and it's transformed from thin baby hair, to thick curly hair, and now to thick, slightly wavy hair (miss the curls!).  His hair is so thick, it's like cutting a paintbrush.  I've had to buy new haircutting scissors because his hair dulled the first pair.  But every haircutting experience is an exercise in frustration as he is completely ticklish.  So the less haircutting I have to do, the better.

I actually enjoy his longer hair, as now I have an excuse to run my fingers through it to see his face.  Doug thinks it's too messy.  Grandma loves it because she thinks he looks like Harry Potter.  I'm not sure how long he'll continue to let his mom stroke his hair, but I'm getting my fill before some lucky girl takes over.  I also enjoy the soft skin on his cheeks and tell him to enjoy his beautiful skin before he becomes a teenager.  You know, rub your hands on them and feel how soft they are.  He thinks I'm crazy.

He can't wait for his bangs to grow over his eyes so he can truly be Emo boy . Doug and I always use this Skype emoticon when referring to him.

Adam loves his hair long, and I see him admiring it after a shower.  He like to brush his sideburns forward onto his cheeks.  We tell them they look like girly sideburns, and he likes to strike a girly pose.  It reminds me of the women in old Chinese movies who glue their sideburns to their cheeks to make them pointy.  I took this last shot of his girly sideburns before giving him a trim.

It's amazing how the hair genes meshed in our family.  Adam got my hair color and thickness, tempered by Doug's curls.  Dova has Doug's fine hair and color, but my straightness.  It is completely different than mine, and I only pretend to have her highlights.  Either way, we are blessed with the most beautiful happa children.

Hosted by Cecily and Michelle

Left on Spitbrook, Right on Daniel Webster

If you’re from the New England area, you may have seen this awesome commercial for McDonald’s Newman’s Own coffee.   Before handing over the coffee, there is a quiz that a guy has to answer of regional slang.  I have been officially assimilated because I understood most of them right off the bat!  Still, there are some that even Doug, a Massachusetts lifer of 50 years, hadn’t heard of.  Here’s the quiz:

1. Blizzard of... ? ‘78.  (Say “Blizzehd”)
2. Newyorkachusetts? Connecticut.  (I’ve lived in NY, CT and MA for a total of 36 years and haven’t heard of this one.)
3. Drinking fountain?  Bubbler.  (Or Bubblah if you pronounce it correctly.)
4. What do they ask for at a packie? ID. (Packie = package store = liquor store).
5. Sprinkles or Jimmies?  Jimmies.  (Jimmies are usually only the chocolate kind of sprinkles.)
6. 5 inches of snow?  Dustin’.
7. Manhattan chowder? Never heard of it (I never had it even when I lived in NY).

These two hooked up again for another commercial which I haven’t found on Youtube yet.  Once I started looking for it, it never came on.  Finally, I captured it on my DVR during a news cast, but lost it so it’s still mostly from memory.  (2/11/10 Edited to add - Special thanks to Sandy for finding the commercial on YouTube!)  Here’s the latest quiz:

1. Newyorkachusetts? Connecticut.
2. Turn signal?  Sign of weakness.
3. Left on Spitbrook?  Right on Daniel Webster. 
4. EEEENHHH (the sound of a ferry horn)?  Island Queen.
5. Irish Riviera?  South Shore. 
6. Worcester? Woostah.
7. Ant?  Aunt.
8. Best Broadway show evah?  Wicked.

Now for questions 3 and 4, I originally thought that the EEEENHH sound was a BZZZT for getting the previous answer wrong.  Finally the internet came through and straightened me out. 

"Left on Spit Brook, Right on Dan'l Webster" is a correct question and answer (referring to the old Jordan's [radio] ad [from the eighties], as stated elsewhere). The next noise the questioner makes isn't a signal for "wrong" but rather the sound of a ferry horn, specifically for the Island Queen Ferry to Martha's Vineyard. Brilliant commercial. We actually set the TiVo and reran the spot until we figured this one out.”

Yeah, we reran our DVR without such enlightenment (Doug claims he figured it out while I was traveling).  But we did have a lengthy discussion about that intersection.  We are extremely familiar with the intersection of Spitbrook Road and Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua, NH because it is the center of all commerce for those of us who live in Taxachusetts and shop in tax free and die New Hampshire.  In fact I probably frequent that intersection at least once a week. 

When I moved to the area in 1995, the major landmark at Spitbrook and Daniel Webster was the Green Ridge Turkey Farm restaurant.  It may have been great in its heyday, but it was horrible when we went. 


Vintage postcard from Card Cow.

Soon afterwards, it became a huge Barnes and Noble (a monstrosity by comparison).  Sure it has books, Starbucks and wi-fi, but it just isn’t as quaint, which may be why I have a distaste for B&N in general.  So next time you see the McDonald's ad, remember the Turkey Farm!


Image from Barnes & Noble.

We’ve since seen another of these commercials with a guy and a girl in a library with a new set of questions (this time I religiously rewound it on the spot when it came on):

1. Vermont state bird?  Hermit thrush.
2. Ball slowly rolls past?  First base (that Bill Buckner play is forever seared in my mind).
3. Bowling?  Candlepin (my kids have played no other kind of bowling!)
4. Downeaster?  Resident of Maine.
5. Nor’easter?  Wicked bad storm.
6. Your hair smells like sunshine.  What?  Nothing, coffee?

And in Albany, the last remark is “I love your chin dimple.”

The commercials must be working because Doug’s coffee of choice is now McDonald’s Newman’s Own instead of Dunkin Donuts.  Me?  I’m too cheap to buy coffee I don’t make.

WW - Toothless

Dova lost her top two teeth back in July and didn't get any for Christmas.  Now she lost her bottom two with no sign of any permanents coming.  She looks like a little hockey player.

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iTunes Gift Cards - Not Just for Music Anymore!

Since most of my friends and relatives know that I am fairly well assimilated into the Apple collective when it comes to iPods and iPhones, an easy gift for me is an iTunes gift card.  But for years I would dread receiving them because I hated to buy music with DRM.  Since Apple has relieved that requirement by offering non-DRM selections, there's still only so much music that I need to buy.

Last year, I realized that could buy iPhone Apps with my iTunes gift cards.  This may seem obvious to most, but up until that point, I had never spent a dime on an iPhone app (frugal, tightwad, whatever, I hate to part with my own money!).  I bought Bejeweled 2 (still my biggest time sink with Blitz), Gem Spinner and Peggle (OK, I ran out of gift card money and forked over real dollars for this addiction).  All three of these are still on the front page of my iPhone!

This year, I found myself again with extra iTunes money in my account.  I never thought about getting movies through iTunes, because I didn't want to watch them on my iPhone or computer and didn't have an easy way to hook my ancient desktop to my TV.  But as a reward for a job well done for Hands On Small Business, I bought myself a laptop as my previous laptops have been taken by Doug and Adam.

Acer Aspire AS1410-2039 11.6-Inch Black Laptop

I was only looking for an ultra compact notebook or netbook and loved the full-sized keys and higher resolution monitor of this Acer. But as an extra bonus, it also had an HDMI output. Hey, that means that I can finally play movies easily from my laptop to my TV.

So I finally ventured down the path of renting a movie from iTunes.  We rented Aliens in the Attic.  As soon as it started, I felt the lack of control from not having a remote.  But as soon as I thought this, I realized that I just needed to download the Remote app for the iPhone.



A couple of taps on my iPhone and clicks on my computer and I suddenly had full control of my movie from my iPhone!  Now this was more like it.  I especially love that they have the 10 second rewind feature for us DVR-reliant.  We watched the movie for nearly 24 hours straight, with the kids having friends over the weekend. And I watched as it magically disappeared after our allotted time.

I still don't think I would buy movies on iTunes because I love all the extra features of DVDs, but getting a rental is fairly quick as easy.  At least there's one more way of using up my iTunes gift cards.  Of course, the kids loved that particular movie so much, they keep asking for it on DVD.  Can't get enough of Kung Fu Grandma and Funky Ricky. 

Labyrinthitis - Not for the Brain Paranoid

It will be a long time before I get on this tea cup ride again!

Shortly after I returned from a trip to California last week, I had a very frightening dizzy spell upon waking up. But first my limited history with brain afflictions. First there was my close friend's car accident where she suffered a traumatic brain injury which has taken years (and counting) to recover from. Then there was my dad's strokes, brain cancer and descent into angry paranoia. There was Natasha Richardson. And a friend's experiences with transient ischemic attack (TMI) after his heart surgery.  And finally Anissa's stroke and recovery. The most important thing that I take from these experiences is that your brain is your most vital organ that must be protected at all costs.

So imagine lying awake in bed one morning and then suddenly the room shifting 180° violently from one side to the other, resetting, and then shifting again, all in rapid succession.  I closed my eyes and it seemed to stop.  I opened my eyes again and there it was, my room spinning around me, and I had no control over it.  I was seeing it in my eyes!  I held onto my bed, closed my eyes and wished for it to stop.  I would try opening one eye or the other, and either way, the room violently swam around me.  I closed my eyes for about fifteen minutes, while hyperventilating and sweating, and it finally stopped.

I tried to sit up, but it started all over again.  This time I lied on the other side, desperately clinging to my bed, wishing for it to stop.  I thought I didn't feel the dizzyness when my eyes were closed, but my stomach felt otherwise.  Every time I opened my eyes, they hurt from the spinning.  I couldn't tell whether my eyes were flying around out of my control or what was causing the sense that my bedroom would not stay still. This was not your average off balance sense after having a few too many to drink or the bed tilting when you have a fever. The room was seriously flying around from one side to the other.  If I were standing, I would instantly fall to the floor.  If I were driving, I would have to stomp on the brakes to avoid hitting something.  Finally after about an hour, it stopped enough so I was able to get up.  It was really scary being so out of control, thinking something could be wrong with my brain.

I visited the doctor in the afternoon and learned that I had labyrinthitis, a viral inner ear infection.  She did a bunch of neurological tests to rule out any other cause and also mentioned that it had been going around.  I was immediately put at ease, mostly because I trust her judgement, being a fellow Course 2 (mechanical engineering) MIT grad before changing her career to medicine.  Yes, I pick my doctors on their engineering degrees .  She recommended that I take some meclizine (Bonine) to ease the symptoms, or else just wait out the few days to few weeks it would take to subside.  In the meantime, I was not to drive as two quick head turns could set off the dizzyness.

Today is day two of dizzy Angela.  Yes, I woke up with vertigo again and screamed for someone to bring me some medicine.  This time, I took a more analytical approach when the dizzy spells occurred.  I figured out that my eyes did indeed move around wildly when the room started spinning, and that the dizzyness continued when my eyes were closed.  Unfortunately, the medicine's side effect of drowsiness knocked me out for about five hours of naps today.

Tomorrow will be a no medicine day because all this sleeping is so not Angela.  Hopefully the dizzyness will subside a bit.  The velocity of the room spin has definitely decreased today, so the dizzy spells are more amusing than frightening.  And thankfully, there is nothing wrong with my brain.

Is It Magic?

What's in this brown box with strange numbers on the end?


It has different numbers on the other end and is wrapped in beautiful ribbons.


Opening the ribbon, is that HP for Hewlett Packard or Harry Potter?


It's Harry Potter's wand in a red velvet lined box!

After we were completely enchanted with the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Museum of Science in Boston, I could not resist buying a very expensive replica of Harry's wand for Adam for $45 dollars!???!!!  For some reason since it was weighted so well, I really believed it was made from wood.



Doug shook his head, and the mechanical engineering brain of mine finally kicked in. Of course these mass-produced wands had to be injection-molded plastic painted to look like wood. But even so, can it work magic?

That night, in our Harry Potter immersion, I downloaded a couple Harry Potter apps for the iPhone.  The free movie app, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (iTunes link), had a Daily Prophet page maker.  Using four photographs, they made an animated gif to put into a template.  I pointed my phone at Adam and asked him to cast a spell.

"Confringo!"  he yelled, wielding his wand.  There was a crash and hundreds of beads fell on the floor.  He had caught the edge of a box full of beads that was on my desk with his wand.  We looked up the spell Confringo (for shame, casting spells without knowing what they mean), and learned that it "makes things explode".  Oh my gosh, he did exactly that!

That awesome smile at the end was taken just after he successfully cast his first spell.  He titled the page, "A Muggle Casts a Real Spell!"


Animated gif created with Picasion.

After that we snuggled up for our every other night reading of Harry Potter.  I believe we read the action-packed Chapter 23 of the Deathly Hallows, Malfoy Manor. He wanted to continue, but I insisted on stopping, just let these last few chapters last.  Soon we will be all done with the Harry Potter series.  It has been our extremely special mother-son bonding time for nearly two years.  Something that I hope he will always remember.  And that's no magic.