It Started off So Well ...

PAWS ON SCIENCE:  Saturday we spent some quality time at Pacific Science Center for one of our absolute favorite annual events, "Paws on Science." It's a chance to meet scientists from a wide spectrum of fields of study - everything from Earth sciences to engineers working with composites.

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking for now, and have the kids write reports when they're up to it (more on that later).

The kids had more than a couple of chances to get their "paws" on powerful microscopes. Here, CJ's looking at 'germs' that look suspiciously like candy, or Crunchberries.

You can also see CJ's passport on the table. These little books were given for future scientists to take between booths, and after they participated in the educational activity there, they got a stamp in their passport. CJ and Annabelle accumulated a lot of stamps in the 2 hours we had (per our parking meter).

Above, they experimented with thermometers that read temperatures with infrared technology.  Below, they build beneficial viruses, like the ones some UW scientists are working on in hopes of an eventual cure for muscular dystrophy.

Below is Bee's finished virus.

At a medicine-themed table, they learned that some medicines are more effective if you chew them up. Look at how much more quickly the Tums they pulverized with a mortar and pestle (lower left cup) neutralized the acid as compared to the whole tablet (lower right cup).

We learned that the UW has four bee hives on campus. One of the things they're studying is colony collapse, an issue that could have grave consequences for all of us. The queen may be in the photo below. We spotted her when we were at PSC, and my camera was pointed in her general direction, but this evening, Annabelle and I can't pick her out from the crowd.

Of course, they had to climb in the race car, built by the UW Formula Motorsports team. UW engineering students build new cars each year, and race against other engineering student teams in the U.S. and abroad.

One table featured an array of tools which help make science accessible to people with disabilities. There, we found everything from talking scales to a hand-held device that can read colors. The kids each got to operate a braille printing machine, spelling out their names. Below, Annabelle explains to a UW student it might take her awhile, as her name is relatively long.

It wouldn't have been Husky day without an appearance by some of the Husky marching band and cheer squad ...

and we even got to meet the real live Husky, Dubs!!

It was a great day!

THE LIFE OF PI:  Sunday, we'd planned on going to see "Life of Pi," since it was showing at our favorite theater, The Crest in Shoreline, where tickets are just $3 apiece and they use real butter on their popcorn. :)
Three of four of us made it. I stayed home and sat on the couch, having hallucinations thanks to my sky high fever, which hit shortly after midnight on Saturday.

I vaguely remember Annabelle saying the movie was great. I went to bed before dinner and was down for the night until ... the flu hit CJ around 2 a.m. It wasn't pretty. I'll leave it at that.

THREE OUTS: Our various illnesses kept half the family home from tonight's Mariners' home opener. :( The kids and I watched it (and the NCAA national championship basketball game) on TV, which Christian, Rick and Kennedy all enjoyed the fireworks and fun in person. Oh well, there will be other games. Many other games!