Adventure #1

This summer I've decided to take the kids somewhere each weekend instead of loading them up for a long car trip (the radio can't be loud enough to drown them out arguing in the backseat.)  After a couple weeks, they have started calling the little activities "adventures."  Several weeks ago we went to the Allentown auto museum, America on Wheels, to see the special Disney Pixar Cars2 display.  I have a feeling another "adventure" will have to consist of going to see the new movie when it opens in June.  Here's the photos:

Pippi & Toby

Summer is here...Vacation!

Monkey doing some filing

Monkey online

Monkey checks for new mail

Monkey makes copies

Everybody should take a little vacation this summer.  Monkey took a trip to the library! 

Happy National Library Week!

Don't you think it's time you did something nice for your favorite librarian?  If you don't have a favorite, just pick me!  My fellow librarians and I came up with some good suggestions we wish would be discounted in honor of this celebratory week:
-Offer us a discount on cardigans, preferably argyles
-Stylists, can you offer a price reduction on a shampoo, blow out and bun?  And just tuck a pencil in if you don't have hairpins
-We're looking for deals on the chains we use to keep track of our glasses-they always manage to get lost
-Do you do shoe repair?  We need our pointy shoes fixed.
Ok, these might be a bit far-fetched, but how about just paying that quarter library fine you've owed for the past 6 months?

Headlines

Headlines can make or break a magazine cover.  How often have you picked up a magazine just because of an attention-grabbing headline (we've all been lured.)  Some recent headlines that have caught my eye:
- Save on groceries: A plate full of plants (The Herb Companion) Sounds appetizing
- Ticks suck! (DirtRag)
- NYT paywall subscription instructions- no more complex than affordable healthcare act (Adweek)
-Never get a blood transfusion in these countries (Bottom line/personal)  It seems like if you need one, you need one immediately 
-Look Sexy!  Makeup that flirts for you (Cosmo) Yes because I'm too lazy to do it myself
-Blimps are back! (Popular Science) Oh please no-Next they'll offer flight service from the top of the Empire State Building

Waiting for Superman

After watching this documentary over the weekend, I felt it just added to the bleak state of current affairs.  Waiting for Superman shows why America's schools are failing and why we are falling behind other developed nations in educating our youth. This was fraught with meaning for me as I am contemplating moving from one school district to another.  It made me think my second grader doesn't have a chance no matter where she goes to school.  Even the so called "better" districts may not be offering a great education, just in nicer surroundings than the inner city schools.  The point I think everyone who watches Waiting for Superman will take away from it is that failure to lay the educational foundation for students has lasting results for the future.  To parody a song phrase 'the future is not looking so bright, so take off the shades.'

A good egg...

is the title of an article in May's Prevention magazine.  This is a completely reworked format.  The logo even has softer edges!  It is a fresh look for a jam packed advice and awareness publication.  Find out what all the labels mean on that carton of eggs you are buying.  The article describes three types of egg production farms focusing on the hens housing, feed, and freedom to enjoy the outdoors.  To see a video of one of the farms go to prevention.com/organic-chicken-farm.  It also gives the facts about Salmonella and what the chance is that it will be in one of your eggs.  Easter is coming, so do your healthy egg research now.  There is something of interest to all in Prevention.  Look for Sheryl Crow on the cover and pick it up!

Reality TV- just unrealistic

Is there really a need for reality TV anymore?  I actually canceled my cable service months ago and I haven't missed it.  I catch up on news online and still do watch TV (only CNN though) at the gym or at my Dad's house.  The news is all just bad lately.  The whole first section of the Sunday New York Times this weekend was just depressing.  Then I came across an article in the Arts & Leisure section, 'Have I got a show for you...' which contained true or false summaries about reality shows being considered for spring programming lineups.  Do we really need to watch any of these?  With the current junk programming, I was ready to believe all of them were being considered- no matter how absurd they seemed.  It appears couch potatoes will be tuning into shows with titles like 'Extreme Couponing' (TLC) which sounds like typical American consumers buying what they don't need just because they clipped a coupon.  Or how about 'Moonshiners' (Discovery) documenting techniques for making hooch in Appalachia.  Why not one on meth?  That seems to be a bigger problem in that region.  Would you watch 'Pregnant in heels'  (Bravo) focusing on the pseudo-problems of overly wealthy pregnant women in NYC?  Give me a break, please!  I won't be getting cable service anytime soon if this is an indication of what viewing choices I would have.