Wednesday and Thursday

[fbhjr]

Wednesday I needed to go to the dentist for the next in my ongoing saga of having my problem tooth worked on. (This was visit 3 of 5…)
So, we decided to stay near home.

We started with a bit waffle breakfast.


A friend of ours offered to teach them some metal working while I was having my tooth drilled. She is very talented and makes great things, so that was a fabulous opportunity for them.
Our friends work: https://www.etsy.com/shop/afmetalsmith

My wife went with the kids for this and I’m told a good time was had by all.



The kids certainly liked what they made and have been wearing them since.


Then, off to dinner at the place with all the Pokemon.


I offer this proof to any parents that may be reading that salads were consumed.


Thursday morning we had a new Pokemon trying to get captured on our porch.

We didn’t catch it.

Instead, we drove off to Hartford Connecticut. Land of Pokestops.


We used to do fire shows next to the CT science center. But, I never went in. I had always wondered about it and the strange building.

Turns out, it is a VERY cool science museum. Wish I had been bringing the kids there earlier.

Of course it is not because it is located above the "Phoenix Gateway"…

I did like looking out at where we did those shows:


The museum does have an elevator. We only used it coming down.


They have a lot of cool things there. Including many hands on things. I like that in a science museum.




They also had benches.


We even found a suit of armor.


They had an EXCELLENT exhibit on Leonardo da Vinci. Lots of reproductions of his inventions that you could touch, move and see how they worked. It is a traveling exhibit, so I have no idea how long it will be there or where it will go next. But, it is very cool!



They even had a reproduction of his tank idea, full sized.



Then, more stairs up.


They did have a Van De Graf generator, but much smaller than Boston.


We were still impressed. Right?


They had a very nice area on space exploration.


Including some comfy chairs where you could pretend to drive a space ship.


This is the nosecone of the rocket that shot James Doohan’s ashes into orbit. I guess the nosecone came back.


They had a bunch of robotics things too.


It was the puzzles that stopped us. We couldn’t solve them.


We tried for a long time.

Probably spent more time at that than anything else there. But, we moved on.

The bio section had a heart monitor.

I shouldn’t worry that it couldn’t pick mine up, right?


Had interesting things on bones and joints too.


We spent a lot of time here too. "Mindball". They put EEG bands on two people’s heads and have a "calm off". I’m sure for most kids it is hard remaining calm.

The kids are calm.

Various distractions were attempted by those of us who wanted to go to lunch.

Eventually a tie was declared and we moved on.

The rooftop garden is very nice.



The gift shop had an interesting way to display stuffed snakes.


Then, off to the car.


We headed up north to Northampton.


The place where I had the car accident 3 years ago is being rebuilt: http://fbhjr.livejournal.com/722001.html

I hope they make it a better intersection. (Although I don’t think they can do anything about people turning right from the left lane…)

Northampton is also a major Pokestop hub.


We went to a sushi place across the street from the parking garage.

This was only a problem when it was discovered I left my wallet in the car from paying the parking lot in CT. So, I want down, across, up, down across up again…
(I twisted my ankle walking through town, so stairs hurt…)

Then, off to the Smith College Art museum: https://www.smith.edu/artmuseum/


My wife and I have been there many times. So, it was interesting to see what the kids thought was interesting.







They both liked the old Roman coins.

I pointed out that this one could be from the "render unto Caesar" story in the bible:


Even the bathrooms are decorated there.


Then, we went to downtown Northampton where all the lures live.


We had (non-dairy) frozen desert.


Then, back to Worcester where we went to the comic book store. We found Pokemon there.


The manager there expressed how Pokemon Go is making everyone think that old Pokemon stuff is valuable. They bring it to her to try and sell and she has to disappoint them. Sad.

Then, off to the Mexican restaurant for dinner.



Lots of guacamole.


Hot sauce was tried.

Big burritos were obtained.


Kelly square, that horrible intersection where 6 road come together is a Pokegym. Who can stop to fight for it?


Here is a video compilation of the two days. I’ve sped it up to keep the time shorter. But, this is more or less what it was like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKdWoVZc9mI

Comments

[m-danson.livejournal.com]

That looks like so much fun.

[meathiel]

I love the Pokemon on your balcony. ;-)

I'd have loved to see that DaVinci exhibit - it looks very interesting.

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a LOT of fun to me, Frank!

Great photos!!!

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

you always make me smile with the local benches. They are rather important aren't they?

[manue7a.livejournal.com]

Your godkids are so great at looking unimpressed. I'm always looking out for those photos :D

[brickhousewench.livejournal.com]

Oooo, I might have to check out that Da Vinci exhibit! It looks very interesting.

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

Yay!!!

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

So much fun!!!! I want to be in Leonardo's armored tank. Now I will have to look up the exhibit. lol.

=)

The boy is getting really good at closing his eyes in his pictures. That takes timing and talent.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

When they see me raising the camera, they get ready...

[cissa.livejournal.com]

I loved having them come for metals!

Next year, if the weather cooperates, J and I have agreed blacksmithing should happen.

I always say that metalsmiths are happy people because we get to hit things and set them on fire, and blacksmithing is the ultimate in that!