Fire and Ice

Sunset with a streak of ice

The frigid air that settles in along the bay here brings with it the ice, the snow and the fire in the sunsets. Living in the lower 48, in a place where it doesn't completely freeze unless there is a big cold snap, you don't experience such things as a river having a sheet of ice over the top of it, a pond freezing over so that you can drive on it or watching and listening to ice cracking while the tide comes in beneath the frozen layer.

31 years.  I'm still learning and experiencing new things.  I know the world is about learning, about doing and about changing the lives of others along the way.  I just don't think I ever thought that the feelings of the new experiences would feel so powerful when I experienced them.  Feeling like a child again who hears a new sound.  To know that you are hearing something for the first time, at 31!  To have the knowledge that this is what your brain is processing and that joy that you feel is pure, clean and uncensored.  How many of us can say that we experience that in our adult lives?  Is it only when our children cry for the first time?  *I don't know yet as I don't have children.  I look forward to comparing the two feelings someday!

I look forward to having more of these types of experiences as they are truly good for the soul.  For now though, you'll have to enjoy the silent pictures along with me.

Salt water ice that falls off and forms large icicles 

Ice forming along the edge of the flats, top view

View from my bedroom window as the sun says goodbye for the night

Being a kid

One can say that children grow up and get too old for things but we all know that this can possibly be true. After all, Disney is still fun for adults too right?  I see the light in my student's eyes and it warms my heart.  They have much to learn and enjoy the play while learning.  Each time I see the light bulb moment it's heartwarming.  Each time I see the innocent play, it makes you think that all in the world could be right if we all chose to make it a good place to live.

Just swinging away.  Such a nice day we had to be outside for a few.

Bet you can't climb up the pole!

We have been working on genetics, Punnett squares and DNA in Science.  Making some DNA keychains in class on Friday the kids learned about phosphate and sugar and that ATGC are always paired in certain ways.  They got to make up their own genetic code but had to follow the rules.  We then got to twist them to make a double helix.  Following directions creates a pretty cool keychain.

Not following the directions makes a genetic mutant DNA strand.  *The inside and outside there are supposed to be attached.  Someone in class didn't follow directions.  They keychain still looked cool in the end but we found out that it just was a genetic defect and they decided it was Super AIDS.  This resulted in a discussion and some more education.  My ending thought was that they had indeed watched too much South Park.






Have a good one!