Show Time!

I have received word that The Oprah Winfrey Show will air our segment on Thursday, April 23rd.

There will also be a link to an informational page on the Show's website, www.Oprah.com.

You know, everything you never wanted to know....

So, back in the real world, the school had a field trip last week. 

We went to Westbrook  (near Portland, Maine) to see an operatic performance by the Boston Lyric Opera. It was awesome; the kids loved it.

In fact, the whole trip was awesome. The kids were incredibly well-behaved, the hotel had a pool which we all but slept in, there was a Dunkin' Donuts right around the corner, and we went to a Sea Dogs game. 

The opening game of the season. (They lost.)

And before we headed home, we hit the Portland Children's Museum,  which was also a blast.

Everything went smoothly, if you can believe that I went on this trip and had no Maalox Moments. We couldn't have had a better time. Well, unless the Sea Dogs won. 

I do have a funny story for you.

At the Museum, we were invited in to a lecture. The staff were excellent, and gave two very good presentations on 'adaptations' and "dinosaurs'.

These young women were, it must be noted, rather 'crunchy'.

(That would be The Big Guy's descriptive word for all things eco/green/hippie/hemp-wearing/granola- eating. He's way PC like that.)

     So, the first crunchy girl invites us into a room for a quick lecture. There were some displays around the room. As soon as we entered, little Jayde, who is 5, spots a small square of what was unmistakably fox fur. I spotted it too. She and I have discussed our great love of fox fur, and foxes in general. We both bolted for the fur. We fought over the small square. She wanted it for a blanket for her Pet Shops. I just wanted it.

     Crunchy girl, mistaking our enthusiasm for dismay, quickly pointed out that all of the items in the room came from formerly living animals who died of natural causes. They were not harmed for our use, but because they are no longer living, it's OK for us to study them, in the name of science. 

She may have had tears in her eyes.

I knew what was coming.

I backed away into a corner of the room to wait for it.

It didn't take long.

Thing Two spotted a moose antler. He asked if he could pick it up. "Yes, we encourage you to feel what is part of nature".

Yeah, he says, hefting the antler. The one my Dad shot had horns way bigger than this.

She paled considerably.

But, she was very professional, and rallied quickly, moving into her lecture. She talked about owls (and it was really interesting), with a smattering of other animals thrown in.

I saw it coming again. I felt like Raven. (That's sooooo Raaaaveeeeennnn...)

Tammy saw it too. She had her hands over her face, and was making weird gagging noises. 

I was pretty sure we were going to be thrown out. I was having flashbacks to high school.

And Ms. Jayde and Thing Two began listing the animals in the room that their parents had shot.

Choking back laughter, I scanned our group of children. Every single child there had at least one parent who hunted. Most of these kids have helped drag deer out of the woods. Mine have helped butcher. (Not my idea. But I guess it's good to know where your food comes from.)

Crunchy girl did awesome, held it together, kept her thoughts to herself...honestly, she never even made a negative face. I was quite impressed. I'm sure she was horrified, but the fact that she was able to show complete tolerance for a lifestyle so arbitrary to  her own, well. I'm really impressed.

Now, one of the kids asked a question that none of us had a satisfactory answer to, and I promised him I'd research it with him.

So I've got to go look up the digestive system of an owl.

Seems they barf up pellets, but they also poop. What's up with that?

Does that mean they have a gizzard? And what the heck's a gizzard, anyway?

I have some homework to do.

When I find my camera I'll show you some pictures.

I know I got at least 2 good ones.

I hate my camera.