November 2020
Geiger Readings for Nov 09, 2020
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 56 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 125 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 124 nanosieverts per hour
Geiger Readings for Nov 08, 2020
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 62 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 100 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 103 nanosieverts per hour
Geiger Readings for Nov 07, 2020
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 40 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 108 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 108 nanosieverts per hour
The Mandalorian's Frog Lady
Without giving away any spoilers, audiences who watched The Mandalorian over the last week met the Frog Lady and reviews of the character are varying so widely! I've seen people absolutely hate her for a very specific reason, and I've seen people absolutely love her for others that are actually related to the reason people don't like her!
Delicious Thanksgiving Cocktails
While we're all planning Thanksgiving at home this year, some of us are making creative drinks and sides we might not always make for company. That's one of the perks of being home: you can make your favorites and not compromise on things that not everyone likes! We have to celebrate the little things!
Some delicious drinks to try this Thanksgiving include apple cider mimosas, apple pie sangria and cranberry margaritas. They all sound incredibly tasty to me!
Welcoming Our VP!
We are in for a long, painful road while the current president contests election results and undermines the very democracy he's... well, that he's undermined for the past four years, if not longer. But we have some major successes to celebrate, from states protecting LGBTQIA rights, to the rainbow wave of the most LGBTQIA candidates elected, to abortion rights protected and drugs decriminalized. Our biggest victory, of course, is the changing of the guard itself, which includes our first woman VP!
Could We Cool the Planet with Ferns?
As a plant lover, I'd happily plant these ferns all over my yard and home if they would help us combat climate change! The Azolla plant flourishes on nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which is helpful to those of us who need that carbon dioxide to be neutralized somehow. What if we could channel that energy once again and save our modern environment?
Holistic Medicine Arrives At Ride Aid
Rebranding is all the rage right now, and Rite Aid is jumping in with a complete change by embracing holistic medicine. As "natural remedies" and "alternative therapies" become more and more popular, the stores has decided to feature these techniques in stores to appeal to more holistically inclined clientele.
Getting Rid Of Pests
After bringing plants in for the fall and winter, sometimes we notice some unexpected guests joining us in our living space. Last night, my little terrarium, which used to be an open container of succulents outside, had one such guest in some kind of little millipede that pretty much kept me from sleeping.
"Dance Poems for an Online World"
It's really hard for artists to collaborate while simultaneously social distancing, especially those who create physical art through mediums like dance. Zoom has allowed many artists, such as Afrobeat dance group Dzana, to connect remotely and create art with each other despite the distance.
Best Episodes For Each Season
It's not enough to simply list your favorite episodes of all time, or even the top 10 best episodes in Family Guy history. Now fans are making lists of their favorite episodes per season! Here are some of the top fan-rated episodes of season 12, for example.
Gravity-Defying Critters
Animals that cling to the sides of buildings or even hang upside-down are incredible, and their ability to do so is often the result of something we can't even see.
Autumn Crafts Minus the Turkey
After autumn arrives, many kids turn to crafting all things turkey. While handprint art and feathers are cute, fall certainly isn't just about all things turkey, and especially not just about Thanksgiving, a holiday that ends up causing as much harm as joy for many families. So what kinds of fall crafts are there beyond the turkeys and feathers?
Metallica Models Band On Grateful Dead
Metallica is known as one of the few bands with strict principles that they stick to no matter what, and now it sounds like that model has come from following The Grateful Dead. What's interesting is that the band has cited influences from many different bands over the years, but this is the first time anyone can recall them giving a nod to Jerry Garcia and the gang.
Basilisk Restaurant
With a big craving for some good fried chicken, I started looking for great places to eat and when I ran across Basilisk, I realized I needed to add the restaurant to my food bucket list. The place looks like a must-eat-at in Portland.
They're known for their crispy chicken sandwiches, and they also have everything from salads to mac salads, cabbage slaw to fries, but it's the shakes that have me going WHOA. Hibiscus soft serve ice cream? Yes, please!
A Successful Zoom Scavenger Hunt!
Last week we talked about planning a scavenger hunt, so I thought we'd talk about what makes them successful. I held ours yesterday and the kids had a blast zooming around their homes to find items for the hunt!
The first thing I did was have them each find something that starts with the first letter of their names in order to introduce themselves, saying their name followed by showing us the item. Then I alternated between easy and had to find items, adding in some personal items here and there. Some examples include:
Something red
Your Ideal Reading Environment
My birthday is this week, which means a big day of nothing but reading and snacks! That is the ultimate form of decadence to me, especially as a homeschooling and working parent who often feels guilty just "doing nothing," however rarely I do it. I also love to throw a bath bomb in the mix.