Words to the Cosmos

First Day of Sixth Grade

// September 1st, 2010 // No Comments » // House-of-Chaos, Medea, NIHF:STEM, Ohio, family, life the universe and everything, news, personal

Middle school at the NIHF:STEM school. 

STEM School Dedication – Sept 2, 2010

// August 31st, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, NIHF:STEM, family, inspiration, personal

????

National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM School

The National Inventors Hall of Fame® School … Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning will hold a special dedication celebration on Thursday, September 2, at 12:30 p.m. Students, staff and community members are invited to attend the official dedication ceremony of the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility. The program features student presentations and special remarks from school partners.

The National Inventors Hall of Fame® School … Center for STEM Learning is located at 199 S. Broadway. No parking is available at the NIHF .. STEM school. Event parking is available at the Broadway deck (enter on S. Broadway or E. Mill), the Akron-Summit County Public Library (enter on S. High) and the Akron Health Department deck at 177 S. Broadway (enter on S. Broadway).

For more information, contact Alison White at 330.761.3195.

Niagara

// August 13th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

On August 4th I took my kid and my mom to Niagara Falls for the weekend.  We left after work on a Thursday and came back the following Sunday.  Sometimes, traveling with family is…ahem…challenging.  But this trip worked out.  We all worked together and got over our own issues and considered what others wanted to do.  It was amazing.  But that’s another point entirely.

Niagara.

I haven’t been to Niagara Falls, Canada since I was a kid.  I enjoyed it back then, I did.  But I appreciated it much more this time.  And yes, we did all the schmarmy tourist things you are supposed to do while at the falls.  Here are some pictures to prove it:

You can see a BUNCH more images, including many from the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not oddatorium here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chinagrrrl/sets/72157624716245838/

Wake Up @ the HOC

// June 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // House-of-Chaos, Medea, Ohio, Tiny House Projects, china, family, humor, life the universe and everything

Last night Mia and I set up one of the tents in the back yard and ended up sleeping there to test it out before a girlfriend and I take it to New York this weekend.

But if you sleep in a tent in the backyard at the House-of-Chaos, THIS is what will be greeting you first thing in the morning.

And when I say “morning”, I am meaning about 5:15 A.M.

Harrington Cemetary

// May 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, Ohio, china, family, life the universe and everything

My maternal family cemetary in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Butterfly Pavillion

// May 26th, 2010 // No Comments » // House-of-Chaos, Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

Last summer Mia went on a “Cousin’s Trip” with her Nana and Deda and four of her cousins from her dad’s side of the family.  She flew for the first time on an airplane, by herself.  Unaccompanied.  Alone.  Without me.

Can you tell I was mortified?

Anyway, it all turned out okay; the plane arrived safely, she didn’t get lost, abducted or dematerialize in the space-time continuum. She enjoyed meeting and spending time with her paternal family and is looking forward to the 2010 trip.

While there, Nana took the girls to the Denver “Butterfly Pavilion” where they could encounter hundreds of live butterflies in a walk-through environment.  Mia loved it.  While there, the gift shop had a smaller version of a home “Butterfly Pavillion” which she wanted to purchase, but didn’t have enough money.

Nana bought it for her birthday.  So last December, the box arrived and we needed “nice weather” and a “breeze” to make it work, so we needed to Ohio weather to turn warm.  Now, in May 2010, that has finally happened so she sent away for the caterpillars in April and they arrived about two weeks ago.

Each “bug can” had five caterpillars sealed in with enough food and air to last them 10 days until they climb up to the top of the jar and spin a cocoon and hang from the ceiling.  When that happens, we unseal the jar and take the paper disk the chrysalis are hanging from and “pin” it to the inside bottom mesh of the 2′ tall butterfly pavilion.  Then we zip it back up and wait another week.

This was a fun time because whenever the pavilion was disturbed, by me knocking into it while vacuuming or coming around the corner too fast, the little caterpillars in their Snuggies did the wiggle-dance, which is a defense mechanism they have.   About the *only* defense mechanism they have since they are entirely sealed in a coffin of their own making and are spending all their energy turning into a completely different species!  Sheesh!  And I think I have some busy days!  At least I don’t have to change my species!

Now, for some photos of the process:

NIHF: Selling science

// March 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, NIHF:STEM, family

NIHF: 2 Learns move on to the Ohio State Science Fair

// March 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, NIHF:STEM, family, personal

from: http://www.akronschools.com/schools/home/news/detail.dot?schId=16191&newsId=70816

NIHF:STEM – 5th Grade Presentations on Project Based Learnings with inventor Jim West

// March 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, NIHF:STEM, family, life, personal

My daughter attends the National Inventors Hall of Fame: School for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  They work very diligently on “project based learning” where there is a problem, they break into groups and design a solution for the problem.  About six weeks ago they toured the new facility that is being designed to permanently house the NIHF:STEM school.  There was a PBL project assigned when they noticed the existing building had a “Great Hall” that butted right up against the Library area of the school, thus not making the library very quiet.

Their projects were to design a solution that would separate the areas and allow the Library to be insulated from the sound from The Great Hall.

The school uses UStream technology to stream these presentations, and to allow us parents to be present, even while we’re not physically there.  UStream is available to view on any web browser and I also have a UStream application on my Motorola Droid.

Here are the three UStream presentations from the NIHF:STEM 5th Graders:

Clip #1

Clip #2

Clip #3

NIHF:STEM 5th Grade Native American Museum

// February 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Great Grey Beast of February, Medea, NIHF:STEM, family, personal

The National Inventors Hall of Fame – STEM 5th Graders created a Native American Museum from their winter projects of studying the culture, art and history of various Native American tribes.  It was awesome.

[click the photo to get a gallery of images from the event]

NIHF:STEM

STEM Hosts Book Fundraiser

// February 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

The National Inventors Hall of Fame® School … Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning will host a summer reading fundraiser at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, February 20.

Profits from sales will help fund required summer reading books. STEM students will be on hand to demonstrate robotics, engineering and digital literacy technology projects.

Selected chamber musical groups will also perform from 1-3 p.m. Shoppers may obtain a voucher from the school and participate in the fundraiser on Sunday, February 21. For more information or to purchase a voucher, contact Susan Hall or call 330.761.3195.

Barnes & Noble is located at 4015 Medina Road.

Congrats to the NIHF:STEM “Fuzzy Bunnies”

// February 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // Great Grey Beast of February, Medea, Ohio, family, life the universe and everything, personal

from the Akron Public Schools newsletter:

STEM School learning coach Carol Schweizer and her advisory group, The Fuzzy Bunnies, spearheaded a blood drive that netted 33 pints of blood for the American Red Cross. The drive was a service learning project for the Fuzzy Bunnies. STEM School parents who donated on behalf of their students had the students’ names entered into a drawing for free Cleveland Cavs basketball tickets. The five winners – Nicholas Lewis, Dylan Nicodemus, Sarah Nikic, Dylan Smith and Gavin Wilson – will receive pregame recognition by taking shots at the basket on the Cavs main court.

Go Coach Schweizer and her Fuzzie Bunnies, for such excellent work on the blood drive.

NIHF:STEM Video Mail

// February 5th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, family, personal

My kids school, the National Inventors Hall of Fame School for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (NIHF:STEM) sends out video emails keeping parents in the loop about what is occurring daily at the school.  I can’t tell you how helpful this is.  I can be at work and receive a message telling me that an event is upcoming, project is due or fund raising event is pending and can communicate with my learner about those items when we regroup at the end of each day.

Science Fair

// January 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Medea, family, life, personal

My 5th grade daughter participated in the Akron District Science Fair on Saturday, January 30th, 2010 at North High School.  Her project, on developing and testing a cat enrichment toy was in the field of Zoology.  She received a rating of Excellent and a medal for her efforts and thus qualifies for the regional science fair later this year.

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

Awards Ceremony:  Introduction to the Middle School Section

I’m told that about half of the NIHF:STEM school kids (about 100) participated in the science fair.  Mia was hanging tight with two other STEM school girls, Mary Pat and Eman.

Mary Pat wins a medal for her Environmental Science project

Eman wins a medal for her Physics project

and my daughter, Mia, was in the LAST category to be announced; Zoology. Here she is as her name is announced to receive a medal:

It was a great day. Here’s some additional photos from the science fair:

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

From NIHF:STEM Science Fair

Perfect Days: Mia's 8th Birthday

// January 10th, 2007 // No Comments » // Medea, Ohio, life

Perfect days: My daughter turned eight two weeks ago. For her birthday her grandmother arranged for us to attend a Playhouse Square event called “My Little Pony: The World’s Biggest Tea Party” which I thought Mia might be too old to enjoy. I was wrong. She sang and danced and participated with vigor and enthusiasm.

After which we had lunch at the Hard Rock Café at Tower City. On the way home we passed “the covered bridge” which Mia was interested in seeing so we parked and walked the little way towards it. As we approached here comes a woman on a horse. Mia, who LOVES horses was thrilled, but not-so-much as when the lady spotted her in her pink cowgirl had and boots and had her get up on her horse and take a ride with her.

Thanks to her and her horse Copper, for making my daughters birthday so memorable! She?ll never forget it!

China Krys Darrington – Creative Internet Designer

:: chinadarrington@sbcglobal.net www.thumbprint.net ::

Unicorn (for Mia)

// January 9th, 2007 // No Comments » // Medea, magick

Whispers from the Editor

This ritual was written by Lady Cynder DragonWolf and Celestia DragonLove. We both had a very intense experience with this wonderful Ritual, and we both thought it would be a wonderful experience to pass on to all of you for the New Year!

Unicorn Ritual

Purpose: Connecting with the Unicorn and its Energies

Things Needed:

Scrying Bowl

Spring Water

Crystal Point or other special stone

Herbs (optional)

Glitter (optional)

Altar Devotion – Fire and Ice Altar

Normal Opening

Creature of Fire,

I cleanse and consecrate thee in the names of the Ancient Ones.

I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of the phantasms.

Blessings on you now.

So Mote It Be!

Creature of Ice,

I cleanse and consecrate thee in the names of the Ancient Ones.

I cast out all negativity in this world and the world of the phantasms.

Blessings on you now.

So Mote It Be!

Two elements create the balance.

Two elements create the magick.

Two elements combine with power,

To empower this rite at this hour.

Honor is the Law,

Love is the Bond.

Salute to Spirit

Lesser Banishing Ritual (optional)

Circle Cast:

(1^st cast is a golden ribbon, 2^nd cast is a silver ribbon, 3 ^rd cast is weaving the ribbons together)

Golden magick I weave around,

Creating a space for the Unicorn to bound.

As the last eagle flies and the last lion roars,

We will all stare unbelieving at the noble Unicorn.

Silver magick I weave around,

Creating a space for the Unicorn to bound.

As the moon casts over the last star of morn,

The clouds make a path to the majestic Unicorn.

Gold and Silver magick we weave together as One,

It is our will, so it will be done.

A magickal visit of the ancient Unicorn,

Hallowed through us, purity reborn.

So Mote It Be!

Quarter Calls:

North

Ancient beings who live in the Earth,

Creating life as you dance in your mirth.

Spider web dreams we see as we visit your land,

We ask you to join us,

From your magickal land.

Welcome and Merry Meet!

East

Ethereal Faeries whose voices do sing,

While riding owls that spread their dreamlike wings.

Fluttering about your nighttime gardens on midnight butterflies,

We ask you to join us,

Through the Eastern skies.

Welcome and Merry Meet!

South

Fiery beings with shiny amber eyes,

Upon the flickering of flame is where you do fly.

Moving about your fiery kingdom,

We ask you to join us,

And bid you welcome.

Welcome and Merry Meet!

West

Silvery beings reflected in the moonlit waters below,

Your dances are vivid because your skin is aglow.

Flowing throughout your watery world,

We ask you to join us,

Your blessings unfurled.

Welcome and Merry Meet!

Invocations: Unicorn Invocation

We stand here before you silently honoring in our hearts,

We ask you to join us your blessings to impart.

Beautiful being, imbued with mighty power,

Please come before us and bless us this hour.

So Mote It Be!

Working:

Get in a comfy position, holding your stone in your hands. Have a bowl of spring water in front of you that you can gaze into for your unicorn vision. At the end of the vision, ask the Unicorn to touch its horn to the water, and drop your stone into it, to create your Unicorn potion.

Ageless Unicorn come to me now,

Your aide I do ask you to vow.

A vision of beauty, power and love,

Into my life I invite you from above.

Walk with me for just a little while,

I promise your visit will be worthwhile.

I open my heart, my soul and my mind,

To the gentleness, purity and wisdom that you entwine.

Come to me now, I bid you to come,

To talk and to rest your head on my bosom.

Allow the vision to form. Relax in the presence of this powerful being. Allow the Unicorn to share what it will and when you are finished, drop your stone into the water and thank the Unicorn for its blessings. Leave the water on the altar overnight, then bottle and store, using this holy Unicorn water for wisdom, gentleness and strength of mind.

Cakes and Ale

Thanking Deity:

Great Unicorn who came to our side,

Thank you for being our guide.

Upon this world, your presence is needed,

And your advice is well heeded.

Stay if you will, Go if you must.

As always, in perfect love and perfect trust.

So Shall It Be!

Release Quarters

Pull Up Circle

Closing/Benediction

Clean Up

Blessings To You All!!

YULE STORY FOR CHILDREN – The Tiniest Fairy

// December 21st, 2006 // No Comments » // Medea, magick

In a time before time had been named, when life danced as a dazzling rainbow upon the mystical Earth, magick lived inside each earthen creature. Some, the big ones, were having a harder time seeing the magick now, than in the past. They were starting to forget that magick is all around you, if only you believed.

Alicia was a small and tiny earthen spirit with sparkling blue eyes and a pinched up nose; even in the fairy world, where all things are small, she was the smallest of them all.

Her home was deep inside the strong and twisting roots of a big Oak. It was safe and none of the winter cold snows could find their way a in.

She loved playing around her cozy and warm home with her mom and dad. They would play hide and seek and she could easily hide in the corners or under the furniture. They would read books by the fire light and sing songs that only the fairies knew.

Alicia was frightened of the other earthen creatures, as well as of what might be outside her cozy home under the big Oak. She had never been out before and saw no reason to go into the “outside.”

When company came over Alicia would not come out of her tiny seed pod bed. When the Bunny family who lived next door came to visit, she was frightened that being so small, one of the many bunny babies might accidentally hop on her. She would only peek over the beds edge with her tiny pinched nose when the Gloends, a family of glowworms; came to visit, because she wanted to see where the warm yellow glow was coming from.

At dinner one evening, Alicia’s mom and dad told her that soon winter’s hold would be ending. That frightened Alicia since she only knew the winter and could not imagine what might happen if it was to end.

They explained to her that in all the magickal world, it was her magick that would call in the changing of seasons and the turning of the great wheel. On the eve of the next night Alicia, her mom and her dad would go on a journey into the forest. Here, there would be a great gathering and all the mystical creatures of Earth would see her gift of magick.

But Alicia shivered with fear — what was this wheel and how can she stop this magick and changing? She liked things just as they were and didn’t want anything to change at all. She didn’t want to go to a gathering where so many would be. She didn’t know what this gift was that she was to give. What if she got lost and no one could find her? Or maybe the others would see her. Maybe they would not like her or make fun of her or laugh at her being so small.

Her greatest fear was that maybe she had no magick. She had not seen it. She couldn’t fly like her mom and dad, she kept falling on her elbows. She couldn’t make things like flowers or snowflakes like her mom and dad; all she ended up with some ice that melted. She couldn’t even make light with her wand. How would her parents feel when they found out, what would she do?

Even as frightened as Alicia was of going into the “outside, ” she was more frightened of what others might think of her. She didn’t want to disappoint her mom and dad, so she decided it would be best if she hid. She would go into the “outside;” no one would look for her there. She would not go very far. Just far enough away where she could hide until the gathering was over, and then the change would not happen.

Alicia’s mom was roasting acorns for the great gathering’s feast and her dad was busy polishing up his ice wand. Alicia knew no one would see her leave, or think she would go into the “outside” alone, since she never had before.

With her wand in a small bag tied to her waist, Alicia carefully opened the door of her house and stepped into the “outside.” She closed the door quickly and quietly so her mom and dad would not hear it creak. Then, she turned to see what was here in this “outdoors.” It was white everywhere. She walked along for a little while when all of a sudden “crunch” she sunk into the snow up to her wing tips. It took a bit of work but she wriggled her way up and out of the snow. Now she was really cold and she could see it was getting darker. The bright bluish color of the sky was now turning a purple hue with streaks of red and yellow.

She wasn’t sure, but if night was coming she had to hide quickly. If she could fly just to the edge of the forest she would find a place to stay until the gathering was over and then she could go home again. Then it would be safe because nothing would change. That is what she wanted.

Alicia was frighten and getting colder, but she had made up her mind. She had to do this, or everything she knew was going to change forever. She shook herself off and looked toward the forest edge. With all her will and might she jumped up and began flying forward. Then back a little, then up, then down, then around in some circles and then slower and then faster and then it happened. Bang! She flew right into a tree branch hanging low weighted heavy by the snow.

Alicia did not know what exactly had happened as she rubbed her head, but when she rose up again out of the snow it had gotten very dark. She could see tiny lights twinkling above her now. She looked around trying to figure out what direction to go. By now the gathering must be over and she could go home. Everything would stay the same. But which way was home?

Alicia couldn’t see where to go, so she didn’t want to try to fly. What if she hit another tree, it was dark now and she couldn’t make anything out, plus her head still hurt from before. She had to be very careful deciding what way to go now.

All of a sudden, she heard someone calling her. “Alicia, Alicia.” She felt her body begin to shake so hard that the tiny ice cycles that had formed on the tips of her wings, tinkled like little bells. As she turned around to look behind her, she saw a woman lying on a big pile of fur blankets. She was not a fairy, but she was beautiful, dressed in a green, red and white gown. Hundreds of earthen creatures stood all around her, many Alicia had never seen before, but none were scared or frightened at all. Although Alicia didn’t understand it, she wasn’t frightened either.

There seemed to peace about this woman, it was something calming. “Alicia, I have been waiting for you. I need your help.” the Lady said.
“Waiting for me?” Alicia asked.
“Yes, Alicia, ” she said. “Its dark now and we need your light to light the way, so that we can see what lies before us.”
“My light?” Alicia asked, remembering she had not been able to make her wand light before.
“It’s your magick Alicia, your magick that will call the light from within me.” the Lady said.
Alicia slowly began to walk toward the woman. That’s when she saw that this quiet lady was going to have a baby, and she was going to have it any moment.

All the fears and worries Alicia carried with her were beginning to melt away, just like the ice on her wing tips. As she looked into the meadow green eyes of this lady she wanted more than anything else in her small life to make a light for her.

Alicia, still trembling, took her wand from its little bag, and raised it up. With every magickal hope she had ever had, she put her energy into lighting her wand.

The lady smiled gently at her and in that instance there was a great flash of light which came from the tip of that tiny wand. It was a brilliant luminous light which filled every corner of the night.

As Alicia held her wand high she looked over to see that now the lady was holding in her arms a baby; a wonderful little baby boy. Suddenly, she understood it all, everything her mom and dad had been telling her.

This was the magick, this was her special gift. Alicia, the tiniest of all fairies, she was the one who carried the spark, the spark which released the light of the world and the turning of the wheel of life.

In her tiny being she had carried that magick, the magick to unlock the power of love and understanding for the world to share. Standing in that brilliant light, Alicia understood who the Lady was and the importance of this baby. She was a part of the rebirth of the Light. This baby was the Light again reborn of the Goddess. The beautiful Lady was the Goddess of life, and Alicia was that spark of magick which survives all time and through which we find boundless possibilities.

Soon the edge of the forest was filled with earthen creatures and spirits from all over the mystical world. Alicia’s mom and dad watched their fairy child as she beamed with joy. The Lady holding her baby boy, blessed all those who shared in this time of magick as the feast was served and great happiness was shared by all.

Alicia didn’t even notice that she was floating on the air. She was no longer weighted down by all her silly worries or fears. She knew that even though she was tiny she had the power to light the world. Now she understood, magick is all around you if you only believe, and trust in yourself.

So each year as you light a candle to call the light, remember the tiniest fairy, for it only takes one tiny spark to give light unto the whole world.

Blessed be our Lady the Mother of Light.
Lady Abigail
High Priestess Ravensgrove Coven
from WITCHVOX

Chinagrrrl & Baby Mia (circa. 1999)

// October 1st, 1999 // No Comments » // Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

Mom and baby Mia. She was about….hmmm…9 or 10 months old here.

Chinagrrrl and Baby Mia (circa 1999)

// October 1st, 1999 // No Comments » // Medea, china, family, life the universe and everything, personal

Mom and baby Mia. She was about….hmmm…9 or 10 months old here.