Rolf & Meghan's Wedding

My high school buddy Rolf Jacobson married Meghan Funke at Grace Lutheran Dec. 28, 2008.

Uploaded by www.cellspin.net

Duck at Chiboust

Lamb at Chiboust

Ben & Atsuko at Chiboust

Atsuko at Chiboust

Weathervane

Stables

Lawn and Stables

Atsuko takes a break

Lyndhurst Mansion, towers

Lyndhurst Mansion, view from West

Bowling lane building

Ben and bowling lane building

Ben and bowling building

Atsuko and Lyndhurst

Ben and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and Lyndhurst Mansion

Atsuko and greenhouse

Hudson River

from Lyndhurst lawn
Ben at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst

Atsuko at Lyndhurst Mansion

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Liberty Science Center

Atsuko and I took a rare trip to New Jersey to visit the Liberty
Science Center. It took three trains to get there, each requiring a
different kind of ticket. First the subway to Manhattan, then the PATH
to New Jersey, and finally the light rail to Liberty Park. Though
it's right across the bay it took nearly an hour and a half and felt a
world away. The Science Center is a giant, gleaming silver building
surrounded by parking, bordered by the expressway, the light rail,
park and water. The canyons of New York City streets make you forget
how much space there is between things in most parts of the world,
even right across the river.

Though the Science Center is mostly for kids, we found plenty of
interesting things to do. I think it's mostly the adults who read
what's on the displays and faithfully follow the directions while the
kids run around and push buttons, pull handles, and make up their own
games.

We actually spent a good share of the visit sitting and watching
movies, which was just fine (nothing like pacifying the little tykes
with a giant IMAX screen). We saw "Mystery of the Pharohs" which put a
decidedly positive spin on the removal of the famous pyramids and
Egypt. All for the greater good, in the name of science, as studying
the mummies could further our understanding of the evolution of
disease. An intersting film, though not one you'd necessarily need to
see in IMAX.

The other flic was my first 3D movie experience. Pretty cool, though I
was somewhat disappointed to learn that advances in technology have
eliminated the need for blue and red lenses in the special glasses.
Still, the shades made us look sufficiently ridiculous. "Fly Me to the
Moon" was a CG animated version of the first lunar landing shown from
the perspective of some fictional flies that hitch a ride inside the
astronauts' helmets. The 3D effects saved it from being Saturday-
morning-cartoon quality.

The exhibits featured a section devoted to animals and insects that
use various devices to hunt prey or avoid being eaten. Camoflaged bugs
and snakes were not among Atsuko's favorites, believe it or not. We
also explored machines demonstrating alternative energy sources. I
learmed some new things about hydro-electric. One exhibit I would
have liked to spend more time in dealt with communication, including
everything from cellphone technology to ancient Chinese calligraphy.

It was a fun day trip and a destination I can recommend to all ages.
--
Benjamin Healy

Piano Performance & Instruction
http://www.benjaminhealy.com