I'd like to be locked in overnight with 499 others: Why the NYPL should have picked me to Make the Future with them

The New York Public Library is going to host a massive, smartphone-based scavenger hunt that will officially kick off May 20 with an invitation-only, all-night lock-in in New York City. Only 500 people will be chosen to participate in the all night Find the Future at NYPL event.


One hundred historical objects hidden throughout the library with bar codes must be found, photographed and a challenge met with each one.


It's rumured that these are some of the items:
Charles Dickens' letter opener made out of his dead cat's taxidermy paw
the Declaration of Independence




The goal of this game?
To write a collection of 100 ways to make history and change the future, inspired by 100 of the most intriguing works of the past.



I should have been chosen.  And here's why:

1. I found the contest on my birthday & entered...and found out that was the final day to enter.  It's fate.

2. I'm a voracious reader with a huge appreciation for the library system, history and literature.

3. I have an iPhone, I love scavenger hunts, and I know my way around social media.

4. I'd blog about it. I'm goofy and entertaining to read...sometimes...

5. I love mysteries. 


But, alas, the decisions have been made, and I didn't make the cut. 

It's too bad, NYPL.  
We could have been good together. 

Six Strong Reasons Why You Should Never Quit Medicine Cold Turkey

I made a stupid decision to quit some medication cold turkey,

without weaning off slowly or talking to my doctor.

And I regret it.

For a solid week now I've experienced the following:

1. Night sweats

2. Constant vertigo

3. Diarrhea

4. Light sensitivity

5. Excessive thirst

6. Cold fingers and toes

Consider this my Public Service Announcement: 

Don't be stupid and do what I did.

Why Old People are Awesome.

In honor of the Easter holiday, which is about Jesus who never had the chance to grow into an old man, here are the reasons why it's totally awesome to be an old person.



5. You always get a seat on the bus.  If you ride the bus.
4. Everything is cheaper with a senior discount, except medicine. Which you seem to take more of.
3. You can trip people with your cane and act innocent.
2. You can dress however you want and say whatever you want, and people just label you "eccentric"
1. You can drive however you want and all other vehicles just move out of your way.


No old people were harmed in the making of this blog post, except my great-grandfather who we keep tied up in the attic.

If you're an old person, and I've offended you, I apologize. I'm just an insolent whippersnapper.

All the old people in my life TOTALL ROCK!

5 Things Every Boy Should Have

(Caught: Donny & Annie in the creek)

These five ingredients are essential to growing boys.

1. A Dog - every boy should have a dog, and every dog should have a boy. 

2. Balls - footballs, soccer balls, baseballs, tennis balls, bouncy balls, ping pong balls, the more the better! My boys have had a love affair with sports since they were toddlers.

3. Legos or some sort of building materials - Lincoln Logs, connecting magnets, etc. Let them build.  Taking things apart and putting them back together.

4. Outdoor time - A huge space to run, a creek to explore, a tree to climb, sand or dirt to dig in, and time outside to get dirty and explore.

5. Another male to wrestle with - Boys need physical contact and someone to rough house with.  It's just nature for them.

What do you think boys need?

We ran out of rabbit food

Deceptively Cute

The Furballs; Contemplating Escape.

6 Signs you might be addicted to an iPhone

As I've mentioned before, my iPhone was stolen on April 1st this year, and I might have been cursed.
And since then, I've been going through iPhone withdrawal.
Clearly, I was addicted.
It's good to go without technology every now and then...
although not good when your technology is STOLEN.



Signs you might be addicted to an iPhone:


6. You hear iPhone rings, chirps and noises everywhere you go.
5. You aren't really somewhere unless you've "checked in"
4. You don't know how you're going to wake up in the morning because it was your alarm clock
3. You find yourself stealing your children's iTouches when you head to the bathroom
2. You realize you can't photograph and upload to Facebook or Twitpic every cool view or silly animal you see
and
1. You feel phantom vibrations in your pocket





If you have a smartphone, get a tracking app ASAP.  If your phone is stolen, you don't have a lot of recourse and you're screwed out of a lot of money.

I've filed a police report, but I honestly don't expect to see that phone again.



Oh, iPhone, where fore art thou?!
I miss you so!