Swinging Right Along!

Yesterday we ventured out to the Science Center for a homeschooling class on pendulums. Handsome loves to swing things around, so he found the class quite interesting. We discovered some of our hypothesis were correct, and some were not. The variables of length of string, weight of bob, and size of arc, were rather fasinating to consider. Watching the teacher challenge a powling ball suspended in a net produced various responses. She found that if someone started the ball in a pendulum swing, without pushing, she could start with her face nearly smashed against the ball and still would not get hit by the back swing, as long as she did not move forward, even slightly. Some students wanted to try it, but were forbidden, for obvious reasons.

Girlfriend was not quite so interested. It is a curiousity why the potty seats at home seem to be too cold to sit but only momentarily, and yet the public ones are satisfactory enough to take a long time sitting! Perhaps it was more the undivided attention they afforded her. Perhaps next time, I shall bring more snacks and less drink!

Driving home brought my attention to the variety of people roaming the streets of downtown. We came a little different way than usual. I don't know if it was the route, or the nice weather, but there were many pedestrians to observe. A middle-aged lady in casual dress sauntered down the sidewalk, followed closely by a younger man who appeared to be trying to talk to her. Her rapid pace seemed to be diswaying any such communication. A toothless man who appeared to be homeless, smiled and waved as we stopped at the red light. He was attempting to be animated, it seemed, to delight the children. They turned away, not sure how to respond. I nodded and smiled back, knowing I was safely inside the car, should he have improper motives. It seemed more likely that he was just a lonely man who once liked children...perhaps even had a family himself.

A young man dressed in a business suit rushed down the street with his cell phone to his ear. A group of teenagers, most likely college students from the downtown campus, herded themselves across the street, daring the light to change not in their favor. They all seemed oblivous to the world of cars around them.

As I merged onto the freeway, the variety of attitudes became even more apparent. Some pushed their way into lanes, others hesistantly merged with blinkers flashing. Some honked to be let in; others drove steadily ahead not looking to the right or left, apparently hoping that by ignoring the other drivers, someone would let them end...before their lane ended!

We arrived home safe and sound in spite of all the vehicles. We continued briefly to talk about pendulums and swinging washers on strings. Then we journeyed out again with Grandpa and Jomo and TDH to see a house we may try to buy...

What a total contrast it was to take the southern route across the farm fields and undeveloped land! The dirt fields, the green fields, the military jets flying overhead from the base nearby... all of these brought a sense of peace. I think I like living in this area! To be close to city life with tall buildings and interesting people, and also farmland and larger properties, and knowing that we are protected by the greatest military in the world! What a place to swing!