Darth Vader

This past Saturday Sam, Mich and me visited the Franklin Institute where I finally got to meet Darth Vader.
I don't know that much about him, seeing as I'm not a big Star Wars fan but I thought it was the cool thing to do. That - for all the Star Wars' lovers out there.



Mich was not too happy about his looks and the way he sounded so I stood between them.

These are the actual sizes of animal hearts, the human heart was around the 6th from the smallest. Even the ostrich has a bigger heart than we do. I don't remember which animal had the largest heart but it was either an Elephant or a whale.
Sam and Mich doing some physics.

Later, Sam took Mich and I to watch our first 3D movie in the IMAX theatre - Dinosaurs Alive. It was fascinating to watch dinosaurs that were almost life size!

The documentary showed animated dinosaurs and paleontologists traveling the world on the hunt for dinosaur bones. It's amazing to think how people make a living as paleontologists, certainly only in America.
We got to see 'actual footage from the expeditions of American Museum of Natural History scientist Roy Chapman Andrews, believed to be the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character, and witness recent discoveries like that of the massive Seismosaurus, or "thunder lizard." '

The theater was huge and steep, tilted at a 30 degree angle. There were times during the film that I got really dizzy. Thankfully we had been advised to close our eyes if we felt dizzy or head out the back door if things became a bit too much.
My dear Mich was fascinated and scared all at once, especially when the dinosaurs begun to fight. His heart was beating like a fast drum, he was all shaky but watching with intensity while holding my arm real tight.
I'm told 'The dome is over 70 feet across and 4.5 stories tall. In addition, 20,000 watts of amplifier power and over 50 speakers will make you feel like you are part of the action.'

Here is a sample.

The day was going well until I lost my bag. I think I left it in the IMAX theatre, unfortunately I didn't find it :-(. It had my wallet (no money), my gloves, scarf and a pen. I put in a report at the information desk but to date it hasn't been found. My id, credit card, medical insurance id, library card, passport photos, all gone.
Interestingly I had put the camera in my pocket and I forgot my phone and keys at home. So I give thanks, it could have been worse.

The empty tomb

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!"


30Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20:1-30
Amen.

He walked the same road

Lately, reading the scriptures brings me so much joy.
There was a time I stuck to the Psalms because they seemed most interesting but now, everything in the bible is fascinating.

Now that we are about to commemorate Christ's death and resurrection, I'm compelled to read again the account as told by John.
It's so interesting and powerful.
Reading how the disciples pledged their lives for Jesus yet when the pressure was on they preferred to sleep and later denied having anything to do with him?!.

Jesus was truly humble,forgiving and loving. Think about the fact that He knew what was going to happen before it did but he never changed a thing. He listened to Peter pledged his life to die at whatever cost yet He knew that the very guy was going to deny Him not once not twice but three times.
He broke bread with Judas Iscariot knowing full well that he was the same fellow going to hand him over to die.
He felt overwhelmed with the task ahead, sweating blood as he prayed in the garden yet the men He had trained and discipled couldn't stay awake to pray with and for Him when He needed them the most. That's really tough.
The peak of it all was when God couldn't look at His very own son because He was covered with our sin. That's sacrifice on God the fathers part and love on God the sons part. It's love on God the fathers part and sacrifice on God the son's part. Since the father and son are one, it's love and sacrifice from all angles.

It's encouraging to know that when people turn their backs on us, when we feel betrayed by loved ones, that Jesus walked the same road and He understands.

Random thoughts

About two weeks ago, I was walking home with Mich when he came up with this interesting revelation, that it's only liars who are sent to the library. Do you get it?... liars - library.

After church, two Sundays back Sam, Mich and I went to Mac Donald's for lunch. We ordered a big mac, a kids meal and a big n'tasty burger respectively. Half way through my burger I gave up, it was so 'not tasty'. It seemed like they had sucked out all the juicy nutrients and then served me what used to be meat. Then they make up for it with all sorts of toppings- ketchup, mayonnaise e.t.c
The fries were miserable too, I don't know what they do to the Irish potatoes but they sure don't take like Irish (potatoes). They are so thin and dry, like the oil used drains the poor vegetables of their personality, and no, I'm not a 'meat-erian'.
I guess they are not to blame seeing as they have been sued in the past for 'making people fat'.
To date I haven't eaten a burger that comes close to the yummy stuff in Dominos UG. Those guys just know how to do it. If I'm going to eat a burger give me the real deal, not a sorry excuse.

Aah! it's spring break and we don't know what to do with the free week, can you imagine?!.

African Dance

Shoot!! it's March already?, can some one tell me why time is flying by so fast?
Just the other day we were celebrating Christmas and now we are facing Easter and soon it will be Christmas again.

Anyway a little bit of an update on my dancing quests. I told you how I went for a salsa audition, well I didn't make it. Turns out that almost all the people I danced with had taking salsa classes. I wasn't up to par but that's ok. I'm thinking of taking some classes so I can polish up, you never know when the skill might be required.
Since I didn't get it I decided to try out for the African dance, now that is more in my league. We had our fast practice today and it was so much fun.
First of all we were only five Africans, including the black Americans. The rest, fifteen or so of them were from every where else. It was a wonderful representation of Asia and Europe, we had Indians, Japanese, Israelis,Americans and some I couldn't quite make out.
Now when I say African dance, I'm talking about West African pretty much. It involves shaking the waist and other parts of the body which normally shouldn't be moving. Lets just say I was riding on being African and the talent that God gave me.
Just getting people to understand the strokes was hilarious. The instructor had to go way beyond the basics to, "put this leg here, then move in this direction, then you lift your hand like this...".
Aaaah! this is fun.
I'll keep you posted on how things go, so far I wouldn't want anyone I know see me do some the strokes because things are tight. I keep telling my self, this is a once in a life time thing so I might as well make the most of it.