Squirrel Diversity

I thought that all squirrels were grey until I visited the capital of West Virginia – Charleston.  During my visit, I saw my first black and tan colored squirrels.

Apparently, the squirrels I have seen my whole life are called Eastern Grey Squirrels and the black one I saw in Charleston is a melanistic subgroup of this species.   I did some research and there are more than 200 species of squirrel in the world including ground, flying, and tree squirrels.

On the National Geographic website, you can listen to a squirrel and check out different pictures (http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/squirrel/).

How to Beatbox

One of my very favorite shows is The Sing Off on NBC.  I love A Capella music but also I have always been amazed by the beat boxers on the show.  I decided I would like to learn how to beat box.

As almost everything else I have thought about learning, beat boxing is a lot harder than I imagined.

I started with a youtube search and found a video of how to beatbox in 3 easy steps.

I was able to make all the sounds he made you practice until the end when he said “Your first basic beat will be …” and then I was lost.  I need a lot of practice.  Maybe if I ever get the first basic beat I will post a video of myself.  =)

I also found a Wiki online – 21 Ways to Beatbox – that I plan to use while learning.

I also bumped into another youtube video in my searching of one of the best beat boxers I have ever heard – Tom Thum.

One day you may see me on youtube with a new cool name like April Adams Apple.

By the way – women have adam’s apples…I had to look that up before posting my new cool beat-boxing name.

Book Review: Son by Lois Lowry

I started reading The Giver years and years ago – I don’t know how many.  I loved it!  One of my all time favorites!  Then I learned that Lois Lowry had written two more books – Messenger and Gathering Blue.  I really liked them both – but not as well as The Giver.

In December 2013 I learned that Lois Lowry had finished the series with Son.  Jason got me the book for Christmas and I started reading it.  With my crazy life, I am lucky to be able to read a chapter each night.  I finally finished the book last night!!

When I would pick up this book, I had a hard time putting it down.  It was so very good – a very close second to The Giver.  

If you have read The Giver but none of the other books – you need to.  Especially Son.  If you have never read any of these books – you need to – I have never heard anyone that has read The Giver not enjoy it.  Except for my sister but she is weird.  

Marijuana and the Teen Brain

I heard an interesting article on NPR yesterday morning about how Marijuana may hurt the developing teen brain.  Here is the story if you want to listen to it or read it:  http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/25/282631913/marijuana-may-hurt-the-developing-teen-brain.

The skinny is that the teenage brain gets rid of unused connections to help the brain make judgments, think critically and remember what it has learned.  Studies show regular marijuana use changes the structure of the teenage brain – specifically in the areas dealing with memory & problem solving.  Also, IQs can drop by EIGHT points!