When you are starting a new job in less than a week, you’re dealing with at least two lists. There’s the long errand and shopping and chore-focused to-do list (get dress tailored, do laundry, buy black boots, sew buttons on cardigan…), and then there’s the more abstract list of things that would be fun or smart or healthy for you to do while you have the time, so you can at least tell yourself that you took advantage of the last few days of this period that gets dramatically and not entirely accurately referred to as “freedom.” If you live in New York, topping the list of things you always want and mean to do, but rarely manage is: Go to a museum. Miraculously, Alice had free passes to the Museum of Natural History. Even better, she was willing to play hooky from work to go with me.
In the special exhibit about the brain, I learned that if neurons were marbles, each of us would have enough to fill the New York Public Library. Some of the text in the exhibit was hilariously matter-of-fact, like, “Just when you’re trying your best to be reasonable, your emotions can lead you astray.” There was also this: “By the time you reach your twenties, your brain is functioning at its peak. After that, little by little, the number of neural connections declines.” We played games designed to test your memory and reaction time and various other things we all hope to be good at: trying to trace a shape while looking in a mirror, reading names of colors printed in other colors, attempting to learn the Braille alphabet in a couple of minutes. Then we went to the museum café and each had an $11 panini.
Since it was snowing and a weekday, there was hardly anyone in the butterfly conservatory, so we got to walk around in the humid little tank for as long as we wanted, pointing and exclaiming at the butterflies flying around (The giant shiny blue one! The lacy orange and white one! The one with transparent wings!) and getting a little delirious from the sudden heat. Being in that place is perfect therapy for wintertime; it makes you giddy and melt-y and prone to hugging your friend and telling her how happy you are to be right there with her.
Later, we listened to Whoopi Goldberg narrate a “journey” into space. We watched a strange IMAX movie about aquatic dinosaurs. We went up to the fourth floor and walked through room after room (or “hall” after “hall”) of those dinosaurs and their relatives, skeletons and reconstructions and missing pieces. We went to the Hall of Ocean Life and looked up at the giant whale and at the dioramas that are my favorite, favorite thing—so carefully staged and gently glowing—and then traipsed through the North American Forests and New York State Environment sections, clearly the least loved and restored parts of the museum, with their dated signage and general quaintness, on our way to the hall of minerals and gems, where we wanted to go because we are girls and we like sparkly things. Or really, because I used to be obsessed with rocks.
I used to be obsessed with lots of the things the museum is preoccupied with, which is maybe why I have more affection for it than I do for the Met. The Natural History Museum feels more personal, making me think about how fiercely I used to love dinosaurs—how all kids love dinosaurs, and always will, and how mind-bendingly cool they are to people of all ages, whether or not they want to admit it (the array of dino-themed merch in the giftshop testifies to this, and while I’m on board with a dinosaur-shaped ladle and an ice-cube tray that makes ice in the shape of dinosaur bones, I could do without the pink kiddie t-shirt emblazoned with a sparkly dinosaur and the words “Prehistoric Princess”). All these dinosaurs remind me that, at one early point, I vaguely wanted to be a paleontologist (who didn’t?). The oddly straightforward and therefore semi-uncomfortable histories of various peoples remind me that I wanted to be an archaeologist. The meteors and big hunks of crazily colored rock remind me that for a little while, I really, really wanted to be a geologist. Or an environmentalist or some kind, testing rain with little ph strips to find out its acid content. Or some other profession that involved catching salamanders and subjecting them to a series of random, gentle tests. The trappings of science have always been a real stimulant for me, probably more than art, even though art is technically where my loyalties lie. Science sucks me in with its taxonomies and patient explanations (even if I don’t understand them; Whoopi’s narration in the planetarium was enthusiastic, but it didn’t make it any easier to process the idea of space or dark matter or how a star is born), its objects lined up and labeled behind glass.
My various science-y aspirations pretty much ended when I got to middle school and realized I couldn’t wrap my brain around carbon dating or isotopes or even fractions. It’s a little sad, mostly in retrospect, and mostly because it lines up so neatly and misleadingly with the abilities girls are and aren’t supposed to be confident about at that age. It’s depressing to think about how I much I used to love experiments, until I had to do them in a classroom with an accompanying worksheet or lab report, and grades. But I don’t think I was ever really going to be a scientist. The way I love all this stuff now is the same way I loved it as a kid, based on emotions and aesthetics. I’m romanced by it in a way that doesn’t require real understanding or expertise, and in some ways depends on the lack of exactly those things. It’s enough for me to look at everything laid out so carefully, the volume and detail of it overwhelming, and to let myself be amazed by big things like time and extinction, and little things like the birds painted into the background of a diorama, and the way stars looked on the curved ceiling of the planetarium. There’s the memory of a field trip here to see “Dinosaurs Alive” when I was in second grade, two Rainforest Alliance galas held in the shadow of the giant whale, tumbled rocks in the gift shop that my fingers are still drawn to. And now this quiet, perfect, snowy day in a museum with a good friend, right before things change again.
Hi there! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could
locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using
the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble
finding one? Thanks a lot!
Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your website by chance, and I am stunned why this coincidence did not
happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at SeductiveImages.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love XXX. ??
Visit
https://seductiveimages.info to explore our secure platform!
can you buy cheap plendil online
At NaughtySnapshots.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Check out our latest uploads on
https://explicitimages.info for more content!
Awesome blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
I’m hoping to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like Wordpress or go for a paid option?
There are so many options out there that I’m totally overwhelmed ..
Any tips? Bless you!
When I open your RSS feed it seems to be a bunch of strange characters, is the malfunction on my
reader
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at LustyPhotos.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love Sex. ??
Visit
https://intimateshots.info to check out our featured content!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about Uncategorized.
Regards
????? ?? ????? ????????, ???????….
Here are the numerous of the advantages of 1win https://al-dohaim.com/?p=51175 1win Casino. 1win provides promo codes for ordering unique rewards and incentives on personal platform.
At HotPornPhotos.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://adultpicszone.info to check out our featured content!
Medicines information sheet. What side effects can this medication cause?
cheap fluoxetine without rx
Some news about drugs. Read information now.
can i get generic tegretol pills how to get generic tegretol without dr prescription how to buy cheap tegretol without dr prescription
how to buy tegretol can you get generic tegretol tablets where to get tegretol
can you get generic tegretol without prescription
how to buy generic tegretol tablets how can i get cheap tegretol online how to get cheap tegretol prices
how to get generic tegretol no prescription can i order cheap tegretol can i buy generic tegretol without prescription
At NaughtySnapshots.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Visit https://eroticgallery.info for more content!
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on SensualPhotoHub.info! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://naughtysnapshots.info to explore our secure platform!
how can i get generic sporanox without insurance
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on NaughtySnapshots.info! ??
Check out our latest uploads on
https://lustyphotos.info and we’re having a blast together! Highly recommend this site!
I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here.
The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish.
nonetheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be delivering the
following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case
you shield this increase.
Pills information sheet. Short-Term Effects.
famotidine alternatives
Best news about medicament. Get information here.
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on AdultPicsZone.info! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://hotpornphotos.info to check out our featured content!
At NaughtySnapshots.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://lustyphotos.info for more content!
At SeductiveImages.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Check out our latest uploads on
https://lustyphotos.info for more content!
order amaryl no prescription cost of generic amaryl pills can i order amaryl online
how can i get cheap amaryl without rx get cheap amaryl without prescription get cheap amaryl without a prescription
cheap amaryl without a prescription
how to buy cheap amaryl for sale can i buy cheap amaryl without insurance where buy amaryl without dr prescription
cost of amaryl without dr prescription get generic amaryl prices how can i get cheap amaryl
?????????? ?? ???? ???????? ??? ?? ?????????
Bracelets with this clasp turn into an unbreakable chain of steel-based alloys or gold.https://www.repwatch.cx/ The Rolex Sea-dweller is a high-quality category Elite diving watch, designed for professional divers.
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on LustyPhotos.info! ??
Visit
https://sensualphotohub.info to check out our featured content!
At SensualPhotoHub.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Check out our latest uploads on
https://intimateshots.info for more content!
can i get generic vermox without dr prescription
Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?
I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any
tips?
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on NaughtySnapshots.info! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ?? https://eroticgallery.info to check out our featured content!
Medication information sheet. Long-Term Effects.
cost of zyban without dr prescription
Some trends of medication. Get now.
I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own blog and was curious what all is required to get set up?
I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100% sure. Any tips
or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who had been doing a little research
on this. And he actually ordered me lunch because I discovered it
for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thanks for the meal!!
But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this topic here on your
web site.
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at IntimateShots.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love XXX. ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://seductiveimages.info for more content!
The headquarters of primexbt located in the Seychelles, the primexbt https://ameeliohospitals.com/primexbtmobile/exciting-new-features-in-primexbt-updates-12/ is a small country, anywhere.
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at IntimateShots.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love Porn. ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ?? https://eroticgallery.info to join our vibrant community!
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on AdultPicsZone.info! ??
Visit
https://passionatepix.info to check out our featured content!
??????? ?????????? https://cialismoscow.ru ??????? ???????? ?? ????????? ????
???????????? ????? ? ???????
At NaughtySnapshots.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Visit
https://sensualphotohub.info to check out our featured content!
cost of avodart without dr prescription avodart rxlist where to get avodart price
where can i get generic avodart price where can i get avodart price order avodart prices
generic avodart tablets
avodart australia can you get avodart without dr prescription cost of avodart pills
cost of avodart without prescription cost generic avodart without a prescription cost generic avodart for sale
Hmm it looks like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so
I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog.
I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to everything.
Do you have any suggestions for inexperienced blog writers?
I’d certainly appreciate it.
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at IntimateShots.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love Sex. ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://hotpornphotos.info to explore our secure platform!
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for casino online
I couldn’t resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on LustyPhotos.info! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ?? https://eroticgallery.info and we’re having a blast together! Highly recommend this site!
Are you tired of boring adult sites? Try our community at SensualPhotoHub.info where you can share your interests and connect with others who love XXX. ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://hotpornphotos.info to join our vibrant community!
Medicines information. Cautions.
buying generic zithromax pills
Best about drugs. Get information now.
??? ?????????? ?????? ????????????
?? ?????????? ????????? ?? ????????? ????? ????? ?????????? ?????????. ????????? ??????????????? ?? ????????? ???????. audioj.copiny.com/question/details/id/1063538
where to get cheap augmentin
At PassionatePix.info, we prioritize your privacy and safety. Our platform is designed to protect you while offering the hottest content available online! ??
Visit
https://lustyphotos.info and we’re having a blast together! Highly recommend this site!
Looking for something hot and steamy? Check out our latest collection on EroticGallery.info! ??
We have the hottest content available for your viewing pleasure! ??
https://seductiveimages.info for more content!