Riverfront Earth Day - Hartford

Driving on the one lane pedestrian walkway on the Founder's Bridge

Last Sunday, under bright sunshine and chilly skies, I manned my Earth Day booth on Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford.  I was glad I wore fleece pants and brought some revision work because I got there several hours early and cooled down from sitting still .  Since this was the first year of this event, there wasn't a huge crowd, maybe one to two hundred.  Aside from a couple of speeches, a band played the entire time.  The wind was stronger than I anticipated and even though I planned for it, I didn't expect it to gust quite so much.  I used a 10 pound weight to hold down the easel, but the wind knocked it over a couple of times.  I ended up tying it to a tree.

Climate science exhibit

I really enjoyed talking to the crowd about climate science.  People of all ages listened and participated.   Daniel Esty, Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, stopped by and asked a few questions.  "What's this booth about?"  "Why are you here?"  I told him I didn't think the general public had a good understanding of this science.  He agreed and thanked me for coming.  I'm sure he thanked all the participants. 

From front to back:  a solar oven, the Sierra Club booth and the Science Center 

The best thing about the day was that I really felt that everyone that I spoke with got the message when they left.  They did the activity, then I explained some things, then I brought out the carbon dioxide chart and showed the adults.  Some of their faces cringed when I said, "this is where we are now."  In general, the crowd was environmentally conscious and educated.  I spoke with an  English professor, a history professor and a scientist who had done research in a remote location.  His work was quite interesting.

Protestors arrived

I am still pondering how to reach the segment of the population that doesn't attend events like this.  Those are the people that need to be informed.  

 I found this article about the protest and noticed in the second photo my climate display appears to be right on top of Commissioner Esty's head.  I am conveniently hiding behind that "Hey Esty" sign.  Such a shame really.:)

Riverfront Earth Day - Hartford

Driving on the one lane pedestrian walkway on the Founder's Bridge

Last Sunday, under bright sunshine and chilly skies, I manned my Earth Day booth on Mortensen Riverfront Plaza in Hartford.  I was glad I wore fleece pants and brought some revision work because I got there several hours early and cooled down from sitting still .  Since this was the first year of this event, there wasn't a huge crowd, maybe one to two hundred.  Aside from a couple of speeches, a band played the entire time.  The wind was stronger than I anticipated and even though I planned for it, I didn't expect it to gust quite so much.  I used a 10 pound weight to hold down the easel, but the wind knocked it over a couple of times.  I ended up tying it to a tree.

Climate science exhibit

I really enjoyed talking to the crowd about climate science.  People of all ages listened and participated.   Daniel Esty, Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, stopped by and asked a few questions.  "What's this booth about?"  "Why are you here?"  I told him I didn't think the general public had a good understanding of this science.  He agreed and thanked me for coming.  I'm sure he thanked all the participants. 

From front to back:  a solar oven, the Sierra Club booth and the Science Center 

The best thing about the day was that I really felt that everyone that I spoke with got the message when they left.  They did the activity, then I explained some things, then I brought out the carbon dioxide chart and showed the adults.  Some of their faces cringed when I said, "this is where we are now."  In general, the crowd was environmentally conscious and educated.  I spoke with an  English professor, a history professor and a scientist who had done research in a remote location.  His work was quite interesting.

Protestors arrived

I am still pondering how to reach the segment of the population that doesn't attend events like this.  Those are the people that need to be informed.  

 I found this article about the protest and noticed in the second photo my climate display appears to be right on top of Commissioner Esty's head.  I am conveniently hiding behind that "Hey Esty" sign.  Such a shame really.:)

Old Furnace State Park, Killingly

I climbed this cliff--twice! (shakes head in major disbelief)

I was a little daredevil last weekend at a beginner rock climbing class at Old Furnace State Park.  Every single participant had climbed before, some in indoor climbing areas.  I had zero experience.  I tried to equate my numerous climbs up Tuckerman's Ravine to a class III climb, but nope, they disagreed.   Thus I went from a class II (scrambling) hike of Tuckermans to a class V scaling of this cliff, skipping all steps in between.  This is typical of something I would do.

This is Cliff, rappelling off the cliff.

During the first class, I thought I was going to learn how to tie knots and procedural things, but oh no.  Not only did I learn the ropes, I used them too.  First I rappelled to the bottom of the smallest cliff seen in the top photo.  Then I climbed up using the rope on the left.  I got about 25 percent of the way up and told one of the many instructors that I thought they could bring me down.  I said that at least three times, but he didn't cave in.  Instead he encouraged me and pointed out footholds.  I eventually made it to the top, but admittedly, I was scared.  On the second trip up they were shouting encouragement as I hoisted myself to higher ledges in a much quicker manner.  Let me tell you, there was a world of difference between their definition of "ledge" and mine.  The following day, I found out that rock climbing uses a lot of muscles that don't see action otherwise.  My muscles (or lack thereof) were quite sore.  Note:  This post has been filed under the label "asylum"--no reason :).

The rock at the top juts out so this climber is dangling in midair.

From past experience, I can't expect all my plans to go smoothly (understatement of the year).  Plan B has bombed, so I'm now working on Plan A along with a couple of other things.  This is the first time I'm writing about research that has not yet been published.

Dolly Garland, Founder & Journaling Ninja at Kaizen Journaling, asked me this question, "How has reading/literature contributed to reaching higher towards your individual potential?"  My answer as well as 42 others can be found at Kaizen Reading.

I'm all set for Sunday's Earth Day Festival in Hartford.  I love it when I come up with clever ideas.  The CT Science Center is nearby and they are reopening their rooftop garden this coming weekend, so I'm hoping that draws in some visitors. 

Plantar fasciitis strikes again.  I stuffed a sock under that ace bandage for arch support.

It has been a painful week.  ow, Ow, OW!  Every night, I wrapped my left foot and tucked it into bed.  By morning, rigor mortis of the arch and heel had set in.  Running made matters worse, so I stopped running, which made matters worse.

Then I got the phone bill.   One call to a scientist in another country was billed at a jaw-dropping  rate--$232.70!  How could I have been so stupid?  I thought we had international coverage when Melanie studied abroad.  That grossly inflated phone call had the potential to chew into my writing income.  Thankfully, one call to AT&T fixed the problem.  THANK YOU RON from New London! 

I'm done with my Earth Day display and I am immensely pleased with how it turned out.  It's colorful, interesting, readable, and to the point.  I'm digging out two costumes and we are going to have a good time on that Riverfront.  The big test will be how many people stop by and how easily they comprehend the science.  I don't think they're going to have a problem.  It looks like I will be driving over the pedestrian bridge to get to the plaza.  That looks a little dicey.

The Belden Wildlife Preserve

This "cardinal" was upside down on the branch, so I thought it was dead.  Instead, it was fake.

 

All week long ideas have been forming, evolving and changing as I prepare a booth for the Earth Day Festival in Hartford on April 21st.  I want to share information that is not well understood, but important in understanding climate science.  The booth has got to be fun and the facts easy to digest, all of this while not breaking the budget.  It also has to withstand wind and preparations must be made in case of rain (I will borrow an open tent).  Adding to this is the uncertainty of the number of attendees.

All that is left of the cabin in the woods

These photos were taken while snowshoeing at Belding Wildlife Preserve.   There were little surprises in the woods:  a tree with a big red bow at the top, the red "cardinal", a wreath on a lone chimney.  In the spring a beautiful field of wildflowers blossoms at the start of the trail.  Some of the trees and historical areas are marked.  Here is a list of birds at the site.

Carolyn, a trail running friend

One time when I was hiking there with Walt and my brother, a man approached us and asked if anyone was named Walter.  He handed Walt his license which he'd unknowingly dropped somewhere by the wildflower field, over a mile away.  It was such luck to a) find the license and b) find us in the woods. 

Pitch pine

Site of an old dam