I try not to meld my work life and my real life, because, well, I’d rather not waste my time thinking about work when I don’t have to. However, every once in a while, I get to do something fun for work and then I like to share it.

Right now, I’m working on compiling some factoids that pertain to science. For instance, did you know that the 27 moons of Uranus are named after characters created by Shakespeare and Pope (Alexander, not The)? [Confidential to Karen: I said Venus earlier, but was not paying attention. Definitely not Venus, although Venutian makes a far superior word to … Uranian? Uranussian? Uranusian? Urani?]

Do you have a favorite science fact*? Care to share it in the comments? I can’t promise you fame or glory, but I can say that teachers and students will benefit from your knowledge. Or, at least that’s what I tell myself to get me through the day.

*Fact: A truth supported by testable evidence. Not something made up. But don’t worry if you don’t have a paper trail; I’m going to look it all up anyway, so include those Flying Spaghetti Monsters if you must.

It’s not until you spend a couple of hours listening only to birdsong and wind blowing through trees that you realize how much ambient noise there is in the city. Although I live near a happening area of town, I would describe my block as a relatively quiet one. And, yet, Sunday afternoon, I kept pausing along our hike to marvel at the lack of noise. Oh, sure, there were sounds — in addition to the birds and the wind, cicadas whirred past, unseen animals occasionally crashed through the woods, frogs kerplunked through puddles in their hurry to escape us, and the earth crunched under our feet, grass whistling in our wake. But they were actual, discernible sounds, rather than the omnipresent buzz of urban life that you don’t notice has settled into your head until it is lifted. (more…)

Every once in a rare July, you get an absolutely perfect day of weather. Should such a gem of a creature arrive in your life, I hope you hop on its back, hold on tight, and follow where it will lead you, even if it’s not remotely where you expected to end up.

Sarah posted yesterday her list of ten things she’d like to do this summer. I thought I’d follow suit, particularly since this summer will not offer much in the way of vacation:

1. Go to the beach. Frequently, if it’s possible.
2. Pick blueberries and raspberries. We’ve already tackled strawberries. These are up next later this month.
3. Attend the Folklife Festival. An annual tradition.
4. Knit a summer sweater. I’ve started two. Now is the time to pull them out and finish one.
5. Have a barbecue with the rest of our building’s residents. We keep talking about this.
6. Play Frisbee and Wiffle Ball. They’re always in the car, just waiting to pull over to the side of the road for some impromptu fun.
7. Watch the final Harry Potter movie. Perhaps at midnight. Definitely at the Uptown.
8. Go swing dancing at Glen Echo. Definitely this year, particularly since we’re missing the Seersucker Social this weekend.
9. Catch an outdoor movie. Like a drive-in, but without the car. D.C. has lots to offer, from classics to flicks missed last year.
10. Picnic along the river. Georgetown has a riverfront park that Rudi and I keep considering bringing a blanket to, and The Yards has just opened up over by the ballpark and is offering Friday night music.

What about you? What are you hoping/planning to do this summer?

Today’s Ten on Tuesday topic is Ten Favorite Things to Do Outside. I’m sticking to summer activities, since that was implied, but I could come up with another ten for the colder months:

1. Go to the beach. Bring a book. Bring a bathing suit. Bring a parka. Bring a grape soda and some chips. Doesn’t matter the season. Doesn’t matter the weather. Rainy, sunny, snowy, windy, hot, cold, idyllic. It’s all good. Honestly, life is just always better after you spend some time at the ocean.
2. Sit at a cafe. Admittedly, this is probably the domain of those of us urban dwellers without access to a backyard, but it’s still lovely in the evening after work to plunk down at a table with a drink, a book, a knitting project, an iPod, and a crossword. Or another person. That’s even better.
3. Picnic and barbecue. Be it lunch up at Mitchell Park on a Saturday or a weekend evening picnic with the gang, hummus and cheese and cold salads just scream summertime. And, just this past Sunday, we broke out the grill for burgers cooked on the stoop. You can bet we’ll be repeating that and we’re even talking about inviting the rest of the building’s residents to partake one evening in an effort to be more neighborly.
4. Reconnect with the earth. Summer is the time for berry picking. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. Doesn’t really matter. I love them all and coming home with a flat of them after a day at a farm makes every mouthful that much sweeter.

   It’s also the time to get out to the garden and grow some things of my own. It’s a really cool feeling to watch things you’ve planted from seed or seedling or kitchen waste grow into legitimate food items. I mean, we grow peanuts and potatoes and strawberries and lettuce! How crazy is that?

5. Get artsy. From Jazz in the Sculpture Garden to Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and from big name performers at formal concert sites to local church brass ensembles putting on a street corner show in the Circle, music is another thing that only gains from outdoor exposure.

   And while I know that it is not necessary to view the Bard’s work outdoors, I find myself really only interested in attending performances al fresco. Unfortunately, D.C. has gotten rid of that option, but last year Rudi and I saw a great performance back at Conn in the Arbo and the year before we watched an abridged (I know!) version up in Olney. I can’t really countenance such adaptation, so I’m going to have to hunt around to see what some of the other local ‘burbs can offer me.

6. Attend festivals. Although the season technically starts in early spring with the Cherry Blossom Festival and the Kite Festival, the traditional start of the season is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in early May. It’s anchored in early summer by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and goes through the end of September and the National Book Festival (two days this year instead of just one!). You just never know what you’re going to learn or see!
7. Ride my bike. Don’t tell Rudi, but I actually enjoy tooling around on my bike quite a bit. I’ll never be the cyclist he is, but there is something cool about knowing you can propel yourself 20 miles in an afternoon. And I’d never see some of the places I’ve visited or the wildlife I’ve spotted if I’d had to go on foot or by car or public transit.
8. Drink daiquiris. My dad makes the best virgin strawberry daiquiris in the world. I hear his full octane ones are also pretty good.
9. Watch baseball. We’re part of a group that goes in on season tickets to the Nationals, so Rudi and I catch ten or so games of major league ball each year. While I’m particularly fond of a Mets-Nationals match-up, I’m happy anytime I can get to the ball park. The crack of the bat is just a summertime sound. And a ballpark at twilight is just a magical place.
10. Lie in a hammock. Because after all that gardening, festival going, gardening, and bike riding, sometimes you just need a nap.

I can’t figure out what to delete from the above group to fit in camping, but know if this were a list of eleven, my love of campfires and stargazing would shoot this onto the list. And if it were an even dozen, dancing in a torrential July downpour would probably round out the twelve.

Check out the other participants’ lists at Carole’s blog. And feel free to share your own favorite warm-weather outdoor activities in the comments.