2010 ~ Feb 19-20, Marine Biologist for a Day at the Aquarium in Nashville, Tennessee

2010 ~ February 19-20 Nashville, Tennessee

We took a group of girl scouts to Nashville to the Aquarium to be a Marine Biologist for a day, we spent the night at one of the mom's time-share.  We stopped in the Dairy Queen in Lawrenceburg to eat dinner.

Dairy Queen in Lawrenceburg 

Dairy Queen in Lawrenceburg 

Day 1: Friday, February 19, 2010 

At the Time-Share the girls swam, ate snacks they danced, and played games.

The next day the girls dissected a squid, went on a scavenger hunt, listened to a lecture about fish that was in the aquarium.

We were taken to the back room of the aquarium to see how the fish are care for, to see how their food is prepared.

We were shown where the divers go into the aquarium tank, afterward, everyone was given a quiz when we finished the quiz we were served a meal. When we finished eating, we divided into groups and took the girls shopping.

Marine Biologist for a day

February 20-21, 2010 we took eight girls scouts to the Nashville Aquarium in Nashville, Tennessee to be a marine biologist for a day.

Day 2: Saturday, February 20, 2010

The girls met at the Aquarium Restaurant at Opry Mills Mall at 8:30 A.M.

The girls were Marine Biologist for a day at the Stingray Reef, each girl was given a Tee Shirt & a name tag with The Nashville Aquarium inscribed on the front of it.

Each was given an all-day pass to the Stingray Reef, where they could pet & feed the Stingray, visit the exhibits, ride the carousel, and they were given a discount card of 15% off at the gift shop.

The Marine Biologist asks if anyone was afraid of the snake before we enter the backup room.

If so, to let her know, because she was going to take out a Scarlet Kingsnake to show the girls. Everyone was okay with going into the room.  

The biologist brought out a Scarlet Kingsnake, which is very similar to the Coral Snake. 

We were told that it is found in the southeastern area of the USA. We were then told how it’s a tri-color pattern of black, red, and yellow mimic the venomous coral snake. 

She said just remember that red on yellow can kill a fellow; red on black is a friend of Jack.

Scarlet Kingsnake

The girls petted the Scarlet snake, they could see, they could feel how smooth and shiny the snake was for it had just shed its old skin. 

Their next project was to dissect a squid, on each table, for each girl, was a dead squid, a tray, and scissors.

dissect a squid

dissect a squid

Squid are marine cephalopods

The girls were told that Squid are marine cephalopods, there are over 300 species

The Girls were told about the anatomy of the squid, how the main body mass is enclosed in the mantle, how the skin is covered in chromatophores, which enables the squid to change color so it can camouflage itself from its prey. 

They went through the anatomy of the squid from the nervous system to the Reproductive system (they were told to cut the ink sack into) were shown the ovary of the female and the testis of the male. In the digestive system are the stomach, bolus, caecum (for digestion), liver, and rectum. In the Cardiovascular system, the squid has three hearts.

The head end bears eight arms and two tentacles that contain suckers along the edge. 

The girls were divided into groups of two and given a paper with questions to be answered by doing a scavenger hunt. They had to read the information on each of the displays to find the answers. 

Some of the animals were the: tarantula spider, crocodile lizard, Piranha, Coral reef, Rococo Toad Bufo Paracnemis, stingray, Knight Anole, Emerald tree boa, Potbelly seahorse, clownfish and sea anemones.

They spend a few minutes petting and feeding the stingrays and we proceeded to the Aquarium Restaurant where there was a 200,000-gallon aquarium full of tropical fish. 

Their project was to learn about the fish that lived in the 200,000 aquariums, their environment and then to go behind the scenes of the aquarium. 

After the lecture on the aquarium and the behind scenes tour, we were all given an aquarium super fun puzzle and the questions were:

The stingray’s last means of defense was is. Barbs

A group of fish is? School

The natural filter of the ocean? Shellfish

How a fish breathes? Gills

What divers use to breath underwater? Scuba

The back support of squid? Pen

A cartilaginous fish that people are afraid of? Shark

Fish spend 30 days here before going on exhibit? Quarantine

Saving resources for future generations? Preservation

An endangered animal with plantlike qualities? Coral

Opening located on the underside of rays head? Fill-slits

A fish skid? Scales

The top fin of a fish? Dorsal

The real skin coral of the green moray eel? Blue

One category of fish? Bony

An increase in the earth’s temperature caused by pollution? Global warming

Using a limited amount of resources? Conservation

A venomous snail from Indonesia? Cone-snail

Cousin to sharks and rays? Guitarfish

A snakelike fish? Eel

Question time

Answering the questions 

group picture

Behind the scenes, we saw the holding tank for the aquarium, quarantine system, where the fishes water was prepared, main pumps, main sand filters, bio towers, and main chillers, carbon water filter.    

We walked upstairs to where the fish were in a quarantine tank. We entered another area where we walked along with a narrow walkway overhead of the aquarium where the lighting, air condition ventilations were to see the working of the aquarium. This area is where the divers go into the aquarium, where the chemical is despised into the aquarium.

Diver in aquarium

We visited the kitchen was a fresh fool is prepared daily for the fish and then to the laboratory.

We all got to look into a microscope to see some of the bacteria that might get on the fish. 

We were allowed to hold a sand dollar, sea urchin, and starfish. After the question and answer time in the lab, we all went to the restroom to wash our hands.

Washing our hands

Posing for a group picture

We all pre-ordered our lunch, so it was ready when we finished our being a marine biologist for a day. 

Our table was prepared, so we all sat down, we were given a quiz before we were served lunch. 

Lora and I shared a Lettuce Wrap, that was filled with a Grilled shrimp basted with the lime marinade and served with seasonal vegetables. 

After lunch, we divide into three groups and went into Opry Mall, I had Emilee, Brianna, and Ashley. Lora had Madison, Santana, Megan, and Sarah and the other woman had her daughter Kaitlyn.

We stopped at Build-a-Bear Work Shop, the  Rainforest Gift shop (where the girls put snakes around their necks and I took their pictures) Emilee bought a mood necklace, I bought the girls chocolate candy, Brianna bought chocolate-covered cherries, Emilee and Ashley bought chocolate covered Marshmallows, and I bought a chocolate-covered pretzel. We stopped at one store where Brianna put on an Irish Green hat and a scarf, I took Brianna’s picture, she took my picture. I was wearing a crown that said, Kiss me I am Irish.  We tried on a couple more hats, took a few more pictures then we walked back to the aquarium.  We went back to the stingray aquarium rode the carousel, and the girls feed the stingray.

Group picture at the Aquarium

Getting a back rub

Trying on hats 

Trying on hats 

Stopping at the Rainforest Cafe Gift Shop 

Ready to go home 

We waited for Lora, she was still shopping, the other woman said she had to go home, I took Megan, Ashley, Brianna, and Kaitlyn with me along with Sarah and Emilee. 

We all went looking for Lora, Madison, and Santana. We walked around the entire Opry Mall, we met up with Lora, Madison, and Santana at the Apple Barn. 

After a few more stops, we walked to the car and started home. It took forever getting out of the parking lot. We went through the drive-thru at McDonald's in Columbia, TN bought some hamburger’s for supper and rode home. We arrived home at about 6:30 P.M.

2008 ~ June 26-29 18th Annual Cher’s family Cranial Facial Convention in Wheeling, IL

Day 1:  Thursday, June 26, 2008

18 ANNUAL CHER'S FAMILY RETREAT

JUNE 26-29 2008 MYRTLE BEACH SC

SHERATON MYRTLE BEACH CONVENTION HOTEL

Thursday, June 26^th

2:00-5:00: Registration

6:30-10:00: Ice Cream Social (dinner on your own)

Friday, June 27^th      

7:30-9:00: Breakfast

10:00-4:00: Ripley’s Aquarium & Broadway at the Beach

Buses will begin loading at 9:30. We will be going to the aquarium and then staying at Broadway at the Beach, which is loaded with fun places. Buses will be able to take you back to the hotel throughout the day. Lunch is on your own.

www.ripleysaquarium.com  www.broadwayatthebeach.com       

6:30-10:00: Family Night with Talent Show and Chance Raffle (dinner provided) & CCA Teen Luau Party (at the hotel)

Saturday, June 28^th

7:30-9:00: Breakfast

11:00-4:00: Beach Party

Boxed lunches will be served at the hotel from 11:00-1:00. Buses will start taking families to the beach at 11:00 and can take you back to the hotel throughout the day.

6:30-10:30: Dinner/Dance with DJ

Sunday, June 29^th

7:30-9:00: Breakfast

Thursday morning, I woke up at 3:30 A.M., dressed, and called Lora at 4:30 A.M. We left her house at 6:00 A.M.  It was still too early for the kids so they all went back to sleep.

We stopped at Steak and Shake just off I-20 for lunch.

I ordered a hamburger with unsweetened tea, Lora and Madison split a hamburger with fries, and Marcus and Madison both ordered milkshakes. 

Meadow ate some of my hamburger and she drank a cup of milk.

We again loaded into the van and onto I-20 toward Atlanta.

For a snack, we have been eating cheese rice cakes and drinking sodas.

We stopped to fill up with gas and ordered a sandwich at Subway which was in the same building as the service station.

We ordered two twelve-inch subs, each of us ordered a Coke, and Madison ordered three sugar cookies.

I spent seven dollars. 

Marcus was starting to get restless from all the riding, we had been on the road since 6 A.M., and he kept saying are we there yet.

Finally, we arrived at Myrtle Beach but the GPS system had taken us to the wrong address.

We will be staying at the Sheraton Hotel on Twenty-first Street and the old one was along the Atlantic Ocean.

While Lora had gone inside to get the correct address, the kids got out of the car ran through the sand, and jumped into the Atlantic Ocean. 

I took Meadow out of the van and we sat in the sand along the beach. 

When Lora came out of the hotel, she started looking for us, she saw that Marcus was soaking wet, so she made him take his clothes off and wrapped him in a towel and that is how he was dressed when we arrived at the Sheraton Hotel.

Lora checked us into the hotel at 7:00 P.M., we took our luggage to the room after we freshened up, we took the elevator to the lobby, where there was a social gathering of families attending the cranial facial convention.

Lora registered all of us for the CCA Convention. 

Everyone gets tickets for Ripley’s Aquarium, and a CCA tee-shirt to wear when we attend the aquarium.

We spent a few hours getting acquainted with some of the families. 

We were exhausted from the trip, so we went back to the room and went to bed.

Madison slept with me, and Marcus and Meadow slept with Lora.

Day 2: Friday, June 27, 2008

Breakfast was served outside from 7:30 till 9:30 A.M. at the Sheraton Hotel, which consisted of cereals, and bagels, with cream cheese, the fruit of strawberries, pineapple, muskmelon, cantaloupe, and grapes. To drink there was orange juice.

At 9:30 A.M., everyone dressed in matching CCA tee-shirts and we took the bus to Ripley’s Aquarium, located at Broadway on the Beach.

The Sheraton Hotel where we stayed

Standing behind the hotel

Waiting for the bus 

Shallow Lagoons is at Friendships Flats where everyone is encouraged to touch the different types of Rays.

There was an attendant to help the children with the  Atlantic Rays, the Southern Rays, the Cow Nosed Rays, the Spotted Eagle Rays, and the Bonnet Head Shark. 

We saw Sandtiger sharks, nurse sharks, southern stingrays, cow nose rays, sawfish, sea turtles, snapper, tarpons, goliath groupers, moray eels, green moray eels, schoolmaster fish, jellyfish, seahorses, squirrelfish, and octopus inside an 87,000 square foot aquarium that was filled with 750,00 gallons of water.

We were guided along on a moving sidewalk. 

Marcus holding a horseshoe crab.

The kids pick up the horseshoe crabs at the Sea-For-Yourself Discovery Center. 

In the freshwater Rio Amazon exhibit, we saw piranhas, and other exotic species unique to the Amazon Rainforest. We saw octopuses, sea anemones, living coral, Jellyfish, and weedy sea dragons in the Living Gallery.

Once outside the aquarium, we walked to Pavilion Park where Lora bought twenty tickets for the kids to ride the attractions there. 

Marcus and Madison rode the flying pirate ship.

Marcus, Madison, and I rode the caterpillar and the merry-go-round.

Marcus and Meadow rode the boats, and Lora, Madison, and Marcus rode the swings. 

Lora had nine tickets left, and she said we could use them tomorrow at the NASA Park, Marcus, Jr., wanted to ride the go-carts. 

We ate lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretville 1114 Celebrity Cir Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

(843) 448-5455

Lora and I split a Caesar salad, the Catch of the Day, which was Mahi Mahi, grilled with fresh vegetables, island rice, and mango salsa.

Marcus and Madison ordered grilled Mahi, Mahi from the children’s menu. 

Wendelyn from Faces came with us, she ordered the cheeseburger in Paradise. Lora and I both ordered unsweetened iced tea and the kid’s sodas.

In Jimmy Buffett’s Restaurant, we sat at the first come, first serve table, which was just below the brewing hurricane that contained a large orange bottle of margarita.

When the hurricane hit, it caused a gigantic pitcher to fill up with a margarita, it was more than enough for everyone to drink his or her fill.

Brewing hurricane that contained a large orange bottle of margarita.

We went through Jimmy Buffett’s gift shop, but we did not buy anything.

We stopped at River Street Sweets, tried their samples, and bought some chocolate-covered pretzels. 

We went to the Disney store, I bought a Minnie tank top, a pair of shorts, and a tank top with Tinker Bell printed on them.

Lora bought Marcus, some pajamas which he put on and wore all day, and she bought Meadow a Finding Nemo one-piece suit and wristband.  

Disney Store 1308 Celebrity Cir # B. Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (843) 626-2610

We rode the bus back to the hotel, and we all went for a swim in the swimming pool, which was on the third floor. 

We talked with Brittany, who has Nager syndrome, and Harlena, her mom, they are from Philadelphia, Pa.

Supper will be from  6:30 to 10:00 P.M. with a talent show and a raffle. 

Tonight is pizza night where we can choose from several varieties of pizzas, along with a salad, fruit, and sweets.

The little girl without a face Juliana Wetmore, Tammy, her mother, her grandmother, and her sister sat at our table.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/story/news/health/2014/05/21/born-without-face-juliana-treacher-collins/9336489/

Juliana's birth defect is called Treacher Collins Syndrome.

The doctors said it was the worst case they had ever seen. 

Juliana has no upper jaw, no cheekbones, no eye sockets and she is missing the corner of her ear. 

In the lobby I talked to Samantha Klinger's parents, Samantha has Apert Syndrome they are here from Convoy, Illinois.

Lexie Adams has Crozn Syndrome they came here from Tacoma, WA. 

Olivia Sandborn has Pfeiffer Syndrome and her parents, Mark and Laurel, they are here from Richmond, VA. 

Our room is on the fourth floor with an ocean view, it has two plush double beds, a bathroom with a shower, a coffee maker, a television, and a refrigerator.

View from our room

Marcus Jr and  Meadow slept with me.

Day 3: Saturday, June 28, 2008

Breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9:30 inside. 

They are serving eggs, bacon, biscuits, fruit, jelly, and orange juice. 

It is almost 9:30 a.m.  Madison and Marcus are still in bed, and Lora takes them to breakfast.

Boxed lunch will be passed out from 11:30 to 1:00 P.M.  

The box lunches consist of ham, roast beef, and turkey sandwiches, with apples, chips, cookies, water, or Pepsi.
Everyone is going to the beach, it is within walking distance.

We walked a few blocks but it was too hot, so we walked back to the hotel, loaded the van, and drove to the beach.

I played with Meadow in the sand while the older kids played in the ocean.

When we were ready to go Madison started jumping up and down because she had gotten sand in the bottom of her swimsuit and it was burning her butt.

We rode back to the hotel where everyone took a shower to remove the sand.

We loaded again into the van and rode to NASA Park where the kids used the remaining nine tickets. Meadow rode the Ferries wheel, Madison rode the cups, and Marcus rode the go-carts. 

Some strange man gave Meadow & Madison a necklace and a picture.

We went to the 3-D I-Max to watch the Sea Monsters.  

We watched the stunning photo-realistic, computer-generated, animation, that transported us back to the late Cretaceous when the great inland sea divided North America in two. 

The film follows a curious and adventurous dolichorhynchops familiarly known as a dolly travels through the most dangerous oceans in history. 

Along the way, she encounters long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles, enormous fish, fierce sharks, and the most dangerous sea monster the mosasaur. 

This was a forty-five-minute show with special seating at the top for wheelchairs. The cost was $11.50 each, no cost for Meadow.

We walked back to the Disney Store where I bought a pair of Tinker Bell shorts and a Tinker Bell Tee shirt.

Disney Store

Lora bought Meadow a Minnie one-piece suit with a matching wristband and a bubble blower. She bought Madison some pajamas. 

In the Disney store, we got separated, I looked everywhere for Lora and the kids, but I could not find them anywhere. 

I walked to RideMakerz because I knew that Marcus wanted to build a car, but they were not there.

I thought to myself that they might be at RideMakerz and had walked back to the van, but they were not there. 

I called Lora on her cell phone, but she did not answer. 

I decided to sit down at the waterspout which was near the I-max and the exit. 

I sat near the waterspout for about an hour, I thought to myself that Lora and the kids had more than enough time for them to walk around Broadway on the Beach, but they were nowhere in sight. 

While I was sitting at the waterspout, I watched several kids running, jumping, and playing in the water. 

I saw a man with his two daughters, they were getting ready to leave when I heard him tell his girls to make a run for it to beat the water. 

The man took off running, slipped, and fell right on his butt.

No running signs are everywhere. 

I decided to walk to RideMakerz, where Marcus was just finishing up making his car. 

Marcus and his Ridemakerz

We rode back to the hotel, dinner was from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., and dancing lasted until 10:30 P.M. 

We were running late and could not find a handicap park so Lora parked along the side of the hotel. 

Dinner was a sit-down event where we were served grilled chicken, chicken fingers, fries, potatoes, green beans, salad, and carrot cake, with tea and iced water.

There was a DJ who was playing a variety of music until 10:30 P.M.

The dance floor was full of people dancing, Scott was in his hover dancing.

Everyone joined in making a train on the dance floor.

Jaci did a solo country dance. 

We went to our room at 10:30 P.M. after a night of dancing and socializing.  

Madison turned on the TV,  Marcus and Meadow went to sleep,  I read Song of the Exile and Lora went upstairs to meet with other parents of CCA and stayed until 12 P.M. Madison slept in the bed with me. 

Day 4: Sunday, June 29, 2008

We missed breakfast because we slept until  9:00 A.M.

We checked out, loaded the van, and headed to Broadway on the Beach. 

Marcus picked what he wanted to do yesterday, today Madison gets to pick what she wants to do today.

Hard Rock Cafe

Madison says she wants to eat lunch at the Hard Rock Café.

The Hard Rock Cafe is designed like an Egyptian Temple. 

The front of the cafe has several stone steps leading to the top, once inside you have to climb down several stone steps to get to the dining area of the restaurant.

The side of the cafe is wheelchair accessible with an elevator once inside.

For lunch, we ordered the Jumbo Combo appetizer: which included Santa Fe rolls, hickory smoked chicken wings, onion rings, potato skins, and Tupelo chicken fingers served with four different sauces.

Lora and I split a 7 oz. Angus beef HRC burger with fries. Madison orders a kid’s hamburger with fries, Marcus eats all the hickory smoked chicken wings, and Meadow eats the chicken fingers. 

Lora and I ordered unsweetened tea, and the kids ordered sodas.

Hard Rock Café  1322 Celebrity Circle Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-946-0007

Lora and Marcus are at RideMakerz, where Marcus is getting a wheel for his car.

Madison and I walked to the Build-A-Bear workshop, Lora, Marcus, and Meadow are going to meet us there. Madison chose a Panda Bear, which she named Yoyo, the clothes she chose for him were a pair of khaki shorts, a Myrtle Beach Tee, and brown sandals. 

Build-A-Bear Workshop is located at 1301 Celebrity Cir Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 (843) 445-7675.      

Madison and Yoyo

We then walk to River Street Sweets where we buy some salt water taffy, and chocolate pretzel, and the kids each get a bag of candy. 

I spent $5.95 on taffy, $2.50 on chocolate-covered pretzels, and $2.00 on an orange drink. 

Senior Frogs 

At 2:00 P.M. we leave Broadway on the Beach and start the long ride home.

Somewhere in Alabama, we stopped at McDonald's for supper where Lora ordered a couple of chicken wraps, two apple pies, and a tea.

Before we leave McDonalds Lora spills her tea,  she walks inside to get a refill. 

Lora drives until says she is too tired to drive any further so I take over driving at 10 P.M. and drive home.

We arrived home around 1A.M. in the morning and I so am exhausted that I went right to bed.