It all starts with poster board.
Getting mom to drive to the drug store to load up on the thick flimsy is a great start to a great project. Grab a sheet of white, a sheet of neon pink, and if you’re lucky one of those thick cardboard three-folds. Come on, we both know that cardboard added some scientific integrity to your research — the seventh grade equivalent of getting your work published in The New England Journal of Awesome.
Now, it doesn’t end there. Next you’re grabbing markers, spray paint, baking soda, and Styrofoam. Once you’ve got everything together you’re rushing home and getting down to science, people. The carpeted corner of the unfinished basement becomes your lab and it’s time to spend hours putting on lab coats, staring into microscopes, and pour bubbling green liquids into beakers. Also, taping.
Come on and let’s count down some classics:
6. The solar system. Jabbing those spray-painted Styrofoam balls with a straightened out coat hanger is a truly great feeling. As is painting a splotchy brown Australia on Earth and a big eye on Jupiter. If you want to go the To Scale route, remember to leave Pluto at home.
5. Volcano. There are two types of eruptions. First, there’s the Underwhelming Fizz — where you stare deep into the mouth of the fiery beast only to witness some rock-hard hunks of baking soda floating in a pool of strong-smelling vinegar. It’s disappointing, but you can always try again and hope for a Superblow — where everyone stares with wide-eyes as red ooze bubbles and slides down your carefully painted volcano onto the GI Joe townspeople below.
4. The one the kid’s parents obviously did. Also known as robbing your child of the thrill of scientific discovery in exchange for a B+.
3. Growing something. Whether it was lima beans or patches of fresh grass, it was a a classic move to study Sunlight vs. Shadows, Music vs. No Music, or Watering Plants vs. Pouring Coke On Them.
2. Coke is bad. Speaking of Coke, did you have that kid who left a tooth or some nails sitting in it for a month? The groundbreaking research typically concluded with a harsh indictment of the entire soda industry. And maybe a business card for the kid’s dad who was a dentist.
1. The one that didn’t work. Every science fair had a few of these gems. They were sad and beautiful at the same time. Because that down-faced ten year old standing in front of a dim lightbulb was learning how to deal with lost efforts and how to get back their drive after a fall. Keep that chin up, tiger. You’ll get ’em next time.
Yes, beautiful science fair moments were always a perfect close to months of hallway passion, energetic teachers, and long lonely nights cutting construction paper letters with pinking shears. Letting kids learn, letting kids dream, letting kids try and try and try — well, there’s just so much good that comes of that.
As they bottle insects, jab battery wires into lemons, and rub magnets together, you can see the whirring gears spinning with delight. Yes, all that learning just sponges, soaks in, and sticks there forever as the next generation of curiosity seekers tease their buzzing minds forward and forward and forward…
AWESOME!
Pre-order The Book of Awesome
Photos from: here
Awesome:
when you think you totally bombed a test/essay in college…and then get a mark that’s outta this world! (well, considering failure was on the horizon…)
TOTALLY AWESOME!
When there aren’t enough people in line for the roller coaster to fill it up so you get to ride it again. Advance to go. Collect $200.
Awesome.
Rediscovering a hilarious internet video.
Baking something delicious for someone else, but YOU get to lick the bowl clean. Awesome!
That moment where you realize that you are the expert among your group of friends at a museum or zoo. Nothing beats being the one who gets to lead your friends on your own little field trip.
Erasing dry erase boards! There’s something so satisfying about it…so smooth, and such complete erasing!
Crossing things off of your to-do list. Ah…success. Awesome!
Finding the prize egg in an Easter egg hunt.
When you’re on a long drive and you keep seeing the same car. Because at that point, you aren’t solitary travelers, but comrades. Bonus points for happening despite pulling off the highway for a bathroom break or lunch, yet seeing them again later in the day. Extra bonus points for happening over consecutive days on a seriously long road trip.
The smell of ‘fresh air’ on your dog or cat after they come in from an extended period outdoors. In the winter, they may even bring in a waft of maple smoke from the neighbour’s woodstove or fireplace…awesome!
Frisbee
Frisbees are AWESOME!
Yes! Frisbees! Anyone can play frisbee, even the dog. ESPECIALLY the dog!
Staying home from school/work on a rainy day.
Nothing beats waking up at whatever time you desire, stretching out your limbs, letting loose a gigantic yawn, and looking out your window at a truly rainy day.
Whether you called in sick, or just decided to take a day off.
Look at the clock and laugh.
Your classmates/coworkers so totally wish they were you right now.
AWESOME!
Waking up after sleeping with the window open.
YES! Even though I’m not supposed to, I do it all the time. Feels great!
When you realize that your headache is gone.
I had an awesome moment last week; I thought I was all out of soda, went to the fridge to make dinner, and not only did a find a soda, but I found one of those fancy bottled root beers. AWESOME!!!
Going to eat at places that are only in certain regions of the country: whataburger, white castle, in and out burger. you feel so cool when you go back home and you tell all your friends because they have never been there but suddenly want to take a road trip to get some
Flying a kite on a windy spring day, just watching the wind whip it around in the air and the little splash of color on the sky.
If you live in Canada and it’s March it’s “roll up the rim time” at Tim Hortons. Nothing beats starting the day with a medium double double then using the every popular teeth roll to find “win a coffee”!
Win / Gagnez un cafe / coffee!
The most exciting bilingual phrase of my day!
double-sided tape! best thing since sliced bread.
Taking a ridiculously good picture.
Being responsible for taking that spectacular landscape that now lives as your desktop background, friends gather around your laptop and say “Where’d you find that picture?” Took it. Awesome.
Getting the Final Jeopardy question right, when none of the actual contestants do. Sure it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, you feel like the smartest person around!
Getting something to work that has been refusing to work. :)
I fought with my webcam ALL WEEKEND to try to convince it that, yes, it really did have the ability to do time lapse photography by taking one picture every 5 minutes. It took something like 8 different software package trials installed, tried, and uninstalled, and at least 4 hours of solid effort, but I won in the long run, and it is happily taking pictures today. And will for the next 11 days, until the free trial expires. Then I’ll decide if I want to continue with this & pay for the software or not! :)
Dining-hall creations. When you’re in a cafeteria and you make meals, desserts, or snacks out of items that definitely aren’t supposed to go together but taste delicious.
For example- smores from the mini-marshmellows used in hot chocolate, or getting soft serve in a cup and putting it under the root-beer fountain, or mixing in salsa from the taco bar with your eggs. AWESOME.
Yes! Awesome! I used to have “dessert night” once a week in college with some friends where we would take turns going into the cafeteria and try to come up some amazing dessert creation for everyone. One great one was “Bananas Foster” with bananas, vanilla ice cream and melted brown sugar all over the top.
Watching little kids dance to live music.
No holding back – jumping, flailing, twirling, posing. They LOVE the band – think they’re pure GENIUS!
Awesome
Getting flowers for no reason at all!! Heck any “just because” gift will do :)
finding a close parking spot at a crowded mall. AWESOME!
Pokernights.
Where randomness is welcome. Where serious talks are brought into the table, Where funny stories are integrated. When you realize that you’re not in it to win it, but to simply enjoy a quality time with your friends.
Pokernights.
Where randomness is welcome. Where serious talks are brought into the table, Where funny stories are integrated. When you realize that you’re not in it to win it, but to simply be with friends.
Getting that piece of popcorn kernel unstuck from between your gum and your tooth at the movies.
Yea we’ve all been there, you’re at the movies enjoying some popcorn when all of a sudden you happen upon a rogue kernel wedged menacingly between your gum and your tooth. You start to feel it with your tongue but every time you go to grab it with your fingernail it’s no where to be found. Finally after a good 10 minutes of trying and totally breaking your concentration on the movie you get that beast un-stuck from its vicegrip like hold on your gums and your able to watch the movie in piece.
AWESOME!
John – you’ve got to do what I do.. convince your wife (or anyone with a big purse) to carry floss around for you! It has got me out of many a jam!
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/09/26/930-finally-getting-a-piece-of-popcorn-thats-been-stuck-in-your-teeth-all-day-out/
Eye contact. Amazing
when your credit card is “approved”
When you’re on a road trip and your destination finally comes up on the green expressway signs.
Even if you’re still a hundred miles away, it’s awesome!
Being named Amy is apparently awesome. So is winning! Keep submitting everyone, dreams really do come true!! :)
The moment when you jump into a pool.
It’s a sunny day and your temperature is slowly rising. You take a look at the crisp cool pool in someone’s backyard.
You trek around the outside, feeling the rough concrete under your feet and climb onto the diving board.
You poise at the end, give a little bounce to make yourself look like a pro.
Then a big ol’ jump and whether you dive, belly flop or cannonball in, letting out a “whoop!”…
you hit the water
and it’s pure AWESOME!!
Canadian in-references. Not “references about Canadians that Americans can understand” but just littles things that only other Canadian will understand. Like that “Medicine Hat” is a place, or who The Weakerthans are.
See Juliet’s entire comment above about “Tim Horton’s” and “Roll up the Rim” and “Double Doubles”..
While I’m a transplanted Canadian, I still get all the references, but I guarnatee there were a bunch of people who read over all of that and said: “Huh?”
And also, seeing Canadian grammar, slang, or references in unexpected places. It often happens when reading this blog! And I do, “you know, I bet these people are CANADIAN!”
Finding your name (spelled correctly) on the personalized key chain rack at the store! I used to be so jealous of my friends when I was younger because they all had common names so they all had personalized pencils or keychains. As an adult, I still check each rack every time I’m in a store to see if they have Brandi with an I, and when they do, I definitely have to buy it!
When the Underdog Wins.
Hollywood has it down: the good guy wins, despite seemingly unbeatable odds. Although we’ve grown accustomed to this in the movies, the come-from-behind victory is a rare treat when it happens in real life. Perhaps because it serves as a little reminder that anything is possible.
Making the buzzer beater, overcoming adversity, beating the bully: simple reminders that we can triumph even when the odds are against us.
This is for the Miracle olympic hockey team, Appalachian State, Mine That Bird, Rudy, and every 16 seed that has ever ousted a number 1 seed.
Awesome!
Feet freedom…walking barefoot.
Yup! There are so many ways to appreciate this..
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/12/28/604-walking-on-grass-with-bare-feet/
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/06/16/743-taking-your-high-heels-off-at-the-end-of-the-night-and-walking-home-in-bare-feet/
http://1000awesomethings.com/2008/12/17/872-the-feeling-of-scrunching-sand-in-your-feet/
And the close cousin of the above:
http://1000awesomethings.com/2010/02/25/561-letting-the-waves-bury-your-feet-at-the-beach/
Walking through the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in the early morning.
You are all alone and are able to enjoy the natural beauty. This morning I saw a blue bird, ducks and blooming trees. It also allows you to experience a moment to yourself and gives you time to reflect on your present being. With such busy lives, it is important to take time to slow down, look around at the beauty of the world, and enjoy the life you lead.
Going to buy something from the store, and then finding out there was a sale on it, or it is cheaper than it was marked. Who doesn’t love deals?
Yessir.. nothing like cheap stuff that you were willing to buy as more ‘spensive stuff!
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/05/11/769-when-the-thing-you-were-going-to-buy-is-already-on-sale/
Finding the perfect napping couch. Broken in to the point where it molds to your shape and wide enough for you (and one other person or the dog) to fit comfortably. You bury your face into the corner between the back and the armrest and dream away.
fitting as many people into a photobooth as you possibly can and then making ridiculous faces. It’s even better when you find you all made the same face without realizing it.
Procrastinating and then getting complimented.
I always, and I mean ALWAYS Procrastinate. Especially on school assignments. So when I find out that a project or essay isn’t due for another two weeks, there’s no need to spend time worrying about it now. Then on Sunday night around 7pm you briefly remember your teacher screaming about that final project that was worth half your grade. But still-no reason to stress. Because I get to work and within an hour I finish my masterpiece. While other kids are turning in their assignments that took days after days to complete I throw my finished product onto the teachers desk. A week passes and you finally get that grade back, and wait, what was that I heard? A 100? Really? The best in the class? Yes, you’re right it was AWESOME.
When you brew the coffee just right and add the right combination of cream and sugar to make the perfect cup of coffee.
But make sure you’re not in such a rush to get to the perfectly made cup, that you don’t enjoy the process..
http://1000awesomethings.com/2010/02/23/563-watching-cream-go-into-coffee/
whats awesome?
the last day of school.
its ironic cause the last day of school u do ABSOULTELY NOTHING. which makes it all the more better. crazy students. yearbook signing. Teachers totally giving up.
yes this day is on to celebrate.
AWESOME!
The day AFTER the last day of school
Because who doesn’t enjoy the first day of no school?
When your having a bad day and a stranger asks if your okay :)
When you FINALLY find out what’s causing that God-awful smell or sound.
TrixieRix.. we’ve all been there.. and we feel you..
Let’s just hope it’s not the plate of leftovers that somehow ended up underneath the couch (as happened in my dorm room in college!)
http://1000awesomethings.com/2009/02/24/823-when-you-find-out-what-was-making-that-horrible-smell-and-get-rid-of-it/
Fitting everyone plus the kitchen sink into one car because you know wherever you’re going is going to have scarce or expensive parking.
When you try on something in a store and you have to get a size smaller than you thought. Bonus points if it’s a size you’ve never been able to fit before.