Sunday, September 14th is the 5th annual Tucson Zoological Society’s “Ice Cream Safari”.

It’s for TZS members only, and costs $5 for adults, $3 for kids 2-14, and free for the under-two crowd.

All you can eat ice cream, crafts, face painting, games, jumping castle, giraffe feeding.

The event is from 5-7pm, and the Zoo grounds will stay open until 7:30pm.

If you missed the screening at UMC earlier this year, next week you’ll have another chance to see Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake’s documentary on childbirth in America. It’s showing in the Gallagher Theatre in the UA Student Union.

Details:

THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORN
Wednesday, Sept. 3rd at 7pm
Admission:  Free
Director Abby Epstein’s controversial documentary takes a hard look at America’s
maternity care system, juxtaposing hospital deliveries against the growing
popularity of at-home, natural childbirths that many expectant parents are now
opting for. Former talk show host Ricki Lake was inspired to produce this
compelling exposé after a dissatisfying birthing experience with her first
child left her with many unanswered questions.

(thanks, Brett, for the tip!)

If so, someone at the AZ Star is looking to interview you…

Totally loved Michelle Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s speeches at the DNC.

I still get all emotional about Clinton’s campaign. I was so conflicted about who to vote for in the primaries. I remember being on the phone with Erika O while I was in line at the polls and we were going back and forth about the candidates’ merits and likelihood of being able to defeat McCain. I loved Clinton’s concession speech, and feel so profoundly moved by her pride and strength and endurance, and the graceful way she handed things over to Obama.

On that note–this is from our friend Rebecca. Thanks, Rebecca, for being part of this event and for spreading the word.

Hi friends,

I am writing today to let you know about an AWESOME event that will take place on Saturday - Sept. 27th @ Amory Park Downtown.  The goal of this event is to rally the community and mobilize young voters on behalf of Barack Obama and local Democratic candidates. I am on the planning committee for this event so I personally wanted to invite you. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The UA Young Democrats, in conjunction with the Pima County Democratic Party, the Pima County Young Democrats, Teen Democrats and the Tucson for Obama coalition, proudly present this FREE afternoon of music and events designed to mobilize young people on behalf of Barack Obama’s campaign. The G.O. Tucson! (Generation Obama) Music & Arts Festival is a four-hour outdoor party for the entire family, featuring live music, performance artists, food, games, children’s activities, and voter registration. This event has free admission and will take place on Saturday, September 27, from 3-7 pm at Armory Park in downtown Tucson.

Event Title:  G.O. Tucson! (Generation Obama) Music & Arts Festival
When: September 27  3pm - 7pm
Where:  Downtown - Amory Park
Who:  Everyone! Free!  Fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-Spread the word about this event!  Send this email to your friends…pass out the flyer!  (see attached flyer).

-If you are interested in volunteering to help on the day of the event, volunteers are needed in MANY different areas - send an email to: go.tucson@yahoo.com and say you are interested in helping out!

-You can donate $ to the event.  This is a grassroots effort - so all donations are greatly appreciated!   Checks should be made out to: Pima County Democratic Party. Donations can be given to me directly, or can be sent to:  Kelly Canady  10510 E. Breckenridge Dr. Tucson AZ 85730 (see attached form for cash donations).

-You can make an in-kind donation.  In-kind contributions can be an outright donation of materials or lending of equipment (art/framing/photography supplies, printing of flyers/posters, sound equipment, or walkie-talkies, for example) or services (sound technician, performers’ talent, emcee’s time).  email go.tucson@yahoo.com if you think you have something that could be of interest.   (see attached form)

Keep updated at: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20599662345&ref=share
Keep updated at: http://www.myspace.com/tucsonobamafest

______________________________

Thanks to JDL for reminding us about Downtown Saturday Night. See you down there?

Maybe not a tip, but more of a “hey, look what I found”. This shirt, at Target. $15, not a maternity top, but it’s working great for me at 6+ months pregnant, and it seems like it’d work well for nursing too. Definitely would be perfect for the first trimester hide-the-belly time, as well as the fourth trimester gray zone when your regular clothes don’t fit yet but you are totally sick of wearing yoga pants/nursing tanks all day. And I prefer buying non-maternity clothes, seems more sensible/practical, don’t you think?

Attention Parents!: Would you like to participate in a free science workshop, receive a stipend for your time, receive privileged “behind-the-scenes” access to local parks and museums, AND learn a great way to connect with your kids and learn some fun “everyday” science? Then join SPARKS Across America! Tucson partners Tucson Children’s Museum, Reid Park Zoo and Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum are presenting a program that brings science organizations and parents of children grades K-6 together in order to promote parental involvement in their children’s science education. Parents must attend October workshops to prepare for organizing and staffing a November fair. Parents will receive honorarium upon completing workshops. Training sites will provide all materials, training, tours and food.

PARENT WORKSHOPS-

Thursday 10/16 6pm-8pm Check-in and Overview @TCM

Sunday 10/19 9am-5pm Workshop and activities @ Reid Park Zoo

Thursday 10/23 6pm-8pm Wrap up and graduation @TCM

Saturday 11/22 FAIR @ TCM

Sunday 11/23 FAIR @ ASDM

Statistics have shown that most American adults know little about science. However, parental involvement in education is recognized as key to academic success of our students. It is proven that despite their own academic background, parents who are involved in their children’s education, produce more academically successful children. (Henderson & Mopp 2002)

If you have questions or would like to register, please contact

Jennifer Phillips

Tucson Children’s Museum

Education and Volunteer Coordinator

200 S. Sixth Ave

792-9985 ext. 111

jphillips@tucsonchildrensmuseum.org

It’s so fun to say, like Addis Ababababababa.

Anyway, this coming Saturday night there’s a Santana tribute band at the Fox theatre. It’s not cheap, but note that kids under 12 get in free. Time for a family dance party?

I’ve written before about my intense passion for ice when pregnant. It happened when pregnant with Lincoln, and it’s happening this time too.

It’s partially just loving the ice when I’m chewing it, but also feeling near panic when I can’t have ice and I want it. It’s the closest thing to the pickles-n-ice cream cliche that I’ve experienced. My husband has fetched me ice at strange times, and I am ashamed to admit that I have cried upon arriving at work to find that my tupperware container of ice was left at home.

Last weekend, this article ran in the NY Times Style section. I read it in bed while we were in Colorado, and halfway through, as you might expect, I found myself wanting, craving, NEEDING ice. But it was 1am, and S and Linc were asleep in the bed and besides, I had no access to delicious freshly made ice, let alone the amazing chewy ice that I keep in my fridge at home ($2 at the Sonic drive-thru, yo).

Nonetheless, by the time I finished the piece, breathless and wide-eyed in response to my own personal pregnant-lady porn, I HAD to fill a cup with the 6 freezer-burned cubes I dug out of the old trays, and sat in the bathroom chewing, semi-disgusted with myself, trying to tune out the coffee/old bread taste that was held in the frozen relics. I loathed myself, but couldn’t stop. Chew I must. Chew I will.

Now I know how it feels to be an addict…

There’s been a spike in traffic after our mention in this week’s Caliente! section of the AZ Star. So welcome, you.

Please check out the discussion forum too. The link is on the sidebar on the right, or click here. It’s free to sign up, and you can remain as anonymous or as open as you like. It’s a great source of information about local events, and a place for discussion of matters serious and frivolous. You can find reviews of family-friendly restaurants that bear nothing in common with Chuck E. Cheese, such as Barrio Brewing, and can listen to one pregnant woman’s rhapsodic description of the ice at Sonic drive-thru. In our forums we recently welcomed yet another very cool stay-at-home-dad to our community, and continue to brainstorm child care/work options. It’s a fun place. See you there.