Inside the Rain Room

    The Rain Room has arrived and local art lovers are taking notice. Is it worth the wait? Yes, I assure you it is. Once inside, visitors find a long, dark room with a high ceiling. A single bright light shines through heavy rain falling around visitors. The mist. The damp air. The noise. It feels like a mighty storm is pouring down. But the storm is inside. And visitors aren't getting wet. Instead, visitors wander in awe, admiring the rain and the artists who created it.

    The Rain Room was created to highlight the connection between humans, nature and technology. With a tracking system that senses movement and stops the rain wherever visitors move, it does just that. Light and sound produce an experience that feels both natural and foreign. The exhibit is moving on to Atlanta next month. I urge you to visit before then. It's time to experience the Rain Room for yourself!

Welcome to the Rain Room

• The Rain Room features falling water. Please be aware you may get slightly wet. However, visitors wearing raincoats will be turned away.

• This exhibit features advanced technology. To ensure its effectiveness, please avoid wearing dark or reflective clothing.

• Visitors are welcome to take photographs of the exhibit.

• Children must be accompanied by an adult.

• For the convenience of all guests, visits are limited to 10 minutes.

    My writing career began ten years ago with my articles published locally and nationally. As a beginning writer, I was happy to be on my way, writing and learning as much as I could . With two little kids underfoot, as well as working full-time, it was really difficult to make time for writing, but I managed.

    Readers told me they laughed, cried or were inspired by my articles. But they didn't know what was really going on behind the typewriter. I was not a happy mommy, and found it difficult to enjoy the everyday little things in life. In short, I was not a happy person.

    I realized I had to make some changes. I started walking every morning. It cleared my head, allowed me time to think, gave me fresh air, and made me feel invigorated (精神焕发） and healthy. I was eating wisely, and the weight started to go. I started a new job, joined a monthly writing chapter，and was determined to keep up my walking. Finding the balance was sometimes difficult. But I was determined to fit in writing time because it made me happy. Sure I loved to watch the news and have my tea, but that wasn't what made me truly happy.

    My own happiness has shown through my family, my job performance and my attitude towards challenging situations. I again have readers telling me the effect my writing has had on them, with some able to get on with their own writing because of my articles.

    It was up to me to make it happen—my own happiness. One step at a time-one word at a time. And I did it.

    I am a volunteer. I set out to help clean up the beach after a violent storm a year ago. The sight I saw was heartbreaking. The broken houses seemed to be crying. I couldn't describe how I felt. But something special among the debris (废墟) turned my day around.

    I joined a club to clean up the beach after the storm last November. As I removed the debris from the beach, I noticed an object with shiny buttons in the wet sand. It was a jacket，and I was excited since Halloween(万圣节) was coming and I thought I had found a great costume(戏服). After picking it up, I was able to see that the jacket was from West Point (西点军校), the United States Military Academy, and it had the name “deGavre” written inside. I realized the jacket might be important to someone. I decided to find the jacket's owner and return it.

    I called the West Point Museum, considering that if the family couldn't be found, the jacket should go there. The museum connected me with Kim McDermott, Director of Communications for the Academy's Association of Graduates. Kim soon ensured that the jacket had belonged to Chester Braddock deGavre, who was a 1933 graduate and a war hero, but passed away in 1993.

    I sent Kim a photo of the jacket and she posted it to the West Point Association of Graduates Facebook Page, asking if anyone could help us find the family. In less than two hours, someone had found and called the hero's wife, Teresa. Soon I started to receive personal messages from members of the deGavre family, their friends and others who were touched by the story and they found me on Facebook.

    Finding Chester deGavre's jacket and connecting to his family with the help of Facebook have been so meaningful to me. I've formed a bond(纽带) with amazing people I might have never met.

    Winter is for working hard, summer is for playing hard. From the Bahamas to Amsterdam, we have several most appealing summer vacation spots for you to choose from.

    The Bahamas

    While there is a risk of getting rained on during hurricane season, June generally sees mild weather, fewer crowds and significantly lower prices. While some resorts (度假胜地) in the Out Islands may close, New Providence and Paradise Island remain open year-round. It's a good choice for families looking for a taste of relaxing island living.

    Mackinac Island, MI

    Mackinac Island, 20 minutes by boat from either the Upper or Lower Peninsula of Michigan, comes alive on summer weekends. Most of its roughly 4 square miles is parkland, suitable for hiking and cycling. Be sure to take in the beautiful architecture―Victorian cottages that date back to just after the Civil War. You can have a taste of times gone by; cars were banned more than a hundred years ago, and horse-drawn carriages are still used to get around today.

    Ocean City, MD

    This East Coast beach town is best known for its boardwalk, which is known for old-school amusement rides. Cycling in the town is also a great pleasure. Grab your wallets and feast on hard-shelled crabs at Hooper's crab house or drink in the sunset with a local beer in hand from Fager's Island Restaurant & Bar's large bayfront decks. Parking is free with your consuming receipt. You can't miss a classic walk along the boardwalk and the taste of Thrasher's vinegar and Old Bay French fries.

    Amsterdam

    Summer is the ideal time to visit this city. The gray skies have lifted, festivals abound and events to enjoy include the Open Garden Days, when visitors can peek (窥视) into the private gardens behind the beautiful Houses that line the famous canals. You can experience urban adventure, crossing Amsterdam's thousands of bridges and waterways by bike and by boat in search of the perfect brown cafe.

    I always feel sorry for world leaders busy dealing with fights between nations. When my three children were young, most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a battlefield.

    It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn't make it through a day without making his sisters, Alex 11 and Taryn 9, angry.

    My husband and I tried to be understanding the boy at such an age. We reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how he was hurting our family. His answer was" I say it because it's true."

    I even tried telling the girls to fight back. Bad idea. Now I had three children at war. Whatever I said to them, they paid no attention. When there was no way out, I told everything to my sister, Mary, in an e-mail. She replied, "Don't e-mail me. E-mail him."

    Our son was online every day, mailing and talking with his friends. Maybe he would actually hear me this way. I didn't say anything different, but e-mail just took the tension away. There'd be no shouting or door banging. Zack wouldn't feel under attack.

    Zack didn't reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four small words. I smiled when I read them: "You're right. I'm sorry."

    The children still fought, of course, but Zack changed. Best of all, I now have a better way to talk with not one but three of them. I like it that they don't tune me out as much as they used to. They like not having to listen to me shouting to them. Or as Alex says, "You're so much nicer online."

    All I know is that the house is quiet. But we're talking.

    The Best Way to See Singapore. See More for Less!

    City Sightseeing

    $33/A, S23/C, FREE/T

    24 hrs of Unlimited Touring — 9 am to 6 pm

    Duration: 1 Day (unlimited rides)

    Attractions: Civic District Orchard Road, Botanic Gardens, Little India, Chinatown & along the City & Heritage routes

    It is easy to enjoy Singapore with the City Sightseeing open-top touring system Spot an interesting place or sight? Simply hop off and walk around and you can continue the tour later by hopping on the next bus. With I bus arriving every 20 minutes, the City Sightseeing system links you to major sights attractions and hotels!

    Guests Helpline: 6338-6877

    DUCK

    S33/A, S23/C, S2/T

    Daily: 9:30 am — 5:30 pm

    Duration: 60 minutes

    Ride the original DUCK! Hop on this amphibious(两栖的)craft for a sightseeing tour which covers both land and sea!

    Free bus transfer, most popular tour; 1st and original DUCK; unique land & sea adventure

    For More Information, call 6338-6859

    Night Safari(旅行)

    S49/A, $33/C, FREEST

    Tour Time: 6:00 pm — 10:00 pm

    Duration: 4 hours observe the night activities of the 1,000 over noctumal(夜行的)animals in the Night Safari – the world's first wildlife night park, for an adventure you'll never forget. |

    Free & Easy with 2-way bus transfer

    For More Information, call 6338-6826

    Flyer

    $53/A, $37/C, FREE/T

    Open HoursoursHow: Daily 9:00 am — 9:00 pm

    Duration: 30 minutes

    Feast your eyes on Singapore's magnificent cityscape from a height of 165m on the world's largest observation wheel. Get your cameras ready as you experience a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and the Manna Bay area.

    Free bus transfer free river transfer

    For More Information, call 6338-3311

    A — adult, C — children (3- 12), T — toddler (2 & below)