April 20, 2015 What I did on Vacation

 Hi, guys! We just got back from Florida! YAY! Well, technically, we got back on Thursday. But, still....YAYYYYY!!!!

I'm gonna tell you all about my trip to Florida, starting with the 6th. 

On the 6th, which rhymes with Styx, (the river Styx from Greek Mythology) we got ready and packed our things for our trip. Daddy weighed all the bags and then we were on our way to the airport. When we got on the plane, we had to wait awhile to complete their in-flight check up. Then we took off! IT WAS SCARY in the beginning of the flight. I kinda screamed and freaked out. But, I was okay once we got going. I had fun watching a Percy Jackson movie. The 1st one was a little different from the book. The characters didn't match up. When we got off the plane, we drove to Homosassa, Fl. That's where my Grandmama lives. (FYI - Part 2 of her story is coming out soon, so stay tuned.) 

The weather in Florida was perfect. A little hot at times, I gotta admit, but nicer than here. We got to go to the beach a couple of times. We even saw dolphins once! Daddy even made a sand sea turtle for me. I named him Sandy. He was cuter the 1st time, but Lilly stepped on his shell. πάει στα κοράκια, Lilly. That's the worst 
Greek curse I can think of. It means, go to the crows. 

LEGOLAND!!!! I finally got to Legoland!!!! I had tons and tons of fun! It's better than Disney! They should make Disney jealous by making a Lego Universe! My most favorite part is when we got in. I suggest you start saving to go. Everything was made out of legos, except, of course the rides. They even made a medival stone castle, which must have taken forever. And I suggest you check out the World of Chima. One of their rides will soak you completely! From head to toe! All of your clothes get wet. It's fun!!! You get to squirt people! After I got wet, I went into the people dryer and got dried off! Couldn't they think of a cooler way to dry though? You don't want to get dried off with heat in the middle of Florida! We spent 2 days at Legoland. The second day was free! It was a special BOGO deal. We got to go on roller coasters! Which I thought was pretty fun! We found out that if you wait until the end of the day to go on rides, there are no lines! We got right on! And one roller coaster we rode twice! In the WB game zone, you get to try out a couple of the lego video games. A couple of the Batman's, the Lego Movie, and Star Wars. Daddy liked it in the game zone because it was coolest place in the park. It was REALLY air conditioned! We got to see a 4D movie about Chima! (FOR CHIMA!!!!) I loved it! It was really cool! And don't get me started on the pirate show. That took place in Pirates Cove near Cypress Gardens. You should definitely check it out. The show in the cove was a water show. We were in the splash zone, but we didn't get splashed. They were doing water ski jumps and stuff. They even a parrot! Even the parrot was made of legos! 

We saw a banyan tree in Cypress Gardens. A banyan tree is one single tree that actually looks like a bunch of trees growing together. The branches grow down. This tree is 75 years old! People in Africa live in these trees. That's how big they get.

We saw SEA TURTLES!!!!!!! Real live sea turtles! I was so excited, I cried! I saw a green sea turtle and the rarest of them all, a Kemp Ridley. That isn't something you see everyday. We saw them at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay. These turtles are there because they are injured. They are so big, that even the sharks don't bother them. We saw a lemon shark and a black point shark. That was interesting. I even go to pose with someone in a turtle costume! Her name was Shelly, the loggerhead turtle. Now that was really interesting! We was some stingrays and a really big grouper, African penguins, and otters and moray eels. And there was also a nurse shark. You do know that the nurse shark is the only one that can breathe without moving.

On a glass bottom boat, we saw alligators and a lot of fish. I enjoyed that. 

We saw manatees at the reserve in Homosassa. That was really cool, too.

We went to Grandmama's church for Orthodox Easter. That will be the only time I go to her church. They use incense and the priest went a little over board with it. It was very perfumey. The priest blessed our food baskets for Easter. I liked Easter dinner, though. Grandmama had lots of company. But, they were all nice. Even Aunt Liz came! It was nice to see her and Uncle Billy. 

I had tons of fun in Florida. Here are some pics! I think I'll go back again sometime. That will be when the Lego Hotel is finished. 

Hey guys, I'm done for now.

Talk to you later!

Any questions, comment below!

Stay tuned til next time!

Mom gives up trying to get these in order! But I hope you like them anyway!

HAHA!

Loggerhead with no front flippers. Poor thing. :(

it's a frog

really big grouper!

Yikes!

A leafy sea dragon!! Creepy...

One of the little guys that inspired Penguin Man!

tortoise

sleeping lemurs

Me and the green sea turtle!!!!

I think he knew me

Am I too turtley for the turtle club??

He's just beautiful

Awesome jellies!!! The main prey of turtles

Kemp Ridley!!!!!

Green and an eel. Talk about a photo bomb!

Look at me!!

Oh, my friend...

!!!

these are eels

Grandmama and me

Uncle Billy doesn't like his photo taken

Sandy!!!

Hello

Bye, Grandmama

Nuclear power plant on gulf

Banyan tree!

Baby alpaca

Alpaca farm

Lilly and me in the gulf

Dad making Sandy!

Sandy!

Blue April 2, 2015

Editor:
 Yes, we are lighting up blue today. I am not a personal fan Autism Speaks. I think before anyone tries to "cure" Autism, they need to understand it. As for my political views on the organization...well, maybe I'll talk about that another time. Anyway...

We are celebrating BLUE today for many reasons. Mostly because I just wish there was a bit more tolerance in the world.  Not just for autism, but for all people who are different. For Will, I'd like him to be able to be in public without feeling awkward and out of place. (There is a reason many Aspie's feel they are aliens.) I'd like him to have a friend outside the family. Maybe that's the biggest thing for him. It's a difficult thing. Sometimes it's hard for us to keep a conversation with him. He gets painfully focused on the minutia. It's hard to focus and keep an interest.....But, I'll let him explain again. Let's see if anything has changed in a year.....

Posted last year: http://wcbenz.blogspot.com/2014/02/what-its-like-february-11-2014.html?m=1

William:
My editor got a little teary eyed there. Ok, so let's get to the writing...

Well, only one thing has changed this year. I can read a book in just a week! I read the Harry Potter series in about a month. I read the Percy Jackson series in about 2 weeks. Reading makes me feel smart. Some of the character's are really funny. They amuse me a lot. I get to learn stuff out of books. For an example, I'm learning from Percy Jackson, Greek Mythology. I like Greek Mythology. One of my favorite gods is Poseidon.

One thing that hasn't changed, I still believe in Aliens.

I don't really mind not having any friends.

Math is a little easier this year. I don't really know why it's easier but, it is! It's cool. Maybe it because I get to learn at my own pace. Sometimes I want to work on it and sometimes I don't.

The world doesn't bother me as much because I'm not in it.

It's still a struggle for me because one side of my brain doesn't like to cooperate. Like at fencing and ballet. That's the right side of my brain. But the left side cooperates. It's hard to focus, but I don't know why. That's the hard part. I like fencing and ballet, but it's just real hard to focus. I think Coach and Marie get frustrated, but they don't really show it, or I just can't tell.

Asperger's, sometimes I forget I have it. But, I still keep it in a little storage cell in my brain, Maybe it doesn't bother me as much because I'm home schooled. I don't have to worry about what people think or how they react. I can just be ME at home. Well, sometimes. My teacher makes me focus on my work.

I like home schooling. It makes me feel good. I get to learn what I want to learn. And, nobody bother's me. Except for my Mom and Dad and dog, and fish....

And thanks Meg for the lights. Maybe I can get a picture later when it gets dark!

Well, that's all for now!

Stay tuned til next time!

BYE!!!!!

Part 1 - Grandmama's Story

Grandmama's Story 

By William Carl Benz 

Chapter 1

The Trip

One day, in Homosassa Florida, Grandmama, got an invitation to a party in Canada. It said to take a boat to get to a stable to get a horse, to get to the train station, to get to the aquarium where the party will happen. The aquarium was at Niagara on the Lake, Canada. 

The ride was rough. And a little bit bumpy. And not to mention LONG! The boat had to stop at a pier to pick up more people. And when she got the horse, it started bucking! It made her a little nauseous. But when she gave it an apple, it started to cooperate. Grandmama had some carrots on hand in case the horse got hungry. It was a nice white horse.  

She finally got to the train station for the last leg of her trip to Canada. The train took her north through the mountainous mid-west and up toward Niagara Falls. 

But, along the way, some robbers came! Grandmama hit them with her purse and threw them into the Mississippi River! She didn't want the train trip to take any longer than it already was.

Grandmama finally arrives at Niagara Falls, Canada. She hailed a taxi to get to Niagara on the Lake. The taxi driver seemed nice, but little did Grandmama know, he was a GHOOOSSSSTTTTT! When she figured that out, she got out her proton pack and blasted him away! She ain't afraid of no ghosts!

You see, Grandmama is a ghost exterminator. That's why she was invited to the party at the aquarium. The ghosts were scaring all the guests away from the aquarium and all the other places in Niagara on the Lake.

Grandmama has been at this for 65 years! She a pro. And the ghosts are the prey. She started becoming a ghost hunter because ghosts were her biggest problem. They annoyed her a lot. You see, almost everyone can see ghosts, but few can see them a lot. She started fighting ghosts 65 years ago because they became a nuisance in her house. Imagine having your teapot floating in mid-air and having books make a road in your house. She had a load of traffic jams. She couldn't get her favorite radio station because they ghosts kept moving her radio. Grandmama would find empty candy wrappers in her bed. And once, even an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) bomb in a drawer. That shut down everything electronic within a 15 mile radius. The power outage lasted for hours!

She finally hailed a real taxi and made her way to the aquarium. The scenery along the way was beautiful. She saw a plethora of grape vines along the way. She passed Fort George (and saw only one friendly ghost - wonder how Casper got in there?) She also saw the whirlpool. Grandmama finally arrived at her destination.

The taxi dropped her off at The Prince of Wales Hotel. She checked into a nice, bright yellow suite. She found it perfect. She decided to take a little nap. But then woke up to see a ghost moving the bed! So she quickly got her proton pack and got rid of the ghost and put her bed back where it belonged. After a quick snack, she went to the aquarium. 

End of Chapter 1

Chapter 2

The Aquarium

When Grandmama got to the aquarium, she went to see the boss at his office. He pulled out a chair for her to sit on and they talked about the problem. It seems that the ghosts have been over running the town lately and they can't have that with the grand opening of the new shark exhibit coming soon. It'll ruin the business! So Grandmama told him she would get rid of the ghosts. 

Grandmama decided she would do a stake out and wait for the ghosts to come at night. She would figure out what they were doing and then capture them. Sounds easy, right?
But what Grandmama didn't know is that these ghosts were a little smarter than the rest. They were listening when she told the aquarium manager her plan. So, the ghosts thought they would mess it up a it. But, Grandmama is smarter and you'll see what she does later in the book. 

Midnight, March 16th, 2015, today:

Grandmama set up the traps. She hid behind a bush and armed the traps with a special EMP that can trap ghosts into one little ball. So that the catcher can trap the ghosts into an anti-ghost ball. And so the stake out begins...


Strange things began to happen when it turned 1:00 a.m. Things begin to float. It time to set off the first trap! She set up a ghost cage made of pure titanium mixed with anti-ghost metal so that the ghosts can't escape or break out of the cage. She catches 2!! When she heard some thumping at 2:00 a.m., she set off the second trap. The second trap was a ghost incinerator. 3 ghosts got incinerated from that one. 

At 4:00 a.m. until 5:00 a.m., she set traps 3,4 and 5 up to catch some more ghosts. Only one ghost remained in the aquarium - the Big Boss. 

When he showed up at 5:40 a.m., she got ready the special EMP. Grandmama was saving this for the Big Boss. The special EMP emits a light that drives the ghosts away and into the ghost cage. Ghosts can go in, but not out. The Big Boss was afraid of the light and went right into the cage.

Grandmama saved the aquarium and the town!  Round of applause everyone!!!

End of chapter 2.

Chapter 3

The Party 

The next day, Grandmama went to the party and had a great time! In fact, she even got to sit next to the aquarium manager when he opened the new exhibit! The party was terrific! They had chips and dip. The had music and plenty of lights. There were beautiful decorations and dancing! Even a little documentary about sharks. The manager thanked Grandmama for saving the town and aquarium. She got to have her picture taken with the town's mayor! 

By the end of the party, everyone was pooped. Grandmama had a great day! But now, she went back to her room at the hotel. She found some flowers and candy in her room as a thank you. And she took a nice long bath. She finished up packing and went to bed. She slept well. No disturbances from ghosts. 

In the morning, she got to the airport by taxi. But, no ghosts.

End of Chapter 3.

Chapter 4

The Trip Home

When Grandmama got to the airport, she took the quickest flight to Homosassa. She got on the plane, and when they took off, she saw all of Niagara on the Lake, Niagara Falls, Buffalo and all the cities on the way to Florida. 

When she got to the Florida airport, Grandmama got a taxi - again - no ghosts. And when she got home, she unpacked and went to the movies. She had a fun time there! And then, she went home and took a nice long nap. She really enjoyed her trip to Niagara on the Lake, but catching all those ghosts made her REALLY tired! She had a nice dream and woke up and started her casual day. 

There was a knock at the door! But, that's for another story, another adventure and another book. 

End of Chapter 4. 

THE END.....

To be continued in my next book about Grandmama's adventures.

Author's note: This book is made in dedication to my Grandmama - the one on my mother's side. She is gonna be 85 on March 18th! So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRANDMAMA! Hope you enjoy! (book close)

Petroleum......fuel or skin softener??

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION


Burning petroleum jelly:

Hypothesis: I think petrol will burn in it's jelly state.

Theory: Petroleum can NOT burn on it's own. We don't know why because we can't find an answer on the internet. So, feel free to give me suggestions as to why this is true if some of you are scientists.

What we used: Petroleum jelly, flame thrower (first time I ever used that), metal container, metal cookie sheet, a pan lid to put out the fire, dryer lint and water.

What we did: We put a tiny amount of petroleum jelly in the middle of the metal container. We attempted to light it on fire with the flame thrower. My observation was that it didn't burn, it just melted. Then we put a small amount of jelly on the lint. First we lit the non-petroleum piece of lint on fire. It burned FAST! Then we lit the piece of lint with petroleum on fire. It burned also, but slower than the piece of lint without any petroleum.

So, this explains the theory that petroleum cannot burn on it's own. My hypothesis was incorrect. We do know that people use petroleum jelly on lint to help start outdoor fires (as in camping) . Petroleum jelly is used as a fuel extender.

Cool, huh??


http://youtu.be/BpCDAAUb4cw

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION
DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION

My Dad

It's my Dad's birthday! I'm making him a nice card right now! But, don't tell him, he's still in bed! He's off today...so ssshhhhh!!!

My Dad is funny, huggable and very lovable. He's very smart! He knows tons of things that you may not know! 

My Dad takes me to the movies and stuff. He takes me to my Grandma and Grandpa's. He sits through fencing every single Friday! I don't think that's very fun for him. So, I need to do something nice for him today. So I'm writing a blog!

My Daddy means to me almost as much as Teddy (Bear) means to me! 

Daddy is as sweet as my favorite candy, Skittles! I personally like the strawberry kind.

Without my Dad, I would be bored. He tells very funny jokes. 

He lets me get away with things my Mom wouldn't let me do. Like sometimes, he let's me watch T.V and play games on my tablet.

Daddy is teaching me computer programming! I like that. 

Maybe someday I'll be like him. 

In other words,

Me and my Dad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!! I LOVE YOU!!!!