Christmas Town

he Creation Museum's annual Christmas event has nearly begun. My blog buffer wasn't as full as it should have been, and vacation posting may suffer. I'll try to get things back on track, but I make no promises.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2012 iWolff Ltd.

Stargazer's Night

Circa spring 2010, taken with iPhone 3GS

One of the best things I get paid to do is to look through telescopes.  I've worked with Stargazer's Nights since we started them up 4+ years ago.  During that time I've learned quite a bit.

I started out as someone who just enjoyed science fiction with a small helping of astronomy on the side.  Then I began working in the Stargazer's Planetarium where I watched the show Created Cosmos hundreds of time during the summer of 2007.

Have you ever looked up at a clear night sky, marveled at all the stars, and then wondered which ones you were seeing? Would you like to view the rings of Saturn or the moons of Jupiter? Are you intrigued by the idea of seeing a galaxy or nebula? If you answered yes to any—or all—of these questions, then Stargazer’s Nights are for you. 

--from Creation Museum website, Stargazer's Night section

Circa fall 2012, taken with iPhone 4S

Last year those of us on staff that worked Stargazer's Nights were faced with the challenge of continuing without our full-time astronomer.  We took up the challenge and ran with it until we had developed our own version of the program, especially the indoor program we utilize on cloudy evenings.  It has been quite a bit of fun working with that, and this year we have had over twenty stargazing evenings thus far.  Tonight will be number 22 I believe (it is a private session).  Then we have two more at the end of this week and one more next week that will likely be the last of the year.  I never realized how much fun astronomy could be--but I have no intentions of looking back.  I enjoy working with both the software and hardware inside our Planetarium as well as utilizing the telescopes outside.

The picture above is one I took with my iPhone through a telescope eyepiece a couple of years ago.  Earlier this year I took a few more.  I'm always surprised at how well some of them turn out.

~Matt

A Beautiful Sound

Yesterday morning we were treated to some wonderful music in the staff meeting held for the museum staff members. Three staff members (from three different departments) graced us with music from the violin, piano, and flute.







First was some Taiolkovsky:

Then some Mozart:

We finished up by singing a hymn together, "Come Thou Fount".

~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2012 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Bullittsburg Church Rd,Petersburg,United States

"New" phone

My work phone just started cracking along the hinge. Thankfully I was able to get a replacement. Interestingly it belonged to a coworker I know well who was recently upgraded to an iPhone. The "new" phone is the one I'm holding in the picture. The other one is my old, dying phone.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2011 iWolff Ltd.

Flowers Blooming

Spring weather is definitely here--the days are nice and the flowers are starting to bloom.

The dinosaurs are begging to be let out of their cages.

And the gardens are starting to look like the wonderful, colorful display they will be for several months.

~Matt

Snakes Alive

Today is another day of the Creation Museum's most popular workshop: Snakes Alive.



I've been coordinating this program for several years now. Unfortunately I'm usually to busy to watch any shows, but I've seen a few over the years. My fiancée likes snakes as much as my sister Erin (i.e. not at all) and she even sat through a show.

I do like walking past the presenters when they're advertising out in the museum and holding one of the snakes every now and then. I figure I might as well enjoy them at work as we'll never have one as a pet. (But I'm definitely okay with that. I love Amy far more than any animal.)

~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2011 iWolff Ltd.

Eve

If you're near the Creation Museum today you should come see the presentation Eve Remembered at 3:00. It should be a great presentation (Geri is a wonderful actress), well worth your time.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2011 iWolff Ltd.

Temporary Tags

I've never seen a tag like this before.

~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Busy Camel Rides

Today was a busy day working with camel rides. It was the biggest day thus far (the third day), but as it was a holiday the museum also had large crowds. I need to ride the camel again to get my picture taken, but several other staff members have also had the chance to ride.




~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Goodbye Time Clock

I won't miss seeing you.



No, I'm not leaving work, but I'm now on salary so I don't have to use this machine any more. I'm free! ;-) This a great Independence Day!

~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Crocs, Hippos, and Scarabs

I've fallen a bit behind blogging, but I have a good excuse.  I've been eyeball deep in registration details for the conference that I'm assisting with.  I was working for many hours yesterday to get ready for this morning.  Then this morning I assisted with the organized chaos that was the parent check-in process.  Now I'm working on re-doing things for the morrow.  Let me just say that I don't plan to get a massive amount of sleep until I return home, ;-).  Saturday is the last day of the conference--but we have to pack up everything that evening after it all ends.  I am hoping that we can stop by a point of historical interest on the way home.  I'm not sure where, but our driver (Dan) is also quite interested.  :-)  I'd better get back to work at this point through.

~Matt

PS The title of the post references various group names we're using since we adapted the Answers in Genesis VBS program The Egypt File.  It is a pretty cool program.  Consider trying it out with your church VBS.  AiG materials aren't all "science-based" (though they have solid science in them) or all "Creation vs. Evolution" (though those components are there).  The key feature of an AiG product is its emphasis on biblical authority.

Virginia

Today I leave for Virginia. Along with several other people I'm going to help with the running of a children's program at a convention in Richmond. I've never done anything like this before, so I'm looking forward to it.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Hebron,United States

Home at Last

I just got home. I had a good deal of printing to get done, and most has been completed. Tomorrow should be a busy day at work. We haven't quite hit summer crowds, but it is coming soon.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Highland Ave,Fort Mitchell,United States

Another Band

AiG has produced yet another armband so I now have four on my wrist.





The black one is the new one, for the miniatry's new campaign. Iamnotashamed.org has more information.

Here they all are:
1. Creation Museum (prepare to believe)
2. I Am Not Ashamed
3. The Seven C's of History (Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, and Consummation)--made for AiG's first VBS program.
4. Answers in Genesis (Genesis 1:1)

~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

(c) 2004-2010 The Wolff's Tale. Please read responsibly -- don't read and drive!

Another Overnight

and my annoying persistent cough is still with me. *sigh*

I'll do my best to still enjoy the evening. I really hope the cough doesn't bug others--that is what I dislike the most about coughs.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Location:Hebron,United States

All Night

I'm working the second overnight of the month at the Crestion Mueum. It is a small group, but still a fun night thus far. The kids will be heading for bed quite soon, as will I.

Then in the morning comes breakfast and a great Planetarium show!


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Poison Dart

I pulled my camera out today and took some pictures around the Creation Museum. It has been far too long since I've snapped candid shots of fellow staff members or of the exhibits.

This little guy is in the poison dart frog display in the Main Hall. I spotted him hanging on the wall and took the picture at an angle so the flash wouldn't bounce back. I think the shot turned out rather well.

~Matt

Come See the Planetarium!

If you've known me in the past three years (or known me previously and talked to me in those three years) then you know I work at the Creation Museum.  I love my job there, partially because I get to do so many different things.  One of the things I did the most during my first year or so was to work in the Stargazer's Planetarium.  It is a fantastic theater--partially because of the technology, but also because of the credit that it gives to God.  Even if it wasn't high tech (and it is) it would be worth the ticket price for the biblical perspective.  I've long told people that they need to see the show--especially when I'm selling tickets.  I'll admit I get no commission on Planetarium sales, I just want them to see the show because I've seen it so often that I know it is a fantastic presentation.

Well I've changed my tune--no, not in a bad way, ;-).  If the Planetarium was fantastic before it is now awesome!  The theater was closed for four days this week so that new projectors could be installed.  The old projectors made the previous planetarium systems (points of light from a ball in the center of the theater) look antiquated but the new projectors make those ones look...well...pathetic.  The new projectors are high definition, i.e. 1080p.  The picture is clear, colors vivid, and wow!  I watched our two main shows today and was blown away.  There were a couple of tweaks that still needed to be made because of some software upgrades--but by and large everything was positively amazing.  If you've never seen the Creation Museum's planetarium before then you really don't have an excuse any longer.  I've long told people the DVD was good because it gave you a crisper show than the live show--though it wasn't immersive.  I'll no longer tell anyone the DVD is better in any way but the fact that you can take it home with you.  And if you've seen the show before then you owe it to yourself to come back and experience the new projectors.  I predict you'll walk out saying "wow."

~Matt

PS If you need a few more superlatives then check out the Creation Museum's blog.

Spring Bugs

Jen called me out to the front desk so I could take a picture of this little critter. I saw another one crawling on the nature trails the other day.


~Matt

-- Posted from my iPhone
(c) 2010 iWolff Ltd.

Roaming Birds

The Creation Museum petting zoo has many different animals, including peacocks.  Right now they roam around the property--but thankfully they don't cause as many problems as they used to.  One day when we had to park in the back lot I caught this shot while walking towards the building.

~Matt