Children's Activities at the Clay Center

(Yep, the title is boring......)

This is for all you parents out there. You know that feeling when you have been stuck indoors with kids too many days in a row? When you are itching to find something for your kids to do? When you just have to find something to occupy them and hopefully burn off some of that never-ending energy? Why not try out the Clay Center? There are three floors of entertainment with lots of special activities that do a great job of breaking up another monotonous day stuck at home.

The Clay Center is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from noon to 5 pm. They are closed to the public on Monday and Tuesday. Smart pass admission, which includes access to the galleries, film, and planetarium is $13.50 for adults and $11 for children. Admission to the galleries only is $7 for adults and $5.50 for children. This can get expensive for a family of 6 (it cost us $36 for admission to the galleries only). Annual memberships are available for individuals for $55 or for families for $75, a great deal considering it would pay for itself with two visits.

While walking up to a rather elegant looking building with several unique and fascinating sculptures out front, I thought that these four rambunctious, laughing kids behind me would surely terrorize this quiet, upscale museum. Not so. As we entered the doors, no less than three employees with bright smiles and a palpable excitement greeted us. As I paid admission, the employees got down on the kids’ levels and took them over to the display set up by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources with a number of containers holding my worst enemy…snakes. My children eagerly stepped up to the man holding a snake and immediately wanted to touch the snake. They learned about venomous and non-venomous snakes, and got to hold a large snakeskin that was found in the forests of West Virginia. As a reward for their bravery, they received bright yellow stickers proclaiming “I touched a snake today”. Sadly, I received no such sticker.

Straight back from the front doors is an area that is part of the Clay Center’s Avampato Discovery Museum. This area contains Kidspace, which is designed just for those kids under the age of 5. Your toddlers and preschoolers will delight in the huge indoor tree house, where they can climb, slide, run, crawl, and jump to their heart’s content. There is a giant ball pond filled with over 10,000 plastic balls that can be “shot” from the upper branches of the tree house (I learned about this neat trick when searching for the origin of all the small blue balls that kept mysteriously bouncing off my head). The balls can also be tossed into buckets, or just jumped in from the edges of the “pond”. Another fun area of Kidspace is the “spider symphony” where kids can engage in physical and cognitive play by “playing” a number of different instruments to hear their unique sounds. Kidspace also caters to the needs of families, with a special nursing room for moms and babies, and a Big Kid Room, designated for older siblings. The Big Kid Room contains a number of bean bag chairs, a couch, and a TV with a variety of DVDs. My 8 year old actually thought this room was rather boring and wanted to climb in the tree house, but the employees at the Clay Center are very strict on the age limit of 5 and under. Every Wednesday, preschoolers are invited to Wee Wednesdays to enjoy story time and crafts designed just for their age. The themes change weekly and are based on popular children’s books. These activities are included in the cost of the gallery admission.

Directly beside Kidspace is Earth City. Earth City is a unique indoor sand and water discovery area, which was a huge hit with my kids. It is designed to teach children about West Virginia’s geology. There are many hands-on exhibits that teach about tornadoes, geysers, dams, waterfalls, and more. My eight-year-old enjoyed the tornado and geyser exhibits, while my three-year-old twins just thought it was fun to get wet and dirty in the water and sand. Either way, it was a great play place and was very entertaining. There is an area of Earth City, aptly named the Cavern of Time, that has performances of live science demonstrations and occasionally shows educational films. The subject of the presentations changes monthly.

Outside of Earth City is Health Royale, an area designed to teach children about the workings of the human body in a fun and entertaining environment. There are several “games” including a mountain climber game in which the child has to select healthy, low fat foods to keep the climber from falling off the mountain. There is an x-ray machine that has x-rays of everything ranging from the human body to snakes. The main attraction of Health Royale is the large “Hollywood Squares”-inspired game show. Visitors play along while answering questions relating to health, diet, drugs and alcohol use, exercise, and more. The game show “host” is Skully, and the guests are Funny Bone, Coach Heart, Queen Intestine, and others. This is a very popular attraction, which recently won a coveted Thea for “Outstanding Achievement Award for Museum Attraction.” Other recipients of this award include Universal Studios and Disney.

After Health Royale, we headed downstairs to the Gizmo Factory. This are features more than 30 exhibits to teach children about physical science. It is a hands-on area and the several employees and volunteers that were in the area encouraged my kids to do anything and everything to learn more about science and engineering. The area is geared more towards school age kids, but my 3 year olds enjoyed it as well. There is a full body pin screen, which was a huge hit with kids and adults alike. Many adults (myself included) laughed loudly as we tried to out-do our kids with the most creative “pin design”. There were also exhibits to throw a ceramic pot (digitally!), design a roller coaster, and make beautiful music on a laser “string-less” harp. In a small room off of the Gizmo Factory, we discovered Exploration Station. This area includes a number of hands-on building activities and we were told the programs change often. This area teaches how engineers design and build structures and then encourages the kids to attempt to build temples, pyramids, and other structures out of blocks.

Another amazing and exciting area of the Clay Center is the ElectricSky Theater. This is a 61-foot domed screen that features both planetarium shows and giant screen films. Currently showing for the planetarium show is “Rocket Men: A Brief History of Rocketry.” This show looks at rocketry from ancient times into the future. The planetarium has a star-ball with more than 10,000 stars. Each planetarium show is approximately 45 minutes and is followed by a live seasonal star talk. Currently showing on the giant screen film schedule is “The Alps.” This is showing through July 9 and shows spectacular views of Switzerland’s natural beauty, along with a “ride” through the mountain villages, a bungee jump off Verzasca Dam, and following a climber as he climbs one of the steepest peaks in all of Europe. The film runs approximately 45 minutes.

Aside from these “staple” activities at the Clay Center, there are many more ever-changing activities that kids can participate in. For example, on the second Saturday of each month, a “Fun Lab” is held in one of the classrooms. The theme is different every week. On May 8, they will be creating masterpieces from pasta and beans. On June 12, a Critter Mini Zoo will be held, where children can meet the Clay Center’s animals including snakes, lizards, tarantulas, etc. My kids would love this, but I think I will be waiting outside. The cost of this activity is included in the gallery admission.

There is also an After School Explorers Club. This activity takes place on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 and is designed for children from grades 2 through 6. Activities include demonstrations, hands-on experiments and crafts. The next upcoming activity is called “Make it Work!” and will be geared around challenges dealing with magic carpets, warp speed and a human knot. Sounds interesting. Cost for this workshop is $12 for members and $15 for non-members.

Of particular interest to school age children are the numerous summer activities planned. There are several Summer Discovery Day Camps and even a Camp-in. The Camp-in has been named “Space Night at the Museum” and will run from 6:30 pm on Friday June 18 until 10 am on Saturday June 19. Admission is $40 per person and will include a planetarium show, a giant screen film in the ElectricSky Theater, space themed workshops and a dance party. Also included are snacks and breakfast. This sounds like it would be a very special, exciting night perfect for the whole family. Imagine camping with your family under a sky of 10,000 stars. All in a comfortable air-conditioned, bug-free room.

There are several summer day camps that are offered at the Clay Center. My daughter has signed up for the Vet Camp, which will be July 6-9 for two hours each day. Her goal is to one day become a veterinarian and at this camp, she will be able to interact with live animals, learn how to help animals, and meet a real vet. She is very exciting and I think this will be a wonderful opportunity for her or any other animal-loving child out there. There are also upcoming theater-themed workshops, film-making workshops, science workshops, and art workshops. The cost for these day camps is $45 for members (per person) and $55 for non-members (per person).

If you (or more likely, your child) decide that you must absolutely take home a piece of the Clay Center, luckily there is a gift shop available for your perusing. The BB&T Little Shop of Wonders has items that cannot be found anywhere else. Whether you would like chocolate covered crickets, crunchy salsa larvae, sea monkeys, or a simply super-high bouncy ball, this is the place for you. Even if you choose not to purchase anything, the gift shop is a unique experience in itself and you browse through their selection of one-of-a-kind items. Also, each Saturday and Sunday, the gift center holds an interactive event they call “The Finale.” At this event, children and gift shop staff rip open the packages and play with items from the gift shop. The kids can compete in a number of games including slinky races, gyroscope battles, and bouncy ball contests. What a fun way to end your visit!

If your child still hasn’t gotten enough science, the Clay Center also offers birthday party specials. You have your choice of the basic package or the deluxe package. The basic package includes a private party room, gallery admission for up to 10 children (one parent per child is also included), a 10% discount at the BB&T Little Shop of Wonders, and a free gallery admission pass for each child to be used at a future visit. This package is $50 for members and $75 for non-members. The deluxe birthday package includes everything in the basic package, plus a private (age-appropriate) science demonstration and a special Clay Center gift for the birthday child. The price for this package is $100 for members and $150 for non-members.

As you can see, the Clay Center has designed a good portion of their programs to entertain and teach children. It is rare to find an establishment that can offer so many activities to adults while at the same time, completely catering to children. I would recommend a visit to anyone with children of any age who is looking for something different to do, whether they are just looking to get out of the house, expand their minds, or burn off some of that never-ending energy.

pictures

Ok - I must be dumb, but I can't figure out how to use the picture site to upload. It's asking for money is that right?

Ribs by Cathy McAlister

Quest for the Best Ribs Ends North


In all honesty, I love ribs. In fact, my love affair with ribs began a few years ago when I was traveling on business in the northern panhandle of the state. Prior to that day, I had never tasted pork baby back ribs – I was a complete rib virgin. However, that all changed the day I stumbled into a little roadside rib joint in Weirton, WV called DJ’s Ribs. This little place located at 380 Three Springs Drive is a local favorite. The place looked and smelled like it had something wonderful waiting on the other side of the door, and it did. Sparks flew, and my taste buds exploded when I took my first bite of baby back ribs. I had never tasted anything so delicious, moist and tender. I was hooked, but Weirton is a four hour drive from Charleston, so it was then I began my search or quest as it turns out to find a worthy equivalent closer to home. So, you are invited to follow me on my journey to find the best ribs in the Kanawha Valley.

Before we get started, there are a few things you first must understand about ribs. When I speak of ribs, I am talking about pork ribs, though in some areas beef ribs are in favor. I will stick with pork ribs for this occasion. There are three basic types of ribs. First, there are spare ribs. Spare ribs come from the underbelly and side of the pig. Next, there are baby back ribs, my personal favorite, which are cut from the side/belly and will usually have the brisket bone attached. Another good rib type is the loin back rib. This particular cut takes less time to cook and is generally the most expensive type of rib. Lastly, many people like a St. Louis style sparerib as well as a country style sparerib. These types of ribs are cut from the pork shoulder and can be quite delicious, but my love has always been and will continue to be good ole’ baby back ribs.

There are a number of ways to prepare good ribs. Slow smoking is the preferred method, and rubbing the ribs with spices and sauces can also add to their appeal. Ribs are amenable to all kinds of seasoning. Here are a few of the more popular styles:

Texas Style: Rub with lots of black pepper and finish with jalapeno flavor sauce.
Memphis Style: Rub containing garlic and onion powder, white pepper, seasoned pepper, chili powder, cumin, brown sugar and paprika. (Could be hot with all the peppers.) Mop with apple cider.
Southern Comfort Style: Rub contains paprika, garlic powder, seasoned salt, dry mustard, oregano and chili powder. Finishing sauce, mild with molasses and bourbon.

Next there are a variety of different barbecue sauces. They come in many flavors, styles and types. Most everyone is familiar with the thick, sweet sauces that line the shelves of grocery stores. However there is so much more to barbecue sauce than that. From thin, vinegar sauces to thick, tomato sauces to mustard based sauces there is something for everyone. It also depends in what area of the country you live in. Southerners tend to prefer the traditional, vinegar based sauce, while Texans like a thicker tomato based sauce. I feel it is important to understand and experiment with the many different types of ribs and the various rubs and sauces that jazz them up. So, if you are now ready, let’s find the best ribs the valley has to offer. Off we go!

It is truly a shame that Joey’s, a local rib joint, has gone out of business. Joey’s who used to be located next to the Charleston Civic Center in downtown Charleston, offered thick, loin cut ribs cooked to perfection. While they were loin back and not my favorite baby back ribs, Joey’s came in at a close second. However, since they are no longer in the running, we must keep searching.

Ruby Tuesday’s located in Barboursville, WV has a pretty good offering. Their baby back ribs prove to be tender, sweet and moist. However, I learned the hard way that they are not always spot on, so let’s move on.

Famous Dave’s, located in both Charleston and Barboursville is certainly in the running. With a name like “Famous Dave’s” one is lead to believe the place is famous for their ribs and quality, right? While they were okay, neither their St. Louis style nor their baby back ribs hit my sweet spot. Let’s keep moving. My elusive dream continues.

Several local restaurants such as: Chili’s, the Long Horn, and the Fifth Quarter dish up baby back ribs that are not bad and all of them are similar in taste and texture. While Jen’s BBQ located directly across campus offers tasty vinegar based baby back ribs, they still don’t stack up to DJ’s - the ribs that seemingly cannot be matched anywhere else. I’m about to give up, I’m kicking rocks.

I had heard rumors, even elaborate stories about a rib shack up interstate I79 just off the Clendenin exit called Almost Heaven BBQ. I heard this place served ribs that are smoked to absolute perfection. I heard the pit master was a local boy who had learned the technique while working in Texas. I heard a voice in my head say head north. So, I decided to check this place out. Located at 134 Spencer Road about 2 miles off the interstate, I found a small “hole in the wall” that I could have been missed had I blinked my eyes. But, there is was – a small little gray building sitting on top of a gravel parking lot that was packed with cars. A large pink pig windsock blew in the wind. It was crowded. I was forced to drive past, turn around and make a second attempt at a landing. Once I pulled onto the parking lot, and made my way to the tiny porch, I was greeted and welcomed by total strangers, all waiting on their own rib delight. So, I boldly walked up to the small window to place my order. The aroma hit me square in the face, causing nose to twitch and my mouth to water. My heart was pounding with anticipation. A peek inside that tiny window revealed the cleanest work space I think I had ever seen. I patiently waited on my order – making small talk with strangers and old acquaintances. Behind the building I could see the smoke rise from the huge smokers that were slowing cooking those mouth watering baby back and St. Louis style ribs. It was at that exact moment, a rainbow appeared. The glare from my newly found pot of gold blinded me. I remember thinking to myself - could it be I had finally found my “Holy Grail”? The aroma was driving me crazy, the anticipation made my knees quiver. I could not wait one minute longer. I tore into those baby back ribs like I had never tasted them before. It was then that I knew my long search was over.

A full rack of baby back ribs at Almost Heaven BBQ will cost you $17.00. They are large, so be prepared for a challenge. The side dishes are all homemade and are equally as good. Almost Heaven BBQ offers only take-out, as there is no indoor seating, just outdoor picnic tables. Almost Heaven BBQ lives up to their name. However, they are only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s. Additionally, they sell out quickly, so get there early. Oh – one final tip….call ahead and ask them to save you a rack. See you on the porch, I’ll be waiting beside the pink pig!

Article~

Short of word minimum, but honestly I stretched it out as best I could without filling it full of meaningless rambling. There was less going on with theater this summer than I anticipated.

Everyone Could Use Some Drama


(working title, I kind of hate it, could use suggestions)

Tired of fighting the crowds on Friday and Saturday nights at the movie theater? This May and June, why not try something new? For around the same price as a trip to the movies, you can enjoy some live-action drama and laughs by attending one of the many theatrical events going on in and around the Kanawha Valley. Whether you fancy a magic show or a musical comedy, the theater groups in our area have something to offer for everyone, and can reasonably balance into anyone’s budget.

Charleston’s own Kanawha Players, one of the oldest amateur theater companies in the country, will be performing Jeremy Eisler’s Courting Disaster on May 27, 28, and 29 at 8 P.M., and May 30 at 2 P.M. at the Kanawha Players Theater. This musical comedy, directed by Kelly Strom, pokes fun at the judges, layers, and litigators of the law system. Tickets for adults are $16, while tickets for children ages 17 and under are $10.

The players will also be performing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Jess Borgeson, Adam Long, and Daniel Singeron from June 4-6 as well as June 11-12 at 8 P.M. This parody of Shakespeare’s plays is widely popular among college campuses and has achieved worldwide success in a variety of languages. For anyone who’s ever had to trudge through Hamlet or Macbeth, this play is sure to make you smile. Tickets prices are also $16 for adults and $10 for children 17 and under.

The Charleston Light Opera Guild, known for its excellence in producing musicals for the Kanawha Valley, also has a couple of shows this summer. The ever-popular Gypsy will be performed on May 7-9, 14-15, and 21-22 at 7:30 P.M. at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater. Gypsy, referred to as “the greatest American musical” by critics and writers, is based on the 1957 memoirs of the famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. The show features the popular musical numbers “Let Me Entertain You” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” The original Broadway production starred Ethel Merman as Rose, the overbearing stage mother who pushes her daughter, Louise (based on Gypsy Rose Lee) to success. Other Broadway revivals starred Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, and Bernadette Peters. Tickets are available at the Civic Center Box Office.

The Guild will also be performing Barnum as a featured FestiVALL event this June. This “marvelous, magical circus musical” follows the career of the famous showman from the year 1835 to when he joined James A. Bailey to form the Greatest Show on Earth. Cy Coleman wrote the music for the original Broadway production, and Nina Pasinetti is directing for the Light Opera Guild. Performances will be at the Civic Center Little Theater on June 19, 25, and 26 at 8 P.M., as well as June 20 and 27 at 3:00 P.M. And be sure to look for the Guild’s productions of the love-rock musical Hair this summer, as well as Dreamgirls scheduled for this fall.

The Clay Center’s Broadway in Charleston series also has a few shows to offer in the coming months. It will cost a little more money, but the entertainment will be well worth it. David Copperfield will be in town performing David Copperfield: An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion on Sunday, May 16 at 5:30 and 8 P.M. Prepare to be amazed, as this event will take the audience on a journey of wishes and dreams through the power of illusion.

Later in the month, on Sunday, May 23 at 2 P.M., the Clay Center will be presenting the musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the Academy-Award winning animated film. Don’t miss this classic story, filled with enchantment and spectacle, and featuring beloved songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

Finally, if you don’t mind traveling a bit, The Jackson County Players will be performing Jan de Hartog’s The Fourposter on June 4-6 at the Alpine Theater in Ripley. This small, heartfelt play focuses on a married couple’s milestones through 35 years of marriage, including with the consummation of their marriage, the birth of their first child, their daughter’s wedding, moving out of their home and passing it on to another newlywed couple. This Tony-award winning comedy first opened in 1951 starring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and was adapted in 1966 by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt for their musical I Do! I Do!

For tickets, or more information on any of these events, please visit these websites:

The Kanawha Players: http://www.kanawhaplayers.org/

The Charleston Light Opera Guild: http://www.charlestonlightoperaguild.org/

The Clay Center: http://www.theclaycenter.org/

The Jackson County Players: http://jacksoncountyplayers.com/

Time's Almost Up

Don't forget folks: Articles are due by midnight tonight. That includes any photographs you wish to pair with your article. The Photobucket link can be found in the right sidebar, and the username/password details can be found in this post.

My Article

Apologies, but I was unable to talk to Phil during our scheduled lesson time last week. He was attending a funeral, and all lessons were cancelled. I will, however, see him tomorrow, and therefore the article will be up in its rough form some time tomorrow evening.

Again, I apologize.

The Chemist and the Musician

Yeah, I know, this is roughly 200 words shy of the minimum. Eat me. I'm lucky I managed to pull this out of my butt with the dozen or so other assignments I need to finish. That being said, I didn't half-ass this. That's not to say it is a masterpiece--far from it. This is the very definition of a rough draft. Feel free to cut it up into chunks and piece it back together. And if anybody thinks of a better title, let me know. Mine is just a filler title.

Robert "Bobby Caution" Morris is a walking conundrum bearing a warm heart and a mighty beard—easy to love but hard to understand.

I met Morris many moons ago in that den of burgeoning sin and occasional education known to most as middle school. I was a little lost schmuck, hoping to make a friend or two in a new town. Morris welcomed me with open arms.

We got along well for one simple reason: Morris revels in the weird and wacky—as do I. For Morris and me, the more likely a subject is to remove oneself from the graces of modern social circles, the better. We dug (and still do) Monty Python; obscure punk bands; ultra low-budget horror flicks; homemade comic books; and myriad other interests bound to insert one squarely in the "loser" category of any school.

The long and often difficult years between that curious time and now did not alter Morris much. Sure, life forged a more mature and head-strong Morris, but it did not wash away the wildness—nor the eccentricity—that caught my attention those many years ago.

* * *

Morris sits next to me outside Hamblin Hall at West Virginia State University, where he studies chemistry. Not so long ago, Morris came here to earn a degree in art—and earn one he did. Now Morris is back, pursuing another passion that he hopes to translate into a career.

"Art was fun," Morris says, "but it's kinda one of those degrees that are almost unnecessary, you know? It doesn't guarantee anything."

But Morris isn't gullible enough to believe a chemistry degree will automatically grant him a job upon graduation.

"I don't really know why I came back," Morris says, his usually bright and cheery voice dropping to just above a whisper. "I mean, I couldn't find any gigs remotely pertaining to art. Nothing, you know, official. And I'm not the painter type, selling art to interested buyers or whatever."

I ask Morris why he pursued the art degree without a clear end-game goal in mind. His answer is simple: "'Cause it was cool. That's about it really."

Morris himself is a living icon of cool, like the gods broke out their Cool Stamp and imprinted Morris while he was still cooking in his momma. Once a petite and wiry ball of spastic energy, Morris is now a calm and collected man with taught muscles, sharp eyes, and a beard that would make Grizzly Adams proud.

Morris says that he "evolved" from the ADHD-addled boy wonder I remember into the focused man of today sometime during his first go-round on the university Ferris wheel.

"I got my s*** together," Morris says. "I pulled my head out of my a**. Started taking my [ADHD] pills. Studied more. And yet I still partied. I just, you know, did it less often."

After graduating from WVSU in 2005, Morris headed to Huntington, the fattest city in the world according to one incredibly confused Englishman. Huntington proved to be Morris' musical launch pad, for it is there that Morris formed what he calls his "first formal band," the rock'n'roll outfit known as the Dig-Its.

"I played in bands before," Morris says, "in high school and whatnot. Little bands. Nothing special or fantastic. But, like, they were learning experiences, see, and that's what counts, I guess. F***ing up this, nailing that—getting it better, tighter, as time goes by."

For Morris, the Dig-Its represent improvement through experimentation made manifest in flesh, guitar strings, and cymbals. The latter have special significance for Morris, being a long-time drummer.

"I never thought I'd be, I don't know, John Bonham or whatever," Bobby says. "But I didn't try to be. Nah, I just want to—as clichéd as it sounds—rock hard. The Dig-Its, man, that was my first good opportunity to do just that."

And rock hard the Dig-Its did, for a short spell anyway. The band, which Morris describes as Thin Lizzy by way of the Stooges and Johnny Cash, captures the attention of the Huntington rock scene. Morris and crew win fans and sell out shows, and eventually record their first CD, which sells quite well.

Between gigs in Huntington, Charleston, and occasional out-of-state bars and dives, Morris took care of socially-disabled autistic patients full-time at Huntington's Autism Services Center. Morris juggled the dual responsibilities happily, enjoying his often difficult work while rocking many nights away with his band.

But like all good things, the Dig-Its' heyday came to an abrupt end, and Morris was forced to reevaluate his life.

"The Dig-Its, that was the status quo of my life," Morris says. "But then Amber, our singer, wanted out, and out she went. Then Vinnie, our rhythm guitarist, took off. Later, his replacement, Joey, quit as well. Last I heard, he'd pawned off all his old gear. Tragic, really. Dude was a guitar prodigy."

The dissolution of the Dig-Its forced Morris' hand. Rather than beat a dead horse, Morris elected to move on, putting the Dig-Its behind him forever. Morris informs me that the band, for all noble intents and lofty purposes, is a corpse.

"Won't be any reunion gig," Morris says, a subtle note of regret creeping in. "No new shows. No second CD. The Dig-Its are the past. The Wizards are the future."

The "Wizards" to which Morris refers are the Wizards of Ghetto Mountain, Morris' latest musical venture. Formed in early May of 2009, the Wizards came to fruition thanks to Morris and Chuk Fowler, a former Huntington DJ.

Morris heard Fowler spinning a slow, hard-driving form of heavy metal called "doom metal" (or occasionally "sludge") at Huntington's now-defunct Club Echo. One night, Morris approached Fowler about forming a doom band, and Fowler ecstatically agreed.

"The name," Morris says, "that was Chuk's idea. Didn't take him long to come to it either."

And the Wizards of Ghetto Mountain were up and running just as quickly, although there were a few stumbling blocks along the way.

"We had a friend of mine, Travis, on lead guitar," Morris says. "This guy Jared—friend of Chuk's I think—he's on bass. I'm drumming as usual, and Chuk takes vocal duties. That was the Wizards' first line-up. Didn't stick though."

First Travis left the Wizards due to work complications, and then Jared took off for reasons unknown. Thankfully replacements—guitarist Garrett Babb and bassist Luke Belville—came along soon enough, and the band set about subduing the Tri-State music scene like a pack of heavy metal Vikings.

"We have but one goal," Bobby says, "and that's conquering the f***ing world. As of right now, we are in the embryonic stage of doing just that. It's been pretty amazing how much we've accomplished in such a short time, you know? The band just seems to have this, I don't know, this energy that I've never experienced before. We get together and blow the ceiling off of wherever we're at."

The folks at Pittsburgh's Ulja Factory Records caught wind of said ceiling destruction and signed the Wizards to a record deal. Morris can barely contain the rapturous joy with which the record deal fills his heart.

"Not only are we getting an album with an honest-to-God record company," he says, "but we're also working with Steve Albini. This dude, man, he's worked with the greats. He's got the Midas Touch when it comes to metal. Everything he touches—and I mean everything—turns to gold."

Some of the "greats" to whom Morris refers include Helmet, Fugazi, Nirvana, the Pixies, and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin. Albini has a proven pedigree in this business, so it is quite clear why Morris and his band are so stoked.

The Wizards will head to Chicago with Albini and producer Bud Carroll to record their first album in Electrical Audio Studios. Morris says the album will likely contain nine songs, and as many as three tricks will be available for free on the band's MySpace page.

"It's gonna be flat-out epic, dude," Morris says, all but pumping his fist in the air. "Epic, man. I can't wait."

Bobby Morris the musician has his head fully in the game and is playing by his own rules—and is winning, at least so far. But what of Bobby Morris the student and future chemist?

Morris doesn't know.

"I have no idea where this road is leading me," he says. "If the Wizards keep going, if that works out, well, I'll be happy. I love the band. But chemistry, man, I dig it too, and I'd hate for all this learning to go to waste."

* * *

The Bobby Morris that gets up at an ungodly hour for school every day is a far cry from the Morris that takes the stage with the Wizards every weekend. Morris is at once a musician with a bright future and a would-be chemist walking a tight rope. In a way, Morris is a modern day Jekyll and Hyde, only both halves are equal concoctions of good and bad qualities.

For instance, Morris the musician is never late to a band practice. Morris the student, however, occasionally sleeps in, missing the start of Algebra.

Morris the drummer contributes a great wealth of exceptional material to his band. Morris the chemist-in-training feels like he is "just at the cusp of something—maybe something great, but probably something unremarkable."

On the flip side, Morris the musician doesn't have a message to impart in his music. He isn't interested in heady metaphors or deep subtext; he just wants to rock. On the other side of the coin is Morris the student, who hopes to be at the forefront of great advances in the world of chemistry.

"I want to discover something," Morris says, "something special, something big. It's not an ego thing. I don't care if anybody knows I, oh, let's say I found the cure for cancer. I don't want celebrity. I just want to make a difference."

Morris is unable to explain why his is attracted to chemistry, or why he feels the need to use his training to change the world. In fact, Morris often doubts his current educational path.

"I know I love chemistry," Morris says, "but I can't tell you why. I don't know, man. Something about, well, about lifting sheet and peering beneath. Does that make sense? Chemistry is the science of everything underneath, the life blood of the world, I guess. That's just cool, man."

I tell Morris that chemistry gives me a headache.

"Yeah, well, it gives me a headache too," he says, "but the pain is worth it. Most of the time anyway."

When Morris discusses college, I see in him the same attention-deficit kid I met long ago. I see a boy yearning to do something with his life but unsure what that something should be.

But when the subject turns to music, Morris lights up. Morris the student fades away, making way for the triumphant return of Morris the musician.

I point this out to Morris.

"Yeah, I know," he says. "Chemistry can be a bitch. Tough as hell. And music is always fun, despite any setbacks or hiccups that may come along."

When I ask Morris to elaborate, he stops for a moment, looks up at the sky, and smiles.

"As much as I love chemistry," he says, "I'll always love music that much more. And I get the irony in that. I get that chemistry could give me a comfortable ride down the road. But music, bumpy and f**ked up as it often is, man, that's one ride I never wanna give up."

So there it is, folks. That's Bobby Caution in a nutshell. That's the boy I knew and the man I know now—a man who knows exactly what he wants and yet doesn't know a damn thing.

Morris the chemist may never come to full fruition. Even if he does, he'll likely always feel unfulfilled and unhappy. But Morris the drummer will always rock hard, and will forever bear a cheerful grin as he beats his drums senseless.

Come what may, I just want my friend, be he a successful chemist or a famous drummer, to be happy. Whatever you do in this world, Bobby Morris, rock on—and rock hard.