Subject Matter: Life Science
13. Find the right type of dog or cat for you (and how to locate a humane breeder, if you have your heart set on a pedigreed pet). (humanesociety.org)

14. Have a "Sit!-in dog-training sessionat your local PetSmart. (petsmart.com)

15. Get schooled at a behind-the-scenes tour of the beluga-whale exhibit at Atlanta's Georgia Aquarium, the newest (and largest) of its kind in the U.S. (georgiaaquarium.org)

16. Spy on sea lions and birds on a moonlit canoe trip with the San Diego Natural History Museum. (sdnhm.org)

17. Skip the zoo and go to nature.org to find the nearest wildlife preserve.

18. The Carolina Elementary Science catalog has enough nature-centric kits, projects, and kitsch to keep you busy till nap time. (carolina.com)

Subject Matter: Earth Science
19. Get buzzed about the salon-style happy hour science talks hosted by the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis. (bellmuseum.org)

20. Ogle "Amazing Rare Things:The Art of Natural History in the Age of Discovery" by David Attenborough, Susan Owens, Martin Clayton, and Rea Alexandratos ($38, Yale University Press, October).

21. Bring your orchid to the monthly walk-in class for not-quite-green thumbs at the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Orchid Care Clinic.(atlantabotanicalgarden.org)

22. Read "The Organic Garden: Green Gardening for a Healthy Planet" by Allan Shepherd ($25, HarperCollins UK, September).

23. It's about more than just switching to CFLs: Read tips from the Natural Resources Defense Council for reducing waste and converting to a chemical-free home. (nrdc.org/greenliving)

Subject Matter: Languages
24. Tune into the "Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing" podcast by Mignon Fogarty to end the which vs. that debate once and for all. (grammar.qdnow.com)

25. Rediscover some of the grammar skills you left behind in grade school with "Garner's Modern American" Usage by Bryan A. Garner ($40, Oxford University Press).

26. Avoid potential faux pas with the "Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases" ($17, Oxford University Press).

27. Have manageable portions of classic novels e-mailed to you daily -- 332 days to complete Ulysses! (dailylit.com)

28-34. Download Language-Lesson Podcasts for the Ride to Work:
"Radio Lingua German" (mydailyphrase.com)
"A Spoonful of Russian" (speakrussian.blogspot.com)
"FrenchPodClass" (frenchpodclass.com)
"Finally Learn Spanish" (podcastalley.com)
"Japanese Pod 101" (japanesepod101.com)
"My Chinese Pod" (mychinesepod.com)
"Learn Italian Pod" (learnitalianpod.com)

35-36. Practice Writing with a Native Speaker:
Click the Society & Culture tab to find potential correspondents around the globe at easypenpals.com.

Find European e-mail friends and links to language-learning programs abroad on europa-pages.com.