Since hubster returned from the desert, I thought he and his BFF would be taking the kids camping tonight. I thought I'd join them for the afternoon, then come back home for pasta, wine, and a movie or a good book in a quiet house.
It didn't turn out that way. Camping was postponed until tomorrow because tomorrow will be warmer and less windy near the beaches (which in where the campground is).
But that still doesn't fully explain how I ended up spending the evening in a tent, in the front yard, watching Monsters vs. Aliens with my daughter, then having her fall asleep, her head in my hands, while I waited for the boys to get back from a moonlight kayak in the bay.
Now, the boys have all gone out to the tent to join the sleeping, snoring girl, and I'm back inside. But it's already 10:34. Dare I stay up for port, chocolate, and something from Netflix instant play?
Friday, March 26, 2010
84 Charing Cross Road
I watched 84 Charing Cross Road last night for the first time, and it made me want to move to an apartment in New York and start correspondence with a bookseller in London. And it made me want to read more Newman and Wyatt. And maybe some Philip Roth and John Cheever--or any New Yorkish writers from the 50s, 60s, or 70s.
And I fell a little bit in love with Helene Hanff, and I just ordered two of her books: 84 Charing Cross Road (of course) and Underfoot in Show Business. How could I not? I mean she ordered William Hazlitt and Leigh Hunt! Which is actually sort of interesting because she disparages the Romantic poets. Plus, she's hilarious, what with her ranting about her poorly edited version of Pepys' diary, and so on. But I find it almost too hard to take that she did not make it to London in time . . .
Anyway, have all of you book lovers seen this movie? Probably so, but if not, it's a good one for a quiet night with port and chocolate. I watched it while hubster was in the desert. I was able to download it instantly to my TV from Netflix, which is awesome.
Yes, yes. I know I should have been grading, but after a busy work week and five days without hubby, who was off recreating in the desert, the movie was just what I needed.
And I fell a little bit in love with Helene Hanff, and I just ordered two of her books: 84 Charing Cross Road (of course) and Underfoot in Show Business. How could I not? I mean she ordered William Hazlitt and Leigh Hunt! Which is actually sort of interesting because she disparages the Romantic poets. Plus, she's hilarious, what with her ranting about her poorly edited version of Pepys' diary, and so on. But I find it almost too hard to take that she did not make it to London in time . . .
Anyway, have all of you book lovers seen this movie? Probably so, but if not, it's a good one for a quiet night with port and chocolate. I watched it while hubster was in the desert. I was able to download it instantly to my TV from Netflix, which is awesome.
Yes, yes. I know I should have been grading, but after a busy work week and five days without hubby, who was off recreating in the desert, the movie was just what I needed.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Girl Trouble
The Boy is having girl trouble.
The crux of the problem is that all of his friends are girls. He says, "Mom, the girls in my class are all so sweet. Why aren't the boys sweet?"
He's small. He's not an athlete. When the boys (or even the girls) start running around and playing, he just can't keep up. So he has other interests: art, science, and the occasional talk about dynamite and other explosives.
Last year, his best friend was a girl. She's great, and her sister is my daughter's best friend. All very neat and tidy at playdates for the four of them. But that girl wasn't always so interested in looking for bugs. Oh, she'd last a while, but then, eventually, she would ditch the Boy and go look for her sister and my Girl--to do some girl stuff.
This year, his best friend is a girl, but it's a different girl. A girl who can look for bugs for as long as he can (which is forever). She is sweet and has a huge smile and missing teeth. And she loves my Boy and draws him pictures when he is sick.
He still likes the first girl. She is still his friend. But she's jealous of the new girl, and the new girl is jealous of the first girl.
So they question him about who he will marry, and the first girl tells him he should marry who he loved first. But he says that he wants to marry the new girl because they love each other and have so much in common.
Despite all this love, he has expressed anxiety and dismay over this predicament. He doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But it's a problem. The girls, of course, have other friends, who are girls, from whom they do not expect such declarations loyalty and favoritism. But since his friends are girls, and he's a boy, he's supposed to pick just one.
I, of course, tell him that he does not need to decide who to marry yet--that he's got some time. I tell him to try to be inclusive--that they can all play together. But I realize that he is in a pickle. And I'm not even sure how to suggest that he navigate the triangle (which will, I'm sure, eventually become a quadrangle or pentagon or . . . well, you get the picture).
Fortunately, we have chances for him to spend time with both girls outside of school, which he enjoys, but, at school, it's tough for all of them. They are all great kids, and they are all struggling with how to deal with these very real feelings of friendship, insecurity, and anxiety.
And with all that going on, he's supposed to learn how to read?
The crux of the problem is that all of his friends are girls. He says, "Mom, the girls in my class are all so sweet. Why aren't the boys sweet?"
He's small. He's not an athlete. When the boys (or even the girls) start running around and playing, he just can't keep up. So he has other interests: art, science, and the occasional talk about dynamite and other explosives.
Last year, his best friend was a girl. She's great, and her sister is my daughter's best friend. All very neat and tidy at playdates for the four of them. But that girl wasn't always so interested in looking for bugs. Oh, she'd last a while, but then, eventually, she would ditch the Boy and go look for her sister and my Girl--to do some girl stuff.
This year, his best friend is a girl, but it's a different girl. A girl who can look for bugs for as long as he can (which is forever). She is sweet and has a huge smile and missing teeth. And she loves my Boy and draws him pictures when he is sick.
He still likes the first girl. She is still his friend. But she's jealous of the new girl, and the new girl is jealous of the first girl.
So they question him about who he will marry, and the first girl tells him he should marry who he loved first. But he says that he wants to marry the new girl because they love each other and have so much in common.
Despite all this love, he has expressed anxiety and dismay over this predicament. He doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But it's a problem. The girls, of course, have other friends, who are girls, from whom they do not expect such declarations loyalty and favoritism. But since his friends are girls, and he's a boy, he's supposed to pick just one.
I, of course, tell him that he does not need to decide who to marry yet--that he's got some time. I tell him to try to be inclusive--that they can all play together. But I realize that he is in a pickle. And I'm not even sure how to suggest that he navigate the triangle (which will, I'm sure, eventually become a quadrangle or pentagon or . . . well, you get the picture).
Fortunately, we have chances for him to spend time with both girls outside of school, which he enjoys, but, at school, it's tough for all of them. They are all great kids, and they are all struggling with how to deal with these very real feelings of friendship, insecurity, and anxiety.
And with all that going on, he's supposed to learn how to read?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Conversation Over Waffles
Boy: I have a joke.
Girl: Okay.
Boy: Don't order caterpillars at a restaurant!
Girl:
Girl: What's the funny part?
(and while watching Tom and Jerry)
Girl: We've seen this one! Jerry wins!
Boy:
Boy: Jerry always wins.
Girl:
Girl: Okay.
Boy: Don't order caterpillars at a restaurant!
Girl:
Girl: What's the funny part?
(and while watching Tom and Jerry)
Girl: We've seen this one! Jerry wins!
Boy:
Boy: Jerry always wins.
Girl:
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Name that Painting
Okay.
So I'm trying to find an image of a particular painting, and I can't remember the title of it. I think it's probably by a Victorian painter because it's such a great representation of the Cult of Domesticity.
In the painting, a woman and her children are posed (most or all of them in chairs, I think) in some kind of drawing room in front of a fire. I think there is an empty chair for the father, but he's not home. However, there is a picture of him on the wall, behind the family, and, in the picture, he's hunting, I think.
Anyone know this painting?
So I'm trying to find an image of a particular painting, and I can't remember the title of it. I think it's probably by a Victorian painter because it's such a great representation of the Cult of Domesticity.
In the painting, a woman and her children are posed (most or all of them in chairs, I think) in some kind of drawing room in front of a fire. I think there is an empty chair for the father, but he's not home. However, there is a picture of him on the wall, behind the family, and, in the picture, he's hunting, I think.
Anyone know this painting?
Friday, March 19, 2010
Everybody Off the Bus
I don't have much to offer you today since my sickness (laryngitis, cough, etc.), combined with several intense graded jags, seems to have fogged up my brain. The most profound thoughts I've had today are, "I'm still sick. I think I'll cancel class." and "Oh, look! It's sunny! The students will be stoked."
So, since I don't have anything clever for you, I'll just share something that the Girl said last night after she came out of the bathroom:
She said, "I just went poo, and the whole family came out of the bus!"
Interpret this metaphor how you will.
And enjoy the sunshine of your day. Or enjoy the "regularity" of your day. Whichever one is most lightening to your spirits.
So, since I don't have anything clever for you, I'll just share something that the Girl said last night after she came out of the bathroom:
She said, "I just went poo, and the whole family came out of the bus!"
Interpret this metaphor how you will.
And enjoy the sunshine of your day. Or enjoy the "regularity" of your day. Whichever one is most lightening to your spirits.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Sick
It is so hard to lecture when I feel as if I have knives in my throat.
I'm done teaching for the day, so I'm going to cancel office hours, go home, brew some tea, and grade essays until my eyes also feel as if they have knives in them.
Wish I could just lay around and read or watch TV. Wouldn't that be great?
Therein lies the difference between olympic athletes (who train and complete through all sorts of pain and illness) and me*.
*Or, perhaps, I should say one of the many, many differences.
I'm done teaching for the day, so I'm going to cancel office hours, go home, brew some tea, and grade essays until my eyes also feel as if they have knives in them.
Wish I could just lay around and read or watch TV. Wouldn't that be great?
Therein lies the difference between olympic athletes (who train and complete through all sorts of pain and illness) and me*.
*Or, perhaps, I should say one of the many, many differences.
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