If you're a fan of juvenile and YA fiction as I am — or if you have kids who love to read — don't miss The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. This book is pure delight and one I plan on reading aloud to the boys over the summer. I'm happy to say that it won the National Book Award for young people's fiction. And I'm happier to say that a second book about the Penderwicks was just published. This may help ward off that slight feeling of depression that usually sets in when I've read the last word of a book I've thoroughly enjoyed. And my geeky inner child is looking forward to learning more about the author, Jeanne Birdsall.
And if you're looking for more delightful juvenile fiction, check out The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo (author of Winn Dixie).
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Verdict Is In
Well, obviously my limited devotion to blogging has waned considerably in the past six weeks. Even I had forgotten what my last post was about. Lots of questions apparently.
Well...many of those have been answered. The homeschooling is a go. Wonder what I'll have to say about this next fall once we've gotten underway.
I know this is the right thing to do for Son2. He's not meant for school, and I'm not meant for stupid school policies. In my opinion, who cares if the kid misses six weeks of school as long as he makes up the work and gets good grades? But the school seems to think that this requires a load of summer school, which we, of course, would have to pay for. Mmm...yeah...let's punish the kid three times over for having migraines. Good idea.
As I was still mulling over this decision, I heard this great interview on Fresh Air with the guy who wrote the Academy Award-winning-song for and played in the movie Once. Now, I was less than thrilled when this song won the Academy Award because I thought “The Happy Working Song” from Enchanted was the award worthy song. It’s an instant Disney classic. Alas, I suppose this just shows why I am not a part of the Academy.
Anyway. This was a great interview with that songwriter/actor, and he told a wonderful story about leaving school when he was thirteen. He said that the headmaster called him into his office and said it was time for him to leave school and go and learn more about music and see if he could possibly make a living at it. So the kid headed off to some street in south Dublin and the rest is history.
And somehow, this was the final thing that made me able to set Son2 free from traditional school. If a headmaster can tell a student, you’re not made for this…go and pursue what you are made for, then surely I can do that for my son. It’s not like I’m asking him to make his way on the streets of Dublin.
At the moment I don’t have a clue exactly what he’ll be learning, but I’m excited to orient his education toward the arts and his interests. Last week he had a neurologist appointment and since he was missing a field trip because of the appointment, I took him to the Brandywine River museum to make up for it. I love that museum. Andrew Wyeth is one of my favorite artists; his paintings grip me in some unexplainable way. Son2 loved it, and it was great to share that with him. The best moment came when we read a quote from Andrew Wyeth that said something like this: “Sometimes when it looks like I’m doing nothing, I’m getting the most done.” Son2 said: “That’s just like me!”
I’m telling you, that kid can break my heart sometimes. He would love to be a person who plays sports and wins things and has no trouble with math. But that’s not who he is, and we desperately want him to be happy with the wonderful, creative person he is. So anything that affirms the normalcy of the creative experience is a relief to him, I think.
After that museum visit I found an article online about the fact that Andrew Wyeth was withdrawn from school when he was still quite young and tutored at home for the remainder of his schooling. He talks about the fact that he believes artistic kids should be homeschooled.
One last note. Lately I’ve been noticing that when he stays home from school with a migraine, he spends a lot of time doing creative things. It got me wondering whether the migraines sometimes come as a result of a build-up of creative energy. A good theory anyway.
Well...many of those have been answered. The homeschooling is a go. Wonder what I'll have to say about this next fall once we've gotten underway.
I know this is the right thing to do for Son2. He's not meant for school, and I'm not meant for stupid school policies. In my opinion, who cares if the kid misses six weeks of school as long as he makes up the work and gets good grades? But the school seems to think that this requires a load of summer school, which we, of course, would have to pay for. Mmm...yeah...let's punish the kid three times over for having migraines. Good idea.
As I was still mulling over this decision, I heard this great interview on Fresh Air with the guy who wrote the Academy Award-winning-song for and played in the movie Once. Now, I was less than thrilled when this song won the Academy Award because I thought “The Happy Working Song” from Enchanted was the award worthy song. It’s an instant Disney classic. Alas, I suppose this just shows why I am not a part of the Academy.
Anyway. This was a great interview with that songwriter/actor, and he told a wonderful story about leaving school when he was thirteen. He said that the headmaster called him into his office and said it was time for him to leave school and go and learn more about music and see if he could possibly make a living at it. So the kid headed off to some street in south Dublin and the rest is history.
And somehow, this was the final thing that made me able to set Son2 free from traditional school. If a headmaster can tell a student, you’re not made for this…go and pursue what you are made for, then surely I can do that for my son. It’s not like I’m asking him to make his way on the streets of Dublin.
At the moment I don’t have a clue exactly what he’ll be learning, but I’m excited to orient his education toward the arts and his interests. Last week he had a neurologist appointment and since he was missing a field trip because of the appointment, I took him to the Brandywine River museum to make up for it. I love that museum. Andrew Wyeth is one of my favorite artists; his paintings grip me in some unexplainable way. Son2 loved it, and it was great to share that with him. The best moment came when we read a quote from Andrew Wyeth that said something like this: “Sometimes when it looks like I’m doing nothing, I’m getting the most done.” Son2 said: “That’s just like me!”
I’m telling you, that kid can break my heart sometimes. He would love to be a person who plays sports and wins things and has no trouble with math. But that’s not who he is, and we desperately want him to be happy with the wonderful, creative person he is. So anything that affirms the normalcy of the creative experience is a relief to him, I think.
After that museum visit I found an article online about the fact that Andrew Wyeth was withdrawn from school when he was still quite young and tutored at home for the remainder of his schooling. He talks about the fact that he believes artistic kids should be homeschooled.
One last note. Lately I’ve been noticing that when he stays home from school with a migraine, he spends a lot of time doing creative things. It got me wondering whether the migraines sometimes come as a result of a build-up of creative energy. A good theory anyway.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Too Many Questions
Here are the things that have been occupying my thoughts lately, all of which have probably kept me from blogging. At least that is the excuse I'll use.
Do we let Son1 go on a missions trip to Belize? Is an 11-day trip into a foreign country, being totally immersed in various ministries, too much for him to handle? Too much for any 13-year-old?
How long can I survive without any editing work? Why don't I have any work? What's going on? Is everyone just freaking out about the economy?
Do we homeschool Son2 next year? His migraines, his struggles with math, and his overall temperament and interests seem to make this a good idea.
Do I write a curriculum to teach people how to write a good children's picture book? Do the people who try to write these books ever read them? In case you were wondering, I'm fairly certain they don't.
Do I take a long-term substitute position as a language arts teacher for fourth and fifth grades at my boys' school for the last seven weeks of the school year? I don't have any jobs at the moment, so is this the right thing to do?
These issues and others have been really overwhelming my thoughts of late. And...brief update...I mentioned back in January that I was going to start giving attention to this novel I want to write. Well, I really blew it for a while, but I'm back on the wagon. Every day I realize how much more research I have to do -- just to write something that is essentially a YA fantasty/adventure novel. I'm certain that my local librarians must think I'm insane. On my most recent trip to the library I came home with The Company of Wolves, Tracks and Trailcraft, Life in a Medieval Village, Vegan Express (so I can make dinner in the midst of the craziness), and five young adult novels (so I can read their openings and then return them -- unless they're good of course).
Who new? Much of the plot is still a mystery to me, but parts of it are becoming clear. I guess I thought I would just start writing, but it has not turned out that way. I'm going to keep plugging away at it until the plot is essentially clear, then sketch out each scene, and then I'll start writing. Phew. For any writers out there, I'm reading a great book called Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell...very helpful.
Oh well, time to go wash some floors and brood some more.
Do we let Son1 go on a missions trip to Belize? Is an 11-day trip into a foreign country, being totally immersed in various ministries, too much for him to handle? Too much for any 13-year-old?
How long can I survive without any editing work? Why don't I have any work? What's going on? Is everyone just freaking out about the economy?
Do we homeschool Son2 next year? His migraines, his struggles with math, and his overall temperament and interests seem to make this a good idea.
Do I write a curriculum to teach people how to write a good children's picture book? Do the people who try to write these books ever read them? In case you were wondering, I'm fairly certain they don't.
Do I take a long-term substitute position as a language arts teacher for fourth and fifth grades at my boys' school for the last seven weeks of the school year? I don't have any jobs at the moment, so is this the right thing to do?
These issues and others have been really overwhelming my thoughts of late. And...brief update...I mentioned back in January that I was going to start giving attention to this novel I want to write. Well, I really blew it for a while, but I'm back on the wagon. Every day I realize how much more research I have to do -- just to write something that is essentially a YA fantasty/adventure novel. I'm certain that my local librarians must think I'm insane. On my most recent trip to the library I came home with The Company of Wolves, Tracks and Trailcraft, Life in a Medieval Village, Vegan Express (so I can make dinner in the midst of the craziness), and five young adult novels (so I can read their openings and then return them -- unless they're good of course).
Who new? Much of the plot is still a mystery to me, but parts of it are becoming clear. I guess I thought I would just start writing, but it has not turned out that way. I'm going to keep plugging away at it until the plot is essentially clear, then sketch out each scene, and then I'll start writing. Phew. For any writers out there, I'm reading a great book called Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell...very helpful.
Oh well, time to go wash some floors and brood some more.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Amusing Observations
You may not know this about me, but one of the things I actually like most about myself is that I'm easily amused. Now, I'm not sure whether this is truly an admirable quality, but it does make life better. Heaven knowns the small things can often make life worse -- cat poop in the bathtub drain, a dog that needs to be let out to pee at 3 a.m., or someone crying in the morning before school because they "forgot" to finish their homework. If such small things can send a day on a downward trajectory, you better hope some small things can help propel it in a happier direction. And this is why I think it's good that I'm easily entertained.
I am definitely an observer. I should have followed my journalistic calling because observation seems to be one of the things I most excel at. But since I'm not using my powers to report on world events, I do use them for my own entertainment. Here are a few small, amusing observations I've made lately:
Yesterday, in the grocery store parking lot, I noticed a truck with a bumper sticker, which I thought said, "Vegetarian." I was surprised, because you don't see many people around here proclaiming their commitment to vegetarianism. You especially don't see it on the back of pickup trucks. They're more likely to have this bumper sticker: "Vegetarian: Indian word for bad hunter." So I looked a little more closely at the truck with the sticker, and I had it wrong. The bumper sticker actually said, "Vaginatarian." And I thought that was pretty funny.
In the same grocery store parking lot, I recently saw a general contractor's truck with lettering on the side. It said: "McQuitty Contracting." Honestly, if your name was McQuitty wouldn't you choose another name for your business?
This morning I was shopping for gobs of Easter candy for the boys at Wal-Mart, which B. and I have re-named China-Mart. In the aisle with all the Easter goodies, there was a rack of pocket New Testaments in Easter colors. I picked one up to look at it, turned it over and discovered that it was manufactured in China. So it's illegal to own a Bible there, but it's okay to make them. Classic. If they're not capitalists, then I don't know who qualifies for the label anymore.
I am definitely an observer. I should have followed my journalistic calling because observation seems to be one of the things I most excel at. But since I'm not using my powers to report on world events, I do use them for my own entertainment. Here are a few small, amusing observations I've made lately:
Yesterday, in the grocery store parking lot, I noticed a truck with a bumper sticker, which I thought said, "Vegetarian." I was surprised, because you don't see many people around here proclaiming their commitment to vegetarianism. You especially don't see it on the back of pickup trucks. They're more likely to have this bumper sticker: "Vegetarian: Indian word for bad hunter." So I looked a little more closely at the truck with the sticker, and I had it wrong. The bumper sticker actually said, "Vaginatarian." And I thought that was pretty funny.
In the same grocery store parking lot, I recently saw a general contractor's truck with lettering on the side. It said: "McQuitty Contracting." Honestly, if your name was McQuitty wouldn't you choose another name for your business?
This morning I was shopping for gobs of Easter candy for the boys at Wal-Mart, which B. and I have re-named China-Mart. In the aisle with all the Easter goodies, there was a rack of pocket New Testaments in Easter colors. I picked one up to look at it, turned it over and discovered that it was manufactured in China. So it's illegal to own a Bible there, but it's okay to make them. Classic. If they're not capitalists, then I don't know who qualifies for the label anymore.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Little Chuckle
This is a disgusting thing to post, so if you're easily grossed out, then stop right here. But if you're entertained by poop, then by all means, read on.
Things have been out of sorts around here for the past week. The boys were all sick at the same time with a lovely disease called the flu. Next year we may be getting flu shots and save ourselves a week of aches, pains, and TV watching.
I don't usually pick up the boys' diseases, but even I could not escape the flu's wrath this time. This has made me very cranky and I've contemplated posting a variety of lengthy complaints. I may still do so, because this sickness seems to have poisoned my brain.
Now, I'm sure you're thinking, when will she get to the poop?! Hold on, we're almost there.
So I am still trying to recover, fighting off the body aches and going through about 100 tissues a day, and this morning I was doing my best to get moving and get everyone ready for school. I was in the kitchen, packing lunchboxes (UGH!) and telling lies to myself about how much I would get accomplished today even though I still feel like crap, when Son1 appeared and said, "There's a poop in the upstairs bathtub."
Perfect.
I go upstairs to investigate, and, indeed, there is cat poo and pee in our upstairs bathtub. Want to come over and use our shower?
Well...we've been having a problem with our oldest cat, who's furious about all the disruptions in her life over the past 18 months -- new house, new dog, new cat. It's the newest cat who's provoked this disturbing bathtub behavior. We're still figuring out what to do about this, but that's another post. But the joy of this particular morning is that some of the poo nuggets had fallen into the bathtub drain. What did I do you ask? I stabbed them with toothpicks to extract them, little cat poo hors d'oeuvres.
Things have been out of sorts around here for the past week. The boys were all sick at the same time with a lovely disease called the flu. Next year we may be getting flu shots and save ourselves a week of aches, pains, and TV watching.
I don't usually pick up the boys' diseases, but even I could not escape the flu's wrath this time. This has made me very cranky and I've contemplated posting a variety of lengthy complaints. I may still do so, because this sickness seems to have poisoned my brain.
Now, I'm sure you're thinking, when will she get to the poop?! Hold on, we're almost there.
So I am still trying to recover, fighting off the body aches and going through about 100 tissues a day, and this morning I was doing my best to get moving and get everyone ready for school. I was in the kitchen, packing lunchboxes (UGH!) and telling lies to myself about how much I would get accomplished today even though I still feel like crap, when Son1 appeared and said, "There's a poop in the upstairs bathtub."
Perfect.
I go upstairs to investigate, and, indeed, there is cat poo and pee in our upstairs bathtub. Want to come over and use our shower?
Well...we've been having a problem with our oldest cat, who's furious about all the disruptions in her life over the past 18 months -- new house, new dog, new cat. It's the newest cat who's provoked this disturbing bathtub behavior. We're still figuring out what to do about this, but that's another post. But the joy of this particular morning is that some of the poo nuggets had fallen into the bathtub drain. What did I do you ask? I stabbed them with toothpicks to extract them, little cat poo hors d'oeuvres.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Aging
Apparently we've reached that point in our lives when not only do we have children to take care of, but we have aging parents to worry about. Many of our friends do too.
Aging is a remarkable thing. When my mother died, my father, who was 74 at the time, seemed so young. And as a widower, he's kept busy — with traveling, golf, dinner dates, attending little league and soccer games, and ferrying grandchildren here and there. But something has happened in the past year or so. I met him for lunch the other day. His hands now shake when he reaches for things. He's 80, and he seems...old.
On the other hand, we have my mother-in-law. She's considering having her boyfriend, who she's been seeing for no more than six weeks, move in with her.
I think we need a little help over here.
Aging is a remarkable thing. When my mother died, my father, who was 74 at the time, seemed so young. And as a widower, he's kept busy — with traveling, golf, dinner dates, attending little league and soccer games, and ferrying grandchildren here and there. But something has happened in the past year or so. I met him for lunch the other day. His hands now shake when he reaches for things. He's 80, and he seems...old.
On the other hand, we have my mother-in-law. She's considering having her boyfriend, who she's been seeing for no more than six weeks, move in with her.
I think we need a little help over here.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Does Simon Listen to the Radio?
Lately I've been having trouble coming up with blog material. Things fall into my head to write about, but never at a time when I might actually do some blogging. Then, when I have a moment, I literally can't think of one thing I'd like to write about. Or, I think of something, but I know it might be annoying to read about. My opinions on political candidates, for instance, or how apalled I was to see that video on TV of cows being pushed by bulldozers in a slaughterhouse. So, I will return to American Idol...for now.
My question is this: Do Simon and Co. ever listen to the radio? Do they ever listen to anything but seriously over-produced cookie cutter muzak? I think what fascinates me most about American Idol is how unlikely it it to produce someone who will actually write and perform some great music. You think about enduring Rock legends, and how they could never meet Simon's approval if they were to try out for American Idol. Bob Dylan. Neil Young. Even Bruce Springsteen.
Frankly, when it comes down to it, a "singing" competition is kind of boring because who really listens to music for the perfect quality of the singing? If you're looking for that, I guess you listen to Celine Dion or you take a trip to Broadway or to the opera. Anyone who is a bit more "artistic" just doesn't have a chance. Like last night, the guy with the dreads, I thought he was good...like something I might actually listen to, and he got the thumbs down from the judges. I also thought the way they didn't let the little guy with the sad story (who lived in his car) into the top 24 was completely lame. That boy appeared to me to be an actual musical and artistic talent — with charisma no less. Charisma — something that Simon talks a lot about but apparently can't recognize in its genuine form.
Simon also blasted some guy last night for his pre-performance video. I missed his video, but I guess he described himself as a "word nerd" who loves to do crossword puzzles. Simon, who never misses a chance to remind us that this is a SINGING competition, told the guy he didn't do himself any favors with his video -- basically because words are so uncool. Hello? What about the SINGING competition? And furthermore, I guess Simon thinks that all music consumers are people who can't imagine a musician who doesn't conform to all the stereotypes. So, the mindless massess will love a rock 'n' roll dude who drag races (that's authentic!) but we can't love one who likes words. What would we listen to if Simon didn't tell us what to like?
Of course, I'm a fan of words, and of word nerds, so I thought this was pretty offensive. But the whole AI thing is funny. Most of the music I listen to doesn't feature singers who actually sing all that well.
Still, that little buddy, David Archeletta (?), is an incredible singer. He sang "Imagine" last night, and it was way better than the John Lennon version. Of course, I actually hate all of John Lennon's music.
Anyway, a little dose of AI, which I genuinely enjoy, and it's easy to see why the music industry sucks so much. I'm glad I've never been in the unenviable position of being a musical artist trying to make it in the ugly world of the music industry. Watch those judges and the way they caprciously apply their little set of rules (be relevant, be yourself, don't change a great artist's song, make it your own, don't be arrogant, be confident, etc., etc.) and you get a sense that a bunch of kooky Greek gods rule the music industry.
My question is this: Do Simon and Co. ever listen to the radio? Do they ever listen to anything but seriously over-produced cookie cutter muzak? I think what fascinates me most about American Idol is how unlikely it it to produce someone who will actually write and perform some great music. You think about enduring Rock legends, and how they could never meet Simon's approval if they were to try out for American Idol. Bob Dylan. Neil Young. Even Bruce Springsteen.
Frankly, when it comes down to it, a "singing" competition is kind of boring because who really listens to music for the perfect quality of the singing? If you're looking for that, I guess you listen to Celine Dion or you take a trip to Broadway or to the opera. Anyone who is a bit more "artistic" just doesn't have a chance. Like last night, the guy with the dreads, I thought he was good...like something I might actually listen to, and he got the thumbs down from the judges. I also thought the way they didn't let the little guy with the sad story (who lived in his car) into the top 24 was completely lame. That boy appeared to me to be an actual musical and artistic talent — with charisma no less. Charisma — something that Simon talks a lot about but apparently can't recognize in its genuine form.
Simon also blasted some guy last night for his pre-performance video. I missed his video, but I guess he described himself as a "word nerd" who loves to do crossword puzzles. Simon, who never misses a chance to remind us that this is a SINGING competition, told the guy he didn't do himself any favors with his video -- basically because words are so uncool. Hello? What about the SINGING competition? And furthermore, I guess Simon thinks that all music consumers are people who can't imagine a musician who doesn't conform to all the stereotypes. So, the mindless massess will love a rock 'n' roll dude who drag races (that's authentic!) but we can't love one who likes words. What would we listen to if Simon didn't tell us what to like?
Of course, I'm a fan of words, and of word nerds, so I thought this was pretty offensive. But the whole AI thing is funny. Most of the music I listen to doesn't feature singers who actually sing all that well.
Still, that little buddy, David Archeletta (?), is an incredible singer. He sang "Imagine" last night, and it was way better than the John Lennon version. Of course, I actually hate all of John Lennon's music.
Anyway, a little dose of AI, which I genuinely enjoy, and it's easy to see why the music industry sucks so much. I'm glad I've never been in the unenviable position of being a musical artist trying to make it in the ugly world of the music industry. Watch those judges and the way they caprciously apply their little set of rules (be relevant, be yourself, don't change a great artist's song, make it your own, don't be arrogant, be confident, etc., etc.) and you get a sense that a bunch of kooky Greek gods rule the music industry.
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