I'm back from my annual pilgrimage (get it?) to Plymouth. This year, it was storming on and off all weekend, so my usual activities were a little cramped, but I kind of liked it ... I had brought 16 books with me, and felt a lot more like holing up and reading than hitting the tourist spots. I did manage to get my shopping in, although it seemed that the rain picked up every time I had to deposit something in my car.
I reread old favorites Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Belles on Their Toes. They never get old, although in the case of the two Little House books I've read them probably once a year (at least) since I learned how to read at that level. I really do find more in them every time I read them, especially in recent years.
In further rereading, I'm now working on Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mysteries ... I've read them all, but never in published order, so I'm doing that now. I got through the first four: The Cater Street Hangman, Callander Square, Paragon Walk, and Resurrection Row. All four are pretty solid, if congenitally over-introspective. All of Perry's characters are gifted with supernatural insight into other people's lives, feelings, and thoughts, and are incredibly introspective. You either have to get used to the style and live with it, or not read her books.
I also read two of her Christmas mysteries. A Christmas Secret was pretty good - I liked the characters, the setting was vivid and well-imagined, and the plot was decent. A Christmas Journey, on the other hand, was dreadful. Wooden, one-dimensional characters who were largely the same, a pace that was hard to follow and left a lot of detail behind in its wake, a 'mystery' that was never fully resolved and was left as not much more than a series of suggestions in the mind of the reader and the main character. It felt very much like a novella that was made by cutting off the first and last chapters, and several out of the middle, of a larger book. Big disappointment.
Speaking of disappointment, I read A.S. Byatt's Little Black Book of Stories. Byatt tends to be a little hit-or-miss to me. Some of her work (Possession is a particular favorite) is lyrical and lovely. Others are simply odd, and I find her short stories tend toward the odd. This book featured a story about a woman who turned - literally - to stone (among others along the same fantasy-meets-reality lines). It was an interesting story, but honestly that whole genre just doesn't grab me. I like my fiction to be set in the real world, and my fantasy to be set in a different one ... and never the twain to meet. So while I didn't enjoy Little Black Book, someone of a more imaginative bent might like it better.
I came to the (current) end of the Dead End job mysteries with Clubbed to Death (Elaine Viets). One of her better entries, it was fun, moved quickly, had good lively characters. I like how she's moving the character's life forward instead of leaving her static, and appreciate that the meta-arc is staying true to the character's spirit.
Finally, I read Dark Canyon, by Louis L'Amour. Such an inventive author! L'Amour is never at a loss for a plot. This one is no exception - fresh plot, interesting characters, but still retaining that distinctive L'Amour flavor. Very good.
And that ends the list of my weekend's reading. My brain felt as though it was still in Plymouth for a good 24 hours after I got home, but I think I'm all here now and feel much better for the chance to get away in solitude for a couple of days.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
the skeletons in the closet
I think everyone has a few - those facts about yourself that you know are going to come out sometime, that you know will surprise/shock/embarrass, that you always wonder when to present to people you meet. Basically, you have three choices: to never talk about it, which means the people you know will always be missing a facet of you (and probably an important facet, if it's so important you avoid talking about it); to bring it up at once, which makes you look like a huge over-sharer; or to wait until your relationship with the other person has reached a certain level of intimacy, which places a huge amount of emphasis on the 'big reveal'.
I tend, I admit, to practice a combination of all three, depending on the circumstances and the person. I also admit, that to me it's the elephant in the room ... if I'm talking to another mom, for example, and I know she doesn't know about Matthew, it colors every conversation about pregnancy, babies, and related topics - which is about half of them! "Should I tell her now? Would that be weird? If I tell this story without mentioning him, will it make sense?" Mostly I wish I could carry around a portable FAQ to get it all out of the way up front.
I tend, I admit, to practice a combination of all three, depending on the circumstances and the person. I also admit, that to me it's the elephant in the room ... if I'm talking to another mom, for example, and I know she doesn't know about Matthew, it colors every conversation about pregnancy, babies, and related topics - which is about half of them! "Should I tell her now? Would that be weird? If I tell this story without mentioning him, will it make sense?" Mostly I wish I could carry around a portable FAQ to get it all out of the way up front.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
"together" moms
You know the ones I mean - the moms who always have all the right equipment, whose kids listen quietly and never have to be yelled at, who clearly have all their trains running on time. I jumped in the midst of a bunch of together moms today, most of whom spent their time looking at me like I was the only person without a costume at the costume party. It felt very much like there was something obvious I was missing that the rest of them all knew about.
Realistically, there's no such thing as a "together" mom. I've met enough moms and been fortunate enough to get to know them well enough to know that underneath what looks like a calm and "with it" exterior, most women feel exactly the same way I do - like everyone can look at them and see exactly all the things that are wrong with them. Sadly, this knowledge doesn't help me that much in the moment. I've learned not to take it personally ... but forcing my self-consciousness down and my self-confidence forward only gets me that far.
Nonetheless, my first couple of experiences in this week of enforced extroversion have left me feeling gawky and geeky. But I will persevere - I dimly recall that it gets easier with practice.
Realistically, there's no such thing as a "together" mom. I've met enough moms and been fortunate enough to get to know them well enough to know that underneath what looks like a calm and "with it" exterior, most women feel exactly the same way I do - like everyone can look at them and see exactly all the things that are wrong with them. Sadly, this knowledge doesn't help me that much in the moment. I've learned not to take it personally ... but forcing my self-consciousness down and my self-confidence forward only gets me that far.
Nonetheless, my first couple of experiences in this week of enforced extroversion have left me feeling gawky and geeky. But I will persevere - I dimly recall that it gets easier with practice.
Monday, September 15, 2008
book reviews
Most of these are rereads this time around. Starting with:
Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Letters of a Woman Homesteader. Fascinating book, and more interesting the second time. She had an amazing set of adventures and was really willing to try all sorts of things - much more out-and-about and daring than our standard view of ranch wives. Possibly this is the result of her having married into an existing ranch, so she wasn't building things up from the ground. At any rate, a good choice for both reading and research.
Jane Smiley, Duplicate Keys. I'd only read this one once, and a long time ago, so I didn't really remember it. I found watching the story unfold just as interesting the second time around. The characters are dense and complex, the writing precise. Not an amazing book, but solid and enjoyable.
Marguerite Henry, King of the Wind. A childhood favorite! The story of a boy and his horse and their love for each other never gets old.
Louis L'Amour, Utah Blaine. (A new read.) An excellent entry into the L'Amour library. Blaine's a little more idealized than many of his heroes - the kind of man it's hard to believe could have really existed - but the plot is good, the action moves fast, and the characters are all pretty well defined.
Elaine Viets, Just Murdered. I found this one a little more contrived than the rest of the series. An enjoyable romp, but not a lot more than that.
Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Letters of a Woman Homesteader. Fascinating book, and more interesting the second time. She had an amazing set of adventures and was really willing to try all sorts of things - much more out-and-about and daring than our standard view of ranch wives. Possibly this is the result of her having married into an existing ranch, so she wasn't building things up from the ground. At any rate, a good choice for both reading and research.
Jane Smiley, Duplicate Keys. I'd only read this one once, and a long time ago, so I didn't really remember it. I found watching the story unfold just as interesting the second time around. The characters are dense and complex, the writing precise. Not an amazing book, but solid and enjoyable.
Marguerite Henry, King of the Wind. A childhood favorite! The story of a boy and his horse and their love for each other never gets old.
Louis L'Amour, Utah Blaine. (A new read.) An excellent entry into the L'Amour library. Blaine's a little more idealized than many of his heroes - the kind of man it's hard to believe could have really existed - but the plot is good, the action moves fast, and the characters are all pretty well defined.
Elaine Viets, Just Murdered. I found this one a little more contrived than the rest of the series. An enjoyable romp, but not a lot more than that.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
5 things that make me happy today
It's a grey, rainy day; flag football was rained out this morning; my children have been up down and in between, and all of it loudly. It's a good day for a happiness reminder!
1. Coffee. Definitely coffee.
2. 1491. I'm in the middle of the first chapter of this book, and am really enjoying it.
3. Bedtime. (Theirs.) I'm dreaming of the oasis of quiet that will be my evening once they're all sweetly shoved ... I mean, tucked .... into bed.
4. Plymouth. I'm going back in just under two weeks, and am already so excited!
5. Football. Especially when the Patriots are winning (although the Vikings could have made it a better day had they just held onto their lead!).
1. Coffee. Definitely coffee.
2. 1491. I'm in the middle of the first chapter of this book, and am really enjoying it.
3. Bedtime. (Theirs.) I'm dreaming of the oasis of quiet that will be my evening once they're all sweetly shoved ... I mean, tucked .... into bed.
4. Plymouth. I'm going back in just under two weeks, and am already so excited!
5. Football. Especially when the Patriots are winning (although the Vikings could have made it a better day had they just held onto their lead!).
Saturday, September 13, 2008
an introvert in extrovert's clothing
We're back into the school year now, and with it all the activities and out-and-aboutness that are a part of the whole "kids in school" experience.
Over the summer, we were rarely out and about in challenging social situations. We saw good friends or strangers or no one at all. While I wouldn't necessarily say that was the right choice, it worked for us and especially for me, cradling me in a lovely introvert cocoon. I didn't have to exert myself to be social, didn't have to be "on" for anyone. But then the school year started ... I've had dinners to deal with, moms at school, run into people in random places like the local ice cream parlor. And my responses have been sluggish, to say the least. I feel that old awkward, out-of-place, wait-for-someone-else-to-initiate shyness.
At the same time, I've become aware that in holding on to old friends and social networks (my comfort zone) I have not developed any new networks. So I'm taking the big plunge: this week alone, I have a playdate, two evening socials, a flag football game, a school pizza party, and potentially a local book group meeting. (Not to mention mornings and afternoons at the bus stop, preschool drop-off and pick-up, and various errands.) At most of which I will not find any "comfortable" friends and will have to exert myself to be confident and socially ept.
Now, left to myself, I probably wouldn't. I'd stay home, hang out with the better half, books computers TV, etc. But as the mom of three kids just starting to make their splash in the local scene, it is an important part of my job to make the mom connections that will help them make kid connections. Getting and keeping them socialized represents an important part of preparing them for the world (and is a step my own mother was particularly bad at, hence my current predicament).
I'm looking forward to the challenge ... somewhat ... having come a long way in the last 5 years toward a real level of confidence in these situations. But I will admit to having regressed quite a bit since we moved last year. Nothing like a bike marathon to help you remember how to ride, right?
Over the summer, we were rarely out and about in challenging social situations. We saw good friends or strangers or no one at all. While I wouldn't necessarily say that was the right choice, it worked for us and especially for me, cradling me in a lovely introvert cocoon. I didn't have to exert myself to be social, didn't have to be "on" for anyone. But then the school year started ... I've had dinners to deal with, moms at school, run into people in random places like the local ice cream parlor. And my responses have been sluggish, to say the least. I feel that old awkward, out-of-place, wait-for-someone-else-to-initiate shyness.
At the same time, I've become aware that in holding on to old friends and social networks (my comfort zone) I have not developed any new networks. So I'm taking the big plunge: this week alone, I have a playdate, two evening socials, a flag football game, a school pizza party, and potentially a local book group meeting. (Not to mention mornings and afternoons at the bus stop, preschool drop-off and pick-up, and various errands.) At most of which I will not find any "comfortable" friends and will have to exert myself to be confident and socially ept.
Now, left to myself, I probably wouldn't. I'd stay home, hang out with the better half, books computers TV, etc. But as the mom of three kids just starting to make their splash in the local scene, it is an important part of my job to make the mom connections that will help them make kid connections. Getting and keeping them socialized represents an important part of preparing them for the world (and is a step my own mother was particularly bad at, hence my current predicament).
I'm looking forward to the challenge ... somewhat ... having come a long way in the last 5 years toward a real level of confidence in these situations. But I will admit to having regressed quite a bit since we moved last year. Nothing like a bike marathon to help you remember how to ride, right?
Friday, September 12, 2008
reality starts
This has been a lovely week. One kid in school all day, leaving a long, unbroken day between drop-off and pick-up; very few things planned, allowing me to fill my days and keep them productive. Today, however, is the first day of preschool. Next week we go to the regular schedule, with preschool three days a week. Evenings a filled all week long, and I'll be out of the house almost every morning. (Preschool is far enough away that if I have anything to do, I might as well not bother coming home between drop-off and pick-up.) How will I get anything done? I'm going to have to adapt to the schedule and really try and come up with a good way to prioritize and accomplish the things that need to get done. Whew! And, since that's not enough, one of my tasks this morning is to sign the kids up for activities. Good for them, but not so much for my schedule!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
children's television
I'm in the middle of some serious TiVo administration. I try to go through the upcoming shows at least every other day - keeps me on top of what's taping and what's not, allows me to check before something tapes if it's an episode I've already seen, generally keeps me well aware of what my household is watching. I've been noticing a trend over the last week or so that the To Do List was looking pretty empty ... even considering that primetime shows haven't started showing up yet. It turns out that when the kids' channels switched over to the new season, our Season Passes didn't go with them. So I had to go through and clean up the Season Pass list, get rid of the old ones, and reevaluate which shows needed to be taped and which ones weren't getting watched.
I made the decision that both Curious George and Zoboomafoo had to go. I love Zoboo, but the kids never want to watch it. CG I was never such a fan of ... if it didn't have William H. Macy narrating, I don't think we would have watched it in the first place! Mostly by this point we've whittled down what TiVo picks up for our kids to shows that Lou and I enjoy watching as well and think are good-quality TV. (No, that's not an oxymoron.)
The Backyardigans: inventive plots, promotion of prop-free imagination-driven play, and a wide range of topics covered. Plus, catchy songs.
Arthur. Classic kids' stuff. Personally, I love Buster. It's an articulate show that treats kids like equals and doesn't talk down to them.
Cyberchase. I admit, this one isn't my favorite. I don't like the animation style and just can't get into the characters. But the boys love it - it's one of their top choices at any given time - and they certainly learn a lot of math concepts from it.
Baby Looney Tunes. Modern take on the classic characters. I think they do a great job of updating and deaging the original characters. The plotlines are inventive and fun and there are some inside jokes for fans of the early cartoons as well. My personal favorite is Sylvester.
Avatar: The Last Airbender. A new classic that our whole family loves to watch together. It's a good vs. evil epic battle narrative with nice art, detailed and complicated characters, and a well-thought-out mythology. The only thing I can't decide is whether I'm a bigger fan of Sokka or Zuko.
Dragon Tales. This skews a little younger, and is mostly a back-up these days, but everyone likes it and it makes for restful, interesting watching.
Max & Ruby. This is notably Charles's favorite show. It's a little more old-fashioned than most, and definitely has some quirks (famously, they have no parents, so Ruby is always in charge of her little brother). It's also very polarizing - either you love it or you hate it. I like it myself - the old-fashionedness appeals to me.
I made the decision that both Curious George and Zoboomafoo had to go. I love Zoboo, but the kids never want to watch it. CG I was never such a fan of ... if it didn't have William H. Macy narrating, I don't think we would have watched it in the first place! Mostly by this point we've whittled down what TiVo picks up for our kids to shows that Lou and I enjoy watching as well and think are good-quality TV. (No, that's not an oxymoron.)
The Backyardigans: inventive plots, promotion of prop-free imagination-driven play, and a wide range of topics covered. Plus, catchy songs.
Arthur. Classic kids' stuff. Personally, I love Buster. It's an articulate show that treats kids like equals and doesn't talk down to them.
Cyberchase. I admit, this one isn't my favorite. I don't like the animation style and just can't get into the characters. But the boys love it - it's one of their top choices at any given time - and they certainly learn a lot of math concepts from it.
Baby Looney Tunes. Modern take on the classic characters. I think they do a great job of updating and deaging the original characters. The plotlines are inventive and fun and there are some inside jokes for fans of the early cartoons as well. My personal favorite is Sylvester.
Avatar: The Last Airbender. A new classic that our whole family loves to watch together. It's a good vs. evil epic battle narrative with nice art, detailed and complicated characters, and a well-thought-out mythology. The only thing I can't decide is whether I'm a bigger fan of Sokka or Zuko.
Dragon Tales. This skews a little younger, and is mostly a back-up these days, but everyone likes it and it makes for restful, interesting watching.
Max & Ruby. This is notably Charles's favorite show. It's a little more old-fashioned than most, and definitely has some quirks (famously, they have no parents, so Ruby is always in charge of her little brother). It's also very polarizing - either you love it or you hate it. I like it myself - the old-fashionedness appeals to me.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
book reviews
Still more books finished! I let the stacks collect until I have a few ... and I'm still trying to catch up on the ones I read in North Carolina and New York this summer. My annual pilgrimage to Plymouth is coming up in a few weeks, so I'm collecting books to read there - but I think I may have collected a few too many! There is a limit to how many books a person can read in a weekend, sad to say.
Elaine Viets, Murder with Reservations. From a mystery standpoint, this may be her best plot yet. And from a character development standpoint, I really like that she's moving the characters' lives forward. I was nervous for a while that every book was going to fall into the "character in love, character and boyfriend have misunderstanding, character and boyfriend reconcile" plotline, which gets stale quickly. (This is why I stopped reading Janet Evanovich except on a casual basis. How long can one woman stay stuck in a love triangle?)
Elaine Viets, Murder Unleashed. A bit of a convoluted plot, and a little on the farcical side. And suffered from being the second book in a row to follow the character arc I mentioned above, with the misunderstanding and reconciliation. Still, her books are fun, fast reads, and she has a lovely way with characters.
Louis L'Amour, Borden Chantry. A Western murder mystery! Nice plot, nice characterization. Chantry himself is a great character, and the ending is deep and thought-provoking.
Stephen Taylor, Caliban's Shore: The Wreck of the Grosvenor and the Strange Fate of her Survivors. This was an enjoyable book - well-written, engaging, filled with tidbits and well-researched information. But in the end, it promised more than it delivered - literally. At one point, the author promised to talk about the youngest member of the shipwrecked party, who may have had the strangest story of them all. But he never did, unless it was hidden somewhere in a chapter full of maybes that didn't seem to go anywhere. And the book was arranged oddly - only the first half was chronological, but it didn't follow all the groups, so people kept popping up and you didn't know what had happened to them since the last you heard of them, and halfway through the chronology ended and the speculation began. I just have too many quibbles with the book to keep it.
Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Queenly Contestant. This was the last of the series - I read all the ones I own (probably 70% of the series) in chronological order. Queenly Contestant was a fine installment - not remarkable, but perfectly solid, and the series itself is generally thought-provoking, with good characters, exciting plots, and a multidecade chronicle of life in Los Angeles. Well done, Mr. Gardner.
Elaine Viets, Murder with Reservations. From a mystery standpoint, this may be her best plot yet. And from a character development standpoint, I really like that she's moving the characters' lives forward. I was nervous for a while that every book was going to fall into the "character in love, character and boyfriend have misunderstanding, character and boyfriend reconcile" plotline, which gets stale quickly. (This is why I stopped reading Janet Evanovich except on a casual basis. How long can one woman stay stuck in a love triangle?)
Elaine Viets, Murder Unleashed. A bit of a convoluted plot, and a little on the farcical side. And suffered from being the second book in a row to follow the character arc I mentioned above, with the misunderstanding and reconciliation. Still, her books are fun, fast reads, and she has a lovely way with characters.
Louis L'Amour, Borden Chantry. A Western murder mystery! Nice plot, nice characterization. Chantry himself is a great character, and the ending is deep and thought-provoking.
Stephen Taylor, Caliban's Shore: The Wreck of the Grosvenor and the Strange Fate of her Survivors. This was an enjoyable book - well-written, engaging, filled with tidbits and well-researched information. But in the end, it promised more than it delivered - literally. At one point, the author promised to talk about the youngest member of the shipwrecked party, who may have had the strangest story of them all. But he never did, unless it was hidden somewhere in a chapter full of maybes that didn't seem to go anywhere. And the book was arranged oddly - only the first half was chronological, but it didn't follow all the groups, so people kept popping up and you didn't know what had happened to them since the last you heard of them, and halfway through the chronology ended and the speculation began. I just have too many quibbles with the book to keep it.
Erle Stanley Gardner, The Case of the Queenly Contestant. This was the last of the series - I read all the ones I own (probably 70% of the series) in chronological order. Queenly Contestant was a fine installment - not remarkable, but perfectly solid, and the series itself is generally thought-provoking, with good characters, exciting plots, and a multidecade chronicle of life in Los Angeles. Well done, Mr. Gardner.
Monday, September 08, 2008
the successful financier
Over the course of the summer, we instituted a new chore chart for the boys: each one has four chores that they could do every day. When they do a chore, they get a sticker. Every sticker is worth 10 cents at the end of the week. At the same time, I announced that we were done buying them toys, except at Christmas and birthdays. I was tired of buying special things that then were left lying around unplayed with. So I told them if they want a new toy, they have to do chores, earn money, and buy the toy themselves.
Now, I don't remind them every day. Ideally, they will do their chores without my riding them. When things get bad, I sponsor a group chore-doing, and on Sundays when payout comes and no one has any stickers, I point out that no chores = no money.
On a recent trip with Daddy, young Charles discovered a $20 toy that he very much wants. (It's some kind of Star Wars thing.) So he came home, dragged down his bank, and started counting. He discovered that he has almost $18! And within 5 minutes of making this discovery, he had - unbidden - done three chores, and done them well. He's working on the big push this week to make the last few dollars, which means he's been doing his chores cheerfully and without needing to be reminded.
It's always nice to see a system working the way it was intended.
Now, I don't remind them every day. Ideally, they will do their chores without my riding them. When things get bad, I sponsor a group chore-doing, and on Sundays when payout comes and no one has any stickers, I point out that no chores = no money.
On a recent trip with Daddy, young Charles discovered a $20 toy that he very much wants. (It's some kind of Star Wars thing.) So he came home, dragged down his bank, and started counting. He discovered that he has almost $18! And within 5 minutes of making this discovery, he had - unbidden - done three chores, and done them well. He's working on the big push this week to make the last few dollars, which means he's been doing his chores cheerfully and without needing to be reminded.
It's always nice to see a system working the way it was intended.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
book reviews
My finished books stack is growing again - yay! The unread stack is shrinking very, very slowly - but at least it's shrinking.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm new to this series (I read each book for the first time just prior to the movie coming out), so this was only my second reading. I was struck, to begin with, at just how competent Pippin and especially Merry are in the book as compared with the movies. I get the reason for the difference, though. And secondly struck with exactly how much Sean Astin deserved some major awards - his performance meshed with the Sam in the book perfectly.
Gary Provost, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing. Definitely dated in places (I could have done without the instructions on how to clean my typewriter!), still a well-laid-out set of thoughtful, common-sense tips/reminders. A good reference.
Erle Stanley Gardner, Case of the Careless Cupid. Kind of a fresh concept, good characters and plot. An excellent entry in the series. But I have an inescapable question. Judges and prosecutors are always complaining that Mason tries his cases in the preliminary hearings ... but wouldn't that end up saving the state money? If the case can be cleared up in the preliminary hearing, that means no jury, no trial, no need to schedule a trial, etc. Isn't that a good thing? The constant complaints about it seem just sour.
Erle Stanley Gardner, Case of the Fabulous Fake. Not as good. The title is a stretch, the defendant the usual damsel in distress who lies to Perry and does just the opposite of everything he tells her. Not abysmal, but not a standout, either.
Candice Millard, River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey. A highly enjoyable book. Well-researched, the story well-told, characters drawn vividly - including the jungle itself, which is really the protagonist. It's not a keeper because I'm not really a Rooseveltian scholar, but it was very much worth reading and quite enjoyable.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring. I'm new to this series (I read each book for the first time just prior to the movie coming out), so this was only my second reading. I was struck, to begin with, at just how competent Pippin and especially Merry are in the book as compared with the movies. I get the reason for the difference, though. And secondly struck with exactly how much Sean Astin deserved some major awards - his performance meshed with the Sam in the book perfectly.
Gary Provost, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing. Definitely dated in places (I could have done without the instructions on how to clean my typewriter!), still a well-laid-out set of thoughtful, common-sense tips/reminders. A good reference.
Erle Stanley Gardner, Case of the Careless Cupid. Kind of a fresh concept, good characters and plot. An excellent entry in the series. But I have an inescapable question. Judges and prosecutors are always complaining that Mason tries his cases in the preliminary hearings ... but wouldn't that end up saving the state money? If the case can be cleared up in the preliminary hearing, that means no jury, no trial, no need to schedule a trial, etc. Isn't that a good thing? The constant complaints about it seem just sour.
Erle Stanley Gardner, Case of the Fabulous Fake. Not as good. The title is a stretch, the defendant the usual damsel in distress who lies to Perry and does just the opposite of everything he tells her. Not abysmal, but not a standout, either.
Candice Millard, River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey. A highly enjoyable book. Well-researched, the story well-told, characters drawn vividly - including the jungle itself, which is really the protagonist. It's not a keeper because I'm not really a Rooseveltian scholar, but it was very much worth reading and quite enjoyable.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
back to school at last!
I admit that the local school schedule is hard to get used to. The kids didn't get out for the summer until the end of June, which took forever to arrive. And then were the last school district in the area to start up again. But finally this morning we were ready to put the big kid on the bus for his first day of full-day school.
As demanded, he was up bright and early, with his clothes on and his breakfast ready. (I notice, though, that he did forget to feed his fish. I'll have to remind him to do that later.) Then he got sidetracked watching Avatar online while I experimented with his lunch. I need to get him a different Thermos, as the one we have doesn't fit in his lunchbox or the side pockets of his backpack. We finally headed on our way down the driveway. His backpack was way overloaded with all the first-day supplies, so I carried it most of the way. He hopped on the bus and was on his way - never even looked out the window!
Meanwhile, back in the house, young Charles was busy with some miniatures and dice, playing an elaborate game, and Miss Veronica was waiting to be dressed. After some more play, we headed off to the grocery store, which I was hoping would be a nice quiet trip. But, no. The youngsters insisted on one of those car carts, and proceeded to fight (both in play and for real) their way through the store. But once we got home, it was back to quiet play on their own, as Miss V. played kitchen and Charles went back to his miniatures battle. Now they're watching Cyberchase and getting ready for lunch. Shortly after will be naptime! The first privacy I'll have had in months. I'll be back with an update as the day unfolds!
Today was Charles's first day of no nap. He enjoyed his quiet time, especially once he realized that no, I was not going to let him come downstairs. He and Veronica both were up, and Charles was playing Prince Caspian on the Wii while Veronica watched a show when it was time for me to go get Greyson off the bus. The bus was late, as you might expect for the first day of school, and the younger two were on their way down the driveway by the time a subdued Greyson and I were heading back up. Greyson took great pleasure in announcing that he had not missed any of us all day. He gave the day a 5 out of 10, much to my surprise ... but at least there's plenty of room for it to get better as he gets to know the kids in his class better. He enjoyed seeing his teacher again and seeing his music teacher, had fun on the playground, and apparently found lunch to be something of a nonevent.
He's been quieter than usual this afternoon, but we had fun swimming and the kids dug in the yard for a while, so it was a good day all things considered. Notably, it was quiet all day until he got home, and then the crying shouting fighting whining picked up again. Still, though - it was a good day for everyone! Viva school!
As demanded, he was up bright and early, with his clothes on and his breakfast ready. (I notice, though, that he did forget to feed his fish. I'll have to remind him to do that later.) Then he got sidetracked watching Avatar online while I experimented with his lunch. I need to get him a different Thermos, as the one we have doesn't fit in his lunchbox or the side pockets of his backpack. We finally headed on our way down the driveway. His backpack was way overloaded with all the first-day supplies, so I carried it most of the way. He hopped on the bus and was on his way - never even looked out the window!
Meanwhile, back in the house, young Charles was busy with some miniatures and dice, playing an elaborate game, and Miss Veronica was waiting to be dressed. After some more play, we headed off to the grocery store, which I was hoping would be a nice quiet trip. But, no. The youngsters insisted on one of those car carts, and proceeded to fight (both in play and for real) their way through the store. But once we got home, it was back to quiet play on their own, as Miss V. played kitchen and Charles went back to his miniatures battle. Now they're watching Cyberchase and getting ready for lunch. Shortly after will be naptime! The first privacy I'll have had in months. I'll be back with an update as the day unfolds!
Today was Charles's first day of no nap. He enjoyed his quiet time, especially once he realized that no, I was not going to let him come downstairs. He and Veronica both were up, and Charles was playing Prince Caspian on the Wii while Veronica watched a show when it was time for me to go get Greyson off the bus. The bus was late, as you might expect for the first day of school, and the younger two were on their way down the driveway by the time a subdued Greyson and I were heading back up. Greyson took great pleasure in announcing that he had not missed any of us all day. He gave the day a 5 out of 10, much to my surprise ... but at least there's plenty of room for it to get better as he gets to know the kids in his class better. He enjoyed seeing his teacher again and seeing his music teacher, had fun on the playground, and apparently found lunch to be something of a nonevent.
He's been quieter than usual this afternoon, but we had fun swimming and the kids dug in the yard for a while, so it was a good day all things considered. Notably, it was quiet all day until he got home, and then the crying shouting fighting whining picked up again. Still, though - it was a good day for everyone! Viva school!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
long weekends are bad for blogging!
Technically, I had a nearly 5-day weekend - my better half was off Friday afternoon, and had to come home yesterday to help with the kids. And of course, Labor Day weekend. During all of which there was much fun - swimming, game-playing, fun with kids, etc. But not much time for blogging! Hence the long pause between posts.
This week is a big one (and short), with Greyson's first day of first grade. I'm hoping for some bonus peace and quiet with the big guy at school with his friends. I think he'll like it, too.
This week is a big one (and short), with Greyson's first day of first grade. I'm hoping for some bonus peace and quiet with the big guy at school with his friends. I think he'll like it, too.
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