Snapshot

Some Conversations

2009-11-21T16:27:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Kyle and I were having a little lunch out, and we were trying to get the lid to stay on his fountain drink. He asked if it was my lid instead, and I told him that my cup didn't have a lid.

"So you're just going to drink like Dad?" he asked, being more observant than I give him credit for. My husband has a thing against straws. He doesn't like them. So even at a fast food place when we are all lidded and strawed, he drinks straight from the cup.

< >..< >..< >..< >..< >..< >

Amanda and I were on the way home from our errands, and she was telling me how she needed some conditioner, and we should stop at Stop and Shop. I had already made three stops, and knowing that she didn't need it today, I told her no.

"Can we stop at Walgreen's or something if we pass one on the way home?"

"Yes," I quickly agree.

She laughs and says equally quickly, "We aren't going to pass one, are we?"

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Kyle comes downstairs and observes, "What smells like dead ladybugs?"

"Ask your dad," I tell him, who is out on the back deck emptying out the dead ladybugs from the Dirt Devil hand vac.

"Why do you think that it smells like dead ladybugs?" he asked Kyle.

"Because I saw a dead ladybug, and I smelled it one time, and that's what it smells like."

So for those of you who don't live up north, in the late Fall, ladybugs become an issue. They swarm around on warm Fall days, and make their way inside. In some homes they sun themselves (and usually die) on the windows, and other times they congregate in the corners. In our home, they do both.

Ironically, this "dead ladybug smell" was recently pointed out to me by a friend who said that her husband was using the shopvac to get them off of their ceilings, and you had to be careful not to kill them, because they gave off a weird smell.

She also has a five-year-old son in her house, so perhaps he pointed this out to her?

A Blank Square

2009-11-18T16:30:00.000-05:00

Today I had a blank square in my BusyBodyBook planner.

Well, not totally empty. There was a note that Amanda has early dismissal, and Kyle didn't have school today (Since they have early dismissal for conferences this week, instead of half-day Kindergarten they are going every other day for the entire shortened day). But there were no notes about needing to pick up someone or take a dog to the vet and there were no other responsive items that I have to do even though they don't end up on the calendar like having to take a forgotten instrument to the school in the morning.

In spite of no appointments and responsibilities, I filled that blank square. Since we're having company for Thanksgiving -- both houseguests (my sister's first visit here), and people coming over for the day -- a major housecleaning is in order. So I've been working on the areas that are usually hidden -- closets, cupboards and the dreaded always-in-need of tidying basement.

I didn't get quite as much done as I had hoped, with the regular responsibilities of making meals and snacks for Kyle, laundry, dishes, and pleasant interruptions like phone calls and requests to play a game.

But I enjoyed living in the blank square. It's been a while since it appeared and I don't see much white space in the days and weeks to come.

Reading South Asian Authors

2009-11-17T20:00:00.002-05:00

The more I read, the more I recognize the gift of being able to peek into someone's brain -- either to get lost in a fictional story or cross that bridge that shares one's life experiences as memoir. It's always a privilege, but to read the life experiences of someone from another culture is an adventure as well -- exciting in the discoveries into the unknown that I am invited to make.

I "discovered" S. Krishna's Books when I was a judge for the Book Blogger Appreciation Week Awards. She reviews great literary fiction, with a slight emphasis on cultural literature. She's also a great person to follow on twitter.

She's hosting a South Asian Author Challenge to encourage people to read books by South Asian authors, and immediately two or three books or authors that I've been meaning to read jumped into my mind. So why not make a commitment to get to them sometime in 2010?

This is a REAL challenge, meaning she wants us to set a goal and stick to it (unlike some other more flexible challenges that I have joined up). I like accountability, so I'm good with that. There are four commitment levels -- 3, 5, 7, or 10 books read in 2010.

I wrestled with this a bit. I can think of 3 books right off the top of my head that I want to read, and oftentimes when I get into a little jag of reading a new author or about a certain culture, I want more and more. But I think I'm going to stick with 3 because it is hard for me to squeeze titles in that are just for me, and I can up it to 5, so perhaps if I meet my goal in the first half of the year, I'll try to push myself to read a couple more.

So the three books or authors that came to mind immediately were:

Something else by Thrity Umrigar -- Ever since I read The Weight of Heaven earlier this year (linked to my review), I've been determined to read something else by the author who wrote the book that grabbed hold of me.
Something by Mitali Perkins -- I've read and enjoyed three of her books (Monsoon Summer, Rickshaw Girl, First Daughter: Extreme Makeover -- each linked to my reviews or brief thoughts on the book), and have been meaning to read another, either the second First Daughter book (which probably pushes the limits of this challenge a bit, since I'm not sure how much Sameera's native culture is a plot element) or Secret Keeper. I'm thinking that I'll plan to read and review Secret Keeper to coincide with its paperback release in June.
The Namesake: A Novel -- A couple of years ago, I got out one morning with some girlfriends and saw this film. We felt very free and intellectual getting away from the kids and seeing a foreign film in a small independent theater. I enjoyed the movie a lot. Then I started hearing about Jhumpa Lampiri (in relation to her book Unaccustomed Earth), and discovered that she wrote the the novel that the film was based on. I'd love to read it and then rent the DVD and write it up for a Books on Screen column at 5 Minutes for Books.

That's my "3 for sure," but I think because of this challenge I'll be extra-aware of other books by South Asian authors (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka). In fact, just typing "Sri Lanka" made my typing fingers itchy to search for Sri Lankan authors or books. What do I know of Sri Lanka? Absolutely nothing, that's what.

And in searching and thinking I was reminded about Abraham Verghese. As I mentioned in my review of his first novel Cutting for Stone, I've been thinking about going back and reading his memoir, My Own Country, which sort of scares me, because in my mind it's probably on my top ten best ever list of books, but what if I don't think so after a re-read? That would be number four, so I'm thinking that I'm going to stretch myself and commit to reading 5 books by South Asian authors in 2010.

Kids' Picks -- More Margaret Haddix and Look Closely

2009-11-17T08:33:00.004-05:00

This month Kyle (5 1/2) has enjoyed the Looking Closely picture books that I previously reviewed on 5 Minutes for Books (linked to my review). As he makes more and more steps towards reading independently, I am reminded that I may have to search for alternatives other than the chapter books that Amanda always did (and still does) enjoy. He spied these books on our shelf and has requested them a few times this month. They are beautifully photographed and well-written, so I don't mind reading them at all.

Amanda loves Margaret Peterson Haddix (linked to a previous post recommending another of her novels). She just finished the first book in The Missing Series, Found. She also re-read Running Out of Time and enjoyed it just as much the second-time around.

Now she's tasked me with the quest of finding Sent (Missing Book 2).

Share what your kids are reading and find out what other kids recommend at Kids' Picks at 5 Minutes for Books the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Greek Yogurt

2009-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

I was recently invited by Stonyfield yogurt to enter a contest in which I could win a yoga retreat. How cool would that be? I wrote a post over at 5 Minutes for Books called "Things that make me say 'ohm'" about how reading is a wonderful escape from the stress of everyday life. Please go read it -- and while you're there enter to win your own spa treatment package and some coupons for free Oikos yogurt!

I didn't know about that Stonyfield Organic was in the Greek yogurt business, but I am a fan of Greek yogurt. Find out more by becoming a fan: http://www.facebook.com/oikos.

I've been trying to eat plain (unsweetened) yogurt, as opposed to the very sweet and processed other kinds, and it definitely varies brand to brand. I had heard that Greek yogurt was good, and it is. It's thick, creamy, and not as acidic tasting as some other yogurts.

My favorite way to eat it is to add some frozen blueberries and a drizzle of honey to the Greek yogurt. It's delicious. And it just seems healthy.

I've closed comments here, but please go on over and leave your thoughts (and contest entry) over at 5 Minutes for Books.

What We Watch Together

2009-11-13T12:46:00.001-05:00

Not watching TV almost broke up my marriage.

I exaggerate. A little. But in reality, over the last couple of years we've reduced the amount of TV we're watching. That seems like a good idea in theory, right? Less "boob tube," more books. More time to get caught up on other things. But the reality is that TV is a shared activity while books and laptops are not, so that lack of connection began to take its toll.

All that we really watch during the week are Top Chef, which I watch and Terry doesn't mind following; sports, which he watches and I totally ignore; and The Apprentice (returning with a new season this Spring I guess). On the weekends we usually rented a movie, or continued re-watching The West Wing on DVD. In the last year, we've also caught up on How I Met Your Mother** on DVD.

We had recently finished watching season 5 of The West Wing and were looking to take a break from that, so it's back to an old faithful: 24.

Like most fans, we've had our ups and downs with the seasons. But there's no doubt that it's a show that invites interaction, whether it's marveling at Jack Bauer's cell phone battery, or yelling at villains that we love to hate, it definitely has us involved.

We started watching a few years ago, and did get caught up to the current season, but we decided not to go live in January. We are too old to take the intensity and too impatient to have to wait for it to be resolved the next week. By watching the discs, we are able to control our intake, and for Terry, he can binge if he likes as each disk arrives.

Can we talk a bit about 24: Season Seven (with no spoilers!)? It seems as if the cast all took "bad dramatic acting" lessons during that extra-long break between seasons six and seven that was a result of the writers' strike. Also, the "real-time" angle seems to be pushing the limits a bit -- a guy is shot and has surgery and is already in his hospital room -- in 3 hours time.

And I won't give any spoilers, but even Terry and I knew about the biggie that is over-the-top soap operish in this, the season that aired last year. We are just waiting for someone's evil twin to appear now.

But however bad it gets, I think that we'll hang in there. We might laugh or roll our eyes, but inevitably we will be caught up in the quick 24-hour resolution of the current crisis that the CTU is dealing with. And what's even better -- we'll be doing it together.

What do you and your partner enjoy watching together?

**I just noticed that amazon has a fabulous price -- less than $15 on Season 1 of How I Met Your Mother, as well as a ton of other series on sale at their Fall TV event

May I Recommend?

2009-11-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

Reviews and giveaways:

I don't know if I ever posted my review of The Hidden Life of Deer. I really enjoyed this book and can recommend it for nature lovers and hunters alike.

Lauren's read a neat book combining literature and mothering. Enter the giveaway of Mothering Heights through Tuesday.

Enter to win a copy of the book honoring veterans over at 5 Minutes for Mom. Dawn's review of America's White Table moved me -- perhaps because it makes me remember all the veterans in my own family, including my dad and three grandfathers.

It's true, Yo Gabba Gabba is sort of annoying, but Kyle likes it and I'm getting used to it. I just posted a Yo Gabba Gabba giveaway over at 5 Minutes for Giveaways.

Dawn's review of the new Klutz book Draw Star Wars posts tomorrow at 5 Minutes for Giveaways. I love Klutz books and it sounds like this one is no exception (the link will be live at midnight 11/13).

The Christmas Giveaway has gotten started at 5 Minutes for Mom, and it's going to be good! There are already several great prizes up for grabs. I've posted a review and giveaway of the Shred Sled, which Amanda and I have been trying to master.

A new product I've tried:

We are fan of cranberry juice drinks. They were recently on sale at the grocery store, so I tried a new one: Ocean Spray Cran -Tangerine. The kids and I both really like it.

In the interest of full FTC disclosure -- Ocean Spray did not contact me and ask me to try this, and I paid for it with my own money. It's a product that easily could have gone either way -- delicious or a big flop, so I thought I'd share my unbiased and unsolicited opinion in case anyone else is wondering.

Why I Volunteer in My Kids' Schools

2009-11-11T19:34:00.003-05:00

Every Wednesday I go to either my son's school or my daughter's school to spend a couple of hours volunteering. Where do I go? To the library. A few years ago when Amanda's school began recruiting helpers for the library, I knew that it was right up my alley. I am not PTA-Mom of the year. I don't feel it necessary to do everything every time. Additionally, when Kyle was a baby, he wasn't welcome in the school during instruction time, so my options were limited.

However, there are a lot of reasons why I do think it's worth my time to volunteer in my kids' schools:

I get to know their classmates. When I was at Kyle's school early on in the year, he proudly introduced me to his girlfriend.
I see how they act around their classmates (and how their classmates act around them). Think that your tween girl is a spaz? Spend time around other tween girls and you'll find out how normal she is.
I get to observe what the kids are wearing. Perhaps I've balked at Amanda's choice of attire (modest, perhaps -- but odd at times!), but seeing what the other kids are wearing is a good barometer of the fashion scene, such as it is.
I get to eavesdrop on conversations of other kids as they walk around selecting books, changing classes in the halls, etc. You can learn a lot by being an invisible adult.
I can learn the secret language of Kindergarten. When his class sat down, they were told to sit "Criss cross applesauce," which I know is the PC term for "Indian style" (which I probably only learned after observing in Amanda's preschool class). But a few weeks ago, I learned a new one; "Spoons in the bowl" for "hands in your lap."
It's an easy way to support the school, the staff and the teachers.
My kids like having me there, and taking time to be there for them makes them feel special.
On the flip side, by not saying yes to everything every time, I also show my kids that I leave room in my life for other commitments as well.
Oh yeah, and did I mention that I get to hang out with books for a couple of hours? You don't have to twist my arm for that one.

Children's Books for the Holidays

2009-11-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

This month's topic for Children's Classics at 5 Minutes for Books is Celebrating the Holidays -- any book, any holiday. Of course with Thanksgiving and Christmas being right around the corner, I'm sure that's what most people are going to be suggesting.

However, I'd like to take this opportunity to recommend the National Geographic Holidays Around the World series. They aren't technically classics, but with beautiful photos by National Geographic how can you go wrong?

Celebrate Independence Day offers pictures of people enjoying picnics, fireworks, and other summer fun. It also gives a simple explanation of why we celebrate independence day. The end of the book offers "More about Independence Day" including how to have a three-legged race, a look at independence days around the world, and a recipe for deviled eggs.

I've also seen Celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which is a great way to learn about how these Jewish holidays are celebrated around the world.

In addition to the holidays mentioned above, this series does explore Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. Although I haven't previewed those titles, I'm sure that they are beautiful and inspiring.

Safely Home

2009-11-08T13:56:00.004-05:00

I just finished reading Safely Home, Randy Alcorn's novel about the persecuted church in China. As most novels are, this one is about so much more than one thing. In addition to an American's slow realization that life in China is not always as the government portrays it, Alcorn's novel is also about the reunion of two old college buddies, the breaking apart of a marriage, and as most good novels are -- a person's discovery of a part of himself that he didn't know existed.

Several people commented about their love of the book when they saw the book on my Nightstand list last month or in my "Currently Reading" section on my sidebar. It took me a while to get into it. Li Quan and Ben Fielding had been roommates at Harvard. Li Quan had returned to his humble roots in China and Ben Fielding had become everything that he wanted to be in the business world. They lost touch, but Ben Fielding regained contact with his old roommate as he planned a long visit in China in order to do market research for his company.

I enjoyed watching the story unfold, predictable as parts of it were (Ben Fielding coming to realize how far off the path he had strayed, and Li Quan having to prove his faith again and again). One part of the book that I didn't particularly feel was well done was the interaction of those in the spiritual world. I definitely believe in a Spiritual Realm that is active, however I think that this could have been left to the imagination. I found it to be distracting. I think that the end of the book, left as is, could have accomplished the author's intent there.

However, it did make me think hard about my impression of heaven and what a perhaps different reality is, which I'm sure was the author's intent.

A friend lent this book to me because Terry and I have recently begun working with the international students at a local university. Our church as well as a couple of others in the community provide a meal each month as well as other activities to help ease the transition for these students who are mostly from Asia (China primarily).

I had been wanting to learn more about their culture, and since most of them are not Christians, I don't think that this is the culture that they've experienced, so I'd actually still love any recommendations of novels set in contemporary China.

Today our church recognized the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. My experience with the novel made it even real to me, so as I finished reading it this afternoon, it was with the reality of the risk that so many take to follow Jesus heavy on my heart and mind.

At the end of the book, Randy Alcorn disclosed that the proceeds from this book go towards funding the persecuted church as well as providing Bibles for those who have a hard time getting them.

I will also match any of my associates earnings from any sales of Safely Home via my links here in this post (a few cents per book) and donate them towards the same cause.

Have you read this book? How did it affect you?

What I'm Watching Now

2009-11-06T08:45:00.003-05:00

I've decided that on Fridays I'll be writing about TV, either what I'm watching or to begin a dialogue about something you're watching. You can click the TV and Movies label to read my past posts if you are so inclined.

Since the first two seasons of Lost are on Netflix instant access, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. I was reluctant, because I've heard talk over the years about die-hard fans getting frustrated -- at the plot or the cliffhanger breaks, but I figured that I can watch on DVD all the way through to the end and avoid those pitfalls.

Honestly, after the first two episodes (the two-part Pilot episode) I was still undecided, but by the fourth show, I was pretty invested. I'm not buzzing through them, but I am definitely curious and interested.

Earlier this week I was at a blogger event in New York, and my blogger friend Kimberly from Mom in the City was talking TV with the person on the other side of her. They were talking about a show that they just loved, so I had to know what it was. She answered, eager to bring me in on the conversation: "The Good Wife -- do you you watch it?"

Actually I have started watching that show. Terry and I were in New York City before the fall season started and were bombarded with the serene picture of The Good Wife on buses and bus stop kiosks on every corner. I wasn't exactly sure what it was about, but I didn't think that I was interested in watching a patethic woman standing by her man who was walking all over her.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone, and she mentioned that it was one of the new shows that she was watching. Terry was out of town that night, and it happened to be on, so I tuned in and enjoyed it. The cast interested me: Josh Charles, who I have liked ever since I watched him in Sportsnight, along with Rory's boyfriend Logan (Matt Czuchry). It stars Julianna Margulies who looks beautiful and does a great job, but since I was never an ER fan she wasn't one of the actors who drew me in. Christine Baranski is also a part of the ensemble cast, and she's always amusing to watch.

It's actually a legal drama. Yes, the main character is "standing by her man" (or not, actually) -- a political official who was recently taken down in a public scandal involving extra-marital women and also illegal actions that have landed him in jail. So, she has to start again -- leaving the tony life of a Highland Park housewife to return to practicing law.

Since I liked it, I caught up by watching the episodes online (all of them except the pilot were still posted at that time).

The show is on at 10pm Eastern, and honestly that's just too late for me. I usually turn out the light around 10:45 or so, but if I'm watching TV, I inevitably fall asleep. So apparently the way that I'm going to watch TV is online, because as I've mentioned, I do not have a DVR and I don't like the idea of paying $6 a month (or whatever it is) for the rest of my life on top of my high DirectTV bill.

But The Good Wife is one that I will keep watching, as well as taking in episodes of Lost when I can squeeze them in.

What about you: What are you watching now??

Celebrating with Girlfriends

2009-11-05T12:30:00.008-05:00

Since we are now almost a week into November, I can no longer even claim that it's my birth month. It's all over. However, I did enjoy it.

I didn't post about the celebration that I had with my girlfriends last week, but my friend Lee did. She told me that she had so many great pictures of me, so I'm wondering why the one she posted makes me look addled***. Maybe that's what 39 looks like?? Anyway, her post is very aptly titled "It's a party, and I'll eat if I want to." Check it out.

The food and the company was excellent. Seriously, everyone should get together with girlfriends as often as they can. In addition to eating, we embarrassed the tween with a little bit of singing just like we did at our grown-up sleepover party.

We also watched a movie, which still feels like an indulgence to me. We watched Grey Gardens with Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. It wasn't exactly the happy-go-lucky chick flick that I was expecting. The plot descriptions are fairly accurate (which I obviously didn't read carefully!), but instead of it being a "tender mother-daughter love story" as described, the three of us saw it as destructive and dysfunctional. Lee knew exactly what it was about, but Nicole and I did not. The acting was fabulous, and I'd still probably recommend it, but you should be sure that you know what you are getting into.

What does your favorite girlfriend time look like?

***Edited Friday to add a link to Lee's post number two, with cake and gifts and even more (less-addled) pictures of me.

Pajama-ed, the Day-Off version

2009-11-03T10:45:00.000-05:00

So, it's 10:45 am and Amanda and I are still pajama-ed, whereas Kyle got dressed, so that he could play Wii without guilt or further expectations.

Yes, the kids are off school today. Because it's election day and the schools are in use for voting, it's a teacher workday. After being in school for two months, we are ready for a little day off.

We have absolutely nothing on the agenda other than hanging out, watching TV, and relaxing. Actually I'm doing some work-from-home, and it's a goal to get out to the grocery store, but our hope for the day is to keep it low-key.

+++++

Are you a Louisa May Alcott fan? Check out the 5 Minutes for Books Classics Bookclub where our readers could read a book of their choice by Louisa May Alcott.

I also recently posted my review for the third book in the Mother-Daughter Bookclub series, Dear Pen Pal. Please check it out. I have enjoyed reading these books so much. After meeting some school reading goals, Amanda finally picked it up on Sunday and has raced through it.

As always, there are several book giveaways up on 5 Minutes for Books. Check them out!

A Trip to Asia

2009-11-02T06:50:00.000-05:00

Terry was gone for 7 days last week on a business trip to Asia. He doesn't usually do that sort of traveling, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to do it this time. It involved several very very long flights. First he flew on an overnight 15 hour trip from NY to Mumbai, India.

Then a few days later he took another overnight flight ("only" about 7 hours) from India to Singapore. This was his sky cubicle. Pretty cool, huh? Look at the cute stewardess's uniform.

A short flight from Singapore to Hong Kong a couple of days later, and then only one day in Hong Kong, where he took the 15-hour flight home in a sky pod -- walls giving the person complete privacy. The TV flips out over your lap as well.

As a busy mom, all of that would have been quite pampering.

India

No thank you -- I'll stick with bottled water!

India is so very poor (and this is nothing -- he said you could see people's "homes" situated all up on the hillsides). It reminded me of the recent trip the Compassion Bloggers took to India. Like Terry's co-workers on this trip (who travel widely), they agreed that it was the poorest place they've seen.

This is a deceptively quiet and beautiful shot. In reality, it's people everywhere, and see the driving shot below.

Singapore

The mirrored building on the right (center) says Lippo, which means Koala, and if you click and enlarge, you can see that it looks like a Koala.

Singapore was beautiful. My sister spent over a week there on business last year, and she agreed.

Hong Kong

This is a Popeye's chicken, which we don't even have in Connecticut -- in Hong Kong!

Terry didn't get to spend much time in Hong Kong, but he liked it too. He brought Kyle one of these thin, tall, trolley buses as a souvenir.

Speaking of souvenirs, two of his coworkers had to buy this snack for their children, because they've gotten it on previous trips and loved it. Terry was skeptical, but he thought it was quite unique. And look -- the children on the back of the package clearly love it:

My children? Well, Amanda said that it tasted like salmon, and it's true, it was a little salty fishy tasting.

Kyle, not so much:
The dog loved her first few bites, but then she left it on the floor.

What is this delicious snack? Dried seaweed!

A Scary Rock and a Christmas Tree

2009-10-31T20:25:00.001-04:00

Oh, we're nothing if not creative around here. As I had to explain to Dawn after she replied to my comment on her Halloween costume post over at DC Metro Moms, we are not crafty. Craftiness requires effort and precision. We're much heavier on the ideas and inspiration.

Last month Kyle decided that he was going to be a "scary spider with red eyes." We were in the drug store and I saw a great looking web (window ornament) with a "scary" spider with red eyes on it. I told him that we could put that on a sweatshirt, and he agreed. Then I saw a really scary looking spider that I said we could fasten to a stocking cap, and he said it was too scary.

I told him that I bought him gray sweats, and he decided that he was going to be a "scary rock" (with the spiders on it). So we went with that.

Amanda came home one day and said, "I know what I'm going to be for Halloween. A Christmas tree. I want to light up." So I ordered a big green men's hoodie; she already had brown leggings and Christmas socks. Finding battery powered lights (that didn't cost an arm and a leg to ship) this time of year was tough. I ended up using industrial strength (really) velcro tape to adhere battery-operated tea lights to her, in addition to glow stick bracelets.

Trimming the Tree

I loved this idea and the end result, and she got lots of oohs and aahs when we were out.

This year we returned to Main Street to Trick-or-Treat (see more awesome pictures from 2006). Because we live in a semi-rural area, it's hard to go door-to-door on our streets (no sidewalks, no streetlights, and long driveways), so hundreds of people flood Main Street, and the people there go all out. It's festive, convenient, and the kids always see some of their friends.

When they got home, they got involved with what I recall was my favorite part of the night -- sorting and swapping:

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What're Your Kids Watching?

2009-10-30T07:55:00.001-04:00

My kids have always watched TV. Probably too much, but I know that they learned from it, even at that "before 2" age when the experts recommend little to no television viewing. It was at this well-before-two stage that Amanda and I were walking into Costco and she pointed up with a flash of recognition and said, "O." Thank you, Sesame Street. Of course we read books, and I'm sure that some of those were ABC books, but the amount of letter recognition she displayed over the next few weeks did not come from me.

The same happened with Kyle, who at four and a half was suddenly reading. How could that be? Yes, he was read to -- perhaps more than Amanda, since she also read to her little brother, but as far as "instruction," he got less than Amanda did when she was his age. After looking at the shows he was watching more closely, I decided that shows like Word World and Super Why definitely had a hand in this. Once again -- thank you PBS!

But let's be honest -- the real reason that they watch TV is that it keeps them entertained.

Nick Jr. recently moved Blue's Clues to 7:00am and 7:30am, so Kyle in the last few months, Kyle discovered it for the first time. It was always one of my favorite kids' shows, so this thrills me. There's a lot out there, and most of the preschool offerings don't bother me at all (I could probably do without uber-excited Dora, but I don't want to kill her or anything).

The show that I really cannot stand is Spongebob. When Amanda was a preschooler (and an only child), I strictly limited her TV fare to the excellent preschool programs on Playhouse Disney, Nick Jr. and PBS, and Spongebob did not fit into that line up. However, as a mature 10-year-old, she recently started watching it (at the advice of her friends), and guess what -- her five-year-old brother joined right in. I try to limit it, and I really hate listening to it.

She was not only limited to preschool fare when she was a preschooler, but really didn't get into the whole Disney tween shows until she was almost 10 (an actual tween!). At that time, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Phineas and Ferb were introduced to our household. And truthfully -- I love them. I'll even pause and watch if I'm channel surfing when I'm home all alone.

Shortly thereafter, we became acquainted with Hannah Montana (who I also enjoy), and iCarly (very funny), The Wizards of Waverly Place, and True Jackson VP.

And because Kyle is always around, he also watches these shows. I am glad that I limited Amanda, and I still limit him when she's not around, but although these shows are above his maturity level, they are probably fine.

And along with the "How do you watch" question -- again, no TiVo here, so we just watch what is one when it's on. Kyle used to watch some Thomas DVDs, but he's mostly been a live TV watcher. Both of my kids preferred television shows to movies, and even when they did watch DVDs, it was of a TV show.

But I recently discovered that Netflix Instant Access has several seasons of iCarly, Hannah Montana, and the Suite Life, so Amanda's enjoyed that some. I DO like being able to encourage them to be discriminating -- to use their TV time to watch something that they really want to see, not just what's on at the moment -- and this has helped us do that to an extent.

Maybe I'll make some sort of TV chat a weekly Friday feature. I like the interaction that I got last week. So I ask you: What do your kids watch? What kids' shows drive you nuts? Which ones do you actually look forward to watching?

Edited Friday night to add a link to Beck's post (from October 2 because I'm a horrible blog-reader lately) on the same subject. She gives a play by play of each tween show, including if there are any good-looking men worth watching. Ha.

Therapy a la thirtysomething

2009-10-28T14:00:00.001-04:00

I've watched the first two discs/the first 8 episodes of thirtysomething. Here's what I've learned or been reminded of:

Men are under stress -- trying to live up to their potential and bear up under the pressure of taking care of their families.
Women are under stress -- trying NOT to fret about not having it all and worrying about the pressure our husbands are under, and the kids and everything.
This stress affects our relationships -- with coworkers, spouses, and friends.
We probably worry too much and don't spend enough time enjoying the moment. I loved the realization that Hope came to in the Thanksgiving episode "We Gather Together" where she is seeing herself as in a dream and realizes, "I died of frustration?" I didn't write it down verbatim, but the idea was that she let herself get so frustrated with the little problems of her everyday life that she was forgetting to enjoy life along the way. And in true TV fashion, she had an epiphany and ending the show smiling and laughing. But the truth of it hit me squarely.
Friends and family are important -- frustrating, but worth it.
The late 80's were so stereotypical it's almost funny. I mean, of course that was what thirtysomething was supposed to be. When it ran, that wasn't supposed to be a theme or a lesson, but the walk down memory lane watching it more than 20 years later is definitely noteworthy.

So several of you asked when I first posted that I bought the DVDs if I'd recommend them for viewing, and how it held up, and if it meant more to me now than when I was not even a twenty-something.

I think that when I watched it in college, I was peeking into life -- possibly my future life, but even more than that I was able to get involved lives of people who didn't have the context of reality for me. It was pure fiction. But now -- as a (barely) thirty-something, it does have context. And for me that is one reason I like it -- and also why I see why some didn't like it when it was released.

For me, art does reflect life. When I watch TV or movies or read books, I enjoy using the lens of fictional characters to process my own life. Some want their entertainment to be truly escapist, and if that is you, you probably don't want to check out this series. If you want to think and relate (and laugh at the 80s), then take a look.

Doing a quick Google search, I came up with some great posts looking at the DVD release. Check them out if you can't get enough:

Videogum is doing an episode by episode recap of the new Season 1 DVDs, complete with clips and still shots. He introduces the posts this way: "When it came out, as far as I was concerned, it was a stupid-boring show for old people. Except that now I am one of those old people. And so, out of some misguided sense of curiosity, over the next few weeks, I will be recapping the first season of thirtysomething here...." It's pretty funny (and a little PG-13/R-rated in spots). I've linked to the category, but the recap of Housewarming, episode 2, is pretty hilarious poking fun at the 80's in general, which is the best part of the recaps (written by a non-thirtysomething parent who was a child in the 80s).

Susan Reimer at the Baltimore Sun actually was a thirtysomething back then, so she writes "Looking Back at thirtysomething" in the opposite perspective.

Michelle Slatalla of the New York Times looks back at 1987 as portrayed in thirtysomething with her 11-year-old and 18-year-old daughters and husband.

My Nightstand -- October

2009-10-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

I thought that this month I would focus on just a few books that I am hoping to finish. I've been a bit of a restless reader lately, and have been using many of my reading hours to watch some TV shows on DVD, which is okay, but I would like to get back in the pages more consistently.

I'm reading Safely Home, which my friend lent to me when I told her that I was working with our church group with some international university students -- mostly from China. I'll see her Thanksgiving, and I need to be able to give it back to her.

Depending on how the next few chapters go, I may or may not finish Children of Dust: a Memoir of Pakistan. It has potential, but if it doesn't get better, I'll probably put it aside. I've gotten quite good at doing that -- using my reading time to read only books that really interest me.

I'm also currently reading a YA novel: The Other Side of Blue

In addition to finishing those, I hope to make consistent progress on reading The Mysterious Benedict Society with Amanda, but with over 400 pages to go, I don't anticipate finishing.

And now, although I said I really want to focus, I've realized that the act of putting this post together each month, gets me excited about the books on my shelf, which is a great revelation!

The other books I might read this month are:

A memoir: The Motion of the Ocean: 1 Small Boat, 2 Average Lovers, and a Woman's Search for the Meaning of Wife

A nonfiction book: Toxic Friends: The Antidote for Women Stuck in Complicated Friendships

Another memoir: Lit

A novel: The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble, which I really want to read, but because it doesn't release until the end of December, I might hold off until I get through these others.

What about you? What are you reading? Let me know, or let the whole book-loving community over at 5 Minutes for Books know.

Catching Up

2009-10-26T08:38:00.010-04:00

I thought I'd take a break out of my busy schedule You can safely read a little sarcasm into that statement) to tell you what we've been up to, and to post some links -- specifically to some contests or other posts of interest.

Are you curious about Where the Wild Things Are movie? Click over to read Bookie Woogie's very fun guest review. What a fun family!

There's a great guest post On Reading at 5 Minutes for Books where Ann Wright Rossouw shares her experience with her Bedtime Stories ritual. Oh yeah -- her kids are now 12 and 14, by the way. It's inspiring, and she gives some great suggestions of books for all ages.

Speaking of Reading Together, Amanda and I have started to read the Mysterious Benedict Society -- finally! She's been suggesting it, but at 512 pages, I just didn't think I could do it. It was Carrie's enthusiasm that finally did me in -- specifically her review of the brand-new third book in the series. We started Friday, and are only 60 pages in, but we'll just keep at it. I'm loving it, as she knew I would (and as I knew I would -- but it's just so long to tackle as a read-aloud). It's been a while since she read it, so she doesn't remember the details and it keeps her begging for "Just a few more pages".

My birth-week celebrations continue, but Amanda did make a cake. She told me that if I posted a picture on my blog, I was to tell everyone that she wanted to "do more," but I wouldn't let her. I did buy her some decorating frosting, and I even let her add pudding and chocolate chips to the mix, and it tasted quite good. Her definition of "do more" would have probably required other things on the cake.

In addition to baking the cake, she used her oil pastel crayons to make a portrait of me, along with one of her now-trademarked cards. The message inside was sweet. It said something along the lines of "Thanks for all the nice things you've done for me so far." I guess she expects them to continue, and I guess that's a good thing for a mom to hear, right? I don't know how good the likeness is, but I think she's fairly talented with drawing!

This weekend, we carved pumpkins. Amanda didn't mind de-gutting them at all, but Kyle wouldn't stick his hand in. He helped a bit, and did help me design this pumpkin. He specifically wanted it to have "scary teeth on the sides." Just so you know, this pumpkin is "So scary that all the birds will be scared."

Amanda designed her own pumpkin (and signed the back). It's a good thing that it's not so threatening, because it wouldn't be able to smell a predator.

A few more posts I'd like to point out, so that you can enter:

We are giving away a whole series of delightful picture books. Read the review and enter, and then click through to the other 2 listed on the Cods of Cape Cod review.
Dawn has a great giveaway review up for Day is Done book and CD, which sounds delightful.
We always have at least 2 giveaways posted at 5 Minutes for Books. All you have to do is check out the giveaway tab. If you click through there, you'll find two non-fiction picture book reviews/giveaways.

What're You Watchin'? And How Do You Watch It?

2009-10-23T10:30:00.001-04:00

So yes I have been watching thirtysomething, but I haven't really binged on it, as I predicted. I've watched about 7 episodes in two weeks, which took less than five hours. And as promised, I have a post in the work about my thoughts on the show.

But I have been binging.

In that post, someone mentioned Brothers & Sisters as Ken Olin's new show, and she said that it was similar to thirtysomething. I had already started watching Brothers & Sisters -- but because of Rob Lowe, not Ken Olin (when he left the West Wing cast in our re-watch of the whole series, I had to find him somewhere!).

I love this show. I know that some of you might not like it, because it pushes the envelope a bit -- most specifically in featuring a same-sex couple as main characters (who I have to say has the strongest and healthiest relationship on the show). I like it because it's clever, and emotional, and real. It's not really sensational as some other soap-operatic type dramas can get, yet issues are brought up that allow us to experience them through our own lens -- learning and growing along with the characters, whether we agree with their choices or not. And did I mention it's clever? I just love that mix of drama and comedy.

So, I've binged -- finishing up season 3 on DVD -- 2 discs and 8 shows in the last week (Terry was out of town for two nights, which aided the binge).

And now I'm going to turn to the ABC Brothers & Sisters webpage to catch up on season 4 (and to be honest, I think that I'm going to order Season 1 so that I can revisit it).

In addition to lots of reading and watching TV on the computer and online, the one show that I catch live each week is Top Chef: Las Vegas.

So -- what are you watching? And how do you watch it?

I love TV on DVD, either buying the sets (as I have with the West Wing and How I Met Your Mother -- each linked to my posts on those shows), or using Netflix, or watching online.

I just discovered that seasons 1 and 2 of Lost are on Netflix instant access online, so I'm thinking that I might dive in. Should I?

I have also added TNT's Raising the Bar season 1 to my queue, because after TNT sent me an episode to preview and blog about, I got hooked and also caught up to those shows online (and watched live when I could, but 10pm is too late for me to focus on TV).

So that's enough about my TV habits, but I really am curious about what you watch and how you watch it. I'm sure that most of you are going to say that you record it on your DVR, and I have to admit that I don't even have one, but Netflix or watching on the network's site online have worked for me.

Happy Birth-week to Me

2009-10-21T10:31:00.004-04:00

Ah, there's nothing better for the old comment-o-meter than a birthday, is there? So I thought I'd put it out there.

Today is mine, but as the title suggests, I'm angling for a whole week. Terry and I went out to celebrate on Sunday night with a real date -- babysitter, dinner, movie -- the whole works. Terry is out of town until late tonight, but my sweet tween is making sure that my day is special. She asked the questions which are always her not-so-subtle indicator of a breakfast surprise, "Mom, what time to you usually get up? Is it okay if I get up early? What do you like for breakfast?" I told her that I would set the coffeemaker, and I'd stay in bed. She could bring me some coffee before she took her shower.

It was a treat to stay in bed, vegging out. I drank coffee and a refill, and put in an order for some toast. I don't know if it's because it was slathered with butter, or because I didn't have to lift a finger, but that was some good toast.

I continued to loaf while Amanda got herself ready for school, and got Kyle's breakfast once he woke up.

Dinner is taken care of, because our favorite local pizza place sent me a coupon for a free birthday pizza.

Amanda left me with a list: cake mix, frosting, chocolate chips. So I went to the store, and picked them up, also getting some decorating frosting that was on the clearance shelf.

Last year, this was her creative masterpiece, so I'll just have to wait and see what she comes up with this year, but dessert is taken care of as well.

So that still only makes for four days of celebrating, not a whole week. But wait -- there's more! Tuesday night Terry is going to be out of town as well, and my girlfriends are coming over to celebrate with me. They are making dinner for me, and we'll probably watch a movie. Regardless, I'm quite sure that the food will be good and the friendship will be even better.

My dad left me a message while I was out at the store today warning me that I was getting too old. My birthday next year is a landmark one, and he claims that he is too young to have a daughter who is that old. So, we'll hang on to thirty-nine for the next 365 days, and maybe squeeze in a bit more celebrating along the way.

Daddy Long Legs and Toys Go Out

2009-10-20T07:23:00.003-04:00

Amanda (age 11) and I are on a pretty good roll of Reading Together. We started off early last month with the Mother-Daughter Bookclub. Then we jumped right into Daddy Long Legs. Two books in two months is pretty consistent for us. But in full transparency, we finished Daddy Long Legs over a week ago and haven't even thought about another book, and I think that's okay too.

We both loved Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster. It is a book of letters (fictional) written in 1912 by an orphan to the benefactor of her children's home who sent her to college. She is a lovable heroine, amusing and full of life -- very Anne of Green Gables.

One reason that we read that book so quickly is the format. Knowing that the chapters were letters enabled me to read "just one more," without committing to a 10 page chapter. And because we were both enjoying it so much, and it was so easy to read aloud since it was just this lovely exuberant young woman's voice, we had no problems.

I would recommend it for middle school kids on up (through high school really, since it's about her going off to college and becoming herself, as we all do once we strike off on our own). I'd also recommend that you try it as a read-aloud.

I asked Amanda what she liked it about it, and she said, "It wasn't that exciting*, but it was still SO good. I liked that it was letters. That was an interesting way to tell a story. The character was funny, and I liked her."

*Amanda's always big on "exciting" books -- action, adventure, suspense -- but I love it when she appreciates good character driven fiction like her mom does.

I also tackled a big read-aloud with Kyle (age 5). We read Toys Go Out, which Amanda's elementary school had read as an entire school a few years ago. It's a great story about friendship and like Daddy Long Legs it's about figuring out who you are. The stuffed animals in the "Little Girl's" room tell the story. They are humorous, and it's a fun read-aloud as well. I enjoyed the challenge of reading a longer book with Kyle. This book would be a terriffic read-aloud for a family that includes a wide-range of ages (like mine does!).

Find out what books other kids around the blogosphere have enjoyed (and link up your own) at 5 Minutes for Books' Kids' Picks carnival the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

What Happened to the Middle Class?

2009-10-18T21:45:00.002-04:00

I was listening to On Point on NPR* one day last week. Bruce Judson, the author of It Could Happen Here: America on the Brink, was a featured guest. Apparently he's saying that because the middle class feels like they've lost the opportunity to achieve the "American dream," we are at risk for a revolution. I only heard the last half of the show, but others were disagreeing with him, while one caller pointed out that America was becoming like Mexico or Russia -- poor or rich with no middle class.

This is sort of one of my hot-button issues. I know exactly why working class U.S. citizens are not able to achieve the dream. It's because no one considers themselves middle class. Or rather -- no one lives as they are working class/middle class. $100 cable/dish TV, $75 a month cell phone plans, a new car every two or three years, lunch out every day at work and dinner out on the weekends. If someone else (who might make $20,000 a year more than they do) can afford a new car, then it's "not fair" for them not to be able to have one too. And cable? And cell phones with all the bells and whistles? Those are necessities, not something that one could cut out of a tight budget. . . .

In our grandparents' day, those who were striving for the dream -- buying a house, or a bigger house, or a nicer house -- did without luxuries. Today there are no luxuries.

I am fortunate that because of Terry's chosen profession, we have made a good living the last several years. But in the first few years we were married, we made less than most other dual-earning college graduates, and we still lived within it.

The truth is to get ahead, there are sacrifices that one has to make. Sometimes one has gotta give up some of the high life right now to secure that future that they are dreaming about. We can't have it all.

You may disagree with me, but that's what I love about talk radio. It gets me thinking -- sometimes, like in this case, about something that I never even had thought to ponder -- a revolution of the middle class.

EDITED: There's quite a discussion going on in the comments, and I'm trying to respond there. Please read that part of the story as well, and chime in with your own thoughts.

*My dear bloggy friend Dawn just started a new weekly Wednesday feature where she will share or respond to some of the interesting stories on NPR. I've linked to her first one right there. She just finished out a Wednesday series where she analyzed each one of the Bare-Naked Ladies' albums. Even if you aren't the biggest BNL fan of all time (that goes to Dawn), you should check out her Snack Time post, where she profiles their children's CD.

It's Fall Y'all!

2009-10-14T18:45:00.000-04:00

Well it's probably not yet Fall to my Southern brethren to whom the "Y'all" cries out, but here in New England, it is indeed Fall.

The first sign was the fact that we turned on our heater. I think it was on about September 27. It had been cold at night for a while, and I asked Terry if he wanted me to bring the space heater into our room from the living room, where we had been using it for at least the last week. He said, "Why don't you just turn on the heater?" I replied, "But it's not even October!"

You see here in New England turning on the heater and turning on the air conditioning is quite a big deal. A few mornings where the temperature hovers at 60 degrees (inside the house!) is not just cause. No ma'am. You must wait until you are sure that it's good and cold to stay. So, against my new New England sensibilities, I turned it on, and found out that others chose this day to fire up the oil tank as well. You might think that there's something other than adjusting the thermostat temp involved in "turning it on." There isn't, but I think it's a sign of heartiness or something. The same goes for the air conditioning. Again, I was quite in sync with the "real" New Englanders when a muggy streak in late July warranted turning the air conditioning on.

The second sure sign of Fall hit me square in the nose yesterday when I opened the front door to take Kyle to the bus stop. It smelled crisp, but also a bit musty. The colorful leaves have begun to fall and we've had some wet weather, which produces that distinctive smell.

So I suppose the first sign really should have been the turning of the leaves, but they started turning back in September due to the cold nights, when it really wasn't quite fall, in spite of the fact that the calendar said it was.

But tonight I sealed the deal. For dinner we had a hearty bean stew and some delicious cornbread.

I've made this soup several times before, and I've even posted the recipe right here, but this time it tasted so much better. For one thing, I used half and half instead of heavy cream (which might be the right answer), and for the first time ever, I actually used the blender on 1/3 of the soup, as directed. It was delicious. Just as in the posted version, I cooked it on the stovetop, not in my slow cooker.

And the cornbread -- it was really really great. It's the Jalapeno Cornbread from my Texas Home Cooking cookbook. The regular cornbread (1/2 flour, 1/2 cornmeal) is jazzed up with the addition of jalapenos (I actually used green chilis), buttermilk, frozen corn kernels, cheese, and melted butter.

What says Fall to you?

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

2009-10-13T07:45:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I walked down the memory lane of my childhood via a popular song from my middle-school years. Today it's a book.

This is a nice cover of From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, but it's not THE cover, if you know what I mean.** The paperback that I grabbed off Amanda's shelf for the Children's Classics "Re-read a childhood favorite" challenge came from a library book sale if I recall, and it has a black cover and a 1995 copywright. I can't remember from which version I read growing up, but I do know that this is a book that I read over and over.

There are memories from this plot that are imprinted in my mind: the clothes in the music cases, bathing in the fountain, and getting meals from the automat (what exactly was an automat?), the teamwork of former sibling rivals Claudia and Jamie.

I loved the semi-realistic adventure tale that this novel allowed me to enter. It seems realistic enough, but it was still thrilling in the illicit nature of it all.

I had already decided on our occasional weekend trips to the donut store that if I ran away, I would live on donuts. I think that a donut cost about 30 cents, and two donuts were quite filling. It wouldn't take much to feed me at only 60 cents a meal.

So this month I re-visited this book from my childhood. It held up nicely. It was still a fun adventure twenty-(ahem) years later. And what's more, being a Connecticut citizen now as Jamie and Claudia are, I had a new layer to appreciate as they discussed riding the Metro North commuter train. I still don't really know what an automat is, but that could be because I was not 11-years-old in 1967 in NYC as Claudia is.

I think that I understood the files a bit more, and the fact that the whole thing is a report to "Saxonberg," which I could have missed before. I also enjoyed the grammatical banter that Jamie and Claudia shared, which I may not have appreciated in my youth (although by high school, I was quite the queen of diagramming sentences. Forget Geometry proofs -- I've tried to forget Geometry proofs -- but dissecting and assigning the parts of speech to those little lines, now that was fun).

At any rate, it's a great book that not only held up with me, but is one that Amanda has already read several times herself.

**I hope that you will click over to the Children's Classics post and take a walk down memory lane as you click through some of the links to read people's reviews of their own childhood favorites. But I've also included a review over there of Shelf Discovery: The Teen Classics We Never Stopped Reading. It features this very book as well as so many others, and it too has been a lot of fun to read. There are also pictures of the original covers of these much-loved books.