May 17, 2006



“Books are like imprisoned souls
‘till someone takes them down
from a shelf and frees them.”

- Samuel Butler, British Author

I’ve taken on the job of coordinating the summer reading program at the place where I tutor, and I’m struggling with the usual red tape and politics. I think it’s the universe’s way of testing me… (Because it IS all about me, isn’t it?) : )

I’m getting pressure to sign up kids immediately, but the “approved” materials aren’t in, no one will give me the dates I’m supposed to work with, I can’t get a list of students that will be there this summer, there’s no budget for sign up incentives, my homemade ones need to be approved first…You know the drill. It’s one of those go ask Mom deals and Mom says go ask Dad… But I will NOT be defeated so easily. I am going to get these kids excited about summer reading if it kills me! (And it just may…)

I’m also compiling a list of my favorite books that aren’t on the “approved” list, because I know in my heart that I can make readers out of some of the non-readers if I can just find that one book that speaks to them...

I’ve always liked to read, but when I was younger I wanted to stick to one genre, mostly fantasy books like “The Chronicles of Narnia” and “A Wrinkle in Time.” But one day I stumbled upon a book about Helen Keller. I couldn’t put it down. Then I wanted to know more about her teacher, Annie Sullivan. That was before the days of the internet, so I tracked down a biography about her in the library and a whole new world opened up for me. Soon I was devouring biographies and historical fiction, along with the fantasy and science fiction books I love so much. Now, I read pretty much anything and everything. Cook books, humor novels, short stories, essays, poetry, cereal boxes… It doesn’t matter. If someone took the time to write it, I’ll take the time to read it….

I’d love to hear what books made an impact on you as a child or on your children. If you can tell me the genre and age group, too, I could add it to my growing list that’s pending “approval”…. : )

Happy summer reading!

- A.

P.S. The students I work with range in age from 1st grade to 12th grade, so the sky's the limit!

Sunday, May 14, 2006

MOTHER’S DAY

Mother’s Day always makes me a little weepy. I was talking to my sister about this on the phone yesterday and she was surprised. I was surprised that she was surprised. “I know you’ve always wanted kids, but I never knew it made you so sad that you didn’t have any.” Apparently I’ve gotten so good at my putting on my “Happy Face” that even the person closest to me doesn’t see through it. In her defense, though, I do have a habit of “hiding away” when I’m feeling down.

My public face is always smiling, polite, and attentive. If I’m not smiling or chatting away, people ask what’s wrong, and I have no intention of actually answering a question like that. Why should I? Even if I could properly articulate what’s bothering me at any given time, most people don’t really want to know. They want you to say you’re fine so they can go on with their day. And for the few who really do want to know, there’s usually nothing they can do to help anyway, so why bring them down, too? So typically, if I’m feeling down, I lay low for a few days until it passes.

Not that I have much to complain about. Most of the time I AM happy and the smiling is genuine. I have a great life and I’m surrounded by people (and puppies) that love me. No pity parties here! I promised, remember?

But around Mother’s Day, I’ve always laid low. As I was making my cards to send out for Mother’s Day, adding various poems I had found, I became a little weepy. It doesn’t help that when you’re my age and married, people just assume you are a mother and wish you a Happy Mother’s Day. Or that my own mother, who means well, sends me a card every year. (What’s up with that?!! I guess she doesn’t want me to feel left out, but that’s not something she can change with a card.)

So this year, I decided to just sit with my feelings and see where they led. And you know what? It didn’t kill me to admit to myself that yes, it makes me terribly sad that I don’t have any children. And yes, I am extremely angry with my husband for deciding AFTER I married him that he doesn’t want children after all.

What do I do about all this? I don’t know yet. Maybe teaching will be enough. Maybe I was meant to mother a classroom of kids, not just a few at home. Maybe I’ll get the courage to strike out on my own and be a foster parent or adopt. (Two things I’ve always wanted to do.) There’s still time. But acknowledging the feelings sure beats the heck out of putting on the “Happy Face” all the time.

And as I explained to my sister, it’s okay to be a little sad sometimes. Please don’t worry about me or feel sorry for me. A little weepiness doesn’t mean that I’m not happy to hear about her friend that’s expecting or that I don’t wish all the wonderful moms out there a fabulous mother’s day, because I really, sincerely do.

I wish all the moms, step-mom’s, grandma’s, aunties, and other mother figures out there a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

And for those out there who feel a little sad like I do, my thoughts are with you, too.

So here's something to make us all smile:

Q & A WITH SOME SCHOOL KIDS ABOUT THEIR MOTHERS

What kind of little girl was your Mom?

1. My Mom has always been my Mom and none of that other
stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would
be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does
he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs
and YES to chores?

Why did your Mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom
eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's
such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff
under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do
than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?

1. Moms work at work & work at home, & dads just go to work
at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real
power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without
medicine.

What does your Mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your Mom perfect?

1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think
some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.
I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my
sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes
on her back.

- A.

Friday, May 12, 2006

FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS FRIDAY

1. Fridays
2. Longnecks
3. My last day of subbing for the school year
4. Not being in high school anymore
5. All the hard work that Lucy put into the Blogstream University Class of 2006 video at: Tryinotocomeundone

A friend emailed me the pictures below and I had to share. They brought a huge smile to my face. Hope they do the same for you…

PRESIDENTIAL DRAG QUEENS:










Have a great weekend!

- Annie

Tuesday, May 09, 2006, 1:26 pm

There are so many serious issues going on in the world, the stream, and my life, but some days I just don’t feel like talking about those things.

There ARE, however, a few things I am DYING to know…

A FEW THINGS I’M DYING TO KNOW

1. What action would your name be if it were a verb? (For example, "Everybody Wang Chung tonight!")

2. If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?

3. If you could have the starring role in one film already made, which movie would you pick?

4. If you could be one for just 24 hours, what cereal box cartoon character would you be?

This is unrelated to the other questions but I really want to know this too:

5. What does it mean when it says…”x number of people monitoring a particular blog”?

I’ll put my answers in a comment so that my answers don’t affect how you answer the questions. Don’t peek until you reply…

- A.

(Scroll down for the dog stuff)

But first of all, I want to say feliz Cinco de Mayo!

If you promise not to laugh at my bad Spanish, I’ll treat you to a little song one of my college Spanish instructors taught us. According to him, the men in Pancho Villa’s army used to sing this little ditty while marching. He gave us two versions. Guess which one I remembered?

La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar
Porque le tiene
Porque le falta
Marijuana a fumar…

(Rough translation: the cockroach, i.e. the poor army guy that had to walk because he had no horse, isn’t going to walk anymore until he gets some more pot...)

FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS FRIDAY

1. The budding sarcasm of sixth graders (totally cracks me up!)
2. The grunting noises my little dog makes when she wants attention
3. The worshipful way my big dog looks at me when I talk to him (he’s the best listener I’ve EVER known)
4. Lint brushes (come in very handy when you have both a white dog and a black dog)
5. Hershey’s nuggets with toffee & almonds (one of the few things I DON’T share with my dogs)

THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM OUR DOGS

1. Be loyal
2. Eat with gusto and concentration
3. Delight in the simple joys of a long walk
4. Never pretend to be something you’re not
5. When family members come home, drop what you’re doing and run to greet them
6. Run, romp, and play daily
7. Take naps; stretch before rising
8. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it
9. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close, and nuzzle him or her gently
10. Let others know when they have invaded your territory
11. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do
12. When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body

Here are some of my current and past furry family members:

























- A.