Morning Pages have been filled lately with mutterings about Jewel and E and what may come the first day of school, along with an odd mix of excitement and loss as I anticipate my oldest daughter's departure for college next week. A theme emerging out of my most recent writings re Jewel and school: I'm feeling very much a David versus a Goliath.
Current read: M.T. Anderson's The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen. Quirky, quick, pure, laugh-out-loud Tobin. A perfect foil to the inanity of current events.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
Jewel at School? The Saga Begins
Just when we thought E's school had become comfortable with the idea of a service dog at school, we learned via email late last week that the dog will be refused admittance unless A, B, and C are in the administration's hands beforehand.
The email was sent last Thursday. The first day of school is next Tuesday. Interesting timing.
You know that space between a rock and a hard place? I refuse to enter it.
The email was sent last Thursday. The first day of school is next Tuesday. Interesting timing.
You know that space between a rock and a hard place? I refuse to enter it.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Adventures in Camping, Part II
Nothing like a camping trip to restore the muse, and remind you of the pros and cons of the activity. For example, when you're camping:
1. Sleeping late is not an option. A tent (and a pop-up) becomes a sauna once the sun clears the trees, especially in Illinois in August.
2. No matter how much bug spray you apply, mosquitoes will find the one spot you couldn't reach, and feast on it all night.
3. Two retrievers in a camper is doable, unless they're wet from a day at the beach, or one--like Kate DiCamillo's Winn Dixie--has a pathological fear of thunderstorms.
4. You're reminded that stars do still shine in the night sky. Other than the North star, Big Dipper, and Orion's belt, we rarely see the stars anymore from our Chicago suburb in the Midwest. The night sky from our campsite was another matter. Shooting stars lit the sky each night we camped, their tails trailing behind them like shimmering ribbons. And we saw so many satellites crossing this way and that I seriously wonder how they manage not to collide on any given night.
5. Rain in a pop-up is a lot less soggy than a tent.
1. Sleeping late is not an option. A tent (and a pop-up) becomes a sauna once the sun clears the trees, especially in Illinois in August.
2. No matter how much bug spray you apply, mosquitoes will find the one spot you couldn't reach, and feast on it all night.
3. Two retrievers in a camper is doable, unless they're wet from a day at the beach, or one--like Kate DiCamillo's Winn Dixie--has a pathological fear of thunderstorms.
4. You're reminded that stars do still shine in the night sky. Other than the North star, Big Dipper, and Orion's belt, we rarely see the stars anymore from our Chicago suburb in the Midwest. The night sky from our campsite was another matter. Shooting stars lit the sky each night we camped, their tails trailing behind them like shimmering ribbons. And we saw so many satellites crossing this way and that I seriously wonder how they manage not to collide on any given night.
5. Rain in a pop-up is a lot less soggy than a tent.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Adventures in Camping, Part 1
We didn't end up leaving home for our camping trip until mid afternoon last Wednesday. Packing took way too much time thanks to last-minute items we'd somehow left off our master list. Forgotten items included essentials like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, sleeping bags, dog food, etc.
Since our oldest, L, works at the Renaissance Faire during the weekend, we drove two cars up to the campground so she could leave Friday evening to meet up with a girlfriend. I rode with L, chatting with her about college (which begins on the 23rd), her pirate boyfriend, and her adventures as a Maid of Honor at the Faire.
The excitement began along the I-88 somewhere west of Dekalb after we drove into a line of thunderstorms. The wipers had trouble keeping up with the rain, but other than that it was no big deal--until L spotted a dark, low-hanging cloud drifting off to our right.
"Check that out," L said, her voice low and almost reverent.
The cloud lowered, forming an anvil shape. "Is that a tornado?" L asked.
The music from Twister began playing in my head. A few mile markers later, the anvil dropped out of the sky, lengthening like a bit of rope.
"My gosh," L said. "I think it is a tornado."
"Maybe we should get off this road," I said, paraphrasing a line from Twister. Unfortunately we were surrounded by cornfields and miles from the next exit.
By the time I decided maybe we should pull over and dive for cover, the rope lost form, the remaining tendrils floating off in different directions.
"Cool," L said with a smile in her voice, "I've always wanted to see one of those up close."
By now the sun was breaking through, and I realized I'd been holding my breath. I loosened my grip on the steering wheel, took a deep breath, let it out, and smiled.
One thing was certain. If I had any doubt my image banks would lack for filling up, they left me then and there. Here's to camping weekends and storm-chasing maids of honor to show a writer-mom a good time.
Current read: Gothic, Ten Original Dark Tales edited by Deborah Noyes
Since our oldest, L, works at the Renaissance Faire during the weekend, we drove two cars up to the campground so she could leave Friday evening to meet up with a girlfriend. I rode with L, chatting with her about college (which begins on the 23rd), her pirate boyfriend, and her adventures as a Maid of Honor at the Faire.
The excitement began along the I-88 somewhere west of Dekalb after we drove into a line of thunderstorms. The wipers had trouble keeping up with the rain, but other than that it was no big deal--until L spotted a dark, low-hanging cloud drifting off to our right.
"Check that out," L said, her voice low and almost reverent.
The cloud lowered, forming an anvil shape. "Is that a tornado?" L asked.
The music from Twister began playing in my head. A few mile markers later, the anvil dropped out of the sky, lengthening like a bit of rope.
"My gosh," L said. "I think it is a tornado."
"Maybe we should get off this road," I said, paraphrasing a line from Twister. Unfortunately we were surrounded by cornfields and miles from the next exit.
By the time I decided maybe we should pull over and dive for cover, the rope lost form, the remaining tendrils floating off in different directions.
"Cool," L said with a smile in her voice, "I've always wanted to see one of those up close."
By now the sun was breaking through, and I realized I'd been holding my breath. I loosened my grip on the steering wheel, took a deep breath, let it out, and smiled.
One thing was certain. If I had any doubt my image banks would lack for filling up, they left me then and there. Here's to camping weekends and storm-chasing maids of honor to show a writer-mom a good time.
Current read: Gothic, Ten Original Dark Tales edited by Deborah Noyes
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Road Trip Reads
Books on tape the girls picked out for our camping trip:
1. Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (We read when it first came out, but the girl's loved it so well, they jumped at the chance to hear it again.)
2. Eleanor Estes' Ginger Pye (a new read for everyone).
3. Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. (Another favorite.)
A book I'm this close to finishing (hopefully, tonight after settling down at my mom's, I'll get a chance to finish it):
Absolutely, Positively Not a first novel by David Larochelle about a high schooler Steven who declares he's absolutely, positively not gay, although signs indicate otherwise. Sensitive subject, handled with humor and grace.
Laugh-out-loud book my youngest girls are working their way through:
Babymouse Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. Actually a graphic novel, this book is ideal for both girls who struggle with reading. It's tiny, pink, funny, and friendly to reluctant readers.
1. Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux (We read when it first came out, but the girl's loved it so well, they jumped at the chance to hear it again.)
2. Eleanor Estes' Ginger Pye (a new read for everyone).
3. Laura Ingall's Wilder's Little House on the Prairie. (Another favorite.)
A book I'm this close to finishing (hopefully, tonight after settling down at my mom's, I'll get a chance to finish it):
Absolutely, Positively Not a first novel by David Larochelle about a high schooler Steven who declares he's absolutely, positively not gay, although signs indicate otherwise. Sensitive subject, handled with humor and grace.
Laugh-out-loud book my youngest girls are working their way through:
Babymouse Queen of the World by Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. Actually a graphic novel, this book is ideal for both girls who struggle with reading. It's tiny, pink, funny, and friendly to reluctant readers.
Camping Today
Well, this is it. We're leaving today come heck or high water, and judging by the weather report it'll be both. Today marks the seventh day in a row with temps nearing 100 degrees. Add to this the fact that we're expecting a front to move in--a violent one that's spawned multiple tornados in its wake. Yee-hah.
Shouldn't be surprised. P and I have been rained on so often while camping we call this phenomenon the (insert our last name) rain effect.
Bring it on. The rain's bringing MUCH cooler weather (20 degrees difference), and the fact is we won't popping up the camper until well after the front goes through. Tonight we plan to "camp" at my mom's place which just happens to be a few blocks away from the state park where we're headed.
On the to-do list for today (which means we're still hours away from leaving, which means we'll probably be driving through the front, which means our trip should be really exciting, but we're still going, darn it):
* check the wheel bearings on the camper to be sure we won't have to abandon it on the side of the road (P's putting down the camper as I post so he can take it to be checked)
*load firewood (the idea of a fire right now in 100 degree heat is unappealing at best, but the front is rumored to be coming through later on today, and what's camping without a kick-butt fire?)
*pack the food/coolers
*stop the mail and paper, put lights on timers, buy last-minute groceries, pack for myself
*there's more to do
*I guess we're a bit out of practice
*No, scratch that...I know we're out of practice
*there's a message in here somewhere for a writer, isn't there?
*the closer you stay to an activity--say, like camping, or writing--the easier it is to begin again without reinventing the systems needed to do it well.
Shouldn't be surprised. P and I have been rained on so often while camping we call this phenomenon the (insert our last name) rain effect.
Bring it on. The rain's bringing MUCH cooler weather (20 degrees difference), and the fact is we won't popping up the camper until well after the front goes through. Tonight we plan to "camp" at my mom's place which just happens to be a few blocks away from the state park where we're headed.
On the to-do list for today (which means we're still hours away from leaving, which means we'll probably be driving through the front, which means our trip should be really exciting, but we're still going, darn it):
* check the wheel bearings on the camper to be sure we won't have to abandon it on the side of the road (P's putting down the camper as I post so he can take it to be checked)
*load firewood (the idea of a fire right now in 100 degree heat is unappealing at best, but the front is rumored to be coming through later on today, and what's camping without a kick-butt fire?)
*pack the food/coolers
*stop the mail and paper, put lights on timers, buy last-minute groceries, pack for myself
*there's more to do
*I guess we're a bit out of practice
*No, scratch that...I know we're out of practice
*there's a message in here somewhere for a writer, isn't there?
*the closer you stay to an activity--say, like camping, or writing--the easier it is to begin again without reinventing the systems needed to do it well.
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