Just write. See what happens.
There is far too much to think about right now, so I’m going to leave it all responsibly for another time. For now, I’d like to indulge in one li’l thought I had last week whilst teaching (French) questions e.g., “Quel est ton film préféré?”
I observed and surmised that Grade Four is a very special stage of humanity. Continued…
Categories: Humanitrivia, School Snippets.
So there I was, thinking and blogging about being overwhelmed, and then my hubby had a cycling accident. Right on Father’s Day! Nothin’ like it to both worsen and improve my state of mind (and overwhelmedness).
There was a chain mishap, and now he’s got a broken left wrist that will have to have a plate put in, road rash all up his right arm, a wrenched ankle with a laceration that required ten stitches, and myriad bonus aches and pains. I guess it’s obvious why I haven’t been blogging this week.
Here are some things I learned, and other thoughts I’ve had, springing from this situation:
On the Downside…
Categories: Foughts and Theelings, My Hubbibi.
To my dad, and the darling dad of my son…
…thanks for being wonderful fathers.
(The kind with a great sense of humour – and a distinct lack of megalomania.)
Categories: Foughts and Theelings, My Hubbibi.
Whenever I’m feeling like I don’t quite have a handle on everything, it’s time to make a list. Just putting stuff next to bullets makes life seem more orderly.
Categories: Bébépourri, Bellyciousness, Dreambition, Foughts and Theelings, Humanitrivia.
What was the first book that broke your heart?
I was inspired to ask this question by a friend who wrote on her Facebook status that her son came downstairs sobbing one night, because Charlotte’s Web broke his heart. It’s a very special and sad thing to go through, especially when you’re young, with that ability to lose yourself much more thoroughly in a book. I’ve read lots of books by now that have heartbreaking aspects to them, but the ones I remember most are from when I was young. Continued…
Categories: Foughts and Theelings, Requestions.
I was brought up to believe, as Quakers do, that all people have Light inside them. Even the ones you don’t like. It’s an idea that I remind myself of pretty frequently, especially when teaching; in fact, it helps to go one step further and remind myself that people have reasons for being the way they are (even if those don’t amount to valid excuses).
I was in the grocery store today. It was a gloomy, draggy day, and I was tired. I pushed my cart along one aisle behind a woman, also pushing a cart and accompanied by a young girl, maybe her teenage daughter. As we neared the end of the aisle, they encountered someone they knew and greeted. They rolled to a stop, abreast, at the end of the aisle; I stopped a few feet behind them. I could see there wasn’t enough space for me to get by.
I did not ram this woman violently with my cart. I didn’t even tap her lightly on the bum with it. I didn’t try to barge through. I didn’t clear my throat or sigh peevishly or even make a sound. I stood there, and after perhaps 2.5 seconds, this woman turned around and saw me. Continued…
Categories: Foughts and Theelings, Humanitrivia, Rants - Why I Don't Love.
Emily Giffin is the author of The Heart of the Matter, Love the One You’re With, Baby Proof, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue. Her novels aren’t considered great literature – it’s what you would call “chick lit”, but I own all five of them and find them not only readable, but re-readable.
Why I love Emily Giffin:
Categories: BANG Book Reviews, PopCulturalism, Raves - Why I Love.
First swing ride – not counting indoor baby swings, of course. In honour of E’s actual birth anniversary, June 8th, we took a trip to the park with a picnic. We had yummy food, and watched bigger kids running around and playing, observed a softball game from afar, and put E in a real swing for the very first time. He grinned his approval right from the first push. (We chose to give him his first cupcake, courtesy of Auntie Em, after the swinging.)
Dressed snappy (by Daddy) for his birthday.
Categories: Bébépourri, Photoposts.
Dear Everett,
Today you are one year old! At this time last year, we were still waiting for you to arrive, because you weren’t born until 9:23 p.m…. but you were worth the wait – and you were worth all the hard work I had to do. We fell in love with you the moment we saw you, and somehow, that love only gets bigger and bigger every day.
Now, you are such a big boy and we are incredibly proud of you! You are so much fun, learning new things each moment, growing so fast. The photos below really show how much you’ve changed. This week, you are working on being silly and joking a lot: you waggle your head so that we will waggle back; you make a very saucy face at us, on purpose, that never fails to make us smile; you have this funny fake laugh that’s hilarious. Continued…
Categories: Bébépourri, Foughts and Theelings, Nostalgiapalooza, Photoposts.
Ha ha, I accidentally typed haircute, and then realized it was apt enough.
So yes, we had E’s ears lowered, to borrow a phrase from my high school music teacher, who would make this comment to boys who would come in looking younger and perkier than usual due to reduced cranial shag.
E did not enjoy the process, it must be admitted. Daddy did an admirable job anyway.
I, being my incurably sentimental self, especially about E’s silky flaxen locks, saved the trimmings for the scrapbook.
E with his Daddy, in April. Note E's shagginess over the ears.
During the haircut... right before E got rather upset.
First haircut under his belt, E is now a very serious, big boy.
Categories: Bébépourri, Photoposts.
I’ve uploaded the sequel to Mission Impossible Baby, just to showcase the diversity of E’s talents. 
Here, he avoids grass by striking poses that you will note are very similar to sculptures of dancing Hindu divinities. In my belly dance class, we’ve been learning some Indian-inspired choreography, and how it’s all about the bends in your body, the angles made by your knees and elbows, etc., that make the dance what it is, that make it beautiful.
Vishnu dancing
Ganesh dancing
Categories: Bébépourri, Bellyciousness, Humanitrivia, Photoposts, Videoposts.
E doesn’t like grass. He is learning to like clover flowers, individually, and he doesn’t mind being near grass. He just doesn’t want to put any part of his body right on or in it. Here is the first example of how much he doesn’t like it – note how he will deign to strum at the grass, just a little, as if there might be something he needs in there (and thanks for the assistance, Auntie Em):
Categories: Bébépourri, Videoposts.
