Streams of Consciousness II: The Return

Sunday...#2's first guitar recital. He's taken lessons for two and a half years, but his previous teachers didn't "do" recitals. I was so proud! He played a song he wrote himself. It sounded bouncy and Spanish, so he called it "Bouncing Ball", only he used the Spanish translation that he painstakingly researched on the internet.

Monday...Teachers' work day. It's what they call "Turnaround Day", the day between the first and second semester in the high schools. Students across the division get the day off, and teachers get to use it for catch-up or prep for the future. I call it "Breathing Day", and I worked hard. Still not caught up, but not quite as far behind now.

Tuesday...Went to see Babel. Wasn't nearly the profound film I was led to believe it would be. Left me depressed and sad. Didn't really make me think, just left me empty. Some have compared it to Crash from last year. Now that was a movie! It made me think and reflect. Although it had its moments full of sadness and despair, it ended with a resounding note of hope. If you are vexed in the future about just which DVD to pick up at the rental place, and Babel and Crash are in your hands, please go for Crash!

There's so much more to write, but so little time. Stay tuned for Streams of Consciousness III, coming soon to a blog near you.

Streams of Consciousness

So...far...behind...

Been trying to get around to visit all of the kind people who have visited my way before I post again. Futile. Must get new post up, or people will think I've given up on the Nook.

Booktalk. Huge distributor treats roomful of teacher-librarians to lunch. Then inundates them with talk of newly published children's books. Woman drones on and on. Is it possible to be intensely boring? How much of a challenge is it to excite teacher-librarians with talk of books? Apparently too much of a challenge. Lunch was good.

Also good that booktalk finished early. (Good for several reasons.) Am in the kitchen waiting with snacks when the boys return from school. Feel like a stay-at-home mom. Nice feeling. Warm and fuzzy. Coincidentally, Oprah's show that day is working moms versus stay-at-home moms. Shouldn't have watched.

In middle of busy week, get email from principal that I am one of the lucky ones who is on the cycle to be observed and evaluated this year. I see the point, but I'm still not happy.

Furnace cuts out in middle of the night. No rhyme or reason. Luckily starts up on its own in the afternoon. What gives? When will it happen again? Hard to be thankful on Thursday.

#2's birthday party. Heaps of Harry Potter. Men's XL black t-shirts cut up the middle for Hogwarts robes. Sorting hat complete with hidden walkie-talkie so #1 can provide voice effects. Make-your-own chocolate frogs. Potions: coloured vinegar and baking soda, Kool-Aid and club soda. #1 acting as a Dementor. One guest so scared he's in tears. Quidditch complete with pool noodle brooms and a golden snitch as big as your head. All go home with a goblet, two "test tubes" (that look mysteriously like bud vases), and their chocolate frogs. Exhaustion! Main Man has outdone himself yet again in the party department.

Yesterday marked half-time for the school year. Where has the time gone?

Happy Birthday, Mentok!

Well, this past weekend has been "Hail Mentok" weekend.

My sweetheart turned the ripe old age of 43 yesterday, and the world stopped to honour him.

Like wine and cheese (his favourites, incidentally), he gets only better with age.

If you have a chance, pop over and give him a hard time - oops - I mean your best wishes.

I hope you have a wonderful year, my Main Man!