On Halloween

When I taught in the public school, we teachers were told very explicitly that we were not to show in any way, shape, or form that we approved or supported Halloween.  Today, when I dropped off my King Piggy at school, I was pleasantly surprised to see faculty and staff dressed up for the holiday.  Pre-K and K kids were allowed to wear their costumes all day.  The rest of the grades will change into costumes during their respective parties.  I find it funny that the Catholic schools celebrate Halloween and public schools don't/can't.

I always enjoyed the creativity of the holiday.  This year, making costumes was out of the question (which is why my kids are Angry Birds).  Next year, I will try to return to homemade costumes.  When I was a kid, store-bought costumes were the small percentage and homemade costumes were the norm.  Now, it seems to be the opposite.  There's nothing wrong with store-bought costumes, but the fun of the holiday is using imagination to create a look.  Plus, your costume won't match anyone else's.  I saw lots of super heroes and princesses this morning.  Only one King Piggy was present in the sea of students.  Lots of older kids pointed and smiled at Drake's costume.  I think he was uncomfortable being the object of attention, but such is life.

Blogging absence

I have been away from blogging for a while.  It's not because I no longer wish to write.  Quite the contrary.  I have so many thoughts and opinions and stories floating in my head that need to be set free.  On my To Do List, I have "Blog Freedom Fair" and "Blog Chelan Trip".  I want to tell about how Drake is getting the hang of school, how Flynn is evolving his sense of "style", how I am more socially awkward at 37 than I was at 17, how I attacked Camp NaNoWriMo.  I have to let it go and face forward.  It's almost October.  I need to not feel guilty for not completing tasks I am under no obligation to complete.  Time to cut myself some slack and move on to the next writing topic.  But, I will leave you with this: my deranged beauty queen.

Now, picture him wearing pants and waving a small American flag,
and that's how we went to the store last week.

Firsts

One of the great joys of having children is watching them experience something new.  To them, it is exciting and daunting and sometimes scary.  Here are some of the "firsts" experienced by this household as of late:

First family vacation to Chelan
First time back to Chelan since our honeymoon 13 years ago
First time on a motor boat (Drake and Flynn)
First time napping on a motor boat (Flynn)
First time fishing (Drake and Flynn)
First wasp sting (Drake)
First kayak ride (Drake and Flynn)
First model rocket building and launching (Drake and Flynn)
First kite flying (Drake and Flynn)
First model (Drake)
First Brussels sprout (Drake, Flynn, and I... seriously, I don't know how I made it to 37 before eating one)
First day of school (Drake)
First sob-fest watching big brother go off to class and leave you behind (Flynn)
First day at the new daycare (Flynn)


Here's to many more.  :)

1 a.m.

I am awakened by the slap-slap-slap of the Wee One's feet on the tile floor.  He comes armed with all his bedtime accoutrement.  He doesn't say a word.  His cough expresses everything.  He has inherited my sharp cough.  He climbs into our bed; I make sure he is on my side, as to not disturb Tim.  His chest and torso contract, trying to force the cough out.  He desperately wants to sleep, but the constant coughing prevents him.  After twenty minutes, I carry him back to his own bed.  He snuggles in, resting his head on his froggy pillow.  The coughing starts to slow, and his breathing deepens.  He will return to sleep soon, thankfully.

A lesson of cheapness

I can be quite frugal.  I have issues paying full price for anything.  (Yet, I don't use coupons.  Go fig.)  I have learned a valuable lesson, thanks to my boys.  Sure, I could spend less money and buy them shoes at Payless.  But, I will then have to buy multiple pairs because they wear out so quickly, and won't have any to hand down to the other kid.  Drake's Payless shoes didn't make it three months, yet Flynn was wearing Vans that Drake also wore (until he just outgrew them).  From now on, only Vans or Converse for my kids.  Oh, and I'll have to buy from Zappos.  Stores don't like to sell half sizes for small children.  Whatever.

So cool (and sturdy, too!)

F*** cancer

I didn't sleep last night, nor am I sleeping now.  I should be.  I'm exhausted.  No such luck.  Why am I not sleeping?  Last night, I called a dear friend.  "How are you?"  "Fine.  You?"  "Fine."  Pause.  Long pause.  I finally said, "Well, neither of us is really convincing.  Spill."  He told me that on Mother's Day, he took his mom to the hospital because she was in great pain.  After all the tests were run and scans were made, it turns out she has small cell lung cancer.  My grandmother died last year from small cell cancer.  It's a rare form and the odds aren't very favorable.   Two of the most important men in my life have lost their mothers to cancer, and now there's a third.  I'm grief stricken, even though she isn't my mother.  The pain he will feel makes my heart hurt for him.  I'm angry at the medical community.  It can concoct how many different erectile dysfunction medications, but it can't gain any ground on fighting cancer?  I'm frustrated at marketing.  I think we are all aware of cancer now.  Let's funnel some of that money toward research instead of awareness.  And, I feel guilty.  I'm not there to help him.  Phone calls aren't the same as physical presence.  Then, I feel selfish for these feelings and return to grief.

Lather.  Rinse.  Repeat.

Paradigm shift

We live in an exciting time.  Well, I'm not sure how exciting it is, but it is definitely changing.  I'm talking about the paradigm shift that is occurring between artists of all kinds and the traditional means of getting said art out to the public.  An author can now publish his/her own work (in either print or electronic form) with very little expense.  A musician/band can place their songs online for anyone to hear.  Even traditional radio programs are embracing the podcast (Adam Carolla, Dave Pratt).  What's amazing to me is how the traditional publishers are clinging dearly to the old way of doing business.  (I'm going to simplify and say "publishers", when really, it can mean the music labels, movie studios, and the like.)  Sure, a publisher has the publicity juggernaut behind it.  But, we won't stand paying print prices for an e-book for much longer.  Do you know how much it costs to publish an e-book on for the Kindle?  Time.  That's it.  The author formats and edits the book, sets the price, and Amazon takes its cut when someone purchases.  Easy peasy.  Knowing this, why do we pay $19.99 for a current best-seller?  Greedy, greedy bastards.  Some of my colleagues in various English departments are using copyright-free works to incorporate into the classroom.  You want to study Jane Austen?  All of her works can be downloaded for free on the Kindle.  Think of the cost reduction for students.  (Math never changes.  Why do we need a new edition of the textbooks every five years?)  Think of the possibilities, also, for the updating of information.  History textbooks could be updated as events unfold.  The downside to being able to self publish: the inundation of poorly written works.  Oh, wait, we have that now.  At least this way, trees don't have to die to print a lousy book, like Snookie's autobiography.

Speaking of paradigm shifts, I am digging what ABC is doing with Castle.  I'm not happy with its inconsistency of showing the program.  (Wait, it's Monday.  Shouldn't it be on?  The Bachelor?  What the hell?!?)  I am happy with how the creative team has embraced the meta-fiction of it all.  Richard Castle has a web site, Facebook page, and Twitter account.  (Um... he's not real... Shhhh...)  Two Nikki Heat stories have been published with a third on the way.  A graphic novel of Castle's other major character Derek Storm is set to release in September.  A TV show, other than Oprah, is getting people to read a book.  The book is credited to Richard Castle, and ABC isn't telling who the ghost writer is.  I have read both books, and, quite frankly, they are entertaining and better written than some of the "popular" literature floating around out there.