I’ve become a Kindle book fiend

In November 2011, I finally graduated college. It took 16 years from start to finish, three  enrollments (Florida State University, Rochester Institute of Technology and SUNY Empire State College, and several declared majors (theatre, communications, multidisciplinary studies, cultural studies).

But I did it. And I earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Cultural Studies with a concentration in Communications from SUNY Empire State College.

And Adam gave me a Kindle as a happy graduation present.

He had no idea what he was doing. A spark was ignited within me and I rediscovered my love of reading. It had been denied to me for years — ever since the kids were born and I stopped going to my monthly LitWits book club.

My Kindle is small. The battery lasts forever. The screen is so easy to read. It’s like paper. But it’s not. It’s magic. If I love my Kindle so much, why don’t I marry it? Is that an option?

What I love is that it breaks down the barriers to reading. I can carry it in my handbag and whip it out any time I need to wait anywhere for anything. I can read while cuddling the kids to sleep. I can even read on the toilet. When I’m in the midst of a really intense book, I can read walking around the hallways at work, on my way to the office upstairs; or while brushing my teeth. (I may have a bit of a reading problem.)

I’m not sure I can count the number of books I’ve read since November. I started with Nora Roberts’ Bed of Roses (book 2 of the Bride Quartet) because it was the first thing I could find that was available at the Eugene library for download. Then I went on to a series of unfortunate romance novels (available for free download on Amazon.com).

I finally got smart and asked my Facebook friends for recommendations.

I then raced my way through books 1-7 of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I got books 1-6 as a set from the library on a 21-day loan. I was finished with them before they were due. I’m not sure I’m very good at writing book reviews, but I might give it a try, in my own way. Another time. I’ve got book 8, Proven Guilty, calling to me on my Kindle now…

Making Stuffies

In an attempt to get kids off the computer without a fuss, I suggested we make cuddly toys, aka stuffies. It’s come up a few times so today seemed like the day.

I’d purchased some various plush toy material for Emma for a class project and had leftover material from Halloween. Duncan chose the brown fuzzy stuff to make a hamster. Berry went for the pink fleece to make a kitty.

I would post patterns but, basically, I asked them to draw what they wanted it to look like. Then I made a pattern on a piece of paper and cut out 2 pieces. The body was one piece. The tail was another.

As neither child knows how to sew, I gave them a quick sewing lesson — running stitch for Duncan, over stitching for Berry (is that even the right word?) — knowing I’d need to go over it for them so all the stuffing wouldn’t fall out, but wanting them to get some practice and participate. It went fairly well, considering.

After stitching, we turned them right side out and stuffed. That was probably their favorite part. Then I sewed them up and added tails. I put a thick twisty tie I found in the kitchen drawer into Berry’s cat’s tail to give it some curling ability.

For some reason, Berry decided her cat should have fluffy white eyes. I recommend felt, not fuzzy white fabric. Fortunately, I talked her into felt for the mouth. Duncan insisted on ears and feet for his hamster (note that Berry’s cat doesn’t have legs…).

Once completed, and ready to become inducted into Sonic the Hedgehog’s band of Freedom Fighters, all that was left was giving them names. Duncan went for something simple: Chocolate. Berry, however, wanted a full and complete name for her creation. Kitty Cutie-Cat wasn’t enough. It needed a last name. Gustina was rejected. As was Freedom, as Robotnik would immediately know that the cat was out to defeat him if his last name was Freedom. So I suggested Evil, to fool Robotnik. And so Kitty Cutie-Cat Evil was christened and sent forth into battle.

Time to Harvest

I get a lot of pleasure from our small garden. This morning, it’s cool and sunny, a perfect time to harvest everything that’s been readying itself for consumption.

I’m not sure what to do with all the basil yet. Dry it, make pesto, make basil hummus…

Last weekend, we managed to plant a whole lot of snow and snap peas. Once all the warm season veggies are done, I’ll plant fava beans as a winter cover crop.

Saying Goodbye

Mum’s memorial service was yesterday morning. It went well. Christopher and I gave the eulogy. Several people did readings. Friends had a chance to speak. I sang Another Star in the Sky, which I wrote when Nanny passed into spirit.

Here’s the eulogy and song.

I’m glad we’re moving through all the things that need to be done, checking each one off. It’s hard, though. I’ve been slowly going through the things in her apartment. We’ll keep some of it, but most of it needs to find a new home.

I sorted through her clothes and shoes and donated them to Womenspace on Friday. She had 42 pairs of shoes — most of which were high heeled sandals. Shame we aren’t the same size. I’m packing up her multitude of books which I think we’ll donate to…oh, it’s name escapes me now…but my mother-in-law-equivalent has that covered. They sell them on ebay and use the funds for the legal services they provide.

I need to post some of the larger items on craigslist: her bedroom furniture, patio furniture, couch, dining room table and chairs. And then have an estate sale, hopefully next weekend.

The kids are doing OK, although are showing signs of regression — like both Duncan and Berry peeing in their beds last night. And Emma woke up with growing pains. There seems to be more frequent breaking down into tears, too. D and B will be going to their Dad’s for two weeks soon, which I think will be a good break for them. They’re looking forward to “Daddy Camp.”

Crafty Mummy

I appreciate tastes that sway outside the mainstream. Perhaps the kids possess my eccentric gene. Perhaps they just like to be difficult. But finding children’s clothing that’s not boy=bashing things or is sleepwear in natural fabric isn’t easy

Duncan continues to love Dora. And he’s been wanting Dora pajamas for ages.

Berry, well, she loves being a princess. Which isn’t hard to find. Unless you want to find it in cotton.

During the summer, I decided to attempt sewing a couple of night dresses for her, as I couldn’t find anything in cotton. Emma saw them and asked if I’d make her one. So we went on a mission to the fabric store for material and a pattern and I whipped up a fall/winter night gown.

Then, of course, Duncan and Berry had to have some of their own. So off we went to the store, choosing nice warm flannel.

(As an aside, we were in the store, waiting for what seemed like hours to get the material cut. Duncan and Berry were playing around, being mostly well-behaved but a bit mischievous. A presumably well-meaning gentlemen suggested that I have two more children so that my hands would be completely full. I told him that I did, but that they were at home. Fortunately, he made no further comments.)

My sewing machine has been acting up, causing relentless frustration while I was making Emma’s nightgown. However, it must have been entranced by the princess pattern on Berry’s flannel fabric as it worked fine over the weekend.

Things went smoothly and quickly. Soon, I had a pair of sunny yellow Dora pajamas and a purple princess night gown. The debate continues on whether it features Princess and the Frog or Princess Jasmine.

I confess to making them both a bit on the big side. If they could last a couple of years (presuming Duncan still loves Dora next winter) I’d be delighted.

Getting ready to go back to school

My mommy friends were recently discussing getting their first-borns ready for Kindergarten. How sad they’ll be. What they need. How the school supply lists are crazy.

A couple are teachers and explained that they’re not provided funding for school supplies and they mostly buy what’s needed out of their own pockets.

I smugly posted (this is an online group of friends) that Duncan’s school is just asking for a supply fee and that they’ll take care of it all. I think it’s wonderful.

Except Duncan is going to 2 schools for Kindergarten (as public schools offer only a half-day program). And the private school does have a school supply list — for both Duncan and Berry.

What strikes me the most is that they’ll need a lot of glue. Each child needs 2 boxes of glue sticks with a minimum of 4 glue sticks per box. That’s 8 sticks of glue for one child in 10 months, almost 1 stick of glue per month. What will they be gluing? The 2 reams of paper? The $20 of paper towels (I only have to buy 1 roll and write a check for $20 for the rest).

Berry also gets 2 bottles of liquid glue. I should warn them about the glue puddles she likes to make. And maybe buy some extra. Fortunately, to go along with the glue, they also request a box of wipes.

I’m happy to buy them whatever they need. We keep a craft closet (which has now spread into Duncan’s bedroom closed) well stocked with craft supplies. But the amount of glue is striking.

The other point on which I differed from my mommy friends was the “I’m going to cry when my baby gets on the bus!” Not only will there be no bussing to school (I’d be happy about that) I’m not sure there’ll be any crying on my part.

I’m excited for my kids to grow up. I love watching them grow, guiding them and helping them (slowly) learn how to become happy, functional adults. I’m not really sad that the baby years are behind them. They were fun while they lasted – great, exhausting fun.

And now we’re onto something new.

Duncan makes a movie

Duncan loves my Droid. I can’t blame him, so do I. He also loves Dora. What better way to combine his loves than with a video featuring some of his favorite things?

He also has a habit of wandering off with my phone, taking pictures and videos of seemingly random things. I found this video on my phone. It’s a little dizzying, but it’s so Duncan.

The other day at bedtime, Duncan (or Nanny, I’m not sure which) put an eye patch on Dora. She was already wearing a tutu from Berry’s baby’s outfit. I think a Pirate Dora movie is in the works!

And, just to prove how much Duncan adores Dora, here they are together having a nice cuddle at nap time.

From 2010-05 May

Lots of videos of kids dancing

If you don’t like watching two adorable children dancing around multiple times to the same song, stop here.

Kevin sent the kids a CD of a song he thought they’d like. I honestly don’t know who the artist is. Yes, I’m getting that old any lame.

In any case, the song is a hit with the kids. They love it. They dance to it at home. They decided to dance to it at the church talent show last weekend. And, by magical coincidence, they got to dance to it at Chuck E Cheese a few weeks ago at a friend’s birthday party.

Here are there performances.

Chuck E Cheese:

Church rehearsal:

And a bunch of clips from last weekend, including a bit of their actual church performance:

And, while I may be musically lame, I’m still technologically proficient. Shazam on my Droid tells me the song is I Love You by Michael Franti and Spearhead.

Joanna’s Eugene debut

It’s been so long since I’ve gigged. I think my last real gig was right before I got pregnant with Duncan in October 2004. 5 1/2 years? Really. I haven’t written a new song in at least that long.

I did perform a few songs at church one week, but that hardly counts as a gig. Neither does an open mic, but it’s what I’ve got going for me at the moment.

I have no proof – no photos of videos – but you’ll have to believe me that I was at the Monroe St. Cafe open mic night yesterday. Adam can testify that I was there.

It’s apparently quite popular. By the time I arrived at 7:30 (it started at 7 pm) there were 13 people ahead of me. Given that each person has 10 minutes, that’s more than a 2-hour wait. I think they were only on the second person, too.

We settled in, with spicy chai tea, and enjoyed the varied performances. Some were quite good, some funny, many quite “Eugene.” I enjoyed the duo playing songs about not letting Corporate America win. And the irony that she was wearing an Old Navy shirt.

There were a couple of spoken word acts – one recited poems about the state of our society and one about future cyborg humans. Maybe one day I’ll get to become a bionic cyborg mermaid. Apparently in 2012.

It got to be past 9 pm, and I hit a wall of tiredness. We got up to go home – there were still 4 people ahead of me – but the host convinced someone to switch places with me so I bumped up a few places. I must look like I can play music or something.

It was good to get out my purple guitar and play a few songs. People quieted down and listened to my quiet, original “Daydream Song” (there was no mic at this open mic), sang along with “Let It Be,” laughed in the appropriate spots of “Wilder Than Her” and applauded each song at the end. It felt good to be performing for an audience — honestly, that crowded cafe had more people than some of my gigs in the past.

My finger tips are still a bit sore today. I should toughen them up.

Muddy kids are happy kids

I really love that Duncan and Berry enjoy “helping” me in the garden. At times, they’re not so helpful and need frequent reminders not to throw soil, mulch or whatever it is that they are playing with at the time. But, given the right direction and lots of patience, they can actually do useful things.

This past weekend, they helped me put mulch down in the front yard. I weeded, they mulched. It went quite well for a good 20 minutes before the mulch throwing began.

At another point in the weekend, we spent some time at Adam’s house and worked/played in his garden. Here, Berry attempts to mix soil and even it out in one raised bed.

And then we planted lettuce seedlings. Duncan was busy looking for garden fairies, but I’m sure he’ll help poke holes when it’s time to put some in our garden at home.